About six years ago, Rodney Atkins, a country music artist, recorded a song called "Watching You". The song is a about a dad and his 4-year-old son who wants to be just like him. As the song begins, they are in the car and the little boy is eating his Happy Meal in the back seat, but when his dad has to hit the brakes suddenly, the meal goes flying and the little boy, without thinking,…

Hello, Salem! I am so excited to be serving in ministry with you!

In my short time here I have already been inspired by Pantry Pack, worship, the youth, music, and working with this awesome staff. I am eager to get to know you and more about Salem! I love hearing the stories of how God works in the lives of God’s people, and I can’t wait to hear yours.

I have done youth ministry…

Today, we are reminded that God’s grace, love, and healing presence are truly for everyone, and that God’s love never ceases, even if the rest of the world says otherwise. As our story begins, we are told that Jesus and his disciples have returned to the northwestern shores of the Sea of Galilee. Most likely they are back in Capernaum, and as crowds once again begin to gather around Jesus, a…

There have been a lot of songs lately with the message that we need to trust that God is on our side even when things don’t work out the way we hoped. Mercy Me sings, “I know You’re able, and I know You can…but even if you don’t, my hope is You alone.” Hillary Scott sings about trying to understand why her broken heart is a part of God’s plan, and yet “…sometimes I gotta…

As we have heard the past couple of weeks, Jesus had been teaching and preaching in his hometown of Capernaum, a small fishing village on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. Last week we listened to how Jesus had been using parables to teach his followers what the kingdom of God was like, and as I noted then, Jesus was teaching that God’s kingdom was going to be in the “seediest of places.”…

I am truly troubled these days, and I feel I need to share my concerns. As I am sure you have read or seen on TV, the United States has embarked on a practice of separating children from their immigrant parents who are attempting to enter this country illegally. Now, before I go any further, I am fully aware that we have laws, that we need laws, and that we need to enforce our laws; after…

For some of us as we say our daily prayers we often include the Lord’s Prayer, which means as we pray we pray for God’s kingdom to come. For this faith community, every Sunday when we gather, or every time your Council ends a meeting, we pray the Lord’s Prayer, which means we pray for God’s kingdom to come. Today Jesus wants to give us a glimpse of what this Kingdom might be like and for…

When I was a kid, I could swing all day. It was my favorite thing on a playground, even as a teenager. I loved the wind in my hair, pumping really high and jumping off, or just sitting suspended, chatting with friends. Sometimes when I was feeling daring, I’d kick my legs sideways when I was way up high and yell “MAY DAY!!!” as I lost control, twisting in the swing until I came back to…

I pray that you have had a blessed week.

On Monday morning, as I read our Gospel text for Sunday (Mark 3:20-35), I actually started to laugh. Now, don’t get me wrong, this is a serious text about living our lives doing God’s will, but what I found funny was how Jesus responded to the accusations made against him by the religious leaders, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of…

Can anyone tell me the third commandment? Yes, “Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.” Following this command, God went on to say, “Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work — you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six…