Tuesday, December 3, 2024

A Light in the Darkness

 

In 2020, a record-breaking megaflash” of lightning illuminated the skies over the southern United States, stretching an astounding 477.2 miles. This extraordinary event reminds us of the unique power of light to pierce even the vastest darkness. While most lightning bolts are brief and localized, megaflashes span regions, carrying light and energy far beyond the typical bounds of a thunderstorm.

 

This phenomenon provides a vivid illustration of biblical prophecy. Many Old Testament prophecies addressed the immediate needs of their audience—like a flash of light offering momentary guidance. Yet some of these prophecies, such as Isaiah’s announcement of the coming Messiah, resemble megaflashes, illuminating not just their own time but stretching forward to our present day. These promises reveal God’s plan to bring hope and redemption to His creation.

 

Advent: A Season of Hope

The season of Advent, leading up to Christmas, invites us to pause, reflect, and prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus. It reminds us that we worship a God who keeps His promises. Advent focuses on hope, peace, joy, and love, helping us reflect on the profound truth of God’s promise to save and transform His creation.

 

But how can we be confident that God will keep His promise to return, restore justice, defeat evil, and make everything right? The answer lies in the fact that God has already kept His promise by sending Jesus.

 

A Prophetic Light in the Darkness

In Isaiah 9:2-7, the prophet speaks of a coming light breaking into the darkness of judgment and exile. This light, Isaiah declares, will be a child born to bring peace, justice, and hope.

 

The Messiah, Isaiah foretells, will have titles that signify His divine and royal role:

• Wonderful Counselor: He offers wisdom and guidance beyond human understanding.

• Mighty God: He embodies the strength and victory of God Himself.

• Everlasting Father: He will reign with the eternal care of the loving Father.

• Prince of Peace: He will usher in a reign of wholeness and restoration.

 

Centuries later, in Luke 1:26-38, the angel Gabriel delivers this same promise to Mary, a young girl in a small town. The news is unexpected and overwhelming: she will give birth to the Savior. Yet Mary responds with faith, declaring, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Her willingness to trust God’s promise becomes the bridge by which the light enters the world.

 

Living as Children of the Light

The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 5:8-9, reminds believers that we are no longer in darkness because of Jesus. Instead, we are called to live as people of the light—repenting of sin, loving others, and living lives of goodness, righteousness, and truth. In doing so, we reflect the hope of Christ to a world still shrouded in darkness.

 

Isaiah’s prophecy pointed forward to Jesus, the light who brings wisdom, love, and hope. Now, as followers of Jesus, we carry that light into the world. In every act of kindness, every word of truth, and every step of faith, we reveal the hope of God’s promises.

 

The Hope That Sustains Us

Hope, rooted in God’s promises, is essential for enduring life’s challenges. It assures us that darkness will not last forever, that evil will be defeated, and that God’s new creation will one day be fully realized. As Revelation 21:3-4 declares:

“Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

 

Until that day, we live in hope, holding fast to the faithfulness of the One who promised.

 

Challenge: Embracing the Light of Hope

This week, take time each day to thank God for the hope we have in Jesus:

• Hope for eternal life.

• Hope for transformation.

• Hope for the forgiveness of sins.

• Hope for the defeat of evil.

• Hope for the new creation.

 

By focusing on these truths, we allow the light of God’s promises to penetrate the darkness in our hearts and the world around us.

 

Final Thought

In a world often engulfed in darkness, the promises of God shine like a megaflash, illuminating the way forward. The same God who sent Jesus to bring light to the world will fulfill His promise to return and make all things new. Until then, we live as children of the light, reflecting hope, goodness, and truth to a world in need of His redeeming love.

Monday, October 7, 2024

From the Sandbox to the Beach: Embracing God’s Greater Purpose

 

“We are halfhearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

— C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

We often settle for a life that is far less than the one God wants us to live.

Christians in America have settled for a life of mere moral living—attending Sunday worship (if we have nothing else to do), giving a few dollars (if we can spare it), and having a morning quiet time (mainly so we can post it to Instagram). We have made Christianity something that we do rather than something that defines who we are. In the process, we have settled for life in the sandbox when God wants to take us to the beach.

The problem, as I see it, is that we don’t understand that God promises us something more than what we dream of having. He intends for our lives to have purpose and for us to influence our little part of the world. God created us to be part of something larger than ourselves.

What did God create us to do?

He created us to be part of His Kingdom and to be united with other Christians as we make disciples. This is how we make a positive impact in the world we live in.

As my understanding of this reality has grown, the excitement and hope in my heart have grown as well. The reason I get excited is because I want to be a good steward of this life that God has given me. I don’t want to waste my life sitting in front of a screen, scrolling away while chuckling at a few videos. I want to live a life that impacts those around me and makes their lives better.

I don’t want to settle for a life in the sandbox. I want to accept God’s invitation to the beach.

Acts 20:18-24 (CSB)
When they came to him, he said to them, “You know, from the first day I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility, with tears, and during the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. You know that I did not hesitate to proclaim anything to you that was profitable and to teach you publicly and from house to house. 

“And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, compelled by the Spirit, not knowing what I will encounter there, except that in every town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me. But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.”

The apostle Paul knew he was created for a purpose, and he lived his life to fulfill the calling that God had placed on him.

It is true that not everyone has a specific calling like Paul, who was called to be God’s instrument for taking the Gospel to the Gentiles, but I do think we can learn from his life. I want to point out two truths about accepting God’s calling on our lives.

The first truth is that living out our calling isn’t going to be easy. We often have this idea that since this is what God has called us to do, and because it will align with our talents and abilities, it will come easily. But that is not the case. The enemy will oppose us every step of the way, and we will have to fight through distractions, disappointments, difficulties, and detours to do what God has called us to do. No matter how hard it might be, it will be worth the effort.

The second truth is that we will only discover the meaning of our lives through living out our calling. Why are we here? Questions like these are answered as we do what God has called us to do. Paul said that his life had “no value” apart from living out his calling. Our value is found in being faithful to the call God has placed on our lives.

We may not have been called like the Apostle Paul, but God has still called us to follow Jesus, to live faithful lives, and to be united with the Church in making disciples. In our commitment to the mission of Jesus, we discover the meaning of our lives.

We are created for something bigger than ourselves. The call to be a disciple of Jesus is more than a commitment to attend Sunday morning worship. To be a follower of Jesus means that we join Him in the work He is doing in the world. This is the way we discover a life of purpose and meaning.

It is time to stop playing in the mud and accept God’s invitation to go to the beach.

Friday, October 4, 2024

Identity: From Corruption to New Creation

 

We often hear that human beings are created in the image of God. But what does that really mean? It’s about more than just physical likeness; it’s about purpose. Being made in God’s image means we are meant to represent Him in the world—to reflect His character and love in all we say and do. To help us accomplish this, God has equipped us with tools like intelligence, creativity, and discernment, enabling us to steward His good creation.

However, there is a problem: sin. In Genesis 3, we see the introduction of sin into the world, corrupting the image of God in us. The Apostle Paul sums this up clearly in Romans 3:23: “All have sinned and fall short of God’s glorious standard” (NLT). Sin disconnects us from God, distorting our ability to live as His representatives. Instead of being guided by the Spirit, we are led by our flesh, bringing dishonor to God.

This disconnection from God leads to a deep identity crisis. People wander through life, unsure of their purpose and significance. Across different cultures and belief systems, we see this search for meaning—Who am I? Why am I here? In a world grasping for answers, the Bible gives us the truth: we are created in God's image, but that image has been tainted by our choice to define good and evil on our terms. However, there is hope! The Gospel reveals that through Christ, we can rediscover our identity and purpose.

The Problem of Sin and the Promise of Reconciliation
In 2 Corinthians, Paul addresses this profound truth. His second letter to the Corinthians came after a period of significant challenges within the church. In his first letter, he had confronted them about division, immorality, and false teaching. By the time of this letter, there had been genuine change, and Paul was encouraged. He took the opportunity not only to reaffirm his apostleship but to remind the Corinthians of the reconciliation we now have with God because of Jesus.

Paul’s motivation is clear in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15:
For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised. (CSB)

Paul is driven by Christ’s love. Because Jesus died to bring reconciliation to people, Paul was willing to sacrifice his own comfort to bring the Gospel to the world. And just as Jesus died for us, Paul urges us to “die” to our old way of living—our beliefs, desires, and goals—and live for Christ. As believers, our mission is now tied to Jesus' mission: to reconcile people to God.

In 2 Corinthians 5:16-17, Paul highlights a critical shift in perspective:
From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! (CSB)

Before, Paul evaluated everything—including Jesus—through the lens of the flesh. But now, as a new creation in Christ, everything has changed. The Holy Spirit transforms us, preparing us for the entirety of New Creation, complete with a new heaven and a new earth. This transformation is ongoing; the moment Jesus rose from the dead, a new creation began, and we are invited into it. Sin no longer defines us because we are no longer enslaved to it. Instead, we are empowered by the Spirit, producing the fruit of eternal life like love, joy, and peace. We are made new to reflect God's character once more.

A New Creation with a New Mission
In 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 Paul explains that through Jesus, we are reconciled to God.
Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 
 
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (CSB)

This reconciliation is not something we accomplish on our own; it is God’s work. Sadly, the world doesn’t realize they are separated from God. They are living their lives the best they can with the wisdom given to them.

This is where followers of Jesus come in. Paul refers to himself as an ambassador for Christ—someone sent from the Kingdom of God with a message of reconciliation. As we mature spiritually, this is our calling as well. We are no longer just stewards of God’s creation; we are ambassadors, sent into the world with the Good News of Jesus.

Christ took on our sin so we could be reconciled to God and restored to our original design. As ambassadors, we carry this message of peace into the world, to people who desperately need it. Our purpose shifts from simply tending to creation to bringing the message of salvation to a lost and dying world.

Sin Corrupts, but Jesus Restores
We are made in God's image, designed to reflect His character. Sin, however, corrupts that image, separating us from God and leading us to dishonor Him. But God, in His great love, sent Jesus to be our representative, dying in our place so that we could be part of His new creation. Through Jesus, we die to our old life and are made new, empowered by the Holy Spirit to live for God’s Kingdom. As we mature in Christ, our purpose becomes clear: to be ambassadors for Christ, taking the message of reconciliation into the world.

Moving Forward in Christ
What does this mean for us today? It means focusing on our spiritual formation in Christ. What is your next step? Perhaps it’s confession and prayer, or maybe you need to forgive someone or take up the discipline of Bible reading. Maybe it’s time to share the Gospel with a friend who is searching for purpose. Our spiritual growth equips us to be better ambassadors for Christ, able to share the Good News with others.

Though sin may distort God's image in us, it does not have the final word. God's love for His creation remains, and He has made a way for us to be renewed—through Jesus. Our true identity is found in Him, and as we walk with Christ, we become more like the people God created us to be.

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

You Are A Theologian

 


One of the fundamental aspects of being human is that we think. Some people may reflect more deeply than others, but all of us, at some point, have pondered life's big questions. It’s in our nature to think and to seek understanding.

This natural inclination to think means that, on some level, every person is a theologian.

Stanley Grenz wrote in his book Theology for the Community of God:

"Every Christian is a theologian. Whether consciously or unconsciously, each person of faith embraces a belief system. And each believer, whether in a deliberate manner or merely implicitly, reflects on the content of these beliefs and their significance for Christian life." (p. 1)

In other words, you are a theologian. Every time you contemplate who God is or reflect on His existence, you engage in the discipline of theology. Even though people—both inside and outside of the Christian community—disagree about the nature of God, the act of thinking about such things makes us all theologians. This reflective process plays a key role in shaping our worldview.

Your worldview, the set of beliefs through which you interpret the world, is rooted in your thoughts about God. If you’re reading this, chances are you already have specific beliefs about God’s role in the world and in your life. These beliefs shape how you understand the world and influence the way you live.

For me personally, what I believe about God shapes my understanding of right and wrong, my sense of purpose, and the hope I have for the future. It informs my perspective on the creation of the world, historical events, the present, and what lies ahead. My faith brings moments of joy, guilt, hope, and sorrow. In essence, reflecting on God guides every aspect of my life.

What’s remarkable is that God grants us the freedom to choose what we believe about Him. He doesn’t force our beliefs; He invites us to decide. This means that as you ponder God’s existence, you also determine the place He will have in your life.

The question you need to consider is: “Will you allow Him to guide you, or will you ignore Him?”

The choice is yours.

This freedom also brings with it a personal responsibility. You can’t rely solely on your family’s beliefs or simply go along with the crowd. You must seek the truth for yourself.

It’s essential to pause and think deeply about what you believe and why. I firmly believe that God desires us to think critically about our beliefs so that we gain a better understanding of life and the world around us.

While we each bear responsibility for our own faith, we also have the potential to impact the lives of others. Through our conversations and the way we live, we influence those around us—especially those closest to us. That’s why it’s important to be intentional about learning, teaching, and living out the truth.

The apostle Paul gave Timothy this advice:

"Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all. Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers." (1 Timothy 4:15-16, CSB)

Paul reminds Timothy that what he believes about God is crucial and that his faith should shape his life. We should take this to heart as well, allowing our beliefs about God to guide our actions and decisions.

You are a theologian. The ideas you develop about God will influence the direction of your life. Don’t just follow someone else’s beliefs—take the time to think deeply about who God is and what that means for your life. Being a theologian is one of the most important roles you’ll ever play. Don’t ignore this great responsibility.

Friday, September 20, 2024

Identity: Created in God’s Image

 

There’s a funny, and likely untrue, story about Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, visiting a retirement community. As she made her way through, shaking hands with the residents, she encountered a woman who didn’t seem to recognize her. Thatcher asked, “Do you know who I am?” The woman replied, “No, but if you ask that nurse over there, she usually knows.”


This humorous exchange highlights a deeper truth: many of us go through life asking, “Who am I?”


It's not uncommon to feel lost or uncertain about our identity. Our culture constantly pushes us to conform, to find our worth in achievements, appearances, careers, or possessions. In the midst of this, we can lose sight of who we really are.


Thankfully, there is One who knows exactly who we are: the God who created us.


The Questions We All Ask

Life’s big questions—Where did I come from? Who am I? Why am I here? How should I live? Where am I going?—highlight our search for identity. Trying to find the answers to these questions drives much of what we do. Whether it’s searching for meaning in careers, relationships, or even hobbies, at the root of it all, people are trying to discover their identity and ultimately their place in the world.


Thankfully, we have good news: the Bible provides answers. In a world where people are searching for identity, the Bible tells us who we are, why we’re here, and what our purpose is.


Beginning at Creation: You Are Not an Accident

The answers we are searching for are found at the beginning, in Genesis, with creation. It’s important to remember that we are not here by accident. God created us intentionally and with purpose. We can discover answers to life’s biggest questions as we come to understand the very reason God created us.


The account of creation found in Genesis is not just a story about how the world came to be; it's a declaration of who created the world and why. God made everything—space, skies, water, land, animals, and plants—and then, in a deliberate and special moment, He created us.


Let’s look at Genesis 1:26-27:

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”  

So God created man in His own image;  

He created him in the image of God;  

He created them male and female. (CSB)


What It Means to Bear God’s Image

Everything we see around us was created by God. But what makes human beings special? According to Scripture, it is the fact that we are created in the image of God.


But what does it mean to be made in His image and likeness? 


1. Representation: The term "image" in Hebrew is the same word used for "idol." Just as idols in ancient times were meant to represent gods, we are meant to represent God. In the ancient world, people believed that the gods worked through idols. In the same way, God works through us. We are His representatives on earth.

   

2. Authority: In many ancient cultures, kings were considered to be in the image of the gods, representing them and exercising their authority. Similarly, we are given the authority to act on God’s behalf. We are to rule over creation, taking care of it as stewards, reflecting God’s character in all we do.


3. Ambassadors: Kings would place statues of themselves in conquered lands to show their dominion. As God’s image bearers, we are like these statues, evidence that this is God's world. Our presence declares His sovereignty and points others to Him.


Dominion and Responsibility

To be made in God’s image also means we are given dominion over creation. This isn't about exploitation but about stewardship. God didn’t finish all the work in the Garden of Eden—He left some of it for us. We are to arrange, cultivate, and care for the world by wisely using creation’s resources and loving those around us.


The story of the Bible starts in a garden and ends in a city. This reality shows humanity’s role in continuing God’s work of bringing order and life to creation. In order to rule well, we need to align our hearts and minds with God’s wisdom and character — His love, generosity, compassion, and mercy.


Created Male and Female

Both men and women bear God’s image. While God is not gendered, He created humans male and female to reflect different aspects of His nature. As we come together, in marriage and in community, we are able to represent God even more fully. Each of us, individually and collectively, is responsible for reflecting God's image in the world.


Our Fallen Image

Unfortunately, sin has marred the image of God in us. In Genesis 3, we see that instead of being content with being like God, Adam and Eve wanted to be *equal* to God, deciding for themselves what was good and evil. This is the essence of sin: trying to replace God with our own wisdom. As a result, the image of God in people has been corrupted.


Today, we see the evidence of this everywhere—people redefining good and evil based on personal desires. This is why we desperately need the Holy Spirit to restore us to who God created us to be. Only through His guidance can we reconnect to God and live out our purpose.


Living as God’s Image Bearers

To bear God's image is more about purpose and responsibility than it is about a special quality that we possess. To bear God’s image means to live as His representatives in the world. To do this well, we need God’s character, wisdom, and guidance. We need the Holy Spirit to help us live out the values of love, justice, and mercy that reflect God's heart. The Bible is essential in this process because it reveals God’s will and wisdom to us.


The Challenge

God created us to exercise dominion over creation. To do this well, we must reflect His character and wisdom. This is our calling, our purpose, and our identity. We are to represent God wherever we go and in whatever we do, from the way we interact with others to how we care for the world around us.


Here is a challenge for you: Honor others as fellow image bearers. To do this, you need to pray and ask God to help you see people as He sees them. Let’s represent God well in all that we do.


We are God’s representatives, created in His image to reflect His character. Our calling is to show the world who God is by demonstrating His character. But because sin has corrupted that image, we need God to restore us. That is why we put our faith in Jesus and let the Holy Spirit guide us so we can be people who represent God in the world.


** I used ChatGPT to take my sermon notes and generate a blog post. ** 

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Live by Faith

 

"As long as man hovers within the safety of his sight and his visible resources, relatively little will be accomplished."

— Arthur Harrington, What The Bible Says About Leadership


For much of my life I have struggled with my purpose. I have felt like a team of trained monkeys could do what I do.


I don’t possess any superstar qualities that make me stand out from the crowd. While I have certain talents, none of them are unique to me—nothing that others don’t share. My talents are common and ordinary. When the world looks at me, I’m just one among the masses of everyday people.


When I evaluate my abilities, it becomes clear that I’m not likely to make a significant impact on a large number of people. I don’t have the skill set or the influence to make a huge difference in the world. Thinking like this ensures that I *won’t* make a lasting impact. When we only do the things we feel confident in or limit ourselves to what we think our resources will allow, we achieve very little.


The problem isn’t a lack of self-esteem; it’s a lack of faith.


Living by faith means understanding that it’s not about our talents or resources—it’s about God’s power working through us. Stepping out to do God’s will, even when we lack the skills and resources, gives God the opportunity to work through us in ways we can’t predict or imagine.


That doesn't mean every step of faith will result in what we consider a "success." Sometimes, even when we’re confident we’re doing God’s will, things don’t turn out the way we hoped. I can recall several times when I stepped out in faith, knowing I was following God’s direction, only to see things unfold in ways I didn’t expect. What we see as failure doesn’t mean God’s will wasn’t accomplished. It just means God’s agenda is different from ours.


The early church in Acts provides an incredible example of what living by faith looks like:


They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.


Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

— Acts 2:42-47 (CSB)


These early Christians were just like us. They didn’t have exceptional resources or talents. What they did have, they offered to God. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. Instead of focusing on what they lacked, they concentrated on how God wanted them to live, trusting Him to provide for their needs.


Living by faith means focusing on God’s will, not on our limitations. It requires us to understand that if we are doing God’s will, He will provide what’s needed to accomplish the task. If we wait until we have the resources or the skills before taking action, we’ll miss out on seeing God work through us to make an impact in this world.


Let’s not hesitate to take that step of faith. God doesn’t ask us to wait until we’re fully equipped—He calls us to trust Him, knowing He will equip us along the way.

Monday, September 16, 2024

The Foundation for Choosing

 

“Our choices either move us toward God and all the pleasure that comes in Him or steer us away from Him to a life of shame and defeat.”  

— Erwin McManus, Seizing Your Divine Moment


The direction of our lives is shaped by the choices we make. While many of the decisions we make today may seem insignificant, some will have a lasting impact on the rest of our lives. This is why it’s crucial to have a strong foundation to guide us in making the right choices.


That foundation is the Bible—God’s Word.


As our Creator, God knows what is best for us. His Word is designed to help us navigate life in a way that demonstrates His character. This is how we live the life God created us to live.


Consider what Jesus said about building our lives on the foundation of His teachings:

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.” — Matthew 7:24-27 (CSB)


If we are going to follow Jesus, there are three key actions we must choose to take.


1. Choose to Listen. 

We must decide to listen to Jesus. We can easily choose to ignore His words and neglect reading God’s Word altogether. We might also hear God’s wisdom and choose not to act on it. But when we refuse to listen, we will miss out on the life God wants for us.


2. Choose to Trust.

Next, we must choose to trust what Jesus says. Trust is an essential element of faith. It moves us beyond simply believing that what God says is true to living in accordance with it. When we trust Jesus, we declare our confidence that His way of life is better than our own. As we trust Jesus and experience the life He offers, our faith grows, enabling us to trust Him more, even when life becomes difficult.


3. Choose to Change.

Finally, we must choose to change the way we live. It’s one thing to trust Jesus when His words make sense to us, but true obedience involves being willing to follow Him even when it challenges our own understanding. Change requires admitting, “I was wrong, and I’m ready to do things Your way.” Acknowledging our mistakes is never easy, but it is essential for spiritual growth. It is also the only way we can leave behind our old ways and commit to following Jesus’s path.


If we want to experience the fullness of life that God created us to enjoy, we need a foundation for making decisions. That foundation should be the Bible. Choose today to be a person of God’s Word.

A Light in the Darkness

  In 2020, a record-breaking  “ megaflash ”  of lightning illuminated the skies over the southern United States, stretching an astounding 47...