THE VIEW FROM UP HERE

get your hopes up

HOW TO GET YOUR HOPES UP

“Hope deferred, makes a heart sick. But a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12   When something you hope for keeps getting pushed into the future, heart sickness can set in. Depression. Despair. Cynicism.   The opposite happens when your longing is fulfilled. Joy. Life. Gratitude.   If...

One Spirit

ONE BODY AND ONE SPIRIT

Last week we started a series in the book of Ephesians. We are focusing our attention on seven things we have in common as Christians. It's no secret, we have significant differences in how we see the world. But division is not inevitable. We must...

one

WHAT DO WE HAVE IN COMMON?

One of the last things Jesus prayed before his crucifixion was that his disciples (and their disciples) would be one.   "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just...

THE CHURCH AT ITS BEST

This week I heard from one young mother that MOPS has been a lifeline to her. Another mentioned how Summit is the best part of her autistic daughter’s week. Someone else felt the relationship series was mind blowing. Several told me they have made friends...

boundaries yes no

IT’S HARD TO SAY NO WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR YES

Are you one of those people that has a hard time saying no?   You go to parties you really don't want to attend with people you really don't like and talk about things that really don't interest you.  You end up resenting it the whole time....

bear burdens

BEAR EACH OTHER’S BURDENS

  I told you in the first week of our series on healthy relationships that you can’t control people, but you must control yourself. What about helping people who are hurting? Do I just resign myself to being powerless? Of course not.    We are called to bear one another’s...

WILL YOU PRAY WITH ME?

There is power to praying together, even when we are physically apart. God recently led me to convert our mission, vision and values into prayers we can agree on together. Would you pray these with me? I added them in the notes on my phone...

Power to love

POWER TO LOVE

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:9-10)    To love sincerely, we must cling to the good without being in denial about the bad. This is more...

healthy relationships

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

Everyone wants healthy relationships, but few are willing to become the kind of person it takes to create them. Healthy people form healthy relationships. You are the common denominator in all your relationships! If you want your relationships to be healthy, start with yourself.   Who or...

I believe

WHAT DO CHRISTIANS BELIEVE?

"I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am. I did not make it. No it is making me. It is the very truth of God, not the invention of any man." Rich Mullins, Creed.   Before we were called Christians, followers of Jesus...