Category: grace turned outward
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Come together
It’s a silly, nonsensical Beatles song (even George Harrison admitted that), but its most memorable line is the word for the church in 2021: “Come together, right now, over me,” if by that we mean: Come together over Jesus.
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Fearless Faith
In this season it is good to keep a close eye on our emotions. There are two that are especially prevalent, and seem to grow as political activity increases, and signs of the times seem to indicate, more than ever before, that we could be in the last days. Neither of these emotions should be…
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The conspiracy of the cross
I want to keep Easter going. I want to stay focused on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I want to keep having the Lord’s Supper every night so we can remember Christ’s death until He comes back. I want to hang around the empty tomb for as long as possible, and remember the…
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‘The Catch can’
Today we will hear from a man who is very special to the Catch Ministry. He was the founder of the Catch and our first Chairman of the Board, Peter Herschend. It’s not a particularly special day in his life, except that he is our guest on our BlogTalkRadio show tonight, which makes it a…
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Knowing what you don’t know
Chandler is a leader. He may not have all the tools, or know how to use them, but that doesn’t matter. He leads anyway by sheer will. I am also constantly surprised by how much he knows. He will enter into conversations on various topics and engage with understanding to where I will have to…
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Ready or not here we go
Things are getting pretty bleak on this side of eternity, but that does not mean we get depressed or lose hope. It just means that things are pretty bleak. Changes in the world’s situation have no affect on the truth about Christ and His promises to never leave us or forsake us. God does not…
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Servant girl helps cure enemy
There is an fascinating story told in the Second book of Kings (Chapter 5) about a young Jewish girl who was taken captive by the commander of the army of the king of Aram, a neighboring country and potential enemy of the nation of Israel. The commander’s name was Naaman and the young girl lived…
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The disarming nature of good
Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy…
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First century Christians
I just spent an hour with a few of our Vanguard leaders talking about the future of the Catch. With the world turned upside down right now due to the pandemic, and the church turned outside in due to the lockdown, it’s important that we see ourselves as first century Christians, because, in many ways,…
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a sacrificial poet
This is the logo for one of the open mic’s John attends. John wants to welcome any Chicago visitors to “The Catch,” and thank them for welcoming him into their community. John Shirk is a missionary to Chicago … sort of. His actual job title is “ambassador.” Missionary is a complicated word…
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Afraid of being well
I scored twelve rolls of toilet paper yesterday morning. I was so happy. I had to go to two stores before 8am on a Sunday to find it, but I did. It’s a good thing because I refused to stockpile toilet paper and we were down to our last roll. I still believe this was…
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Put out the welcome mat
It’s voting day here in California. Out and about you find voting signs and there are police warnings on my emergency app about possible congestion around polling places. We’ve been talking a lot about politics lately here at the Catch because it is such a big part of our culture right now. And though on…
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The miracle of forgiveness
Catch MemberPartner, Robert, from Seattle, shared with us a “sore thumb” story about forgiveness. The story was featured on TV, so it reached a large number of people and makes a statement that no sermon could ever equal. And even though it took place 14 years ago, the story is still playing on the internet.…
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Sticking out like a sore thumb
How does it feel to be a sore thumb? Notice I said to be a sore thumb? We’ve all had a sore thumb before but I’m talking about being one. If you care for the hurting, the hungry and the homeless, you will stick out. If you care for the immigrant, you will stick out.…
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‘Pulling out of the station’
I’m not sure who first said it, but it’s become pretty much of a commonly held belief now that 80 is the new 60. I’ll believe anything that makes me younger. That still seems a little old, but the truth of the matter is that age is in your head. There are 20-year-olds who are…
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Happy Birthday, Peter Herschend
by John & Marti Fischer We are taking this opportunity to acknowledge a man who has single-handedly influenced the Catch more than any other. As our first Chairman of the Board, and working closely with Marti, Peter has left his mark everywhere — on our vision, our mission/purpose, and on what it means to be…
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Reaching our world
When Marti Wolcott was a brand new Christian and a stewardess (pre-“flight attendant” days), she heard that you could let the Bible fall open and blindly point your finger at a verse and God would lead you to His personal message for your life. Fully believing this, she tried it, and landed on Matthew 28:18-20,…