Posts from 2024

Dear SCC & Friends, God created…~Genesis 1:1 Reflection #252                  The very first verse of Scripture describes a creative act of God… In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ~Gen. 1:1 We were made by God to be creative. Our problem is all too often that we compare, and comparison has a debilitating effect… …when we measure ourselves by ourselves, and compare ourselves with ourselves, we are without understanding. ~2 Cor. 10:12 Where did Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci get their extraordinary creativity?…

Dear SCC & Friends, It came to pass in those days… Luke 2:1 Reflection #251      Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all the people were on their way to register for the census, each to his own city. Now Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea,…

Dear SCC & Friends, …no room for them… ~Luke 2:7 Reflection #250                  The Lord uses seemingly ordinary people in extraordinary ways. Jesus arrived “in the fullness of time” which is a beautiful word picture of prophetic fulfillment and joy… Part of that beautiful picture was to be fleshed out through two willing servants, Joseph and Mary. Obeying God does not mean that “the wind will always be at our back.” Joseph’s faith required great courage, compassion and sacrifice. Mary’s faith…

Dear SCC & Friends, Because of God’s great love… ~Lamentations 3:22 Reflection #249                  The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation. They say God became Man. Every other miracle prepares for this, or exhibits this, or results from this… ~C.S. Lewis~ The humility of God is beyond human comprehension… He made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men. ~Philip. 2:7 Why would God do this? Why come at all? Why does He care? Why…

Dear SCC & Friends, The Word became flesh… ~John 1:14 Reflection #248                  But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son born of a woman… ~Gal. 4:4 Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment , in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendor. ~C.H. Spurgeon~ Advent is a time of anticipation and hopeful expectation for that which is about to…

Dear SCC & Friends, …overflowing with gratitude. ~Colossians 2:7 Reflection #247                  Happy Thanksgiving! I love this time of the year… the beginning of the holiday season. The word holiday is a derivative of holy day… setting aside time to reflect and refresh. We are exhorted to overflow with gratitude as a byproduct of our faith in Christ. An overflow is evidenced when something cannot be contained. My cup runneth over is a word picture of abundant blessing and expression beyond limits. I…

Dear SCC & Friends, God shall supply all your needs… ~Philippians 4:19 Reflection #246                  Sometimes we can confuse needs and wants. We can get so focused on wants that they turn into needs and affect our spiritual and psychological wellbeing. A need is something necessary for survival… food, water and shelter. A want may be a good thing but remains something we don’t necessarily need. Basic needs are essential to life, while our wants and desires remain non-essential. There is…

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Dear SCC & Friends, Who can discern his errors… ~Psalm 19:12 Reflection #245                       Truth is true if nobody believes it, and falsehood is false if everybody believes it. If something is true, it cannot be false, and if something is false, it cannot be true. As human beings we are by nature truth seekers; as fallen human beings we are also by nature truth twisters. ~Os Guiness We are called to be men and women of discernment who  can perceive, understand and judge…

Dear SCC & Friends, …to whom honor is due… ~Romans 13:7 Reflection #244                  When one joins the Armed Services, he or she is required to take an oath. This is the oath I took as have millions of other veterans in service to their country… I solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I take…

Dear SCC & Friends, He who has ears to hear… ~Mark 4:9 Reflection #243                  I once complemented a well-known minister on how much his sermon had blessed me. He looked at me, almost staring a hole through me, and said, “Did you hear it brother? Did you hear it?” I was somewhat taken aback and meekly responded, “I think so.” It’s been many years later, and I still need to ask… Did I hear it?” People have told me many…

Dear SCC & Friends, Deep calls to deep… ~Psalm 42:7 Reflection #242                  The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried. ~G.K. Chesterton~ Depth is not only for “super saints” but for all. …to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth… ~Eph. 3:18 God uses imperfect people to accomplish His perfect will. A vital and necessary component of our faith is availability and willingness to obey His call… If any…