PassageWay Church

Away in a Manger is one of the most beloved Christmas carols for children. Sung softly as a lullaby, the lyrics remind us of Jesus’ humble beginnings. You can imagine Mary rocking the newborn baby Jesus in her arms, then gently laying him in the hay. The second verse continues this peaceful scene of nativity, “The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes…” New parents everywhere freeze in both wonder and disbelief. Baby Jesus didn’t cry? What kind of baby was he?

This Advent season, we’re reflecting on an ancient C...

"Don't settle for just any insurance when there's State Farm.” Perhaps you’ve seen this series of advertisements on television lately. One begins with QB Patrick Mahomes, sitting on a treatment table, nursing his sore muscles after the game, needing medical attention from an athletic trainer. Instead, in walks a different kind of trainer, the pop singer, Megan Trainor. The commercial uses humor to highlight that when it comes to insurance, you need an expert like State Farm, not just someone who shares a similar name. 

And so it is when it comes to our salvation. Not just...

During the Christmas season, we sing many traditional songs that tell of Jesus' birth. Perhaps the most well-known is Silent Night. Other popular hymns include: “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Joy to the World,” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” 

But in the book of Galatians, we find a short passage of Scripture that is perhaps the oldest of all the Christmas hymns. Many scholars believe Galatians 4:4-5 was a confession of faith included in early church worship, then later incorporated into the traditional liturgy of Christmas.

More than a fun song to sing gathered around a pian...

The ending is important to any good story. It resolves the central conflict. It reveals consequences for the characters, whether good or bad, which provides closure. A good ending ties together themes and motifs, thus clarifying the story’s message. If the book is part of a series, the author will plant a hook to set up the sequel.

And so it is as we conclude our salvation story. In this final episode of Luke’s Gospel, we read about the disciples’ commissioning. Jesus’ last words reinforce the themes of Scriptural fulfillment and ongoing Apostolic witness. 

Luke...

“Circle of Life,” composed by Elton John, was the title track to the iconic Disney film, The Lion King. The song describes an interconnected, cyclical nature of existence, where birth, growth, death, and rebirth form a continuous loop. These concepts are common in Hinduism, Buddhism, and nature-based spirituality. It can make for heartwarming fiction. But the Bible contains a different explanation about the nature of existence and the end of life.

In the previous episode of our salvation story, Jesus appeared alive to two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus, revealing Himself to them in the...

Can anything be certain in life? Benjamin Franklin famously wrote, “But, in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” Yet we go throughout our day with varying degrees of certainty about many things. You’re probably pretty certain that your alarm clock will go off in the morning, so that you can make it to work on time. You’re probably reasonably certain that your car will start and get you safely down the road. On your way to the office, you might stop at Scooters, order a coffee, and pay with your card. You’re fairly certain th...

Though quickly becoming a thing of the past, supermarket tabloids used to entertain shoppers with sensational headlines like, “Woman Gives Birth to Lizard Baby After Mystery Encounter,” or “Scientists Find Evidence of Atlantis… At the Bottom of Lake Superior,” or “Man Claims His Toaster Can Predict Lottery Numbers.” Today, you no longer have to buy a copy of the National Enquirer to read such headlines. Just scroll your Facebook feed for news that requires the suspension of disbelief. 

In the previous episode of our salvation story, Joseph of Arimathea had taken Jesus’ body down from the cross and laid it in a...

Family friends recently buried a loved one at Arlington National Cemetery. Such a ceremony follows a respectful and solemn protocol. Mourners participate in a formal procession, seated in designated areas according to relation and then rank. Next, a military honor guard will carefully and ceremoniously fold the flag, which is then presented to the next of kin. Finally, a gun detail fires off three volleys in rapid, synchronized succession. With the heaviness of the shots still hanging in the air, taps is played by a bugler. The ceremony is marked by dignity and respect, honoring the service and sacrifice...

What are some symbols of strength? There is the iconic Atlas from Greek mythology holding up the earth. There is the bull on Wall Street that symbolizes financial optimism, prosperity, and a strong economy. The eagle has symbolized strength, courage, freedom, and authority across various cultures, including here in America, as well as ancient Rome. 

The cross is the most precious symbol in the Christian religion. However, it is no symbol of strength. Rather, it was an instrument of suffering and shame. 

As we continue reading in our salvation story, we see Jesus in his we...

Humans are often terrible judges of what we truly want, frequently prioritizing immediate gratification over long-term well-being. Our choices are often guided by intuition and external influences rather than rational thought. In contrast, Jesus has a fundamentally different approach to power, which isn't about control or self-promotion, but about the ability to transform people through self-emptying love. This is exemplified by his rejection by the people, who chose an insurrectionist over him, preferring a path of fighting back rather than loving enemies. Ultimately, Jesus creates a new way to be human: because Jesus took our place, we are free...

This week, the Major League Baseball playoffs began with a series between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports. These teams have a long shared history, passionate fans, and geographic proximity that fuel an us vs them mentality.

Rivalries don’t just exist in sports. There are sibling rivalries that sometimes produce feelings of jealousy and charges of favoritism. There are religious rivalries, Catholic versus Protestant. Of course, there are political rivalries, back and forth between the R’s and the D’s. Some are even passio...

We're all trying to impress someone. A young boy might want to impress his dad. A teenager might want to impress her friends. A young man looks to impress a girl he’s attracted to. I’ve tried to keep a nice lawn this year to impress my neighbors. We try to impress people because we want their approval. Yet, this can be a dangerous game to play. People’s opinions are pretty fickle.

As we continue in our salvation story, we read that the arresting mob leads Jesus back into the city to the home of the hi...

Chiaroscuro is an Italian term that describes an artistic technique, popularized by Renaissance painters like Leonardo DaVinci, and perhaps most famously, Caravaggio. Chiaroscuro uses bold contrasts between light and dark tones that add depth and drama, creating tension, mood, and emotion within a composition. 

As we continue to read in our salvation story, our author Luke paints a very dark picture: the betrayal and arrest of Jesus. This wasn’t just betrayal. Judas, one of the twelve, betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Religious, civil, and military authorities came against Jesus at night with swords and clubs as if...

Pastor and theologian John Piper writes, “Prayer is a walkie-talkie for warfare, not a domestic intercom for increasing our conveniences.”

In the previous episode of our salvation story, Jesus warned his disciples about the hardships that they would face. Despite the privilege of being called apostles, who would one day rule and reign with Jesus, they were called to sacrificially serve. Despite Peter’s overconfident protests, they would all be spiritually sifted by Satan. Different from their previous mission in which they experienced success, now they would experience opposition. Just like Jesus, the disciples were called to suffer...

Mean Joe Green was the backbone of Pittsburgh’s steel curtain defense that led the Steeler dynasty to four Super Bowl titles. Dan Marino is regarded as the greatest pure passer the NFL has ever seen. Dick Butkus was a Chicago Bears legend who struck fear into opposing offenses with his ferocious tackling. Jerry Rice is still the career leader in receiving yards with 22,895, 5000 more than the next closest wideout. Their superior skill and physical dominance made these men some of the gridiron’s greatest. 

But what does it take to be great in the kingdom of God?<...

On the first Monday each September, we celebrate Labor Day. Common traditions include parades, picnics, and barbecues. While most people enjoy the long weekend, many may not know the holiday’s origin or why it is observed.

So it is with the Lord’s Supper. Everyone has undoubtedly seen, and most people have likely participated in, this sacred ritual that Christians have observed for more than 2000 years. But many might be mistaken about its meaning. 

Luke’s original readers were Gentiles. They weren’t as familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures. They could have mistaken the Lord’s Su...

“The Devil made me do it.” In 1981, Arne Johnson of Brookefield, CT was charged with first-degree manslaughter for killing his landlord. In the first case of its kind, Johnson’s lawyer argued that he was not responsible for his actions due to demonic possession.

Continuing in our salvation story, we begin to read about the events leading up to history’s most heinous crime, the murder of Jesus. The religious leaders were conspiring to kill him. Luke then tells us that Satan entered into one of the twelve, Judas, who willingly went along with these sinister plans. 

...

Last Saturday morning at 5:29, residents of Blair were suddenly awakened to an emergency alert issued by the National Weather Service. If anyone was still enjoying their final stages of sleep, the shrill alarm jolted them back into consciousness. The pelting of rain mixed with hail upon the house and howling winds cutting through the trees was no dream. A severe thunderstorm and its effects were visible and real. 

Continuing to read in our salvation story, we come to the conclusion of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, his most extensive end times teaching. Having previously described a time of Great Tri...

Float fishing is an angling technique that utilizes a float, also called a bobber. Float fishing requires that you watch your bobber, which provides visual feedback on the activity of the fish. You can see if the bobber is bobbing, moving side to side, or going under the water, all of which indicate a fish is interested in your bait. 

Perhaps you’ve been float fishing with a young child. There is initial excitement at going out to the water’s edge, baiting the hook, casting, and securing the line. But then it quickly becomes a game of pa...

On the evening of October 30, 1938 Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre on the Air performed a radio adaptation of War of the Worlds. They converted the 40-year-old novel into fake news bulletins describing a Martian invasion of New Jersey. Many listeners were frightened, mistaking those dramatized bulletins for the real thing. Police precincts, newspapers, and radio stations received a deluge of calls from concerned citizens. Some folks even fled their homes. This mass hysteria led the FCC to investigate the broadcast and CBS agreed to take steps to avoid future confusion.

Though nearly a century removed from...

The next message in our Salvation Story series from this week's special guest.

In 1989, a man in Philadelphia purchased an old painting at a flea market for $4. He bought the painting for its frame. So when he got home, he tore the canvas away. Behind it, he found an old, folded document that he recognized as the Declaration of Independence. That was interesting, but he believed it was simply an old copy. He set it aside for a few years until a friend urged him to have it looked at by a professional.

At his friend’s insistence, the man contacted Sotheby’s, a famous auction house and authentication service. They...

Anticipation of life after death is a universal human hope. Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs would be buried in their tombs with a ship, believed to carry the deceased ruler’s spirit across the cosmos. Ancient Greeks sometimes placed a coin in the mouth of a corpse to pay the deceased person’s fare across the mystic river of death. Vikings would bury dead warriors with their bows, arrows, and horses; useful items that they might need in the next life. Indeed, in the book of Ecclesiastes we read that God has put eternity into man’s heart. 

Yet, there w...

Mark Twain once said, “Never discuss religion or politics in polite company.”  Yet as we read in our salvation story, Jesus’ opponents attempted to drag him into just such a debate by asking if observant Jews should pay taxes to Caesar or not. 

The Herodians were pro-Roman, a Jewish political movement that supported the Roman leader, King Herod. They wished to adapt to Roman customs and laws in exchange for peace and prosperity. The Zealots, on the other hand, sought to overthrow the occupying Roman government. They were doctrinally aligned with the Pharisees. But in addition to faithful...

From a very early age, we tend to resist authority. A toddler will stubbornly run in the opposite direction when mother calls. A teenager will wear certain clothes or listen to certain music in defiance of the established norms. As adults we don’t like anyone telling us what to do either, whether our boss, spouse, or even a friend. Like Frank Sinatra famously sang, “I did it my way.” 

Upon his arrival in Jerusalem with his disciples hailing him as king, Jesus immediately went to the temple, drove out the merchants, and began teaching. As we continu...

On June 15, 1775, George Washington was named the first commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. He then assumed his command on July 3 in Cambridge, MA where the troops were assembled for General Washington’s review. He later publicly commented that what he found was an army in disarray. Dirty, independent, defiant, discipline scattered among regiments depending on individual commanders, and noncommittal – many coming and going as they pleased. 

Continuing to read in our salvation story we come to Jesus’ climactic arrival in Jerusalem. Jesus was the Messiah, the one through whom all the promises of God would be fulfilled. He woul...

In this bonus episode of our salvation story, we are reposting Pastor Tim's sermon from Palm Sunday 2024 where he jumped ahead to Luke 19:28-40. 

Palm Sunday is celebrated by Christians all around the world. It’s significance can hardly be overstated as all four gospel writers record Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem to the people’s chants of praise. However, Luke omits the palm branches and the famous cry of “Hosanna!” In fact, there are a number of significant differences in Luke’s retelling of this well known story. Luke presents Jesus as the King and his disciples as...

Dads, kids grow up fast. If you blink you’ll miss it. One minute you’re teaching that little boy how to throw a baseball or cast a spinning reel, playing tea party with that little girl and attending dance recitals. The next thing you know you’re watching them speed off into the sunset on their honeymoon. 

We have only a certain amount of time with our kids. Therefore, maximize the moments that you’ve been given. Invest those moments well to reap the benefits decades, even generations from now.

Time and investment is the subje...

Who do you know that is so far from Jesus you can’t possibly imagine them ever darkening the doorway of a church? It could be an old high school friend who’s belligerent against the very idea of God, or a coworker whose cursing and off-color remarks would make a sailor blush, maybe a gay relative, or perhaps even your spouse. You can’t imagine that person ever getting saved.

That is just the kind of person that we read about in this episode of our salvation story. Zacchaeus was a tax collector. Tax collectors were notori...

There are a total of eight special telephone short-code numbers established by the Federal Communications Commission. These numbers provide callers quick and simple access to special services. For example, before you dig dial 811 for underground public utility location. 511 provides traffic and road conditions from the Department of Transportation. Though it’s now going out of use, dialing 411 connected the caller to directory assistance. From a very early age, you were probably taught to dial 911 in the event of an emergency. It’s important to call the correct number, especially when someone’s life might depend on it.

In our...

To "bet on something" means to wager something or stake something on the outcome of an uncertain event. Farmers have been out in the fields planting. They’re betting on a good harvest so they can pay for the seed, fertilizer, and equipment with hopefully some money left over to feed their family. You might be betting your retirement income on the stock market going up. Dad would joke with us kids that we were his retirement plan. He’s betting that we’ll take care of him in his old age. Maybe you put off doing yard work this w...

As little 5-year-old Johnny scoots himself away from the dinner table he digs down deep into his trouser pocket, pulls out a crumpled ten-dollar bill, slaps it on the table, and exclaims, “Thanks Mom for the delicious meal!” 

His father looks at him quite puzzled and little Johnny, sensing his father’s confusion says, “Don’t worry Dad, I paid my portion of the monthly mortgage yesterday by direct deposit.”

That’s outrageous. These are things never heard from the lips of a child. Little children can’t comprehend the cost of maintaining a home nor do they posse...

Perhaps you’re familiar with those TV courtroom dramas like Hot Bench or Judge Judy. Maybe you remember The People’s Court that started it all. Real-life litigants would agree to have their small claims disputes settled by the Honorable Judge Joseph Wapner. Each party pleaded its case, insisting on the rightness of their cause before a binding judgment was rendered.

As we continue reading in our salvation story Jesus tells the parable of two men who approach the bench of the Divine Judge. One man, a well-respected Pharisee, proudly promoted his own righteousness. He was convinced that...

A study has revealed that 48% of Americans pray at least once a day. Most people pray for their own needs and even more pray for friends and family. Some people say they’ve prayed for a parking spot (7 percent), others for their favorite sports team to win a game (13 percent). Perhaps surprisingly, 21 percent of respondents in this study admitted they’ve prayed to win the lottery. Most people believe that God answers at least some of their prayers. Only 3 percent of those who pray say God answers none of them.

What should Christians ask God for and what...

"Fake it till you make it” means to project confidence and competence, even if you don't feel it, to achieve a goal or become someone you aspire to be. It's the idea that by acting as though you have the skills or qualities you desire, you can eventually acquire them through experience and practice. Yet this can be a tiring, even dangerous game to play.

In his letter to the Christians at Corinth, the Apostle Paul doesn’t fake it. He gets vulnerable about his personal struggles. There were some who looked down on Paul, suggesting that if h...

In the summer of 2017 Amee and I took what we anticipated would be our last family vacation with all the kids. Our oldest child was in college, the next was entering his senior year of high school and we were headed back to the mission field. We wanted to make it memorable. So, we decided to take a road trip to Washington, DC. That’s 1603 miles of family bonding; site-seeing and picnicking along the way. But then the A/C went out in our 2001 Dodge Caravan. Our collective joy turned into 14 hours in the back of a minivan in th...

In our salvation story we’ve read that Jesus was on a journey. He had left the northern region of Galilee and was headed south toward Jerusalem. He was determined to go to Jerusalem because he knew that it was there where he would suffer and die according to the predetermined plan of God in order to offer himself up as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of the world. 

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul describes three legs that marked Jesus' journey. First, it began with the setting aside of his divine prerogatives, submitting himself to...

Who are some of the most famous monarchs to have ever lived? Alexander the Great, the Grecian ruler was renowned for his military exploits. Louis XIV, known as the Sun King, oversaw the golden age of French art and culture. Cleopatra was the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, maybe most famous for her love affair with Julius Caesar and later Mark Anthony. There was the British monarch, King George III, who was king during the American Revolution. He became synonymous with tyranny and the arrogance of the old European aristocracy. 

As Americans we’re proud revolutionaries. We reb...

Perhaps you’ve taken a job just for the benefits. Maybe you’re a new mom who’d prefer to stay home with the baby but you get health coverage through your work. So, you put in part-time hours to keep that benefit. Maybe you're ready to retire but you keep working until fully vested in the company’s pension plan. You hang on for the benefits.

Sometimes we maintain personal relationships just for the benefits. There are advantages to being friends with certain people. They throw really good parties, insist on picking up the lunch tab, or alway...

To be vigilant means to be carefully observant and attentive, especially to potential danger or trouble. Like a mom watching her kids play at the city pool, she remains vigilant. She's vigilant about protecting them from the harmful rays of the sun, applying generous amounts of sun screen on all their exposed skin. She's vigilant about their safety while playing in and around the water. She makes sure the ones who don’t know how to swim have their floaties fastened and remain in the shallow end of the pool. She’s vigilant about who her kids interact with, the...

Recent Pew Research indicates that 71% of Americans believe in the existence of heaven. 64% of those who believe in heaven think they’ll go there. On the other hand, 61% of Americans believe in hell. Only 1% think they’ll end up there. Evidently, most people believe that hell is for other people.

As we continue reading in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells a disturbing story. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus contains some of the most explicit teaching in all the Bible about the nature of heaven and hell. Even more importantly, Jesus sheds light on who goes w...

Playing basketball in eighth grade PE there was always that one kid who would stay down on the offensive end of the court positioned under his own goal just waiting for the ball so he could easily score. We had a name for that guy. He was a cherry picker. He wouldn’t do the hard work of hustling back on defense, yet he’d get all the fun of scoring baskets. 

Cherry picking is choosing and taking only that which is most beneficial or profitable. It’s usually done for personal gain. You might take the biggest...

In 1985, Steve Jobs was ousted from the company he had cofounded, Apple Computer. 11 years later he was invited back to rescue the struggling business. If you had invested $1,000 in Apple stock on Feb. 4, 1997, the day that Jobs returned as CEO, today, you would have over $1.3 million. Just for perspective, a similar $1,000 investment in an index fund that replicates the S&P 500 would be worth around $6,000.

Steve Jobs was a genius. But by all accounts, he was also a jerk. Sure, he built the most valuable company on the planet. But as they say, isn't money the root...

A scandal is a circumstance or action that offends propriety or established moral norms.

In 1919, members of the Chicago White Sox accepted money from professional gamblers to effectively throw the World Series. This was the infamous Black Sox scandal. In 1995, President Bill Clinton, began an illicit sexual relationship with a 22 year old intern inside the oval office. It was all so scandalous. One of the most well known financial scandals in history came to light during the financial crisis of 2008. Bernie Madoff duped thousands of wealthy, knowledgeable investors out of billions of dollars. It ended with associates...

What makes you happy? Perhaps you enjoy a quiet evening sitting in front of a fire, reading a book, while sipping hot cocoa. Or maybe the idea of going out with friends, talking and laughing sounds like a real party. If you’re married, what makes your spouse happy? What makes your kids happy? 

As we continue on in our salvation story we read what makes God happy. All of heaven rejoices when even one sinner is saved. God loves to seek and to save sinners. 

To illustrate this point and to challenge the disgruntled Phar...

In this year’s Super Bowl the Kansas City Chiefs will attempt to make history by winning their 3rd straight NFL title. Under head coach Coach Andy Reid and QB Patrick Mahomes the Chiefs have amassed a considerable following. Chiefs kingdom is huge. Of course another reason for their popularity doesn’t have anything to do with exploits on the football field. It’s because TE Travis Kelce is dating the most famous pop star in a generation. It was recently reported that Kansas City Chiefs followership has increased 40% since the Travis and Taylor romance first began; a massive increa...

Our son and his fiancé recently sent out invitations to their wedding, which is set to take place this coming June. As parents of the groom, we helped create the guest list. The wedding party was at the top of the list followed by our immediate family, then grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and life-long family friends. Of course we had to make some difficult choices. There’s limited space at the venue. There’s a limited budget. So, we sent the invitations out with utmost care and consideration. 

But what if those most valued guests refused to com...

At 8:33 am on April 24, 1990, the three main engines of Space Shuttle Discovery roared to life. Almost immediately, the massive 17-story tall twin solid rocket boosters ignited, each capable of burning 12,000 pounds of propellant per second. 6 seconds later, STS-31 left the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center. In her cargo bay was an incredible feat of human engineering, the joint product of NASA and the European Space Agency.

One day later, the crew of Discovery deployed that payload from her cargo bay and the Hubble Space Telescope was in orbit. STS-31 was a success, with Discovery and her...

In his classic apologetic work, Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis describes the core beliefs of historic Christian faith. In chapter 8, entitled “The Great Sin,” Lewis writes,  “I now come to the part of Christian morals where they differ most sharply from all other morals. There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which everyone in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else and of which hardly any people…ever imagine that they are guilty themselves.” 

The vice to which Lewis refers is pride. Pride can be a difficult to define. The...

If you’re like most Americans you’ve already abandoned your New Year’s resolutions. This year, Friday, January 10th was officially Quitter’s Day. The term originated from research done in 2019, which found that 80% of people who make resolutions have already given up by the second Friday in January.

Maybe you purposed to save more money, eat healthier, exercise more, lose weight, or spend more time with family. Perhaps you set out to be more consistent in reading your Bible or prayer. But then life gets in the way.

As we continue reading in our salv...

Perhaps you’re familiar with the 2019 college admissions scandal. William Singer was an independent college admissions counselor in California who worked with wealthy families hoping to get their kids into top schools. In addition to his college counseling business, Singer operated The Key Foundation, a charitable organization, which Singer established to “unlock the door to academic, social, personal, and career success” for underprivileged youth. In reality, under the auspices of this organization, families nationwide paid Singer a total of $25 million to guarantee their children admission to top-tier schools such as Stanford, Yale, USC, and Georgetown. 

Here’s how it wo...

Around 700 BC the Old Testament prophet Isaiah wrote about a coming king. He wouldn’t be just any ordinary king. He would sit on the throne of his father David, and of his kingdom there would be no end. His name would be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. This Advent season we’re considering each of these five names ascribed to the most consequential person who ever lived, Jesus.

The last of these names that we’ll consider on the final eve of Advent is “Prince of Peace.” Of course it’...

Have you ever felt stuck? As if you were made for something more? Something bigger? One Christian author described this feeling when he wrote, "We are big dreamers hemmed in, behind and before, by a small job, small church, small town, small life.”

We are, generally speaking, aspirational people. We have a strong desire for success and achievement. Yet this longing for more can cause us to overlook or even look down on small and seemingly insignificant things.

First century Jews were expecting a benevolent, all-powerful king, politically conquering the Romans, religiously reorienting the hearts of...

Around 700 BC the Old Testament prophet Isaiah wrote about a coming king. He wouldn’t be just any ordinary king. He would sit on the throne of his father David, and of his kingdom there would be no end. His name would be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. This Advent season we’re considering each of these five names ascribed to the most consequential person who ever lived, Jesus.

The next of these names that we’ll consider this third week of Advent is “Everlasting Father.” This is perhaps the most c...

Some time ago one of our adult children experienced a sudden and tragic loss. As this news was shared with us their emotional pain was plain to see. My heart ached for them. I’d never seen one of my children suffer like that. When they were little they’d scrape a knee and come running. Oh the tears. I’d scoop them up, hold them tight, and clean the wound. Later on the coach would stick them in the outfield, or worse still, forget about them on the bench. That was a different kind of hurt, but it was no...

Napoleon was a brilliant military leader who enjoyed many successes on the battlefield. As Emperor, he made France the dominant power in Europe but all of this went to his head and led him to make one of history’s most notorious military blunders.

He decided to invade Russia which turned into a colossal defeat and marked a turning point for the French Empire. Not only was Napoleon’s reputation severely damaged but his army was also a shell of its former self. The failure of the invasion triggered the War of the Sixth Coalition and led to N...

Biblical names conveyed meaning. Some of those meanings are explicitly stated in the text. For example, Abraham and Sarah named their son, Isaac, which meant “He laughs.” Because as Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” The prophet Hosea was told by the Lord to give his children names that were meant to be messages for the wayward people of Israel. For example, his wife conceived and bore a daughter and he named her Lo-Ruhama, which meant “no mercy,” because the Lord said that He would have no mercy on  the hous...

There is perhaps no better description of a cynical, ill-natured, and mean-tempered person than the Grinch. 

You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch. You really are a heel. You're as cuddly as a cactus, you're as charming as an eel. Mr. Grinch, you're a bad banana... You’re a monster, Mr. Grinch. Your heart's an empty hole. Your brain is full of spiders. You have garlic in your soul.

As we continue reading in our salvation story, Jesus encounters a synagogue ruler who is quite the curmudgeon of man. He became angry at the healing of a c...

Harvest is the culmination of the growing season for farmers whose financial success hinges on the outcome. Hopefully, the weather cooperates, machinery breakdowns are few, and progress continues smoothly.

Timing is key. According to the Farm Bureau about 80% of Nebraska's corn crop is harvested between October 1 and November 18. Harvesting too late can lead to poor grain quality due to mold growth or sprouting. Though a farmer might be tempted to let their corn field dry to save money on fuel, there are risks associated with waiting. Dragging harvest out until late November increases the risk of loss...

Dr. Ron Rushing

In case you hadn’t heard, this Tuesday there’s an election going on. We’re blessed to live in the oldest democracy in the world, which means that we have the privilege of casting a vote for our preferred candidates and our preferred policy measures. Everyone in the community comes together to express the collective will of the people. It sounds so wonderful.

Yet, we are a deeply divided nation. There are blue states and red states. The R’s and the D’s. Pundits of every stripe say this is the most consequential election of our lifeti...

Watching and waiting, if you’re a big game hunter you can relate. You’ve been watching, checking your trail cameras for awhile now, waiting for firearm season to start in just a matter of weeks. The real sportsmen have already been out with their bow since the beginning of September. 

Bow hunters sit for hours in their tree stand watching and waiting for that trophy animal to pop into view. Don’t let your guard down, at least not during those critical dusk and dawn moments. It’s important to always have your bow at the ready, pe...

I remember well the day that I brought home my new car. New to me anyway. It had just 12,000 miles. All our married lives we’d driven clunkers. The most important characteristic had always been that it have at least six seats to fit us and all the kids. But now, since they were mostly out of the house, we could get more for our money. We found a sporty little Peugeot hatchback. Midnight blue. Inside it still had the new car smell. Outside not a scratch on it. Sicilian streets are narrow and traffic tight. So I drove ju...

Guest Speaker: Jake Loftis, PassageWay-supported missionary with CRU

What is our relationship to our things? We might have to dig deep to answer truthfully on this one.  Most of us would probably all say the right things on the surface. “Relationships are the most important things in life,” “Don’t let the things you own own you,” and “You can’t take it with you” are all things we’ve heard, if not said ourselves. And for good reason…they’re true. But while we may know the right answers, we don’t often put that knowledge into practice. Knowing th...

What are you afraid of? It’s October and all the Halloween decorations are out. Creepy spiders, bats, zombies, skeletons, headless horsemen. If you want to scream you can spend an evening out at Scary Acres or one of those other haunted attractions in Omaha. 

This is the time of year that horror films are released, characters like Freddy from A Nightmare on Elm Street, Jason from Friday the 13th, or that adorable little doll, Chucky. Maybe you’re not a fan of movies that make your blood curdle. But the Bible can be frightening too. 

In...

A number of years ago Amee and I were enjoying dinner in the home of some dear friends. Our host was an avid cyclist. He regularly rode Ragbrai. When he wasn’t on his bike he would go camping and fishing. At home he liked to work in the yard, landscaping and clearing trees. Though nearly 60, my friend appeared to be in excellent physical shape. But that evening as we talked, waiting for steaks to come off the grill, he excused himself to go to the bathroom, suddenly nauseous. It seemed to pass and he rested for a bit on...

“God, just give me a sign!” Maybe you’ve cried out those very words or something similar in a season of doubt, wondering if He was even there. Perhaps you've had to make an important decision; like a career change or whether or not to continue a relationship.

Don’t you just wish that God would write out his plan in neon lights across the night sky? That sure would make life a whole lot easier. Like bopping along to that 90’s band Ace of Base, I Saw the Sign. Indeed, life is demanding without understanding.

As we co...

On September 11, 2001, 19 terrorists killed nearly 3,000 people and injured more than 6,000 others. The worst foreign attack on American soil in our nation’s history.

Nine days later President George W. Bush addressed a joint session of congress, vowing to use every resource available to defeat global terrorism. He issued an ultimatum to Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers: turn over Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the attacks, or face the consequences. The President went on to famously say, “Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terror...

No matter who you are, you've probably prayed. Maybe you have whispered a silent prayer before an important exam or job interview. Perhaps you have read or recited a prayer at the funeral of a deceased loved one. Maybe you’ve cried out to God spontaneously in a moment of desperation. 

Prayer is a universal practice amongst all varieties of religions and peoples as an attempt to communicate with the sacred or holy. Some pray to their god. Others to a particular saint. For many, prayer is more about the mental and emotional benefit to the prayer. It’...

Triage originates from the French word "trier," which means to sort or organize. French military surgeon Baron Dominique Jean Larrey, the chief surgeon in Napoleon Bonaparte's imperial guard, developed a system to evaluate and categorize wounded soldiers quickly during battle. Today, health care professionals all around the world utilize triage to prioritize patients based on the severity of their injuries. 

But prioritizing isn’t for emergency rooms only. Our lives are jammed packed with daily demands that scream for attention. So, what’s really important? What should we get to first?

As we continue reading in ou...

Mr. Rogers was the epitome of nice. He spoke in friendly tones and wore conservative sweaters. He even changed his shoes when he came into the house. He was such a pleasant man. 

Is this what it means to be a Christian? Is this what it takes to get into heaven? 

As we continue on in our salvation story we read that Jesus is asked this very question by a highly respectable man, an expert in the Jewish law. Jesus' dialogue with this man reveals the deceitfulness of moralism. He then tells a well known pa...

Were you ever that kid who rode the bench? You just wanted to get in the game. Like John Fogerty’s 1985 classic Centerfield, “Put me in coach, I’m ready to play…” The lyric describes a kid with his old worn out glove, a homemade bat, and shined up spikes longing to be a contributing part of the team. 

Perhaps you've felt like that at church. 

Idaho pastor and author Jim Putman wrote a best selling book entitled, Church is a Team Sport. When we become disciples we’re called out of the stands, down onto the field...

To be single-minded is to have only one purpose, goal, or interest. Like a young man who has fallen madly in love, she is all that he can think about. His buddies get annoyed because he used to always be down for a game of pick-up basketball. But now, he wants to spend his free time on the weekends with her. He’ll even go shopping and watch romantic movies. He picks up extra hours at work because he’s saving for a ring. The future suddenly comes into focus, because whatever plans and dreams he might have, she’s in t...

Hey, senior! You have reached the pinnacle of your high school experience. You put in your time and learned to navigate the lunch room confusion, the awkwardness of which table to sit at. Maybe your books got dumped as an underclassman, but now you know your way around the hallways. Perhaps you sat on the bench all last season, but this year is your time to shine. You’re a survivor. You’re about to become the big man on campus along with all the special privileges being a senior affords.

High school is sort of like the...

In just a few weeks college students all across the country will experience a similar sensation; syllabus shock. The syllabus contains an overall description of the course, its objectives, the materials needed, and all the assignments that will be due throughout the semester. It can be quite daunting. But, the syllabus really is a good thing. It's a professor's contract with his or her students, and it's filled with clues about how to succeed in the course. Syllabus shock is also good and necessary, because it provides students a glimpse into the reality that lies ahead. Students can prepare...

Have you ever been given a task for which you felt ill equipped? Perhaps you felt this way as a first time parent, bringing that delicate little life home from the hospital. For the first 36 hours you relied on the expertise of an entire team of doctors and nurses. There was that reassuring hushed buzz in the halls of a hospital. But all of a sudden you step into the relative emptiness of your own home and suddenly you’re all alone. It’s just you and this baby that won’t stop crying. 

Or perhaps you’ve felt o...

There is nothing more definitive than death. As the Book of Common Prayer says, “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” It is an inevitable part of the human condition. Death has been called the great equalizer. Regardless of ethnicity, social status, wealth, or personal accomplishments in this life, death is our common enemy. Perhaps you have had a personal brush with death. Maybe you’ve held the hand of a loved one as they died. You might be facing this cold, cruel reality right now as you battle a deadly disease.

The theme woven throug...

Perhaps you, too, watch those home renovation shows in which the celebrity couple takes a bargain basement house and transforms it into a beautiful home. Typically, the remodel runs into some sort of a snag. They peak behind the walls or under the floors only to discover significant structural damage. It’s going to cost more money and take more time than originally thought. 

And so it is in our lives. There’s the stuff on the surface that you tend to the most and by which you’re often defined. But, there’s a whole lot more goin...

John the baptizer comes on the scene in Luke 3 nearly 20 years after the close of chapter 2. Like a good historian, Luke paints a picture of the date John enters the scene, as well as the state of both the Roman and Jewish political systems (and it wasn't good). John's ministry of repentance would stand in stark contrast to the self-sufficiency, power politics, religious pedigrees and ritual practices of the day (and so, too, ours). He understood his prophetic assignment to "prepare the way of the Lord" by calling people to repentance: a change of mind that would result in...

Nebraska lies in what is referred to as tornado alley. So, we’re prepared for severe weather events. We have emergency signal systems that warn of the approaching danger. But will they alert people in time? Will the warning be heeded? You build a storm shelter. But will it withstand the force of 165 mph winds? You have homeowners insurance to replace that hail damaged roof, but will the policy pay out as promised? The theme woven throughout Luke's gospel is that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. But can he? Can we trust him to come th...

If you’re a parent you know the feeling of being heard but not heeded. You shout down the stairs that lunch is ready. Your middle schooler who is currently engrossed in a video game replies, “Ok!” You wait patiently, but after a few minutes there is no sign that the message was truly received. As we continue on in our salvation story, we read that Jesus was going through Galilean cities and towns proclaiming the word of God. Many would hear but most would not heed the message. Jesus uses one of his most famous parables, the parable of the...

Love is observable, expressed through actions. You’ll see this at a wedding. The bride and groom solemnly swear in the presence of God and witnesses to love one another “until death do us part.” But the intimacy enjoyed by two young lovers isn’t merely a recitation of time worn words. Their love is plainly visible in the way she gazes into his eyes or in the tender way he whispers in her ear as they dance. They embrace. They kiss. They are so obviously in love. This is true in all relationships; parent to child, siblings, or best of...

School’s out and it’s Memorial Day weekend, marking the official start to summer. Whether you’re hanging out at the pool or in the backyard grilling some quality meats, it brings to mind the smooth sound of Lionel Richie and the Commodores’ 1977 classic “Easy.” “I’m easy, easy like Sunday mornin…” It’s actually a sad song of sorts as it tells the story of a young man who’s tired of trying to make his girl happy, conforming to all of her demands. He just wants to take it easy. Many people approach their faith in the same way. They want...

Desperate times call for desperate measures. High above Bologna, Italy sits the Sanctuary of San Luca, home of a sacred 12th century statue of the Madonna, the Virgin Mother Mary. Religious pilgrims will climb nearly two and a half miles of stairs under the world’s longest portico to obtain divine favor. The especially devout will even ascend on their knees. But what of the person who’s never heard of this holy site? What of the infirm who are physically unable to perform such a ritual? As we continue in our salvation story we’ll read two accounts of ext...

Nobody wants to be a hypocrite. To be called a hypocrite is universally received as an insult. The term was originally used for play actors, people pretending to be something they were not. Like a bowl of plastic fruit decorating the table, though it might look good, appearances can be deceiving. Sadly, you’ve probably met some people like that. As we continue reading in our salvation story, Jesus concludes his Sermon on the Mount by telling his listeners about the makeup of those who are genuine disciples. It’s not enough to simply say you believe in Jesus. Genu...

The most well known, oft quoted verse in the Bible today is surely “Judge not, lest you be judged.” It is thrown about by Christians and non Christians alike as an immediate defense against any perceived personal attack or any supposed imposition upon one’s belief or behavior. “Don’t judge me!” This quote is lifted from Jesus’ most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount. So was Jesus suggesting that we not make any moral assessments, that anything goes? As we continue on in our salvation story we’ll see the importance of never reading a verse outside its literary con...

Moralistic, inspirational quotes abound. Some are oriented to the achievement of one’s goals. Such as: “The future depends on what you do today.” There are many others that relate to love. For example, “Love doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be true,” or “How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you.” Maybe the most well known word art decorating countless American homes is “Live. Laugh. Love.” As we read along in our salvation story, Jesus continues his most famous sermon, the authoritative teaching that would shape this New Covenant people, the church. After ha...

We define success in predictably human ways; wealth, winning, or by something even more subjective such as personal satisfaction. “I just want to be happy.” Whatever one’s definition might be, we all have an inner sense of what success looks like versus failure, so we naturally chase after it. However, as we continue reading in our salvation story, Jesus radically redefines success for his disciples. His words would come as a shock to any ordinary listener as it contradicts the predominant narrative. Having just spent time with his Heavenly Father up on the mountain, like Moses coming down from S...

As Americans we are blessed to live in a free country. Yet freedom has constraints. There are governing principles handed down to us by the Founding Fathers that provide the basis for our commonly shared life. In the Bible, covenants are arrangements that govern how God interacts with His people. The books of the Old Testament describe God’s dealings with His chosen people of Israel and include more than 600 commands prescribed by the Law of Moses. However, Jesus’ coming inaugurated a New Covenant which was then sealed in his blood, freeing us from both the condemnation and the requ...

The Bible contains two distinct parts, the Old Testament and the New. What is the difference between them and why is it important? Perhaps you like to eat bacon or sport a goatee. Maybe you have a tattoo. You might be hospitable and planning a wonderful meal for family and friends on Sunday after church. These behaviors and many others were addressed by more than 600 Old Testament commands regulating the daily life of a Jew. But as we continue reading in our salvation story, we’ll learn that Jesus is the mediator of a new and better covenant. The Ph...

Ministry can be messy. The Pharisees were known to be of high moral character. They would have heartily agreed with the maxim, “Bad company corrupts good morals.” So Jesus’ association with the tax collector, Levi, and his unsavory friends offended their ethical sensibilities. Luke 5:27-32 contains the second of five episodes in the so called “Pharisee controversy,” which will end with them discussing how to get rid of Jesus. In telling the story of Levi’s calling and the Pharisees’ response, Luke shows how Jesus intentionally sought out sinners. He entered into the messiness of their lives, called them to repentance...

Titles confer rights and privileges not afforded to any ordinary person. A police captain might flash his badge to gain entry to a crime scene or to access otherwise classified information. An MD can prescribe medications, including controlled substances. An honorable judge enters into the courtroom and everyone stands. Her decisions are binding and authoritative. Beginning in verse 17 of chapter 5 Luke describes growing skepticism and hostility amongst the religious elite towards Jesus, who asserts his authority to forgive sins. Indeed, this is something that only God can do. Therefore, Jesus reveals his preferred title for himself, Son of Man...

In biblical times, leprosy was a generic term for a variety of highly infectious skin diseases. For the health of the community, people afflicted with one of these skin diseases would be forced to live alone, outside of their town or village until they could prove that they were clean. In the Bible, leprosy was also a graphic illustration for the destructiveness of sin, causing shame and separation from both God and others. Luke chapter 5 contains the miraculous account of a leprous man made clean. As we continue reading in our salvation story, Luke describes the opposition that Jesus...

Simon lived in Capernaum with his wife and family. He and his brother Andrew owned a fishing business. They were partners with the sons of Zebedee, James and John. But one day Simon and his associates had a life changing encounter with Jesus. In obedience to Jesus’ command Simon hauled in his most successful catch ever. There were so many fish the nets were breaking and the boats were sinking. But on this, the most profitable day of his career, Simon left it all behind. He became one of Jesus’ disciples. As we continue on in our salvation story, Luke...

Authority. It’s something we all deal with on a daily basis. You may submit to the authority of your parents, teachers, law enforcement officers, building inspectors, or your boss at work. These are authorities that we commonly interact with and maybe even sometimes resist. But there are other authorities that have the power to govern or control our lives too, both in the physical and spiritual realms. As Jesus went about fulfilling his prophetic mission, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom in the village of Capernaum, he demonstrated the authority of his word over demons and disease. Jesus’ word...

Ever since he was a boy, after he and his parents had returned from Egypt, Jesus frequented the synagogue in Nazareth. He would go there every Sabbath. Being from a small town everyone knew who Jesus was. He was the son of the carpenter. His mother was Mary. His brothers were James and Simon. The townspeople heard that he’d become a rabbi. There were even reports of him doing miracles up in the village of Capernaum. Now, he was back home and everyone listened attentively as he unrolled the text to teach for the very first time. Jesus em...

A voice from heaven thunderously declared, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” There had never been a more stunning bestowal of divine favor upon any one man. As a descendant of Adam and as the perfect, one and only Son of God, Jesus was uniquely qualified to be the Savior of the world. But the Devil responded, “Prove it.” Immediately following his dramatic baptism and anointing by the Holy Spirit, Jesus spends 40 days in the wilderness where he is tested. Jesus passed the test, proving and perfecting his credentials to save. As God’s dearly lov...

After his baptism by John, Jesus began his public ministry, on his way to accomplishing the mission for which he had been sent. However, Luke interrupts the narrative to add a piece of historical data that might seem insignificant to some and even boring to others; the genealogy of Jesus. Biblical genealogies should not just be skipped over or ignored. In them we find hidden gems of truth. And so it is here at the end of Luke chapter 3. Jesus’ ancestry uniquely qualified him to be the Savior because not only was he a descendant of David, born to be...

[Guest Speaker: Curt Isaacson | Worship Pastor | PassageWay Church] John the baptizer comes on the scene in Luke 3 nearly 20 years after the close of chapter 2. Like a good historian, Luke paints a picture of the date John enters the scene, as well as the state of both the Roman and Jewish political systems (and it wasn't good). John's ministry of repentance would stand in stark contrast to the self-sufficiency, power politics, religious pedigrees and ritual practices of the day (and so, too, ours). He understood his prophetic assignment to "prepare the way of the Lord" by calling people to repentance...

Jesus grew up like any other devout Jewish boy in first century Palestine. The Bible is silent about his childhood, which indicates that it was probably quite normal. Normal except for one episode recorded in Luke 2 when Jesus is separated from Mary and Joseph. After a frantic search he’s found interacting with the rabbis in the temple at Jerusalem. Luke reveals that from a young age Jesus was aware of his divine sonship, which would require single minded devotion to the mission entrusted to him by his Heavenly Father. This single-mindedness would be the cause of pain and di...