Why Judah?
In our “Burning Hearts” 2026 bible reading plan, right now, we’re wrapping up our selected readings from Genesis. What we are reading is wonderful and challenging and intriguing, but what pains me is what we’re not reading (for time’s sake): we’re skipping some amazing chapters! Though not part of the plan per se, if you’re able, I encourage you to read the chapters we’re skipping as well. For instance, if you didn’t read the chapters we skipped, that means you missed most of the story of
The Stairway to Heaven
Right now in our 2026 bible reading plan, we’re going through selected readings from the book of Genesis. The stories are all amazing. But they are also difficult. When we’re reading Genesis, we have to remember that we are reading literature from thousands of years ago from a totally different culture, worldview, language, and society – and – it’s literature that is written to be heard and pondered over repeatedly over the course of a lifetime. Just like following Jesus, It is
Thriving in Exile
Over the last four weeks at Central Youth, we were in a series called Aliens: Thriving in Exile. Below is a summary of the lessons looking at the stories of exile in Scripture and what that means for our lives today. There’s a pattern that runs through the entire story of Scripture, and once you see it, you start noticing it everywhere—including in your own life. Israel is trapped in Egypt, crying out for freedom. They want out; out of oppression, out
A Pastoral Word of Love, Truth, & Justice
Good morning Central Baptist. I hope you are staying warm on this very cold day, and endured last weekend’s snow well! Let’s hope we’re not in for another one this weekend – I miss being together! And after last Saturday, I really wish we were together. If we were together on Sunday (rather than the pre-recorded message), I would have taken some time to reflect on what we all saw, from multiple angles, out of Minneapolis this past weekend. It is disturbing,
Sad News on a Cold Day
Good afternoon Central Baptist. I hope you are staying warm on this very cold day.I want to start off with some sad news: this morning, at about 9AM, Bill Taylor passed away peacefully. He is now with Jesus, which as Paul tells us, “is far better” (Philippians 1:23). Bill was such a good and kind man, a loving husband and father, and a gentle and warm presence, friend, and brother to us all. He will be greatly missed. Please pray for
Blind Old Bartimaeus
In this morning’s men’s bible study, we discussed one of the stories we read for today’s bible reading plan: the story of blind Bartimaeus.It’s one of my favorite stories in Mark for two reasons.First, when I was interviewing for to be the pastor here at Central, I was asked to lead a bible study – and this is the story I chose to do. As I was reflecting on the story in preparation of that bible study, the ideas and message
Storms In and Out
A blog by Next Generation Pastor, Rebecca DeLucia Life has a way of throwing storms at us; some we can see and others we carry quietly inside. In Mark chapters 4 and 5, we encounter two powerful stories back-to-back that show us something essential about Jesus: He has unmatched authority over both external chaos and internal captivity. In Mark 4:35-41 Jesus and His disciples are crossing the Sea of Galilee when a violent storm erupts. Waves crash over the boat. Water fills it.