thinking out loud

Blessed & Broken (2): Laughing at the Promise

In this second message of our "Blessed and Broken" series, Terry Timm explores the story of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 18, where God brings an impossible promise close to an aging, imperfect couple. He shows how their initial laughter of disbelief is transformed into joy as God proves that nothing is too wonderful or too broken for Him to redeem. Terry invites us to recognize God's presence in the ordinary places of our lives and to keep trusting God's promises, even when hope feels far away and painful.

Blessed & Broken (1): Into the Unknown

This first message in the "Blessed & Broken" series explores the call of Abram and Sarai in Genesis 12, showing how God's promise moves through imperfect, unfinished people. It contrasts the human impulse to "make a name" for ourselves with Abram's shift to calling on the name of the Lord, highlighting faith as a step-by-step journey into the unknown. Terry's message invites listeners to see themselves in Abram's story—blessed yet broken—and to come to the communion table as called, hungry people who are still learning to trust God.

Our Personal Disciple-Making MISSION

In this message, Richie Reeder unpacks the Great Commission in Matthew 28, emphasizing that the mission of the church is to make disciples through everyday relationships rather than expert-level knowledge or formal programs. He highlights how discipleship invites us beyond our comfort zones, participates in God's transforming work, and is sustained by Christ's ongoing presence as we simply share what Jesus is doing in our own lives. Drawing on personal stories—from mentors like Pastor Terry to the legacy of his late father—Richie encourages listeners to see themselves not as heroes, but as faithful guides helping others take their next steps with Jesus.

The Superpower of Pentecost

In this Pentecost message, Terry Timm reflects on why the Holy Spirit's first gift to the church was language, exploring Acts 2 as God's radical move toward all peoples, cultures, and dialects with the "wonders of God." He contrasts Pentecost with the Tower of Babel and with modern tendencies to merge Christian faith with national or tribal identity, warning against any monochrome version of Christianity. How might the Spirit heal our speech, help us grow in hospitality across differences, and use our words to move toward others in love.

Living Easter - Embodying Easter

In this message, Katherine Sikma Wadsworth explores the holiness of the human body, challenging dualistic theology that elevates the soul while sidelining or shaming our physical selves. Moving through creation, incarnation, resurrection, and ascension, she shows how Scripture affirms that God meets us in and through our bodies, and that Jesus' ongoing embodied life is good news for our own flesh. She closes by offering a blessing over congregants' bodies, inviting them to receive their physical selves as sacred gifts and primary places of encounter with God.