Foothills Christian Church » Featured Articles

Growing Up

jonathan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:23:15 +0000

Our culture has an epidemic of boys and girls walking around in adult bodies. People who never grew up.

What turns a boy into a man and a girl into a woman?

The Bible says something interesting about Jesus:

“Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52

notice the word “and”. As Jesus grew in stature, He also grew in wisdom. There was no separation between growing physically and spiritually. Notice how this also resulted in favor with God and man. People can grow in stature, but have no wisdom. This is the difference between boys and men and girls and women. The have grown up on the inside as well as the outside.

Hebrews 12:1-2 says,

let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

The key to growing in wisdom and stature is to fix our eyes on Jesus. He is the perfecter of our spiritual growth. People only grow up when they grow in Him.

On Sunday, February 5, we will see how Going Vertical impacts boys growing into men and girls growing into women. If you can’t be here, plan on listening through the website or podcast.

This is not a message you should miss.

Pastor Doug

Vertical

Dustin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:28:52 +0000

I like coffee. Bold, full bodied, coffee. Not watered down. It’s a great way to start the day. I like to ski. Blues and backs, not greens. Greens are too slow, I need something steep to get going so I can turn my skis. I like truth. Steep, full bodied, quickly gets to the heart of the matter. Are you tired of a world where there are so many answers, so many opinions, so many paths, that they all seem watered down, weak, and slow? We need a full bodied, strong cup of Jesus. We don’t need a watered down version, a weak version that our culture would like. We need a full strength Jesus. The only way to see this full strength, full of truth, Jesus is to go vertical. 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:1-2 The Bible is the one place to find the full strength, not watered down, Jesus. What happens to you, in you, in your life when you meet that Jesus? It’s time to go vertical, and get the ride of your life.

Pastor Doug

Winter is here!

Dustin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:06:00 +0000

We are an active bunch of people. Whereas winter slows most down, we just grab a coat and gloves and keep going! Some see it as a nuisance, others see it as a playground. Regardless of how you see it, winter is very important. Underneath the cold and snow, something important is happening- the earth is preparing for another season of fruitfulness. Is there a winter in your life right now? Not a storm, but a time where something important is going on. A preparation for another season of growth and fruitfulness? What happens in the winter determines the blossoms in the spring. In the dead of winter, trees are not dead, they are sleeping, remembering they were meant to grow. Preparing for a new season of fruitfulness. 2012 is an important year in your life. Let’s prepare together for this new year, a year of greater fruitfulness by reminding ourselves what our lives were meant to be, how they were meant to be lived. As Jesus said, Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:24 Winter is the time in your life where you remember that living, real living, begins with dying. Dying is a time to remember the point and purpose of your life: to live and grow in Jesus. On January 22 we will begin a new series titled: Vertical. You won’t want to miss this one, it will focus on doing the right things in the winter so your spring blossoms!

Pastor Doug

Legacy

Dustin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 03:02:55 +0000

The greatest American tradition for ushering in a new year is the resolution. A promise to oneself to make positive changes in the coming year. The setting of new goals, achieving new things, moving forward towards bigger and better things. The second greatest tradition to usher in a new year is breaking those resolutions. Here’s a challenge for you: don’t make any resolutions, simply build a legacy. I say this because resolutions are easy to break and legacies are hard to break. The reason is because a resolution is mostly about yourself. Legacies are about others: your family, friends, church, community. Resolutions are easy to break because let’s face it, the only person you are letting down is yourself- and we are all used to letting ourselves down. Legacies are difficult to break, easy to keep, because they are others focused. People are depending on you, relying on you, hoping on you. The promises you make, the commitments you keep, the actions you take make a difference in their lives. This makes sense when you read the words Jesus spoke, “Whoever wishes to save his own life will loose it, but he who looses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will find it.” When you live for yourself, you end up loosing all those resolutions. When you live for Jesus you are building a legacy. So before you close out this year and look forward to a 2012, take a moment to look back over the last year. What legacy did you leave? What did you do last year that will impact the lives of those you love next year?

Let’s build a legacy together in 2012,

Pastor Doug

Complicated

Dustin — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:52:40 +0000

Christmas can be very complicated. Setting budgets, staying in them, getting the right gifts for the right person, squeezing in all the get togethers, planning big meals, trying not to over eat, visiting all the relatives, hoping you don’t have to fly anywhere…it can be complicated. What about the message of Christmas? The point of Christmas? Has it become complicated as well? It wasn’t meant to be. As a community of faith we will celebrate the Birth of Christ and out theme is: Extraordinary. The simple and uncomplicated message of Christmas. We will have 5 services. 2 on Friday and 3 on Saturday. Remember, the Saturday services will be fullest, so plan on being there 15 minutes early for the 3pm and 10 minutes early for the 4:30 and 6pm services. There should be plenty of room at the Friday services. May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you this Christmas Season and may you experience the depth and joy of His love for you!
Merry Christmas!

Pastor Doug

Really Good Things

Dustin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:56:17 +0000

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 Good gifts: an encouraging word from a friend, a pat on the back from a dad or mom, a wife smiling at you with respect in her eyes, a husband’s tear as he senses your hurt, a child’s hug and saying of thanks, a surprise under the tree you didn’t expect. These are all good gifts. A year of sobriety, a generous gift to a church that builds God’s kingdom, a secret Santa for a foster child, moving forward and finding peace, feeling the forgiveness of Jesus in your life. These are good gifts. There are so many more. Love, peace, joy, and kindness, against such things there is no law. I thank God that come down from above. I pray they land in your life today.
Merry Christmas!

PS: Please remember we have 5 services on the Christmas weekend. 2 on Friday the 23rd at 4pm and 5:30 pm. 3 on Saturday the 24th at 3pm – 4:30pm – 6pm.
There will be no services Sunday morning Christmas day.

Pastor Doug

Your Gift

Dustin — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:18:10 +0000

In the late 1800′s many Latin American colonies were fighting for independence. American troops were sent to keep things humane. On one occasion, a US soldier was taken by a country, quickly judged for helping rebels and set before a firing squad. America was on peaceful terms with this country and troops were stationed nearby. The general over the troops heard what happened and quickly raced to the scene. The soldier was placed in front of the firing squad, a blind fold placed over his eyes. He heard the captain shout “Ready! Aim!” and before the last words, the gate to the courtyard burst open. The general ran through the door carrying an American flag. He walked in front of loaded guns pointed at the soldier, and draped the flag over him, completely covering him. He turned and faced the captain and shouted: “You do not know what you are doing. This is not just any person charged with treason, this is a soldier of the United States of America. If you wrongly accuse and execute this soldier, you will incur the full wrath of the United States of America and we will seek justice!” They did not execute the soldier but let him go. Romans 8:1 says, 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, You have been given a gift. You have been completely covered in the blood of Christ and are now in Him. Therefore, you have been set free from the world of sin and death. You now have the freedom to change, to live free, to be the one your heart desires. Unwrap your gift.

Pastor Doug

Gift

Dustin — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:21:02 +0000

The hardest part about Christmas is seeing all those gifts under the tree and not being able to unwrap them! The anticipation is painful!!

The Birth of Jesus Christ is when the gift was given!
“Do not be afraid, for I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11.

The time to unwrap the gift came after His resurrection.
“Jesus told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:46-47
Are you ready to unwrap your gift? The gift of Jesus Christ in your life? Given to you by God, out of a deep and unconditional love for you?

Notice how you unwrap the gift, “repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached….” Repentance is the process of unwrapping your gift. Come! It is the season of joy! The season of thankfulness! The season of unwrapping the gifts given from loving hearts! The time to unwrap your gift from God is now!

Giving of Thanks

Dustin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:19:04 +0000

As I am getting ready for Thanksgiving, I run across people from our church. They share their plans and their celebrations and everyone mentions Foothills in their festivities. It reminds me of how thankful I am for our church.
I am Thankful for our Care ministry led by Cynthia Speicher. Their heart to help and feed those who are without.
I am Thankful for our staff that felt doing the Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving would be more meaningful for these people- even tho’ they would be serving on that day.
I am Thankful for Brandon, our student ministries pastor, and his passion for students to know Jesus Christ. He challenged them to come and serve, and there is a host of teens serving on this special day.
I am Thankful for Heather Asmussen and her strength to lead the last 2 years in Children’s Ministry and her passion for children of special needs.
I am Thankful for Kippy Jacob and her laughter. Her leadership in Children’s Ministry has been a great addition.
I am Thankful for Nate Fowler and his spirit. He is great to work with and a tremendous growing talent in worship.
I am Thankful for Mark Strecker and his special gifts. Our entire church has benefitted so much from his attention and hard work.
I am Thankful for all our ministries teams. Newcomers (LaQuela), Community Groups (Chuck), Men’s ministry (Andy), Women’s Ministry (Lisa, Val), Primetime Ministry (Varna), Justice (Lisa).
I am thankful for the 100′s of volunteers that are pursuing their ministry and following God’s call in their life. Seeing their lives filed with meaning and purpose is a blessing beyond understanding.
I am thankful for our elders and their constant watch over the church and their service in every area of ministry.
I am Thankful for every person who is a part of this family and hold to the core values that Jesus is alive, faith still matters, God is in control, and He is redeeming people from death to life.
I am Thankful for you.

Have a great Thanksgiving holiday and please take a moment to remember that we all can be Thankful because Jesus has give the greatest gift of all: new life.

Pastor Doug

Change

Dustin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:54:45 +0000

When it comes to changing yourself, who do you trust? Does any one really know how to change? We read about people who change all the time, they share their story and the method they used to “change their life.” We wonder, would that work for me? People tell stories of hard times that changed them forever, or positive thinking, setting goals, never giving up, or joining a group that focuses on the change you want. What is it that actually brings about the change? The struggle? The experience? The people around you? Your own mindset? What happens when you try one person’s approach and it doesn’t work? Does that mean you can’t change? Or does it mean you are using the wrong method? Both of these options depress me because it makes the possibility of change either impossible or a guessing game. One other thing to consider is that all of these options are part of the answer, not the answer.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 says, May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Sanctification is the process of Jesus changing you. God is the master of change, He has at His disposal all of these methods. By turning to Him, and trusting in Him, change in me becomes possible. That is where the answer has been all the time.

Pastor Doug

PS. Read Romans chapters 6-8 every week during this series. It will become clearer every time you read it.