Have you ever been literally punched in the gut? Those of us unfortunate enough to have experienced this sensation know a couple things. First, you literally cannot prepare yourself for the reverberating pain that you are going to experience. It is radiating, sharp discomfort that seems to last and last. Action movies don’t do justice to the toll even a minor injury like this can take on the body! Second, it will stop you in your tracks. You have no choice but to confront the pain that you are experiencing and let it sink in before you can move on…

It was a sobering moment when I realized I had become complacent and had begun going through the motions of my faith rather than being active and engaged. Christian complacency can look like different things for different believers, and it’s dangerous because it is easy - all you must do is sit back and go with the flow. This is because complacency does not require discipline, accountability, or action. Because of these things, a life of complacency can be appealing to many, making it a dangerous tool that the enemy uses against us…

What are you waiting for? Have you ever been in a place where you feel stuck? Where you feel as though life is passing by but you’re not moving with it? Where you feel like your sin is overwhelming, making you feel ashamed and broken? The Bible passage we will study today is written by a person who feels overwhelmed by their sin…

“What do I do if I get a suicidal text from one of my friends, telling me that they’re about to end their life. Who do I go to/what do I do to help them? Is praying a good thing to do at this time?”

First off, if you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call or text 988 to speak with someone 24/7. You also have people here at Impact who want to walk alongside you if you’d like to speak to someone face to face. There is so much hope for you. You are loved beyond words.

Philippians 1:21 says “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” This is a verse that is on my mind all the time. When I was in Ranger School, we would walk for hours, and we would not talk at all. I repeated this verse in my mind over and over just thinking of the implications of it. I wrote it on the inside of my hat so whenever I took it off, I would read it. I would daydream of ways this should look in my own life…

We all want something. At any given point in time, we are pursuing a goal or setting our lives on a certain trajectory. Right now you might be getting ready for college, or to get your driver’s license, or to get a job. If you’re like me, you like to have a plan. I don’t plan out my every move, but I tend to have a few steps I know I need to take to get where I want to go. It’s comfortable having a plan. It makes me feel like I’m in control…

Ah, winter in the Northwest! What’s not to like? Well, maybe the gray skies hanging low over the leafless trees still dripping from a recent downpour, the mushy mossy grass that sprays mud on your shoes, and the dark nights that arrive early and stay too long. Maybe that? Yes, definitely that. Deep down we know spring is coming, but for now it seems like things will never change…

O Holy Night is a reflection on the miracle of Christ’s birth and a call to respond in worship. The song also has quite the vocal range, allowing virtuosos to showcase their gifts and talents. As a musician, I love picking up on musical cues that are meant to imitate and emphasize the message of the song.

Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art;

Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.