Rise and Build

This Sunday, February 3rd we are launching the Rise and Build Campaign.  We are celebrating with a Souper Bowl Sunday Luncheon and bringing our Rise and Build pledge forms with us.  With God's help we are hoping to raise $100,000.00 towards a newly renovated facility.  You can find out more information online at www.newlifecolumbia.org.  See you Sunday.

Sunday's schedule:
9:30 AM - Adult Bible Study and Prayer
10:15 AM - Sunday morning gathering
12 NOON - Souper Bowl Sunday Luncheon (Luncheon, Soup contest, and soup recipe auction)

Uzziah and Isaiah

Isaiah was a famous and articulate prophet in ancient Israel.  He served the Lord from around 701-730 BC.  He wrote in Isaiah 6:1, "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord . . ."  Isaiah would have known King Uzziah personally and his encounter with the Lord comes during a time of national and personal grief.  Uzziah was the most successful king since Solomon.  He was a successful builder, general, and farmer.  The Bible tells us in 2 Chronicles 26:5, “As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.”  Unfortunately, Uzziah's pride was his downfall and his reign ended with King Uzziah being struck with Leperousy.  The people, including Isaiah, probably felt let down by the King's failure.  there was disappointment and discouragement.  But, Isaiah did what we should all do when discouraged.  He sought the Lord and met him in a life-changing encounter.  

Join us Sunday as we continue to focus on the importance of seeking and serving the Lord.  See you at the ARC.  This Sunday we are beginning a new Bible Study and Prayer time for the adults beginning at 9:30 AM.  See you there.  Pastor Tom

Rise and Build

Rise and Build is our focus in 2013.  On Sunday, February 3rd we are launching our Rise and Build Campaign to raise $100,000.00 toward the New Life building fund.  By ourselves, we can't get it done, but with God's help and each one pledging something to the cause, we can get it done.  Stay tuned for more information.  Won't it be great when New Life has a facility in which to serve individuals and families in mid-missouri?!!

Josiah's heart for God

Can't wait for Sunday and hope you will make plans to join us at the ARC!  A few weeks ago I wrote a blog about the benefits of seeking and serving the Lord.  The Psalmist wrote, "Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits . . ." (Psalm 103:2).  There are significant benefits to seeking the Lord with your whole heart.  As we gather together on Sundays that is exactly what we are doing by faith and deed-- we are remembering the benefits of seeking the Lord and seeking Him.  

In a culture that claims it is too busy to "put first things first", Christians swim upstream towards God's purposes and plans for their lives.  This Sunday, we will look into the Old Testament at the story of Josiah.  Josiah became the King of Judah at a very young age.  Early on in his life, he purposed in his heart to seek God and as a result a portion of God's word was rediscovered and the temple was rebuilt. 

This story speaks directly to the church today.  Many people today, Christians included, no longer believe in the local church.  I do!!!  It is the local church that sends the message of the gospel into individual lives, families, and communities.  Only through the church can lives be transformed, our communities enriched, and our culture turned back to God.  My prayer for New Life is that we will lead the way in swimming up stream and living our the plans and purposes which God has spoken into our lives.  Join us Sunday as we seek the Lord in 2013!

Top Ten Reasons to Seek the Lord!

This year we are focused on seeking and serving the Lord and I hope you will join us in our pursuit as we kick off the new year.  Our theme verse is Isaiah 40:31, "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint”.   

There are many benefits to seeking the Lord, so I put together a top ten list.  Here is what I came up with:



1)   Seeking God invites the presence of the Lord into your life -- Nothing is more important than walking in God's presence!  So seek Him, pursue Him, wait on Him!  God's presence will change the kind of life you live.
2) Seeking God builds up the church and the kingdom of God -- We all want to live for a purpose or cause greater than ourselves.  God designed us that way and invites us to partner with Him in advancing His kingdom.
3) Seeking God builds up the character of Christ in you - Becoming more like Christ is the goal of the Christian life and the secret to true contentment and success in this life and the life to come.
4) Seeking God is good for your soul - Many struggle in life with satisfaction and search 
endlessly for a satisfied soul.  Seeking God is the key to satisfaction because it produces 
a new vision for character, humility, and the power to be transformed.
5) Seeking God is good for your health - Good health is an important part of life.  Seeking 
God removes worry and fear from your life.
6) Seeking God helps you fully understand truth, justice and right from wrong - Seeking 
God's heart will produce in you a deep understanding of truth and error, right and wrong, justice and mercy.
7) Seeking God inclines God’s ears to your prayers - Who doesn't want their prayers to be heard.  Seek God and enjoy a close relationships with the Lord.  Then when you pray, 
you can count on God listening.
8) Seeking God produces strength - We all need strength and God promises to give it to  those who seek Him!
9) Seeking God will build up your family and your children - The Bible tells us that children  are a reward from God.  When we seek God our children come and see our life focused on God.  If you want your family to be strong and courageous, then seek the Lord with your whole heart.
10) Seeking God will build financial blessings into your life - You can't out give God.  When a person puts God first in their finances, God pours out blessings, priorities are re-ordered and we gain opportunities to be a blessing to others.  It truly is more blessed to give than receive.

I hope you enjoyed this list.  I would enjoy hearing from you.  Let me know your favorite, your top three or top ten.  Join us Sunday at the ARC (10:15 AM)  for more on the top ten reasons to seek God and the scripture to back it up.