"Disability." "Disbelief." "Discontent." "Dislike." The prefix "dis" comes from the Latin meaning "apart" or "away." So to have "disbelief" is to move away from belief. To be "discontent" is to be apart from contentment, and to be "disliked" means you probably shared your opinions on Facebook. "Discourage" . . . "to part with courage." When you're discouraged, you lose your bravery—your ability to move forward in the world. Discouragement robs you of your momentum, meaning, and mojo. It stops yo...
Sep 26, 2021•25 min
"Don't pray for lighter burdens, but for stronger backs." I like that quote, even though I would prefer lighter burdens. In Philippians 1:6, Paul writes, "I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." It almost sounds like a promise of lighter burdens, or at the very least burdens God bears for us. Paul's confidence is in the God who promises to see us through to the end. But just a few verses later, he accompanies this promise w...
Sep 19, 2021•24 min
Jeff was a good friend, an active member of our church, and a wonderful volunteer. He will be missed.
Sep 18, 2021•21 min
"How did you two meet?" That's a question often asked of married couples and good friends. I can tell you where I was and what I was doing when I met my best friends. Likewise, I can tell you exactly where I was when I met Trish (she disagrees on this point, of course). None of these stories seemed life-changing at the time; they were just encounters, handshakes, and hellos. Paul writes to his friends in the Philippian church about the affection he has for them, "It is right for me to feel this ...
Sep 12, 2021•26 min
The table shows up in the strangest places; you don't always find it in a kitchen or dining room. Back in April, when our family had COVID, the table showed up on our porch. I'd look out the door, and there would be people with food, drinks, and friendly faces, bringing the table to us. I've seen the table show up in hospital rooms, funeral homes, and even by the side of the road in a broken-down car. I was once in an airport overnight with a scared and lonely traveler who just wanted to get hom...
Sep 05, 2021•21 min
"DoubleThink" is a term first coined by George Orwell in his book 1984. DoubleThink is defined as "the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them as true." Sound familiar? On any day, you can find plenty of examples of DoubleThink on the news, in social media, and our conversations. We are a mass of contradictions, whether we recognize it or not. The Bible has its own take on DoubleThink. In this message, I wrap up my series on Proverbs wi...
Aug 29, 2021•22 min
There are some words we use almost exclusively in church settings. I call these words "Christianese." If you weren't brought up in Sunday school, you probably don't know how to define them. Well, honestly, even if you were, it might still be a stretch. You know the words I mean; words like "justification," "holiness," and one of the biggies, "righteousness." "Righteousness" just sounds entirely beyond us. The only part we really understand in it is "right," and we know we aren't right. There are...
Aug 15, 2021•17 min
Did you "like" and "share" that post? You know, the one that said if the sick little girl's picture got 1000 likes and shares, then the doctor perform the surgery that would save her life? Did you share it?? You can't sign online today without someone wanting you to like and share, pass it on. Do we stop and ask whether or not it's true, though? Do we ever wonder what kind of doctor would base his performance on social media responses? This calls for wisdom. Proverbs 19:2 calls us to slow down a...
Aug 08, 2021•27 min
Genesis 1 kicks off the creation story with those familiar words, "Let there be light." The first thing God does is provide us with the guidance we need to find our way in this world and, ultimately, find our way to him. What does the Bible say about the way we welcome others? How do we become more intentional about showing hospitality to our visitors and guests? Genesis 1 is all about how God made room for us. When we look at what He did for us, we see ways to make room for others. God said, "l...
Aug 01, 2021•32 min
Doctors have found that laughter is good for you. One study showed that "a good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after. Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease." It turns out Reader's Digest was right all along. Laughter IS the best medicine! That shouldn't surprise anyone who has read Proverbs, ...
Jul 25, 2021•26 min
Proverbs 17:3 says, "The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold." You've had times in your life when you felt like you were going through the furnace, difficult times that put your faith to the fire and tested if it was really there. The imagery of refining metal doesn't work without the presence of the refiner. So the refiner sits, almost hovering over the silver, carefully observing and taking the heat with his precious metal. Likewise, we come through those difficult times all th...
Jul 18, 2021•25 min
This past week I asked the question, "What makes your best friend your best friend?" So many of you gave me excellent, heartfelt answers. Some mentioned loyalty and faithfulness; others said honesty, accountability, and transparency. In all your answers, it was apparent to me that you not only have a best friend, but you also have a friend for whom you want the best. Proverbs 27:17 is one of the most vital verses on the topic of friendship. "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another....
Jul 11, 2021•22 min
We're spending the summer looking at the book of Proverbs at Kansas Christian Church. This morning, I can't help but think of Proverbs 14:34, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." Notice that everything about this verse is active. It doesn't say that past righteousness brings us glory, nor does it say that today's failings always haunt us. We're very fond of saying that the United States was founded on Christian principles. That's admirable, but this proverb isn't...
Jul 04, 2021•19 min
"Stir the pot!" If you do it while cooking, it's a blessing. It produces perfect pasta and savory soups. But when it comes to conversations and relationships, stirring the pot is never a blessing. Proverbs 15:1 warns, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." We don't have to meditate on that one very long to understand its meaning, do we? We've seen it, experienced it, and we may have even done it.
Jun 27, 2021•30 min
I see the commercials all the time; a happy family, running in slow motion, enjoying a day in the park, while the mother struggles along with a dark cloud over their head. Speaking in soft, soothing tones, the narrator says, "Does anxiety keep you from enjoying the simple things in life?" The mother continues to lag behind the family, with rain falling on her alone. The narrator concludes the commercial by encouraging us to "ask your doctor if (insert name of medicine here) is right for you." Me...
Jun 20, 2021•28 min
We sit down to eat our meal at the Chinese restaurant, the bill comes out, and everyone cracks open their fortune cookies. Then, we read those short sentences aloud to each other and ponder their meanings. I've kept track of a few of the more interesting ones I've cracked open: "No one grows old by living, only by losing interest in living." Wow! I felt that one! "Do not dwell on differences with a loved one - try to compromise." That's good advice. "Real courage is moving forward when the outco...
Jun 13, 2021•26 min
I wouldn't want you to tell my mom this, but sometimes I talk to strangers. I ask them how they're doing; I ask them if I can help. Sometimes I buy them lunch, and I even get to pray with them. The word in the Bible we translate as "Hospitality" literally means "love of strangers." That's where loving like Jesus has to start. Before we can love one another, before we can love our neighbors as ourselves, we must love strangers. And that works out best when we love them together, as a church.
Jun 06, 2021•28 min
What would Stephen do?
May 30, 2021•26 min
Together Each Accomplishes More!
May 23, 2021•29 min
When I was in school, the church in Jerusalem in the book of Acts was often lifted up as the model church. This is because they did everything right: they broke bread together, cared for one another, proclaimed Jesus, and saw tremendous growth. So if you want to have a good church, make sure it's a New Testament church like Jerusalem! Oh, and they also had Ananias and Sapphira. Acts 5 introduces us to this couple who conspired to lie to the church, only to find they had lied to God. Their story ...
May 16, 2021•26 min
In Acts 4, Peter and John are put on trial for the things they've said about Jesus. Then, in verse 13, we read, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus." This verse is an excellent reminder for me on a day after I witnessed degrees and doctorates handed out. The difference wasn't what they knew but who they had been with. If we want our lives to make a differenc...
May 09, 2021•24 min
Serve and Change a Story; Acts 3:1-10 by Bret Hammond
May 02, 2021•25 min
Unity Builds on Unity; Acts 2 by Bret Hammond
Apr 25, 2021•30 min
You Have One Job; Acts 1:6-11 by Bret Hammond
Apr 18, 2021•26 min
The Easter without an Easter; Mark 16:1-8 by Bret Hammond
Apr 04, 2021•25 min
Praise Points to Promise; Mark 11:1-10 by Bret Hammond
Mar 28, 2021•20 min
John 17 records Jesus' last prayer in this world. It's not a prayer for a pain-free death (he wouldn't get that). It's not a prayer for a death surrounded by his loved ones (he wouldn't get that either). It's a prayer for you and me that we would be one. If our unity was such a priority that Jesus made it his last prayer, shouldn't it be a priority for us? Shouldn't it be seen in how we relate to each other, treat each other, and love each other? John 17 records Jesus' last prayer, and then John...
Mar 21, 2021•27 min
Bringing Glory in His Promises; John 17:9-19 by Bret Hammond
Mar 14, 2021•27 min
You bring God glory by trusting his story.
Mar 07, 2021•22 min
Deep Faith Cares Deeply; James 5:13-20 by Bret Hammond
Feb 28, 2021•25 min
