An Intervention?

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

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

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

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

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...

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

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