Junkfood

One of the harsh realities of life is that there comes a time when we just can’t eat everything we like. During our growing years we can live on chips and soda without any apparent negative effects but when we reach thirty something that all changes. And it only gets worse as the years pile up. By 50 we become nutrition experts, not by choice but by necessity. If we want to be able to function throughout the day, we’ve got to eat the right foods.

Jesus often used picture language to describe how he impacts our lives. One time he said, “I am the Bread of life.” Bread, at the time Jesus lived on this earth, was the primary food. Every meal was pretty much bread as the main course with a little something else as a small side. By calling himself the Bread of Life, Jesus was saying, “If you’re going to survive spiritually, emotionally, and psychologically not only in this life but especially after death, I have got to be your power source.”

There is a lot of spiritual junk food being sold in the form of self-help materials. Some is just common sense, others make us feel good about ourselves, but none address the root cause for the problems we face nor provides a complete, long term solution. If you are feeling a little weak as you journey through life, join us for one of our weekend services and get some real spiritual food from the Bread of Life.

Saturday evening worship: 6:00 pm
Sunday morning worship: 10:00 am

Let Loose!

Speakers at commencement ceremonies often encourage graduates to shoot for the moon in fulfilling their career dreams. Some will even promise, “You can do whatever you want!” What these individuals often fail to mention is the amount of hard work and sacrifice needed to achieve lofty goals. Even less do they mention that many give their very best efforts, but still do not achieve what they had planned. And no one tells the graduates about the disillusionment with life which develops from unfulfilled dreams.

There are many reasons people decide to play it safe when it comes to major commitments which could bring great benefits but also very well might lead to major disappointments. The old saying, “I’d rather be safe than sorry” governs the thinking of many.

In the New Testament there is a passage which says, “Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” * That is an exciting proposition. It says we can fail and still succeed. God is the master at taking what we do and turning it into something eternally positive. And that is exactly what he does not only through individual believers, but also through his Church.

Some people believe that seriously living out a Christian life with the anticipation of heaven is a waste. A British comedian put it this way, “I think the idea that death is not the end, that your dog's just 'gone to live on the farm,' is limiting and can prevent you from making the most of all the time you have.” Just the opposite is true. Instead of risking the chance of personal failure and disillusion, giving oneself to a Christlike life enables people to free themselves of the power, selfishness and lust which drive so many personal goals in order that the living God can use their time and efforts for activities which will live on in their importance long after they have left this earth.

If you feel that your life is a bit stuck in a routine that isn’t all that thrilling when you consider it in light of what is important, join us for one of our weekend services. Maybe it’s time to let loose on life for Jesus Christ.

* 1 Corinthians 15:58

Saturday evening worship: 6:00 pm
Sunday morning worship: 10:00 am

What is called “The Christian Church” has not come in for much good press lately and as a result, some of the so-called “faithful” are turning in their memberships; they are leaving. In some cases, these folks claim they have lost their faith, but with others, it is just a matter of feeling let down.

That there are problems within individual Christian congregations, that is a pretty obvious reality. To portray all Christian churches as groups of people who always get along and are united in doing the right thing on every occasion would be to describe a laughable fantasy. But to admit human weaknesses within the Church is very different from claiming this institution has no practical use or value. The problem we may have today is determining the point of view we need to have to correctly understand this organization which began so abruptly and unexpectedly more than 2000 years ago.

This weekend we’ll be studying the phrase, “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints,” which is part of the Apostles’ Creed. We will ask the questions, “What did Jesus have to say about the Church? How did the first disciples and apostles view this organization and what did they write about it in the Bible?”

If your view of the Church is less than positive, please consider joining us for one of our worship services. At the very least, you’ll be challenged to look at the Church from a different perspective.

Saturday evening worship: 6:00 pm
Sunday morning worship: 10:00 am

Which way did you take the title, “The God Who Bothers”? Did you see it as God bothers us by messing around in our lives trying to get us to stop doing what we want to do and start doing what he wants us to do? Or did you interpret that statement as meaning God is so concerned with us, he gets involved in our lives?

From a biblical point of view, one could take it either way. Standing before the cross of Jesus Christ and hearing him shout, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”, there can be no doubt God is concerned with the human race, knowing that his agony was the result of making satisfaction for our sins. On the other hand, it is also very clear God continues to work in peoples’ lives after they come to faith in Christ. At times he will even use painful experiences to get rid of any behavior or attitude which would come between the person and himself. God is not content to leave us as we are until he has molded us into the people he intends for us to be. He loves us too much.

This weekend we continue our study of the work of the Holy Spirit. His ongoing presence in our lives grows our faith on a day to day basis. He is, in every sense, the God who bothers, in just the ways we need.

Saturday evening worship: 6:00 pm
Sunday morning worship: 10:00 am