Your children are invited to wear their pjs, bring a favorite stuffed animal, and join us for a time of waking slowly, eating munchies, and watching a seasonal movie that will challenge them to show love to those who are hard to love.
Thanks to all who contributed stuffing, Cornbread, money, and time! 1300 meals were distributed as an expression of God’s love and provision. The blessings are far broader than those 1300 families… it includes each person who contributed in any of the myriad of ways. “So, what’s the schedule next week?” This was my question in 7:00am Hebrew class this morning just as we were wrapping up for the day. “We meet on Monday and then we are off for the rest of the week,” was the professor’s reply. “Praise God,” I thought to myself. I’m ready for a Hebrew-break.
There are times in life when we are ready for a break. Breaks are good. God gave the Israelites weekly breaks (The Sabbath), seasonal breaks (Festivals and Feasts), and a break every seven years (Sabbath Year), and even another break every 50 years (Year of Jubilee). God wants us to have breaks. God gives us these breaks so we can rest…with Him.
Thanksgiving provides us a seasonal break much like one of the seasonal breaks given to the Israelites. (The Festival of Ingathering took place after the harvest was complete.) These breaks weren’t just about rest, though. They were a time to pause and reflect upon the faithfulness of God. It was a time to remember God’s goodness and how we are recipients of God’s blessings. It was a time to be thankful to God for all that God had done.
This Thanksgiving, my prayer is that we will take the time to pause, reflect on the goodness of God, and give thanks to God for pouring out that goodness on us.
Have a Blessed Thanksgiving
Join us for a time of celebration and thanksgiving! While we anticipate lots of special foods on Thursday with family and friends, on this night pie will be the main course! All kinds of pie! Bring a pie and join the fun!
As a community and Church we will take time to share and laugh together as we reflect on God’s provision in 2016 and give Him thanks!
Now through Saturday, November 12th! I mentioned to one of our teams yesterday that this series has been speaking directly to me quite a bit. Our “40 Days of Courage” has been encouraging me to walk together with God and help others do the same. Watching Joshua and the Israelites choose, over and over again, to trust God has been inspiring to me. Even when they fail, it is not the end for them. They get right back up, turn back to God, and go back into battle knowing that God is with them wherever they go.
We’re in our 14th year at Life Bridge Christian Church, now. We’ve seen a lot over the past 13+ years since our opening day. We’ve fought a lot of battles against the enemy. We’ve won some. We’ve lost some. Sometimes we struggle with being discouraged and even frightened. But, like Joshua’s generation, we have remained faithful to God’s call in Valparaiso, Porter County, Chicagoland, and beyond. God has planted us here to empower one more to walk together with God, and that is exactly what we are doing.
Over the next couple weeks, we will be reminding ourselves of God’s design and plan for our lives. We will be celebrating where we have been living out this plan. We will also be challenged to look forward to our next steps in our walk together with God. I look forward to seeing you there.
Sunday, November 6th 4pm – Love Costs Everything; 6pm – Prayer Service
Life Bridge In ConcertIn Concert is a collection of artistic talent ranging from music and drama to dance and comedy ...
As the weather gets colder, it’s time to come indoors and enjoy the musical and performing gifts of others! Invite friends and family to enjoy an evening of entertainment, light snacks, and great company. Plan now to make this a part of your weekend!
I’ve been struggling this week with Hebrew class because, with all the time I’ve been spending on it, it didn’t seem like I was keeping up. I had missing puzzle pieces. We are doing midterm projects and, for Hebrew, this includes translating passages of Scripture. Parts of the passages, though, were just not making sense. It was all Greek to me!
Friday, October 7th 6pm (NOTE THE CHANGE FOR THIS MONTH ONLY)
with our neighbors!
It's be a couple weeks since I shared my perspective here. Last week I was in Anderson, IN attending a week of class for my Doctorate program. My Hebrew class continued throughout the week, too, so the week was filled with school, school work, and more school-related work. It was time well spent.
Now, I'm looking forward to Sunday. We will be celebrating the completion of our 13th year as Life Bridge Christian Church here in Valparaiso, IN. We will also be celebrating the end of our current series: Remember. Together we will remember what God has done for the Israelites, for Life Bridge, and for us. I hope you can make it. Let's remember together.
As a part of your walk with God, we want to challenge you to remember Him as you are posting on social media. How? Simple. As you post an image comment, or status, stop and reflect on God for a moment… Remember His role… His blessings… Give thanks and add #WeRememberGod. Share it with Life Bridge by adding @Empower1More.
Yesterday I learned how to read, “and The LORD said,” in Hebrew class. We’re moving past the alphabet now and moving on to particles and other words. It’s getting real! When I boot up my computer, I’ve been seeing a picture like this one before I log in each day. It has been getting me thinking.
Upcoming Dates:
I started school this week. Well, technically I started school a couple months ago. My DMin class, which meets for a week in September, had pre-work that began back in July. I’m taking another class, though, this semester to help fill in a gap in my education: Hebrew.
When I first went to seminary, my specific degree program required that I become proficient in one of the two primary Biblical languages: Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament). Since I wanted to learn the New Testament as well as I could, I took Greek all the way through an advanced translation class. I learned tools to help me with Hebrew, but the actual language study would have to wait…until now.
My Hebrew class challenging in several ways. First of all, well, it’s Hebrew. I’m learning a new alphabet, how to read right to left, vowel markers that weren’t there in the original language and a script that actually wasn’t the original script. I’m learning how to pronounce the Hebrew words from a professor who is proficient in eleven or more languages and who originally grew up in Bogotá, Columbia. I find myself wanting coffee just listening to his rich Columbian voice. Oh, yeah, it’s also challenging because the class meets at 8am and is located in Anderson, Indiana. So, I conference in four days a week via computer…at 7am here. (Yeah, I want coffee for more than one reason.)
All that being said, I find myself strangely at peace. I know that I am learning and growing in knowledge and, hopefully, wisdom as I continue to be challenged by others who are further down the path in their walk together with God. I’m enjoying the company of people who desire to learn and grow like me. But, more than all that, I know I am preparing to better serve those God has called me to serve. I know I am in the right place in my walk together with God. I’m praying that you are, too.
Encounter Student Ministry is designed for all 6th-12th Graders. It’s mission to to create opportunities for students to encounter God in their relationships, in their service, and in their walks with God. To this end, we strive to build relationships with mentors and peers that are encouraging and building up in a world that often tears down. We provide opportunities for students to explore the gifts that God has given them and to use those for God’s glory and the edification of the church. As we do all this, we are all challenged to continue growing in our walk with God as we allow His Word to convict and transform our lives.
If you you have a student in this age group, now is a great time to join in! Friends are always welcome!
Join us as we kick off the beginning of school with some fun and games, as well as taking some time to learn and share as we strive to be purposeful in the new school year. This 2-week series will remind us that it is more about how we live than what we say that let others know how important God is to us.
Ongoing
Traci and I don’t do a very good job of resting. We both tend to keep working every day – even when we are supposed to take a day of rest. (I’m not saying this is good. I’m just being honest about our walk.) That is why we took the last part of this week to come down to be with Cincinnati, spend some time with family, and let the circumstances here “force” us to rest. Encounter Student Ministry is designed for all 6th-12th Graders. It’s mission to to create opportunities for students to encounter God in their relationships, in their service, and in their walks with God. To this end, we strive to build relationships with mentors and peers that are encouraging and building up in a world that often tears down. We provide opportunities for students to explore the gifts that God has given them and to use those for God’s glory and the edification of the church. As we do all this, we are all challenged to continue growing in our walk with God as we allow His Word to convict and transform our lives. 
Currently Collecting:
I was just looking at the process that a caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly. Scientists are learning much more about the process, now that they have technological advances such as Micro-CT. Inside the Cocoon, the caterpillar changes into kind of a “goo” but with all the important components staying in tact and moving around a bit. The process can take anywhere from 7 days to a year, depending on the species. When the butterfly emerges, it takes hard work which actually completes the process and allows the butterfly to, well, fly.
It seems strange that I find myself thinking about the cocoon process when Life Bridge is doing some of its most public ministries for the summer. Men’s Homeless shelter continues. Building changes are happening. Operation Christmas Child is stepping things up. Porter County Fair church service was two weeks ago. Turkeypalooza church service @10:00 AM will be this coming Sunday. With all this public activity, though, my perspective is that we are in a cocoon.
I see God working in and through a lot of people behind the scenes. I see structures and teams moving around, morphing, yet retaining their essential components. I see systems and processes being reworked, redesigned, and preparations being made to implement them in different ways. I see Gantt charts, project plans, task lists, and team meetings. Lots of exciting work is happening behind the scenes at Life Bridge.
When will we see the “butterfly?” Well, there’s more to come on the subject, but I would keep your calendar open in October and November if you want to see something beautiful emerge. Until then, let’s enjoy the process.
Hope to see you all soon!
Sunday Service with Life Bridge Christian Church 10:00am
As a part of your walk with God, we want to challenge you to remember Him as you are posting on social media. How? Simple. As you post an image comment, or status, stop and reflect on God for a moment… Remember His role… His blessings… Give thanks and add #WeRememberGod. Share it with Life Bridge by adding @Empower1More.I always find this time of year to be kind of funny. Folks are going on vacations, travelling, and enjoying time with family. The children are playing in the yard and block parties are in full swing. Porter County Fair reminds us that harvest time is just around the corner, so even the farmers are waiting for the hard work of harvest season. We, however, always seem to be quite busy this time of year and this year is no exception.
Operation Christmas Child has been collecting personal items such as flip flops, tshirts, hair accessories, brushes/combs, etc. We will continue to collect these items, but we are also watching as school supplies go on sale. Therefore, if you see those great deals popping up on school supplies, feel free to donate these wonderful items as well!
Please keep in mind that we cannot ship any liquids… so no nail polish, liquid glue, poster paints… you get the idea!
(Regular services will not be held at Life Bridge Christian Church 1705 Laporte Ave.)
As a part of your walk with God, we want to challenge you to remember Him as you are posting on social media. How? Simple. As you post an image comment, or status, stop and reflect on God for a moment… Remember His role… His blessings… Give thanks and add #WeRememberGod. Share it with Life Bridge by adding @Empower1More.
Operation Christmas Child has been collecting personal items such as flip flops, tshirts, hair accessories, brushes/combs, etc. We will continue to collect these items, but we are also watching as school supplies go on sale. Therefore, if you see those great deals popping up on school supplies, feel free to donate these wonderful items as well!
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about His power and His mighty wonders. For He issued His laws to Jacob; He gave His instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—and they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting His glorious miracles and obeying His commands. (Psalms 78:2-7 NLT)
What are you passing along to your kids? How are you building a faith in Christ and sharing the wonders He has done in the past and the ones that He is doing today?
