Today is known in many Christian circles as "Maundy Thursday," with the word Maundy coming from the Latin word Mandatum or Mandate. It centers on the command Jesus gave to his disciples in the upper room that day to "love one another: just as I have loved you, so you should love one another" (John 13.34.)  Two chapters later Jesus addresses this same theme again, saying, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments...

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King David, writing in Psalm 19, after speaking of the benefits of the law/testimony/precepts/commandment/fear/rules of the Lord, says, "More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold." (Psalm 19.10a) This helps me keep perspective as we watch the wonderfully talented athletes who are competing in the winter olympics. Everyone is "going for the gold," as well they should being competitive athletes. Yet some get the silver or bronze medal rather than the gold, and most get no awards at all. For all the olympic athletes, as for you and me, the Word of God is far better...

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World Harvest Mission has published "The Gospel-Centered Life" (GCL) as a study curriculum for small groups or church Sunday school classes. We are currently using it in adult Sunday school, and are having some engaging conversations together! One emphasis of GCL is the continued emphasis on faith and repentance as the normal path to growth (sanctification) as a Christian. Of course, you can just as easily reverse the order to be repentance and faith, for these are like two sides of a coin. Both are necessary to Christian growth and health.In my own life, even as a pastor, I am...

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"Oh the weather outside is (soon to be) frightful, but the fire is so delightful. And since we've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!" Remember that song, usually played with the secular Christmas music on the radio in December? Well, the snow's a coming this weekend, they say, this Friday night and Saturday. Lord willing, it will be over with so we can worship on Sunday.To be honest, I am ready for another good snowfall, but I will be ready for spring soon after - by this time next week I will be...

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Many of us have been reeling from the devastation we have seen in Haiti that was caused by last week's earthquake. I spoke with a pastor friend in Miami yesterday, who told me that they are indeed quite involved with trying to console, encourage, and help the many Haitian Christians there who have relatives in Haiti. Then in today's paper an article quoted a Haitian pastor here in the Lancaster area, Willy Besson, who serves Salem Pentecostal Haitian Church in Earl Township. Pastor Besson, addressing his congregation yesterday, said there was no point in trying to answer the "Why" question...

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