He must become greater; I must become less. - John 3:30 Not too long, I was giving a message about growing beyond ourselves by having Jesus at the center of our lives. John the Baptist has always been a striking example to me of what it means to have Jesus at the center and to …
First Week of Lent
This past week, we have entered the season of the church year known as Lent. Lent is more than a worn-out old tradition of the church, but a way to enter more deeply into Jesus’ death on the Cross in order that we might enter more fully into the joys of Jesus’ resurrection. During this …
The Pursuit of Happiness?…or the Good Life?
"What ever happened to the pursuit of happiness?" asks a recent Starbucks ad for the mint mocha frappuccino. Not too long ago, I was out of town with my family, visiting some extended family. They live in a small town that has been overtaken by big city dwellers seeking a personal pleasure island. After seeing …
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Ash Wednesday – Beginning our Lenten Journey
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day journey (minus Sundays) toward Easter. Often you see people walking around with a dark smudge of ashes on their forehead. It is a sign of our mortality; "that we are dust" (Psalm 103:14) and to dust we shall return. Lent is so much more than a …
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Grace in the Law
Take from me the way of lying; let me find grace through your law. - Psalm 119:29 When I normally think of God's law, I think of the rules that I need to keep. I think of the Ten Commandments with the "thou shalts..." and "thou shalt nots..." I think of commands and strict parenting. …
Matthew Erickson 