"THE WEEKLY WORD"

June 28, 2026   

Therefore, dear friends, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God this is your Spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1

As I think about the way my family relates to me especially in my growing up years, I admit, sometimes I wanted things from them I did not get. They’re never ones to come out and say well done, and maybe they cannot always verbalize positive thoughts, but you know, today, I’m so grateful for my family. Every day I am grateful to God for giving me adoptive parents who want to be involved in my life, natural parents who gave me up in India to have a better life, and siblings who I just wouldn’t be the same without. Recently my sister in VA and brother and I have started talking at least once a week, and maybe it’s only for ten minutes, but we all feel incredibly blessed by those times. Truth is, there are so many family members and friends of many kinds I have, I know they’ll be there for me if I need them, and generally, if I need anything, I know physically or emotionally it’ll be there from someone, somewhere somehow. I wish everyone had that blessed assurance. 

God wants us friends to offer ourselves as family to everyone as much as we can. And maybe that means, we may not always get what we want, but it’s not always about us. Truth is, if you’re there for someone, you’ll find you get back far more than you give. And what a blessing from God, what a sense of family that is.

So, how are we a living sacrifice? Maybe it means taking time you don’t think you have, giving thought or opinions if asked you know others may not want to hear but might benefit from listening to people’s struggles or pain even if you haven’t got a clue what they’re talking about. Being a living sacrifice can simply say, in all sorts of ways, I’m here.

I love the song, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel. That song reminds us of when others are weary, feeling not worth much, when they’re crying, we’re on their side when those dark moments come. And how bout some of its other images: when you’re down and out, when you’re on the street, when the hard times fall so hard, well we are going to be there comforting, assuring, being a bridge over the troubles for people to safely get from one part of life to the other. What a blessing to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice indeed. But clearly, it doesn’t always mean it’ll be easy.

So, my prayer this week, offer yourself in some way to someone you may not have before. Open your heart and pray God would show you a way to serve someone in a new and exciting way. Look forward to a door God would allow for you to be a bridge over someone else’s troubled water to ease their minds and allow them to sail on and shine! With God’s help you’ll sail right behind and be rewarded in the spiritual act of worship, of love and care you offered. And by the circle of sacrifice, this world and life can and will change for the better, and God will become just a little more known, and the light of Jesus will burn just a little brighter so just a few more will see it! And all because you had the courage to be family, a living sacrifice. To God be the glory in Jesus’ name!

Pastor Brandon

July 6, 2026  

Stand at the crossroads and look, as for the ancient pathways, ask where the good way is and walk in it, and you’ll find rest for your soul. -Jerimiah 6:16

Which way should I go? We all must ask that question more than a time or two. Even if we think we have it all figured out, we’re pro travelers, we’ve been there, done that, we don’t need help.

Recently when I visited my Dad at the pleasant Acres Nursing Facility in York, it was old hat, I went in to see him, and no one was with me. It was fine though; I was perfectly good on my own. I made it up to Dad’s place on the fourth floor smoothly as always, then, the time came for me to walk down. Half-heartedly, I got on the elevator, so glad I didn’t have to wait ten minutes, only one even though one of the two elevators still was not operating which had been the case for three months. Anyhow, there I was headed down again to floor one. I called my driver just before I stepped in the elevator and said, “I’ll be there in a minute. But wait, something’s wrong, I got off the elevator, and it’s not what I remember. They told me after I asked, this is floor two, not one. Gosh, now I must get back in the elevator. Well, I’ll just save time by going down the steps. So, I do and not finding a door after walking down two flights of steps, I go down two more. There’s a door, and I go through, but this isn’t right either. Now slightly panicked as I walked toward the other end of the hall, I called my driver and said, I’m lost, I’ll be there as soon as I can. Turning around, I headed back toward the elevator, and they said when I asked where I was, oh you’re on the ground floor. So, they get me back on the elevator and I get out at the next floor up. Wow, with a sigh of relief, finally, I’m there, and I turn to leave, but something’s wrong, I can’t find the door. And the people call after me, oh wait, you’re going the wrong way. Finally, seven minutes after I called my driver, I got to the car.

Friends, one little mistake can lead to so many problems. Thinking we can go our own way, and not choosing the path of God is just not helpful or healthy.

Jeremiah asks his people to find the pathways they are to travel in their day, and to choose the good one. He calls them to ask the Lord which way is the right road. He urges them to follow the Lord’s way, the right way and to avoid the road which leads to the middle of nowhere.

So, my friends, sometimes we are going to turn the wrong way. Sometimes we’re going to make mistakes. Praise God though, we are blessed to have a Lord which is there, just like he was in Jeremiahs’ day to redirect us. Will we hear his call, and choose the path which leads to righteousness and restoration? Life will always be a crossroads, there’s always going to be options. Let us remember, we have the Lord with us, let’s choose our path wisely!

To God be the glory

Pastor Brandon