On Sunday mornings, during the Wake Up, we are walking our students through the “I Am”, statements of Jesus. The heart of this study is to open our students' eyes to who Jesus is, and wants to be to them, in addition to being their savior. The desire is that as students begin to follow Jesus, and as they grow in their faith, 10 years, 20, years, 30 years, and beyond they know who Jesus is and how that impacts their life as they deepen their relationship with Him.   Read More

It is three weeks or less when we have the privilege of voting in the Mid-Term Elections. As we consider the issues and the candidates, I ask you take three actions: Pray, Vote and Stand.  Read More

When I asked kids why you love their dad a couple of years ago, the number one answer was because he wrestles with me. The more research I have done, the wrestling part is HUGE in the life of a child. According to Focus on the Family, playing with dad daily and roughhousing helps children develop self-control. Attacking dad on the couch helps kids with problem solving skills. Wrestling dad to the ground also develops self-regulation skills. Sons with good and playful relationships with their fathers handle stress better! Over and over experts advise you to put your phone down and wrestle your kids every day! I know my girls squeal with delight when they see dad ready to play. It helps get the frustration out and ends in giggles.   Read More

In these last days, we need to be faithful to the Lord. There is so much teaching that is contrary to Biblical principles that it makes us feel odd, and mad, where did that come from? But it is not the first time that the church has faced this. Paul encourages us in Col. 3:23 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” Let us continue faithfully serving the Lord through five different actions.  Read More

We are all bargain shoppers at heart. We want to get the best possible deal on almost everything. It's true with our groceries, cars and clothing to name a few. Don't get me wrong, that's definitely a part of being a good steward of what God has entrusted us with. But I think it carries over into our faith walk with Jesus. We want to get the maximum amount of good while paying out the least amount of effort. (It's a good thing our salvation was offered free to us, am I right?) To put it another way, we are tempted to become bargain-hunting disciples. We are tempted to follow Jesus to the extent that He disrupts my plans. This is a far cry from Romans 12:1-2.   Read More

I ask a simple question. Why do you pray? Many of us pray for healing those who are sick (James 5:14). Do you find that most of your prayers are for the sick and for your own well-being? That is good, but it is only a small part of what our prayer life should be.   Read More

The key to talking to kids is to make it part of your daily routine. Something they are comfortable with and look forward to. The biggest opportunities are in the car, meals, and bedtime. As you listen, they feel safe to share their inner, hidden lives and what is swirling around in their thoughts, hearts, and minds. Predictable, consistent, conversations lead to deep, holy, conversations.  Read More

Serving others, being served, worship service, service project, poor service, fantastic service. . . Service is a word that we use quite often in our lives. In fact, if we aren’t careful, I feel that we can lose sight of what the word “serve” actually means. I have experienced something similar, and I am quite certain we all have at some point. The dictionary definition of serve is quite simple, to perform duties or service for someone else, or an organization. Seems simple enough, do things for other people. However, as believers, serving is so much more than that.   Read More

Paul a lot of times would refer to himself as different things. In this verse it’s a prisoner of the Lord. We know that sometimes when he would pen these letters it would be from a jail cell. Yet he kept on writing.  Read More

I'm a pastor. And because I'm a pastor I spend most of my time and Sundays in my church but when I take a vacation or spend time away on a twelve-week sabbatical as I had recently I visit other churches. I want to be challenged with strong preaching, be lifted up by powerful worship and be encouraged by other brothers and sisters in Christ. I enjoy looking around and seeing what other churches are doing and possibly get some ideas for my church context. That's what I did when I visited thirteen churches over the course of 12 weeks.   Read More

It's been a challenge, but it's been fun. We look forward to the days ahead with Pastor Jamie leading the helm and what God is going to do in all of our lives and our church.  Read More

Do you know the number one evangelism tool the church has today is VBS? Number two is camp! I was excited to see one of our children come forward at the service on Sunday to announce her decision to follow the Lord in baptism after accepting Christ as her Savior at children’s camp. I think her family was overcome with great joy as they had been praying for that decision!   Read More