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Channel: Thoughts from Pastor Gary
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For - Feb 3, 2013 (John 19.1-16a)

            On Sunday, I described Pilate as a bully and a coward.  He lacked any sense of moral courage or conviction.  His “delivering over to be crucified” (19.16) was a pathetic display of buckling...

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For - Mar 31, 2013 (John 20.1-18)

In recent weeks, we’ve spent a lot of time studying Jesus’ death on the cross.  On Easter Sunday, we took a brief look at the resurrection.  One aim of Sunday’s message was to help us see how the...

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For - July 14, 2013 (Genesis 17)

We are coming to the final couple of weeks in our brief series about Abraham, titled: Great Faith takes Great Risks for God.  The practical goal of this study is to look at perhaps the greatest model...

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For - July 21, 2013 (Genesis 22)

We will wrap up our brief study on the life of Abraham this Sunday, July 28.  Admittedly, we have covered Abraham’s journey “on the fly”, but I hope you have been encouraged and equipped for your own...

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Another birthday, same email

Fellow Saints,Last November, I sent an email to help you see that birthdays are bigger deals than presidential elections.  One year later, God has graced me with another birthday (for those who are...

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1MT - Dec 1, 2013

Over last two Sundays we have studied James’ theology regarding the necessity of works to substantiate one’s faith.  James is not only N.T. writer to highlight importance of works.  Beginning with...

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Plans for 2014

God blessed us greatly in 2013.  He is faithful. His grace abounds in the lives of His children. His glory is revealed in the work of His church.  Last year we had a couple of baptisms, and, even as...

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One More Thing - March 10, 2014

I ended Sunday’s sermon with six ‘gospel-centered’ principles that will help us fight against the relentless pull of seeking wealth or material comfort (the larger point of James stark warning in James...

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1MT from Sunday March 16

On Sunday morning, we looked at James 5.7-12.  The passage calls our attention to live in a way that anticipates the return of Jesus.  We called that a picture of biblical faithfulness.  I noted three...

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1MT - James

Yesterday we put a lid on our study of James by finding hopeful words amidst the hard words  The Book of James is not complicated – most of what he writes is straight-forward and fairly easy to...

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1MT - from 6-15-14

Yesterday, I brought the 5th message in our series on worship from Colossians 3.  If you were out yesterday and/or want to listen to the sermon, you can click on this...

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1MT - from sermon on June 22

On Sunday we walked through the biblical portal of Revelation 4 and 5 to take a very quick look at what takes place around the throne of God.  Sermon and outline are at this link:...

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Two for Life

Issachar was one of the more obscure offspring of Jacob’s Dozen.  Very little is known about him, but there is an interesting note in 1 Chron 12.32.  There, we read that the descendants of Issachar...

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1MT about Jonathan - sermon on Aug 10, 2014

On Sunday we looked at the life of David through the life of Jonathan.  The sermon is available here.As I mentioned, when I began my study for Sunday’s sermon I didn’t intend to make it about Jonathan...

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1MT - August 8, 2014

On Sunday morning, we looked into 1 Sam 24 to learn the importance of training our conscience to be submissive to God’s will.Remember the setting:  David was on the run; Saul was hard on David’s heels....

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Why Covenants Matter

I hope you are finding the sermon series on the life of David helpful and encouraging.  Last week we time-warped from David’s escape from the murderous hand of Saul to David’s ascension to the throne...

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A day with terrible consequences

Yesterday was the 42nd anniversary of perhaps the most calamitous decision of American jurisprudence – it was certainly the deadliest.  On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court (in Roe v. wade)...

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Looking back to Look forward

I missed being with you on Sunday.  MANY THANKS to Harold for standing in with short notice – he is ever-faithful, and I am ever-grateful.  Since we had an unexpected break in our series on First John,...

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1MT: Remembering the sermon (Feb 22, 2015)

Sunday was a very encouraging day at Harrison Hills.  After a week of unusually harsh winter weather, we were able to gather for Sunday School and Worship Service.  God was very kind, and a number of...

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Which do you prefer: Worship Service or Small Group?

I am “linking” a very interesting and insightful article I read today.  The title caught my eye.  It is a provocative title, and - I would propose - it is accurate.  Full disclosure: as the...

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