Reflections from Pastor Tim: Football is in the air and everybody's team is undefeated!  Like the start of football season, it's also the time when students are readying for a new school year.  And as Christians we always find this as a time when we can focus on recharging our faith as we cherish the final fanfare of another amazing summer.  I hope you all want to stretch your faith muscles and begin preparing for the amazing time we can anticipate as our Lord "coaches us up," so we too can claim that undefeated promise.

We're continuing with our sermon series on "finding your life verse."  I'm excited because Dr Dale White, my dad, will be teaching us with a message taken from the book of Matthew this Saturday night.  And, to add an exclamation mark, Vanessa Love will sing for us, which always is a joyful time. After the service, I have the pleasure of doing a Saturday evening baptism.  If you are interested in being baptized, please contact the church office.

On Sunday, I will be sharing my life verse given to me by theologian/philosopher Carl F.H. Henry.  Dr. Henry was a long time personal friend to Billy Graham, serving on the board of directors of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He also helped start Christianity today, Fuller Theological Seminary, and was instrumental in the emergence of evangelicalism from the more dogmatic fundamentalism.  The one time I was honored to meet him, he asked me about Washington Cathedral and then gave me a life verse. After explaining to him I already had a life verse, he told me I had a new one – Romans 15:13. “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Not only does this verse resonate with our vision of becoming a “great caring network,” but resonates with the times we are in. There is so much going on in our world today that it can fill our hearts with frustration, disappointment, bitterness, and doubt.  But it is during “tough times” like these that God works his hope miracle best.

I believe that this weekend is going to be a fun, prophetic, empowering encouraging experience.  Please join us.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim