Pastor Jim Mann “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23, NIV) Many theologians believe that this verse describes the makeup of a human being. The three constituent parts of…
Tag: Pastor’s Corner
Religion, March 2017
Pastor’s Corner
Pastor Jim Mann We all have errant, sinful thoughts from time to time…wishing ill on someone who cuts in front of us in traffic, a statement that crosses the line. But do you have negative traits that keep coming up? Character flaws that, try as you might, you just can’t seem to shake? For many…
Religion, February 2017
Pastor’s Corner
Pastor Jim Mann This last year I noticed an interesting paradox in our society. First, our culture has a continuing love-affair with fame. It seems folks will do or say almost anything to be noticed by others. But in 2016 the pursuit of popularity ran headlong into another emerging trend in our society: we are…
Religion, January 2017
Pastor’s Corner
Pastor Jim Mann “…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NKJV) My New Year’s resolution is to be more thankful. Back in November I preached a sermon on thanksgiving. Several parishioners balked at my statement that there is always something for which to…
Religion, December 2016
Pastor’s Corner
Pastor Jim Mann One of the hallmarks of being a Christian is being thankful. But we aren’t always as thankful as we should be, are we? The holidays are often a good time to stop and count our blessings. I was reminded of the 10 lepers Jesus healed in Luke 17:11-19. As Jesus walked by…
Religion, October 2016
Pastor’s Corner
Pastor Jim Mann I saw a political bumper sticker the other day that actually made me laugh. Picture a typical political endorsement, but instead of the politician’s name it read “Giant Meteor 2016.” Underneath it said “Just end it already.” When you prefer a meteor instead of the two presidential candidates in the race, you…
Religion, September 2016
Pastor’s Corner
Pastor Jim Mann “Requiem for a Truck” I was in an automobile accident last week. Fortunately all parties are alright…except for my truck. That old, blue, 1999 Ford has passed from this life, and I grieve her passing. It is true, she had seen better days. She had 250,000 miles on her. She had scratched…
Religion, August 2016
Pastor’s Corner
Pastor Jim Mann I recently read Oscar Wilde’s famous book, The Picture of Dorian Gray. It is the story of an exceptionally handsome young man who sits for an artist who paints his portrait. The artist believes that he’s never seen a more pure and attractive person and proceeds to capture this young man’s beauty…
Religion, July 2016
Pastor’s Corner
Pastor Jim Mann During Jesus’ ministry He asked His followers this rhetorical question, “To what can I compare this generation?” Then he answered it for them, “They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others, ‘We played the flute for you and you did not dance; we sang a dirge and…
Religion, June 2016
Pastor’s Corner
Pastor Jim Mann “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out….” (Isaiah 42:3, NIV) Isaiah 42 is a pivotal chapter in the Bible. At the time, Israel was in Babylonian captivity. They’d been soundly defeated and many of them carried away. They were forced to leave their…