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East Kane Methodist Church, 6703 Rt 321. PO Box 492, Kane, PA (2026)

06/18/2026

Scriptural Reality Check

Following Jesus From the Edges

Pastor Calvin J. Cook

June 18, 2026

Scripture: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." — James 1:22

Yesterday was a full day with a variety of meetings, conversations, and focus on different situations and aspects of ministry, life, and just trying to figure everything out.

But here is what paused me. It was an article I read where the author of the article, a disheveled and disappointed Pastor has found himself serving in a ministry that has caused him to question if the church is being the church or just another social organization. The closing line of the article read – “I think it is time for a reality check.” This was one of the last things I read last night before going to sleep, so it has been on my mind through the night.

Asking the question this morning, “do we even do reality checks anymore, and what is a reality check?” So here goes my thoughts this morning, because I really think we need a reality check.

A reality check is that uncomfortable moment when we stop and honestly evaluate where we are, what we are doing, and whether our lives line up with what we say we believe. We often measure ourselves against other people, our accomplishments, our intentions, or even who show up. In church life I believe we gauge our reality and success by church attendance. How many use to be there and how many are actually there. We gauge it on Sunday morning or in our worship service attendance, instead of being the church we read about in Acts. Yet I have come to believe that God's Word has become, actually always has been the mirror that reveals reality.

James tells us that hearing God's Word without obeying it is like looking in a mirror and then immediately forgetting what we saw. The problem is not that we lack information. Most believers today have access to more biblical teaching than any generation in history. The question is whether what we know is transforming how we live.

A Scriptural Reality Check asks some difficult questions:

Am I seeking God's Kingdom first, or am I seeking my own comfort?

Am I loving others the way Christ loves me?

Is prayer my first response or my last resort?

Am I devoted to God's Word, fellowship, worship, and prayer as the early church was in Acts 2:42?

This last question came from a conversation Gail and I had as we were walking home from dinner last night.

Am I becoming more like Jesus, or simply becoming more religious?

The reality is that God never intended Christianity to be merely a set of beliefs we agree with. He intended it to be a life surrendered to Christ. John 8:32 states: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (ESV). The important word here is “know”. For some extra knowledge look up the definition and explanation for the Greek version of the word “know”. But here is what is so much more important to me. Jesus saying and still saying “Follow Me”.

One of the greatest dangers in the church is becoming comfortable with spiritual drift, even separation. We can attend worship, serve on committees, give offerings, and still slowly move away from the heart of God. That is why Scripture continually calls us to examine ourselves. This also become the working of the Holy Spirit.

The good news is that God's reality checks are not meant to condemn us. They are invitations to return. Every time God's Word exposes an area of weakness, it also points us toward grace. The Lord does not reveal truth to shame us; He reveals truth to transform us.

Today, take a few moments and allow God's Word to speak honestly into your life. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal where your life aligns with Christ and where adjustments need to be made.

A Scriptural Reality Check may be uncomfortable, but it is also one of God's greatest gifts. It keeps us from living in deception and draws us back to the abundant life found in Jesus Christ.

Prayer : Lord, search my heart and reveal what is true. Help me to see myself through the lens of Your Word and not through the opinions of others. Where I have drifted, draw me back. Where I have become complacent, awaken me. Give me the courage to obey what You show me and the grace to follow You faithfully. In Jesus' name, Amen.

If God's Word were the only measure of your life today, what would it reveal that needs to change?

Oh, and by the way – The Pastor, I told you about earlier in this devotional who asked the church if it was time for a reality check. The church’s response: They asked him to leave !

06/17/2026

The Place We Are Called to Be

Pastor Calvin Cook
June 17, 2026

Scripture: "The Lord had said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.'" — Genesis 12:1

Earlier this week I reflected on Genesis 12 and God's call to Abram. As I return to this passage, I find myself asking an important question: Are we in the place God is calling us to be? Not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally as well.

I grew up outside Dawson, Pennsylvania, in a simple rural community. Life revolved around family, hard work, church, neighbors, and helping others. I loved where I lived and never imagined leaving. I had no dreams of traveling far away or pursuing some grand adventure.

Yet God had other plans.

Looking back, I can see that God was shaping my life long before I recognized it. Through business ventures, marriage, church involvement, and countless unexpected opportunities, He was preparing me for places I never intended to go. Gail and I were deeply influenced by faithful believers who discipled and mentored us during our early years of marriage. Their investment in our lives helped set us on a path of ministry.

Over the years, God called us into service in churches across Pennsylvania. What began with filling pulpits and serving as a Certified Lay Minister eventually led to pastoral ministry and ordination. Today, I can look back on the many communities we have served and clearly see God's hand guiding each step, even when the path seemed uncertain.

Genesis 12 reminds us that God's call often requires trust before we can see the destination. Abram left what was familiar and followed God's leading. In many ways, every believer faces that same challenge.

As I reflect on this journey, three truths stand out:

First, never forget who you are and how God brought you to where you are today. Every season teaches us something about God's faithfulness.

Second, never believe that God has abandoned you. Life may take unexpected turns, but He remains present through every step.

Third, if you want to receive what God desires to give you, you must be willing to receive it without demanding your own preferences. God's plans are often better than the ones we create for ourselves.

The story of Abraham, spanning Genesis 12–25, reveals a powerful truth: through famine, uncertainty, danger, and disappointment, Abraham remained faithful to God—and God remained faithful to Abraham.

May we do the same, trusting God to lead us into the place He is calling us to be.

06/16/2026

The Same Jesus

Following Jesus From the Edges

Pastor Calvin Cook

June 16, 2026

"By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong." — Acts 3:16

Imagine the scene.

Just moments before, a man who had been lame from birth was sitting at the temple gate begging for help. For years, people had walked past him. They knew his face. They knew his condition. They knew his story.

Then Peter and John arrived.

"Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." (Acts 3:6)

Immediately the man stood, walked, jumped, and praised God. The crowd gathered in amazement. Skeptics showed up. Critics showed up. Doubters showed up. Those who wanted to dismiss what had happened showed up.

And Peter stood before them and boldly declared:

"You handed Him over to be killed... You killed the author of life, but God raised Him from the dead." (Acts 3:13-15)

In other words, Peter said, "This is the same Jesus you crucified."

The same Jesus. Not a different message. Not a different Savior. Not a different Gospel.

The same Jesus who died on the cross now stood victorious through the power of His resurrection. And that same Jesus stands before us today. He is still the One who heals broken hearts. He is still the One who transforms lives trapped by sin. He is still the One who redeems what seems lost. He is still the One who forgives, restores, and saves.

The world around us may have changed, but Jesus has not. The same Jesus who called fishermen beside the Sea of Galilee still calls ordinary people today. The same Jesus who forgave Peter after his failure still offers grace to those who have fallen. The same Jesus who welcomed children, touched lepers, and restored outcasts still reaches those whom society overlooks. The same Jesus who conquered death still offers eternal life.

Many people today are searching for answers in politics, money, possessions, success, entertainment, and personal achievement. Yet none of those things can heal the deepest needs of the human heart. Jesus reminded us: "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)

When we seek His kingdom first, we discover what truly matters. When we seek His kingdom first, we find peace in the middle of uncertainty. When we seek His kingdom first, we discover purpose greater than ourselves. When we seek His kingdom first, we experience the transforming power of the same Jesus Peter proclaimed in Acts 3.

The question for us is simple: What are we seeking today? Are we seeking temporary solutions or the eternal Savior? Are we looking for what Jesus can give us, or are we seeking Jesus Himself?

Peter stood before the crowd and pointed them beyond a miracle to the Miracle Worker. May we do the same. The lame man was healed, but the greater miracle was that people were invited to meet Jesus.

The same Jesus.

The One who heals.

The One who transforms.

The One who redeems.

The One who saves.

And He is still calling people to Himself today.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Help us to seek first Your kingdom above all else. Heal what is broken within us, transform our hearts, redeem our lives, and draw us closer to You. May we boldly proclaim the same Jesus that Peter proclaimed so long ago. Amen.

06/15/2026

DON’T MISS GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU

Pastor Calvin Cook

June 15, 2026

“The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3

This morning I was drawn to Genesis 12 in my personal devotional time. As I read through the story of Abram’s call and direction from God, I admit, I was questioning why this message this morning? Why was I drawn to reading this very famous and often referred to scripture. Was it because of the coming 250th anniversary of this country? Was it because of new ideas and ministries I am personally being called into? Was it because I see people almost daily who are receiving calling and direction from God and missing it because they are allowing distraction and circumstances to keep them from what God is desiring to do? It is because we as the church often get confused with sharing the message of the Gospel with others replacing it with the comfortability of religion?

After considering these thoughts and praying about them, desiring to hear the Holy Spirit speak, I read the commentary in the study Bible I was reading from. Somewhere along the way, I would imagine it was Gail, highlighted the last sentence of the explanation of verse 2 from Genesis 12. This is how the sentence reads:

“Don’t let the comfort and security of your present position make you miss God’s plan for you.”

Wow! I don’t know when or who wrote that sentence, I don’t know when it was highlighted. But this morning it jumped from the page like the largest billboard with flashing neon lights that had ever been created. It was like for the first time I had ever read or heard those words, and it paused me! It was a Holy Spirit filled moment that this was exactly why I was drawn to this chapter in Genesis, this exact Bible, at this exact moment in the reasoning of the why’s that I mentioned earlier.

Here is what I feel the Holy Spirit is saying to me and asking me to share with you.

Don’t miss God. Don’t miss God’s omni presence. Don’t miss listening to God through all your excuses and busyness. Don’t miss the opportunity to live in to what God is not only doing in you and wanting to do through you. Don’t become distracted by those things that are distracting you today. Don’t miss stepping into the good and perfect will of God for all the blessings that God has in store for you. Don’t try to water down or make the message of the Jesus life, death, and resurrection just another feel good story.

And most of all! Be true, authentic and genuine in sharing in all that God wants to do in your life. Look for the highlighted truths that have been there all the time and maybe you just never took the opportunity to notice or tried to reason them away as coincidence.

Know and believe what the Apostle Paul said to the church of Ephesus in Ephesians 3:19-20 : “ to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,”

May the grace, peace, and hope of Jesus guided by the Holy Spirit fill you and be with you this day.

06/13/2026

Effective July 1, the Allegheny West Conference welcomes four new Presiding Elders: Doug Beggs, Calvin Cook, Kevin Haley, and Mark […]

06/13/2026

Congratulations to Pastor James Lazarre on his appointment as supply pastor to the ARCC!

06/12/2026

A Light for the Next Step

Pastor Calvin Cook

June 12, 2026

Scripture Focus: Psalm 119:105

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

There are a couple of thoughts circleing in my heart this morning. One is I and asking others to join me is reviewing and thinking through the 22 questions that John Wesley asked the Holy Club in the early 1700’s to draw them into a closer relationship with God. More on this later – but one of the questions that was asked is “How is the Holy Spirit speaking to you through scripture.”

The second is this this week we started a new Bible Study and time of devotion for children in grades 3-5 to encourage them and help them and us understand the Bible and the plan God has for all of our lives.

This week’s study focused on the Bible and our memory verse was Psalm 119:105

I think we live in a state of being where we want to know what is next. Where we should be seeking God’s will and submitting to God to show us the entire road ahead.

We want to know what will happen next month, next year, or even ten years from now. We want answers about our families, our finances, our churches, our health, and our future. We pray for clarity, but often it feels like God gives us only enough light to see the next step.

Psalm 119:105 reminds us that God's Word is "a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Notice what the psalmist does not say.

He does not say God's Word is a stadium floodlight that illuminates the entire journey. He does not say it reveals every turn, every obstacle, or every destination. Instead, it is a lamp for our feet—a small light that shows us where to place our next step.

In many ways, that feels especially relevant today.

We live in a world filled with uncertainty. News headlines change by the hour. Technology advances faster than we can keep up. Communities are changing. Churches are facing new challenges. Families are carrying burdens that previous generations never imagined.

It is easy to become overwhelmed by trying to figure out everything at once.

Yet God continues to invite us into a different way of living.

Rather than worrying about every step of the journey, He asks us to trust Him with the next one.

The light of Scripture guides us toward faithfulness today. It teaches us how to love, forgive, serve, pray, give, and follow Jesus right now. When we focus on walking in the light God has already provided, we often discover that He reveals the next step exactly when we need it.

Many of us are standing at crossroads today. We may not know what tomorrow holds. We may be waiting for answers that seem slow in coming.

But perhaps the question is not, "Lord, show me the whole road."

Perhaps the better question is, "Lord, what is the next step You want me to take?"

God's Word still shines. His truth still guides. His promises still hold.

And if we are willing to trust Him, the lamp will be enough for today.

Prayer: Lord, I often want to see the whole path before I begin walking. Teach me to trust the light You have already given. Help me to stay rooted in Your Word and obedient to Your leading. Give me faith for the next step, knowing that You are already waiting ahead on the path. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Today's Reflection:

What is one next step of obedience that God's Word is asking you to take today? Don't worry about the entire journey. Simply walk in the light you have been given.

06/11/2026

Happy Summer! Here is what we have going on in June. Hope to see you soon!

06/10/2026

Following Jesus From the Edges

Resting in God's Mercy

Pastor Calvin Cook

June 10, 2026

"Answer me when I call to You, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer." — Psalm 4:1

I have been thinking a great deal lately about the people we read about throughout Scripture. Time after time, we encounter men and women who wandered through life searching for something more. Some pursued power. Others sought wealth, security, recognition, or pleasure. Many became distracted by the things of the world, drawn away by evil influences, or convinced that their own plans were more important than God's purposes.

The truth is that not much has changed.

We still live in a world filled with distractions. We are constantly tempted to believe that peace can be found in success, possessions, comfort, popularity, or control. Yet despite all our efforts, many of us still find ourselves restless, anxious, and searching.

As I have reflected on these things, my thoughts have continually returned to the ideas of surrender, peace, contentment, and what it truly means to rest within the will of God.

Recently, I have been drawn to Psalm 4. In just eight short verses, David offers several prayers that provide hope, comfort, and direction for life. Verse 1 in particular captured my attention:

"Answer me when I call to You, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer." Psalm 4:1

As I sat with those words, I found myself asking an important question: What am I really calling on God to do in my life?

Am I simply asking God to make me feel better? Am I seeking personal relief so I can enjoy the life I think I deserve? Am I asking Him to bless my plans, fulfill my desires, and provide comfort according to my definition of success? Or am I truly seeking the mercy of God and the fullness of His righteousness?

There is a difference. One prayer asks God to serve our purposes. The other asks God to transform our hearts.

King David the writer of Psalms 4 does not appeal to his own goodness. He calls upon God's righteousness and God's mercy. He recognizes that true peace is not found in getting everything we want. True peace comes from recognizing that the presence of God brings righteousness and mercy, or at least it should. And what God brings should be received and life changing.

Perhaps that is why David concludes this psalm with one of the most comforting promises in Scripture: "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8)

The peace David experienced was not based on perfect circumstances. It was based on complete trust.

Maybe today our greatest need is not for God to give us everything we are asking for. Maybe our greatest need is for God to help us surrender completely to Him. When we stop chasing what the world promises and begin resting in His mercy, we discover the peace we have been searching for all along.

May we learn to call upon God not merely for relief, but for righteousness. Not merely for comfort, but for His presence. Not merely for our will to be accomplished, but for His.

06/09/2026

Following Jesus From the Edges

More Than Silver and Gold

Pastor Calvin Cook

June 9, 2026

Scripture Focus: Acts 3:1-10

“Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’” — Acts 3:6

Preface – I share these thoughts this morning out of spirit of care for others and pray that I hopefully we do not lose site of what true care, help and aid for others really is all about. I do not share these words ungratefully because I am thankful for everyone in my life who has offered physical care to me, some I am sure I don’t remember. But I do remember always and give thanks for those who pointed me towards Jesus and walking in the way.

One of the most familiar stories in Acts is the healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate. Every day he was carried to the temple to beg. Every day people passed by. Every day he hoped someone would meet his immediate need.

When Peter and John approached, the man expected money. He expected a gift that would help him make it through another day. Instead, Peter offered something far greater.

“Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you.”

The man needed physical help. There is no question about that. His condition was real. His struggle was real. His poverty was real. Yet Peter recognized that while physical needs matter, the deepest need of every person is found in Jesus Christ.

The miracle that followed was not simply about helping a man walk. It was about introducing him to the power and presence of Jesus. His legs were strengthened, but so was his faith. He entered the temple walking, leaping, and praising God. What began as physical healing became spiritual transformation.

This passage raises an important question for us today: When we care for others, are we only concerned about meeting physical needs, or are we also concerned about helping people encounter Jesus?

The early church cared deeply about practical needs. They shared possessions, fed widows, and helped the poor. But they never separated acts of compassion from the message of Christ. They understood that a full stomach without Jesus still leaves an empty soul.

As followers of Christ, we are called to care for both. We feed the hungry, help the hurting, visit the lonely, and support those in need. Yet we also point people to the One who can heal hearts, forgive sins, restore hope, and offer eternal life.

Sometimes people come seeking silver and gold. What they truly need is Jesus.

May we be people who care enough to meet practical needs while never forgetting to offer the greatest gift we possess—the life-changing power of Jesus Christ.

I know what you might be saying as you read this…. But at least be willing to offer and share Jesus first !

Prayer: Lord, help me care for people as You do. Open my eyes to physical needs around me but also give me courage to share the hope found in Jesus. May my acts of compassion always point others to You. Amen.

East Kane Methodist Church

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