Randy Willis

Ann Landers once responded to a letter from a girl who was writing about her uncle. The girl told the story: “My uncle was the tightest man I’ve ever known. All his life, every time he got paid he took $20 out of his paycheck and put it under his mattress. Then he got sick … Read more

Colossians 3.18—4.18 This section begins with some basic household rules. Paul addresses three groups of people: Wives (submit) and Husbands (love), Children (obey) and Parents (don’t provoke), Slaves (obey) and Masters (treat with justice/fairness). He gives each group instructions (see parenthetical statements above) on how to live together in ways that honor God. (Note: In … Read more

Colossians 3.1-17 Let heaven fill your thoughts! Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ … Read more

We see warning labels all over the place. There’s a warning label on boxes of cigarettes: "SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, and May Complicate Pregnancy." On coffee cups, you’ll notice the warning, “Caution: Hot!” You might see signs occasionally, exclaiming, “Flammable!” or "High Voltage!" On homes, you might see signs … Read more

For this series, we’re using the New English Translation. It’s posted online by chapter, so you can read today’s text by clicking on Colossians 1.24–29 and Colossians 2.1-5. God call servants First, let’s talk about God’s call. Paul writes, “according to the stewardship from God.” Clearly (from here and other writings), Paul understood that he … Read more

It’s great to be with all of you today at the Shaver’s Creek Community Building where the six United Methodist congregations, representing hundreds of years of ministry here in the Juniata Valley, are gathering for a special day of worship and fellowship. Community From early on in our planning, we knew we wanted to focus … Read more

Colossians 1.15-23 [New English Translation] Is Jesus first in your life now? If he isn’t, what’s keeping him from being first in your life? Paul’s letter to the Christ-followers in Colossae has a lot to say to us about putting Christ first in our lives. Colossians 1.15-20 is believed to have been a hymn that … Read more

Read Colossians 1.1-14 in the New English Translation (NET). Today, we begin a new series called, “Get Focused!” I believe that’s the message from the New Testament book of Colossians. The Christians in the city of Colossae, influenced by their culture, added non-Christian beliefs to their faith and practice. Paul writes a letter in response … Read more

Today, we wrap up our journey through the Psalms. We’ve been talking about psalms of orientation, psalms of disorientation, and psalms of new orientation. Psalms of new orientation express a confidence in God as the source of new orientation. The experience of the past causes the rejoicing of the present which leads to confidence of … Read more