I Love America is here!

Taking a break form the Branded Series this week for the I Love America Festival.  This Sunday is July 4th, so we are gearing up for the 4th of July at the Boone County Fairgrounds.  We are holding our Sunday morning outdoors at the fairgrounds at 10:15 AM.  PAstor Aaron our summer intern will present the message.  Plus Lindley Creek Bluegrass and the Trinity Drama Team will provide special ministry.  Everything starts at 10:30 at the fairgrounds under the main outdoor pavilion.  So don't come to the ARC expecting a Sunday gathering.  Join us at the fairgrounds.  See you Sunday.

The Open Range

Last week we kicked off the new series, "Branded" with the title, "The Round up".  Without a doubt, God is "rounding us up" for his purposes and calling us to step up and live higher!  What is God calling you to be or do for Him?  whatever it is I want to encourage you to go for it.  Life is such an adventure when we live with God's purpose for our lives.

This week the series continues with the title, "The Open Range".  For the cowboys of the old west, the open range meant freedom, adventure, and greener pastures.  Fencing and overgrazing eventually brought an end to those days, but the open range can still speak to us about our spiritual journey today.

If you're wearing the Christian brand, then you probably know what it feels like to hit the trail or launch out to discover the open range.  For a Christian the open range symbolizes three important ingredients to the Christ life.

First the open range symbolizes the adventure of your journey with God.  Following Christ is no picnic; it's an adventure into unknown territory.  It requires both courage and faith.  I love the old John Wayne quote on courage "Courage is being scared to death--and saddling up anyway."  Without courage you won't change or even move in God's direction for your life.

Second, the open range symbolizes "freedom".  Cowboys loved the freedom of the open range.  Good news--you are free to serve God however he leads you.  there is no church hierarchy bossing you around telling you what to do.  There is only the Spirit of God leading you to freely love, give, serve, and grow!

The third ingredient is greener pastures.  For most people, "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence."  That's only true because they settled down and fenced themselves in (spiritually speaking).  god wants you to follow him into the green pastures of the open range.  That means we need to be willing to follow him whenever and wherever he leads us.  Are you living in green pastures?  If not, why?  God wants to bless you and provide for your every need.

Join us Sunday as we talk about the open range and what it means to be branded by the Spirit.  See you Sunday @ the ARC.  Pastor Tom

The Round Up

Really pumped about our series "Branded: Whose Brand are You Wearing?"  This week's message is titled "The Round Up".  I really believe one of the biggest problems with Christianity in America today is that Christians aren't sure they want to be Christian, and if we do, we're not always sure what that means.

This week we're taking a look at the idea that Christians have been "Branded by the call".  We have been marked by the call of Christ in our lives.  Just take a look at Mark 3:13-15.  This passage tells us a lot about what it means to be a Christian.  We are called to "be with Jesus", to follow him; to build an intimate relationship with him that can literally change our world.  That's our number one priority.  If you're not focused on your relationship with Christ and growing to be more like him, then I would question the direction of your Christian journey.  Christ calls us to follow him and that call certainly marks each of us.

Christ also calls us to impact the lives of others.  "Come and follow me and I will make you fishers of men." (Mark 1:17)  Following Christ implies "life-change".  As we follow him, we are transformed into willing servants in the kingdom of God.   Jesus had a plan and a purpose for his followers.  They were marked by His call in their lives.  If Christ has called you, you are forever marked by him.  You are branded by the call.

Join us Sunday as we take a look at the "Round Up" which God has in store for each of us.  Tom Ragsdell

Father's Day at New Life

Father's Day coming soon.  Join us for a great Father's Day weekend, June 19th and 20th.  We are planning a breakfast, a fishing tournament, and a picnic for the whole family.  Go to www.newlifecolumbia.org for more information.

Riding for the Brand

In the old west, "riding for the brand" was a code of loyalty.  Any cowboy would swing a rope, but riding for the brand set you apart.  This week, we begin our Branded series with the title, "Riding for the Brand".  We are going to ask the question, "Whose Brand Are You Wearing?  What is your identity?  What or whom are you living for?  The Branded series is sure to encourage your spiritual growth as a Christian.  So don't miss it and bring a whole bunch of freinds.  


I'll leave you with a quote from Louis L'Amour's, Conagher.  "Tell me something, Chris. Where do you stand? Are you riding with the brand... or are you running scared?"  I hope you are "riding with the brand"!  See you at New Life this Sunday @ the ARC  (10:15 AM).

I Love America Festival is almost here

I Love America Festival is almost here.  Don't miss out.  Lot's for kids and families!  Lots of music bands!  Plus fireworks.  Sign up for the kids duathlon at www.iloveamericafestival.org or go to Walt's Bike Shop or Tryathletics.

Branded - The Series

Really pumped about the new series coming up at New Life.  We kick it off this Sunday, Jun 6th with a message entitled, "Riding For the Brand".  So I'm scurrying around getting props set and fine tuning the messages.  Stay tuned for more information.  And don't miss this series.  It might change your life.  See you Sunday.  Tom Ragsdell

The Gospel is . . . Good works

Have you ever heard of the "law of Christ".  Paul mentions it in his final chapter to the Galatians.  I wonder what he meant by the phrase?  Was he referring to the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12)?  Or perhaps, Paul was thinking of the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-39)?  What do you think Paul meant when he used the phrase "law of Christ"?

Here's what I think.  Paul has been battling opponents who are relying on law observance and teaching the Galatians to do the same.  God's law is good, but Paul is certain that the Law cannot produce life.  Only the gospel of Christ at work in a human heart can produce life.  The context of Paul's statement is "caring for one another."  The "law of Christ" appears to hinge upon you and me "looking out for others."  So it probably is connected to "loving your neighbor as yourself."

Only the Spirit of Christ at work in His church can produce the desire and determination in us to "look out for others".  It's amazing that caring for others is so essential to the Christian faith.  Maybe we short-circuit our faith when we assume it is only a relationship between me and God.

In reality, God wants you and me to form a relationship with him that radically impacts how we treat one another.  Only then can we live as Christians.  God will help us if we will let him.  See you Sunday as we explore the Gospel and good works.  Tom