Hey Family, Why did I say that? It just slipped out! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it. They’re all phrases that we use after having said something that we wish we could take back. All of us have had moments where we cut someone down, hurt someone deeply, or say an inappropriate remark. This week going to learn about where these outbursts come from and how to deal with the words that are in our hearts before we deal with the words that come out of our mouths. Come as we continue our series in the Book...
Oct 20, 2019•43 min
Hey Family, We've been in a series called "This Is Us," which talks about what it's like to be a Christian in today's tough world. This Sunday we're going to learn how each of us can show God's love to others in everyday ways, in our daily lives. God has given each of us some special abilities to carry out his work. Do you use those abilities just for yourself, or do you reach out to others as well? The scripture tells us that faith without works is pretty much meaningless. Come this week and he...
Oct 06, 2019•47 min
Hey Family, We are all affected by the injustices that we see on the news, whether it be poor communities being forced out of a neighborhood that they've lived in for many years, insufficient health care for those who do not have the resources, immigrants being taken advantage of in their very difficult situation, and on and on it goes. The church can be the hope for the world and for those who have been oppressed and unjustly treated. Please come and hear what scripture has to say on this matte...
Sep 29, 2019•51 min
Hey Family, We've been in a series called "This Is Us," and last week we talked about how we can't be of service to others unless we take out the trash in our own lives. In the picture above I have an old banana peel on my head and a half-eaten sandwich in my pocket. I felt pretty embarrassed--but that's the way we should feel, when we humble ourselves before God. When we confess our sins to him, he grants us forgiveness--and then we need to start making some changes in our lives so that we can ...
Sep 15, 2019
Hey Family, We've been in a series called "This Is Us," and last week we talked about how we can't be of service to others unless we take out the trash in our own lives. In the picture above I have an old banana peel on my head and a half-eaten sandwich in my pocket. I felt pretty embarrassed--but that's the way we should feel, when we humble ourselves before God. When we confess our sins to him, he grants us forgiveness--and then we need to start making some changes in our lives so that we can ...
Sep 15, 2019•41 min
Hey Family, Every one of us has experience with people who talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. It’s always frustrating to deal with that kind of person because we find them hypocritical, difficult to deal with, and just not people we want to be around. But the Bible says we are to be people who don’t just hear the word, but do the word. What does that look like in the 21st century, to do what the Bible says? Come this Sunday as we continue our new series, This Is Us, by talking about how the ...
Sep 08, 2019
Hey Family, Every one of us has experience with people who talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. It’s always frustrating to deal with that kind of person because we find them hypocritical, difficult to deal with, and just not people we want to be around. But the Bible says we are to be people who don’t just hear the word, but do the word. What does that look like in the 21st century, to do what the Bible says? Come this Sunday as we continue our new series, This Is Us, by talking about how the ...
Sep 08, 2019•38 min
Everywhere we go, we look for people, for communities, that can help us through difficult times. The church is that community, where we can unite with others and recognize that we are not made to be solo in our lives, not meant to make big decisions or live life in an isolated way, but rather together. So we going to spend the next few weeks in a brand-new series called This is Us. We’re going to talk about the stuff of life, and how the church is uniquely qualified to help us get through it. An...
Sep 01, 2019
Everywhere we go, we look for people, for communities, that can help us through difficult times. The church is that community, where we can unite with others and recognize that we are not made to be solo in our lives, not meant to make big decisions or live life in an isolated way, but rather together. So we going to spend the next few weeks in a brand-new series called This is Us. We’re going to talk about the stuff of life, and how the church is uniquely qualified to help us get through it. An...
Sep 01, 2019•45 min
ey Family, In the book of Genesis, Jacob wrestles with an angel until the angel agrees to bless him. But the experience did not leave Jacob untouched. This Sunday we welcome Pastor Will McGee of Cornerstone Baptist Church, who is going to open up this scripture for us. I hope to see you all at 10 a.m., and bring a friend! --Edwin
Aug 25, 2019•39 min
Have you ever had the experience where you finally got hold of something you'd really been hoping for? Maybe it was something you waited for, something you really expected would be great . . . and then it turns out not to be so great after all? How did that make you feel? Is there anything in this world that will make us truly happy? Come this Sunday as we start a brand-new series called "Searching." I look forward to seeing you at 10 A.M.
Aug 11, 2019•40 min
Hey Family, We all know that Jesus died on the cross for us. But what exactly does that mean to our daily lives? This Sunday we’ll hear about the Peace, Purpose, and Power that we gain from believing in Christ. With these three gifts, we can face any challenge. Come Sunday at 10 a.m. to learn just how much we have to be grateful for. --Edwin
Jul 21, 2019•39 min
Hey Family, Throughout the Bible, God speaks frequently about the poor. He does not want those suffering from poverty to be ignored, despised, or forgotten. In this week's message, Begging for Change, Pastor Pedro Rodriguez will look at the ways God directs us to deal with this vulnerable population. There are things that all of us can do. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday at 10 a.m
Jul 06, 2019•52 min
Hey Family, Anxiety is something that can grab hold of every one of us. Whether we’re concerned about what school we’re going to get into, the state of our marriage, our bodies and what the doctors tell us, anxiety is something that becomes not only part of our lives as human beings, but can be magnified because we live in New York. This week we’re going to pause and look at anxiety from the perspective of the gospel. We will ask God how he would lead us even through difficult, scary moments, ou...
Jun 20, 2019•43 min
Hey Family, Many of us have known what it is to take a bad idea too far. For some of us it’s an alcohol addiction, for others it’s going after sex . . . something that we knew wasn’t right, but we did it anyway and then it had its way with our lives, hurting the people around us, leaving us in a place where we were broken and troubled. How does Jesus deal with people who have turned their back on his teaching to such a degree that they are consumed by the very thing they thought would liberate t...
Jun 16, 2019•49 min
Hey Family, There are moments in life when the reality of our guilt is so oppressive that all we feel is shame. We feel so deeply guilty about what we’ve done that when we see people looking at us, all we can think of is that they know how broken and sinful we are. As a result, we might take on an hard-hearted attitude—that we don’t care what people think, or we don’t even care what God thinks. Or . . . we can run to Christ, and find out that guilt doesn’t create our identity. We can be forgiven...
Jun 09, 2019•46 min
We finished our series called When God Shows Up, which I hope illustrated how God makes himself known in the midst of all our circumstances. This Sunday we begin a followup series called JESUS WITH..., in which we'll investigate how Jesus confronts people from different backgrounds in different ways. And that's good news for us, because it gives us the assurance that no matter where we've come from or what position we are in today, Jesus meets us where we are and works on us in the way that will...
May 31, 2019•51 min
Hey Family, Did you know that 1 in 5 New Yorkers struggles with mental illness each year? Not only that, many don't have hope or help in those struggles. Mental illness--including depression and other conditions--isn't just a modern problem. This Sunday we'll learn about a particular person in the Bible who suffered from mental illness, and whose life was completely changed by meeting Jesus. Our good friend Pastor Zac Martin will be our guest speaker. Come hear about how we as a church can provi...
May 26, 2019•34 min
What is the appropriate response when God shows up in powerful ways? We've been in a series called WHEN GOD SHOWS UP. In the last two weeks we've talked about what God does in times when we experience crisis or doubts. But this week we're going to speak about what *our* response should be. This is so important, because when we have an encounter with God--in scripture, in community, in prayer--He doesn't show up just to do carnival tricks. God's showing up demands a response.
May 19, 2019•56 min
Hey Family, Last week we started a brand-new series called WHEN GOD SHOWS UP. As we continue this Sunday, what I hope you will come to understand is that when we’ve exhausted all of our favors, used up all of our resources, taken all of our time and are at the end of our rope . . . that is the time that God will show up. Last week we talked about how He shows up in the midst of our doubts. This week, it’s how He shows up in moments of great crisis. We’ll be going to the Old Testament and noticin...
May 12, 2019•45 min
Listen in on our Easter Sunday service
Apr 21, 2019•49 min
Hey Family, In Bible times, a man became known as a prophet if what he proclaimed came to pass. The prophets who spoke for God told the people the truth they needed to hear, even if it hurt. In this Sunday's message, we'll learn about Jesus as Prophet. Our guest pastor will be David Louw, who has been very popular in his previous visits to RHOW. Please join us as we welcome him to continue our series, JESUS UNCOVERED. We will also celebrate Communion together as a church family. I look forward t...
Apr 08, 2019•39 min
I'm so grateful for all the good feedback I've gotten on our current series, JESUS UNCOVERED. It's inspiring to know that people are seeing Jesus in a bigger and more beautiful light, and I've heard how some of you are learning to rejoice at his work in your life. We still have a lot to discuss... the fact is, a series like this could go on for infinity! Whenever we study about who Jesus is, it's going to affect how we relate to our loved ones, handle our finances, deal with our work lives and m...
Apr 01, 2019•48 min
Many times when our lives feel out of control, or pain seems to overwhelm us, or stress just won't let up, one of the biggest helps we can get is perspective. Having perspective helps us not to collapse under our feelings, but instead see what is real. And nothing gives us a better perspective on our lives than how we see Jesus. If we believe Jesus doesn't care, or is too busy, or doesn't have the power to help us, then we're on our own, and our stress, pain, and despair are justified. But Jesus...
Mar 24, 2019•53 min
Hey Family, Last week we started a new series for the Lenten season called Jesus Uncovered. The purpose of the series is for us to grow in understanding of who Jesus is and how he reigns and rules in our lives. We hope that Jesus is on the throne of your heart. This week we learn about Jesus as servant. Jesus lowered himself to washing people's feet, lowered himself to become a servant of those he came to save, lowered himself even to dying a very public death on the cross between two thieves. U...
Mar 19, 2019•41 min
Hey Family, Have you ever had a relationship with someone for a long time and then found out some new detail about him or her that really opened your eyes? That’s the way I feel about Jesus. The more I get to know him, the more I fall in love with him, and the more that relationship changes my life. In our new series leading up to Easter, JESUS UNCOVERED, we’re going to take a new and different look at Jesus. You will be surprised and marvel at what we discover about his life. I look forward to ...
Mar 10, 2019•44 min
Hey Family, In our series, Real Marriage, we have learned that marriage is work. When two sinners say "I do," reality sets in. The origin of marriage is God, so it is Him we look to in order to have a real marriage. Join us this Sunday at 10 a.m. when Pastor Gus closes out the series with a talk on intimacy in marriage. This could be a great time to invite some friends who may be struggling in their own married life. --Edwin
Mar 03, 2019•55 min
Hey Family, We've been in a series on marriage for the last few weeks and I hope that everyone has been blessed by what we've been learning. This Sunday Pastor Pedro will bring a message called "Taking out the trash." When we have arguments within our friendships, work environments, or even marriages, we can be pushed to the edge of real combativeness. All too often we behave with hard-heartedness and only care about having our own way. This only creates greater chasms and bitterness. This week ...
Feb 25, 2019•54 min
Hey Family, We've been in a series called Real Marriage, in which we've been discussing not only what a marriage is but what each member's role is within the context of that marriage. Last week we talked about the men and how there are many social and cultural lessons that we've accepted as true but which prevent men from being what God has called them to be in their marriage, their parenting, and in society. Now we turn our sights on the women. We start looking at very similar misconceptions, l...
Feb 18, 2019•56 min
Marriage is a covenant, not a contract. Every covenant—including the new covenant of salvation—has a head, who is ultimately responsible for the covenant. The husband is the covenant head of a marriage; he is responsible for his marriage, his wife, and his kids. Similarly, Christ took that which was not his fault—our sin—and he made it his responsibility on the cross. He is our covenant head. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday at 10 a.m. as our series on marriage continues. --Edwin
Feb 10, 2019•59 min
