Introduction by Pastor Ben Joyce

When I was a little boy living in Hawaii I used to see elderly men in the park across from the beach who looked like they were doing Karate in molasses. My parents called it tai-chi. It was probably healthy for them, but it looked pretty boring to me.

Fast forward twenty-five years. It’s the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics and my eyes are fixed to the TV screen as 2000 men perform tai-chi in perfect synchronization. It is a beautiful, astounding feat. They move with such precision that from a distance they look like a computer program, like a mesmerizing screen saver. For the first time in my life, I think, “Wow! Tai-chi is amazing!” I would learn tai-chi if I could be a part of something as grand as what I witnessed on the Opening Ceremonies.

If I were to go through this devotional booklet alone, I know that God would use it to bless me. But what is truly exciting to me is the idea of hundreds of us seeking God each day as we reflect on the same scriptures and pray the same prayers united in our hope that God will do something great among us.

As you open this devotional each day, remember that you are not alone. You are a part of something so much bigger than yourself. You are one of many hundreds of people who, together, are seeking to become the individuals and the church that God has called us to be. Pray that we will all look back and say, “Wow! That was amazing! That was beautiful!”

The devotionals in this book are based on the preamble to our Four-Fold Purpose: We believe in the living Christ who sends us into the world empowered by His Holy Spirit to live as His disciples, to express God’s saving love and to extend His kingdom.

We are striving to become a

• Christ-Centered
• SpiritSent
• Jesus-Following
• Love-Expressing
• Resource-Sharing
• Kingdom-Extending
• God-Celebrating

. . . church.

Is that the kind of church you want to be a part of?

Our hope is that as you read these scriptures, reflect on these devotionals, and converse and pray with your small group, your excitement to be a part of this church and its mission will grow and grow.

How can you make the most of your Daily Devotions booklet?
1) Prayerfully read and reflect on each devotional.
2) Attend worship each week to hear the corresponding sermon.
3) Join or start a small group and arrive at each meeting having read the devotions and listened to the sermon.