Inward Transformation to the Outward Expression of Life
As in all of his letters, Paul begins his message to the Philippian church by giving thanks for them and offering prayer for them. Verses 3-5 read, "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in... Continue Reading →
In the opening verses of 2 Timothy 3, Paul warns Timothy concerning godlessness in the last days. The warning contains a sad list of the resulting realities of sin within a world filled with sin sick hearts. The list includes love of self and money, pride, arrogance, heartlessness, slanderousness, treachery and reckless behavior, among others.... Continue Reading →
I had the honor of speaking at our sunrise service yesterday. Here are some thoughts that I shared as we celebrated the empty tomb together. As our pastor has been preaching through portions of Acts in anticipation of Easter, I have once again realized just how central the resurrection of Jesus was to the message... Continue Reading →
I've read several reviews of the upcoming movie 'Noah.' All I have read confirms exactly what I thought would be the case, that is that the movie does not at all convey the Scriptural story of the historical Noah, the story of the Ark God commanded him to build, or the story of the flood... Continue Reading →
My daily reading/journaling included the narrative of Noah and the Flood from Genesis 6-7 recently. As I read through that passage for what has to be the hundredth time, something stuck out to me that I had never really paid attention to before. I noticed that the phrase, ...[Noah] did all that God commanded him...... Continue Reading →
"If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free ... So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." - John 8:31-32, 36 Our pastor preached from this section from John 8 (vs. 31-38) this morning as... Continue Reading →
Our purpose statement at Westwood includes 3 elements: Grounded in Christ, Growing together in God's Word, and Going for God's Glory. We desire as a church to see people grow as a disciple in these three areas, and we seek to shape everything we do as a church body around this vision. We are... Continue Reading →
There may be no greater time for parents to both teach and illustrate grace to their children than at Christmas time. Grace is the very reason for the holiday in the first place. We set aside a special time each year to celebrate the coming of Jesus as a baby in a manger. John writes... Continue Reading →
What is sin? What an incredibly important question that is! It is a deceptive question, though, because the answer seems so easy. However, I am afraid that too many people have a false understanding of the true answer. In fact, I think we all too often get the answer backwards, and that has everything to... Continue Reading →
It's there in the newborn cry It's there in the light of every sunrise It's there in the shadows of this light Your great grace It's there on the mountaintop It's there in the everyday and the mundane There in the sorrow and the dancing Your great grace Oh, such grace From the creation to... Continue Reading →
know. be. do. 