December 2025

Peace be with you!

The Peace of the Lord be with each of you as we approach this Advent season. Before we become completely consumed with everything associated with the world’s “Christmas Season”, I wanted to first remind you of the glorious and special season that Advent can be for Christians around the world. Firstly, we will be using the Holden Evening Prayer Worship Service until Christmas Eve on our preparation and journey together for this coming King, Jesus. We, of the church, believe strongly that the God who once entered Bethlehem’s manger will come to this world again to establish His Kingdom forever. This acknowledgment onto itself should give us all the joy and anticipation necessary for Christmas 2025.

As we worship and study God’s Living Word, we should all be living as if God is already here with us, because, indeed, God is already here, and He IS with us. Advent is a time where you and I prepare ourselves for this coming Messiah, who has already come in the past and continually comes to us in the here and now and will come again in the future. We embrace that truth and have that full confidence in His return.

In Isaiah 2:1-5: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.”, we find preparation hints to help us. First, by preparing a straight path through the wilderness so we can see the future. Clearing our minds and hearts for these days ahead. Preparing for Jesus and just living into the Advent of this reality can be, for all of us, the most wonderful time of the year. Also, deciding to live with the hope of Christ instead of the hype of the “holiday season” can signify a life change where our values change, and that life “can” take on a different focus if you will allow this to happen to your heart. The old meaning of Advent and Christmas changes and is replaced with a whole new lifestyle and mindset of the season.

The God who came, who is coming again, comes to us every day. This is not “holiday hype”, but the promise of hope through Jesus Christ. May we keep awake and alert. Living each day through this Advent season in hopeful expectation not just on this day, or these weeks, but every day. Let’s pray throughout the month together that the day will come when all people everywhere will Isaiah 2:4 says “God will judge nations, and they will beat swords into plowshares, spears into pruning hooks, and nations will not learn war anymore.” and that the peace of Jesus Christ will indeed dwell in their hearts. We pray all this in the name of the Prince of Peace. Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Doug

November 2025

Strip Off Your ‘Weight’ – Hebrews 12:1-2

I retired from the Army after 24 years of service. Maintaining physical fitness and taking the annual Army Physical Fitness Test were key parts of being a soldier. Both personally and professionally, I have long enjoyed the following verse:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1

God’s desire is for you and me to be as free as possible from ANYTHING that weighs us down from living the Christian life that best serves others and glorifies him. This scripture reminds us that we are to ‘strip off’ anything that might get in our way or ‘tangle us up.’

Any competitor in an endurance event will tell you: be as light as possible. A marathon runner would not wear a sweatshirt. A bicyclist would pick the lightest bike. A mountain climber on a multi-day climb would carry only essential gear.

In the same token, Paul encourages us to strip away anything that might prevent us from an abundant life (John 10:10)– including and especially our sin. But it could be other things or habits – an addiction, emotional eating, wrong thinking habits, lies of Satan, false guilt or shame, worry, bitterness, insecurity. These and other ‘weights’ can affect our testimony, hinder our spiritual growth, and can also adversely impact our relationship with God, ourselves, and others. In verse two, Paul tells us how we do this:

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12:2

God does not want us to try this ‘stripping off’ in our own strength. Instead, He wants us to focus on His Son and live by the power of the Holy Spirit within us. This focus underpins running and finishing life’s race well, as well as breaking free from the sin that entangles us. When we keep our eyes on Jesus and live by the power of the Holy Spirit, we won’t grow weary or become discouraged. We will persevere. We become, with Jesus, more than we can be on our own!

And this is not for our own sake. Later in this 12th chapter, Paul encourages us to ‘strengthen our feeble arms and weak knees‘ (vs 12) so that ‘the lame may not be disabled but healed’ (vs 13). As we grow healthier in mind, body, and spirit, we are better equipped to impact others. This growth strengthens our witness and creates more chances to live lives that attract. As a result, we’re more likely to give our time and talents to those in need—especially those who are spiritually sick and longing for the love, grace, and mercy of a powerful, personal God.

You see, God wants to use you in the most powerful way possible. He knows that if you’re carrying around extra ‘junk’ or ‘stuff,’ it will hinder you from being as useful as possible in your service to others and to Him. So, if you’re serious about your relationship with God and want to be used by Him in an even greater way, I encourage you to get on your knees, open your heart, and humbly ask Him, “God, what ‘weight’ do you want to strip from me?”

If you truly want to be light, God will show you your extra ‘weight,’ and His Son will remove it!

Pastor Doug