Harbor Park

Harbor Park Disc golf course, walking trail, fishing pond and skate ramp available.

Worshiping through outdoor experience and nature, Harbor UMC is blessed to provide an opportunity to experience God through His creation in fun and different ways.

This morning we celebrate the Harbor Farm Truck that served a record 128 people this week, which doesn’t include everyon...
05/24/2026

This morning we celebrate the Harbor Farm Truck that served a record 128 people this week, which doesn’t include everyone served at their homes. A BIG thank you to Willowdale Farm for their extra Friday donations!

Join us on Wednesday night for a potluck dinner. Come early or stay late to play a round of disc golf. All are welcome!
05/01/2026

Join us on Wednesday night for a potluck dinner. Come early or stay late to play a round of disc golf. All are welcome!

04/04/2026

Enjoy the course this weekend! It's will be closed April 6 for a week while they re-seal the church parking lot.

Continuing From a Finished Reconciliation Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:21–23And you, who once were alienated and host...
03/30/2026

Continuing From a Finished Reconciliation

Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:21–23
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Thoughts
Today, we’ll focus on two words: reconciliation and continuing.

In Colossians 1:15-20, our last devotion, Paul shows Christ reconciling “all things”—things in heaven, things on earth, both visible and invisible. It’s cosmic reconciliation. Christ is restoring the entire created order, bringing every realm back under His rightful rule. Nothing in the universe escapes His reconciling reach.

Then Paul brings that reconciliation down to the personal level: “And you, who once were alienated… yet now He has reconciled… if ye continue in the faith” (vv. 21–23)

The same Christ who reconciles galaxies has reconciled you, if you have truly trusted him. And Paul anchors that reconciliation in a completed act.

The grammar makes it unmistakable:
The reconciliation verb is in the aorist tense — a finished action.
The “continue” verb is in the present tense — ongoing evidence.

Paul isn’t saying, “If you continue, God will reconcile you.”
He’s saying, “Because God has reconciled you, you will continue.”

This is Paul’s consistent pattern:
Perseverance is evidence, not payment.
Continuance is proof, not a prerequisite.
Endurance is the fruit, not the root.

And here’s where the disc‑golf picture helps the theology come alive.
Think about stepping onto the tee pad, trying to earn your place—trying to prove you belong on the card. Every throw tightens up. Every mistake feels like a verdict. You’re throwing for acceptance, and it shows.
But when you play with people who already love you, who already want you there, who already accept you, you throw differently. You’re relaxed. Confident. Free. You’re not trying to earn a spot; you’re playing from the security of already having one.

That’s Colossians 1:21-23.
Christ doesn’t ask you to “continue in the faith,” so He can decide later whether you belong.
He reconciled you fully, finally, and freely—and now your perseverance is simply the natural flight path of a life set free.

Your ongoing faithfulness flows from a finished reconciliation.
You’re not throwing to earn God’s approval.
You’re throwing because you already have it.

Reflection #1
Where do you sense fear or pressure in your walk with Christ that comes from “performing for approval” rather than resting in the finished work of reconciliation?

Reflection #2
What practical habits (prayer, Scripture, community, confession) help you remember that Christ’s completed work is the root, and your endurance is simply the fruit?
Think on these things as we throw to the glory of God.

Prayer
Thank you, Father, for your reconciliation. Thank you for not leaving it up to me. I was a dead and blind rebel who could not reconcile myself. Thank you for Christ's death on the cross, which purchased my salvation and reconciliation.

In your name I pray
Amen
Contributed by Steve Franklin PDGA #194303
For more resources to help you on your journey with God,
check us out at Eagles Wings Disc Golf or Discin' Disciples

Copyright © Disc Golf Devo & Discin' Disciples, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
[email protected]

The Firstborn From the Dead — Lord ofthe New CreationScripture: Colossians 1:18–20And he (Christ) is the head of the bod...
03/28/2026

The Firstborn From the Dead — Lord ofthe New Creation

Scripture: Colossians 1:18–20
And he (Christ) is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Thoughts
Last week, we looked at Christ as the Firstborn of all creation—the One who made all things and the One who holds all things together. Paul now turns our eyes from the old creation to the new creation.
“He is the beginning,the firstborn from the dead…”

Christ the Beginning
“Beginning” means source. The resurrection didn’t just prove who Jesus is—it launched a new world. A new humanity. A new creation breaking into the old.

Christ, “the Firstborn From the Dead”
Just as “firstborn” in verse 15 meant that Christ is supreme over creation, “firstborn from the dead” means He is supreme over resurrection life. He is the first to rise never to die again, the first of a new order of humanity, the first to step into the world God is making new.

Preeminentin All Things
Paul says this happened: “…so that “in everything He might have the preeminence.”
He is first in the old creation. He is first in the new creation. There is no realm where He is not Lord.
Reconciler of All Things Through His blood, Christ is restoring the universe to its rightful order—
“things in heaven and things on earth.” Everything He made is everything He now reconciles.

If you’ve ever had a rough first round—bad lines, lost discs, nothing going right—you know the relief of stepping up to the first tee of the next round. Same course, same baskets, but it feels completely different. Why? Because a new round changes everything. The old scorecard is gone. The mistakes don’t follow you. You’re not fixing the past—you’re playing in a new beginning. That’s what Christ’s resurrection is. Not a touch‑up of the old creation, but the first tee of a brand‑new one. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Cor. 5:17).

He is the Firstborn from the dead, inviting us to live in the new creation He began.

Reflection #1
What part of your life needs to come under Christ’s leadership as Lord of the new creation?

Reflection #2
What would it look like today to live as a citizen of the new creation rather than the old?
Meditate on these things as we throw to the glory of God.

Prayer
Most Holy Father, thank you that through Christ all things are under your control and You are reconciling all things, both old and new, to yourself through Christ. May we live a life that represents who we belong to and show we are a new creation in You.
In Your name, we pray,
Amen

Contributed by Steve Franklin PDGA #194303

For more resources to help you on your journey with God,
check us out at Eagles Wings Disc Golf or Discin' Disciples

Copyright © Disc Golf Devo & Discin' Disciples, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
[email protected]

Held Together by the FirstbornScripture: Colossians 1:15 -17He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all c...
03/28/2026

Held Together by the Firstborn

Scripture: Colossians 1:15 -17

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Thoughts

Paul lifts our eyes to a Christ far bigger than the one we often imagine. He calls Jesus the Firstborn of all creation—not because Jesus had a beginning, but because He holds the highest rank over everything that exists. “Firstborn” is not a birth word; it’s a throne word. A supremacy word. A reminder that Christ stands above every power, every force, every fear.

Then Paul tells us why Christ holds that place:

“For by Him all things were created.”

Everything you can touch and everything you can’t—every atom, every angel, every unseen spiritual reality—came into being through Him. You have never met a molecule that didn’t belong to Jesus.

Every disc golfer knows the moment a disc leaves your hand, you’re no longer in control.

You can aim it, shape it, release it — but once it’s in the air, something else takes over.

Invisible forces decide the rest.

You can’t see the wind.

You can’t see the lift.

You can’t see the gyroscopic stability.

You can’t see the pressure differences that keep the disc aloft.

But you trust them.

You trust that the same invisible forces that hold every disc in flight are the same forces that will carry yours to its target.

Paul says,

“In Him all things hold together.”

Just like the disc is held in flight by forces you can’t see, your life is held together by a Christ you can’t see, but you can know him. You don’t have to feel Him to be held by Him. You don’t have to see Him to be sustained by Him. You don’t have to understand the physics of grace to be carried by it. The disc doesn’t stay in the air because of your strength, and you don’t stay standing because of yours.

Christ — the Firstborn, the Creator, the Sustainer — is holding you together. Right now. In every unseen way. Not held together by luck. Not held together by your strength. Not held together by circumstances. Held together by Christ Himself.

When life feels scattered, when your thoughts feel thin, when your heart feels stretched—remember this: The One who holds galaxies in place is holding you in place, too. You are not falling apart. You are being held together.



Refection #1

Where in your life do you feel like things are “coming apart,” and how does Christ’s sustaining power speak into that place?



Reflection #2

If Christ truly ranks above everything in creation, what area of your life needs to come under His leadership today?



Now, let’s go throw, to the glory of God.



Prayer

Most Holy Father, thank you that we have a great high priest, Jesus the firstborn, who is creator and sustainer of all things. In him, we can trust that all things will turn out for good and your glory. Forgive us when we act or respond in a way that doesn’t show our belief in your sovereignty.

In Your name, we pray,

Amen



Contributed by Steve Franklin PDGA #194303

For more resources to help you on your journey with God,
check us out at Eagles Wings Disc Golf or Discin' Disciples

Copyright © Disc Golf Devo & Discin' Disciples, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
[email protected]

Qualified by Grace, Compelled to PraiseScripture Reading:Colossians 1:10-12 ...walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, full...
03/15/2026

Qualified by Grace, Compelled to Praise

Scripture Reading:

Colossians 1:10-12 ...walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Psalm 95:2 — Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.


Thoughts

Imagine a professional disc golfer chasing the USDGC. Years of qualifying tournaments, travel, and hard work end in disappointment—a missed putt, a bad round, a stroke short. They know the course and dream of Winthrop. Still, they can't qualify. Then they get a message: "You've been qualified. Not by your efforts, but because someone secured your spot." The director says, "Your fee is paid. Your name is on the roster. You're in."

The sense of being overwhelmed changes everything. Instead of pressure to perform, gratitude fills each moment. Every throw becomes a celebration of unearned grace. They didn't earn it; they were qualified by someone else.

In the same way, God has acted on behalf of His children. That is the heart of Colossians 1:12—our place in God's kingdom isn't earned. We are qualified by the Father, through Christ, not by our spiritual rating or performance, but entirely by grace.

So, how should we respond to such undeserved favor? Psalm 95:2 provides the answer: thanksgiving and praise. We don't just feel grateful—we express it. We sing, we speak, we celebrate. Extolling is thankfulness turned outward.

This response of thanksgiving isn't just right—it's God's will. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Gratitude isn't a suggestion. It's a spiritual directive—a way to align our hearts with His.


Reflection #1

What are some ways you have tried to "qualify" yourself spiritually—and how does it change your heart realizing Christ has already done it for you through your faith in Him?

Reflection #2

This week, take a specific step from silent gratitude to vocal praise—maybe by sharing a word of thanks with someone, singing aloud, or speaking your gratitude as testimony, so that others see and hear God's goodness through you.

Live the Round: Just as the player steps onto the championship tee pad with joy, live today not to earn your place, but to honor the One who secured it for you.


Prayer

Father, thank you for loving us. Thank you for sending your Son to purchase our pardon and qualify us for your kingdom. Forgive us when we do not lift You. Be with us as we go out to the highways and hedges and compel others to enter your kingdom.

In Your name, we pray,

Amen


Steve Franklin PDGA #194303

For more resources to help you on your journey with God,
check us out at Eagles Wings Disc Golf or Discin' Disciples

Copyright © Disc Golf Devo & Discin' Disciples, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
[email protected]

Strength to Serve Patiently While Enduring with Joy Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 9-11And so, from the day we heard, we hav...
03/14/2026

Strength to Serve Patiently While Enduring with Joy





Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 9-11

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.



Thoughts

How many people do you know who can throw a disc in excess of 1100 feet (304.8 meters)? On March 26, 2016, in the High Desert Distance Challenge near Las Vegas, Nevada, David Wiffins, Jr. did just that, throwing 1108.92 feet (338 meters).



Indeed, David Wiffins, Jr.'s feat was remarkable, but a 38–42 MPH tailwind boosted Wiggins' throw by reducing resistance and increasing lift, allowing the disc to soar farther than ever.



Wind alone wasn't all that Wiggins needed to throw far. His power, technique, and timing turned favorable conditions into a record-breaking flight.



Just as Wiggins trained to unleash his full throwing power, we train ourselves for patient service—driven not by wind, but by the unstoppable force of God's glorious might.



God gives gifts in unequal measure, whether athletic or spiritual, but He calls everyone to the same standard of faithfulness. The servants in the parable of the talents didn't earn praise for how much they received—they earned it for how they invested what they had, except for one servant who was afraid and didn't invest what he was given. For not investing his talent, he was rebuked by his master and cast out.



Wiggins didn't bury his gift—he invested it. Through disciplined practice and faithful stewardship, he turned potential into high-level performance. I, too, have invested what God has given me, yet I will never throw the way some of you do, much less like David Wiggins.



God calls all of us to use what He has given us in ministry. Yes, we should all have a ministry. However, not everyone has the same abilities. Just do your best with what God has given you, that's all He asks of us. God is the one responsible for the increase (1 Cor. 3:6,7).



We must remember: God doesn't call us to serve in our own strength. When we try, we risk burnout and failure. Just as Wiggins harnessed the wind to power his throw, we draw strength from the Lord (Eph. 6:10), who works within us—stirring our will and supplying the ability to serve (Phil. 2:13). This is a powerful reminder that our strength and ability to serve come from God, not from ourselves. As our scripture reading stated, it is the power that God provides that enables us to endure patiently while experiencing joy in the process.



Reflection #1

We serve God in the strength He provides—not in our strength. It's a comforting thought. Knowing that we're not alone in our service, but that God's strength is always there to support us. Is there evidence that your work in service for God is in His strength and not yours? Perhaps it's the patience you show when dealing with difficult people, the wisdom you display when making tough decisions, or the joy you feel when seeing the impact of your service.



Reflection #2

Does knowing that God is the one who prospers, even in your golf game, help to relieve the frustration when you don't see improvements or throw a bad shot? This reassurance should bring you comfort and peace.



Take time to meditate on working with the strength that God provides. This practice should help you stay centered and focused on your service to Him.

Now, let's go throw to the glory of God.



Prayer

Thank you, Father, for providing the strength I need to serve You. Continue to strengthen us as we do the work You have for us.

In Your name, we pray,

Amen



Steve Franklin #194303

For more resources to help you on your journey with God,
check us out at Eagles Wings Disc Golf or Discin' Disciples

Copyright © Disc Golf Devo & Discin' Disciples, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
[email protected]

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Not Just Told—Trained: The Path to Intimacy with God Scripture Reading: Col. 1:9-109 And so, from the day we heard, we h...
03/13/2026

Not Just Told—Trained: The Path to Intimacy with God


Scripture Reading: Col. 1:9-10

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;



Thoughts

Everyone has a story to tell about their introduction to disc golf. I had heard about it many years before I had the opportunity to play. I didn't know anyone who played the game. I then discovered my cousin had started playing, and he took me out for my first round. I am by nature an analyzer, so I began watching YouTube to learn about the game, including how to throw, what flight numbers mean, and what weight disc is best for a beginner, among other things. As I began to play with other people, they helped me understand the rules of the game. Eventually, I read the rule book to gain a deeper understanding of the game's rules. I had a good grasp of the rules; however, many people study them more in-depth so they can handle the difficult questions when on tour or running a tournament, as they are familiar with the finer points.



As a part of Paul's prayer for the Colossians, he desired that they grow in the knowledge of God. This word knowledge is more than just knowing the facts about God. The Greek word for that type of knowledge is gnosis. The knowledge Paul is speaking about in the Greek is epignosis. It is a knowledge that is relational. It is more intimate. It is the kind of knowledge Adam had with Eve, and she conceived. The golfer who knows the rules, having spent hours reading and studying the rule book, mirrors the believer who gains intimate knowledge of God—not by hearsay, but through their personal pursuit and deep engagement with His Word, empowering them to take responsibility for their spiritual growth.



Scripture tells us God is revealed in nature (Rom. 1:20) and the heavens declare His glory (Psa. 19:1). But that alone is not enough to have intimate knowledge of Him. Hosea 6:6 reveals that God desires a relationship over ritual. If we seek Him, it leads to knowledge of Him (Proverbs 8:17). Jeremiah 29:13 further emphasizes this intimate knowledge, where God promises, 'You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.



The grammar of verse 10 of our lesson text reinforces the ongoing nature of spiritual growth. It is not passive, but is an intentional pursuit through prayer, reading Scripture, reflection, and then living it out. When describing the life he lived, the Apostle Paul spoke about his intentionality and spiritual discipline using a sports metaphor, saying, "I don't fight as one beating the air" (1 Cor. 9:26). Paul was intentional; he didn't just wing it.  This ongoing journey should encourage and motivate us to continue our pursuit of God.



Reflection #1

What does your knowledge of God reveal about your relationship and walk with Him?



Reflection #2

How might deeper relational knowledge of God reshape the way you approach Scripture, prayer, or obedience this week?



Meditate on these things as you fellowship and throw to the glory of God.



Prayer

Holy Father, help us to grow closer to you by intentionally seeking you through your word. We know Your word is not only a lamp for our feet and a light to our path, but also reveals who You are. Increase our knowledge of You.

In Your name, we pray,

Amen



Steve Franklin PDGA #194303

For more resources to help you on your journey with God,
check us out at Eagles Wings Disc Golf or Discin' Disciples

Copyright © Disc Golf Devo & Discin' Disciples, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
[email protected]

It feels like spring is here, our friend has come to say hello.
03/07/2026

It feels like spring is here, our friend has come to say hello.

Address

4853 Masonboro Loop Rd
Wilmington, NC
28409

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 8pm
Tuesday 7am - 8pm
Wednesday 7am - 8pm
Thursday 7am - 8pm
Friday 7am - 8pm
Saturday 7am - 8pm
Sunday 6am - 8pm

Telephone

+19104527202

Website

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