Joel Gilbert

A big month for anniversaries This month has been big for anniversaries around here - 9 couples have anniversaries in May! the Brills - 29th the Ringlings - 24th Mugos - 27th Pete and Jackie - 2nd James and Amy - 8th Zoerners will celebrate their 13th this week Bormans will celebrate their 19th this…

Love is.. the theme of countless songs and poems the mantra of numerous social agencies and movements. the motto of Hosanna Community Church - “where love ALWAYS comes first” the message of devotion between spouses - hopefully regularly and not only on the wedding day marks how parents care for and provide…

Escape room interesting and fun lots of math themes limited time i have done them a few times and even did one twice with groups of people. I didn’t escape either time. you keep doing problems and solving puzzles without knowing where the next clue will lead or how many more will be needed to escape.…

The illusion of control In Good News Club, we recently finished looking at the book of Esther with the students. During our club time, we often begin with a snack and a time of ice-breaker discussions. This is also a time when the kids can recite memory verses to Zoe and record doing the devotional material.…

How do you respond to a crisis? freak out panic calmly assess the situation? pray ask for help grin and bear it Different challenges or crises will require different responses, depending on the urgency of the situation. Last week we began our study in the book of Ruth. If you remember, Naomi, her husband…

Running on Empty In 1977, Jackson Browne, a German-born, American musician, released what may be his best known song - “Running on Empty.” The lyrics seem to auto-biographically talk about Browne and his frenzied journey toward adult-hood. Rather than being full of life and fuel for the future- he’s…

I’ve had the privilege of going to many different cemeteries and grave sites in the course of ministering to families in funeral and memorial services. I’ve even been to the graves of several of my own family members. On those occasions at cemeteries, I’ve taken some time to look at the markers and reflect…

It’s challenging to think through an easter series - the story is the same and while the message is just as impactful today as it was nearly 2000 years ago it’s easy for us to get lulled into a re-run. But when we look closely at some of the things that Jesus did and taught - it seems like there are…

The Freedom of Forgiveness Psalm 32 Introduction In Shakespeare’s famous play Macbeth, there is a part of a scene. Doctor: What is it she does now? Look how she rubs her hands. Gentlewoman: It is an accustom'd action with her, to seem thus washing her hands. I have known her continue in this a quarter…