If you could plot your spiritual journey on a graph, what would the pattern look like?

A graph of our life would include some ups and downs, incredible mountaintop experiences and some deep valleys in between. The valleys represent the seasons when we feel far from God. They may be times of testing, seasons when His voice seems silent, or valleys of our own making because we have drifted from Him.

For some of us, our spiritual progress resembles a heart monitor graph—the image on the left above. There are moments of excitement and commitment that spike upward, but we quickly settle back down to the same baseline.

The troubling part is that the highs never seem to get higher, and the valleys feel just as low as they have always been before.

But what if our spiritual growth looked more like the stock chart of a company steadily trending upward? It still has valleys. There are difficult seasons and setbacks. Yet each valley does not take us as low as the one before, and every new peak rises higher than the last.

Psalm 84:7 says:
“They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.”

This is the promise for those who seek God. It does not mean we will never face trials or experience seasons when God feels distant. It means that those who pursue Him move from strength to strength. Each new mountaintop builds upon the previous one. God continues to deepen and stretch us.

Take the First Step
You may be reading this and thinking, If I could just reach the first mountaintop, maybe that could happen. But I don't even know where to begin.

That is why I love the story of Gideon. When God called him to deliver Israel, Gideon was hiding in fear. He told God that he came from the weakest family in the weakest clan. In essence he was saying, I don't even know where to start.

God replied in Judges 6:14:
“Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

In other words, take the first step of faith.

You do not have to have everything figured out. You may not know where the resources will come from. You may wonder who will fight with you. You may even feel as though your spiritual fuel tank is nearly empty.

We find that dilemma in the story of the feeding of the 5,000. The people were hungry and needed to eat. Jesus tells the disciples, “You give them something to eat.” All they had was a boy’s lunch. Once it was surrendered to Christ and prayed over, the leftovers were vastly more than what the boy had to offer.

God simply says to take the first step with what you already possess.

Commit Your Next Steps to God
If God is calling you to take that first step toward your new mountaintop, He will provide what you need for the next step. As we keep moving forward, we discover strength like we have never known.

Second Chronicles 16:9 says:
“The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

God is looking for people who seek Him and His will. When he finds them, he gives them more strength to fulfill His purpose in their life.

It is almost like God carries them on eagles’ wings. His strength powers them through the valleys and leads us to higher ground.

So let us seek Him with all of our being and trust Him to lead us from strength to strength.

Blessings,

Good morning, church family!

A group of us, after spending time in the Psalms at a men’s retreat, decided to “pray the Psalms.” This is an ancient practice where you read a psalm several times. Then you read it out loud, replacing the Psalmist’s personal or generic reference with your own name to make it your prayer. Psalm 1:1 would read for me, “Blessed is David who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked . . .” You get the idea.

We committed to praying though the entire Psalter. We posted almost daily for motivation, accountability, and sharing personal insights. When we got to Psalm 109, our Facebook page blew up! The most common questions were, “Can we pray things like this? Is this Christian? What do I do with this?” This might be a good time for you to stop and read Psalm 109 in its entirety. I’ll wait . . .

Psalm 109 is an imprecatory psalm, where the author vividly, even angrily calls down curses on his enemies. David dialed up catchy phrases like “may his children be fatherless and his wife a widow” (v. 9), and “may his children become wandering beggars, driven from their ruined homes” (v. 10). And my personal favorite, “may the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord; may the sin of his mother never be blotted out” (v. 14). Nice.

What do we do with Scriptures like this? Well, we should rejoice! Rejoice in the freedom of being this honest before God. David clearly pulled no punches in this psalm, which by the way, he wanted put to music! If the man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22) could be this gut-level honest with God, why do we think we need to sugar coat our words?

I think David knew in his heart God would not grant these angered petitions. I also think David knew if he didn’t release his anger somewhere, it would consume him. So, he took his rage to the safest One he knew – the God who loved and called him by name (cf. Isa. 43:1). Once his heart was emptied of its venom, he could present to God his most urgently needed petition.

“But you, Sovereign Lord, help me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me” (Psalm 109:21). David asked for help, not because of who he was but because of who God is. David sought deliverance, not because he was good but because God is. David could then admit his condition: “I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me” (v. 22). From an emptied and broken heart, David invited God to transform his life.

I am convinced David could not have prayed vv. 21-22, without praying the venom of the first twenty verses. Back to the questions. “Can we pray things like this?” Yes, and the ability to do so is a gift from God. “Is this Christian?” It can be, as we lay the ugliness of our heart bare before God. “What do we do with this?” Mimic it, releasing our anger before asking God for cleansing.

Go to the Psalms not to shape your theology but to expand your prayer life, as it will! Pretty sure I still don’t want my ugliest thoughts put to music but I have had this tune stuck in my head!

Blessings,
Pastor David

Good morning, church family!

I heard the story of two lumberjacks who decided to have a competition of who could cut down the most trees in a day. One went one way and the other a different way. After about an hour the first lumberjack noticed the other had quit chopping. He worked even harder and thought the second one was taking a break. About every hour the second one would stop chopping for about ten minutes throughout the day. At the end of the day the first one was excited to show off how much he had done. When they went to look at the second one’s trees, he had cut nearly double. The first one exclaimed, “How? You took a break every hour!” The second one replied, “I wasn’t taking a break each hour. I was sharpening my axe.”

Paul was Timothy’s mentor in the faith and ministry. We get some insight into that relationship in the two books written to encourage Timothy. Paul was teaching him how to sharpen his axe as a believer. In 2 Timothy 2:15 Paul encourages him to study the Word to show himself approved by God and so he could correctly explain the truth. In 2 Timothy 2:3 he’s encouraged to endure hardship and to not avoid it so that he can please the lord. Then in 2 Timothy 1:6 he’s encouraged to fan into flame his gifts. Paul understood that living in this world will dull our axe blade and that to be an effective Christian, we must constantly be sharpening ourselves.

Ecclesiastes 10:10 says, “Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed” (NLT). A dull blade still cuts, but it requires more strength and effort. Implementing daily spiritual disciplines will help keep you sharp and effective. To do that you need to study in the Bible, examine your heart, renew your mind, put God’s Word into practice and pray. Jesus provided examples of this by withdrawing from the crowd to be alone with God. When is the last time you stepped away to purposefully sharpen your axe? We must take time each day to sharpen our axe so we can be more effective for the Kingdom in a world that tries to dull it every day.

Blessings,
Pastor David

Never in our lifetime have we witnessed so much division and discord in America. Some say the issue is racism, which is definitely a major issue and always will be until people’s hearts are changed. Only Jesus can do that. Others point to the divide in Washington between paid politicians who can’t seem to agree on anything other than spending OUR money. (Our national debt is approaching $40 trillion.) Others would point to recent Supreme Court rulings legalizing blatant, brazen immorality.

At the root is a deeper, more distinct issue. Let me explain.

There’s a reason why there has to be standards in a nation like ours. No nation can exist for long without standards. Like an orchestra that has to have every instrument in tune, or they can’t play a single song, the current discord in our nation is nothing more than the result of people and politicians who’ve decided we no longer need standards.

In Gaithersburg, Maryland, there’s an agency called the National Institute of Standards and Technology. It’s a federal agency, funded by your tax dollars, to make sure we’re all on the same page. Here’s how they describe it: “The Office of Weights and Measures promotes uniformity in U.S. weights and measures laws, regulations, and standards to achieve equality between buyers and sellers in the marketplace. This enhances consumer confidence, enables U.S. businesses to compete fairly at home and abroad, and strengthens the U.S. economy.” They go on to say that half of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product is affected by this agency, and would include retail food sales, transportation, petroleum products, and chemicals.

Can you imagine what would happen in America, if suddenly there were no standards by which to do business? What would happen to the construction business, retail sales, or food sales, if there were different standards or no standards at all? One of the reasons people stop at a McDonald’s or Burger King when they’re traveling is because they know what they’re going to get. But what would happen if that suddenly changed? Travel to a foreign country, walk into a restaurant with an American name, and you’ll begin to get an idea of what I’m saying.

What if a gallon of milk in Springfield, Oregon, were only half a gallon in Springfield, Florida, but sold at the gallon price? Most people would say that’s unacceptable. Some would suggest it was criminal. Exactly. There must be standards.

If you want to see what it looks like when there are no standards, just check out Judges 17:6, where it says, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” In other words, there were no standards and there was no accountability. Everyone just did their own thing, and it was chaos.

There must be standards. Whether you’re talking about stop signs, milk, 2 x 4s, medicine, clothing, automobiles or even musical instruments.

In his book, What Keeps You Up At Night, Pete Wilson writes: “Here’s something I didn’t know until recently: in centuries past, there was no standard tuning pitch for musical instruments. It varies from place to place, and sometimes, even from street to street within the same city. ‘What difference would that make?’ you may ask. Well, if you’ve ever gone to an orchestra concert, you may remember that the first thing that happens is the first-chair violinist, or concertmaster, walks out on stage (people usually clap; I’m not sure why). Then, the oboe player sounds a note. Next, the entire orchestra plays the same note, then different notes, as each performer makes sure his or her instrument is in sync with the tuning note. Once everybody is in tune, the conductor walks out (people clap again, even though nobody has really done anything yet), and soon the music begins.

It just so happens that the pitch the oboist plays for the tuning note is the A above middle C. To be precise, it is the A that is produced by 440 vibrations per second. Musicians usually call it A 440. If you go to a concert in Nashville, New York City, Berlin, Istanbul, or Tokyo, the orchestras will all tune to A 440. It is the modern standard concert pitch.

The advantage of this is that if you are a musician, no matter where you go in the world, you can play with other musicians and know that you will all be in tune (well, as long as everyone is paying attention). If you are a trumpet player from Chicago and you are performing as a guest artist with the Budapest Festival Orchestra, your instrument will blend with the rest of the group. All of you are calibrated to the same standard.

Now, can you start to see the problem musicians were having a few centuries ago? There was no universally accepted standard. Each musician could do his or her own thing – which was a real difficulty if they wanted to perform together.”

Wilson continues, “Just as any musician knows that his or her instrument needs to be recalibrated to A 440 before any important session or performance, we need to know that our lives have to be recalibrated on a regular basis. We need to measure ourselves against the standard, and God has provided us the perfect tuning pitch to make sure we are living in tune with the way He has designed us to function.”

We’re still called the United States of America. But it’s pretty clear we’re not all on the same page. Is there any hope for us? Can America be united again?

Only if we get in tune with God
Blessings,
 

Good morning, church family!

It has been said that behind every successful man, there is a loving and supportive wife . . . and a very surprised mother-in-law! I have to say that is certainly true in my case. Angela has walked faithfully and shared in ministry with me for 44 years. As for the second part of the saying . . . unfortunately I never got to meet her.

As for Peter’s mother-in-law, she may not have been surprised but was definitely blessed by the Apostle’s call to and developing connection with Jesus. Matthew recorded an instance when Jesus was a guest in Simon’s home. Upon his arrival, Jesus found Peter’s mother-in-law in bed with a fever. Dr. Luke let us know this was a “high fever” and Peter’s family, sensing the severity of her illness, “asked Jesus to help her” (Luke 4:38).

Jesus simply “touched her hand and the fever left her” (Matt. 8:15a). As Jesus healed many that day both before and after his time in Peter’s home, this healing is not unique. But what Matthew noted next has long caught my attention: “she got up and began to wait on him” (Matt. 8:15b). “No sooner had he healed her than she busied herself in attending to his needs and to the needs of the other guests. She clearly regarded herself as ‘saved to serve’” (Barclay).

That seems to provide an answer to a question I have fielded many times throughout my ministry: “Why doesn’t God just take us home after our conversion?” It would make things a lot easier; I get that. But I think Peter’s mother-in-law would respond this way: “Because it is not just about us. We are saved to serve.” It is not just about my salvation or my healing. It is about the touch of God on my life which allows me to not only serve him but also his people.

The Bible is quite clear that each of us has been given gifts from the Holy Spirit to employ in service to others. Paul put it this way: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (I Cor. 12:7). Spiritual gifts are not given to enrich our lives or make us the center of attention. They are given to be used in ministry to bless those around us. In other words, we are “saved to serve.”

Later in his life, Peter wrote this: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (I Pet. 4:10). The word Peter used and is translated as “various” comes from a root meaning a tapestry. The implication is when each of us faithfully uses our spiritual gifts for the good of others, God weaves them into a tapestry creating a beautiful picture of his grace. In other words, we are “saved to serve.”

Rejoice that Jesus has touched you and brought healing and restoration to your life. No matter your brokenness, leave it behind. You can “[get] up [begin] to wait on” those around you so they can be strengthened, and the Lord can be glorified. We are “saved to serve.” Let’s be successful in serving and so bring a smile to the Lord’s face . . . and another surprise to our mothers-in-law!

Blessings,
Pastor David

Good morning, church family!

Sadly, I have almost no childhood memories of celebrating Father’s Day. As an adult, however, I called Dad to talk every Father’s Day. Boy, I would give just about anything to have one more of those conversations with him.

Being a father is one of the greatest blessings in my life. The kids would often give me cards they made for Father’s Day which were so precious - even if I had to have the artwork explained to me! We developed our own Father's Day tradition: go to church, come home and grill steaks and spend the rest of the day playing games or just relaxing. Now, I look forward to hearing these sweet words: “Happy Father’s Day, Grandpa!”

What a blessing to know we have, as the song says, a “Good, Good Father.” The Apostle John marveled at “the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God” (I John 3:1). God is not reluctant in giving out his love; rather he has lavished it on us. This is a very active word in the Greek of the New Testament, implying God has poured out on us the very depths of his unfailing love.

Paul used three powerful descriptors in articulating the Father’s lavished love. First, we have “redemption through his blood” (Eph. 1:7). Redemption implies the securing of our release by the payment of a ransom. The ransom paid, the cost of our release from the penalty of sin, was the blood of Jesus. God the Father, in full cooperation with God the Son, birthed this incredible plan of redemption “before the creation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). Lavish love indeed!

Second, we can know “the forgiveness of sins” (v. 7). The word forgiveness implies the full release from an obligation, from a debt hanging over you. In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God in Christ is eternal life in the Father’s presence (cf. Rom. 6:23). This gift of forgiveness “purifies us from all sin (I John 1:7). Not some, much or even most, but all our sin. Lavish love indeed!

Finally, we can experience “the riches of God's grace” (v. 7). The biblical writers used grace to describe many facets of the riches of God. We are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8). By grace we can approach God’s throne with confidence (Heb. 4:16). By grace we are gifted for ministry (Rom. 12:6). By grace we are strengthened daily for the journey (Heb. 13:7). From conversion till called home, we live by the riches of God’s grace. Lavish love indeed!

God is a father who specialized in the giving and not the receiving of gifts. Regardless of how or even if you celebrate Father’s Day – in ways big or small – you have a Father’s Day to look forward to, when Abba welcomes you into his arms and whispers, “welcome home, my child.” Hallelujah!

Blessings,
Pastor David

Technology can be a great thing in helping us discover more about something. I recently asked ChatGPT to describe First Church of Christ, and here’s how it responded:

 “First Church of Christ is a Bible-centered, non-denominational Christian church that has served Cherokee and the surrounding northwest Iowa area for many years. The church seeks to create a welcoming environment where people from all walks of life can grow in their faith, whether they are lifelong Christians or simply exploring spiritual questions for the first time. Its mission is summarized in three simple words—“Believe, Love, Grow.” It is a gathering of ordinary people—farmers, teachers, students, retirees, construction workers, business owners, and families—who are united by their faith in Jesus Christ. Rather than emphasizing perfection, the congregation emphasizes grace, hospitality, and spiritual growth. Their stated goal is to help connect people to faith by sharing the gospel, serving others with generosity and compassion, gathering regularly for worship and encouragement, and living lives marked by prayer and Christlike love.”

How would you describe First Church of Christ to someone if they had never visited?

If you consider First Church your church home, there are probably certain things that resonate with you more than others—the preaching, kids programming, groups, a specific ministry, or the relationships you've built here. Something comes to mind when you think about why you keep coming back, continue investing, and choose to make First Church a part of your life.

While each of us may answer that question differently, what unites us is our mission: To Love one another and help others grow in their relationship with God. Everything we do—from Sunday services and groups to children's ministry, Bible studies, outreach opportunities, and care ministries—flows from that purpose.

As we move through the summer months, it can be easy to shift into vacation mode and disconnect from some of our normal rhythms. Summer is also a great opportunity to reflect on what God has done in our lives and consider how we can continue growing in our faith and relationships. Whether you're traveling, attending camp, serving in a ministry, gathering with a group, or simply worshiping on a Sunday morning, every interaction is an opportunity to help fulfill our mission.

The church is not ultimately defined by its building, programs, facility or even its staff. The church is people. It's each of us choosing to live out the love of Christ and intentionally helping others take their next step toward Jesus.

So perhaps an even better question than "How would you describe First Church of Christ?" is this: How are you helping others experience First Church’s mission?

This summer, may we continue to be a church that not only talks about loving one another and helping others to grow in their relationship with Jesus, but may we each one actively live it out every day.

Blessings,
Pastor David

Where do you fix your gaze these days? We can look down, look back, look around, or we can look up.

When we are discouraged, defeated, depressed, we tend to look down. If you find yourself looking down, consider what David repeated three times in Psalm 42 and 43. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

When we carry shame, regret, or start dreaming of the ‘good ole days’ we find ourselves looking back. When you get tired of turning around to see what is behind you, remember what Paul said, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead” (Philippians 3:13).

When we face threats, making comparisons, or living discontented lives, we spend a lot of time looking around. We begin the search for something more to this life. Listen to the words of David, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2).

In fact, that is always the answer for looking down, looking back, and looking around. From the lowest pit of despair, from the paralysis of being stuck in the past, and from the constant craving for more, the solution is the same, we need to look up.

The Bible consistently points our eyes vertically. Moses learned this as he led Israel. David looked beyond the armies of men to the angel armies of God. When Daniel’s prayers became a criminal act, he went back to his room, opened his window, and prayed to God as he had always done.

One of the best reminders is found in 2 Chronicles 20. King Jehoshaphat and Judah were threatened by the combined forces of three different nations. They are outnumbered, and he prayed to God, “We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12).

God assured him that there was no need to fear. “The battle is not yours, but God’s.” In fact, they wouldn’t even have to fight this battle.

Stop and think about that for a minute. Is there a battle you are trying to fight in your own strength? Trust God and let him do the heavy lifting. You may not have to lift a finger to see a resolution.

In Jehoshaphat’s story, God set an ambush for the three kings. (Possibly an angel army.) All of the three nations turned on each other and totally destroyed themselves.

All Judah had to do is go out and collect the plunder. There was so much it took three days to gather it all.

God knows what threatens you. He knows the helplessness you sometimes feel. And He has more than enough power to handle it.

Look up! Lift your eyes to God.

Tell Him about the enemy you are facing.

Trust Him to give you the victory.

Rejoicing in a God we can look up too!

Blessings,
Pastor David

Every one of us should be on the road to becoming a fully devoted follower of Jesus.
In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus said, “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Two things are obvious from what Jesus commanded us to do:
1) MAKE DISCIPLES.
2) TEACH THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THAT I HAVE
        COMMANDED YOU.

That makes the task of making disciples pretty clear cut. While none of us will ever arrive at becoming completely Christlike until we get to Heaven, we should all be making progress every day.

There are some signs along the road to becoming a fully devoted follower of JESUS that can help us track our progress and measure the level of our maturity.

A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS
It all begins with a personal relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Romans 10:9-10
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

John 14:6
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

BEING BAPTIZED
Baptism is the outward declaration of an inward reality. It pictures what Jesus did for us, dying for our sins. Baptism pictures His death, burial and resurrection.
Jesus commanded that everyone who wants to be His disciple be baptized.

Matthew 28:19
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:41
“So those who received his word were baptized ...”

Romans 6:4-5
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

WORSHIPING WITH OTHER BELIEVERS
One of the signs of a developing disciple is living out your faith on a daily basis and consistent participation in the weekly corporate worship services with other believers. The bottom line is: if you’re a fully devoted follower of JESUS, you live your faith during the week and on the weekend you go to church.

Luke 9:23
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Hebrews 10:23-25
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

MEMBERSHIP: GIVING & SERVING
We believe every fully devoted follower of JESUS CHRIST will be enthusiastically and consistently committed to a local church body. Anyone can attend, but membership is more. Being a member means you have caught the vision of what we’re trying to do and are committed to helping that vision become reality.

We believe every disciple of JESUS should be serving somewhere in God’s church. The truth is: you’ll never be genuinely happy until you are. Find out what your gifts are and find a place to serve and see what happens.

We also believe every disciple of JESUS should follow the biblical practice of tithing (giving at least one-tenth of one’s income) to support the ministry and work of the local church. As we begin to grow in our walk with the Lord, we will learn and love to give more than that, as the Lord blesses us.

Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

1 Peter 4:10
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace …”

Galatians 6:9-10
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

FELLOWSHIP: GETTING CONNECTED
Life is better connected. Nothing great happens apart from a relationship and spiritual growth can’t take place in isolation. We were made for fellowship with God and with each other. That’s why we encourage everyone to get involved in a Sunday school class or small group where you can build relationships with other believers, study God’s Word together, pray and basically do life together.

Acts 2:42-47 (paraphrased)
“And they devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and the fellowship … and all who believed were together and had all things in common … and day by day they were breaking bread in their homes … with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.”

REPRODUCING: MAKING DISCIPLES
None of us will ever arrive at becoming completely Christlike until we get to Heaven, but if we’re making the kind of progress we ought to be making, the time will come when we join the ranks of those who are making disciples. Part of the progress that comes in our walk with the Lord is when we get to the point where we can say to others, “follow me as I follow Christ,” and we begin helping others get on the road to becoming a fully devoted follower of JESUS CHRIST.

Everything we do should help us become more fully devoted to Christ and help others become fully devoted followers of Christ, too!

So, where are you on that road today? Wherever you are, I want to challenge you to keep moving toward the next level … and take someone else with you.

Blessings,
Pastor David

Have you ever given something your best shot, only to come up short? It’s a frustrating and often painful experience. Maybe you prepared for a promotion that went to someone else, trained for a race you didn’t finish, or tried to mend a relationship that remained broken. In those moments of failure, it’s easy to feel like your efforts were wasted and that you’ve let yourself and others down.

The apostle Peter understood this feeling well. In the book of Luke, Jesus tells him to lower his nets for a catch after a long, fruitless night of fishing. Peter, an experienced fisherman, replied, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.” He had tried and failed. Yet, he followed with a statement of faith: “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When he did, he caught so many fish that his nets began to break.

This story teaches us a powerful lesson. Our human effort, no matter how skilled or determined, has its limits. We can plan, practice, and push ourselves, but sometimes the results we want are beyond our control. It’s in these moments of perceived failure that God invites us to rely on His power, not our own. Peter’s obedience, despite his exhaustion and previous failure, opened the door to a miracle.

When you feel you’ve tried and failed, don’t lose hope. See it as an opportunity to turn to God and say, “I’ve done all I can. Now, I will trust in You.”

Blessings,
Pastor David

Memorial Day celebrates the remembrance of the men and women who have passed from this life while defending the USA and our right to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Whether they died serving or died after service, they are all remembered. Their lives, time, and effort were the cost of freedom.

The day is marked with parades, concerts and observances. National Cemetaries will hold Memorial Day ceremonies. White gloves, dress uniforms, and perfectly precisioned salutes will show reverence and respect for the fallen.

Memorial Day also marks the beginning of summer. Americans will gather with family and friends, partake in BBQ, and swimming pools will open for the summer months. People will be out enjoying their life & liberty, and pursuing happiness.

This Memorial Day, take time to think about those who served and their ultimate sacrifice. This Memorial Day, do something to remember those who died serving our country. Look into the eyes of those who still mourn these once vibrant men and women, and express your sympathy. Thank them for the sacrifice their loved one made, and the sacrifices the family continues to make. Their sacrifice follows the example of Jesus Christ laying down His life for our freedom. It’s selfless love for others – not so others can mourn forever, but live!

"We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. So we 
also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters." 1 John 3:16

In the most quoted Memorial Day speech ever given, Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. ended his address with these words, “Our dead brothers still live for us, and bid us think of life, not death — of life to which in their youth they lent the passion and joy of the spring. As I listen, the great chorus of life and joy begins again, and amid the awful orchestra of seen and unseen powers and destinies of good and evil our trumpets sound once more a note of daring, hope, and will.” *

This Memorial Day, get out and celebrate life. Remember those who have given everything so that every American may enjoy it.

Blessings,
Pastor David

   * Oliver Wendall Holmes Jr.’s address was given on 30 May 1884, in Keene, New Hampshire, USA. The speech was delivered before John Sedgwick Post No. 4, Grand Army of the Republic. You can view the entire speech here: https://speakola.com/ideas/oliver-wendell-holmes-memorial-day-speech-1884
 

Have you ever been around someone who makes you better at something? Or someone who has the gift of encouragement? People like that seem to draw out the best in us. They make us pay attention more, do more and give a better effort. I’ve had a few people like that in my life. Each time you walk away from them you feel like you’re better for just having been with them. I always walk away from those conversations wanting to be like them and praying that God would help me to. I think of the John Maxwell quote where he says that we are either a plus or a minus to everyone we meet. I always want to be a plus, but I’ve learned it takes intentionality to do that.

David and Jonathan in 1 Samuel 18 had the kind of relationship where it was mutually beneficial. From the get go these two were around each other. They were both warriors in their own rights. Johnathan was the king’s son and David was a shepherd. Even though they came from different worlds and there was a financial difference, they were still able to add value to each other. Jonathan was willing to give up his place as king for David. They had a serious bond that many of us need in our life. I believe bonds like that start with us believing we have something to bring to the table that’s beneficial to others.

In Romans 1:12, Paul writes to believers, “When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours” (NLT). We all want to be encouraged by someone else, but we need to remember that we have the power to be an encouragement to someone no matter how highly we esteem them because they need encouragement too.

Look around you today as you go about your business. Ask God to open your eyes to see people who need encouragement. Then be bold and intentional about adding value and encouragement to them. Don’t wait for someone to be an encourager to you first. Step out in faith and encourage someone, then watch how you will be encouraged too. You have value that you can add to someone’s life today. Don’t hold back. Give it away like you’re made of it.

Blessings,
Pastor David

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother… (John 19:25)

The Words rang down from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!” All eyes turned toward the man hanging upon the cross. To say he was badly beaten would be an understatement; he had been so severely beaten that he was hardly recognizable at all. His flesh had been ripped away from his stomach, back, and sides leaving his bowels exposed by the flogging he had endured; his body was bruised and bloodied by the repeated beatings he had received. So grotesque was the sight that many, if not all, looked away. Even those who could not look away refused to make eye contact with him; all of them, that is, but one. One set of eyes refused to look away. One set of eyes could not, would not. And when his heavenly Father turned his back on him, one set of loving, accepting, tear-filled eyes stared intently into his — the eyes of his mother.

When I was younger I used to ask myself, “Why is Mary at the foot of the cross? How could she stand there and watch what they were doing to her son, her baby, her child? Why doesn’t she run? Why doesn’t she cry out? Why doesn’t she fight? Why doesn’t she do something, anything? Why stand there and witness the cruelty going on around her?”

The answer I believe is rather simple, but accurate: Mary stood there that day because she was the mother of the man on the cross. And as the rest of the world, and seemingly that day God, turned their backs to him she would not. Though the world itself rejected him and his disciples deserted him, his mother would not leave his side. How could she do anything else but love until the very end? I believe it was the love that Mary had for her son Jesus that kept her there that day. And she hoped that her presence would somehow bring comfort to her son in the midst of the pain and hurt he was enduring.

The early American writer Washington Irving (Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Rip Van Winkle) knew the power of a mother’s love to bring hope to the darkest moments of life. He wrote: “A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”

That same power of love has been felt by every child that ever ran to his mom with a “boo-boo” or cried upon her mother’s shoulder when life was unfair. The power of a mother’s love was felt when you shouted words of anger and she responded with words and actions of love. The power of a mother’s love was felt when you had your own children and realized just how much your mom loved you. And for some the power of a mother’s love was felt as you laid your hand upon her casket and realized the size of the hole now left in your heart.

Blessings,
Pastor David

Good morning, church family & friends!

In the rush of our daily lives, it is easy to let the urgent drown out the important. We run from task to task, answering emails, managing schedules, and chasing goals that the world tells us are essential. But if we were to hit pause and truly examine our hearts, what would we say is most important to us? Does the way we spend our time, money, and energy reflect those values, or have we drifted off course?

Jesus’ words in Matthew offer a powerful corrective to our scattered priorities. He doesn’t say we shouldn't care about our needs or responsibilities, but He instructs us on the order of operations: "Seek first the kingdom." This isn't just about adding a morning prayer to a busy schedule; it is about reorienting our entire life so that God’s will is the filter through which we make every decision. What does this look like practically?

It might mean choosing to put down your phone in the evening to be fully present with your spouse or children, prioritizing connection over distraction. It could mean reevaluating your finances to support a cause that advances the Gospel rather than upgrading a lifestyle that is already comfortable. It might look like carving out quiet time for scripture before checking the news, signaling to your spirit that God’s voice matters most.

Today, take a moment to do an honest inventory. Ask God to reveal where your priorities may have shifted. When we align our hearts with what is important to Him—loving people, serving others, and growing in faith—we find a peace and purpose that worldly success can never provide.

Blessings,
Pastor David

Happiness is a choice. It's a feeling, an attitude and a mindset. When we lean into happiness there's a Beauty, Grace and Peace that bubbles.

I like to think that I'm, generally, a happy person even though there are times when I still fall prey to moments and seasons of sadness.

Happiness, after all, is a choice. Just like I can decide what I want to eat, where I want to go and who I want to hang around, I can choose my mood or attitude. I can choose happiness.

What I can't choose are my circumstances. Life happens and sometimes life hurts. Sometimes our days are dark, desperate and dry. Sometimes we lose. Sometimes we stumble. Sometimes we get lost. Any number of events can chip away at our happiness and impede our joy. Death. Poverty. Illness. Loneliness. Divorce. Failure. Crisis. Injury.

It's why we can't rely upon people, events and things to make us happy. They won't. People will let you down and leave you alone. Events can fall short of expectation, get cancelled or postponed. Things will rust, break, disappear and get stolen. When we put our faith in such stuff to make us happy, we're simply chasing highs. We're pursuing a feeling. We're running after ghosts.

Solomon called this type of living a "chasing after the wind." Happiness, as he discovered, couldn't be acquired, built or bought. True happiness comes from a JOY that bubbles deep inside a person's soul. Consequently, it's possible to be happy even when life is filled with pain and problems.

David Steindl-Rast, in a TedTalk I watched recently, shared a simple, yet profound, three-prong strategy for being a happier person.

STOP: If you want to be happy, learn to slow down. Americans love to pack their days and hours with stuff to do and places to go. Our vacations are so busy we often need a vacation from our vacation. Americans currently get 6.8 hours of sleep a night. That's more than an hour less than we used to get 50 years ago. We're so busy performing as human doings that we never experience the joy of living as a human being. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap.

LOOK: A lot of happiness is rooted to a life that's grateful. And that involves looking around to purposely thank God for what He is doing. It's more than just stopping to smell the roses. We need to thank the One who put those roses in our path. In recent years, I've worked hard to be more aware of what's happening around me. I'm finding there's much joy in the little things I used to overlook. The giggle of a child. The flight of a bird. The sound of wind through my wind chimes. The sweet taste of chocolate. The smell of mint, barbecue or rain. Even the ticking of a clock. Everything is a reminder that life is short and every moment is pregnant with possibility.

GO: Sometimes the most important thing we can do is move. Children already know this truth, but many adults have somehow forgotten it. In fact, some of the saddest people I know are homebound, either by choice or circumstance. They live inside their homes, imprisoned usually by their health or confined by their fears. All I know is when we no longer go outside "and play," that's the moment we start to grow old.

I hope today you'll choose to be happy. I hope you'll intentionally seek Joy and fuel that search with Gratitude. Be thankful for every moment you've got because someday you may wish you had this one back. In case you haven't noticed, you won't be any younger than this moment and this day.

Be HAPPY, my friends, and know that God IS working!

Blessings,
Pastor David

Good morning, church family & friends!

In the quiet moments of our lives, it's easy to wonder if we're making the most of the time we've been given. We fill our days with tasks, meetings, and errands, yet at the end of the day, do we feel fulfilled? The world often pulls us in countless directions, promising satisfaction in achievements, possessions, or entertainment. But as believers, we are called to a higher purpose, one that redefines how we view our time.

The Apostle Paul gives us clear guidance: This isn't a command to fill every second with frantic activity, but a call to live with intention. It's about recognizing that each day is a gift from God, an opportunity to reflect His love, share His truth, and grow closer to Him.

Wasting time isn't just about being idle; it's about investing our precious moments in things that have no eternal value. Are we scrolling mindlessly when we could be praying? Are we chasing temporary pleasures instead of seeking lasting joy in God's presence?

Let's ask ourselves today: How can I honor God with my time? It could be as simple as pausing to pray for a friend, reading a chapter of scripture, or showing kindness to a stranger. When we align our actions with God's will, no moment is wasted. Instead, every minute becomes a chance to live wisely, purposefully, and for His glory.

Blessings,
Pastor David

I became a Christian in 1970. There was a lot of excitement back then, because a revival called the Jesus Movement had broken out. Historians agree that it was a genuine spiritual awakening.

There also was a lot of teaching about the last days. We thought Jesus was coming back at any moment. I remember even placing a bumper sticker on the frame of my bicycle that said “Jesus is coming!” But now some Christians are wondering why He hasn’t come back yet. Did He forget His promise to us?

The Bible tells us why Jesus hasn’t returned: “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9 NLT).

The Lord is waiting for the last person to believe. And when that day comes, when that person believes, we will meet Him in the air when he returns.

The passage continues, “Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. . . . And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight” (verses 11–12, 14 NLT).

How are we to live as we await the return of Christ? We should live holy and godly lives, making every effort to be spotless and blameless and at peace with Him. That is what we should be doing. And if we don’t understand this, then we’re missing the point.

People have an endless appetite for last days events. They want to hear about the Rapture, the Antichrist, the Tribulation, Armageddon, and all the rest. That is great. But as we study all these things, what we learn should have an impact on the way we live.

As we look forward to the return of Christ, we should be shining lights in a dark place. Jesus said, “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning” (Luke 12:35 NLT). In this statement, Jesus was referring to a first-century Jewish wedding.

These weddings were unique in that no one knew when the bridegroom would arrive. It might be at 3:00 in the morning or at 3:00 in the afternoon. But suddenly the announcement would go out that the bridegroom was on his way. Everyone would quickly take their places, and then the wedding would begin.

Jesus was saying this is what it will be like as we wait for His return. So, let’s be ready to go. Let’s be shining our light. As our culture gets darker, we need to shine brighter as Christians.

Let’s be known for what we are for rather than what we are against. Let’s look for opportunities to show the love of Jesus Christ in a tangible way, earning the right to share the gospel.

Blessings,
Pastor David

Good morning, church family & friends!

Being left out stinks. No matter how you spin it, it still stinks. I remember when my circle of friends in Junior High formed a new club and I was the only one not invited to join. In the long-range scheme of things, did it matter? No, not at all. But at the moment, it hurt. And evidently being left out left some kind of mark on me because I still remember it! It's not fun to be on the outside looking in.

Welcome to the world of the disciple Thomas. For reasons we do not know, he was not with the Twelve on the first Easter (John 20:24). Though hiding behind locked doors, “Jesus came and stood among them” (v. 19). I can’t even imagine the thrill, the excitement, along with some healthy fear, of that moment. Jesus spoke peace to calm them and showed his hands and side to convince them. Joy abounded!

For everyone but Thomas, who was left out of that incredible moment. Try as they might, the Disciples could not relay what they had experienced to Thomas in a way that removed his doubt. He declared, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hand and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it” (v. 25). For that one statement, he has forever been saddled with the moniker of “Doubting Thomas.”

I feel for Thomas! Earlier he was willing to accompany Jesus back to Bethany even if it meant dying with Jesus (Jn. 11:16). He had enough courage to ask Jesus how they could follow if they don’t know the way (Jn. 14:5). Besides, all Thomas asked for was what the Disciples had already experienced. Jesus had showed them his hands and side. Thomas desperately wanted that, to move from being left out to included in.

A week later, the Twelve gathered and Thomas was with them (v. 26). Jesus came and again stood among them. Turning to Thomas he said, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side” (v. 27). There is no indication Thomas acted on Jesus' offer. He simply declared, “My Lord and my God” (v. 28)! How good it must have felt to have moved from being left out to being included in.

Being left out stinks; being let in rocks! Especially when being let in means your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life and you can live forever in Jesus’ presence. That’s the only “club” that really matters. He is risen! Hallelujah!

Blessings,
Pastor David

In 1995 David Burgess, who is an award winning violin maker, was transporting one of his newly finished violins. Somewhere during transport, the violin suffered a hairline crack. It was small, but it changed the sound of this expensive instrument. Burgess could either patch the crack or break the entire top off and rebuild it from the inside out. It was costly and it looked like he had destroyed the violin in the moment. However, once it was rebuilt, the violin actually sounded better than before. The breaking and rebuilding of it released a sound it had never had.

Less than a week before Jesus’ crucifixion, He was having dinner when a woman came in with an alabaster jar of perfume that was worth a year’s wages. Instead of taking the top off and using a little bit, she broke the jar open, and poured it all out on Jesus. People complained that the perfume was wasted and that they could have sold it to give money to the poor. However, Jesus had a different response to this sacrificial act of worship. After rebuking them, He said, “When she poured the fragrant oil over me, she was preparing my body in advance of my burial. She has done all that she could to honor me. I promise you that as this wonderful gospel spreads all over the world, the story of her lavish devotion to me will be mentioned in memory of her” (Mark 14:8-9 TPT).

Romans 12:1 says, “Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? To surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship” (TPT). A living sacrifice doesn’t offer only part of itself. It offers the whole thing. It opens itself up to be fully broken and poured out as a genuine expression of worship. That is our proper response to what Jesus did for us. Are there parts of your life that you’ve been holding back while only surrendering part to Jesus? This Easter, it’s time we truly open ourselves up and give ourselves to Him. It’s time to break the jars of the hidden places in our lives. It may feel like destruction in the moment, but it will produce a sacrificial life of worship.

Blessings,
Pastor David

Everybody loves a good comeback story. A story about an individual or a group of people, an organization, team, or business, who, when facing impossible adversity, somehow overcomes the odds and wins. History is full of them.

One of my favorites is the story of Bernie Marcus. Bernie was the son of a poor Russian cabinetmaker in Newark, New Jersey. In 1978, he was fired from a do-it-yourself retail store called HANDY DAN. What do you do when you’ve been fired from HANDY DAN? Well, Bernie teamed up with a guy named Arthur Blank, and they decided to start their own business. They opened their first store in Atlanta, Georgia. It was called THE HOME DEPOT. Today, they have stores all over the world, and their annual income is in the billions. That’s a great comeback story!

Or how about Wilma Rudolph, who was the 20th of 22   children? She was born prematurely and her survival was doubtful. When she was 4, she contracted double        pneumonia and scarlet fever, which left her with a paralyzed left leg. At age 9, she removed the metal leg brace she had been dependent on and began to walk   without it. At age 13, she’d developed a rhythmic walk, which doctors said was a miracle. That same year she    decided to become a runner. She entered a race and came in last. For the next few years, every race she entered, she came in last. Everyone told her to quit, but she kept on running. One day she actually won a race. And then another. From then on, she won every race she entered. Eventually, this little girl who was told she would never walk again went on to win three Olympic gold medals.

Talk about comebacks, did you know General Douglas MacArthur was turned down when he applied for admission to West Point? Not just once, but twice. He came back a third time, was accepted and marched into the history books.

Or how about Albert Einstein, who developed the theory of relativity? Did you know he was expelled from school for being dumb? In a 6-month period, he taught himself calculus. In 1905, he published three papers that revolutionized man’s image of the physical universe and helped lay the foundation for the nuclear age. One of the papers offered an explanation of the photoelectric effect, which concerns the emission of electrons from metal surfaces exposed to light. Theoretically, this study represented a cornerstone of the quantum theory, and practically, it made possible many great inventions, including television and automation systems.

What about Thomas Edison, who was kicked out of school because they could do nothing with him? The teachers told his mother he was just too slow to learn. So, little Thomas was home schooled by his mother. And he made quite a comeback. At the age of 10 he’d already set up his first chemistry laboratory. He became our  nation’s most famous inventor with inventions such as the light bulb, the phonograph and the kinetoscope. When he synchronized these, he produced motion pictures. He gave us over 1300 inventions that have   radically improved our world.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was paralyzed by polio at the age of 39. Yet he went on to become one of the most beloved and influential leaders in American history, being elected President of the U.S. four times.

In the 1940s a young inventor named Chester Carlson took his idea to 20 corporations, including some of the biggest in the country. They all turned him down and he almost quit. In 1947, after seven long years of continuous rejection, he went back to a tiny company in Rochester, New York; the Haloid Company. They purchased the rights to his electrostatic paper-copying process. Haloid changed its name to Xerox Corporation, and Carlson’s invention changed all of our lives.

Those are all great comebacks. But none of them would qualify as THE WORLD’S GREATEST COMEBACK. Even in the Bible we find some phenomenal comebacks. Joseph who went from the pit to the palace, becoming the Prime Minister of Egypt. King David’s comeback after his fall. Job would certainly qualify as one of the greatest comebacks of all time. John Mark would qualify after failing on his first missionary journey. Peter would be at the top of the list, after denying knowing the Lord, yet God allowed him to come back and preach the very first sermon on the opening day of the church, the Day of Pentecost.

However, none of those would qualify for The World’s Greatest Comeback. In Matthew 28:1-10, we have the greatest event in all of human history: The RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST. Talk about a COMEBACK (vs. 6). The angel said, “Jesus told you He’d come back. And He did. He’s alive!” On April 5th a large portion of the world will celebrate the RESURRECTION of JESUS, and it is certainly one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the world. But what would you say if I told you the greatest comeback is yet to come?

That’s right. The world’s greatest comeback is still in the future. It’s going to be when Jesus returns for His own. (Read John 14:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.) If we believe in the risen Lord and have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior, He’s coming back for us. If we don’t believe in the risen Lord and fail to give our lives to Him, we’ll be left  behind, forever.
Here’s the point: Jesus is coming back ... there’s no question about that. The question is ... is He coming back for you?

Blessings,
Pastor David

Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week that leads up to Easter. Mark 11 records that Jesus rode into town on a young donkey that had never been ridden. As He entered Jerusalem, the people began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” People were waving Palm branches and laying them in the streets for Him to ride over. The palm branches in that culture represented victory. The other thing the people did was recorded in verse 8. It says they laid their garments in the street for Him to ride over. It’s an interesting picture to me. Why place their garments on the ground?

In 2 Kings 9:1-13, Elisha had one of the prophet's sons go to Jehu with a private message. The kid was to tell him that he was now the king of Israel, to anoint him with oil and then to run away as fast as he could. When Jehu came back out, his friends asked what that was about. When he told them, they got excited. Verse 13 says, “Then they quickly spread out their cloaks on the bare steps and blew the ram’s horn, shouting, ‘Jehu is king!’” (NLT). It’s the only other time I can find where this happened for a king. It’s also something we read over and miss if we read it with a western lens.

In that culture, the bottom of your foot is significant. If you point the underside of your foot at someone, you’re signifying that they are beneath you like dust. For the people to take off their garments and put them under the feet of Jehu and the donkey of Jesus, they were submitting to their authority as king. The garments represent their concerns. Remember in Matthew 6 when Jesus said He clothes the fields and that we shouldn’t be concerned about what to wear? Each of us have concerns we wear like a heavy garment. It’s time that we submitted them to Jesus by placing them at His feet. We don’t need to carry them anymore. We need to submit to His authority and ability to provide for us as our king.

Blessings,
Pastor David

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.“
Ephesians 1:1-2

I want you to notice how Paul starts his letter to the Ephesian church. He greets them as “saints,” then quickly indicates a saint is one who lives faithfully in Christ Jesus. We must note this carefully: A mature Christian is not one who merely professes faith in Jesus. He or she strives to live faithfully. The faithful are “in Christ,” a common Pauline phrase used frequently throughout the letter.

“In Christ” implies we not only find our salvation in him, but also that Christ dwells within us. Faithful living takes place only when we are “in Christ.” We cannot miss the impact of this truth. Through our conversion, a marvelous thing has happened. We are not only saved and live in Christ, but Christ dwells in us. It is only when our souls are united with the Spirit of Jesus that we can live faithfully.

If we see Christ as one who is external to and outside of us, we will struggle in living the Christian life. We will remain as immature believers; redeemed with saving faith in Jesus but will be of little use in the Kingdom of God on earth. To serve God faithfully, Christ must be in us, and we must be in Christ and faithfully follow Him. Jesus’ presence within the human soul provides the motivation and power for us to live faithfully. A mature Christian is one who is in union with Jesus Christ and lives in the light of that truth.

This union with Christ is no peripheral matter. It is fundamental in our pressing on to maturity (cf. Phil. 3:13-14). This intimate spiritual union is what creates the wheat of true faith and destroys the weeds of hypocrisy within us. Paul wrote this to the Corinthians: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test” (2 Cor. 13:5). In asking them to examine themselves, Paul did not ask them to recite the fundamental doctrines of the faith or to confirm whether they were baptized correctly, as important as those matters are. Paul considered something else more fundamental.

Paul invited the Corinthians - and us – to take a look within our hearts. In that quiet reflection, is there the realization Jesus is there and dwelling within? Is it obvious he is directing our thoughts and behaviors? Paul does not explain the nature of this indwelling. While he calls this a “mystery” (Col. 1:27), mature Christians are certainly aware of His presence.

Each of us alone is aware of the content of our inner life. Amid all the richness of our thoughts, feelings, memories, hopes, and dreams, do we perceive Jesus there, too? As we live life aware of Christ’s indwelling presence, God is able to make us increasingly useful members of the kingdom of God. And we live up to what Paul has called us, “saints . . . the faithful in Christ Jesus.”

Blessings,
Pastor David

In May of 1940 during World War Two, there were over 300,000 Allied troops awaiting evacuation at Dunkirk when they became trapped by German forces. They were cut off from every direction and were pushed into a pocket on the French coast with no escape route. Churches held a national day of prayer to seek God’s help. Just then, when hope was lost, there was a shift in the weather which caused the normally rough waters of the English Channel to be calm allowing small boats to move back and forth to rescue the soldiers. When the Royal Navy realized they couldn’t get everyone, they put out a call for help. Over 800 civilian vessels joined the rescue mission. Not only that, a dense fog rolled in that grounded German aircraft from attacking. Every solder was rescued. It’s seen more as divine intervention than a military success.

In 2 Kings 7, the Aramean army had besieged Samaria. While they were running out of food, a famine hit the land too. Desperation set in as no help arrived. That’s when Elijah stepped up and told them the next day they would have sufficient food and supplies. The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, “That couldn’t happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven!” But Elisha replied, “You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!” (v. 19, NLT). That night, the Lord caused the Arameans to hear galloping horses and chariots. They fled in fear, leaving everything behind, thinking the Egyptians were coming to help. Four men found all the supplies, went back to tell the king. The people rushed out to get food. As they did, they trampled over the king's servant making true everything God had promised.

Matthew 19:26 says, “Jesus looked at them intently and said, ‘Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.’” If you’re facing an impossible situation today where there seems to be no possible way, I want to remind you that we serve the God of impossible things. I believe God can change any condition, any outcome or any diagnosis. Impossible is the starting point for God’s intervention. We’ve seen it all throughout the Bible and history. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. What He did back then, He can still do today. God often moves suddenly in situations where hope is lost. When we’ve done all we can, we need to pray, trust and believe. He doesn’t need time. He just needs a moment. Faith doesn’t look at the odds. It focuses on God who says everything is possible.

Blessings,
Pastor David

What do you pray for when you’re stressed or faced with difficult situations? Strength Relief? In times like these, most people share the deepest concerns of their hearts with God, which is exactly what Jesus did in John 17. As his death on the cross drew near, Jesus imparted important teachings to his disciples about the kingdom of God and tried to prepare them for his coming death. He also paused to pray. Join us each Sunday morning throughout March for our series, “The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus,” and together we’ll examine His moving prayer of intercession for his disciples and for us. His prayer will guide us through conversations on glory, unity, love, and purpose.

Discovering Jesus’ Heart

Jesus is fully human, just like us. In the Bible, when he prayed, he prayed about what was important to him, just like we do. The Bible records one of Jesus’ prayers for us in John 17. At this point in Jesus’ ministry, he knows his time on earth is coming to a close. His teachings are earnest, and he’s trying to prepare his disciples for his death. Jesus prayed this prayer before his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, trial, and death on the cross. As Jesus shared the concerns of his heart with God, he prayed to be glorified. He’s praying for strength to go through what he knew was coming so that his actions would bring glory to God. Then he prayed for his disciples and all believers—including you and me. He prays for unity, for us to experience the same love the Father has for him, and for the world to know God through our lives. This is the prayer many Christians call Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer.

What is a High Priest?

Jesus’ prayer in John 17 is commonly called his High Priestly Prayer because in it he offers prayers of intercession. He prays on behalf of his disciples. Then he prays on behalf of all believers. In the Old Testament, this was the role of the High Priest in God’s temple. Priests filled many roles and performed many functions in ancient Israel, but the High Priest served as an intermediary between God and his people.

As Jesus prayed, he acted as an intermediary between God and his people. Later in the New Testament, the apostle Paul also made this connection regarding the work Jesus continues to do at the right hand of God on our behalf in passages like Hebrews 5:1-10.

An Invitation

Jesus prayed his High Priestly Prayer to intercede for us, but his prayer is also an invitation to live the kind of life he desires for us: a life of unity and purpose that shares in his glory. I invite you to study Jesus’ prayer in John 17 and then join us the next several Sunday mornings for this exciting message series.

• March 1 - "The Glory of Christ" - John 17:1-5
• March 8 - "Confidence in Christ" - John 17:6-19
• March 15 - "Unity in Christ" - John 17:20-26

...and together we’ll learn about Jesus and take comfort in the great love and care he demonstrates for us. Then we’ll discuss together what it means to live in the reality of his prayer and how we too can reflect the transformative power of God’s love to others.

Blessings,
Pastor David

Mention the name JONAH and most people think of how he ran from the Lord. How he boarded a ship bound for a destination diametrically opposed to where God had told him to go. How he got on that ship and in the midst of a spectacular storm begged his shipmates to throw him overboard because he was the reason for the storm.

BUT THERE’S MORE TO THE STORY ... Jonah repented. God gave him a second chance, and he was responsible for a remarkable revival that consumed a city and included a king!

When most people think of PETER they think of a rough, weather-beaten fisherman with salty language and sunburned skin, who had an uncanny ability to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Even swearing on occasion. People remember how a big, old, tough fisherman flopped like a fish in the presence of a young maiden as he tried to warm himself by the fire and she tried to pin him down as one of Jesus’ disciples. Peter turned into a coward by the fire, while a rooster nearby crowed and crowed and crowed.

BUT THERE’S MORE TO THE STORY ... Peter repented and God relented. Forgiving Peter and giving him the privilege of preaching one of the most powerful sermons ever preached on the Day of Pentecost as the Church was launched.

Bring up the name DAVID and watch what happens. People immediately think of Israel’s greatest king. But they also remember Israel’s most notorious sinner. Sure, they think of a giant named Goliath and a sling and some stones. But who can forget that rooftop bathtub and a beautiful young woman ironically named Bathsheba? They also remember how David had her all to himself until her husband came home and the chickens came home to roost. An unplanned pregnancy. An unintended complication. A failed attempt at an alibi and a fatal attempt to get rid of his most faithful guy, Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah. Who can forget Nathan’s finger and forceful pronouncement, “You are the man”?

BUT THERE’S MORE TO THE STORY ... David confessed and God addressed his sin with grace and mercy and forgiveness. In fact, God guided his hand to write the majority of the Psalms, the longest and maybe strongest book in the Bible. In Psalm 119, the longest chapter, we get a glimpse of one of the most godly men who ever lived. God’s own testimony about David in 1 Kings 3:14 makes it clear David was a changed man.

What about THE SAMARITAN WOMAN in John 4? The woman at the well? People remember where she was sitting when Jesus asked her for a drink. They remember what she must have been thinking and how she must have been shrinking when Jesus pointed out she’d been married five times and was currently living with a man who was NOT her husband.

BUT THERE’S MORE TO THE STORY ... She gave up and gave in, confessing her sin and giving her life to the One Who had LIVING WATER. Now she would never thirst again. She went back to her city, facing her shame and sharing the Name of Jesus and what He’d done for her. The whole town followed her out into the fields to find Jesus for themselves, and she was responsible for so many being saved.

I love it when there’s MORE to the STORY, don’t you? The fact is people can and do change. Many times you and I don’t know about it or get to see it. But there’s more to the story and someone who used to live in sin now lives serving the Savior. Or someone who used to waste their life in selfish, sinful pursuits, makes every moment count for Christ now, in self-sacrificing service. It happens all the time, all over the world, where people aren’t content with the current content of their story. They turn their lives over to God, and He turns the page and writes a new chapter.

When JESUS gets involved in our lives, there’s ALWAYS MORE to the STORY! It doesn’t matter who we are or what we’ve done, “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Our unchanging God will change us into the image of His Son, Jesus, if we’ll just give Him the pen and permission to re-write our story.

As we journey through this season of Lent leading up to Easter, fall in love with Jesus all over again and watch what God does. He’ll write a new chapter in your life.
... And it will be the best one yet!

Blessings,
Pastor David