Church

One of the signs of maturity is the ability to accept responsibility for one's actions.  A mature person is able to say, "I did that" while a person lacking maturity tries to shift the blame. We live in a culture that is glad to hand-off responsibility to someone else. Parents may be quick to blame what's on television for the attitude of their children.  Does it contribute?  Absolutely.  Is television the only responsible party?  Probably not.  You also have the influence of peers.  And the influence of parents, who -- contrary to opinion -- are still very influential in the lives of their children. In doing marriage counseling I often hear, "If only she would ..."  Or, "It's because he always ..."  Rarely do I hear someone say, "I'm the person responsible for the conflict we're having." Employees would be more effective if it weren't for their bosses.  Bosses would…

We're about to start our second semester of E4U classes at Mountainview and I'm really excited about our fall lineup.  Here is a brief overview: Encounter: Developing personal spiritual growth habits. Class: Growing Strong in God’s Family (Todd Nelson) This class will focus on how to grow deeper in your faith.  It's an interactive way to explore what it means to be in a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Todd Nelson serves as our creative arts director at Mountainview.  Register Now. Engage: Using your unique SHAPE in ministry to God and others. Class: Urban Entry: A New Look at Missions (Brendan Yost) What  does "missions" mean to you?  We often think of overseas missions or missionaries who travel to distant places.  This class will explore the theological foundation of urban missions, including our own efforts in Westwood/Square Mile.  Brendan Yost serves as the missions and outreach pastor at Mountainview.  Register Now. Equip: Understanding God…

I love this video! Every Life Has A Story - Chick-fil-A from Dan T. Cathy on Vimeo.

The end is as important as the beginning. How many aspiring writers sat down at their laptop with high hopes and great ideas only to have a half-finished manuscript?  Quite a few.  The difference between getting published and getting passed over is often not a matter of writing ability.  It's a matter of finishing ability. Half-baked ideas,  half-read books. Many of us pay careful attention to how we start.  We labor over every detail.  We try harder, work longer. Getting started is important, but only if it leads to finishing well.  If the goal is only to get started, more people would be successful.  More marriages would last.  More ideas would be rewarded. But we know ... getting started is one thing; finishing is another.  And how we finish matters. If a project or relationship or dream is coming to an end, end well.  What people most often remember is…

During the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key watched the bombarding of the American forces at Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore on the night of September 13, 1814  When the smoke cleared, Key was able to see an American flag still waving and reported this to the prisoners below deck.  On the way back to Baltimore, he was inspired to write a poem describing his experience, "The Defence of Fort McHenry", which he published in the Patriot on September 20, 1814.  It has become better known as "The Star Spangled Banner". (Source: Wikipedia). Hebrews 12:2 … Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of God. Just as the beleaguered soldiers found hope in seeing the flag still waving, let those of…