A Christian Message on Prayer
February 21, 2025Prayer is a personal conversation with God, the Creator of all things, who loves you deeply. But are we ever taught how to pray – I wasn’t. But scripture shows that this may have been an issue even in Jesus day. In Luke 11, the disciples come to Jesus and request, “Lord, teach us to…
Dealing with Loneliness: A Biblical Perspective
February 17, 2025Loneliness is a deeply human experience that we all face at different points in our lives. Whether it’s the feeling of being physically isolated or emotionally distant from others, it can be painful; I know this from a personal experience and, as I get older, the pain and emotions grow stronger. But the Bible offers…
Accepting the Pain: The Cost of Love
February 15, 2025There is a moment in every believer’s life when we wrestle with the pain of loving deeply and receiving hurt in return. A friend once asked me, “Why should I put up with everything others throw at me when all I do is give them love? What am I supposed to do?” All I could…
Living 1 Corinthians 13 in Real Life
February 10, 20251 Corinthians 13 is often read at weddings, painting a beautiful picture of love that is patient, kind, humble, and enduring. But this passage wasn’t written just for couples. It was written for all of us, in every aspect of life. What Does Love Look Like Beyond the Wedding Aisle? Love is easy when things…
Staying Connected to Christ
February 7, 2025I recently found myself advising others to “stay connected to Christ” but quickly realized that wasn’t a completely helpful statement. Here are ten suggestions that may be more helpful. Maintain an ongoing dialogue with God, sharing your thoughts, concerns, and gratitude. Prayer fosters a deeper relationship with Christ and keeps you attuned to His guidance.…
Easter Sunrise Service 2025
January 23, 2025Note: Scripture references are from the New International Version of the Bible (NIV) except as noted. This is the full text of the message but certain passages were omitted on the day, for brevity. Introduction: Good morning, everyone. My name is John Rains, and I am the pastor of Hope House Ministries, a non-denominational ministry that began…
Tolerance vs. Truth
January 23, 2025Christian living requires carefully balancing the call to love others unconditionally with the responsibility to uphold and share God’s truth. While the world often promotes a form of tolerance that avoids addressing sin, true love compels Christians to point people to the hope and redemption found in Christ. This must always be done with grace,…
People of the Bible: Mark
January 20, 2025Mark is a prominent figure in the Bible, best known as the author of the Gospel of Mark, the second book in the New Testament. Also referred to as John Mark in Scripture, he played an important role in the early Christian church. Although Mark was not an eyewitness to Jesus’ ministry, his close relationship…
Trust God in Impossible Situations
January 14, 2025“But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will perform for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again, ever. The Lord will fight for you, while you keep silent.’”— Exodus 14:13–14 (NASB) I must…
God’s Inclusivity: “I Will Pour Out My Spirit on All Mankind”
January 13, 2025God’s inclusivity, as declared in “I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind,” reveals His heart for unity, equality, and love. It calls us to embrace and celebrate the diversity within His creation while recognizing that His Spirit transcends every human boundary. The phrase is a powerful declaration of God’s universal invitation to experience…