In our culture, we are covered in labels. We are obsessed with categorizing and labeling each other. We allow things like our jobs, our social class, our relationship status, our past, and our education define us.

Some great new albums have come out over the past few months, and we want to share the best of the best with you – enjoy!

​Loving “thy” neighbor sounds really great in theory, but how can we practice this in the rush of our daily lives?

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
    and in his word I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning,
    more than watchmen wait for the morning.
Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love
    and with him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.
Psalm 130:5-8

​As the NINE/30 began this year, I was really praying about what God wanted me to be seeking. Should I be praying about buildings? About future campuses? About staffing needs? And I really feel like God spoke to me and narrowed my focus, asking me to seek these 3 things!  ​

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive
    to my cry for mercy.
If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
    Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
Psalm 130:1-4

​Have you ever created anything? Designing and building a house, sand sculptures at the beach, a family, a new friend...? What was the purpose? How did it feel? Did you have a sense of accomplishment? Did it last long or was it temporary?

​It’s Christmas! Just kidding, not quite. Perhaps it’s a birthday, an anniversary, or any special occasion. You’ve shopped and found that perfect present for that special person. Maybe it’s a little one pestering you for that one thing that they can’t live without and they just can’t wait to get their hands on that dazzling wrapped package. You put a lot of thought into the purchase and made certain that you had the details just right – favorite color, the right size, or maybe a gift card to their favorite place. As the giver, you are just as thrilled as the one receiving.

One of the greatest ways for us to set our focus on God is through music, so we want to provide you with the soundtrack for your time with Him during the NINE/30!