Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Insurmountable

contributed by:
Staci Overbeck
Ministry Assistant to Adult:Life

Laura was living a dream. She had written a number one worship song, was working in a ministry that she loved, and she had just married her high school sweetheart. Things were definitely good for her, but shortly thereafter, she realized that there was something a little off. A visit to a doctor and some testing revealed that Laura's husband had a brain tumor. His surgery resulted in some touch and go moments with the end result being significant vision and memory loss - including the memory of their recent marriage.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Depth

Contributed by:
Tyler Ward
Spiritual Formation Pastor

One of the things that many Christians seem to be desiring is greater depth in their faith and relationship with Jesus. I think this is a great thing that as a pastor I celebrate - and as a fellow follower of Christ, I am desiring as well.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Heartbeat for Relationship

Contributed by:
Becky Johnson
Women's:Life Director

Recently, I ran across this prayer of Father Simon Tugwell:

“So long as we imagine that it is we who have to look for God, we must often lose heart. But it is the other way around. He is looking for us. And so we can afford to recognize that very often we are not looking for God: far from it, we are in full flight from him, in high rebellion against him. And he knows that and has taken it into account. He has followed us into our own darkness; there where we thought finally to escape him, we run straight into his arms. So we do not have to erect a false piety for ourselves, to give us the hope of salvation. Our hope is in his determination to save us, and he will not give in.”

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Deliverance

Contributed by:
Tyler Ward
Spiritual Formation Pastor

This past weekend Ron Klopfenstein continued our series called The Story. We looked at chapter 4, which tells the story of God delivering the Israelite people from their slavery in Egypt through a man named Moses.
Through this story of deliverance, we were reminded of a variety of things that we need deliverance from – our past, the mentality that when God asks us to do things…it's all up to us, our comfort, and our tendency to fear and try to control things. As Ron pointed out, not only do we need deliverance in these areas, but thankfully God is fully willing and fully capable of delivering us. 

Friday, October 28, 2011

Here We Go Again

Contributed by
Eric Dunaway
Communications/Missions Pastor

My journey at Pathway has been a very interesting one...and one that I've enjoyed immensely. In August of 2006 I started here as the middle school pastor. At the time, I thought I would be in student ministries forever. If there's one thing that seems to be consistent in my ministry, however, it's that God never ceases to surprise me by his calling...and regularly gives me cause to eat my words.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

A Story of Love

Contributed by:
Staci Overbeck
Ministry Assistant

Once upon a time there was…nothing. It’s kind of hard to believe isn’t it?  Nothing. Nada. Zilch. While on our honeymoon my husband and I visited a cave in southern Indiana. As part of the tour, the guide took us deep into the cave and then turned off all the lights. If you have never experienced total darkness, there is no way you can know the feeling. It is as if nothing else exists.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Fully Engaged

Contributed by:
Eric Dunaway
Small Groups Pastor

I remember my marriage proposal to my wife like it was yesterday. I had purchased the ring weeks in advance, and managed to keep it a secret...something that shocks me even to this day. My friends knew about it, my future in-laws knew about it...but my soon to be fiancé (I hoped) suspected nothing. In fact, I had managed to guard the secret so well that when I finally did propose to her on December 12, 1998, she was blown away...maybe a little too blown away. I don't think I had a firm answer from her for a solid ten minutes, which was the amount of time it took her to get over the initial shock. In case you're wondering, she said "yes."

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

The Greatest Resource

Contributed by:
Ron Klopfenstein
men's:life director
    

The focus of this past weekend was the greatest resource in the church today -- the people in the body.  No amount of technology, great graphics, wonderful buildings or amazing websites can equal the impact on our world that God's people working in community can have.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Don't Go It Alone

Contributed by:
Becky Johnson
women's:life director
   
It’s been an interesting year at our house. A year filled with surgeries, recoveries and trying to move forward. Through it all, we have seen and felt what it’s like to be included in authentic community. We’ve seen and felt what it’s like to not have to go through difficulties alone…we’ve experienced community!

Monday, September 19, 2011

Be Human

Contributed by:
Tyler Ward
spiritual formation pastor

Last weekend, Pastor Ron began a new series highlighting the four Life Values that we are chasing after together as church. The first of these four values involves “Living a Transformed Life.”