BLARING ALARM...

This past Monday, Alexa, Jaren and I had the honor of traveling to Wichita, Kansas, to attend and perform a wedding ceremony for mutual friends. After a smooth rehearsal, we found ourselves with some free time and decided to explore the beautiful Arkansas River.



The weather was perfect, and we enjoyed the sights, including a large sailboat on display. Our curiosity led us to the nearby Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. Impulsively, I tugged at the door, and to our surprise, it swung open.

Stepping inside, the quiet, somewhat open interior seemed inviting, so I took another step forward.

Suddenly, an ALARM BLARED through the silence, startling us!

We quickly realized that although the door was unlocked, the museum was closed. A few homeless men nearby shook their heads as we sheepishly walked past them, my heart pounding from the unexpected excitement.

For a moment, we joked about the possible headlines: “Visiting Pastor Arrested While Waiting to Perform Wedding in Wichita.” It was a mix of embarrassment and amusement, but mostly, it felt like an unceremonious rejection. And it should :).

This got me thinking about how rejection impacts us and is a good introduction to our text for this Sunday found in Luke 7:36-50. In this passage, Jesus offers extravagant, undeserved love and forgiveness to a woman known for her sinful life, despite the judgmental glances around her. It’s a powerful reminder that, no matter how rejected we feel, God’s love remains constant and unconditional.

So, reflecting on our little adventure in Wichita, I’m reminded of a greater truth: even when alarms go off and we feel out of place, there’s always a place that is never closed, where we’re welcomed with open arms.

I am especially excited about this Sunday to hear from Pastor Dave as he shares more about how extravagant love leads to surrender and worship. After taking a look at the outline and PowerPoint, I can tell, you won’t want to miss.

I sure hope you can attend on Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Have a great evening,
Troy