E-News Article (Page 21)
Lessons Learned in 2020
Hope on the Horizon The year 2020 will forever be known for one thing – the pandemic of COVID-19. At the time of this writing, the Coronavirus has claimed over 300,000 American lives and over 1.64 million worldwide. While we are still in some of the deadliest days of the virus, there is hope on the horizon. The Pfizer vaccine has already been approved by the FDA and is rolling out worldwide. The Moderna vaccine is close to requesting emergency How COVID has affected us
Unspeakable Joy
So what are the things that overshadow the true meaning of Christmas for you? As a kid, I am sure the gifts under the tree started to overshadow Jesus at times. The rush of getting things purchased and wrapped and making Christmas plans and writing Christmas letters, all at times seem to overshadow the joy and excitement we should have for the Christ child being born into this world. Herod allowed power to overshadow the birth of Jesus by making How COVID has affected us
Battling Satan’s Isolation Game
I recently finished up a bible study that was one of the best ones I’ve done. It was called “Get out of your head” by Jennie Allen. It talks about how we can have a thought and it just spirals out of control and we are left feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and insignificant. The study was based in Philippians and followed the journey of Paul. It was a very insightful and timely study. There is so much stress in the world right How COVID has affected us
Unexpected Gratitude
One of the first lessons a parent will teach their child is to say “Please” and “Thank you.” It’s a core cultural norm and good etiquette. “Thank you” acknowledges the action, thought, or gift. It also shows appreciation for the gift and the giver. Scripture speaks of saying “Thank you” in several verses: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “I thank my God every time How COVID has affected us
Forget About It!
How are you at forgiving and forgetting? I’ve heard many people say, “I can forgive, but I won’t forget.” I think this is almost a natural reaction. People do this as a way to protect themselves from being hurt again. As Christians, we strive to be like Christ. In fact, there are several verses that tell us to do this. But we like to pick and choose what we follow. John 13:13-17 says, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly How COVID has affected us
Truth under Fire
The concept of truth has become under attach in recent years. It used to be entertaining when you would watch a sitcom where the whole premise was to spend the half hour covering up a lie. It was comical and harmless. How times have changed. We no longer endure dishonesty in sitcoms alone but we’ve come to accept lies in real life – from friends, family, and even from our leaders. It’s a sad narrative that when a politician speaks, How COVID has affected us
Well Done
By Andy Bratton, Senior Minister Today I received a call from someone explaining to me that their family had tested positive for Covid and would be on “lockdown” for a couple of weeks. I expressed to this person that if they needed anything to make sure and let me know and to not be shy. This person went on to share that a certain person in our church went and grocery shopped for this person and their neighbor to make How COVID has affected us
The Only Thing That Matters
By Sara Blasko, Children’s Ministry Director Do you ever start out with great intentions and then fail miserably? Well, welcome to my world lol. There are so many things in my life that could apply to this. I will do research on a diet. I will plan the meals, do the shopping, plan workouts, etc…I will do ok for a couple of days and then WHAM! life happens and I get off course. Before you know it, I’m in the How COVID has affected us
Lost In These Uncertain Times?
Do you ever feel lost? Do you ever feel undecided? Do things seem uncertain and the future unclear? You are not alone. This year has been unlike any other. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, forest fires out West, hurricanes in the South, and political uncertainty have made us all feel we have lost control with no idea when it will come back. On top of all the events affecting our nation and the world, many are dealing with family issues, employment uncertainty, How COVID has affected us
Showing That God Has Chosen You
By Sara Blasko…..and guest writer, Peter! Sometimes when I’m not sure what to write about I open my Bible or my Bible app looking for something to write about. This passage of scripture really spoke to me today, and I hope it speaks to you. I love how Peter instructs us to just keep adding these characteristics to our lives. Keep adding these things as you grow in your faith. I really couldn’t do better than Peter so enjoy! Wise How COVID has affected us