Uncommon Faith

Thanksgiving provides some time to slow down a little bit and enjoy the blessings we have in life. From the book "Words of Gratitude for Mind, Body, and Soul" written by Robert Emmons (professor at U.C. Davis) and Joanna Hill, comes this quote by Sarah Ban Breathnach:

Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend . . . when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present – love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure – the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience Heaven on earth.

Let’s continue to tend the secret garden of abundance, focusing our attention on the good things of life instead of the trials.

I’m looking forward to a great time with you as we worship together on Sunday. Uncommon Faith is the theme of the day and I am believing God to help us grow in our ability to have faith for breakthroughs in life.

Also, Friday night our High School football team will be playing a semi-final playoff game at 7:00 pm in our football stadium. Come early for a great BBQ dinner at 6:00 pm and enjoy the evening with our CCS family.

Luke 1:37 "For nothing is impossible with God."

Pastor Rick

Uncommon Gratitude

We are a blessed nation to have a holiday set aside called Thanksgiving. This provides a wonderful opportunity to slow down and reflect on all that we have to be thankful for. There are plenty of challenges and trials that come our way. But this holiday is all about turning our attention away from the bad news to focus on all that is good.

Sunday we will present reasons to be thankful and then we will interact around those truths with worship. It is going to be a wonderful day of turning our attention toward God to thank Him for His grace and glory.

Another opportunity for expressing gratitude is available on Thanksgiving Day. We are suspending our Wednesday night services next week and then providing a Thanksgiving Day service at 10:00am. It is our family's tradition to get the turkey in the oven early in the morning and then gather at church to thank God for the abundant blessings He provides. We would love for you to join us for this expression of praise.

Psalm 7:17 I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Pastor Rick

Uncommon Focus

I enjoy studying the characteristics and principles of those who achieve their goals in life. One of the common threads that surfaces is the ability to stay focused on the goal. This Sunday we are going to study the spiritual application of Uncommon Focus. Jesus modeled it, the disciples followed, and now it is our opportunity to learn from the Master how we can thrive in this crazy world we live in. I’m looking forward to being with you as we pursue God’s best for our lives.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. One of our traditions is to gather in the Sanctuary to give God praise on Thanksgiving Day. We get the turkey in the oven and then head for church at 10:00am for an hour of worship and thanksgiving. If that works for you, join us for this hour of inspiration.

Psalm 69:30 I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.

Pastor Rick

Jesus Loves Sin City

Craig Gross, co-author of "Jesus Loves You This I Know", will be with us Sunday to share his story of reaching out to people who are derailed by the temptations of Las Vegas. He has opened the Strip Church in the heart of the city that never sleeps. Craig is an excellent communicator with a message of hope for a life of freedom. Invite a friend to join you this week for a great experience in God’s presence.

This is a season with multiple opportunities for outreach. Christmas to the Streets reaches hundreds of people needing shelter, clothing, and food. It is a great way to express the love of Jesus to a hurting world. The VIP night at the Singing Christmas Tree is another outreach designed to touch the lives of hundreds more that find themselves in difficult situations this time of year. Please consider giving a few hours of your time for one of these wonderful expressions of God's love and compassion.

Matthew 24:34-36
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'"

Pastor Rick