Money does strange things to us, doesn't it? It certainly has a lot of power. We've all felt the rush of having. But like a drug, once it's gone, we're left wanting more. We try to control it, but it always seems to control us. We hide it under a mattress. We put it in a 401K. We "invest" in homes and second homes. 

My last church was in a community that was filled with wealthy, retired people. I met so many folks who spent so much of their retirement checking in with their wealth, moving investments around and living with stress. What should've been the time to spend what they had saved was taken over by the obsession to keep what they had. 

We've all seen how our addiction to money impacts our lives in destructive ways. Yet, we all battle hoping, thinking...that maybe it will be different with me. Oh what we would do if we could find the inside track on the best investment strategy. 

There is good news. The bible gives us a lot of guidance here in one of the most written about topics contained in its pages. It's not hidden in some complicated investment equation. It's right in the open...though challenging to apply. Yet those who live by it experience what so many spend a lifetime chasing and never experience. 

Take a look at James 5:1-6. It may scare you off a bit, but I promise you...there is more to it. I hope you'll join us this weekend as we explore the idea of "How To Live Rich Without Being Ruined". 

It was a deal I couldn't pass up! I walked away feeling like I just ripped off the guy. He had sold me a gym membership for a fraction of the actual fee. I wondered how this guy could possibly stay in business. He was practically giving memberships away. On my first day of "working out," I was surprised that the gym wasn't packed with people.

Fast forward 8 months and I finally understood the business model. I had gone to the gym barely a handful of times, the owner banking on my failure. I took advantage of the "deal," but never realized the benefit of my plan.

Isn't this how so many of us approach a loving God–who has freely given us His grace and has invited us into a life-giving relationship with eternal benefits? Our intentions may be good, that we want to experience something different than what life is delivering. We start off strong only to realize we're not taking advantage of all that God has for us as we walk "with" Him.

God is not "banking on my failure." God desires that we would experience the joy and peace of following His plan. The book of James acts like a trainer who shows the way to get spiritually healthy and isn't afraid to get in our face at times when we need a little push to stay on track.

In James 4:11-17, he takes us there again showing us practical ways to stay in spiritual shape. I encourage you to come with us and let's workout together in the community of church. I know it sounds a little cheesy, but it's good truth and a great deal.

It was a deal I couldn't pass up! I walked away feeling like I just ripped off the guy. He had sold me a gym membership for a fraction of the actual fee. I wondered how this guy could possibly stay in business. He was practically giving memberships away. On my first day of "working out," I was surprised that the gym wasn't packed with people.

Fast forward 8 months and I finally understood the business model. I had gone to the gym barely a handful of times, the owner banking on my failure. I took advantage of the "deal," but never realized the benefit of my plan.

Isn't this how so many of us approach a loving God–who has freely given us His grace and has invited us into a life-giving relationship with eternal benefits? Our intentions may be good, that we want to experience something different than what life is delivering. We start off strong only to realize we're not taking advantage of all that God has for us as we walk "with" Him.

God is not "banking on my failure." God desires that we would experience the joy and peace of following His plan. The book of James acts like a trainer who shows the way to get spiritually healthy and isn't afraid to get in our face at times when we need a little push to stay on track.

In James 4:11-17, he takes us there again showing us practical ways to stay in spiritual shape. I encourage you to come with us and let's workout together in the community of church. I know it sounds a little cheesy, but it's good truth and a great deal.

Prayer is a huge part of the apprenticeship journey. But have you ever stopped to take inventory on how you pray or what you are praying for? All too often my prayers are the "as I'm going" type of prayer, or the "help I'm in a crisis" prayer, or the "I guess it's my only option left" prayer.

One of the prayers I pray is about "sin in my life." I'll pray and ask God to help me overcome my judgmental spirit or my negativity–(insert your signature sin here). I find myself getting discouraged when I fall back into the same sins over and over. So, I pray again. I ask others to pray for me. I pray at church, in my car and before I go to bed.

I get worn out when those sins seem to stick to me like glue. Then I read James and I'm given some really practical advice: to make the decision to just "stop it." I know that's easier said than done, but it's where James goes in his letter.

Remember he's the one who said that if your faith doesn't result in action is it really faith at all? I'm still thinking about that. But he's right.

I'm going to keep praying over my sin, but now I'm adding a discipline or practice to do something about it. James gives us a lot to think about on this issue and this Sunday looks to be favorable for us to finally meet together... in person. I miss you all.

ICE activity in Minneapolis, tension in Iran, unrest at the border, seemingly unending wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, a spiraling economy, violence in our cities... and now unpredictable weather.

It’s a great day to be an apprentice of Jesus.

Christians should never be surprised by a fallen world that produces fallen things. Distressed? Yes. But anxious? No. The Bible gives followers of Jesus a clear path for navigating life in a darkening world.

Church is where we practice this traveling together. Our peace can never come from this temporary world. It always comes from God alone. That said, we are not called to run or hide with our heads in the sand. Rather, we are to be instruments of hope, peace, and love to a world thirsting for it.

Our current series in the book of James tackles real struggles head-on and offers clear direction back to the narrow road. Last weekend, we experienced one of those challenges firsthand when severe weather forced us to cancel in-person gatherings at both campuses.

This weekend looks to be bringing some of the same. At this time, we plan to hold services as usual, but please continue to check our website first and church communication outlets for the most up-to-date information. If you have any concern at all about the weather, we strongly encourage you to stay home. While we will miss the intimacy of being together in person, our team is working hard to provide a rich and meaningful online worship experience–if it comes to that.

Additionally, during any weather-related challenges, please direct folks with emergency needs to this email or our website for current information and resources.

I wanted to compete in the Olympics. I had just watched the 1976 Olympics and was so inspired that I determined that 1980 would be my year. I was ten years old. I had the vision of incredible athletes fresh in my mind. Our men's 4 x 100 relay team had just finished in 8th place.  

I tore out a picture of the Olympic symbol and a flag of Canada...and put it on my dresser in my room. Then I ran. I ran to school. I ran between classes. One time I even took the city bus to the track at our local university and I ran. 

Several weeks later, as I was walking past my dresser with a donut in my mouth I caught a glimpse of the flag and the Olympic symbol. I don't remember what happened to that picture, but I never saw it again. Mercifully, Canada did not compete in the 1980 Summer Olympics allowing me much-needed additional time to prepare for 1984. 

The truth of the matter was that I was inspired. I had a vision of what could be and I started off so well, but life got in the way. Distractions flourished and time went by. I never did live out my Olympic dream. 

Isn't that the way so many of us approach our faith? We sense a need that grows into desire to know the truth and to live it out in our lives. We find a church and we begin to "walk with Jesus." Our intentions are great...but life gets in the way. We never experience the "abundant life" (John 10:10) that Jesus came to give to us. 

Thankfully, God keeps the vision for becoming like Jesus...ever before us. However, we were never meant to accomplish it on our own. It begins with a longing that stirs within us. What follows is a decision to follow Jesus. But we need the Holy Spirit to be our help...AND we need each other to accomplish the vision. 

I could feel my face begin to turn red. My hands felt sweaty and got a little shaky. My voice was on edge and words just kept coming out of my mouth. I could feel the sound of my voice getting louder and people in the room beginning to stop what they were doing to look at what I was doing. 

It wasn't my proudest moment. I wish it was simply "a" moment. Sadly, I have had too many "moments" where I was attempting to help someone see the truth...at least the way I saw it. 

Have you been there? You know you are right and the conversation has heated up because now you have to prove you are right. It had long shifted away from a respectful dialogue now to a need to win at all cost. 

I find myself getting "sucked into" this mode more than I care to admit. Yet, James tells his readers that this is not the way to communicate God's truth. James wants us to know how to be wise in the way we treat one another--that being righteous is more important than being right. 

Perhaps, this may be a root cause in some of the relational tension you may be feeling in your marriage, with your co-worker, friends, neighbors or family. We want everyone to agree with us...to do it our way...to be a clone of us. If we could just get everyone to understand, then all will be well in our world. Really?

I hope you continue with us in our ongoing look at this letter, penned by the brother of Jesus more than a few years ago. Surprisingly, it reads as though the ink might still be wet. 

I hope you can sit with us this weekend and join other friends and family as they do the same.

Here we are, already nearing the second Sunday of a brand new year! We're grateful to already be starting this one strong together, and we’re thankful for each of you who make GracePoint such a gift to our community.

In a world so easily divided–where people are slow to listen and quick to speak instead of the other way around, this Sunday's topic in our James series will be a good look at the idea that “words matter.” Bill Brown is bringing the heat from James 3:1-12, so it's sure to teach all of us something. We’ll reflect on the power of our words and how God calls us to use them for life, truth, and grace.

Oh, and another fun thing! This weekend, Neil will also share a brief update on how 2025 ended and as we enter 2026, walk us through how to vote on the budget, membership, and slate of elders. We'll also have the 2025 Annual Report to share! A bunch of GracePoint's ministries have spent significant time contributing, so we're excited to share this renewed effort to tell the stories of what God's doing.

As we step further into a new year, I pray that the Lord guide your heart, shape your words, and strengthen your witness. Thank you for being part of what God is doing... we’re excited for what’s ahead!

Well...we've survived another season of the fire hose of advertising. In the midst of it all, we celebrated the birth of our Savior and ushered in a New Year. The change of pace can be crazy but it has also brought moments of reflection. 

I've reflected on another year of rich and meaningful relationships at GracePoint. Relationships that are deep because of the Spirit in each of us who know Jesus. It's been a time to think about my own abiding walk with the Lord too. I'm grateful that God continues to be patient when it comes to His continuing work on my own soul. 

I have also been sucked into the vortex of all the chaos this holiday season...striving to find the balance between the world's version of Christmas and the churches. I think I blew it on a few gifts I bought for loved ones. When I read the advertisement, they sounded so great. But when my purchases arrived, several of my gifts failed to live up to their billing. It was rather disappointing. 

Isn't that the way advertising goes? Rather than seeking to improve your life, most retailers are simply trying to separate you from your dollar. Hopefully we learn, as we move forward, how to read the fine print and know what we're getting into--saving much heartache and pain with future purchases. 

I wonder if some of us come to faith in Jesus in a similar fashion. We have an idea of what it means to follow Jesus. But once we commit to being a Christian, many of us find ourselves disappointed, frustrated and confused. And I wonder if some of the reason is because we bought into an "idea" of what it meant to follow Jesus, but we didn't really read what the bible says about following Jesus. Which, by the way, isn't fine print, but rather bold print. And it's good news. When we follow Jesus His way...it leads to such a better experience. 

I hope you'll join us at church on Sunday as we step back into our series on the book of James. 

Happy New Year.