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Facing the unknown: Life’s difficult dark places create anxiety and fear

I don’t like to drive on unknown roads in the dark, especially in bad weather. I can’t see the lines well, or anticipate curves and other lights make vision difficult. Dark valleys of illness, suffering, loss, broken relationships, financial struggles, and spiritual struggles are very frightening. Why? We don’t know the outcome. Psalm 23 reminds us even in the “darkest valley,” God is present. “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need…. ……4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. ...

Joy: The attitude of strong faith

It is easy to feel overwhelmed and troubled. In this life there is no shortage of difficulties and problems. How we approach our life makes all the difference. We can overcome or be overcome. We can be victorious in life or be victims in life. The Bible says, “The just shall live by faith,” and faith has an attitude, a demeanor, a way of presenting itself. This is where joy comes in. Joy is how faith presents itself. Just like faith, Christian joy does not depend on circumstances or present conditions. Joy is an attitude. It is a posture of the heart. For those who live ...

Jonah and the Whale

William “Bill” Dougherty, of Burnham, holds the whale he carved during a “Jonah Sermon Series” at Parkview Church of the Brethren during the Lenten season. When Pastor Teresa Fink asked Bill how he might use his wood-carving talents for the church, he didn’t try to “run away” ...

Other laws were being practiced before God gave Moses the law at Mount Sinai

But every woman shall ask of her neighbor — so shall you plunder the Egyptians. Exodus 3:22 Last week, we saw how Jacob served Laban for seven years to obtain his first wife, and another seven to get the second (Genesis 31:41). He worked for Laban a total of twenty. The time Jacob served Laban was in increments of seven years while trying to obtain his wives. When Moses received the law from God, the seven-year period was included. “At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts (Deuteronomy 15:1).” But keep in mind, the law that God gave to Moses at Mount ...

Want to live a life pleasing to God?

1 Thessalonians 2:1-16 Have you ever been criticized? How did it make you feel? Some people can say very unfair, negative things at times. Paul knew what it was like to be criticized. In the New Testament church there was a group of people known as the Judaizers who wanted to keep Christianity as a Jewish sect. Since Paul was determined to take the faith to the Gentiles, these Judaizers looked for every opportunity to find fault with him. They accused him of being in the ministry just for the money. The truth was Paul supported himself as a tent maker after he began his ministry so he ...

The custom of generosity had its beginning at least 4,000 years ago

And when you send him away from you you shall not let him go empty-handed Deuteronomy 15:11 A lady applied for a job at a local bank. There was an opening, and it was a teller's job. As a teller, she had to deal with all kinds of people, but she tried to do a good job. Her goal was to represent the bank in a professional way, while also being kind and understanding toward the customers. Her work ethic paid off, and she began to climb the ladder of success. She was given an office job and also helped some of the workers who couldn’t seem to get their work done. After 33 years of ...