Woodland Friends Church

Paul...Timothy...Epaphroditus: all were laborers with the church in Philippi, and Paul finds joy in each one's labor one way or another. It begs us to examine ourselves and ask: are we laboring for the Lord, because if we are, we can take unrelenting joy from that!

Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish!" Because what was the vision for the Israelites? The Promised Land! That’s what keeps people going! Hebrews 11 tells us about the faithful remnant, they were seeking a city! That’s why they were able to leave their own homelands, work to deliver Israelites from nations! There was a vision! So, “Do everything without complaining or...

Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish!" Because what was the vision for the Israelites? The Promised Land! That’s what keeps people going! Hebrews 11 tells us about the faithful remnant, they were seeking a city! That’s why they were able to leave their own homelands, work to deliver Israelites from nations! There was a vision! So, “Do everything without complaining or...

There’s a reason the Trinity is a tricky doctrine. There’s an element of mystery and faith. This is what we mean when we say Jesus is fully God, and fully man. Both identities, both natures are fully expressed when describing Jesus. And some say, some wonder, “Well do I really need to hold to this doctrine, the Trinity?” The Trinity is not even in the Bible. The word, or even a word, period, that...

There’s a reason the Trinity is a tricky doctrine. There’s an element of mystery and faith. This is what we mean when we say Jesus is fully God, and fully man. Both identities, both natures are fully expressed when describing Jesus. And some say, some wonder, “Well do I really need to hold to this doctrine, the Trinity?” The Trinity is not even in the Bible. The word, or even a word, period, that...

This is going to sound odd coming from a pastor, but it’s true, and it needs to be said: God’s plan for you is not church on Sundays, Scriptures every day, but then you have the rest of the time to do what you want to do. And thank God this is true, or else I’d get bored following Him! Right? How would my sons feel if I told them, “Listen, I can give you 2-3 hours one day a week, and maybe 45 minu...

This is going to sound odd coming from a pastor, but it’s true, and it needs to be said: God’s plan for you is not church on Sundays, Scriptures every day, but then you have the rest of the time to do what you want to do. And thank God this is true, or else I’d get bored following Him! Right? How would my sons feel if I told them, “Listen, I can give you 2-3 hours one day a week, and maybe 45 minu...

How do I get the relaxation and contentment of the vacation environment, vacation mind, into the mode and swing of every-day anxiety living, right? Is that possible, or is that against the rules?

How do I get the relaxation and contentment of the vacation environment, vacation mind, into the mode and swing of every-day anxiety living, right? Is that possible, or is that against the rules?

The picture that we get in Mark 5 is among the most despairing, anguishing, pictures the Gospel, if not the Bible depicts. Christ is the hope in these sorts of places. That should bring us refreshing, redeeming hope.

The picture that we get in Mark 5 is among the most despairing, anguishing, pictures the Gospel, if not the Bible depicts. Christ is the hope in these sorts of places. That should bring us refreshing, redeeming hope.

When Jesus is approached by the Pharisees, who love nice, neat, categories, black and white boxes, and is asked about a controversial topic, does Jesus give a nice, polished, clean, answer? Or does He speak to something greater about that topic?

When Jesus is approached by the Pharisees, who love nice, neat, categories, black and white boxes, and is asked about a controversial topic, does Jesus give a nice, polished, clean, answer? Or does He speak to something greater about that topic?

The context, is not a crazed, foreign, long-dead and gone Rabbi who we profess as risen, yes, but then marginally, abstractly, believe that His Words are also meant for us, thousands of years removed, no the context is, this is the Word become flesh, speaking through His Word with a very confrontational, personal question, “Life or death? Purpose or pain? Full or empty? Alive or asleep?” What is i...

The context, is not a crazed, foreign, long-dead and gone Rabbi who we profess as risen, yes, but then marginally, abstractly, believe that His Words are also meant for us, thousands of years removed, no the context is, this is the Word become flesh, speaking through His Word with a very confrontational, personal question, “Life or death? Purpose or pain? Full or empty? Alive or asleep?” What is i...

Sadly, Jesus judges that the world not only doesn't know Him, but hates Him, and hates the Father. He says His people can expect a similar opposition. What does this look like, and what do we do with that?

Sadly, Jesus judges that the world not only doesn't know Him, but hates Him, and hates the Father. He says His people can expect a similar opposition. What does this look like, and what do we do with that?

For the true-hearted Christian, following Christ and the Scriptures, a believer should be a self-denying, Christ-exalting, disciple-making, God-glorifying, righteousness-hungering, mission-pursuing follower of God, and that should occupy his or her time. And what would that person have in common with a self-indulging, Satan-admiring, evildoer-applauding, God-offending, passions-pursuing, lost pers...

For the true-hearted Christian, following Christ and the Scriptures, a believer should be a self-denying, Christ-exalting, disciple-making, God-glorifying, righteousness-hungering, mission-pursuing follower of God, and that should occupy his or her time. And what would that person have in common with a self-indulging, Satan-admiring, evildoer-applauding, God-offending, passions-pursuing, lost pers...

You and I are part of a holy nation. We don’t need physical, visible, tangible symbols, signs, or people in leadership. There needs to be no immediate substitution or representative standing in the way of Jesus. He’s our Risen, Lord and Savior. Right in our faith and practice, I’m personally glad it says under our doctrine on the Church, “Its head is Jesus Christ, who serves immediately as priest...

You and I are part of a holy nation. We don’t need physical, visible, tangible symbols, signs, or people in leadership. There needs to be no immediate substitution or representative standing in the way of Jesus. He’s our Risen, Lord and Savior. Right in our faith and practice, I’m personally glad it says under our doctrine on the Church, “Its head is Jesus Christ, who serves immediately as priest...

You think Paul got tired? It’s an unpopular message. It divides people. It’s almost like an entire world opposes Christians. You think Paul was tempted to say, “Forget this.” Why am I taking stonings? Why am I going from trial to trial? Why am I getting into fights with people who disagree with me and end up hating me? If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, right? You ever get there? Like, thanks Jesus....

You think Paul got tired? It’s an unpopular message. It divides people. It’s almost like an entire world opposes Christians. You think Paul was tempted to say, “Forget this.” Why am I taking stonings? Why am I going from trial to trial? Why am I getting into fights with people who disagree with me and end up hating me? If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, right? You ever get there? Like, thanks Jesus....

I heard another Pastor’s message this week, wherein someways he peeled back the layers for us to see - what we all know - who’s behind our cultural moral spiral. Why are people acting evil? Oh, because there are demonic powers at play. And it was hard to miss, and it was just - I don’t know how to put it - downright disturbing. Scary. Haunting. And so, it certainly caused me to consider my own pas...

I heard another Pastor’s message this week, wherein someways he peeled back the layers for us to see - what we all know - who’s behind our cultural moral spiral. Why are people acting evil? Oh, because there are demonic powers at play. And it was hard to miss, and it was just - I don’t know how to put it - downright disturbing. Scary. Haunting. And so, it certainly caused me to consider my own pas...