Congrats Eric!

My son, Eric, pictured with his wife, Christina, has earned a Masters Degree in Non-Profit studies from Arizona State University.  Tonight, he'll walk across the stage and receive his degree.  My dear, sweet wife and I are so proud of him.  He's a husband, father, and holds down an important development position with the ASU college of nursing.  It took three years of hard work, one class at a time, and he completed his degree with a 4.0 GPA.  Way to go, Eric!

Worship opportunities this weekend

This weekend we light the "joy" candle on our Advent wreath.  We invite you to worship with us on:

Saturday at 5 pm or Sunday at 8 and 11 am.  I'll be preaching at all three services and the title of my message is "There's Only Jesus."

Hope to see you this weekend at LICL!

A reflection on Revelation 3:20

From the pen of Joni Eareckson Tada...

I love the painting of Jesus standing at a door with a lamp in one hand and gently knocking with the other. When you look closely, you see there is no doorknob.  The suggestion is that the door can only be opened from the inside, placing the responsibility of salvation on the person behind the door. It's a lovely painting inspired by Revelation 3:20 (which is actually an invitation of fellowship to believers, not an invitation of salvation to unbelievers).

The true picture of salvation is that we are utterly dead in our sin. We are spiritually deaf and cannot even hear Jesus knocking. A more accurate picture might be Jesus rapping on the door, climbing over it, and then placing our lifeless hand on the inside doorknob! Jesus is the One who gives us faith to believe (Romans 12:3). He unplugs our ears, opens our eyes, touches our hearts, illumines our thinking, and places within us the saving faith to say, "I believe!"

"Pearls of Great Price," December 18 devotional

This is the mercy of God

This is the mercy of God.  

He does not abandon you, period.

You are His child...and nothing can change that.

Todd Peperkorn, "I Trust When Dark My Road," page 78

Today's Underlined Bible Verse

You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Psalm 32:7

Understanding God?

If we could understand Him, He would no longer be God.

Bo Giertz, "Treasury Of Daily Prayer," page 417

Moving through Advent

This weekend two purple candles will be lit on our Advent wreath as we continue on in this season of repentance and faith, preparation and anticipation.  Deacon Jerry Klink preaches tonight at our 5 pm service and I'll be preaching at our 8 and 11 am services.  Also, we'll continue with the study, "Because of Bethlehem," at our adult Bible class which meets at 9:30 in the morning.  Stop by, check out our new Christian Life Center, and stay for worship and Bible study.  Have a great day!