As we watch the scenes of city of Texas and Florida submerged in the deluge of hurricanes and Mexico digging out from a ferocious earthquake (and all in the same month!), at some point we can hardly help wondering “Why?” Why does God allow events like this to occur? This is a hard...
There are times when coffee and a pastry are more than a light breakfast, and bacon is more than just a tasty treat. The food at Central's summer brunches is always delicious – "Julie & Co." does an amazing job preparing the menu each week, but the purpose behind the brunches is much...
Are your prayers too small? On Pentecost Sunday (June 4), Pastor Clay Smith gave a stirring and inspiring sermon about the kind of prayer that sustains our participation in God’s full mission. While God certainly cares about the smallest details of our lives, he also calls us to lift our...
We often hear stories of generosity and compassion around Christmas. Wonderful, encouraging tales of people reaching out and loving others through generous deeds and gifts. Though they surely happen, similar stories at Easter seem far less frequent. The focus of these holidays should certainly...
When Jews celebrate the Passover meal, the youngest child asks the question, “Why does this night differ from all other nights?” Since we will soon celebrate Jesus’ fulfillment of Passover during Holy Week, it is good for us to ask a similar question: “How does this week...
You may notice two lovable-yet-mischievous guests in the backyard of the missions house. Those are our dogs, Tory and Reggie. If you are a dog lover, you know they become part of your family once they enter your home, and these particular two hold a special place in our hearts. Whether they are...
Emotions are very real and very powerful. This morning I packed up my church office in preparation for our move from Clayton back to Pittsburgh in just four days from now. I felt deep emotion as I packed those boxes. In about three hours, the staff is hosting a luncheon for Tacey and me as...
Are you new to Central? Have you had questions like "How can I find out more about what is happening at Central?" or "Who are the pastors and other leaders in this church?" If you have these or other such questions, we invite you to attend the "Taste of Central" lunch on Sunday, August 21...
It was a joy to travel with a music and outreach team from Central on a ten day tour of France (July 8-18) sharing the Gospel in the streets, in churches, cafes and wherever the opportunity arose. We ministered to people in hotels, in the parks and town squares and we had a packed...
Forced to lose their pinky or their phone, our kids pause. Neither loss is ideal, and in a perfect world one could retain both. Nonetheless, studies show that if forced to choose, our teens would drop this tiny digit in a heartbeat. For all its strengths the pinky cannot offer our...