 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17
My favorite time of the day is at about 6:45 each morning when Deb and I sit in our sunroom, sip our coffees, and read and discuss the Bible together. The past few weeks we have been focusing on the books of the Old Testament that were written after the exile to Babylon, and tell of the return to Jerusalem - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. These books are seldom read in worship and seldom studied in Bible class. To be honest, they are books that I know the least about. Yet as we read them, we could see God at work in the lives of the people who returned from exile as they rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem, and how the prophets Haggai and Zecheraiah spoke God’s words of encouragement to them when they began to doubt. We saw God using a trusted member of the Persian King Darius’ court, Nehemiah, to return to Jerusalem decades later to lead the people to rebuild the walls amid the physical and political threats against them. Speaking of threats, we saw how God delivered His chosen people from potential extermination through a young woman that was queen “for such a time as this.” But what I am finding most amazing is how many direct pointing forward to Jesus in these books! From the preservation of God’s people through whom the Messiah would come, to the restoration of the temple which points forward to a greater temple (the church) which the Messiah would build for all nations to enter, to the Branch which will fulfill the priestly AND kingly offices (BTW - the Branch is Jesus!). Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets - the whole Old Testament. It points forward to Him, and what He would do for you and for me. It’s not simply a history of God’s chosen people, but of God fulfilling His plan of salvation for the world, fulfilled in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. During this Lent, as we focus on the promises of the Old Testament, we see Jesus throughout, and it helps us to see the work of Jesus for each of us more clearly. I’ll see you in worship! Pastor Cory
0 Comments
 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8
Our God is sufficient in ALL things. From His unconditional grace shown to us through Jesus, to His ever-presence with us, to His care and provision showered upon us continually, we have all sufficiency in all things. This applies to us as individuals, and to us as a congregation. We know that our God will provide for all our needs. As a congregation, we work to be good managers of that which we have been given, in order that we might best be able to make disciples utilizing all that we have been blessed with. We are currently facing a couple challenges fiscally. First, the offerings have been down a little from what was expected. Second, our support for ILS was significantly more than expected. And finally, the increase in minimum wage has greatly impacted the daycare’s ability to break even. What are we doing to address the shortfall? We are looking at ways we might be able to cut back on expenses, and we are making changes where possible. Also, with the upcoming renovation changes to the education area, the daycare will be able to be expanded which will move it towards being financially balanced within 18 months while still providing quality childcare for our community. There are ways the congregation can help as well. The last Sunday of February will be our first-ever First Steps appreciation weekend. We plan to have the daycare kids sing for the congregation, a staff recognition, and a brunch after service with proceeds supporting First Steps. Another way to help is by applying for a Thrivent Choice card to help with different projects they have which will help lower costs. Let me know if you’d like to apply and I will help you with it. I also challenge each person during the season of Lent to forgo one thing each week (or day), and to give that amount as extra in your offering. By simply cutting out one lunch out each week, or your medium raspberry-white-chocolate-hot-latte-with-half-flavor-and-half-caff (Deb) or large medium roast coffee and breakfast sandwich (me), or that bottle of pop each morning, we could be move closer to eliminating our deficit. God is sufficient. He has and will continue to provide for our needs. He has provided: forgiveness, grace, wisdom, and resources. May He guide us all to trust in His sufficiency in all things. In His Peace, Pastor Cory But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. Luke 2:19  It was my first year in ministry. After the Christmas Day service was over we packed up the minivan and started the seven-hour drive to my parents’ home. We thought that we would eat Christmas dinner on the road at some fast-food place. The one thing we didn’t consider was that most fast-food places are closed on Christmas Day. We took some detours trying to find anything open, finally ended up having our Christmas dinner at a gas station enjoying microwaved burritos and cold sandwiches. But our kids thought it was an adventure. We hopped in the van for the rest of the drive laughing about our wonderful(?) Christmas dinner!
When we were about an hour from my parents’ home, we were having a great family discussion when I saw blue lights in my rearview mirror. I was being pulled over for speeding on Christmas Eve day on the South Dakota Interstate. The patrolman gave me a warning, told me to drive safely, and we were on our way driving the speed limit and showing up to my parents an hour late. A longer than expected drive, eating gas station food, and getting pulled over. What a Christmas Day! Yet 20 years later, this is one of the best Christmas memories for our family. Mary had been through a lot! From the appearing of the angel giving her the life changing news that she would give birth to God's own Son, to the shame that was placed on her by others when they learned she was pregnant before she was married, to the long travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem in the last weeks of her pregnancy because of some government mandate, to not having a place to stay in Bethlehem, to having unexpected guests show up to see the new baby shortly after it was born. It had been a long, difficult, nine months. “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” She pondered that God was up to something great. She pondered that this child she gave birth to was sent from God and was God in the flesh. She pondered that God's promise salvation had come into the world! Sometime following the busyness of Christmas, I encourage you to take some time to ponder. Ponder what God did for the world 2000 years ago. Ponder what God has done for you in Christ through the waters of baptism bringing you into His family. Ponder what God will do through you as you raise your family, live in your community, at your job. Ponder even the difficulties you face and how He is at work through them to reveal His goodness and glory to you and others. My son and his wife that live in Alabama will be making a Christmas Day drive to our place. I pray that it all goes well, that they don’t have to eat gas station burritos or get pulled over for speeding. Most of all, I pray that during the drive, they ponder together the great things our God has done for them and all people through Jesus our Savior! In His Peace, Pastor Cory  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32
The past few months my article has focused on a phrase from Ephesians 4:15, “Speak the truth in love” emphasizing a different word each month. This verse describes how we should communicate with others we might disagree with. We are to speak, face-to-face, out of love for the other person. This month the emphasis is “truth,” the middle and most important word. The truth we are to speak in love is to be absolute truth, not opinion, not “spin”, not what we want to be true, but the truth that is found in the Word of God. And to know the truth in God’s Word we need to read, hear, and study His Word. Often I hear people speak something as from the Bible even though it is not there! This is not usually purposeful, but simply because we don’t know any better. The way to fix this is to know the truth by knowing God’s Word. And we know the Bible by spending time reading and discussing it with others. Beginning in January, I will be starting a training session on how to read the Bible to understand God’s truth, and how to communicate that truth with others. I invite you all to attend in order that you might recognize the truths of God from the lies of the world. As the New Year is right around the corner, I encourage you to start 2026 in the truth of God’s Word so you will be able to speak the TRUTH in love, so that others might know the truth that sets them free! In His Peace, Pastor Cory  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. Ephesians 4:15
Last month my focus was on the need to speak the truth in LOVE. Emphasizing that the purpose behind our talk of correction or rebuke should be cloaked in love for the other person. This month, I’m focusing on the first word, speak. When someone needs gentle correction, care-filled rebuke, or somewhere in between, it should always be spoken, face to face. I know, that’s not very easy to do. It’s much easier to sit behind a screen, or to message someone on a phone, or write a letter. It might be easier, but it is not the best way to confront a person. More importantly, it’s not the Biblical way! Matthew 18:15 states that if someone sins against us, we should go and speak directly to that person. Not to someone else, but to that person. Not writing a letter, nor a text, nor an email. But speak to them in person! Why? For many reasons. First, so that person can see your love and concern for them. Written communication usually does not convey emotions or feelings. Especially when writing difficult things. Next, face to face allows an opportunity for understanding between the two of you. Perhaps, you misinterpreted what someone did. Or maybe the other had some other thing behind the thing that was done to cause offense. Even if there was no misunderstanding, it allows for open dialogue to help the person see his or her sin (and us to see ours) so that reconciliation can happen, between the two of you, and between the other person and our Lord. Too often difficult communication happens electronically, not in person, causing greater hurt and division among all parties. Our God is not a god of division, but of unity - desiring us to be reconciled with each other. Divisiveness is a sign of an unhealthy church, where a healthy church is united in the truth. So speak the truth in love, in order that we all might grow in every way in Christ! In His Peace. Pastor Cory  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12
After two weeks of an amazing vacation in Turkiye and Greece (the first two week vacation in 20 years) I came back to Columbus exhausted physically, yet restored spiritually and emotionally. Within a few days of our return, Charlie Kirk was assassinated, there was a school shooting in Colorado where the shooter had become extremized on-line, and the remembrance of 9/11. The following week was filled with blame, name-calling, a murder in our town, 5 police officers shot in Pennsylvania (3 died), and numerous other heart breaking stories of loss and hate. I hurt for those affected by the evil and violence in the world. I hurt for our country as the divide becomes greater and greater. And I hurt for humanity, for we have forgotten what it means to be human and the importance of life. God created us in His own image, fashioning us out of the dust of the ground and breathing His Spirit into us. Even when mankind sinned, God responded with a promise of deliverance from the result of sin. And He kept his promise by sending His Son, Jesus, because He loved the world - all people. And He desires ALL people to believe in Jesus and live. I encourage and exhort each of us to look at people the way our God looks at them: as sinners needing forgiveness. Look beyond their words and their actions to a person that is loved by God needing His grace. As Paul writes in Ephesians 6, our struggle is not against other people, but the evil one leading them with his lies and hatred and violence. Yes, it is important for us to continue to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:5). Sometimes we forget the love part. We are to speak the truth not out of the need to be right, but because of our love for the other person, and that love should be evident in the words we speak and how we speak them. As Christians, we are set apart from the world by our love for our Savior and by our love for others. Yet we live in this world as witnesses of His love for us and for all. May our words be words of truth in LOVE to all people at all times. In His Peace, Pastor Cory  September has rolled around which means a new school year has started, harvest is just around the corner, and schedules begin to fill with numerous activities and opportunities. Springtime often marks a season of new beginnings, but in some ways, fall seems to as well. Maybe new beginnings scare you or maybe they excite you. Either way, new beginnings are a way to grow.
This fall we will have a new beginning of digging into God’s Word through the 30 day study, “God Speaks”. Whether you are frequently opening up the Word or unsure of where to start, God Speaks is a tool to help all believers learn more and grow in faith and knowledge. Based on 2nd Timothy 3:16-17, God Speaks will focus on these 4 foundations: Teaching, Rebuking, Correcting, and Training in Righteousness. Teaching: The Bible will give you an identity and a purpose Rebuking: It will help you distinguish between Satan’s lies and God’s Sweet promises Correcting: It is your compass and true north when things get dark and confusing Training in Righteousness: It allows you to witness Jesus’ saving work in the world Beginning on September 27th, we will join together as a church family to read through the daily studies and learn more of how “Scripture is our key to figuring out the truth.” Many of our church Connect Groups will also have weekly studies from September 28th through the month of October. You are invited to be a part of our 30 Bible Challenge to read your Bible! To order a copy of God Speaks and be a part of the church-wide study, email the church office at [email protected] or call at 402-564-8311. Books are $15. In Christ, Cami Hamer, DCE Director of Discipleship  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18
In the front yard of our home is a maple tree. When we moved 15 years ago, it was about seven feet tall and maybe three inches in diameter. Now, it’s over 30 feet tall and 18 inches in diameter. Each year it continues to grow, providing more shade for our home. That’s kind of what Peter is writing about for us as Christians. We are to continue to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Sometimes this is called growing in our faith, while other times it is simply known as discipleship - growing in being a follower of Jesus. So how do we grow in our discipleship? It starts in regular church attendance where we receive God’s good gifts through the Word and Sacrament, where we respond in song, and where we join together with other Christians in prayer and encouragement. Next, by studying God’s Word in a group and individually or as a family in daily devotions. The Holy Spirit works through the Word to guide us deeper into the truth and in our faith in our Savior. Discipleship is not just the “knowing” but is also the “showing” of the faith through service and generosity, using what we learn and believe to change us (by the power of the Holy Spirit) to help others whether in the church or in our community by giving of our abilities and resources to help others. We don’t do this so Jesus or others will like us, but simply because He already LOVES us and we want to love others as He loves us. Earlier this summer, the leaves of my maple tree were turning yellow and looking unhealthy. As an expert looked at it, they saw that it needed iron and gave it an infusion. At first, I was worried that it was dying, as some of the leaves were turning brown and drying up. However, that short term stress on the tree made it stronger and healthier - the leaves are now a deep green and it looks better than it has for a couple of years! While the tree would have continued to live, it would not have thrived as it is now without that intervention. Likewise, sometimes we need a reminder to reconnect with our God in a deeper way that we have been in the past. Sometimes struggles have pulled us away for a season when we fall out of the habit. Other times, we become too distracted by other things and slowly drift away. Whatever the reason, know that God is calling you back! I challenge you to “grow in grace and knowledge” this coming school year. Make worship a priority again. Join a Connect Group. Find some way to serve in the church or in the community. Recover the fullness of who God made you to be in Christ Jesus! In His Peace, Pastor Cory  Summer Homework?
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 On our flight to California for a wedding last month, I sat next to a mom and her early elementary age daughter. After we had boarded and before take off, the mom handed the daughter a little packet of summer homework she needed to finish. Of course, the girl wasn’t too excited to do homework; it was summer after all, and she was on her way to a surprise that she was sure would be Disney. My first reaction was “What a mean mom!” But after thinking about it a bit, my thinking changed to “What a wonderful mom!” She cared enough about her daughter that she wanted her to keep up with what she had learned in the previous year so she could be prepared for the years of education ahead. It also made me think about the importance of continuing to be connected to Jesus and His Church during the summer. It is so easy to want to take a break. After all, summer is time for vacation, baseball and softball, camping and time away. We all need rest. And on that one weekend we have nothing going on, it is so easy to do nothing including attending worship. Yet, without the regular practice of our faith - worship and Word - we waver, we lose sight of the One who is most important, and begin to fall into the bad habits of our sinful nature. Our children learn that physical rest is more important than the spiritual rest and forgiveness we receive in Christ, and that other things are more important than Him. As families we face busyness and the chaos it brings more than any other generation. This busyness is often full of good things, yet even these good things are used by the evil one to slowly lead us away from our true hope found in Jesus. I regularly remember the families of our congregation and community in my personal prayers and in our weekend prayers, that God would protect you and guide you each day, and that He would continue to draw you (and me) back to Himself, so the children are taught in every way the importance of remaining in Him not just now, but throughout life. Continue to enjoy this summer! Continue to be connected to Jesus in worship and Word for strength and hope now and always! In His Peace, Pastor Cory  We aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man.
2 Corinthians 8:21 The above passage has always intrigued me. Certainly if we behave in a manner honorably in the eyes of our perfect Lord, shouldn’t that be the level of accountability before man as well? Yes, it should - in a perfect world. But we live in a sin-filled, sinful world as saints and sinners. We are not perfect. We too often fall short of doing what is honorable in the Lord’s sight. As the Apostle Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, and to the contemporary church, the topic of this chapter is the offering the Corinthians have started to collect for the saints in Jerusalem who are going through a famine. Paul is assuring the church that as his delegation collects and takes that offering to those who are in need, all will be done in a way that is honorable in the sight of God and man. In other words, in a way that is honest and accountable. One of the policies of Peace is a Financial Controls Policy, which governs how we handle money in the church from the time it is collected and deposited, and paid and tracked. We don’t do this because we don’t trust our people. We do this so that all might be able to know the steps we take to ensure the way we handle money is with the greatest integrity. The board and the financial review team review the policy every year, and even this year we have made additional changes to better ensure that what we are doing is honorable in the sight of the Lord and in the sight of man. This and all policies are available for your review in the church office. One other note on finances: the summer months are always the most difficult months for our budget, as people head on vacations and family gatherings. Please remember to continue to support Peace in your absence, as the ministry of the church does not take a vacation and needs your continued support. One way to do this is by setting up regular, electronic giving simply by clicking on the “GIVE” tab at the top of this page. Please know that this, and every gift you give to Peace is handled in a way pleasing to God and accountable to you, the church. In His Peace, Pastor Cory |
