The Beautiful Attitudes of Jesus

This Sunday is Memorial Day Weekend, so we want to send out a tribute to all those who serve and especially to all those who have given their lives in service to our country.  Thank you for your service!

Our message will focus on the Beatitudes which Jesus taught in Matthew 5.  The teachings are truly life changing.  Billy Graham once wrote, "I sat down to write a book on "The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached"-- the Sermon on the Mount-- but I got no further than the eight Beatitudes.  The more I read them, meditated on them, and studied them, the more I realized that Christ was giving a formula for personal happiness that applied to anyone, no matter what his race, geographical situation, age, or circumstance!" (The Enduring Classics of Billy Graham, preface)

We are giving only one Sunday to the Beatitudes.  They deserve a whole series of Sundays.  I hope you will be present to hear a message focused on the keys to experiencing happiness in life and relationships.  See you at the ARC at 10:15 AM.  Pastor Tom

Spectators or Servants

This Sunday we take a look at the launch of Jesus' public ministry.  Nothing has been more captivating than the life, teachings, and mission of Jesus in my readings of scripture except perhaps the transforming ministry of the Holy Spirit.

In Matthew 4 we read of Jesus' calling his first disciples.  They were fishermen, so the call was extended to them with these words, "Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men."  Jesus always spoke in a language we could understand.

Many Christians today fully embrace the first part of the call - the call to follow Jesus.  We learn of his teachings and we seek to become more like him.  But the call to follow is not fully fulfilled until we become fishers of men.  It's a life-long journey of growth and change.  Jesus calls us to become like him in influencing others.

Some would rather remain spectators in Jesus' call to fish.  Fishing is just too much trouble.  It's messy, takes time, and forces me out of my comfort zone.  Others are willing to fish and willing to become a servant.  When Jesus called us to follow him, he envisioned a group of people who would become world-changers.  Come follow and go fish - that's the call of discipleship.

Take a moment this week and ask yourself, "Am I merely a spectator or am I a servant influencing others with my life?"  Join us this Sunday as we consider this question together.  See you at the ARC, 9:30 and 10:15 AM.  Pastor Tom

Tribute to Moms

Happy Mother's Day - 

A Tribute to Mother's 

Motherhood is a tremendous gift to our families and society in general.  Thanks to each and every mom for all you do to love us and make our lives worthwhile.

I called my mom today and wished her happy mother's day.  My mom really enjoyed being a mother and it showed.  I can still remember her playing uplifting Christian music, singing, and making us breakfast.  My love for making chocolate chip cookies comes from my mom.  My wife, Jeni, is the greatest mom I know.  We have five kids and the two youngest were born in Ukrainian hospitals.  Jeni has been through about everything a mom can experience, but she has always done it with a positive attitude.  To all of our moms -- "We need you!"  You make our world a better place.

Proverbs 31:29-30

"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."

I thought I would put together an acronym for a GREAT Mom

G - Generous with her time - Moms are generous with their time and tend to be the most selfless person in the room.  Moms are always thinking of others.

R - Relational - Moms attract others because they are relational.  

E - Emotionally engaged - You enjoy being a mom and it shows.

A - Adding value to her children - Moms add value to her kids by taking an interest in them and spending time with them.

T - Trustworthy - You are a great protector and provider for your children.

Thanks to all of our moms!  Have a great week. Pastor Tom

Jesus and temptation

Temptation - is that a a spiritual reality in anyone's life anymore?  This Sunday, we will focus on Matthew 4 as Jesus heads out into the dessert to be tempted by the evil one.  Christians believe in the reality of temptation because they believe in good and evil and right from wrong.  What about you?  Are you tempted?  And how do you overcome temptations towards evil?  Join us Sunday as we take a look at how Jesus overcame temptation and walked in obedience to the Father.  See you at the ARC.  Pastor Tom