Pastor Tom's Community

There are days to make comments on the issues of the day and there are days when the issues are too personal, painful, and powerful to come down on one side or the other. Those are the days when we become channels of grace, love, and compassion and enter into the pain of every man,…

A friend reminded me of why I often share news items about death, tragedy, how lives of society's or history's "marginalized" people matter (calling out the names of people groups), of oppression and persecution of people who believe like me and people who do not, of people near and people far. There is a reason…

People before preferences. Love before liberty. Grace over gluttony. Open hearts over over opinionated headstrong determination. Faith over all choices. "Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the…

Urgency is a poor substitute for priority. When we establish an understanding of what is truly important based upon God’s abiding principles and mission, we need to stick with it. The reality is that the moment we prioritize our ministries, diversions will emerge, distractions will appear, and urgency will shout in our ears, “Stop and…

How is this for making a case with God? I've been really bad; so please help me. Yet, that is what is happening here. Under the weight of his sin, the psalmist is suffering and cries out for healing. His acknowledgment of sin is not the case for just deserts, but a statement of need.…

The greatness of America has always been in her central idea: the dignity of every human being under God. It is the basis for freedom, laws, and our system of government. For the Christian, that means looking for the image of God in every person we meet and treating that person as we would treat…

Not only does God provide light for our journey, but He appoints us as His people to shine in a dark world where there are many unseen dangers and unmarked shores. By taking this stewardship of light seriously, the church and its people have helped to lead many a lost ship and crew into a…

… future hope must not obscure the present reality that He is here now, present with us and that our call to readiness involves listening for His voice and observing what He is doing in our midst. It summons us to be ready for His call in every life situation and prepared to act upon…

In the matter of resources, be they material or spiritual, we have choices, but not all choices are equal. . Let us invest in His kingdom without hesitation.  Like the merchant, may we seek what is of greatest value and invest everything in it.

“Lift up ye heads, all ye gates, and the King of Glory shall come it!”