I love Easter! I am always drawn into reflecting on Jesus and the meaning of the cross and the hope of resurrection. Every year, I feel the clear sense that it’s happening all over again as Spring reemerges with the new life, color and scents of a renewed earth. This coming Easter Weekend, April 22-24, 2011, we’ll have special events … Read More
Does the Old Testament Contradict the New?
Q: Leviticus 11 mentions “unclean” foods that we should not eat, but Mark 7 says that it is not what goes “in” that makes a man unclean but what comes “out” of his heart. Why do the Old and New Testaments contradict each other? Interesting question! This was turned in to me via email and asks an appropriate question that … Read More
Girls’ Night Out
Girls Night Out is coming to our church this Sunday evening, April 10, 2011 at 6:00, and I hope that a lot of our First Assembly ladies are able to attend! This is an event opportunity for our church to host. First, it is a chance to bring ladies from around Lafayette together. If you’ve been looking for an event … Read More
Visioneering Summarized
The following post brings together the four significant parts of our strategic plan: Core Values, Mission, Vision, and Goals.We have identified five Core Values: Discover, Experience, Relate, Serve, and Grow. I might talk about them in the following ways:Discover: This value expresses our desire to be a church where everyone on the spectrum between unbeliever and mature believer has the … Read More
Visioneering, part 2
A couple weeks back I posted a blog called, “Visioneering“. It was one of the most well-read blogs I have written up to this point! I planned when I wrote it that I would visit the four components of the strategic plan we’ve written for First Assembly here. Next Sunday, April 3 at 6:30PM, we’ll be having the first of … Read More
Chronological Order of the Bible’s Story
Q: What is the chronological order of the Bible? Why is it not written in that order? A: In response to this question, submitted by email for our Q Sunday event on February 6, 2011, we can look to something Jesus said, that gives us a way to remember the chronological order of the Old Testament. Luke 11:51a–Jesus said, “from … Read More
What Happens Here
Las Vegas owns the line: “What Happens Here, Stays Here”. Of course, it’s the kind of promise that can’t be kept but is comfort to carousers of all kinds. It’s the idea that you can be as crazy as you like in Las Vegas–gambling, drinking, etc., etc., and no one will ever find out. I guess Sin City’s never heard … Read More
Giving toward the Japanese Crisis
A number of people have inquired about how they can help with victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Beyond praying for Japan and the many victims there, here are some links for you. First of all, you can learn more about the scope of the tragedy and learn about the response of Convoy of Hope, a Christian organization … Read More
Mission of Mercy Results and Other Missions News
What a fantastic weekend at First Assembly here in Lafayette, Indiana! I thought I would quickly post here the results of the child sponsorship campaign that took place here this weekend in our Sunday worship services. 87 children were sponsored! This is in addition to the dozens of children that are already faithfully sponsored by people in our church who … Read More
The Adjustment Bureau and Angelic Speculation
1 Peter 1:10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 … Read More