“Have you understood all the parables I have told you?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they

replied. Matthew 13:15

Article by Dr. Les Hollon, Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church

Parable means “something cast alongside.” Alongside his other teaching & actions, Jesus cast images in story form … which is the only way some of life can be understood.

How is our life best understood as a parable? … Jesus’ major message was the Kingdom of Heaven/God.  The Kingdom is perfectly established in heaven and is at work on earth wherever and whenever the will of God is applied.

Where is God’s Kingdom for you? … We are soulful as God’s will is released in our life.  We have Jesus telling 8 parables about the Kingdom in the book of Matthew, chapter 13. They are: Read More »

“I wonder if my experience of life wouldn’t be richer if I engaged all of my senses in this process of being … eyes and heart fully open.”

Article by Mary Bea Sullivan

Jenny sees funny things the rest of us miss.  Her humor is never mean-spirited, she simply sees irony everywhere.  One time, she was in church and the fire and brimstone minister was exuberantly singing, “When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there!” … all the while, jabbing his pointed finger toward the ground. That one, it makes her laugh until she cries!

Jenny is at college now … and the other day she sent me a text message I only half understood about the guy in the cow suit for Chik-Fil-A who was waving in the wrong direction.  What I did understand was the end of her message, “Tell me this is not the funniest planet ever!“

My reply was, “It is if you live awake like you do.” Read More »

Article by Dr. Les Hollon, Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church

Jonah got distracted from living by his life purpose.  God had endowed Jonah with: insight to know what makes people the way they are; discernment to understand God’s gracious character; perception to see how the ways of God are people’s only hope to live fulfilled lives; faith in God to be merciful in all situations & for all people, and; talent to communicate God’s truths for people’s understanding.

Jonah got distracted from living by his God-given uniqueness … because he was disappointed by the results from his efforts.  

Israel went through a Civil War that divided the people into two nations - one retained the name Israel, and the other took the name Judah.  The Kings of both nations would not repent of their sins. The people followed their Kings more than living by trusting in God.  People tended to treat each other with a disregard for justice & love.  And to top it off, Assyria was pressing the Promised People to surrender to their control.  Jonah was more than fatigued and fed-up.

Just then … God called Jonah to go to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, and offer them hope.  If Jonah’s enemies would trust God, then the Lord would forgive them. Read More »

Article by Dr. Les Hollon, Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church

Our children’s building has beautiful mural artwork painted by the gracious heart and incredible talent of artist Shawn Bridges.  Her stunning first floor work tells the biblical story of Noah and God’s creation. Her ministry conveys the goodness of God’s best to children, youth, and adults; to seekers and believers.

Whoever walks down those hallways is struck by the bigness of God’s power and the tenderness of God’s love. This gracious gift helps us to see more clearly by seeing the world through God’s moral vision.

God’s handiwork enables us to see right from wrong in such a way that we can live a righteous life.  That by seeing God’s handiwork we can be inspired to help make our world a better place in which to live, not just for me or you or us but for everyone.

This is the same moral vision which emerged from the life of Noah … Read More »

“God has not only met my needs, but has woven all of the threads of my life into a new quilt that is more diverse and colorful than I could have imagined …”

Article by Malcolm Marler

As I turned 54 this summer, I became aware that I have more questions than I have answers.  When I was younger, I had more answers.

Now that I’m older … I can remember other times of questions and transitions in my life and how God has helped me to survive and thrive through them all…

I remember when I was 10 when I sat in our den as my Dad told my sister and me that my mother had died suddenly during the night.  Thankfully, a dozen “mothers” promptly stepped forward from our church over the next few weeks, months, and years for me.  And then I was blessed to have Jimmie Ruth Hudson to become my stepmother three years later.  She is still in my life 41 years later.

I remember when I was 15, sitting in an empty high school football stadium with my Dad as he contemplated whether to accept becoming the pastor of a new church.  That meant moving us from the only home I had known to an unfamiliar one for my high school years.  I only knew that I wanted to play football at the local high school because they had recently been the state champion.   My Dad eventually accepted the position in the new town, and I ended up having a wonderful high school experience there. Read More »