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Dear Friends,

We all want to grow, change, and be fruitful. Regardless of culture, gender, and race and across the whole course of human history we see this drive. They call this the Indomitable Human Spirit.  Sure, sometimes we are so busy (or frantic, exhausted, or distracted) that we don’t consciously think about the change and fruit that we are tirelessly working for, but we are still working for it. This drive and desire are so much a part of what it means to be human that Depression is the name we give for the mental and physical illness when it is absent or broken, i.e., the indomitable human spirit is the norm.

But how do we grow and change? Big question! And one that’s the topic of billions of books, sermon, and TED Talks. It’s also the topic of much of God’s Word, including Galatians 5:13-26 – our text for this Sunday and next week in our Daily Worship Devotions. Read More

Dear Friend,

If you asked out loud at the pool or office, “Are personal freedom and autonomy really working for people in our society today?” I have no doubt that you would get some shocked, alarmed, and bewildered looks.

Personal freedom and autonomy are two of the foundational pillars and core values of our culture today. They are also two of our greatest hopes, e.g., “Oh, the lives we would enjoy and the stresses that would be lifted if only we had more personal freedom and autonomy to live the lives we dream of!”

But neither personal freedom or autonomy have delivered on their promises. It’s clear as we look around that “the pursuit of happiness” is like chasing rainbows with increasing loneliness along the way and disappointment at the end. That’s how idols work. They make big promises, they get us hooked, but they can’t really deliver – only disappoint and trap.

This Sunday, and next week in our Daily Worship Devotions, we come to a passage that rings strange to our modern liberated ears, but one that also strangely resonates with our innate sense of love, dignity, and purpose. Given all the celebration of God’s radical grace and warnings about the bondage of “trying to be good,” Galatians 5:1-15 is strangely disorientating and reorientating, So, take some time to reflect, meditate, and ponder on Galatians 5:1-15 today and tomorrow morning as you prepare for worship.

I look forward to worshipping with you this week!

Yours in Christ’s love,

Pastor Ewan

Friends,

I know that May can be a CRAZY busy month for a lot of folks. I’m praying for you all!! Amid all you have going on, please do take some time to respond to the COTR Surveys we have emailed out. I very much believe they will be a great spiritual benefit to you as well as helping the leadership of our Church follow God and serve you. If you can’t find the emails, contact Seya.

This Sunday, and next week in our Daily Worship Devotions, we come to a powerful and profound passage in Galatians. At first glance Galatians 4:21-31 might seem like a dull, abstract, or irrelevant passage. After all, what do Arabia, mountains, Sarah, and Hagar really have to do with us and our daily lives?

We’ll dig more directly into the details and theology of Galatians 4:21-31 this Sunday and next week. For now, by way of preparation and application, reflect on the following insights from Tim Keller on “the Four Kinds of People in the World.” Which of these bests describes your own personal experience and struggles? I know which one describes me most, unfortunately. As you look around your world and context, which of the others seem accurate? Read More