Keep Your Eyes Forward: Racing Toward the Finish Line of Faith
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on October 9th, 2025
"There’s a reason a racecar’s windshield is so much larger than its rearview mirror. The driver’s focus is always on what’s ahead, not what’s behind. A driver who spends too much time looking backward won’t finish the race; he’ll crash before he ever reaches the checkered flag." Lionel Richie from a recent podcastThat’s how the Christian life works.When we come to faith in Jesus Christ, He forgive...  Read More
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Why I Struggle with Halloween- A Pastor’s Honest Reflection
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on October 8th, 2025
As Christians, we must recognize that Halloween’s roots are not neutral. Scripture warns us about practices connected to paganism and witchcraft (Deuteronomy 18:10–12; Galatians 5:20). These aren’t simply harmless traditions but spiritual gateways that invite confusion, fear, and deception.  Read More
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Prayer Is a Heart Issue
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on October 6th, 2025
Prayer is a dialogue, not a monologue. When you pray, open your Bible and let God speak through His Word. Pay attention to the people and circumstances He places in your path. Watch how He begins to align your desires with His will.  Read More
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Description Doesn’t Mean Prescription: Reading Bible Stories with Discernment
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on October 1st, 2025
The Bible is raw and honest. It shows the beauty of faith and the ugliness of sin. But it is not a book of excuses. Description is not prescription.  Read More
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Eureka Days and Weekly Challenge
by Josh Westfall on September 30th, 2025
With Eureka Days coming this Friday, I have a challenge for the church, especially those volunteering for shifts during Eureka Days. Tomorrow, and every day this week, wake up in the morning with a prayer. Praise God for allowing you to wake up that day. Thank God for the breath he put in your lungs. Thank God for everything you have, no matter how much or how little it may be, because every bit o...  Read More
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It Takes All of Us
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on September 26th, 2025
When you withhold your time and gifts, the body suffers. That means our children in iKidz, our babies in the nursery, SPARKS, and our teenagers in youth ministry do not get the full investment they deserve.  Read More
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A Shepherd’s Warning: Don’t Drift Away
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on September 23rd, 2025
And let me say this clearly—as your pastor, when I ask “Where have you been?” or when I tell you “I miss you,” it is not out of judgment. It is out of love. I don’t want to watch you drift. I care about your soul, your walk with Jesus, and your place in this family.  Read More
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We Need to Be Ready: A Coming Exodus from the LGBTQ Community
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on September 18th, 2025
 I believe we are on the verge of something most churches are not prepared for: a mass exodus from the LGBTQ community. Yes, you read that right. In the next five to ten years, I believe we will see thousands, maybe millions, of people walking away from that identity, not out of shame or condemnation, but because the emptiness they feel can only be filled by Jesus Christ. And the church better be ...  Read More
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Discernment Without Judgment: Welcoming While Watching
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on September 15th, 2025
Yesterday, after church, I had four separate conversations with people about those we might label as “suspicious” in the congregation. Some said they felt uneasy about a visitor/ visitors who didn’t look or act like everyone else. Others admitted they struggled to know whether their concern was the Holy Spirit’s warning or just their own discomfort. And let’s be honest, there is a real fear after ...  Read More
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When Tragedy Strikes: How God Can Turn Loss into Purpose
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on September 11th, 2025
Yesterday, the unthinkable happened. Charlie Kirk, voice to many, leader, father, public figure, was fatally shot at a public event. Lives changed irrevocably. Hearts broken. Families shattered. Yet even as we grieve, as Christians we hold on to a truth that is greater than death: Our God is sovereign. He sees. He knows. He is not distant. Charlie knew this.The Shock, the Questions, the GriefWhen ...  Read More
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Fill Your Bucket of Worship
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on September 9th, 2025
I am at another conference in Nashville, TN, and the speaker said something that stuck with me, and it needs to be shared with you. The image was simple but powerful: our worship of God is like a bucket. If that bucket is empty, everything else in our lives will eventually run dry. If it is full, not only will we be sustained, but we will overflow into our families, our church, our work, and our f...  Read More
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The Value of Believing the Gospel
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on September 4th, 2025
I can tell you this with absolute certainty: you will never share the gospel until you believe it yourself. Not just in your head. Not just because you grew up in church. Not because you can quote a few verses. You have to believe it in your heart. The gospel is not a nice story or a religious tradition. It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16, LSB). And if you d...  Read More
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