Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 11:55 — 16.4MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS
Easter eggs, Easter Bunnies, Easter parades, Easter….kites? what do these things have to do with Jesus rising from the dead? And is there a right way to celebrate such an important event?
Bible Verses: Deuteronomy 10:13, Colossians 3:17, Colossians 3:23, Isaiah 1, Romans 8:8, and Hosea 6:6
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 6:49 — 9.4MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS
Good Friday – Reflections on the significance of Good Friday
It’s an age-old question: What is “good” about “Good” Friday?
Family Life News asked two pastors — both of whom serve in regional roles guiding Pennsylvania and New York congregations — for their stories and interpretations of why we enter the solemn moods of remembering Jesus Christ at Golgotha and Calvary.
Listen for the recommendations of the Rev. Mel McGuiness and the Rev. John Pingel. They talk about Holy Week worship and spiritual reflections give valuable context to the Good News — for people of faith, as well as for anyone who has not delved into the significance of Christ’s arrest and crucifixion.
Mel
McGuiness is pastor of the Kiantone of Jamestown, New York. He also is moderator of the Western New York and Pennsylvania Regional Fellowship of the “Four C’s” denomination. The Conservative Congregational Community Churches network is online at www.ccccusa.com.
John
Pingel is president of the Eastern District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. He serves and leads over 120 congregation in that district, which stretches from New York, across Pennsylvania, and stretches into Maryland. Learn more about the LCMS at www.lcmsed.org.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:10 — 20.8MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:22 — 11.5MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS
An Insider’s Perspective on Haiti – Faith Under Fire
When gangs burst into prisons throughout the island nation of Haiti, it launched a cascade of violence and brutality which shook the residents, toppled the standing of government, and opened the doors to crime and murder.
Family Life News offers you a perspective on what it has been like to live in Haiti and offer Christian ministry and hands-on development there. Darren Hercyk is a native of New York’s Southern Tier, a current resident of Harrisburg PA, and has directed global development programs for Liberty University.
Based on his three year’s experience in Haiti, he says the current civil unrest is one event in a long trend of disasters for Haitians — earthquakes, political upheaval, and hurricanes.
This conversation includes the need for immediate relief efforts, as well as the extensive Christian mission trips and longer range efforts. Hercyk says the most effective assistance would have two vital aspects:
Hercyk also gives us insights on the effectiveness that Haitian churches have had, when so many others entities have failed or collapsed. Even amid the disasters there, he says there is hope for Haiti — from its Christians.
Darren Hercyk has led global relief efforts and Christian humanitarian work, of his own as well as mentoring future mission workers. He has lived in ten nations doing such work, and directed programs for Messiah University and Liberty University.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:01 — 19.3MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:23 — 22.5MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS
Twenty-eight hundred women a day are widowed in the US. For those women, everything changes.
“A widow has not only lost her husband, but she has lost the life that she knew,” says Marilyn Nutter. “And life looks dramatically different.”
Nutter knows there are better and worse ways to comfort the widows in our lives. A widow herself since 2011, her new book is Hope for Widows: Reflections on Mourning, Living, and Change.
“If we can’t say something that can be encouraging and not judgmental, then just be present,” Nutter says. “Put your arm around that person.”
While more than half of the women in the US over the age of 75 are widows, the average age a woman becomes a widow is 59 years old. No matter the age, there’s grief, loneliness, anger, and disappointment.
“I don’t think we can ever prepare emotionally for losing your spouse,” Nutter says. But there are some nuts-and-bolts things people with a living spouse can do now to make life more manageable if they’re widowed someday. We can learn, right now, the essential tasks our spouses usually shoulder, whether it’s changing the household air filters, paying the bills, or making travel arrangements.
“You need to be prepared, practically,” Nutter says. “It’s still not going to be easy. But if you can have some practical things in place, that would make it more manageable when your body is exhausted, and your brain can’t think.”
Randy Nutter died while on the couple’s cross-country Christmas visit to their children. Through Marilyn Nutter’s loneliness and discouragement, she hung onto God and who she knew Him to be. She knows that God is not only her hope, but the hope for widows.
“God is faithful to keep His promises. He hasn’t made a promise that He hasn’t kept. And so, when I think of hope, I think of hope as a person. Biblical hope rests in who God is and who He says He is. And that is where I have found Him to be faithful.”
We invite you to listen to our 16-minute podcast.
Learn more about Marilyn Nutter here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:09 — 20.8MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS
3/26/24 5 O’ Clock Report
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:59 — 4.1MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | Email | RSS | More
A group called MAP — Mission to Amish People — seeks to provide encouragement and discipleship resources to anyone who leaves an Amish lifestyle and seeks to live out their faith differently than they were raised.
This is the first of our two-part conversation with Samuel Girod, a missionary with MAP. (Click his picture to see a video of his presentation at a “Step Out of the Boat” conference.
_____
For Part Two of Mark Webster’s conversation with Samuel Girod — and more information about MAP — go here for the April 2 “Hometown Heroes” Podcast
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:55 — 21.9MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | Email | RSS | More
3/25/24 5 O ‘Clock Report
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:27 — 7.5MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS
Teacher Evaluations
Gym Class “Opt-Out”
Saving SUNY
Lots of “Issues in Education” to discuss this week. Our guest is Dr. Ralph Kerr at the Teaching and Learning Institute
