New Life Christian Center

06/08/2026

Mon. June 8, 2026
Dad’s and Daughters…

Today is my daughter’s 24th birthday.

Wow…. I feel….. older….and tired….. : ) in a good way!

I still remember the first time her eyes looked into mine…. Every dad loses it at that moment…. And your daughter owns your soul from that day forward.

It’s true that phrase that says: “You’re a daddy’s girl.” That’s because men… when they become dads, become protector, provider, and they will give their lives and suffer any hardship to provide for, take care of, and protect their children. This comes from more than physical reproduction. This is born into man from the Spirit of God!

I think of the responsibility I knew I would have for my daughter’s life…. And now… at age 24, she is done with her school , mostly… and it’s the hardest season of all. Wanting still to help, provide, protect, etc…. But also to let her go…. to succeed …. And to fail… for, she will do both.

This is where we must draw from the heart of God “OUR FATHER”…. For He alone can supply us with the perfect role model of a parent. He loves each of us as his children; unique in who we are and personal in His approach to our lives.

God loves us. As a Father, He plays no favorites. Each of us are His Sons or Daughters, and we captured His heart when we looked into His eyes for the first time too! We grabbed hold of His finger….. never to let go!

Trust in the Lord… your God…. Your Father. Be His child…. His son … His daughter. Make you commitment to His family, our brothers and sisters…. Let love guide you…. Covenant keep you….. and Curiosity motivate you…..

Make it a great Monday! Celebrate it. It’s the start of a new week, every week! Plan to succeed… not to fail this week. Make someone else happy. Surprise another with a Smile. Offer a kind word to a cranky neighbor or co-worker. And give thanks to God for the gift of life, and family… your sons ….. your daughters. Trust in Him for everything. In all you do and say, acknowledge God in your life today…. And He WILL… direct your paths.

And your children too…. No matter how old they are today.

P. Scott

06/08/2026

Sunday Service - June 7, 2026

Welcome! Come worship with us in Jesus' Name. Allow the Holy Spiri...

06/05/2026

Fri. June 5, 2026
The "Ten Question Test”

My daughter was once given a game in Sunday school class with some really intriguing questions on it. They are designed to make you discover your priorities in different areas of life. I will share some with you today. I’ve added a few also from myself. Have fun answering these for yourselves…. And take notes for your future!

1. Would you rather go into the past and meet your ancestors or go into the future and meet your great-great grandchildren?

2. Would you rather have more time…. or more money?

3. Would you rather be able to talk with all animals or speak all foreign languages?

4. Would you rather win the lottery or live twice as long?

5. Would you rather meet George Washington or the current. President?

6. Would you rather listen to music from the 1970’s or music from today?

7. Would you rather be Batman or Spiderman?

8. Would you rather read an awesome book or watch a good movie?

9. Would you rather totally understand all of the Bible…. or be able to recite and remember every scene from all 6 movies of the Lord of the Rings collection?

10. Would you rather meet Jesus or Satan?

The answers to the first 8 questions are interesting.

The answers to the last two questions matter for eternity.

What are your answers?

P. Scott

06/04/2026

Thurs. June 4, 2026
NOTICED BY GOD

So…. Today is Thursday. It’s the day in the middle of the week that is often overlooked and a day to get past quickly so we can get to Friday, especially at 5pm, when the week’s work is done and it’s “quittin’” time!

Actually, it’s a very important day to Adele and I. It was exactly 26 years ago that we were installed as pastors of New Life Christian Center in Woodstock, IL by our friend and overseer. Dr. Fred Parker, the Foursquare Great Lakes District Supervisor, at that time.

So, today we celebrate the milestone of serving 26 years….. actually, to be honest…. It’s more of a celebration of “not quitting” after 26 years!

Our world of “do everything now”…. instant gratification…….”Are we there yet??” mentality and experience, is foreign to the slow and steady commitment it takes to spend 26 years together…. Whether it be for marriage. (For better or worse…)…. or serving as the pastoral leadership of a small congregation in the obscure suburbs of a quiet little town in Illinois.

What I’ve learned most over 26 years is that there is nothing “little” in the ministry. There is no one person that is not worth mentioning or celebrating or being concerned about. Truth is: “GOD IS IN THE DETAILS!”

Every individual in our church community is important to God. We all matter. Because each of us are a part of God’s purpose and plan for the entire earth! Think of that.

Every decision you make DOES… affect something or someone. That counts for God. He watches over our actions and reactions. He leads us to make better choices. He closes doors we need to leave alone and move on from.

When I look out my window I see small birds, even smaller leaves on simple bushes, and tiny insects flying and landing on the leaves, almost imperceptible to the eye. But totally known to God!

That is how I have come to realize each of us are noticed by God. There is nothing that “gets past” Him. He is judge, ruler, but also Father, Helper, healer, master-builder. The earth is His and He can handle all of it at once!

Today, after 26 years, I am just content to look at a small bug on a leaf out my window and offer a simple “thank you Lord”…. You are still here. And so am I. And You have not forgotten me. You still notice, and since I’m still breathing… like this little bug… I’m not done yet!

So…..… let’s get started on year 27, shall we??

P. Scott

06/03/2026

Wed. June 3, 2026
SAY IT!…. “sometimes…”

There’s an old saying: “swallowing angry words is much better than having to eat them.”

The Bible puts it this way: “A fool utters all his mind: but a wise man keeps it in till afterwards.” PROV. 29:11

Have you noticed how so many people are so quick to “chat” and “comment” and get their voice in on anything from world war to cat videos? It’s like we can’t wait to comment on …. everything!

More tragically is the fact the so many people feel entitled to comment on things they know nothing about. One of the number one pursuits of young people today is to become an “Influencer” on social media. It’s become such a big thing that people even list that on their job resume like it’s a legitimate career title. Everyone wants to be famous! And liked!

But how many words that people utter have to be taken back later after they have hurt and offended thousands of people.. or maybe just your siblings or friends and family?

It’s human nature to respond in anger over something we don’t like or that offends, hurts, or threatens us; or speaks against something important we really believe. But just because you “can” respond… doesn’t mean you “should” respond!

The Bible tells us that “a soft answer turns away wrath”. Kindness is much more welcome than being questioned. Especially if you just want to start an argument for “ratings” sake.

How many foolish things have we said in haste without thinking of the consequences of our outbursts. I want to encourage all of us to put a watch over our words. There’s another old phrase I picked up over 40 years ago. Still great advice today:

“If you got nothing good to say, don’t say nothing!”

(That’s the Texas version in the state I was born).

It may not seem like it at the time, but swallowing those angry words before you say them is much better than having to eat them. Especially if they get caught in your teeth and you don’t floss for a month or two! Then you just end up a prisoner of your own offenses toward another.

Forgive others and set yourself free! Keep your words to yourself. Unless, of course you have something good to say that will build others up. Calm a storm, offer helpful advice, ease a burden, or lift a weary saint. Then… by all means… speak up!

Learn the art of pondering things in your heart. Mary, the mother of Jesus did. And she is celebrated for that quality in her life more than any other. It also kept her out of trouble and gave her a long and memorable life.

The same will happen for you. Ponder that….

P. Scott

06/02/2026

Tues. June 2, 2026
FORGIVE

I’ve run into a few people over the years that have faced some really tough situations involving people who hurt them, or forgot them, or just didn’t live up to the expectations they had for them. In each case, what the other person did was wrong. But the person hurt found it very hard, if not impossible, to forgive them.

This happens more often than you think. In fact, I will go so far as to say that everyone deals with some level of un-forgiveness, if only in their minds, at times.

Let me clear some things up. First of all, forgiveness is NOT excusing people for their actions or words or their bad choices. Forgiveness actually is a gift from God. It releases you from putting yourself into a prison, the walls which are formed around you by the hurt or offense brought against you…. which you re not willing to forgo or tear down!

So, really, forgiveness is a choice to free yourself from holding on to a grudge, from giving another person the right to continue to trap you in a box of frustration and frozen anger.

Forgiveness…. Releases debts. When you forgive another, you are releasing yourself from any obligation to continue to rehearse their action of failure to act, that hurt you. Isn’t it better to be free from that prison?

If your character has been questioned or your integrity violated, don’t give in to the feeling or desire for revenge. Stop spending all your waking hours trying to “make it right”….. when “you can’t fix it”. It’s already done. Already spoken. Already felt. Now, you have to release YOUR-SELF…. and forgive them. Get over it and move on.

It may not be fair. But I think we all have learned, life is not fair. There are no perfect people. Jesus had two criminals crucified on either side of Him. One kept railing at him… failing to forgive. He went to hell. The other repented…. and received forgiveness and Jesus took him with him into Paradise that day…. His first convert!

All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. It is the glory of God then….. to forgive, those who have fallen short. For we may be in need of forgiveness the same day, a few hours later, for something we say or do or fail to say or do, for another.

Jesus freely forgave sinners. He told us to follow him. That’s all we need to know…. All we need to do. So, just do it. Keep your eyes on Jesus… crucifying his desire to retaliate, even while hanging on a across! I think we can handle it for a few rough seconds wrestling over a biting remark on a “TEXT REPLY”.

When you fail too forgive you are focusing on yourself and your hurt. That will lead to retaliation. Jesus says to “love your enemies”… forgive us of our sins…. in the same way we forgive those who sin against us”….whoops! That will lead you to “zip it”!

If you fail to forgive you will live under judgment. That means walking daily under a system of weights and balances. It’s exhausting! Just let it go and release yourself…. by forgiving others!

You’ll feel better…. We’ll be happier… and we’ll bring a little bit of “peace on earth and goodwill toward men”.

I’m going to pursue that today. How about you?

P. Scott

06/01/2026

Mon. June 1, 2026
DELIGHT in the LORD

A new month! And since it is the first day of June, How about a verse from the first Psalm… Psalm 1.

“Blessed is the one who delights in the law of the Lord.. That person shall be like a tree firmly planted by rivers of water… and whatever they do shall prosper.”

People read this and claim that last part… "whatever I do shall prosper. Cause I believe the Word!”

Except, that’s not what it says. It says the only people who are blessed are the ones who meet the conditions of blessing; which is to “DELIGHT” in the law of the Lord.

You know you can believe in the Word of God; i.e. His law, but not everyone who believes in it “delights” in it. There’s clearly a difference. But the difference is what determines whether you get the blessing or not!

Do you delight in God’s Word or is it a daily drudgery for you? Are you interested in knowing what it really means in some of those hard to understand sections, or do you just skip them and go on to: “Jesus wept”. (“Yeah… I got that one!)”

If the Law of God says: “Have no other gods before Me”, ask yourself: are you putting God first? That would be delighting in Him. How about honoring your parents? Do you treat them with respect and dignity? Thank them for providing for you? That’s delighting in the law of the Lord.

Have you stolen, lusted, coveted, lied or envied in the last month or so? That would NOT…. be delighting in the Lord. That would keep you from having your life firmly planted by rivers of water; of life-giving refreshment and peace.

Basically if we keep ourselves from sin and stay close to God and take Him at His word and keep it in our heart…. thinking about the truth that if I honor God’s name instead of taking it in vain, I will actually be worshipping Him… If I honor my parents and treat them right and take care of them as they get older, I will be granted long life….then…… I will be delighting in the Lord. I will be blessed! It’s one of those promises in God’s Law!

Blessing comes from giving. Giving flows out of God. You stay near to God, you’ll find yourself giving to someone or something before the day is over. I recommend it, myself!

Take “de-light” in the Law of the Lord today. It sure beats “de-dark” path of the devil!

P. Scott

05/31/2026

Sunday Service - May 31, 2026

Welcome! Come worship with us in Jesus' Name. Allow the Holy Spirit to draw you into His refreshing stream of life. Please stay and hear what our Father is ...

05/29/2026

Fri. May 29, 2026
WORK TO DO…

I had wanted to share this true story I came across during Memorial day, at the start of this week. But I lost it. Then found it and still want to share it… so it’s going out the end of this week instead. The message is clear. Let’s heed it. (P. Scott).

We Have Work To Do (Memorial Day Illustration)

God accepts us as His own beloved children for Christ's sake. We may not understand why it had to be this way. But we look at the cross and we see there an open door.

And thus we remember. We remember those who died that we may live in freedom. We remember those who died that we may live in faith. We remember Christ who died that we may live forever. That's the ultimate meaning of this Memorial Day weekend. It is a time to remember and it is a time to finish what they started.

They were shooting the movie "Yankee Doodle Dandy" on the day after Pearl Harbor. The cast listened as President Roosevelt announced on the radio that the United States was at war with Japan and Germany. At that point director Michael Curtiz came on the sound stage with Jimmy Cagney. They all listened in silence for the national anthem to finish. As the women dabbed tears from their eyes, and the men were deeply moved, Curtiz said in his best Hungarian accent:

"Now, boys and girls, we have work to do. We have bad news, but we have a wonderful story to tell the world. So let's put away sad things and begin.”

Amen....

05/28/2026

Thurs. May 28, 2026
A CLEAN HEART

One of the traditions I grew up with in the church I attended as a youth was the weekly singing of PSALM 51:10.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right (or steadfast) spirit within me.”

The words continued with: “Cast me not away from Thy presence…. And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me, the JOY of my salvation, and uphold me with Thy free Spirit.”

To this day, now 50 years later…. I still remember the words and the melody. I am eternally grateful for the discipline I undertook many years ago to ensure I will never be able to forget this passage of scripture, the prayer offered around it and the simple melody to request it.

Some traditions…. are not just Godly; they are necessary!

The Old Testament scribes and religious leaders were required to memorize scripture. It was a part of their daily life. They prayed and quoted verses throughout the day, keeping themselves in line with the truth they were declaring. There was accountability. There was such assurance there, that if the physical scriptures were taken from them, they had already hidden them in their hearts…. and no one could take that from them.

This is what we call forming a “Godly Stronghold”. We need this discipline in our lives in these last days. So, I just wanted to elaborate today on this verse in Psalm 51 and share what the root meaning of the words say to us to do….. daily, I might add.

The Bible tells us that the Lord “tests the hearts” of His people. If there is any wicked way in them, it needs to be changed; repented of by us, and retrained and reestablished by God in line with HIs Word.

Remember that Jesus told people in one of His sermons: “ONLY THE PURE IN HEART WILL SEE GOD”.

He actually mean that! We must purify our heart daily to see God, not with our eyes… because in these bodies that really does not happen, but with our heart; meaning, our human spirit, where the Holy Spirit resides if you are born again; and our human soul, comprised of a God-given mind, that needs to be renewed daily; our will, which needs to be continually submitted to the will of God, and the Word of God… and our emotions, because God is not without feeling and Holy compassion flows out of our emotional vault.

David wrote Psalm 51:10 after he had sinned with Bathsheba. It was a psalm of repentance, confession and cleansing. We need this every day for our soul the way we need a shower for our bodies. It feels good to be clean! (And others appreciate it too!).

Let me write it out in it’s full original language so you understand the fullness of David’s request, so that we can each adopt it as our own:

“CREATE. (.”Ba-ra” : ”cut down, to ‘make qualified’…..and to cut down, like wood, …. To select and then feed, in a formative process… to choose to create…and cut down…. And then to dispatch… to do… and to make ‘fat’ = anointed )

…….. in me a CLEAN (.”taher”….”to be bright, pure, physically sound, clear & unadulterated,……uncontaminated, morally innocent, holy…. Pronounced clean…. Purged of self to… purity of self).

HEART (“leb” …….soul - intellect, will, feelings).. O God,

and RENEW. (.”chadash”…. Rebuild like new)……..

a RIGHT (”kuwn”. ….. set up, establish, fix, prepare, apply )

SPIRIT(“ruwach”……”breath, wind. ) within me.”

The summation of this verse is amazing:

David’s prayer of repentance to God is: “O Lord, strip off me everything that doesn’t belong or please you….Qualify me for whatever service you have for me….feed me your Word… by process, form me into Your image….and when I’m ready, dispatch me again to do your will and your work in this world… now purged and washed clean by your blood and forgiveness, so that I stand anointed, unadulterated, uncontaminated, morally innocent, purged of selfishness and rebuilt like the “six Million Dollar man”….better, faster… stronger….. prepared to breath life into others and help them be established as I am.” Amen.

Go ahead….. .pray what David prayed… I am. As often as needed. This is how you keep a Clean Heart.

P. Scott