Mendham Hills

Christmas mornings last a lot longer now that my kids are older. When they were young, it seemed like a month's worth of preparation was over in half a minute. They tore into the presents, barely looking at what they had unwrapped before casting it aside and picking up the next. No reflection, no appreciation, just pure consumption. It was like they felt entitled to all those things and when the last package was opened, it was not done with an "attitude of gratitude," but through tears because there wasn't more. Can you imagine? Blessing after blessing, gift after gift, and yet, they were miserable. Good thing we grow out of that...or do we? Maybe we need a change in attitude.

I really want to take control of my life. If I had my way, every step on the journey would fall exactly into proper place. Few of them do, though. The reason so many of us feel like our lives are out of control is...they are. Time has taught us a painful truth: there is very little in our lives we can actually command. What if there was one thing we could control that impacted everything we couldn't? Imagine controlling the one thing that impacts everything? Controlling my one thing this Sunday at Mendham Hills - it's time for an attitude adjustment.

One of the things I loved about being a dad was introducing my kids to new experiences - their first ball game, first amusement park, first ride on a plane. Of course, not every first was fun. There were also first shots, first stitches, first funerals. One common question they had that put every fear to rest and built up hope for what was coming was, "Dad, what will it be like?" Jesus proclaimed our great hope was not merely what was in heaven, but the "renewal of all things." And so, in order to have our fears flee and our hope grow, the question rings out from our childlike hearts, "What will it be like?" Fight fear and build hope, this Sunday at Mendham Hills.

We've spent the winter looking at our Origins; it's time to look at our Destination. Where does our story end? What happens at my end? Our fear of death is supercharged by the fear of the unknown. What if it could be known? What if you knew what it will be already? Despite what you have been told, you are not getting wings, a harp, and going to an eternal church service in the sky. It is so, so much better than that and when you understand what will happen there, it will change forever how you live here. Come find out why you won't wind up in heaven and discover a hope that can conquer any fear.

Some of us spend our lives trying to be like someone else. Others of us spend our lives trying to be what someone else told us we should be. Still others wrestle years away trying to "find themselves." Most of us fade into our golden years with regret and wonder - who is the me I was meant to be? Discovering ourselves, this Sunday at Mendham Hills.

Influence - all of us have some and most of us want more. As adults, we fight for it, and as parents, we worry about it. Who are you intentionally influencing? Maybe a more interesting question is who are you unintentionally influencing and how? As we look back at our history, our shared nature, the question arises as to the impact of nurture and influence in our lives. Do I do what I do because they did what they did? The power of influence in our lives and over our lives this Sunday at Mendham Hills.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew When I bit off more than I could chew But through it all, when there was doubt I ate it up and spit it out I faced it all and I stood tall And did it my way Frank Sinatra's iconic ballad roars, and our independent, 21st Century hearts soar as we join in the chorus. Yet, if we are honest, doing it "my way" sometimes leads to "my mess." Is there another way? A better way? This Sunday, a look at "Father Abraham," the mess of his ways, the mess of our ways, and the better way.

This Super Bowl Sunday, the question begs answering again: Does defense really win championships, or is it all about offense? For many of us, life mimics football, offering us the same two choices regarding how we live. Some of us are hard-chargers, modern day warriors grabbing life by the horns. Others of us have been so beat up that it's much more about caution, safety and protection. Should life be lived on offense, defense, or is there another way? Life lessons from a Nimrod, this Sunday at Mendham Hills.

I can remember one of my first toys being a Noah's Ark play set. Thousands of years post-flood, and Noah and his animals are as ubiquitous as ever. Most of us think we know the story; most of us don't. If we did, if we understood it, it's about the last story we would read at bedtime. The real story of Noah is one replete with death, destruction, family dysfunction, sexual innuendo, generational curses, sexism, racism, and lots of ancient (and not-so-ancient) lessons about life for people like you and me. A look at what happened when God started over - Noah, the "grown-up" version, this Sunday at Mendham Hills.

The word "genesis" and the word "gene" or "genetic" are the same word. Everything in you is determined by your genetic code. So, too, is everything in history - it is merely a playing out of our shared genes, which are exposed so clearly in this book of origins. Ever feel like most of your life, you are just waiting for "the other shoe to drop," or that there is trouble lurking, waiting to pounce on you, your family, or your dreams? Yeah, Genesis explains that, too. The enemy is crouching at your door - learn how to escape this Sunday at Mendham Hills!

It's time to tackle the big questions - "Who am I? Why am I here?" In moments of personal reflection, have you ever wondered, "Why do I do what I do?" In moments of relational frustration, have you ever wondered, "Why does he/she do what they do?" During Origins, we will explore our shared beginnings, our humanistic tendencies, our familial issues, and our one communal great hope. It's a lot easier to get where you want to go when you know where it is you began.

Almost everyone makes New Year's resolutions. As resolution, as commonly defined, is a firm decision to stop or start doing something. The problem is, for most of us, that decision turns out to not be all that firm. What if this year, we replace resolutions with a revolution - a literal overthrow and replacement of the "old you." Is that even possible? This New Year's Sunday at Mendham Hills, we will present to you the tools and an incredible new free gift to prepare you for the battle. Too much is at stake for all of us to simply roll into 2018 without a plan for change - come this Sunday and discover yours.

The prophet Isaiah foresaw the completed promise of God: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father..." This newborn king would not merely be a reflection of your earthly father, but the revelation of a perfect father. This prophecy carries with it the promise of adoption, sonship and inheritance. If you have ever had your breath taken away by a Christmas gift, just wait until you glimpse the inheritance coming for the heirs of God.

He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God...how mighty? One of the reasons Christmas hope has gone the way of tinsel is that we have lost our sense of awe and wonder! The Bible teaches that in response to what God was up to at Christmas, "even the angels stood amazed as they watched these events unfold." Has the story of Christmas lost its amazement factor for you? Perhaps it's time to stand in awe again. This Sunday at Mendham Hills, join us as we discover just how great, just how awesome, just how mighty this infant lying in a manger really is and why His promise can still change your world.

Remember Christmas the way it used to be? The lights, the garland, the hope? It seems that hope has gone the way of tinsel...something that used to be a part of Christmas, but today seems kind of outdated. Is it still possible for the reality of Christmas morning to meet the expectations of Christmas Eve? Join us as we launch a Christmas trip through the decades, exploring the promise of Christmas. His name is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Nothing competes with God for our hearts like money. And perhaps no one thing breaks up families and shipwrecks lives more than money. The love of it really is the root of all kinds of evil. This Sunday, we conclude our series, "In God We Trust," with a look at ten biblical principles related to our stuff - five "thou shall" and five "thou shall not" commands related to our finances. Lessons on maintaining balance in life, achieving financial freedom, living on purpose, and the use of money as a tool instead of an end-goal, as we learn to live like it really is, "In God We Trust."

How do you measure your life? How do you define it's success? Is life to be measured on a happiness scale? Is it all about relationships or legacies? Jesus literally yelled out to people just like you and me, "Watch out! Be on your guard!" For what? Well, something that we get confused about regarding the purpose of our lives - something for which Jesus saved another exclamation, "You fools!" This Sunday at Mendham Hills, a lesson on what life must not consist of.

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Our hearts follow our treasure, and Jesus wants your heart. So, it's incredibly important what we do with our treasure. In light of this foundational truth, the question needs to be asked: What's the plan for your treasure? Do you have one? How can you be sure you are serving God and not money? This Sunday at Mendham Hills, an incredibly practical discussion and guide to serving the right master. Having your financial house in order has more implications to this life - and the next - than you would think.

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Our hearts follow our treasure, and Jesus wants your heart. So, it's incredibly important what we do with our treasure. In light of this foundational truth, the question needs to be asked: What's the plan for your treasure? Do you have one? How can you be sure you are serving God and not money? This Sunday at Mendham Hills, an incredibly practical discussion and guide to serving the right master. Having your financial house in order has more implications to this life - and the next - than you would think.

“In God We Trust.” Really? For most of us, it’s more like, “In God We Wish,” or, “In God We Have a Backup Plan.” Have you ever noticed how easy it is to trust God with things you can’t control (where, really, you have no choice anyway…) or with the things that cost you little? Perhaps there is no greater irony than printing “In God We Trust” on our money because the truth is that our money is so often where we place our greatest trust. The Bible speaks of prayer approximately 500 times. There are less than 500 verses on faith. Money, however, is referenced over 2,000 times. In fact, 15% of the recorded words of Jesus are about money. Why? Because there is no greater suitor for your heart or threat to your soul than money. So, in whom or in what do you trust? Time to discover where our treasure really is (and our hearts) as we take a very practical look at what Jesus would not ignore - our money.