Come To The Table

The scourge of “physician-assisted suicide” has been spreading through the world at a rapid pace.  As Christians, we know it’s wrong to take our own lives.  And we know it’s wrong for anyone – a medical professional or anyone else – to take someone else’s life.  But is it possible to assist someone else in committing “spiritual” suicide? Today, Pastor Mark illustrates from the tragic story of Sams...

Reflect for a moment on that deplorable modern tragedy known as “human trafficking”.  Now, imagine that a person who was a victim of such trafficking was somehow liberated from that bondage and was able to establish a free, happy, and prosperous life.  Do you think they would ever want to go back? Today, Pastor Mark explains that if you’re a Christian, you’ve been liberated from something even wor...

Most people have heard the story of Samson and Delilah.  And if nothing else, they know that somehow, she tricked Samson into telling her the secret of his great strength.  And then she brought in some of his enemies, and they captured him.  But how did he get into that position in the first place?  What went wrong? Today, Pastor Mark describes what he calls “The Samson Effect”.  It’s where you st...

I remember my son’s baseball coach would tell his fielders: “On every pitch, be saying to yourself: ‘hit it to me! hit it to me!’”.  Why did he say that?  Because he wanted them always to be ready.  So when the ball is hit to them, they’ll field it successfully and make a good play.  Confidence is a good thing! In today’s message, Pastor Mark doesn’t want to discourage confidence, but he does want...

How many times have you heard someone describe a situation they were in, and it was all somebody else’s fault?  “This other driver did such-and-such.”  “My boss is incompetent.”  “My parents did a bad job raising me.”  It’s much easier to blame someone else than it is to look at yourself honestly. Today, Pastor Mark explains that as long as you’re looking at somebody else, you’ll never solve the r...

Have you ever had someone ask you a really ridiculous question about God?  Something like “could God make a rock so big that He couldn’t pick it up?”  What’s at the bottom of this?  Is it someone’s sincere, genuine request for a better understanding of God?  Or is it really just a feeble attempt to dismiss Him? Today, Pastor Mark has another really ridiculous question that some Christians ask.  “I...

There are always plenty of things to worry about.  I won’t mention any right now, so you won’t start worrying about them.  But what, exactly, is “worry”?  It’s a feeling – yes.  But the feeling is only a symptom.  There’s a reason some people worry while others don’t, and it’s not primarily a personality trait. Today, Pastor Mark has an antidote for worry – and that’s transferring the problem up t...

You know it well… whether it’s from a video you’ve watched, or it was your own child… the moment you catch her with chocolate on her face, even though she didn’t eat that last donut. “No, daddy, I didn’t eat it. It must have been Rover.” Dad smirks and tries to keep his cool, knowing his little one is lying right to his face. In today’s message, Pastor Mark encourages us to be honest about things...

God created everyone with unique talents and gifts; Maybe sometimes you look at yourself and can’t see what yours is. You can see giftedness in others, especially when it’s something outward like musical or athletic ability. But keep looking, because there is something inside you that God wants to use for His glory. Today, Pastor Mark encourages us to use our passions and gifts for Christ.  Are yo...

My wife and I love to leave the windows open - to air out the house, especially in the fall and spring when the temperature is just right. However, as it gets into summer… that’s when the flies start to come in. At first, all of the buzzing is miserable, but after a while, it doesn’t seem to bother us as much anymore. In today’s message, Pastor Mark teaches that sin is kind of like those flies. At...

Spring cleaning is a much-needed time of the year. It’s a time to reflect on all the valuables we have, all the garbage we need to get rid of, and address the pile of things sitting on the counter that we’ve grown to ignore. The more we clean, the more we realize just how much we’ve gotten used to living in a mess. It’s really easy to want to think you’re living in a clean home, but you don’t real...

One of the greatest joys in life for toddlers is a nice, warm cup of milk. It’s even more refreshing after a nice, long nap. The problem is, sometimes that’s all they want. Dinner may be getting close, but their impatience means that the only thing their taste buds will really get to experience is milk. Today, Pastor Mark teaches that we have natural desires, but often get too impatient for them t...

An evening ritual my wife and I share is fresh popcorn. It didn’t start that way. It used to be that occasionally, I’d offer to make some for both of us, and since she’d decline, I would only measure out enough kernels for myself. However, I’d only get to enjoy half of what I made… thus, the portions increased, and the habit was formed. In today’s message, Pastor Mark teaches that there are far to...

The heaviest deadlift ever recorded exceeded an insanely heavy 1,120 pounds. For context, the lifter could have been holding a nine-foot grand piano, and the player. It also means that the record holder could have lifted an adult horse all by himself. Talk about strength! I can barely lift myself out of bed in the morning! In today’s message, Pastor Mark teaches that too often, we try to rely on o...

Did you know that the average credit card debt per cardholder in the U.S. is around $6,000? Maybe you have more, or maybe you’ve been disciplined enough to have less. The promise of instant gratification has led to debts looming over the heads of many, and they end up paying more in the long run. Too often, people believe that, since they can’t afford that new toy right now, they can swipe their A...

Manoah was blissfully unaware that his spiritual journey wasn’t aligning with where God hoped he would be. So, what did that lead to? God decided to share His messages through His wife, who was truly in tune with her spiritual connection to Him. When you start to drift away from your relationship with God, you might find that you’re not quite in sync with the amazing plans He has for your life. In...

Dealing with teenagers can sometimes feel like navigating a tricky maze, and as a parent, you might find yourself in a mental tug-of-war! As a believer, it can be truly tough to watch your kids drift away from their faith and rebel in their own ways. But does that make you lose all hope? Today, Pastor Mark has a heartfelt message for all the parents out there—he's inviting you to lift your spiritu...

When constructing a skyscraper, the crew always ensures that the foundation is rock-solid. That takes away the worry of earthquakes and wind causing any harm to the building. In the same way, being a parent gives you the chance to guide your kids through life and get them ready for what’s coming next. But have you taken the time to build that spiritual base in their lives? Today, Pastor Mark encou...

Samson, huh? He’s quite the character, isn’t he? Famous for his incredible strength, he stood out among other Bible characters. So, you might be curious about the kind of diet that boosted his strength to such impressive heights, huh? Guess what? It was all God! His trust in God filled him with an amazing strength. Yet, as he wandered from God and led a sinful life, his strength began to wane. In...

What drives you when you’re doing something, whether it’s playing music or lending a hand at church? What’s the spark behind your actions? Are you doing it as a way to honour God, or is it more about impressing others and making them think highly of you? It's interesting how, even within ministry, there are individuals who seem to prioritise their own interests while claiming to serve God. In toda...

When parents tell their kids to hang out with the right crowd, it matters a lot! Being in the wrong crowd can affect you, too. If you notice your church leaders behaving in ways that don’t quite match up with God’s Word, it might be time to consider exploring a different fellowship instead of sticking around in a situation that doesn’t feel right. Being involved with that deceptive group can reall...

When we consider what Jephthah’s daughter faced, it’s natural to question why she didn’t opt for her own freedom and carve out the life she desired, don’t you think? The generation we’re living in seems to lean towards a different path, doesn’t it? What Jephthah’s daughter did was viewed as an act of obedience in the eyes of God. Sometimes in life, you find yourself facing a tough choice that you...

These days, it seems like our generation has a habit of swearing by God for even the tiniest promises we make to one another. Often, our promises end up feeling empty because we struggle to follow through on them. Have you ever thought about the fact that not keeping those promises you make, particularly to God, might lead to some serious judgment? Today, Pastor Mark tells you to hold onto your pr...

Many of the conflicts we encounter today are due to rude, unwanted judgment. People don’t want to be judged, obviously; I mean, you can imagine what that's like from your own experiences…it’s usually not fun. So, how do we navigate telling people about sin without judging them harshly? In today’s message, Pastor Mark will remind you that it is God’s job to judge… it is not yours! You are called to...

Disputes with co-workers, arguments over little things when we’re tired, and family conflicts are, unfortunately, unavoidable. We may have seasons where we’re at peace with everyone, but eventually, we will need to make amends with another person; thankfully, there IS a biblical way to do so! The Bible says that we’re to be at peace with everyone to the best of our ability; so, how do we do that?...