IBC Blog
eLetter
A Reflection on Black History Month
In recent weeks at IBC, we’ve been discussing the importance of wrestling with our own personal past—our life story—to better understand our present and God’s intentions for our future. This is a vitally important part of our ongoing spiritual growth and development. God has made us who we are through the formative experiences and relationships of our lives: though our heritage, our heroes, our high points, and our hard times.
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eLetter
A Note From Barry During Hispanic Heritage Month
Last week, we began Hispanic Heritage Month here in the United States. As we enter this time of celebrating Hispanic and Latino culture, I want to share a key moment in my own learning regarding what it means to be a multiethnic church comprised of brothers and sisters in Christ from different cultural backgrounds.
eLetter
Something I Always Wanted
You aren’t supposed to be jealous, but I’ve always been jealous of big, close-knit families. There’s always been something so cool to me about big families in movies, books or real life. The dynamics between siblings. The different relationships between each child with each parent. The traditions the whole family takes part in each year. I gravitate towards big families.
eLetter
The Undyeable Truth
We’ve all either heard the saying or said it ourselves: “I’m the black sheep in my family.” The phrase has inspired many a book, song and even a movie. Besides representing a disreputable member of a group, the phrase “black sheep” holds more meaning. Centuries ago, black sheep were considered unlucky or worthless because their wool could not be dyed. The shades of gray, brown and black remained true to their color no matter what dye the wool was immersed in.
eLetter
Step Three
Decisions, decisions. Starting as soon as we get up in the morning, our lives are full of decisions. As Christians, we are familiar with decision making because we were invited to make a decision for Christ. Jesus was crucified, died and was buried, but then he was resurrected. We had to decide whether we believed that or not.
Hope & Healing
The Cost of My Freedom
When I think of my personal freedom, I think of these verses and what it cost Jesus to provide that freedom for me. It hasn’t always been this way in my faith journey. For many years I took it for granted. It was easy to say “Jesus died for my sins” as an 8-yr old; not fully knowing at that age what it really cost Him.