By Joel A. Hess –
They had been in love for years. It took some time, of course. It started off rocky, with indiscretions and arguments. But God had blessed them through it all and caused their loyalty and love for each other to blossom. Then, ten years after retirement, she was diagnosed with a terminal illness. He stayed by her side, serving her with all his energy and time. Then, one day, she died in the hospital as he held her hand at her side.
By Bob Hiller –
A number of years ago, I was having coffee with some of my Reformed friends in the town where I was serving. One of the pastors at the table (a man for whom I have a great deal of respect) began to discuss a book he’d been reading called “Not a Fan,” which compared church members to sports fans sitting the stands watching a game. Simply put, the premise of the book was that we don’t want “fans” who show up in the church on Sunday morning to admire Jesus and cheer for him; we want “followers” who want to get their skin in the game. The book, I assume (not having read it), then challenges believers to greater levels of commitment and sacrifice. The aim is to transform Christians from “fans” into “followers.”
By Paul Koch –
The children of Israel gather together on the plains of Moab. They had been on quite a journey to get to this point. It was a long and difficult journey, a journey that tested their dependence upon the blessings of God. God was the one who delivered them out of the house of slavery in Egypt. God had caused them to walk through the Red Sea on dry land. God relented from His wrath when they worshiped the golden calf. It was God who consigned them to 40 years of wandering through the wilderness because they were afraid to take possession of the land that He had promised them. Through it all, God provided relief from thirst by water flowing from a rock. He provided heavenly mana and the meat of quail. There was discipline to be sure, like the poisonous serpents which invaded their camp, but there was an abundance of forgiveness and protection throughout this journey. Their journey has finally led them to this place, for now they are read to enter the Promised Land.
By Joel A Hess –
You don’t hear much about Joseph. He just disappears after the birth of our Lord. He then reappears when Jesus scares his parents by staying in His real Father’s house, and then he’s gone again. We call him Saint Joseph, but what did he really do?
By Scott Keith –
Not so long ago, right here on The Jagged Word, I made an offer to show up at any church within a reasonable distance of my house and participate in a Q & A session with any group of unbelievers a congregation could gather. So far, I have been invited to one congregation in Los Angeles and one Skype interview with a college from the University of Alabama. Needless to say, I am grateful for the opportunity to speak to real people who have real questions about life, faith, and salvation.
By Cindy Koch –
Well, the celebration has come and gone. Today, we begin to pack up the Luther storybooks and roll up our faux 95 Theses. Carefully, gently, we bubble wrap our Reformation items and store them next to the pumpkin tea lights for next October.
By Joel A. Hess –
Time and time again, I have had the privilege of advising my beautiful flock on determining God’s will in their lives. With great sincerity, they ask me how to decipher which college God wants them to attend, which career or job they should pursue, and even which person God wants them to marry!
By Jaime Nava –
Life is changing for me. I am moving states to begin a new position in St. Louis. I just had a second daughter born over a couple weeks ago. We’re selling the house and getting ready to move. It’s exciting but also sad. You see, I had to decide whether or not to stay at the congregation I served or to serve in St. Louis. I do not envy anyone with a call. It is hard.
By Bob Hiller –
Last week, I took my kids to see Pete’s Dragon. I remember loving that movie as a kid. I was excited to share this one with my kids, especially with all the fancy, new digital capabilities. But I have to tell you, there was something about the movie that rubbed me the wrong way.
By Ross Engel –
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.” He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.
Hebrews 11:17-19
By Cindy Koch –
Just like any other Sunday, the ushers marched down the center aisle halfway through the church service. Their leather dress shoes kept even time with the piano music during the offering. As they passed our pew, I noticed neither one of the gentlemen were looking at their destination. Their heads were tipped to the right and they both wore a proud, goofy smile. I scanned the rest of the congregation for a clue to their delight. In a wave of curiosity, every man woman and child also turned to focus on the grand piano on the side of the church.
By Paul Koch –
Hold this drink for a second while I climb up on my soap box. Thanks.
We’ve all done it. I know I’ve done it more than my fair share, but I’m trying to stop. You see, I’ve grown increasingly more hostile to the whole notion driving the phenomena. I’m developing a sort of repulsive reaction to it that fills me with a desire to punch the perpetrator in the mouth.
By Paul Koch –
Last Monday was the eighteenth anniversary of the day my bride walked down the aisle with me, having just exchanged vows before God and a whole congregation of witnesses to begin our life together. Eighteen years after that day, I was boiling water for coffee because we were camping with the kids. We ate a relaxed breakfast cooked by my wife and began to break camp and load up the minivan. After eighteen years of marriage, we piled all five of our kids and our dog into the car to make the trip down the mountain. I leaned over and kissed my bride and said, “Happy Anniversary!” As I drove, I began to wonder how we ended up here.
By Joel A. Hess –
It’s OK to help that old lady across the street. It doesn’t mean you are trusting your own works for salvation.
It’s OK to buy a box of peanut butter to donate to the food bank. It doesn’t mean you are parading your righteousness before others.
By Scott Keith –
Recently, I have been spending a lot of time among Evangelicals. Conferences, speaking engagements, and social gatherings have all provided opportunities for conversation and hopefully real Gospel proclamation. I’ve even become “friends” with a great many of my new acquaintances on Facebook. But, as a result, #blessed has caused my Facebook feed to be filled up with cute and quippy messages from my new Evangelical friends. What I’ve noticed the most is how often my new friends note that they are “blessed.”
By Ross Engel –
The property upon which my congregation is situated has become a Poke-stop and Poke-gym. And while I’ve finally downloaded the PokemonGo app, I still have no clue what I’m doing. What I do know is that we have a constant flow of traffic in and out of our parking lot. My secretary, who was blissfully unaware of this new game, was concerned that people might be “casing” the church, looking for a chance to rob us. She was relieved as I explained Pokemon to her.
By Joel A. Hess –
Rodney King famously exclaimed in the 1990s, “Why can’t we all just get along?” Recently, after witnessing the horrific shootings of the past week, a number of people have asked me the same question. Seems simple, right?
By Joel A. Hess –
After the recent Supreme Court ruling knocking down Texas’ sanitary requirements for abortion clinics that are probably weaker than those used in poultry farms, we witnessed yet again the manifestations of a society that believes humans are really only animals.
That is the question of the age: is man an animal or something more?
By Jaime Nava –
A pastor friend posted on Facebook that a religion’s beliefs are in line with their founder. So someone calling themselves a Buddhist will follow Gautama Buddha and his teachings. Christians find themselves following Christ. Do Muslims follow the teachings of Muhammed, and do those teachings contain the violence we have seen from recent attacks? Fort Hood saw the deaths of 13 when a psychiatrist proclaimed “Allah Akbar” in 2009. The Boston Marathon was attacked by religiously motivated Chechen Muslims, killing 3 and maiming or injuring another 264 in 2013. San Bernardino suffered the deaths of 14 and another 17 injured at the end of 2015. Now we have Orlando with 49 dead and 53 injured. Are these people claiming to follow the teachings of the Koran, or are they on the fringe?
By Joel A. Hess –
This past week I was encouraged at a pastor’s conference to vigorously share the good news. Not just share the good news mind you, but “vigorously” share it. That adverb was placed in there not just for poetical decoration, but to compel me to try harder.
