Not Doing Fine During COVID-19 About a month into COVID, I wrote “Reflections on ‘Doing Fine’ During COVID-19” for this blog series. After all, for me, the first weeks of quarantine were full—even fun. Life in the Lee Commune was good. I started 3D printing face shields for the medical community and editing videos for Sunday service. I was reading nonfiction again and enjoying talking with old friends on Zoom. My schedule was busy with Christianity Explored and the Praxis Bible reading plan. I even learned to make sourdough from Pastor/Bread Master/DnD Dungeon......
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Book Recommendation from a Pastor “When Pain is Real and God Seems Silent” by Ligon Duncan Recommendation by Pastor Eufemio Magsombol, Jr. What do we do when God seems silent during times of suffering and isolation? How do we relate with God when we’re left with unanswered prayers? In his book, “When Pain Is Real and God Seems Silent,” Ligon Duncan encourages us to find hope in the laments of Psalms 88 and 89. In them we find truths that help us to see that the immense hardships that the Lord allows in......
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Book Recommendation from a Pastor “Christ-Centered Worship” by Bryan Chappell Recommendation by Pastor David Lee My first real experience with Christian worship was the small, conservative Lutheran church connected with my elementary school. Its corporate worship practices were alien to me. A formal altar at the front of the sanctuary, stained glass windows lining the walls, pastors and deacons with flowing robes, service bulletins the thickness of small books, formal recitations and chants, multiple Scripture readings, a mysterious thing called a lectionary. It brought seven year-old me to tears of boredom. Eventually as......
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Book Recommendation from a Pastor “The End of the Christian Life” by Todd Billings Recommendation by Pastor Eric Cai About eight months ago, my wife and I had the profound, no, sacred and bittersweet privilege of visiting a beloved member of our church in her family’s home as she was nearing the end of her life. Megan and I were merely flies on the wall as we witnessed her palpable anticipation of concluding her pilgrim journey in her mortal body and resting in the arms of her Savior. She spoke warmly and tenderly......
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“Whether we come alongside to help someone weighed down with shame or we help confront the sources of stigma in our community, our great motive must be to fix our eyes more fervently onto Christ. Let’s take these steps to care for one another. As we do this, we will not only bring healing but also help to establish the loving voice of our Lord as the central voice guiding us here at Lighthouse.”...
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Book Recommendation from a Pastor “Conscience: What It Is, How to Train It, and Loving Those Who Differ” by Andy Naselli and J.D. Crowley Recommendation by Pastor Francis Chow Pastor Gavin preached a couple Sundays ago about our need to pursue unity in Christ despite the many differences that might exist within the church. But what about when those differences have to do with moral issues? The good news is that Scripture speaks to those situations when believers don’t see eye to eye concerning matters of conscience (1 Cor 8, 10; Rom 14-15).......
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“In reality, Augustine’s story wasn’t about how he found God, but how God in Christ found him. It is ultimately the story about the tenacious God, who will not let the wandering hearts of his people go. The story of Augustine is worth listening to and reading, because his story is, in many ways, our story. It is a story of someone who was lost but was found, of someone who was blind, but can now see.”...
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Book Recommendation from a Pastor “Placed for a Purpose” by Chris and Elizabeth McKinney Recommendation by Pastor Mat Pau In this past year, I’ve been thinking a lot about the idea of “neighboring.” Maybe it’s the fact that more and more our country is characterized by divisiveness. Maybe it’s the fact that we’ve had to stay home. Or maybe it’s simply the conviction I get when I read Matthew 22:35-40 that the greatest commandments are to love God and to love our neighbor. It’s a verse that we’re all familiar with, and while......
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Hello Lighthouse Family! My name is Cindy, and I am a worrier. I am often full of fear, and nerves. You know those people who love to take on challenges, adventure, and trying out new things? Yeah, that’s definitely not me. So when I felt the tuggings in my heart to go overseas to Japan for a year on a missions trip, naturally, I was scared. Don’t get me wrong- I was excited too, because I love Japan and knew God was doing amazing things there that I wanted to be a part......
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“The power to love comes from when you recognize and remember God’s love for you. The power to love comes from when you yourself are changed and transformed by God’s love. So whether you are struggling to love a spouse, a child, a coworker or relative, a friend or roommate, the way you can fuel your faith everyday is by remembering and meditating on God’s love for you.”...
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