Orchard Hill Church Blog
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The Glory of “My Father’s World”
As I talk with friends and family in this time of quarantine, I have noted how many have commented on the beauty of getting outside. Our God is the One whose is made known in every majestic sunset, each precise blade of grass, every stunning peony. He is the Message that these beautiful wonders hold for us.
Ask a Pastor Ep. 92 - Having Tough Conversations During Coronavirus
This episode, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund connects online with Orchard Hill Counselors Stacy Gallagher and Faith Bjorklund about having hard conversations with people during quarantine, how to approach conversations about problems that have been revealed because of quarantine, managing boundaries with parents and kids, and more!
Where is God in a Pandemic? (Part 3)
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund looks at the summary of the book of Joel, the different interpretations about the Day of the Lord, and the destruction and beauty that's revealed in it.
"Hesed" and the Steadfast Love of God
There is a family word in the Bible that is repeated more than 250 times which is “hesed”. This Hebrew word describes the steadfast love of God for His people. This love is unconditional, unwavering and unlike any other kind of love described in the scriptures.
Ask a Pastor Ep. 91 - Living and Working at Home with Young Kids
This episode, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund connects online with Russ and Lyndsay Brasher to talk about how the coronavirus has impacted life with young kids, how to balance working and living at home, things this time has caused you to think differently about, and more!
Where is God in a Pandemic? (Part 2)
Continuing to look at the Old Testament book of Joel, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund talks about continuing to look for the “The Day of the Lord” and how to continue to look to him for grace and mercy, not become numb to distraction and disaster around us.
Alive and Active: Studying the Book of Acts in Isolation
As everything around me has become increasingly inactive due to COVID-19, I have come to realize just how important the word of God is in my own personal life. I decided that I would start reading the book of Acts during my quiet time. Here is how the Lord spoke to me through the Word.
Ask a Pastor Ep. 90 - Connection & Care During Forced Family Time
This episode, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund and Faith Bjorklund sit down to have a conversation about navigating this time as a family, things that have been good or bad, and more!
Where is God in a Pandemic? (Part 1)
Senior Pastor Dr. Kurt Bjorklund begins a new 3 week series looking at the Old Testament book of Joel, which addresses a country and a people going thru a crisis, and looks at the questions that people ask about God when going through difficulty.
The Perpetual New Kid
When I was in Jr. High my family moved from the town in which I grew up to a new one, far away. I did not know anyone there. No one knew me. It is weird to be the new kid. And you know what? There is a sense in which being a Christian in this world can make a person feel like the perpetual new kid.
Ask a Pastor Ep. 89 - Realities of the Coronavirus and How God is Working
This episode Dr. Kurt Bjorklund and Chief of Emergency Medicine Services at UPMC Passavant, Dr. John Landis, get together online to talk about how God is working on the front lines of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Pittsburgh.
Imagined Jesus #5 - Obscure Jesus (Easter 2020)
On this Resurrection Sunday, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund shows how the resurrection of Jesus Christ doesn't make Him obscure, but helps to be completely clear about who He is and our future and be able to face face death without the fear that goes with it.
God is our Refuge (Psalm 16 Devotional)
We have no promise for tomorrow. We have no promise for our next breath. We have no promise that life will be easy. Scripture is clear that the opposite will often be true. But we have a God Who can protect us and shelter us, in Whom we can find our only true security.
Preparing for Easter: Waiting on the Lord
I do not know about you, but I hate waiting. I think Americans in general hate waiting… and for the most part we expect not to wait. Sometimes we are forced to wait for things that are outside of our ability to control. But some of the things we wait for are far more profound, and perhaps even life changing.
Preparing for Easter: Christ's Sacrifice for All
Matthew 27:32-56, to this day, still brings me back to the night I accepted Christ. It does not matter how many times I have read this passage, how many times I have preached on it, sat in rooms, and listened to others share about it. The passage, every single time, reminds me of two things.
Preparing for Easter: Humility & Glory
This week, we remember the ultimate sacrifice of our Redeemer. It is only because of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, that holy justice could be meted out, and that like Dusty Miller in the Burmese Jungle, a life was taken that a life might be gained.
Preparing for Easter: Grace
The ministry of Christ really has a lot to do with pointing out how everybody messes up. When I read Peter’s story in Matthew 26, I see the reality of the gospel of Christ. Jesus knew why He had to come to earth – to save sinners who would deny knowing Him in His darkest night.
Imagined Jesus #4: Self-Help Jesus
Joel Haldeman, Campus Pastor of Orchard Hill: Strip District, looks at Chapter 21, the epilogue of the Gospel of John, to learn about something Jesus says we should give our lives to, and how in this season, we can find something that truly matters.
Preparing for Easter: Christ's Faithfulness
How easy it is to be faithful to God when things are as we want? How easy it is to seek God when things are going our way? How hard it is to have faith when we face something that is not merely unpleasant but painful and hard?
Learning to Lead like Jesus (Boyd Bailey) | Book Review
I started this book on a quest to improve my leadership skills but also discovered along the way that learning about Jesus’ traits will help me to not only be a better leader, but help me to be a better person by growing in the likeness of Christ.