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Notes from Calvary: Jesus is Even Better Than That! Part 7
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” I Peter 2:24 Here in I Peter we read that Jesus “bare” our sins on the cross of Calvary. Why did he do such a…
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The Pastor’s Pen: Approaching storm
“Isaac’s Storm” is a very interesting book about the hurricane that wiped out Galveston in 1900. One of the main plot lines of the book is about how everyone was convinced that a hurricane could never strike Galveston, even as one approached. The author vividly describes how, as the streets began to flood, people went…
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Telling the Story: Shelter in the storm
Last week, we were visiting my sister and her family in Bowling Green. On Sunday morning, we joined them at Hillvue Church. The pre-service music was playing. People greeted and mingled. The five-minute timer was ticking down. My heart began to stir in anticipation. Four minutes before start time, every phone began to alarm. It…
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Notes from Calvary: Jesus is Even Better Than That! Part 6
“When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” Matthew 8:16-17 Here in…
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The Pastor’s Pen: Truly hungry
In May 1846, 187 men, women and children left from Missouri in a wagon train headed to California. There was nothing exceptional about the group or this journey and we would have never known about them had they not made the decision to try a shortcut. The “Hastings Cutoff,” as it was known, was indeed…
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Telling the Story: Things to remember
When I was younger, Memorial Day was the holiday that truly marked the beginning of summer. I was oblivious to those who decorated graves, never wondering how the cemeteries were suddenly covered with brightly-covered flowers. Decades passed. Now I understand the importance of the holiday. Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor soldiers…
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Notes from Calvary: Jesus is Even Better Than That! Part 5
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5 This prophecy concerning Jesus…
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The Pastor’s Pen: $10 is $10
A man named Stumpy and his wife Martha went to the state fair every year, and every year when Stumpy saw the antique bi-plane he would say, “Martha, I’d like to ride in that airplane.” Martha always replied, “I know, Stumpy, but that airplane ride costs $10, and $10 is $10.” One year, Stumpy said,…
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Telling the Story: I wouldn’t drink it if I could
My beloved and I recently had the opportunity to explore St. Augustine for a few hours, knowing it was the place Ponce de Leon reportedly discovered the Fountain of Youth. We found it. The park, that is, and did the thing you do: took a selfie at the entrance. I texted friends that I had…
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Notes from Calvary: Jesus is Even Better Than That! Part 4
“Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should…