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[Editor's note: Another week with an abundance of Connect Devotionals! Please enjoy both Brian's and Bella's pieces today.] New Creation, Wrong Place? Brian and Kathy Emmet Jeremiah 29:4-7 This is a special week, as we look forward to our church's fifteenth anniversary celebration! Rather than being part of our usual sermon series, this week's Connect Devotional will f...
Keep ReadingHe (Jesus) poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet (from John 13:5). Let's think about feet for a minute. Basically, feet enable us to stand and walk. Sometimes they hurtor are stinkyand need attending to. This week we are visiting Jesus and the Twelve as they meet for the Passover meal that begins Holy Week. John, the author, sees to it we learn ...
Keep ReadingWhen [Jesus] had finished washing their feet, He put on His clothesand returned to His place."Do you understand what Ihave done for you?"' He asked them (John 13:12). Joy, my previous pastor's wife, volunteered every two weeks to clean an elderly woman's home. "How nice," you might be thinking. Let me clarify. This woman's grown, morbidly obese son who could barely walk t...
Keep Reading"Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them" (John 13:16-17). There once was a Church that met in a very old building. One year, heavy rains damaged part of the building, and temporary hoses were installed outside to help properly man...
Keep ReadingJust before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end.John 13:1,2 MSG What would you do if you knew you only had a few days to live? Hollywood has depicted this in movies, and many a character hops a plane and travels to the most exotic locale...
Keep Reading[Editor's Note: An embarrassment of riches this week for our CD audience: we have more CDs than days in the week! Please note (and read) both Jessica's AND Bella's CDs today!] Radical Service Jessica Waldstein I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do."John 13:15 MSG During my teenage years my church held a foot washing at the end of a service, and I'll ...
Keep ReadingI am the resurrection and the life whoever lives and believes in mewill never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:25-26). It can be one of the worst places on earth: the fresh grave of one we love. Even in the midst of fellow-mourners, it can feel so desperately and awfully lonely. And perhaps we have ringing in our ears something we heard in church once: "God is never la...
Keep Reading"Lord, if you had been here" (John 11:21) Ever been quick to question (even blame) God when He doesn't act the way you wish and on the timetable you would choose? Even Biblical heroes did so; read King David's psalms, Jeremiah's laments, even Mary and Martha's confronting Jesus in frustration that their brother has died: "if You had been here, [Lazarus] would not have die...
Keep ReadingJesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:25). Have you ever had a little child look at you quizzically as you tried to explain something like why vegetables were good for him or why she couldn't play in the snow in her paj...
Keep ReadingBella Segnere Jesus wept. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" (John 11:35-36 ESV) "Everything is bigger in Texas!" "Go big or go home!" "The bigger the better!" All of these popular sayings emphasize just how much our world (especially America) values the greater/larger things in life. Larger wealth, greater fame; the list goes on and on. We all need to make the sh...
Keep ReadingJohn 11: 1-44 In this week of our Shift series, we get to plunge into a deep and rich passage in John's Gospel (11:1-44). It's a deeply personal and intimate story, as well as a surprising and dramatic one. John organizes his Gospel around seven "signs" given by Jesus. The sign of the raising of Lazarus is the sixth in the series, and points to the final one: Jesus's cru...
Keep ReadingI do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law,Christ died for nothing! (Galatians 2:21) I'm a runner. These days I run recreationally because I just love to run. But I used to be very competitive. Looking back on those years, I reflect on what motivated me to compete: the pressure from my coach to win races and championships; th...
Keep ReadingFor through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.Galatians 2:19-20 ESV Have you ever watched a court trial, participated in a mock trial, or read about one...
Keep ReadingI have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20). Dear Reader, I had no intention of writing a Connect Devotional just now. Although it is January, the month my 4-month "leave-of-absence" was scheduled to end, recuperating fr...
Keep Reading"I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gainedthrough the law, Christ died for nothing." (Gal. 2:21) Confession time. For years as a Christian, I believed that, since I had worked hard in school and in my career, I deserved my good grades, my position at the college, and the financial situation Scott and I enjoyed. I felt God owed me success fo...
Keep ReadingI have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20).Before I begin writing a Connect Devotional, I like to read the assigned verses in different translations. My 13-year-old daughter was sitting next to me on the couch as I did so this time, so I read a few aloud and asked for her thoughts."What do you think 'I have been crucifie...
Keep ReadingI will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lipsGlorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together (Psalm 34: 1,3). Years ago, I would go to church not to worship God, but because someone else wanted me to be there. I would go to a very nice building and congregate with some very nice people. But I was always in the back row. I would stand up...
Keep ReadingI will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.My soul will boast in the Lord Glorify the Lord with me (Psalm 34: 1-3). It's been a long slog dealing with Covid. Fears have beset us at every step. Would we catch the virus by handling our groceries? Would we unknowingly pass it to children or aging parents? When we got the tiniest bit comfortable,...
Keep ReadingPsalm 34 There are those who love to sit front and center, there are those who love to sit in the back row, and they marry each other.My husband is the former: for him the front row provides the opportunity to devote his full attention to the speaker sans distraction in whatever setting he's in, i.e. a college lecture or a church service. I, as you may have guessed, am th...
Keep ReadingThe eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and his ears toward their cry When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles (Psalm 34:15, 17 ESV). When you hear someone crying, it's common to instantly wonder, "Are those tears of sadness, joy, anger, or laughter? Are they crying for some other reason?" A lot of times, we cry be...
Keep ReadingCome, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD (Psalm 34:11). Is there more to worship than we know so far? If so, is God interested in helping us grow and deepen as a worshipping community?If so, are we willing to learn?The answer to the first two questions is an emphatic Yes. Yes, there is more to worship than we know, because there is more to Go...
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