http://www.crossroadschurch.net en 1 Crossroads Community Church Crossroads Community Church Crossroads Community Church is a Calvary Chapel fellowship located in Vancouver, WA. We are committed to delivering the good news of new life in Jesus Christ to our community through the local church and to the world. Crossroads Community Church podcast@crossroadschurch.net To be able to speak an encouraging word to somebody who really needs to hear one is a wonderful thing. That's exactly what God has for us when we use the power tool called "prophecy." Last week, we began our study of this most amazing tool. This week, we'll pick up where we left off. Join us this Sunday morning as God continues to grow us in His life. Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 To be able to speak an encouraging word to somebody who really needs to hear one is a wonderful thing. That's exactly what God has for us when we use the power tool called "prophecy." Last week, we began our study of this most amazing tool. This week, we'll pick up where we left off. Join us this Sunday morning as God continues to grow us in His life. Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 To be able to speak an encouraging word to somebody who really needs to hear one is a wonderful thing. That's exactly what God has for us when we use the power tool called "prophecy." Last week, we began our study of this most amazing tool. This week, we'll pick up where we left off. Join us this Sunday morning as God continues to grow us in His life. Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Ever had somebody give you a "word from God"? Was it helpful? Did it make your day? Or was it something you wish you had never heard? Throughout the Bible, we meet numerous prophets. Some of the things they say are downright scary. Is that the point of prophecy? Could it be that God intends something much more positive and powerful through prophecy today? Join us this Sunday and find out! Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Ever had somebody give you a "word from God"? Was it helpful? Did it make your day? Or was it something you wish you had never heard? Throughout the Bible, we meet numerous prophets. Some of the things they say are downright scary. Is that the point of prophecy? Could it be that God intends something much more positive and powerful through prophecy today? Join us this Sunday and find out! Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Ever had somebody give you a "word from God"? Was it helpful? Did it make your day? Or was it something you wish you had never heard? Throughout the Bible, we meet numerous prophets. Some of the things they say are downright scary. Is that the point of prophecy? Could it be that God intends something much more positive and powerful through prophecy today? Join us this Sunday and find out! Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Miracles are, well, miraculous. They're amazing. No doubt that's why we love to hear about them, and even more, to be a part of them. So how do we do that?This Sunday, Pastor Bill is going to spell out the "how" of participating in God's miracles in a very street-level manner designed to equip and release all of us to move in to miracle territory. Join us as we move further in this exciting journey God has for us. Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Miracles are, well, miraculous. They're amazing. No doubt that's why we love to hear about them, and even more, to be a part of them. So how do we do that?This Sunday, Pastor Bill is going to spell out the "how" of participating in God's miracles in a very street-level manner designed to equip and release all of us to move in to miracle territory. Join us as we move further in this exciting journey God has for us. Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Miracles are, well, miraculous. They're amazing. No doubt that's why we love to hear about them, and even more, to be a part of them. So how do we do that?This Sunday, Pastor Bill is going to spell out the "how" of participating in God's miracles in a very street-level manner designed to equip and release all of us to move in to miracle territory. Join us as we move further in this exciting journey God has for us. Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Miracles are wonderful things, especially when they happen to you. Have you ever considered that it could even be more exciting if they happen through you? Believe it or not, God wants to do miraculous things through all His people. But if that is to happen, several things need to be in place. This Sunday, we'll be talking about those. Come prepared to be ignited in your life in Jesus! Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Miracles are wonderful things, especially when they happen to you. Have you ever considered that it could even be more exciting if they happen through you? Believe it or not, God wants to do miraculous things through all His people. But if that is to happen, several things need to be in place. This Sunday, we'll be talking about those. Come prepared to be ignited in your life in Jesus! Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Miracles are wonderful things, especially when they happen to you. Have you ever considered that it could even be more exciting if they happen through you? Believe it or not, God wants to do miraculous things through all His people. But if that is to happen, several things need to be in place. This Sunday, we'll be talking about those. Come prepared to be ignited in your life in Jesus! Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 This Sunday we have the privilege of hearing from Al Egg, chaplain for the Portland Trail Blazers, Portland State Vikings, and Portland Winterhawks. Al's unique ministry is the perfect place for his love of the Lord and passion for inspiring others to come together and make a lasting difference. The stories he has to share about people whose lives he impacts daily are sure to encourage, challenge and strengthen us in every facet of our life in the Lord. You won't want to miss out on this wonderful time of being reminded of all God has for you! Join us this Sunday for a special time of storytelling with Al Egg. Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600 This Sunday we have the privilege of hearing from Al Egg, chaplain for the Portland Trail Blazers, Portland State Vikings, and Portland Winterhawks. Al's unique ministry is the perfect place for his love of the Lord and passion for inspiring others to come together and make a lasting difference. The stories he has to share about people whose lives he impacts daily are sure to encourage, challenge and strengthen us in every facet of our life in the Lord. You won't want to miss out on this wonderful time of being reminded of all God has for you! Join us this Sunday for a special time of storytelling with Al Egg. Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Although we may not have recognized it at the time, all of us have experienced miracles. Perhaps it was something as "simple" as receiving our tax return on the same day we needed to buy new tires. It could have been more profound like being told we had cancer, only to find out after three months it had disappeared. Or maybe it was suddenly finding out we were expecting a baby after fifteen years of being told it would never happen. Whatever the specific, the reality is the same; they're all miracles. While it's a wonderful thing to be the recipient of miracles, have you ever considered the idea that God wants you to be the one to deliver them? Is it possible He has something incredible He wants to do for someone through you? Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Although we may not have recognized it at the time, all of us have experienced miracles. Perhaps it was something as "simple" as receiving our tax return on the same day we needed to buy new tires. It could have been more profound like being told we had cancer, only to find out after three months it had disappeared. Or maybe it was suddenly finding out we were expecting a baby after fifteen years of being told it would never happen. Whatever the specific, the reality is the same; they're all miracles. While it's a wonderful thing to be the recipient of miracles, have you ever considered the idea that God wants you to be the one to deliver them? Is it possible He has something incredible He wants to do for someone through you? Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600 If there is anything you desire when you're sick, it's to get well. The H1N1 virus is bad enough, but what about when you're facing cancer? Or how about learning you are diabetic, or having to work each day with crippling headaches or back pain? In all those situations and every one related to them, everybody desires healing.Is that something we can expect from God? What does God want us to understand about healing? Is there a difference between being healed through medicine, or being healed by God? Is it "either-or?" As we continue in our exciting series "Power Tools," we find ourselves considering the subject of healing. Come this Sunday prepared to grow in your understanding of this most important subject. Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600 If there is anything you desire when you're sick, it's to get well. The H1N1 virus is bad enough, but what about when you're facing cancer? Or how about learning you are diabetic, or having to work each day with crippling headaches or back pain? In all those situations and every one related to them, everybody desires healing.Is that something we can expect from God? What does God want us to understand about healing? Is there a difference between being healed through medicine, or being healed by God? Is it "either-or?" As we continue in our exciting series "Power Tools," we find ourselves considering the subject of healing. Come this Sunday prepared to grow in your understanding of this most important subject. Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600 We practice discernment all the time, don't we? Isn't that what we use with the weird emails, or when watching the "too good to be true" ads, or listening to the next get-rich-quick scheme? Is that what the Bible means when it talks about "the discernment of spirits," or is there a whole lot more to it than that? Is it possible God wants us to see things we don't normally see, sense things our "usual" senses wouldn't pick up?This Sunday we return to our exciting series "Power Tools." If you want to grow in the discernment God has for you Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600 We practice discernment all the time, don't we? Isn't that what we use with the weird emails, or when watching the "too good to be true" ads, or listening to the next get-rich-quick scheme? Is that what the Bible means when it talks about "the discernment of spirits," or is there a whole lot more to it than that? Is it possible God wants us to see things we don't normally see, sense things our "usual" senses wouldn't pick up?This Sunday we return to our exciting series "Power Tools." If you want to grow in the discernment God has for you Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600 A whole lot of people are thrilled this decade has come to an end. They are excited to move on, to forget what was, and look forward to what will be. Will it be better, or just different? When it comes to you, will you truly have a new year?God wants you to have a new year, a new decade, and a new life. He desires it so much that He has given you all you need to get there. Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600 A whole lot of people are thrilled this decade has come to an end. They are excited to move on, to forget what was, and look forward to what will be. Will it be better, or just different? When it comes to you, will you truly have a new year?God wants you to have a new year, a new decade, and a new life. He desires it so much that He has given you all you need to get there. Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Would you like to have a new year filled with peace? Would you like to know absolutely that you can experience peace regardless of what happens with the economy, your finances, your marriage, or your physical condition? This Sunday we'll be finishing our series "The Heart of Christmas." We'll be looking at the last facet of the diamond of Christmas, and that is "peace." If you're serious about wanting peace, you don't want to miss this! Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0600 Would you like to have a new year filled with peace? Would you like to know absolutely that you can experience peace regardless of what happens with the economy, your finances, your marriage, or your physical condition? This Sunday we'll be finishing our series "The Heart of Christmas." We'll be looking at the last facet of the diamond of Christmas, and that is "peace." If you're serious about wanting peace, you don't want to miss this! Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0600 It's almost here. In just a few days, we will all be celebrating Christmas. Orwill we? Will we be celebrating the heart of Christmas, or just participatingin another holiday event?For several weeks, we've looked at facets of the diamond we call "Christmas." So far we've seen that Christmas is about love and giving. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son." But that's not all. This Sunday we're going to move to the next facet of Christmas, relationship. As we consider this together, be prepared to take hold of some of the most powerful truths God has to share with you, truths he revealed that first Christmas. Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0600 It's almost here. In just a few days, we will all be celebrating Christmas. Orwill we? Will we be celebrating the heart of Christmas, or just participatingin another holiday event?For several weeks, we've looked at facets of the diamond we call "Christmas." So far we've seen that Christmas is about love and giving. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son." But that's not all. This Sunday we're going to move to the next facet of Christmas, relationship. As we consider this together, be prepared to take hold of some of the most powerful truths God has to share with you, truths he revealed that first Christmas. Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0600 Christmas and giving presents go hand in hand. In fact, it's hard to think of one without thinking of the other. Is that a bad thing? Is there something ungodly about giving Christmas presents? Would it be better if we forgot them altogether? When you get right down to it, nothing gets at the heart of Christmas more than the giving of presents. In fact, that's exactly how the first Christmas was celebrated. This Sunday, we'll expand our understanding of the heart of Christmas by taking a close look at the giving of presents from God's perspective. Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0600 Christmas and giving presents go hand in hand. In fact, it's hard to think of one without thinking of the other. Is that a bad thing? Is there something ungodly about giving Christmas presents? Would it be better if we forgot them altogether? When you get right down to it, nothing gets at the heart of Christmas more than the giving of presents. In fact, that's exactly how the first Christmas was celebrated. This Sunday, we'll expand our understanding of the heart of Christmas by taking a close look at the giving of presents from God's perspective. Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0600 As Christians, we think we have a good handle on what Christmas is all about. But do we really? If we were to take an alien through a shopping mall at Christmas and ask him to tell you what the holiday was about based on what he saw there, would he conclude Christmas was a holiday set apart to celebrate the birth of Jesus? Or would he decide it was about something else altogether, and head into Target to grab some Christmas deals?Clearly the event and the holiday have become two very different things...but they don't have to. Starting this coming Sunday, we're going to look at four different aspects of the heart of Christmas based on one of the most well-known Bible verses: John 3:16-17. Each one of these Sundays will focus on a different facet of the heart of Christmas. Each facet will challenge and inspire us. By the time we get to the fourth Sunday, both our heads and our hearts will be in the right place to enjoy the true meaning of Christmas! Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 As Christians, we think we have a good handle on what Christmas is all about. But do we really? If we were to take an alien through a shopping mall at Christmas and ask him to tell you what the holiday was about based on what he saw there, would he conclude Christmas was a holiday set apart to celebrate the birth of Jesus? Or would he decide it was about something else altogether, and head into Target to grab some Christmas deals?Clearly the event and the holiday have become two very different things...but they don't have to. Starting this coming Sunday, we're going to look at four different aspects of the heart of Christmas based on one of the most well-known Bible verses: John 3:16-17. Each one of these Sundays will focus on a different facet of the heart of Christmas. Each facet will challenge and inspire us. By the time we get to the fourth Sunday, both our heads and our hearts will be in the right place to enjoy the true meaning of Christmas! Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 This has been an uncertain year. From the swine-flu, to the economic crisis, our jobs, our houses - so much has been so uncertain. As the Thanksgiving holiday arrives, we express gratitude for who God is and for the peace He extends to us. Though the times may be difficult, we proclaim that God is our Rock, our Maker, our Shepherd, and our Rest. Amidst all of the challenges, we as a church body pause to be refreshed in the presence of our great King. Join us this Sunday as we celebrate the Lord and give Him thanks. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 This has been an uncertain year. From the swine-flu, to the economic crisis, our jobs, our houses - so much has been so uncertain. As the Thanksgiving holiday arrives, we express gratitude for who God is and for the peace He extends to us. Though the times may be difficult, we proclaim that God is our Rock, our Maker, our Shepherd, and our Rest. Amidst all of the challenges, we as a church body pause to be refreshed in the presence of our great King. Join us this Sunday as we celebrate the Lord and give Him thanks. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 Every carpenter or cook knows how important it is to have the right tool for the job. They may be able to improvise if they have to, but when they need a wrench, they need a wrench. A screwdriver just won't do. When they need a mixer, they need a mixer. A measuring cup won't do the job. One of the greatest things about living in the Spirit is that God has special power tools He makes available for our use exactly when we need them. On Sunday we're going to be talking about the tools of the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge. These are incredibly important tools for us to use. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 Every carpenter or cook knows how important it is to have the right tool for the job. They may be able to improvise if they have to, but when they need a wrench, they need a wrench. A screwdriver just won't do. When they need a mixer, they need a mixer. A measuring cup won't do the job. One of the greatest things about living in the Spirit is that God has special power tools He makes available for our use exactly when we need them. On Sunday we're going to be talking about the tools of the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge. These are incredibly important tools for us to use. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 While it may not seem like it, Jesus has given us everything we need to live His life. Among the other gifts He has lavished on us is a whole set of "power tools," tools which enable us to express His power in our everyday lives. The Apostle Paul gives us our "instruction manual" that shows us how to use these great gifts. Starting this Sunday, we're going to be spending time in God's workshop, learning all about the power tools He has given us, and how to use them. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 While it may not seem like it, Jesus has given us everything we need to live His life. Among the other gifts He has lavished on us is a whole set of "power tools," tools which enable us to express His power in our everyday lives. The Apostle Paul gives us our "instruction manual" that shows us how to use these great gifts. Starting this Sunday, we're going to be spending time in God's workshop, learning all about the power tools He has given us, and how to use them. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 Have you ever considered that worship might be one of the most important places where you encounter God? Is it possible worship is one of the means God uses to speak to us by means of his Holy Spirit? As we get to the end of Acts 2:42-47, a thumbnail sketch of life in the Spirit, we see the place and value of worship as we find more of the benefits of living a life in His Spirit. Join us Sunday as we finish this great chapter of God's Word! Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Have you ever considered that worship might be one of the most important places where you encounter God? Is it possible worship is one of the means God uses to speak to us by means of his Holy Spirit? As we get to the end of Acts 2:42-47, a thumbnail sketch of life in the Spirit, we see the place and value of worship as we find more of the benefits of living a life in His Spirit. Join us Sunday as we finish this great chapter of God's Word! Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Has it ever occurred to you that your life is telling on you? Have you ever stopped to consider that the way you live your life says more about what you believe than what you say? As a society we evaluate our nation's leaders by what they are able to accomplish verses what they say. "Don't pay attention to what he says. Instead, watch what he does." We all know exactly what that means, especially if there is a significant difference between rhetoric and reality. Did you know that one of the most basic aspects of a spirit-filled life is generosity? If someone were to describe you, would "generous" be one of the first things they'd say?This Sunday we are continuing in an incredible season studying life in the Spirit as God teaches us from Acts 1 and 2. This Sunday we will be considering two more qualities of life enjoyed by the Spirit-filled, Spirit-led believer! Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Has it ever occurred to you that your life is telling on you? Have you ever stopped to consider that the way you live your life says more about what you believe than what you say? As a society we evaluate our nation's leaders by what they are able to accomplish verses what they say. "Don't pay attention to what he says. Instead, watch what he does." We all know exactly what that means, especially if there is a significant difference between rhetoric and reality. Did you know that one of the most basic aspects of a spirit-filled life is generosity? If someone were to describe you, would "generous" be one of the first things they'd say?This Sunday we are continuing in an incredible season studying life in the Spirit as God teaches us from Acts 1 and 2. This Sunday we will be considering two more qualities of life enjoyed by the Spirit-filled, Spirit-led believer! Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500 One of the most misunderstood and least experienced realities of Christian living is "miracles." We read about them so often in the Bible, yet we seem to experience so few of them today. Are "miracles" meant to be a part of Spirit-filled living? When you live your life in the Spirit, should you expect them? Sunday by Sunday, God is taking us deeper and deeper into the experience of His life. Make sure not to miss this one! Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500 One of the most misunderstood and least experienced realities of Christian living is "miracles." We read about them so often in the Bible, yet we seem to experience so few of them today. Are "miracles" meant to be a part of Spirit-filled living? When you live your life in the Spirit, should you expect them? Sunday by Sunday, God is taking us deeper and deeper into the experience of His life. Make sure not to miss this one! Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500 What does "communion" mean for you? Is it simply form without substance, ritual without reality? Is it something you "do," but not something that means much? Have you ever considered that communion is one of the most powerful ways God speaks to you by means of His Holy Spirit?And how about prayer, is that something that's a significant means for you to talk and listen to God? Or is it merely the sharing of your daily wish list? Is God a cosmic Santa Claus who needs to be reminded of what you need? As we press on in our study of the practice of life in the Spirit, we will consider both of these amazing means God has given us to experience more of His life, and be directed by Him. Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500 What does "communion" mean for you? Is it simply form without substance, ritual without reality? Is it something you "do," but not something that means much? Have you ever considered that communion is one of the most powerful ways God speaks to you by means of His Holy Spirit?And how about prayer, is that something that's a significant means for you to talk and listen to God? Or is it merely the sharing of your daily wish list? Is God a cosmic Santa Claus who needs to be reminded of what you need? As we press on in our study of the practice of life in the Spirit, we will consider both of these amazing means God has given us to experience more of His life, and be directed by Him. Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500 So you've been baptized in the Holy Spirit. So what? Is it more than a temporary spiritual experience? What does it mean, and how does it work in everyday life? When you follow what happened in the lives of the earliest followers of Jesus, you see what it means to have every day radically changed by the Firepower of the Holy Spirit. Their stories are not ones to hold at arms length and neglect to integrate into our current lives. The truths and tools that we will unpack this Sunday will guide us practically as we learn what it means to have our daily lives filled with the Holy Spirit. Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500 So you've been baptized in the Holy Spirit. So what? Is it more than a temporary spiritual experience? What does it mean, and how does it work in everyday life? When you follow what happened in the lives of the earliest followers of Jesus, you see what it means to have every day radically changed by the Firepower of the Holy Spirit. Their stories are not ones to hold at arms length and neglect to integrate into our current lives. The truths and tools that we will unpack this Sunday will guide us practically as we learn what it means to have our daily lives filled with the Holy Spirit. Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Over sixty years ago, Frank and Marie began their mission to the headhunters of Ecuador. They endured the hardships of jungle living. They overcame the hostilities of primitive people. They raised a family to serve God. Frank and Marie's story is one of God-given vision and undaunted perseverance. It is an incredible story of how God used this mid-west American couple who simply responded to His call. As a result, an unreached people has been transformed for His glory. They are part of the incredible story of God building His church... and their work still continues today! Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Over sixty years ago, Frank and Marie began their mission to the headhunters of Ecuador. They endured the hardships of jungle living. They overcame the hostilities of primitive people. They raised a family to serve God. Frank and Marie's story is one of God-given vision and undaunted perseverance. It is an incredible story of how God used this mid-west American couple who simply responded to His call. As a result, an unreached people has been transformed for His glory. They are part of the incredible story of God building His church... and their work still continues today! Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Did you know that believers leave tracks, that their lives speak volumes about their faith, for better or for worse? Recently we have experienced the untimely death of a wonderful high school teacher in our community. He was a man who loved the Lord with all his heart. As a result, his life spoke loudly and clearly about his faith. He proclaimed God's love in the way he lived, both in word and deed.What kinds of tracks are you leaving? What is your life saying? This Sunday we're going to see the profile of the person who is filled with God's Spirit as we allow God to teach us through Acts 2:5-41. Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Did you know that believers leave tracks, that their lives speak volumes about their faith, for better or for worse? Recently we have experienced the untimely death of a wonderful high school teacher in our community. He was a man who loved the Lord with all his heart. As a result, his life spoke loudly and clearly about his faith. He proclaimed God's love in the way he lived, both in word and deed.What kinds of tracks are you leaving? What is your life saying? This Sunday we're going to see the profile of the person who is filled with God's Spirit as we allow God to teach us through Acts 2:5-41. Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Have you ever asked it? Maybe behind closed doors, or maybe to a trusted friend or family member, you asked, "Why do I need the baptism of the Holy Spirit? If I already know I'm saved, what difference could that make?" These are questions that Christians either ask or have had to answer. Join us this Sunday and we will explore the "why" of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is a big one for us...we will talk about why Jesus tells us all to "go there and do that," and what the incredible implications are for our lives. Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Have you ever asked it? Maybe behind closed doors, or maybe to a trusted friend or family member, you asked, "Why do I need the baptism of the Holy Spirit? If I already know I'm saved, what difference could that make?" These are questions that Christians either ask or have had to answer. Join us this Sunday and we will explore the "why" of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is a big one for us...we will talk about why Jesus tells us all to "go there and do that," and what the incredible implications are for our lives. Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500 We all like gifts. Whether is for our birthday, Christmas, or just because somebody decides to be nice, we all like receiving gifts. Yet strangely enough, even though Jesus offers us all one of the greatest gifts imaginable, His power alive and at work in us, we wrestle with receiving it.This Sunday we are going to hear what God has to say to us about this incredible gift, not only what it is, but also how to receive it. Come ready for something special! Sun, 06 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500 We all like gifts. Whether is for our birthday, Christmas, or just because somebody decides to be nice, we all like receiving gifts. Yet strangely enough, even though Jesus offers us all one of the greatest gifts imaginable, His power alive and at work in us, we wrestle with receiving it.This Sunday we are going to hear what God has to say to us about this incredible gift, not only what it is, but also how to receive it. Come ready for something special! Sun, 06 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Does life in the Spirit seem too good to be true? Does a powerful launch simply mean a crash and burn is inevitable? As we get ramped up in the Spirit to live for God, is this new way of life sustainable, or are we destined to fall back into our old habits once the emotional high wears off?The truth is that the Lord gives us everything we need to be full of His life day in and day out. The secret to maintaining a life in the Spirit, is learning to walk in the Spirit. Join us this Sunday as we are encouraged by the promise of God and life-impacting benefits of walking side-by-side with the Holy Spirit. Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Does life in the Spirit seem too good to be true? Does a powerful launch simply mean a crash and burn is inevitable? As we get ramped up in the Spirit to live for God, is this new way of life sustainable, or are we destined to fall back into our old habits once the emotional high wears off?The truth is that the Lord gives us everything we need to be full of His life day in and day out. The secret to maintaining a life in the Spirit, is learning to walk in the Spirit. Join us this Sunday as we are encouraged by the promise of God and life-impacting benefits of walking side-by-side with the Holy Spirit. Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Before He ascended into heaven, Jesus promised to immerse His people with the Holy Spirit, to fill them to overwhelming with the presence and power of God. When you read the record of what happened, apparently some experienced everything God had for them, while others missed out. Though Jesus told them the Holy Spirit would fill and use their lives in powerful ways, some people never enjoyed that reality. What happened?What does it take for us to experience the reality of God\'s Holy Spirit alive and at work in us? How do we put ourselves in position to receive all God has for us? This Sunday we\'ll look at that together. Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Before He ascended into heaven, Jesus promised to immerse His people with the Holy Spirit, to fill them to overwhelming with the presence and power of God. When you read the record of what happened, apparently some experienced everything God had for them, while others missed out. Though Jesus told them the Holy Spirit would fill and use their lives in powerful ways, some people never enjoyed that reality. What happened?What does it take for us to experience the reality of God\'s Holy Spirit alive and at work in us? How do we put ourselves in position to receive all God has for us? This Sunday we\'ll look at that together. Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500 The baptism of the Holy Spirit has been the subject of much discussion for years. While some enjoy the reality, finding strength and vitality in their lives in Christ, others wonder why it\'s even necessary. \"Do I really have to do that?\" This Sunday we\'re going to deal with \"the point\" of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. If you\'re curious about the answer to that question, come prepared to hear it from none other than the Lord Himself in His Word. Sun, 16 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500 The baptism of the Holy Spirit has been the subject of much discussion for years. While some enjoy the reality, finding strength and vitality in their lives in Christ, others wonder why it\'s even necessary. \"Do I really have to do that?\" This Sunday we\'re going to deal with \"the point\" of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. If you\'re curious about the answer to that question, come prepared to hear it from none other than the Lord Himself in His Word. Sun, 16 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500 What difference is the church making in our society today? How are Christians affecting those around them so lives are changed? Instead of working hard to fit in, to be "relevant," how can believers truly make a difference for eternity?Vance Havner said, "We are not going to move this world by criticism of it nor conformity to it, but by the combustion within it of lives ignited by the Spirit of God." It is only when our lives are filled with and fueled by God's Holy Spirit that we will see His life lived out in ours. That's why He promised to give the Spirit to us in the first place.As we continue in our series "Firepower," this week we will focus on "The Promise," the commitment God has made to His people to give them His Holy Spirit. Come expecting to hear some exciting things for your life from God's Word! Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500 What difference is the church making in our society today? How are Christians affecting those around them so lives are changed? Instead of working hard to fit in, to be "relevant," how can believers truly make a difference for eternity?Vance Havner said, "We are not going to move this world by criticism of it nor conformity to it, but by the combustion within it of lives ignited by the Spirit of God." It is only when our lives are filled with and fueled by God's Holy Spirit that we will see His life lived out in ours. That's why He promised to give the Spirit to us in the first place.As we continue in our series "Firepower," this week we will focus on "The Promise," the commitment God has made to His people to give them His Holy Spirit. Come expecting to hear some exciting things for your life from God's Word! Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500 No matter where you turn, you hear discussions about the power crisis. Whether it's arguing about a potential shortage of oil, or wondering how we're going to have enough electricity to power all our homes, the conversations are ongoing and often heated. With all the talk concerning the power crisis, have you noticed the power shortage in the church? Are you experiencing it in your own life? We are beginning a new series entitled "Firepower." It's all about the power God has for everyone who has new life in Jesus. God intends for all His people to hagoing to happen, we need to be prepared and ready. Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500 No matter where you turn, you hear discussions about the power crisis. Whether it's arguing about a potential shortage of oil, or wondering how we're going to have enough electricity to power all our homes, the conversations are ongoing and often heated. With all the talk concerning the power crisis, have you noticed the power shortage in the church? Are you experiencing it in your own life? We are beginning a new series entitled "Firepower." It's all about the power God has for everyone who has new life in Jesus. God intends for all His people to hagoing to happen, we need to be prepared and ready. Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given back to you..." (Luke 6.38). While money is certainly one of the things included in giving, Jesus is looking far beyond that. He's talking about having a spirit of generosity, a spirit that gets more excited about giving than receiving. Did you know that generosity is one of the things that brings and holds God's people together? It's one of the key things that allows us to draw close to God Himself.As we come to the close of Philippians, we find some exceptionally helpful truths about generosity. Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given back to you..." (Luke 6.38). While money is certainly one of the things included in giving, Jesus is looking far beyond that. He's talking about having a spirit of generosity, a spirit that gets more excited about giving than receiving. Did you know that generosity is one of the things that brings and holds God's people together? It's one of the key things that allows us to draw close to God Himself.As we come to the close of Philippians, we find some exceptionally helpful truths about generosity. Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0500 You've heard it said that bad company corrupts good character, and more times than not, that rings true. How many times have you known a good kid whose life has gone downhill because he got involved with the wrong friends? The problem is focus. If that "good kid" had been focused on the right things in his life, he wouldn't have chosen to hang out with negative influences.What is the predominate focus in your life? Is it on making money at all costs, or being successful? Is it on keeping your marriage together, or finding a different job? Is it having another drink? Is it knowing the Lord and growing in his life?As Paul began to draw his letter to the Philippians to a close, he directed their attention to the focus of their lives. What were they to focus on with their lives? How would that focus enable them to be one? Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0500 You've heard it said that bad company corrupts good character, and more times than not, that rings true. How many times have you known a good kid whose life has gone downhill because he got involved with the wrong friends? The problem is focus. If that "good kid" had been focused on the right things in his life, he wouldn't have chosen to hang out with negative influences.What is the predominate focus in your life? Is it on making money at all costs, or being successful? Is it on keeping your marriage together, or finding a different job? Is it having another drink? Is it knowing the Lord and growing in his life?As Paul began to draw his letter to the Philippians to a close, he directed their attention to the focus of their lives. What were they to focus on with their lives? How would that focus enable them to be one? Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0500 "To live above with the saints we love, oh, that will be glory. But to live below with the saints we know, well, that's another story." Unfortunately, we know all too well how true this is. Has it always been that way? Does it have to be that way? Does God have more for us? Better? You bet he does, and Paul shows us the way in Philippians 4.2-7. Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0500 "To live above with the saints we love, oh, that will be glory. But to live below with the saints we know, well, that's another story." Unfortunately, we know all too well how true this is. Has it always been that way? Does it have to be that way? Does God have more for us? Better? You bet he does, and Paul shows us the way in Philippians 4.2-7. Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Sometimes we as Christians forget what got us here in the first place. How did we ever come to walk with God? We were chosen by Him, purchased by His blood and literally transformed, setting our lives apart for an awesome purpose. But do we understand it? Do we believe it? Do we live like we do?Not only are we excited to gather this Sunday and be reminded about the life God has for us, but we are excited to study 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 and realize what it means to be chosen, changed, and called. Join us as we learn about the way He's designed us to live...The New Way to Live. Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Sometimes we as Christians forget what got us here in the first place. How did we ever come to walk with God? We were chosen by Him, purchased by His blood and literally transformed, setting our lives apart for an awesome purpose. But do we understand it? Do we believe it? Do we live like we do?Not only are we excited to gather this Sunday and be reminded about the life God has for us, but we are excited to study 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 and realize what it means to be chosen, changed, and called. Join us as we learn about the way He's designed us to live...The New Way to Live. Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0500 The church today is living in the most important time in the history of the world. More prophecy is being fulfilled now than at any other time, with the exception of the time Jesus himself walked this earth. We as the Church play a vital role in specific events that lead to Jesus's return. Bible prophecy comes alive as we dive into discovering God's plan for bringing the world into eternity. The coming Apocalypse gives all the clues to help us make our lives count for eternity. Join us this Sunday as we hear from special guest Ed Smelser from Bridges for Peace, who will guide us on a tour of the events happening in the Middle East today. Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500 The church today is living in the most important time in the history of the world. More prophecy is being fulfilled now than at any other time, with the exception of the time Jesus himself walked this earth. We as the Church play a vital role in specific events that lead to Jesus's return. Bible prophecy comes alive as we dive into discovering God's plan for bringing the world into eternity. The coming Apocalypse gives all the clues to help us make our lives count for eternity. Join us this Sunday as we hear from special guest Ed Smelser from Bridges for Peace, who will guide us on a tour of the events happening in the Middle East today. Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Jesus says, "...a house divided against itself falls." (Luke 11:17) We all know that to be true. If a husband and wife are going in different directions in their relationship, they're going to have a rocky marriage. If an employee is going in a different direction than her company, she probably won't keep her job very long. Whether it's in a marriage, a job, or on a soccer team, unity in direction is critical. That's true for the church as well. When the members of a church are going in the same direction, following hard after Christ together, great things will happen. When individual members decide to go in their own direction in opposition to the body of believers in general, things won't work well.In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul addresses this most important theme of unity of direction. We have lots to learn from him! Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Jesus says, "...a house divided against itself falls." (Luke 11:17) We all know that to be true. If a husband and wife are going in different directions in their relationship, they're going to have a rocky marriage. If an employee is going in a different direction than her company, she probably won't keep her job very long. Whether it's in a marriage, a job, or on a soccer team, unity in direction is critical. That's true for the church as well. When the members of a church are going in the same direction, following hard after Christ together, great things will happen. When individual members decide to go in their own direction in opposition to the body of believers in general, things won't work well.In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul addresses this most important theme of unity of direction. We have lots to learn from him! Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Some things seem challenging to figure out. Take being "righteous" for example. On the one hand, Jesus says, "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20) On the other hand, Paul says, "There is none righteous, no, not one." (Romans 3:10) Wait a minute: does that mean Jesus and Paul were in complete disagreement? Does it mean that even though it would be nice, no one will actually be able to experience heaven because they won't qualify?As Paul wrote to his friends in Philippi, challenging them to be one, he got to this very subject. If they were ever going to be one, they needed to be one in righteousness. Really? So how was that supposed to happen? As he writes to them about this subject in a breathtakingly personal way, he really speaks to us. We, too, are called to be one in righteousness. Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Some things seem challenging to figure out. Take being "righteous" for example. On the one hand, Jesus says, "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20) On the other hand, Paul says, "There is none righteous, no, not one." (Romans 3:10) Wait a minute: does that mean Jesus and Paul were in complete disagreement? Does it mean that even though it would be nice, no one will actually be able to experience heaven because they won't qualify?As Paul wrote to his friends in Philippi, challenging them to be one, he got to this very subject. If they were ever going to be one, they needed to be one in righteousness. Really? So how was that supposed to happen? As he writes to them about this subject in a breathtakingly personal way, he really speaks to us. We, too, are called to be one in righteousness. Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Determination is critical for most every area of life. It takes determination to have a strong marriage with all the challenges to lasting relationships. It takes determination to maintain friendships, especially when you have significant differences of opinion, or get hurt by a friend. It takes determination to win a championship in sports, regardless of talent. Most of all, it takes determination to live a life that is fully dedicated to the Lord. Given all the distractions, pressures, and cultural influences we are subjected to daily, it's hard to live a life completely given over to God, even with determination. Without it, it's impossible.When Paul wrote to his friends in the church in Philippi, he challenged them to be one in determination. That was the only way they would continue to be light in a community filled with darkness. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Determination is critical for most every area of life. It takes determination to have a strong marriage with all the challenges to lasting relationships. It takes determination to maintain friendships, especially when you have significant differences of opinion, or get hurt by a friend. It takes determination to win a championship in sports, regardless of talent. Most of all, it takes determination to live a life that is fully dedicated to the Lord. Given all the distractions, pressures, and cultural influences we are subjected to daily, it's hard to live a life completely given over to God, even with determination. Without it, it's impossible.When Paul wrote to his friends in the church in Philippi, he challenged them to be one in determination. That was the only way they would continue to be light in a community filled with darkness. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500 For better or for worse, we form conclusions about what the church is, and what it is to be, based on our experience, not God's truth. The same holds true for being a Christian. Although we pay lip-service to what we read in the Bible, our lives tend to look more like those around us than they do like Jesus. Is God good with that? Are we? Should we be?When Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, in one concise statement he nailed down what living for Jesus looks like. It's not something that's up for grabs, nor to be decided by each one for himself. This Sunday we will look at what some see as the centerpiece of the entire New Testament. Come with your heart open to receive God's truth. Sun, 31 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500 For better or for worse, we form conclusions about what the church is, and what it is to be, based on our experience, not God's truth. The same holds true for being a Christian. Although we pay lip-service to what we read in the Bible, our lives tend to look more like those around us than they do like Jesus. Is God good with that? Are we? Should we be?When Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, in one concise statement he nailed down what living for Jesus looks like. It's not something that's up for grabs, nor to be decided by each one for himself. This Sunday we will look at what some see as the centerpiece of the entire New Testament. Come with your heart open to receive God's truth. Sun, 31 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500 “Who are you?” Throughout a lifetime, that question elicits a series of answers. Human toddlers believe they are physical extensions of their mothers. (Somewhere around three or four, we figure out that we’re not actually “attached.”) Later in youth we grow to cherish the friend in the mirror. Many a teenager has invested her soul in little more than an unlined face and a head full of lustrous curls. Our sense of identity typically shifts again with education and experience. Then we say we ARE: teachers, builders, baristas, saxophonists, civil servants. All too often, what we do becomes who we are. But sooner or later we all have to get real. A mature sense of identity helps us decide what comes first. Is it me and my wants, or you and your needs? Or can it truly be Christ, and the fondest desire of His heart? Long ago our brothers and sisters in Philippi needed this kind of clarity. The insight Paul gave to them he would give to us today. Sun, 17 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500 “Who are you?” Throughout a lifetime, that question elicits a series of answers. Human toddlers believe they are physical extensions of their mothers. (Somewhere around three or four, we figure out that we’re not actually “attached.”) Later in youth we grow to cherish the friend in the mirror. Many a teenager has invested her soul in little more than an unlined face and a head full of lustrous curls. Our sense of identity typically shifts again with education and experience. Then we say we ARE: teachers, builders, baristas, saxophonists, civil servants. All too often, what we do becomes who we are. But sooner or later we all have to get real. A mature sense of identity helps us decide what comes first. Is it me and my wants, or you and your needs? Or can it truly be Christ, and the fondest desire of His heart? Long ago our brothers and sisters in Philippi needed this kind of clarity. The insight Paul gave to them he would give to us today. Sun, 17 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Many people seem to have their focus, if not their finances, divided by the economic hardships that have come upon us like a flood. Who can blame them, with auto manufacturers on the ropes, banks teetering on the brink of disaster, and hundreds of thousands losing their jobs. It's nearly impossible to be exposed to today's media and not be confronted by some bad news about the economy. Add to that the "usual" trials we deal with daily: kids struggling at school, health issues, fights with a spouse or friend, misunderstandings at work, and, and, and. How in the world do you keep your joy when you have to deal with so much junk? And how are we to experience oneness with Christ and his people when, individually, we have so many crises to deal with? In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul gives us fantastic insight from his own personal experience. Sun, 10 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Many people seem to have their focus, if not their finances, divided by the economic hardships that have come upon us like a flood. Who can blame them, with auto manufacturers on the ropes, banks teetering on the brink of disaster, and hundreds of thousands losing their jobs. It's nearly impossible to be exposed to today's media and not be confronted by some bad news about the economy. Add to that the "usual" trials we deal with daily: kids struggling at school, health issues, fights with a spouse or friend, misunderstandings at work, and, and, and. How in the world do you keep your joy when you have to deal with so much junk? And how are we to experience oneness with Christ and his people when, individually, we have so many crises to deal with? In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul gives us fantastic insight from his own personal experience. Sun, 10 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500 People seem to change churches today as frequently as they change cars, jobs, or even friends. While "loyalty" and "commitment" might be godly virtues, they don't seem to be important to many Christians. Why is that? Is that okay with God? Is it possible it's symptomatic of a significant problem, one which if left to blossom, could destroy the body of Christ? In a letter he wrote to his "home church," the Apostle Paul poured out his heart on this issue. His desire was simple and clear: he wanted the church to be One, a reflection of the relationship between Jesus and his Father. If they fought with one another, succumbed to the pressure of the world around them, or in any way allowed the church to be fractured, they would never know the joy, peace, and victory God had for them. More than that, they would misrepresent God to the world around them. Sun, 03 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500 People seem to change churches today as frequently as they change cars, jobs, or even friends. While "loyalty" and "commitment" might be godly virtues, they don't seem to be important to many Christians. Why is that? Is that okay with God? Is it possible it's symptomatic of a significant problem, one which if left to blossom, could destroy the body of Christ? In a letter he wrote to his "home church," the Apostle Paul poured out his heart on this issue. His desire was simple and clear: he wanted the church to be One, a reflection of the relationship between Jesus and his Father. If they fought with one another, succumbed to the pressure of the world around them, or in any way allowed the church to be fractured, they would never know the joy, peace, and victory God had for them. More than that, they would misrepresent God to the world around them. Sun, 03 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500 What do we do when life seems to be more than we can handle? Where do we go to find the strength we need to make it through another day? Life can leave us stressed out, discouraged, and asking if God can really be counted on. As our doubts grow and our worries overwhelm us, God speaks. In Joshua 23 the Lord gives us a powerful reminder that He is faithful. No matter what battles we're facing, He is on our side. His promises will never fail and never let us down. We're told, "Not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed." Place your trust in Him. Find peace of mind and strength of heart as you hold fast to His sure and certain Word. Come be encouraged with us as we celebrate God's faithfulness together. Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500 What do we do when life seems to be more than we can handle? Where do we go to find the strength we need to make it through another day? Life can leave us stressed out, discouraged, and asking if God can really be counted on. As our doubts grow and our worries overwhelm us, God speaks. In Joshua 23 the Lord gives us a powerful reminder that He is faithful. No matter what battles we're facing, He is on our side. His promises will never fail and never let us down. We're told, "Not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed." Place your trust in Him. Find peace of mind and strength of heart as you hold fast to His sure and certain Word. Come be encouraged with us as we celebrate God's faithfulness together. Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500 After you've pulled out all the stops, sung "Christ the Lord is Risen Today," and joined thousands of others celebrating the greatest day of the year for a Christian, what do you do now? Is it back to life as normal, life as most others live it, life with rarely a nod to God? Or will it be different this year, so different your life will never look the same again? Sun, 19 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500 After you've pulled out all the stops, sung "Christ the Lord is Risen Today," and joined thousands of others celebrating the greatest day of the year for a Christian, what do you do now? Is it back to life as normal, life as most others live it, life with rarely a nod to God? Or will it be different this year, so different your life will never look the same again? Sun, 19 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Whether or not you have a great voice, some things just want to make you sing. Your girlfriend agrees to marry you, your boss gives you a raise, you step outside early in the morning, the sky is clear, the birds are singing, and you just feel like it's going to be a great day. Whatever the cause, lots of things give us songs in our hearts.There's nothing that makes a follower of Jesus want to sing more than the celebration of Easter. Because of everything that day represents, we get to have life to the max now, as well as live with the promise of spending eternity with the Lord and all those who have ever loved him. No sickness, no pain, no divorce, no taxes, no recessions, no high gas prices. We get to spend eternity with the very author of Creation, enjoying a future more spectacular than we could ever envision. When you think about that, how can you not sing? Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Whether or not you have a great voice, some things just want to make you sing. Your girlfriend agrees to marry you, your boss gives you a raise, you step outside early in the morning, the sky is clear, the birds are singing, and you just feel like it's going to be a great day. Whatever the cause, lots of things give us songs in our hearts.There's nothing that makes a follower of Jesus want to sing more than the celebration of Easter. Because of everything that day represents, we get to have life to the max now, as well as live with the promise of spending eternity with the Lord and all those who have ever loved him. No sickness, no pain, no divorce, no taxes, no recessions, no high gas prices. We get to spend eternity with the very author of Creation, enjoying a future more spectacular than we could ever envision. When you think about that, how can you not sing? Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500 There is something magical about weddings. When you walk in, somebody has knocked herself out to make the room look spectacular. The flowers have been carefully selected to enhance the dresses worn by the bridesmaids and the ties of the groomsmen. The whole front of the church has been transformed for what is about to take place. From the moment the music starts until the new couple is introduced, there is joy in the air. The reception then continues the festivity. You get the opportunity to wish the bride and groom your very best, and enjoy the treats they have provided. As they prepare to leave, you bid them farewell, throwing rice, flower petals, or kind words as they jump into their car and speed away. So what do you do then, go home for mac and cheese? Stop at the store and pick up the bread and toilet paper you forgot the day before?Way too often, our joy is only for a moment, even when it comes to our faith in Christ. But is that all there is? God has a great lesson about this for us as we remember Palm Sunday. Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500 There is something magical about weddings. When you walk in, somebody has knocked herself out to make the room look spectacular. The flowers have been carefully selected to enhance the dresses worn by the bridesmaids and the ties of the groomsmen. The whole front of the church has been transformed for what is about to take place. From the moment the music starts until the new couple is introduced, there is joy in the air. The reception then continues the festivity. You get the opportunity to wish the bride and groom your very best, and enjoy the treats they have provided. As they prepare to leave, you bid them farewell, throwing rice, flower petals, or kind words as they jump into their car and speed away. So what do you do then, go home for mac and cheese? Stop at the store and pick up the bread and toilet paper you forgot the day before?Way too often, our joy is only for a moment, even when it comes to our faith in Christ. But is that all there is? God has a great lesson about this for us as we remember Palm Sunday. Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Have you ever noticed that if you are actually going to get something accomplished, you've got to get started? Nothing ever gets done if you never get going, whether it's planting your garden, painting your living room, or laying down your life for Jesus.If you are one who has decided to step up and follow Jesus, how is that looking in your life? Where is that getting worked out in the church, the body of Christ? What difference is your life making for the one who has given you life? Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Have you ever noticed that if you are actually going to get something accomplished, you've got to get started? Nothing ever gets done if you never get going, whether it's planting your garden, painting your living room, or laying down your life for Jesus.If you are one who has decided to step up and follow Jesus, how is that looking in your life? Where is that getting worked out in the church, the body of Christ? What difference is your life making for the one who has given you life? Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500 If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, we can safely assume it is a duck. Using that same concept, how do you determine what a Christian looks like? Are we Christians just because we say so? Or is there a walk, quack, and look others should be able to see in our lives? Jesus says, "I am the vine, and you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit." Jesus wants us as Christians, to have lives that truly show it. Our faith should tell on us. But does it? We have talked about the importance of knowing the Lord, having a deep, intense personal relationship with Him. We have also considered how essential it is to be growing in the Lord, taking steps forward in His life. Now we need to discuss what it looks like to be showing the Lord, living His love inside and outside the church. Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500 If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, we can safely assume it is a duck. Using that same concept, how do you determine what a Christian looks like? Are we Christians just because we say so? Or is there a walk, quack, and look others should be able to see in our lives? Jesus says, "I am the vine, and you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit." Jesus wants us as Christians, to have lives that truly show it. Our faith should tell on us. But does it? We have talked about the importance of knowing the Lord, having a deep, intense personal relationship with Him. We have also considered how essential it is to be growing in the Lord, taking steps forward in His life. Now we need to discuss what it looks like to be showing the Lord, living His love inside and outside the church. Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500 I know of an absolutely huge oak tree in a friend's front yard. It is so tall; in fact, it acts as a landmark by which you can find your way. It's massive branches hold several feeders that provide refreshment for dozens of varieties of birds. In the summertime, it's leafy shade supplies a cool respite from long, hot August days that would typically cause you and me to wilt and wither. How, against all it has faced over the seasons, did this tree grow from a small seed into something so large? Why hasn't it been uprooted by the severe windstorms that have passed this way? How has it endured blistering heat and still provided rest for others? The reason this well-seasoned tree survives is that it is securely anchored with deep roots that have allowed it to grow into something beautiful, useful and strong.In the very same way, the Lord wants you and me to plant deep roots in Him and His truth. Only then can we grow into something useful to Him and strong in our faith in His plan for our lives. But how do you do that? What does it look like to grow in Him and keep on growing? Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500 I know of an absolutely huge oak tree in a friend's front yard. It is so tall; in fact, it acts as a landmark by which you can find your way. It's massive branches hold several feeders that provide refreshment for dozens of varieties of birds. In the summertime, it's leafy shade supplies a cool respite from long, hot August days that would typically cause you and me to wilt and wither. How, against all it has faced over the seasons, did this tree grow from a small seed into something so large? Why hasn't it been uprooted by the severe windstorms that have passed this way? How has it endured blistering heat and still provided rest for others? The reason this well-seasoned tree survives is that it is securely anchored with deep roots that have allowed it to grow into something beautiful, useful and strong.In the very same way, the Lord wants you and me to plant deep roots in Him and His truth. Only then can we grow into something useful to Him and strong in our faith in His plan for our lives. But how do you do that? What does it look like to grow in Him and keep on growing? Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500 It's time to step up! If ever there was a time for Christians to be everything they have been called to be, do everything they have been empowered to do, it is now. The world in general, and our community in specific, needs the joy of Jesus. They need to hear the good news, and see God's love in action. But if that's going to be done, God's people need to step up. Over the next four weeks, we're going to hear God's call to action. Are you ready? Sun, 08 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0600 It's time to step up! If ever there was a time for Christians to be everything they have been called to be, do everything they have been empowered to do, it is now. The world in general, and our community in specific, needs the joy of Jesus. They need to hear the good news, and see God's love in action. But if that's going to be done, God's people need to step up. Over the next four weeks, we're going to hear God's call to action. Are you ready? Sun, 08 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0600 Do you feel you are at a low point in your life? Alone, discouraged, afraid and uncertain about what the future holds? Take heart, you are not alone. This Sunday, we will take a look at Paul when he was at a very low point in his life and ministry. In this moment, while in prison and while people are plotting to kill him, we read "the Lord stood by him". Paul encounters God's presence, hears His voice, receives His encouragement, and gains God's perspective. The Lord gives him everything he needs to endure the hardship and press on...and He has the same to give to you. Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0600 Do you feel you are at a low point in your life? Alone, discouraged, afraid and uncertain about what the future holds? Take heart, you are not alone. This Sunday, we will take a look at Paul when he was at a very low point in his life and ministry. In this moment, while in prison and while people are plotting to kill him, we read "the Lord stood by him". Paul encounters God's presence, hears His voice, receives His encouragement, and gains God's perspective. The Lord gives him everything he needs to endure the hardship and press on...and He has the same to give to you. Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0600 If there is anything that every person wrestles with continually, it is worry. We all hate it, yet we all do it. Does it truly help us? What can be done to stop? Join us Sunday as we discover practical steps to take that will set us free from the prison of worry! Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600 If there is anything that every person wrestles with continually, it is worry. We all hate it, yet we all do it. Does it truly help us? What can be done to stop? Join us Sunday as we discover practical steps to take that will set us free from the prison of worry! Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600 It's a wonderful thing to know we can enjoy a life that is free. We don't need to be trapped by our past, our problems, our fears, or whatever holds us hostage. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, the power of sin is broken. So why does it seem so hard to continue in that freedom? Why does it seem like when it comes to living the new and free life in Christ, we take one step forward, and two steps back? Once having been set free, how do we maintain that freedom? In just a few words, Jesus answers this most basic question and pressing reality. Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600 It's a wonderful thing to know we can enjoy a life that is free. We don't need to be trapped by our past, our problems, our fears, or whatever holds us hostage. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, the power of sin is broken. So why does it seem so hard to continue in that freedom? Why does it seem like when it comes to living the new and free life in Christ, we take one step forward, and two steps back? Once having been set free, how do we maintain that freedom? In just a few words, Jesus answers this most basic question and pressing reality. Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600 Imprisonment may be a repugnant thought, but have you ever stopped tothink that even right here in our own community we have thousands andthousands of captives? Some are being held hostage by their fear. Others are trapped in deep-seated habits. Still others are chained to images of their childhood that affect their lives today. Whether the folks want to be captives or not, they still are. Did you know everyone of them has the opportunity to be set free? Do you realize that freedom from captivity is a reality for all of those who givetheir lives to Jesus Christ? This Sunday we're going to hear the greattruth from God's word about freedom from captivity. Oh, by the way: bringa friend who is tired of being held hostage. Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600 Imprisonment may be a repugnant thought, but have you ever stopped tothink that even right here in our own community we have thousands andthousands of captives? Some are being held hostage by their fear. Others are trapped in deep-seated habits. Still others are chained to images of their childhood that affect their lives today. Whether the folks want to be captives or not, they still are. Did you know everyone of them has the opportunity to be set free? Do you realize that freedom from captivity is a reality for all of those who givetheir lives to Jesus Christ? This Sunday we're going to hear the greattruth from God's word about freedom from captivity. Oh, by the way: bringa friend who is tired of being held hostage. Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600 What are you afraid of? What gives you bad dreams, makes you break out in a cold sweat or gets your stomach churning? Is it darkness, snakes, getting too close to the edge of a tall building? How about losing your job, not being able to pay your mortgage or being committed in a relationship? Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600 What are you afraid of? What gives you bad dreams, makes you break out in a cold sweat or gets your stomach churning? Is it darkness, snakes, getting too close to the edge of a tall building? How about losing your job, not being able to pay your mortgage or being committed in a relationship? Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600 If there is anything to be said about our new President, it is that he exudes confidence. Whether he's addressing the economic condition of the nation, or sending a message to those who would terrorize our land, he clearly stands strong, confident in every word he is saying. Wouldn't it be nice to be like that, to remain upright when the winds of life are trying to flatten you? As John brings his first letter to the Church to a close, he deals with "confidence." He shows us how we can have it, and what we need to do to keep it. Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600 If there is anything to be said about our new President, it is that he exudes confidence. Whether he's addressing the economic condition of the nation, or sending a message to those who would terrorize our land, he clearly stands strong, confident in every word he is saying. Wouldn't it be nice to be like that, to remain upright when the winds of life are trying to flatten you? As John brings his first letter to the Church to a close, he deals with "confidence." He shows us how we can have it, and what we need to do to keep it. Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600 Anybody who has been a Christian has heard the same question about the Christian faith more than once: "but is it really true?" With all thequestions raised by the critics, and the hypotheses set forth by variousfilm makers, they conclude that what they read in the Bible couldn'treally be true. How do we answer that? This Sunday we get a particularly powerful responseto this question from the Apostle John as he shows us why the things ofGod are absolutely and undeniably true. When you consider what he has to say in 1 John 5:6-13, your faith with surely be strengthened. Sun, 18 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600 Anybody who has been a Christian has heard the same question about the Christian faith more than once: "but is it really true?" With all thequestions raised by the critics, and the hypotheses set forth by variousfilm makers, they conclude that what they read in the Bible couldn'treally be true. How do we answer that? This Sunday we get a particularly powerful responseto this question from the Apostle John as he shows us why the things ofGod are absolutely and undeniably true. When you consider what he has to say in 1 John 5:6-13, your faith with surely be strengthened. Sun, 18 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600 There is great power in perspective. Just think about why you don't like to hang out with people who always seem to see the worst in everything. How much more refreshing it is to be with folks who feel as though something great is just ahead, regardless of how things are going in their lives at the moment. What kind of perspective do you bring to your relationship with God and His truth? Does He exist to meet your needs, or do you exist to bring glory and honor to Him? Is living for the Lord a problem or a privilege? Depending on your perspective, you will either enjoy the direction God gives you, or you will rebel against it, registering your disapproval by living a life that doesn't reflect Him or His truth. Unfortunately, you will also experience consequences of that decision that won't be what you desire.God has great things in store for you as you follow Him. Could it be that His "law" is actually an expression of His "love"? As we continue our study of 1 John, God helps us understand why living for Him is not only exciting, but infinitely rewarding. Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600 There is great power in perspective. Just think about why you don't like to hang out with people who always seem to see the worst in everything. How much more refreshing it is to be with folks who feel as though something great is just ahead, regardless of how things are going in their lives at the moment. What kind of perspective do you bring to your relationship with God and His truth? Does He exist to meet your needs, or do you exist to bring glory and honor to Him? Is living for the Lord a problem or a privilege? Depending on your perspective, you will either enjoy the direction God gives you, or you will rebel against it, registering your disapproval by living a life that doesn't reflect Him or His truth. Unfortunately, you will also experience consequences of that decision that won't be what you desire.God has great things in store for you as you follow Him. Could it be that His "law" is actually an expression of His "love"? As we continue our study of 1 John, God helps us understand why living for Him is not only exciting, but infinitely rewarding. Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600 Here it is, ready or not. In terms of the economy, the housing market, the automobile industry, and the weather, 2008 roared out like a lion. What will we find in 2009? How would you like to have a truly new year, a year that is blessed, notcursed? How would you like to walk away from whatever baggage you've been dragging with you year after year? How would you like to have the fresh start you've always hoped for? We are going to let God set the pace for our new year. His Word gives us both the means and assurance that this year can truly be new. Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600 Here it is, ready or not. In terms of the economy, the housing market, the automobile industry, and the weather, 2008 roared out like a lion. What will we find in 2009? How would you like to have a truly new year, a year that is blessed, notcursed? How would you like to walk away from whatever baggage you've been dragging with you year after year? How would you like to have the fresh start you've always hoped for? We are going to let God set the pace for our new year. His Word gives us both the means and assurance that this year can truly be new. Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600 If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again. A little thing like afoot of snow and ice will not deter us from enjoying the core ofChristmas, God's gift of life for all of us in Jesus Christ. We will be encouraged, built up, and blessed as we focus on the most well-known verse in the Bible, John 3:16. Sun, 28 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600 If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again. A little thing like afoot of snow and ice will not deter us from enjoying the core ofChristmas, God's gift of life for all of us in Jesus Christ. We will be encouraged, built up, and blessed as we focus on the most well-known verse in the Bible, John 3:16. Sun, 28 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600 While it may sound like a simplistic question, who is in control of your life, you or God? Most of us would quickly answer, "God." But is that really true? Do we go about our days as if God is in control, or we are? Do we make plans for the future as if God is in control, or we are? What difference could it possibly make who is in control? In the events surrounding Jesus' birth, we find one lesson taught forcefully. If we are to enjoy the benefits of a life with the Lord, He initiates and we respond, not the other way around. Either He is in control or He isn't. God is not waiting for us to give Him our latest scheme, no matter how well thought out, before He decides what to do. Neither does He hold His breath until we can reveal the next thing we want Him to accomplish in our lives. In Mary and Joseph, God found hearts that would hear and respond to Him. He's looking for that very thing in us too. As we consider the heart of Christmas, it's something we all need to hear again and again. Better still, it's a truth we can actually live! Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600 While it may sound like a simplistic question, who is in control of your life, you or God? Most of us would quickly answer, "God." But is that really true? Do we go about our days as if God is in control, or we are? Do we make plans for the future as if God is in control, or we are? What difference could it possibly make who is in control? In the events surrounding Jesus' birth, we find one lesson taught forcefully. If we are to enjoy the benefits of a life with the Lord, He initiates and we respond, not the other way around. Either He is in control or He isn't. God is not waiting for us to give Him our latest scheme, no matter how well thought out, before He decides what to do. Neither does He hold His breath until we can reveal the next thing we want Him to accomplish in our lives. In Mary and Joseph, God found hearts that would hear and respond to Him. He's looking for that very thing in us too. As we consider the heart of Christmas, it's something we all need to hear again and again. Better still, it's a truth we can actually live! Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600 It's in the air. Everybody can feel it, smell it, almost touch it. It's Christmas, and we all know it. The lights, decorations, gift shopping, parties, and special events all testify to it. But is that it? Is that what Christmas is all about? When we strip all of that window dressing away, Christmas is really about something else: relationship. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever would believe in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life." In order to give you and me the means to have a personal relationship with Him, God sent Jesus to us as a gift. That gift,given out of love, is truly the heart of Christmas. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, we have the opportunity to consider the things God teaches us about our relationship with Him and with one another. We'll peer into the lives of characters central to that first Christmas, and learn more about how He works in us to create and develop our relationship with Him. Join us as we share in the Heart of Christmas! Sun, 07 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600 It's in the air. Everybody can feel it, smell it, almost touch it. It's Christmas, and we all know it. The lights, decorations, gift shopping, parties, and special events all testify to it. But is that it? Is that what Christmas is all about? When we strip all of that window dressing away, Christmas is really about something else: relationship. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever would believe in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life." In order to give you and me the means to have a personal relationship with Him, God sent Jesus to us as a gift. That gift,given out of love, is truly the heart of Christmas. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, we have the opportunity to consider the things God teaches us about our relationship with Him and with one another. We'll peer into the lives of characters central to that first Christmas, and learn more about how He works in us to create and develop our relationship with Him. Join us as we share in the Heart of Christmas! Sun, 07 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600 In every crime show on television today, a lot of time is spent examining the evidence. Evidence, carefully collected and weighed, can make or break any case. Whether a fingerprint, a DNA sample, or an eye witness account, the evidence must always add up. Bearing in mind how important evidence is in determining "truth," consider what evidence exists in your life today that reveals you are truly a Christian, a Christ-follower? Are the fingerprints of God unmistakable in your life? Are facts that point toward a life sold out to Jesus so clear, so undeniable, that no matter who looked at your life, they'd conclude you really did belong to the Lord? In the closing arguments of 1 John 4, John gives us three key benchmarks which will enable us to discern if we ought to be booked or if we really are living free indeed. Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600 In every crime show on television today, a lot of time is spent examining the evidence. Evidence, carefully collected and weighed, can make or break any case. Whether a fingerprint, a DNA sample, or an eye witness account, the evidence must always add up. Bearing in mind how important evidence is in determining "truth," consider what evidence exists in your life today that reveals you are truly a Christian, a Christ-follower? Are the fingerprints of God unmistakable in your life? Are facts that point toward a life sold out to Jesus so clear, so undeniable, that no matter who looked at your life, they'd conclude you really did belong to the Lord? In the closing arguments of 1 John 4, John gives us three key benchmarks which will enable us to discern if we ought to be booked or if we really are living free indeed. Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600 International news agencies recently spotlighted an ugly incident in Old Jerusalem. At the traditional site of Jesus' burial (The Holy Sepulchre), a brawl broke out between Armenian and Greek Orthodox priests. It got so out of hand, it took dozens of police officers to break it up. It seems there was a heated disagreement over who should be where, when. Instead of simply enjoying the Lord, they decided it to duke it out in a turf war. Over at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity (the place of Jesus' birth), six different groups lay claim to the holy site, and regularly resort to physical altercations when they feel their space has been encroached upon. You've got to wonder: how does this conduct line up with Jesus' statement, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."? When we look at our own lives, they can tend to look a lot like those of the priests. Instead of doing whatever it takes to seek God's best for one another, we find occasion to disagree, backbite, argue, gossip, or just plain fight. When we do, what does that say about who we belong to? What does that say about what we truly believe? Writing to the early church, John dealt with the centrality of love in a beautifully simple way. As we hear his words this Sunday, let's ask God to help us live out His truth. Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600 International news agencies recently spotlighted an ugly incident in Old Jerusalem. At the traditional site of Jesus' burial (The Holy Sepulchre), a brawl broke out between Armenian and Greek Orthodox priests. It got so out of hand, it took dozens of police officers to break it up. It seems there was a heated disagreement over who should be where, when. Instead of simply enjoying the Lord, they decided it to duke it out in a turf war. Over at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity (the place of Jesus' birth), six different groups lay claim to the holy site, and regularly resort to physical altercations when they feel their space has been encroached upon. You've got to wonder: how does this conduct line up with Jesus' statement, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."? When we look at our own lives, they can tend to look a lot like those of the priests. Instead of doing whatever it takes to seek God's best for one another, we find occasion to disagree, backbite, argue, gossip, or just plain fight. When we do, what does that say about who we belong to? What does that say about what we truly believe? Writing to the early church, John dealt with the centrality of love in a beautifully simple way. As we hear his words this Sunday, let's ask God to help us live out His truth. Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600 Scams are rampant, especially in tough economic times. Whether it's that "official" email you've gotten about a long lost relative who left you $15,000,000, or that "kind stranger" who happened to figure out while driving by that your roof needs attention, people find themselves getting taken every day. Could it be we're just too trusting? On the other hand, maybe we're too greedy. Whatever the case, if we fail to see the bigger picture, it can get us into big trouble. Faith can work the same way. When we fail to look beneath the surface, accepting at face value whatever someone tells us, we're setting ourselves up for trouble. Perhaps they tell us they have "God's word" for us. Really? Why would He tell them and not you? Or maybe they have some "important information" about a mutual friend? Really? Is God now into gossip? Or as we battle some difficult disease, we're told that if only we have faith, we will be healed. We need to show that faith by forgetting about doctors and medications and procedures. Really? Have God and medicine suddenly become enemies of one another? God has given us His truth as the means to guide our lives. He wants us to learn to discern. John shared something of value about this very matter, when he wrote to the early church. Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600 Scams are rampant, especially in tough economic times. Whether it's that "official" email you've gotten about a long lost relative who left you $15,000,000, or that "kind stranger" who happened to figure out while driving by that your roof needs attention, people find themselves getting taken every day. Could it be we're just too trusting? On the other hand, maybe we're too greedy. Whatever the case, if we fail to see the bigger picture, it can get us into big trouble. Faith can work the same way. When we fail to look beneath the surface, accepting at face value whatever someone tells us, we're setting ourselves up for trouble. Perhaps they tell us they have "God's word" for us. Really? Why would He tell them and not you? Or maybe they have some "important information" about a mutual friend? Really? Is God now into gossip? Or as we battle some difficult disease, we're told that if only we have faith, we will be healed. We need to show that faith by forgetting about doctors and medications and procedures. Really? Have God and medicine suddenly become enemies of one another? God has given us His truth as the means to guide our lives. He wants us to learn to discern. John shared something of value about this very matter, when he wrote to the early church. Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600 This Sunday, we're taking time to honor those who have honored us with their military service. Commander of the Vancouver Barracks, Colonel York will share personal experiences of God's love and inspiration. This is a terrific opportunity to reach out to the young and old who once served in uniform. Bring a veteran with you on Sunday and share the blessing. Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600 This Sunday, we're taking time to honor those who have honored us with their military service. Commander of the Vancouver Barracks, Colonel York will share personal experiences of God's love and inspiration. This is a terrific opportunity to reach out to the young and old who once served in uniform. Bring a veteran with you on Sunday and share the blessing. Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600 "By this will all know that you are my disciples, that you have love for one another." Jesus prepared His disciples for His departure by explaining, in no uncertain terms, that love was to be key in setting them apart from the dying world around them. By witnessing that love, others would see and know that these followers of Christ were somehow different. More than that, He wanted them to grasp that a true, visible expression of love was to be among the most basic realities of their lives. Their love was to be so real, so strong, so consistent it would color everything they said and did.Love has to be that basic for believers. Yet we all know it isn't. People don't look at our lives and conclude we are Christians because of the depth of our love for one another. Quite the reverse, they often see churches filled with people who love to fight, bicker, gossip, and complain. Where did we get derailed? How do we change course so we can be where Jesus desires us to be? John dealt with this matter head-on, in his first letter to the church. Just what does God's love look like? Join us Sunday, as we turn our eyes and hearts toward that which is so close to the heart of Jesus, his love. Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500 "By this will all know that you are my disciples, that you have love for one another." Jesus prepared His disciples for His departure by explaining, in no uncertain terms, that love was to be key in setting them apart from the dying world around them. By witnessing that love, others would see and know that these followers of Christ were somehow different. More than that, He wanted them to grasp that a true, visible expression of love was to be among the most basic realities of their lives. Their love was to be so real, so strong, so consistent it would color everything they said and did.Love has to be that basic for believers. Yet we all know it isn't. People don't look at our lives and conclude we are Christians because of the depth of our love for one another. Quite the reverse, they often see churches filled with people who love to fight, bicker, gossip, and complain. Where did we get derailed? How do we change course so we can be where Jesus desires us to be? John dealt with this matter head-on, in his first letter to the church. Just what does God's love look like? Join us Sunday, as we turn our eyes and hearts toward that which is so close to the heart of Jesus, his love. Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500 Neuroscience has proven that when we think malicious thoughts, we release toxic chemicals into our brains. Over time these toxins actually burn tunnel-like holes in our dendrites, little branched nerve-cells. One scientist who studies these physiologic phenomena calls them "emotional black holes." Did you ever realize that when you get angry and hold onto it, even when your anger is justified, you slowly but surely hurt yourself? So, in reality, not only has the perpetrator of the "hurt" damaged you emotionally, you have re-victimized yourself!?Fortunately for us, God has so designed us that when we replace anger with forgiveness or revenge with blessing, we actually flood our brains with chemicals that create new dendrite fibers in our brains. Believe it or not, we can essentially grow a new memory over an old one, a good memory over a bad one. Could it be that God designed us for peace? If so, why is it so hard to come by? What help does He give us in that regard? Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500 Neuroscience has proven that when we think malicious thoughts, we release toxic chemicals into our brains. Over time these toxins actually burn tunnel-like holes in our dendrites, little branched nerve-cells. One scientist who studies these physiologic phenomena calls them "emotional black holes." Did you ever realize that when you get angry and hold onto it, even when your anger is justified, you slowly but surely hurt yourself? So, in reality, not only has the perpetrator of the "hurt" damaged you emotionally, you have re-victimized yourself!?Fortunately for us, God has so designed us that when we replace anger with forgiveness or revenge with blessing, we actually flood our brains with chemicals that create new dendrite fibers in our brains. Believe it or not, we can essentially grow a new memory over an old one, a good memory over a bad one. Could it be that God designed us for peace? If so, why is it so hard to come by? What help does He give us in that regard? Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500 One of the most gripping stories told in recent years is found in the book "Between a Rock and a Hard Place." In it, Aron Ralston recounts the story of taking a hike one beautiful day only to end up trapped under a boulder. The only way he could save his life was by doing the unthinkable; amputating his own right arm with a dull pocket knife then walking to a place where he could be found by others. While the story itself is one of great heroics, it begs the simplest of questions: with all that could possibly happen, why in the world was he attempting a hike like that on his own? There is something about life that demands relationship. Sure, we can stumble through life on our own, but will that get us where we want to go? Will it help us make it through the difficult situations in which we find ourselves entangled on this journey through life? In his Word, God tells us we''ve been designed for relationship. It''s only through these relationships we can fully develop the quality of life He desires we have. So why do we try to go it alone? As we move onward in "Fit for Life," our study of Romans 12, God reveals His wisdom concerning the value of relationship and how we''re to walk it out in our day-to-day lives. Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500 One of the most gripping stories told in recent years is found in the book "Between a Rock and a Hard Place." In it, Aron Ralston recounts the story of taking a hike one beautiful day only to end up trapped under a boulder. The only way he could save his life was by doing the unthinkable; amputating his own right arm with a dull pocket knife then walking to a place where he could be found by others. While the story itself is one of great heroics, it begs the simplest of questions: with all that could possibly happen, why in the world was he attempting a hike like that on his own? There is something about life that demands relationship. Sure, we can stumble through life on our own, but will that get us where we want to go? Will it help us make it through the difficult situations in which we find ourselves entangled on this journey through life? In his Word, God tells us we''ve been designed for relationship. It''s only through these relationships we can fully develop the quality of life He desires we have. So why do we try to go it alone? As we move onward in "Fit for Life," our study of Romans 12, God reveals His wisdom concerning the value of relationship and how we''re to walk it out in our day-to-day lives. Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500 We''ve all either known or have heard of someone who came very close to dying but, for some seemingly unknown reason, survived. The only explanation that could be offered was they apparently had the "will to live." Science has confirmed it is indeed fact, not fiction, that when a person loses the will to live it won''t be long before it''s all over for them. Do you have the "will to live" for Jesus Christ? Just how important is living your life in him? Does it define who you are, how you act, what you say and do? Do you have the sense that if your life were no longer in his hands, there would be no reason to go on living? How is this will shown in our lives, individually and as a Body? Paul helps us gain a proper perspective on the meaning and place of a will to live in Jesus. Much more than that, he shows us what our lives look like when we have it. In many ways, this is at the core of living "fit for life." Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500 We''ve all either known or have heard of someone who came very close to dying but, for some seemingly unknown reason, survived. The only explanation that could be offered was they apparently had the "will to live." Science has confirmed it is indeed fact, not fiction, that when a person loses the will to live it won''t be long before it''s all over for them. Do you have the "will to live" for Jesus Christ? Just how important is living your life in him? Does it define who you are, how you act, what you say and do? Do you have the sense that if your life were no longer in his hands, there would be no reason to go on living? How is this will shown in our lives, individually and as a Body? Paul helps us gain a proper perspective on the meaning and place of a will to live in Jesus. Much more than that, he shows us what our lives look like when we have it. In many ways, this is at the core of living "fit for life." Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500 The Complete Book of Running held fast for many weeks atop the New York Times best seller list. Its author, health advocate Jim Fixx, was easily one of the most celebrated runners in the US. As healthy as he appeared to be outwardly, inside something else was stirring. One morning, while out enjoying a run on his usual Vermont trail, Jim dropped dead from a heart attack. Most of his body was in tip-top condition, but his heart and blood vessels didn''t quite match up to the rest. Outwardly, our lives in the Lord can seem quite fit. Unfortunately, if we look deeper into the condition of the church, we can find many weak hearts. One may say the right things, hold the right beliefs and go through the proper motions. But if the heart is weak, sooner or later everything''s going to fall apart. As a result, folks never get to enjoy the abundant life God has for them. What does it take to have a strong heart? How do we know ours is working right and what are the implications for the Body of Christ? Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500 The Complete Book of Running held fast for many weeks atop the New York Times best seller list. Its author, health advocate Jim Fixx, was easily one of the most celebrated runners in the US. As healthy as he appeared to be outwardly, inside something else was stirring. One morning, while out enjoying a run on his usual Vermont trail, Jim dropped dead from a heart attack. Most of his body was in tip-top condition, but his heart and blood vessels didn''t quite match up to the rest. Outwardly, our lives in the Lord can seem quite fit. Unfortunately, if we look deeper into the condition of the church, we can find many weak hearts. One may say the right things, hold the right beliefs and go through the proper motions. But if the heart is weak, sooner or later everything''s going to fall apart. As a result, folks never get to enjoy the abundant life God has for them. What does it take to have a strong heart? How do we know ours is working right and what are the implications for the Body of Christ? Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500 What separates the people who accomplish things from those who don''t? What do you have to do if you''re truly going to redo the lawn, make a difference with the kids on the soccer team, or lose that extra 20 pounds? The answer is simple: just get up and get going. Or, like our friends across the river have said so eloquently, "just do it." While we may not know exactly how many days we will live, we can determine how meaningful our days will be. We can all choose to be "fit for life" so we can really live, not merely exist. But if it''s going to happen, we need to get up and get going in our lives in Christ. He has given us everything we need to make it happen, but He''s not going to do it for us; through us, yes, but not for us; with us, yes, but not for us. As we continue in our study of Romans 12, Paul takes us to the next level as he challenges us to "get up and get going" so we may enjoy all God has given us. Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500 What separates the people who accomplish things from those who don''t? What do you have to do if you''re truly going to redo the lawn, make a difference with the kids on the soccer team, or lose that extra 20 pounds? The answer is simple: just get up and get going. Or, like our friends across the river have said so eloquently, "just do it." While we may not know exactly how many days we will live, we can determine how meaningful our days will be. We can all choose to be "fit for life" so we can really live, not merely exist. But if it''s going to happen, we need to get up and get going in our lives in Christ. He has given us everything we need to make it happen, but He''s not going to do it for us; through us, yes, but not for us; with us, yes, but not for us. As we continue in our study of Romans 12, Paul takes us to the next level as he challenges us to "get up and get going" so we may enjoy all God has given us. Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500 Ever met anyone who got up in the morning and said, "Boy, I sure hope I get sick today! Wouldn''t it be great to come down with malaria?" Quite the contrary, we all want our bodies to be fit and thrive. We curse the sniffles and do whatever we can to cast out colds. And when any part of us malfunctions, we do whatever it takes to get back on track. Everyone wants a healthy body. Ever wonder why God calls the church "the Body of Christ?? Out of all His options, do you think maybe He chose that analogy for a reason? What is He trying to reveal to us? Much can be gleaned about how He sees His church, and how He expects it to function, by taking a look at our own physical bodies. Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500 Ever met anyone who got up in the morning and said, "Boy, I sure hope I get sick today! Wouldn''t it be great to come down with malaria?" Quite the contrary, we all want our bodies to be fit and thrive. We curse the sniffles and do whatever we can to cast out colds. And when any part of us malfunctions, we do whatever it takes to get back on track. Everyone wants a healthy body. Ever wonder why God calls the church "the Body of Christ?? Out of all His options, do you think maybe He chose that analogy for a reason? What is He trying to reveal to us? Much can be gleaned about how He sees His church, and how He expects it to function, by taking a look at our own physical bodies. Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500 At the 2006 Winter Olympics, American skier Bode Miller was heavily favored to walk away with a medal around his neck. Maybe even gold. Yet, all the raw talent in the world didn''t amount to anything, when nights spent partying sapped his abilities on the slopes in the morning. The overly confident Miller walked away with a tough lesson learned and no medal. Similarly, the attitude with which we approach our lives in Christ is going to determine how fit we are for the lives He has for us. Do we think of ourselves more highly than we ought to, feeling as though we''re God''s gift to humanity? Do we have the sense that we are worthless, that even though He could use us, God won''t do that because we are so incompetent? Or do we see ourselves as He sees us and jump into His life accordingly? Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500 At the 2006 Winter Olympics, American skier Bode Miller was heavily favored to walk away with a medal around his neck. Maybe even gold. Yet, all the raw talent in the world didn''t amount to anything, when nights spent partying sapped his abilities on the slopes in the morning. The overly confident Miller walked away with a tough lesson learned and no medal. Similarly, the attitude with which we approach our lives in Christ is going to determine how fit we are for the lives He has for us. Do we think of ourselves more highly than we ought to, feeling as though we''re God''s gift to humanity? Do we have the sense that we are worthless, that even though He could use us, God won''t do that because we are so incompetent? Or do we see ourselves as He sees us and jump into His life accordingly? Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500 Things happen in life which causes us all to reevaluate. When you find yourself with a serious illness, lose a loved one, go through a divorce, move into retirement, or have to deal with some other critical transition, you ask yourself some very basic questions. What am I doing with my life? Am I doing the things I want to do, being the kind of person I want to be? Is my life counting for anything? As a believer in Jesus, is my life making a difference??It''s easy to let people, culture, and "normal" patterns of living suck us into the rushing flow of "feel good now." It''s easy to restrict God''s will by expecting Him to make us happy with the right date, mate, job, or neighborhood. It''s a tougher challenge to surrender to His will to transform our minds and thus our lives, to help us live from a core of truth about Him, the world, ourselves, and others.?So, how do we become "Fit for Life?" This Sunday, Pastor Bill begins a fresh new series dealing with this very issue. Based on Romans 12, we will have the opportunity to explore what will make us all fit for the lives God gives us to live. Are you "Fit for Life? Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500 Things happen in life which causes us all to reevaluate. When you find yourself with a serious illness, lose a loved one, go through a divorce, move into retirement, or have to deal with some other critical transition, you ask yourself some very basic questions. What am I doing with my life? Am I doing the things I want to do, being the kind of person I want to be? Is my life counting for anything? As a believer in Jesus, is my life making a difference??It''s easy to let people, culture, and "normal" patterns of living suck us into the rushing flow of "feel good now." It''s easy to restrict God''s will by expecting Him to make us happy with the right date, mate, job, or neighborhood. It''s a tougher challenge to surrender to His will to transform our minds and thus our lives, to help us live from a core of truth about Him, the world, ourselves, and others.?So, how do we become "Fit for Life?" This Sunday, Pastor Bill begins a fresh new series dealing with this very issue. Based on Romans 12, we will have the opportunity to explore what will make us all fit for the lives God gives us to live. Are you "Fit for Life? Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500 It''s easy to feel in control when everything is going your way. But what do you do when the props of your life are kicked out from underneath you? What do you do when you find yourself facing a battle you have no chance of winning, a foe that doesn''t fight fair? Do you realize that God''s strength is made perfect in weakness, that you are weak, He is strong? Do you understand that He wants to be the strength of your life, to refresh your heart when you have lost it? Join us this Sunday and rejoice with Pastor Bill as he takes us through one of the most uplifting texts in the Bible. As he does that, he will be sharing how he has experienced the depth of this truth in his own battle with cancer. By the way, plan on being encouraged! Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500 It''s easy to feel in control when everything is going your way. But what do you do when the props of your life are kicked out from underneath you? What do you do when you find yourself facing a battle you have no chance of winning, a foe that doesn''t fight fair? Do you realize that God''s strength is made perfect in weakness, that you are weak, He is strong? Do you understand that He wants to be the strength of your life, to refresh your heart when you have lost it? Join us this Sunday and rejoice with Pastor Bill as he takes us through one of the most uplifting texts in the Bible. As he does that, he will be sharing how he has experienced the depth of this truth in his own battle with cancer. By the way, plan on being encouraged! Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! We are no longer strangers and orphans; we are sons and daughters of God! How could something so wonderful be true? Join us this Sunday as Brett Williams brings to light the power of our divine adoption into God''s family with his humor, insight and tenderhearted perspective. Your eyes will be opened in a new way as Brett shares personal stories from life experiences that are tangible examples of God''s redeeming grace. Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! We are no longer strangers and orphans; we are sons and daughters of God! How could something so wonderful be true? Join us this Sunday as Brett Williams brings to light the power of our divine adoption into God''s family with his humor, insight and tenderhearted perspective. Your eyes will be opened in a new way as Brett shares personal stories from life experiences that are tangible examples of God''s redeeming grace. Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500 Evangelism, witnessing, missions. These words strike fear into the hearts of many believers, when in actuality, sharing our faith with those who don''t know Jesus is one of the greatest privileges we have. Someone has said, "Evangelism is like a beggar telling another beggar where he can find some bread!" Evangelism is good news and our faces and attitudes should reflect that good news. This Sunday, Danny Lehmann will "lighten up" the pressure many of us feel regarding personal evangelism by pointing out several different witnessing "styles" used by Paul and other effective witnesses and missionaries in the Bible. Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500 Evangelism, witnessing, missions. These words strike fear into the hearts of many believers, when in actuality, sharing our faith with those who don''t know Jesus is one of the greatest privileges we have. Someone has said, "Evangelism is like a beggar telling another beggar where he can find some bread!" Evangelism is good news and our faces and attitudes should reflect that good news. This Sunday, Danny Lehmann will "lighten up" the pressure many of us feel regarding personal evangelism by pointing out several different witnessing "styles" used by Paul and other effective witnesses and missionaries in the Bible. Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500 In today''s society when the challenges to our peace and tranquility are often more than we can take, what is our recourse? Do we just despair? Throw our hands in the air and say Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500 In today''s society when the challenges to our peace and tranquility are often more than we can take, what is our recourse? Do we just despair? Throw our hands in the air and say Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500 Many of us have grown up with "religious" experiences which have shaped our understanding of the character and nature of God. Sometimes it''s our parents, sometimes our church, sometimes it''s an experience, good or bad, that rocked our spiritual world. Using some of the concepts presented in the fictional novel "The Shack," together with Scripture, we look forward to examining our understanding of God this coming Sunday, together with the author of "The Shack," Paul Young. Who knows? We may run into some surprises. What if there is a God who truly does love us and pursues us with a grace that is "outside the box" of our religiosity? What if God is in the middle of all of our "beautiful messes" that we call life? And for that matter, who is our God, really? Join us Sunday and find out more. This is also a great opportunity to bring friends and family who are seeking after God and want to meet Him in a fresh way. See you then! Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500 Many of us have grown up with "religious" experiences which have shaped our understanding of the character and nature of God. Sometimes it''s our parents, sometimes our church, sometimes it''s an experience, good or bad, that rocked our spiritual world. Using some of the concepts presented in the fictional novel "The Shack," together with Scripture, we look forward to examining our understanding of God this coming Sunday, together with the author of "The Shack," Paul Young. Who knows? We may run into some surprises. What if there is a God who truly does love us and pursues us with a grace that is "outside the box" of our religiosity? What if God is in the middle of all of our "beautiful messes" that we call life? And for that matter, who is our God, really? Join us Sunday and find out more. This is also a great opportunity to bring friends and family who are seeking after God and want to meet Him in a fresh way. See you then! Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500 Many of us have grown up with "religious" experiences which have shaped our understanding of the character and nature of God. Sometimes it''s our parents, sometimes our church, sometimes it''s an experience, good or bad, that rocked our spiritual world. Using some of the concepts presented in the fictional novel "The Shack," together with Scripture, we look forward to examining our understanding of God this coming Sunday, together with the author of "The Shack," Paul Young. Who knows? We may run into some surprises. What if there is a God who truly does love us and pursues us with a grace that is "outside the box" of our religiosity? What if God is in the middle of all of our "beautiful messes" that we call life? And for that matter, who is our God, really? Join us Sunday and find out more. This is also a great opportunity to bring friends and family who are seeking after God and want to meet Him in a fresh way. See you then! Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500 Many of us have grown up with "religious" experiences which have shaped our understanding of the character and nature of God. Sometimes it''s our parents, sometimes our church, sometimes it''s an experience, good or bad, that rocked our spiritual world. Using some of the concepts presented in the fictional novel "The Shack," together with Scripture, we look forward to examining our understanding of God this coming Sunday, together with the author of "The Shack," Paul Young. Who knows? We may run into some surprises. What if there is a God who truly does love us and pursues us with a grace that is "outside the box" of our religiosity? What if God is in the middle of all of our "beautiful messes" that we call life? And for that matter, who is our God, really? Join us Sunday and find out more. This is also a great opportunity to bring friends and family who are seeking after God and want to meet Him in a fresh way. See you then! Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500 Have you ever found yourself thinking that life won't ever get better for you, that you're doomed to a life that gets worse and worse? Have you felt as though the only light you see at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train? Nobody likes to have a life filled with bleakness. Then again, nobody needs to. God gives us the means to turn bleakness into blessing, despair into delight, regardless of what we're facing or how things appear. Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Have you ever found yourself thinking that life won't ever get better for you, that you're doomed to a life that gets worse and worse? Have you felt as though the only light you see at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train? Nobody likes to have a life filled with bleakness. Then again, nobody needs to. God gives us the means to turn bleakness into blessing, despair into delight, regardless of what we're facing or how things appear. Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Not picked for the team? Passed over for promotion? Left at the altar? Abandoned by a spouse? Rejection hurts every time. And sometimes that hurt can surface years later, when you least expect it, causing all kinds of problems at work, at home, and in your heart. John Mark must have felt like a real loser. But he ultimately gained the respect of the very one who had rejected him, and went on to pen the gospel that bears his name. How did that happen? Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Not picked for the team? Passed over for promotion? Left at the altar? Abandoned by a spouse? Rejection hurts every time. And sometimes that hurt can surface years later, when you least expect it, causing all kinds of problems at work, at home, and in your heart. John Mark must have felt like a real loser. But he ultimately gained the respect of the very one who had rejected him, and went on to pen the gospel that bears his name. How did that happen? Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500 When things in life seem to conspire against you, it's tough not to get bitter. It's just not fair. Why should life work so well for your friends when it's falling apart for you? Why can't you get a break like they do? Why do their investments pay off when yours vanish? Why are they healthy when you have to deal with ongoing illness? Why, why, why? At times like that, it's tough not to get bitter. But did you know you can go from bitter to better? God has a powerful principle for us when we find ourselves in this kind of place. Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500 When things in life seem to conspire against you, it's tough not to get bitter. It's just not fair. Why should life work so well for your friends when it's falling apart for you? Why can't you get a break like they do? Why do their investments pay off when yours vanish? Why are they healthy when you have to deal with ongoing illness? Why, why, why? At times like that, it's tough not to get bitter. But did you know you can go from bitter to better? God has a powerful principle for us when we find ourselves in this kind of place. Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500 There's an old song that said, "Nothing's impossible I have found, for when my chin is on the ground, I pick myself up, dust myself off, and start all over again." Sounds great, doesn't it? Yet have you found it to be true? Perhaps you are in one of those "down" periods in your life right now. Maybe your marriage is on the rocks, or your future at the moment is anything but bright. When you're truly down, do you find it easy to just pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again?What we can't accomplish in the flesh, God can accomplish in the Spirit if we will simply trust and follow Him. As we continue in God's Word this Wednesday night, we find another of His powerful principles: we may be down, but we don't need to be out. Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500 There's an old song that said, "Nothing's impossible I have found, for when my chin is on the ground, I pick myself up, dust myself off, and start all over again." Sounds great, doesn't it? Yet have you found it to be true? Perhaps you are in one of those "down" periods in your life right now. Maybe your marriage is on the rocks, or your future at the moment is anything but bright. When you're truly down, do you find it easy to just pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again?What we can't accomplish in the flesh, God can accomplish in the Spirit if we will simply trust and follow Him. As we continue in God's Word this Wednesday night, we find another of His powerful principles: we may be down, but we don't need to be out. Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Often, when we are in difficult situations, we feel like God isn't with us. We feel alone and forgotten. Perhaps we have financial problems. We don't know how to pay our debt or even the rent for the next month. Or we might have just lost our job, health or someone who has been close to us. Whatever our situation, now is when we are looking for a miracle. The good news is that God has powerful principles for tough times. This Wednesday we're launching a series that looks at these terrific truths one at a time. Did you realize God helps us make something out of nothing? Bring your family, friends and neighbors and be encouraged as we launch into a powerful four week study that will guide us through essential principles we need for these tough times. Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Often, when we are in difficult situations, we feel like God isn't with us. We feel alone and forgotten. Perhaps we have financial problems. We don't know how to pay our debt or even the rent for the next month. Or we might have just lost our job, health or someone who has been close to us. Whatever our situation, now is when we are looking for a miracle. The good news is that God has powerful principles for tough times. This Wednesday we're launching a series that looks at these terrific truths one at a time. Did you realize God helps us make something out of nothing? Bring your family, friends and neighbors and be encouraged as we launch into a powerful four week study that will guide us through essential principles we need for these tough times. Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500 As Christians we daydream about what heaven will be like. We often seem tothink that heaven will look like whatever we enjoy now, only better. If welike to fish, then heaven must have the clearest rivers imaginable,stocked with fish so large nobody will believe us when we tell them whatwe caught. Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600 As Christians we daydream about what heaven will be like. We often seem tothink that heaven will look like whatever we enjoy now, only better. If welike to fish, then heaven must have the clearest rivers imaginable,stocked with fish so large nobody will believe us when we tell them whatwe caught. Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600 Sooner or later every believer asks the same question about God: how much does He love me? It may be when they've turned their back on the Lord momentarily. Perhaps it's in the midst of a particularly dark time intheir lives. Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600 Sooner or later every believer asks the same question about God: how much does He love me? It may be when they've turned their back on the Lord momentarily. Perhaps it's in the midst of a particularly dark time intheir lives. Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600 Sometimes we wonder why the Lord seems to speak to other people but not to us. We wonder why they get so excited about the things He leads them to do, yet we only seem to sit on the sidelines. Why do they get to be in the center of the action, and we have to miss out? Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600 One of the most spectacular sites in the Pacific Northwest is ButchartGardens just outside Victoria, B.C. What began originally as a large,undeveloped "backyard," over time turned into a garden so beautiful it hasdelighted people from all over the world. To walk through it takes yourbreath away! Did you realize God intends for each of us to be a garden for Him that is even more beautiful and bountiful? Have you ever thought of yourself as enchanting to God?In the Song of Solomon, we find this truth expressed in dazzling imagery. Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600 One of the most spectacular sites in the Pacific Northwest is ButchartGardens just outside Victoria, B.C. What began originally as a large,undeveloped "backyard," over time turned into a garden so beautiful it hasdelighted people from all over the world. To walk through it takes yourbreath away! Did you realize God intends for each of us to be a garden for Him that is even more beautiful and bountiful? Have you ever thought of yourself as enchanting to God?In the Song of Solomon, we find this truth expressed in dazzling imagery. Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600 When we hear the word "meditation," our normal response is to think ofeastern religion. Whether it's repeating one word for minutes on end, or"emptying our minds," we have the sense that whatever "meditation" is, wedefinitely don't want to go there. What a shame! Not only does the termand concept of meditation appear numerous times in the Bible, but also itis one of the greatest things God has given us to draw near to Him. What do you think Jesus did when He spent nights alone with God? Why doesthe Apostle Paul tell us to "meditate" on the good things of God? Is it possible that it is the gateway to experiencing God? We are going to be learning together about meditation God's way. Pastor Bill is going to be talking about the subject ingeneral, and give specific practical helps to enable us to develop thismost important area of our faith lives. Come prepared to learn, grow, andbe encouraged in your life in the Lord. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600 When we hear the word "meditation," our normal response is to think ofeastern religion. Whether it's repeating one word for minutes on end, or"emptying our minds," we have the sense that whatever "meditation" is, wedefinitely don't want to go there. What a shame! Not only does the termand concept of meditation appear numerous times in the Bible, but also itis one of the greatest things God has given us to draw near to Him. What do you think Jesus did when He spent nights alone with God? Why doesthe Apostle Paul tell us to "meditate" on the good things of God? Is it possible that it is the gateway to experiencing God? We are going to be learning together about meditation God's way. Pastor Bill is going to be talking about the subject ingeneral, and give specific practical helps to enable us to develop thismost important area of our faith lives. Come prepared to learn, grow, andbe encouraged in your life in the Lord. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600 With Christmas lists, jingle bells and Santa Claus fighting for our attention every time we venture outside our door, how do we stay centered on the Heart of Christmas? Let's come together to go beyond the "Fa la la's" of the season and find the meaning. This Wednesday we will begin at the beginning... how did Christmas get started? From Christmas trees, to Saint Nick, we will explore the season's traditions and how they influence us today. Bring the whole family and join us for the launch of our special three week series on Christmas. Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600 With Christmas lists, jingle bells and Santa Claus fighting for our attention every time we venture outside our door, how do we stay centered on the Heart of Christmas? Let's come together to go beyond the "Fa la la's" of the season and find the meaning. This Wednesday we will begin at the beginning... how did Christmas get started? From Christmas trees, to Saint Nick, we will explore the season's traditions and how they influence us today. Bring the whole family and join us for the launch of our special three week series on Christmas. Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600