Category: The Pastor’s Piece

FCFIJune 15, 2026God, nations, and our 250th AnniversaryThe following excerpt is from a book called: “A Nation Under God?” Edited by C.E.Gallivan, Word Books, Waco, TX.It was the summer of 1787. The heat in Philadelphia was oppressive and the delegates to the Constitutional Convention fanned themselves languidly and longed for adjournment. Debate had dragged on […]

FCFI June 7, 2026 June is a season of abundance. The days are long, the evenings seem to stretch on forever, and God’s creation displays its generosity at every turn. Strawberries ripen in the garden, fields turn green, and calendars fill with weddings, graduations, family reunions, and backyard gatherings. It is a wonderful time of […]

FCFI May 31, 2026 Who is God? People have asked that question for centuries, and no mortal person has ever fully answered it. Yet nothing affects your life more than what you believe or disbelieve about God. Your view of God shapes how you live, how you love, how you endure suffering, how you spend […]

May 24, 2026 History is never simply political – there is always a spiritual reality surrounding human events. The wars, alliances, betrayals, and struggles between the nations of the world reveal how unstable and self-exalting human power becomes when separated from God. Earthly conflicts are manifestations of a deeper battle between human pride, between the […]

FCFI May 17, 2026 It’s funny some of the things that come up in an ordinary week as Pastor of a church. It’s also interesting what children pick up while sitting in church on Sunday. About a year ago, the mom of a little girl texted me and said that her four-year-old daughter wanted me […]

Village May 10, 2026 There are moments in life when faith feels steady, when everything seems clear, and trusting and God comes naturally. In those seasons, belief feels uncomplicated. Circumstances may not be perfect, but they are manageable, and confidence in God feels secure. But there are also times when that confidence begins to weaken. […]

FCFI May 3, 2026 Mother’s Day is this weekend, and it provides an opportunity to reflect on the influence of a mother’s love. Among all the things a mother can give her children, perhaps the most valuable is a sense of security, a home where they are safe, known, and loved. That kind of foundation […]

FCFIApril 26, 2026 God is good all the time. We are deeply grateful that, despite the tornado that struck Lena, Illinois last April 17th, there were no serious injuries or loss of life. While the damage was widespread and some homes were hit hard, lives were spared, and for that, we give thanks.In the immediate […]