"Flight Plan for Living the Good Life"

Our "Take Flight" program continues at Light of the Canyon. This Sunday, we are beginning a new sermon series entitled "Flight Plan for Living the Good Life." There is no specific formula for living a good life. It is something that is unique to every person. That is because God has equipped us all with different gifts and graces. We “soar” in different circumstances. We also have different life experiences that shape how we see the world. However, it is important to have a plan living a good life. Before a pilot can take flight, he or she files a “flight plan,” which outlines the proposed route the flight will take. Life is very much the same way. We must know where we want to go before we can begin our journey getting there. Do you want to know the “flight plan” for living the good life? That is what this sermon series will be all about. Come and see what's happening at LOTC.

"Get Going"

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20


Today, in worship, we spoke about the simple instruction that Jesus gave his disciples known as the Great Commission. "Get going. Teach people about God's love and forgiveness." For centuries people in the church have struggled with this commandment. We have not struggled to understand it. In fact, this is one of Jesus' most straightforward commandments. There is no parable, no riddle, no questions. He simply commands us to go. Even though there was doubt, Jesus said go. It reminds me of a story about John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement. He was having struggles with his faith, and his friend told him, "preach faith until you have faith, and then because you have it, you will preach faith." That is kind of what Jesus is saying. It is not so much about our personal inadequacies. Jesus can work with that. It is simply about our faithfulness, even in the midst of doubt, fear, or any other excuse we can find. Go. 

"Love Thy Neighbor"

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

I told a parable in worship yesterday that depicted myself in a very unflattering way. I pretended that I was hiking and ignored the needs of an injured hiker like the priest and the Levite in the parable of the Good Samaritan. While I would never ignore someone in need that was right in front of me, the real point of the story was that, often times, we get so busy with all that is going on in our lives that we do not even notice people in need around us. That is the real danger that many of us face. Since we have begun our "Take Flight" program at LOTC, I have been filled with a sense of excitement and hope regarding my own spiritual life and the life of our church. And the more I plan and dream and prepare for what we have coming up in the weeks and months ahead, the more excited and hopeful I become. But, even in the midst of all of the planning and programming, it is important that we do not forget what all of this is ultimately about. And that is transformation - of our lives, our church, and our community. For real transformation to occur, we must serve those that are in need. It is not only good for them. It is good for us, too. 

"Deepening Your Spiritual Life"

Scripture: Romans 12:1-13

Yesterday, we talked about the "therefore" in our lives. When we connect with Jesus Christ, when we begin a new life bound up in the promises of God, we immediately encounter the "therefore." For the Apostle Paul, it went like this. "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Once we have made the connection, God calls us to grow in our faith. (Connect, grow...I am starting to see a pattern here). The church is here to equip people for this mission. That is why everyone in attendance at worship yesterday received a "Take Flight" journal. Don't worry. If you did not get one, there will be more this Sunday. It is my desire that as many people as possible receive a journal. If you would like me to e-mail you the PDF, please send me your e-mail address and I will send it our ASAP. After you get your journal, please take some time to fill out your "Flight Plan" even though this sermon series has already started. I have done it and it only took about 15 minutes. On January 30, after worship, we will have our first "Flight Training" where we talk about what we have learned and how we will use it. There are other tools that the church will provide you. But, ultimately, it is up to each individual to take charge of their own spiritual life. God bless.

"Saved"

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Yesterday we continued our sermon series "Take Flight: Charting a New Course for 2011." We learned about Zaccheus. This is one of my favorite passages in the gospels - not because Zaccheus and I share similar physical characteristics. I love this story because it is one that we can all identify with. Many of us have reached a certain level of success in life that most of the world will never enjoy. As a result of that success we have are able to live in nice homes and have things that we need, but also many things that we just want. That is what Zaccheus was like. he had climbed the corporate ladder, and had all of the happiness that money can buy, which wasn't much. Zaccheus wanted more. He wanted the one thing that no amount of money can buy. He wanted his soul. What Zacheus learned that day on the Jericho road was that only Jesus can give us our soul, for only Jesus has paid the price for it. That is an easy truth to say, but a difficult one to embrace. It is difficult because it involves humbling ourselves enough to acknowledge our need for God and for God's grace. But, the reward is abundant and eternal life. That seems like a pretty good investment to me.

"Why I Love Sports"

This little clip is just one example of why I love sports so much. At any given moment, something absolutely fantastic can happen. And more often than not, the person doing the fantastic thing is just a regular person like you or me. It is not always the most skilled athlete. Sometimes, it is just the person that was in the right place at the right time (I still remember a softball game from 20 years ago where I made three diving catches playing left field in one inning). There is a quote from the film "Vision Quest" that, I think sums it up very nicely. When talking about Pele's infamous bicycle kick goal, a man says, "I started crying. Yeah, that's right I started crying. Because another human being, a species which I have to belong to, could kick a ball and lift himself and the rest of us...human beings up to a better place, if only for a minute..." And that is why I love sports. What is your favorite sports memory? Leave a comment and let me know.