River of Life - Cold Spring

Our salvation as those in Jesus is a wonderful gift; it's not for the sake of going to heaven, but to live life right NOW. With this said, to live on this earth doesn't feel like heaven, considering all of the hardships and toil we find ourselves in. This is where community is so critical. But what makes community that much more effective isn't a community based on the smaller details like race, culture, etc., but a community of one mind, no matter where you are. This is the power of the body of Christ, for we are united not in those small details, but in the power of the Holy Spirit. Let's be reminded we are on the same team, working for the same purpose: to see His Kingdom come!

Our identity in Christ is confirmed. When we are in Him, we are no longer the sinful person we once were. But to live in this way can be difficult; to live life outside of what we know can be very difficult. Our usual gets in the way of the unusual God calls us to, a life of not living according to culture's standards. It's especially difficult when culture has what we "should" be doing plastered every where. We need to find our way back to Him, in every situation, otherwise we may be drawn back to what we know!

Our great hope is in Christ. There is no other way to life or to the truth. He is the only one who is worthy of our whole being. When we consider Christ in this way, we see that we are left with only one response: to worship Him exclusively, forever. To know Christ as our savior leads us to contentment that our sins are no more, and our life is eternal. What should we do with this life, though? Should we go on and live it the same way? On the contrary, if Christ has our life, then our life is meant for Him, and He lived life doing the will of His Father. We are to renew our mind to conform to this lifestyle as well!

We live in a world where connecting and talking is a natural part of our everyday. Regardless of where we find ourselves, there is typically a community either we are working with or alongside. However, loneliness plagues our society at an ever growing level; ironic, considering how connected we are with the advancements in technology. Being connected and staying connected are very difficult things to do, because the effort to connect doesn't always pan out accordingly. Jesus understood community, and also the need for a healthy one. Tune in to learn more on what He means by "healthy."

On 4th of July, we consider what another year in our nation has brought us; much success, much sacrifice. And sacrifice is often what we remember most, because our nation wouldn't be home without it. But with sacrifice comes the misunderstanding that this was something that was already ours, and when we consider our salvation, if we are not careful, we can carry the same mindset. Entitlement isn't what has made this nation home for so many, as rough as it can be at times. And in the same way, we give glory to God for this "land that we love." Our greatest hope is in Christ, and ultimately, in His great sacrifice for us to build our lives upon. We hold truths that are self-evident, that all are created equal, but we must not forget the one who died FOR all. His great sacrifice holds the keys to our true home, heaven and eternal, abundant life in God that starts RIGHT NOW. Surrender to Jesus today, let Him be your Lord, and discover what true freedom looks like!

On 4th of July, we consider what another year in our nation has brought us; much success, much sacrifice. And sacrifice is often what we remember most, because our nation wouldn't be home without it. But with sacrifice comes the misunderstanding that this was something that was already ours, and when we consider our salvation, if we are not careful, we can carry the same mindset. Entitlement isn't what has made this nation home for so many, as rough as it can be at times. And in the same way, we give glory to God for this "land that we love." Our greatest hope is in Christ, and ultimately, in His great sacrifice for us to build our lives upon. We hold truths that are self-evident, that all are created equal, but we must not forget the one who died FOR all. His great sacrifice holds the keys to our true home, heaven and eternal, abundant life in God that starts RIGHT NOW. Surrender to Jesus today, let Him be your Lord, and discover what true freedom looks like!

Our greatest needs can become the spectacle that we view life from. For some of us, it is an all encompassing and all consuming struggle we have to walk through in this life. For the man who hadn't been able to walk for 38 years, not only was it his circumstance, but it effectively became his identity. So why did Jesus ask him if he wanted to be healed? Isn't his need apparent? Or perhaps, was he truly aware of his need, and his circumstance held him back from this truth? There are tough questions to answer, but Christ gives us a new perspective to look through.

Every year we take a day to celebrate the men in our life; the impact, the influence, the example. We are certainly the result of our environment, and the environment we were raised in can affect us to this day, both the the good and the bad. It is important to recognize that every we do, as a parent, as a guardian, as a mentor, and so on, it being watched very closely by learning eyes. The question is, what are they seeing? Are the ones we are influencing seeing the example we want them to see, or someone else?

Faith is defined in scripture as "the confidence" of what is hoped for, and the "assurance" of what we do not see. Faith is never defined as something that comes as a consequence after an experience, but often times, before or despite not having the experience. This was the case for the disciples many times over. However, even after witnessing the great miracles done by Jesus, they still did not quite grasp His mission: it was never about miracles, but about who the One is Who does the miracles. Why should we chase the miracle, when we should be chasing after the Miracle Worker? We hope this message gives clarity in your understanding of faith!

When it comes to know what to do in this life and how to live in this life, information is prevalent. In our age, there are perhaps 5-10 different views on any given subject, topic, or lifestyle. And with that comes the question, "what is right." But sometimes when we know what is true, it doesn't sit well with us... because it isn't an issue of what we do, but what we SHOULD do. Jesus made this point to those who were coming to Him with questions; if you're not willing to do what He tells you, then why ask? Is our foundation of truth rooted IN truth, our in OUR truth?