What's the Bait in Your Trap? - by Matthew McNeil

What draws you away from God is the bait in a trap

The devil is so real, as are his snares.  He is putting up the greatest fight for young people now that I have ever seen.  Here is the scarier part:  he has a specific snare JUST FOR YOU.  A friend of mine, Isaiah Tuck, brought this notion to mind a few weeks ago, and this past Saturday my wife and I saw C. S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters performed on stage; needless to say, I’m still thinking about it.  Pictured to the side is a trap that many of you will recognize.  This trap is not meant for bears, small rabbits or even fish.  Its intended victim is an unsuspecting mouse.  Different prey require different snares.  The same is true for you and me.  What are some snares that you have seen used by the devil to keep people from God’s will for their lives?  Some blatant ones would be drugs, alcohol, and pornography.  You may say, “I’ll never be caught in any of those snares,” to which the devil knowingly grins and replies, “You’re right, but THIS ONE will do just fine.”  No, you may not be given to the aforementioned traps, but what about the need to have material things?  What about the house you live in, the car in your driveway, or the job that seems to give you access to all the things you want?  If God asked you to serve Him in a way that caused you to have to give up your accustomed way of life, would you be willing?  I want to be free to follow Him wherever He leads, and if that means not having any or all of life’s luxuries, I say, “so be it.”  This world isn’t my home anyway...

But you say, “That trap won’t work on me either.”  OK, so you can’t be tied to anyTHING (unlikely), but what about anyONE?  Oh sure, he or she is quite the catch (hmmm...), maybe even “the one;” all your friends and family love this person, and he or she is all you can think about.  Is he?  Is she?  A boyfriend or girlfriend, or even a spouse or child for those of you who are married, isn’t a bad thing at all; however, placing more importance on that person than on God is sin—it’s idolatry.  Does Satan have you trapped in worshipping a loved one more than the Lover of your soul?  If it’s hard to gauge yourself by that question, try this one:  who do you consider most when it comes to how you spend your time, God or someone else?

Sadly, if none of those snares work, the devil has another one that WE carry on us at all times—ourselves.  Whether it’s pride, or the fact that we’ve bought the lie that God doesn’t really have our best interest at heart, unwillingness to surrender to God’s will means we’re trapped by ourselves—handcuffed and hands tied when it comes to living life the way our Maker has called us to.

Love not the world (1 Jn. 2:15).  Is it any wonder why the LORD tells us not to love the world?  It’s because its ruler is Satan, and if we buy into it, we’ve taken the bait.  The devil is fighting—fighting to keep you lost if that’s your spiritual condition, and fighting to keep you ineffective if he has already lost you to the Savior.  “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).

I Just Want to be Clean - by Neal Hatfield

We Must Be Refinded Like Gold

The LORD wants to purge us. When gold is mined out of the earth, it is
surrounded by impurity. They take it and boil it under intense heat and all
of the impurities rise to the top and are skimmed off and the pure gold
remains. Psalms 51:1-13 talks about that. David sees his ugly sin, knows he
has broken the heart of GOD and yearns to be cleaned, purged, and set free.
He cried out things like , blot it out, purge me, create in me a clean
heart. The bottom line is he was desperate about his sin.

Are you there? Do you want that kind of cleansing? The truth is only JESUS
CHRIST can do that. The Bible says we must repent, that means we come to the
place that we hate our sin, confess it to the LORD and then forsake it. When
we are really broken about our sin we not only want to be forgiven but we
want to be changed and not go back to it.  Many times I have prayed "LORD I
am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Please change me".
Maybe your are in the cleansing fire right now, run to JESUS and let him
skim off all the filth and let is HIS purity shine in your life. I love the
kids song: let others see JESUS in you, let other see JESUS in you, keep
telling the story so faithful and true, let others see JESUS in you. I
really do JUST WANT TO BE CLEAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bless Em' Real Good - by Maryanne Grimmett

This past weekend, I had the privilege of attending the wedding of a dear friend.  It was beautiful.  From the bridesmaids strutting down the aisle in brown dresses, jean jackets, and cowboy boots to the look on the groom’s face when he saw his beautiful bride…it was precious.  But perhaps my favorite part was a prayer of blessing for the couple.  The gentleman who offered it, the bride’s uncle, closed the prayer with the words, “Lord, bless ‘em real good.  Amen.”

You know what?  That’s my prayer for you today, that the Lord would bless you, in the words of that gentleman, real good. Thanks for taking the time to read our blog.  Thanks for your interest in Uplands Reach.  We cared enough about you to post this blog, and you cared enough about us to read it.  That’s very, very cool.  So, on behalf of the Uplands Team, may the Lord bless you amazingly, abundantly, astoundingly…real good.

Intentional Dependence - by Becky Hatfield

Every Tuesday, my husband Jake and I gladly partake in what we call Date Night. It’s a chance for us to break away from our normal routine and the busyness of life and really focus on each other. Jake and I see each other every day, but something about saying “this time is for us” really makes us get real and talk about what matters.



But last Tuesday, we actually had a Date DAY! Jake was scheduled to work that night, so we flipped our normal routine and took off in the morning for Linville Gorge. I now affectionately call it “The Grand Canyon of the South.” My jaw practically hit the rocky ledge I was standing on as I gazed out over the massive, 360 degree view around me. 

Something about those moments - when I’m standing on top of a mountain, or maybe on the rocky ocean coast hearing the waves crashing - they just get me. It’s like everything I’ve been worrying about just melts away in the awesomeness of God’s creation. These moments leave me with a fresh desire to live for Jesus and be about His Kingdom work. 

As I’ve gotten older and graduated from college, these moments have become fewer and farther between. Real life takes over... getting our to-do list done, paying bills, and the basic tasks of the day that can overwhelm us. And all these things are essential if we want to live as responsible people in this world. But if you’re like me, being intentional about taking time to get away and seek my King and adjust my perspective can seem like an unnecessary luxury. I mean, there are dishes in the sink, right?

The Scripture tells us the opposite is true. Luke 5:16 says, “And Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I am will be exalted in the earth.” These times of “getting away” shouldn’t be an excuse to escape from reality, but an opportunity to show our real need and dependence on God. 

If Jesus needed to withdraw and pray, how much more do we, as sinful men and women, need to do the same? I’ve been challenged to notice the beauty around me and thank Him for it, to show my need and dependence on God by spending intentional time with Him, and to daily put it all in perspective. God is on His throne and the little things that get me down are usually not worth my brain space. 


Just like Jake and I  intentionally spend time together (outside of our normal routine) on our date night, being on that mountain has helped me realize I need to do the same with my Savior.


I would like to ask our readers: how do you intentionally "withdraw" like Jesus did?  What often gets in your way of deep communion with God?

Looking for God's "Little" Gifts - by Susan Hatfield

When I see that first blossom or bud after a long, dreary, cold winter, I get so excited! It’s like getting a gift!  It tells me that spring is in on the way. It reminds me that there is hope, and the Lord is in control of everything.  It is so refreshing to know that He has a plan and He wants to give us good things.  Matthew 7:11 says, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things unto those who ask Him?" What an encouraging verse.

I am reminded that I need to look around at the little “gifts” that God has given me each and every day, know that He is in control, and relax in Him and enjoy His creation. He can take care of the little things and the big ones!

Some pictures of our beautiful blooms at Uplands Reach:

...And the Company You Keep - by Matthew McNeil

What "lens" do you see the world through?

A while back I became obsessed with apologetics, which is knowing why you believe what you believe and being able to defend it.  Suddenly, I thought I had the power to prove someone to salvation.  However, something started happening, and I was at a loss as to how to go about handling it.  Even after I presented the best evidence there was to believe the Bible, people still refused!  They would merely reinterpret the evidence I would present, and make it actually hold up their beliefs.  It was as if they had a filter for their brain; whatever jived with what they already believed got through the filter, and anything opposed ricocheted off of it.  That’s when I learned about something called worldview.  I’m not talking about particular world religions, though they certainly fit under the category of worldview.  I’m talking about a system used for interpreting reality, or better yet a lens through which reality is viewed.  Just like a prescription lens changes the way one sees everything around him, one’s worldview affects how one accepts the facts.  For example, Evolutionists believe that since many creatures have similar physical features, they must have come from a common ancestor.  Creationists understand this to show that they didn’t come from a common ancestor, but rather a Common Creator.  Suddenly, one has to start asking the question “Do the facts really make this truth claim, or is my worldview influencing how I see the facts?”

I know some of this is a little deep, so let’s head back to the surface for air.  Everyone gets their worldview from somewhere; no one is born with a particular worldview.  Where do they come from, you ask?  One source is the people with whom we surround ourselves.  Proverbs 12:26 says that “The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.”  In the Hebrew, the phrase “more excellent” has to do with being a guide.  So another way of reading it would be that “The righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”  Check out these other scriptures on the subject:  Proverbs 13:20; 16:29; and 27:17.  Who are the people who influence you?  Perhaps a better question is, who do you greatly respect?  It doesn’t even have to be someone who is alive.  You could have read something from someone who died long ago, but whose ideas live on.  Where will this guide lead you to in eternity?  Something to think about.

Ten Seconds from Stupid - by Neal Hatfield

According to Psalms 51, sin requires a purging. When we are purged, we can walk away clean and free from the load of our sin. When David slept with a woman who was not his wife, he began to feel the incredible pain of his sin. When he was ready to repent to a holy GOD, he blamed nobody but himself. The sin that began in his mind soon consumed him. Listen to what he cried out to the LORD:

Blot out my transgression.

Wash me thoroughly.

Cleanse me.

Create in me a clean heart.

He cried out to the LORD because he knew he had broken the law of GOD. Even though he had hurt Bathsheba, killed Uriah, and consented to the death of some of his great soldiers, he realized the greatest pain he had caused was that he had broken the heart of GOD. That is when real repentance comes for any of us, when we say, "LORD against you and you only have I sinned." The good news is that GOD is always right. The great news is that HE make a way back home for all of us if we will come to HIM broken about our ugly sin. The truth is, we are all only ten seconds from stupid.  Ask the LORD to help you run from sin. Grab on to I John 1:7 and walk in the light of JESUS.

To Share...or Not to Share? - by Maryanne Grimmett

I love gas stations, because gas stations mean candy.  And, trust me, nobody appreciates candy more than this girl.  So….yesterday I was perusing the sugar aisle at a service station in Marion, positively giddy with excitement at the numerous options showcased before me.  Should I go with Sour Jacks, my tried-and-true standby with its paradoxical blend of sour and sweet?  Or should I indulge in a Reese’s, which now boasts manifold versions such as Whipped, or Big Cup, Dark Chocolate, or Minis?  Since I was on my way to church, I opted for something a little classier, the age-old mint.

But, alas, settling on mints did little to narrow down the choices.  For, you see, that left me to vacillate between Certs, BreathSavers, Altoids, and all of their many offshoots.  But something, just something drew me to the Ice Breakers.  Maybe it was the bright blue packaging, maybe it was the flavor crystals, maybe it was the fact that they’re sugar free.  More than likely, it was because they were the cheapest option.

Midway through the church service, I dug the Ice Breakers out of my purse and started to pop the top.  It was then that I noticed something interesting.  Ice Breakers gives you two options…a tab labeled “to share” and a tab labeled “not to share.”  But what really stood out to me was the fact that the “to share” tab opens with just barely enough room to shake out lonely little mint.  By contrast, the “not to share” tab opens so wide that you have to be careful or all your mints will spill out on the floor.

At first, I wondered if that was a packaging mistake.  You’d think that, with other people reaching in for mints, you’d want the “to share” tab to open easily and generously.  But then it occurred to me that this was most definitely intentional.  In fact, this reflects the unfortunate but typical attitude toward giving (or, more accurately, NOT giving) that pervades our culture.

We are a culture that wants…and wants a lot.  Unfortunately, we are less inclined to give.  But think about Luke 6:38: “Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete with it shall be measured to you again.”

What if we switched the tabs?  What if we took God at His word and gave generously, freely, and excitedly?  What if we gave God all of our time, talents, and finances and trusted Him to dictate their use?  What if?

I can’t wait until someone whispers across the pew, “Do you have any candy?”  I’m going to pop the “not to share” tab and shake it until the Ice Breakers overflow.  

The Ever-Loving Care of the Master - by Justin Hatfield

Cody is one of the best horses that we have in Upland’s  equestrian program, “His Reigns”.  We can take him out, put anyone on him, and not worry one bit about what he is going to do.  Three weeks ago, Cody got hurt and has been out of commission as I  work on doctoring him back to health.  Without the care that I have given him for the past few weeks, he would not recover.  With this care he will not only be to the place he was before, but he will be in better shape for the future.  

Have you ever been serving God but for some reason you were hit hard with an attack?  I know that I have; but when these attacks come and we get hurt, our ever-loving Master takes us in His care and nurtures us back to health.  So when these times come, let Him be the doctor and you will make it through!    

Pinpointing Your Personal Landmarks...by Matthew McNeil

Can you point to specific places in your life that made
a distinct change of course in your life?

What are some landmarks in your life?  A few in my life include the day I trusted Christ as my Savior, the day I married the love of my life, and the day my little girl came into this world.  Landmarks mean something.  They mark a turning point in one’s life story.  They say that a change has occurred, and things will never be the same.  One of the most prominent landmarks in this guy’s life was Boot Camp at Uplands Reach Conference Center.  It was there that I fell in love with my Savior all over again.  I was given a passion to serve Him through serving others.  He showed me how important His Truth was in my life—and it made me want to share that Truth with others.  He helped me see that living my life just calling myself a “Christian” was merely survival, that encountering Him everyday in His Word and allowing Him to live through me, now that’s LIFE.

Every road I’ve taken in life since then has been determined by that landmark.  And while the specific details of my story are unique to me, their cause isn’t.  Dozens of other Boot Camp alumni could tell you just how the LORD used Boot Camp to give direction for their lives (feel free to do so below).  Do you have such a defining landmark in your life?  Would you like one?  Visit the Uplands Reach website to find it.

Aren't You Glad There is a Way Back Home?! by Neal Hatfield

Psalms 51:1-13 is so powerful. We see a broken man who is haunted by his sin. I can almost assure you that when David was in bed with Bathsheba, the satisfaction of sex was out of this world. He never thought that this short term pleasure would lead him to lie, kill a man, see his baby die, and so much more. Any way you cut it, sin is ugly. Sin’s pleasures are so temporary, but the results are so eternal.





I have learned a few things about sin in my thirty-one years of knowing Christ.

1.  It is not worth the temporary fun it brings.

2.  If I get too close to sin, my thoughts get all messed up and I make bad decisions.

3.  I realize that I could commit any sin a lost person can, and I need to be honest with myself that I am very weak in many areas.

I am so glad that the Lord makes a way back home for sinners. I love I John1:7-10. Read it, pray it, and believe God wants you to come back home to Daddy.  In my next blog post, we will go even deeper into Psalms 51.

Serve Him With All You Have - By Justin Hatfield

This week I had the opportunity to talk with a man that just turned one hundred years old!  As we were talking, he began to show me some things that he had collected over the years.  Among this collection was the key to the city of Scottsville, Kentucky, a gun that his wife had given to him over 50 years ago and a book full of pictures that represented the past century he had lived through!  As we were talking he said that even though he had lived so long it still felt like it was yesterday that  he was in his prime.  

Our lives are so brief in the picture of eternity.  If this man, who even after one hundred years of life says his younger days seem like yesterday, than we have so much to look forward to in heaven, because it will be forever!  Keep living for Him and serve Him with all you have!

The Only Salve for a Broken Heart - by Becky Hatfield

Matthew 18:21-22

 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seven times seventy times. 

The first time I heard the song 7x70 by Chris August on the radio, I was already almost home. But it was definitely one of those, “I’m going to sit in my driveway and hear the rest of this” kind of songs. The story in the song drew me in with heart-breaking accuracy. Not because it’s a story I’ve experienced, but because I’ve sat and cried with so many that have.

In the song, Chris talks about the heartbreaking reality that many people face today: broken families.

I’ve sat and cried with friends as they’ve dealt with fathers leaving their families flat. I’ve talked with kids who have numbly told about their parents splitting up - their calm exterior belying the broken heart inside their chest. Each time I hear another heart-rending story of how someone has been hurt by their family, I realize once again that this is not the way things were supposed to be.

The first social institution that God ever created was family. It was smiled upon by our Father in heaven and meant to be a place of safety, comfort, and love. But since sin entered the world, families have often become the very opposite. It only took one generation: Adam and Eve’s son Cain murdered his brother Abel. And thousands of years later, relationships with family members still can be some of the most treacherous and hurtful relationships in our lives.

The thing I love most about Chris August’s song is that he doesn’t just talk about the hurt; he also talks about the healing that comes with true forgiveness from the heart.

When someone hurts us, it’s like they stick a fishhook in our heart, and they’re still holding the fishing pole. The longer that hook stays in our heart, the more likely we are to have an infection called bitterness form inside of us. This infection makes us see the world through darkened glasses. We become cynical. And while we think holding onto the bitterness is the only way to see justice come to the one who hurt us, it’s actually hurting us way more than its hurting them.

Forgiveness is like taking that hook out of our heart and saying that that person no longer has power to hurt us.  And only when we forgive can we allow Jesus to come in and clean out the infection that has taken place.  Forgiveness is the only way to be free.*

 When Jesus told Peter that he was to forgive his brother or sister seven times seventy times for wronging him, He knew our stubborn human hearts.  He knows how hard it is to forgive when we are wronged.  But He also knows the huge harm that comes to us if we don’t.  He made this command for our good, freedom, and healing.

To put it into perspective, how many times over has Jesus forgiven us?  How many times have we been ashamed to share His name with a friend, used His name in vain, or shunned spending time with Him?  He forgave us so we can forgive others. 

 My heart breaks as I write this blog post.  So many hurtful stories of families splitting and hurting one another ring in my ear – how many more ring in my Heavenly Father’s ears?  He is ever so mindful of each and every situation that I hear of.  But as I write this, I am also so thankful that He has provided us a way to live free of bondage to bitterness.  It is my hope and prayer that if you are hurting inside because someone has their hook in you, that today you would experience the power of forgiveness.

*This analogy comes from author and speaker, Dave Park

Stayin' Alive at Uplands Reach - by Matthew McNeil

Survival Real-Estate at it's Finest

Check out this survival shelter my buddy Jackson and I built using four sticks, an emergency blanket, three zip ties, and a few logs and stones for weight!  We’re in the thick of finalizing the wilderness activities that will be going on with our teens this summer, and things are looking awesome.  Stay tuned as we practice more survival skills like firecraft, locating wild edibles, and obtaining clean drinking water.  If you want to be part of these activities, register for Teen Camp and sign up for the “Rugged Spirituality” MOD.  More info can be found at www.uplandsreach.org.

Life's Interruptions. By Sue Hatfield

Life is constantly sending us situations we don't expect

Sometimes, life just sends us curveballs. We think we have our schedule all planned out and then, out of the blue, it’s all off-kilter and nothing like we had planned. The things that change our schedules can be minor to major. Things like moms who fall and break their hip, horses that get cut up on something (who knows what) and need stitches, staples, antibiotics, and major daily care, an unexpected phone call that takes lots of time and emotional energy, or a headache that won’t allow you to get your work done. All of these things can seem like interruptions...and maybe even irritations. But, when we realize that the Lord is in control and He has orchestrated every single moment in our lives, we have to trust Him and know that He has a better plan than we could have ever designed on our own. 

One of my all-time favorite passages is Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” This reminds me that to trust the One who made me and IS making me into His perfect will. I should not only trust Him with the big things in my life but every single little thing that comes my way. My prayer is this: “Lord help me to recognize the ‘interruptions’ as your will for my life – as divine appointments. Help me to handle them with grace and a servant’s heart. Help me to put MY schedule aside and pick up YOUR schedule today! I love you, Lord, and I know that You love me! You are AWESOME!”

Life is Good! by Neal Hatfield

Wow!  A day in the life of serving Christ; Psalm 37:3-4 is great!  The Lord says to follow Him and He will give you the desires of your heart.

So, here is a day in the life of Neal Hatfield:

• Thursday night, asleep at 1 a.m.
• Friday: rise before sunrise, clean the barn and take care of a horse who got stitches on Thursday.
• Take off for the camp at 8:15 a.m. 
• Ran by McDonalds and ate their great oatmeal with Sue.
• Met a great friend of Uplands Reach who donated a new horse called Black Jack.
• Ran to the bank and got ready for a URCC retreat.
• Retreat group arrived at 1 p.m.
• I got to work and study until 6:30 p.m.
• I headed to the gym to preach to some incredible world changers.
• Finished the service at 8 p.m. and took the group on a night hike.  We climbed about 500 feet in elevation and looked at God’s beautiful creation.
• Got the group bedded down in the bunk houses.
• Hit the bed early that night at 12:30 a.m.
• Could not wait to get up and have another day with champions at Uplands Reach.

God is good and truly gives the desires of our hearts.  Life is good!

The Thing About Mud Puddles... By Maryanne Grimmett

Who among us, deep down, doesn't love a mud puddle?  There's something just so satisfyingly squishy about 
them. When I was a kid, there were few things I enjoyed more than sinking my bare feet into a fresh puddle. The best ones could be found at the end of our driveway, delightfully pooled in a deep rut at the end of a rainy day. First chance I got, I shucked my shoes, peeled off my socks, and stomped until the mud oozed between my toes and left my feet as wrinkled as raisins.

A quarter of a lifetime later, I've still got a thing for mud puddles. Just today, feeding horses in the rain left my muck boots, well, mucky. It was as though I'd walked in cement, only this cement was a mixture of horse manure, soggy hay, and who knows what else. I sure didn't want to track that junk in the house, and I was (to be honest) much too lazy to drag out the water hose, so I did the next best thing. I found a mud puddle and sloshed right through it.

But the thing about mud puddles is that they're muddy. Try as I might, I just couldn't quite get those boots clean. As soon as a little would wash off, my boot would sink to the bottom of the puddle, only to be encapsulated once again in filth.

I've heard that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results. Call me crazy, but throughout my life I've tried numerous times to get my act together, to straighten up, to turn over a new leaf. Funny how that never seemed to work out. In fact, the more I tried to do good on my own, the more of a mess I ended up in. It wasn't until I encountered the living God and allowed Him to completely, eternally wash my sins away that I truly experienced cleansing. You see, filth plus filth always equals filth. But, praise God, repentance plus Jesus equals radical transformation and a new life in Him. Every single time. Consider these boots washed.

But...

But Justin...Bub is so short...and you are so tall!

What Sets Us Apart

Recently, my husband Jake and I enjoyed a little getaway in a nearby mountain town. While we were exploring our surroundings, we came across this awesome exhibit in front of a small church.

Needless to say, we were both blown away. It’s pretty normal to see a cross on a hill or in front of a church, especially here in the Bible Belt. Sadly, I’ve almost gotten used to seeing it. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I’m staring at an ancient Roman tool of torture, humiliation, and death - and the very thing that my beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, hung on to pay the price for my sin-sick soul.

What I am not used to seeing, however, is an empty grave like we saw on our mini-vacation! This exhibit made us stop our car, get out, and explore. 

The simple fact about Christianity is that we have something that no other religion on earth can offer: our Leader, the One we worship, adore, and follow, is ALIVE!!! 

You see, Mohammed (the founder of Islam) was born, proclaimed many things, attracted many followers, but then he died. He was buried in the ground - and he stayed there. Although many still follow Mohammed’s teachings, that’s all they're following. Mere teachings. Not a real person. 

The same goes for Buddha. And Confucius. And Joseph Smith. 

Countless “religious leaders” have taught, attracted followers, and gone to their grave, never to be seen again...all except for One.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we have something no other “religion” on earth has. We have a relationship with a real and living God. Jesus died, not because He had to, but because He chose to. His great love for mankind drove Him the cross, where He bore the sins of all and died the death of a criminal, even though he had never done anything wrong.

Death could not handle our God. After three days, Jesus rose again and was seen by over 500 people before He ascended to heaven. He sits on His throne today and is coming again for those who love Him.

I’m so thankful for a church that has taken the initiative in proclaiming to the world the very thing that sets Christianity apart. Let’s take the same initiative in our lives, world changers, and show the world that we serve, love, and worship the LIVING God.

Yay or...Neigh?

Confessions of a Dogaholic - by Maryanne Grimmett

Charlie

I do believe I’m a dogaholic.  I just love ‘em.  Big ones, small ones, fat ones, skinny ones, spotted ones, striped ones.  Beagle or Border Collie, Poodle or Pit Bull, I don’t care.  Come to think about it, just about every blog I’ve written for The World Changer Archives has to do with Mabel, my Basset Hound.  So, given my penchant for canines, you can imagine my surprise when, as I drove home from Uplands Reach, I saw a tiny brown furball crouching on the yellow line in the middle of a lonely, winding road. What’s a girl to do but throw the car in park, jump out, scoop the thing up, and head on down the road?  I guess it’s about time we got Mabel a dog.  I said all that to say this, my dear reader: Be looking for adventures concerning our newest canine friend. Welcome to the Uplands family, Charlie!