Seeing, but not noticing.

Eventually, we will be changing the "cover photo" of this website for a couple of reasons. First, some things pictured there don't exist anymore (the old lettering was painted over two years ago, and the tree died last year--only one noticed that it had--and was cut down--generally unnoticed that it was, and leading to people asking "Did we have a tree there?" Second, the picture unintentionally makes one think that the building is the church. Scripture reminds us that we "come together as the church" or "gather with the church" but never "go to church."

Mark 4:12 mentions those who couldn't and wouldn't understand Jesus' parables, that "they may be ever seeing but never perceiving." They understood the physical meaning of them, but they didn't perceive the intent behind them. Later, others saw the mighty works and miracles of Jesus, and they heard his teachings and recognized that "no one ever spoke the way this man does" (John 7:46)--and they rejected him.

May the Lord ever give us the eyes to see, ears to hear, mind to understand, and a heart to obey him.