Yes Message

Text messaging is changing the way we communicate. Not only is the technology changing the way we send our message, it's changing the message itself. Text messages, by nature, have to be short. My thumbs can only type so many words at a time. Necessity being the mother of invention, we have witnessed the rise of the emoji. These small symbols, originally faces created with colons for eyes and symbols for the mouth, have evolved into little drawings to express emotions that used to require an entire paragraph. For example, "The guy in front of me in the checkout line is taking forever to finish. I have no idea when I will get home for dinner. It is entirely possible that I'm going to spend the rest of my life reading the gum wrappers at Walmart." has become :\

This week, we look at the second of the Christmas announcements, the angel informing Mary that she would give birth to the Son of God. Her amazingly brief acceptance of the Lord's call on her life reveals how we should all be ready, when the Lord calls, to say "Yes."

See you Sunday!

Listen to this message at http://www.nationalheights.org/messages.html 

The right side of the fence

While driving down the road, I saw a horse craning its head through the barbed wire fence to eat on the other side. Further down the road, was a deer, gingerly walking along the road. How silly, I thought -- they both have wide open fields....why are they endangering themselves by going elsewhere?

Many times, we, too, are the same way. The grass looks greener, or we'll just go 'there' for just a little bit...we'll be careful...and all the while, God is providing us with wide open fields of blessing and protection.

He provides blessings that make our cup overflow....we have all spiritual blessings...he gives more than we can ask or imagine. We have no reason to look elsewhere.

Announcement

From time to time I'm glad the the powers in charge do something I despise - the emergency broadcast system. The "alarm" signal used by radio and television stations to signal an emergency announcement has to be the most annoying sound ever created, right up there with fingernails on the chalkboard. When the sound goes off, however, we all know what it means. Either it's a test of the system, or time to go to the basement.

Some announcements are essential to hear. The announcements of the Savior's birth are the most significant of all. Over the next several weeks, we are going to prepare for the Christmas season by surveying the announcements surrounding this extraordinary event, announcements we all need to hear.

See you Sunday!

Listen to this message at http://www.nationalheights.org/messages.html

Grow Up

Different families have different ways to measure the growth of their children. Some keep a record of growth in a journal. Others make marks on a doorpost. My family measured my growth by the distance of the cuff of my pants from the floor. When my knees were showing, it meant I was growing up. And it was time for some new pants.

Paul mixes the images of a child growing up and waves tossed in the ocean to remind believers of the importance of maturing in our faith (Ephesians 4:14-15). Join us this Sunday as we learn how important it is for all of us to grow up.

See you Sunday!

Listen to this message at http://www.nationalheights.org/messages.html

Ready to Go

For some reason, I never feel quite ready to leave the driveway. There is always the nagging possibility that I forgot something. Did I lock the door? Did I close the refrigerator? Did I remember to feed the cat? Typically, I make one more trip inside the house to be sure, only to get back in the car and wonder, "Did I lock the door...." It's a wonder I ever get out of the driveway.

God doesn't want you stuck in the driveway. Too often, when God calls us, we wonder if we are ready. In this week's passage (Ephesians 4:12-13), we find the way God has chosen to make sure that we are.

See you Sunday!

Listen to this message at http://www.nationalheights.org/messages.html

Read the Blueprint

At one time in my life, I wanted to be an architectural engineer. I went to a recruiting class the local college offered one Saturday for future engineers, explaining all the things a degree in architectural engineering could do for my life.

I don't remember anything they said, but I do remember a video the professor showed of a bank building in the process of being constructed. The time lapse video showed the progress over several days which came to a screeching halt. All the construction workers stopped while a group of very official looking people huddled around what appeared to be design plans. After a lot of pointing and huddling, the construction workers began taking the frame of the building apart. The professor explained that the primary beam holding the roof had been installed backwards, so they had to tear everything down and start over.

I'm not sure how this was supposed to encourage us to be architectural engineers, but it did teach a lesson I never forgot - be sure to read the blueprint. In Ephesians 4, the Bible provides God's blueprint for the church. In this week's passage, Ephesians 4:11, we will look at who the church is and who created it.

See you Sunday!

Listen to this message at http://www.nationalheights.org/messages.html

Gray or blue, He's here for you

While traveling recently, it seemed that all around us were gray skies. But turning to my right and back aways, there it was....the prettiest patch of blue. It didn't matter if a gray cloud floated in front of it, I knew that beautiful blue was still there.

God is always there, even when it seems that all around us it is dark and gloomy. Sometimes it's easier to see Him than others, but what a comfort to know that it's not dependent on whether or not we see Him. He always sees US. We walk by faith, not by sight. Skies and life change, but He is the same yesterday and forever. "I am with you always." Matthew 28:20  It's a promise!