The Gift PreparedDear Church Family and Friends,  Anyone who has had a great gift idea for another knows that once you have the idea you have to implement a plan to provide it.  In the case of an experience, it may take lots of logistical planning and coordination to bring it about.  God went to great lengths and literally orchestrated heaven and earth, people and places, in order to provide Jesus...  Read More

The Gift pt 1, The Gift PlannedDear Church Family and Friends,  When someone really loves another person, they give special thought to what would be best for them.  You know that a person or circle of people around your life really care when they give thought to what you need or want and then seek to make that possible.  In fact, the very best gifts you have received in life probably came from som...  Read More

Threading the Needle (Philemon)Dear Church Family and Friends,  Much of the time, conflict is not simple. There's many factors at play and often the solution for resolution feels like a needle in a haystack. However, if we walk through these tricky situations with honoring God as our focus and a heart posture of humility we'll find that conflict can be an opportunity for growth, discipleship, and ...  Read More

Getting Along pt 2, turning tension to gratitude pt 1Dear Church Family and Friends,  Sometimes we have ongoing conflict or tension in our relationships because we don't see or can't imagine what God may be doing in those relationships.  But if we can learn from stories like those of Joseph, we will be able to believe that there is a bigger picture surrounding our lives and interactions with other...  Read More

Getting Along, turning tension to gratitude pt 1Dear Church Family and Friends,  Do you ever get anxious during the holidays knowing that you are going to be with family or extended family for a few days?  Most families have some points of tension that they have to navigate with their relatives.  It can be things that are insignificant and relatively trivial annoyances, or it can be unresolved big...  Read More

Critical Connections in Christ  (Colossians 4:7-18)  Dear Church Family and Friends,  The older a person gets, the more important certain relationships become.  One's focus starts to move away from "client/transactional" relationships to family and friends, many of whom have been in the person's life for decades.In Christ-centered community, those family members and friends in the Lord with whom w...  Read More

Relating to Others in Christ   (Colossians 3:18-4:6)Dear Church Family and Friends,  Ever wish there was a simple roadmap to relationships at home, or at work, or out in the community?  Is there some pattern that every Christian should follow in our circles of relationships?  The Apostles sought to establish all Christians in some basic guidelines for our relationships. In Christ, there is a way ...  Read More

Living Raised Up with Christ  (Colossians 3:1-17)Dear Church Family and Friends,  If in an instant you could have a completely new life, what would you want that life to look like?  What if you knew for sure you were completely forgiven and had an opportunity for a fresh start inside and out?  What would you want to characterize your new life?  Think of both inner qualities and outward behaviors y...  Read More

Living Complete in ChristDear Church Family and Friends,  Here's the thing about scams--if done well, the deception is hard to distinguish from the truth.  It seems right.  The person seems to be who they say they are, and that they have the ability to deliver what is promised.  The problem?  It's all a lie.  In Christ is all the authentic fullness of God.  Everything you need and ultimately long ...  Read More

Efforts to Establish You in ChristDear Church Family and Friends,  A good parent strives to set their children up for true success.  They want their children to mature, a maturity evidenced in their beliefs, attitudes and actions.  They hope they will avoid things that are deceptive and destructive and they teach and admonish them to stand firm in the truth.  God wants every believer in Jesus to m...  Read More

Being Established in Christ Dear Church Family and Friends,  We are prone to one deadly mistake at the beginning of a romantic relationship--we make it about us. To build a healthy relationship you need to work at really getting to know the other person. To miss judge them, to put them in a box, to not recognize their unique qualities, traits, and heart, is to miss an opportunity for true connecti...  Read More

A Prayer for You in Christ, Living in Christ, part 1 Dear Church Family and Friends,  Do you remember how life began to change when you met a special someone and started building a relationship? The days seemed brighter, more hopeful. You got up with anticipation of seeing this person and continuing to experience life together. When a person receives Jesus Christ into their lives, similar, but eve...  Read More