Man, 2017 seems a bit confused.  Insanely cold, fairly warm, snow, fog, rain... the weather in Peoria doesn’t know whether it wants to be Fairbanks, London, or Seattle.  Then again, I suppose that’s classic Peoria weather...

Wow!  Between severe weather (decidedly sub-zero temperatures on December 18) and me being under the weather (decidedly sub-par health on December 25), it’s been a while since I’ve written a Sunday Morning Update like this.  For that matter, it had thus been a while since I had even led a service, so I was actually feeling a bit discombobulated up there this week...

Ah, ’tis the season... for shiny lights, schmaltzy advertisements, cheesy TV movies, grumpy Facebook posts, and tons and tons of rampant retail shopping.  That would make for a lousy Christmas carol, but it’s kind of the modern sentiment right now.  Kinda makes me want to crawl into an old Bing Crosby movie, or go caroling again, or cuddle up with my family and remind ourselves what it is that we’re really celebrating this time of year...

Snow!  It snowed so beautifully for Sunday that we had to open up the drapes in the Sanctuary so that we could enjoy the view.  Of course, it only snowed on Sunday, so most of it has melted now...

This Sunday was our first Sunday of Advent, so Eric and Sara Diemer lit the first Advent candle, focusing on the hope that we have in Christ.  We also thus asked everyone to stay after the service for our baked potato bar, and then to help decorate the church facility.  The place looks amazing, so thank you to everyone who helped...

Okay, before I forget to say this (even if you may only see it afterwards), Happy Thanksgiving!  Yep, this is that week -- the week when we as an entire nation stop and consciously give thanks to God for all of the many blessings that we have been given, devoting an entire day to being something of a “bonus Sabbath” so that we can make sure to focus on God...

For anyone who’s wondered if faith is a lost art in America, wonder no longer -- the past week has shown that people still have a very strong and deeply held sense of conviction and religious fervor in our country.  Of course, it’s not a fervor for Jesus Christ, but rather for sociopolitics...

This week, like so many churches across the country and around the world, we observed the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, praying for our brothers and sisters around the world who are suffering for their faith.  But in the midst of that, even in the videos featuring people in other lands who are enduring hardship for being Christians, we reminded one another that God is still God, that God is still faithful, and that God can still work even through horrific circumstances to bring about His will -- His much larger and much wiser will than we can understand...

Ordinarily, I write these Updates mid-week, but I wanted to write this one earlier on so that I could avoid any appearance of being swayed by how the Cubs play in the sixth game of the World Series on Tuesday.  I mean, I wouldn’t want anyone to think that I was gloating if we won, or that I was trying to find “meaning” in losing...

The Fall is by far my favorite time of the year.  The weather cools off, football season kicks in, and the leaves change colors -- making my drive into work each day a genuine joy, as the hills break open between Morton and East Peoria, and I can see the cascade of colors in the valley.  This year, I can even watch my Cubbies play in the World Series...

I really, really want to be able to tie something spiritual and relevant to my desire for the Chicago Cubs to win the World Series, so that I can include my Cubbies in this week’s Sunday Morning Update, but I can’t think of anything.  So forget I said anything...

Okay, I’ve held back from commenting on this up until this point, but I just can’t stay silent any longer... Go Cubs!  Thank you for your indulgence...

It’s October!  Time for raking leaves, time for putting pumpkins and dried ears of corn out on our front stoop, time for long walks in the cool of the evening, time for getting huge bags of candy at sale prices, time to host Tom and Janice Kelly (our missionaries to Mexico for the past 30 years) one last time, time for Pastor Appreciation Month (so make sure to give your Deacons and Elders a hug this month), time for finalizing the church’s budget (so make sure to give your Deacons and Elders a hug this month), and time for ramping up to the November Presidential election...

I’m sure many of you are lamenting this week’s weather, but I’m loving the cooler temperatures.  In fact, I helped take some friends on a tour of Illinois State University’s campus yesterday, and it was so much nicer than it would have been last week.  Of course, it was still terribly hot for Eric and Sara Diemer’s wedding on Saturday...

This was a special holy week in Central Illinois (or, as I like to call it, the Morton Pumpkin Festival).  People trek in from all across the country to see the largest parade in downstate Illinois, eat pumpkin ice cream, ride the Tilt-a-Whirl (or bumper cards, whichever is more your speed), and generally have a lot of fun.  Yes, we got drenched by the downpour on Friday night -- but that just made the lines for the pork chop sandwiches that much shorter...