The Message of a Manger

Dr. Tommy Boland
6 Dec 2014
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manger

Have you ever considered why our Lord was born in a manger and not a magnificent palace? Well, this month I would like you to consider, actually marinate if you will, in the message of a manger, and see if God does not meet you in your place of deepest need and shower upon you glad tidings of great joy! Away in a Manger “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7 KJV). As pastor of The […]

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A Running Redeemer

Dr. Tommy Boland
14 Oct 2014
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When you are having a moment of pause in your all-to-busy schedule and you are reflecting on your Redeemer, what do you see? At Christmas, which is just around the corner, we see our new born King wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. At Easter we see our King crucified and resurrected from the dead because the grave could not hold Him. Now, have you ever, in your eye of faith, pictured a “Running Redeemer”? Well, the Scriptures paint just such a picture, and I pray that it will be a word of great comfort for you this […]

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Clean in Spite of Dirt

Dr. Tommy Boland
10 Sep 2014
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clean

In an old Dennis the Menace cartoon, Dennis is holding a handful of beautiful flowers and he asks Mr. Wilson, “How can something so pretty and clean come out of the dirt?” When you think about it, that question applies to every Christian. I have a word of encouragement for you taken from these magnificent words from John, the beloved apostle: “. . . the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7 NLV). Cleansed Notice that John did not say that Jesus’ blood “will cleanse us from all sin” or “shall cleanse us from […]

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A Lion For The Lazy

Dr. Tommy Boland
4 Aug 2014
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Do you know what the world’s greatest labor-saving device is? Tomorrow! That’s right; tomorrow. Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow, right? But this is not for you! The sluggard says, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!” (Proverbs 22:13 NLT) Notice that it is not the fearful who cry, “There is a lion out there,” but rather the lazy. Why? Because they’re lazy! The sluggard creates all sorts of reasons in his mind for his inactivity and living a life of ease in Zion. Rebellion always finds its reasons, and […]

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Dependence Day!

Dr. Tommy Boland
1 Jul 2014
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dependence

This month we celebrate American Independence Day, representing the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. This was the day the Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence, having already declared the independence of the colonists from the authority of the British on July 2, 1776. As important as this day is in the life of our great nation for our independence, in contrast I pray we will be reminded to declare our utter dependence upon God, not only this day, but every day on this side of heaven.  “I am the true vine, and my Father […]

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Six Pillars of Parenting for Fathers

Dr. Tommy Boland
1 Jun 2014
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The first Father’s Day in the United States was observed on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. The day was proposed by Mrs. John B. Dodd, who wanted to honor her father, William Smart, a Civil War veteran who raised six children alone after his wife died in childbirth. Clearly, Mrs. Dodd took seriously the Lord’s instruction, set forth in the fifth commandment, to honor your father.  I understand that not all of us have a father like William Smart, who seemed worthy of honor. But the commandment does not tell us to honor our father if he is honorable; […]

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Has Your Family Altar Altered Your Family?

Dr. Tommy Boland
6 May 2014
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altar

Members of our congregation often ask me about how to have family times of prayer, Bible study, and worship in the home. What they are inquiring about comes under the heading of “family altar,” which is a “spiritual” way of referring to family devotions—Bible study, prayer and worship in the home. As a pastor I would like to tell you that this is a daily practice and routine in our home . . . but I cannot. Oh, we were quite regular when we had our first child all alone for 20 months. When our second child joined the mix, […]

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He is Risen, Indeed

Dr. Tommy Boland
1 Apr 2014
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(Comment below on what Christ being risen means for you) This month, all over the world, Christians will celebrate Easter and the undeniable fact that the tomb was empty; that Jesus Christ was raised from death to life. Our Lord Jesus Christ, after having spent three days in the tomb, was raised from the grip of death to the glory of life and is sitting at the right hand of God the Father. We know that the tomb was emptied by the power of our Most High God. Christ has risen! “Then the angel spoke to the women. ‘Don’t be […]

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Rise Above the Rubble

Dr. Tommy Boland
3 Mar 2014
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rise

(How does God make you rise above rubble? Please comment below.) Life is marked by painful providences. We face trials and tribulations throughout our lives, from the moment we are born until the moment we die. As my momma was fond of saying, “Jesus never promised you a rose garden on this side of the grave.” No, in fact He promised just the opposite:“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). As a pastor I have the […]

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Love Needs No Legislation!

Dr. Tommy Boland
4 Feb 2014
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(Scroll down to leave a comment on why love needs no legislation) Back in August I had the privilege of marrying Mark and Kaitlin, the young couple who head up our Young Adults ministry at Cross Community Church. Starting with pre-engagement coaching, we spent a considerable amount of time over the past year talking together about the stuff of marriage. I remember discussing the all-too-common prenuptials that many bring into their marriages today, even Christian marriages. A prenuptial is defined as: “A contract entered into prior to marriage which commonly includes provisions for the division of property and spousal support […]

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