Pastor Tom's Community

"And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not…

"Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." - John 20:8-9  He came first to the tomb, but he did not enter at first. Whatever held him back, it was…

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” – I Corinthians 15:20 Now is Christ risen. “Death in vain forbids Him rise.” Now He lives, awakened from the dead, leading the procession of those who have slept. “Christ hath opened Paradise.” Now is Christ risen and those…

  The point of Saturday is that God enters our darkest darkness, our most silent silence, our deepest sorrow, our most fearful horrors, our harrowing despair, our relentless guilt and self-loathing loneliness.  God enters boldly, willingly, humbly, and moved by nothing more nor less than love. He enters having checked one more time to see…

“Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:39 Nothing can separate us from the relentless, persevering, and all pervasive love of God. After his sister’s wedding George Mattheson entered into a time of deep…

“If a man die, shall he live again?” (from Job 14:14) The age-old cry of humankind is for eternal meaning. Is there anything beyond this world of pain and tears that brings meaning to these moments while transcending them? Is there a life beyond the grave or is all futile? Perhaps Job did not really…

  There is no Sunday without Saturday. Before we celebrate, let us contemplate. Before we bounce in the light; let us renounce the darkness. Before we exult, let us exalt the moment of His being abandoned, forsaken, and vulnerable. Once, there was great darkness and the memories and residual pain of that darkness sometimes emerge…

Originally posted in Kings River Life “At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid.” – John 19:41 It was early in the morning, very early indeed. There was no alarm to awaken them. They dutifully arose and…

March 29, 2009 at 2:18am   "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it…

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash Poets seldom finish a thought. That is a good thing. They rarely wrap up an idea, tie a ribbon on it, and send it off in a package. They hand you unfinished projects and open-ended musings. They trust you. They do not purport to be wise, only observant. They are not purveyors…