Author Archives: jwfisch

Heck with social distancing, we’re going ‘face-to-face!’

Posted on March 17, 2020 by jwfisch

Marti pointed out that my title yesterday might have been a bit misleading. “Germ-free community” sounds so sterile and so perfect. “Look at us; we’re all germ-free!” I can see that title might have given that impression. That, of course, … Continue reading →

Posted in discipleship, gospel of welcome | Tagged , | 2 Comments

‘Germ-free community’

Posted on March 16, 2020 by jwfisch

Last night at Church at the Catch, we experienced what could be called a positive outcome of the current coronavirus pandemic. We had the strongest attendance we’ve had since we started holding church live on Facebook, and we had the … Continue reading →

Posted in community, discipleship, relationships | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Getting creative

Posted on March 13, 2020 by jwfisch

What an interesting time we live in. Just a few weeks ago, Corona was a bottle of beer with a slice of lime peeking out of it, and I would have guessed COVID-19 was a distant planet just discovered that … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, church, discipleship, walk by faith | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Overcoming fear

Posted on March 12, 2020 by jwfisch

How do we eliminate fear? By taking charge of our situation. By doing something instead of nothing. The two servants who invested the money the Master entrusted to them were not afraid (Matthew 25:14-28). If they had any fear at … Continue reading →

Posted in walk by faith | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Touch

Posted on March 11, 2020 by jwfisch

To touch or not to touch, that is the question. Jesus was constantly around poverty and disease. He rubbed shoulders with the crowd. He touched lepers to heal them. He spit on the ground, made mud with his spit, rubbed … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Worldview | Tagged , | 13 Comments

Fear not

Posted on March 10, 2020 by jwfisch

Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened, but in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. 1 Peter 3:14-15 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. … Continue reading →

Posted in gospel of welcome, grace turned outward | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

Against the wind

Posted on March 9, 2020 by jwfisch

This has been a monumental year so far. With this being an election year, and a completely divided electorate throwing contempt from pole to pole, and evangelical Christians sought after by both sides — not for their faith or their … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity and politics, discipleship, grace turned outward | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Welcome home; all is forgiven

Posted on March 6, 2020 by jwfisch

I have some really good news for everyone today It’s not just good news; it’s preposterously Good News. It’s an Old Testament statement of a New Testament reality. (You see, God’s been at this for a long time.) “I, the … Continue reading →

Posted in forgiveness, gospel of welcome | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Living bridges

Posted on March 5, 2020 by jwfisch

[Today Marti reminds us of our mission.] For as long as I have known John, which is more years than I care to admit, he has sought to create bridges among people within the church to those out beyond its … Continue reading →

Posted in diversity, gospel of welcome | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Everyone’s welcome. Some have other plans.

Posted on March 4, 2020 by jwfisch

Everyone’s welcome. This is the Gospel of Welcome and everyone’s welcome. And we mean everyone. Every color, every race, every religion and none, every sexual preference (LGBTQ and you can add XYZ if you want to — they’re welcome, too) … Continue reading →

Posted in gospel of welcome | Tagged | 4 Comments