Becoming A Church That Builds

As God established the church, the primary objective was to share with the people the loving and saving message of Jesus with the world. However the salvation narrative was never to stop with the individual, but was intended to continue to be shared with the world. In our eyes, we see people like Billy GrahamContinue reading “Becoming A Church That Builds”

Not Your Dad’s Prosperity Gospel

The Gospel has been manipulated to suggest that we follow Jesus for personal gain. The history of the church in the world is full of people who used the Gospel to enrich their wealth and power, and unfortunately, this pattern continues today. The Prosperity Gospel in the United States is alive and well; we canContinue reading “Not Your Dad’s Prosperity Gospel”

Building Up Our Community

We, as a united community, are called to build a safe and encouraging environment where everyone feels valued and included. Our mission is not just a theoretical ideal, but a practical call to action, inspired by the enduring themes found in various aspects of our culture and faith. It is a collective responsibility that weContinue reading “Building Up Our Community”

We Serve Without Judgment

Memorial Day serves as a poignant reminder for many, not merely as a day off from work, but as a sacred moment to honor those who have sacrificed their lives for freedom. In the Christian faith, this concept of sacrifice is deeply entwined with the teachings of Jesus Christ, who called His followers to liveContinue reading “We Serve Without Judgment”

Love One Another: The Remix

There is an eternal fighting between people, which tends to pull our eyes, ears, and minds toward the conflict. We see fighting in politics constantly, leading to deep divisions between our leaders, and fights create wedges between people over meaningless things like movies and sports teams. Unfortunately, division sparks within the church over non-essential dogma.Continue reading “Love One Another: The Remix”

A Life of Constant Sacrifice

Living a life of sacrifice is deeply ingrained in Christian teachings, urging followers to emulate Christ’s example to honor and glorify God. This call to sacrifice is not just about enduring hardships or giving up personal desires but is a profound expression of worship and dedication to a higher purpose. Historically, mothers have exemplified thisContinue reading “A Life of Constant Sacrifice”

Grafted For Beauty

In the context of Christian theology, grafting serves as a powerful metaphor for believers being integrated into God’s kingdom. This concept, often used in agriculture where parts from one plant are attached to another to foster growth and diversity, symbolically represents how believers are incorporated into the divine fold. Notably, Jesus and Paul utilized agriculturalContinue reading “Grafted For Beauty”

Quit Straining

Among some of the hardest adventures and races I have ever competed in would have to be the Mammoth Trailfest 50K. Right in the middle of this race is the grueling Dragon’s Back Ascent up Mammoth Mountain, where you spend about two horizontal miles climbing over 2000 feet vertically. The climb required equal amounts ofContinue reading “Quit Straining”

The Empowering Spirit

The Holy Spirit stands as the primary empowering force in our lives, enabling us to achieve remarkable feats and guiding our paths. Despite its significance, churches often overlook or misinterpret its role. However, theologian John Calvin, despite his reservations regarding musical instruments in Presbyterian traditions, underscored the Holy Spirit’s importance within the Trinity. He recognizedContinue reading “The Empowering Spirit”