Fall Creek Christian Church

"All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the Lord. They brought all the materials needed for the tabernacle, for the performance of it's rituals, and for the sacred garments. Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing. They brought to the Lord their offerings of gold -- brooches, earrings, rings from their fingers, and necklaces. They presented gold objects of every kind as a special offering to the Lord." Exodus 35:21-22 As a parent of a Riley's Hospital baby, I find it very easy to donate when the clerks behind the counter ask if I'll donate my change or a dollar to Riley's. I don't know for sure what's done with that money. I've never taken the time to research the money trail. Our daughter was treated the best so I choose to simply assume the best and give. The love we were shown causes me to check my cynicism at the door. The people of Israel were invited to giv...

"The Jews insisted, 'We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.' When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. 'Where do you come from?' he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 'Do you refuse to speak to me?' Pilate asked. 'Don't you realize I have power to either free you or to crucify you?' Jesus answered, 'You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."  John 19:7-11 Feeling more than a little embarrassed as I handed my license and registration to the police officer, I wished I had been more attentive to what I was doing. Fortunately, he decided to give me a warning. Perhaps, it was the sight of my cute little girls sound asleep in the back that warmed his heart. I don't know for sure, but I am thankful that he didn't use his state giv...

“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away. My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath. ... And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you."  Psalm 39:4-5, 7 After waiting on hold for who knows how long and finally getting my question asked and answered, I said to myself, "Well, that's a part of my life I'll never get back." It's frustrating to see precious moments consumed by something not nearly as precious. I have noticed, however, that, by and large, I'm much less discerning of wasted time than I ought to be. David made it a point to ask God to remind him of life's brevity. David did not want to fall victim to the illusion of timelessness on this side of eternity. For David, the reality of a fast approaching end provided a deep motivation to tightly focus his life in one dire...

" Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God.   God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.   He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act." Exodus 2:23-25   There are at least three career options that are simply not an option for me - being a musician, a comic or a dancer. One of the many reasons why would boil down to one word ... timing. I can sink "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" and turn "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" into an eclipse. Knock Knock jokes have no chance. Now, if they ever launch a show, "Dancing With Those Who Have No Clue", I'm all in. As they say, timing is everything. Our verses for the day provide some Biblical support for the idea of timing. After the Israelites had languished in slavery for centuries, God knew that the time for him t...

"Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see,  and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. And this world is fading away along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever."  I John  2:15-17   I visited my doctor recently, my annual physical. I talked to her about this ache and this pain and how I used to be able to __________ (fill in the blank). "Well, you're getting a little older", she says. I've decided that I officially don't like getting older, watching my youth slowly fade away. Regardless, it's happening like it or not. All is fading away. John pointed out this reality in his letter with brutal clarity. All we crave, all we think we need to have, every experience that we d...

"...I have worked harder, been put in jail more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and day adrift at sea. I have traveled many weary miles. I have faced danger from flooded rivers and from robbers ... I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights. Often I have been hungry and thirsty and have gone without food. Often I have shivered with cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm." II Corinthians 11:23-27 As the thunder and rain continued to escalate as the night went on, it was clear that we were not going to be able to finish our camp-out under the stars. We had taken cover under a tarp covered pavilion, but the water was blowing in sideways and the ground was quickly becoming a little river. In the late hours of the night, the decision w...

"But Ruth replied, 'Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.'" Ruth 1:16-17 Just short of 24 years ago, my wife and I stood before God, friends and family, and each other and said, "I will." Little did either of us know the implications of those two little words. From my wife's perspective things like, "I will put up with your snoring, not to mention your too often junior high boy behavior." Other implications include: I will love you even when I do not like you. I will serve you. I will be kind to you. I will sacrifice myself for you. I will remain ever faithful to you. I will all of these and so much more regardless of whether you will or not. And finally, at...