Thoughts from our Pastors

Reflections on Kobe Bryant's Death Like the rest of America I was both shocked and saddened to hear the news that Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and 7 other passengers died tragically in a helicopter crash last Sunday afternoon in Calabassas, California. As I listened to the ESPN reporters and guests trying to make sense of it all, one of the themes that emerged was h...

Our daughter Maddie, a college senior, was stressing about her serious lack of funds over Christmas break. She had an appendectomy on December 1st and due to complications post-surgery she wasn't able to work all month. I kept telling her, "The Lord knows what you need." And then I would anxiously pray, "Lord, HELP!" The Scriptures tell us that we walk by faith and not by ...

We were created for community. And we need to be in healthy community in order to grow and become the people God calls us to be. But when we isolate and pull away from community there are serious consequences. Here are at least four consequences of not being in community: Lost perspective When we live isolated lives we have no outside objective voice to speak into our li...

Wonderful. Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace. Grand Arsonist? No. Jesus did not come to set fire to the Roman Empire. He was concerned with stoking the flames in our hearts. He does this by being Immanuel when we read God's word. This Advent season we have focused on what Immanuel, God with us, means for us. Immanuel means hope, peace, joy, and l...

We've heard of the three wise men, but have you heard of the three wise women? Check out this post from Canon J. John to find out who they are. In any sort of drama production lighting is important, with the spotlight falling on the important characters and everybody else hidden in the shadows. Modern life is a little bit like that. Some people are never out of the spotli...

Jesus coming to earth means that God is both truthful and trustworthy. Jesus is literally living proof that God can be trusted. Romans 15:8 tells us that Christ came "to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs". In these first two weeks of Advent we've looked at two different prophecies in the book of Isaiah. Both of them were ulti...

Last week's blog post mentioned that the Advent season was not practiced by the church until well into the 4th century and that the date of Christ's birth is impossible to identify with sufficient accuracy.Paul didn't celebrate the birth of Jesus. Peter didn't celebrate the birth of Jesus. The question that comes to mind, then, iswhycelebrate Christmas today? For over 200...

This Sunday we will light our first Advent candle at Pathway. As we prepare for this special season in the church calendar, here's some of the story behind Advent. The exact date when Advent began is impossible to determine. Even though Jesus Christ was not born on December 25th, this date was chosen because the December Solstice is the darkest day of the year in the nort...

Next Thursday we will gather around tables set with great food to celebrate Thanksgiving. Many of us will find ourselves seated next to people we rarely see or hardly know. In these kind of situations, meaningful conversation is often difficult. Here are some questions designed to spark not only conversation, but also dialogue relevant to the season. I want to encourage ...