Following the Star

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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