This Sunday

For me it was Steven Curtis Chapman. Always my favorite, I was able to see him in Cincinnati for the Great Adventure Tour! (Yeah, this dates me, I know) With tickets in hand, we found our seats and waited for the concert to start. The stage was black. But just as the show was about to begin, we saw some stage lights come up. Of course the crowd started to rumble even though there was no sign of the Steven yet. Then, the spotlight hit the stage and there he was. The crowd erupted with applause. Why? Why applaud at that moment? Because we could finally see what we came there to see! 

That's what a spot light does. It puts the light exaclty where you want it, when you want it. Furthermore, by lighting up just a small area, it can take an enormous room and make it seem much smaller; limiting distraction and pointing your eyes to a specific spot. In other words, it brings focus. 

The early church had their share of problems. Some great, some small. But with all problems distraction can follow. And with distraction it's easy to lose focus! 

This Sunday Pastor Harry will be looking at that early church in Acts 8 and how there were able to stay focused. The sermon entitled, "Keeping the Message in the Spotlight" will give us insights as well, giving us the tools to stay focused on our call to share the Good News!

Songs for this Sunday(Links are to iTunes):
You Are Holy (Prince of Peace) as performed by Newsong from the CD Rescue
For All You've Done (Live) by Hillsong from the CD The Very Best of Hillsong Live (Live)
Once Again by Matt Redman from the CD Matt Redman: Ultimate Collection
How Deep the Father's Love for Us as performed by Nicole Nordeman from the CD Sing Over Me: Worship Songs and Lullabies
O the Blood as performed by Kari Jobe from the CD God Be Praised Deluxe

I am learning so much from watching my children. Much about them, myself, and God. Through my relationship with them I can see God’s fatherly love so much more clearly. Also, I see how it hurts when his children don’t take care of each other His way.

My kids know I love candy. One day they were eating a treat their mom had given. I don’t even remember what kind it was. All of a sudden, Ellie (my youngest daughter) let out a shriek and started crying. I looked over in time to see my oldest (Hannah) walking toward me with a handful of candy. “Here Daddy, I know you love these!” she said as she held them out to me. Obviously, she had taken them from Ellie to give to me! I asked her just that and she promptly and honestly confessed. She clearly thought this would be ok since it was for me. She thought wrong. How could I be pleased with Hannah’s gift when she had to hurt Ellie to give it to me?

So often we have a plan that seems right to us but, when compared to God’s desires, it is way off the mark.

This weekend Pastor Harry will be sharing a message entitled, “Meeting Needs God’s Way”. This will be another sermon in the current series: “In the Absence of Jesus”. The text will be Acts 6 and I’m sure you will be enlightened. We do hope to see you at one of our Sunday services this weekend.

Songs for Sunday (Links are to iTunes):
Today Is the Day by Lincoln Brewster from the CD Today Is the Day
Forever by Chris Tomlin from the CD How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection
Our God Saves by Paul Baloche from the CD Our God Saves
Blessed Assurance as performed by Third Day (Live) from the CD Chronology, Vol. 2 (2001-2006)
Be Thou My Vision as performed by Fernando Ortega from the CD Hymns of Worship

Like most children my kids love to play hide and seek. Well, really they mostly just love to hide. This is a common occurrence in our house and maybe you can relate. When they hear me come home from work, my two oldest (girls, aged 5 and 4) quickly drop whatever they are doing and run off to hide from me. I know this because invariably they are still “hiding” when I come through the door. I hear them and often see them running around a corner or behind a chair. Yes. I know exactly where they are. Not much seeking is required on my part but of course I play along. I usually make some comment (very loudly) about being sad that they left and didn’t say goodbye or how sorry I am that they’re not home. Sometimes that yields a giggle or two from them. That’s when I pretend to drop my coat behind the chair, or couch, or wherever I know they are. Then I “find" them! We have a big laugh about how they are SO tricky to have fooled me and most of the time it ends in me tickling them ‘til they can’t stand it!

This is a fun game. For them, yes, but really for me too! It’s not fun for me in looking for them because I already know where they are. (Truth be told I think they also know that I know) No, the fun for comes with why they are hiding from me in the first place. The answer is because they want ME to find them! They love to be found and they love for me to be the one to do it! To me, that feels really good. In their little minds, I will always be able to find them because, well, daddy knows everything.

I'm sure you see the spiritual parallel. We too have a heavenly Father who knows where to find us. Though we don’t always hide from Him out of good motives or in the spirit of fun, it is so comforting to know that He can always find us.

This Sunday Pastor Harry will be sharing from Acts 4:32-5:11 about God’s Omniscience as he continues his sermons series, “In the Absence of Jesus”. God’s ability to know all and see all is a scary thought to His enemies. But it should bring comfort to His children. We hope you will leave here better equipped for life and ministry as you apply this message to your daily walk. Please join us this weekend!

Songs for this Sunday (Links are to iTunes):
How Great Thou Art as performed by Paul Baloche from the CD Our God Saves
God of Wonders as performed by Third Day from the CD Offerings II: All I Have to Give
Our God by Chris Tomlin from the CD Passion: Awakening
God Is Able by Hillsong from the CD Hillsong - Faith Collection
Christ Is Risen by Matt Maher from the CD Alive Again (Extended Edition)
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) as performed by Chris Tomlin from the CD See the Morning
In Christ Alone as performed by Keith and Kristyn Getty from the CD In Christ Alone

Sunday School Programs:

For Children & Teens: KingdomZone, C-Team, SWAT
For Adults: Equipping Connection

I thought this was funny.

To me the Christian walk often feels like this. Only we don’t have dogs staring at us licking their chops, we have lions! 1 Peter 5:8 tells us,

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Comforting thought, I know. But take heart for herein lies the blessing and promise of God. We have been enlisted in the army of the LORD not because of our strength but because of His so that His glory might be shown in our weakness. Look at what the Lord said to the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9.

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."

This Sunday Pastor Rick Ribble will be sharing with us from Act Chapter 4. Here we find John and Peter called before the Jewish ruling counsel to give answer to why they are preaching about Jesus’ resurrection. If you remember (as I’m sure they did) appearing before this council was the same path that led Jesus to the cross.

I know you will be encouraged yourselves as Rick applies the trials and courage of these disciples to our lives today. I hope you will join us for one of our morning services this weekend.

Music for this Sunday (Links are to iTunes):
Happy Day by Tim Hughes from the CD Holding Nothing Back
Open the Eyes of My Heart by Paul Baloche from the CD Our God Saves
At the Cross (Live) by Hillsong Live from the CD Mighty to Save (Live)
Before the Throne of God Above as performed by Selah from the CD Hiding Place
Jesus Paid It All as performed by Fernando Ortega from the CD Storm
I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous) as performed by Chris Tomlin from the CD Passion: Everything Glorious
O the Blood as performed by Kari Jobe from the CD God Be Praised