Woodland Friends Church

"He passed through their midst and went on His way." Now there are all sorts of speculation on this. None of the possibilities makes any difference. No matter how He did it. What’s telling is that Jesus is leaving. What’s telling is that, He gets over those who reject Him. In the sense that, probably quicker than I get over people rejecting Him. There are people you and I have likely been praying...

The key to diving in and finally unpacking this conversation between Jesus and His opponents came when I acknowledged a lack of parental respect and devotion in our time. The Jews saw their lineage, and fathers as ones to be devoted to. In this discussion, Jesus reveals why His hearers aren't in fact sons of Abraham, but sons of another father altogether, and His revelation isn't pleasant or flatt...

The key to diving in and finally unpacking this conversation between Jesus and His opponents came when I acknowledged a lack of parental respect and devotion in our time. The Jews saw their lineage, and fathers as ones to be devoted to. In this discussion, Jesus reveals why His hearers aren't in fact sons of Abraham, but sons of another father altogether, and His revelation isn't pleasant or flatt...

Jesus, saying He was the Bread of Heaven, was no doubt a claim to Godhood. Upon hearing this, His opponents state, “We’ve known Jesus! We’ve known His parents, and we’ve known Jesus growing up, and - you know - if He was always God we thought there should've been some obvious signs that we apparently missed!” It’s hard. it’s a common response. To minimize. Explain away. Make less of. Jesus instead...

Jesus, saying He was the Bread of Heaven, was no doubt a claim to Godhood. Upon hearing this, His opponents state, “We’ve known Jesus! We’ve known His parents, and we’ve known Jesus growing up, and - you know - if He was always God we thought there should've been some obvious signs that we apparently missed!” It’s hard. it’s a common response. To minimize. Explain away. Make less of. Jesus instead...

Sometimes it seems like one step forward, two steps back… Sometimes the world seems dark, and the elites, the troublemakers have their way but somehow though, hope rises up and a counter-cultural champion comes along the way. Finally, someone saying, doing, pressing for, pushing for the right things and enough people with common sense champion him! Maybe the movement they’re making will spread! Ma...

Sometimes it seems like one step forward, two steps back… Sometimes the world seems dark, and the elites, the troublemakers have their way but somehow though, hope rises up and a counter-cultural champion comes along the way. Finally, someone saying, doing, pressing for, pushing for the right things and enough people with common sense champion him! Maybe the movement they’re making will spread! Ma...

The same God who can be aggravatingly merciful is also the God who can be offensively unbending. One hundred soldiers and their captains lost their lives being burnt up alive. Why? Is God too harsh? What are we to learn from the fiery judgment of God?

The same God who can be aggravatingly merciful is also the God who can be offensively unbending. One hundred soldiers and their captains lost their lives being burnt up alive. Why? Is God too harsh? What are we to learn from the fiery judgment of God?

“Faith that grasps mercy enlivens.” Mercy is not a small term. This story of Naboth's vineyard sets the table for some scandalous, aggravating mercy, and when was grip that with our emotions, we understand mercy all the more.

“Faith that grasps mercy enlivens.” Mercy is not a small term. This story of Naboth's vineyard sets the table for some scandalous, aggravating mercy, and when was grip that with our emotions, we understand mercy all the more.

On Oct 31, 1517, one Catholic Monk named Martin Luther forever changed the church background. He was a guy, who by his own words, "Hated the righteousness of God." What did he bring to the Church tradition? And how did he grow to agree with Paul to no longer be ashamed of the Gospel?

On Oct 31, 1517, one Catholic Monk named Martin Luther forever changed the church background. He was a guy, who by his own words, "Hated the righteousness of God." What did he bring to the Church tradition? And how did he grow to agree with Paul to no longer be ashamed of the Gospel?

Elijah had just been witness to probably one of the most vivid and clear realities he’d ever see of the God He served: fire out of the sky to consume a sacrifice. Rainstorm out of nowhere. And Elijah likely anticipated what we would anticipate: people would see it and have no room to argue and thus submit. Surrender. But they don’t. But after the fire and wind, what will people have left in refere...

Elijah had just been witness to probably one of the most vivid and clear realities he’d ever see of the God He served: fire out of the sky to consume a sacrifice. Rainstorm out of nowhere. And Elijah likely anticipated what we would anticipate: people would see it and have no room to argue and thus submit. Surrender. But they don’t. But after the fire and wind, what will people have left in refere...

When God showed up miraculously to consume a sacrifice (and spilled water), and then bring rain out of nowhere for the first time in 3 years.... Jezebel chose to willfully ignore the obvious in pursuit of killing the Voice of Truth. Ironically, we find when Elijah flees, he sees things worse then they really are, making his own deliberate oversights...

When God showed up miraculously to consume a sacrifice (and spilled water), and then bring rain out of nowhere for the first time in 3 years.... Jezebel chose to willfully ignore the obvious in pursuit of killing the Voice of Truth. Ironically, we find when Elijah flees, he sees things worse then they really are, making his own deliberate oversights...

Eat Christ's Flesh? Drink His Blood? How about the Prince of Peace coming to bring a sword? And those who do works in His Name may be declared as never being known by Christ?! Listen to the unpacking of these hard sayings and more!

When Jesus prayed the High Priestly Prayer, four verses grab the entire Christian message of being separated, sanctified, sent and saved. Followers are not of this world, but here to save the world. How are YOU doing in that Mission?!

When Jesus prayed the High Priestly Prayer, four verses grab the entire Christian message of being separated, sanctified, sent and saved. Followers are not of this world, but here to save the world. How are YOU doing in that Mission?!

This is how it is for us today. Sometimes God can show up so clearly and there’s a blindness to it. Because people, like Jezebel, want their power over reality. People have been so primed and pumped into their own narratives, “Oh Elijah was the one who caused the drought, he’s the troubler of Israel,” or they’ve been lured into thinking, “Baal has always brought the rain, and this thing on Mount C...

This is how it is for us today. Sometimes God can show up so clearly and there’s a blindness to it. Because people, like Jezebel, want their power over reality. People have been so primed and pumped into their own narratives, “Oh Elijah was the one who caused the drought, he’s the troubler of Israel,” or they’ve been lured into thinking, “Baal has always brought the rain, and this thing on Mount C...

This widow in Zarepath had the wrong son as payment of sin! It is the Son of Yahweh who must die for her sins, and will die several hundred years later for her sin! For your sin! For my sin!

This widow in Zarepath had the wrong son as payment of sin! It is the Son of Yahweh who must die for her sins, and will die several hundred years later for her sin! For your sin! For my sin!

Baal culture. Unholy culture. God-hating culture. And followers. "And boy did you hear when they did this? And man, they just did that! And I hate how they characterize followers of God! And enough is enough…." What does God do when enough is enough? He takes His righteous One, exiles him in the famine near a river that’s drying up due to the famine. He feeds him with ravens. Unclean animals. Then...