John Lynch - Co-author of Truefaced & Bo's Cafe

Cathy and I have been attending a meeting of the Bible Alliance this week with about 100 leaders from around America. This is the organization that produces the Fire Bible, a special edition with comprehensive study notes, for many language groups around the world. Last month our offering for the Fire Bible was $32,000 and we were able to be a part of raising an additional $2,000,000 for future editions from all the participants at this year’s event. It is exciting to see what can be accomplished when we all work together and do our part.

I’m excited for you to meet a new friend of mine, John Lynch. He has co-authored two books I have recently read: Truefaced and Bo’s Café. They are both in our bookstore and will be available this Sunday in the Lobby. John will be there to encourage us with a message of God’s grace and how to embrace His love toward us. It is a day you won’t want to miss. It is a day I don’t want you to miss. Moments like this have the potential to be life-changing.

Romans 3:21-24 (Message Version) But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.

Can’t wait to see you on Sunday.

Pastor Rick

God Bless America!!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!! I am so thankful to be placed in this Country to live my life. Having traveled to other nations and experienced other cultures, there is nothing that compares to what we enjoy here. We are going to celebrate our blessings on Sunday, July 4, and focus on how to live in this time of spiritual challenge. Jesus gave us some incredible direction in the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5. We are going to look at the attitudes He instructs us to embrace. I’m looking forward to sharing these dynamic truths with you.

July brings a fresh focus for our men’s and women’s Bible studies. You will be blessed by this four week opportunity to learn, grow, and interact with others.

Have a great 4th of July holiday!!

Pastor Rick

Epic Sports Accomplishments

This has been a week of two epic accomplishments in the world of sports. Wednesday, the U.S. soccer game against Algeria had about 15 minutes remaining when it was time for our staff to gather for our weekly staff chapel. We decided to cram in to the boardroom and watch the conclusion of the game. When the U.S. team scored the only goal of the game with two minutes remaining, there was quite a roar in the room. They now advance to the round of 16 teams left in the tournament.

Then, at the Wimbledon tennis tournament, the longest match in history was played between American John Isner and Nicolas Mahut from France. The match was played over three days because of darkness setting in the first two days. It lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes and the deciding fifth set was won by a score of 70 games to 68. In the fifth set, a player has to win by two games and there is no tiebreaker provision. The two players won their service games one after the other until finally Isner broke Mahut’s serve in the 138th game of the set. It has been a historic week in sports.

I love sports but even these remarkable achievements are not as important as what we will be doing on Sunday. There is nothing like worshiping God because of His amazing love and mercy toward us. We will be sharing Holy Communion together, providing study Bibles for believers in third world countries through our donations of $10 per Bible, and learning about our purpose in our community. Life is packed with purpose when we pursue God’s best for our lives.

Here is our memory verse for Sunday: Matthew 5:16 . . . let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Pastor Rick