Atomic Habits
Need a new you? James Clear says a 1% change in what you're doing now can be huge. Helpful little habits are the building blocks of a new identity. Watch the video to find out how atomic habits can change your world.
Green Lights
Hitting a bunch of green lights all in a row is #919 on the list of awesome things. It's like having things go your way in life. But everybody hits a red light now and then and it's way worse when they're self-inflicted. It's a good thing God is right there waiting.
Actor Matthew McConaughey shares his personal insights in his bestselling book "Greenlights." We can all relate to the times he faced setbacks and felt lost. But a little bit of wisdom from the book of Romans reassures us that God is with us all the time.
The 4 Agreements
There are a lot of elements in our lives we don’t choose or control. Somebody else sets the rules you must follow. Maybe it's time to break some rules.
Worship and Celebration
Worship is our response to God’s love. You can't fake it -- you have to feel it.
Have you ever noticed how many churches expect NO displays of joy in worship? I’m not talking about fake “hallelujahs” or empty “praise Gods.” I mean real JOY.
Who knows when it started, or when it became such an epidemic, but too many people have been shamed into church as an obligation. It is not a ‘have to’ it is a ‘get to’. Let's celebrate!
Fasting and Study
I once thought exactly like a lot of people do. I thought church was boring, I thought the
Bible was dull, and I thought being a Christian was ho-hum. But then I discovered scholars who made sense of these things.
I discovered people with deep wisdom. I discovered how spectacular the Bible really is,
and how absolutely amazing the story of the church really is. And I began to see the fun behind
all that God is doing. And I was hooked.
Reflection helps us understand why things matter and how they relate to us. Simply
accumulating information does not always equal knowledge.
Confession and Guidance
Who guides you through life? It's not that God is too busy. Maybe we just don't listen unless the decision feels too tough to make alone. If we are rationalizing our behaviors that are clearly contrary to God then we are NOT hearing the Holy Spirit guiding us.
Submission and Service
Selfishness is the soul-killer today. Does pride keep you from seeing the hurt and need all around you?
The obsession to demand that things go the way we want them to go is one of the greatest bondages in human society. People need a place where they matter. Where everyone knows their name. Where they are loved. Where they know people care.
Simplicity and Solitude
We race and scramble to keep up with the pace of our world, to keep up with the trends, to keep up with the latest gadgets so we will not stand out. We do not like being different because we fear being alone. Fear drives us to the noise and the crowds. But if we want to grow in our spiritual lives, we have to find a way to make room for distance from the noise.
Meditation and Prayer
When I started my life as a God-follower, I had no idea what it meant to be a true follower of Jesus Christ. I wanted instant success. I wanted someone to sprinkle magic Christian pixie dust on me and let me get started. Maybe you did, too. But it does not work that way.
Strength Is Overrated
Wilt Chamberlain was a brilliant basketball player, but terrible at shooting free throws from the foul line. Why? He was just too strong.
I Am A Chameleon
We can’t seem to like people who don’t look, think, act, and speak like we do. What if you changed yourself instead of trying to change others? Maybe together you could move closer to God.
Imagine Garcia at Asia
What's in a name? "Michael" has a value of 101. So do: Garcia, at and Asia. But the emperor Nero's name had a numerical value of 666. Was he the beast in the book of Revelation?
What's in a vaccine? Life-giving protection from disease or the dreaded mark of the beast? A little history of the book of Revelation will help sort out its true meaning.
Straight Shots with Crooked Sticks
“I hate my enemies with a perfect hatred,” Devil Anse Hatfield roared. Then he made sure his entire family hated them, too.
If you don't believe God can save the foulest human, then you don't really believe in God’s power to save your own soul.
Spies Like Us
Things that are unknown, things in the shadows, things that appear fierce and ferocious, things that are large and powerful – these things can make us feel overwhelmed. But how often are those things we fear really not nearly as large, powerful, or scary as we believed them to be?
Do Not Pass Go
Remember playing Monopoly? Were you crushed when you got the card that said "Do not pass GO"? In the book of Acts, Paul talks to some disciples who don't understand what happened when they were baptized. They think they're done -- ready to pass GO. He tells them baptism is only the beginning of living a new life in Christ.
That's Why We Tell
What guides you through the darkest night? Is it a star? Long ago, wise men followed an unusually bright star to a surprise ending in Bethlehem that was really just the beginning of changing the world through love.
Meet Me in St. Louis
The classic film starring Judy Garland was a huge hit in 1944. "Meet Me in St. Louis" revolves around multiple love stories. It's a good reminder that each of us should be continually thinking and acting out of love. Good works and good intentions come to nothing unless they are based in love.
Christmas eve
Kids know all about Baby Jesus' birthday and the presents he got. But some of the other details of the story get fuzzy. Enjoy three short videos featuring Tennison's children as they act out the nativity story, read scripture and tell what happened long ago when the angel scared the shepherds.
Be a joyful giver -- but hurry!
The deadline for all 2020 tax year donations is 5pm, December 29th. Any donations received after this time cannot be guaranteed to be processed in 2020. You can give in person at the church office or on this website. Call our Finance Secretary Jeani Guest at 903.572.5341 if you have any questions.