Celebration...

Over the years, I have come to realize that I need to take more. I get so focused on what needs to be done that I rarely stop to celebrate what has happened. This week I realized that I have something significant to celebrate. Kim and I have now been at the Bridge Church for 6 months. The time has flown by. I am celebrating because God brought us to this amazing church to these amazing people in this amazing city. I am also celebrating because God is doing a great work in this place and I am thankful to be a part of it.

Tomorrow is a day of Celebration for us at the Bridge. We are celebrating new life in Christ as we have several people who will be Baptized and we are celebrating Communion together. we are taking some time to pause, remember and celebrate our God and the things that He is doing in our lives. It will be a blast.

So, are you taking the time to pause and remember? What are you celebrating in your life? I would love to hear from you.

Glimpses fuel me...

Life has been very busy over the last couple of weeks and I have had the opportunity to have some new experiences for me that have allowed me to catch a glimpse of God at work in some amazing ways. And I find my passion for God being fueled as I think about them. Here are just a few of those glimpses...

Last week, I had me first Memorial Service here at the Bridge Church. A dear saint who had walked with the Lord for over 60 years passed from this life into God's presence. We had a great celebration of her life. I loved hearing stories from the many people whose lives were touched by her faith.

We are in the process of looking for a home to buy and things have changed so much since we last did this that it is an entirely new and challenging experience for us. But God has provided a great Realtor to help us in this process. And we are catching glimpses of God as He closes some doors and opens others.

Then, last night we had an international experience with God's hand all over it. A couple from China cooked an authentic Chinese dinner for me and Kim and another couple from our church. The couple from China have been here for a year teaching at UNR (the University of Nevada here in Reno). They will return home in a few weeks. The food was amazing but the conversation was even better. They asked several questions about Christ and what it means to follow Him. I caught another glimpse of God as He is at work in their lives drawing them to Him.

These experiences, these glimpses of God are fueling my passion for Him.

How have you seen God recently in your life? What glimpses of Him are fueling your life today? I'd love to hear about them...

We need each other ...

I love being a pastor and am so thankful that God has called to it. I love the people of the Bridge Church and living here in the Reno-Tahoe area. It just doesn't get any better than this.

But this has been one of those weeks where I have felt overwhelmed and inadequate for the task. I have met with several people who are facing some very big challenges in their lives. I have also heard some stories of things that have brought tears to my eyes. It seems people are hurting now more than ever. Some are in pain because of mistakes they have made, some because of the mistakes of others and some because of the condition of our world.

There are hurting people all around us. In fact some of you reading this can relate on a personal level. We all can.

All of this reminds me that we desperately need each other. We need people in our lives who know us and love us. People who will reach out to us and will be available for us. People who will walk with us.

Today, I encourage you to reach out. Make yourself available to those around you. You never know what will happen in your life or in theirs as you do.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

What do you think?