Fall Creek Christian Church

"One day some parents brought their children to Jesus to touch them and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them,'Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.'" Mark 10 13-14 There are moments in our lives where we wish we could get a redo. A little tweak here and there and it would have been a much better experience for everyone. There are other moments however, that move way passed simple regret. These are the memories we beg God to erase. We hope every morning that we'll wake up to find out they were only a bad dream. We didn't really say or do that. It never truly happened, did it? Yet, with soul crushing clarity, we remember it did. This scene was one of those times for the disciples. I believe this to be true because I've done the same thing. They stood betw...

"He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. ... And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. ..." Matthew 13:54-58 As I hear some of the tales from my youngest as she continues to plow her way through college, I experience flashbacks to my time in the collegiate experience. Yes, the papers, exams, group projects, labs and way too long lectures. I remember walking out of many testing rooms quite pleased with my efforts. "Nailed it!", I'd say to myself. Later, when the test results were posted, however, it was quite clear I didn't have a clue.    As Jesus' ministry was really picking up steam, he paid a visit home. He taught. He did miracles. The hometown folks weren't impressed. Just a few years ago, he was playing with the other kids. He worked his daddy's trade. His sisters, his brothers, and mother were there. He's just the kid who grew up next door. They knew him ... or did they? Jesus, as the unique God-man, is b...

"O Lord, please rescue me from my brother, Esau. I am afraid that he is coming to kill me, along with my wives and children. But you promised to treat me kindly and to multiply my descendants until they become as numerous as the sands along the seashore ... Don't be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Genesis 32:11-12, Matthew 10:28 As we waited for the doctors in the consultation room, Mandy and I talked nervously, prayed, and felt our hearts jump out of our chests when the door finally opened. The focus of this particular doctor conversation centered around our infant daughter, specifically, a heart defect that could only be corrected through surgery. It was a new and fierce fear for us to face. We chose to trust God and put her in his hands. Thankfully, he gave her back. Jacob was afraid. His brother Esau had determined many years ago to ...

"So Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife.(This happened ten years after had settled in the land of Canaan.) So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt." Genesis 16:4-5 The solution was obvious as far as I was concerned. If we were going to avoid bottoming out in the shallow water, we needed to get our canoe right up to the bank where the current was flowing fast and the water was deeper. The problem with my idea was that "right up to the bank" involved encountering substantial tree limbs followed by a large splash. All could have been avoided with a more patient examination. Sarai looked around at the reality of the situation, her barrenness and Abram with no heir, and identified the obvious and common solution in their world of having a servant carry a child for Abram. Apparently, Abram tho...