“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon us. We have been anointed by God and sent into the world to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners!”—Isaiah 61:1

Rebellion, lawlessness, and disobedience are not new. In fact, they are familiar patterns in the Bible. Adam and Eve choose their own path. The Israelites turn their back on God, break the promises they’ve made with God and one another, and long to go back to Egypt. The disciples themselves struggle to understand and follow Jesus. Even Peter, upon whom Jesus places his trust as the foundation of the church, denies and rejects Jesus. Denying, rejecting, and disobeying traditions, guidelines, and laws that are meant to make us safer, stronger, more loving, and just – it’s an old, old story.

In the Bible, salvation is very closely tied to liberation. Think of the Exodus story about freedom from slavery. In the Gospels, Jesus says it’s the truth that sets us free (John 8:32). In Galatians, Paul says, “For freedom, Christ has set us free. So, stand firm and do not submit to the slavery of lawlessness and disobedience.” (Gal. 5:1) According to the Bible, we’ve been set free for the purpose of blessing others, extending hospitality to strangers, and ensuring the liberation of all who are oppressed. Freedom, equality, and shared power are Godly values.

So, once again, on June 19th, all across our country, we will celebrate freedom in the national holiday called Juneteenth, remembering the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in the state of Texas at the end of the American Civil War. A full 5 months after the 13th Amendment was passed by Congress abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude, it still took the threat of force to move our country into compliance with the law. No matter how common sense or how beautiful or even how beneficial laws may be, our disobedience is an old, old story!

And we are not finished yet. We still have more work to do today. I hope you’ll join me for worship on Father’s Day, June 15th, to celebrate Juneteenth together and recommit ourselves to making our country a better and more positive place for all people. We’ll also celebrate our dads and all the men who’ve taught us the values of liberty and justice and the rule of law.

I’m praying for you, and I’ll see you in church!

 Pastor Jim

Character Matters: A Study in Biblical Virtues and Practices

If you’ve ever thought that you were meant for something more, that there’s a better version of your life that you’d like to live, then the Bible was written for you. In it you’ll find God’s vision and values for a beautiful, whole, and purposeful life. Join Pastor Jim as we continue to learn the habits of the heart and the practices of everyday life that will make you more the person you’ve always wanted to be. Learn to follow Jesus to the best version of you. Your character matters!

June 1, 2025

Loyal Love and Faithfulness Matter
Psalm 136; Titus 3:1-7; and
John 15:8-14

June 8, 2025

Pentecost Sunday

The Gifts and Power of the Holy Spirit
Acts 2:1-21

June 15, 2025

Father’s Day/Juneteenth Remembrance

Righteousness and Justice Matter
Proverbs 31:8-9; Jeremiah 22:1-5; Psalm 146:7-9

June 22, 2025

Election of Leaders After Church

Faithfulness Matters
Isaiah 11:1-5

June 29, 2025

Generosity Matters
Luke 12:22-34