Recent Updates

Do you find yourself monopolizing conversations? Cutting others off mid-sentence? Anxiously waiting for someone to hurry up and finish their story so you can share your own? No one wants to be that guy we saw in the video. But truth be told, sometimes we are. We can get so wrapped up in our own drama, we forget that life is really supposed to be about others.

A lot of things are good in life, or at least good enough. But we live in a culture that for the most part expects better than good—we want great. Why have good when you can have great, right? Who wants a good doctor when you could have a great doctor? Why have a good car when you can have a great car? Yet when it comes to our spiritual lives and our relationship with God, we seem to compromise. Accepting good, when great is at our fingertips.

We’ve all had experiences that have weighed us down. Unkind words spoke to us, betrayal of trust, disappointment in our accomplishments, disillusionment with God, and on and on the list goes. In this world, we will have trouble and suffering, Jesus assured us (John 16:33). No one escapes the hurtful effects of sin, and as a result we all have painful memories we’d rather forget. But what happens when we don’t?

Mention fasting and you get some varied responses. For some, fasting is a precious, sacred act of worship—something they actually look forward to because it brings them that much closer to God. For others, it’s an intimidating and confusing topic. What is fasting? Why would God want us to starve ourselves? It can seem like an odd, ritualistic tradition that’s hard to place in today’s casual approach to a relationship with God. Whether or not we are comfortable talking about fasting, it’s an important part of our spirituality.

So often we fall into the trap of thinking that God has bigger things to worry about. With things like wars and famine going on, why bother Him with our petty problems? And while He never neglects the big things, here we clearly see that He also cares enough to note even the smallest details of our days.

God’s Word teaches us that love goes beyond feelings, which can come and go. Instead, God’s love is based on a steadfast attitude of servanthood and self-sacrifice for another person.

There are a lot of expectations for Valentine’s Day. Someone, probably a Hallmark employee, decided that February 14th would be the day to declare and demonstrate your love to that special someone. But what gets lost in finding the perfect card or gift is the very essence of what love is and how we can best share that with those around us.

Are we being an example of the person God calls us to be? Are we being an example of Jesus? Or are we being hypocrites?