By Jay Gjurgevich -- Imagine you’re at New Year’s Day dinner with your family and you hear, “Okay, we’re going to go around the table and have everyone share your New Year’s Resolution!” What would be your reaction? ...
By Sally Bland -- It’s hard to believe it is almost 2019! Ever since James and I had children the years seem to fly by. Honestly, I never felt like I was getting older until I had kids, but now there is no denying it! As the new year approaches, it is a great opportunity to get to know...
By Wayne Williams -- "For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” - Hebrews 2:17 I have known the...
By Caris Power -- We have ALWAYS had an angel on top of our Christmas tree. He/she (I’m not actually sure) presides over each of our Christmas seasons with bright, white-lighted aplomb. She/he is up there because the angels brought the message about the coming Messiah to Mary, and...
By Joyce Wachsmuth -- My mother, Mildred, passed away 12 years ago on December 9, 2002 of a heart attack, and it was a complete shock. We had just returned from the Philippines and stopped over in Hawaii to be with my parents for Thanksgiving. I had never been home for Thanksgiving since I left...
By Tanner Woolf -- This last Thursday, my wife and I found ourselves spending our Thanksgiving in a beautiful home with 12 people who were complete strangers to us six months ago. If you would have asked Kendall and I before we got married how we thought we would be spending our first major...
By Janet Nordlund -- “Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!2 Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!3 Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.4 Enter his gates with...
By Janet Cabascango -- We are so grateful to be in the Stephen Ministry at Greater Portland Bible Church. One Stephen Minister said, “I enjoy the close bond formed in my Stephen Minister group and now the opportunity to see God working through us as we give care. I thank God that I am...
By Janice Fry -- There are many references to and about the poor in the bible. Many of the references are about always having poor in this world. In Luke 11:41 it indicates that being generous to the poor can be an indication of what is happening on the inside of us. Many of the Shoppers...
By Wayne Williams -- I know, I know, I know. Every year we complain about how much earlier the stores begin their Christmas push. We all do it. So much so that complaining about it has become one of our holiday traditions. You would think that we wouldn’t be surprised anymore by how soon...