In recent weeks at IBC, we’ve been discussing the importance of wrestling with our own personal past—our life story—to better understand our present and God’s intentions for our future. This is a vitally important part of our ongoing spiritual growth and development. God has made us who we are through the formative experiences and relationships of our lives: though our heritage, our heroes, our high points, and our hard times.
Read MoreI got the idea for a butterfly garden one day in 2021 when I parked near IBC’s outdoor prayer area by Cuppa. I had just finished a project with Keep Irving Beautiful and Friends of Irving Gardens to restore a pollinator garden at Bird’s Fort Trail Park, so when I saw this place, I saw its potential.
You know that story in the Bible where a concerned mother brought her son to Jesus and said,
“My son hasn’t been able to speak clearly since he was a baby. He has fits of rage. He has intense pain all throughout his body and often cannot leave home because of his illness. He has periods where he will not respond and sometimes, he is driven to do things that would take his life if he were successful. No doctor has been able to help him. We have tried all the medicines. Nothing helps. But I know you can. Will you heal him?”
I love my youth group. I have a good group of friends, love my leaders and pastors, and just feel like it has a very positive and fun vibe. I come every week that I am able to and love going to the extra events whether that be fun youth nights, fall retreat, church camp, or mission trip.
Last week, we began Hispanic Heritage Month here in the United States. As we enter this time of celebrating Hispanic and Latino culture, I want to share a key moment in my own learning regarding what it means to be a multiethnic church comprised of brothers and sisters in Christ from different cultural backgrounds.
You aren’t supposed to be jealous, but I’ve always been jealous of big, close-knit families. There’s always been something so cool to me about big families in movies, books or real life. The dynamics between siblings. The different relationships between each child with each parent. The traditions the whole family takes part in each year. I gravitate towards big families.
We’ve all either heard the saying or said it ourselves: “I’m the black sheep in my family.” The phrase has inspired many a book, song and even a movie. Besides representing a disreputable member of a group, the phrase “black sheep” holds more meaning. Centuries ago, black sheep were considered unlucky or worthless because their wool could not be dyed. The shades of gray, brown and black remained true to their color no matter what dye the wool was immersed in.