What does your daily routine cost?

On Thanksgiving, it is obviously a good time to remember all that we have to be thankful for. There are many things that I know I take for granted everyday. In Holland we have a great schools, our living conditions are better than 99% of the world, we live in freedom from war and oppression, and we are some of the richest people in the world. Do you ever think about what some of the costs are for our rich lifestyles in America? What does your daily routine really cost?

Check out this music video by Radiohead and post any thoughts if you wish to.





May you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

-ac

Triathlon

I received this email a couple weeks ago:

A son asked his father, "Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?" The father, who despite having a heart condition, says "Yes". They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying "Yes" to his son's request of going through the race together. One day, the son asked his father, "Dad, let's join the Ironman together." To which, his father said "Yes". For those who don't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile marathon along the coast of the Big Island of Hawaii.

Father and son went on to complete the race together. Take a look....



Any thoughts??

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. –Philippians 2:3-4

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. –Philippians 4:13

-ac

Where's your faith???

In case you don't follow the news or if you live under a rock, there is a lot going on in our country right now. Bankruptcies, corporate bailouts, the presidential election, and terrorism...just to name a few. Do you worry about all of this? Do you wonder what is going to happen? In can be quite concerning to think about these things. The question is....what do you have your faith in? Have you placed your faith in the government or the economy? Does your security come from your life insurance or retirement fund? What would happen to you if our financial system failed and our money meant nothing? Think about it....what would that mean for you and your security? Is your hope and faith in money, stuff, insurance, or the government? Or is your hope and faith in Jesus? Think about what is truly important to you and what will really matter to you if our economy crashes or when your life comes to an end. I think that we would all probably agree that if our money meant nothing, then our priorities would change dramatically. So why not start living like that today? Why not start living like your money and your stuff meant nothing. Would you spend more time with your family, friends, volunteering, and doing good things? Do you want to be a person that talks about doing good things or do you want to be a person that actually does good things? So...where's your faith?
-AC

Freedom!

What defines you? Typically, the things that define you are the things that hold you captive. So, who are you? Take a good look in the mirror and think about what you see. Are you.....popular, an outcast, a doctor, a teacher, a republican, a democrat, a Michigan fan, a Michigan State fan, an artist, an athlete, a poet, a musician, a life-long Christian, a new Christian, wealthy, middle-class, poor, divorced, an addict, a widow, or a deacon? Do these things really matter when thinking about our identity? Or should we find our identity in Christ and allow ourselves to experience the freedom that can only come from a relationship with him? Are you truly free? Have you let Jesus remove the chains that enslave us to this world or are you a prisoner? Life isn't meant to be lived in captivity....we are created for so much more! What is something that keeps you or people that you know from living in the freedom that Christ offers us?

"Entering into this fullness is not something you figure out or achieve. It's not a matter of being circumcised or keeping a long list of laws. No, you're already in—insiders—not through some secretive initiation rite but rather through what Christ has already gone through for you, destroying the power of sin." Colossians 2:11&12 (The Message)

-AC

Tom Brady Interview

In case you missed it....this video was shown in church a couple weeks ago.

What do you think?

It will set you free....

In a post-modern, pluralistic world, where so many people claim to know truth, it brings up so many questions. Is there such thing as truth? What is truth? Is there absolute truth? Can we know truth? If every religion claims to own the truth, does that make truth relative or experiential? Where does Jesus fit in all of this? What makes Jesus unique amongst all of the other truth claims? Is it arrogant of Christians to think that through Jesus and Jesus alone, one can know truth? Todd Billings, a professor at Western Theological Seminary said, “The uniqueness of Jesus Christ makes humility possible for Christians because, rather than saying we own the truth (which we of course don’t), instead we can say we are owned by the One who is the truth.” How does this help us, as Christians, to avoid hubris (pride or arrogance) by saying Jesus, the word of Truth, owns us? What does it mean that we belong to Him? It’s not that we have a corner on the truth. We simply experience the truth of who Jesus is, and it sets us free. Do you know this Jesus? Does he own your heart? Have you been set free?
-AC

"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." -John 8:31-32

Welcome!

Welcome to the Fellowship Reformed Church blog! Our hope is that this will be a place to connect, dig deeper, and respond. The blog will be updated regularly with sermon notes, discussion questions, testimonies, and other multimedia links. We pray that you can find this a helpful way to engage throughout the week and grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ. Blessings!