No More Killing Time

 

One reaction to profound tragedy is for a person to become frantically busy with all sorts of unimportant tasks or projects. It’s a way of deflecting the pain and fear caused by our circumstances. Constant activity does nothing to resolve the problem, but rather keeps one from thinking about it. Social commentators have described the daily lives of many Americans in a similar way. 

We are busy – extraordinarily busy. Watch people drive their cars, walk through the grocery store, even eat their food. We’re fast in everything because we always have somewhere to go and something to do. Sometimes we have to stop in the middle of what we are doing to check what comes next! 

We celebrate our busyness and brag about it to other people, in a humble way, “I’m exhausted. I just can’t keep up with everything!” But the one thing we do not ask ourselves is: “Am I busy doing what is most important?” It can almost seem that our goal is to be busy, to be occupied doing something. Sometimes people come to this realization in the latter years of their life and will even admit, “I was so busy doing so many things I thought were necessary and I missed out on what was most important.” 

In our society which encourages us to discover for ourselves what our lives are all about, we have unconsciously slipped into killing ourselves with activity only to kill time. Since we’re not sure what the purpose of our lives is, we stay busy so that we don’t have to even think about that question, much less answer it. 

Could it be that the purpose of our lives is not as complex or unknowable as we have made it out to be? Is it possible the answer to a meaningful, noble life is actually quite simple? The answers Jesus Christ offers us for these questions are intriguing to say the least. If you have vague yet recurring thoughts that maybe you are stuck in the rut of killing yourself but are just killing time, join us this Sunday morning for our worship service. You owe it to yourself to start living instead of only being busy. 

Sunday Morning Worship – 10:00 am

What Other People Think Matters to Us

 

We would like to believe we are self-assured of our convictions, that what other people think of us regarding what we believe to be most important in life does not matter. But deep down, we know it does. If someone we respect belittles or criticizes something we value, our thinking is challenged. And usually, we either confront that person and a debate ensues or we walk away and dismiss their opinion as being uninformed and maybe even just plain stupid. What we most often do not do is research and reevaluate the reasons for which we hold to our principles. 

Maybe you’ve been a Christian for a long time, maybe it’s been only recently you’ve put your trust in Christ as your Savior and Lord. Regardless of how long you’ve identified yourself as a Christian, you’ve realized that you live in a world that is at best, apathetic towards Jesus and at worst, hostile to him. The One you value most in your life, the majority of people you spend time with think he is completely irrelevant. What makes it even more unnerving is that many of these folks are very moral, they are enjoyable to be around, they’re educated and successful. It is impossible to live long as a Christian and not ask, “Is what I believe about Jesus true?”     

For the last four weeks, each Sunday we have studied the eternity changing implications on our lives of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. One last, but extremely essential question needs to be raised, “Did Christ really rise from the dead?” More than 5 billion people living today believe he did not. What are the solid, convincing reasons we believe he did? If you are unsure of those reasons, join us for our worship service this Sunday. Discover why the best response to the question, “What happened to the crucified Jesus” continues to be:

“He has risen!

He has risen indeed!” 

Sunday Morning Worship – 10:00 am

Hard Questions

Hard questions make us squirm. They are not usually difficult to answer in the sense of being complex and hard to understand, rather, it’s a moral issue we would much rather ignore. We know the truth, but we don’t want to admit it because if we answer honestly, we’re going to have to confess we’re not quite as perfect as we think. 

A few weeks after his resurrection from the dead, Jesus had breakfast with his disciples on the beach of the Sea of Galilee. After they had finished eating, Jesus took aside one of his more influential followers, Peter. For most of Jesus’ ministry, Peter had been considered if not the leader of the 12 apostles, one of those who were closest to Jesus. But when his loyalty to Jesus had been questioned, Peter failed miserably. In fact, he failed the test three times within the space of a few hours. 

The conversation Jesus had with Peter consisted of one hard question: “Do you love me more than anyone or anything else in this world?” It was a question of commitment; it was a question meant to confront Peter with who was #1 in his life. Considering recent events, that was the hardest question for Peter to answer. It forced him to face his own moral helplessness and depend completely on the mercy and grace of Jesus. 

“Who do you love most?” It’s a question Jesus asks us all. As the one true God who came in human form to execute the Rescue Mission for all of eternity, he has the right to ask us that question. He comes to us not as a genie, or a guru, or an advisor, or even a buddy – he comes to us as Savior and Lord. We receive him as such, or he can do nothing for us. 

“Who do you love most?” If you’re having difficulty answering that question, join us for our worship service this Sunday. Together, let’s see how the resurrection of Jesus Christ helps to answer that hard question. 

                                      Sunday Morning Worship – 10:00 am 

Something to Live For

 

“Unless you have found something in life to live for that is more important to you than your own life, you will always be a slave. For all another man needs to do is threaten to take your life to get you to do his bidding.” ^{Martin Luther King Jr} 

These words are a strong challenge to the current thinking of our prosperous culture which emphasizes personal comfort and pleasure as the primary goal of life. They also echo Jesus’ warning that if we do not give up our life for him, we will end up losing it. 

After Jesus rose from the dead he appeared to his disciples and gave them a mission: “As the Father sent me, I am also sending you…Go and make disciples of all nations!” Those disciples took their mission seriously – all but one was executed for carrying out Christ’s mandate. 

The mission Jesus gave his first disciples continues to be the same for his followers today. What a privilege! What an opportunity we have to live a meaningful and noble life! As a sense of futility and apathy continues to seep into the soul of so many people, Jesus offers a powerfully positive reason to get up every morning convinced our lives make a difference – that we very definitely have something to live for! 

Sunday Morning Worship – 10:00 am

Questions and Answers

 

Not too many of us would be so bold as to claim we always have our lives under control. Things happen that we don’t expect causing us to not only feel out of control, but very much confused as to how to deal with what is going on. We all live through times when we doubt ourselves and feel disoriented. 

The followers of Jesus Christ had all sorts of questions after his crucifixion and very few answers. To say they were confused would be a huge understatement.

·         Why did he apparently let himself be executed?

·         There were so many times he could have just walked away. Why didn’t he? 

·      What would be the point of voluntarily allowing oneself to be crucified?

·         And what would happen to his followers? The same thing – death on a cross?

·         Was there any other option besides to go home and pick up life where they left                 off  when Jesus of Nazareth burst into their lives?

Questions, questions, and more questions.

But Jesus didn’t leave all those questions unanswered, and he doesn’t leave them unanswered today. If you feel like you are in a black hole of doubt about yourself and what you believe, join us for our Sunday morning worship service. The significance of Jesus’ resurrection shines an incredible amount of light on the frustrating darkness of not being able to make sense of what is going on in our lives.

Sunday Morning Worship – 10:00 am

Easter Hope

 

No one goes through life without getting knocked down in some way. Whether it is a massive failure, a tragic accident, an arrogant bad decision or a broken heart, there are times when even the most faithful Christian wonders, “Is it worth it to keep on going?” 

Easter Hope is the life changing application of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because he overcame death, we can trust that everything he said and promised is true. Which practically means, no matter how often or how hard we get knocked down, there is hope, powerful and eternal hope which is more than enough motivation to keep on going. 

Easter is the best day in history because it changes everything. Christ physically returning to life after his crucifixion three days earlier means human beings go from meaningless chemical containers who lead empty, unimportant lives to people made to love and be loved for eternity, whose every day has eternal significance no matter how insignificant life at the present moment may seem. 

Experience all the best of the best day ever! Experience the hope that day offers you no matter where you are or what has happened. 

Sunday Morning Easter Worship – 11:00 am

“Who Do You Serve?”

 

Probably the first and strongest reaction we have to that question is, “I don’t serve anybody!” But that’s not true. We all serve someone or something. For most of us, we bow down to “King Me”. That sounds strong, but “King Me” takes on many different forms. Some really do worship themselves, they’re the super self-centered kind. You know who they are when you talk with them. They can only converse on one subject – themselves! 

For others serving self comes in the form of worshiping another person. There is something missing in their own lives which they have found in another human being. While it seems like they are idolizing the other, the reality is, they are meeting their own need through someone else. 

And some people serve a dream or a goal. Maybe it’s money, it could be fame, or it might be power. But whatever they are chasing, it gives their life meaning, value and purpose. 

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, one of the most familiar of all Christian celebrations. Most people know Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey that day. Everybody seemed to like him at the moment, but then five days later they all changed their mind and demanded he be crucified! But Palm Sunday is more than just a springboard to Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It is the day Jesus looks each one of us in the eye and asks, “Who do you serve?” That’s not only a healthy question to consider, where we spend eternity depends on how we answer. 

If you haven’t really thought about who you serve in your life, join us this Sunday. When you compare King Jesus to the other options, there very definitely is a clear winner. 

Sunday Morning Worship – 10:00 am

On Our Way Home

 

There’s no way to accurately describe the nervous yet joyful anticipation of going home after an extended time away which was not of our choosing. The seconds seem to drag like minutes and minutes like hours. The idealized images of unspoiled security and happiness flood our minds. Reality rarely meets our expectations, but it demonstrates the power the influence of home has in our lives. 

On the night before his crucifixion Jesus talked about heaven the way we talk about home. He had just told his disciples that their lives were about to be thrown into chaos and he wouldn’t be visibly present to help them through the trauma. Seeing the anxious looks on their faces, Jesus says, “Calm down. I’m going home to get it ready for you. Just keep that in mind when things seem to be out of control.” 

Many people speak of heaven as the “big amusement park in the sky” or “Candyland”. To them, it is a mythical place people talk about, wishing it actually existed but knowing deep down it doesn’t. For Jesus, heaven was just the opposite. Reality is heaven. Naïve hope is believing that the present life can meet our deepest needs. 

For Jesus, from the moment he entered this world on the first Christmas, he was on his way home. And he means for his disciples to live with the same perspective. The teaching of Jesus is controversial. He demands we take sides. Live for today or live for heaven. In 100 years, all of us will know who was right. 

If you’re up in the air about living for now or living for heaven but have recurring concerns that there has to be more to life than what you are experiencing right now, join us for our Sunday morning worship service. We’re all on our way home, either to a grave or to heaven. Doesn’t Jesus’ heaven seem a whole lot more appealing? 

Sunday Morning Worship – 10:00 am

Supernatural Serving

 

We can make all the seemingly strong arguments to rationalize what Jesus says, but, in the end, he said it and if he really is the Son of God, then we need to obey. The topic in question is serving. The night before Jesus was crucified, he washed his disciples’ feet. Then he turned to them and said, “…you also should wash one another’s feet.” 

If you are feeling a bit defensive, you have a lot of company. Most everyone is extremely hesitant about serving, and for various reasons. 

“Won’t people take advantage of me?”

Yes, they absolutely will. People took advantage of Jesus. In fact, people have disregarded and disdained what Jesus did for them for the last 2000 years. He knew this would happen, but he served anyway. 

“I can’t change anyone’s life. Whatever I do for someone else, it won’t make a difference?”

How do you know? Remember, it’s not you who are working the change in someone’s life, that’s God’s job. You and I are just the serving instruments. 

“But I don’t want to serve!”

Does anyone? Isn’t it the truth that rather than serving, we want everyone to serve us! That is why being a follower of Jesus Christ makes us different, radically different. 

Serving requires effort, patience, perseverance, and courage. But it is what Christians do because it is what Christ did for us. 

Join us for our worship service this Sunday morning. Serving may not be high on your priority list right now, but if you are serious about living a consistent Christ-centered life, then it needs to be. And one more thought, Jesus said “If you serve, you will be blessed.” Being blessed by Jesus –  isn’t that worth giving some thought? 

Sunday Morning Worship – 10:00 am

Forgiveness Is Not An Option

 

A wealthy European fashion designer once remarked, “Forgiveness is too easy…I prefer revenge.” In a sense, he was half right. Most of us do prefer revenge to forgiveness. The truth is, sincerely forgiving someone is possibly the most difficult thing a human being can do. There is a sense of vengeance in all of us which not only seeks to get back at the other person, but to annihilate them so that they will never dare to even try to hurt us in the future. 

Revenge is easy. Forgiving takes the supernatural power of God. And yet, letting go of the anger, hatred and bitterness which comes from being hurt is also one of the most liberating experiences a human being can have. 

Jesus told his followers that the essential result of receiving his forgiveness is then to be able to forgive other people. He intends that his forgiveness produces forgiveness in us. The absence of that kind of forgiveness demonstrates a lack of appreciation for who Christ is and what he has done for us. 

When confronted with Jesus’ command to forgive, our reaction is usually, “But no one knows what happened to me.” And that well may be true. No human being can fully go through what another has undergone. But Jesus does know what has happened to you. He knows not just intellectually, he knows by experience. There is not a person on this earth who can say they have begun to suffer the pain Christ did. And know this, the reason he went through it all was so that you would have the solid hope he will get you through your hurt. No matter what we’ve been through, we can all learn to forgive. We can be healed of our hurt. We can become more like Christ. Because, after all, Jesus is the Miracle Worker. 

Sunday Morning Worship – 10:00 am

Genie or Savior?

 

All of us want a miracle every now and then. Even people who claim there is no such thing as miracles secretly wish for one when things get tough. And who can blame us? There are times in life when we have exhausted all our resources and still the pain of our problem is just too much. But, if we’re honest with ourselves, the miracles we want are actually very significant quick fixes. We want our problem to go away so that we can return to enjoying life on our terms. 

Jesus did about 40 miracles during his earthly ministry. They varied from healing the sick, to multiplying food, to demonstrating control over nature and even human death. Though he was usually very discreet about his miracle making abilities, the word got out and people thronged to him, hoping to get their own personal miracle. Which is all very understandable. People still turn to Jesus for miracles today, even if they aren’t all that interested in becoming one of his followers. We can get so desperate; we’ll try anything or anyone to give us relief. 

When we look closely at the miracles of Jesus, however, we find that the last thing he intended for people was to see him as a miracle maker specializing in quick fixes. Jesus’ miracles always had long term objectives for the person he was helping – specifically a lifelong relationship with him. The quick fix miracle was meant to lead the person into an eternal cure far beyond anything they could imagine. 

If you are praying for a miracle, keep on praying. The power of God to do miracles hasn’t diminished in the last 2000 years. But as you pray for relief of some kind of suffering which is making life miserable, ask the Miracle Maker, Jesus, for the most important miracle – the forgiveness of sins and life in heaven. Any physical miracle will someday lose its importance. Christ’s forgiveness never will. 

Sunday Morning Worship – 10:00 am

Heart Check

 

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ^{(Jesus Christ)} 

Those are challenging words of Jesus. He’s calling us to do some soul searching to discover what it is that drives our lives. Doing a heart check isn’t something we tend to do. It’s much easier to dive into each day’s activities without thinking why we’re living life the way we are. To be honest, it’s too hard, too complicated to get serious about what matters most. Being busy is exhausting, but it’s easier than facing the truth. 

We are constantly being warned about keeping our focus. Road signs tell us to put down our phones and keep our eyes on the road. Being distracted can have tragic consequences. Jesus’ call to re-evaluate what we are living for is no less serious. How disastrous it would be to find out one day that everything we worked so hard for in life wasn’t important at all – that we missed out on the real purpose for our lives. 

When Jesus spoke with people, his primary goal was never to make them feel good. It was always to bring them to the understanding and desire to get to know him better, to benefit from who he is and what he does for us. It is no different today. Jesus’ call to re-examine the direction of our lives makes us uncomfortable, but that distasteful effort promises to produce benefits in our lives we have difficulty comprehending. 

If you are ready to get off the relentless treadmill of distracted busyness and feel the need for a heart check, join us for our Sunday morning worship service. You probably already know – Jesus is in the business of heart transformations. 

Sunday Morning Worship – 10:00 am

Motives Matter

 

It is an unexpected surprise to open a gift which you don’t think is going to be much and discover that the giver of the gift bought you something not only valuable, but useful. It’s not just the monetary cost that makes you feel good, but also that the person took the time to find something you really like. Their gift giving effort shows they care. However, if a few minutes after opening the present, you overhear the person who gave it to you saying to someone else, “You know I detest having to give these office party gifts. Fortunately, I was at Ross and accidentally found something that looked impressive and useful but was incredibly cheap. I really scored!” 

The value of the gift nor its usefulness has not changed in the least. But your attitude toward the giver of the gift has been completely reversed. Your feeling of gratitude has been replaced by anger and a strong desire to throw the gift at him and shout, “If that’s the way you feel, you can have it back!” 

Motives matter. They matter big time. One of the reasons human beings are not constantly fighting is we very often can’t know the motives of others and so we assume the best. God, on the other hand, knows our motives, just as he does our thoughts. He knows when we try to con him, when we play the religious game, appearing to be righteous and holy, but for all the wrong reasons. 

Whether we play nice with God to create a pious impression for other people or do something extraordinarily good because we want God to do something for us, the message of Jesus is loud and clear: “It doesn’t work.” Playing games with God is so serious because we deceive ourselves into thinking that everything is great between us when in reality we drift farther and farther from him. With God, sincerity is everything. Join us this Sunday as we continue to be challenged by Jesus’ description of the Christian life. While it is humbling, it is the life he saved us to live! 

Sunday Morning Worship – 10:00 am

The High Road

 

You don’t hear too often these days the phrase, “Take the high road.” Taking the high road means a person chooses to do what is right, regardless of whether it will benefit him/her or not. The “high road” refers to a lifestyle based on integrity even though a person may be surrounded by others who have morally compromised themselves. 

It’s an uncomfortable question to ask ourselves, “Am I a person who usually takes the high road?” It’s a common question for many to wonder, “What is the high road?” Jesus Christ addressed both questions for us with a detailed and disturbing discourse called the Sermon on the Mount. In just a few words he said, “No, no one has taken the high road much of the time and that is because that road is a whole lot higher than anyone ever imagined.” 

For some, their idea of the Christian life is to smile, hold up two fingers and say, “Love and peace” as much as possible. That might be part of it, but Jesus leaves no doubt that a serious commitment to him on a daily basis involves a transformation that is so drastic it requires supernatural intervention. 

The high road Jesus describes is neither easy, comfortable, or pleasant. But it is revolutionary in the sense our broken humanity needs revolution. If you are looking for a challenge that will shake up your world, join us for our Sunday morning worship service. You may not appreciate everything we study, but the opportunity to change can’t help but leave you excited. 

Sunday Morning Worship – 10:00 am

Counterintuitive

 

I would bet good money on the possibility that one of the major goals of your life is to be happy. That’s high on my wish list too! Probably no mystery there. Everybody wants to be happy. Now here’s the good news – Jesus wants you and me to be happy too. The confusing side (not the bad side) of that good news is that Jesus defines happiness in a very different way than we do. If we’re honest, “happiness” for us is having everything in life exactly the way we want it. In reality, happiness often is the ultimate act of selfishness. It would probably be very true that if you or I were totally happy on our terms, there would be a whole lot of unhappy people! 

The happiness Jesus Christ offers us is so different because his view of life is so different from ours. He does know what is best for us. Even though we are convinced we know what would make us happy, in truth, we’re guessing most of the time. 

In his longest sermon (which, by the way, is much shorter than the sermons of most preachers today) Jesus describes in detail the life which brings healthy, long-lasting happiness. You’ll find the plan in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. It’s called, “The Sermon on the Mount”. If you don’t have much time, just read the first eleven verses of chapter 5. This short section is called “The Beatitudes”. It is God’s concise plan for making you happy. Don’t be shocked though! At first glance you might think, “This is a plan to make me miserable.” But then remember who it is that is speaking and what he has done for you. Let the concepts work in your mind over the next few days. Think seriously about what is most important in life. You may well find Jesus not only gives us something to think about in “The Beatitudes”, but they are indeed the surest path to happiness. 

If you are up to some counterintuitive thinking this Sunday morning, join us for our 10:00 am worship service! 

Sunday Morning Worship – 10:00 am

“The Call”

 

“The Call” – people will refer to it in those terms for the rest of their lives. Maybe it was a personal visit from someone, a telephone call, maybe an e-mail or even a text, but it was some kind of communication which significantly changed their lives from that point forward. 

“The Call” might have been incredibly good news: the acceptance of a marriage proposal, a job offer, or the invitation to participate in some elite organization. 

“The Call” might have been terrifying and challenging, such as the call to military service. 

Most often, however, “The Call” brings heart wrenching, mind numbing news: a serious health diagnosis, the death of a loved one, the loss of a job. 

There is one call in life to which all others are subordinate. This call not only is of more importance, it determines how we will react and respond to the other calls. It is in every sense, THE CALL. Most often it doesn’t hit us in such emotional ways as the other calls. For some people, they don’t even give it a second thought. There is no realization on their part that THE CALL won’t only change some things for life, it will change everything forever. 

THE CALL is simple and straightforward. It comes from Jesus Christ who says: “Come, follow me.” It is a call to let him be the Savior and Lord of our lives. It is a call to let him mold us into the kind of people he created us to be. It is a call that will literally change everything. But what a change it will be! 

How much have you thought about the call of Jesus? If you’re uncertain as to what it means or how it works itself out in the lives of real people, join us for our worship service this Sunday. 

Sunday Morning Worship – 10:00 am

The Worship Connection

 

Worship is one of those concepts we are very familiar with but are hard pressed to explain in a way that even we ourselves understand what we’re saying. A very basic definition of worship is “to come into the presence of God”. But how does that happen when we can’t physically see, hear, or touch God? 

We talk about connecting with people. Usually that involves an in-person meeting with the individual, but it isn’t primarily being in their physical presence that makes the connection. Usually, it is made when two people are encouraged, built up, share information, enjoy similar interests, etc. Those are all intangibles, things we can’t see, but value very highly in our relationships with other people. Our relationship with God isn’t all that much different in some ways. 

Worship is, in a very real sense, connecting with God. When we come into his presence, we are encouraged, instructed, comforted, built up, forgiven and motivated. Our response to what God does for us is reverence, respect, and the commitment to demonstrate our love for him in the way we live. 

Worship has gotten a bad rap by those who would paint it out as sitting through a boring, mind-numbing church service. While worship does involve church services (which shouldn’t be boring!), it plays a crucial role in every area of our lives. If we are not worshiping God the way he designed us to worship him, then we are worshiping someone or something else and that will end up in a disaster – especially in the long term. If you know intuitively that worship is important but aren’t exactly sure why, join us for our Sunday morning service. Together let’s start down the path of letting worship revolutionize our lives in very real and practical ways. 

Sunday Morning Worship – 10:00 am

War of the Worlds

 

He is there! It’s rather unnerving, but he is. Wherever you go, whatever you are doing, whether you are aware of him or not, he is there! And he knows you better than you know yourself. He knows your likes and dislikes, your strengths and your weaknesses. He knows what is going on in your life and how your circumstances are affecting you. Yes, he’s there. 

You might be guessing that “he” is Jesus, but in this case, no, the “he” is Satan. As frightening as it is, we need to be conscious of the fact that we are engaged in a war of eternal consequences each and every day of our lives. Far from conceding Christians to the cause of Christ, Satan works overtime to lure believers away from their Savior. This is his only goal, to take people away from Jesus, by whatever means are most effective. 

We can’t see him. We aren’t always sure of what he is trying to lead us to do or think. But most Christians do sense that there is some kind of force operating in their lives that is in direct conflict with Jesus. This shouldn’t surprise us, knowing that Jesus himself was tempted by Satan throughout his time on this earth. One Bible writer says that Christ knows exactly what we go through as he was tempted in every way, just as we are. The one difference being, he didn’t give in to temptation – he didn’t sin. 

How is the war going in your life? Do you sense Jesus pulling you more and more to his side? Or, are you living a yo-yo spiritual life, one day walking on the dark side, one day in the light? The first step in winning this war is to acknowledge it is going on! The next, is to learn how Christ overcame Satan and how that applies to us. The one thing you don’t want to do is ignore the war. The consequences of that kind of disregard are too horrible to consider. Join us for our worship service this Sunday morning. The good news is, because of Christ, there isn’t any reason any one of us should lose this war! 

Sunday Morning Worship – 10:00 am