What we keep for ourselves is lost, what we give for God’s purposes endures. Haggai calls the people to stop just focusing on their own houses and to “build God’s house.” The people respond with commitment.

“All flesh is grass,” says Isaiah, “but the word of our God will stand forever.” All things are passing. The prophets call us to ground ourselves on what endures – on God and God’s promises.

The story of Bartimaeus.

The most valuable things in life are not attained with money. God’s grace is free. This does not mean that it is cheap, or that it should be taken lightly. The gift of Christ moves us to orient our lives toward what is of true value.

Our district superintendent stopped by to give a message on our church for our Bicentennial Celebration Sunday event.

Christ brings peace. The Isaiah passage is the famous “the wolf shall live with the lamb” image, and the Micah passage is the “swords into ploughshares” image, which has had a recent expression in the “megatons to megawatts” project.