I
f you’ve ever worked around food, even if it was for your own children, you’ve undoubtedly heard of the 5 second rule. The rule says if food hits the floor it’s still usable as long as it is picked up within 5 seconds. That idea is just disgusting! And having worked in multiple restaurant chains in my life, I would like to assure you that many restaurants (even though we joke about it) don’t actually practice the 5 second rule. If it hits the floor, it doesn’t go out the serving door! Continue reading
Page 147 of 151
Water is all around us. We drink it. We use it to clean ourselves and our possessions. We even use it in churches for a different kind of cleaning. Listen to a portion of Pastor Derrick’s message titled There’s Something in the Water.
Perhaps you’ve heard some of the church people in 
your life referring to something called Epiphany lately. Maybe you are a little cloudy on its meaning. Don’t worry you’re definitely not alone. I would venture to guess that many followers of Jesus don’t even know what it really is all about.
Here’s a quick look – Epiphany – We use the word to describe the moment when we finally understand something. It’s like the whole lightbulb going on moment.
Epiphany is actually an event in the history of the bible. It’s the event known by the church as the visit of the wisemen, or more accurately the Magi. These were men who weren’t part of the Jewish heritage. They were outsiders or what the bible calls Gentiles. The word Gentile is a description of people from other nations.
Epiphany is the day when the church celebrates the visit of the wisemen to the place where Jesus was living. They saw the star (a light in the sky) and it revealed to them a new thing. Much like an idea is marked by a lightbulb today!
So all in all this day known as Epiphany is a day of a new idea or a new thing coming to the world. This new thing was Jesus. Epiphany is the marker for the time when God revealed himself to people outside of the Jewish tradition. It was God intervening in the history of the world in his son Jesus.
Whether you are a churched person or not, Epiphany is for you! You see Jesus came to the world to show you a new way of living. He came to show you a new thought, idea, life. Perhaps today you can turn on a light and be reminded of the light of Jesus that came to the world to show you his love. If you’re a Jesus follower, then you are a light to the people around you.
So there it is, Epiphany. Today take a moment and relish the new idea!
C
ould you imagine someone approaching you and offering you anything you want? Think about it. You’re sitting at home, watching t.v. and the doorbell rings. When you answer it, you find a stranger there offering you anything you can think of. Have any thoughts yet? What is it that you want more than anything else? Continue reading
Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? If so, how are you doing with them? Listen as Pastor Derrick shares a New Year’s Resolution worth keeping.
W
ell, it’s official. The year is now 2015. We’ve started a New Year. And we all know that means new goals and some resolutions that will last for a few days, weeks, or months if we’re lucky. But a New Year is like a fresh start. It’s like the slate is wiped clean and we get to hit the reset button on life. Continue reading
New Year’s is just around the corner. Many
people bring in the New Year with a favored activity of making resolutions. Do you make them? How long do you keep them? Most people will make resolutions for the weight they’ll never lose and the money they’ll never save. We’ll make deals with ourselves that if we just get the right job we’ll pay off our debts, or buy gym memberships then we’ll really lose the weight. But why don’t our resolutions work? Continue reading
Christmas is all about gifts. Some you’ll love and some you’ll want to return, but what gift could you get that would actually guarantee your freedom? Listen as Pastor Derrick explains how Christmas means freedom.
The greatest gift of Christmas won’t be under the tree this Christmas, instead the greatest gift will be found in the gift of love.
Twas the night before Christmas, when Mary and Jo
In a manger were resting for their baby to show
A stable was where they would make up their beds
And straw was the pillow they’d use for their heads.
The evening was ending, the time was at hand
A baby named Jesus was born in that land.
She wrapped him up tight and swaddled him close
With this child came God’s love, and a heavenly dose! Continue reading
