If you knew tomorrow, would it change what you do today? Jesus told his followers what the end times would look like, not focusing on that future date but calling us to totally seize life today.

Most people think of Easter as the celebration of life after death - and that it is ...but so much more. Easter opens the door to real life BEFORE death -which is exactly what we crave most.

How is it that we have a God who chooses to suffer - who becomes subservient to evil powers - all for the redemption of the minimally appreciative? It's difficult for us to comprehend. The message of the cross is apparent foolishness to those who choose their own hellbent path, but for those focused toward life it is simply the way God works - the very power of God.

Sometimes what may seem so very obvious to us inside the four walls of the Church may be less clear on the streets of the city. While we celebrate life in Jesus we must also wrestle with the WORD, to hear what Jesus himself had to say about the way to God, the truth about our human condition, and the life we've been offered.

"Father, forgive them - for they don't know what they're doing..." Jesus' words on the cross have an other-worldy ring to our self-protective, grace-resistant hearts. Why would Heaven's best call out to excuse earth's most depraved? And how is it that Jesus compells us to do the same? Forgiveness - it's definitely not for the faint of heart. Join us at both Ginghamsburg and Fort McKinley campuses this weekend as we seek to discover answers to life's most profound question: Why Jesus?

Suffering - It's inevitable. After all, life itself begins in the pangs of childbirth...and ends in the loss of death. Pain happens, sometimes simply the consequence of a fallen world, at other times self-inflicted. Yet, we have hope, for we do not serve a disembodied and distant God but a Messiah who intentionally chooses to enter into our suffering - and redeem it.

Why Jesus? We're taking six weeks during Lent to [re]learn everything we can about Jesus, the one whom we claim to follow. A closer look at the the gospels describes a man who chose to be with the very people we typically write off: shaky business partners and women of the night, the physically deformed and the emotionally needy. Jesus never wrote people off, rather graciously invited the broken into his relational circle of hope.

What if God was one of us? Calling ourselves "Christians" doesn't mean we know the Christ we claim to follow. It's easy to contrive our own version of Christianity if getting to know the real Jesus risks confusion, controversy and life-call. Here is a man who shattered all preconceptions of how a Messiah was supposed to talk and act. Do you really want to know this one whom we dare to believe is God with us? If so, the invitation is yours.

What could be so appealing that you would give up everything just to obtain it as your own? Jesus' final set of parables in Matthew 13 describes such an obsessive desire, "...like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it... he sold all he had and bought that field."

One tiny seed of faith. One scant sprinkling of yeast. Jesus' somewhat exaggerated metaphors in Matthew 13 drive a powerful point home: kingdom greatness is derived from seemingly insignificant beginnings. It's time to realize the power each one of us possesses regardless of our seeming insignificant status: Mustard Seed Possibilites

It's hard to understand why God allows evil and good to coexist on the earth, but Jesus said not to let it unhinge us. Stay alert and focus on feeding the shoots of God-life - demonstrating the new reality of the kingdom of God. Join us at both Ginghamsburg and Fort McKinley campuses this weekend as we explore the next segment in the parables of Matthew 13 - offering the secrets of LIFE in God's kingdom:

In the great garden that is life Jesus calls his own into a different sort of existence…around the rocks, above the weeds and into earth so rich that a harvest of fruit rises up—way beyond our wildest dreams. Join us at the Ginghamsburg and Fort McKinley campuses this weekend as we move past simply surviving to fully thriving in the rich environment of Good Soil. Right Here Right NOW: good soil

Got worries? Good grief -- who doesn't! Anxiety about everything from money to marriage can be totally overwhelming. Jesus warned that worries are like nasty weeds, choking the very life out of even the most well-intentioned. You're invited to join us on both Ginghamsburg and Fort McKinley campuses this weekend as we renounce worry and reclaim LIFE in he best of God's care... Right Here Right NOW: weed-free!

Are you currently experiencing life on the rocks? We can't always control the painful obstacles that come our way, but we can control our attitudes and actions - creating soil rich and ready for healthy faith to flourish. Join us at both Ginghamsburg and Fort McKinley campuses this weekend as we go deeper into Matthew 13: Between A Rock And a Hard Place

We all have great aspirations for our lives, but what's it gonna take? Insanity is doing the same things and expecting different results. It's time to do something different- for Heaven's sake! Go out of your way to break up the hard, crusty soil that is your life! Join us at the Ginghamsburg and Fort McKinley campuses as we glean from Jesus' profound teachings of Matthew 13: Right Here, Right NOW: break new ground

Ever asked friends in what areas of life they struggle with procrastination?  We did, on Facebook, and the response was immediate--and a bit overwhelming. Exercise, God commitments, car maintenance, debt issues, half-finished crafts, home projects, relationships. You name it--we "procrastinate" it. God calls us to so much more! Right here and right now, it's time to Work God's Word -  part 2. Join us this weekend in worship at the Ginghamsburg and Fort McKinley campuses as we continue our new message series: Right Here, Right NOW.

Procrastination and rationalization are defenses we use to keep from moving forward in life and faith. In Matthew 13 Jesus pulls back the curtain on everything we need to know about God's investment - and our responsibility - to activate faith. The decisions we make today have incredible power towards the people we'll become tomorrow. This is YOUR time... right here, right NOW. Join us at both the Ginghamsburg and Fort McKinley campuses this weekend as we begin a brand new message series - and a fresh chance to get things right.

Have you made your New Year's resolutions ...over and over again? Jesus didn't die simply to offer a superficial fix for our human weak spots; rather, new life in Christ empowers us to escape unhealthy cycles for good. Join us this weekend at both Ginghamsburg and Fort McKinley campuses as we enter 2011 with confident hope: All New

Just when you thought The Christmas Story couldn't get any better- a message for taking the extraordinary miracle of Christmas back into our ordinary lives: "Return To Home."

It's the most wonderful time of the year, but this season you need more... Make room for a Miracle.