celebration

By Robert Chappell – Madison 365 – Mt. Zion Baptist Church began in 1911 above a harness shop on East Washington Avenue, organized as a mission by a handful of pastors from Chicago and Milwaukee. The rent was $10 a month. A minister traveled from Chicago to preach on Sundays for $10 plus room and board. Next month, the South Madison congregation, now the second-oldest and largest predominantly Black church in Madison, will celebrate 115 years with a month of themed Sunday worship services, a new building design reveal, and a grand community worship service to close it out. Read…

But the father wasn’t listening. — Luke 15:22 The MessageTo me, this is one of the most moving moments in all of scripture. The prodigal son had ruined his life. He was returning home, a failure for all to see. When he met his father, he was begging not for his rights as son to be restored — he knew he could never dare ask for that — but rather that he might be taken on as a hired hand.But the father wasn’t listening. Eugene Peterson in his paraphrase The Message, captures the spirit of this verse so well with…

Can a man be of benefit to God? Job 22:2Yes. The answer is yes. Eliphaz assumes the answer is no, and structures his argument around it. But he is wrong.As this conversation between Job and his three friends continues, they seem to become more and more disconnected with who Job really is and who God really is. Eliphaz paints a picture of a stern God aloof from human existence, intervening only to provide swift and terrible justice. Pastor Cho of South Korea said, "Most people think God has no needs. They are wrong. God is love. Because He is love,…

News Release(Madison WI) – A unique Christian community website focused on the Madison area is now online in a beta release. The website, www.madisonchristians.com, is designed to be a practical home page for those who are interested in staying informed on how God is at work in our community.