From a Pastor's Point of View

praise be to god

  • Counting My Blessings During This Season Brings Me Joy

    I remember one time when Julian, my oldest son, was sixteen. He sang in a good choir in his high school years. This program featured a very ambitious selection of time-honored works and new music. I know I must shut… Continue reading

    Counting My Blessings During This Season Brings Me Joy

  • God Can Handle Our Complaints

         One thing that I respect about the ancient Hebrew prophets is their unwavering honesty.  Many times, God addressed the people about their sin, but sometimes God heard the people’s cries and needs.  At first, one might think that this… Continue reading

  • Our Family Advent Traditions

    I don’t know what it was about last night, but I had a profound awareness of God’s presence as my family decorated our Christmas tree. As my wife hung the ornaments, she pointed out the various people and places that… Continue reading

  • Actions Speak Louder Than Words

         As I write each day during the Advent season, I realize something about myself. I often suffer from imposter syndrome. Yes, the words that I type possess truth, but putting them into action is another story. The truth is,… Continue reading

  • Cleaning the House for Our Guest

         During the Advent season, we take a fearless, moral inventory of ourselves and of how we relate to those around us. To truly prepare, consider specific practices like prayer, reflection, or confession that help us remove the lent of… Continue reading

  • Finding God in a Chaotic World

    “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10).      The season of Advent sounds excellent, but finding time to prepare and listen to God seems impossible. Through December, leading up to Christmas, we find ourselves bombarded by countless… Continue reading

  • A Light in the Middle of Our Darkness

    “We saw his star in the east[a] and have come to worship him” (Matt. 2:2b CEB).      Sometimes, I watch a New Mexico sundown and feel transfixed by the fantastic colors. One of my favorite moments is watching as the… Continue reading

  • Let Us Not Forget Joseph, the Father of Jesus, whose virtues of faithfulness and humility serve as a model for us all.

      “Joseph was a good man…” Matt. 1:19a).     The Bible highlights Joseph’s love for Mary and his choice to divorce her privately, emphasizing virtues that inspire us to embody kindness and obedience. This gentle act should motivate us to… Continue reading

  • A Time to Be Still and Contemplate the Workings of God

     “…and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).       The shepherds came to see the baby, and when they did, they shared the news heralded by the angels in the field, emphasizing God’s outreach… Continue reading

  • A Season of Thanks Living

    With Halloween behind us, the rush towards the new year has officially begun. The last two months of the year always seem to fly by, especially for those of us in the church. The Advent Season, Christmas pageants, extra worship… Continue reading