Goodyear Heights Community Church

05/28/2026

Childish things…
Childhood can be a wonderful time, or it can be a time of hardship. My childhood was a time of being a part of a very loving family that shared marvellous things with me. My dad had a work bench in our basement, and I can remember him teaching me how to pound a nail into a piece of wood, and as the years went by teaching me how to build things. I remember my grandpa teaching me how to design things and also how to build them. I remember my mom teaching me how to make pies and cookies as well as the discipline not to eat them before it was time.

We had a family who lived in the neighborhood that the dad was an alcoholic and abused not only his wife but his son. I spent time with the son who was a little bit older than me and the things he shared were not the things that I saw as a normal loving family. There was the attitude of hatred and resentment between them and when the dad was gone from the house to work there seemed to be a joy that he was gone. It was a sad thing to watch as their lives unfolded.

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

While my childhood has many fond memories for me, and my friend’s has bitter memories, we must both “put away childish things” if we are to become the servants of God that we are intended to be. We cannot live in the past regardless of what it may have looked like, good or bad. One of the greatest deceits of Satan in our lives is to think that what has been in our past is able to control us and define us today. We can do absolutely nothing to alter one moment of our past, even if that “past” was just an hour ago. When we allow the things of our past to control our thoughts and actions today it is only because we are dwelling on them. Many have suffered under the control of addictions in their lifetime, but God has released them from it. To allow that crippling mindset to have any amount of control in the present is to deny the freedom God has provided through Jesus Christ. Put away the things of the past and reach for the things God has given you today. Someone once said, “Don’t look back, we aren’t going that way.”

05/26/2026

Who can fix it…?
When something is broken, we take it to the one who can fix it. When our car doesn’t function the way that it is supposed to, we take it to the trusty mechanic to solve the problem. When something goes wrong in our house, we call the professional to make it right. When our body doesn’t perform up to parr we visit the medical professional and after a trip to the local pharmacy we begin to heal. But who fixes things when an entire land is broken? Where does an entire nation begin to make itself right after it has suffered pain and loss?

We have departed greatly from what God had originally created. With the entrance of sin into the world and into man the brokenness began. As we observe our world today, we see God's beautiful creation and we see His crowning creation, man, and we can’t help but wonder how did we get so far from God's original? Is there a way to get back to what God had originally created in this lifetime? As long as sin is in the world the answer is no, we will never return to what God created, but that doesn’t mean that He isn’t still in control of all things. God has given us His unchanging Word as to how to “fix” things.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

God has promised to hear our prayers, to forgive our sin, and to heal our land if those who He calls “my people,” believers in the saving gospel of Jesus Christ, will humble ourselves and acknowledge that it is from God alone that healing will come, pray for God's leadership in our life and in the life of others, seek God's presence and will to follow it and to obey it, and turn from the things that are wicked in God's sight which include our pride, stubbornness, and rebellion by wanting our will over His. Who can fix it? God can and He is ready, willing, and able to fix not only our life but our land as well if we will simply submit ourselves to Him.

05/25/2026

Is there an answer?
As we walk through each day of our lives, we can see things that we question and wonder if this is the way God really intended it to be. Any amount of Bible study will reveal that what God first intended for man and for His creation is far from its original design. We see a world that is at war affecting people just like you and me with suffering because of the conflicts. We see hunger, poverty, illiteracy, rising costs, and discrimination at levels that just keep rising. Crime still has its grip on many neighborhoods with people who want to live peaceably afraid to go out of their houses. Illegal drugs have taken a toll on an entire generation and weakened them.

The answer to these issues seems to be distant or missing the mark. Social programs are very much needed and help to a degree. Laws that govern our land try to curb the violence that takes place and without them our nation would be complete chaos. Medical professionals do a wonderful job in substance rehabilitation, and many hours are spent by people who volunteer their time to that cause because they care. But the issues continue and there seems to be no end in sight. What is the true answer?

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The problem is not the issues we face. They are only the symptoms of the true issue from which they have sprung up. The true issue is that people have turned from God and thinking themselves wise have become fools. God has given us His Word which is clear and absolute, changing not. The above statement from God Himself is directed to those who believe His Word. It is us who have placed our trust in the gospel of Jesus Christ who are the ones that must search our ways and return whole-heartedly and aggressively to our relationship with God through Jesus Christ, praying that we would be the child of God that we are intended to be and turn from our wicked ways of pride and stubbornness before our holy God. Then God will hear, forgive, and heal our land.

05/24/2026

Sunday Morning Worship Service 5/24/26

05/23/2026

05/22/2026

The greatest knowledge…
Have you ever gone into a professional person’s office and seen all the certificates hanging on the wall? It can be very comforting to know that they have gained that amount of knowledge but at the same time it can be intimidating. You are there because you need their professional expertise but at the same time you don’t want to appear ignorant of certain things.

The story is told of a very well-known preacher and Bible teacher with a tremendous knowledge of the Bible who was asked to speak at an event where there were many in attendance. After he was finished presenting his message, he opened the meeting to anyone who may have questions for him. After he had answered various questions about the Bible and from the Bible, a college student asked him the one question that summed up his entire time with them. He was asked what was the most important thing he had ever learned. While the crowd sat in silence to hear such a great wisdom being put forth from such a great scholar they were stunned at his reply. He began to sing, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The greatest knowledge you can ever obtain in this life is the fact that Jesus loves you more than you can possibly imagine or understand. That is the basis for God's entire creation which was given to man to enjoy. The love of Jesus for you is the entire basis for salvation from your sin. The love of Jesus for you is the entire foundation for the life that God has given you and for the eternity with God that awaits those who believe. Are you going through struggles just now? Remember this when things seem to get out of hand and it will help put things back into perspective.

05/21/2026

Time …
Just one more hour per day Lord… that would be so helpful because I never got done with all that I needed to do today. We are so governed by time that it often is the source of frustration when things don’t go exactly as planned. The older I get the more I realize that the problem isn’t with the slow traffic, all of the lights being red when I get to them, the train on the tracks that can’t make up its mind if it is going forward or backward, the cell phone that won’t just sit there and be quiet for a few minutes, and the very nice policeman sitting just around the bend making sure that the traffic moves safely at the posted speed limit. The problem is that I have set unrealistic time schedules and tried to cram way too much into the set perimeter that God has provided for us.

When “modern” things such as computers, remote controls, robot vacuum cleaners, and all the other faster more efficient gadgets came out we were told that they would save us time. The pressing question is, “Save time for doing what?” The answer has become, “So we can pack more stuff into our schedule.” The answer to needing “more time” doesn’t seem to be in faster things but in recognizing that time was established by God at creation within His perfect plan.

Genesis 1:5 … And the evening and the morning were the first day.

God established time to be twenty-four hours in a day within His perfect plan of creation. Since God exists outside of the boundaries of time, He can see and know the beginning from the end of each one of the days He has given us. When we recognize that it was out of love for His creation, especially for man, that He set time limits in place so that He provided man with a sufficient time to rest from all his labor it will be easier to thank Him instead of complaining that you never get done.

05/20/2026

No condemnation…
The law of man is in place to protect the citizens of the land from injustice. When that law is violated the one responsible is given a hearing before a judge and if found guilty is sentenced to an appropriate punishment as dictated by the law. There are also social condemnations from particular groups and individuals who look down on those who do not agree with them on certain issues. We can have thoughts of condemnation on those who briefly violate what we think is proper behavior, such as those who drive very aggressively and tailgate us or cut us off on the highway. All types of condemnation, or sentence is temporary and is limited to this lifetime at the most.

The condemnation that is to be feared and avoided is the condemnation that is eternal and comes from God. While it is true that God is love, God is also and equally just. Every sin that we have ever committed regardless of its severity in man’s opinion must come under the condemnation of God in His justice. Every word that we have spoken that is against God's teaching and every selfish motive and action must be judged. It is never a matter of if we committed the sin but rather who will pay the penalty required for it by God's justice? Sin must always be paid for either by you or by Someone qualified to make the proper payment. Jesus is the only One who is sinlessly qualified to make the payment demanded by God's law in full.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

God Himself has declared that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ. That is never a license to sin or a “get out of jail free” card, but rather a statement that sin has been paid for completely which now allows us to be in the presence of God in prayer and serve Him without fear of His judgment for our sin. When you place your trust in the payment that Jesus made for you, you are free to serve Him as He leads. Are you a believer still living under the fear of guilt? God pronounces you free therefore serve Him with all your heart today.

05/19/2026

Count the cost…
If you think about it, we count the cost of everything that we do. When we go to the grocery store, we have a set amount that our budget allows for but after we have reached that limit, we spy some chocolate goodie that seems to have your name on it. You really want it, but what will be the cost of overspending your budget?

Something else that is in your budget will not get paid and if it is something vital you will be in trouble. We count the cost of relationships also especially if we are trying to “climb the ladder” by establishing those relationships that will benefit our career.
But what is the cost of following Jesus? I am not speaking about the tithe or anything monetary but rather what will it cost you with your life? There was a Scribe that told Jesus that he would follow Him wherever He went. The statement that Jesus replied to him with was essentially telling him to count the cost.

Matthew 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Jesus was telling him that following Him would not give him anything other than a relationship with Himself. Jesus owned nothing of this earth other than the clothes on His back. Following Jesus would not make him rich, popular, or powerful. The statement that Jesus made applies to all believers today that following Him will always be from a servant’s position but will be rewarded greatly by God for simple obedience. As believers and followers of Jesus we must count the cost and be sure we are following with the right motives. Are we simply servants of the most-high God?

05/18/2026

Not him….
First impressions are not always accurate. In fact, first impressions are usually not accurate. When you meet a person for the first time both of you are somewhat careful as to the amount of information that is shared personally. We have absolutely no idea what is going on “behind the scenes” in that person’s life. For instance, you may meet a person at a restaurant that is your server and they are not as friendly as you hoped for. Immediately, your first thought is that they are mad at you for bothering them so you retaliate with an attitude that is not quite what you would normally extend to someone. If there was time for you to get to really know that person you may be surprised what all had happened to them in just that day prior to serving you that influenced their attitude. Their spouse may have been angry with them or even abusive, their kids may have been disobedient or even rude to them, their car may have stalled in traffic causing them to be late for work and their supervisor may have been less than understanding of their situation. Then…. they encountered you and were expected to have a smile and kind attitude of serving you.

How should you present yourself to someone who you do not know personally when it is apparent that their attitude towards you is less than cordial?

John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

We are not to judge another person according to how they present themselves to us but judge “righteous judgement.” One thing is absolutely true of the other person regardless of how they present themselves to you. They are all in need of the unconditional love of God through Jesus Christ. How you respond to them will either extend that love or close the door on it for the one receiving it. See others as Jesus sees them and follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit within you.