What really matters...

Well, it has been a little over a week since the election… Are you seeing any less drama?  I thought the last campaign season was particularly brutal.  There was a lot of anger on both sides, and I’m worried it’s not going to be easy for people to come together after that.

This week we are celebrating Christ the King Sunday.  This is a time for us to remember that Christ is our Savior.  There may be real issues that divide us, but we have a King who loves us and even gave his life for us.  That is what is truly important!  Jesus showed a deep love for all people, and that is not something we should be willing to ignore when we encounter our neighbors.  Christ saw beyond our differences, and He stepped into our lives.  Today, I hope we can all come together to give thanks for what Christ has done for us.  May we know and feel the love of God each and every day!

Blessings!

Brian   

Holding on to Love

Sick babies are hard…  Kira and I were getting to the point where we thought we had this parenting thing figured out.  We were able to put our toddler in his crib and he would sleep great.  He was following directions, eating his dinner, and smashing dirt into his hair. (Ok, so he’s not perfect, but he was doing pretty good for a one year old!)

Anyway, things started to fall apart last week.  His nose became congested, he couldn’t breathe very well, and he ran a low fever.  It was hard to watch him go through such a miserable experience.  Instead of seeing his happy and energetic personality, he just cried for help.  The only thing he wanted to do was hold on to us and feel loved...

As we get older, we can learn how to deal with pain, and we can actually put up with quite a bit.  However, sometimes our trials can get the best of us. When the world falls apart, the only thing we can do is trust in a greater love.  Today, I hope that you can trust in that love. God has called you by name, and God believes in you.  Let's let go of all things that tear us apart, and let's hold on to God's Love.  

Peace!

PB

Cherishing the Saints!

This is a great time of year for people to visit Las Vegas.  My wife’s parents were in town recently, and we had a blast celebrating Halloween and the church’s Fall Family Festival with them.  Grandma even made a special costume for our little boy.  It was amazing to see our child light up with excitement around all the wonderful people and activities.  It reminds me of how blessed I am.  My wife and I have amazing families, and we are a part of a wonderful church that continues to support us in powerful ways!

This week we are celebrating All Saints Day.  This is a celebration that cherishes all the people who have given us hope over the years.  These are the individuals who have shown us love and grace.  Over the years, there are times when we have to watch these beloved people face illness and death.  However, in today’s scripture text we are given a promise.  We are told that whether we live or die we belong to Christ.  We are loved, and God calls us each forgiven Saints of the Kingdom!  Today, I hope we can all take time to cherish the people around us who have given us the grace to live in God’s World.

Blessings!

PB