Johnnie Cochran. F. Lee Bailey. Robert Shapiro. Barry Scheck. What do each of these men have in common? Each was a member of the so-called "Dream Team" of lawyers hired by O.J. Simpson to defend him in the "Trial of the Century" in...

The begginng of the message involved about 7 minutes of silence in which pastor Dave typed an Instant Message to God, and the people of WCC read along on the screen. Obviously, we didn't include the 7 minutes of silence, but pick up the message when he began speaking.

The begginng of the message involved about 7 minutes of silence in which pastor Dave typed an Instant Message to God, and the people of WCC read along on the screen. Obviously, we didn't include the 7 minutes of silence, but pick up the message...

A few years ago, we bought a GPS for our car. We absolutely love the fact that we don't have to print off maps prior to driving and I don't think I've bought an atlas in quite a few years. Between sites like MapQuest and the GPS, I can...

A few years ago, we bought a GPS for our car. We absolutely love the fact that we don't have to print off maps prior to driving and I don't think I've bought an atlas in quite a few years. Between sites like MapQuest and the GPS, I can go into a strange town and not have to worry about getting lost. Mostly. For some people, however, the GPS has proven to be more of a problem than a solution. In fact, a winery in Virginia posted on their website, "Warning: Please follow the driving directions on the webpage. If you use GPS, or services such as MapQuest or Google maps, they WILL send you the wrong way!" In listening to the voice of the GPS can often lead you down the wrong path, so people have learned to take their directions with a grain of salt. I think we often think of listening to God in the same way. We may never vocalize it, but we live our lives believing that it is ourselves, not Christ, that knows what is best for us. We walk around relying on our common sense rather than listening to the Spirit when it comes to the directions of our lives. I hope you make it a point to include joining the family at Waukee Community Church this week as part of your New Year's Celebrations. Take a moment to read John 13:36-14:4 as we restart our series in John and explore the question: "In God We Trust?" Can't wait to see you all on Sunday. Happy New Year, Thomas

As a kid, I had the opportunity to take several tours of different caves. I always loved going down underground, especially if we had to ride an elevator to get there. Inevitably, on any tour of a cave, the guide introduced the visitors to stalactites...

As a kid, I had the opportunity to take several tours of different caves. I always loved going down underground, especially if we had to ride an elevator to get there. Inevitably, on any tour of a cave, the guide introduced the visitors to stalactites and stalagmites. These are formations of minerals in limestone caves that form from the steady dripping of mineral water over the course of hundreds or thousands of years. I think that I've always been fascinated by stalactites and stalagmites because they are extraordinary things that were formed by something ordinary - a drip. Let's face it: There's nothing extraordinary about a drip in your bathroom sink. It's just ordinary. But, through a steady, unrelenting presence, an ordinary drip, with an extraordinary focus, can make a big difference. Most people in this world have an ordinary life. Very few of us are what we call "extraordinary." But, if there's any lesson for us in our passage this week, it's that ordinary people (like you and me) can give an extraordinary focus that brings ultimate glory to God! I can't wait for Christmas, but I'm also excited to see you on Sunday morning!

What is the most important part of the Christmas season for you? When I reflect on Christmas, the things that come to mind are family, setting up the tree, decorating the house, giving (and getting) gifts, Christmas treats, good food, serving the needy and other community activities, singing Christmas songs, watching Christmas movies, going to Christmas parties and other such holiday traditions. Surprisingly, though, when I read the story of Christmas again this year, I realize that almost none of those things were of importance to the people who witnessed the birth of our Lord. So, this Sunday, we will read the story anew and examine those things that made his birth a time of peace, joy, and celebration for the people who were there when it happened. We will learn what significance the birth of Jesus really has for us and our neighbors today. Looking forward to seeing you then!

What is the most important part of the Christmas season for you? When I reflect on Christmas, the things that come to mind are family, setting up the tree, decorating the house, giving (and getting) gifts, Christmas treats, good food, serving the...

"Have I got an opportunity for you!" It's a sales pitch that we've all heard 1,000 times. Inevitably, this pitch involves me parting with my money on the vague promise that I'll get it all back -- and much more! A good sales man pitches an opportunity by selling the upside. In Luke [3]1:8-38, Gabriel tells two different people about an opportunity. Apparently, the angel Gabriel wasn't a good sales man. It's kind of difficult to see the upside to his presentation. First, he tells Zechariah, an old man, that he and his wife will be having a baby. To an old man, like Zechariah, I'm not sure if that sounded like a good "opportunity." Then, Gabriel told Mary, a young teenager (14 or 15 years old), that her opportunity was to have a baby. Babies born to teenagers and old people...hmm... Those don't sound like great opportunities. But, that's the thing about God: His opportunities sometimes seem a little strange to us. At first glance, we might want to say, "No thanks." But, upon further examination, God's strange opportunities are the opportunities of a lifetime! It's the Christmas Season! As you can see, once again, we're taking a brief break from our long series in the Gospel of John. For the next four weeks, we're going to focus on the Christmas Story in the Gospel of Luke. And, this Sunday, we're going to take a look at some of the strange opportunities that God gives to you and me! I can't wait to celebrate the Christmas season with all of you this Sunday! P. Dave