Jim Mann As I write this missive, we’re one year into a national COVID pandemic and in the middle of great unrest in our nation’s capital. Disaster. Catastrophe. I’m reminded of a fictional story of a church which had a bar move in next door. For three weeks, the church members fasted and prayed that…
Tag: Pastor’s Corner
Religion, January 2021
Pastor’s Corner
Jim Mann Obituary for 2020 The year 2020 breathed its last, COVID-infected breath on Dec. 31 at 11:59 p.m. It was one year old. 2020, known early on as “Baby New Year,” was born on Jan. 1. As the ball dropped in New York’s Time Square, the world anticipated the year and all that it…
Religion, December 2020
Pastor’s Corner
Jim Mann When it was late in the day, and the crowd of people listening to Jesus were hungry, Jesus’ disciples suggested Jesus send them away for dinner. This exchange followed, “But he answered, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said to him, ‘That would take eight months of a man’s wages! Are we…
Religion, November 2020
Pastor’s Corner
Dr. Jim Mann “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27–28) Our world is in chaos—filled with division and conflict. But God wants us to be peacemakers. In our church, we…
Religion, October 2020
Pastor’s Corner
Dr. Jim Mann “For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility … He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death.” (Ephesians 2:14, 16) Ours is a world of…
Religion, September 2020
Pastor’s Corner
Dr. Jim Mann “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes.” (Psalm 133:1–2, NIV84) The key to good and pleasant company is given with a…
Religion, August 2020
Pastor’s Corner
Dr. Jim Mann “Out of the depths I call to you, LORD! Lord, listen to my voice; let your ears be attentive to my cry for help.” (Psalm 130:1–2, CSB) My mom used to say I was “trouble” with a capital T. It doesn’t offend me. Partly because it’s true. But also because trouble is…
Religion, July 2020
Pastor’s Corner
Dr. Jim Mann “Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion. It cannot be shaken; it remains forever.” (Psalm 125:1, CSB) When the psalmist says that those who trust in the Lord can’t be shaken or moved, is he describing you? I want to be a picture of an immovable rock. But the…
Religion, June 2020
Pastor’s Corner
Dr. Jim Mann “I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1–2) Life can be a bit scary, can’t it? Think about all the unknowns … about how many things are out of our control. Think of…
Religion, May 2020
Pastor’s Corner
Dr. Jim Mann I’ve talked to so many of you during this COVID-19 scare, checking in, seeing if you’re okay. A few of you, not many, I found to be fearful. Some of you, like me, are angry. But 100% of us are anxious. Anxiety is a general sense of unease or uncertainty. Even those…