Blog

Welcome to our church blog! We will be blogging about current events from a Christian Persepective, expanding on our weekly message, or just blogging about interesting items we feel could be relevant to your Christian walk. Check back often and feel free to leave us a comment on each entry! God Bless!

The Rest of the Story

April 18, 2019
The story of Jesus’ walk on earth can be found in Scripture—the story of love, the story of pain, sorrow, grace, and joy. Jesus walked the earth and allowed interruption after interruption; no doubt feeling alone, though He was often in a crowd. He did not allow sadne...

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The Sabbath a Delight

April 11, 2019
The Sabbath a Delight “The oven isn’t working anymore!” exclaimed the wife of my professor at seminary who was sharing a memorable story of cooking and technology. There was an error code on their new oven that was unable to be cleared. Sabbath was approach...

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“Lord, Save Us!”

April 04, 2019
This Sabbath marks the beginning of the celebration of the season of the Resurrection here at Sligo Church. Next to the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is, for me, one of the most impactful and meanin...

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A Well to Remember

March 28, 2019
I love walking. It is one of my favorite hobbies and pastimes. So you can imagine my delight last week as I had the opportunity to take afternoon strolls through the lovely, picturesque, city of Strasbourg, France. I spent the past several days in France at the Strasbourg Seventh...

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The Sound of Silence is Deafening!

March 21, 2019
You were missed! – or – I missed you! We came home from a recent trip of several days to find that there were 103 Spam items caught on our computer. Think of that….103 items. When checking on their veracity, only 4 or 5 proved to worth keeping. Organizatio...

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“Tune My Heart”

March 14, 2019
“Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me ever to adore Thee, May I still Thy goodness prove, While the hope of endless glory Fills my heart with joy and love.” ...

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Is Blackface Here to Stay?

March 07, 2019
Recently there has been a great deal in the media regarding the controversy over Ralph Northam, governor of the great state of Virginia, for having worn blackface while a student in medical school in 1984. The incident came to the light when someone discovered a yearbook picture ...

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To Wash Or Not To Wash!

February 28, 2019
As I walked through the corridors of a hospital yesterday, I couldn’t help noticing what appeared to be an inordinate number of hand sanitizer units. What did we do before the advent of hand sanitizers! In Jesus’ days, there was also a big interest in hand sanitizatio...

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My Brother’s Keeper?

February 21, 2019
I grew up with my cousin, Cecil, who was more of a brother than a cousin. We were good together; we were bad together. We fished together; we fought together. In our village we  were known as Danny and Cecil. When I visit my village nowadays, I have to use the term, Danny an...

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Migration

February 14, 2019
February in America is Black History Month and the theme for this year is Black Migration, which encourages everyone to contemplate the impact and effect of the movement of African Americans from southern farms to cities in the South, Northeast, Midwest and West, and to Europe. A...

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Ten Years and Counting

February 07, 2019
On Sabbath, January 26, 2019, Sligo Church marked Charles A. Tapp’s 60th birthday and his ten years as their Senior Pastor with a special service of appreciation and re-dedication. Through a video and a personal letter to Pastor and Sister Tapp, members spoke of the various...

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The Seven Prayers of Jesus

February 06, 2019
As many of you may already know, several years ago I created a course on prayer, which I have been teaching at Washington Adventist University for the past 17 years. I must say that it has proven to be a blessing, not just for those students in search of developing a better under...

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Let’s Celebrate!

January 31, 2019
Last Sabbath we celebrated ten years of service by Charles A. Tapp as Senior Pastor of Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church. This celebration was equally for his wife, Maureen, who has been a source of inspiration, encouragement and comfort to many. Some may be tempted to ask t...

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Persevering Ministry Goals

January 24, 2019
Harvard Business School conducted a decade long study on their MBA graduates. Before we get to the results of the research, we have to recognize that anyone who is accepted into their MBA program, which has a 15% acceptance rate, is already considered accomplished in the ...

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Sometimes God is Weird that Way

January 17, 2019
In fifth grade I joined Pathfinders with my best friend, which was a good thing because shy and timid Christina didn’t talk much.  Pathfinders opened up a whole new world of opportunities for me. I found new friends; I went rock repelling; I learned how to start an...

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Flight 1549 - 10 Years Later

January 10, 2019
"Miracle on the Hudson!" These words have come to refer to US Airways Flight 1549 that glided into the Hudson River after losing all its engine power.  January 15, 2019, will mark ten years since Flight 1549 made its unprecedented emergency landing on the icy river that...

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Ready Or Not!

January 03, 2019
While in the checkout line at my favorite grocery store on New Year’s Eve, the cashier, as we were engaging in “small talk,” asked me if I was ready for the New Year.  Without pausing to think about what my response would be, I quickly said to her, &ld...

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Don’t be Afraid of the Dark

December 27, 2018
I am guessing that we have all experienced the fearful side of darkness. This for some of us may just have been the mild darkness that settled in our bedroom as Mom turned the light off and kissed us good-night or, as in my case as a child, the impenetrable blackness that enve...

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Why Me?

December 20, 2018
Have you ever experienced financial hardship, bankruptcy, severe illness, abuse, unemployment, eviction, hunger, abandonment, broken relationships, an unplanned divorce, depression/anxiety, or absence of a support system?  At some point in life you may have gone throug...

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God wins. Explaining God to a Hurting World

December 13, 2018
Every day one is bombarded with upsetting stories on news broadcasts, in newspapers and internet posts.  Mass shootings have become so common that we now have trouble distinguishing one from the other.  I used to remember details about all the mass shootings and simi...

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Pioneers Get The Arrows...

December 06, 2018
Last year during Sligo’s worship conference, Consumed, Dr. Cedric Dent, a presenter and one of the founding members of the Grammy award winning acapella group, Take 6, made a profound statement that I feel bears repeating. In the midst of sharing with the attendees of...

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Here I Am, Send Me!

November 29, 2018
Last year church member, Hannah Koilpillai, needed help with a project. She briefly explained to me that she needed a group of young people to move some furniture the following Sunday. I said I would definitely keep an eye out for some help and ask a few youth or young adults....

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Getting Dirty for God

November 21, 2018
Each morning the Adventist Community Services staff and volunteers take a few minutes for reflection and prayer.  The thought for Tuesday gave a jolt:  “Not all who say Lord Lord. . .” (Matthew 7:21) were words early in Jesus’ ministry.  Near th...

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Not a Goodbye, Just a Farewell!

November 15, 2018
Seven years ago, this week, my family and I began a trip that would change our lives and allow us to serve the Lord in ministry.  On that nice, chilly November fall day, we embarked on a 16-hour trip that would take us from the tip of Florida to Takoma Park, Maryland.&n...

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I Love Change!

November 08, 2018
Personally, I love change. I love the shifting sand that makes up our lives and gives it nuance and bright colors. I appreciate a new experience or new method. I love the feeling of setting off in a new direction. In fact, I can get bored pretty quickly. If you watch me desi...

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Do Your Duty

October 25, 2018
Nowadays I seldom listen to the news on radio or television. Most of what I learn about developments, events in the world, and country comes from my Twitter feed. Even that began to distress me after a while. I then learned how to block certain people and organizations from my...

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Unity Leads to Increase

October 17, 2018
“If you wish to know what a man is, place him in authority” (Yugoslavian Proverb). Last week I had the unique opportunity to travel to sunny Pasadena, California, with a group of pastors from the Potomac and Texaco Conferences. We were part of the Fuller Youth...

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Somewhere Out There

October 11, 2018
There was a movie that moved me as a kid. It was an animation. It was about a small child mouse that belonged to an immigrant family of mice. During the journey from across the ocean he is separated from his family and has to survive in a rough world, exemplified by a sort o...

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Power and More of It!

October 04, 2018
Over the past few weeks, our country has had to endure one of its most divisive times in recent history, as the president’s nominee for the Supreme Court has fallen under close scrutiny. Of course, an event such as this can never be completely void of politics, but ther...

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Do you believe in miracles?

September 27, 2018
I know this question may sound hypothetical or passé, but I have been giving this notion some serious thought. As we face an era of more stress, anxiety, and despondency in our country, depression rates have soared. Doubts, insecurities, and uncertainties in life are o...

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The Legacy I Want to Leave

September 20, 2018
My birthday last May brought a swirl of worries:  What about the hymn for my funeral?  I don’t have a favorite one! What about our little Takoma Park property -- do we have a will or a trust? -- better get a trust --fast.  What about my legacy to my famil...

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Hero Maker

September 13, 2018
Many of us have grown up watching super heroes on television or in movies. Super heroes are normally presented as individuals with certain powers and abilities, and usually with a muscular body frame.  On one occasion, as a child, I thought I could be Superman and jump ...

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Unity is Often Messy!

September 06, 2018
The Catholic Church has had an inordinate amount of media attention in recent weeks. One is tempted to think that the intensity of the current spotlight on the Catholic Church is unprecedented, but such broad-brush statements may not be able to withstand the scrutiny of histor...

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Finding Your Perspective

August 30, 2018
Raised in a Christian home by parents who were the offspring of a Baptist minister and a Seventh-day Adventist minister, conversations about the Lord and His goodness always filled my family’s home.  We were taught that God loves and takes care of us, that we should...

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Pride and Purpose

August 23, 2018
Ever since my youngest moments, I have a memory of pride - pride in my church, pride in my beliefs, pride in my Savior and the fact that I have an exclusive invitation to accept His salvation. As a child you could see my pride manifested in my ability to say all the books ...

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Gen Z's and Faith

August 16, 2018
Significant statistics from Barna Research Group demand our consideration as with intentionality, prayer and great joy we prepare to welcome our university students (your children, family and friends) to their Fall 2018-2019 academic year. Significant statistics specific to fa...

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My Sligo Village

August 09, 2018
This year marks my 17th year at Sligo Church. I’ve moved from being only a member, to youth leader, to Pastor. As a teenager who felt called to ministry and a young adult who needed to practice ministry, Sligo Church gave me the support, encouragement, guidance, and sometim...

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The Promise of Community

August 02, 2018
During the entire first quarter of this year, the Sligo Church family took on the very meaningful task of learning what it means to exist as an authentic biblical community. As many of you know, we studied a curriculum that was created by Sligo for Sligo, which we named, The P...

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Long Walk to Freedom

July 26, 2018
I recently returned home from my first ever trip to South Africa. I was there with the Takoma Academy Chorale to participate in the World Choir Games, a biennial international choir festival held in various locations around the globe. It was a beautiful event, as over 300 choi...

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Give Thanks, Always

July 19, 2018
In choosing gratitude as the theme for this essay, I discovered that I quite accidentally hit the proverbial “mother lode” on a topic of significant moment for one’s spiritual and psychological health and well-being. In mining for coal, gold, silver, oil or...

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We Are Family

July 12, 2018
We are family... Were you able to finish the rest of the lyrics to the song? In 2017, the song, "We Are Family," was selected for preservation in the annals of history by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or artistically significant." Although the so...

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The Strength of Dependence

July 05, 2018
Yesterday, our nation paused from its regular work schedule to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday, also commonly known as Independence Day.  Without taking the time to give a long history lesson, the fourth of July, as we know, is a federal holiday which commemorates ...

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How to Reject Rejection

June 28, 2018
“For the Lord will not reject His people; He will never forsake his inheritance.” Psalms 94:14 NIV Rejection is a common feeling that we all encounter at some point in our lives. It is amazing that even Jesus Christ was subject to an incredible amount of rej...

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Our New Reality

June 20, 2018
Some of us are old enough to remember the first hijacked airliners. Terrorists, or those emotionally unbalanced, would smuggle weapons on board a plane, and while it was mid-flight take over, make demands, and threaten to start killing passengers and crew. To adjust to this n...

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Kids on a Mission

June 14, 2018
When our family moved to the Washington DC area from Port St. Lucie, Florida, my son, Caiden, immediately noticed a stark difference between the two locations, primarily the large number of poor and homeless people in the DC area.  For a six year old, it seemed to be an...

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Homecoming!

June 07, 2018
When you are a child you are driven or taken everywhere. You don’t really have a choice on where you are going or why you are going. I remember taking trips between Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma City quite often when I was a kid. My dad was a pastor in Tulsa and worked f...

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ADRA and Sligo Church Host First Refugee Awareness Event

May 31, 2018
To help engage the public in response to the refugee crisis, which involves more than 65 million people worldwide, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) collaborated with the Salt Ministries at the Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church to co-host an information fair and...

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Bright Shining as the Sun

May 24, 2018
I had one big wish when I began high school. I wanted to be remembered. Not just a passing, “hey remember that guy.” I wanted to be legendary. Walking into my freshman year, I was desperate that I would somehow accomplish something, anything that would leave a mark on...

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When Time Has No Measure

May 18, 2018
In my former life, when I served as a conference president, the pastor of one of our churches that was predominantly Ghanaian, called me frequently at home. He would call at about 7:00 in the morning while I was preparing to leave for work. The conversation between the pastor and...

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Mother, I NEED YOU

May 10, 2018
It is hard to believe that 12 years have passed since my life-altering journey began. Looking back at that critical juncture, l know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am here today because you saw my need and filled it with love.   I smile because I am amazed by your willi...

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Truth Over Tradition

May 03, 2018
I’m sure that many, if not most, of you are aware that I was not raised in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but rather my spiritual beginnings were deeply rooted in the Baptist tradition.  As I have shared from the pulpit many times, not only were my parents deeply en...

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Huddle

April 26, 2018
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Our Stories: Bread and Water

April 19, 2018
McEntyre (2009) in her book, Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies, tells us that good stories are gifts (111) and often provide a window of healing after we have been wounded (115). Matthew Paul Turner, in his book, the Coffeehouse Gospel, shares that personal life stories are a...

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Warm Is The New Cool

April 12, 2018
Most teenagers want to be known for being “cool.” However, when it comes to the church, does it need to be “cool” so that it can reach this generation?   In  Washington Post article titled, “To attract young people to your church, you've ...

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Fake News or Faith News

April 05, 2018
There term fake news has recently taken our cultural landscape by storm. Fake news is what is referred to as a neologism, which is a newly coined word or expression. For instance, the word staycation, a vacation where one remains at home instead of going away, is a neologism. Fak...

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Community and the Journey to Better Health

March 29, 2018
Our Sabbath School lessons on “The Promise of Community” have been thought provoking and easily provide us with many more months of study and discussion material.  The lessons prodded me to think back about the benefit of a small group in helping us reach some of...

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How to Prepare for High Praise

March 22, 2018
Have you ever heard a rock sing? Yes, I stated my question correctly and no, I didn’t mean have you ever heard a rock singer. I’m sure you’ve heard one of those! I’m asking you, have you ever heard a rock sing out? It sounds like a silly question doesn&rsq...

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"This is sad!"

March 15, 2018
I lifted the above and following out of an e-mail that was written by a frustrated Activities Director in a Ford Model T Club some distance from here, to which we belong. It’s been haunting me each time as I’ve read it over and over again.   “Today is Jan...

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Community in Diversity

March 08, 2018
Just over six years ago I arrived to Sligo Church to begin my ministry as the Children and Family Ministries Pastor. I quickly discovered Sligo is a melting pot of diversity with so many different countries and cultures coming together in worship and community.    A g...

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Thank God for Hur: A Tribute To The Ministry Leaders of Sligo

March 01, 2018
In October 2004, I wrote an article that was published in Ministry Magazine. Ministry, as it is now called, is an international journal for ministers that is published by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Although it is published by our denomination, it has a readership that tran...

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His Service Plan

February 22, 2018
It’s amazing what you don’t know until you know it.  It became apparent this week that God cares about the car I drive. We can get caught up in the ins and outs of what or how God is concerned with our everyday life, but I tend to lean towards the idea that God i...

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The Heartlifters—A New Sligo Community

February 15, 2018
Bob and I arrived in Takoma Park on September 1, 1975 with three school-aged children already a week late in starting school.  We had returned to the U.S. after having served as missionaries in Tanzania and Lebanon.  Bob had a job as a copy editor at the Review & He...

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Twenty-five years on from Waco

February 08, 2018
Some of you are too young to remember Waco, in terms of what happened there to a group of people with strong Adventist connections twenty five years ago. Led by David Koresh, a group of people often described as former Adventists, established a community, more accurately a c...

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To Be Or Not to Be…

February 01, 2018
As many of you, I’m sure, are already aware, Sligo has decided to use the first quarter of 2018 to focus on our in-house curriculum on building biblical community, titled, The Promise of Community: How the People of God Live Together. We are using it in our small group Sabb...

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Ahead of the Curve

January 25, 2018
A couple years ago the New York Post did an article titled, “Millennials Don’t Deserve NYC”. The article describes current trends among young people ages 18-34. While in bygone ages, young people clamored to go out on a Friday or Saturday night, the young peo...

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Discipline, Fun and Character

January 18, 2018
One of my fond memories as a church leader is that of camping with a group of Pathfinders in the mountains of Wales in the depth of winter.  My Youth/Pathfinder director, David, encouraged me to undertake this exercise as he felt it was a good way for me as conference presid...

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Start With Why

January 11, 2018
Have you ever asked yourself why you do what you do? Why did you choose your career path, why do you go to church, why do you volunteer on a church ministry team, why do you give? These are questions that we don’t often stop and think about. If someone asked us what we do, ...

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In God We Trust

January 04, 2018
Recently I was reminded of the four powerful words that appear on all U. S. currency, IN GOD WE TRUST. The use of this phrase first appeared on the Two-cent piece in 1864 in response to increased religious sentiment in connection with the atrocities that took place during the Civ...

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The Songs Our Children Sing!

October 12, 2017
Jesus love me this I know For the Bible tells me so Little ones to Him Belong We are weak but He is Strong Yes, Jesus loves me Yes, Jesus loves me Yes, Jesus loves me The Bible tells me so   “Yes, Jesus love me...the Bible tells me so”, is such a powerfu...

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GROUNDED!

August 17, 2017
At WAU, as we count down to August 28, 2017 - the first day of school for our new academic year – our thoughts turn to the words of singer songwriter, Perry Como, whose melodic verses invite the parents and loved ones of our students  to consider – “Is th...

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10,000 Hours

July 27, 2017
Practice makes perfect. As a musician I’ve heard this phrase hundreds, maybe thousands, of times over the years. I’m sure you have as well. Whether you were a basketball player working on your free throw shooting, a tennis player honing your serving technique, or a ...

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Frightened like a Rabbit

July 20, 2017
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Beyond Guilt

July 13, 2017
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In My Shoes

July 06, 2017
If you have been associated with Sligo Church for any length of time, you know that I have a great deal of love for the sport of tennis, not simply because of the athleticism and skill that it takes to play the game, but for what playing it has brought to my life. Tennis has taug...

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Bullying in My Church? No Way!

June 15, 2017
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Nowhere to Run

June 08, 2017
     The phrase, taking your life into your hands, has taken on new meaning over the last few weeks and months.      We used to have to be reminded to stay away from certain parts of town because of the unsavory characters we might find there. ...

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Fatherhood

May 25, 2017
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Darkness Reveals Light

May 18, 2017
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“Lovely Lady!”

May 11, 2017
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Missing, But Not Lost

May 04, 2017
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We Are What We Think

April 27, 2017
Have you ever wondered whether you really exist or whether anything exists? It’s a question that I have asked myself numerous times, especially when I was a youngster. I discovered later in life that this is also a question asked by many. It was this very question that Fren...

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Just a Sip

April 20, 2017
Celebrating the resurrection of Christ, the suffering is often overlooked. Acknowledging that Jesus drank the whole cup of sin and suffering, the following is shared in the hopes that some part of my journey will be the bread and water you need to give you faith and hope.   ...

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Surprise!

April 20, 2017
When was the last time you were surprised? Do you even like surprises or would you prefer the predictability that certainty can bring? I recently read a fascinating book by Tania Luna and LeeAnn Renninger, entitled, "Suprise." In a world that is rapidly changing, we seek to contr...

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The Heart of the Gospel

April 06, 2017
As a young child growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, one of the favorite summer pastimes that I and my friends engaged in to keep ourselves from becoming bored and getting into mischief, was sitting on the front porch of our homes in the evening and watch the cars drive by. Now, I...

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The Secret to Intimacy

March 23, 2017
*Readers discretion is advised* Last week, our Sligo Young Adult Ministry held a Bible study on relationships and marriage.  With twenty-six years of marriage, they graciously invited my husband and me to be presenters. We shared our love story from a much simpler time. &n...

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Remembrances…

March 16, 2017
When my parents were married, they were not of the same religious faith. My mother’s family were first Lutheran, then Seventh-day Adventists, in Germany. My father’s family in Germany were nominally Lutheran and as child and an adult, my father had no interest in reli...

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Ideas To Help Busy Families

March 09, 2017
Family life is challenging, with both parents working, children having extracurricular activities, family members attending church on Sabbath, and having to do household chores.  Who has time for everything?  Families are doing so much besides the regular going to work ...

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Are you an Online Worshipper?

March 02, 2017
Each Sabbath during the 11 a.m. worship service at Sligo Church, you will hear either myself or the pastor leading worship pause to welcome members of a unique group that are with us each and every week. Some weeks they may number only a few hundreds, while at other times their n...

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Clarity in Grief

February 24, 2017
Like many of you, I’ve had a share of grief in my life. Losing family members, friends, pets and people you look up to is an unfortunate consequence of living in a world that is tainted by sin and death.   It can be easy to get into the flow of life as we do our best...

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A Church Without Walls

February 16, 2017
Since I’ve been at Sligo Church for more than 40 years, I’d like to take you on a trip down Sligo memory lane.  When we moved here in 1975, the addition (Atrium Suite/Youth Room section) to the church building was just a dream.  On Sabbath mornings, our olde...

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The Personal Touch

February 09, 2017
It had been a long day and I still had several things left on my schedule. Not having eaten all day, I planned on going through the drive-thru. I decided I really just needed to sit still for a few minutes, so I went inside. After I got my food, I found a booth that faced the fro...

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Beyond The Walls

February 02, 2017
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Sit Still

January 26, 2017
“Then said she, ‘Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall’...) Ruth 3:18 (KJV)   If there's one thing needed today in the world it's people who can sit still and wait, people who have the patience and endurance that comes from sitt...

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Flight 833

January 19, 2017
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3 Things To Remember When Things Go From Bad To Worse

January 12, 2017
Have you ever worked hard to improve challenging circumstances in your life but things just went from bad to worse? Maybe it was trying to lose the few extra pounds you gained over the Christmas holidays but when you stepped on the scale you rubbed your eyes discovering that you ...

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Here We Go Again!

January 05, 2017
Well, here we go again - making our lists of all the things that we hope to accomplish in this New Year! What is it about the beginning of a new year that creates such a swell of hope and anticipation in the hearts of so many, where just 24 hours earlier there was only disappoint...

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Baptismal Testimony

January 05, 2017
Alexander Wright is a senior citizen and retired after 31 years with the U.S. Postal Service. He has 2 adult children and 4 grandchildren. Initially, Alexander attended public school and during the mid 1950’s and as a rebellious teenager attended Adventist Church School for...

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“I WAS HOMELESS AND YOU GAVE ME SHELTER….”

December 29, 2016
During this holiday season we share laughter and joy, creating new memories with friends and family.  Much like that night in Bethlehem, the inns were full of people having a good time while Mary and Joseph found solace in a stable where Jesus was born. Jesus was born to a h...

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No, Not That!

December 22, 2016
The Christmas season is with us already and many decorations and trees are up.  Kids are looking forward to what is under the tree and the day when they can open up all the gifts they got.  As a child I always looked forward to Christmas time just as much as many other ...

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Thanksliving: Thanking God through Generous Living

December 21, 2016
Now that the presidential elections are over, it seems time has flown by. Suddenly, we are in the midst of the holiday season. But instead of our usual collective spirit of thanksgiving and unbridled holiday cheer, our nation is suffering from what I call Post Election Stress Dis...

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Make Christmas Special for Someone

December 15, 2016
It is almost Christmas Day.  The church is pretty with garlands and Poinsettias. The music at Sligo has been great.  The Christmas lights are so beautiful, and the stores look lovely with red and green decorations.  Here comes a confession that is sure to subject ...

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Reject the Quick Fix

December 08, 2016
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Hope Channel Deaf is a reality!

December 01, 2016
  Dear Friends,   It is with a great deal of excitement that we can now announce that the long-awaited launch of the new internet Hope Channel Deaf is a reality!  It is a historical mark in the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s ministry to have a channel &n...

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Jehoshaphat’s Prayer

November 30, 2016
  Recently I was reminded of one of my all-time favorite prayers in the Bible. And believe me when I tell you that I have many. But this particular one is the prayer of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:12.   In case this prayer is unfamiliar to you, allow me to prov...

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Did my life make a difference?

November 23, 2016
One of life’s nagging questions that many have asked over the ages is, “Did my life make a difference?  What impact have I had?  As members and supporters of Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church and its programs, I want to assure you that the answer is YES. A...

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Blessed Funny Bone

November 17, 2016
I have a funny bone, and it is always itching. For those who know me well, it becomes difficult to decipher whether I’m serious or joking. My own children will momentarily read me when I say something to decide whether they’re in trouble or I’m being goofy. I&r...

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Fighting the Tension

November 10, 2016
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Tell The World

November 03, 2016
Just about two weeks ago, October 22 to be exact, a date which should be familiar to most Adventists, nearly 170 members and guests met in Sligo’s sanctuary to view, what was in my opinion, not only an excellent film, but one whose message was even greater. Sponsored by GLO...

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The Burden of Proof

October 27, 2016
What do you say when children or youth ask you hard questions about God? I recently read a story of a mother who was asked a tough question by her six-year-old in the middle of a church service. “Mom,” said the little girl who was tightly gripping her coloring pencil ...

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Double for Your Trouble

October 20, 2016
“Don’t I recognize you?” a woman said as I sat next to her on a park bench. It was a cool September afternoon in the heart of Washington D.C. Flanked by buildings that house government agencies, humanitarian organizations, and nonprofit institutions lies a stret...

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Unity at Any Cost

October 13, 2016
When I embarked on ministerial training at age 18 and began delving into theology and church history, a whole new landscape of knowledge opened up before me.  I was reared by my local church and my parents, in particular my mother, on a basic proof text Bible study approach,...

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To Be or Not to Be

October 06, 2016
When I was a child, one of the questions that I was constantly asked by adults was, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I’m not sure why it seemed as though they were more concerned with what I was going to do with my life than I was. Nevertheless, it is ...

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NO PEW WARMERS NEEDED!

September 29, 2016
I really enjoyed the recent Sabbath School lessons on The Role of the Church in the Community.  I was sorry to see the lessons end as each week’s lesson gave me a lot to think about.   We were invited to connect to our community, both inside and outside our c...

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Broken Bread and Poured out Wine

September 22, 2016
As a child, I was mesmerized by Communion. I was told that I needed to be older and grow to understand what it really meant before I could partake in what I deemed to be the most exquisite service. I so wanted to be a part of what the adults were doing! It seemed sacred and rever...

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“This is WAU” - A Commitment to “Be”

September 14, 2016
Phelps, “Simone and Simone”, “The Final Five,” Gaby Douglas … Usain Bolt – these are names which continue to inspire our hearts even though weeks have passed since the 2016 Rio Olympic games… for these are the names of Champions. &nb...

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That Extra Effort

September 08, 2016
This may not be news to you, but taking care of your wife makes your life easier. You might say wait, “I don’t have one of those in my life.” Well, that’s ok because I believe the principle here applies pretty generally.   I had a “husband e...

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The Best Laid Plans ...

September 01, 2016
Recently I announced to the Sligo family that I was scheduled to have surgery to repair a severely torn rotator cuff in my right shoulder. My doctor shared with me that the injury was probably the result of having played tennis for the past 41 years. He also shared with me that t...

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A Message from WAU President Spence

September 01, 2016
September 1, 2016 Greetings!   Washington Adventist University has started its 2016-2017 school year with more than 630 new students registered for the Fall Semester. That includ...

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Letting Go

August 25, 2016
“If you love something, let it go. If it comes back to you, it’s yours forever.”  Unknown As a young girl I heard my parents use this adage often: “Time flies.”  I also remember how time seemed to drag on. So I concluded that since my pare...

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Live for Jesus to Come

August 18, 2016
   My friend just died. He was closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24). He was 46 years young.  Questions pertaining to how he died, when he died and why he died, are irrelevant. The question to ask and ponder is, how did he live? I will tell you. He lived to s...

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Better Than Gold

August 11, 2016
The Olympics has had most sports enthusiasts glued to their television screens. I have enjoyed cheering on the Australian team with shouts of "Ozzie, Ozzie, Ozzie, oi, oi, oi," (no offense to my U.S. friends and wife). However, what I have liked most about the games are the stori...

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In Memoriam

August 11, 2016
We are saddened to announce the sudden passing of: Raj Sadanala on August 7, at the age of 46. He is survived by his wife, Lisa; children, Luke and Matthew; parents, Christopher and Jamesina; siblings, Mary Pandit and Sam. In lieu of flowers, please send contrib...

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Piney Branch Fire

August 11, 2016
You have probably heard by now that there was a major apartment fire last night in the Sligo Church vicinity. The apartments are close to the intersection of Flower Avenue and Piney Branch Road. The facts as we know them at this stage are: 90 families have been displaced ...

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Unity in Diversity

August 04, 2016
Recently, there has been a great deal of turmoil in our nation, which in many ways has done more to divide us than to bring us together. Although we bear the name United States of America, it seems as though the focus has been on our differences than on those things that w...

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TIME Off….You Need To Take Some.

July 28, 2016
For many years Sylvia and I owned a furniture store in Takoma Park. We realized that when we entered into a contract with the previous owner that we would not be open Friday evenings and of course never on Sabbath. That led to many questions, not only by customers, but by our sup...

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Lesson From Iceland

July 21, 2016
I recently flew back from the United Kingdom after visiting my children and grandchildren. My visit to the UK was the return leg of a flight I had managed to get at an incredibly low price last year. There was no such good fortune on my trip back to the US. After trawling the int...

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Is this the secret of their Genius?

July 21, 2016
It is about a month out from the normal beginning of the school year. The sales of clothes and supplies seem to guide many decisions. However, there has been a practice of learning used by the very successful that has the element of uncommon wisdom at its core. It is called the ...

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Are You Listening?

July 14, 2016
Great musicians are great listeners. I have found this to be one of the most overlooked characteristics of a great musician. Great musicians are constantly listening with a keen awareness of their musical surroundings. This is particularly true as it relates to performing in an e...

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The Best Things in Life

July 07, 2016
Often we place value on expensive items, but some of the best things in life are free. Take for example having a trusting life partner, versus, let’s say, a new car. Oh, I know they both cost something, but each represent a different form of payment. You will pay for the ca...

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The Public Library, a Sanctuary of Possibilities?

July 07, 2016
We just celebrated a milestone moment in our history. Yes, we celebrated two hundred and forty years of perfecting our union. Beyond the picnics, parades, and fireworks, we reflect with hope and aspiration for our nation’s future. One key indicator of our future is the read...

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When Jesus Waits Too Long

June 23, 2016
Sometimes it seems Jesus waits just a bit too long for our liking. We pray in earnest hope for help in trouble. We lift up sincere hearts seeking His will amidst chaos. We cry for respite when our faith is stretched beyond ourselves. At times our cries, our sincerity, our hope, a...

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As It Is in Heaven

June 16, 2016
     How many times have we prayed this prayer: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10)?      Until recently, I’ve tended to understand these lines from the Lord’s Prayer to empha...

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School is Over, Now What?

June 09, 2016
This week I have been a chaperone for the Sligo School 8th grade class trip. It has been a surprisingly easy trip.  The students have all been very respectful and our lead teacher did an effective job with the organization.  This is the last trip together as a class bec...

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“The Rise of the Nuns”

June 01, 2016
At a recent pastors’ conference one of the presenters made a statement that I found quite interesting, as well as confusing. He mentioned that one of the fastest growing segments in American society today is that of the nuns. Now at the time I just couldn’t quite figu...

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We send forth our graduates

May 26, 2016
In our last post, we shared the baker’s dozen on successful traits on raising successful children. We shared the admonition of Deuteronomy 6 of modeling and molding young lives. We now consider a wisdom suite for our college graduates.     In this time of hope...

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Fathering My Techy Princess

May 26, 2016
I have been challenged mentally and spiritually lately by what it means to be a Father and the absolute chaos and joy it brings to the existence of so many men around the world.  I’ve been a father for the last 11 years and I can say emphatically that I have no idea wh...

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The Death of A Prince

May 19, 2016
Music is a language all its own. It can make us laugh, cry, happy, sad, angry, determined, excited, energized, calm, and so much more. When you experience music at its finest the affects are not only memorable but far reaching. As a pastor, I have experienced how music can ...

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Cycling Behind The Savior

May 12, 2016
                 Set in the majestic hills and flatlands of France, the Tour De France is a 2,000-mile cycling contest that is considered to be one of the most challenging competitions in all of sports. One of the difficultie...

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The Baker’s Dozen of raising successful children

May 12, 2016
Social scientists have been sifting through the data to see if there are any common traits that points to a recipe for raising successful children.  The parent factor plays an impactful role.   Here is the summary of the common traits found.. 1. They make their ki...

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Give our teachers some love!

May 05, 2016
Teachers may be our most unappreciated heroes! When we consider the people who have had the most impact on our lives, teachers are always among the first to leap to mind.  Parents are our first educators but that role is quickly augmented by those who are fully dedicated pro...

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A Mother's Privilege

May 05, 2016
While a college student several years ago, our English teacher gave us an assignment to write on the subject of our mother.  I took delight in preparing this assignment and was not surprised that I got an A for this piece of work. My mother was pleased when she read what I h...

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A Profile in Community Care

April 28, 2016
We belong to a congregation that has many difference makers. Our focus has been on educational matters, and so with much pride and passion we share the profile of one of our difference makers who is focused on education. Agronomist Dr. Eton Codling, from the Agricultural Researc...

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Reflections on the 2015-2016 Academic Year

April 28, 2016
   At WAU our hearts are consistently inspired by the Lord’s exceeding great and precious promise as expressed through the prophet Jeremiah – “I know the plans I have for you - plans to bless you and never to hurt you – plans to prosper you &nda...

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I Can Only Image...

April 21, 2016
 When Bart Millard’s father died of cancer in 1991, he left him with the assurance that heaven would be a better place than where we are now and Bart began to imagine what it would be like.  Years later, he put those words into a song: I can only imagine what ...

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A Good Thing Can Be the Wrong Thing

April 14, 2016
We recently had to remove a large tree close to our house. To the passerby it was a pleasing tree, providing shelter to birds, oxygen to the world, and beauty through all seasons. It had stood tall; it had stood strong; and it had stood long. To a trained eye however, standing so...

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The Garden of Prayer

April 07, 2016
Recently while spending time in private devotion with God’s word, my attention was drawn to a passage that has always been one of my favorites, but for some reason at this time it took on a new and fresh meaning for me. The passage is from the Apostle Paul’s letter ...

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Renewed Appreciation

March 30, 2016
In today’s dynamic, multi-tasking, “I want it yesterday” environment, many of us often go through each day on automatic pilot.  That is, we don’t take time to intentionally smell the roses or pause to reflect on life’s blessings, specifically ...

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You Might Not Want to Read This One!

March 24, 2016
These days many of us are glued to our television sets watching all the news that is hitting the 24 hour cable and local news stations.  The big stories saturating the media are about every move the presidential candidates are making and every word they are saying.  I...

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Musings On Lent

March 18, 2016
by Karl Lawrence An article I read recently in Christianity Today had this opening line: “One of the advantages of my job is that I get paid to look up stuff I always wanted to know.” If I might be allowed to express a sentiment not too dissimilar from that write...

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A Time of Promise & Peril

March 18, 2016
  by Chris Daley & Dawn Reynolds The delicate lily bursting through the barren winter sod is so symbolic of the hope of Spring. After the dormancy of winter, there is an ignition of activities during the month of March that comes under the labe...

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WAU Students Take Water of Life to Flint, Michigan

March 18, 2016
By Kenya Mark Eleven missionaries dedicated their Spring Break and traveled 12 hours from Takoma Park, Md., to a "mission" field in great crisis. Flint, Michigan has been in the news due to contaminated water, which has affected the lives of the people who live in that city. Pro...

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The Scars We Carry

March 10, 2016
-Pastor Richard Castillo  Once upon a time I was an opinionated, passionate pastor’s kid with little to no filter and somehow felt I was untouchable. This meant that anyone who did something or said something that raised my hackles would get both barrels of my opinion...

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Praying On Site with Insight

March 10, 2016
-Chris Daley & Dawn Reynolds As we get closer to the beginning of Sligo’s 4th year of commitment to praying for 20 schools in the Greater Takoma Park area, there is an enormous amount of gratitude to the Sligo congregation for faithfulness in prayer. In April we ...

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An Opportunity to Enrich Relationships

March 04, 2016
 -by Chris Daley & Dawn Reynolds   Annie Dillard has a riveting quote that should arrest our attention. “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”  As time online increasingly dominates our lives, we are called to be a...

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Community Organizer?

March 02, 2016
 If you are like me and you love to keep up with what is going on in politics, especially at the national level, then I’m sure this season of presidential debates with its record-breaking viewership, has kept you glued to the screen. The climate that exists in the cu...

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What's For Breakfast?

February 25, 2016
Life in 2016 goes at uber speed dominated by school, work, and digital distractions. We have to be intentional in building into our lives rituals to give shape and substance to our being. Without such choices, we have dragged along by the day’s happenings like a ragdoll...

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The Pivot

February 18, 2016
Election season is upon us and that inevitably means countless hours of television debates on most of the major news networks. One of the greatest frustrations I have when viewing the debates is how candidates have mastered the art of evading important questions being a...

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Remember The Alamo!

July 16, 2015
General Conference 2015 in some ways reminded me of Christmas. Its anticipation was greater than its reality, though unlike Christmas the after effects are longer lasting. In the circles that I move hardly do two or more people come together without the subject of the women&rsquo...

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"Called"

July 15, 2015
The “Called – NAD Pastoral Family Convention” was held in Austin Texas, July 5 -8, 2015. Over 5,000 pastors, pastor’s spouses and children gathered for what was an inspiring, encouraging, edifying, and uplifting event. For several months leading up to this...

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All Are Gifted, All Are Valued

July 09, 2015
In 2001 when I served as Sligo’s pastor for young adults, one of the things that had a profound impact upon me each time I would enter the sanctuary, was the banners that hung from the ceiling which read, “All are gifted, all are valued.” In many ways this sayin...

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Independence Day

July 03, 2015


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