Pastor Tom's Community

Christ Emmanuel, Christian icon with riza by Simon Ushakov, 1668 "Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." – Matthew 1:22-23…

This salvation that He brings is not just from the destructive power of armies or the oppressive arm of dictators. It is also from ourselves, our sins, our choices. It is the offering that He brings with His life, death, and resurrection.

  Photo by Andy Grizzell on Unsplash "…Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him." – Matthew 2:2 There is one flower that reminds us of a star and there was a star that pointed some people outside of Israel’s fold…

"Adoration of the Child " Honthorst, Gerrit van, 1590-1656 "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." – Matthew 1:21 Call his name, “Jesus.” It was the core of the angelic message that was delivered to Joseph. Mary would have…

Sometimes it takes a messenger from God, human or angelic to interrupt our thinking and redirect our beliefs so that we can see that the seemingly negative events in our lives are nothing less than something conceived by the Holy Spirit. Is that not what we need to hear in the midst of our despairing…

Attached to this blog is J. Vernon McGee’s wonderful sermon on Joseph, “The Man Who Had Nothing to Say.”

  May the milestones of your lifeBe the ammunition toConfront the millstones in your way.May each be smooth enoughTo give pleasure to your touchBefore you launch them ruthlesslyInto your obstaclesShattering them into a millionMilestones.

"In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD." – Isaiah 19:19 We mark things. It is our habit and it is a habit born of need. We need to remember and to remember, we…