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JMU Dukes, we’re glad you’re here
We enjoyed meeting the JMU Class of 2028 at downtown Harrisonburg's annual Block Party in the Burg, which introduces new JMU students to our downtown community. We had free sno cones, gaga ball, four square, free water and music in our courtyard. Here are some...
Blog Archive
12 Books you should read in 2021
Billy Craig Reaching The Unreached: Becoming Raiders of the Lost Art by Peyton Jones This book provides numerous ways and strategies to help the church reach the unreached. My prayer is that those who read it at First Pres can read it with a lens of what it would look...
In 2020, ‘God showed up in a mighty way’
The Silence of Advent, the Hallelujah of Christmas
You can easily see how it fits in, but in thinking about this I believe the quote applies to the season of Advent broadly. You see, the waiting, longing and silence of Advent makes the joy of Christmas all the better. Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament...
The Weary World Rejoices
The combination of anticipating lighting the “joy” candle in our advent wreath on Sunday and reading an excellent reflection titled “The Weary World Rejoices” has me thinking a lot about how to cultivate joy in the midst of our weary, waiting world. Joy, as you will...
The hopes and fears of this strange year
A common theme with our hopes and fears was around how the Church responds to this multi-layered crisis we find ourselves in. Our fear, of course is that the Church will fail to live into its calling as the body and bride of Christ and that our work as pastors will be...
Advent shapes our expectations
This is why I’m grateful for the season of advent. Advent means coming or appearing, and it is a season that shapes our expectations. It reminds us that the world waited a long time for Christ’s first coming and that when he came it was not in the way they expected....
Giving Thanks in the Midst of a Difficult 2020
Prepositions matter! 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances.” I’m really glad the command isn’t to “give thanks for all circumstances.” There are lots of things I cannot and even should not give thanks for this year, but in the midst of...
When disappointment comes
Looking at scripture, I see two interrelated things. First we take it to the Lord. I have often said the Lord prefers our anger to our apathy. We can and should tell God about our frustrations and disappointments, even if on some level they are with Him. We see people...
3 Phrases We Should Use More Often
First, “I don’t know.” Truthfully, I hate having to say “I don’t know” but the truth is I don’t know. I don’t know all of what God is doing in this moment in our history or exactly how we should respond. Yet when I admit I don’t know I put myself in a position to...