Reconciliation

Monday is the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and it provides us a wonderful opportunity to express God’s heart for the equality of all mankind. Sunday morning our focus will be “Reconciliation.” Through faith in God we can find healing and restoration for past offenses. We are going to celebrate the unity we have because of His love and grace.

Sunday evening we are joined by Christ followers from many other churches in our annual Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration service. It is going to be a wonderful day as we come together in the name of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Coming in February: CCC’s Vision and Values. It is going to be an exciting month of
inspiration and vision for the future. I can’t wait to share these truths with you!

Pastor Rick

Loving With Your Words

My follow-up appointment with Dr. Aryana went well this week. They are able to read the performance of my heart from the defibrillator/pacemaker device and I have not had any irregular rhythms since being released from the hospital. The only limitation I have is the use of my left arm for about four more weeks to make sure that the wires from the device all heal in place. I have a complete clean bill of health and also got my driving privileges back! I am grateful to have this situation resolved and I am also grateful for the many expressions of love and all the prayers that have gone up on my behalf.

This week provides a wonderful opportunity to reach out to family and friends who are not currently following Jesus. Comedy night at the Crest with Michael Jr. takes place on Friday night at 7:00 pm. For the cost of a movie ticket, you can have a great time with a purpose. Pick up an extra ticket for a friend and bring them along. I'm looking forward to seeing you there.

Sunday we continue our 40 Days of Love theme with a focus on "Loving with your Words." We have incredible power to build people up or tear them down with our words. Love chooses to speak words of life and develop a habit of encouraging others. This is going to be a very important study! Come expecting a great experience in God's presence.

James 3:9-10 "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers (and sisters), this should not be."

Together . . . Continuing the Dream,

Pastor Rick

40 Days of Love - Love the Way Jesus Loves

I am excited to be back in the flow of things this weekend! The 40 Days of Love theme continues with a look at how we can love others the way Jesus loves us. This will be a great encouragement and inspiration as we grow in our relationship with God and with the people He brings into our lives. Come with great expectations to encounter God and receive insights from His Word that are transformational.

We are a couple weeks away from a great opportunity to influence our unchurched friends toward faith. We have reserved the Crest Theatre for a comedy night with Michael Jr. For the price of a movie ticket you can enjoy a great evening of laughter with a purpose. There is a limit of 1,000 seats so get your tickets early so you won’t miss out.

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

See you Sunday!

Together . . . Continuing the Dream,

Pastor Rick

40 Days of Love

I returned home last Saturday after an 11 day stay in the hospital. I think it will take a while to process this experience and learn all that God has for me to learn. The overriding emotion I have so far is gratitude to God for His grace in my life to keep me safe through the last few months. Things could have turned out so different. Instead, I have received expert treatment and my potentially dangerous heart condition has been remedied. I am following doctor's orders this week to rest and I should be able to return to my responsibilities next week. I am so looking forward to getting back into the flow of all that God has for me to do.

We are on the threshold of a new month and a wonderful opportunity for personal growth and relationship building. 40 Days of Love begins this Sunday and our small groups will be studying and practicing this theme for the next six weeks. If anything will empower us to impact those who do not have faith in Jesus, it will be our ability to show them what true love looks like. This is a time for growth and change. We can become more loving in all our relationships with others. It begins with our personal relationship with God. Determine with me to be a doer of the Word and not just a hearer of it.

Friday, March 20, presents a great opportunity to influence a friend toward Christ. We have rented the Crest Theatre for the evening and Michael Jr. will be our guest for a night of comedy. Purchase a ticket for yourself and a friend and join us for a great night of fun and faith. We have a limitation of 1,000 seats so be sure to get your tickets early.

1 John 4:9-11 "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

Together . . . Continuing the Dream,

Pastor Rick