Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (1.10.14)

Hey there Church of the Way!

I hope you've had a great week (and stayed warm)!  This Sunday, we kick off a brand new 3-week series called "Rich People."  We're going to look at what it means to be rich and talk about some of the habits of the wealthy.  We might just find that some of the financial habits at the gurus say are best today have been around for thousands of years.  Perhaps God will even redefine what we think of being 'rich.'  This is a great series to invite friends to that are looking to get a handle their finances in the New Year.

Also, remember we've got Family Promise coming up on Jan. 19.  We won't host families again until December, so let's take this opportunity to love on those in our community that don't have a home.  In the cold months like this, it's especially important how important this ministry is.  You can contact Jim Ramsdail or Kim Navarro to sign up

Thought for the Week
"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you."  Acts 1:8

As you know, I've been in Washington, DC all week working on my doctorate at Wesley Theological Seminary.  I'm still not quite used to the landscape in DC.  It's weird to walk by buildings knowing that decisions are being made in those buildings that will literally impact every person on the planet.  I also know that there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes in those buildings that we don't know and wouldn't understand.  There are a lot of people with a lot of power there.  But it's not really power.  It's a limited control.  Every politician, military officer, coach, teacher, CEO, or bully that thinks they have power really has a little power.  It won't last.  They'll die.  Things will change.  Power is not bad.  It can be used for good or bad.  It strikes me that we forget the power that God has granted us.  We're playing with a stacked deck.  The power of the Holy Spirit lives in us.  This is the power to defeat death, the power to end addiction, the power to give victory over sin, the power of love to trump evil, the power of forgiveness to win over hurt, the power to heal the brokenhearted.  This is true power.  And these are the things that matter.  Know that as you go through life you are not powerless.  The power of the Holy Spirit lives within you.  It is the power that rose Jesus from the dead.  And...IT.  IS.  IN.  YOU.  Tap into it.

In Christ,

Carter