Everyone from Adam and Eve to Kanye West has been searching for someone or something that will solve their problems or ease their pain. Their search may lead them to a bottle or the Broncos, but it doesn’t solve their ultimate need. One of the messages of Christmas is this: Because of Jesus, we have access to God’s joy and peace. Jesus is referred to as Emmanuel – “God with us.” The incarnation of Christ is reason to celebrate because it represents a divine shift in the spiritual order of things – God is with us. As we will see this in this message, joy and peace are realities that are not determined by my circumstances. They are supernatural expressions of God’s presence.Watch more videos at the Mountainview YouTube channel. Looking for a Speaking Coach? The most successful people are not always the smartest people. But they have one thing…
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Which do you struggle with the most: Not believing in God or not believing God? I’m not sure there’s ever been a time when I didn’t believe in the existence of God. However, I’m one hundred percent certain there have been times when I didn’t believe God. Times when I doubted his goodness or questioned his wisdom. While I haven’t always believed God, here’s one thing I’ve learned: Based on God’s past performance, you can live with confidence that he still keeps his word. This message looks at the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist. It’s one of the Christmas stories you might not be familiar with but has an important lesson we all need to hear.Watch more videos at the Mountainview YouTube channel. Looking for a Speaking Coach? The most successful people are not always the smartest people. But they have one thing in…
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From an early age I learned I enjoyed public speaking. I don't remember the first time I stood in front of a group and gave a presentation. It might have been "show and tell" in kindergarten. As a kid growing up in a local church, it could have been reading scripture or praying during midweek services. During my teen years, I began participating on the speech team in high school and delivered my first sermon on a Sunday evening. Over the years, I've tried to be diligent about honing my craft. As a communicator, I realize I haven't communicated if all I have done is transmit information. When the audience understands the information and knows how to apply it ... then I've communicated. Just recently, I was reading an excellent blog post by Stephanie Scotti, author of Talk on Water. In it she writes about foundational beliefs every effective communicator…
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While reading through the accounts of Jesus' birth, I noticed something that has always been there but didn't pop out before. Besides the angels who appear in the story, the rest of the characters are average, ordinary people. They include a teenager, a carpenter, a priest performing his priestly functions, innkeepers, two senior saints, and farmhands. I've noticed that average, ordinary part before and it preaches. Outside of King Herod, none of the characters were wealthy, famous, or socially important. But that's not what struck me this time. Perhaps it's because I turned 50 years old in 2019, but what caught my eye this time was the intergenerational demographics of the Christmas story. Mary and Joseph: a teenage girl and a young adult male Elizabeth and Zechariah: a married couple who "were both very old" Doesn't it seem backwards that God would entrust his Son to a young couple and…
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"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." That saying is attributed to Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher whom historians believed lived in either the 6th or 4th Century BC. Without scooters, bicycles, or Uber, I imagine they did much more walking (and possibly reflecting) back then. The saying has lasted because of its simple truth: to get anywhere you want to go, you have to start with the first step. Until the Star Trek transporter becomes a reality, the need for intentional action and directed effort will be necessary if we want to reach our preferred destinations. If the first cut is the deepest (h/t to Sheryl Crow), the first step towards improvement or change is often the hardest. Why is that? Based on my almost thirty years in the people business, I've found it's one of several reasons. First, let me debunk a few of…
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