little lady.

Everyone has a nickname.  Whether it is public knowledge or not...

I find it beautiful how nicknames get created.  A friend of mine from seminary perfected the art of nickname giving.  His nicknames always developed or grew for the person.  For example, one night I heard him call his wife Boba.  Her name is nothing close to anything like this so I asked, why do you call her Boba?

"Well", he said, "it started out as Baby, Babe, Bebe, Be, Bo, Bobo, Boba Fett, Boba."

I am sure we all have a nickname or terms of endearment for those we love.  My son is often called Sonny-Sonny or Buddy more often than his actual name.  So when my daughter was born it didn't take too long for my wife to give her a unique title - "little lady."  We were in the hospital still and I remember her saying it and liking it immediately.  I thought it might have been just a passing comment, but the more I hear it, I like it.  This is what she is to us.  I am sure this may not stick her whole life, but for now this is what expresses our love for her.

Do you think the same would be true with God and the relationship with us?  Certainly God knows our name, but I wonder if we are called something different in the quiet moments of intimacy with God.  God calls you ______.

"Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel - for you have striven with God and man and have prevailed."        

Church Words

Our Youth Pastor (Rev. Wil Kaufmann) shares from 2 Corinthians 1: 3-14

What words do we use and what language best communicates who we are as a church?

Are we sensitive about our language for those who don't speak our church language?

Check out this episode!

Demand for a King

The kingdom of God will never arrive on Air Force One.

This is something important to remember during this time in our country.  Where do we ultimately place our trust?

Discover how we got to where we are... 1 Samuel 8. 

Check out this episode!

He Sang

Where has the prophetic voice gone?  I am not speaking about the the sign-wearing, judgment-spewing, bullhorn-blasting folks in Times Square - but faithful men and women who willing to say 'thus saith the Lord.'

Do they exist today?  Where can you find them?
Peter Bradley Adams - "He Sang"

Sunday morning on crowded road
I saw a man standing alone
He faced the mountains, his hands were raised
Like some prophet, his eyes in a blaze
Oh bring me the day
When the sun broke on his face
And he sang "glory"
And the sun would rise
He sang, "glory", with fire in his eyes

Above the engines and the shuffle of feet
His voice it carried over the trees
He sang for his children he sang for his home
And he sang for me though he didn't know
Oh bring me the day
When the sun broke on his face
And he sang "glory"
And the sun would rise
He sang, "glory", with fire in his eyes

9/11 reflection

As we remember and reflect upon the events of September 11, 2001- I know that we can all remember where we were and what we first felt.  While time is a healer, we are still aware of the deep hurt of those who have lost loved ones in this tragedy.  Time away from this horrific day has allowed for us to be able to pause and reflect/remember.  Many have been writing blogs, posting on facebook, and updating twitter concerning the anniversary.  I wanted to share with you some beautiful words from a friend that I attended High School with.  Dr. Thomas Edge shares,

"Many people will note the lives lost eleven years ago, the sacrifices of soldiers and military families, the importance of first responders. It is right and proper that we do so. But we must remember, in our system of government, that every citizen has a role to play in the defense of liberty. If we truly mourn those lives lost on September 11, 2001, we must devote ourselves to an engaged citizenship, one which holds public servants accountable and which brings all voices to the political conversations guiding our country. If we value the soldiers who answer the call of duty, we must be ever vigilant against those who would ask us to sacrifice the liberties we are supposedly defending thousands of miles away. If we celebrate the actions of first responders, we must consider and reconsider our own responses to crises like 9/11, whether we view such moments as an excuse for our hatreds and fears, or as another challenge we shall overcome together."

Anniversary Sermon

At Tabernacle we celebrated 209 years of history and heritage. 

Each Anniversary Sunday, Pastor Michael delivers a 'state of the union' type sermon.  This is where we celebrate the past year's successes in ministry and look forward to another year.  This is a vision casting message with details about upcoming programs, sermon series, and vision.

 

Check out this episode!

Swallowed in the Sea.

What good is it to live with nothing left to give
Forget but not forgive, not loving all you see
The streets you're walking on a thousand houses long
That's where I belong and you belong with me
not swallowed in the sea.

In light of today's message we see that the book of Jonah isn't just about a big fish... 

Check out this episode!