Category: Pastor’s Thoughts

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

– Psalm 90:12

It’s nature to settle into a routine. It helps us to make plans, to be organized, to limit surprises while making our day or week more efficient. Our bodies naturally like a routine. From going to bed at the same time, to getting up, to when we have our meals, physically we operate better on a routine. We can also see the value of a routine when it comes to the spiritual aspect of our lives. Our faith becomes strong when we involve a routine of prayer, Bible study, discipleship and church. A routine even benefits us in an emotional aspect. Regularly scheduled quiet times and times when you can get away are important in keeping our mental health healthy.

But what happens when we become a slave to our routines? The Israelites faced a similar issue in how they treated the Sabbath. What was given by God to be a time of rest, a time to focus on God devolved into a mandatory observance. To violate the Sabbath resulted in being cut off from their people or even worse, death. What God meant for their benefit, the Israelites perverted into a system of punishable requirements. As a result, they became slaves to this requirement, fearing retribution if they happened to violate it. 

It would seem there are some relevant similarities between what happened with the Israelis and the Sabbath and what potentially can happen with our routines. If we do not approach our routines with the understanding that, though they can help us have organization and efficiency, they can and should be set aside for numerous reasons. It is quite easy to become enslaved to a routine, prioritizing it above everything else. Another danger occurs when we allow a routine to become a distraction. 

On the other hand, not having any kind of routine or structure in one’s life creates an atmosphere where nothing seems to ever get done or in many cases, started. We must approach routines in our life following the words of Jesus pertaining to the Sabbath. In Mark chapter 2, Jesus lays it out quite simply and to the point. Verses 27 and 28 says, The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. 

Have routines in your life, even the positive one become an idol? Are they placed in a position of unyielding importance? Do they keep you from the spontaneous moments or divine opportunities that seem to always sneak up on us? Bottom line, is Jesus the Lord even over your routines?

The enemy never sleeps. He is predictable in his tactics if we pay attention and rely on discernment from the Holy Spirit. He will use anything at any time to distract us and try to separate us from God. His strategy is not limited to the obvious things like temptation, pride, malice, lust and the multitude of overt sins. He is cunning enough to understand we trap ourselves in those things that are there to actually help us. These are the sneaky things we allow in, pursue and even embrace. 

It takes a conscious awareness on our part while the Holy Spirit is imparting wisdom into our lives to guard against becoming enslaved to our routines.

Lord teach us to number our days, to gain an appreciation of the importance and beauty of each new day, so that we don’t miss any opportunities to draw closer to you and as a result gain a heart of wisdom.   

Jason Metz, lead Pastor

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

– James 1:6-8

Like the saying goes, indecision may or may not be my problem.

The world in general has a problem making up their mind. They have an even bigger issue with actually moving from decision to action. That’s why businesses spend so much on marketing. Advertisements are used to make a decision for us. That may be okay when you need a vehicle, can’t decide where to eat or don’t want to dig deep to know which candidate best aligns with your ideals and values. But it doesn’t fly with the Father. 

Biblical Christianity is in a league of its own when it comes to the necessity of making a decision. You cannot simply follow the crowd as they follow Jesus. Grandma, though she may try, cannot will you to a spiritual rebirth. Being a good person and doing good things is not the same as believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.

Indecisiveness is one of the greatest enemies we face. It is to a lukewarm pseudo-Christians as a nice warm bed is to the lazy. 

It is a battle so many Christians face on a daily basis without even realizing it. Church attendance can give them a false sense of commitment. The lax theology of American Christianity, as in the production instead of the power, the social instead of the Spirit allows for a false Christian identity. And identity that can just go with the flow, never really taking a stand. On anything! Indecisiveness is at constant war with conviction and each individual is the only one that can determine the winner.

The prime example of indecision we find in Scripture is Nicodemus. On one hand he was so interested in Jesus and His message that he arranged a secret meeting. On the other hand, Nicodemus could not overcome his religious habits and indoctrination that can so easily keep any of us from the Father’s most glorious gift. The result? Nicodemus walked away in a perpetual state of indecision. 

To follow Christ is based on a necessary choice, one we have to make. That’s also the beauty of the Father’s plan. We have the opportunity to choose grace, to choose redemption, to choose life. But until we actually make that choice, it only remains a possibility, bogged down and drowning in indecision. It can be a hard choice for many because our very nature fights against it. It is also a costly choice. It’s a choice that requires commitment and is sealed with death, our death.

The harshest of realities is that when it comes to the Father and where you will spend eternity, indecision does not exist. Choosing to accept and follow Christ means life. Not choosing Christ a.k.a. indecision is in fact a denial of the Father’s invitation. And that can only result in separation and death, now and for eternity.

Jason Metz, lead Pastor

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

– Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

There is a question that has been rolling around in my head lately. Like that song that gets stuck and without even realizing it, you keep singing or in my case attempting to sing the words. Maybe this question isn’t even one that I need a definitive answer on. Maybe it’s one of those questions that I need to ponder upon, leading me to observe those around me, allowing myself to come to my own conclusions. When I get there, I can now choose how I apply those conclusions to draw closer to Christ as well as others in my life.

So what’s the question?   

Is technology the enemy of community?

I recently heard a story about an old Irish community and a thermos. The story goes like this… Once a year during the fall, the families of this Irish community would come together and all go out turf cutting. Turf cutting was an important process to prepare for the upcoming winter providing fuel to heat their houses. Families of fathers, mothers and kids would all participate collectively so no one would go with this necessary commodity. Days and days would be spent away from their houses working together. Each family had a specific day where they would maintain the community fire and keep a pot of boiling water going for tea breaks. The cutting was done by hand and the work was tedious, but it was a time to socialize with friends and neighbors. 

Then one year a man showed up with a brand new thermos, something that no one had ever seen before. It was all the rage and everyone rushed out to buy one. With everyone having their own thermos, there was no need for a community fire. Without the community around the fire, people quickly figured out that it was more convenient to go out by themselves and only cut what they needed. It wasn’t long after that the social event of turf cutting was exchanged for a solitary task.

Was it quicker to just cut your own turf? Yes. Was it more convenient to bring a thermos full of tea? Absolutely. But in the end, what saved them in time cost them in community.

We are really no different. Instead of a thermos, we have the convenience of a smart phone. 

There is no doubt that smart phones are a technological marvel. It is a gateway to convenience and efficiency, a labor saving device that opens the entire world up to us and it fits in the palm of our hand. Communication has gone from the antiquated times of face to face interaction or at the least talking on a telephone that was physically attached to a wall. Now the only distance we have to go is the distance between our pocket and our hand. Even less if we have a smart watch. No longer is a two way conversation even necessary when we can simply send a text on the same device that is interconnected to the world wide web. Information galore in the blink of an eye without any human interaction to slow things down.

But it gets even better. The days of having to take all that time to develop relationships can now be exchanged for social media. And I don’t even have to leave the house.

Speaking about leaving the house, Sunday mornings have been freed up through online church. Why go through the arduous process of waking up on Sunday, getting ready and driving to church when I don’t have to? And if I don’t like what the pastor is saying, there is no awkwardness, I simply scroll to another online church that is telling me what I want to hear. 

The convenience of a smart phone is truly incredible. But what is the cost?

We were created in the image of God, who exists within the eternal community of the Trinity.          

Technically is great, but without proper restraint it can cost us our community. Community in our neighborhoods, at our work, in our churches, even within our families. 

But after all, it’s just a thermos.

Jason Metz, lead Pastor

But have nothing to do with irreverent folklore and silly myths. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness [keeping yourself spiritually fit].

1 Timothy 4:7

Atrophy is generally one of those terms that we don’t hear or use unless there is an issue or a problem. Atrophy is what I think of as a negative word, meaning it’s only used in an unfavorable situation. And for good reason. The definition of atrophy is a gradual decline in effectiveness or energy due to disregard or neglect.

There are a few sayings that have stuck with me from my childhood. They had an impact on me way back then and they are still a constant reminder in my daily activities to keep the important things of life in focus. Two of those principles are simple, yet effective in application. 

“Move it or lose it” and “You are what you eat” may have been coined from the fitness and nutrition movements, but I would argue that these adages transcend to all areas of our life. By keeping these in mind and putting them into practice, we can guard ourselves from not only atrophy, but also apathy.

The practicality of these sayings from a physical aspect is quite straightforward. Our body was created for action, to work, to be exercised. The more we work our muscles, our heart and our lungs the more efficient and effective our physical bodies become. Conversely, when we don’t exercise our muscles, our heart and our lungs atrophy occurs. We either move it or lose it. 

In addition to exercise, what we put into our body will affect our overall physical health and ability. Good nutrition gives us the building blocks to become strong while poor nutrition leads us to depletion, disease and illness. You are what you choose to eat.

But we would be fools to think that these same principles do not apply to our mental status. When we rely upon others to do our thinking for us, we begin to decrease in our ability to problem solve, to be creative, to rationally think things through. When it comes to our mental fitness, we either use it or lose it. 

Multiple recent studies are finding the potential decline in cognitive abilities due a new found reliance on artificial intelligence. These studies suggest that as we increasingly depend on AI for tasks that previously required mental effort, our cognitive skills, particularly critical thinking and memory, decrease or atrophy. It’s important to use as well as feed your brain what it needs to stay strong and get stronger every day.

And that brings us to what really matters most. The spiritual component of our life. In the Gospels, Jesus was constantly challenging those around Him to move from a temporal mindset to an eternal spiritual mindset. When we surrender to Christ and enter into a new life with Him, we are spiritually born, becoming eternally alive. We are now on a journey to everlasting glory with Him. 

When we set out on any journey the goal is moving from where we are to where we need to get to. Any journey involves movement, effort and endurance. Every day we do not make up ground, we inadvertently lose ground. Our faith is no different. Daily we either use it or in missed opportunities we lose the chance to grow. To exercise our faith is to strengthen our faith. Going to church on Sunday is like going to the gym. If I don’t actually engage and exercise, the location does nothing for me. 

In a spiritual sense, we are what we eat. What we put into our mind, what we engage in, who we surround ourselves with will always affect us in our spiritual life. Positive or negative, what we choose to spiritually eat will determine who we are and what we become. Plain and simple, Jesus builds while the world brings atrophy.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst.

John 6:35

Jason Metz, lead Pastor

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

– John 8:31-32

Tell me what to think. Tell me what it says. Tell me what to believe. Tell me how to live.

We exist in a world where far too often we are told to listen, to blindly obey, but discouraged to question. When this happens, we become a culture that relies on others to tell us what and how to think and believe, relieving us of our own reason, curiosity, common sense and even creativity. What do you think is replaced by how do you feel? Emotion is positioned to rule over reason. At this point, fear and pleasure become the primary motivating factors. 

We saw this during the COVID “epidemic.” Fear was the primary tactic to divert people from sensible questioning. “Trust the science” introduced a catchy phrase that at its roots meant, “conform don’t question.” Hindsight usually illuminates deception, over-reaction and error. But it takes critical thinking and objective questions in order to learn from experiences and situations.  

Take the theory of evolution for example. Kids are taught that we are merely a series of mistakes, mutations that randomly occurred over billions of years. Where did these cosmic blunders start? To that degree, where did the matter for the cosmos ever come from? No where, it just is. However to question such a statement is to be unscientific and religiously rebellious. Don’t rock the boat, don’t question, don’t think for yourself, just accept.

Trust the science.

On the other hand, these same kids are encouraged to become emotionally driven, to follow their heart, to filter their thoughts and actions through their feelings. As a result, misunderstanding, poor decision making and unhealthy behaviors fill the void where rational thought once lived and would question the origin of life, creation, the possibility of higher power.

The Christian lifestyle is the antithetical position of this mindset. It runs in opposition to culture, to sociology, to this very world. 

The Bible, the Living Word of God is an amazing thing. Because it is inspired by God Himself, we can deem it truthful, not simply because of our proclamation, but because God is truthful. What does this mean? It means we can have confidence in the words, principles, historical accounts and teachings it contains. 

The great thing about truth is that it isn’t afraid to be questioned, debated or even scrutinized. The truth has nothing to hide, therefore truth can stand up to rational, critical, mathematical, even scientific thinking and examination.

But truth also allows for the personal and emotional experience. Because God is truth, which means He is authentic, we can ask Him any questions we are struggling with, even the “why” questions that stem from tragedy, trials and tribulations.

God created in us a mind that has the ability of rational thought. That has to always lead to questioning everything. Here is where we discover the truth. And the truth will always lead to the origin of all certainty, God Himself.

Werner Heisenberg, a German theoretical physicist and one of the main pioneers of the theory of quantum mechanics said this, “The first gulp from the glass of natural sciences will turn you into an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you.” 

Jason Metz, lead Pastor

– Psalm 27:4

I’m not a big sweets person. Given a choice, I’ll always go for the smoked meats and strong cheeses over cookies, cakes or any other desserts. But there are times when chocolate just seems to be calling my name. And nothing else will satisfy that craving. In those times I need a good, quality piece of pure chocolate. I’m not talking about Hershey’s or any of those low budget wannabes. I want the good stuff because only the good stuff does the job. 

It’s definitely not every day, it’s not even every week. Maybe that’s why it tastes so good. I sometimes wonder if I indulged more frequently if it would lose its appeal. I’m definitely okay with savoring a piece of chocolate now and then, saving it for those special occasions. I think there is a greater appreciation simply because of the once in a while relationship I have with chocolate.

After all, boredom through frequency happens with a lot of things in our life. Exciting, fun, tasty whatever it is, from vacation to recreation to food, things have a way of becoming dull, even boarding when they become a part of our day to day routine.

Our relationship with Christ is much different. To put it in the simplest of terms, we can never get enough, let alone too much of God. One of the reasons is the multifaceted aspect that God brings into our life. One moment I can be completely enthralled with His Word, speaking to me, teaching me, guiding me. At other times, the time I spend in prayer, either planned or spontaneous, I feel a closeness to Jesus that is more real than anything else in my life. And then there are those times sharing about what the Lord has been doing in my life. Whenever I talk about God, He is always involved in the conversation. Even in the silence, when I quiet my mind from the busy world around me, there is a natural longing to just sit with the Holy Spirit.

Unlike chocolate that will inevitably lose its appeal the more I have it, God’s appeal only increases. The more I pursue God the more I want to pursue God.  

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

– James 4:8

Jason Metz, lead Pastor

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.

– 1 Corinthians 3:6-8

When our expectations collide with our impatience the only result that can occur is frustration. I find this to be true in so many different aspects in my life. All those things that just aren’t working out like I had envisioned or they are taking just way too long. Maybe it’s because I didn’t prepare as well as I could have. Maybe I didn’t put in the required effort needed. Maybe the outcome was dependent upon an external factor that wasn’t completely under my control. 

Despite the reason, the resulting frustration incurred when expectations and impatience are unequally yoked have a devastating effect on ambition. When that happens, if not dealt with, it is too easy, even natural to fall into discouragement. And discouragement loves to take on the form of apathy. The main issue here is not having unrealistic ambitions, but rather a limited vision in terms of the process.

But what about in God’s economy? Does God have a plan that supersedes our ambitions as well as our faults? How about a timeline? Does God always take into account timing?

The answer to those questions are obviously YES.

Of course He does. It’s called His will. And the amazing part about God’s will is that though it has to always be accomplished, He invites us to participate. In each different aspect of His greater plan, we may play a relatively large part or we may simply be a small, even minute essential step. Every situation is different. Each situation is based on His prerogative. For us, all situations are rooted in our faithfulness. 

Humility, surrender and trust are at the heart of how God chooses to use us. When we are humble, we understand it’s His will that gets accomplished. When we are surrendered, we are able to follow His plan and play our part. When we trust God, we have a confidence that from the biggest role to the smallest, it’s not the job God has given us to do, but rather the love that He allows us to be a part of.

Despite God accomplishing something within us or in someone else, it is vital we understand that He is the one who gives increase. When we get to this place in our faith, frustration and discouragement gives way to excitement, fulfillment and a fullness that only comes from being in God’s will.

If you struggle with discouragement, if you have a tendency to fall into apathy, if your expectations are affected by your impatience, if you don’t think you are doing enough for God, stop. That’s right, just stop. Take some time. Connect with God outside of your agenda, your goal, your impatience, the expectations you have placed upon yourself and allow Him to bring you back into His amazing plan for your life.

Jason Metz, lead Pastor

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

– Jeremiah 29:13

As a pastor, I get to have all sorts of conversations with people. Some stem from tragic events, some are for advice, some relate to conflict. Those are all essential conversations that are taken very seriously. 

But then there are the other ones. The ones I get excited about. It’s those conversations where people can’t wait to tell me what God has done or has shown them. Many times, initially it may  seem like the most inconvenient moment, but as they share I can’t help but be pulled into their rejoicing. 

Everything from the expression on their face, the tone of their voice, their body language and of course the words they are speaking testifies to a supernatural encounter with the Holy Spirit. Of course it’s supernatural, because it transcends our natural worldly experiences. It’s something so much more, so much greater.

It’s life changing. And not only for that person, but for everyone else that is included in the retelling of how God interacted with them.

There is no doubt each unique testimony is special and impactful and should be celebrated. However, could we be mistaken if we fall into a mindset that tells us these God interactions are a rarity? That if God works in such ways it’s few and far between? That it could never happen to us personally?

Because of sin and the inevitable separation that it causes with a righteous God, our human nature expects to have no personal interaction with a righteous God beyond our own rational. Faith becomes an abstract concept, irrational and confined to our minute understanding of something greater than what we can comprehend with our limited understanding.

But Jesus changes all that. 

When the sin issue is dealt with, the faith effect is nourished. Light floods into the darkness. Our relationship with Jesus begins to take root and grow. Believing becomes seeing and seeing begins to define the personal relationship we now have with Christ. 

We begin to have new questions. We move from, “Does God really exist” to “How can I hear God more clearly and more often?”

What a wonderful place to be! 

It builds our faith and places us in a position of expectation.

Do you expect to hear and see God working in your life?

How have you seen God revealing and working in and around you today? 

How about this week?

What have you done to see God work in your life this week, today?

There is no doubt God is speaking. He is always speaking through His Word, the Scriptures. He also speaks to us when we pray. He speaks through the little things. He even speaks through the hard things. How have you positioned yourself to listen and hear today?

And when God does something in your life, are you sharing it with others?

Jason Metz, lead Pastor

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

-Philippians 3:13-14

Ruts. 

Those troublesome things that are easy to fall into and hard to get out of. A great definition of a rut is a habit or pattern of behavior that has become dull and unproductive, but is hard to change. Sounds about right.

Ruts in our life are made by repeated decisions and actions that we know are unhealthy for us, but the more we do them, the deeper we cut the rut. 

The problem with ruts is that they will always pose a danger. Continually attempting to pull us back in, watching for every opportunity to trap, to put us under its dead end routine.

Every farmer knows the only way to deal with a rut is to completely get rid of that rut. This could be as simple as filling it in with rocks and dirt and packing it down. But for those really stubborn ruts, those established ruts, those need to be excavated out, taken all the way down and then that area has to be built back up. It takes time and effort, but it’s the only way.

Our life is no different. 

There are those mistakes we make and learn from relatively quickly. Minor mishaps that we quickly correct and fill in before they can erode the ground of our faith. 

But then there are the others. The bigger, deeper ones. Mistakes we follow up with bad decisions. Over and over and over again, it seems we cannot or do not want to move. Maybe it’s that we have no idea how to get out of those ruts. Maybe we just enjoy being in those ruts because we mistakenly think that is who we have become. Regardless of the reason, when we are stuck in a rut it is hard to find a way out. 

The worst part is that every mistake that is followed by bad decisions digs that rut deeper each time. Sometimes we dig ruts in our ruts and there is a perpetual destruction that follows. There is no doubt that the bigger the rut, the easier it is to fall into.

The truth is, the ruts of sin are never satisfied. The only solution is that they get dug out from their origin, from the core cause. Fortunately if you are a born-again believer, every tool is at your disposal. But as with any tool, it remains useless until you pick it up and put your effort behind it. 

The enemy will always attempt to remind us of who we once were, attempting to knock us back into the ruts. There is only one answer, one solution, one way out. 

Christ propels us to our new self, created through His blood and sustained by His Spirit. When our faith is placed on the Rock, though we may make mistakes, we, by His power and His grace no longer need to follow that mistake up with a bad decision.

Will you allow the Rock to rid you of those nasty ruts? Seek Him and you will find Him. When you find Him, rely upon Him.

Jason Metz, lead Pastor

But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

-Matthew 24:13

Road trips come in all sorts of distances and destinations. Some trips are taken for pleasure, while others out of necessity. From a vacation to a work related trip, the road holds so many possibilities as well as challenges. One thing they all have in common is a simple travel principle. If you know you are going on a long trip in your vehicle you prepare much differently than if you are simply running to grab some milk and eggs. Or at the least, you should.

From a fresh oil change, to making sure your tires are good to go, how you maintain and prepare your vehicle is vital. You also have a good idea on your route and planning stops are an important component. Depending upon what time of year you are traveling also plays a key role in what you pack or leave at home. 

There is just so much more thought that goes into traveling hundreds or thousands of miles than just running around town. The difference comes down to goals. One is groceries, the other is a destination. One is a few minutes, the other is multiple hours or even days. 

The goal, or the difficulty of attaining a goal will always determine the effort we put into the process. 

That’s easy to see in terms of driving to the store versus driving across the country. But how often might we overlook such a simple principle when it comes to our faith? If we treat our Christian lifestyle like simply driving around town, hopping from one short jaunt to work to a quick stop at the store and then back home, we can quickly lose sight of the much greater destination. 

Every born again believer needs to have a much bigger perspective than just our day to day. In fact, it needs to be bigger than week to week or even year to year. 

We must be Kingdom minded and that means it’s vital to have an eternal perspective. We are not to live our life limping from one thing to the next, but rather with an understanding that this life is the road to a much more permanent destination. And if preparation is important for our road trips, how much more important is it for our eternity?

Every trip we take inevitably comes with risks, dangers and unexpected events. We cannot specifically prepare for every little issue that we might face, but we can prepare ourselves to endure whatever that might be.

In terms of our faith, that’s a deep and genuine relationship with Christ as our Savior. That takes preparation and maintenance on our part. When our dependence is found wholly in Christ, despite what the road of life throws at us, we can have a confidence that He will never leave us or forsake us. This helps us keep our ultimate destination in focus and that changes how we live day to day.

Jason Metz, lead Pastor