If you recall, a few months ago I began sharing some ponderings regarding 1 Peter 2:9 – where Peter tells us, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”Since there is so much packed into this verse, I have sought to break it up into a series o...  Read More

In fear and trembling (I hate the microphone) I have recently agreed to help with a conference on marriage. I could have declined but I have a burden to see and promote the glory of God in His paradigm of holy matrimony. The following thoughts are not completely connected, and are parts of larger concepts, but I thought I would share them with you briefly here. I would love to hear your thoughts o...  Read More

Do you ever get words, phrases, or bits of a song stuck in your head as you’re reading or listening to something? It happens to me- a lot. As we were singing Christ Our Treasure during the service this past Sunday, the line “awesome in splendor” jumped out at me. As I write this a few days later, it is still in my mind. If one is going to have thoughts stuck in his or her head, this certainly is a...  Read More

Have you heard about the Meal Relief Ministry at New Life? The purpose of this ministry is to bless the members of our church family in a tangible way by providing meals for individuals or families in need. The experience of meal preparation and delivery to a person’s home can be a great blessing for the giver. The recipients might be a family with a new baby, to a person going through illness, so...  Read More

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” ...  Read More

We all know the word “holy.” We know the tabernacle God instructed Moses and the Israelites to build was a holy place and it had some holy furniture in it. In fact, as we were reminded recently in a Sunday sermon, the Ark of the Covenant was so holy that a well-meaning man who wanted to protect the Ark from damage was struck dead when he touched it. We also know the call of the seraphim in Isaiah ...  Read More

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).I am the bread of life is one of the seven “I am” statements of Jesus in the book of John. In all seven He combined “I am” with wonderful metaphors which express His saving relationship toward the world. 1. “I am the bread of life” (6:35) 2. “I am the light ...  Read More

Did you know that New Life has a Resource Center?  It’s actually a tiny bookstore where books and CD’s can be purchased, located just to the right of the main entrance doors.  It is also the place where you can get a free ESV study Bible if you don’t own a study Bible, as well as a New Life directory and a visitor bag if you are visiting and would like to know more about New Life.  Here are a few ...  Read More

This is the week we seek to codify our new year’s resolutions – alas, we are just three days from the new year! If history is any indication of what is to come, 2024 will echo with resolutions of years gone by. Sadly, we are slow to learn. Nevertheless, our good intentions compel us to “give it another go.” I suspect the fitness centers around us will be more full in the early days and weeks of Ja...  Read More

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”                                                                                                                          John 3:16-17 Let me start this...  Read More

Are gifts on your mind right now? We’re in a calendar season of gift giving. It’s what everyone is doing. In my home, my wife has dozens of people she is thoughtfully and lovingly considering gifts for. I don’t know how she does it; I have just one to focus on: her. I marvel at her ability throughout the year to pay attention to people and consider unique, meaningful, and practical gifts for so ma...  Read More

Ponderer’s note: I am writing this on the afternoon of Election Day, so I don’t know the outcome of the election.This past week included an important day here in the United States: Election Day. We voted for the next President, a Senator, a member of the House of Representatives, and people to fill some state and local offices. This election has been notable for what may be unprecedented levels of...  Read More