This advent season, I am making a very conscientious effort to find moments to be still and remember the reason for the season – to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. With the calendar quickly filling up, holiday events to plan for, numerous meals to prepare, gift shopping to do – … Read More
Voice of Grace
Commitment vs. Involvement
When you sit down to have a breakfast of bacon and eggs, one can easily say the chicken was involved. The pig, on the other hand, was committed. Likewise, at Thanksgiving dinner, the turkey was committed. Perhaps these are not the most pleasant thoughts when enjoying dinner, but as a Christian it’s a concept we … Read More
As Surely As
Pastor Kevin DeYoung asks the following questions of believers: have you ever come to church feeling dirty for the way that you stared at a young woman at the Gap, or sat through an entire sermon thinking about how you blew up at your kids that morning, or come to the end of a worship … Read More
Suspicious of Christ’s Blood
The following took place a few years back in Aurora, Denver. “And if you’re right, what do I do?,” that was her question. Given the context, it was a good one. For the past hour we were discussing the effects of her sin on her family. How selfish decisions, small and great, had created ruptures … Read More
Love of Christ
Hello GRC! This past Sunday, in our latest sermon series, Ephesians 2 showed us how the varied bloodlines of humanity – which produced racial, ethnic, religious, national hostilities because of our sinful hearts – can taste unity and peace ONLY through the perfect bloodline of Jesus. This isn’t just something “out there” to tsk at. … Read More
School Bus
For the first few days of this September, a bus would pull up in front of the Noel home. We have no kids, yet, and Nendir and I are not children (contrary to popular belief, haha). We figured that the prior tenants must have had a child on the bus roster. Nonetheless, the God of … Read More
Before You Walk Into Church
Last month I shared some thoughts from a little booklet I came across by Tony Payne called How To Walk Into Church. I suggested that worship isn’t about me, as an individual, it’s about God (praising him, worshiping him) and us, together, as a spiritual family in his presence. And so we should come with … Read More
Not Retiring
After 21 years, I have left the employment of Prudential Financial. As a result, many people have congratulated me on my “retirement.” In fact, there was big party, people said lots of nice things about me, and I even received a brand new Calloway Rogue One driver for my golf bag. Everyone wanted to hear … Read More
Letting Go Into God’s Hands
Hello GRC – The first time the tears came, we had just started the worship service. It was about 2 months ago, and our family of five happened to all be sitting together. No one was running slides or volunteering in the nursery that morning. It occurred to me that soon, there would only be … Read More
Leadership Accountability
Hello GRC – Yes, it’s summer, with beach, pool and vacations on the brain, with lazy mornings for kids and shorter weeks for some workers. But life goes on, including the parade of news that reminds us of the depravity of the human heart, and, unfortunately in some cases, the loss of confidence in the … Read More