Lately, as my wife and our two oldest children head out to their respective jobs in either construction or at local cafes, the younger kids and I have been praying for them. Often, we will pray that God will allow them to be salt and light at their places of employment. It’s a common prayer, and common metaphor amongst followers of Christ. This concept comes from Jesus’ sermon in Matthew 5:13-16, ...  Read More

"He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities."Psalm 103:10Psalm 103:10 is an incredible and wonderful promise. To a person who isaware of his or her sins and desires to please God, it seems impossible. Itis only possible because of the next two verses:"For as high as the heavens are above the earth,so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear hi...  Read More

Good works in Christ JesusEphesians 2:10“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”Praise God our Father for the good gifts that he has given to us. God, by His divine good pleasure, is leading us at this time through the book of Ephesians on Wednesday nights. We would love to have you join us if you have not yet...  Read More

Worship and the HeartAs we pour over the Scriptures and become more familiar with them in our Christian walk, we see that the worship of God is a matter of the uttermost importance - something that should not be taken lightly. We are commanded to worship Him, but in what manner does He desire this? Our great God is glorious, eternal, all-powerful, all-wise, creator of things seen and unseen, uphol...  Read More

The Author and Perfecter of Faith“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (2) Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the rig...  Read More

You ever choose to do one of those things that seemed like a good idea at the time? Asthe elders explored the idea of a more focused approach to Immerse, it seemed like itwould be fun and somewhat easy for Lorraine and I to take on a class. Particularly ayounger class. One of those early years where the teaching of scripture would besimple and fun. Let’s think through that. We take a concept (God/...  Read More

YOU ARE THE LIGHT!A prayer by Robert HawkerPrecious Jesus, you are the Source, the Fountain, the Author, the Finisherof all.“Oh the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!How unsearchable are your judgments, and your ways past finding out.”What was the day, the ever-blessed, ever-to-be-remembered day, whenyou—who commanded the light to shine out of darkness—shone in uponmy he...  Read More

Several weeks ago, the M’Cheyne Bible reading plan brought us through the book of Isaiah (if you don’t know what the M’Cheyne Bible reading plan is - ask one of the pastors/elders about it – New Life has been reading through the Bible together and we’d love to have you reading with us). Regardless, if you haven’t read through Isaiah recently, allow me to invite you to do so - but if you do, take y...  Read More

A Glorious Jealousy“For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealousGod” Exodus 34:14.The Lord Almighty is jealous. That can be a striking and uncomfortable statement to us.Jealousy is a bad thing, is it not? And yet God not only declares Himself jealous, but Healso reveals “Jealous” to be one of His names. This isn’t an isolated verse, either; thereare several...  Read More

Next week our Sunday service, from the start to the end, will be held at the Association Retreat Center (a.k.a. The ARC). It’s our annual Baptism service! There are few services throughout the year that are more meaningful than our annual Baptism service. The meaningfulness of that service has nothing to do with how New Life does it. Its meaningfulness has everything to do with what Jesus has done...  Read More

In Whom Do We Rejoice?“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgement is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of the one who sent me. If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not tha...  Read More

I think the Lord is trying to tell me something.Last week both my daughter and my wife informed me that our truck was making an awful noise when braking. Sure enough, it needed new pads. Now, I’ve done my fair share of brake jobs on all sorts of vehicles we’ve owned, but I was admittedly anxious about this one. Compared to all the other vehicles I’ve tackled, my truck is big, old, rusty, and very ...  Read More