Personal Blog
Latest News
Love the Lord Your God: A Sermon Transcript
The Great Commandment Mark 12:28–34Pastor Cisco Victa | Lebanon Valley Presbyterian Church, visit us at www.lebanonvalleypca.com Sermon One of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that He answered them well, asked Him, “Which...
“You Are Quite Wrong”: Knowing the Scriptures and the Power of God– Reflections on Mark 12:18–27
Mark 12 presents us with a powerful sequence of confrontations between Jesus and various religious leaders. Each group approaches Jesus not with sincerity, but with schemes—attempts to trap Him in His words, to discredit His authority, to erode the trust of the...
Render What Is Due: Notes from Sunday’s Sermon on Mark 12:13–17
We’ve been walking through the Gospel of Mark for some time now, and recently we arrived at a well-known but often misunderstood moment—Jesus’ encounter with the Pharisees and Herodians in Mark 12:13–17. It’s a short exchange, but one packed with meaning about taxes,...
The Gospel of Mark: “It Is Marvelous in Our Eyes” (Mark 12:1–12) Thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon (May 11, 2025)
In Mark 12, Jesus tells a story that hits far too close to home—both for the religious leaders of His day and for us. The parable of the tenants is more than a simple allegory; it is a mirror held up to the soul. It reminds us not only of Israel’s history but of our...
Christ’s Reign Is No Small Thing (Part 1): Reflections on Messiah the Prince Revisited, Pages 1–67 Book Review
“The kingdom of Christ is not a niche of private piety—it is the dominion of the risen Mediator over all things, for the sake of His church.” We say things like “God is sovereign,” “God is in control,” or “Christ is King.” But what do we really mean when we say them?...
Baptism: A Sign of God’s Promise, Not Ours
This past Sunday at our church, we witnessed something beautiful. A little child was baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t walk an aisle. He didn’t profess his faith in...
“Behold, Children Are a Heritage”: Reflections from a Hospital Room
The Lord has a way of speaking clearly in life’s most ordinary places. And sometimes, in the most extraordinary ones, too—like a hospital room as your wife labors to bring your ninth child into the world. There I sat—Bible open, phone silent—carrying a mixture of...
Tribute to Carolyn Hashem
The villagers ceased in Israel;they ceased to be until I arose;I, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel. (Judges 5:7) I never had the chance to be with either of my grandmothers as they passed. The pandemic kept me from Grandmom Victa, and family struggles separated me...