May 21, 2018
Change is not easy. Can I get an amen to that? As I am climbing the age ladder to halfway to 90, I am realizing the older you get the harder it is to adapt to change. That doesn’t give us an excuse to resist change because some change is good. On the other side though, we should never change just for the sake of change.
I cannot even imagine what the Christians went through in the first century who were raised in Judaism. Their whole life was spent seeing God a certain way and...
February 26, 2018
I am thrilled to report we have some awesome students stepping up in BIG ways around here at Center. If you see one of them do me a favor and say thank you.
I also want to say thanks to those adult leaders who are taking our students under their wing to provide a space of encouragement, challenge, and training.
As part of the process to engage these new student servants, we have three “Signposts of Spiritual Health.” These are three questions to assess yourself as well:
1) Am I committed to corpora...
February 16, 2018
Community (see Micah's blog) and Service. One without the other leads to unhealthy life. I had a dear professor who said, “Impression without expression leads to depression.” Meaning, being fed by the Word of God without working that into your life will leave you lost. We must fully and wholeheartedly put our efforts into God’s purposes for our lives (Matthew 6:33).
The reverse is also true, “Expression without impression leads to depression”. We have all fel...
February 14, 2018
Being a part of the kingdom of God means there is a task at hand. Each of us, once receiving the Spirit, is also given gifts—talents to help us further the goals of the Kingdom (1 Corinthians 12:27-31). What we have to realize though is that we aren’t given these gifts so that we can work alone. Community is desperately important for two reasons.
First, we are in community to build and be built back up. When we gather together, scripture actually tells us th...
February 9, 2018
My last article was about the need and responsibility we have to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being persecuted throughout the world. Reports show that some 215 million Christians experience high, very high, or extreme persecution.
The need to pray is real. The reason for prayer is severe. The time to pray is now. But “how to pray” is a question upon many hearts who are willing.
The following comes from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and is extre...
January 26, 2018
One of the weirdest feelings for me, is getting my mouth numb for a dental procedure. I remember the last time I had that done, I couldn't feel my bottom lip for what seemed like an hour afterwards. I remember taking a drink and drooling all over myself. I also remember even nibbling on my lip with the amazement that I couldn't feel a thing. Of course, the numbness wore off and the drooling occurrences were decreased greatly and the nibbling began to hurt. It’s the strangest feeling to have...
January 12, 2018
Sharing Your Faith...The message in scriptures is clear, we have been challenged to be the salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16) that God needs so that people we know will become believers in Him through Jesus Christ. Sharing Your Faith class is learning how God has made you with a particular style, or styles, that is to be used to lead others to faith in Christ. We are made aware how to arrange our lives so that we can have the highest potential spiritual influence on those around us. Come and be...
January 11, 2018
Discipleship Path is a 6-week study for new Christians and for those immersed believers who are desiring to become an active, growing part (member) of the Center Family. I pray that this study will set the stage for each individual or couple to be connected in avenues of spiritual growth that best meet their needs. Jane and I are excited to lead this spiritual growth opportunity each Sunday, through February 11, from 9:45 - 10:30 a.m., in Room 201.
January 10, 2018
Year’s Theme—”Old School”
Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, Believe in the Future
January through May
“From Old to New”
(A Sermon Series on the Book of Hebrews)
June through July
“The Past Perfected”
(Jewish Feasts Fulfilled by Jesus)
August through September
“Every Giant Must Fall”
(The Old Story of David and Goliath in a New Light)
October through November
“The Generational Church”
(Honoring the Past and Encouraging the Future)
December
“Old School—Christmas Edition”
If you missed the start of the s...