Church Family,

What a wonderful time together this past Sunday as we prayed, sang, read Scripture, and heard God’s Word preached.  Genesis fills in so many details that the entire bible unpacks with its 66 books.  It has been a joy to study the history of God moving providentially within the world to bring about His desired ends.  I want to personally thank you all for your desire and encouragement to put Scripture before us each week, eager to understand its truth.  It’s a joy to pastor you all and preach God’s Word each week.

Easter Weekend

Easter is just three weeks away!  We want to make sure you are aware and planning on participating in all we will do for Easter weekend.  So grab your calendars and mark these dates and times:

• Good Friday (April 15) at 6 pm we will gather to reflect on our crucified Lord
• Waiting Saturday (April 16) we will provide readings to reflect on uncertainty and trust
• Resurrection Sunday (April 17) at 9 am we will provide refreshments for fellowship and then have our normal scheduled gathering at 10:15 am to celebrate our risen Lord!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Bryan

Church Family,

As we continue to make our way through Genesis, we are beginning to see Joseph as the faithful one. Despite all the difficulties he faces, he is consistent and unwavering in his faith in God. This past Sunday, Joseph was faced with an opportunity to be unfaithful, wicked, and sin sexually with Potiphar’s wife. The decision was easy for him, “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”  After rehearsing all that the Lord had done for him in finding favor with Potiphar and being put in charge, Joseph cannot pursue wickedness and, more importantly, sin against God. His desire for God overshadowed the temptation to sin. That’s the trick; having a greater desire and affection for God than sin’s seductive call.

Disciple Makers

This is a friendly reminder that we will start back up our Disciple Makers class this Wednesday. Join us at 6 pm as we discuss how to read our bibles.

Mission

Perhaps it would be wise to refresh our memories on what we here at Light in the Desert Church believe is our mission. At Light in the Desert, our mission is to glorify God by making disciples who love God supremely, love others sacrificially, and share hope through the gospel of Jesus Christ to all peoples (read more).

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Bryan

Church Family,

Sunday was a fantastic day as we continued in the book of Genesis.  Joseph will carry the story from here.  We will see the ups and downs as Israel moves out of the promised land and into Egypt.  Genesis 37 begins that journey by telling us how his brothers poorly treated Joseph; he is rejected, stripped of his robe, and sold for money.  This is the genesis of how the people of God end up as slaves of Pharaoh who deals shrewdly with them and ruthlessly makes life bitter for them (Exodus 1:1-14).  Things don’t just happen overnight.  There are many movements along the way that bring them, bring people, to unhealthy situations.  Genesis 37 reminds us just how desperate we are for God’s grace once again.  It also gives us hints towards the more excellent brother who is rejected, stripped of his robe, and sold for money (Matthew 27:27-31).

Disciple-Makers

This is just a friendly reminder that we will be gathering this week, March 2, for our disciple-makers class at 6 pm, but will not gather next week, March 9, due to Spring Break.

Ukraine Prayer Guide

Take some time to be praying for the unrest in Ukraine.  Here is a prayer guide to help.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Bryan

Church Family,

As we watched Jacob’s narrative in Genesis come to a close on Sunday, we learned a few things (Genesis 35).  First, the longer we walk with God, the more maturity we should see in our lives.  Time is one of the greatest tools God has to grow us and our faith.  Jacob has endured a lot, which has caused him to deepen his trust and heighten his holiness.  He called his family to live like a people who follow the God of Abraham, Isaac, and now Jacob.   Secondly, we observed that sin does have consequences.  Grace is always evident, and God’s faithfulness never waivers, but Simeon, Levi, and Reuben all forfeit the joy and privilege of carrying on the blessing of God (Genesis 49).  Lastly, we saw in Jesus the fulfillment and obedience to the covenant–which is God taking flesh and doing what no people, no prophet, no king, and no priest could do; be obedient fully to the covenant.

Destination Unknown

One last final reminder that this Sunday, from 4 pm – 6:30 pm, we are having a church-wide get-together.  Food and childcare will be provided.  Don’t miss it!!

Prospective Members Class

There is still time to join us this Saturday from 1 pm – 4 pm for our Prospective Members Class.  This class is designed to answer all your questions about the church, why join, and the nuts and bolts of Light in the Desert Church.  Let me know if you are interested!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Bryan

Church Family,

What a Sunday!  Genesis 34 is indeed a difficult chapter, but I’m so grateful for a church that does not shy away from hard passages and wants to dig into God’s word to understand.  The story of Dinah is one of terrible mistreatment and blind justice.  We understand the longing for justice when the innocent are mistreated.  The brothers cannot bear the thought of their sister being humiliated, defiled, sinned against, and treated like a prostitute.  Their longing is rooted in a right thing, justice, making right the wrong, but their massacre was out of step.  Though Shechem had committed a grievous sin that “must not be done,” justice cannot be executed blindly.  The good news is that God does bring justice wisely.  Dinah is the innocent one mistreated who needs justice to roll down from a wise and powerful God.  He is better at vengeance (Deut 32:35, Rom 12:19, Heb 10:30).  What has been done to her is heinous, outrageous, something that “must not be done!”  Upon reflecting on this event, Moses strategically labels the sin with words that clearly communicate that Shechem’s sin is grievous. Therefore, it requires a wise and powerful one to bring adequate justice.  Interestingly enough, another innocent one who was mistreated that brings that justice, Jesus (Heb 7:26).

Senior Luncheon

We announced this past Sunday a get-together for our Senior Adults at Fat Willy’s.  We will meet there at 11:30 am to have lunch and spend time together chatting, laughing, and encouraging one another.  I’m looking forward to hanging with you all!

Destination Unknown

Speaking of get-togethers, we have a church-wide event on Feb 20th from 4 pm -6:30 pm.  Food and childcare will be provided.  Please sign up in the foyer so we can have an accurate number to prepare.  As we said Sunday, the adults will be split into teams to participate in an activity that will require some driving.  The children will enjoy time together playing and eating pizza.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Bryan

Church Family,

Sunday was another wonderful time together!  The story of Jacob and Esau is full of grace and forgiveness, both of which are overwhelming when we experience them.  Jacob experiences them as he finally meets Esau face to face (Gen 33).  In this section, he makes an interesting statement to Esau, “For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me” (Gen 33:10).  He equates the encounter with Esau as encountering God (which he did the night before, see Gen 32:22-32).  The connection is that he has been accepted despite himself, despite not being deserved acceptance.  Grace is like that; it makes us aware of just how undeserving we are, heightening our gratefulness.  Brothers and Sisters, we have been forgiven a lot through the person and work of God the Son.  This should produce grateful, gracious, and patient people.  I hope you rest and rejoice in the forgiveness we have in Christ.  I pray you are a little more gracious this week and patient with one another.

Disciple-makers

This Wednesday, we start back up our disciple-makers Class.  It runs from 6 pm – 7:30 pm and childcare will be provided.  If you’ve never attended, anytime is a good time to join.  This first night will be an introduction and explanation of what we will be covering this Spring Semester.

Prospective Members Class

Our next Prospective Members Class will be February 19 from 1 pm – 4 pm.  If you are interested in attending, please sign up in the foyer.  This class is designed to give a thorough look at what we believe, what a church is, why join, and lastly, cover all the nuts and bolts of LITDC.  The class is an informative conversation about the Bible’s perspective on “all things church” and helps us understand how theology meets everyday life…READ MORE

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Bryan

Church Family,

As followers of God, we inevitably will show with our life the effects of His work through God the Son. We are a people who have been changed, and that change will and must alter the way we live. One such change is the willingness to seek forgiveness even if it costs us something. As we continue to watch God through the book of Genesis create a people who are devoted to Him, we see the increase of their understanding and see evidence of greater faith as they alter the way they live. As we saw Sunday, Jacob is a beautiful example of this as he pursues Esau (Gen 32:1-21). Esau was not too happy with Jacob when he left his country (Gen 27:41), and now Jacob is walking back to his hometown. Though it’s been 20 years, Jacob knows he must seek his brother and make amends for his wrongs towards him. This is exactly what Christians do, seek forgiveness when they have wronged others. We are people willing to say, “I’m sorry.” Jacob’s growth of faith includes seeking those he has wronged. Brothers and Sisters, this is true of us as well. Are you willing to seek forgiveness? Are you willing to admit and confess wrong?

Prayer/Worship Gathering

We will gather on January 26 at 6 pm to sing and pray. We will seek the Lord’s wisdom for 2022 over several things we sense we must do this year. We will beg the Lord to move in our church and within the surrounding area. Please join us as we pray and sing great truths.

Disciple-Makers

I want to take this moment and personally ask you to commit to our Disciple-makers class that will start on February 2. Disciple-makers is designed to help equip and encourage a follower of Christ to fulfill their responsibility of making disciples. It covers various topics: foundational beliefs, extremely practical ways to read scripture with believers and non-believers, and the ins and outs of how we change. On average, it will require about 30-45 minutes of reading each week before the class. Then, each Wednesday from 6:00 pm-7:30 pm, there will be discussion and practice reading scripture with others.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Bryan