Ever hear of a “Praise Sandwich”? It’s a technique of offering criticism that’s intended to ‘soften the blow’ a bit. It’s a way to say things without being too blunt. It’s done by beginning and ending with something positive, sandwiching your critique between the two. This episode of Redeemer’s Refuge looks at God’s “praise sandwich” for Israel and likewise a message for us today.
Read MoreThis Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Advent. In this episode of Redeemer’s Refuge — Arise and Shine: Eternal Light, Pastor Frank delivers a message based on Daniel 12:1-3.
Read MoreThis Sunday is the Third Sunday of Advent. In this episode of Redeemer’s Refuge — Arise and Shine: Healing Light, Pastor Frank delivers a message based on Malachi 4:1-6.
Read MoreThis Sunday is the Second Sunday of Advent. In this episode of Redeemer’s Refuge, Reflected Light, pastor Frank touches on Zechariah 9:14-17.
On that day the Lord their God will save them, as the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land.
During Advent we remember the birth of Jesus, the Light of the world. We reflect his light in our daily lives.
Read MoreIn this episode of Redeemer’s Refuge, Pastor Frank talks about Isaiah 60:1 and the first week of Advent. Living in the light of Jesus, we prepare to celebrate his birth.Repenting of our sins, we put away the works of darkness and dress in the armor of light.
Read MoreIn this episode of Redeemer’s Refuge, Pastor Frank discusses this week’s Gospel lesson. When Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” What if Jesus was right? Maybe it’s we who don’t’ know what we’re doing.
Read MoreDo you have such an eager heart for Jesus to come again? For the Last Day? Are you ready for that day? It’s hard, isn’t it? There’s so much to do and so little time. Our lives are complicated, and money is short There may even be times when you doubt God’s love because of what’s going on in your life and how things in this world perhaps seem so unjust. Tune in to this episode of Redeemer’s Refuge to hear what Malachi had to say about this and how his prophesy ties to Elijah and then Jesus and how that impacts us today.
Read MoreIn this episode of Redeemer’s Refuge, from the Old Testament reading from Exodus, we hear God call Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. “Who Am I?” is the key question and leads to some of the most profound discoveries in the Old Testament — also, some of the most profound realizations about ourselves.
Read MoreIn this episode of Redeemer’s Refuge, you're invited to hear what might be a different perspective on what it means to be a "saint" and what Jesus was really saying in His "Sermon on the Mount," specifically the Beatitudes. Join us as Pastor Ruffatto opens up the scripture and looks at the actual grammatical meaning and context of "Blessed are..."
Read MoreIn this episode of Redeemer’s Refuge, we listen to what Jesus speaks to some Jews who had believed in Him. He tells them (and us) what it means to be one of His disciples. “If you abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples …” In other words, stay in it, stay with it, rest by it. Yet, Jesus is not merely saying, “Rest in what I say.” He is saying rest in Me and what I am doing for you. And we can rest in Him because Jesus is the Word we hear about in the beginning of John’s Gospel, the Word with God and the Word that was God, the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us. The Word that these Jews had been hearing for years in the Law and the Writings and the Prophets – our Old Testament – is literally standing before them!
Read MoreIn this episode of Redeemer’s Refuge we hear the Old Testament of story from Genesis of Jacob wrestling with a man all night, prevailing, be touched on the hip, and then given the name Israel by this man. What is this all about? Who is this mysterious wrestler? And what does it mean for us? The answers might not be what you are expecting. The answers are likely better than what you were expecting.
Read MoreIn this episode of Redeemer’s Refuge, Pastor Ruffatto discusses Paul’s second letter to Timothy, his assistant who suffers from a bit of timidity. Paul has finished the instruction of details he outlined in his first letter and is encouraging Timothy – and you and me – to fan this live flame-- the torch we carry for Jesus -- because others needed – others now need – to be connected to our heavenly Father through the Gospel of His son Jesus.
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