"The seed that flowers into righteousness will always be planted in peace by those who embrace peace." (James 3:18, The Voice)This past spring we planted marigolds among the other flowers in our flowerbed. Conditions must have been just perfect for them, for they flourished. In fact, they took over the flowerbed. They are such common flowers, and yet I find their variegated shades of yellow, orang...  Read More

Mercy triumphs over judgment (James 5:13)What grand news! To know and understand that our God, the consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), is supremely merciful, how marvelous. Isolate that passage and you and I have a sentimental universalism. A loving God would never...you know the claim. Dietrich Bonhoeffer called this sentimentality 'cheap grace.' True, the news of mercy and judgment is powerful and w...  Read More

Note: I have had trouble connecting to Subsplash. If you care to read my thoughts...I make no assumptions...you can find Days 322/323 on our church app under 'Messaging' and 'Millville Church of the Nazarene.' Thanks for your kindness and your patience.'Pure and undefiled religion' is defined by James (James 1:27) as caring well for widows and orphans, and keeping unstained by the world. You and I...  Read More

"The world was not worthy of them" (Hebrews 11:38)Ezekiel mentions three such heroes of the faith: Noah, Daniel and Job (Ezekiel 14:14,20). The Hebrews author runs out of space (Hebrews 11:32). Such heroes abound. They loved God more than life itself and would in no way compromise their relationship with Him. Though the world judged them and found them wanting, even to the point of banishing them,...  Read More

 “Therefore say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Though I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.’ “Therefore say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give y...  Read More

Former Central Baptist pastor with a personality larger than life, Charlie Manning, preached a famous (at least in Cumberland County, New Jersey) sermon entitled: One Size Fits All. He was a stout man. Wearing a very large, even too large for him, sweater, he would reveal its capacity and then preach about the Holy Spirit Whose infilling, gifting and ministry apply to us all, uniquely and universa...  Read More