After the Israelites were deported by the Assyrians in 722 BC, the Assyrians relocated captives from other countries to the land of Israel. Their descendants became the Samaritans. These people worshipped many gods and eventually attempted to include God among those they worshipped. The Israelites despised the Samaritans. The shortest route from Jerusalem to Galilee…
In 2021 there were more than four hundred thousand children in the United States foster care. Many of those kids were unable to return to their families and were waiting to be adopted. These children spend about three years in foster care before they become eligible for adoption, but they can wait up to ten…
Can you remember when Coke was 5 cents? Hershey bar was 5 cents. A cup of coffee was 5 ents. A first class stamp was 3 cents. A gallon of gas was 29 cents. A new Chevy was $1,200. A teacher earned $2,640 a year. The most basic computer cost $5,000,000. We have come from…
I quote my mother often. She influenced my life in so many ways. A one of a kind lady. One of the many things she tried so hard to teach me, I can almost hear her saying it, “put God first in your life and everything else will work out.” She was teaching me God’s…
When God called Abraham out of Ur, he made a covenant-a promise-that Abraham would be the father of a holy nation. “I will bless those who bless you and I will place a curse on those who harm you. And all the people of the earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:3) How would…
Rev. Gary Harrison, pastor of the First United Methodist Church (FUMC), will preach his last sermon in Warren June 5, the first Sunday in June. He has been assigned to the FUMC in Bingen and Nashville, AR, and will begin as pastor there July 1 of this year. Before coming to Warren in 2014, Rev.…
Just the sound of the word seems frantic. Yet many today try to live their lives in constant motion, dictated by a long daily to-do list or pursuing random activities. At the end of the day, they feel totally exhausted and dread the next morning when they will get up and start their hectic pace…
“My God!” Ignoring the pain, he pushed upward until his shoulders were higher than his nailed hands. “Why have you forsaken me?” As he gave his final breath, he spoke a final time, “It is finished!” Bizarre, isn’t it. The thought of this man’s blood providing redemption for “whosoever” will. The soldiers are busy now…
Jesus, God’s Son came to our world more than 2,000 years ago. He embarked on the greatest “rescue mission” of all time. Jesus came to show us what God was like and how life should be lived. Some gladly welcomed Him, while others rejected His message and pushed Him away. Eventually His jealous critics framed…
