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The Rock
Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Perhaps in the carnal mind, the only thing more difficult to believe than the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the virgin birth by which He came. His entry is more perplexing to the skeptic than His exit. To those on the outside it might seem more likely that an empty tomb is plausible if Mary was truly found with child of the Holy Ghost. Yet His entire story is a difficult narrative for the…
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“Faith-It”
Historically speaking, the first 2,000 years of humankind fill the pages of the first eleven chapters of the Bible. Then the brakes come on and for the better portion of the next 15 chapters, we are privy to the life of Abraham. The focus is significant because it was through Abraham that the nation of Israel would be established and the Messiah would be born. Christiandom as a whole will rejoice to witness the Tribe of Judah from which He came. We excel in the recital of the life of David and all those who find their place in the…
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Proof of Jesus
Proof: Evidence that establishes a fact or a truth; a particular aspect that maintains the validity of something presented. Proof. It’s what the high priests, pharisees, and Caiaphas feared the most after the burial of Jesus Christ. They remembered His words, how He would rise from the grave, and they could not risk such a thing. So they sealed the tomb and put armed guards around it, lest their second mistake would be greater than their first. Yet, when the day came and they found the stone rolled away, the unbelievers proposed various reasons for the Lord’s missing body. They…
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New Normal …
In response to a recent terrorist act, a person close by said, “Well, life goes on.” I wouldn’t consider their statement part of the normalcy bias theory, but more of the new disposition that our country has accepted. Many consider this part of the “New normal.” This thought says that what was once abnormal has become common and because of its prevalence and frequency, it then becomes the norm. “New normals” mean definitions of terms, lifestyles, ideas, terrorism, social behaviors, apparel, and education are changed to reflect the preferences of the current culture. In essence, mass consciousness is now dictating…
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In every thing give thanks
1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5 looks like a bullet list of instruction to the church. Quench not the Spirit. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. Receive prophesies and more. Then comes the above instruction in verse 18. I’ve often been asked about the “Will of God” and what it means to the individual. Often people want the Will of God to be subjective and relevant. We like specifics in order to unmask the murky generalities of loving the Lord and loving people. The…
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Prepare Our Lives
Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. It must have been a lonely scene when Noah took to the stage to preach his message of world destruction. If he were alive today, we would call him a fanatic. I’m certain that Twitter would have a field day mocking a madman building a boat in his backyard. To that was the fact that it…
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In the Name of Jesus!
Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. I’m peering over the edge at the end of Paul’s extensive life and ministry. The years of preaching and debating have afforded him the unique skill of persuasion shared by few. Hundreds of miracles, baptisms, and in-fillings have attended his journeys. Perhaps a thousand sermons have been delivered by his authoritative voice. He’s converted most of the known parts of Asia and established churches throughout the entire region. Now, Paul stands before King Agrippa to make a case for Jesus. My assumption is that a…
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A Place Called Arimathaea
Having spent too much time preparing and delivering the Word concerning the Lord’s death, I could not help but to continue in this vein. Joseph of Arimathaea “begged the body of Jesus Christ.” Joseph sought the permission of Pilate to care for the battered and depleted body of the Lord after the crucifixion. The crowds were gone; the miracles lay dormant in faint memory; even the disciples had scattered throughout the countryside. Joseph was there to care for His body when all hope and future promise had been wrung out. It was Joseph who was present to attend to the…
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Harbor …
The reunion of Joseph, his brothers, and father was filled with emotion and tears. After more than 20 years of separation, Joseph finally saw the fulfillment of his dreams play out. When Jacob died, the brothers grew fearful that Joseph might seek retribution against them. It was speculative, but possible. They asked, Genesis 50:15 “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” They sent a message to Joseph from their father about forgiving them. We don’t know if Jacob actually said the words, but the brothers thought it…
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Humble Beginnings
In 1965, Sister Mary Fell and her young daughter joined with Pastor G.E. Switzer to begin a new church called Home Avenue Apostolic Assembly. The church began and worshiped in a basement until the top floor sanctuary was built. Mary Fell is the last remaining founding member of the church we now call New Life Fellowship. From those humble beginnings to this moment, New Life has remained a place of refuge for many people. We still preach the same New Birth message and teach the same principles of the scripture that Pastor Switzer taught some 52 years ago. Today, we…