Unfortunately, our sinful human nature brings many things our way, but one of the more heinous things it brings is pride. While some will tell me that they aren’t “prideful” in any way, in truth, all of us are because pride is at the heart of sin. Pride is what causes us to be a self-focused “creature” and that description reminds us that every human being struggles with it. We want things done “my way” and sometimes we are so bold to indicate that we want things done “my way” or offer people “t...
Mar 14, 2021•26 min
Seems like there is so much to be afraid of in our world. We’re afraid of our inner-cities. We’re afraid of our suburbs. We’re afraid of pandemics. We’re afraid of a tanking economy. We’re afraid of climate change. We’re afraid of so many things and what brings fear our way is different for everyone! So it’s very comforting to know that as a follower of Jesus, we can in fact, by the power of the Holy Spirit, be a people who are “Taking Up Boldness”. Now we’ll still fear things, both temporal and...
Mar 10, 2021•29 min
Many people are convinced that our Country is “divided” ...and in many ways it is. There are certainly divisions along party lines and even divisions about core values. That’s simply going to be the way it is in these “United” States, since with human beings there will always be divisions. That truth is why it’s so critical for the Church, and more to the point, for followers of Jesus, to live lives of unity and solidarity. Jesus prayed in John 17 that we as Christian people would be “one” even ...
Mar 07, 2021•29 min
Mar 07, 2021•25 min
Many people are convinced that our Country is “divided” ...and in many ways it is. There are certainly divisions along party lines and even divisions about core values. That’s simply going to be the way it is in these “United” States, since with human beings there will always be divisions. That truth is why it’s so critical for the Church, and more to the point, for followers of Jesus, to live lives of unity and solidarity. Jesus prayed in John 17 that we as Christian people would be “one” even ...
Mar 07, 2021•27 min
t genuinely seems that our world is becoming a very angry place to live. People are easily touched off and as such can be aggressive and hateful and hurtful. After all, we live in what has been called “The Cancel Culture” where someone’s anger towards another person or their actions can genuinely ruin careers and families and sadly, people’s lives. We are not called to “man’s anger” as James wrote it, but we are instead called to peaceful, loving, gentle lives, showing others who Jesus is to us ...
Mar 03, 2021•24 min
Mar 02, 2021•7 min
Mar 02, 2021•17 min
We know the saying “you can’t judge a book by its cover” and yet...we do that very thing all the time, don’t we? We are a judgmental people and our judgments are often based on outward “things”, the “things” we think we know about the person we are judging. The Lord reminds us that there is only One Judge and He reminds us the the “One Judge” ain’t you! James writes it this way: “There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?”...
Feb 28, 2021•32 min
Feb 28, 2021•22 min
We know the saying “you can’t judge a book by its cover” and yet...we do that very thing all the time, don’t we? We are a judgmental people and our judgments are often based on outward “things”, the “things” we think we know about the person we are judging. The Lord reminds us that there is only One Judge and He reminds us the the “One Judge” ain’t you! James writes it this way: “There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?”...
Feb 28, 2021•32 min
We begin our Lenten journey with what is perhaps the most difficult thing for us to give up...during Lent or otherwise...and that being giving up ourselves. To be sure, the Lord wants us to love ourselves and take care of ourselves and view ourselves as valuable creations of His almighty hand. But true Christianity is one of self- denial...more than that...one of dying to self and doing so on a daily basis that you may unhindered, follow Jesus wherever He wants you to go. As we begin our “Taking...
Feb 24, 2021•29 min
Feb 24, 2021•15 min
Regardless of your personality type, “introvert” or “extrovert”, everyone has issues with giving up control. As sinful human beings, we want things our way and our personality type simply dictates how aggressively we pursue our controlling behavior. As a Christian however, the identity which supersedes our personality types and our behaviors, we are called to give up control, open our hands and “let go”, otherwise said, let the Lord have His way in our lives. We may not always understand where H...
Feb 21, 2021•30 min
Regardless of your personality type, “introvert” or “extrovert”, everyone has issues with giving up control. As sinful human beings, we want things our way and our personality type simply dictates how aggressively we pursue our controlling behavior. As a Christian however, the identity which supersedes our personality types and our behaviors, we are called to give up control, open our hands and “let go”, otherwise said, let the Lord have His way in our lives. We may not always understand where H...
Feb 21, 2021•25 min
Feb 21, 2021•28 min
We begin our Lenten journey with what is perhaps the most difficult thing for us to give up...during Lent or otherwise...and that being giving up ourselves. To be sure, the Lord wants us to love ourselves and take care of ourselves and view ourselves as valuable creations of His almighty hand. But true Christianity is one of self- denial...more than that...one of dying to self and doing so on a daily basis that you may unhindered, follow Jesus wherever He wants you to go. As we begin our “Taking...
Feb 17, 2021•22 min
Feb 14, 2021•20 min
We began this series looking at the sweet promise that God has forgiven us of all our sins. This week we look at the promise that God will use us to spread this news throughout the world. C.S. Lewis famously wrote “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you”. There is no greater joy God could give to us than to be used by Him to spread the news of His love and mercy for this world and to be used as an ambassador of His forgiveness for all!...
Feb 14, 2021•26 min
We began this series looking at the sweet promise that God has forgiven us of all our sins. This week we look at the promise that God will use us to spread this news throughout the world. C.S. Lewis famously wrote “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you”. There is no greater joy God could give to us than to be used by Him to spread the news of His love and mercy for this world and to be used as an ambassador of His forgiveness for all!...
Feb 13, 2021•24 min
For all of us, the forced social isolation, and required physical disconnection from people, has been incredibly difficult. This week we remember that it isn’t the church building, the worship style, or even if we are in person that unites us as a people but in fact it is God Himself that unites us. Jesus said that true worship won’t happen at this place or at this time, but true worship will happen in Spirit and in truth. Whether or not we’re in the church building, or at home, we are united as...
Feb 07, 2021•28 min
Feb 07, 2021•20 min
For all of us, the forced social isolation, and required physical disconnection from people, has been incredibly difficult. This week we remember that it isn’t the church building, the worship style, or even if we are in person that unites us as a people but in fact it is God Himself that unites us. Jesus said that true worship won’t happen at this place or at this time, but true worship will happen in Spirit and in truth. Whether or not we’re in the church building, or at home, we are united as...
Feb 07, 2021•21 min
Feb 02, 2021•16 min
Feb 02, 2021•15 min
The calendar year 2020 has taught us all many lessons it seems. Don’t take toilet paper for granted, community is an essential piece of our lives, don’t leave home without your mask, and it is no fun to feel a sense of powerlessness in our lives. I have a secret for you though, come close and I will tell you, there is a way to feel content, and even strong, no matter what is going on in your life. The secret is that it has nothing to do with you and your strength and everything to do with God an...
Jan 31, 2021•24 min
Jan 31, 2021•21 min
The calendar year 2020 has taught us all many lessons it seems. Don’t take toilet paper for granted, community is an essential piece of our lives, don’t leave home without your mask, and it is no fun to feel a sense of powerlessness in our lives. I have a secret for you though, come close and I will tell you, there is a way to feel content, and even strong, no matter what is going on in your life. The secret is that it has nothing to do with you and your strength and everything to do with God an...
Jan 31, 2021•35 min
The double helix of the promises of God is that God will be our provider and our protector every day of our lives. When God makes a promise, He always fulfills His promise, and the promise you can rest in this week is that God is fighting for you. What an incredible image it is to picture the God of the universe going to battle for you, standing over you, surrounding you with His angels, and guarding and protecting you throughout your entire life. We find comfort and strength in this phrase agai...
Jan 24, 2021•23 min
The double helix of the promises of God is that God will be our provider and our protector every day of our lives. When God makes a promise, He always fulfills His promise, and the promise you can rest in this week is that God is fighting for you. What an incredible image it is to picture the God of the universe going to battle for you, standing over you, surrounding you with His angels, and guarding and protecting you throughout your entire life. We find comfort and strength in this phrase agai...
Jan 24, 2021•27 min
