focus on faith

Hands on the bible

Focus on Faith – Being different is a gift

Growing up in Central Illinois I became part of a feud that is prevalent here. I am not talking about the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s, although maybe there are feuds between families in this part of the world. I am talking about the Cubs verses the Cardinals. Baseball season is upon us and the rivalry is out there in full force. I happen to be a Cub fan, which does not necessarily have the biggest fan base around here. With St. Louis being closer than Chicago, the Cardinals manage to gain the most support amongst my fellow Central Illinoisans. But I grew up a Cub fan with my Grandmother and Dad watching the Cubs faithfully.

Bible and lily

Focus on Faith – The Power of the Resurrection

The mark of a true disciple of Christ is a changed life. If we truly are committed to following Christ and patterning our lives after Him, we will be changed. 

A week ago was Good Friday, and then comes Easter. Good Friday is a difficult day for those who love the Lord. It is a day of remembering the great and awful sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross on our behalf. The bible teaches that Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for our sin and that if we put our faith and trust in Him, we will have eternal life. That is the message of John 3: 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.”

bible and cross

Focus on Faith – I give up my life freely

I met a friend in college who was ahead of the curve, he already had two sons. Two-year-old twin boys, who were a handful to say the least. Unfortunately, shortly after meeting this friend, he was divorced. His wife maintained custody, but he had the boys every other weekend.

Hands on the bible

Focus on Faith – Are We Limiting God in Our Lives?

Psalm 78:41-42-41; “Yes, again and again they tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel. 42 They did not remember His power: the day when He redeemed them from the enemy.”

In the above scriptures we see the nation of Israel turning away from serving God. They were determined to return to Egypt, even after God had brought them out with many signs and wonders. They tempted him again and again and by doing so they limited the Holy One of Israel. In other words, they were setting a limit to the power of God.

Bible and lily

Focus on Faith – “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

One of the most compelling episodes leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion is His moment of struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane. At the core of each telling (Matthew 26:36ff, Mark 14:32ff, Luke 39ff) is the petition from the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Jesus very clearly applies this simple request to the difficulty of the cross that stands before Him. So we learn to pray this prayer when God places crosses before us. 

bible and cross

Focus on Faith – Being patient is not easy

How many times daily do you look at your watch?  I’m guessing quite a few.  We live in the day and age where time seems to be slipping away and we get so impatient about everything. Patience is so difficult in our culture because we feel like we have so many things to do. We are always trying to figure out how to cram more and more things into less and less time. And that means that we allow less and less time for things that are important. We don’t want to waste time because we feel the pressure of all we think we have to get done. 

Hands on the bible

Focus on Faith – Temptation and Trust

On February 14th we embarked upon the period known as Lent. During Lent Christians all across the globe sacrifice something to symbolize what Christ gave up in His desert testing. 

Scriputre says in Luke chapter 4 that Jesus was “led by the Spirit” to go into the wilderness immediately after His baptism. 

Luke’s gospel also says he was tempted by the devil for 40 days and he ate nothing during those days. At the end of those days, he was hungry and exhausted and now we find beginning in the 3rd verse of Luke chapter 4 the devil engages in a time of severe testing of Jesus.

Bible and lily

Focus on Faith – A Gift That Can Change Our World: Compassion

Many challenges have presented themselves to us over the past few years. Some of those include finding ways to respond to the economic challenges, global warming, natural disasters at home and around the world to name just a few. If we are not careful, it would be easy for us to become so entangled in how to meet the larger challenges of life, that we miss the everyday opportunities to produce change in our own world. One of the ways to produce that change is through channeling a portion of ourselves into others through acts of compassion. 

Hands on the bible

Focus on Faith – What can you do to bring Glory to God this Lent?

I have yet to hear a parishioner say, “Lent is my favorite time of year.” I hear that sentiment about spring or fall or Christmastime and especially summer. Those rank among people’s favorite ‘times,’ but not Lent. At least it hasn’t been verbalized it to me.

bible and cross

Focus on Faith – The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The average Christian is afraid of at least one book in the Bible: Revelation. The visions given to St. John of the Beast and the Dragon are startling, but really we are taken aback by the wholesale destruction of the earth. Plagues, stars falling, Death riding a pale horse. These images are a far cry from Jesus carrying a sheep in His arms or God helping us to mount up with wings like eagles. Nevertheless, I assure you, the book of Revelation wasn’t meant to scare or terrify us. It was written to do the exact opposite: comfort us.