Prayer for the Departed: A Perspective Across Christian Denominations.

May 17, 2024 0

I have been struggling with a concept that I wanted to write about. While ordained into the Pentecostal church, I find myself these days, to be very much non-denominational. I wrote about this in March with a post “What Does it Mean to be Non-Denominational” in which I give differentiations between many of the denominations.…

By John Rains

Trusting in God’s Faithfulness

May 16, 2024 1

Trust is a fragile gift, given with hope and vulnerability. In our human interactions, we often find ourselves grappling with the complexities of trust. We extend it, hoping it will be honored, yet sometimes it is betrayed, leaving us feeling wounded and questioning our judgment. But amidst these struggles, there is a steadfast trust we…

By John Rains

Timeless Guide: Lessons from the Israelites and the Ten Commandments

May 9, 2024 0

The duration of the Israelites’ enslavement in Egypt is a topic of debate among scholars and historians, as the biblical narrative does not provide a precise timeline. However, according to traditional interpretation, the enslavement lasted for several centuries. The Book of Exodus in the Bible states that after Joseph and his family settled in Egypt,…

By John Rains

What is a lie?

April 12, 2024 1

Exodus 20:16 reads “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” This seems at first to be very specific, but let’s look more closely. Overall, the commandment in Exodus 20:16 is about honesty, integrity, and the importance of speaking truthfully and responsibly about others. I had a conversation today – a collection of semi-random…

By John Rains

Easter Sunrise Service 2024

March 31, 2024 1

These days, the onset of arthritis in my left hand makes playing guitar extremely painful. I had intended that this Easter service would use recorded music instead, opening with “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!”, a contemporary rendition from Hillsong; a hymn written by the Anglican bishop Reginald Heber (1783–1826), followed by Michael W. Smith’s live renditions of “Above…

By John Rains

Should I be Baptized?

January 5, 2024 0

“As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into…

By John Rains