Pastor Tom's Community

   unsplash-logojesse orrico “… make full proof of thy ministry.” – from II Timothy 4:5 Ministry is a full and rewarding life. Every day can be different and exciting and working with people can be a heart-warming and gratifying experience. I love the ministry and wouldn’t trade it for any other work on earth. Are…

The church is part of a brand new order in God's Kingdom where human authority is not required to legitimize its message and deeds. It is neither required nor desired, recognized nor sought. It is a strange and wonderful movement where everything is turned upside down in order to land right side up. It scandalizes…

  At the wall of the world, God!With outstretched hands. We bang into the unmovable wall and call it …Wrath or we run into theOutstretched,Everlasting,Ever lovingArms of God.   "If this Book means anything it means that at the wall of the world stands God, and any man driven there by conviction of sin finds the…

“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. “ Matthew 20:16 The landowner needed workers. He needed more as the day went on. According to his rights, he recruited throughout the day and negotiated a salary with each. At the end of the day, he payed…

  Forgiveness is a scandal. Forgiveness is irrational. It is out of balance, disproportionate, beyond our capacity, humanly unjust, and controversial … and very, very real, liberating, and healing. It is always premature and it is always timely God forgives you. He does not excuse you or your deeds. He forgives you. He does not…

  The rooster was bound to crow, but not before the roof came down on one man's sense of invincible confidence. Are you perplexed with this progression? Maybe so. Satan made demands. Jesus prayed. He prayed that Simon's faith would not fail, but he knew that Simon himself would fail. So he prayed that when…

Civility is important to me because of who I am-not because of who anyone else is. I can't force it on anyone. It doesn't mean I don't tell the truth or believe lies. It doesn't mean I approve or pretend to approve. It doesn't mean I stop resisting wrong. It's my choice. So, I'll continue…

Here is a reflection on quoting and considering in public discourse from a brief Facebook post today: I really do want to be fair, so I am going to examine one or two of my assumptions – yet again. I do that every time I am challenged … … well, most every time. We are…

Psalm 9:9 – The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. The oppressed are very dear to God. A rabbi once said that God must truly love the poor because He made so many of them. So it is with the oppressed. And the story is bigger than we…

"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding."  – Job 38:4 Has God ever asked you a really hard question? It is His turn to ask. Sometimes, the questions are the answers. In this case, it becomes clear to Job what he knew from the beginning –…