by Derek Fekkes | Mar 26, 2020 | Uncategorized
I have asked Paul Burgess, one of our congregants, to write a post on how times of trials and suffering can benefit believers and the church (he’s actually going to write a few connected posts over the next few weeks). Part of the reason I’ve asked him to...
by Derek Fekkes | Mar 18, 2020 | Uncategorized
For an update (as of 6/13/2020), please see this post. We are living in a strange and difficult time. As such, churches across the world are having to adjust and think through how to continue to be the church in such a time. We clearly need to make some changes, but...
by Derek Fekkes | Mar 12, 2020 | Uncategorized
Like most people, I am watching the coronavirus situation closely, looking into the research available, and keeping up with the recommendations of government and health officials. I have also reached out to both local churches and churches in our 3Strand Network to...
by Derek Fekkes | Mar 10, 2020 | Uncategorized
I shared a few thoughts to our church Sunday about how to think through the coronavirus situation in light of the truth and promises of God. Pray. I was amazed at how long it took for me to pray for the situation. In the search to find information, read articles,...
by Derek Fekkes | Feb 26, 2020 | Uncategorized
Thus says the Lord:“Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths,where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ (Jeremiah 6:16) I was...
by Derek Fekkes | Feb 12, 2020 | Uncategorized
And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:41 We recently introduced a song titled “Jesus, Strong and Kind.” The title may not strike you at first, but the words “strong” and “kind”...
by Derek Fekkes | Jan 22, 2020 | Uncategorized
“But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” Mark 4:20 This past Sunday, we considered Jesus’ parable of the soils. Jesus pictures the word of God as seed that is...
by Derek Fekkes | Jan 15, 2020 | Uncategorized
And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:34-35) Jesus offends a lot of people. There is, ironically, nothing controversial about...
by Derek Fekkes | Jan 2, 2020 | Uncategorized
I am currently reading a book called The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion, by Jonathan Haidt. I wanted to share a few quotes from the book, for a couple of reasons: 1) It is not a book that most of my readers will probably read...
by Derek Fekkes | Dec 23, 2019 | Uncategorized
In yesterday’s sermon I shared a quote from C.S. Lewis on the role of longing in the life of a Christian. This is a theme that runs through many of Lewis’ works, including The Chronicles of Narnia and Lewis’ autobiography, Surprised by Joy. While...
