Posts with the category “home-page”

In Galatians 6:2-5, the Bible teaches us to help one another and carry each other's burdens. This means that when someone is going through a tough time or facing difficulties, we should be there to support and assist them. We can pray for them, offer a helping hand, lend a listening ear, or provide encouragement. By sharing their burdens, we show kindness and love, just as God wants us to.  By car...  Read More

We all deal with stress.  In this broken world, it is inescapable.  That's why the Bible is filled with teaching to help us not only deal with the struggles of the world but do deal with the battle within our minds.  While many of us (me included) struggle with anxiety, God's Word, in 1 Peter 5:7, reminds us to have hope and to put our hope in the Lord by casting our cares upon Him because He care...  Read More

In the immediate timeframe, certain day-to-day parenting decisions may seem insignificant, but what we do in the early years matters. Being intentional, however, requires keeping the long view in mind. So let’s start at the forest clearing and work backward: what do you hope is true of your family and for your children at the end of the age 0–18 phase of parenting, in terms of values and relationships?  Read More

Guarding our future requires that we let some relationships come to an end. We are Scripturally bound to some relationships such as marriage but other relationships we are free to end if they are a benefit to us and them.Pastor Sam taught us how to establish boundaries as an effective way to end toxic relationships. Remember, boundaries are guidelines that we set for ourselves to guard our physica...  Read More

Some think that people’s opinions define who we are.  If they are disappointed in us then we are a disappointment.  If they are angry, then we are unworthy of being loved.  If they are happy with us, then we are good. If we live with this mindset then we will be desperate to try and control people’s perception of us. We spend our lives trying to manage others’ opinions to always be favorable towar...  Read More

Proverbs 4 is packed with perspective and direction to help u live a God-honoring life.  If you haven't read it recently, take a few minutes and read it now.I focused on the last five verses to kick off the Guarded series.  The challenge of the week and for the series is to guard our hearts because what happens in our hearts will be expressed in our life.  That's why we are commanded to guard our ...  Read More

Recently, I finished up a sermon series where I tackled some of the pressing social issues of our day.  I hoped that the church would know and live Biblical convictions.  I taught about issues that fill our news feeds with headlines and issues that fill our local government gatherings with concern, debate, and demands for action.  I did this to equip the church to live with God’s unchanging truth ...  Read More

Is this happening because of me?Is this happening to me?Is this happening in me?There is hope no matter your answer to these questions.Keep wrecking your life? You are the reason for all of the drama? Ever wonder if you can ever change? Then, take heart. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is working in you. Change is possible because Jesus is alive and working in you.Are you being targ...  Read More

Currently, a battle is raging in one of our communities concerning books on the shelves of the public library.  The two sides of this issue couldn’t be further apart.  One side champions the representation of our full community especially those on the fringes and the other seeks to protect children from the very content others want available to all.  Ask one side and they will tell you how the oth...  Read More

I want to say thank you to Parkway Church for the last three weeks of gatherings.  You have worshipped passionately.  You have served faithfully even with Spring Break schedules and the disruption of time change.  You, church, also welcomed straight forward Biblical perspectives on some of the cultural issues of our day.  I thank you for being the church that is unified around the mission, the cau...  Read More

As we see the story of Daniel and his friends unfold, one thing can't be missed. Obeying God was more important than life. They knew that fearing God was always better than living in fear of men or women.17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your...  Read More

When I think of springtime, I get very excited. There is something about planting a seed or bulb in the fall and then the anticipation of what it will look like come spring, with warmer temperatures, sunshine, rain, and brisk air. I get excited every time. I love watching the little green appear, then the shoot springing up and then a bulb growing and opening into the beautiful creation God made f...  Read More

Our battle is an unseen one with very seen consequences so we must stand with COMPASSIONATE CONVICTION. The evil influence of our world is only hurting those it’s influencing. We must respond with COMPASSION. Sin multiples and worsens with every generation so we must have CLEAR CONVICTIONS. The most loving thing we can do is to know and live our convictions in a way that doesn’t attack but helps the hurting.  Read More

There are ways to use technology with your kid that enhance meaningful connections instead of replacing them. Here are a few ideas.   Read More

When times are the toughest, we need to know that we have others in our corner. People who are with us and for us. That's why the call to be encouragers is a needed one. Today, we live in as polarized a society as ever before. Everyone runs to the extremes and takes shots, throws stones, and attacks the other extreme. We have become experts at tearing others down and have become novices at building encouraging relationships.   Read More

Let’s not go through the motions this Valentine’s Day. Life is busy, and it seems so commercialized—sure. But remember why Valentine’s Day exists and it becomes more meaningful.Let’s take it as an opportunity to consider our spouses an unmeasurable blessing and remind them of their worth. Imagine not being allowed to marry because of persecution. We get to spend valuable time with our husband/wife doing anything we can imagine—dreaming, traveling, laughing, and loving TOGETHER.  Read More

At the One Thing(s) Marriage Night, we were challenged to live in marriages that are fun and being joy to our lives. It's a great goal. But what do you do when marriage in anything but fun and exciting?  Read More

Learning to communicate well is hard, yet important work. And while you may not get it right all the time, knowing your effort and your desire to understand your child and be understood by them makes you a great parent.  Read More

Oftentimes, we say things out of anger which doesn’t excuse the behavior but is the explanation. Deal with your anger so that these damaging words don't wreck your relationship.  Read More

Ask someone their picture of the good life and you'll probably hear about long walks on the beach or fishing on the bay.  Perhaps you will hear about a comfortable retirement full of travel and grandkids.  You may also hear stories of a happy marriage full of love, fun, and romance.  We all have a perfect picture of the good life in mind.But what if the perfect picture of the good life is not only...  Read More

Listen to influencers and it seems there is one extreme or the other when it comes to work.  One side says to say in the grind.  Do all you can for as long as you can no matter what is expected.  The other says that your work should be passive.  You can make a living without working on it if you do the right things.  The problem is either extreme will leave you lacking.   Neither can answer the pr...  Read More

Set an address in Google maps and you will get step by step directions to the desired location.  Then, as you pull up, Google announces, "You have arrived."  There is a sense of pride in the map's automated voice.  Because everyone wants to arrive.  Everyone wants to feel like they've made it.  We all want the sense that we are successful and secure.The problem is many people see security in what ...  Read More

Moral gray areas have always existed for believers (see Rom. 14:1–23). New technology and modern social issues certainly provide unique manifestations of gray areas, but Christians have always needed to exercise wisdom and discernment in myriads of life situations.  Read More

To live the good life that we all dream of, pray for, and work for, it requires a starting point.  That starting point is our faith in Christ, because it's our faith that transforms our lives starting with our minds.That's why Romans 12:2 teaches us to no longer conform to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind.  Our minds are powerful influencers because our ...  Read More

Changing how you think about your spouse can change how you treat your spouse.  Read More

Helping your senior deal with disappointment is an unwanted, yet important role as a parent. While this season may be short-lived, it will not be the last time our teenagers walk through disappointment or difficult news. The skills we help them develop now will become useful tools as they navigate change, rejection, and disappointment in their adult years.  Read More

One day you’re holding a new baby—toes in your hand and a little noggin’ tucked in the crook of your elbow. The next thing you know that baby is running past you, full of opinions, ideas and questions. Lots of questions. Scary questions. Sometimes those questions seem to come out of nowhere. But when we’re really on top of our game, we head them off at the pass. Even though we’re scared. That’s wh...  Read More

From Faith Gateway Have you ever found yourself struggling to meet your spiritual new year's resolutions?  What if we told you that resolutions don’t work, but better habits do? I recently started listening to the audiobook Atomic Habits by James Clear after it was mentioned by my pastor in a sermon, and while it’s not a Christian book, his recommendations on building better habits have become ver...  Read More

Ready or not, here it comes. 2023 is here. As we step into the new year, it's a fresh chance to evaluate our lives, commit to the Lord, and see Him do new things in us and around us.Paul's writing to the church in Philippians 3:12-14 comes to mind as we leave one year behind and step into a new one: 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to...  Read More

Earlier this month, one of my teammates threw a Christmas party for our staff team.  It was a fun lunch with great food plus a gift exchange and games.   To get ready for one of the games, we had to send in a baby picture of ourselves.  Then, at the party, we had to guess which baby was which teammate.  I was horrible at this game.  Not just bad but really bad.  I could hardly match anyone to thei...  Read More

On Sunday, Russell preached an encouraging message from Mark 4 and the story of Jesus and the disciples in the midst of a storm. A vicious squall hit the disciples while they were crossing the Sea of Galilee. Their fear at this moment went through the roof even though Jesus was with them. In the midst of their fear, what does Mark say that Jesus was doing? He was asleep in the boat resting on a cu...  Read More

In Luke 10, Jesus joined His friends Mary and Martha for a dinner party. This meal took preparation and one sister, Martha, was doing all of the work. Watching her sister just sit at the feet of Jesus frustrated her and stressed her out beyond belief. So much so that she cried out to Jesus and asked if Jesus was going to do anything about it. Jesus didn't command Mary to get to work instead, He co...  Read More

In a recent message, we learned about the Biblical command to rest based on Jesus' teaching in Matthew 12. You can watch the full message here. Pastor Mike shared that in order to say yes to Sabbath rest we may need to say no to some things that overburden our schedules. This timely message is difficult to put into practice because it requires that we udder that simple word that so many of us, mys...  Read More

On Sunday, I kicked off the Jesus Stories series with a look at the story of Jesus and the man with a withered hand.  On the surface, the story seems to be another story of Jesus healing a man with a great need, but the story goes deeper.  The healing is a part of a bigger story. The story of our need for rest and the right way to do it in Jesus.In Matthew 12, controversy swirled around the Sabbat...  Read More

Doubting or investigating the truth isn't necessarily a sin and isn't the opposite of faith. Rather, it may be an element of faith.  It means you are thinking some things through and grappling with the issues. It means you are trying to process certain events or information, wondering how it all fits in with life as you understand it.In John 20, we read the story of Thomas and Jesus. Thomas is kno...  Read More

How much faith is enough faith?  The answer to this question is counterintuitive.  Logically, to trust God for big things, we need to have big faith, but that's not exactly what Jesus taught.  Read it for yourself.He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. ...  Read More

Have you ever taken the time to consider what faith means? If you had to write a definition of faith what would you include?  Read More

Are you a person of faith?  If you had asked me that question when I was younger, I would have said, “No.  I’m not.”  You see, I didn’t become a Christian until I was 17.  But even before I came to faith in Christ, I lived my life by faith.  I lived with confidence in myself.  I lived with the hope that my life would be good.  I lived trusting the rules of science.  But I wasn’t a person of faith ...  Read More

I'm a fairly techy (if that is a word) guy, so over the years I've had countless people ask my advise on locking down phones and devices from harmful content.  Whether that is someone fighting issues with pornography or a parent trying to protect their kids who got new devices for Christmas.  Everyone was looking for a simple, single solution.  Unfortunately, simple solutions haven't been easy to ...  Read More

From Christian Parents I will never forget holding my precious, beautiful daughter in my arms and tearfully confessing to my friend, “I think I’m a bad mom.” At that moment, I meant it with my entire heart. She was my third baby in three years and I was exhausted and full of hormones. I felt like I would never be able to manage it all. How would I raise all my kids? How would I remember all the ap...  Read More