Horizons Church

It Begins

2012-02-02T10:48:00.003-05:00

I am so excited to start this series this weekend called the Invisible War. I know there is a lot of misunderstanding and hyperbole attached to spiritual/supernatural. We are going to share scriptural truth to debunk myths and substantiate truths. This knowledge is going to create fresh understanding and perspective. The really exciting thing is that it will change some lives. We know people are intrigued by the supernatural. This series is going to be capture their attention.

Would you pray for our church and the opportunity before us to present truth. We are in a spiritual conflict, we do have an enemy, we don't have to fear the enemy as followers of Christ. This begs the question? Are we followers of Christ? Whose side are we on? Find out more at either our Saturday night 6pm service we call "Sanctuary" or Sunday at either 9 or 11 am services.

Pastor J

Do you love correction?

2012-01-25T11:26:00.002-05:00

One of the challenges when preaching is realizing you can't preach the whole Bible every Sunday. As ministers, we must choose a topic(as led by God's Spirit) and then focus on that particular area. Over time, we cover a breadth of issues that are all woven together and yet on any particular Sunday, you only get that one sermon.

One of the areas I don't have time to get into on Sunday is the discipline of the Lord. I still remember as a child those moments when I knew that I was going to be punished and be spanked by my parents. I can still see my mom at the kitchen counter taking that glass of water just before administering the punishment - don't know if it was to calm her down or if she believed the glass of water gave her some superpower of spanking :). But that discipline has proved effective in my moral character as an adult.

But, let's be honest - most of us don't like the idea of being chastened/disciplined by God.

However, look at these words.

Hebrews 12:5-11 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives." If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

God's great primary concern for us is not our happiness, but our holiness; not our comfort but our character. In His great love, He is determined to bring us to that condition, and He uses many differing means to that end.

Food for thought, sometimes the trial and tribulation is the actual discipline of the Lord intended to refine us or draw us closer to Him.

Pastor Rich

The Encouragement Factor

2012-01-19T14:52:00.002-05:00

What a difference one positive comment can make. It can change someone's day. It can change someones attitude. It can change someone's life. The power is in the tongue. If it can spew death, it can also speak life. Who has encouraged you? How do you feel about them? Why don't you start your own chain of encouragement and watch what happens.

We are called to make disciples and the major first step is to help the candidate believe in themselves to do that. Perhaps the most meaningful thing we will ever do is to help someone go further than ever before, fueled by our encouragement.

It's not always easy because we don't feel like it. Sometimes, we are discouraged and find ourselves needing the encouragement. Take a step of faith and place some effort to help someone out. It's in the bible...."Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing" 1 Thess 5:11.

Be a blessing

Pastor J

Key to Handling Criticism

2012-01-12T16:15:00.002-05:00

Criticism may not be criticism. Or at least we might label it constructive criticism. Coaches have to critically analyze what their "athlete" or "charge" is doing. They evaluate and guide. What does that look like to the average person? It often is met with some defense and denial. Yet, to get better scripture tells us that Iron will sharpen Iron (Prov 27:17) and that we should spur (Heb 10:24-25) each other to greater deeds.

Being on the receiving end takes some real heart work. The heart of the coached is the one that was pliable, teachable. IN a word a heart that is filled with humility. This Sunday we will talk about the truth behind hearing the correction. We are all called to coach and to be coached. The better we are at our own growth will enable us to grow others. Come grow with a heart of humility.

Pastor J

I'm Perplexed

2012-01-04T14:24:00.002-05:00

Being perplexed is not something new for me. But this one has me baffled. Follow me on my diatribe. 92% of Americans say they believe in God - 78% say they are a Christian - 40% say they attend church regularly(each week). But in a national study it was determined that less than 20%, and maybe as low as 10% of people actually attend church on a Sunday.

You can see why I'm perplexed; somebody isn't telling the truth and to what extent does that lack of truth telling affect the other statistics. The other thing that perplexes me is that if 78% BELIEVE they are Christian but aren't; how challenging does that become in reaching them for Christ.

All of that leads me to our upcoming series - RESOLVE. We will be looking at the biblical process of disciple making through the lens of coaching. All of us need to be coached and should be coaching others. The process of discipleship should be both organic and systematic. This week, we will look at the heart of a coach. A great coach cares for their team and the bible teaches us to care for one another and to encourage one another. As a good coach, we should be recruiting(leading people to Christ) and training(helping them become better disciples). It's a tough but rewarding job and you are called to do it - so c'mon coach -see you this Sunday.

Pastor Rich

final thought of the year...Pray more

2011-12-29T14:03:00.001-05:00

Well this is the last blog of the year. In reflection, this year sure moved quickly. I think of all the things that we experienced and faced. We truly had some marvelous moments in our service and events. We also had some trying moments as well as we faced difficulties as well.

God was faithful through it all. His mercies endure forever. What came out of this past year was a fresh stimulus to pray. It is the most important, effective thing we will ever do. That is why I Thess 5 tells us to ..."Pray without ceasing". Our human nature likes to relax when we accomplish something or overcome something. We pray while in crisis, and usually stop until the next one shows. Whether we are on the mountaintop or in the valley...we should always be praying.

We are very excited to share some of our plans and how prayer will play a part. This weekend we will be sharing on how Prayer Prepares the Way.

I encourage you to make this resolution...Pray more. After making said resolution; keep it. As we pray...we will see that anything can happen.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-21T15:21:00.002-05:00

If you know anything about me; you know I love this time of year. I love all of the trappings of the Christmas season -the music, the movies, the decorations - the candy and food - the family time, etc.

What I love most of all is depicted in the simplicity of Linus on stage reciting the story of Christmas in the classic moves A Charlie Brown Christmas...

Charlie Brown: “Isn't there ANYONE who knows what Christmas is all about?!?!

Linus: "Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about."

Linus: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’ ” (Luke 2:8-14)“You see, Charlie Brown—that’s what Christmas is all about.”

In 1965, Peanuts cartoonist Charles Schulz was asked to create a Christmas special for CBS. When it was time to review the script, CBS executives and producers said it was “way too religious for a secular audience.” The brass advised cutting Linus’ monologue from Luke 2 and other biblical/Christian references, but Schulz insisted that they stay in. The brass said the characters should be voiced by adult actors, but Schulz insisted on actual children. The brass wanted to add a laugh track, but Schulz insisted on a simple combination of piano music and silence behind the voices. The brass eventually acquiesced and agreed to air the special as Schulz had conceived it, but CBS braced for a flop and prepared to write off their losses. What happened? America embraced A Charlie Brown Christmas. It struck a chord in the heart and soul of the nation.

That simple message of the love of God for His children still strikes a chord in my heart and it is my prayer for you this Christmas season - that you may join with me and Linus in beholding, rejoicing and comprehending the true meaning of the season.

Hope to see you at one of our 4 services this weekend -December 24th at 6pm and 8pm and December 25th at 9a and 11a(these services are at the top of my most favored moments during Christmas - receiving communion and singing Silent Night in the glow of the lit candles that remind us that the Light of the world has come in the person of Jesus)

Pastor Rich

Following the Star

2011-12-15T13:39:00.002-05:00

The shepherds saw the angels, the wise men followed a star. The followed it to find the savior of the world. You may ask; did they really know all that was attached to this moment?Did they really know that songs would be written, that the Bible with the Greatest Story ever told would include them? I think not.

Yet; even for us to follow that unction could lead to something greater. A spiritual unction that leads to that solitary act could become the special moment that we all desire. More importantly it led to a truly divine moment. Could all that separates our lives from divine moments be the act of hearing and surrendering to God's spirit as it compels us.

I don't think we can say that we are not spiritual enough. The wise men were stargazers, magi, oriental astrologers. Not predictors of the future but rather those studying the skies, seasons, and time. The shepherds were not learned spiritual men, nor were they scholars but yet they are now included in plays, songs, scenes set on lawns and coffee tables. Just think perhaps the greatest story being told of today could include you; there is just one thing that separates you from something greater.

Sunday we will look at how a spiritual unction with a solitary action could lead to something genuinely special.

Blessings

Pastor Jay

Which one am I?

2011-12-08T10:56:00.002-05:00

Hard question time - would people say you are more of a complainer or a rejoicer? Think about that - most of us do a great job of complaining; and a not so good job of rejoicing. But it's not a job; it's supposed to be the reality of our heart attitude. On Sunday, we are going to examine some reasons to rejoice as we continue our new series Even Greater. Hope to see you there or listen/watch next week at http://web.me.com/horizonschurch/Horizons_Church/EG_Main_Page.html

Pastor Rich

Even Greater

2011-11-30T14:13:00.002-05:00

We begin a new series on Sunday called(you guessed it!) Even Greater. There is a "great" song by Planetshakers by the same title that says we believe for even greater, we believe for more. As we continue in this journey of hope rising and hopes expressed; we are believing God for even greater and hopes fulfilled.

I am excited to be a part of what God is doing in our midst as we pursue Him with our whole heart.

I encourage you to truly get serious about your faith. Don't let your faith be a piece of your life; but rather let it be the center of your life. Jesus doesn't want the scraps from our table. As we pursue Him - Even Greater comes.

Pastor Rich

Hope Prevails

2011-11-23T10:57:00.002-05:00

We are three weeks into our series on Building Hope. Many people have expressed their Hope on our board. We are praying, believing and hoping to see them fulfilled. In fact a few cards have appeared on the Fulfilled board. With that in mind I will share this Sunday on how we can embrace our situations with expectation. There are some real scriptural truths that enable each and everyone of us as Christ followers to live in genuine Hope...that can become tangible miracles. We do have history behind us, present miracles to glorify God with, thus a future to believe in. This is not false hope or hope as the world would rely on. This is biblical Hope that finds it source on Almighty God.

I can't wait to share this message as it has blessed me in preparation. Hope wins.

Pastor Jay

Hope Rising

2011-11-16T15:09:00.002-05:00

Our current sermon series is titled Building Hope; and I pray that your hope is being built.

Life is full of pain, sometimes, public, sometimes, personal and often private. How do handle the pain that life often brings to us; we will delve into that topic on Sunday. Our hope is found in the journey through such pain and the truth of God's unfailing love, grace and sustainment during such times. God is ever faithful to dispense to us the measure of encouragement that helps us overcome the intensity of our pain.

See you Sunday,

Pastor Rich

Dreams on Detour

2011-11-10T15:20:00.002-05:00

Let's all face it. Dreams are wonderful to talk about it. One of the most exciting times we have in life is in the dream phase. We can dream all the marvelous things we can and will do. However the journey can be long, hard, difficult, and sometimes depressing. The truth is that to pursue our dream is going to be pretty hard. It was true in the Bible for anyone pursuing their God dream. It's true today of our dreams. Yet, there is Hope that God who gave us a dream, will give us the ability to see it through. This is the key...that it is a God work.

Phil 1:6 "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus"

If God put it in you, and you continue down His path, no matter the difficulty, the detour, or the delay... it can come true. I write this to encourage you and to give you the courage to renew your dreams.

Take the next step and watch what happens when we sow spiritual seeds in prayer and God's word. Strength will fill you up and enable you to go forward like never before.

Pastor J

Forgiveness

2011-11-02T15:01:00.002-04:00

I have really been struggling through something recently. You want to know what it is? I'll let you know in a bit.

We are beginning a new series this coming Sunday; (i love semi colons) - it's called Building Hope. This concept has been stirring in my heart for months and I'm really looking forward to what God is going to do in us over the next month.

So back to forgiveness - you thought I'd forgot. I'm not struggling with forgiving someone, but rather with how the concept works when others don't repent. Think about this - when does God forgive us? He forgives us when we repent; until that time, He has an attitude of forgiveness towards us but is waiting on us to repent. That concept has me perplexed. We are to forgive others for when they harm and hurt us up to 70*7(don't do the math - if you do your being legalistic and missing the point). But what happens when others don't repent, how can we then forgive?

I believe it works more like this....We are to have an attitude of forgiveness at all times and even forgive others even when they don't repent. However, the intended end of forgiveness is reconciliation and a broken relationship is not reconciled until the cycle of forgiveness is complete. That cycle can' t be completed until repentance occurs. So, even though we have a heart of forgiveness towards all who offend; it's not complete unless they repent. And that is why we often feel a tension or struggle with those we haven't been able to reconcile with - because even though we have an attitude of forgiveness with them - the circle isn't repaired without the repentance and ultimate reconciliation. Often, I've struggled with this because I have forgiven others who haven't repented but still sense the unreconciled relationship. Now, here is the freeing part - if that is you - you've done your part - don't carry the burden of that unreconciled relationship - yes, pray for reconciliation, but don't' feel guilty or condemned.

I think the amazing thing in all of this is God's amazing grace to forgive us and give us a spirit of forgiveness towards others and ultimateley heal broken relationships.

Pastor Rich

Flow Time

2011-10-27T16:21:00.002-04:00

Stagnation refers to something that has ceased to flow. It often refers to a body of water that has no in or no out and thus just sits there...becoming stagnant. We as believers can stagnate. We can have something in us, but no flow out and thus no fresh flow in. There is much for us to learn as we look to the word of God. It compels us not to become stale, rather to stoke the fire. It compels us to give, to serve, and to worship.

Are we satisfied with our Christian journey? Do we long for more? Do we hunger for more? Do we find ourselves desperate before we find ourselves in a desperate situation? These are important questions. Why? Consider what Christ says of the Laodecian church in Rev 3...."I know your deeds, you are not cold, you are not hot, so I will spew you out. Yuck..not a snowball, not a fireball, but a spitball. Interestingly enough we are preferred to be hot or cold, that is better than the middle. So right now as you read this blog...Are you feeling a little stale? Get the flow going my friends, it's flow time.

Pastor J

Worst Day Ever

2011-10-19T14:11:00.002-04:00

I hear this expression often nowadays. Sometimes a person is joking when using this expression and at other times you sense that maybe that is the truth. For most of us, we can recount a day or at least narrow it down to a few days that were the worst day ever.

I don't know about you; but those days often become the springboard for a season for me. I have to work very hard and truly seek God to find a path out of depression and despondency. The beautiful thing is that God always has a path and that the perspective on the other side of the confusion is better than when we are going through those times. Not that we feel good about the experience but we have a better perspective. It is often in these times that I get confused about life.

The question for most of us, is how do I get from being confused to being focused again. Join us this Sunday as we will look at how God has created some pathways that lead us from here to there.

If you are having the worst day ever - don't give up, don't quit - God will walk with you, carry you, sustain you and guide you through every situation you face. Be encouraged, greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world(sorry - had to preach a little there)

ps - I just caved - was trying to make it till November 1st - didn't make it - what am I talking about you may ask - just listened to the first Christmas music of the season... :)

Pastor Rich

Are you Lost?

2011-10-13T15:49:00.002-04:00

Lost...not just a TV show, but a reality for many people wandering the earth. They wonder as they wander, asking what is life's meaning. Is this all there is? They seek fulfillment and happiness in very wrong places. They ask...what happened, why didn't this work out. People become disillusioned, disenchanted, misdirected...Lost.

Even the believer has to sift through his/her doubts. Trying to make sense of the trials of life, but in the end a little lost. Truthfully, we have all been there at one time or another. Not sure which path to take, scared to take another step, wondering and second guessing decisions we make.

There is one sure way to get back on track. Let the Holy Spirit and God's word navigate you. If you follow their guidance you are on your way to having that confidence of knowing your path..navigated. Join us this Sunday as we explore this place of being lost to an assurance of being navigated.

Pastor J

Why I Preach

2011-10-04T09:21:00.002-04:00

In the emptiness of my fallow speech
I form my lips to utter some sound
that might illuminate the grandeur of who you are
to those whom you love and have entrusted into my care

I love to preach - to present the truth of God's word to those who have ears to hear. One of the challenges of preaching is the vastness of the audience. On any given Sunday, we have those who are new to the faith and are still growing in their basic understanding concerning the foundational concepts of God's truth and Love; and then we have the life long Christ follower who could probably preach the message better than me(some have even told me so :)

I don't say this to complain; I love the challenge. But the one thing I have to keep in my mind is that I am not trying to please you - no offense - I am just trying to honor God with what He calls me to do week in and week out. Just wanted to give you a window into the struggle of a guy who tries to be faithful to God's word and give you some insight into a thought of someone who gets to stand before God's people and speak.

So I invite you to come hear the feeble words of someone who just genuinely loves God this Sunday as we begin a new series called You are Here

Talk at you soon

Pastor Rich

Redemption for all

2011-09-29T11:17:00.003-04:00

There is something wonderful about the message of Jesus Christ. Forgiveness comes to all who ask. Not just one singular time, but when we genuinely ask, time and time again. This Sunday we will look at scripture and see that we can even guard ourselves and walk holy.

We may not think we can, we may not think we could, but it's true for God's word is powerful and life changing. We can guard our actions and glorify God in the process. This is true living. Forgiven, not perfect, but striving and conscious to be the Church that God has called us to be. The key to all of this is seeking God...the bible states it in James 4 "Draw near to me, I will draw near to you."

God is not hard to get...It's us in our mind that is filled with doubt, fear,and guilt that keeps us from overcoming. Hide His word in your heart. Draw near to Him. Abide with Christ and watch how life changes ...even for the person who has followed Christ for awhile.

Blessings and I sincerely cannot wait for Sunday...Because the message of redemption is for everyone...What we tear up, God will build back.

Pastor Jay

Words are powerful

2011-09-22T14:59:00.002-04:00

I heard some years ago about a study done by psychologists. They took a look at the power of words and how an insult or put down affects a person's well being. They found that for every negative word; it took seven positive words to heal it. They discovered a truth. They discovered a biblical truth..."Life and death are in the power of the tongue" - manifested in our words.

Consider the truth of God's all powerful word. Prov 18:21 (NASB) “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” Now don't dismiss this or be flippant about the power you possess. They are not just words. They are either death or life.

How do you talk to others? Specifically how do you talk to your family, your co-worker? You see that matters a lot. What are you seeding into them, death or life. How many of us, if we were really honest would take this power seriously and let it steer our thinking and steer our speaking so that we promoted life.

Pray and ask God to help you watch your tongue. Pray and ask God to guard your talk. Try to ensure that when you speak....God smiles.

Pastor Jay

The truth about how we feel

2011-09-15T10:50:00.003-04:00

I'm an emotional guy - there, I've said it...I get hyped, excited, jazzed, happy - but I also get depressed, frustrated, angry, and sometimes, I even cry(okay - a lot of sometimes).

But a good question for all of us to be asking ourselves is are our emotions controlling us, or are we in control of our emotions.

Come check out the message this Sunday or listen online next week at horizonschurch.com as I'll be sharing 2 lies and one truth about our emotions.

Talk at you soon.

Pastor Rich

How I Think

2011-09-07T12:21:00.003-04:00

I'm sure most of us are glad that people don't see all of our thoughts. Often, our mind is a battleground. It's why I love the scripture that says, we have the mind of Christ(1 Corinthians 2:16).

We all struggle with how we think about things, and that struggle is often a process of seeking a God orientation about what our view should be. We deal with this every day, it's just that some days are more difficult than others.

On 9/11, most of us in the Washington DC area were confronted with some very challenging thoughts. I know my thoughts affected me that day. For some period of time I was paralyzed by my own thoughts about what was taking place and by the horror that I was viewing on my TV screen. How do we cope with our thoughts? What boundaries/guardrails can we put in place before the moment of crises, temptation, struggle that can protect us and guide us through the challenging moment.

Come join us this Sunday as we reflect and remember the heroes and the loss of 9/11; and as we begin a new sermon series - Guardrails. I'll be preaching about How I/We Think.

See you Sunday

Pastor Rich

God builds back what storms blow down.

2011-08-25T13:43:00.002-04:00

What a week. What a last couple of days as it pertains to our wild weather. Did you feel the aftershock at 1am last night. The forecast of hurricane Irene is moving west as of this moment. Wow! I can say in the past 5 plus years I have lived here that this is pretty eventful.

The potential for damage and cause for concern is genuine. However, I am reminded that as I seek God; He is in control. That doesn't mean that things don't happen they do. Yet God knows how to redeem, how to restore. I love what He does in our midst, in spite of ourselves.

I have a lot of new music in my Ipod. One of the new albums is Newsboys - Miracles. The sixth song is called "You build us back" It has really ministered to me. Because when the storms of life come, when our earth shakes, when our joy fails, He builds us back.

Be praying for God's protection over our community and pray for a great Sunday in ministry.

Blessings

Pastor Jay

Persistent Prayer

2011-08-03T13:49:00.002-04:00

I'm sure most of us would feel pretty good about our prayer life if the evaluation was based upon the short, quick prayers that we are accustomed to. However, Jesus and the Bible introduce us to another type of prayer that is describes by such words as persistent, enduring, even birthing. If that becomes the basis by which our prayers are evaluated; I wonder how many of us would feel so accomplished.

Join us on Sunday as I will be preaching about persistent prayer - we begin our new series At The Movies and we will use the movie Rudy as a backdrop to the type of prayer that is enduring. Don't forget, there will be popcorn in both services.

See you Sunday.

Pastor Rich

spirit controlled

2011-07-21T13:56:00.001-04:00

What if we tuned into all that the Spirit of God was saying to us? Right here, right now, what is he saying? Are we tuned in enough to notice. I am convinced after reading the bible that the Holy Spirit is nudging us, giving us feeling, an unction and we are ignoring it amidst all the noise and busyness of the day. The best self control is saying "here God have control." The bible says to us that if we live by the Spirit we will not gratify the desires of our sinful nature. (Gal 5:16) Jesus told his disciples to abide in His vine, and we would bear much fruit. (John 15:5-8)

Wouldn't that be awesome, to be sin free and bearing much fruit? I encourage you all to grow in Christ, read your bibles, pray, and watch how that changes who we think, what we do, and what we talk about. We show Christs character.

Blessings - More on this Sunday,

Pastor Jay

Its our kindness

2011-07-14T15:54:00.003-04:00

As I prepare to speak on the virtue of kindness, I am reminded of the song...Its Your Kindness. It says, "Its Your Kindness that leads us to repentance." We respond to the Kindness, mercy, love and compassion bestowed upon us by Jesus Christ.

So with this given to us, what should we be giving to our world? The truth is that one kind act could change someones life. One act that we do, could change someones day, week, or even life. When we think about doing kind acts, we usually gain opportunities. Kindness, being kind and loving in action toward others.

This is the skill that is encouraged for us to use in scripture. Look the easy way out is the main way, the hard way and the right way is to give kindness to those that don't deserve it. See you Sunday for more as we dig up the lost virtue of kindness.

Pastor Jay

In The Flow

2011-07-07T15:07:00.002-04:00

There are times in our life where we hit a rhythm - where things are flowing nicely. It has been that kind of week for me in my work life; but what I hunger for is for that same flow spiritually.

Don't get me wrong - I sense God's presence in a strong way in my life and for our church; but I'm/we're not there yet. And by there - I mean in the Divine flow of His Spirit - but it's coming.

As with all things relating to God - there is a sense of grasping, but there is also the mystery. My words can't do justice to describe this concept. It's one of those - you know it when you see it(or when you experience it) kind of things and I can't wait for it to get here.

So for now - waiting on the Divine flow...

See you Sunday

Pastor Rich

Had to Make a Sudden Change

2011-06-30T08:10:00.004-04:00

Have you ever been involved in something - a project, an activity, maybe driving somewhere and had to make a sudden change. It happened to me this week - I had to change the sermon for Sunday.

Let me give you a bit of insight - normally we plan/pray about our sermon series months in advance; and then spend effort and energy researching, putting together creative elements,and finally a sermon. The final sermon for each Sunday is put together the week prior - well, this week, I had to change the sermon because I felt the unction to preach about a different topic.

A primary question we must all deal with in life is - are we willing to go where God leads us? So see you Sunday for a sudden change in direction.

Pastor Rich

Faithful to the End

2011-06-23T15:16:00.002-04:00

James 1:12 "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crownof life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

Perserverance, ,faithfulness, commitment. These words should not be taken lightly. Nor should we allow them to lose their vigor. Commitment in the year 2011 is all about convenience. Commitment if it works for me, isn't too demanding and brings me everything I need.

Reading the Bible we begin to see these words and they are associated with Christians. They are encouragements and exhortations, commands to be faithful. Jesus was faithful. He didn't veer from course. He was fully committed to go to the Cross.

The challenge before us is to be committed. Never quit, keep moving forward. Commitment like that is powerful and moves mountains. We can't allow weariness to consume us. Rise up with the power of a faithful heart and keep moving forward.

Be there Sunday morning to get the rest of the story...

Pastor Jay

God Knows You

2011-06-16T11:50:00.003-04:00

My inbox has been flooded this morning - on an average day I get over 100 emails; yet the thought in my mind is how many messages/prayers does God get every day. Millions by the minute and yet He knows each of us intimately and attends to each heart. I am amazed. Thank you God for loving me so much; and He loves you too.

On Sunday, we are going to examine an important word that requires that we integrate our hearts values into our daily actions.

We area also celebrating Father's Day - so we are making a video to honor dads and we need some pictures - so please email your pictures of dad with the kids to jimb@horizonschurch.com

See you Sunday.

Pastor Rich

Grateful to be grateful

2011-06-09T09:54:00.002-04:00

I am grateful to be grateful. It is really awesome to say thanks to God and others because that shows and proves that I have been blessed. When I think something is accomplished by my awesomeness I can get proud. When I think that my title, or season, or name, or nationality has earned me some sort of privilege that's not being grateful.

You see our human nature makes us think that we are entitled. That because of "Who" we are everyone should bow down. The truth is that we need to learn to "Work Hard" like it depends on us and "Pray hard" like it depends on God. This bring us into a sense of accomplishment but also understanding that it was God. Thanks God.

James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow" So it all comes from him. Listen, you have an abundance and if it is good...it's from God. Thank Him, and start practicing that idea of being grateful when others are showing entitlement. In the end see who gets more out of there practice and what it reaps in their life.

Be a blessing as you are blessed,

Pastor J

Tending to Your Growth

2011-05-26T11:30:00.003-04:00

We are in the midst of a series called Weeds(yes, we've heard the jokes).

However, the concept of this series is serious stuff. What is growing in your life? One of our focuses this year is Cultivating. That means we are each responsible on a personal level for what happens in our spiritual growth.

When it comes to gardening - the concept is pretty basic - have good soil - plant something that can grow in that climate - get the proper amount of sunlight and water and keep out the weeds(and pests/insects - but that would be another sermon concept - so let's just stick with the weeds idea).

I just planted over 20 pots of tomatoes, flowers, herbs and peppers on my back deck -and so another cycle of growth begins - I'm excited to begin using the herbs in my cooking - to see the harvest begin in the next few months. But it all started with planting something and helping it grow. What is growing in your life? Seriously, what is is that you are trying to grow in your life? Yes, let's get rid of the weeds, but let's also focus on the growth.

OK - get to it...

See you this Sunday.

Pastor Rich

The Main Thing is.....

2011-05-20T10:50:00.002-04:00

This week I will be sharing on the topic of the Weed of Weights. What are weights?. They are anything that hinders or encumbers your walk with Christ. It is easy for all of us to examine our life and identify the bad. We have no problem saying we need to watch our language, control our temptations, and to pursue holiness. However, do we stop and ask the question of what we are doing that seems mundane, or even fun, could be toxic.

We allow our life to take on some stuff along the way. It is not inherently bad, but it keeps us from taking time to do Godly things. If good is the enemy of great, what good things could we lay aside to become great. Weeds - need to be pulled. The weed that are weights need to be pulled. Don't be satisfied with good enough. God's grace and mercy are poured out for us. He suffered and died for us. Don't just pay lip service, do one good deed and call it good.

I encourage you to consider a life pursuing everything that God has for you. Drop the little things...TV...Technology...Sports...People...that weigh us down. Invest into time, people, and places that enrich your life and spiritual journey. You could do greater things, but it starts with a heart that is fully surrendered.

I do hope to see you Sunday, and join in our celebration as we Baptize several new men, women, and children. Who knows the day could be special for you, even life changing.

We serve an awesome God...

Pastor J

The Lamb of God

2011-04-22T09:15:00.002-04:00

When John the Baptist saw he Jesus he proclaimed in John 1:29 - The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

This is an especially important concept to the Jews of that day. Jesus is the perfect Lamb of God. This week is the Feast of Passover - a perpetual feast established by God for the nation of Israel that celebrates and commemorates God's deliverance of the Jewish people from Egyptian bondage and slavery. At the last plague, the Spirit of God moved over Egypt bringing both destruction to those opposed to God and freedom to the Jewish people. At every household, they would kill a lamb without blemish and then use the blood to paint over and around the doorposts of the home, and whatever home had this blood covering the angel would pass over that home.

For over 15 years my family and some friends have celebrated a modern day Passover on Good Friday. Jesus came and served as the sacrifice once and for all for anyone who would receive this act of grace and salvation. This is why Jesus is called the Lamb of God because he served as the final and complete sacrifice for the atonement for our sins so that our relationship with God can be repaired and restored.

This Sunday, we celebrate and commemorate once again God's love demonstrated in sending His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ - the Lamb of God.

See you Sunday.

Pastor Rich

God is Able

2011-04-15T11:52:00.002-04:00

This is the song by Planetshakers that I am playing over and over again right now.

I know my God is able
And I know His love never fails
I know my God is able
I believe in You

I trust in You with all my heart
Cause I know You have the master plan
So I'll throw my life into Your hands
For Your glory, for Your glory

I pray these lyrics encourage you as they do me. In every moment of our lives - God is able.

This Sunday we are examining the god of pride and comparing and contrasting the rich young ruler and Zacchaeus. It's interesting that two people that have similar backgrounds and economic status have different reactions to Jesus' teaching. The question we all have to ask ourselves is, how am I responding to the teaching of Jesus and God's word?

See you Sunday.

Pastor Rich

Breaking Habits

2011-04-11T09:09:00.002-04:00

Habits, especially bad ones are hard to break. Why, because they are part of who we are at present. From the little things like specific words in our language, to the way we sit, the way we chew and many other things; they are things that characterize us. To break these mundane things to breaking the truly detrimental habits in our lives will take work. The first step awareness...That is where a good friend can help us to identify our blind spots. We can also be made aware by the Holy Spirit that can convict us. Second - decision. Making this decision is the best thing we do. We draw a line in the sand and say no more. Thirdly, the move to action. Now the first time we try this action (stopping or starting something) its pretty easy. We are motivated by our decision and can take that first step. Here is where the rubber meets the road..Fourthly, repeated action. This is where we crucify our flesh, battle our cravings, discipline our life and deny our human nature. It wars against us; and tries it best to beat us down. This is where many well intentioned people fail. However you don't have to fail, not at all. Why, because there is a payoff that is liberating, freeing, and energizing. We learn that to really live we have to die. Gal 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live." This is a powerful truth and I encourage you all to examine yourself and make a decision to put something in your life, a habit that needs to go away. When there is less of you then there can be more of Him. We all could use that. Blessings Pastor J

The God of People

2011-03-31T15:26:00.002-04:00

Have you noticed how hard we work for relationships. Sometimes that work does not work because we aren't working right. We are working hard but not working smart, our priorities are out of whack. I often see relationships change because one party is looking at the other and hoping for them to earn their love, trust and acceptance. We serve the God of people in an effort to find acceptance, security, love, identity, and purpose. What if we started with serving God, and then allowing our other relationships to be fueled and directed by the Holy spirit. But, no we love to do it our way, the human way and put God on the back burner. We put His word, His instructions for life, His how to manual to the side. It is time for all of us to allow God to be not only our savior but also our Lord. Jer 17:5 says "Thus says the Lord, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind. And makes his flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the Lord." Turn your heart to the Lord and learn to die to our self so we can really live. Blessings and prayers as we head to the season of Celebration - Easter.

God of a Second Chance

2011-03-24T15:30:00.003-04:00

I need a second chance at some things, how about you? I have heard this referred to as a redo; but the thing with life is that when we commit certain acts, the consequences are already in place. We need a second chance to get what we missed the first time and to get a fresh start moving forward, even beyond the consequences or maybe in spite of them. I do believe that God is in the business of second chances even, third, fourth,etc. He is a God of great grace; something we could all grow in personally.

On Sunday, we are going to examine the process of a restart and conclude our Life in 3D series; and yes put an end to the cheesy 3D videos(have to be at the service to see them- for those of you who have been you know what I am talking about - for everybody else - just take my word on it).

Pastor Rich

Amazing People

2011-03-10T15:58:00.002-05:00

I want to take a moment to say that we have some amazing people in this church family. I wish to brag on my team, the staff, and its many volunteers. Why? Because they get it- Ministry. We do these tasks, prepare our strategies, take on things all for the right reasons. To bless people and empower them to become fully devoted followers of Christ.

Recently on a weekend we held a Friday night prayer event, hosted a Saturday ladies breakfast, ministered at the Micah Respite house in Fredburg, held both Sunday services, held a membership class simultaneously to services, met with one of our First Impressions team, and then on Monday had a team at Head Start serving another meal to those folks.

Wow! Many moving parts all bringing God glory in the service to His Kingdom. I love it. I really love people taking initiative to get things done. This four day time is outside of our regular team that goes to the Prison, or the team that goes to the Homeless shelter. Every Tuesday we have life group meetings at the facility. Things are happening and we have an amazing group of volunteers and staff. How about that Chili dinner, how about our kids and youth staff's. See what I mean...Amazing people doing good work.

Thanks to all of you that make Horizons a going, growing church. You rock.

Blessings

Pastor J

Supernatural Generosity

2011-02-24T10:50:00.003-05:00

I'm still blown away by the supernatural generosity that our church shared in the past Sunday. Over $4000 was given through the spontaneous offering we collected for two special families in our church.

During Sync, we have looked at the special relationship we share with God and with other Christ followers. Koinonia is the biblical word that represents that unique relationship. On Sunday, we will conclude with Admonish One Another.

We normally view the concept of admonishing someone from the negative. In other words, correcting and warning or confronting. But there is also a positive aspect of admonoishing someone through encouragement and coaching. See you Sunday.

Pastor Rich

The Wonder of Prayer

2011-02-17T11:26:00.000-05:00

Let me just get this out first - sign up for the worship and prayer night on February 25 from 6-10P - here is the link - http://www.horizonschurch.com/event-3

This night is designed to give you an opportunity to cultivate your spiritual growth. We will have open times of prayer and worship and special workshops designed to help you grow in your understanding of prayer. We even have a special workshop designed for kids and parents to attend so that families can talk learn about prayer together.

I love this amazing link we have with our Heavenly Father. During sync we are talking about our wireless connection with God and others; and prayer is a great vehicle for us to connect to God. I still remember encountering God through prayer at the young age of 6 - my mom tells me I used to pray consistently as a young boy and remember God's presence being strong in my life from a very early age. As a pastor at Horizons, I long for all people to connect to God in the same way.

See you Sunday as we look at how God calls us to Share with One Another. Something very special is going to take place on Sunday; don't miss this awesome service.

Pastor Rich

Acceptance

2011-02-10T11:04:00.003-05:00

When I was 12 years old, there was a lot of transition and turmoil in my life. My dad had just resigned from a church in Radford, VA and was completing a secular job; so my mom moved us(me and my brother and sister and grandmother) to Lakeland, FL. We were waiting for dad to come join us, and we were pretty poor. We lived in one of those long term motels on the outskirts of town(much like you see along the older parts of Route 1). We stayed there for a few months before moving back to Virginia when dad started pastoring a church in Woodbridge.

During the time that we were there, I was struggling with being accepted. The school I attended had kids who had the nicer clothes and lived in town and they knew I was an outsider. It was a tough time. Where we lived there was this ragged dog that we befriended and accepted into our home - he was tattered and looked like he had been abused and was not well taken care of. Each day, we would feed this dog and try to get him back into shape. I came to love this little creature that most people would have been disgusted with. In alot of ways I identified with this dog who had been rejected by others and it was with a sad heart the one day he stopped coming around and shortly after we moved away. It is not often that I think about that dog; but as I am preparing for Sunday he entered my memory. How many of us have rejected others much like that dog had been. How many of us maybe feel like that little dog - tattered and abused by others, rejected by men.

On Sunday, we are going to examine acceptance from a Biblical perspective. We will talk about how God loves and welcomes and calls us to love and welcome the beautiful and the rejected, even ourselves.

See you Sunday.

Pastor Rich

What is this thing called Love?

2011-02-02T10:02:00.002-05:00

That was a great delirious song. I guess it still is. No, I;m sure it still is. Ok enough Rich - move on.(what does it mean when you talk to yourself in a blog?)(also, you may want to look into a rhapsody subscription if you don't have one - it's a great way to listen to songs without the itunes requirement of a purchase)

A lot has been said about love; we actually preach about it quite a bit as well. A reason for that is that love is the foundation of all that we do and of our relationship with our Heavenly Father. It is the great commandment and the greatest of the graces. The truth is we will have a life long quest to understand and pursue this grace.

Sunday, we begin a new series called Sync and we will start by examining the biblical relationships we have with each other. The bible uses the word koinonia to describe these relationships; so come and discover what these loving relationships are about.

See you Sunday.

Pastor Rich

Lighten the Load

2011-01-27T11:20:00.002-05:00

As we all are into a new year there is no doubt that a number of items have come up for us to do. Maybe we have some goals that require a new discipline? Maybe this season of winter has had an affect on our energy. Maybe we are feeling a little overwhelmed with keeping up the family items and personal lists. The commute is a bit longer. Weather is altering our normal schedule. All of this comes at us and can feel a bit overwhelming.

I remember a pastor saying to me one time...I am so busy that I need to pray for two hours instead of one. He reported that this time out, enabled his time in to be incredibly productive. His stress lowered and his ability to stay focused on the main things proved this principle out. It proved scripture out as well... Matt 11:28,29 states: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

I am continually learning to lean on Jesus, finding rest In Him and experiencing the truth of His gentleness. It is a hard lesson to learn for someone like me that likes to be in control and feel a sense of accomplishment from my To Do list. May we all learn to take this scripture to heart. Go to Him and let His love surround you in a fresh way ...do that today.

Pastor J

On the Ready

2011-01-14T09:05:00.002-05:00

I used to drive a Ford Thunderbird...wait for it here comes the good part....SC. Now SC means supercharged. It had a more than a little extra. This was not your fathers T-Bird. It was a black, lean, T-topped driving machine. I have no idea about gas mileage, that was back in the day when gas was a tad cheaper (90's).

Anyhow it had such potential at speed. I loved to be on the highway and punch it. In fact for a passenger it was always fun to watch that head flip back toward the headrest. I am totally serious it would go and quickly. I didn't need a lot of speed driving around neighborhoods, but I found the passion for the power on hills, to pass someone, and of course for good ol fun.

This week I will be sharing the passage in Romans that challenges, even commands us to keep our spiritual fervor. We often equate that fervor with some high energy emotional action. That can be true, but that is not all fervor is. In fact fervor and zeal, passion are necessary in our Christian journey, sometimes to overcome hills, sometimes to pass by obstacles, sometimes just for good ol fun. Christianity should be loads of fun, I hope you are having a good journey.

Maybe we need to change our thinking...because I can't live at some high emotional level, but I can be on the ready to press the gas and see that spiritual passion rise to the occasion. There are some keys to staying fueled up - so I hope to see you Sunday it could be huge.

blessings

Pastor Jay

To Do

2011-01-07T12:38:00.002-05:00

Its a New Year with lots to do already. Well as we all know this area and time of life many opportunities will be available to us. Things we can do, things we will do, things we may or may not do. However scripture tells us some things to do. What if we took the things that speak to our character and way of life from the word of God and made them a part of our To Do list.

Romans 12:9-21 is one of the most profound piece's of Paul writings to the Roman church and it literally reads like a list of things TO DO. So join us this Sunday as we kick off a new series and maybe a new way of approaching our spiritual walk.

As we begin this Sunday, we will take a look at love and how it plays an integral part of who we are as followers of Christ. Love should be part and parcel of who we are. Be encouraged but also challenged that we are commanded and encouraged to love. Let's learn to really love the actual way God has written to us....Unconditional, sacrificial, love.

Be blessed

pastor J

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T08:03:00.002-05:00

Have you ever wondered why we say Merry Christmas? Modern day use of the word merry means festive or cheery; but hundreds of years ago, merry also meant peaceful and blessed. Thus, when you say Merry Christmas you are literally wishing someone a peaceful or blessed Mass of Christ(although Christmas can also literally mean Christ is sent). As protestants, we don't celebrate mass, but rather attend services or church. On Christmas Eve at Horizons,we usually gather for a service of carols,communion and candle lighting to celebrate and remember that Christ has been sent and we are called to remember His cradle, His cross and His crown and share that hope and light and love with others.

From our hearts to yours - Merry Christmas! And may Christ be the center of your Christmas this year.

Pastor Rich

Preventive Maintenance

2010-12-09T09:48:00.001-05:00

Often times we act on need or impulse. I continue to learn this valuable lesson of preventive maintenance. We can do some things today to prevent failure, sickness, issues that come in life. I get my oil changed and I ensure that all my fluid levels are up to make sure my car is operating at high level. I take my vitamins, eat my green vegetables, exercise, all to stay healthy. It's much easier to maintain than deal with sickness.

As we begin to start the holiday season, excess become our buzz word. Hey its the holidays let's indulge in all the goodies, pile on the helpings we may say. I am not denying that human side of us that likes to let our hair down for some temporary yummies.

When it comes to our spiritual well being, that is our spiritual health; what are we doing to prevent crisis? It is incredibly important to maintain our spiritual nature. We are constantly at war with our fleshly nature, as it is in constant state of being fed. We must feed our spiritual nature. We can't live on a Sunday only meal, we must dive into the word, get into fellowship, and pray "continually". When we take these proactive steps, we can avoid many of the pitfalls in life. Not all of them, because occasionally they have purpose and we learn and grow from them and manage through the trial. Scripture encourages us to live by the Spirit.

Romans 8:13,14 "For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God"

I would encourage you to read more in Romans 8 as this is a marvelous chapter to help us sort out the spiritual nature and the power of God's love as we put to death the misdeeds of the flesh.

Life has its challenges let us all be "More than Conquerors" as we learn and grow together.

Pastor J

Wide Eyed Wonder

2010-12-01T14:44:00.002-05:00

I love the wide eyed wonder of a child when it comes to the Christmas season. I can still remember the uber joy of my kids on Christmas morning. They still get excited; but there is something special about those early years. On Sunday, our movie is Elf - a funny movie that has some great themes. One of those themes is the special innocence of the main character and his overjoyed expression about all things Christmas.

As we grow older, we lose some of that wide eyed wonder. My prayer for you this Christmas season is that you will rediscover some of that awe in the remembering of the Christ child being born in a manger; the King of Kings come in the form of a babe so that we might experience the fullness of God's grace.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

Rich

Happy Thanksgiving & Sunday

2010-11-24T11:39:00.002-05:00

I will go home this afternoon(it's Wednesday) and begin hours of preparation along with others - so let's just say a total of 25 hours by different people in our group will be spent to prepare a meal for 13 of us that will gather on Thanksgiving day for at most an hour long meal, What's the point - that a lot of life is about preparation - the hard work of doing something for those few meaningful moments.

But I love those meaningful moments. In the crazy world that most of us live in around here; it is these special moments of connectedness that mean so much. Pastor Jay is preaching from the movie Home Alone this coming Sunday and there are some valuable spiritual lessons to be learned from not living life alone. But we have to be intentional about those relationships and put in the preparation for those meaningful moments. My encouragement for all of us is to be more intentional about our connectedness.

I pray that you enjoy your Thanksgiving and that you will have a blessed Holiday season. See you Sunday.

Pastor Rich

Storytellers

2010-11-11T11:20:00.002-05:00

There are great storytellers that we all know. They are relatives, friends, co-workers, and inspirational speakers. They weave facts with emotions and events we can relate to. Their story conveys a message, has a point, evokes a laugh, makes us empathize.

You are a storyteller. Your life tells a story. The way you live it, the way you talk, the way you behave. In the pressure cooker of getting it right on a day to day basis we let our lives tell a story and sometimes its not too pretty. It's important for we as Christians not to be perfect, but to be Christlike. That does not happen by accident.

Join us this Sunday as we talk about telling the right story. Tapping into the resources and tools that God has given us to ensure that our life is telling the right, redeemed, life giving story of someone that has met the Savior.

Remember we are called (all of us that follow Christ) to be salt and light. I may read that and wish it, but there are some steps to take ensure that our saltiness is good and our light is shining on a stand brightly.

blessings

Pastor J

Deeper In

2010-11-05T10:04:00.003-04:00

That is what we are talking about on Sunday. How to have a deeper prayer life. For most of us; our prayer lives our centered around our petitions. But the prayer life that God desires for us to have in this plentiful life is a much richer and deeper experience than what is common to most of us.

One of my favorite albums this year has been Gungor's Beautiful Things - track 11 is Late Have I Loved You. The lyrics are taken from Augustine's Confessions and speak to the challenge we all face in really communing with God. But our experiences with God do not have to be a challenge; maybe we just need a better education about prayer and that is what we will focus on Sunday.

I encourage you to attend this Sunday so that you can go deeper in with God and then make a commitment to come to the Prayer and Worship night on November 12th.

Pastor Rich

Fan the Flame

2010-10-26T15:08:00.003-04:00

Not quite time to start the fireplace but we are getting close. It is just about that time of year that firewood will be cut and flu's and chimneys cleaned. We do this in preparation for a good warm fire for those cold nights. Or you may be like me and turn on the gas line to hit the switch. In any case we need fuel. The fuel is the source to make the fire burn.

As followers of Christ we have a flame. Scripture encourages us to fan the flame. When the flame of Christ ignites we heat up. When we heat up things begin to happen. I love this passage in Acts 4:13 "Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus." Awesome, no eduction or training needed to be a difference maker but Jesus fuel is necessary.

If you are wondering why you haven't felt so good, or been victorious, or noticing all the bad in life, complaining a lot. How's the fuel level? Maybe it would be good to throw a log on the fire. Maybe time to turn up the gas, hit the switch. It is our own personal responsibility to be with Jesus. Pop over to the Facebook page and join the discussion there on ways we can connect to Christ to keep our fuel up.

pastor Jay

History of Halloween

2010-10-20T11:43:00.002-04:00

We begin a new series on Sunday and we want you to be there. The new series is called Cornucopia - The Plentiful Life and it's going to stretch you to live the life that God calls each of us to live.(did I used the word live/life too much?)

On another important note. I know that for a lot of Christians, there are times that we lack the knowledge/information we need to make wise decisions. We are here to help when it comes to Halloween. For many believers there is just a general lack of knowledge about the origins of this "holiday". So here you go - read and pray.

The History of Halloween
Our Pilgrim forefathers well knew of Halloween's occultic roots. In fact they banned celebrating Halloween in America. Halloween was not celebrated in this country until 1845. At that time, multiplied thousands of Irish emigrants flooded into New York because of the Irish Potato Famine of 1845-46. They brought with them the old Druid holiday of Halloween. Gradually, celebrating this day spread throughout the rest of the country.
Now, to understand Halloween better we must go even further back. I found that the original celebration was not called by its present name, Halloween. But, it began among the ancient Celtic peoples (Britons, Gauls, Scots, Irish). They observed the end of summer with sacrifices to SAMAN (Shamhain). He was "the lord of death and evil spirits". This marked the beginning of the Celtic New Year.

A Note About Saman
Depending on your source material, the Druid lord of death and evil spirits was called Saman, Samana, Shamhain or Samhain. His "holiday" was called "The Vigil Of Saman" or Samhain (pronounced so-wein). You probably have seen a modern day version of SAMAN without even knowing it. This pagan god was shown as a ghostly, skeleton holding a sickle in his hand. He later came to be known as THE GRIM REAPER.

More About the History of Samhain (Halloween)
Ralph Linton in his book Halloween Through the Centuries, says "The American celebration (of Halloween) rests upon Scottish and Irish folk customs which can be traced in a direct line from pre-Christian times. The earliest celebrations were held by the DRUIDS in honor of Shamhain, lord of death, whose festival fell on November 1st."
Searching other sources, I have this information to add: The Celts considered November 1st as being the day of death because the leaves were falling, it was getting darker sooner and temperatures were dropping. They believed Muck Olla, their sun god, was loosing strength because Samhain, lord of death, was overpowering him. Further, they believed that on October 31st Samhain assembled the spirits of all who had died during the previous year. They had been confined to inhabit animals' bodies for the past year as punishment for their evil deeds. On the eve of the feast of Samhain, October 31st, they were allowed to return to their former homes to visit the living. Supposedly to protect these people, Druid priests led the people in diabolical worship ceremonies in which horses, cats, black sheep, oxen, human beings and other offerings were rounded up, stuffed into wicker cages and burned to death. This was done to appease Samhain and keep the spirits from harming them.

Modern Day Occult, Witchcraft and Satanism Celebrate Halloween
You need to understand that even today Halloween is STILL an occult worship day. Phil Phillips says in his book, Halloween and Satanism, "...Halloween is a day witches celebrate above all other days."
Witches and Satanists love Halloween. They get a lot of media coverage around that time of year. It's good P.R. (public relations) for them. That coverage usually portrays them in a favorable light. In addition, it generates interest in "the craft" and is good for recruitment purposes. As Craig Hawkins put it, "...with increasing vigor, witchcraft is coming `out of the broom closet.' Many witches are actively seeking public understanding and acceptance." (quote from an article in Christian Research Journal; Winter/Spring 90 entitled "The Modern World of Witchcraft" by Craig S. Hawkins.)
Despite the public relations campaign to "sell" the public on the "virtues" of witchcraft, modern day witches and Satanists still worship demon gods & goddesses, practice bizarre & immoral sexual rituals, and certain groups offer animal and human sacrifices.

The Origin of the Name, "Halloween"
Where did the name Halloween come from? Originally this Druid Holiday was called "The Vigil Of Saman." In early Britain it was called Samhain, which is pronounced So-wein. But, here is how we got the name Halloween. It came from an attempt to "Christianize" this pagan worship day. In A.D. 800 the Roman Catholic Church moved "ALL SAINTS DAY" from May to November 1st. The new day was called All HALLOW'S DAY and it soon became the custom to call the evening before ALL HALLOWE'EN. It was shortened and called HALLOWEEN. The important fact to note is that the CHRISTIANIZATION of this Celtic New Year's sacrifice day MISERABLY FAILED.
To summarize this section on "THE HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN" let me share with you the words of Dr. John MacArthur. "First of all, dressing up like witches, ghosts, or goblins is incompatible with a Christian's testimony. Furthermore, many of the customs of Halloween are associated with the worst kinds of pagan beliefs and ceremonies; they are usually sinister things such as demons, witchcraft and superstition."
He further stated, "If we as Christian parents simply disregard the unchristian aspects of such practices as mere fantasy or superstition and then encourage our children to participate in them, we run the risk of communicating the message that the spiritual battle waged by the rulers of darkness (Ephesians 6:10) is not to be taken seriously."
Let's move on to the origin of some of Halloween's customs.

Origin of Costumes
How did the practice of wearing costumes at Halloween develop? The early origin of costumes is repulsive. On the evening of October 31st, the Druids, who were the occultic priests and teachers of the Celts, ordered the people to put out their hearth fires. The Druids built a huge new year's bonfire of oak branches, which they considered sacred. They burned animals, crops and human beings as sacrifices to their sun god Muck Olla and Samhain, their god of death. During this diabolical ceremony the PEOPLE WORE COSTUMES made of animal heads and skins. They then practiced divination, looked for omens in the struggle of the victims sacrificed in the fires, jumped over the flames or dashed through them, dancing and singing. All of this was done to frighten the evil spirits away.
In the 11th edition of Encyclopedia Britannica, volume 12, page 8578 it states, "It was the Druids belief that on the eve of this festival (November 1st, Celtic New Year) Saman, lord of death, called together the wicked souls (Spirits) that within the past twelve months had been condemned to inhabit the bodies of animals." Saman would then send these evil spirits to attack people on the eve before the November 1st celebration. The only way these people could escape was by assuming disguises and looking like evil spirits themselves. (See Christianity Today, October 22, 1982, p.32).

TRICK OR TREAT
Now, just by chance if you had forgotten to dress up or could not fool the demons by dressing in animal skins or other disguises, there was a way to exorcise them. You were to set out a TREAT of food and fruit, and provide the wandering spirit with shelter for the night. If the demon was satisfied with your TREAT, it was believed that they would not TRICK you by casting an evil spell on you causing havoc.
I came across a shocking account of Trick or Treat written by a former witch, Irene Park. She says, "...the Druids in Ireland would go through the neighborhoods and countryside on the eve of October 31st to collect offerings to Satan. They would carry lanterns, bags of money, and canes with very sharp points on the ends (currently known as leprechaun staffs, good luck horns, or fairies' wands). At each house, they would demand a specific amount. If the household would not or could not give the offering (penance or treat), the Druid would use the cane to castrate the male human or one of their prize animals." (From; Seven High Pagan Masses and Halloween by Irene A. Park; page 1)
In later years James Napier says, in his book, Holidays of Legend, Irish farmers went house to house begging for food for their ancient gods. Good luck was promised to all who donated but threats were made against those who would not give. There is absolutely nothing in Trick or Treat that honors the Lord that I can see.

Pastor Rich

Reboot

2010-10-13T10:29:00.002-04:00

So today I went to print off a document and my print function would not react. I opened the control panel and went to printers. I found that no printers were in that folder and my computer could not communicate to one of the five printers that it normally can communicate with. After a few attempts at my troubleshooting, I decided to reboot. As the computer came back on my print function now worked and all the printers could be seen by my computer once again. I found this interesting because I see spiritual life being similar. Occasionally our normal functions get a bit gummed up and we can see, can’t communicate clearly. We need to shut down and restart. Take this scripture and consider it:

Isaiah 40:28-31 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”

So when we feel weary and tired. Wait on the Lord. Retreat, pause, meditate, ponder, contemplate, and get strength that will allow us to run and not get weary. When we achieve a dream no matter how big or small the natural mode is to stall out, get comfortable and just kick back. Relax and let things just go on autopilot. We are closest to God when we show our dependency on Him. So reboot, get new strength and start pursuing the next God dream.

Let's be Dream achievers and then repeat as necessary.

Jay

Dream Time

2010-09-29T11:35:00.002-04:00

I'm sure alot of us are really giving thoughts to the big dreams God has for us. But, most of us don't like the timeline of fulfillment of those dreams. I am often impatient when it comes to dreams. Time is such a huge factor in the dream process. Our dreams get blocked, delayed, hindered by our own decisions and by other factors, but I believe a God dream awaits all of us. If you have been struggling with your dreams (like I have), then the message on Sunday is for you.

Dream Big! See you on Sunday or check out our Sermons on demand at http://web.me.com/horizonschurch/Horizons_Church/VOD.html.

Rich

Simplicity of the Segway

2010-09-20T15:46:00.002-04:00

I just rode my first Segway this past Sunday. We had them in the church fellowship hall/gym and folks were given rides (laps) around the gym. As I watched people jump up and take off it looked like a simple thing. When it came my turn I was amazed at how you made it go. No buttons just pressure from your toes to go. A simple lean and that is how you turn. I jumped on it and within just a few seconds I was on my way and in control. The Segway was doing the work but I was the one driving.

There is a lesson to be learned here. Most often people make life complicated. They, by there own devices allow life to become noisy, fast paced, hectic, even frantic. The over schedule, over promise, over do it - in an effort to pursue the American dream.

God has a plan for our lives, not to make them perfect, but to make them simpler. When we listen to his instructions and pursue His dream for us, it gets easier. Make no mistake, I am not saying without difficulty. What I am saying is that it works for us not against us. The Segway worked with me to help me get forward movement. That is what God is saying to us in his word when he says..."Take my yoke which is easy, and my burden which is light" (Matt 11:29.30). What could we do get out of the Rat Race and join God's Race. What could we do to change how we live ...so that its for His dream not our own.

Greater Things

2010-09-16T09:15:00.002-04:00

I'm looking to God for greater things. Greater things with my walk with God, at our church and in my personal life. I believe as the Chris Tomlin song says that God still has greater things have yet to come for all of us. We must apply the formula we learned this past Sunday - faith+courage+effort+time = fulfillment(repeat). It begins with the faith that God places in our hearts and that we lean into as God breathes new vision and new dreams into our lives.

This Sunday is going to be spectacular. I pray that you are making plans to be a part of the Tailgating Event here at Horizons church as we reach out to each other in fellowship and our community with love and a warm welcome. You never know the power of acceptance with someone until they reach a teachable moment. Just think about that for a bit.

Let's trust Him for Greater Things as we Dream Big this week.

Talk at you soon.

Pastor Rich

Walking with Peace

2010-09-08T09:57:00.002-04:00

I woke up this morning with a song in my head.."All I Need is You" by Hillsongs United. I also had a passage... Phil 4:5-7 which says that we should not be anxious about anything but to pray so that the peace of God will guard our hearts and guard our minds. It's so easy to just go into each day in our strength, but we should be doing it in God's strength. God is the giver of dreams, but it is not achievable unless we learn to realy on Him. What are some ways that you practice the discipline of reliance? What are some ways you find peace in the midst of the pace of life.

Jay

Lessons we learned and big weekend we had

2010-08-30T13:50:00.004-04:00

I am going to share what I have learned during this past series this coming Sunday. We started this journey of David and it became very clear that we can all relate to David and or one of the people in his life. What did you learn and how has that changed you? I would love to share these stories on Sunday. Go to the discussion on our Facebook page or comment here.

Huge thanks to our volunteers this past weekend. We are blown away by the volunteerism that made our Sunday service and dinner so successful. I love to see the truth of "many hands make light work" and that was no more apparent than the transformation of the facility on Sunday afternoon.

This weekend a Jr High lock in with 44 of them plus leadership. We had a Men's Group and Fit meeting on Saturday. 633 in two services on Sunday and near 400 returned for a luau that evening. Wow - big weekend. Can't wait for Tailgating 2010..

Blessings to all

Pastor Jay

An Intervention?

2010-08-24T09:55:00.002-04:00

I find it interesting that TV has popularized this idea of intervening someone in an out of control habit. I guess it makes good TV to see someone on the brink of failure or death, plagued by some habitual addiction that controls them. I am not making light of it, I just ask the question why wait on the intervention.

When it comes to our spiritual journey that we and our friends have, why do we wait? My prayer and hope is that we can trust each other to speak into our lives. This passage Heb 10:24-25 "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. ", speaks to us about being a people that help one another and pick each other up so that we don't fall. That positive relationships don't happen without trying, risking, trusting, and acting. Let's move forward together. Pick each other up, intervene when someone gets tempted. Help each other when we are tired. Let's make the devil mad by showing that our fear of acceptance will not rule out over our purpose as the church of Jesus Christ.

I am amped about sharing this final piece of the life of David and the relationships that he had. This Sunday will focus on the the Risk to confront, in love, for the sake of someones soul.

J

Make your heart work through your hands

2010-08-11T09:26:00.002-04:00

I love to see life change. We are a blessed church because life change is happening everywhere. Prayerfully, most of it for the better. The joy of reading the testimonials from our communication cards and hearing stories of a changed life is awesome. When we see and hear the stories of Life's journey with people, as they share in the Baptismal, it blesses all of our hearts.

The heart is being changed and we are seeing that played out into how our lives are lived, differently. My passion is to see the character and action of Christ lived out in our real world situations. This week we will talk about how one man made a commitment to another and it changed everything. His commitment was followed up in his actions as he proved to be someone that understood the concept of his actions have to follow his words.

Let's all challenge ourselves to not just be hearers of the word, but doers as well.

Be the miracle that someone in your path needs.

Jay

Slow road to bitterness

2010-08-04T14:46:00.002-04:00

I see so many relationships start out with promise, passion, and hope. Yet often, over time we see a deterioration of that relationship. What once was filled with love and laughter is replaced by apathy and bitterness. Is it because we place unreal expectations upon it? Is it because we don't understand the trials of life? Is it because of us or them or both we ask? Whatever the case may be, the drama of our life's journey can take a toll and the people closest to us suffer.

Here's the good news, it's not too late to make a change. God is the God of a second chance, a third chance and even more. If we allow ourselves to learn from the mistakes that we make and learn from the people in the bible and the mistakes they made, success can be had. We can learn some keys to keep our heart soft and enriched in the joy of the Lord. This Sunday the drama "The Pride and the Passion" continues with some fresh perspective on how we can have great relationships. Don't miss this important and life changing message, and invite a friend to HC.

Shalom

Jay

Heart

2010-07-27T11:22:00.002-04:00

I love reading the bible. I love when the truth of God's word jumps off the page. That is not always how it goes but recently as I studied the life of David and Saul I got a fresh revelation about the heart.

The difference of Saul being rejected as king and David being blessed as king had nothing to do with their ability to do good or evil. They both did both. It had to do with the condition of their heart. When confronted with their misdeeds one blamed others, the other took responsibility and repented.

David's life was filled with drama and people that had soft hearts and hard hearts. The question for us is how is the condition of our heart? The good news is that we can learn how to protect it and how to get it revived or renewed. Join us for Sunday's in August for "The Pride and the Passion".

Blessings

J

Passionate Pursuit

2010-07-21T11:23:00.002-04:00

One of the things I struggle against is the volume of stuff that I end up dealing with. Relationships, crises, job, volunteering, personal stuff, etc.(like FEDEX this week – “no, I specifically remember leaving the package – me in response “but we didn’t get the package” – FEDEX guy – “no, I left it” – calls to FEDEX, concern about someone stealing it – maybe the 2lb package blew away in the wind; and then, mysteriously, it just shows up on the doorstep the next night…ughh and sigh of relief)

Underneath all this stuff is the real issue of what are we truly passionate about. Where are we placing the emphasis in our life? I can get passionate about all kinds of activities – running, Reds baseball, Redskins football(who am I kidding – football in general), a great meal, amazing music, etc. – but what is my life based upon.

The founding fathers gave us some key documents to help us understand what the intent of the creation of this great nation was all about – the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. God has given us His Word as a living, powerful document that guides our lives and aides us in our understanding His intent for our lives. But, how passionate am I about this; that which should be the central focus of my life from which all else emanates? It’s an important question for each of us, and one we will deal with this Sunday as we conclude In God We Trust.

Pastor Rich

He's got the whole world...

2010-07-07T12:06:00.002-04:00

I loved singing that song in Sunday School and later in Kid's Church. I can remember from a very early age feeling a deep connection to God. I have always believed that God cares for His children, but like most parents - He is more concerned with my character that my comfort.

The providence of God is a mystery. Our finite minds have a hard time wrapping our intellect around the infinite; and yet He gives us the grace "to understand in part" because He loves us and wants a real and personal relationship with each of us. Join us this Sunday as we continue the series In God We Trust and examine the general and special providence of God.

I also want to give a huge shout out to our creative team for a wonderful job on the set design. I appreciate each person who volunteers at Horizons to make a difference in the lives of others.

Check out our facebook page and tell us about a time when the special providence of God was evidenced in your life.

Talk at you soon.

Pastor Rich

Courage

2010-06-22T15:05:00.002-04:00

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.

This quote comes from an article entitled "No peaceful warriors" by Ambrose Redmoon a paraplegic in 1991. I love it because it sums up the truth about courage. Courage is not the absence of fear, but of facing your fear, overcoming your fear.

This Sunday we continue the Unstoppable series. You will hear from Pastor Craig Groeschel of Lifechurch.TV teach on courage and the truth that the path to your greatest potential is often straight through your greatest fear.

If you are reading this, you have a fear. You have a fear in your faith walk? This Sunday is for you to learn the secrets of overcoming fear with an Unstoppable Courage.

PS: Saw Toy Story 3 twice this past weekend...Awesome, last ten minutes will wreck you.

J

Make the Father Happy

2010-06-16T10:26:00.002-04:00

Well its Father's Day this Sunday. We will honor our father's this Sunday in a celebration and recognition of the role of father. As a father I have to tell you something funny about this week. I went to Chloe's (my 7 yr old) award ceremony. She got two awards for citizenship and reading. She like every other kid walked into the room looking for mom and dad, beaming at the recognition of them and knowing we were present.

I grinned as every kid that stood to receive their award. They would first upon hearing their name, stand up, then turn to audience for eye contact with their parent, smile, and then proudly walk to the stage. As I grow older, I sure appreciate the joy you see in children. I love it when the kids are happy, proud, and enjoying the moment.

I can only imagine that God our Heavenly Father loves it when we make that eye contact with Him. When we flash a smile and make our Father proud. When we work and live to show that we belong to this family and we want to make our family look good. Do you live like that? Do you live to make God smile on a daily basis? I am convinced that He loves us far more than how we love our own. His Love is what makes us Unstopppable.

This week you will see and learn about that incredible love in story of an Unstoppable Comeback. Why a comeback? Because we all need one. We all fail but as we are told in Prov 24:16 "a righteous man falls seven times and rises again." He keeps going, He gets back up.

We are Unstoppable when we really believe scripture and apply it to our life. Do not miss this Sunday at Horizons Church.

The Unstoppable Me!

2010-06-10T09:35:00.002-04:00

Not that I personally am saying "I am Unstoppable." Rather that each of us could say we are unstoppable. We all could say with conviction "Unstoppable ME!"

I remember a pastor asking the audience one Sunday what is the most important thing that is said...What God says...What the devil says...or What you say? Immediately I heard people responding with "What God says!" The pastor gently corrected and said...Its what you say. Why? Because people will do what they really want. God's word what He says is right there. The measure of what God says and us doing what God says has everything to do with our belief and our action.

What God says is fact, it is truth, and it works. That doesn't mean that we are going to live by it, that is our choice. If we do believe it and live by it...apply it to our lives. Then we could be Unstoppable.

We listened to a fabulous message last week from Pastor Kev ...You're free so drop the baggage. Now if you did that...the next step is believe it and live. I can't wait this Sunday to share more on the truth that the only thing can stop you is you. The time is now...Let's be people of action and become exactly what God intended - Unstoppable.

Summer

2010-06-03T10:55:00.002-04:00

I know it's not officially summer yet, but for the Pennington family - we begin summer with Memorial Day. At our Memorial Day picnic we have a large badminton tournament and Paula and I won again! I look forward to the summer months - Memorial Day, my birthday, July 4th, beach trips, youth camp for the kids, the start of football, the baseball season heats up, and Labor Day. There is always alot going and summer is no different.

As you begin the summer season - I encourage you to remain faithful. We all need the break that comes with summer and even the vacation. Sometimes, we take a vacation from our Christian walk and that's not good. Sometimes, people drop out of church during summer, but my encouragement is for you to remain connected. Keep giving, keep serving, keep connected by watching our video on demand and connecting via facebook.

Talk at you soon

Pastor Rich

Sweet Smell of Success

2010-05-26T10:28:00.003-04:00

I just love it when things go well - as Matt Redman sings -

blessed be Your Name
when the sun's shining down on me
when the world's all as it should be....

But how do we respond to the success in our life - Jim Collins just wrote a good book - How the Mighty Fall that deals with companies and how they fell or died after having had success. There are a lot of great parallels for Christ followers in this material as well.

This Sunday - we wrap up the Survivor series as we deal with Surviving Success and we also find out who will win Survivor Horizons.

Visit the Horizons Facebook page and let us know how you handle success or what was your recent success.

Talk at you soon

Rich

How to Handle Conflict

2010-05-13T11:19:00.004-04:00

One of the best questions we can ever ask ourselves about any situation we are facing is - Am I responding to this situation in a way that God can bless?

First, let me say how much I love Horizons Church and it's people - that mean you :)

We are so blessed as a church by so many wonderful people who serve, pray, support, encourage and give their best for God and for their fellow friends who attend Horizons.

However, for all of us there will come a time when there will be conflict - do you know that the Bible even teaches us how to respond to conflict in a way that will honor God - join us this Sunday to discover how.

Also - go to our facebook page and join in the discussion of how you have handled conflict - you can click this link - or visit the updated Horizons family page on our website and click on the message board button.

Talk at you soon.

Rich

It's not whether you win or lose...

2010-05-06T13:38:00.002-04:00

...its how you play the game. In the game of life, we have to make decisions in the moment. That moment is often defined by how we have lived our past; how we have surrendered those ugly parts of ourselves to His grace and sought the power of His wisdom to learn from those experiences and to build a moral warehouse that will serve us well in that moment of decision. This Sunday, I kick off a new series that will use the TV show Survivor as a backdrop to talk a look at what the Bible teaches us about playing the game of life, dealing with conflict, disappointment, and even success.

Also, Happy Mother's Day to all of our wonderful moms. Walking through the hallway at our facility this morning, I was able to view some of our moms gathered and supporting each other during the MOPS(Mother's of pre-schoolers) meeting. I will have a special Survivor themed game for a couple of moms in each service.

Talk at you soon.

Pastor Rich

New Day

2010-05-03T14:14:00.002-04:00

Wow! this past Sunday was truly awesome. For me personally but prayerfully for many others as they made a decision to start a new journey. It is a journey that is without absolute certainty except that God has a plan. God has a plan and purpose for each of us.

I think one of the biggest challenges we find facing the church (its people) is that they don't believe they can or that they could be a spiritual hero. We almost always think of those in the bible and the stories we hear about others as someone that we could not be. Yet upon further review we see that the heroes of bible are just human beings. There has been only one Jesus..the Son of God. Everbody else is on the same playing field.

Sunday I felt with all sincerity that God had called me to lay a challenge before the congregation to understand the call, and to answer it. My encouragement is not to give any excuses about culture, past, skills, education, career, or anything else. The simplicity is also the complexity..it is just go...Take a step. See where and what all that God will do in life.

To everyone that felt the Holy Spirit tug on their heart to start a New Day with new perspective to take on a new Journey. Get ready ..Pray that "God use me" prayer and then start to look for opportunities for they will come. God will and wants to use you to expand His Kingdom.

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Pastor Jay

Growth Happens

2010-04-21T12:55:00.002-04:00

I know that life is filled with surprises and most all of us experience them. We have unexpected turns, delays, issues, and seasons that we didn't see coming. It is often in the midst of all these types of occasions that God is teaching us something. Do we hear his voice? Do we see it beyond the circumstance to embrace what God is showing us, teaching us?

Growth happens to those that understand its opportunities. Our spiritual growth is so important and yet do we even see the opportunities that present themselves or do we continue to see the stuff of life as just...LIFE. I propose a what if. What if we began to believe that God is speaking, He is reaching, He is so desiring to connect to each of us and grow us. Our growth happens as a result of planting a seed, taking a step, or making a stand. Depending on your season and whats happening around you, you may need to do something. Don't let any of the excuses stop you from all that God wants to do in you and for you. ACTION

J

Action

2010-04-08T09:43:00.002-04:00

I recently received some promotional material for upcoming conferences. I read a powerful quote from Bill Hybels ..."Personally, I've never understood inactivity. Why a person would sit when he could soar, be a spectator when he could play, or atrophy when he could develop...is beyond me."

This is a call to action. This is a challenge of no longer spectating from the sidelines but participation. I truly believe that God has placed a calling on His church and that we are always to act on that call. However each season has its own importance. That is why I am very passionate about God's call to action in this season, in this time of our life.

Scripture calls for "workers in the field" and that if we don't faint we can reap a great harvest. I am privileged and excited to share in this new series "Action". Hope to see you this Sunday.

Pastor Jay

He is Risen!

2010-04-04T07:19:00.002-04:00

Oh, the glory of it all is He came here for the rescue of us all that we may live for the glory of it all.(Crowder)

I love how God takes dust and dirt and makes something beautiful out of it and out of us.

He is Risen - He is Risen Indeed!

Here Comes the Sun

2010-03-31T15:08:00.003-04:00

The week began as dreary, damp and cold. Looking outside at this moment I am enticed by the warmth and brightness of the sun. I can tell you that the taste of gorgeous weather we had on the weekend of the 20th was so nice and made me want more. Then the reality of "not yet spring" hits with our cold, wind and rain the following few days.

Well the forecast is awesome for the coming days and absolutely fitting for our Easter message. He make Beautiful Things out of ugliness. Our ugly days are giving way to the beauty of spring. Here comes the Sun. To those of you that are dealing with ugly situations or difficult times.. Here comes the Son (a little cheesy play on words but no less relevant), to change your day and maybe your life. We will celebrate a Risen Savior this coming Sunday, but let's celebrate what He can do in your life for He makes 'beautiful things" out of dust and out of us.

Can't wait for the weekend..

Pastor Jay

Our Story

2010-03-26T10:39:00.003-04:00

God has given all of us a story and all of us a command to share that Good News with other people. Get out there and share your story.

Join us this Sunday as we wrap up the series Mythbusters and look at the myth that our faith is a private matter.

Talk at you soon.

Rich

All Things New

2010-03-19T14:40:00.002-04:00

To me,one of the most impactful moments in the movie, the Passion of the Christ is when Jesus is carrying the cross and He looks at his mother and says: Behold Mother, I make all things new. This line actually comes from Revelation 21:5 "And He who sits on the throne said, Behold,I am making all things new.

We are entering that time of year when newness will spring forth all around us - the warmer days will initiate that ancient cycle of rebirth. A few weeks ago - that word was spoken to our church during the time of worship - that God was about to do a new thing in each of us. What new thing does God want to do for you and in you? Join us this Sunday as we continue the series Mythbusters - we will look at some of the ways God wants to be active in our lives.

Talk at you soon - enjoy the awesome weather.

Rich

Do you have a license?

2010-03-11T11:57:00.002-05:00

I still remember the thrill of getting my license to drive. That was 28 years ago. Today I have two daughters who Paula and I have taught to drive and a third one that can get her permit this Summer.

Almost everyone has a license to drive; but do you know that you have a spiritual license as well. Join us this Sunday as we examine what it means to have a spiritual license and deal with the myth that God only uses deeply spiritual people.

Talk at you soon.

Rich

Freaky Stuff

2010-03-03T10:11:00.003-05:00

How come we view spiritual things as freaky or weird?

We are beginning a new series at Horizons this week called Mythbusters. We will be talking about the Holy Spirit. One of my daughters upon finding out about this new series asked me - "Dad, are you going to be controversial?" It made me smile - we view spiritual things that way - as controversial. But maybe we just don't understand and because spiritual things are beyond us and our common experience; maybe it's a classic case of we fear what we don't understand. I hope to burst some of those myths in the coming weeks.

As a special treat - my dad will be preaching with me in this first week of the series and the videos Jay and I created for the intro should be interesting - if not hilarious. See you Sunday.

Talk at you soon.

Rich

Welcome

2010-03-02T11:46:00.002-05:00

Welcome to the Horizons Church blog.

This blog will serve as a one-stop location for info about upcoming messages and events, as well as a place for our Pastors to share their thoughts with you.

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