College Avenue Baptist Church - San Diego

God keeps our hope alive when our struggles intensify.

Sometimes God has to wound you in order to help you.  Like a drowning man, Jacob impatiently schemes and thrashes around in life, refusing the Lifeguard’s help.  The Lifeguard says,” Jacob, I can help you.”  I can teach you how to swim so that you won’t have to struggle.  Just relax and let me slip my arm around you.  Quit fighting Me!”  Jacob still kicks and claws at the water, not realizing that all of his strenuous effort is self-defeating.  The Lifeguard sees that Jacob is about to go under and, left with no other option, the Lifeguard strikes Jacob - - wounding him.  Weakened and dazed, Jacob can now only cling to his Rescuer and in his clinging, Jacob is rescued.  If you find it difficult to wait on the Lord and rest in Him, you will be transformed by the story of Jacob.

A Family at War

Our faithful God is at work even in our relational messes.

Sometimes God has to wound you in order to help you.  Like a drowning man, Jacob impatiently schemes and thrashes around in life, refusing the Lifeguard’s help.  The Lifeguard says,” Jacob, I can help you.”  I can teach you how to swim so that you won’t have to struggle.  Just relax and let me slip my arm around you.  Quit fighting Me!”  Jacob still kicks and claws at the water, not realizing that all of his strenuous effort is self-defeating.  The Lifeguard sees that Jacob is about to go under and, left with no other option, the Lifeguard strikes Jacob - - wounding him.  Weakened and dazed, Jacob can now only cling to his Rescuer and in his clinging, Jacob is rescued.  If you find it difficult to wait on the Lord and rest in Him, you will be transformed by the story of Jacob.

"How God Lovingly Disciplines Us"

When God disciplines us, our pain is not the effect of God’s hate, but of God’s love.

Sometimes God has to wound you in order to help you.  Like a drowning man, Jacob impatiently schemes and thrashes around in life, refusing the Lifeguard’s help.  The Lifeguard says,” Jacob, I can help you.”  I can teach you how to swim so that you won’t have to struggle.  Just relax and let me slip my arm around you.  Quit fighting Me!”  Jacob still kicks and claws at the water, not realizing that all of his strenuous effort is self-defeating.  The Lifeguard sees that Jacob is about to go under and, left with no other option, the Lifeguard strikes Jacob - - wounding him.  Weakened and dazed, Jacob can now only cling to his Rescuer and in his clinging, Jacob is rescued.  If you find it difficult to wait on the Lord and rest in Him, you will be transformed by the story of Jacob.

When God Came Down

When God suddenly and unexpectedly breaks into our lives he transforms us.

Sometimes God has to wound you in order to help you.  Like a drowning man, Jacob impatiently schemes and thrashes around in life, refusing the Lifeguard’s help.  The Lifeguard says,” Jacob, I can help you.”  I can teach you how to swim so that you won’t have to struggle.  Just relax and let me slip my arm around you.  Quit fighting Me!”  Jacob still kicks and claws at the water, not realizing that all of his strenuous effort is self-defeating.  The Lifeguard sees that Jacob is about to go under and, left with no other option, the Lifeguard strikes Jacob - - wounding him.  Weakened and dazed, Jacob can now only cling to his Rescuer and in his clinging, Jacob is rescued.  If you find it difficult to wait on the Lord and rest in Him, you will be transformed by the story of Jacob.

Portrait of a Dysfunctional Family

God never asks us to disobey Him to accomplish His plan.

Sometimes God has to wound you in order to help you.  Like a drowning man, Jacob impatiently schemes and thrashes around in life, refusing the Lifeguard’s help.  The Lifeguard says,” Jacob, I can help you.”  I can teach you how to swim so that you won’t have to struggle.  Just relax and let me slip my arm around you.  Quit fighting Me!”  Jacob still kicks and claws at the water, not realizing that all of his strenuous effort is self-defeating.  The Lifeguard sees that Jacob is about to go under and, left with no other option, the Lifeguard strikes Jacob - - wounding him.  Weakened and dazed, Jacob can now only cling to his Rescuer and in his clinging, Jacob is rescued.  If you find it difficult to wait on the Lord and rest in Him, you will be transformed by the story of Jacob.

"The Fasting of a Disciple (Matthew 6:16-18)

"The Prayer of a Disciple" Part 2 (Matthew 6:9-15) - A closer look at the Lord's Prayer

"The Prayer of a Disciple" Part 1 (Matthew 6:9-15) - A closer look at the Lord's Prayer

Echodell Wynant Memorial Service on 12-29-13.

The Benefits of Generosity

Generous living advances the cause of Christ and produces a bounty of spiritual fruit.

Generosity is at the heart of Christmas because generosity is at the very core of God’s character. God is open-handed in a tight-fisted world.  So He generously lavishes gifts upon His people.  When we see God’s generosity, we realize that our lives are not our own, and we respond with generosity by giving ourselves away.