4…3…2…FUN!

First of all, if you missed last weekend’s message, watch it now! THE CHURCH

This weekend is going to be special at Community! We’re kicking off our new series, “BETTER…Because Normal Isn’t Working.” And, we’re doing it in style. It’s not normal to serve everyone lunch after the last service, but that’s how we roll.

Pasta, salad and bread, along with jumpies for the kids should make for a memorable and not too normal kinda day!

The elementary age children will be joining us in big church this weekend so they can get in on the ground floor of something truly unique. (There is still children’s ministries for birth—Kindergarten…because we have to have some normality.)

Bottom line: You don’t want to miss this weekend at Community.

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” (Psalm 122:1 NLT)

Truth in the skies

From sunrises to sunsets God displays His majestic creativity across the expanse, but, there’s so much more to it. The book-ends to our days can be a regular reminder to us of His love and grace and forgiveness.

“He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him. And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins.” (Psalm 103:10-12 MSG)

Even as the day comes to a close and the lights shine across our Valley, God is not done loving, or working, or pursuing us by His grace. 

You may feel like you’re a lost cause, but the evidence of God’s love says otherwise. He still loves you and wants you to know & love Him. Simply put, He wants you to come home.

You are better than a beautiful statue

I really love this bronze statue of Jesus as “The Good Shepherd”. It majestically stands on the property of Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch. I was able to be there last week one day for a conference and had an opportunity to relax outside in a beautiful setting they recently created along with their new worship center.

A statue of Jesus, no matter how beautiful, will not sit with someone in a hospital room, put an arm around a broken-hearted parent, listen to the story of a teenager who recently tried committing suicide or any number of things the BODY of Christ, the CHURCH can do. 

By the way…that’s YOU! If you’re a follower of Jesus, you are a part of His Body that is able to bring love and hope and help to this culture. We are, as Jesus said, the light of the world! 

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 MSG)

Who’s excited about Church this weekend?

This weekend we wrap up our series, Building the Right Foundation. Our subject this weekend is: THE CHURCH. To get ready, take a minute and read about the excitement going on in and around the early church.

“That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.

Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met.

They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.” (Acts 2:41-47 MSG)

Would You Rather?

Have you ever played “would you rather?” It’s simple really. You ask each other questions that might be difficult to decide, but, you have to choose. It’s a game of preferences. Here are a couple of examples:

Would you rather get hit with a baseball bat in the leg or with a baseball in the face?

Would you rather live and average life and be forgotten or die young and be remembered for something stupid?

You see, they get you thinking. So now I’m thinking…would God play “would you rather”?

Example: Would He rather see you do religious ceremony flawlessly or watch you obey Him?

Actually, that one’s easy. Samuel let King Saul know how God felt about that one:

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, …” (1 Samuel 15:22)

Here’s something I said this weekend that deserves a second glance. Please, let this soak in.

“God is less concerned with your ability to sing than He is with your willingness to obey.”

It is possible to have the ritual down, and yet, not really be honoring God. So…what area of your life do you KNOW God is wanting obedience???