Breakout Session - Seeking Higher Ground

Moving from our big-picture look at relationship, we now focus around our most primary—that with our God, Father, and Creator. Our second in the series, “Breakout Session” Leads us into a deep look at what we know and what we are actually being told by the Spirit and how we might break out of those previous molds to dive deeper into the truth of who God is.

Better Without It

Seeking HIGHER Ground, We’ve Been Punk’d! Moving from our big-picture look at relationship, we now focus around our most primary—that with our God, Father, and Creator. Our first in the series, “We’ve Been Punk’d” suggests we might be going about our relationship with God in a misguided way. Discover the actual relationship God wants to have with you, and you with others!  The Beauty of Knowing Perhaps it might seem like a harsh term, in light of recent events in the Ukraine, but nevertheless, it fits. In Sunday’s message, we dove deep into the basis of our relationship with God. In Paul’s testimony to the Philippians (3:7-11), he reminds us that this relationship should foremost be on the beautiful basis of simply knowing God. We cannot love ourselves or others as God does before we know God. This is a deep, connected, truthful, and loving knowing that replaces aggression with peace, fear with courage, lack with gratitude. This deep knowing releases us from our wars within, and our wars with each other—there will no longer be need for them.  Know Before You Go Take inventory on your relationship with God. Is it built on the basis of any of the four mentioned Sunday? How are those faulty basis affecting your growth in God, and your treatment of others? What basis will you give up to grow closer with God this week?

Ash Wednesday Service

Go Big to Go Home!

on Holy Ground, Relationally Revealed Week two of “Holy Ground,” our focus moves from how God designed us to be relational to how relationship is the essential key to knowing and experiencing God Himself. Of all the ways God could have gathered His people and made His name known, God chose relationship with each of us as His primary way. Of all the things that are important in the Kingdom, relationship takes a top seat! Want to see God? Get to know Him first.  Go fishing for better! In Sunday’s message, the main point is that God is revealed through relationships—both with others and with him. I could sense the immense peace and rest that flooded over my son as he joined his dad and was wrapped in the beauty of his heavenly Father’s creation. AND, my heart settled down as well—there with my son and my Father. We were worshiping. This week, I invite you to see God’s presence in the midst of your relational interactions. You may need to see God INTO some of your more difficult relationships. But do it, make the connection between God and those you’re with.

Okay, please know I have full respect for worship artists, they deeply bless our worshiping world. But, I have always been a little annoyed with how focused a bulk of our worship lyrics are on the individual. Yes, yes, it IS AMAZING He died for YOU, saved YOU, loves YOU, and is always with YOU. But in this message talked about God’s ultimate intention being on the BODY of Christ, the collection of followers. While God is absolutely head over heels about YOU, His greatest pleasure is always found in US. AND, if we’re to truly follow Jesus, our focus, like His, should naturally also be about serving others and having their needs before our own.

Horizons’ final week of “A New Beginning” concludes this Sunday with a New Vision. Vision is like a raincoat when it’s raining. It’s the last thing you put on before going out, but essential for keeping all the other resolves from getting ruined. Cover all the changes you made in your heart, mind, focus, and friends with a worthy vision. Better than a new car or even a whole-home makeover, a new, healthier, holier YOU awaits!

Sunday, and the Road  

The fourth week of “New Beginning,” during Sunday message, met us in an interesting place. As it turns out, we ALL are faced with the presence of others’ influences in our lives and choices. And, we all travel the road of navigating influences together. Yet, I’m guessing most of us don’t realize we hold the controls to those influences. We are given the freedom and responsibility to choose who will influence us, and how much. Making wise choices about those influences will determine so much of our resulting lives.  

Taking it on the Road 

A necessary first step is to take 5 minutes and make a list of who or what influences you the most. Awareness is key; you’ll be surprised. The second step is asking “WHY?” Why have you given those people or that message the keys to your heart? It’s a good thing for some of those on your list to influence you, but not all. Lastly, with your new clarity, what new influences will you seek, for a healthier, more faithful you?

Horizons’ third week of “A New Beginning” turns to a New Focus. From Paul’s teaching in Colossians, we are reminded and challenged to set our minds on things above and not on earthly things. What are those “things from above,” and how do we make the shift? Better than a new car or even a whole-home makeover, a new, healthier, holier YOU awaits!

Crazy Brain Training

When I was in seminary, I was not looking forward to studying the Hebrew language; it seemed impossible to learn. Yet, I remember the day I started getting it. I had finished my Hebrew flashcards and went on to an assigned book. I looked at the page of English words and could not make out even one for about 20 seconds. Then my brain remembered I needed to look for different word characters and read from left to right (instead of the opposite for Hebrew). My brain had actually learned a new set of reading rules! I was astounded—it IS possible (and ended up being my favorite class!)

Its all about learning to think differently in order to experience a new beginning. Changing the way we think is nearly impossible. Luckily, without even having to attend a special class or roll through endless flashcards, Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:20-24 the work of thinking differently comes ONLY from the Holy Spirit. He does the hard work, all we need to do is agree we’re tired of the old way and accept the new ways He presents to us. This is good news, because a new mindset is key to growth and new experiences.

Taking Sunday On