The New Church of Boulder Valley

It seems like common sense that we ought to pray for others when they are in need. Yet sometimes we find ourselves in circular arguments in our mind about why we should bother. If God is all knowing and all loving and all wise why would we need to pray for others when of course God is managing the universe as perfectly as possible and doing as much good to all people as is possible? What difference do our prayers make? Are we going to change the course of people’s lives and events of this world by praying?

You are invited to worship this Sunday as we dig into this topic. Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. a.m.

Everyone deals with stress. Some stress is healthy. Too much can tear us apart on many levels and remove any sense of well being.

This week we will look at the causes of stress and begin to create a plan to deal with it or perhaps help to remove it – or at least the stressful part of stress.

See you Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

Who’s doing the work, me or God?

This is one of the inner struggles we face when trying to overcome a challenge. Do I pray and wait for God to do something to get me through this or do I have to do all the work myself and God is just watching?

The answer is that it is a partnership. We are supposed to pray for help but then we have to act or take the next step, trusting that the Lord will work on our behalf to move us through the challenge. Or as the Russian proverb says: Pray to God, but row for shore.

We will see this truth played out in the final part of the story of Gideon. Gideon sees the odds are way against him, but he also has been told very clearly that the Lord will be with him. He just has to have enough trust to take the next step.

Are you ready to take the next step?

We hope to see you Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

What does a dog lapping water have to do with my spiritual life? A fair question. In the story of Gideon from the book of Judges in the Bible we are told about a small Israelite army facing a large Midianite army. They were outnumbered 4 to 1. The Lord said their army was too big and that any one who was afraid could leave. The army shrunk by about two thirds. Now they were outnumbered 13 to 1. The Lord said their army was still too big. If they won they would boast about how awesome they were. So the Lord ordered Gideon to have a test of the soldiers. He was to lead them to water and whoever knelt down with their face in the water was to leave, but whoever cupped their hands and lifted the water to their face and lapped the water like a dog was to stay and fight. That test dwindled the number down to 300, or 450 to 1. Now they were ready.

Sometimes when the odds seem impossible, we are just being prepared to be shown us how capable and powerful and able the Lord is to lead us and help us. We are given the opportunity to learn that with God all things are possible – if we will relinquish control.

Join us Sunday at 10:30 a.m. as we look more deeply at this story and its meaning.

In part two of our series on Growing Through Challenges, which is based on the story of Gideon in the book of Judges, we see that Gideon is called on to fight against an enemy of Israel and to free them. Gideon doesn’t feel like he is the right person to take this on and asks the Lord for a sign (or three) that the Lord will be with him and help him to have success.

The questions we are going to look at are: Does God give us signs? Is it okay to ask for a sign? If God does give us signs what do they look like or how do we know they are from God?

Join us Sunday at 10:30 a.m. as we explore this interesting subject.

We are beginning a four part series on how we grow through the challenges we face. It is valuable to know that we all will have challenges if we try to change our lives for the better – if we try to move from self centeredness to caring and concern for others. There will be resistance. The question is how do we overcome the resistance and find greater peace and happiness?

Join us Sunday at 10:30 a.m. as we begin to address this question.

Forgiving others takes time. That is okay. The sooner we can begin the journey from resentment to forgiveness the sooner we will find peace and connection.

This week we will talk about the journey toward forgiveness. We hope you will join us for this important discussion and find support for your own journey forward.

Sunday 10:30 a.m.

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Peace is one of those things that we all grasp and hope for, but can be hard to come by. We can mistakingly think that if our external circumstances are all as they should be (according to our view of things) then we will have peace. But if we think this is the answer then we most likely are trying to control our external circumstances so that they will fall into the magical formation that will allow peace to descend on us. This is unlikely to happen, let alone bring us the peace that we seek.

Peace is more of a byproduct of a life lived in alignment with the the Creator’s design. When we live this way we then have confidence that God is directing all things, providing all things and leading us to happiness no matter what it might look like at any particular moment. We trust in the big picture and the big goal and don’t let the details blew up our ability to be content.

When we remove all the stressors that come from self centered or short sighted choices the end result is peace. For example, when we stop being dishonest there is never any concern about someone finding out what really happened or what we really said. That stress is removed. That is one small example.

Come join us as we look at ways to build habits that bring true peace into our lives. See you Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

When we have tried and tried to change and be healed of the things that take away our happiness and peace of mind with no lasting effect, perhaps it is time to try something different.

This Sunday we will continue our series on healing and look at a story from the Word that helps us to see what it really means to humbly go the Lord and let the Truth’s healing power have its impact.

See you Sunday at 10:30 a.m.