At the ACC after-school tutoring program a few weeks ago Pastor David casually mentioned to me that he and Sobeyda were going to be hosting a refugee family from El Salvador. My heart jumped with excitement...what an opportunity for ACC to show the love of God! I also was encouraged by their willingness to share their living space with strangers, knowing they give so much already as a Pastor and Counselor. The next day Carolina and her almost 11 year old son Onandy arrived....
One of the most common names for God in the Bible is Yahweh Sabaoth or Elohim Sabaoth. The name appears over 285 times in the Old Testament and is translated "Lord of hosts" or "God of armies." The title "Lord of hosts" communicates the idea that God commands a vast army of angelic beings who obey his orders to accomplish his purpose on earth. It is a name that emphasizes...
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When pointing out something that is taught in the Bible, it is not uncommon to hear people respond by saying, "But that's just your interpretation." Often this comment is made as an attempt to invalidate your point and end the discussion. How should we respond to this remark? First, it is helpful to acknowledge the truth of what the person is saying. The point you have j...
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Martin Luther King, Jr. is most often remembered for his leadership in the struggle against racial injustice, but it is sometimes forgotten that at the end of his life King had begun to focus his efforts on the problem of poverty. The Poor People's Campaign, organized in 1968 by MLK and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, was an attempt to draw attention to the n...
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In a well-known episode of the old television series The Twilight Zone, a spaceship lands on earth piloted by extraterrestrials called the Kanamits. The arrival of these 9-foot-tall aliens sparks fear in the hearts of people throughout the world, until one of their leaders explains to a room of U.N. delegates that they have come to earth simply to share their advanced tech...
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I was raised in the Free Methodist Church. In that tradition, congregations have historically gathered on New Year's Eve for a covenant renewal service. They follow a liturgy designed by John Wesley that leads the church through remembrance of God's grace, confession of sin, and consecration to God's purposes. There is one prayer in that service that really grabs my atten...
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