Hope in the Desert

While many live in the desert and love it, the imagery of a desert is one without hope. No water, no way out, no survival. The desert may describe a time in your life where you weren’t sure how it was going to turn out. You were at the end of your rope and it just didn’t seem like you were going to make it.

THEN GOD…

Then God is one phrase I’ve grown to love. When we don’t see a way out, we are encouraged to cry out to Him. He can bring water to a desert, as well as hope to a heart.

Just in case you needed to hear this today, notice the last line of these verses:

“Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.” (Psalm 107:4-6 NIV)

Rainbows and Sunsets

God uses the rainbow to remind us of His promise to never flood the entire earth again. I think God also uses sunsets to remind us of a few things:

• He’s creative
• He’s in control
• He’s got this
• He’s capable
• He’s faithful
• He’s still here, still engaged, still caring, still loving

How do I get that by just looking at a sunset? It’s easy really.

“That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith.” (Psalm 19:6 MSG)

And don’t forget, we start our new THURSDAY NIGHT SERVICE tonight at 6:30pm!!

New Thursday Night Service Starts THIS Week!

If you are getting this from more than one source, I’m sorry for the redundancy. We’re just trying to make sure everyone get’s the news.

We are adding a Thursday night service starting June 11 at 6:30pm.

• This allows us to have the message video ready on the weekend for people who can’t be in the larger group yet.
• This also adds to our seating capacity.
• It provides an opportunity for those of you planning on being gone on the weekend to participate in our live worship experience.
• This can also help those of you who are working on the weekend.
• When the main auditorium is full (per our capacity requirements), people can go to our overflow rooms.

Thanks for your continued prayers and patience throughout this Covid-19 season.

“I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” (Psalm 122:1 NIV)

Weekend Service News for June 7 and beyond

We shared this info through a church email that went out earlier this week, but wanted to make sure more of you are in the know. We learned a lot from this past weekend as we began opening our doors for worship services. Here’s what you need to know now:

1. NO registration needed for our worship services moving forward.

• When the main auditorium is full (per our capacity requirements), people can go to our overflow rooms.
• We will still be offering our weekend message and some worship online because we know that many will choose not to, or simply will be unable to attend at this point.

2. We are adding a Thursday night service starting June 11 at 6:30pm.

• This allows us to have the message video ready on the weekend for people who can’t be in the larger group yet.
• This also adds to our seating capacity.
• This will also allow a time for people to come before they leave for the weekend!
• This allows a gathering opportunity for those of you who work on the weekend!

We are still doing all we can to comply with the State’s regulations for “safe” gatherings. Hopefully things will loosen up soon. Again, we need to be flexible as things continue to change regularly throughout this season.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 NIV)

The Parable of bikers and hikers

Recently a friend and I were riding our mountain bikes up a narrow trail and a hiker actually made my friend fall off his bike. He could have easily stepped to the side for 3 seconds and we’d be gone. Instead, he kept walking toward us and wouldn’t budge. He yelled at us because “Hikers have the right-of-way.” My friend politely pointed out that we had the right-of-way in this situation. The hiker wouldn’t hear it, yelled some more and kept going while my friend got up off the dirt.

Later, as we approached another hiker, we braced ourselves for another uncomfortable encounter. After all, ALL HIKERS must be angry, trail-hogging jerks.

In reality, most hikers and bikers are extremely polite and pleasant. Both enjoy the trails and know they aren’t the only ones in those hills experiencing the beauty of the outdoors.

How easy is it for us to quickly label ALL hikers or ALL bikers as “rude and obnoxious”?

Do you see where this is going?

• Are all policeman bad, violent racists? NO
• Are all people of color, rioting looters? NO

Time for a change? YES

Maya Angelou, “Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.”

Martin Luther King, JR. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31 NIV)