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knobbly-looking than the others had been. And there was I as smooth and soft as a peeled switch and smaller than I had been. There he caught hold of me -- I didn\'t like that much for I was very tender underneath now that I\'d no skin on -- and threw me into [a pool of] water. It smarted like anything but only for a moment. After that it became perfectly delicious and as soon as I started swimming and splashing I found that all the pain had gone… And then I saw why. I\'d turned into a boy again… I was so glad…”
This is a picture of joy-producing, glad-hearted New Life in Christ.

When we encounter Jesus – one on one, face to face – we are changed and we get great joy. Even when the problems and the trials keep on keeping on, we can still have joy because we know He’s changed us from the inside out. We know all our dragon-like living has been forgiven.

We are not afraid to mention by name those with whom we are skeptical of or believe are teaching falsely. Jesus often spoke clearly and publicly against false teachers.

I also believe we need to speak to these things with tact and wisdom. Let us all grow in our knowledge of God’s Word, ability to recognize dangerous and distorted theology and our bold proclamation of the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

Last year we exceeded the budget and were able to give the additional financial gifts to local, regional and global missional efforts...

With Easter upon us in a few weeks, it\'s an ideal time to review some of the physical and historical evidence that reinforces our belief in the resurrection of Jesus. Here are a few books I mentioned in last week\'s message along with a few other additional links that you may find helpful and insightful. He is risen!

Whenever we encounter healings in the Bible, inevitably the question comes up as to whether or not God still heals. The answer is yes. As to whether He always heals or by which means He heals is a different matter.

Let us live empowered by Your Spirit... with great joy, not misery!

At the end of Acts 2, we see that 3,000 broken people were restored and gained New Life in Christ? How did that happen? The Holy Spirit empowered the disciples like wind and fire! God showed up and worked powerfully like wind and fire through the lives of the disciples. Think about those two images.…

But this particular prom differs from the others. It’s a prom with a mission. Sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, Night to Shine, is a prom exclusively for individuals with special needs. Its mission is two-fold: demonstrate the value of life and celebrate God’s love for special needs people by giving them an extraordinary prom.

One of the ongoing conversations each year in the American church is how to best engage our cultural phenomenon of the Super Bowl. Some churches just ignore it; just do church services without acknowledging the most watched event of the year in the USA. Last year alone, viewer statistics are over 114 million people.

On the last Sunday of 2015 I shared about the goodness of God in how we saw 195 people indicate a decision for Christ. Many of those responses to the invitation to follow Christ are a direct result of people engaged in our theme of “New Life 10|24” by praying for about 8,000 names and having thousands of Gospel conversations.

You probably know Christian people who live boring lives. Their lives are not interesting or compelling. Christianity has become a set of rules designed to keep everybody in line and to keep everybody safe. And there is no real power.

Maybe that\'s you. Or me.

I think we all forget the power and glory of God. We depend on ourselves way too often.