Everyone knows where they were on September 11, 2001. The events in New York, Washington DC, and the field in Pennsylvania have become part of our collective story. The devastation and ruin of that day brought every American together in a way that, sadly, only a great tragedy can. The 911 memorial on the former World Trade Center site contains mementos and items salvaged from the ruin of the fallen buildings. On that morning twenty-one years ago, thousands woke up not knowing the destruction that would come their way that day. There is an enemy who tries to bring devastation to God's people to shake their faith and turn them away. On that day, tragedy and ruin came very quickly. Often, tragedy in our lives comes much more slowly. The enemy picks away little by little, and over time the structure of our lives can crumble. In our text, Amos recounts the fallen tabernacle and vows to rebuild what was in ruin. God’s people had decided that it was time to clean away the rubble and build. The cleanup at Ground Zero took nine months, and the construction of the 911 memorial took five years. The clean-up began almost immediately to clear away the ruins and start the healing process. We had to pick up the pieces and remove the constant reminder of the tragedy that the ruins represented. God gives us a way to clean up our ruin and begin rebuilding. We have to raise up the ruins.

Everyone knows where they were on September 11, 2001. The events in New York, Washington DC, and the field in Pennsylvania have become part of our collective story. The devastation and ruin of that day brought every American together in a way that, sadly, only a great tragedy can. The 911 memorial on the former World Trade Center site contains mementos and items salvaged from the ruin of the fallen buildings. On that morning twenty-one years ago, thousands woke up not knowing the destruction that would come their way that day. There is an enemy who tries to bring devastation to God's people to shake their faith and turn them away. On that day, tragedy and ruin came very quickly. Often, tragedy in our lives comes much more slowly. The enemy picks away little by little, and over time the structure of our lives can crumble. In our text, Amos recounts the fallen tabernacle and vows to rebuild what was in ruin. God’s people had decided that it was time to clean away the rubble and build. The cleanup at Ground Zero took nine months, and the construction of the 911 memorial took five years. The clean-up began almost immediately to clear away the ruins and start the healing process. We had to pick up the pieces and remove the constant reminder of the tragedy that the ruins represented. God gives us a way to clean up our ruin and begin rebuilding. We have to raise up the ruins.

Brother Hughes extends our summer cruise series by exploring Discipleship. In tonight's message, he defines what it is to be a disciple. Post-modern thinking has all but eroded the true definition of the word disciple. At its base, a disciple is a pupil who applies what he has learned from a teacher to his own life. Jesus did not create the word disciple it was a common term for one who followed and learned from a master teacher. A disciple is one who takes up the way of another, laying down their own way, and chooses to follow the master. It is clear in reading the new testament that it is an instruction in a better, higher way of living. To experience that higher way, we have to lay down our lower ways. Social media has co-opted the definition of a follower to a simple interest in the subject of the following, but the biblical following is much more.

Brother Hughes extends our summer cruise series by exploring Discipleship. In tonight's message, he defines what it is to be a disciple. Post-modern thinking has all but eroded the true definition of the word disciple. At its base, a disciple is a pupil who applies what he has learned from a teacher to his own life. Jesus did not create the word disciple it was a common term for one who followed and learned from a master teacher. A disciple is one who takes up the way of another, laying down their own way, and chooses to follow the master. It is clear in reading the new testament that it is an instruction in a better, higher way of living. To experience that higher way, we have to lay down our lower ways. Social media has co-opted the definition of a follower to a simple interest in the subject of the following, but the biblical following is much more.

Brother Hughes extends our summer cruise series by exploring Discipleship. In tonight's message, he defines what it is to be a disciple. Post-modern thinking has all but eroded the true definition of the word disciple. At its base, a disciple is a pupil who applies what he has learned from a teacher to his own life. Jesus did not create the word disciple it was a common term for one who followed and learned from a master teacher. A disciple is one who takes up the way of another, laying down their own way, and chooses to follow the master. It is clear in reading the new testament that it is an instruction in a better, higher way of living. To experience that higher way, we have to lay down our lower ways. Social media has co-opted the definition of a follower to a simple interest in the subject of the following, but the biblical following is much more.

There is a level of freedom and release that can only be attained in the presence of God. When we are in the presence of God, we can dance, shout, and praise the Lord in a way that we cannot do while living in our reserved shells. When we come into the presence of God, we can set down that burden that we could not carry and forgive, that wrong that we cannot forgive. The spirit's moving is designed to release us from life's fear, doubt, and troubles. His spirit frees us from those things.

In Genesis, Moses’ face was radiant after being in the presence of God, so he wore a veil. We do not find in scripture that God commanded Moses to wear a veil. We have always been taught that Moses wore the veil to protect Israel. Brother Hughes suggests it is more likely that Moses was hiding the fading of that radiance as he was no longer in the presence of God. It is time to be comfortable in the presence of God, to come into worship expecting an encounter rather than just acknowledging His existence.

There is a level of freedom and release that can only be attained in the presence of God. When we are in the presence of God, we can dance, shout, and praise the Lord in a way that we cannot do while living in our reserved shells. When we come into the presence of God, we can set down that burden that we could not carry and forgive, that wrong that we cannot forgive. The spirit's moving is designed to release us from life's fear, doubt, and troubles. His spirit frees us from those things.

In Genesis, Moses’ face was radiant after being in the presence of God, so he wore a veil. We do not find in scripture that God commanded Moses to wear a veil. We have always been taught that Moses wore the veil to protect Israel. Brother Hughes suggests it is more likely that Moses was hiding the fading of that radiance as he was no longer in the presence of God. It is time to be comfortable in the presence of God, to come into worship expecting an encounter rather than just acknowledging His existence.

There is a level of freedom and release that can only be attained in the presence of God. When we are in the presence of God, we can dance, shout, and praise the Lord in a way that we cannot do while living in our reserved shells. When we come into the presence of God, we can set down that burden that we could not carry and forgive, that wrong that we cannot forgive. The spirit's moving is designed to release us from life's fear, doubt, and troubles. His spirit frees us from those things.

In Genesis, Moses’ face was radiant after being in the presence of God, so he wore a veil. We do not find in scripture that God commanded Moses to wear a veil. We have always been taught that Moses wore the veil to protect Israel. Brother Hughes suggests it is more likely that Moses was hiding the fading of that radiance as he was no longer in the presence of God. It is time to be comfortable in the presence of God, to come into worship expecting an encounter rather than just acknowledging His existence.

An evening of worship, song, and preaching with Bro. Stan Cook.

An evening of worship, song, and preaching with Bro. Stan Cook.