May 27, 2012 | Memorial Day | John Bayles | Now, To Him Who Is Able (Ephesians 3:20,21)

We often think of God's power in the timeframe of the past: what He has done, both in the historic biblical context: the flood, the rescue of Israel from bondage through the Red Sea on dry ground, the plagues, the fall of Jericho and we think of how He has worked in our own personal past in some amazing way. Or, we may share a deep hope that God will act in our future in a powerful way to bring about an expectation or request.

May 20, 2012 | John Bayles | The Dignity of Community (1 Timothy 5:1-2)

In chapter 4:12 Paul told Timothy, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young.” This might well be the tendency on a shallow level of relationships. “Who does that young fella think he is?” Statements like these are the natural tension that exits in the general interaction between the young and the old, especially when the younger have authority over the older.

May 13, 2012 | John Bayles | The Living Witness (1 Timothy 4:9-16)

We live in a “gotcha” age. You know, just after a person has gone into great detail outlining the best parts of an idea, the interviewer says, “Yes, but in some past time (and embarrassingly on tape) didn’t you say the following?” Then the tape, or worse the videotape, is played, the contradiction is highlighted, and then in response the accused person says, “I never said that!” It’s the kind of thing that makes me yell at the TV - though, of course, as you know, I never do that.

May 6, 2012 | John Bayles | Truth: The Safe Anchor (1 Timothy 4:1-8)

Where does grace begin and where does it end? There is little doubt that the genuine Christian believes that he/she was saved by the grace of God. We lived in the beauty of those early days of faith and the accompanying thanksgiving of seeing clearly that though we are sinners, Christ’s death and resurrection has made us whole and acceptable to God.