Till He Appeared
He was silent, but not absent.
Matthew 1:20-21 (NLT) An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the...

Grown Up Letters to Santa
Matthew 1:18-19 (NLT) This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of...

Grown Up Letters to Santa - Week One
CONTROL
What do you do when you don’t have control?
Our desire for control often leads to catastrophe
Herod loved power and control
MATTHEW 2:1-3 (NIV) After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the...

Thanksgiving
Ingratitude
The recipient is always aware.
The initiator is rarely aware.
Gratitude and ingratitude drive the health of all relationships 
Luke 17:11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and...

Scandal
Scandal: Something that is shocking, upsetting, or unacceptable
John 19:7 The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way...

Platform Week 4
No Syrup or Milk
No Cable or WIFI
Bite Tongue or Stub Toe
Fired or Break Up
Dilemma: A choice between two equally unappealing options
1 KINGS 14:21-22 Rehoboam son of Solomon was king in Judah. He was forty-one years old when he...

Platform
Title: Platform Week 3
Bill of Rights 
• Jury trial• Search & Seizure• Cruel & Unusual Punishment• Quartering of Soldiers
Amendment IX
Individual rights must be coupled with individual responsibility
Why is there no Bill of...

Platform
Guest Speaker: Joe Sangl
$19,300,000,000,000 
LUKE 19:1-10 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried...

Platform
Platform: The declared principles and objectives of a person or group
What is most important to you?
Informal             IntegrityAchievement     CommitmentAssertive           AuthenticityProgressive       Self-control
If you evaluate...