2026 January

An Avalanche of Moses

An Avalanche of Moses

When we lived in Canada, there was a month where it snowed every day. Not tons every day, but snow every day. And not just a flake every day, but several inches every day. Every day. To make things worse, there was already a foot or more of snow on the ground when our month of snow began so that by the end of the month, we didn’t have any place to put the new snow. We were flinging new snow over our heads with shovels that were forced to function like lacrosse sticks. The snowbanks that lined our driveway were so high, we looked like we lived in a cave. And driving out of the driveway onto the street was always an adventure (blow your horn first and then go in faith). There was so much snow! And it was beautiful. Let’s face it, if you are going to

The Plan Has a Name

The Plan Has a Name

Here’s what I love about a heist movie. Yes, you have the pay off. So what? And sure, you have the actual heist. Big deal! And most of the time, you have some cause that motivates the whole adventure. Fine and dandy. But what you need is a great plan that requires thought and training to execute it because one false step and everything comes crashing down. In this case, you’re going to need cars and a map of the sewers and something has to be done about those traffic lights. And of course, you’re going to need a “drop zone” to get into the sewers. Show me the plan. Let’s practice the plan; and then, let’s work the plan. The result is that you have a heist movie that will steal my heart. And that is why I love Genesis 12. We’ve got a problem. We’ve got a plan,

Custom-Made Love

Custom-Made Love

This sermon is based on 1 John 4:7-12, 19-21. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: Stephen Covey said lots of great and important things: “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” “Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.” “The way we see the problem is the problem.” But my all-time favorite is: “Start with the end in mind.” The truth is, we have a good end in mind for you. It is the main thing we are trying to do here at RE, and we want you to understand what it is because if you don’t . . . well, that’s a problem. So, what is this end? We are custom-making disciples. It’s what we are

Seven in One Blow

Seven in One Blow

When I was a kid, one of my favorite books was Seven in One Blow, the story of a tailor who strikes at a swarm of flies who are interrupting his lunch. He kills seven of them. Impressed by his accomplishment, he sews the words, “Seven in One Blow,” on his shirt and then goes out to seek his fortune. However, everyone who reads his shirt believes he killed seven men. You could say that misreading changes their perception of him. As a result, he vanquishes the giants, saves the day, finds his fortune, and wins the girl. But you would think that anyone who could get seven in one blow would clean up appropriately. Today, we begin looking at Christopher J.H. Wright’s short introduction to the Old Testament which is aptly named, The Old Testament in Seven Sentences (IVP Academic, Downers Grove, IL, 2019). It’s a fun little book,

Custom Made in RE

Custom Made in RE

This sermon begins our new series and is based on Matthew 9:9-13. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: Stephen Covey said lots of great and important things: “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” “Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.” “The way we see the problem is the problem.” But my all-time favorite is: “Start with the end in mind.” The truth is, we have a good end in mind for you. It is the main thing we are trying to do here at RE, and we want you to understand what it is because if you don’t . . . well, that’s a problem. So, what is this end? We are custom-making disciples. It’s

Rejuvenating Resolutions

Rejuvenating Resolutions

We all love to make New Year’s Resolutions. It’s a great New Year’s thing to do. And our resolutions are usually really good. And yet, by the time we get into the second week of the new year, our resolve usually starts to wane. And that is not good. What we need is some way to rejuvenate those New Year’s resolutions. And what better way to renew those goals than to listen to those who know about when change begins. And where does change begin? It begins in us. Here are ten great quotes about us, about change, and about the time to decide to grow and to be the person God has called you to be. Enjoy! “The most important thing to remember is this: To be ready at any moment to give up what you are for what you might become.” -- W.E.B. Du Bois “It is never

An Incarnation of Joy

An Incarnation of Joy

This sermon is based on Isaiah 61:1-7. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: We always have Christmas to look forward to. No matter where we are in the calendar, Christmas is always just a few months away. But we are blessed. The people before Christmas came to earth didn’t have any such hope. Instead, their lives were filled with misery and pain, waiting and longing, anxiety and heaviness. But that first Christmas changed all of that. Not only because it inaugurated the Kingdom of God. Not only because it welcomed the king. Not only because it proclaimed that God was with us, but because it was an incarnation of hope. And hope changes everything.

When Does New Year’s Begin?

When Does New Year’s Begin?

Forget about when Christmas begins! When does New Year’s happen? The calendar says it is New Year’s, but I am not sure we can trust our calendars. See, for most of our history, no one knew what the date was—or even what time it was! At least, that is my big take-away from a book a friend co-wrote entitled, The New Millennium Manual: A Once and Future Guide (cowritten in 1999 by Robert Clouse, Richard Pierard and our good friend, Bobby Hosack). Here’s my summary of the story. Apparently, the earliest calendars were all based on the moon. People looked up; and when they saw the new crescent moon, they began a new month. But the lunar calendar was almost 11 days shorter than a solar calendar; and so to keep up with the sun, they had to add an extra leap month every three years. But there were other