An ideal personality…

What does the ideal personality look like to you? Is there a single word that comes to mind?

Now, before we dive in, let’s set the record straight: I don’t believe there’s an ideal one-size-fits-all personality out there.

Our differences?

They add flavor and depth to life. But if I had to pinpoint some key traits, here’s what I’d highlight:

First off, there’s that whole “unconditional love” thing. You know, loving others despite their flaws and slip-ups…

Then, there’s being a clear communicator, someone who listens and talks with empathy and understanding.

Next, let’s talk about selflessness. Putting others’ needs ahead of our own, even when it means making sacrifices—that’s definitely worth noting.

Generosity is another trait that stands out. The willingness to give freely and support others is a mark of a truly admirable person.

Forgiveness is a cornerstone for healthy relationships.

To round it out, when describing ideal characteristics in a person, I think I need to include leading by example and having a good sense of humor. After all, life’s too short to take ourselves too seriously.

Now to let you in on a secret…these characteristics actually describe some very important people in my life….moms!

My mom, Mary, and my wife Leigh-Ann (and her mom Tina is also a great mom)!

At the risk of embarrassing them, they are the whole package for motherhood.

This Sunday, we’re getting ready to celebrate Mother’s Day, with a special gift for all the women joining us. To wrap things up, we’re finishing our sermon series in Philippians by exploring Philippians 4:14-23. These verses might not specifically talk about motherhood, but they do offer insights into living a generous life and offer us characteristics for a generous life. We’ll discover that generosity is about partnership, discipleship, worship, stewardship, and fellowship. I’m excited to delve into the value of generosity and share some practical steps for each of us to take—no matter our role in life.

There is so much more to share, I sure hope to see you Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.
Have a great evening,
Troy

Embrace it…

Yesterday, our oldest daughter graduated from college. She has made great friends, learned a lot, and is now all grown up. In the words of one of the speakers yesterday, she is now an “adult, adult.” If age 18 was like dipping her toe into adulthood, and age 21 was wading out into the water, then graduating from college yesterday is like a canon ball into the deep end. I just don’t feel old enough to have kids doing cannonballs into the deep end of life. However, my options are to deny my age or embrace it. So, I’m coming in for a hug (see what I did there)…and now looking for my AARP application 😊….well, maybe not quite there, but I am beginning to recognize that the speed of life seems to move in proportion to my age….it just keeps speeding up. I feel like I’m on a treadmill and holding down on the “Speed Up” button….and at this point, I’m in a full-out run. Since Alexa has been alive, Leigh-Ann and I have recognized that as parents we will experience plenty of transitions. From diapers to bikes to a phone and driver’s license to college graduation, it is a privilege to be a part of each of our kids’ growth. As our oldest, Alexa has been blessed with a strong mind and plenty of grit. Combined with her faith in God, she has already enjoyed plenty of incredible blessings. We are all so proud of her and excited to see all that God has planned for her life. But to be honest, it’s been a constant temptation to overlook the blessings of the present moment and look ahead to the future. If she can just get a certain GPA or earn a scholarship to play college soccer or travel internationally or get to know a guy we can all agree on 😊or get accepted into Med School, then we can relax a bit. She has done all this and more, and if we are not careful, there will always be more. More reasons to try harder, work longer and experience a growing resume of successes. So what would it look like to be content….and still pursuing success in life? And what happens when we are not just looking forward to more successes, but we are also having to deal with tough times? Times that are marked by pain and suffering? This Sunday, Pastor Anthony will discuss these types of questions and more in a sermon entitled, “Strengthening through Contentment: A Grateful Life” from Philippians 4:10-13. I sure hope to see you Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify. Have a great evening, Troy

The joy of mulch….

One of my favorite times every Spring is the day we spread new mulch in our yard. Since I love getting a good deal, I typically wait until I can buy it for $2 per bag. And this season didn’t disappoint. HD had a special running on mulch that was 5 bags for $10. I decided to wait for the boys to get out of school and on the way home we stopped to get our first 25 bags.

Now, before you start conjuring images of landscapers gracefully sculpting flower beds while birds chirp in harmony, let me set the scene straight. This was a DIY project and I certainly wanted more “do it together” than “do it yourself.”

First, there was the logistics of lugging bags of mulch from the curb to the yard using muscles that had been in hibernation all winter. But hey, who needs a gym membership when you’ve got plenty of mulch to move?

Next came the precision work of spreading the mulch just right—none of that haphazard dumping and hoping for the best. Oh no, we were on a mission for mulch mastery, carefully layering it around bushes and shrubs taking pride in our work.

After two more trips to the store, a few wardrobe casualties, and some seriously stained hands, we emerged victorious, our project complete. Sure, there were muddy footprints and sore muscles, but the satisfaction of a job well done outweighed the discomfort—mostly.

There are plenty of other experiences that bring me satisfaction…spending time with our family and our church family…hearing about lives being changed on a regular basis…a good book or inspiring movie…a hot cup of coffee and time to reflect…

This Sunday, I look forward to sharing a sermon from Philippians 4:1-9 about a joyful life. Does a joyful life extend beyond satisfying experiences? Is it possible to experience joy while also experiencing pain or tragedy?

I can’t wait to address these questions and share more, but you have to come Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great evening,
Troy

Golazo….

Dallas and I were pumped as we made our way to GEHA Arrowhead Stadium for the showdown between Inter Miami and Sporting Kansas City. But let’s be real, we were really there for one reason – to catch a glimpse of the legend himself, Lionel Messi.

In the words of my boys, the stadium was lit!

Fans were hyped, jerseys everywhere, chants echoing in the air. But amidst the madness, Dallas and I shared a secret mission: soak up some Messi magic and maybe learn a thing or two about greatness.

The game kicked off, and it was intense. But whenever Messi touched the ball, every eye was on him just waiting for something incredible. His passes were a work of art…leaving defenders scrambling to keep up.

Then it happened – With the score tied 1-1, Messi pulled back and sent that ball flying like it had a GPS to the top corner of the net.

The crowd went wild and I’m pretty sure my jaw hit the ground…As we shuffled out of the stadium after the game, still buzzing from the excitement, everyone seemed to be in awe of the legend. Inter Miami ended with the win, 3-2, but even Sporting fans were pumped about the experience.

I am positive kids all over KC were inspired to work harder and train more often…simply because they have been influenced by one of the best ever.

At the same time, when it comes to remaining steadfast in our faith, we also need to pursue the best influences. This Sunday I look forward to sharing a sermon from Philippians 3:17-21 entitled, “Living in light of eternity: An Influenced Life.” We will spend the majority of our time reflecting on what it means to follow faithful examples.

Learning not only who to follow but also how to become a person worth following as we follow Jesus.

I can’t wait to share more, but you have to come Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

If you are looking to be a better footballer, I suggest imitating Messi, but if you are looking to remain steadfast in your Christian faith, follow Paul as he follows Christ.

Have a great evening,
Troy

Doughnuts with dad…

A few weeks ago, my youngest son Ian invited me to join him for “Doughnuts with Dad” at his school. I must admit, the prospect of waking up early to hang out in a cafeteria filled with elementary school children and their dads wasn’t exactly on my bucket list.

I know…I am an extrovert and I love my kids and I love doughnuts and coffee and I even care deeply for other kids.

However, I don’t love small talk with other dads I may never see again, and I don’t love the confines of a loud school cafeteria.

Nevertheless, recognizing the significance of such events to our children, I willingly rearranged my schedule to attend…😊.

As Leigh-Ann says, “Sometimes you have to take one for the team.” Well, if eating a doughnut, drinking coffee, and losing to my kid in checkers….(He beat me fair and square)…will build into our relationship for the long term, then “Dads with Doughnuts it is….:).

What a hero 😊 😊!

The decision to make a smaller sacrifice in order to invest in a larger reward down the road is something you and I do often throughout life. Of course, this concept extends far beyond a parenting choice…nearly any part of our lives we will have opportunities to make present sacrifices for a better future.

This Sunday, Pastor Dave is going to share from Philippians 3:12-16 which is a very personal Scripture for him (you will have to come to find out why 😊). In these verses, the Apostle Paul challenges us to press on toward the prize. We are reminded that looking back can be discouraging and constantly reminding ourselves of our struggles can easily rob us of focus. So, in spite of difficult circumstances, when we press on we are investing in the future.

Even though it was a pretty easy decision to spend time with the boys and it was totally worth it, there are plenty of other decisions in our lives that are much tougher. I really hope to see you on Sunday.

I can’t wait to learn more, but you have to come Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

See you soon,
Troy

Topple….

Easter Sunday breathes new life into us for many reasons. Personally, it started with seeing our New Life CityChurch family and worshipping together. This was truly a blessed time for worship and building deeper relationships. We even broke an attendance record….and perhaps an unofficial record for coffee consumption

Afterwards, we spent time with family and friends eating incredible food and sharing stories around the table. After the youngest kids went on an easter egg hunt, most of us found chairs in the backyard.

And what better way to cap off the day than with one of our favorite pastimes: Giant Jenga.

This was particularly challenging because it was pretty windy outside. After a few embarrassing rounds…we started to get the hang of it.

As each turn came around, the tension mounted. Some of us boldly seized the moment with daring moves, while others approached cautiously, wary of the tower’s impending collapse.

Amidst laughter and cheers, we savored the camaraderie and excitement of the game.
With every sway of the tower, we held our breath, never knowing if it would stand or fall.

In one memorable game, it was my turn, and the tower teetered on the brink. Summoning my championship mindset, I boldly requested my anthem: “Eye of the Tiger.” With nerves of steel, I made my move, and to everyone’s amazement, the tower stood strong.

Let’s Goooooo!

Life often feels like a Giant Jenga game, with moments of intense decision-making and shared anticipation. Yet, unlike the precariousness of the tower, our spiritual lives are anchored by the supernatural power of Christ.

I look forward to beginning the second part of our series in Philippians, “The Good Life of Christ” by studying Philippians 3:1-11, “Humble worship is our response to steadfast faith.”  I hope you can join us while we not only discover why it’s important to remain steadfast but also how to do it.

I can’t wait to share more, but you have to come Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

See you soon,
Troy

Undefeated…

As I walked into our living room a week ago and saw my college wrestling coach Ben Peterson, the memories flooded back—sweat-drenched practices, hard-fought victories, and his life-changing influence. Spending time with Coach again stirred up all sorts of feelings, from nostalgia to deep gratitude for how he shaped my life.

Coach Peterson wasn’t just a coach; he was an Olympic Gold and Silver medalist. He is an incredibly humble mentor who taught me invaluable lessons both on and off the mat. He drilled into us the importance of being honest, disciplined, loyal, and dependable—lessons that went way beyond sports.

He taught me how to split an apple with my bare hands, push through pain, drill wrestling moves to perfection and how to love Jesus and share His love….anywhere.

As I’ve been mulling over those college days and preparing for an Easter sermon, it’s become apparent that the lessons Coach Peterson taught me align with the teaching of Jesus from more than 2,000 years ago. Jesus was all about kindness, love, and commitment. He showed us how to love others selflessly and serve them with humility.

While Coach Peterson’s influence was super impactful, Jesus’ resurrection changed the world entirely. His victory over death means we can have hope and a fresh start, no matter how awful things seem.

Coach Peterson has had an incredible influence on my life, but he would be the first to tell you it’s nothing in comparison to the influence of Jesus Christ.

This Sunday, we’re diving deep into the whole death, burial, and resurrection story from Matthew 27:45-28:11 and we will most certainly celebrate the transforming power of Jesus.

I sure hope to see you Sunday I can’t wait to share more, but you have to come Sunday for one of FOUR SERVICES at 8:00, 9:00 (KidCity available), 10:00 (KidCity available), or 11:00 am (KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:00 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

I hope you have a Good Friday, See you soon!
Troy

New Digs…

This past week has been a whirlwind of activity at the New Life office. It’s almost like watching a team of caffeinated beavers (side note: we also have a new coffee maker) on a mission to turn the place into a Pinterest-worthy paradise.

As you can see, Pastor Anthony’s been spotted with his Bible open, looking like the epitome of devotion. But let’s not be fooled; behind that serene facade lies a man deeply entrenched in March Madness mania 😊. It’s like he’s conducting a covert operation to keep one eye on the Scriptures and the other on the scores 🙂.

Now, Pastor Jeff, bless his heart, has strategically positioned himself with his back to the TV, as if to physically resist the temptation of buzzer beaters and upsets.

Meanwhile, Eileen, Diana, and John are working hard to ensure we are ready for Palm Sunday and Easter. They may not even know the rest of us are watching the games.

But hey, amidst all the chaos and laughter, we’re genuinely excited about our spruced-up space. And even though we are still in the middle of the project, we hope you are able to walk through the gallery and look at the updates for yourself on Sunday.

Of course, not everyone may be on board with the decor choices—there’s always that one person who thinks beige is too bold—but hey, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? Some might even question part of the design or the finish and that criticism might sting.

However, there is a big difference between criticizing an office space and criticizing a person.

Have you felt the sting of personal criticism recently?

I’m sure each of us has been criticized and if we are honest, this personal criticism can create lifelong wounds. Of all the criticisms that have been launched in the history of humanity, the mocking of Jesus might be the most severe.

This Sunday, we are celebrating Palm Sunday, the day when Jesus walked into Jerusalem to the tune of “Hosanna.” However, only a few days later, Jesus was dragged into court to the tune of “Crucify Him.”

The soldiers, priests, and crowds spewed out anger and hatred, hurling insults…And Jesus responded with quiet patience, courage, and love.

Our study from Matthew 27:27-44 will remind us of the sacrifice Jesus made for each person, it will also teach us how we can respond to criticism when we face it in our everyday life.

And the only response that stands up to criticism is love. I can’t wait to share more, but you have to come Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Now, back to the pain of my busted bracket 😊. See you soon,
Troy

Come from behind…

Over the past few days, my newsfeed has been popping with NFL teams making moves by trading, signing, and releasing football players. Although I’ve never had to deal with this sort of stress, every name that comes out is a real person with feelings and dreams….and a lot more athletic talent than probably each of us combined.

How do you cope with disappointment?

In January 1993 (my junior year in high school), Frank Reich, the quarterback for the Buffalo Bills engineered one of the most astonishing comebacks in football history. The Bills were trailing the Houston Oilers by 32 points, early in the third quarter.

Not a small margin.

Reich, who was playing in place of injured starter Jim Kelly, didn’t let the overwhelming odds shake his resolve. With a combination of skill, leadership, and unyielding determination, he led his team on a charge back into the game. Through a series of successful drives, Reich threw four touchdown passes in the second half, erasing the Oilers’ lead.

The game went into overtime, tied at 38-38, a scenario that seemed impossible just an hour earlier. Steve Christie, the Bills’ kicker, then scored a 32-yard field goal, completing the comeback with a final score of 41-38.

I’m sure, Frank Reich and the rest of his teammates and most of the fans were ready to give up. How could they possibly come back…well it was the Oilers 😊, but besides that, Frank Reigh repeated a song over and over again throughout the game.

Earlier, his sister had sent it to him and while preparing for the game, Frank listened to the song over and over again.

The song he played on repeat was, “In Christ Alone.”

Fun fact, after they won the game, he opened his press conference by testifying that the song, “In Christ Alone” had been the inspiration for the comeback.

Frank Reich has known for a long time the only way to cope with disappointment is through Christ Alone.

This Sunday, I look forward to hearing from Pastor Don Lewis as he continues our sermon series in Matthew with a sermon about our “Overcoming Messiah.”

Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples, Mary Magdalene and so many others learned firsthand the only way to overcome disappointment is through Christ Alone. I look forward to seeing you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

I hope you have a great evening,
Troy

Wrong way…

A few weeks ago, I was driving downtown Kansas City, heading back to the church office and I noticed a car coming towards me while I was stopped at a light…nicely obeying all traffic laws 😊.

I watched a car turn onto the street a few blocks away and something didn’t seem quite right.

Then the driver of the car flashed his (in the end, I never saw the driver, but my guess is a guy…we pay less attention to details and we always think we are right…and yes I’m scoring points for this statement….ok I’m done 😊) lights as if to warn me I was on the wrong side of the road.

I hurriedly strained against my seat belt (yes of course) to look for a sign or a stoplight to confirm that I was right. I noticed quickly the light was facing me and deduced I was facing the correct direction. Then I also noticed I was on a ONE WAY….and the approaching driver was WRONG!

He must have been making some quick observations on his end, because as he approached the next intersection, he turned and the drama was over.

I didn’t necessarily love that “he” was wrong, but I did feel pretty good….(yeah, I loved it) that I was right.

I am reminded that as humans, our initial instinct is that we are right…but, what if we are wrong?

When it comes to the most important matters of life, there is a solution for being wrong.

His name is Jesus.

In fact, we are going to discover that Jesus is our judge to reveal when we are wrong…however, Jesus is also our righteousness. When we place our faith in Jesus, He covers our wrongness with His rightness.

This Sunday, I look forward to continuing our series through Matthew describing our Messiah with a sermon entitled, “A Judging Messiah” from Matthew 24-25 and several other Scriptures scattered in 😊.

There is so much more for us to learn together. I look forward to seeing you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

I hope you have a great evening,
Troy

For the win…

Earlier today, my brother Todd and I and Dallas drove over to Council Bluffs, IA to watch my nephew compete in the Junior College National wrestling tournament.

At the beginning of the day, there were 35 wrestlers in his weight class from all around the country and there are just four competing in the semifinals tomorrow…my nephew, Tucker won all three of his matches and is one of those four.

He won his first match pretty easily and then decided to make it exciting. During his second match, he was behind by three points heading into the final period and towards the very end got the pin.

In his most recent quarterfinal match, he was behind 3-2 with less than 10 seconds in the match…he shot in and with five seconds left scored a takedown…then his opponent scrambled to get out and with one second on the clock was awarded one point for loss of control.

The buzzer sounded and both coaches threw out their “challenge bricks” (It’s a wrestling thing 😊).

Tucker’s coach was arguing it shouldn’t have been a point for loss of control and the opponent’s coach was arguing it should have been two points for a reversal.

So we all had to wait for the official to review the video to see if his opponent would be awarded a second point which would put the match into overtime.

After several minutes, the referee came back and confirmed his call. Tucker won 5-4!

As we cheered, there was plenty to celebrate including Tucker becoming an All-American.

I think Tucker would be the first to say, many people have sacrificed to teach him how to succeed as a wrestler. Not only did he need to learn what to do, he also needed to learn how to do it. He has had plenty of teachers such as his coaches, brothers, parents, and grandparents…and plenty of teammates and friends.

Although life is not a timed match, there are plenty of similarities including the need for a good teacher.

So, what makes someone a good teacher?

This Sunday, I look forward to sharing some thoughts in response to this question as we continue our sermon series through the Book of Matthew. We will study Matthew 5-7, which is the Sermon on the Mount, and learn about how Jesus is the Master Teacher.

He offers so much more than sharing knowledge and inspiring change, Jesus transforms lives because of who He is and what He says.

There is so much more for us to learn together. I look forward to seeing you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

I hope you have a great evening,
Troy

On the moooove…

Yesterday evening, Leigh-Ann took our youngest boy, Ian to Tai-kwon-do and I was in charge of dropping off Isaiah and picking up Dallas from soccer training. Since the weather was nice, Dallas and I decided to stick around for some extra practice.

As we were getting ready to head out onto the field, Dallas noticed his phone was missing. He initially thought it was under one of the multitude of bags and warm-ups on the sideline….however, after I tried calling it and there was no response, we looked for it on “find my phone.”

I pulled it up and noticed it was close by…but moving…after watching it travel west for a few minutes we concluded, he had put it in the wrong bag before his practice (the bags are all identical…so yes, it could be an easy mistake…but they are all identical…so, one needs to be careful not to just put the phone in any blue bag….this is dad talking here 😊).

We tried to call it several more times…but no luck.

We figured there was nothing we could do while the phone was on the road, so we decided to head out to the field anyway and wait to see where the phone ended up. We planned to wait until it stopped at an address and then knew we could track down his unsuspecting teammate.

The phone made a stop for dinner at Popeye’s Chicken…😊…we kind of wished we had followed it.

Then after about 15 minutes, it was on the move again…East….then North…finally after about thirty minutes it stopped in a cul-de-sac.

We called again…and his teammate answered.

“Hey this is Dallas…hey is this Dallas…I have your phone…I know…(Background voice)…tell him we can meet in between….are you sure?” ….you get the point…

We jumped in the car to make the exchange…and had quite the laugh along the way. In the end, it was a few extra miles, but good content for a Friday email….all is good.

This Sunday, it’s not about a moving phone, but rather “A Moving Forward Messiah 😊. Gabor Gresz will be preaching a sermon from Matthew 4:12-25 where we will learn how Jesus moved to the masses, then He moved to the few, and then Jesus moved with a few to the masses.

If we could see Jesus moving on a map, it could be similar to us watching the phone…some of His ministry moves would make sense and others would leave us wondering why Jesus was moving toward Samaria or back to Galilee or even into Jerusalem.

Ultimately, we look back with full confidence that every movement Jesus made while on earth had a purpose and perfectly fulfilled God’s divine will. There is so much more for us to learn together. I look forward to seeing you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

I hope you enjoy this Spring weather,
Troy

A Response to tragedy…

This past week has been tough. The Chiefs won the Super Bowl and about a million of our closest friends squeezed together for a celebratory parade.

We enjoyed plenty of cheering and revisiting our favorite plays…especially the game-winner in the end zone.

The Kingdom of the world was pretty evident on the stage….and then tragedy struck.

If you watched it live as I did, you were probably glued to the TV waiting for answers to questions such as how many are injured? Did anyone die? Who did this? And probably many more…

As the chaos began to calm down and answers began coming in, I was hit with a sinking feeling…a reminder of our depravity and the brokenness of this world.

A day intended for celebration turned into tragedy.

As a church, we want to respond appropriately.

As pastors, we are here to pray with you, listen to you, and share hope from the Scriptures. Send us a quick email to info@newlifekc.org and one of us will get in touch with you.

We have also decided to use our New Life Development Academy tomorrow to respond to this tragedy. Pastor Jeff, Don, Lee and I will share some thoughts about this shooting and then we will open up the time for a discussion. Our objective is to process this tragedy together. Anyone is invited. We will have extra chairs and coffee.

In addition, we are joining with many other churches in Kansas City to pray for our city to turn toward the Lord at this time. In addition, we are encouraging those who want to give to support a fund called, “The Church Loves Kansas City” which will be used to help with funeral expenses for Lisa Lopez who was killed, medical expenses for victims, counseling to help process the tragedy, and any proceeds after this will be held to help with any future crisis.

On Sunday, I look forward to sharing a sermon from Matthew 4:1-11 entitled “A Fighting Messiah.” This is the passage about the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. We will discover together that our temptations may be severe…but no matter what we have a Messiah, Jesus…who fights our battles and allows us to live in victory.

This is a part of our new sermon series from the Gospel of Matthew that will take us into Easter. In the meantime, I hope you can join us in the morning to discuss this tragedy, if you prefer you can also send us a prayer request.

I look forward to sharing much more on Sunday. I look forward to seeing you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

In the name of Jesus,
Troy

How ’bout those Chieeefs….

In case you didn’t know…In two days, the Chiefs play the 49’ers in Super Bowl 58…😊…Let’s run it back!!!

Even though they made it again, the path to the Super Bowl has been long and tough. About 6 months ago we took a family day and traveled to St. Joseph for the Chiefs training camp. From what I’ve heard Andy Reid is known for his tough training camps. Although, his brother Randy isn’t nearly as demanding IYKYK :>).

Coach Reid is known for paying close attention to detail and expecting our Chiefs to play smart and hard for the whole game…offense, defense, and special teams. Each player has to invest everything they have into the success of the team…and when they do, it usually turns out great.

As a fan, it sure is fun to live in Kansas City during these winning seasons. As a faithful Vikings fan growing up, watching my team in the Super Bowl is a new experience. I still root for the Vikings but have been fully converted to a citizen of the Red Kingdom.

When it comes to strategy, I am an average armchair quarterback…I like to think I know the best plays to call and it’s not hard at all for me to notice when the refs make a bad call. I will admit, I wouldn’t know the first thing about coaching in the NFL, but I do know that winning in football demands making the right choice again and again.

Winning over the long haul demands that every pass route must be run with precision….and of course, the receiver has to make the catch 😊. It takes blocking, running, and receiving on offense and coverage and tackling well on defense.

An exemplary team consists of hundreds of coaches, players, and staff stringing together one good decision after another. These simple decisions eventually add up to winning games and championships.

Our Christian life has plenty of parallels. An exemplary life is Gospel-empowered choices threaded together. Although we may long to be a part of a big movement of God (and this can happen) most of our lives as Christians are simply making one good choice after another. This Sunday, we are going to learn from two of Paul’s close friends, Timothy and Epaphroditus. Their lives teach us how to make the simple choices to be good friends and faithful ministers.

I look forward to continuing our sermon series, “The Good Life of Christ” by studying from Philippians 2:19-30. The sermon is titled, “Thriving as Citizens of Another Kingdom: An Exemplary Life.”

I look forward to sharing much more on Sunday. I look forward to seeing you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

How ‘bout those Chieeefs,
Troy

Because I’m happy….

What makes you happy?

There are plenty of things that make me happy.

This weather makes me happy – plus Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow. Early Spring is on the way! And if you want to get a little laugh you can watch it here 😊.

The Kansas City Chiefs are headed back to another Super Bowl! And my, didn’t they look good! I have some thoughts on the Justin Tucker Vs. Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce altercation, but you will have to come on Sunday 😊. The Chiefs winning the AFC Championship makes me happy.

Good food makes me happy. Family and friends make me happy. Great gatherings at church make me happy. Health makes me happy…Well-behaved kids make me happy 😊. I could go on…

It’s easy to be glad and rejoice when I’m happy…but what if you’re not so happy?

What if it’s cold outside? Or if you lived in Baltimore…😊…too soon? What if your health wasn’t great or life didn’t seem to be going well?

Could you still be glad and rejoice?

The short answer is yes, and the longer answer is yes, and when you are glad and rejoice despite circumstances you are a light in a dark world.

When you choose joy and not complaining, you are testifying about your faith in Christ. When you make sacrifices empowered by God’s grace you have a good reason to be glad and rejoice.

This Sunday, I look forward to sharing a sermon from Philippians 2:12-18 about the truth that when Christ transforms our lives, we shine as lights in a dark world. This is a part of our verse-by-verse sermon series through Philippians entitled, “The Good Life of Christ.”

Between us, I hope our joy and gladness are not tested a week from Sunday with a disappointing loss, so I’m already believing we are going to run it back.

I look forward to sharing much more on Sunday. I look forward to seeing you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great weekend,
Troy

Wrestling….

This past week, Isaiah entered his first wrestling tournament. This is a pretty big deal in our household.  I started wrestling about the same time I learned how to crawl and went through college…also… eight (out of eight boys) of his cousins wrestle.

So to say wrestling is a part of our family is a bit of an understatement….however, I have been slow to encourage the boys to wrestle…maybe because I remember what it’s like to spend an entire Saturday in a very loud gym, packed with people, waiting for hours for a match that may only last a few minutes.

Despite all my reasons…we jumped into the black hole of wrestling, and it turned out pretty well. Isaiah ended the day with two wins (by pin) and one loss which was enough for a Bronze Medal.

Let’s Gooooooo!

One thing I love about wrestling is that it’s very objective…you control your destiny. You can’t blame a teammate or depend on a teammate for the outcome (of course you can still blame the ref 😊)…It’s just one wrestler against another wrestler on the mat.

No matter how good you are as a wrestler however, there is still someone who either has defeated you or will defeat you…even the greatest wrestlers of all time have experienced the pain of defeat.

This is humbling….and necessary…

Another part of wrestling that I love is when you are out there, you have family, friends, and teammates, cheering you on. This past Saturday, Isaiah had a pretty good cheering section including mom, dad, brothers, uncle, friends, and coaches.

Wrestling teaches plenty of life lessons including discipline, humility, and of course unity.

Much of wrestling translates to our spiritual journey. This Sunday, Will Boroughs will continue our sermon series through Philippians by focusing on Philippians 2:1-11. Together, we will discover that Jesus has done the heavy lifting for us and as God of the universe humbled Himself…veiled His glory, so that He could live among us and die for us.

Knowing that we absolutely need Jesus is humbling and unifying and offers us hope for this life and eternity. And I’m very grateful that when it comes to our spiritual warfare, Jesus has already stepped in for us…

I look forward to seeing you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great weekend,
Troy

Significance….

Super Bowl LVIII will be held on Sunday, February 11, 2024. This will be a game between the two best football teams in the world (at least at the time 😊).

If you are a Chiefs fan, you are hoping we can get a win this week and next week in our attempt to “Run it Back!”

What do you think? Will we get there again?

Only five teams have ever won two Super Bowls in a row…and if we can win again this year we would be the 6^th team to pull it off.

Our New Life community is blessed to have one of the players, #83 Noah Gray as a part of our church. He was baptized a few years ago and is a committed follower of Jesus.

I am sure he would tell you that playing in front of millions of people and winning the Super Bowl is significant. However, I believe he would also tell you that knowing Jesus personally is even more significant.

A few weeks ago, he stopped by the church for a Good Dad’s Christmas event. He took pics and signed autographs, but first, he testified that Jesus Christ is his Lord and Savior.

Knowing Jesus is the most significant relationship we can have.

This Sunday, I look forward to sharing a sermon entitled, “Honoring Christ: A Significant Life from our series in Philippians, The Good Life of Christ.

The Apostle Paul had many experiences and had spent his life serving Jesus. While he was writing from prison in Rome, he shared one of the most significant verses in the book, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

No matter what you do for a living, who you know or what you have accomplished one thing is true….significance will ultimately be found in Christ.

I look forward to seeing you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

I hope you stay warm and have a great weekend,
Troy

Adversity…

About five years ago, we took a family trip through Birmingham AL for a wedding.  

It’s amazing how much kids can grow in 5 years!

I was reminded of some historical sites we visited while we were in Birmingham. We decided to take a walk through Kelly Ingram Park. We took pics of the kids by the statues of the police dogs that had been let loose during protests. There were also statues of the firehoses that had been used to hold back young children and their parents from protesting for civil rights.

Simply walking in a place that at one time was full of violence and confusion, was sobering.

We went across the street to the 16^th Street Baptist church where the peaceful demonstrations had been organized. This church had been bombed by the KKK in another attempt to scare off the protestors.

The protestors were simply calling for equal treatment for all people from any race.

This statement of equality was first made by God Almighty in Genesis 1:27 where it is written, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female He created them.”

The fact that we are made in the image of God reveals that every human being is equal in His sight. Unfortunately, not everyone has always agreed.

However brave people led by Martin Luther King Jr. believed we have God-given equal rights.

The ministry of MLK Jr. was not easy.

It was full of adversity.

But it was worth it.

This Sunday, I look forward to sharing a sermon about “Ministry Life” from Philippians 1:12-18 as a part of our sermon series, “The Good Life of Christ.” The Apostle Paul knew firsthand what it was like to endure adversity for the sake of the Gospel and he offers some great advice and inspiration for our own journey.

I look forward to seeing you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

I hope you stay warm and have a great weekend,
Troy

P.S. The Women’s breakfast and panel discussion on prayer has been canceled for tomorrow due to the weather.
P.P.S. We would love to help with some RESOURCES for your quiet time with God.

Family, food and fun…

Today we are headed back to Kansas City after spending several days with family to begin 2024 in Florida. We loved soaking in some sunshine and warmer weather while relaxing and spending time together.

We had plenty of highlights that included great food, good movies, wildlife, and…our favorite, the beach. There is something pretty invigorating about feeling the sun and sand, hearing the waves, and seeing the expanse of God’s creation.

Speaking of creation, we were able to see sand cranes and seagulls, a stingray (it was dead, but we still saw it), sponges and jellyfish, and several deer, and dolphins close up in the wild. We even had a dolphin follow our boat for several minutes…which was a first-time experience for us and it was AWESOME!!!

The deer weren’t quite as extraordinary as the dolphin, but they were plenty fun to watch and also taught some lessons along the way…no, I didn’t get too close or anything crazy.

One morning was especially memorable…while Ian was in the pool, I counted 12 deer that walked right up within a few feet. They are pretty tame since they are fed corn every day, but still, it’s entertaining to see wild animals up close. As the deer approached their breakfast, there were a few that stayed back to keep an eye on things…if you had watched the golfers out there you might know why 😊. In addition to the security deer, the older deer waited for the younger deer to get their food before going in themselves.

While observing the deer and the dolphin, we wondered out loud if the animals could communicate and what it would be like to listen to their conversations.

Although, we may never know for certain about the animal’s communication skills, their commitment to community is obvious.

God made them this way!

And He has made us for community too. This Sunday, Pastor Dave will be sharing the first sermon in our series through Philippians, “The Good Life of Christ” with a sermon entitled, “Gospel partnerships: Our community and its cause” from Philippians 1:1-11.

As we prepare together for our best year yet in 2024, I look forward to each of us building our community centered on the Gospel of Jesus, prayer, and personal investments of time and resources into each other.

I look forward to seeing you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

I hope you stay warm and have a great weekend,
Troy
P.S. We would love to help with some RESOURCES for your quiet time with God.
P.P.S. We would love for you to pray with us about what God might have you invest in our BEYOND BUILDING CAMPAIGN.

Hang on or hang up…

A few minutes ago, I was putting some final touches on my sermon for Sunday. I want to end our Advent Series, “Embracing Eternity” from the Psalms well.  I also want to provide some practical ways to begin 2024 as an opportunity to know Jesus and make Him known.

So after several hours of reading and learning from Psalm 77, the phone rang.

There was a hesitation on the other end, and I thought it was probably someone selling something…however, since it’s the church phone, I have to be nice 😊.

But I was wrong.

The voice on the other end said he was from Reno, NV…I then assumed he was going to ask for money for a bus ticket out here to KC…

Wrong again.

He told me about a nephew who was struggling with life here in KC and needed some help. The more details he shared with me, the more I softened.

It was at this point, that the Scriptures I had been studying began to break through the walls I had built from many people attempting to take advantage of the church by asking for money over the phone.

As we neared the end of the phone call, the guy on the other end of the phone told me he wasn’t very religious, but he figured a church would be the best place to turn with problems.

When I heard this I was rebuked for my skeptical thoughts and grateful I hadn’t verbalized what I had been thinking. He assured me he would call his nephew next and ask him to attend church on Sunday. I told him we were here to help.

Then God led me to ask him if I could pray with him over the phone. He replied, “Sure I can always use prayer.” After I prayed we said our goodbyes and then I realized, “God had me here at the church to answer this call to offer hope and encouragement through Jesus Christ.”

As I look ahead to the sermon for Sunday, I believe God has plenty of opportunities for you and me to share hope through the Gospel in 2024. Imagine if each of us took just one opportunity a day to offer hope or share encouragement…I believe Paul was right when he wrote, “But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Cor. 2:9)

I am looking forward to seeing everyone on Sunday, but I’m really looking forward to all God has planned for 2024.

I hope to see you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Happy New Year,
Troy
P.S. I would love for you to check out our Beyond Campaign.

Favorite Traditions…

Christmas is a time for favorite traditions.

If you are like me, you probably have some favorite Christmas songs (Gloria in Excelsis Deo-sung loudly in my best dad voice 😊)

…favorite Christmas movies (Die Hard J/K 😊…It’s a Wonderful Life)

…favorite Christmas sweaters (anything quarter zip)

…favorite Christmas food (fonduing on Christmas Eve)

…favorite Christmas stories (skating till after the stores closed and eating Christmas Eve Dinner at Carrabba’s…instead of fonduing)

…favorite Christmas memories (anytime we are all together playing games or watching movies by the fire)

…favorite Christmas services (don’t forget we are gathering on Christmas Eve for our candlelight services at 5:00 & 7:00pm 😊)

But Christmas is more than favorite traditions. Christmas is also a time to give and receive gifts as expressions of our love.

As a kid, I remember looking through the Montgomery Ward Catalog and dreaming about toys I might get. However, as I grew older, I began to enjoy giving as much or more than receiving gifts.

Now, my favorite part of Christmas is finding out the gifts Leigh-Ann and I gave the kids when they open them 😊 IYKYK.

Whether we are building traditions, spending time with loved ones or giving gifts, Christmas is a time to express our love.

But what is love?

Is love something we can purchase and give away? Of course not. Is love a warm, fuzzy feeling? No. Is love an ongoing tradition? Not exactly.

Love is an unconditional, sacrificial, and selfless choice, that seeks the best for others, regardless of the personal benefit.

The greatest example of love is Jesus in a manger who lived to die on the cross. And this love must be received before it can be given.

This Sunday we will study the love of Jesus as described in Psalm 76 to those people who were living in exile. This same love that was expressed in the manger of Bethlehem and the cross on Golgotha is offered to us today.

There is so much more to discuss, I hope to see you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Merry Christmas,
Troy

Solo…

This past week, we were able to attend the elementary Christmas program at Isaiah and Ian’s school.

To be honest, after five kids, the elementary program is typically one of my least favorite things to do…don’t judge me (because Pastor Don is preaching about judgment and joy this Sunday 😊).

This time, however, I was really looking forward to the program because Ian was given a solo. A few months ago, he came home and announced he was going to try out for a solo. I nodded and kept eating dinner without much thought.

Then a few weeks later, he came home and told us he was selected for the solo.

Ok!

And for the past several weeks, we have been able to listen to him practice (such a blessing 😊). He also knew exactly what he wanted to wear, so Leigh-Ann ordered his wardrobe.

This man was looking good!

The evening arrived and we found our seats. All six of us pulled out our phones to record and remember Ian’s first solo. I think we were more nervous than he was…

We watched song after song starting with kindergarten…and finally, we got to the fifth graders…and then the song that included Ian’s solo.

Ian knocked it out of the park…he was awesome. And while he was singing, I looked down the row and every single one of us family members had our arms outstretched taking photos and videos.

When he finished, I wanted to let out a joyful “Let’s Goooooooooooooooooo!!!!!”

Whether it is a solo, a challenge, or even our spiritual lives, when we are put to a test and then pass with flying colors, we experience the joy that can be hard to describe.

This Sunday, we continue our Advent sermon series through Asaph’s Psalms with a closer look at Psalm 75. Pastor Don will be offering a sermon that shows us despite judgment, God’s eternal provision brings joy.

Whether the tough times are now or back during the time of Jesus or even back to the exile when God’s people sang these songs, we can always look forward to our eternal joy. There is so much more to discuss, I hope to see you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great evening,
Troy

Aux….

Recently we were driving in the car, going back and forth about who gets “Aux” (the person who gets to pick the songs). In case you are wondering, everyone in our family is competitive, so “Aux” can become a dual of sorts.

There are some days when it’s a non-issue and others when it feels like a life-and-death situation. On the days when competition is fierce, there is no room for error.

A song with a “mid” beginning will get criticized immediately, then the argument is to “wait…it gets better”…and typically at the point the “aux” is forfeited.

Tough crowd!

A few days ago, we had this exact situation…it was a “sad song” and we were trying to get pumped up for a game or practice. The “aux” was stripped away and then we had a conversation about sad songs.

One of the kids made the point that most of his songs are sad…I was a little surprised, but asked why….he didn’t really know so he simply said, “I just like sad songs.”

Fair enough!

For some people sad songs are easier to relate to or sad songs might evoke feelings of nostalgia or even offer space for reflection. 

Personally, I like “happy” songs….in fact, the song “Happy” by Pharrell Williams is in my head as I write.

But life is not always happy. In fact, as we head into this Holiday Season, happiness might seem like an unattainable dream.

Happiness and sadness are a part of life. There are some days, seasons, and even years when we experience sadness and then other times when we are happy.

On the other hand, peace is available 24/7, 365 days out of the year.

This Sunday, we continue our Advent series through the Psalms of Asaph with a study of Psalm 74. This is a “sad song” it’s a lament and it carries some strong feelings. It also offers incredible hope and the promise of peace in spite of circumstances.

So, whether I get the “Aux” any time soon or not, I have been encouraged by the peace offered in Psalm 74…and that lasts forever. There is much more to share on Sunday, including some updates about our building project.

I hope to see you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great weekend and enjoy some good music,
Troy

Hope….

Welcome to the first day of December! I had a conversation with someone earlier today, and it struck me how, during this season, time seems to slip away, and suddenly Christmas is upon us.

The calendar is now brimming with Christmas programs, festive parties, and various celebratory events. Our church life is bustling with advent activities and excitement. In our household, with five children and a lively dog, the holiday season translates to a multitude of stockings to fill and gifts to exchange. Of course, there are plenty of opportunities to serve those God brings into our path.

And if this season of the year is not enough, our two youngest boys are each trying out a new sport. Isaiah is wrestling and Ian has started to learn Taekwondo.

They have wanted to try out these sports for a long time and…tis the season. 😊

Ian is attending POW Martial arts…and it has been awesome. Leigh-Ann took him to his first session and could tell from the beginning he was in his element. He loves every part of the classes and as soon as its over, can’t wait to attend again.

Isaiah has joined Greater Heights Wrestling and is also loving it. Since his first practice, he has been locked in and soaking it all up like a sponge.

These sports do more than fill up a calendar, they represent the beginning of a journey. And like any journey there will be highs and lows.

While growing in martial arts and wrestling, the boys will have some great moments…that we will likely catch on camera and post on social media. They will also experience some low points…anything from a loss to an injury could make for a pretty rough day. We will probably keep that to ourselves.

The same is true in life!

There will be times when it seems like life is going pretty smoothly….and then in an instant, it could feel hopeless.

How can you and I retain hope during the low points?

This Sunday, we begin our new Advent sermon series in the Psalms entitled, Embracing Eternity. We will study Psalm 73 where we will learn that God’s goodness offers hope.

During life’s complexities, our steadfast hope is revealed through Jesus—the humble manger-born Savior who fully embraced humanity, confronted death and lives forevermore.

As we celebrate His incarnation, we are encouraged to hang on lightly to this world and tightly to the next. In addition to the sermon, we will celebrate Advent with readings and candles in our freshly decorated auditorium.

I hope to see you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great weekend and stay warm,
Troy

Something’s missing….

Yesterday, while stuffing our faces 😊 with Thanksgiving dinner, we randomly picked “Thanksgiving conversation prompts” from a bowl and then went around the table.

My particular prompt was, “What’s the most unique or unexpected thing you’re thankful for this Thanksgiving?”

I have plenty for which to be thankful….my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Leigh-Ann, our five kids, our church family, so many incredible leaders and friends…I could go on….

But my unexpected reason for gratitude was my wallet…..

Yep, on Saturday, I noticed my wallet was missing…and not that big of a deal, but certainly an annoyance. I went to church Sunday morning and by mid-afternoon really had no need for it….but then it started to take up serious real estate in my thoughts…

I searched my brain for where it could possibly be…and then looked everywhere possible…the kitchen, our bedroom, the cars, my office….nothing….

I checked our cards online to see if it had been stolen….and then kept looking….borderline obsessing over it….

Sunday turned into Monday and then Tuesday…..nothing…I offered the kids a $40 reward for finding it….and still no wallet…

Wednesday evening, I was waiting for dinner and decided to empty out a rarely used email address that gets the voicemails for our home phone…and…when I least expected it, someone was trying to locate me because they had found my wallet.

One of our neighboring business owners found it on Sunday when he arrived for work. My wallet must have fallen out while I was helping put some trash in the dumpster on Saturday afternoon… it sat in the alley behind the church overnight….and everything is in the wallet, except for some cash….which I would have had to pay to my kids anyway 😊.

Wallets aren’t the only thing that we can lose….as I contemplate this past sermon series about becoming a missional church, I think it’s possible to lose our passion for sharing the Gospel. This Sunday, Pastor Dave is going to share a shortened sermon from Luke 6:12-19 about movements and then he and I are going to have a discussion as a part of the sermon time.

We would love to be a part of a movement God uses to bring the Gospel to Kansas City and beyond. In addition, we have a pretty fun challenge for everyone in attendance…it is related to Aaron’s New Life Story.

I hope to see you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Enjoy this time for Thanksgiving,
Troy

Teamwork makes the dream work…

I love experiencing a group of people who are unified…totally locked in with each other…moving toward a common goal…a big goal…and then experiencing a once-in-a-generation win.

Don’t you?

Consider “Miracle on Ice” the story of the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team. Coach Herb Brooks gave an incredibly inspirational speech, He said, “Great moments are born from great opportunity. And that’s what you have here, tonight, boys. That’s what you’ve earned here tonight. One game. If we played ’em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game. Not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can!”

I can almost feel that moment more than 40 years later.

A winning team is an art….there are so many dynamics:

            …selfless players
                        …clear vision
                                    …quality coaching
                                                …diverse skill sets
                                                            …an unquenchable desire to compete

This Sunday, we are continuing our sermon series, “Unwavering Resolve” and I look forward to sharing a sermon about Teams and Teamwork from 2 Corinthians 4:7-18. Within the context of the church, we are called to work together for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus.

But how do we do this? What does this mean for individuals? And who gets to define success?

Since Jesus walked the earth, the power of His life, death, and resurrection has been changing lives and preparing a team – the church – to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

And I believe God is working in mighty ways….every week we listen to a New Life Story about God at work transforming lives for His glory.

This morning I woke up to an email from a friend with a link telling the story of a Stanford University Professor, Ayaan Hirsi Ali who converted from Islam to Christianity.

The story of God at work is certainly encouraging and perhaps the most inspiring part of the story is that He has called every Christian to be a part of His team that will change the world…literally.

I hope to see you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great weekend,
Troy

Light on the horizon…

It’s been a week since we observed Daylight Savings Time.

We did get an extra hour of sleep, however, we’ve also lost an hour of daylight….every…single…day.

As we were driving home just past 6 pm today, the sky darkened as if the day had decided to clock out early. It felt like bedtime was just around the corner, and that’s when it hit me—I might not be a fan of this daylight-saving charade, but I’m determined to keep the positivity alive and the gratitude flowing.

At least we have lights and electricity…and “School of Chocolate” on Netflix….and of course the Bible and good books to read at night 😊.

Since the sun seems to be setting shortly after lunch 😊, it’s hard not to notice the horizon playing hard to get. It’s out there, looking all mysterious and unattainable, moving away and yet somehow staying in our line of sight.

Driving towards the horizon can feel overwhelming and offer optimism at the same time.

Similarly, bringing the good news of Jesus to the world may seem unattainable, like chasing the horizon, but that doesn’t mean we can’t head in the right direction and dream of the possibilities along the way.

Our calling is to simply follow Jesus, share His Gospel, and enjoy the journey. And this is possible with or without that extra hour 😊.

This Sunday, Pastor Dave is continuing our sermon series, “Unwavering Resolve,” with a message titled, “Closing the Missional Gap” from Acts 26:16-18 and Romans 15:15-22.

I hope to see you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great evening…even if it is dark,
Troy
P.S. Download our APP Here to take notes on the sermon and stay informed about upcoming events and opportunities such as the women’s gathering tomorrow morning from 9:15-10:15am.

A fresh perspective…

This past week, our second daughter, Sophia was able to fly a plane for the first time. She is a Freshman at the University of Central Missouri where she is on the soccer team and also studying to become a commercial airline pilot.

Seeing her at the controls of an airplane stirred up a few emotions…

For starters…there was some pride…the good kind that includes gratitude for a kid who has always worked hard and put God first.

I also experienced the emotion of excitement knowing that she is taking steps to become independent and as long as she completes the course, there should be some flight benefits for mom and dad 😊.

And to be honest another emotion I experienced was fear…like…it seems like only recently she was learning how to drive…and I have at least one really good story about that for another time 😊. Fortunately, she has become a really good driver and I’m sure is on her way to becoming a great pilot.

Seeing her at the controls of an airplane has also stirred up quite a bit of gratitude…

One year ago, we were still doing college visits and wondering where she would play soccer and go to school. Settling into the unknown is never easy, and the college search was no exception.

We wondered and dreamed and sometimes even worried about how this year would unfold…and looking back, it has been even better than we could have imagined.

Seeing her at the controls of an airplane also reminded me of the significance of perspective…

Life can be difficult to understand when the only perspective we get is what is in front of us…but what happens when you climb several thousand feet into the sky and look down? The roads that are marked by hills and curves actually look pretty straight. The fields that might be muddy in places and have a few weeds and thorns look almost perfectly planned out in large rectangles measured in acres.

Taking some time up in the air can be exciting….it can also provide renewal for our perspective.

This Sunday, my goal is to take each of us up in the air….not in a plane of course, but in a spiritual tour of our relationship with God. We will continue our sermon series, “Unwavering Resolve: The commitments of a missional church” with a sermon from Philippians 2:1-11 entitled, Vertical: Matters of the Heart.

Ultimately, my prayer is that we get a better perspective of God and His glory and as a result experience a spiritual humbling of ourselves.

I hope to see you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great weekend,
Troy
P.S. Download our APP Here to take notes on the sermon and stay informed about upcoming events and opportunities.

Unfair evaluation….

A few days ago, I was able to take our two youngest boys to Shelter KC to share in the evening chapel service. When possible, I love to include our kids in service opportunities, so the plan was to interview them about school, favorite things, and even their future goals.

After interviewing the boys, I planned to share a short sermon about having a healthy vision for the future from Ephesians 3 and 4.

The hook was if they behaved and did well, we would order something from Sonic on the way home.

Everything went great….The boys were friendly and spoke clearly. They offered good answers and the men seemed to love hearing from the kids. I delivered my short sermon 😊 and almost everyone stayed awake.

We were having so much fun, I almost lost track of time….but fortunately, we ended just in the nick of time.

Afterwards, the guys came up and asked questions about the sermon and even where our church was located. We bumped fists and shook hands for several minutes.

Then we got in the car, pulled up the app and ordered our “Sonic Blasts” and drove to pick them up.

Just as we were turning into Sonic, Ian, our youngest mentioned that he had filled out an evaluation. I was immediately curious….

What evaluation? And what score did you give?

There was an electronic kiosk for the men to provide an evaluation for the chapel service and Ian had filled it out.

“Did you know your scores are your rating of me,” I asked?

“Yeah.”

😊…” bro…how did you rank it?”

“Some 3’s some 4’s and some 5’s.”

Well to make a long story short, it all worked out ok, he gave the speaking portion of chapel high scores at least 😊 and I told him before he fills out another evaluation to at least let me know next time.

This Sunday, Pastor Dave is going to continue our sermon series, “Unwavering Resolve” with a sermon about ‘Change-Agent Leadership.” Although Ian’s survey might be a sort of change agent, there are much better ways to influence people to grow as Christian Leaders. If you would like to prepare your heart in advance, you can read Nehemiah 1-3 to familiarize yourself with the Scripture.

Also, in case you’re wondering, there won’t be any evaluation forms for the New Life services in the near future, I don’t know if I can trust my kids 😊.

 I hope to see you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great weekend,
Troy
P.S. Download our APP Here to take notes on the sermon and stay informed about upcoming events and opportunities.

It all started in the middle seat….

Nearly fifteen years ago, I met Dave Robinson. We had been invited to talk about combining forces for a prayer meeting in downtown Kansas City.

The meeting went ok but our ideas never really went anywhere….

Until….About a year later…

I got a “random” call from Dave, who was a pastor in Leawood, KS and he was looking for a downtown church where his church could offer a VBS program…of course, we would love to work together! 

This time it went somewhere…

While we were meeting, I remembered Dave telling me he and Karen had been missionaries and had lived in Budapest for eighteen years.

Strangely enough, several months before we planted New Life, I had been stuck in the back of an airplane – middle seat – with a guy from Budapest who had planted a church in the city. He shared about the diverse group of people and city-wide partnerships and it sounded just like the church we were hoping New Life CityChurch would become.

After we arrived back in Kansas City, we shared the conversation with Brad and much of the passion and strategy behind a church in Budapest with our core group for NLCC.

As all this was racing through my mind, I decided to ask Dave if by chance he had ever met a guy named Brad Mullet or heard of a church plant downtown Budapest…he smiled and went on to tell me he had led a team that had planted a church in Budapest together.

What are the chances that God would connect a church downtown Budapest with a church plant in Kansas City and Dave and I would be having a conversation about ministry in the city….it had to be God!

There is way too much to share in this email, however, Pastor Dave has just had a book published entitled, “Unwavering Resolve” about many of the leadership lessons he has learned throughout his decades in ministry.

We have decided to use the book as a guide for this next sermon series, “Unwavering Resolve: Commitments of a Missional Church.” This Sunday I will introduce the series with an introductory sermon on leadership from Ephesians 4:11-16.

In case you are wondering, we had a great time with the VBS, Leigh-Ann and I have been to Budapest to see so many people whose lives have been transformed through the Gospel ministry of Dave and Karen, and now we get to serve regularly through New Life and beyond.

There is so much more to share and over the next six weeks, we look forward to plenty of stories and lessons learned along the way. I can’t wait to get started this Sunday.

Have a great weekend,
Troy

Bundle up…

We are in a seasonal sweet spot! Fall is my favorite time of the year.

Sweatshirts and pumpkin spice lattes. Football and Hot Apple Cider and Bonfires. It seems like only recently that we were navigating 100 + degree heat indexes. And I hate to say it, but within a short time, we will be braving snow and ice…warming up our cars and scraping windshields.

Changing seasons can influence our wardrobe and coffee shop orders…it can even influence the time we set aside to get ready for the day.

When the weather is hot, we throw on a T-shirt and shorts and head out to our next activity. When the weather is cold, we need to think more about the layers we are going to wear and bring along.

And the more extreme the conditions around us, the more we need to prepare for it. I grew up in St. Cloud MN and the weather there can be pretty extreme.

I remember braving windchill factors colder than 40 below zero. Can you imagine going out there in a T-shirt and shorts? Not a chance. We bundled every part of our body up and quickly walked from the house to the car that had been running for 15 minutes.

An extreme environment demands extreme preparation.

This is true with the weather and it is also true with our spiritual journey…We live in an environment of extremes. And we need to be prepared.

This Sunday, we finish up our sermon series in Ezra. In the final two chapters, we will learn that the exiles who returned back to Jerusalem from Babylon quickly adopted the sinful practices of their surrounding people groups.

And this was the story of God’s people. A repeating cycle of leaders rising up as influencers for God … and then suffocating influence from the people around them.

I look forward to sharing a sermon from Ezra 9-10 with a challenge to be an influence for God and not be influenced by the world.

I hope to see you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great weekend, you might need to prepare for at least 2 maybe 3 seasons 😊,
Troy

Trust…

This week, Leigh-Ann and I reached a new milestone in life…our oldest daughter turned 22.

It seems like just yesterday that we were at St. Mary’s Hospital for her birth. It was certainly not easy…(I had to hold Leigh-Ann’s hand and make sure she had enough water J) but eventually our first baby was born.

I have to say, Alexa has been a huge blessing. She loves Jesus, is a great older sibling, is incredibly talented and beautiful and smart. I may be a bit biased, but she really is a good kid…except for the time when she stood up to us in front of company at age three…or the time she threw a fit in JC Penney and I had to leave the cart and deal with her.

We have created memories on vacations, on the soccer field, on movie nights at home, and on random experiences with vehicles and certain people.

As her parents, we are absolutely in her corner. When she gets a good grade or has a special opportunity, we feel her excitement. When she has a struggle, we want to take it for her. We are incredibly grateful for the woman God is helping her to become.

Although our relationship is not always easy and certainly not perfect, over the course of our lives, we have grown to trust love, and support each other.

Trust is vital for a successful relationship.

This Sunday, I look forward to continuing our sermon series “Reclaimed Faith” with a sermon from Ezra 8. During this part of the book, we are introduced to Ezra taking a few thousand of his closest friends on a 1,000-mile trip through the wilderness from Babylon to Jerusalem.

But it was an even bigger undertaking than guiding people to move a thousand miles back home…they were carrying millions of dollars worth of gold and silver.

They absolutely needed to trust each other….but even more importantly, they learned to trust God.

How did they achieve this level of trust in God and each other?

The good hand of the Lord was upon them…and in case you are interested, the good hand of the Lord can be on you too.

For the rest, you’ll have to come on Sunday 😊.

I hope to see you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great weekend,
Troy

Memory lane even has a slide…

Have you ever gone back and visited a place where you built fond memories and when you arrived….it was much smaller than you remembered?

This past summer our family took a ride East on I-70 out to a playground where the kids played starting as toddlers. Before arriving, they each “remembered” what the playground was like, but after seeing it firsthand, they were surprised that it seemed much smaller than they remembered.

There was a climbing wall and a webbed rope in addition to the traditional slides…and they shared stories about how scary the wall was from the top when they were young. To be honest, it’s a bit freaky to hear your kids talk about when they were young…😊.

Like it or not, kids are going to grow up….and growth is a good thing…but it is even better if we learn to reflect back on the process of growth.

Sometimes we get so forward-thinking that we can forget about where we’ve come from…this can happen in our physical growth throughout childhood and beyond, but it can also happen spiritually.

There are times when we might become discouraged with what seems to be a lack of progress, however, upon reflection, we will recognize God really has done an important work in our lives.

The importance of gratitude cannot be overstated!

This Sunday, Pastor Jeff will be sharing a sermon from Ezra 7 about the importance of reclaiming our gratitude. He will introduce Ezra who came into leadership about sixty years after the events of Ezra 6. Not only will we see him build into the community, but we will be reminded to reflect on how far God has brought us and the importance of gratitude for the journey.

I hope to see you on Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

See you soon,
Troy

Gel blasters…

Our boys have discovered one of the greatest toy inventions of the decade!

It’s not a fidget spinner or Nintendo Switch….it’s not Razor Scooter and its not stuffed….they have discovered Gel blaster guns.

These Gel blaster guns fire small, gel balls as ammo. These balls are made of water-absorbent polymer materials. When soaked in water, they expand in size and become soft and squishy.

Here is the magic….you can buy 100,000 gel balls for $10. You put a small amount into a bowl, add water and pretty soon they are expanded into gel balls and ready for battle.

There are plenty of games to play with these gel blasters, but we’ve been playing capture the flag. Two people hide a flag in the front yard and two hide a flag in the back yard. The goal is to find the flag and get into the house.

If you get hit, you have to stop for 10 seconds.

Talk about intensity….even though the gel balls are not dangerous at all, the level of competition would make you wonder if its life and death.

At times, the flags are forgotten and the activity shifts to the gel blaster gun battle….and then someone refuses to “admit the hit.”

The point of these toys is to have fun….but to be honest, plenty of arguments have been started, tears have been shed and punches have been thrown…..not by me if you’re wondering 😊.

Shifting perspective can happen with gel blasters…but it can also happen with our faith. This Sunday, I look forward to continuing our sermon series through Ezra with a study from Ezra 5-6 about reclaimed perspective.

Opposition had grown…it seemed like God had gone silent…and the people lost their passion for the altar and the Temple….for more than 15 years…shifting perspective…instead of serving God, the people become obsessed with their own houses. Instead of serving God, the people who had returned from exile were serving themselves.

Ever been here?

Ultimately, God sent two prophets to help the people reclaim their perspective. And for you and I, God is still active and ready to help us reclaim our perspective.

I hope to see you on Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

See you soon,
Troy

Joy with a side of disappointment…

Yogi Berra, the author of some of my favorite quotes had a way of stating the obvious….obviously!
He was born in St. Louis and grew up in a working-class neighborhood. He loved baseball and became one of the best catchers ever. He was a 15-time all-star and a 10-time World Series winner.
Although many know of him as a world-class catcher, he might be even better known for his Yogi-isms such as:
“It ain’t over till it’s over.”
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
And maybe my favorite….“If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.”
I was reminded of these deep lessons 🙂 about finding our sense of purpose this past Wednesday when Alexa invited her college soccer team over to our house for dinner after playing Avila. We had a full house and everyone left with full tummies, however, it was a tough day. And it’s been a tough career. To her credit, Alexa has always been one of the hardest workers and toughest players. Win or lose she can hold her head high because she has consistently maintained her character.

Of course, as a senior, she would love to go undefeated and win the national tournament, but that is not likely even though, “It ain’t over till it’s over.” 😊
Life can be like this…as much as we desire to win…win…win…we have each had plenty of losses and tough times. We know what it’s like to deal with missed expectations and misunderstandings. To deal with disappointment and struggle.
Despite this reality, we can live with joy.
This Sunday, we continue our series through Ezra with a sermon entitled, “We can reclaim our joy even when God allows disappointment” from Ezra 3-4. In a nutshell, they experience incredible success and then are misunderstood by the older generation and then face all-out opposition until finally, God gives them a breakthrough.
If you need some joy injected back into a life marked by disappointment, I hope to see you Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.
See you soon,
Troy

It’s Baaaack….

About three months ago, I opened the garage door bright and early on a Sunday morning…and noticed something was different…but not sure what it was…

…it took a few seconds….and then I realized there was a pedal bike just outside the garage…

I thought that was weird and a bit creepy….

And then I realized I had left out one of our Scooters the night before….at the time we had more drivers than cars and I had started using a Scooter to get to and from New Life.

And someone had the nerve to not only steal the scooter but trade it for their junky bike…

UGHHHHH

So, I left the junky bike where it was and left for church…

And when I got home….the junky bike was gone too…and even worse, none of this action was recorded on our ring camera.

Can you relate to the feeling of someone taking advantage of you by stealing?

If you are like me, when something is taken, you want it back….NOW. And we want some sort of justice for the inconvenience.

I started looking downtown for an abandoned Scooter, halfway expecting it to show up… then a few weeks passed and I nearly forgot about it.

And then just over a month ago, I received a text…from my friend who sold me the scooter….“I found your Vespa” It had shown up in an auction from a tow lot….

He was kind enough to make a bid on the Scooter and WE WON!

So, after all that, we got our scooter back. So, watch out it could be me honking my horn at you if you’re out for a walk downtown 😊.

This Sunday, we begin a new sermon series through the book of Ezra entitled, “Reclaimed Faith.” Our faith is so much more significant than a scooter…and if your faith has been at risk, this is a great series to attend.

God had promised Israel success and prosperity if they obeyed Him. But they didn’t! As a result, they were taken into exile, their land and property were taken and many lives were destroyed. Despite the loss, God was at work to offer hope joy, and perspective.

This week I look forward to teaching about the exile and also digging into Ezra 1-2. We will conclude we can reclaim hope because God is faithful.

I hope to see you Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

See you soon,
Troy

Sometimes we do need to sweat the small stuff…

Earlier this week our oldest daughter, Alexa came home to shadow a physician as a part of her preparation for the future. She left right after an early morning soccer practice and drove home. Her tire light had just come on, so I wanted to get her tires checked.

At first, the mechanic decided the loss of pressure was minimal and was likely due to changes in temperature. I told him my daughter was away at school and I don’t really trust her diagnostic skills when it comes to a car…a human? Yes…but not a car 😊.

The mechanic asked me to turn the tires one last time and slowly back up…

…and then he noticed a shiny dot which turned out to be a screw that had worked its way into the tire.

After that, he took a closer look at the back tire and noticed it had a rough patch on the rim that had not sealed perfectly and was also leaking out air slowly.

Needless to say, he fixed both tires, I filled her tank with gas and she is set until Thanksgiving….although I hope she comes home before then (that’s for her if she’s reading this 😊).

There are times when the circumstances of life begin to reveal the potential danger ahead. It may not be obvious…and if you are like me, these initial warning signs can be more convenient to ignore than to diagnose.

The leaky tires of life can be a relationship that is not quite as close as it once was…or shifting desires…or even a changing perspective.

Most often our warning signs can be traced back to a weakened or damaged relationship with God. Perhaps we have ignored the conviction of the Holy Spirit or disregarded the directives found in the Scriptures.

When this happens, we need to take some time to look deeper into what might be the cause. It could be a random threat (similar to the screw in the tire) or it could be a maintenance issue with our spiritual life (similar to the rough rim).

If you’ve noticed some leaky tires in your spiritual life, this final sermon in our series, “God: Up Close and Personal” could be just what you need. Pastor Don will be sharing a sermon from Genesis 32:24-30 about the Patriarch Jacob and the truth that God wrestles with us in our passions.” He will challenge our prayer life, personal accountability and our attitude in order to help us receive necessary change from the Lord.

I hope to see you Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great weekend,
Troy

That’s fair…

Last week, I got to take Isaiah out of town for some 1 on 1 time. With five kids it can be tough to offer individual attention to our children, however, we know it’s important, so Leigh-Ann and I do our best to make it a priority.

Family activities are a way to show love to everyone…but there is something significant about making time for our individual kids.

We ate dinner at Isaiah’s favorite…McDonalds 😊, stayed in a hotel, and then visited the Missouri State Fair.

We really didn’t know what to expect at the fair…It has been decades since I’ve been to a fair and neither Isaiah nor I had been to the Missouri State Fair.

We walked the barns, watched some pig racing (pretty cringe in his words 😊), he got spun around in the carnival, rode a bull, toured the 4-H buildings, and ended with a magic show. It felt like we walked several miles and by the end of the day, we were ready to sit down in some AC.

The fair was a good experience but not his favorite. It was pretty hot and also pretty far out of his comfort zone.

However, the time together was priceless.

Spending time eating and exploring helped us grow closer together. And even though there are many ways to show love for our children, taking time to go out of town seems to work well.

When it comes to God’s love, how does He show it?

Of course, we experience God’s love in His creation and provision. We certainly feel God’s love every time we reflect on the Gospel or read the Scriptures. However, on rare occasions in Scripture, God shows His love through personal dreams.

This Sunday, we are going to discover that God showed his love to Joseph through six dreams. This will be the 7th of 8 weeks in the series, “God: Up Close and Personal.” We will survey several verses from Genesis 37-50 as we get a broad picture of God’s sovereign love from the life of Joseph, and we will get an intimate picture of God’s personal love for Joseph through his dreams.

You might wonder if God still reveals Himself through dreams today…you have to come to find out 😊.

Have a great evening,
Troy

Sprayed…

This rain has been great, but it’s also creating more work. I would much rather look at green grass but brown grass requires less maintenance 😊.

This past Monday, Ian was helping me mow the back yard and I was using the Weed Wacker. I am particular about the edges and love to make them look crisp, just like a nice fade for a haircut.

I also love to look at the lawn after it’s completed…it brings me joy!

While I was cleaning up some weeds and tall grass around our apple trees, I accidentally hit a rotten apple hiding in the grass.

And I got sprayed!

The over-ripe juices blasted me…all over. I could feel the wetness on my legs and arms…but I could see it on my glasses.

In fact, the juice splattered my glasses so much, I had to stop and wipe them off with my sleeve. This pic is after the initial cleaning, but you can still see some of the apple debris.

And then I got to thinking about how something similar can happen in life. You and I may have an unexpected interaction with rotten people (those with a bad attitude about life) and it can affect us more than we know.

It can alter our ability to see clearly. This can affect not only our perspective but can also be dangerous for our faith.

This Sunday, Pastor Dave will continue our series, “God: Up close and personal” with a sermon from the life of Abraham entitled, “Abraham: God is faithful to keep His promises” from Genesis 12:1-3 and 17:1-8. I know he will share some practical advice about how to focus and renew our faith when our perspective gets sprayed with debris.

I hope you have a great weekend, and I look forward to seeing you soon,
Troy
P.S. In case you haven’t had a chance yet, you can DOWNLOAD OUR NEW APP HERE.

Time flies…

Last Saturday evening, I was waiting for one of the boy’s soccer games to begin and was watching some really young girls play, but I couldn’t stop watching the parents.

It was entertaining to see what appeared to be first-time parents and grandparents cheering on their young athletes. I heard one dad talking about his kid who scored two in an earlier game…as if it was totally expected. And when their team scored the go-ahead near the end of the game, it felt like confirmation of something they had known for a while now….their kid is going pro.

😊

There was a part of me that wanted to scoff…and yet another part of me that totally related to the optimism that is so common when kids are young. It seems like yesterday our oldest kids were learning how to tie their shoes and kick a ball…however this past week, we dropped them both off at college.



Where has the time gone?

Talk about mixed emotions….we are super happy for them to pursue their dreams and continue their education….but we miss them. We know they have to grow up, but do they have to grow so fast?

The girls have had plenty of great accomplishments, but they have also had their share of disappointments. Dreams and ambitions, struggles and pain, laughter and tears…life is not always fair…or predictable…life can be great, but life is tough.

Even though our life is incredibly blessed, we have been through confusion and pain, and moments of vulnerability. No matter what, God has never lost sight of us.

This Sunday, I look forward to continuing our sermon series, “God up close and personal” by looking closely at what God said to Hagar in Genesis 16. It was so good, that she not only named God, “the God who sees” but she also worshipped Him while experiencing incredible injustice. The story of Hagar teaches us, God sees us and hears us and meets us.

Even though our life seems pretty smooth and happy compared to the pain and injustice Hagar endured, I still need to be reminded of God’s love while missing my kids.

I hope to see you Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great weekend,
Troy

Leap of faith…

Several weeks ago, while on vacation, most of our family took a leap of faith. For more than a decade while vacationing on Table Rock Lake, we have watched people jump off a cliff. And for more than a decade, we have said we wanted to try that sometime.

Well, we finally had enough “some times” and made it a “this time.”

After a full day of tubing and swimming, we made our way over toward the cliff…and as soon as the boat slowed down, the kids started to jump off and swim over to land one by one. After a few minutes, I followed them over there motivated by a mix of curiosity and pride and an attempt to stay young.

In the time it took to pull myself out of the water and climb up the rocks, it seemed like the cliff grew significantly.

The cliff seems a lot larger looking down from the top than looking up from the bottom…I must admit, I had a few butterflies in my stomach, but my pride was stronger.

As I stood on the top, for only a few seconds, I reminded myself I just needed to hold my breath and jump…. also I reminded myself if I didn’t jump, I would never hear the end of it from my kids since all 5 had already jumped.

Deep breathe…jump….flapping arms…SPLASH!!!!!

And that was it….in fact, it was so fun, I did it again 😊.

Before I jumped or encouraged my kids to jump, I made sure it was safe…everyone under 18 had to wear a life jacket…and after evaluating the potential dangers, we jumped. It took faith, but it was also a sensible decision….and worth it, I might add 😊.

This Sunday, Pastor Don will be sharing a sermon about God’s interaction with Noah from Genesis 6:5-8, in our sermon series, “God, up close and personal.” While sharing the story of Noah and the Ark, he will be addressing the perspectives of judgment and redemption.

Although Noah didn’t jump off the Ark, at least as far as we know 😊, he did need to take a considerable leap of faith in order to spend decades building the Ark. There is much more Pastor Don will share on this topic along with a few great stories.

Additionally, this Sunday, we are celebrating Baptism at Lake Quivira. Similarly, many will be proclaiming their personal faith by following the Lord in water baptism. If you are interested in participating in the baptism or celebrating with your church fam, make sure to Sign Up Here.

I can hardly wait for Sunday to arrive, see you soon!
Troy

Livin’ on mission…

Over the past few days about 20-25 teens and leaders have been living at New Life, serving the city, eating a lot, and sleeping a little.

Several years ago our church began the tradition of serving right where we live. I love international mission trips and the experiences provided by extended travel (our oldest is in New Zealand now), but at the same time, it seems to make sense to partner with some of the awesome ministries right in KCMO.

Over the past few days this amazing crew has partnered with Freedom Fire Ministries, the Hope Center, the Carousel, Healing House, Downtown Development Daycare, Lincoln Prep Academy (you might recognize a few faces on this one 😊) as well as individuals needing help.

They have studied their Bible, had deep discussions, and played games like mafia and sarcasm.

I have loved hearing them come in and out of the church building….well kind of…they are pretty loud 😊. I want to say their energy is contagious, but I’m still tired just hearing about their day…

One thing I have noticed is that the more time they spend together, the more comfortable they become with each other.

The first evening was pretty calm…but now, after 48 hours…the inhibitions are gone….I hear a lot of laughter….and conversation…and chatter…and laughter…it just feels good.

It is significant that the more time you spend with others, the more you get to know them AND when you are a part of a mission bigger than one individual, there is an incredible sense of unity and camaraderie.

This Sunday, we continue our sermon series, “God: Up Close and Personal.” Often throughout Scripture, God reveals Himself to individuals. So, we are going to study the unique perspectives these interactions reveal. Sunday we will study God’s interaction with Adam from Genesis 2:15-17 and 3:9 where He outlines His boundaries.

Similar to the kids, when you get to know God better, you become more comfortable in your relationship with Him. There is much more to uncover, so I hope to see you on Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great evening,
Troy

24 Miles…

This morning at 7 am, our kids and two of their cousins started a challenge….run 1 mile an hour for 24 hours. So far, as I write, the core of the group is up to 11 miles and counting….

Based on their current level of commitment, I am pretty confident at least a quorum will survive till the end and travel a total of 24 miles by foot.

In case you’re wondering, I haven’t run it with them, but I’m hoping to join them this evening for a few miles, then as we look back in the future, we can say we all did it together 😊.

Over the past few weeks as the kids have been prepping for this challenge, we talked about the intimidating distance of 24 miles. From where I sit in my office at New Life CityChurch now, 24 miles would get them out to 159^th Street in Olathe if they ran south or past the airport if they ran North.

I’m pretty sure each of my kids would have thought that distance would be impossible to run today….and I would have agreed with them.

However, breaking it down into smaller portions per hour makes something that would have seemed impossible become possible.

You will have to come on Sunday to hear about whether or not they made it the entire 24 miles…I’ll slide it into my sermon somewhere 😊.

More importantly, we are going to begin a new series introducing or re-introducing God entitled, “God, up close and personal.” Like the kids running, we are going to break our study of God into manageable pieces. 

Similar to a 24-mile run, getting to know God might seem like a nearly impossible pursuit. God has revealed His character and nature along with His personality and passions. God has made it clear He is infinite and transcendent and at the same time, He is present and relational.

I believe if you and I spent the rest of our lives getting to know God, we would still have a long ways to go….at the same time, we can get started or keep going (depending on where you are in your spiritual journey) now and start making progress on this journey to know God up close and personal.

This Sunday, I plan to lay a foundation for knowing God with a sermon from Jeremiah 9:23-24, John 1:14, and John 17:1-3 entitled, “God has revealed Himself.”

I look forward to seeing you for our Sunday service at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great weekend,
Troy

Putt Putt…

Over the past few years, our family has started a tradition of mini-golfing while on vacation. We love the challenge of putting the golf ball around obstacles, through tight spots, up and down hills, and if we are persistent into the hole.

You might know that we are a very competitive family and we have had to improvise in order to keep our vacations relaxing and not stressful.

So, in order to keep it fun, we play “best ball” on the putt-putt course. Each person partners up….and in order to keep it fair, we randomly select our teams.

As far as the game itself, we each have our good shots and then plenty of not-so-good shots.

If you have played mini-golf, you know how it feels to miss it badly…. it’s a feeling that is a combo of frustration and “hurry and play again in order to make it better” (I’ve named a new emotion 😊).

You also might know how it feels to get a hole-in-one…you know…you hit the ball and after it rolls a few seconds, you get a quick thought that it could be a hole-in-one…and then you doubt yourself…and then….

IT GOES IN!!!!!

And if you are like any of us….you jump…shout…and run to pick the ball out of the hole.

Then you pause for a few seconds to enjoy the moment.

The memory of a good putt is what gives me the desire and confidence to keep on playing.

This Sunday, I look forward to sharing the final sermon in our series from Galatians. We will be talking about the feeling you and I get when we sink a putt….this is a word that describes how we get “the confidence to keep going or to charge ahead.”

The particular word is “boast” and its found in Galatians 6:14, “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul wrote this entire book to tell his close friends in Galatia who had reverted to finding confidence in religion that only the cross of Jesus gives us the confidence to charge ahead in life.

So what gives you the confidence to charge ahead in life? If it’s a hole-in-one….you really need to come on Sunday 😊.

I look forward to sharing more about boasting in Christ from Galatians 6:11-18, at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great weekend and enjoy this cool weather,
Troy

Genius Dad Move…

For the past several days our family has been on vacation in Branson, MO and we’ve actually enjoyed the hot, steamy weather because we’ve spent most of our time at one of the pools or on the lazy river.

And when we were not in the water, we were reading, canoeing, playing mini-golf, or eating good food.

Very relaxing….

Yesterday, while we were on a lazy river marathon, four people jumped in ahead of us. It was a dad, two teenage sons, and a teenage daughter. Before the first corner, the daughter had started splashing her brothers…as a parent of five kids, I knew where this was headed…..immediately.

Only a short distance passed and ultimatums were offered….and then it happened…the older brother upended his sister’s tube, tossing his sibling into the water and her tube off to the side.

The only thing our entire family missing was popcorn….things were about to get interesting for sure 😊.

The dad was a Type A and it was obvious to us, his kids were each pretty athletic. Right after the tipping incident, in a deep voice, he shouted, “That’s enough!”

The kids got back onto the tubes and resumed a lazy float…but the sibling side eyes and splashing only got more intense.

Another warning from dad….(number two to be exact)…and by now they had extended the space between us to about twenty yards.

Meanwhile, we were just waiting for the next sibling interaction….and then it happened….

…from our perspective, it was mostly splashing water….a sort of wrestling match…and shouting…mostly happy shouts…but nonetheless, this was the third interaction of the short trip down the lazy river.

Dad made no shouts…and for a moment I wondered if he had lost control….NOT AT ALL. I was about to experience one of the best dad moves I’ve ever seen….

As the water settled, we all looked at the family in front of us and it was almost surreal…..both the teenage son and daughter who had been splashing and fighting in the water were back to back….IN THE SAME TUBE!

It was parenting genius!

And Leigh-Ann and I were full of respect. I wanted to get an autograph or pictures…and got neither….but this unknown father had struck a perfect balance between holding a line and distributing discipline on vacation.

Well, this Sunday, we will be back from vacation and I look forward to sharing a sermon from Galatians 6:1-10 about a different kind of balance.

A balance between controlling religion and rebel individuality when it comes to the church community and mission. When it comes to those of us in the church serving each other and the world around us, too often we look like siblings fighting in the water, when we should resemble siblings enjoying and encouraging each other.

There is much more to share with regard to community and mission, especially at New Life CityChurch, I hope to see you this Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am, or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great weekend and stay cool,
Troy

Fruit…

About thirteen years ago, God brought Dave and Karen Robinson to Leigh-Ann and me. Their friendship has changed our lives and ministry…in a really good way 😊.

We’ve served in the city together, listening to firsthand stories about injustice and pain. We have served in Budapest sharing the Gospel with school teachers, students, and others struggling to understand life and feel love. We have also traveled to the Philippines to learn from pastors and ministry leaders who have planted hundreds of churches and led thousands to faith in Jesus.

Such great memories.

Dave has made me laugh hard….like really hard…he makes ministry fun. He has also taught me much about relationships and leadership….and the value of a really good “clicker” 😊. Dave has even given me a special appreciation for Bob Dylon. At the same time, we have also had a few challenging conversations. I’m so thankful for this friendship.

This morning I was reminded again of the significant influence Dave has had on my life. We had a New Life CityChurch elder team meeting. Dave opened us up with a few verses to help us in our prayer life. He asked us to share a name or a characteristic that we think of when we consider Jesus.

He then asked us to pray with this descriptor in mind.

God used this practical teaching to lift my heart and be reminded that Jesus is the King of Kings. No matter what is happening around me, I can trust Jesus.  

Selah!

Through a friendship that is ready to enter its teenage years, I have watched Dave and Karen bear burdens, serve selflessly and pour themselves into Leigh-Ann and me and so many others.

It’s clear, they bear the fruit of the Spirit.

With this in mind, I am really excited for Pastor Dave to preach this Sunday as we continue our sermon series, Deep Faith in the Gospel of Grace, He will share a sermon from Galatians 5:16-26 entitled, “Joining the Spirits fight against the Flesh.”

I have no doubt Dave’s ministry will encourage your soul and strengthen your faith.

I hope to see you this Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am, or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great weekend and stay cool,
Troy

Crashed….

Leigh-Ann, Dallas, and Sophie left last night to travel to St. Louis for Sophia’s final club soccer tournament. Her next games will be in college.

Alexa, Isaiah, Ian, and I stayed home! 😊

After eating some dinner, they took off and headed East on I-70. We jumped in a different vehicle and headed south toward the pool. When we arrived at the pool, it was closed due to a swim meet so we called to ask the name of another pool we could crash and they told us they would call us right back, they had just been in a literal crash.

A few seconds later my phone rang, and Leigh-Ann said they had been rear-ended. It was not their fault and everyone was ok, but the car was definitely damaged.

My mind started racing….I wondered how bad the damage was on the car…. ”was it drivable or should we trade cars?” I wanted to make sure they got the insurance information from the “Rear-Ender.” Also, “Were they still on I-70, or had they gotten off the road?” “Were the police there?”

So many questions…

We started driving towards them since we were about 30 miles away and they had a long trip ahead. We wondered if we would make it to the pool…we didn’t 😊. Also, we were very low on gas. We had planned to stop on the way home. As the situation continued to unfold, it became difficult to make well-thought-out decisions instantly.

We decided to meet up at a Costco where we could gas up our vehicle and then they could continue on their trip. We wanted to get to them as quickly as possible and we decided to go for it, but we didn’t tell them we had more miles to drive than we had gas in the tank. We decided to take the risk and this time it worked in our favor….we made it.

I’m sure you’ve felt the pressure of making tough decisions in a limited amount of time. Life can throw more at us than we are ready to handle for sure.

This Sunday, we continue our sermon series through Galatians, “Deep Faith in the Gospel of Grace.” We will study Galatians 5:1-15, where Paul contrasts the difference between frantic performance and patient faith. Even as Christians, we can fall into the trap of attempting to make God happy by what we do. Often this only makes matters worse. Together we will discover that even during difficult times we will experience peace when we settle into a life of patient faith.

I hope to see you this Sunday at New Life CityChurch at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am, or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great weekend and stay safe,
Troy

It’s your birthday…

Today is our annual celebration of Leigh-Ann’s journey around the sun. We’ve officially been married for more than half of her life.

Wow!

I still remember the first time we locked eyes….there was certainly a spark. We lived a time zone away from each other, however just over a year later we began dating.

We made it official on June 6^th, 1996.

It would take a book to write everything I love about her, and I don’t want to be late for our dinner reservation, so you will have to trust me that she is amazing.

As we have grown in our relationship, we have learned a lot about each other. We each have plenty to frustrate the other….although, I’m sure if we counted (which we don’t) I am probably more frustrating.

On the other hand, we have plenty to celebrate about each other. Leigh-Ann is beautiful inside and out. She loves well and is wise and discerning. She is hilariously sarcastic and has a great sense of humor (she even laughs at most of my dad jokes).

Leigh-Ann is a passionate follower of Jesus, the best wife and mom, and a mentor to many.

We have grown to know each other so much better since we first locked eyes in the spring of 1995.

This is not to say we haven’t had our struggles. There have been seasons when we haven’t felt as close or connected as we would like. Most often these moments of “disconnection” can be traced back to our failure to meet the expectations of the other. Often these expectations were unattainable…. sometimes we just simply fell short.

A relationship that demands perfection will fail because we are human and unable to achieve perfection. Rather a relationship that grows in intimacy will be marked by vulnerability, failure, and forgiveness.

The same is true for our relationship with God, He doesn’t want our conformity, God wants intimacy.

This Sunday, I look forward to sharing a sermon from our series in Galatians, “Deep Faith in the Gospel of Grace” explaining how to grow in intimacy with God as opposed to conforming to a list of rules.

We will study from Galatians 4:21-31. In these verses Paul contrasts the two sons of Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac, and concludes, the only way into God’s family is through our genealogy, but rather through faith in Jesus.

I hope to see you this Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am, or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great weekend,
Troy

Sunglasses…

For the past few days, I’ve been wearing sunglasses.

The sun is bright, and I want to protect my eyes from ultraviolet light…but that’s not really why I’m wearing sunglasses.

I’ve realized it’s easier to risk people wondering why I’m wearing sunglasses than to risk showing them why.

The reason I’m wearing sunglasses is because I am covering up something embarrassing.

Want to know why?

Ok….

I have Pink Eye.

It’s not the worst sickness or pain, but I certainly don’t like it. I also don’t love wondering what people think when they see my “Pink (Red) Eye.”

So, it’s easier to cover it up than to have to explain it to everyone.

However, when I get home, I take off my sunglasses. My family knows I have “Pink Eye” and they may feel bad for me, but they don’t judge me. I know they receive me as I am….”Pink Eye” and all.

This Sunday, Will Boroughs will teach from Galatians 4:8-20 in our sermon series from Galatians, “Deep Faith in the Gospel of Grace.” These verses reveal that Paul had a bodily ailment that was a trial to the church. And the Galatian Christians did not scorn or despise him, they received him.

I hope New Life CityChurch is a place where we don’t need sunglasses for our lives. I hope we are a community that is full of grace for differences and full of inspiration for change where necessary. I hope we are a church that points everyone to Jesus, whether we are wearing sunglasses or not.

I hope to see you this Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am, or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great weekend,
Troy

The table…and a dad joke…

How have you experienced a healthy family?

Although health in our biological families is not always possible, our Scripture passage for Sunday from Galatians 3:25-4:7 offers us hope for health in our spiritual family.

As I consider a healthy family I think of:

• Long and deep conversations over some great food
• The freedom to express opinions without fear of judgment
• Laughter
• Raw communication of hopes and dreams
• Respect
• Long walks on the beach
• And of course, Dad jokes 😊….

One of our kids has tracked my Dad jokes for the past several years. And if you get to hear them, you are family. As I get older and older (took on another year this week) I work harder at perfecting the art of the dad joke.

In order for it to be good, a Dad Joke must have a little shock value, it should make everyone pause and wonder “Did he really say that” and “What is he talking about” and then like a flash of lightning…IT HITS….and although no one verbalizes “Ah, I get it now” their faces make it clear.

All of this then a few laughs….and of course, the loudest and deepest laugh is from me…and to wrap it up, a perfect dad joke must elicit some form of eye roll.

I think what I love about a good dad joke is that it reminds us we can be ourselves…we can enjoy simple pleasures like conversation, surprises, and laughter…we simply enjoy us.

I wonder if God ever enjoys some form of Dad joke when He sees our behavior….and how seriously we take ourselves and our ego….I wonder if God ever allows circumstances into our lives to help us see the punch line that life is more about vulnerability and acceptance than performance and approval.

I’m looking forward to Sunday when we will study much more about family….faith….and of course God’s grace. We will be at the halfway point of our sermon series studying through Galatians, “Deep Faith in the Gospel of Grace.” Who knows, maybe there will even be a few Dad Jokes 😊.

Our services are at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am, or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great weekend,
Troy

Come on over…

Four years ago, as Alexa was preparing for her freshman year in college, we reconnected with a friend who had briefly lived in Kansas City. After a few months, he decided to move back to Springfield, MO.

Shortly after his relocation, Alexa committed to attending Evangel University. I reached out to our friend Jim and asked if he could keep an eye on her if she ever needed anything.

Jim quickly agreed and graciously offered for us to stay with him if we ever needed to spend the night.

When we planned a trip to visit Alexa on Labor Day Weekend of 2020, I took Jim up on his offer.

“Absolutely! I would love for you to come,” he said.

I warned him that we traveled with a pretty big group—2 adults, 4 kids, plus Alexa and her friends.

“No problem at all!” he replied.

Jim, who had lost his wife to cancer several years ago, could have seen hospitality as a burden. But that wasn’t Jim. He’s the best host imaginable.

He had snacks on the counter, beds made up, and in the morning, he cooked us a fantastic breakfast. This wasn’t just any breakfast—it ranged from healthy options to tasty options :), all accompanied by great coffee.

WOW!

We talked about Jim’s kindness the entire trip home, and our kids still reminisce about Jim’s hot tub, his breakfast, and his hospitality.

During our stay, Jim shared incredible stories from his mission trips and talked about his passion for fatherhood. I vividly remember standing in his kitchen when I told him about Pastor Don Lewis and his similar passions.

Within a few short months, we were back, this time with Pastor Don and a few others, and we were introduced to Good Dads.

Since then, the name has changed to Fatherhood Foundations. Just last year, over 200 men received training on how to be better fathers.

It all began with hospitality and some good food!

This Sunday, I’m excited to start our new sermon series, “Table Talk: Dinners with Jesus.” We’ll be studying from Luke 19:1-10 about the life of Zacchaeus.

There is so much more to share, I sure hope to see you Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great evening,
Troy
P.S. The men’s gathering tomorrow is from 9-10am. Pastor Don will be sharing about how worship leads to wisdom. I hope to see you soon!
P.P.S. Don’t forget Core Conversation on Sunday from 12:30-2pm.