Hey Family,

Many of us have known what it is to take a bad idea too far. For some of us it’s an alcohol addiction, for others it’s going after sex . . . something that we knew wasn’t right, but we did it anyway and then it had its way with our lives, hurting the people around us, leaving us in a place where we were broken and troubled. How does Jesus deal with people who have turned their back on his teaching to such a degree that they are consumed by the very thing they thought would liberate them? Does he confront us by saying “I told you so!” or, “Ha, now you’re trapped in your sin.” Or does he do something that’s so beyond our wildest imagination that it gives us cause to celebrate and worship?

Come this Sunday at 10 a.m. as we continue our series JESUS WITH and talk about how Jesus deals with us when we‘ve gone too far.

--Edwin

Hey Family,

There are moments in life when the reality of our guilt is so oppressive that all we feel is shame. We feel so deeply guilty about what we’ve done that when we see people looking at us, all we can think of is that they know how broken and sinful we are. As a result, we might take on an hard-hearted attitude—that we don’t care what people think, or we don’t even care what God thinks. Or . . . we can run to Christ, and find out that guilt doesn’t create our identity. We can be forgiven and find our identity in something other than the acts we do.

This is an important message for all of us—because once in a while we will all be in a position where we act in a way that is beneath our own standards, let alone God’s standards. Come this week to learn how God deals with the guilty, and how to get relief from our shame. I look forward to seeing you Sunday at 10 a.m.

--Edwin

We finished our series called When God Shows Up, which I hope illustrated how God makes himself known in the midst of all our circumstances. This Sunday we begin a followup series called JESUS WITH..., in which we'll investigate how Jesus confronts people from different backgrounds in different ways. And that's good news for us, because it gives us the assurance that no matter where we've come from or what position we are in today, Jesus meets us where we are and works on us in the way that will affect us the most strongly. Whether we're one of the powerful, one of the political, or one of the powerless, He is pursuing each one of us with great love and intensity.

Hey Family,

Did you know that 1 in 5 New Yorkers struggles with mental illness each year? Not only that, many don't have hope or help in those struggles. Mental illness--including depression and other conditions--isn't just a modern problem. This Sunday we'll learn about a particular person in the Bible who suffered from mental illness, and whose life was completely changed by meeting Jesus.

Our good friend Pastor Zac Martin will be our guest speaker. Come hear about how we as a church can provide help for troubled souls. I very much look forward to seeing you this Sunday at 10 a.m.

What is the appropriate response when God shows up in powerful ways? We've been in a series called WHEN GOD SHOWS UP. In the last two weeks we've talked about what God does in times when we experience crisis or doubts. But this week we're going to speak about what *our* response should be. This is so important, because when we have an encounter with God--in scripture, in community, in prayer--He doesn't show up just to do carnival tricks. God's showing up demands a response.

Hey Family,

Last week we started a brand-new series called WHEN GOD SHOWS UP. As we continue this Sunday, what I hope you will come to understand is that when we’ve exhausted all of our favors, used up all of our resources, taken all of our time and are at the end of our rope . . . that is the time that God will show up. Last week we talked about how He shows up in the midst of our doubts. This week, it’s how He shows up in moments of great crisis.

We’ll be going to the Old Testament and noticing moments where God supernaturally shows up to move in the lives of his people. This is the story of the Christian—that God came down from heaven to earth to act on our behalf. And he didn’t wait until Jesus was born. God has been acting on our behalf for all of history. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday at 10—AND BRING YOUR MOTHER! In fact, invite any mother you know! We will be celebrating Mother’s Day with a roast beef banquet and photo session!

--Edwin

Listen in on our Easter Sunday service

Hey Family,

In Bible times, a man became known as a prophet if what he proclaimed came to pass. The prophets who spoke for God told the people the truth they needed to hear, even if it hurt. In this Sunday's message, we'll learn about Jesus as Prophet. Our guest pastor will be David Louw, who has been very popular in his previous visits to RHOW. Please join us as we welcome him to continue our series, JESUS UNCOVERED.

We will also celebrate Communion together as a church family. I look forward to seeing you at 10 a.m. this Sunday.

I'm so grateful for all the good feedback I've gotten on our current series, JESUS UNCOVERED. It's inspiring to know that people are seeing Jesus in a bigger and more beautiful light, and I've heard how some of you are learning to rejoice at his work in your life. We still have a lot to discuss... the fact is, a series like this could go on for infinity! Whenever we study about who Jesus is, it's going to affect how we relate to our loved ones, handle our finances, deal with our work lives and much more. Don't miss the next message coming up this Sunday. I hope to see you there at 10 a.m.!

--Edwin

Many times when our lives feel out of control, or pain seems to overwhelm us, or stress just won't let up, one of the biggest helps we can get is perspective. Having perspective helps us not to collapse under our feelings, but instead see what is real. And nothing gives us a better perspective on our lives than how we see Jesus. If we believe Jesus doesn't care, or is too busy, or doesn't have the power to help us, then we're on our own, and our stress, pain, and despair are justified. But Jesus is much more than that.

So far in our series called JESUS UNCOVERED, we've looked at him as king and as servant. This week we look at him as God. This perspective will help us survive even the most difficult times of life. Perhaps you have a friend who's going through a struggle. This Sunday would be a great chance to introduce him or her to Christ. I look forward to seeing you at 10 am.