Pastor Tom's Journal

 Patching the Old or Creating Something New? Most of us spend a lot of time trying to fix things— old routines, worn-out systems, familiar patterns. There’s value in that. But sometimes, the issue isn’t what’s broken… it’s what no longer has the capacity to hold what’s new. In this reflection, I explore a simple but powerful idea drawn from the teachings of Jesus—one that applies whether you’re thinking about your life, your work, or your leadership: 👉 Growth doesn’t always come from patching the old. 👉 Sometimes it requires creating something new. If you’ve ever felt like what used to work just isn’t working anymore, this may resonate. 📖 Go deeper (reflection + discussion): 👉 https://tomsims.substack.com/p/four-ways-people-respond-to-jesus-66a 📖 Read the full article: 👉 https://medium.com/@tomsims/patching-the-old-or-creating-something-new-a5db4b0fca0c?sk=e1a037662770b7288dce3cfaacb4871e Question: Where in your life are you trying to patch something that may need to be repla...

  Matthew 8: When Jesus Comes Down the Mountain What happens after the Sermon on the Mount? Matthew 8 gives us the answer. When Jesus comes down from the mountain, the teachings of the Kingdom become visible through action. The first person who approaches Jesus is a man with a skin disease. Socially isolated and considered unclean, he kneels before Jesus and says: “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus responds immediately: “I am willing.” And then he touches him. That single touch breaks both physical and social barriers, and the man is healed. Soon after, a Roman centurion approaches Jesus asking healing for his servant. Despite being an outsider to the Jewish community, his faith amazes Jesus. The centurion understands authority and believes that Jesus can heal with only a word. Jesus responds by declaring that people from east and west will gather in the Kingdom of God. Matthew closes the passage by showing Jesus healing many who were sick and oppressed, fulfi...