Bret Hammond

"I'm trying to thrive." What if it's not about us trying, though?

Genelle passed away at 100 years old. She was an amazing lady and it was an honor to speak on her behalf.

Peter's call is for a faith that allows us to not merely survive in this world but to thrive!

We know gossip is wrong but we wink, giggle and tell it anyway. Reading through the Bible, though, God never winks or giggles when he talks about gossip. He takes it seriously. Why? Why does God not tolerate gossip and why shouldn't we?

In Jesus' final words we find the answer to our greatest need.

Jesus took on our most basic need so he could meet our greatest need.

"Into your hands I commit my spirit." This was more than just Jesus' last words on the cross. It was the bedtime prayer of the Jewish people. For centuries it was the last words on their lips before they fell asleep. For centuries they hoped it would be the last words on their lips before they died. These words were lovingly and carefully sown into Jesus' heart. It makes me wonder, what are we sow...

What would it take? That's the question I've been asking myself this week. From time to time our kids disappoint us. We are at times upset about their choices. But as disappointed as we can be we would never abandon our children . . . would we? And yet God the Father did exactly that. Jesus cried out those words, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" because for the first time in all eternit...

Jesus' words to his friend John and his mother Mary remind us that we are all linked through the cross.

The thief in the cross reveals our greatest need--and greatest gift.

Scripture reading and message from Bill Carreon's funeral.

"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." These may be the most personal and the most difficult words Jesus spoke while on the cross.

One little sin . . . one little lie . . .one little misdeed. Who could it possibly hurt?

"Character doesn't matter" became a catchphrase during a political campaign a few decades ago. We can debate the value of character in politics all we want, but does our character speak to how we value our faith? Does it say anything about who we belong to?

Once again, the children of Israel screwed up. But just admitting you screwed up doesn't save you. Salvation comes when you look to Jesus.

If there's one thing we love to complain about it's complainers. In 1 Corinthians 10 among all those bad examples in the Bible we find the warning not to "grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer." The problem isn't just the grumbling, though. It's where the grumbling comes from and what it points us towards.

"Our God is a consuming fire." The question isn't, "Will we get burned?" The question is, "What of us will get burned?"

Say the name "Titanic" and the imagery is instantly that of catastrophe. Mention the Space Shuttle Challenger and the next word in your mind is "disaster." Say "golden calf" and you immediately recognize disobedience, idolatry and sin.

"Is this what God wants?"

We're ready to put a cap on 2014. It's been a year of joy and sorrow, of celebration and mourning. Most of all, though, it's been a year of devotion to God and he has blessed us in some amazing ways.

Laid in a manger, set on a donkey, nailed to a cross, laid in a tomb. All to purchase our peace

If "peace on earth" means anything it has to mean something within us. It has to mean something to those circumstances that are completely out of our control. It has to mean something to our relationships and our worries. "Peace on earth" needs to address our hearts and our heads.

Jesus is more than "The Reason for the Season" he is the reason for our peace. In face, the Bible says, "He himself IS our peace." Before "peace on earth" means anything to nations at war it needs to mean something to relationships in conflict. It has to mean something to the hurts we carry and the hurts we inflict on each other.

You can have Christmas without Santa. You can have Christmas without snow. You can have it without packages and lights and all of those things we fill the holiday with. But you can't have Christmas without peace. At the heart of the Christmas story is God's one and only son . . . and His one and only offer of peace.

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you." It comes down to two choices: we can allow our lives to be ruled by circumstances or God's will. The one we choose will change how we see everything.