HILLCITY church

Tag

Freedom, fireworks, and following Jesus

I got in some trouble last night - celebrating my freedom. There’s been a tradition at our house since the year we moved in, we invite friends over for the fourth of July and have a grill out and shoot off some fireworks. Seems like that’s what it means to be an American, right? I thought so too. Or perhaps I even still think so.  Only once (until last night) has this annual occasion proved dangerous, as a firework shot…

Giving up on getting even

There’s this thing about baseball that I think is pretty cool. They have what are considered to be “unwritten” rules. These are guidelines that apply to situations where there is no actual rule in the rulebook, but it is understood that there are certain things that everyone does or does not do. The unwritten rules also apply in such a manner that, if A happens, then B is likely to also occur.  For example, there is a very exciting scenario…

Disciplined disciples

I read the Bible almost every single day. At least five out of seven days, and usually it’s more like seven days a week. It’s a fun thing to say, and it sounds good coming out of my mouth - but the truth is, I am kind of a cheater. My job requires me to be in God’s Word; reading it, interpreting it, discerning what it teaches, and relaying that information to a world that is in desperate need of…

Intentional Church

Hudson Wisconsin didn’t need another church. There were already 15 of them in April of 2013 - and many of them were functioning well and growing. But what Hudson was looking for, perhaps even asking for - was our church. Let me explain a little bit more… I grew up in Hudson. Some people would call me a lifer. A guy I went to high school with recently called us “townies.” I guess I would just say I never left.…

Empty tomb, Resurrection, Jesus is alive, Easter, Sunday Morning

Easter Sunday – the world will never be the same – Pt. 2 (He is risen)

The world will never be the same. He is NOT dead, He is alive!  At first they did not believe them, the women, when they returned with the news that the tomb sat empty. It could not be, it was too good to be true. They must have been mistaken or overcome with grief. Perhaps they had just been “seeing things” - wanting desperately for it to not be over.  So they ran, first Peter, and then John to the…

  • Read More
  • Comments Off on Easter Sunday – the world will never be the same – Pt. 2 (He is risen)
  • /
  • By
  • /
silence, weeping, death, sadness, Holy Saturday, the end of hope

Saturday – The world will never be the same – Pt. 1 (He is dead)

He is dead. There is nothing in this world that is as sudden AND permanent as death. Many things happen quickly. There is also an abundance of things that are permanent. But the combination of the two is especially brutal. Death packs the two punch. It kicks you in the gut, removes all hope from your heart, messes with your mind - all while seemingly sucking the life right out of your soul. It drags you down, and you do…

Holy Week, Holy Week Devos, Good Friday, the death of Jesus, it is finished

Friday – It is finished. Amen

The word “amen” is often uttered after prayers to signify that it is over. It literally means; let it be true, or truly - and is intended to be used to express that the person who spoke the prayer believes that God has heard it, and He will answer it, according to His will. For 33 years, Jesus has been living a prayer. His every word, action, teaching and healing has been an offering to God, His Father, with whom…

Holy Week Devotional, Maunday Thursday, The Last Supper, Passover Meal

Thursday – A cup

A cup. Nothing that people hadn’t seen before, but tonight it meant so much more. A single, solitary cup, sitting in the middle of the table, surrounded by bread - and perhaps some grapes and olives - waiting to be filled. It was common for them to have bread and wine with every meal, they were staples of the time and place, and tonight would be no different in THAT regard. But there, in the middle of the table sat…

Wednesday – God’s anointed

He was just spending it with friends. His last day, the day before it all changed. Like the calm before the storm, Jesus is with His people, enjoying a meal and trying not to focus on what the next few days will bring. Perhaps there is even a smile, or a moment of laughter, as for one brief second, there is respite from His reality. And then, suddenly, it was time.  Mark 14:3–9 (ESV)And while he was at Bethany in…

Tuesday – truths from trees

Mark 11:12–14 (ESV)On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. He is yelling at a tree. He was…