Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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Communities, large and small, have been turned upside down for various reasons, including political unrest, crime, natural disasters, economics, and more. Word travels fast, whether living in the 1st century or the 21st century; that’s the nature of humanity. However, technology seems to have enabled this to occur at lightning speed today. If you’ve ever thumbed through the Bible, particularly the first four books of the New Testament, a reader quickly recognizes that the earthly ministry of Jesus turned communities upside down. Word of mou...
In last week’s Connecting Point column, I raised a valid question about what authority and power Christians have today. My challenge to you as readers is to properly interpret and apply the Bible and cautiously refrain from “reading” ourselves into the text too literally. Here’s what we read in Luke 9:1-6: “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: ‘Take nothing for the journey...
I’m a staunch proponent of proper Biblical interpretation and application; holding such a position establishes a strong foundation for theology and life practice. Since Christ created the church with the first-century apostles and disciples, confusion or chaos wove into Christian circles as false teachers; this is why sound teaching is vital. Most importantly, we should understand that not every teaching available is from God, false teachers still exist (John 4:1-3). One area of debate over the past two decades has been what authority and power...
When was the last time you were interrupted in a conversation or action you were carrying out? Most of us don’t like interruptions. I marvel at the example of Jesus, He ministered to people with ghreat compassion but did so in wisdom and truth. He certainly wasn’t a pushover when the Pharisees and Sadducees tried to pin Him down with their legalism. He stood strong when the opposition pressed and had this incredible ability to connect with hurting people. In the greatest sense, Jesus was a multitasker, after all the Bible refers to Him as the...
As Jesus' ministry began to flourish, people in the region sought Him out, many in great need. Jesus’ compassionate response is well noted in the four synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). On one occasion in Luke 8, Jesus was en route to minister to a hurting family, but a welcomed interruption significantly changed the course of another woman’s life. “As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and...
In October 2023, I had the privilege of working alongside Pathfinders, 12 volunteers from around the U.S. who specialize in building churches in impoverished nations. This was my first trip outside of our country, other than a day trip to Canada as a child. Wow, was Peru a cultural shock for me. Yurimaguas is nestled along the southern edge of the Amazon jungle, with a population of approximately 60,000. It is about 22 hours north of Lima. Of course, we flew from Lima to Tarapoto and then... Full story
The extraordinary miracles Jesus performed in the short three-year time span speak loudly to who He is, even in the present day. It’s important to understand that eyewitness accounts, as recorded in the Bible, provide verifiable evidence of Christ’s character. I’ve drawn much of your attention as a reader to Luke’s account, in this week’s column I want to explore more in-depth details from Mark. “Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, He went...
During the short three-year earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, news quickly spread across the Middle East region about His message and miracles. Crowds were drawn to Him on most occasions, either in the streets or synagogues. Listeners were receptive to His teachings, others were on the fence, and, of course, some blatantly rejected Jesus. Luke records Christ’s Parable of the Sower in Chapter 8, reflecting this truth about receiving or rejecting Jesus. In this context, four powerful miracles occur, displaying Christ’s authority. Specific miracle...
From a casual reading of Luke 8:19-21, one might mistakenly assume that Jesus is harsh or somehow dishonors His family. “Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. Someone told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.’ He replied, ‘My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.’” Luke cites two other occurrences which “seem” even more provocative. In chapter 9 several men expressed interest in following Jesus. Take n...
I appreciate living in the modern age as an American, we have so many connivances and advancements in technology including electricity, lights, heating, cooling, running water and sewer, transportation, internet services, and so much more. Others are less fortunate around the world, so we should keep this in mind. Many incorrectly assume Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. While it is true that in 1878, Thomas Edison first patented the incandescent lightbulb to become commercially available, the invention of the lightbulb belongs to Humphry...
Last week in the Look What the Doctored Ordered series, based on Luke’s account found in the New Testament, I brought forward the idea that Jesus was a world changer. Jesus was “revolutionary” or often “counterculture” in today’s terms. He was somewhat radical but not so extreme, where He discounted the core truths of Judaism. Jesus did follow many Jewish practices and aspects of the Law; however, He came to fulfill the messianic prophecy: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them...
When we take the time to read AND understand the Bible, the implications of Christ’s teachings are powerful, turning cultural barriers upside down. The first-century community was deeply immersed in staunch traditions and religious jargon, portions of this ideology Jesus challenged with simplicity. In Luke 8 we read one of many parables that Jesus utilized to communicate a simple message, most know this as the parable of the Sower. I would point out that this could be better understood as the parable of the Soil. “While a large crowd was gat...
In last week’s column, I presented or reiterated a core principle of being a Christian, self-denial. Jesus embodied this to the greatest degree and if we are to follow Him, we learn to practice the discipline of self-sacrifice daily. As humans, we are born into a world that is driven by self-interest. The first stages of our life are predominantly “dependent.” This means that as infants, we require complete dependency on others, and parents and caregivers give endlessly day and night. Self-interest fades in various ways as we age; in time,...
For the entirety of the summer, I’ve been exploring two of pastor and author Kyle Idleman’s teaching series with many great friends. As we go through life learning what it entails to be a Christian the Bible emphasizes perseverance and the development of a “never quit” attitude. As a pastor, my goal is to create and cultivate disciples of Jesus, not to produce posh parishioners. Jesus exemplified what it means to be self-sacrificial, and if we are to be Biblically guided, we too will “take up our cross daily” (Matthew 16:24) and practice de...
Marla Runyan is an American athlete and former Olympian distance runner; her life story is remarkable. She was the first legally blind athlete to compete in the Olympics, placing 8th in the 2000 1500m Sydney Games. However, her physical impairment didn’t stop her from reaching goals or pursuing a dream. Her self-described running strategy was to be “Focused on the blob of bodies ahead of her, to try and get in front of the blob.” Most of us are fortunate to have most of our faculties; in fact, you’re reading this article and are not blind....
You may have noticed the 2024 Summer Olympic Games are underway. This tradition dates back approximately 3,000 years to the Peloponnese in Ancient Greece. This year, there are 45 sporting events with more than 200 representatives from various nations. Go, Team USA! Writers in the New Testament often used illustrations or themes associated with Olympic events, and they understood the relevance closely associated with Christian life. Over the past few weeks, I’ve dedicated this column to examining Hebrews 12 in-depth, “Therefore, since we are...
Who among us hasn’t thrown out a cliché or two? Merriam-Webster defines cliché as “a trite phrase or expression.” Some clichés are untimely, and others can be inappropriate for a situation. In Christian circles, clichés are common and, at times, can be misguided. Some include “Let go and let God,” “When God closes a door, He opens a window,” and one that I particularly refrain from using: “God will not give you more than you can handle.” In my opinion, the last phrase is far from the truth; life is filled with challenges or hardships. The Bib...
The Bible portrays Christian life as a long-distance race, and sprinting is a poor example due to its short time span. It seems to me that in the 80s, many of my proteges looked to sprinters as the “jocks,” but I recall that notion changing as long-distance runners started breaking the four-minute mile. Any long or short-distance, dedicated runner who trains hard is an amazing athlete. Soon, the Olympics will have our attention as records are shattered and the competition is formidable. Because God intends the Christian’s journey to be a life...
We all love heroic stories of individuals who gave their all. Sadly, after last week’s historic event of the attempt to assassinate former President Trump, Corey Comperatore gave his life to protect his family in the crossfire. Some heroes pay the ultimate price. Recently, I came across an unknown named Florence Chadwick; she was a long-distance swimmer who successfully crossed the English Channel both ways. She was the first woman ever to accomplish this feat. In 1952 Florence set out to swim from Catalina Island to the California coast, a g...
I grew up in the era of the “Bad News Bears” culture, iconic movies that inspired the underdogs to keep in the game. Most people like an inspiring story because the topic resonates in our lives differently. You may have been one of those kids who was awkwardly picked last on the school playground. Or you might be self-conscious and strive to over-achieve because you received little or no affirmation. My point is that we need someone in our corner to encourage us not to give up. In time and with age, we have learned that life is much more tha...
Jesus provides us with an illustration in John 15:1-4, which helps us understand the value of connection. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the words I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” God is understood to be like a...
Early this spring, my wife and I met with some arborists regarding some trees that needed attention at our home. I’m not a tree guy or even a green thumb; gardening is Dina’s thing. I generally get to “do” the other stuff: install, fix, or adjust the sprinklers, build a planter, remove the tree stump, etc. I learned some valuable information about our trees and their growing behavior. Proper pruning is done for the tree's health; improper pruning creates unhealthy behavior. One tree is being robbed of water and nutrients because of some su...
We live in one of the most “connected” ages. Technology allows us to communicate with others in places worldwide instantly. However, there are certain disruptions that we all deal with, such as dead zones, battery loss, weather interference, and more. Do we possibly rely too much on technology? Regarding spiritual development, connection is basic and must remain a priority for growing in Christ. Jesus spoke to the matter in John chapter 15, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit...
MYTH: The Town of Whitehall has taken too long to address the matter. Although this process has been long, dating back to 2014, here are some facts to consider: 1. After the Court Order by DEQ in 2017, a two-year study was conducted with engineering firms to find other well options surrounding the Town. Public Works Manager Kory Klappan monitored and took samples, hoping to find a viable source for the Town of Whitehall. Interestingly, the only aquifer below Uranium DEQ standards was east of town, which runs down the Whitetail Creek by the...
As human beings, we “feel” a gamut of emotions as we journey through life. As a 53-year-old man, life is much different than when I was 35, I get tired easily and don’t always have as much gusto. Family has always been a priority for Dina and me, we’ve invested love and time into our four wonderful children, and each one is unique. We are entering the “empty nest” years these days and just became first-time grandparents in the fall. Our youngest daughter has graduated from High School, and transitions are happening around us. Like so many oth...
