4/7/2025

Leonard Sweet tells of a story that’s haunted him ever since its first telling.  It was in one of his doctoral seminars . . .

The scientist ran his fingers along his desk in his lab.  Thirty years had passed since he’d been in a church—thirty years chasing facts, building a life on what he could prove.  Then his son died.  No formula could fix it; no data could fill the gap.

When his doctoral student—a pastor—met him in his office, surrounded by tools of precision, he wasn’t after empty comfort.  He was a scientist daring to face gnawing pain.

She didn’t preach or sugarcoat.  She talked about the theology of the cross—how suffering wasn’t outside God’s story but part of it.  How redemption wasn’t just old words on a page but something happening now.

Then she hit him with it:  “This work of healing a broken world—it’s what you do every day.  Your research, your teaching, your science—it’s not separate.  It’s part of the same story.”

Outside, students walked by, oblivious to the clash of worlds inside—faith meeting science, loss meeting meaning.

He searched her face for a hint of a lie.  Seeing life, not lies, his guarded look eased.  He leaned in, voice low, tinged with the same awe he’d felt at his biggest breakthroughs.

“Does anyone else know this?” he whispered, wonder breaking through.

At Journey Church this holy season, will you share the story of redemption in a broken world that’s grieving and suffering and in need of healing? 

Who will you invite to experience the wonderous love of God at work through the power of the cross but even more in the resurrection?  So many people need to know there’s hope—will you share it and invite others to experience it with you?

-Michael

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4/14/2025

Churches are different in multiple ways, but whatever church a person attends on Sundays, there are some crucial things to realize.

A church is not just a place you think that if you attend God will have to let you into heaven.  It’s not just a place you attend and then “clock out” for the week when it’s over, saying, “I’ve done my duty.” 

It’s a loving spiritual family you get to belong to.  Once you become a follower of Jesus, you become a part of the family of God, not an isolated individual.  It’s a community of faith where you can love and be loved, celebrate and be celebrated.

A church is not just an entertainment center.  It’s a job center.  If you judge church services purely as entertainment, they may not match up to the level of what you may hear on TV or at a concert.  Worship in a church isn’t meant to just be a show put on for the benefit of the congregation while people sit back and just watch.  

People who are a part of a church are brought together by God to work together for God’s kingdom and to help one another to develop into more fully devoted followers of Jesus.  Get involved in helping to build God’s kingdom. 

The New Testament describes God’s church as “the body of Christ.”  Like any other body, it has a lot of different parts, but they all are important and needed.   Every Christ-follower is to be a minister.

A God-honoring church will:

Learn together.  A church is built on what God has said.  Get a hold of God’s dynamic message.  Don’t miss out on any opportunity to learn.

Worship together.  Gathering to worship God is absolutely central to church life.  Worshipping God is a crucial way Jesus followers express our love for God and strengthen our relationship with God.

Serve together.  Every Christian should serve in some way to show the love of Jesus and demonstrate to the world the reality of how Jesus transforms lives and that’s revealed in caring for the poor, helping the hurting, working to overcome injustice, exhibiting Christ-like compassion.  We can all do these much more effectively together than on our own.

-Michael

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4/21/2025

Last week in kids church, something happened that I just can't stop smiling about.

We had a new volunteer serve in our preschool room. He’s a kind, gentle man with long hair and a beard—someone you might say resembles modern-day portrayals of Jesus. And apparently, one of our preschoolers thought so too.

The moment this little one laid eyes on him, his face lit up with recognition, and he shouted, “It’s God!”

No matter how many times our team gently explained that the volunteer was not God, the child couldn’t be convinced otherwise. He followed him around with joy and awe, asking if “God” needed to visit the other classrooms too. He even insisted on introducing “God” to his dad at pick-up—because obviously, who wouldn’t want to meet God after church?

It was one of the cutest and most innocent moments I’ve witnessed in a while.  But as funny and sweet as it was, it also struck a deeper chord in me. Isn’t that exactly what we’re called to do? To imitate Christ so closely that when people see us, they catch a glimpse of Him?

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” And Jesus Himself said that the world would know we are His disciples by our love. What if, in our kindness, our presence, our compassion, and even in our service, we could reflect Jesus so well that others—especially children—see something divine in us?

That preschooler reminded me of something profound: little eyes are watching. Little hearts are learning. And sometimes, they see Jesus in places we might never expect.

So, to the volunteer who unintentionally became “God” last Sunday—thank you for the reminder that living like Jesus really does matter. You never know who might be watching.

-Jackie

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4/28/2025

As the world reflects on the passing of Pope Francis, these words he wrote two months prior to his going to be with the Lord may speak to us as we seek to live for Christ in the world today . . .

How often we have felt the need for a change that would affect our entire person!  How often we have said to ourselves, “I need to change; I can’t keep on like this.  My life is leading nowhere, it will never bear fruit, it’s all pointless, I’ll never be happy.

How often have we had these thoughts!  And Jesus, who is nearby, always reaches out to us and says, “Come, come to me.  I will do the work:  I will change your heart, I will change your life, I will make you happy.”

Jesus, who is with us, invites us to change our life.  It is he, with the Holy Spirit, who sows in us this restlessness to change our lives and become better people.

Let us accept the Lord’s invitation without resistance.  Only by opening ourselves to his mercy will we find true life and true joy.  All we have to do is open the door—he will do the rest.  He does everything; we just have to open our hearts.  He can heal us and help us move forward.

-Michael

3/4/2025

Jesus is coming back. There’s no question about it.

I’ve heard this truth my entire life. It’s written with certainty in Scripture. And I know it’s true because Jesus Himself promised He would return.

But do we really believe it? And more importantly—do our actions reflect that belief?

If we knew Jesus was coming back in 1 year, 5 years, or even 10 years, would it change the way we live? Would we share the Gospel with urgency? Would we live in greater obedience? Would we wake up every day with purpose, making sure that no one we encounter misses out on the goodness of God?

This very question—What if Jesus came back in 10 years?—is what sparked a global movement called Gather25.

In 2022, author and evangelist Jennie Allen began wrestling with this idea. She couldn’t shake the reality that there are 5.5 billion people in the world who don’t know Jesus. And she asked: What would happen if all 2.5 billion Christians were mobilized to share the Gospel?

So she gathered a team. They prayed, dreamed, and trusted that God was moving. Leaders stepped up. Major partners joined in. And on February 28, 2025, for 25 hours straight, the first-ever global gathering of God’s Church took place.

Christians from all seven continents came together. People from almost every nation, every denomination, and every generation united to pray, to repent, to listen to what God is doing around the world, to worship the Lord Almighty and to bee recommissioned to spread the Gospel to a world that is lost, hurting, and broken.

Did You Miss It?

Gather25 was unlike anything the world has ever seen. The impact is still unfolding, and we may not fully understand its reach for years to come.

But here’s the good news: You can still be part of it!

All 25 hours are available to watch online through the end of this month at Gather25.com.

You may choose to watch all 25 hours, select specific sessions hosted by different nations, or view the highlights, the most powerful moments, from each session.

One session I implore you to watch is the session on the persecuted church. Their stories of courage, faith, and God’s miraculous work in some of the most dangerous places on earth will leave you inspired, challenged, and convicted.

So don’t wait. Go watch now. Seriously—now. Gather25.com

 -Jackie

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3/17/2025

I can still remember the impact on my life of years ago reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s penetrating book The Cost of Discipleship.  It challenged me.  It humbled me.

Bonhoeffer was a German theologian and pastor who opposed the rise of Naziism and its takeover of much of the German church.  He could have stayed in the U.S. and protested Hitler, but he felt that he had to return to his native country to join the effort to end the Third Reich for the sake of the Jews and his own people.  He was hanged just two weeks before American soldiers liberated his concentration camp.

Here is some of what Bonhoeffer wrote that still challenges and humbles many of us who call ourselves Christ-followers:

“Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.”

“Faith is only real when there is obedience, never without it, and faith only becomes faith in the act of obedience.”

“Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life.”

“Your life as a Christian should make non-believers question their disbelief in God.”

“Christianity preaches the infinite worth of that which is seemingly worthless and the infinite worthlessness of that which is seemingly so valued.”

“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”

Are you and I willing to die for the cause of Christ?

-Michael

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3/24/2025

I read a blog about a framework for letting it go (whatever “it” is).  I hope it’s helpful to you.

1.  Feel it fully.  Name the emotion:  “I am feeling ____.”  But be careful not to project it onto someone else.

2.  Rest.  Give yourself space to pause.

3.  Process the emotion.  Write, cry, talk it out, move, listen to music that resonates.  Clean your space, nourish your body—anything that helps release it.

4.  Gain perspective.  Once the intensity fades, reflect.  What did this teach you about your needs?

5.  Own your role.  If it’s a random event, great—let it go.  If it’s a pattern, notice it until you’re ready to grow.  Being human is really hard.

6.  Acknowledge your humanity.  Embrace every imperfect part of you.

7.  Acknowledge their humanity.  The person who hurt you is playing out their own story.  What they did was about them, not you.

8.  Forgive yourself.

9.  Forgive others.

10.  Seek forgiveness—internally or directly.  Ask for forgiveness, even if only in your mind.

11.  Reclaim your power.  Where have you given away your story—to societal expectations, family, friends, or the person who hurt you?  Take back control of your life.

12.  Rewrite your story. “I was ____, but now I am ____, and I’m grateful for the change.”

13.  Repeat as needed.  Start again whenever new realizations emerge.

-Michael

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3/31/2025

I find research about the church to be interesting.  You might find interesting these findings from Barna’s 2025 State of the Church report . . .

— Men have outpaced women in church attendance the past three years.  Women had outpaced men in attendance since 2000, then at 47% to 38%, before men began outpacing women in 2022, at 35% to 30%.  In 2024, 30% of men were attending weekly, compared to 27% of women.

— Overall, 2024 closed with 28% of U.S. adults attending church weekly.  But early 2025 shows signs of promise with as many as 32% of adults attending church weekly.

— Weekly church volunteering, at 24% of U.S. adults, surpassed pre-COVID 2019 levels of 18%, with Gen Z and Millennials leading the efforts.

— 65% of U.S. adults, including Christians and non-Christians, believe the church is still relevant in today’s world.

— Most adult church goers actively seek relational connections at church, engaging in conversation before or after church with a pastor (57%), other attendees (53%), or church staff (50%).

— Spiritual encounters make church meaningful, Christians said.  Top spiritual encounters cited were “connecting to God,” chosen by 73% of respondents; the “presence of the Holy Spirit,” chosen by 68% of respondents; “growing closer to Jesus,” 67%; “praying together,” 59%; “emotional comfort,” 58%; and “the sermon” and “worshiping together,” each drawing 56% of respondents.  “Serving,” 47%; discipleship, 41%; and “giving or tithing,” 39%, ranking lowest among factors that make church meaningful.

-Michael

2/3/2025

We have watched with great sadness the loss of life and destruction of property as a result of California’s devastating wildfires.  Among the structures burned were houses of worship.  One was Altadena Community Church.  “It’s shocking,” said their pastor.  “It’s a reminder to us all of the fragility of life.”

The congregation’s Facebook page showed an image of the building engulfed in flames.  But another image showed parishioners singing outdoors.  The caption read, “WE are the church!  We can worship anywhere.”

The Greek word ekklesia can have the meaning of “the called out” ones.  It’s the word translated “church” in the New Testament.  The church is composed of people who are called out of conformity to the world to wholehearted commitment of their lives to Jesus.

Acts 17:24 says:  This is the God who made the universe and all it contains, the God who is the King of all heaven and all earth.  It would be illogical to assume that a God of this magnitude could possibly be contained in any man-made structure, no matter how majestic. (VOICE)

Matthew 18:20 says:  For when two or three gather together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. (VOICE)

1 Corinthians 12:27 says:  Together you are the body of Christ.  Each one of you is part of his body. (CEV)

The church is not a building.  The church is people.  Wherever the church gathers, we are a part of Christ’s body.  We are a part of one another.

Ephesians 4:1-3 says:  As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (NIV)

May we as Journey, a part of Christ’s body, live lives worthy of Christ’s calling as a church and may there continually be a unity of Spirit among us wherever we may gather together.  WE are the church!

-Michael

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2/11/2025

Who has time to read the Bible?  Why bother?  Evidently, increasing numbers of people think there’s a good reason.  According to the Wall Street Journal, sales of Bibles are booming, fueled by first-time buyers.  Bible sales rose 22% through October compared to the same period the previous year.

Bishop Robert Barron says the Bible has been—certainly for Western civilization, but even all over the world—the main source of meaning, purpose, value.  He believes people are turning back to the Bible in greater numbers because they’re looking for that, and they realize instinctively they’re going to find it.  Publishers attribute the jump in Bible sales to rising anxiety and a search for hope.

Barron says he’s seeing a notable shift away from the New Atheism of the early 2000s.  He believes that in the beginning some people thought, “Oh, great.  Stick it to the man, and I’m against religion.”  But when you take that message in, what are you left with?  It’s a complete nihilism.

Barron added that he hasn’t been surprised by rising rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation, particularly among young people.  That’s what happens when you say there’s no meaning or purpose.

If you’re not right now regularly reading the Bible, I encourage you to get to know Jesus by reading the biographies about him in the New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

-Michael

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2/16/2025

Lola Sheen is the nineteen-year-old daughter of actors Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards.  Her life was transformed by the love of Jesus, and she was baptized to publicly declare it.  She shared on Instagram how Christ changed her life:

“When I was in my deepest depression, there was a moment where I realized I hit rock bottom.  I felt so lost and hopeless, and was just doing my best to make it to the next day.  I just accepted my life was going to be like that forever, and thought I would never genuinely laugh again.

Until, I met not only my Savior but my best friend, Jesus.  I can’t really explain it other than it was supernatural, but Jesus met me exactly where I was.  I began to trust Jesus with my life, when He chose me when no one else did, and loved me when I didn’t feel worthy of love.  He gave me a light, when I couldn’t find my own, and rescued me from the darkness.

Jesus saved me from battling severe anxiety, and gave me a peace that makes no sense.  I now find myself laughing again, in places I only had cried.

Jesus fulfilled His promise of making me new, and completely renewed my mind.  I am forever saved by His Grace, through faith.  I thank You Jesus for everything, I love You, and I hope You are proud of me.”

Now, Journey folks, who will you share with, online or in person, how Christ has changed your life?

-Michael

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2/24/2025

Do you feel unhappy?  Do you wonder why?  Do you question what it would take for you to be truly happy?  You may expect a preacher type person to say that you need God to be happy—but is that true?  Can you be happy without God in your life?

In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis says:  “God made us:  invented us as a man invents an engine.  A car is made to run on petrol, and it would not run properly on anything else.  Now God designed the human engine to run on himself.  He himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on.  There is no other.

That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way without bothering about religion.  God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from himself, because it is not there.  There is no such thing.

That is the key to history.  Terrific energy is expended—civilizations are built up—excellent institutions devised; but each time something goes wrong.  Some fatal flaw always brings the selfish and cruel people to the top, and it all slides back into misery and ruin.  In fact, the machine conks.  It seems to start up all right and runs a few yards, and then it breaks down.  They are trying to run it on the wrong juice.  That is what Satan has done to us humans.”

Is Satan winning out in your life, and you know an inner unhappiness because you’ve bought into the lie that you can make yourself happy without God?  That’s not true.

Or, is God winning out in your life, and you know a genuine happiness, a life-transforming happiness and peace, because that can only be known through the presence of God active in your live and can never be known apart from God.

Will you embrace fully a faith that fuels your spirit as daily you live and love like Jesus so that you know a true happiness, realizing your relationship with Jesus is what’s really important, and happiness is just a by-product.

-Michael