“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all
Author: Gary Combs
On handling snakes and grumbling
“Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient along the way, and they began to murmur against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?”
The “Roady Church” goes downtown
“Jesus replied, “We must go to the nearby towns, so that I can tell the good news to those people. This is why I have come.” (Mark 1:38 CEV) “Therefore go” (Matthew 28:19). This past Sunday we had to tear down our equipment immediately after the second service ended and load it up to carry
Lingering for discipleship
“I have been given say over everything in heaven and earth, so go make apprentices to me among people of every kind, submerge them in the reality of the Trinitarian God, and lead them into doing everything I have told you to do. Now look! I am with you every minute, until the job is
Driving GMAC
“You experienced it all firsthand. With each of you we were like a father with his child” (1 Thessalonians 2:11 Msg). No, I didn’t get a GMC truck. I spent the day driving GMAC (Gordon MacDonald) from the Raleigh airport to a pastor’s conference in Winston Salem and then back to his hotel in Raleigh.
To kill a Mockingbird
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up” (Luke 8:5 NIV). Some Sundays are more challenging than others. This past Sunday was like that. I should have been prepared for it,
Choosing to be uncomfortable
"I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world" (John 16:33 CEV). "Americans don’t have a good theology of suffering" (Rick McKinley, Pastor at Imago Dei Church, Portland,
Ever lose that lovin feeling?
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. (Revelation 2:4) “Woa…woa…woe.” (The Righteous Brothers) Sometimes we forget what it was like when we first fell in love. The object of our affection consumes our every thought. Some describe it as being “love sick.” But Jesus told the church in the city
I don’t want to see Jesus spit out any WCC disciples
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!” Revelation 3:15-16. Stephen (that’s the back of his head on the bottom right) and I just got back
This past Sunday is still shining!
I’m still stoked about our last Sunday service! We talked about how we want to be a people that uses our light of influence to shine on Jesus. So many churches and Christians waste their influence by declaring what they’re against. Or they misuse their influence by discussing peripheral or temporal things. But in the