Pastor’s Point
February 2026
Shadow and Light
John 1:1-5 (NIV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life
was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness
has not overcome it.
On the 2 nd of February, many of us will pause to take note of a certain groundhog
resident of a small town in central Pennsylvania.
On that day, as the tradition goes, Punxsutawney Phil, as the aforementioned
rodent is monikered, will make an appearance, ostensibly to inform us when winter
might end. Will it end soon, or will we have 6 more weeks? Seems only the
prognosticating Phil knows for sure; a determination based upon whether he sees
his shadow that day.
On a more serious and spiritual note, the Gospel of John makes a contrast between
life and death, comparing them to light and darkness. And somewhere in between,
is sin which casts a long shadow on the unrepentant souls of men.
Because of the work of Jesus, men need no longer live in the shadows, let alone the
darkness. And that is a choice that is not so capriciously or arbitrarily decided by
(for example) a ceremonial rodent!
The decision to live in the light belongs to each person because of the long shadow
that the Cross of Jesus casts upon all men. A shadow that separates Light from
Darkness.
On one side of the Cross is Light, on the other is darkness. For “4 In him was life,
and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and
the darkness has not overcome it.”
The Gospel message is an invitation to come by choice out of the long winter of
darkness and death, and step into the eternal springtime of light and life!
“How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Savior, stepping in the Light, stepping in
the Light!”
The Gospels want all of mankind to know, ‘It is Springtime’!
Blessings,
Pastor J.
February 2026
Shadow and Light
John 1:1-5 (NIV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life
was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness
has not overcome it.
On the 2 nd of February, many of us will pause to take note of a certain groundhog
resident of a small town in central Pennsylvania.
On that day, as the tradition goes, Punxsutawney Phil, as the aforementioned
rodent is monikered, will make an appearance, ostensibly to inform us when winter
might end. Will it end soon, or will we have 6 more weeks? Seems only the
prognosticating Phil knows for sure; a determination based upon whether he sees
his shadow that day.
On a more serious and spiritual note, the Gospel of John makes a contrast between
life and death, comparing them to light and darkness. And somewhere in between,
is sin which casts a long shadow on the unrepentant souls of men.
Because of the work of Jesus, men need no longer live in the shadows, let alone the
darkness. And that is a choice that is not so capriciously or arbitrarily decided by
(for example) a ceremonial rodent!
The decision to live in the light belongs to each person because of the long shadow
that the Cross of Jesus casts upon all men. A shadow that separates Light from
Darkness.
On one side of the Cross is Light, on the other is darkness. For “4 In him was life,
and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and
the darkness has not overcome it.”
The Gospel message is an invitation to come by choice out of the long winter of
darkness and death, and step into the eternal springtime of light and life!
“How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Savior, stepping in the Light, stepping in
the Light!”
The Gospels want all of mankind to know, ‘It is Springtime’!
Blessings,
Pastor J.