Acts 3:11-26 Being a parent is a very difficult thing. One of the hardest things is to try to get your child to understand what they did wrong in a situation and to get them to take ownership of it. So often, we try to deflect when someone points out what we did wrong rather than owning our part in it. I have two daughters who are 6 and 4 years old. As siblings do, they often fight with each other...  Read More

Acts 3:1-10Peter seized an opportunity to do the right thing and lead himself to spread the Word of God! The man asked for his wants to be met. Peter, using the power given to him by God, heals the man! The man wanted money. He is a beggar. He is lame, cannot work on his own two feet, and is begging people for handouts. He has clearly been doing this for some time, because he is recognized instant...  Read More

What do you do when the opportunity to impact a life is right in front of your face, but it’s going to cost you something? The disciples knew that their testifying of Jesus Christ meant painful pushback from the culture they were living in at the time. The name Jesus was a polarizing name that was not well accepted among the religious elite and Roman authorities. It didn’t matter to these brave me...  Read More

John 14:1-5In the spring of 2008, sweet 95-year-old grandma came to live with our full frenzied four-teenager family. Grandma Cece, or GG as the kids called her, had always been very active. Even in her 90’s she was taking daily walks, volunteering in the gift shop at the local hospital, serving at church, teaching women’s Bible study, but macular degeneration was a thief of her eyesight and life ...  Read More

Acts 2:37-47Every now and then, I love pulling up videos of the old Billy Graham Crusades. Although old, they are timeless. The passion with which he speaks is mesmerizing. He was a gifted speaker with the matchless message of the Gospel. It wasn’t until after I got saved that I began to appreciate his crusades and the impact they truly had…and still have to this day. But as great as the messenger...  Read More

Acts 2:14-36 We all know someone who is very blunt; they say what needs to be said, and they keep on their way. It’s often viewed as a bad thing to be called a blunt person, but that doesn't always have to be the case.  As we talk about often at Emmanuel, we must be willing to stand up for truth, but not by cutting people down and bashing them, but rather by sharing the truth in love. However, the...  Read More