[ God said to Noah] “I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds,  I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.”  Genesis 9:13-15 Dear Friends,   Sometime in the past few years, I heard about the distinction between soft power  and hard

This congregation confesses the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God, through which God still speaks, and as the only source of the Church's doctrine and the authoritative standard for the faith and life of the Church. [Article II, Section 3 of the FLC Constitution] Dear Friends, We live in a world full of information. It’s not just newspapers and the evening news anymore. It’s 24-7 streaming news, podcasts, internet, AI, social media (Instagra

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming,   “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”   This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ ” Matthew 3:1-3 Dear Friends, Back when I was living in Texas, I looked forward to my annual snow skiing trip… and it was a lot more than a two-hour drive down the road! Weeks

Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. Matthew 1:19 Dear Friends, Last Sunday, we had our Christmas Play, Who Will Save Us?  For those of you who were able to watch it, you saw how many of the elements of the nativity story we have in Matthew echo or parallel the nativity story of Moses. Though we had wise men, you may have noticed that there were no shepherds or no “room at the inn” (even thou

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator   shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.  Isaiah 58:8-9 Dear Friends, When I was in university in Houston, I was introduced to snow skiing. One year, I decided to put together a trip with some other young folks from our church to drive to Colo

Then [the king] will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ Matthew 25:45 Dear Friends, Each week during our staff meeting, I read the upcoming Sunday’s scripture. So last week we read Jesus’ parable about the Sheep and the Goats from Matthew 25… we were all convicted by it. Isn’t it the case that there is always more that we can do for those in need? It is easy to go on a guilt or shame trip but I don

This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ ” Matthew 3:3   Dear Friends,   Buckle up! The Christmas Train has left the station!   It seems like every year merchandisers try to get an even earlier jump on marketing their Christmas wares. Christmas decorations are showing up in stores. Streaming channels are loading up with their Christmas time movies. Hol

Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20 [The Message] Dear Friends, Last Sunday, we celebra

From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we no longer know him in that way.  So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation ;  that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting t

Then Jesus came to them and said,  “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.   Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations,  baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:18-20 Dear Friends,   In today’s email, I continue the inquiry and discernment about, What is our purpose?   Any conversation and exploration of Jesus’ purpose has to include reflec

All who believed were together and had all things in common;  they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.  Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. Acts 2:44-47 Dear Friends, As most of you are aware,

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God....

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing,...

Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray. Psalm 22:6 Dear Friends,   You may have picked up on the fact that we...

“But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” Matthew 5:44 Dear Friends, Last week on the news, we heard of...

…for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 Dear...

But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and...

Learn about all that is going on at FLC this Fall!

Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.” John 4:39 Dear...

…learn to do good;seek justice;rescue the oppressed; defend the orphan;plead for the widow. Isaiah 1:17 Dear Friends,   One way of...