Orchard Hill Church Blog
Explore. Grow. Engage.
Diversity and the Church
The Church is unlike any other group of people. But here’s the problem: The Church can be like any other group of people. It’s our human tendency to seek connection with those who are “like us.” If you are a follower of Jesus, can you see this tendency in yourself? I see it in myself.
10 Opportunities for Christians During the Coronavirus Crisis
The Coronavirus and its impact will be with us now and reverberate well into the future. Drastic measures have been taken all over the globe trying to manage this pandemic. Rather than trying to explain what God’s rationale may or may not be, I wanted to share some opportunities that God may be giving His followers.
Sex Isn't Enough - A Biblical Perspective on Sexuality
This week at the dinner table we were trying to explain to our kids where babies come from. Oy. Pray for us. This will be an interesting road! But the conversations are essential because we want our kids to catch a biblical perspective on sexuality, not a 2020 cultural perspective on sexuality.
Kobe Bryant and the Reality of Eternity
On January 26, I got a news alert on my phone that said Kobe Bryant (and 8 others, including his daughter) had died in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles, CA. I found myself asking and saying: “How can this be? This doesn’t seem fair.”
The Value of Our True Identity
I have two quarters that I keep in my pocket to remind me of a significant truth about our identity in Christ as Christians. The face value of these quarters is the same, but their essence is completely different. They differ dramatically in true value.
Secularism and the 21st Century Church (Psalm 12 Devotional)
We are living in a strange time in the 21st-century church of the west where America will likely go from being a self-proclaiming Christian nation, into the abyss of secularism. What does that mean for us?
Crossing the Cultural Divide
By now, many of our kids are back to school and university. In this post we will briefly look at some of the issues that our kids face, and the demands placed on them by unrelenting media outlets and cultural messages as they head back into ‘the world’.
You Think That's Funny!?
What does your sense of humor tell you about yourself? When I can't see the humor in life around me it usually means I'm either too prideful or struggling with shame.
Why Does God Allow Suffering?
If God is so good, why is there so much suffering in the world? This is an age-old question that causes a stumbling block for many people coming to faith in Christ. If God is truly capable, why doesn’t He merely speak the word and do away with it once and for all?
Why God Loves Entrepreneurs
I know, I know, this may strike some as a little odd, but I have never been more convinced of this truth than now. I love their passion, their purpose, and their focus in working to impact the community and embrace the redemptive power of capitalism.
Is Profit Evil?
This may seem like a strange question to some, but this was something I personally struggled with for a while without realizing it, but in the last year, the Bible has taught me that profit is a very good thing.
Christian Parents are Disciple Makers
Without a doubt, followers of Christ are disciple-makers! That means that Christian parents are disciples who can make disciples. But what in the world does that look like here and now?
Notre Dame Pales in Comparison to God's True Temples
All eyes have been on Paris this week, with the devastating fire that has recently destroyed much of the Notre Dame Cathedral. As significant as the cathedral has been for nearly 800 years, this unfortunate event serves as a reminder that our hope does not reside in a building or objects regarded a “holy”.
Superhero Saviors
What is it about these movies that have captured the attention and heart of so many people? I believe that the fantasy world of superheroes Marvel has created, is acting as a window to the soul of humanity.
My Love/Hate Relationship with Netflix’s Tidying Up
I’m currently in the throes of a love/hate relationship with the Netflix show, Tidying Up. The question that was nagging me was this: if I’m willing to upturn every square corner of my home because of a TV show, will I be equally convinced to do the same to my daily calendar based on the truth I find in the Bible?
What Makes Us Human?
Recently I had the opportunity to attend a technology summit here in Pittsburgh. The purpose of the summit was to examine the effects of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on humanity and the theme this year was, “What Makes Us Human?”
Thomas Jefferson is Not Jesus
Jefferson was a student of multiple religions. He loved the moral teachings of Jesus but believed the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John) were filled with fabrications created by zealous followers to enhanced Jesus’ reputation.
The Matrix is Upon Us! - Part IV: Identity
As soon as we’re born we’re given a name and told who we are. We understand our identity primarily through the context of our relationship with our parents but, only the gospel provides the assurance of our true identity and the confidence to live in that identity regardless of whether we’re online or in person.
The Matrix is Upon Us! - Part III: Trust
If we can’t trust technology, big tech companies, or even ourselves, who can we trust!? The only trustworthy person is Jesus. He proved His unconditional love for us by dying on the cross for our sin and rising from the grave to conquer death on our behalf.
The Matrix is Upon Us! - Part II: Sovereignty
Technology is rapidly integrating itself in our lives in such a way that gives us the illusion of supremacy over our life. Google acts as our own personal counselor, available to answer our most pressing questions at any moment. Sites like Amazon and Netflix anticipate what we want before we know we want it, and news feeds are personalized to our preferences.