Lot's Orphaned Heart

Here is the link to Keith McFarland's message "Lot's Orphaned Heart".

The Orphaned Heart

Here is a link to Keith McFarland's message "The Orphaned Heart"

The Fatherhood of God

Here is a link to Keith McFarland's sermon on "The Fatherhood of God." I must warn you that listening to this sermon will definitely shake your worldview. Click here for the sermon.

When Sinners Say "I Do"

As most of you already know, I am preparing to get married. The woman that I am preparing to marry is absolutely amazing, however, she is still a sinner and so am I. Something that I have been struggling with is the question "How can two sinners live together as one?" The only answer that I have found comfort and clear direction is the gospel. Dave Harvey wrote a book called "When Sinners Say I Do." Harvey comments on his book in these videos. Click here.

For the Unchurched

Pastor Jon Cyrus has recently posted an article about his experience talking with a man who does not believe he needs to be in church to worship God. Here is the conclusion of his article
"It is clear that the church has much work to do. It is also clear that since many of our friends and neighbors will not be joining us on Sundays that we better be going to where they are on Monday - Saturday. Why not have a good cup of coffee at the same time."
I encourage all of you to read the rest of his short account. To read it click here!

Sunday's New Study

Over the past few months we have been studying Ecclesiology, the study of the church.

This next week is going to kick off a new format of study. We are separating the men and women in order to better focus on some more personal needs. I will be leading the men through a study of a book and Rachel will be leading the women. So see you Sunday.

A Parable for the Church

Nose and hand were sitting in the church pew talking. The morning service, led by Ear and Mouth, had just ended, and Hand was telling nose that he and his family had decided to look for a different church.
"Really?" Nose responded to Hand's news. "Why?"
"Oh, I don't know," Hand said, looking down. He was usually slower to speak than other members of the church body. "I guess because the church doesn't have what Mrs. Hand and I are looking for."
"Well, what are you looking for in a church?" Nose asked. The tone in which he spoke these words was sympathetic. But even as he was speaking them he knew he would dismiss Hand's answer. If the Hands couldn't see that Nose and the rest of the leadership were pointing the church body in the right direction, the body could do without them.
Hand had to think before answering. He and Mrs. Hand liked Pastor Mouth and his family. And Minister of Music Ear meant well. "Well, I guess we're looking for a place where people are more like us," Hand finally stammered. "We tried spending time with the Legs, but we didn't connect with them. Next we joined the small group for all the Toes. But they kept talking about socks and shoes and odors. And that didn't interest us."
Nose looked at him this time with genuine dismay: "Aren't you glad they're concerned with odors?!"
"Sure, sure. But its not for us. Then, we attended the Sunday school for all you facial features. Do you remember? We came for several Sundays a couple of months ago?
"It was great to have you."
"Thank you. But everyone just wanted to talk , and listen and smell, and taste. It felt like, well, it felt like you never wanted to get to work and get your hands dirty. Anyway, Mrs. Hand and I were thinking about checking out that new church over on East Side. We hear they do a lot of clapping and handsraising, which is closer to what we need right now."
"Hmmm," Nose replied. "I see what you mean. We'd hate to see you go. But I guess you have to do what's good for you."
At that moment, Mrs. Hand, who had been caught up in another conversation, turned back to join her husband and Nose. Hand briefly explained what he an Nose had been talking about, after which Nose repeated his sadness at the prospect of losing the Hands. But he again said that he understood since it sounded like their needs weren't being met.
Mrs. Hand nodded in agreement. She wanted to be polite, but, truth be told, she wasn't sad to be leaving. Her husband had made just enough critical remarks about the church over the years that her heart had begun to reflect his. No, he had never burst into an open tirade against the body. In fact, he usually apologized for "being so negative," as he put it. But the little complaints that he let slip out here and there had had an effect. The small groups were a little cliquish. The music was a little out of date. The programs did seem a little silly. The teaching wasn't entirely to their liking. In the end, it was hard for the two of them to put their fingers on it, but they finally decided that the church wasn't for them.
In addition to all that, Mrs. Hand knew that their daughter Pinkie was not comfortable with the youth group. Everyone was so different from her, she felt out of joint.
Mrs. Hand then said something about how much she appreciated Nose and the leadership.. But the conversation made him want to sneeze. He thanked Mrs. Hand for her encouragement, repeated that he was sorry to hear of their departure, then turned and walked away. Who needed the Hands? Apparently, they didn't need him.
- Taken from the introduction of the book What is a Healthy Church by Mark Dever.

New Year Resolutions

Need some help in forming some solid resolutions? Well, it never hurts to check out this list of resolutions written over 250 years ago by Jonathon Edwards.

Edward's Life Resolutions