Blessings to you, loved ones.  Read on for your weekly update.

Last Sunday was a little different with Priscilla being out sick, but I really enjoyed our time of sharing during the Sunday school session.  We even had visitors from the area and they also joined in.  I’m so thankful that everyone is willing to contribute something. I didn’t go live with that but there is a podcast episode for it.  The message is available on our Facebook page as well as in podcast form.

Do keep Priscilla and Kimi in your prayers.  Pray for Dede also to be able to find and keep a good living arrangement.

This Sunday I am going to speak to you about mind control.  I imagine that phrase invokes images of cult leaders or maybe as in my case any number of dystopian societies envisioned by authors wishing to make a statement of their own through the medium of fiction.  We speak of people being brainwashed.  We know that what we believe to be true affects how we think and act.

It is very important for us to understand that we are the ones who must be in control of our minds.  We can choose what and how to think.  Whatever we cultivate in our thinking is what we can expect to produce fruit in our lives, so what will we choose?  Will we choose truth or lies, good or evil, that which builds up, or that which tears down?  This is why Paul writes of being transformed by the renewing of our minds.  We’ll read from Romans 11:33-12:2.  We will focus our attention on 12:2, but a little context is necessary to show just how vital this concept is for us to understand.

I hope you’ll join us.  I see positive signs in the life of our church, but regardless of what I see, this is what I choose to believe.  God gave us this church.  He has a mission for us.  That mission has not changed.  He will bring to completion what He started.  I hope we all choose to think that way and pursue the life of the church accordingly.  See you Sunday!

Larry