I first became fully aware of the Holy Spirit when I was in college. Soon after I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior I began hearing talk about spiritual gifts, especially the gift of tongues. I was curious, so I went to a couple of meetings where these supernatural events were being discussed. And […]
Jane’s Blog Anchors of Faith The Apostles’ Creed, Part 3
“What comfort do we get from Christ’s ascension to the right hand of God?” Martin Luther asks in the Second Article in his Small Catechism. It’s a question worth exploring, don’t you think? I mean, all of us could use some comfort now and then. Actually, with Jesus’ ascension, we receive these two amazing promises: […]
Jane’s Blog Anchors of Faith: The Apostles’ Creed, Part 2
Shortly after Pastor Sean came on staff at PLC about ten years ago, some of us read the book Aqua Church by Leonard Sweet as a staff exercise. It was easy to see then that Pastor Sean already had the leadership gifts we are experiencing from him today, you know? But it turns out that […]
Jane’s Blog – Anchors of Faith: The Apostles’ Creed, Part 1
Experience is a great teacher, isn’t it? I’m going to try my hand at fishing for the first time this summer when I visit Minnesota, and thanks to Pastor Sean’s story about the anchor that got away, you can be sure I will check to see that our boat’s anchor is attached before we toss […]
Jane’s Blog The Gospel of Mark Chapter 11
Back when I was growing up, Palm Sunday and Easter were special occasions when my sister and I would get new dresses, shoes, hats and gloves to wear to church! I remember that every pew was filled on those Sundays; no one wanted to miss out on the celebration! No one wanted to miss out […]
Jane’s Blog The Gospel of Mark Chapter 9
Can you imagine keeping a secret as huge as the one that occurred when Jesus was transfigured (Mark 9)? How could Peter, James and John contain it? I mean, wow! What an encounter with glory! Yet that’s exactly what Jesus tells these three men to do – until “the Son of Man had risen from […]
Jane’s Blog The Gospel of Mark Chapter 8
Is there a connection between “place” and “Aha Moments?” Peter’s experience in Caesarea Philippi certainly seems to say there can be. Maybe it’s happened to you in one of your favorite locations. I know it happens to me every time I attend an Alpha Day-Away Retreat. This year’s Winter Alpha Course attendees held their Day-Away […]
Jane’s Blog The Gospel of Mark Chapter 6
We live in a world that has its eye on measurable results, don’t we? I think Jesus did too, although he doesn’t say so when he sends out the twelve (Mark 6:8-11). He focuses instead on what they are to do to pull off the assignment: “take nothing for the journey except a staff…” Mark, brief […]
Jane’s Blog – The Gospel of Mark, Chapter 4
Seeds are fascinating little things, aren’t they? I love that Jesus chose one – the mustard seed – to talk about the characteristics of his Kingdom. The mustard seed is invasive, and every gardener I’ve ever known is pretty much in dread of an invasive plant getting out of control in their garden. I once […]
Jane’s Blog – The Gospel of Mark Chapter 2, Part 2
Desperate is not a word we usually like associated with our name, is it? And yet, the feeling is probably common to all of us at some time or another. In the Gospel of Mark we meet a man who many think of, not as desperate, but as a ‘desperado’ – a dangerous, bold outlaw, […]