Life In Greencastle

This summer Anna and I have been packing up some goods from our garden on Saturday morning and driving the seven mile stretch from our home to Greencastle. We arrive on the north side of the court house about 7:45 am and set up a meager booth at the local farmer's market. We've seen several of you on those Saturday mornings as you stop by to grab a few items to enjoy that day. I always enjoy seeing you there. In fact, I enjoy the whole experience - the mingling of people and goods, stories and music. There's something about the Saturday morning atmosphere at the farmer's market that facilitates community. It is very similar to the fellowship hour following church on Sunday mornings. Released from the demands of the work week, people are willing to stop and talk for a while. Many times, Anna and I will find ourselves having great conversations only to discover that it's already about time to pack up our goods for the day. We may not sell much, but we leave the...

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope." - Romans 15:4 Many of us read the Bible fairly frequently. We do so for many reasons: to gain guidance; to maintain our focus upon God; to keep ourselves and our actions in alignment with God's will for our lives. Today, though, Paul gives us another reason to read and be formed by scripture: it is a source of hope, a stream that nurtures the seeds of faith and love. Whatever God has revealed through the Word was given to us for our instruction. Just as the Law was given to Moses and the Israelites to guide them into a blessed way of living, so all of scripture is given to lead us into a pleasant path. As the psalmist says, those who receive nourishment from the law of the Lord are "like trees planted by streams of living water, which yield their fruit in its season" (Ps. 1:3). The image here i...