The Church

04/12/2026

A great hike through the Black Creek Preserve!

04/12/2026

Black Creek Preserve. The yellow trail, leads to the red trail, down to the water and then back again. Nice hike!

04/10/2026

https://youtu.be/rjYJzrhBTpo?si=vOvzW7XM8YBvfp9y

I pity the fool who has nobody to lift them up!

Who are your mat carriers? And if you had to name them right now, could you?Mat carriers are the people who love you enough to carry you to Jesus when you ca...

04/07/2026

An interesting take on leaving egypt.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1FFbCpkB11/

01/18/2026

12/05/2025

08/16/2025

Matthew 13:1-9
New International Version
The Parable of the Sower
13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

08/16/2025

Psalm 103
Of David.
1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.

19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.

08/12/2025

Grieving the Holy Spirit refers to the act of causing sorrow or distress to the Holy Spirit, who dwells within a believer. The concept is rooted in the biblical passage of Ephesians 4:30, where the apostle Paul writes, "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
​The context of this verse is crucial for understanding what grieving the Spirit entails. Paul is speaking to Christians, urging them to "put off their old self" and "put on the new self." He then lists specific behaviors that are contrary to this new life in Christ. These include:
​Dishonest or corrupt speech: Using "unwholesome talk" or slander.
​Uncontrolled anger and bitterness: Allowing rage, brawling, and malice to control one's actions and heart.
​Lying and stealing: Engaging in deceit and dishonest practices.
​Lack of forgiveness: Failing to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving toward others.
​In essence, grieving the Holy Spirit is about living in a way that is inconsistent with the new life God has given us. It's a loving parent being saddened when their child makes self-destructive choices. The Holy Spirit is a person, not an impersonal force, and He has feelings. When we, as believers, engage in sinful thoughts or actions, we are essentially hurting the very Spirit who is meant to guide us, comfort us, and empower us to live righteously.
​It is important to note that grieving the Holy Spirit is different from "quenching" the Holy Spirit, as mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. While both are negative impacts, grieving is often seen as a more personal offense against the Spirit's character, while quenching is about stifling His work or influence in a person's life or in the church.

08/12/2025

Melchizedek was explicitly identified as a king in the Bible.

​The primary scripture that establishes his royal status is Genesis 14:18:
​"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High."
​Here, he is clearly named "king of Salem." Most biblical scholars and theologians believe that "Salem" was an early name for the city of Jerusalem.
​The New Testament reaffirms this status in Hebrews 7:1-2, which serves as a commentary on the Genesis account:
​"For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him... First, his name means 'king of righteousness,' and then he is also 'king of Salem,' which means 'king of peace.'"
​The author of Hebrews not only confirms that Melchizedek was a king but also explains the theological significance of his title. What makes Melchizedek a unique and significant figure in Scripture is that he held the dual offices of both king and priest, which was not the case in the later Israelite system where the kingship and the Levitical priesthood were kept separate.