The state of the heart

Reform, renew or replace? It is interesting to see how quickly people minds jump to political or “Church” side of things… in my case this morning it is a personal question.  The answer to these is a resounding YES in my life.  But I contend that the last one “replace” may be the first thing […]

Caring for our city

Rockford, Illinois Police Body Worn Cameras

Rev. Stephen Bowie and Rev. Julane Nease were at City Hall today (Thursday) to present a check for $500 from Northwest Neighbors, Inc. to go toward the purchase of body-worn cameras for the police department. The Mayor and two Deputy Assistant Chiefs were present.    The goal of Northwest Neighbors, Inc. is to create a […]

Compassion – AllRockford.org

There are five “finish lines” in the All.America program. This is the finish line of Compassion that at a preliminary meeting of MissionHOPE and AllRockford.org  

Revival

I was recently musing over a request in a pastors forum for books on Revival.  I never did quite determine if it was a history of revivals that the pastor was looking for but what happened as people started listing titles and Authors… and then I noticed something.  Almost all the titles being offered were […]

Gospel Conversations

Gospel conversations

People claim to have a “Gospel conversation” without speaking the Gospel… You can be laying the foundation of a Gospel Conversation but until you actually speak the Gospel, you are just being moral. You may say, “Pastor what about 1 Corinthians 3:6-9. I am planning a seed or I am watering a soul. Only God […]

Hands On

laying on of hands

1 Timothy 5:22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. The word “hasty” caught my attention the other day.  I was watching some brothers and sisters in Christ jump to an individuals aid and start laying on hands and prayer.  I […]

The Lord is My Shepherd — J. R. Miller

the good shepherd loves protects defends the sheep

“The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need!” Psalm 23:1 The shepherd is a favorite Scriptural picture of the divine love and care. In the Old Testament, the twenty-third Psalm gathers the whole wonderful truth in exquisite lines, which are dear to young and old wherever the Bible is known. Then in the […]

December Quotes 2015

Love the joy of this season. “How many observe Christ’s birthday! How few, His precepts!” — Benjamin Franklin “You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you can look up into the Father’s face and tell him you have received his Christmas gift.” — John R. Rice “All the Christmas presents in the world are worth […]

Reconciliation and Joy

There are but three avenues open to the individual, and “the joy of life” is dependent upon the choice. They are: rebellion, resignation, and reconciliation. –Joseph Fort Newton Every one is trying to find Joy at Christmas.  But in the hunt for gifts for both getting and giving we can find ourselves at odds with the […]

Context is King

bible version anyone

sometimes a verse needs context … sometimes the verse is the context. Ever have that conversation where the person is using a verse with no real understanding of the person speaking or the audience it was being communicated to? Quick questions to ask when looking at a verse  Who wrote this? Who was he speaking […]