There are some new job opportunities available that some in our community may be interested in.

We have all been thinking about what the year ahead holds – what we want to accomplish – what we want to change or get done. Even last week, right here, we thought of resolutions we could make – things we want to leave behind or pick up as we move forward on our journey. As much as it is clichè, we can’t seem to avoid it this time of year – even if we want to.

So, What is one resolution you have made this year?

Who has already failed at a resolution you have made?

have – at working out every day. That’s kind of an ongoing failed resolution. I think I make it every year. And while I get a bit better, I just never seem to commit.

The problem with resolutions is that often our lives don’t really seem to change, no matter how hard we try. Our resolutions and not backed up with much resolve. We say, “I’m going to fix things with my mom this year”, and then we get in a situation where she says something we don’t like and we think to ourselves, “no, I am going to act differently”, but we don’t. We make the same decisions, stuck in the same behavior trap. We are powerless to change. Maybe we want to become less critical, or less cynical this year. We find ourselves in a situation where someone is dressed really oddly, or says something really stupid, or a bit too earnest for our liking, and we think of the perfect cut. The wisecrack that will get us the attention and reaction we want. We think, “no, I am not going to do this anymore. I’m going to change my attitude”, but before the thought is over, the critical words leap from our mouths. “It’s who I am”, we reason. “I can’t change it”.

With all this failure to change, our Christianity starts to look like nothing more than a get-out-of-jail free card, and we’re not even sure we believe the jail exists.

If that’s where this all ended though, we’d be all out of hope. And we are not. (more…)

Here is the campaign video for “Believe”. Watch it, believe and keep Fido alive in your heart!

Also, you can check out all of UBCs vidoes on our site at http://urbanbridgechurch.com/wordpress/index.php/ubc-videos/

Starting today, our messages are available for download online.

You can access the Podcast (for subscription in iTunes or other podcast players), as well as each individual file, on our View From the Bridge page.

You may not be able to get to UBC some weeks, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss the message any more. This is an especially good way to catch up if you miss a week in the Quest of George this summer.

By the age of nine, I discovered the thrill of lying, cheating and stealing. I was just plain bad. Mom and Dad were concerned that I was hanging out with the wrong kids: I was the wrong kid. My wayward life came to an end the day my partner-in-crime, Alan Moir and I decided to steal some felt markers from Zellers. I had no sooner stuffed the package into my pocket when I was collared: literally. This big hand grabbed me from behind and I scampered on my tippy past the school supply bin and the cashier’s wicket, and into the manager’s office. The bundle of fear wedged in my stomach bloated and started rising up in my throat.

Mom came to pick us up: her eyes rimmed red and swollen from crying. At the time there were only two regrets: one that I caused my mom to cry, and two, that I got caught. I was also certain of two things: a spanking and being grounded. (more…)

The bible tells us the following about the gift given to you and me

I Corinthians 12 (The Message)

4-11God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful: (more…)

Is he? If so what difference does it make? In the following piece Christ is having another one of his frustrating discussions with his disciples.

They can’t grasp the fact that He is God John 14:

One of his disciples Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the Miracles you have seen me do. (more…)

Most of us believe a lot of things about Christ (or not). We believe that he was an amazing teacher. We believe that he was a social activist. We may even believe that he was a prophet. Most of us believe that he is God. But is there anything to the miracles written in the bible? Most importantly, does Christ still have the magic? Should part of our Christian world view include a belief in miracles? (more…)

The fear we don’t jump over

We have spoken three weeks on fear so far.

We started by looking at Fear as a Cage. Fear can hold us back – it can paralyze our progress. And it often has. Yet it need not, because we can trust in God to be there for us – to envelop our fears in His perfect Love.

Second, we looked at Fear as a Weapon. Religions, governments and people in general often use fear to control other people. You and I do it as well. This is not God’s way though – his way is a patient love that is willing to lay down control. We can move past Fear as a Weapon.

Third we looked at Fear as Freedom – the freedom that comes from a life in full knowledge that a Big God is in control – and reverencing that God. We can move forward with a proper fear of God. A certain kind of fear can be good, we have learned, and all other fears can be overcome! Good news!

And yet, there is this.
There is the fact that fear is still black, dark and distressing. Fear is overpowering and out of our control (as much as we would like to prescribe the magic of the last three weeks whenever needed). Sometimes, no matter what we say about fear to minimalize it – we are going to face fear. And it will not be easy. And it will not be unreasonable. There are times when fear is freedom, sure. But there are also times when fear is just …. fear. And to see this we need look no further than Christ.

If Christ Himself faced fear, can we expect to escape it? (more…)

Fear as Freedom sounds paradoxical. And it really sounds inconsistent when we equate a fear of God being an essential quality in our journey to know God and to have meaningful relationship with him.

Last week we discovered that God didn’t have fear as part of the plan in his relationship with humanity. We talked about fear not being the ideal method of coping and how in a perfect world there will be no fear. Yet Proverbs 1:7 says

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline (NLT)

. How does this work? How can fear be foundational for relationship with God and the basis of our wisdom? How does the fear of God equate with freedom? (more…)