Baptism is a once-in-a-lifetime sign and seal of God’s covenant of grace, and it’s a significant moment in the life of every believer and their children. It’s one of two sacraments in our Christian denomination, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC). We baptize infants (believing that the grace of God is available to all, including those […]
The end times
“Do you think we are in the end times?” I’ve been asked that question more than any other over the last two years. Peter addressed it 2000 years ago when he wrote to his exiled friends, “The end of all things is at hand.” If that was true then, it’s certainly truer now. There’s some […]
War in Ukraine: how to connect and help
Our hearts are with Ukrainians, Russians, and many others in our own community who are traumatized by the war right now. Know that we at Chapel Hill are already deeply connected and sending support in multiple ways. In Eastern Europe Through our very own Doug Burleigh, we have been spreading news of Jesus in Ukraine, […]
Won’t you come back?
Almost exactly two years ago, Cyndi and I were visiting our daughter, Rachel, in North Carolina, when we received news of the shutdown. A virus called “Covid-19” was spreading like wildfire. No one knew how to stop it or how it worked. So, the state of Washington, along with many other states, went into emergency […]
Call it what it is: wicked!
I think he’s bitten off more than he can chew. I certainly hope so. If Vladimir Putin was hoping for a quick capitulation by the Ukrainian people, he is surely disappointed. Though outmanned and outgunned, the Ukrainians have risen up in defense of their country in what can only be described as heroic. Putin underestimated the […]
What are you giving up for Lent?
I’ve given up candy, dessert, alcohol, second portions of dinner, playing video games, checking social media and various other things for lent over the years. I’ve also taken up new practices, like praying for an hour daily, or reading through the whole Bible in Lent. But what is Lent and why do people give things […]
What’s in a name?
Hello, Chapel Hill Family! I’m so excited to share some wonderful news with you! It also gives me the chance to thank you for your continued prayers as we have followed God’s lead to plant a community of faith in Port Orchard. Today is a great day to reflect on our shared journey and to […]
The freedom to be a servant
I’ll admit it: one of my all-time favorite movies is Braveheart. It’s a VERY fictionalized account of a Scottish rogue-hero named William Wallace. VERY fictionalized. But it’s also very fun. One of the iconic moments is when Wallace, played by Mel Gibson, cries out, “…they may take our lives, but they’ll never take…our freedom!” I […]
Knocked down but not knocked out
The Apostle Paul once wrote these words to the Corinthian Christians: “But we have this treasure in clay pots so that the awesome power belongs to God and doesn’t come from us. We are experiencing all kinds of trouble, but we aren’t crushed. We are confused, but we aren’t depressed. We are harassed, but we aren’t […]
Making a home everywhere we go
Bert Miner pointed out something to me that I had missed. We had been looking for places where we might gather for worship around Port Orchard, and I had naively valued location, price and ease as the top of needs for a temporary location. Bert, however, having worshipped with us with his wife, Cathy, since […]