Author Archive | PLC Congregation

Need a Good Friend? Try Jesus by Amy Schmitz Ruiz Throughout my life I have had several best friends. When I think back to early childhood, those were the people with whom I played Barbies, rode bikes, had sleepovers, ate lunch, and played with on the playground at school. As I grew, my best friends […]

In the Beginning…God by Donna Middlestead “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” –Genesis 1:1 Sitting on my back patio swing is one of my little pleasures in life. As I swing slowly I look around at the clouds, the blue sky, the silhouette of the trees and bushes against the sky, people walking on the […]

Now This Is Eternal Life… by Jim Rower Until recently, I would have said eternal life is living forever with God in heaven after my earthly life is over. That was until I read John Ortberg’s book, Eternity is Now in Session. Ortberg points out that eternal life is defined for us in the Bible, […]

Christian Community by Lettie Cederquist “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” —Hebrews 10:24-25 I recently resumed meeting with my […]

Fond Memories by Jane Josephs “I thank my God every time I remember you.” –Philippians 1:3 My children gave me a year-long subscription last Christmas to a company called Storyworth. Each week, the company sends me a question via e-mail (pre-chosen by my daughter) that asks me to write about a story or memory from […]

Believe Into by Jim Rower “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16 A few decades ago (yes, I’m that old), I was asked to give a kick-off talk about faith for a new small group […]

Running from Evil By Marjorie Joramo “Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are and always with the utmost courtesy.” –1 Peter 3:15 (The Message) “…we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God.” –Romans 5:2c (RSV) Recently I spent a couple of weeks […]

Faith the Size of a Mustard Seed by Nikki Horne “…if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.” –Matthew 17:20 It was about five years after Rob and I were married that we wanted to start a family. […]

The Shema by Mike Herrnstein “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You must love the Lord your God with your whole mind, your whole being, and all your strength.”  –Deuteronomy 6:4-5 This ancient prayer, better known as the Shema, has long intrigued me. Not only has it been recited […]

Surrendering in Order to Overcome by Tracy Gordon “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” –2 Corinthians 12:10 Well, it’s that time of year again and the kiddos are headed back to school. I don’t […]