This Weekend's Message: Great Expectations

I have never met anyone who believed that they had unrealistic expectations. I’ve met people who have high expectations or low expectations or strange expectations, but I have never met anyone who acknowledged that their expectations were not reasonable. We all think that our expectations are reasonable. This applies to our expectations for our families, for our jobs, for our government, and also for God.

And when our expectations aren’t met, we find ourselves dealing with disappointment. Have you ever been disappointed with God?

Have you ever felt like He let you down? Right now, are you hesitant to trust God because He hasn’t met your expectations?

This Sunday, Palm Sunday, we will get to experience the story of some people whose expectations fell flat at the feet of Jesus. And then we will discover that unmet expectations can be the best gift that God can give us.

Dan

This Weekend's Message: Unexpected

Unexpected
John 12:12-16

One time, when I was starting a new job, the person doing my orientation showed me a chart called “Expectations vs. Reality.” The chart was meant to demonstrate that I would have certain high expectations of my new place of employment, and that I needed to temper those expectations so that I did not end up being disappointed by reality. This is an important concept because it can be very difficult for us when our expectations are not met by others. We can feel cheated because most of us believe that our expectations are perfectly normal. We think others must be deficient if they are not meeting them.

What happens when God doesn’t meet your expectations of him? How do you deal with the confusion and disappointment that occurs when God acts in a way that is completely unexpected?

Dan Franklin

Reflections: Palm Sunday, April 17, 2011

This week's "Reflection" by Gary Keith, Executive & Teaching Pastor
Father Forgive Them
Luke 23:34
Mark Twain is quoted as saying, “Forgiveness is the fragrance that a violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” I think we would all agree Mark Twain has a special way with words. In this case, he has captured much of the essence of the forgiveness Jesus has offered to us and the kind of forgiveness we are to offer others. When a person has been crushed, forgiveness is the way to set two people free. The person who has wronged another person is set free from what they deserve. And the person who has been wronged is set free from allowing bitterness to take over their life.
I have personally seen both of those sweet fragrances in my journey of learning how to forgive and be forgiven. We call ourselves Christians saying that we are followers of Jesus. Jesus modeled the way of forgiveness for us to follow. The question is, will we follow the example of Jesus? Will we forgive others as Jesus has forgiven us? Will we seek forgiveness from others when we have wronged them?
When we do, the power of forgiveness can be seen. Forgiveness brings healing and wholeness to individuals and to relationships like nothing else can. Will you join me in learning to become a master of forgiveness?

This Weekend's Message: Father, Forgive Them

Father, Forgive Them
Luke 23:34
The last words of a person are many times never forgotten. A person’s closing comments often reveal their pain and agony. Some enter eternity without saying anything, while others utter words that reveal their values and innermost thoughts. For example, contrast the last words of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, who said, “The best of all is God is with us,” with P. T. Barnum, the circus guy who said, “How were the receipts today at Madison Square Garden?” Both statements are very revealing aren’t they?
The Gospel writers have captured for us the last words of Jesus. While on the cross Jesus spoke seven times. And what He said is very revealing and they are words that we can learn from. This week we’ll look at His first words, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
As we begin Holy Week and celebrate Palm Sunday, we’ll look at how the final week of Jesus’ life unfolded to the place of Him saying, “Father, forgive them.” We’ll also have a special time during worship as the children come and sing with us. Hope to see you this week!
Gary Keith

Palm Sunday: Palm Branches + Kids = Lots o' Photography

Is there any more photogenic Sunday of the year? Each year, parent scurry about, dodging and weaving to get a shot of their child/children celebrating Jesus' entry palm branch-in-hand. Singing "Hosanna", our precious ones stream down the isles towards the front. There's laughter, joy, confusion and even tears. It's a moment for all to capture! Here are just few of the pictures!

Reflections: March 28, 2010

By Jeff Taylor, Pastor of Teaching & Worship
 

Weekend's Reflection
As I have been thinking about this call to "Walk in the Spirit" I feel God is reminding me that this "walk" is a journey. There are going to be missteps, trips, and falls, but the concept of walking in the Spirit is that we are surrendered to God at a level that we allow, and even depend, on Him to pick us back up rather than relying on our own resolve.

What are some ways that you are going to seek to walk in the Spirit this week and allow the Spirit to move in you and through you?

Share it with us so that we can keep you in prayer and be encouraged by your willingness to to surrender the Spirit of God.

Jeff

This Weekend's Message: Wii Believe...Walking in the Spirit

By Jeff Taylor, Pastor of Teaching & Worship

Have you ever been lost? I don't mean the "can't find your way out of a parking lot" kind of lost, but the kind of lost that makes you wonder if there is any hope for you, and whether you will ever make any progress or move forward in your life.

 

We have been given the tremendous gift of the Holy Spirit which Jesus promised would be sent to free us from the power of sin... Romans 8:2. Intercede for us... ­ Romans 8:26. Teach us... John 14:26. Guide us in truth... John 16:13. Comfort us... ­ John 14:16-26. Lead us to intimacy with the Father... ­ Romans 8:15-16. Fill us with the hope of God... ­ Romans 15:13. Produce love, joy, peace...­ Galatians 5:22-23.

 

Now we have a choice to walk in the Spirit or not. But what goes into that? What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? How do you know if you are walking in the Spirit? This is the stuff we will talk about this weekend as we continue to look at what "Wii Believe".

 

See ya Sunday

Jeff