Pencil sketch by JC Chambers. Part one in a series of the grace of God from the book of John. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” John 1:1-3 God is, and always has been, self-revealing. “In the beginning was the Word.” Words reveal. Just as we use words to reveal our thoughts to others, through “the Word,” God reve

Pencil sketch by JC Chambers. The grace of God from the book of John. John enjoyed an especially close relationship with Jesus. The pages of his gospel preserve more of Jesus’ words than any other book of the Bible. Through the “disciple whom Jesus loved,” we can experience Jesus “up close and personal.” We experience grace and truth as we see God revealed in the words and deeds of Jesus . . . the face of grace.

Today we celebrate our independence as a nation. The day we broke away and formed a new nation with new possibilities, and new ideals, but most of all freedom. What a wonderful word that is, isn't it? Freedom. While we will celebrate this as citizens of America, I would like to also turn your attention towards the freedom of Christ. Now most speak of the freedom in Christ, but I will stress the freedom of Christ. The freedom of Christ... The fateful day that Jesus hung on the