In an ever-changing culture…

In an ever-changing culture there is one truth that cuts through the noise and speaks to each of us with a consistency, a faithfulness we are all desperately in need of.

After all, we deal with so much change, so much information, so many angles, so many agendas. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was something (or someone) who never changed?

Take a few moments and just think about how GOOD this NEWS is right here:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ” –Hebrews 13:8 (ESV)

Are you carrying extra weight?

It’s an honest question…Are you carrying extra weight? However, I’m not talking about your clothes not fitting right and needing exercise or a new diet. I’m talking about bitterness, anger and our past hurts weighing us down.

Like extra baggage we carry with us every day, these hurts make life so much more difficult than it needs to be. I’m not saying this is easy…but the solution is clear: FORGIVENESS.

Who do you need to forgive?

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” –Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV)

It’s worth it…every day!

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the whole Bible with 176 verses. Each verse is a reminder of the power, direction and wisdom of the Word of God.

Now that we’re in February, I want to re-encourage you to keep reading God’s Word every day. Maybe you got started as the New Year got started, but that “every day” thing got put to the side. Here’s a great reminder of why this is such an important habit for our lives.

“How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word. I’m single-minded in pursuit of you; don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted. I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt. Be blessed, God; train me in your ways of wise living. I’ll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth; I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches. I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you’ve done it. I relish everything you’ve told me of life, I won’t forget a word of it.” –Psalm 119:9-16 (MSG)

Could you be one step away from real joy?

There’s a powerful truth about JOY that most people miss. We think JOY comes from “getting” what we desperately want or need. However, real joy just might come from something very different…

Real joy comes when we pass on the Good News of Jesus. The Apostle John said this very thing, and he’s got a point. There is more joy in watching a friend or family member coming to Jesus than any “temporary” thing I can purchase or experience.

So…who are you inviting this weekend?

“And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” –1 John 1:4 (ESV)

Were you there?

The weekend services were not just full of people…but of power and the presence of God. So you know, my prayer every weekend is that people would encounter God in a personal way. I know people don’t need me…even on my best day. They need JESUS!

Each weekend is great, but as many have said, this past weekend was something very special!!

I’m so blessed to serve alongside some amazing people. I’m so blessed to be a part of a church that is growing and our “problems” are the kind that has to figure out where to put all these people God is sending our way.

While we are working on future expansion plans, we also are looking for ways to maximize the space we now have. There are a few different ways we’ll be working on this, but for today (and I know you’ve heard me say it before) we seriously need people who can, to use the Thursday night 6:30 service or the 8:00 am Sunday service. We could add a lot of people to those services, thus giving room for our newest people who prefer coming to 9:30 or 11:00. Those services have been packed every Sunday in 2026…(and before that).

Talk about it with your family and see if you can make one of these other services work for you.

Also, with growing numbers, we have growing needs especially in our Kids Ministries. While you’ll need to go through a background check, if God is putting it on your heart…please check out how you can serve in this critical ministry!!

“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.’” (Luke 14:23 NIV)