When someone says, "I need a little R and R," they usually mean "Rest and Relaxation." That is certainly a good idea and the Lord delights to give rest to those He loves. But, there is another R and R that the apprentice of Jesus should consider, "Repentance and Refreshment." We don't normally put those words together but Peter did and we'll see why...and hopefully we'll have continued appreciation for how this works this morning...and throughout the week!

"You have reached your destination!" Most of us have heard our GPS say that to us a time or two. To arrive at the proper destination requires receiving the right kind of direction and responding to it. "Turn around when possible!" Yeah, we've heard that one too. Today we'll look at an ancient text about a modern issue...life and the two approaches there are to living it.

When we read Acts, it is often hard to remember that we are reading about the on-going work of Jesus through His people in the power of the Holy Spirit. We can get preoccupied with the descriptive and miss the prescriptive. We can become enamored with the miracles and miss the meaning. Part Two...

When we read Acts, it is often hard to remember that we are reading the on-going work of Jesus through His people in the power of the Holy Spirit. We can get preoccupied with the descriptive and miss the prescriptive. We can become enamored with the miracles and miss the meaning.

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is an annual reminder that God values human life in all stages from conception to natural death. This i not a personal or political issue. The value of human life is a moral absolute and the implications are far-reaching.

As we resume our study of Acts at the beginning of this new year, it is appropriate and helpful to think about what those early days of the church were like. The apostles had witnessed the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus Christ. They had received the supernatural gift of the promised Holy Spirit. They were joined by 3000 others who repented and believed after the first "Christian sermon." A new community was forming; not against Judaism but out from it. What did they do? Is this more than historical narrative? Should what they did have any impact on what we do? Let's take a look...

In 1989, Dr. Stephen Covey wrote a book titled, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People." It was a National Bestseller and had a number of follow-up works with the same ideas in mind. The book was rooted in "character ethics" rather than the "power of personality" because Covey maintained that who we are becoming is ultimately more important than what we accomplish. He was right, not because original but because he agreed with the smartest Person who ever lived.

Habit 2: "Begin with the End in Mind" is a good way for us to come to the Communion Table on January 1, 2017. Do what you do, "In Remembrance of Christ."

The advent (arrival) of the God-Man into the world is understated. Luke did not include much of the drama we typically embrace as we consider this story. Maybe the story gets embellished because we miss the profound truths here. It's an awesome story without adding to the narrative . May we never overlook the profound veiled in the common.

The big day had come! Elizabeth was going to give birth to a son. There was so much they knew...and so much they didn't know. There is a common theme about what Mary, Elizabeth and Zacharias did know...they knew God was/is full of mercy and tender compassion. We cannot understand the Advent of our Lord without understanding this reality.