Pastor Tom's Community

Powered by
WordPress
Powered by
WordPress

  • The Plain Path

    The Plain Paths and Perfect Passages Psalm 27:11 – “Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.” Consider how you have come to where you are in life. Reflect on your path and the bridges you have crossed on the way to today. Contrary to newsworthy…

  • Blood and Remission

    “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” – Hebrews 9:22 Every function of creation points to the center of God’s truth. The body teaches us lessons about how the Body of Christ functions in the exercise of spiritual gifts and ministry. Every relationship…

  • Salt and Light

    Gospel of Matthew 5:13–20 Jesus calls his followers “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.” Both images speak of identity and purpose. Salt preserves, heals, and brings flavor. Light reveals, guides, and gives life. Neither exists for itself; both exist for the sake of others. Jesus warns that salt which loses…

  • To You, I Called

    A Prayer in Response to Psalm 30 Our Father in heaven, on this day of worship and praise, of remembrance and reflection,we come to acknowledge that you are God.You are above us.Your ways are not our ways; your thoughts are not our thoughts,just as the heavens are higher than the earth. And yet, you do…

  • Psalm 31 — My Times Are in Your Hand

    Psalm 31 meets us precisely there. “Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;my eye is wasted from grief;my soul and my body also.” (Psalm 31:9) This is not polished prayer. It is honest prayer.The psalmist speaks from inside weakness, grief, and pressure, trusting that God does not require pretense in order…

  • I Need a Prayer Song—and I Need It Now (Psalm 38)

    Sometimes the heart insists: “I need a prayer song—and I need it now.” Psalm 38 is a template of timely prayer for anyone who has suffered or is suffering. It gives voice and emotion to the cry of the heart that struggles to emerge. It holds a mirror before our souls so that we can…

  • Casting Cares

    I Peter 5:7:  “…Casting all your cares upon Him, for He careth for you.” Imagine yourself adrift upon a sea of trouble, tossed furiously by its waves and sinking under the load of care. Along comes Jesus inviting you to cast every care upon Him and guide your ship into the current of His protective…

  • Beatitude People: Learning to Hear a Different Rhythm

    Lately, my preaching, writing, and teaching have kept circling back to the same place: a hillside where Jesus sat down, looked at ordinary people, and began not with commands, but with blessing. The Beatitudes are familiar to many of us. We’ve heard them read, preached, and quoted. But familiarity can sometimes dull their force. What…

  • Biblical Foundations of Authority

    (Creation, Covenant, and Order) A Work in Progress Note, I prepared this as the beginning of a position paper and working document rationale for Facebook and my other platforms. Biblical authority is grounded first in creation, not coercion. Authority emerges as a means of ordering life toward flourishing, not as a license for domination. From…

  • The Case of the Fallen Face

    Genesis 4 offers a striking image: Cain was angry, and his countenance fell. Scripture does not explain why his offering was rejected, but it does show us what happened next—God spoke to Cain, questioned him, and warned him. Disappointment was not yet disqualification, and the story had not yet reached its tragic turn. In this…