Pastor’s Study

“Lent: Why Do We Do That?” “Repent, therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.” Acts 3:19 (NRSV) I know, I know! For weeks, local stores have been telling us Easter is coming. From chocolate eggs and baby chicks to soft bunnies and artificial grass, the signs are all aroundContinue reading “From the Pastor March 2026”

“As I Have Loved You” “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 (NRSV) What began as a throat lozenge has becomeContinue reading “From the Pastor February 2026”

“The New Has Come” “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (New International Version) Here we are at the cusp of a new year. With it comes anticipation for what might be and how that could (perhaps hopefully) be differentContinue reading “From the Pastor January 2026”

“A Silent Night?” “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…” Hebrews 1:1-2a (NIV) Silence is said to be “golden,” but, to be completely honest, it is not always a welcome part of life. I hearContinue reading “From the Pastor December 2025”

“You Know the Words” “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 (New International Version) He was early in his ministry as the pastor of an Original Free Will Baptist congregation and a children’s Sunday schoolContinue reading “From the Pastor November 2025”

“Close, but No Disciple” “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?” Luke 14:28 (NRSV) I learned early on in life that close only counts in “horseshoes and hand grenades” which means… It may seem unfair, butContinue reading “From the Pastor October 2025”

“Don’t Bury Your Faith” “ As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:26 (NIV) “Oh, you go to the church with the big cemetery beside of it.” Growing up, that was one way in which people identified the location of my home church in Winterville. Although trueContinue reading “From the Pastor September 2025”

“Are You Drinking Enough?” 1 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” John 4:10 (NRSV) “Freedom Week” at Camp Vandemere proved to be a scorcher thisContinue reading “From the Pastor August 2025”

“Yes, He Does Care”37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind andContinue reading “From the Pastor July 2025”

Intersections. They are all around us. I often find myself standing at the office door looking out toward Little Rock and Blalock as they cross a short distance away. From rolling stops to close calls, you can observe a little bit of everything in only a few seconds. Our theme for this year’s “Freedom Week”Continue reading “From the Pastor June 2025”