Be Encouraged

The reasons to panic are everywhere.  On a national scale division is palpable, inflation is hurting, sin is brazenly celebrated, and according to the most recent Gallup poll church attendance is at 31% (Note: that 31% includes all the false religions that call themselves “churches” as well).  That’s 4% lower than 2020 and it keeps…

Yesterday, our state of Michigan had an amazing opportunity to protect and celebrate the God-given lives of children in the womb – but we missed it. Instead, we opened the door to the heinous sin of abortion and said, ”Come on in.” Prop 3 passed, and it hurts.  It hurts to think about all the…

This illustration really struck me this week.  When you have a layover at an airport, you do not go into the bathroom, get bent out of shape over the décor, and start redecorating.  Why?  Because you don’t live there.  You are just passing through.  You have a home someplace else.  It would make no sense…

The Disgustingness Of Sin Two weeks ago, I got this text from my wife: But when I got home, the house was cleaned with not a hint of throw up anywhere.  To top it off, upon completion of her cleaning, Kimberly didn’t say another word of complaint about how disgusting it was and all the…

My garage is an absolute mess right now and, honestly, I don’t want to deal with it.  There is so much junk that finding a place for everything to fit seems overwhelming.   Like my garage, we humans constantly accumulate junk in our lives.  Junk like grief, depression, aimlessness, shame are constantly threatening to fill up…

This past Friday (June 24, 2022) in a long awaited and faithfully prayed over moment in American history, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.  Though this does not make abortion illegal, it has given each state the ability to determine what their abortion laws will be and whether or not the practice will be…

It may be a new year, but my trials, temptations, inadequacies, and enemies didn’t get the memo.  They are just as eager to grip and rip me apart as before.   For the past several weeks I have been battling with despair.  Incessant visions of the worst possible outcome in every situation have plagued my mind. …

In 1973 Roe v. Wade forced every state to legalize abortion up to “viability” at 28 weeks. In the same vein some states have legalized abortion up to birth. As a result, more than 62 million babies have been aborted in the U.S. alone. That is disgusting. In Exodus 21 God prescribed the death penalty…

1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.” That is my favorite verse.  And that’s probably why “All Your Anxiety” is one of my favorite hymns.  The hymn reads as follows: (Verse 1) -Is there a heart o’erbound by sorrow? Is there a life weighed down by care?…

“We were made for this!”.  Have you ever heard someone say that? Have you ever said it yourself? When I was a teacher, my fellow colleagues used to say it all the time.  When money was tight, when the students were acting like demons, when the staff meetings were going long – that statement would…

This past Sunday, we started our Six Week Tract Challenge.  For the next six weeks we will be giving a different tract to everyone in the bulletin (If you are not able to come to service or you want more you can get them during the week in the church foyer or office). And the challenge is…

Right now, there are so many things vying for our attention and time that are both frustrating and depressing. COVID-19 fears and regulations are still lingering around like an annoying pest. The racial tension is high. Anarchy is being celebrated. And then there is the daily normal grind. But today, I want to tell you…

Today, tragedy is all over America and that tragedy has affected and will continue to affect our lives. As Christians, we can either continually complain, stay quiet, or share the solution. After being brutally arrested, going through a shame trial, and being thrown into a Roman prison, Paul wrote in Philippians 1:12-14, “I want you…

The Bible is very clear on four points.  One, we should “mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15).  George Floyd’s family should be on our hearts and we should make every effort to help as we would for anyone who loses a loved one.  Two, we should seek justice.  Zechariah 7:9 says, “This is what the LORD…

Think about life without it.  Nothing to look forward to.  No fun dreams about planting your garden and enjoying the sweet produce from it.  Being stuck in winter, never knowing the summer rays.  This Covid-19 shutdown forever keeping schools and small businesses closed and church forever online.  Hope is an essential ingredient for every aspect…

For Christians, the day serves as a vivid reminder of the ultimate sacrifice that was paid for our spiritual freedom- that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, willingly bore our sins on the cross so that all who believe in Him might be reconciled to Him and have eternal life.This Memorial Day as we remember…

I was sitting in my living room looking out my bay window.  The sun was shining through the bottom part of the window, and I couldn’t help noticing how dirty the window was where the sun was shining through. I could barely see outside the window. However, the areas of the window where the sunlight did…

On Saturday, a group of about a dozen men and women from FBC came together to help Doug and Kathy June move into their new home.  We prayed, worked, and ate together.  What became apparent to me as the day went on is how much I’ve missed being in fellowship with other believers.  Yes, there…

Proverbs 22:15 says, “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from Him” (cf. Pro. 13:24, 23:14, 29:15). Have you ever had to teach your children to whine, complain, disobey or act selfishly? Ofcourse not – it comes naturally.  Proverbs 22:15 says the source of…

In John 9 the disciples of Jesus saw a man blind from birth. And the disciples asked Jesus, “Teacher, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind.” The disciples assumed the man’s blindness was directly related to sin. Why did they think that way? Because sin does bring disaster. When you…

Good Morning Everyone,  I would like to share some of my thoughts with you. In our world today with the internet we have access to all kinds of information. It can get confusing sometimes. How do we know what is true?  In this world, things are changing all the time. It is so easy to…

Do I have enough toilet paper, hand sanitizer, food, and money in the bank to get through this shutdown? Do I have enough patience to keep from losing my temper or complaining?  Do I have enough love to keep from becoming self-consumed and keep my eye on helping others?  Do I have enough drive to…

Like many of you, I’ve been working from home for several weeks.  Much of my day is made up of meetings, currently being conducted online via Zoom or other video meeting applications.  My calendar is set up to notify me 5 minutes before the start of each meeting.  At that time, I log in to…

I ask/tell/yell that question frequently.  I’ve asked it in anger due to writhing heart and physical pain.  I have asked it with disgust as I’ve driven through third world regions ravaged with malnutrition and joblessness.   I’ve asked it when my motivation has hit rock bottom.   And like an inquisitive child asking their parent…

As some of you know, I’ve made a career out of working with computers. Starting in the early 1980’s, I’ve worked in many different areas of the industry, but for the most part, I’ve always returned to hardware support.  One of the main things I’ve learned is that if you don’t know the basics, dealing…

I need wisdom!  Wisdom is the ability to discern and apply truth in a constructive way and I need it.  I need wisdom for marriage, parenting, friendships, and work.  And I need wisdom concerning God’s Word, fighting sin, sharing Christ and getting through this pandemic.  No matter our age, experiences or knowledge level we all…

Have ever been so embarrassed you wanted to put a bag over your head, or curl up and die?  Eight years ago, I oversaw the game station at a Vacation Bible School.  And the game we played and the lesson I gave one day ended early and we had a few minutes to spare.  So,…

“Mike Pence mocked for praying with coronavirus task force at White House”https://www.christianpost.com/news/mike-pence-mocked-for-praying-coronavirus-task-force-white-house.html It should come as no surprise to us as Christian that the world around us is unable to understand our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  We know we’re not immune to the trials of the world but we are equipped to face them.…

When I woke up on Monday, I had a plan.  I was going to get to the office early, have my devotions, finish this article by 7 a.m. and get an early start on writing the Mid-Week Boost and my Sunday sermon.  Well, I got to the office early, but I forgot my computer at…

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases predicts 100,000-200,000 deaths from the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S. Tim Johnson, Eaton Rapids Medical Center President & CEO on March 18th in a letter to the community stated that they have two confirmed positive cases at the local hospital and…

This is getting out of control… Mark 4:35-41“And they woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’” ~ Mark 4:38bMark 4:35-41 is a passage that many of us have heard time and again.  The disciples, upwards of 70, get into multiple boats and begin to cross the Sea…

IS THIS EVER GOING TO END?  Sometimes, no matter how much we try, it can feel like we are just grinding through a certain issue and always will.  Is the grief of losing my parents, a spouse, or my child ever going to subside?  Am I ever going to be victorious over my struggle with…

The corona virus is making the financial markets  go haywire, keeping millions from going to work, and throwing once certain retirement plans into serious question. In the past, many laughed at the words of Proverbs 23:5: “For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven” (NKJV).   But they’re not…

WHY ARE YOU SUCH A FLAKE?  Have you ever thought that?  Maybe someone has forgotten to meet you.  Maybe someone promised they would come support you and never showed.  Maybe you’ve been that person.  It is such an awful feeling when you know you have to do something or be somewhere and don’t remember until…

Hope is a vital ingredient. Imagine if you had no hope that this corona virus craziness would ever end. Imagine being laid off from your job with no hope of ever being hired back. Imagine trying to pour years of wisdom into your grandkids lives with no hope that they would ever grasp or understand,…

Passage: Proverbs 3:7-8 At Man Camp we did a polar plunge into the icy lake and it was freezing.  But wow, it zapped the tired right out of me.   For a few hours I felt so refreshed.  In Proverbs 3:8 it says, “It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones,” and…

IT’S NO SECRET! We all tend to want more out of life. That feeling of “lack” can be so depressing. We can go on Facebook or any other social media source, scroll down the memories of others, and feel like we are missing out on so much everyone else seems to have plenty of. And…

What is your “go to place?”  You know that place where you can blow off steam, think clearly, or just slow down, breadth and take in the joy of life. For some its taking a walk or a trip to the gym or a vacation spot.  For others, it’s a great read or a favorite…