Thank You for Your Service

This weekend, we pay tribute to the men and women of our armed forces and acknowledge the sacrifice of so many to insure our freedom. Memorial Day is an important part of the fabric of our nation, and a reminder to all of us of the significance of a call to serve.

That should be nowhere more clear than in the church. This week, we will read the scripture's clear call, and plan for success, in the believer's life: a call to serve (1 Corinthians 16:15-18).

See you Sunday!

Bullet Points

I'll admit it - when I'm reading an article, I often skim through the bulk of the writing until I reach the bullet points, that place where the author summarizes their main points. I figure, if they are going to tell me what I need to know in twenty-five words or less, why read the rest?

I'm guessing that's not exactly the reason why the author puts in the bullet points. They probably had some interesting things to say in the rest of the article. However, for those of us with short attention spans, bullet points are a blessing.

Paul provided some very important information to help the Corinthian church throughout his letters, but for those Corinthians with a short attention span, he provides a bullet list of five steps to a healthy church. We'll take a look this week in 1 Corinthians 16:13-14.

See you Sunday!

Hi Mom!

It is tattooed on arms, written on poster board, and whenever the camera pans through the stands at a ball game someone will inevitably say, "Hi Mom!" It's not hard to figure out why - our moms are tremendously significant in our lives for a number of reasons, more than most of us can count.

Join us this week as we give thanks for our moms and read about the influence of one mom described in 1 Corinthians 16:10-11.

See you this Sunday!

I wanna go home....and so do they

Recently I was at a conference in Georgia. While I was enjoying weather with no rain and temps mostly in the 80's, back home they were NOT enjoying monsoon rains and very cool temperatures. I emphasized when I watched the news or talked to people in Springfield; however, it wasn't until I began the trip home that it really affected me.

I could fly....nope, delays and cancellations were the norm. I could drive....nope, road closures and detours dotted the map. I could walk....SERIOUSLY??? I tried multiple possibilities....fly into another town close to home, fly a different route....always the answer was no. Eventually, I hit upon the right answer and was able to make it home.

Many people are trying to find their way 'home,' to fill the empty spot in their souls They, too, find nothing works...not money, popularity, drugs, alcohol, etc. Many don't even know who to ask for help. As Christians, we have found our way, and we are commanded to find ways to help others also find THE Way, through Jesus. And He is the ONLY Way. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6. God has a table set with a place just for them!

Open Doors

We stopped to get gas in Arlington, Texas. The first gas station where we stopped was open, but did not have any gas. They were doing some construction that had forced them to shut down their gas pumps. The convenience store was open, but they had no fuel.

Realizing the car would not run on potato chips and beef jerky, we went down the road to the next station. The windows were dark, with iron bars covering not only the windows but the doors. From the road it not only looked closed for the day, it looked permanently shut down. On closer inspection, however, it actually was open - it just wasn't the best neighborhood. Not seeing another station close by, I stopped and filled the car - very quickly.

Paul was serving Christ in Ephesus, and having a terrible time. Everywhere he went he ran into opposition. Yet he writes the Corinthian believers about how excited he was to stay with the ministry in Ephesus, realizing that, despite the difficulty, God had opened a great door in the city (1 Corinthians 16:8-9). This week, join us as we learn how God opens doors even in difficult circumstances.

See you Sunday!