Big White House

09/05/2026

Eyes. Where are they focused?

Ironically, for many of us today in the Iowa City area, they’ll be focused on the Hawkeyes.

And there is nothing wrong with enjoying sports or many other innumerable hobbies and interests.

But when they become the CENTER of our attention and passion and focus…then we have committed idolatry.

Other things can become idolatrous in our lives, as well: people, possessions, positions.

Tomorrow we’ll be reminded anew to fix our eyes upon Jesus and worship our living Lord…and to love in the way He has called us to.

Come, let’s do this together!

American Kestrel showing “false eyes”
Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area
5/6/2026

08/09/2026

"His salvation is near to those who fear him." is a line from Psalm 85 and a reminder that salvation, deliverance, rescue…however we translate it…is given to those who fear (or revere) the Lord.

When we recognize that it is in Christ alone that we have hope in this life (and in the age to come), we have now found our salvation. Christ extends his hand of rescue to us as we reach to him from whatever waters we might be drowning in and he draws us up to himself…that we might rightly walk with him on both smooth and stormy seas and be messengers of his salvation to others in need of him…the world's One True Hope.

From Elijah to Peter to Paul, we’ll explore this theme together this morning at 10 am.

Come and see what the Lord has done for us and respond to his question, “What are you doing here?”

Genesis Church details at BigWhiteHouse.org.

Jesus Saving Peter from the Stormy Sea

07/24/2026

"The teaching of your word gives light,
so even the simple can understand." - Psalm 119:130 (NLT)

That verse jumps out.

Sometimes we read the Scriptures and scratch our heads and wonder why after all these years of study, we still don’t understand. Why we're still so lost...like a simple child.

Yet, when we consider all that we do understand, there is enough there to give us hope or to challenge us to change or to excite us to share with someone who needs “a word”.

The texts on Sunday point to our childlike nature…our need for our God to remember us and to guide us and to nurture us…to love us!

And He does! Oh, how much He does!

Come and hear the Word this Sunday and let’s see where the Lord leads us…together!

Details at BigWhiteHouse.org

07/22/2026

For those who wonder what we do with leftovers...here you go! Big shout out to all of our people who volunteered their holiday to serve our city...from set-up to tear-down...to delivering the leftovers, like Dan and Drake Broffitt here...serving with a smile! Love it!

‘Tis the season for church community meals, and Free Lunch is so grateful to be a beneficiary making great use of the leftovers! Big thanks to Genesis Church for the generous donation of pulled pork, buns, and fixings! We are so glad to be in community with you! Big White House genesisbwh

07/17/2026

The lectionary texts this Sunday will remind us of the new life we have in the LORD, the One True God, and that though there is evil and suffering in the world still, one day, at the return of Christ, all will be made new and all of creation rescued from suffering and death...New Creation! (And that’s why we can celebrate Christmas in July…Christ has come and He will come again!)

O come, let us adore Him!

Details at BigWhiteHouse.org.

"The Veteran in a New Field"
Winslow Homer (1865)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York City

07/05/2026

"The LORD lifts those...bent beneath their loads"
(Psalm 145:14 NLT)

Many of us are bending, figuratively, with the weight of the loads we carry.

The texts tomorrow remind us that Christ is asking us to walk with him in life and allow him to shoulder the burdens we carry.

That is Good News!

Let’s come together, "all of you who are weary", and let’s find our rest in the Lord together.

Details here: BigWhiteHouse.org

Panoramic photo from today's BBQ at the BWH
July 4, 2026

07/05/2026

Just a taste of another fun BBQ at the Big White House! (This was just before noon and the big rush!)
Thank you to all of our guests and a big shoutout to our selfless Genesis Church team! Always amazed at your generosity!

06/13/2026

Good morning! Come join us tomorrow as we worship the Lord together and explore the topic of "Hearing and Believing the Voice of God". All are welcome!

More details at BigWhiteHouse.org

"Three Men visit Abraham"
Andrei Rublev (c.1400)
State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

06/06/2026

“I Will Rescue You and You Will Give Me Glory”

In Psalm 50 we hear the LORD’s promise that he will rescue those who turn to and trust in him. And when that happens, he is glorified and we flesh out our purpose and calling…and live!

In this season after Pentecost, as we remember that we have died to sin and been raised to new life in our baptism and received the live-giving and love-inspiring Holy Spirit, we now live lives of purpose!

In the texts tomorrow we will see what that LORD desires in us and how the LORD extends his mercy widely and broadly to those we might least expect…and chastises those who we may also least expect.

Come and see and be encouraged to keep following Jesus no matter what…together!

Details here: BigWhiteHouse.org

Healing of the Woman with the Issue of Blood
James Tissot (c1890)
Brooklyn Museum, New York

04/25/2026

Good morning!

Tomorrow we will gather to worship the Good Shepherd…the Lord who is my Shepherd and yours…OUR Shepherd!

The texts remind us of His care for each of us and all of us…and with that care we can be liberated from fear and anxiety knowing that He is with us and, no matter what we face, He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Come and see!

More details at BigWhiteHouse.org

The Adoration of the Shepherds
Rembrandt (1646)
Alte Pinakothek, Munich, Germany