Woodland Friends Church

Integrity is defined as, a “firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values,” and the dictionary points readers to see the entry for INCORRUPTIBILITY. Or, another definition states that integrity is “the quality or state of being complete or undivided.” I like that. When you or I act one way here, and another way there, that is divided. The Priests of Malachi were divided, claiming...

Respect. Is that a lost commodity in this world? A lack of respect for God leads to a complacent heart... and many times, as the definition of complacency implies, we're blissfully unaware of how our going-through-the-motions betrays a lack of respect of God and the way He wants worship? Maybe we should begin to ask God in our prayers, "Father, am I respecting You?"

Respect. Is that a lost commodity in this world? A lack of respect for God leads to a complacent heart... and many times, as the definition of complacency implies, we're blissfully unaware of how our going-through-the-motions betrays a lack of respect of God and the way He wants worship? Maybe we should begin to ask God in our prayers, "Father, am I respecting You?"

Jesus many times puzzles His hearers with his words. Sometimes they are enigmatic and mysterious. Other times they seem to constitute a tall order that hardly seems surmountable. What are they, and why does He speak so?

Israel had been through a school of hard knocks. You ever have a history? You ever get that scarred chip on your shoulder? “Yeah I'm a believer. I guess. I don't know why. XYZ happened. That threw me for a loop,” and then you kind of - either vocally OR subconsciously get to this, “God owes me,” sort of feeling. Embittered. “I guess I grew up. I thought He was with me. For me. I guess not.” Even s...

Israel had been through a school of hard knocks. You ever have a history? You ever get that scarred chip on your shoulder? “Yeah I'm a believer. I guess. I don't know why. XYZ happened. That threw me for a loop,” and then you kind of - either vocally OR subconsciously get to this, “God owes me,” sort of feeling. Embittered. “I guess I grew up. I thought He was with me. For me. I guess not.” Even s...

Most of us I think know the what of Easter Sunday. What happened: Jesus resurrected. But I sat down yesterday afternoon and said, “Why?” The why of Easter? And that’s what I wanted to answer plainly, and thus I set out to consider few verses from John.

Whether it’s deciding and believing and choosing to live for Christ altogether, or it’s discerning what you think God is saying to you about a few things in your life – it’s in, out, in, out, what they said, what He said, what they said, what He said, and maybe at the end of some choices all it has been is a defeated, reluctant choice. I wonder if we realize the stakes? The stakes at times of our...

Whether it’s deciding and believing and choosing to live for Christ altogether, or it’s discerning what you think God is saying to you about a few things in your life – it’s in, out, in, out, what they said, what He said, what they said, what He said, and maybe at the end of some choices all it has been is a defeated, reluctant choice. I wonder if we realize the stakes? The stakes at times of our...

We examine Peter's denial and find quite shockingly less a sad story of Peter's failure, but humbly, a story of faith, albeit broken, still challenging to aspire to. May we aspire to it, and even greater past it! Do we love Jesus? If we do, how are we tending His sheep?

We examine Peter's denial and find quite shockingly less a sad story of Peter's failure, but humbly, a story of faith, albeit broken, still challenging to aspire to. May we aspire to it, and even greater past it! Do we love Jesus? If we do, how are we tending His sheep?

Meanwhile here is a Guy who can walk on water, command the weather - you know, stop practically hurricanes on the lake! He can cast out demons! This Jesus can literally undo infirmities like paralysis, or blindness… But how is it that here - in this garden - He’s giving Himself up so quickly? He’s letting a bunch of knuckle-headed, oppositional, hostile people... He’s just going to give Himself up...

Meanwhile here is a Guy who can walk on water, command the weather - you know, stop practically hurricanes on the lake! He can cast out demons! This Jesus can literally undo infirmities like paralysis, or blindness… But how is it that here - in this garden - He’s giving Himself up so quickly? He’s letting a bunch of knuckle-headed, oppositional, hostile people... He’s just going to give Himself up...

After David defeats his son Absalom in the Civil War, as things are coming back together, there's a shadow and pall over the kingdom. What's this demonstrate? What is this about..?

After David defeats his son Absalom in the Civil War, as things are coming back together, there's a shadow and pall over the kingdom. What's this demonstrate? What is this about..?

I don’t know. Absalom maybe, had he lived, would have sucked up to David, “Thanks for beating the army and sparing me,” and looked for an opportunity later to kill his father. Maybe Joab was right. Maybe Absalom should’ve died. Maybe the world only goes around on the wheels of the likes of blood thirsty men like Joab. But then again, has the love of God reached you? You and I were part of this wor...

I don’t know. Absalom maybe, had he lived, would have sucked up to David, “Thanks for beating the army and sparing me,” and looked for an opportunity later to kill his father. Maybe Joab was right. Maybe Absalom should’ve died. Maybe the world only goes around on the wheels of the likes of blood thirsty men like Joab. But then again, has the love of God reached you? You and I were part of this wor...

With Ahithophel, we might feel the moral sting of David's sins against his own granddaughter - Bathsheba. Even so, we must not disagree with God's grace and forgiveness. And thus it is interesting in the fulfillment of judgment upon David’s sin (2 Sam 12:11,12), God also is redeeming David from his current predicament and restoring him as king!

With Ahithophel, we might feel the moral sting of David's sins against his own granddaughter - Bathsheba. Even so, we must not disagree with God's grace and forgiveness. And thus it is interesting in the fulfillment of judgment upon David’s sin (2 Sam 12:11,12), God also is redeeming David from his current predicament and restoring him as king!

It’s not enough for a book to be on a table. Or an app to be on a phone. It’s not enough to take and eat like you would junk food, or even a meal that’s been prepared, but there must be emotional effort! So then, why give it that much effort? Where else could we find such words that lead to eternal life?

It’s not enough for a book to be on a table. Or an app to be on a phone. It’s not enough to take and eat like you would junk food, or even a meal that’s been prepared, but there must be emotional effort! So then, why give it that much effort? Where else could we find such words that lead to eternal life?

Special Speaker - Mark Brewster Revelation 2:1-7

As we see King David have to retreat what was rightfully his, reigning in Jerusalem, he leaves spies to stay in the rebellious kingdom of Absalom. Likewise we are commissioned by the Greater King David to report to Him what we see in the kingdoms of this world, and continue our holy sabotage that will one day bring His Rightful Reign to complete visibility!

As we see King David have to retreat what was rightfully his, reigning in Jerusalem, he leaves spies to stay in the rebellious kingdom of Absalom. Likewise we are commissioned by the Greater King David to report to Him what we see in the kingdoms of this world, and continue our holy sabotage that will one day bring His Rightful Reign to complete visibility!

It has been attributed to Charles Spurgeon, the quote, “I take my text and make a beeline for the Cross.” It’s been attributed in the sense of finding the Cross, finding the Gospel in the text of Scripture and presenting it. Maye it was the continual soap opera, or story that feels like everyday life, but also I believe it was the Holy Spirit, that through this drama of David, Joab, Absalom and th...