by David Wahlstedt | Jan 3, 2026 | Pastor's Blog, Uncategorized
The story of Jacob and Esau, found in Genesis 25, is a powerful and unsettling narrative that lays the groundwork for centuries of conflict and serves as a stark reminder of how easily deception can take root within the most intimate relationships. In our new sermon...
by David Wahlstedt | Dec 20, 2025 | Pastor's Blog, Uncategorized
As we make the final turn toward the end of Advent, the pressure mounts. Many of us carry a low-grade anxiety through life—a feeling that we need to perform to be accepted, or that if people really knew us, they’d leave. We work hard to secure our future and earn...
by David Wahlstedt | Dec 13, 2025 | Pastor's Blog, Uncategorized
Joy can be the most elusive of the Advent themes. It’s the one we feel the most pressure to manufacture. We vaguely hope that if we get the decorations right, buy the perfect gift, and attend the right parties, joy will finally show up. But what if joy isn’t...
by David Wahlstedt | Dec 6, 2025 | Pastor's Blog, Uncategorized
We love the imagery of “Peace on Earth” during Christmas. We picture silent nights and tranquil snowscapes. But in reality, our world—and often our own families and communities—are defined more by division than tranquility. We live behind walls of...
by David Wahlstedt | Dec 1, 2025 | Pastor's Blog, Uncategorized
Advent is supposed to be a season of sparkly anticipation, but if we are honest, it often feels heavy. We carry the weight of a broken world, personal grief, or just the sheer exhaustion of the year. It can feel hypocritical to sing about “thrills of hope”...
by David Wahlstedt | Nov 25, 2025 | Pastor's Blog
In a powerful instruction to Timothy, the Apostle Paul issues a stern warning that is acutely relevant today: “Run away from adolescent cravings, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace” (2 Timothy 2:22 CEB). What are these “adolescent...
by David Wahlstedt | Nov 18, 2025 | Pastor's Blog
In the world’s shifting currents, where new ideas constantly vie for attention, the Apostle Paul’s charge to his young protégé, Timothy, rings with timeless urgency: “Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you heard from me, with the faith and...
by David Wahlstedt | Nov 13, 2025 | Pastor's Blog
Our world is filled with the rhetoric of success and the constant chase for more. Yet, the Apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, pulls back the curtain on this cultural obsession, revealing its shallow foundation and dangerous end. In 1 Timothy 6:3-16 (CEB), he gives us a...
by David Wahlstedt | Nov 5, 2025 | Pastor's Blog
It’s tempting to elevate competence—skill, experience, and efficiency—as the ultimate standard for leadership, especially in high-stakes environments. We seek out the sharpest minds, the most dynamic speakers, and the proven, consistent performers. However, the...
by David Wahlstedt | Nov 1, 2025 | Pastor's Blog
Do you ever feel like you have a job too big for you? I do, that for sure. That’s exactly where the Apostle Paul was when he wrote to his mentee, Timothy, in 1 Timothy 1:12-20. This passage isn’t just an old letter; it’s a vital lesson about trust. Paul starts...
