Woodland Friends Church

What are you waiting for? Wherever you’re at, whatever you’re facing, if there is angst, questions, fears, unknowns, uncertainties, but what are you waiting for? It’s safe to land. It’s safe to head for shore. God has promised it, He is faithful, it’s all on Him, it’s not on you - what are you waiting for?

What are you waiting for? Wherever you’re at, whatever you’re facing, if there is angst, questions, fears, unknowns, uncertainties, but what are you waiting for? It’s safe to land. It’s safe to head for shore. God has promised it, He is faithful, it’s all on Him, it’s not on you - what are you waiting for?

Bad weather. Contrary winds. Difficulties. Maybe it comes in the form of advice, people you know and love constantly saying, “Hey what are you doing?” Maybe it comes in the form of continued bad consequences, that if you thought about it - you could fix? “Why can’t I pay the bills off every two weeks?” When you’re subscribed to things you don’t really need, paying for things that are more wants th...

Bad weather. Contrary winds. Difficulties. Maybe it comes in the form of advice, people you know and love constantly saying, “Hey what are you doing?” Maybe it comes in the form of continued bad consequences, that if you thought about it - you could fix? “Why can’t I pay the bills off every two weeks?” When you’re subscribed to things you don’t really need, paying for things that are more wants th...

Paul has used his trial to bear witness to Christ, who He is and what He does. To this truth, we see in this passage five responses to Christ. We will see Paul’s, we will see Devout Angry Jews’ response, we will see Fetus’s response, Agrippa’s response, and then, I sum up the thinking between Festus and Agrippa as the world’s response. How do YOU respond?

Paul has used his trial to bear witness to Christ, who He is and what He does. To this truth, we see in this passage five responses to Christ. We will see Paul’s, we will see Devout Angry Jews’ response, we will see Fetus’s response, Agrippa’s response, and then, I sum up the thinking between Festus and Agrippa as the world’s response. How do YOU respond?

You ever have those questions? Like, not only, “How did I get here today, to church,” but how did I get here, in life, generally speaking? For Paul, we see Festus's reasoning for his being "here," Paul's own reasons for how he got to where he was in life, until Christ confronted Him with His reasons as to why Paul is here.

You ever have those questions? Like, not only, “How did I get here today, to church,” but how did I get here, in life, generally speaking? For Paul, we see Festus's reasoning for his being "here," Paul's own reasons for how he got to where he was in life, until Christ confronted Him with His reasons as to why Paul is here.

I wonder if following Jesus ever looks like this to you? You follow Him, and it feels like the more closer you try to follow Him, the more animosity you run into. The more you take Jesus at His word, the more people grow a little more frustrated with you, because if you take Jesus at His Word, it’s going to make life different in the world. This world of rebels. The world’s ways aren’t God’s ways....

I wonder if following Jesus ever looks like this to you? You follow Him, and it feels like the more closer you try to follow Him, the more animosity you run into. The more you take Jesus at His word, the more people grow a little more frustrated with you, because if you take Jesus at His Word, it’s going to make life different in the world. This world of rebels. The world’s ways aren’t God’s ways....

“Oh Pastor, the world’s evil. Here’s all these websites about all the junk that’s happening. And a war’s coming. And are you prepped and ready? And look at that evil cabal, they’re taking over the world,” Okay. So what? Like literally, what can you or I do about that? “Well do you have a verse Pastor? Tell me you have a verse!” Yeah. Cease from anger. Abandon wrath. Do not get upset.

“Oh Pastor, the world’s evil. Here’s all these websites about all the junk that’s happening. And a war’s coming. And are you prepped and ready? And look at that evil cabal, they’re taking over the world,” Okay. So what? Like literally, what can you or I do about that? “Well do you have a verse Pastor? Tell me you have a verse!” Yeah. Cease from anger. Abandon wrath. Do not get upset.

With many storms of life surrounding Paul, one verse in this section shows the Lighthouse that he kept his gaze fixed on. It guided him safely to shore.

With many storms of life surrounding Paul, one verse in this section shows the Lighthouse that he kept his gaze fixed on. It guided him safely to shore.

Here’s what I felt the Lord saying through this passage. When it’s easy to come to this Holy Day of Easter, shrouded in tradition, routine, ritual. I feel the Lord wants us to hear urgency. When it would feel more comfortable to go through the plans and schedules. For me: sunrise service, breakfast Potluck, church, easter eggs and so forth. I felt the Lord speak to me out of this passage to say, “...

Here’s what I felt the Lord saying through this passage. When it’s easy to come to this Holy Day of Easter, shrouded in tradition, routine, ritual. I feel the Lord wants us to hear urgency. When it would feel more comfortable to go through the plans and schedules. For me: sunrise service, breakfast Potluck, church, easter eggs and so forth. I felt the Lord speak to me out of this passage to say, “...

"You intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” Says the High Priest to Peter and the Apostles. It’s interesting that they’re shocked by this accusation. There's quite an ironic statement from the crowds outside Pilate’s Praetorium. The crowds, I should say, according to Matthew 27:20 who are stirred and instigated by the Sanhedrin and High Priest. We heard "all the people answer Pilate, “His bloo...

"You intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” Says the High Priest to Peter and the Apostles. It’s interesting that they’re shocked by this accusation. There's quite an ironic statement from the crowds outside Pilate’s Praetorium. The crowds, I should say, according to Matthew 27:20 who are stirred and instigated by the Sanhedrin and High Priest. We heard "all the people answer Pilate, “His bloo...

Christ turned over tables at the Temple and upset the religious order. He did that the day after Palm Sunday according to Matthew Mark and Luke. Paul symbolically is doing the same thing. Paul’s imprisoned for what happened at the Temple. However, in his court battles he’s managed to turn the tables. He’s turned the tables on the Sanhedrin because he’s exploited their animosity towards him and eac...

Christ turned over tables at the Temple and upset the religious order. He did that the day after Palm Sunday according to Matthew Mark and Luke. Paul symbolically is doing the same thing. Paul’s imprisoned for what happened at the Temple. However, in his court battles he’s managed to turn the tables. He’s turned the tables on the Sanhedrin because he’s exploited their animosity towards him and eac...

Assistant Supt. Alan Weinacht of the NWYM of Friends joins Woodland Friends to share "Worship as Witness."

Assistant Supt. Alan Weinacht of the NWYM of Friends joins Woodland Friends to share "Worship as Witness."

Suppose someone, instead of gluing themself before the TV or computer screen or phone and ingesting tons of Fox News, Newsmax, CNN, or whatever people watch, that this person instead lived for the day that another country that was indeed their true "home away from home" became accessible? What if their emotions, their heartstrings, everything they were and are was immersed in that other country? I...

Suppose someone, instead of gluing themself before the TV or computer screen or phone and ingesting tons of Fox News, Newsmax, CNN, or whatever people watch, that this person instead lived for the day that another country that was indeed their true "home away from home" became accessible? What if their emotions, their heartstrings, everything they were and are was immersed in that other country? I...

As Paul of Tarsus once held the cloaks of those who murdered Stephen. Here we are again, people are throwing off their cloaks but this time not to lay at the feet of Saul, but to persecute Saul himself!