Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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In today’s column, I want to introduce you to two sisters, Martha and Mary, also sisters of Lazarus. Most readers are familiar with their life stories, whereas many are unfamiliar with some of the cultural backgrounds involved in these ladies’ lives. Luke gives us a glimpse. “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made...
One of the most well-known illustrations in the Bible includes the Good Samaritan as shared by Jesus. We often surmise that the principle is centered on how to help those in need, whereas the context principle Jesus is communicating is a bit different. Of course, giving to those in need is a Biblical value and something Jesus promoted. Stop and re-read Christ’s words again: “On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ‘What is written in the Law?’ he replied. ‘How d...
The American Christmas tradition has become focused on gifts, especially a consumer-driven mentality that can end up misguided and self-centered. I’m not opposed to gift giving; our family shares in this tradition; however, we taught our children early on that Christ is the reason for the season. The single most important gift we can ever receive is salvation through Jesus Christ, God’s unmerited favor given to anyone who calls on the name of Jesus to be saved. Such a gift is understood as grace. For some time, I’ve been digging deeper into...
The famous actor and comedian Tim Conway said, “If following Christ has never cost you anything, you’re not following Him.” Of course, salvation in Jesus is a gift that costs us nothing; repentance and faith allow us to receive God’s unmerited favor. The “cost” Tim and others refer to reflects what it means to be dedicated to Christ. As our lives are transformed, we make decisions that affect our relationships and life decisions to honor God. During Christ’s time on earth, it was common for people to express their desire to follow Him, y...
Most of us are uneasy when it comes to opposition. The degree of opposition also plays a factor; lesser degrees can be tolerable, while greater degrees can sometimes be seemingly insurmountable. When sharp differences come between us, the potential for that relationship to deteriorate is high. How do you generally handle opposition? Jesus certainly knew something about opposition; opposition existed from His birth in that manger to His death on the cross. After His public ministry started, even community members of His hometown of Nazareth,...
When was the last time you heard the phrase, “Repeat after me,” or spoken it? Somehow, we all find ourselves on one side of this scenario: repeating some direction or question with the phrase. Other times, we’re on the receiving end of the phrase, either catching or missing the point. Frustration can surely add to the dilemma when communication breaks down. Jesus often found Himself communicating some direction or teaching with His disciples only to be frustrated with their lack of clarity or even disobedience. It’s important to note that Jesus...
Upcoming PUBLIC HEARINGS & ORDINANCES REVISIONS to address town concerns at Dec/Jan Council Meeting: • Ordinance 2024-5 RV/Camper living • Ordinance 2024-6 Vehicle living ARE YOU AWARE? Whitehall Town Public Works tests water 2x per month to ensure proper drinking standards are met. In late October, the water needed chlorination due to bacteria presence in relation to system being opened for parts replacement. Such bacteria (not E.coli) wasn’t abnormal due to new construction....
Throughout history, numerous views of Jesus exist. Likewise, the same is true today, depending on your audience. Christmas is fast approaching, and many of us acknowledge that this holiday is all about Jesus; others consider Christmas a time of giving or cheer minus Christ. Ultimately, the question is up to each individual to decide whether to accept the claims of Jesus Christ. I’m certainly not ashamed to share my beliefs regarding Jesus; the foundation of my faith rests on the Bible and solid historical evidence that affirms Christ’s cla...
One of the couple extraordinary scenes in the New Testament includes the days when Jesus miraculously feeds thousands of people; two separate accounts occur, all of which are recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Numerous other miracles occurred as Jesus interacted with people. He defied normal logic yet was down-to-earth and practical. Let’s focus on Luke’s account… “When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, but the crowds...
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...
Town of Whitehall water update: To inform the public, another round of chlorination will start on Monday, November 25. 2024. The recent test shows coliform bacteria above DEQ required levels; please note that this is not E. coli. This procedure is not abnormal in light of major construction on the water system in recent days; contaminants do get into the closed system. Those sensitive to chlorine may want to drink bottled water until the system is clear....
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...
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....
