Restored...

In our house, we took on a project that felt both ambitious and slightly delusional. We refinished a large, old, pretty ugly table that Leigh-Ann found on Marketplace. When she showed it to me, I wasn’t sure if we were rescuing a piece of furniture… or adopting a burden. But it was a few hundred bucks, we had nowhere to be, and it felt like just the right kind of “why not?” project for a global pandemic.

Under Leigh-Ann’s leadership (and I do mean leadership…she ran this thing like an HGTV general contractor), the whole family got to work. We sanded with coarse-grain. Then smooth grain. Then fine-grain. By the end, we were all covered in dust, our arms were shaking, and the kids were asking if child labor laws applied to furniture restoration.

But the transformation?

Amazing.

This tired, worn, beat-up table became something new. It was beautiful...actually, it still is :). We admired it as if it had been delivered straight from a showroom floor. But the best part wasn’t what it looked like when we finished. The best part is what’s happened around it ever since.

Nearly every night, we sit around the table eating good food, sharing stories, laughing at each other’s bad jokes, celebrating wins, and even talking through the hard moments.

Somehow, this restored table has become a restorer. It brings us together. It shapes conversations. It strengthens connection. It has become a place of renewal.

This Sunday, we will continue our sermon series about the impact of the resurrection. We’re stepping into 2 Corinthians 5:11–21, where Paul describes the breathtaking truth of what Jesus has done for us. Through His death and resurrection, we have been reconciled to God. This means we’ve been made new, restored…literally transformed by grace. But Paul doesn’t stop there. He says that restored people become restoring people. We are entrusted with “the ministry of reconciliation.” We become ambassadors of God’s healing to a broken world.

I can’t think of a better topic as we prepare for the World Cup. I sure hope to see you on Sunday for services at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available). Otherwise, you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or on our New Life website at 9:15 am. Also, we would LOVE for you to follow us on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. 

Come early for some coffee and to meet a few friends,

Troy

P.S. There is still time to RSVP for our missions meeting on Sunday from 5-6:45 pm. Pastor Anthony is throwing some burgers on the grill. We will hear about different opportunities to get involved in the World Cup Outreach, and I can't wait to hear from Sandeep Maity from India, who can verify that I held a King Cobra ?. You won’t want to miss it, so RSVP HERE.