Pizza Toppings...

October 23rd, 2026

A few weeks ago, Leigh-Ann had the brilliant idea for everyone in our family to make their own pizzas and grill them. Everyone got to choose their own ingredients, build their masterpiece, and hope it survived the journey onto the grill. It didn't take long to discover just how different our family really is.

For example, someone in our family doesn't like cheese. Yes, you read that correctly. Pizza. Without. Cheese. I'm still trying to figure out where we went wrong as parents.

Personally, I believe there's no such thing as too much cheese. My mom's dad was a dairy farmer, so I'm pretty sure it's genetic. I'm simply honoring my heritage!

Then there are those of us who believe onions, mushrooms, peppers, and just about anything else in the refrigerator belong on a pizza. If it's edible and hasn't expired, it's a potential topping. Others prefer to keep things painfully simple. Their pizzas looked less like dinner and more like something you'd be served in prison.

But that's what made the evening so much fun! Same kitchen, same ingredients, same grill, yet every pizza turned out different. And somehow, we all enjoyed the evening together. Of course, when it comes to following Jesus, being different is about much more than personal preferences.

Throughout our “Everyday Disciples” series, we've been discovering that Jesus calls His followers to live differently from the world around them. Not simply to have different opinions or preferences, but to have fundamentally different hearts, priorities, and foundations.

This Sunday, Pastor Merle Meese will continue our journey through Luke 6:39–49 with a message entitled "Everyday Disciples of Jesus Are Different."

Jesus teaches that His disciples follow a different guide, examine themselves differently, live from a different heart, and submit to a different authority. In other words, following Jesus doesn't just change what we believe. It changes who we become and how we live. Jesus isn't looking for people who simply look different on the outside. He's transforming us from the inside out.

I sure hope to see you on Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available)…OR a service in Spanish at 1:00 pm. 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.

Enjoy this incredible weather and maybe even some pizza...see you Sunday!

Troy