Settling Short of God’s Promise

by | Apr 1, 2023 | Blog, Life Between Sundays, Media, Random Thoughts, Sermons, Uncategorized, Weekly Bulletin

Settling Short of God's Promise

by Karl Ingersoll

Some people are never satisfied.  Achievements and acquisitions fail to meet aspirations and fuel that insatiable desire for more.  The problem is that more is never enough. Others are too easily satisfied and lack motivation. The middle ground may be the best. The sermon today references the story of Abraham’s calling and traces his faith to his own father, a man who dared to move forward without a clear picture of what lay before him. Abraham, in answering God’s call, finished a journey that his father had begun. For all of us, God’s story continues to be written.  It is bigger than any one of us, individually. Today, perhaps more than ever, it is important that we don’t stop short of what God has for us.

Knowing God

by | Mar 18, 2023 | Blog, Life Between Sundays, Random Thoughts, Sermons

Knowing God

by Karl Ingersoll

We get to know some people quickly and deeply.  Other relationship are paced more slowly. Generally if we are to truly understand another person it requires two essential ingredients.  Time and proximity. Jesus built a relationship with hsi disciples in this way.  For 3 1/2 years they were together, 24/7. At the end he told them he was leaving “for their good”. And then their relationship with Christ took on a new trajectory.  They knew the heart of God.  The Holy Spirit revealed Jesus to them as they never knew him in flesh and blood.  The sermon is a look at the difference between a casual relatioship with Christ and an intimate one.

Laws of the Harvest

by | Feb 24, 2023 | Blog, Life Between Sundays, News, Random Thoughts, Sermons, Uncategorized, Weekly Bulletin

Laws of the Harvest

by Artist Name

I used to think, almost exclusively, in terms of right and wrong, I based my spiritual well-being on my performance and in many areas, I did well but in others, I was a dismal failure … that’s the way I saw it at least. R&W were the measuring sticks by which I sized up others as well. The recipe for righteousness was one that I adhered to as much as I could. In the back of my mind I expected that God would reward me accordingly with good things that I wanted in this life. I am 67 years old and very much aware that things don’t work this way when it comes to the spiritual life.

Every good thing comes from a good God who blesses because it is His nature to do so. It is not a performance reward or incentive.

And God uses all the rest, the good, the bad and the ugly … somehow He does!

The Law of the Harvest is simply an observation that we are better off when we cooperate with natural laws rather than ignore or try to control them.  Even when we cooperate there are many variables that come into play.  This morning’s message borrows from John W. Lawarence’s book, “The Saeveln Laws of the Harvest”.  I am using my own obesrvations but found these points to be very helpful at a personal level.