Believe. I believe that believe is the word God gave to me for 2017. During my first devotional time of the new year, before anyone else was awake, with my first cup of coffee in hand. It was clear. Believe. Not an audible voice but a definite impression. I believe he was telling me to believe ... again. To believe and not doubt. To believe that this year -- 2017 -- will be one of the best years of my ministry. To believe that this year -- 2017 -- will be a great year for my family. To believe that my children and grandchildren will be faithful, passionate followers of Jesus. Believe it or not, this was all before my second cup of coffee. The past year was a bit overwhelming at times. OK, for just a few weeks and a month or two here and there. At Mountainview, we…

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his…

Hopeless. In my 25 years of working with people I have encountered scores of people who have felt truly hopeless. Not less hopeful but without hope. I've heard parents say about a wayward child, "I don’t think I can keep doing this anymore.” I’ve sat across from pastor friends who still loved God and heard them say, “I quit.” Helpless. Most people who feel hopeless also feel helpless. They feel like there is nothing more that can be done. I’ve seen very successful people crumble before me because they felt helpless to change a situation. It is a very humbling experience to know that you can build a business, create a lesson plan, or manage a household but you can’t fix something (or someone) you care deeply about. Worthless. When a person feels both hopeless and helpless, it’s only a very small step to feeling worthless. They begin to think ... "There must be…

Sermon preached at Mountainview on December 11, 2016.

Reynolds Price was a professor at Duke University. He was also a cancer survivor who used his experience to serve others battling cancer. He tells of receiving a letter from a young medical student who had developed a life-threatening cancer: “I want to believe in a God who cares because I may meet him sooner than I had expected. I think I am at the point where I can accept the existence of God but I can't yet believe God cares about me.” At some point in life, that’s something we all struggle to believe. Does God care about me? Lord, don’t you care that my child is sick? Don’t you care that my marriage is falling apart? Don’t you care that I have no money? Don’t you care that I feel so alone? Don’t you care that I want to give up? Don’t you care that my husband has died?…