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I love Ranch dressing. Like, a lot! I like it on salads, sandwiches, chicken wings, French fries, onion rings, pasta, and yes, even pizza!!! In fact, it’s a staple item in my kitchen and I always keep an extra bottle on hand in the pantry. However, there was a time I would have told you that I didn’t like Ranch dressing at all! You see, as a child, I was very particular about dairy products and especially those which were white. So, I didn’t “like” the creamy, white condiment on the Shoney’’s salad bar….or at least that’s what I thought. The truth is, I had never even tasted it. I had refused to touch it, in fact, until, in late elementary school, I went to dinner with family friends. It was then that my mom’s friend encouraged me to taste broccoli dipped in Ranch. Hesitantly, tried it….and LIKED IT! Instantly, I was like Sam-I-Am. I would eat Ranch in a box, with a fox, in a house, with a mouse, on a branch….I DID LIKE RANCH!!!! But, I didn’t know it until I TASTED it. Recently, my heart was heavy as I prayed for unsaved family members. “Oh, Lord, if they only knew what they are missing out on,” I cried. Instantly, the image of broccoli and Ranch came to mind….along with Psalm 34:8, “TASTE and see that the Lord is good.” You see, my family hasn’t tasted the things of the Lord and they don’t know what they don’t know. They’ve not fully surrendered their lives to Christ and have no idea how good and fulfilling a life in Him can be! Maybe that’s you today, too. Like a childhood me, maybe you’re hesitant to give Jesus a try. Maybe you’re afraid you’ll have to give up bad habits, leave friends behind, change your Sunday schedule, give money to the church, listen to different music, or even face criticism from loved ones. Friend, let me encourage you. GET TO THE SALAD BAR…TASTE! TASTE! TASTE! God does not lie. You will find that once you “taste,” you’ll “see” that the “Lord is good.” In fact, like Ranch in my kitchen, you just might make Him a staple!!! (Shared by Kristin Hankins) #socialdevotional #devotional #taste #see #goodness #truth #encouragement #bible #cachmv #mountvernonohio

Chapel Hill’s VBS 2024 May 16, 2024 — May 18, 2024 6:00pm to 8:00pm 7530 Johnstown Rd Mt Vernon , OH 43050 Welcome to Wilderness Escape—an exciting journey with God’s people, the Israelites, that brings God’s Word to life for kids 3y- 12y! Come and learn what it was like to be an Israelite and learn how to churn your own butter, make sand art, make your own rope, bake your own bread, learn to weave, and so much more. Kids will enjoy learning the true Biblical accounts through trusted Chapel Hill staff dressed as biblical characters. Kids will enjoy a time of celebration, drama, craft and skills, snacks, and musical worship. We hope you can join us. And, mark your calendars for Sunday, May 19th! We will have a special VBS Service starting at 10a which will be followed by a lunch and inflatable fun! #vbs #vacationbibleschool #2024 #wildernessescape #joinus #come #kids #fun #bible #chapelhillkids #markyourcalendar #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #utica #johnstown #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

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This morning, right after having breakfast, I decided to read my Bible at the table while I was still sipping on my coffee. Kind of unusual for me. My routine is to clean up the table and sit on the couch before I start my reading. However, for some reason, I was so eager to start my reading that I didn’t want to move and take time to get “comfortable.” Lately, I have been reading the letters of the Apostle Paul, which I have been enjoying so much, and I have been learning from what he wrote to the churches. Today, I was still reading about the Apostle Paul, but this time it wasn’t a letter. It was about how the Jewish leaders were persecuting him and wanted him dead. As I was reading it, I transported myself into the story and could see each part of it very vividly in my mind. Apostle Paul was a man who had studied all the Jewish laws and once was part of the Jewish leadership. He was a Pharisee. But one day, he encountered Jesus himself. Jesus then gave him a mission in this world. From that day forward, he stopped persecuting Christians and became a Christian. His mission was to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. Unashamedly, he followed his calling. The more he spread the good news, the more annoyed the Jewish leaders became. To the point where they constantly plotted to kill him. Years after Paul was incarcerated, the Jewish leaders asked Governor Festus to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem. Once again, they were trying to ambush Paul and have him killed. Paul appeared before the governor and made his defense. After that, he appealed to Caesar. Festus consulted King Agrippa while he was in Caesarea to pay him tribute. When Paul was taken before King Agrippa, without hesitation, he made his defense. Here is when the fun begins, HE PREACHED TO THEM. He was bold, he told his story, and immediately without fear of man shared Jesus with them. Let’s think this through together, a man who has been in prison for years and has people who wanted him killed had no fear of speaking truth. But it becomes even more mind-blowing. *continue reading in the comments*

“Just because you put Jello in a child’s mouth doesn’t mean that he’s swallowed it,” my brother-in-law said as he recounted a story about feeding his new 2-year-old son. He was not yet fully in tune with Patrick’s personality or habits. That one quote gave all of us a good laugh and visions of the mess Tim had to clean up. A parent has to learn how to feed their children, so in order for mom or dad to get the meal accomplished, they have to understand likes and dislikes. They also need to be aware of little quirks. It starts on the day they’re born and seems like a full-time job it seems. Some days children can be ravenous and other days you might wonder if they ate anything at all. Likes and dislikes can become a battle of wills at the dinner table. One child may wolf down the meal and ask to be excused to play while a sibling is always the last one at the table. Oh, how each child is different and all along the way you learn who this person is. Several places in the New Testament, being “fed milk” is used to represent where a person is spiritually (Hebrews 5:13-14). We’re shown the simple truth (1 Peter 2:2) but the expectation is that eventually there’s growth in our understanding and wisdom (meat). No one makes this progress happen at the same pace. The truth of the scriptures remain constant, yesterday, today and tomorrow but how and when we “digest it” varies greatly. As God calls each of us to a deeper and intimate relationship, He reveals Himself. That’s what He does. If you have been given the privilege of mentoring a new believer, it’s good to know how much that “babe in Christ” can take in. Too much, too fast might be like feeding Jello to a toddler that hasn’t swallowed what was already in his mouth. Continue to watch and encourage and as God grows that soul, you will both be blessed. You will also be learning and growing as you feast on scripture together with your new found friend in Christ. *continue reading in the comments*

Easter is over. The last bit of leftover ham is probably being thrown out today. The plastic eggs are packed up and placed in storage until next year. Our “Easter best” outfits have been laundered and are hanging in the back of the closet. Now what? The last I heard, although Easter Sunday is behind us, there is a tomb still empty a little over 6,000 miles away in a city called Jerusalem. Jesus is still raised from the dead, our sin still left on a cross that stood atop Mt. Calvary. There are still people who haven’t heard about this Jesus. They are still living in death and darkness when they could be living in the victory of the resurrection and in the light of His glory and grace. What do we do with this information? Jesus, thankfully, told us what to do. You see, so often we are so excited about Jesus’ finished work on the cross (and rightfully so) that we tend to ignore what Jesus tells us to do with what He has done on our behalf. In Mark 16:15, after Jesus had been resurrected and is getting ready to ascend to Heaven, He gives a charge to his disciples…and to you and to me. He said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” One of my favorite Bible teachers, Jen Wilkin, has said when it comes to our lack of Bible knowledge that people can’t love what they don’t know. That statement is also true when it comes to Jesus and the gospel. We are living in dark times with people dying and going to Hell all around us…and they don’t have to. They simply can’t love and serve someone whom they’ve never been told about. How do we remedy this? Go. Tell. If Jesus has told us to go and tell…there are people listening. Tell them. God may just use you to help in bringing a soul from death to life. And how awesome is that!? (Shared by Kari Whisner) #socialdevotional #devotional #go #tell #thegreatcommission #bible #truth #encouragement #salvation #cachmv #mountvernonohio

TOMORROW! Come and celebrate as we worship our Risen Savior!! Here is the schedule of events for tomorrow morning… 9a: Complimentary Coffee and Donuts 9:45a: Music Prelude 10a: Easter Worship Service AND Easter Egg Hunt for Children ages 2-12 We will also have a staffed nursery for children ages 3 and under. We are located at 7530 Johnstown Rd. Mt.Vernon, Ohio 43050. We look forward to seeing you! #easter #eastersunday #heisrisen #come #invitation #praise #worship #music #sunday #church #family #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #johnstown #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

An Invite Can Change a Life A few days ago I used my US Passport for the first time in my life. Cincinnati > Dallas > Guatemala > Miami > Cincinnati = 4,102 miles. Why did I do this? It started with an email invite last fall from a pastor friend. The experience I had was a phenomenal blessing and I believe will expand the ministry and mission of our church family in the days ahead. And it all started with a simple invite.  As we approach Easter Sunday, I want to encourage you to invite people to church. The cost of doing this is little, but the value, worth, and outcome can be priceless and change a life and family. There are multiple examples in Scripture where people were given an invite that changed the recipient’s life.  An invite from Dave: “Come and see the works of God; He is awesome...” (Psalm 66:5) An invite from Andy: “Andrew said to his brother Peter, ‘We found the Messiah’, and he brought him to Jesus.” (John 1:41-42) An invite from Phil: “Phillip said to Nathaniel, ‘Come and see’”. (John 1:46) An invite from Jesus: “Come to me...and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) This past Saturday I was eating breakfast at a local diner and I invited our waitress to Easter Sunday. She smiled and said, “I was just talking about church with my daughter. We will plan to be there!” Tomorrow morning I am meeting with a young couple wanting to be married and I will invite them to Easter. They have come to our church multiple times over the years because my family always invites them.    The Billy Graham Evangelistic Assoc. conducted a survey by asking this question: What initially brought you to church?  6-8% Walked in by own initiative 2-3% Liked a program offered 8-10% Liked the pastor 3-4% Had a need met by the church. 1-2% Were Evangelized 3-4% Attracted by Sunday School 70-85% Invited by a relative or friend! The average is 83% came to church because of an INVITE by a friend or relative. I am working hard to prepare a meal of Good News, hope, salvation, peace and joy this Sunday to feed hungry hearts. Would you join me in the mission, take courage and invite someone to church? Thank you for doing it!!          (Shared by Pastor Jon Whisner)

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”-Luke 22:19 Join us at 10a tomorrow for communion as we remember Christ’s sacrifice for us as we enter into the Holy Week. #communion #remember #holyweek #sacrifice #thankyoujesus #church #sunday #cachmv #mountvernonohio

Well, it’s spring, and we are rapidly approaching Easter. Everyone will be admiring the spring flowers, dressing in their beautiful, bright outfits for church, and gazing at the colorful butterflies that emerge this time of year. I, on the other hand, will barely notice any of it. Many of you have seen me mess up the operation of the microphones during announcements so you are well aware that I’m color blind. What knucklehead decided that microphones should have a green light for on and a red light for off? They have a digital screen! Couldn’t they have just used the words ‘On’ and “Off’? According to tests I’ve taken online, I’m not entirely color blind, but I wouldn’t take wardrobe advice from me. I’m not complaining. I’m used to it at this point. But, as I reflected on being color blind I was thankful that I do not suffer from a far more serious blindness. See, I would much rather be color blind than spiritually blind. Got Questions describes spiritual blindness as a “grievous condition experienced by those who do not believe in God, Jesus Christ, and His Word.” My condition wasn’t a choice. I don’t have the power to “fix” it. Sure, I could buy expensive glasses and do other things to mitigate the problem, but I can’t fix it. Those with spiritual blindness, on the other hand, can solve this problem TODAY. Jesus already “fixed” this problem for you. Jesus died on the cross so you and everyone in the world can have 20/20 spiritual vision. You don’t need lasik surgery, contacts, or corrective lenses. A Holy God sent His perfect Son to the spiritually blind. “Was blind, but now I see.” (Shared by Assistant Pastor Gary Hankins) #socialdevotional #devotional #blind #nowisee #truth #encouragement #today #amazinggrace #bible #cachmv #mountvernonohio

We invite you to celebrate Easter at Church at Chapel Hill! Join us on Sunday, March 31st beginning at 9a for complimentary coffee and donuts, at 9:45a the Chapel Hill Choir will begin the music prelude to prime our hearts for the Easter Worship service at 10a! For kids ages 2-12, there will be a special Kids Church service with an Easter lesson AND an Easter Egg Hunt out on the lawn. There will also be a staffed nursery for toddlers and babies ages 3 and under. We are located at 7530 Johnstown Rd. Mount Vernon, OH 43050. Bring the whole family to experience the hope and joy of Easter at Church at Chapel Hill! #easter #easter2024 #joinus #invitation #church #worship #praise #celebration #heisrisen #come #family #sunday #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #utica #johnstown #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

Have you ever had a conversation with a fellow believer who doesn’t attend a local church? Often the subject comes around to how they may think it’s not necessary to physically attend a church. I’ve heard excuses like “God meets with me out in the woods.” or “God and I spend time together in my garage.” or “I listen to this preacher or that podcast every Sunday.” Well, all these are great things to do. I have little doubt that they are sincere and they do meet with God during these times. However, scripture clearly tells us in Hebrews 10:22-25 to “draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, to spur one another on to love and good deeds, but don’t give up meeting together, as some of us do, but encourage one another, and even more as you see the end days coming.” So what’s happening in church that you can’t get at home? At church, you can mature in God’s Word, under the leadership of a pastor who loves and cares for you. He’s the same man who preaches to you each week, counsels you, baptizes your family, marries you, buries you, and shepherds your family. In church, you can insulate you and your family from the wicked ways of this world. You can learn God’s truth and not be swayed by the rhetoric of today’s society. You will receive love, encouragement, and fellowship with the people of God who are trying to do their best in a fallen world. They are struggling just like you. *continue reading in the comments*

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. -1 Corinthians 15:55-57 Jesus has defeated death and the grave! He. Is. ALIVE!! Mark your calendars for March 31st and celebrate Easter with us! #easter #eastersunday #come #celebrate #joinus #praise #worship #church #sunday #resurrection #family #fellowship #easteregghunt #community #family #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #utica #johnstown #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

Don’t forget to set your clocks forward tonight! We are looking forward to worshiping with you at 10a tomorrow! #daylightsavings #springforward #timechange #cachmv #mountvernonohio

I heard someone say that Knox County, Ohio, did not see the sun for 21 consecutive days in January, 2024. Now, I do not know whether that is true or not, but what I DO know is that, by January 31st, I was ready to jump on a plane and head south….and that’s what I did. Joined by my sister and two other close friends, we boarded a plane on a cold, rainy, Wednesday morning and headed to Forsyth, Georgia, eager to meet up another pal for a Girls’ Weekend! Within twenty minutes of being in the air, my friend sitting next to the window, excitedly declared, “Hey, look! It’s the sun! It’s still here!” The dimness faded inside the plane and suddenly the cabin brightened up. My friends and I marveled at God’s creation as we rode above the clouds and soaked up some sunlight. Once we arrived in Georgia, our friend picked us up from the airport, took us to lunch to fill us in on all the plans she had made for us, then back to her beautiful new home where we would be staying for the next couple of days. After unloading our things, our “hostess of the mostess” gave us a tour of her house that concluded on her back porch. It was about 1 pm and the sun was blazing through a bright blue sky, making the temperature about 65 degrees. It was a weather man’s perfect afternoon. Our sweet hostess looked at us and said, “Well, what do you want to do first? Where would you like to go?” I almost felt bad for her when all four of us northerners said, “can we just sit here?”We unanimously voted to sit for a while on her back porch because “the sun doesn’t shine in Ohio anymore.” We ended up sitting on her porch for about an hour…long enough for our cheeks to slightly sunburn (but we didn’t mind). Then, we strolled through her quaint little downtown, and returned home, only to walk for two miles around her neighborhood. We just couldn’t get enough of the great outdoors….and the even greater sunlight! *continue reading in the comments*

Armor Up with Dads Nerf Night was a BLAST!! Thank you to all who came out to join us!! #nerf #nerfnight #armorupwithdads #armorofGod #kidschurch #fun #food #fellowship #cachmv #mountvernonohio

Tomorrow night!! Join us for an evening of food, fellowship, and a lot of FUN! #nerf #nerfnight #armor #armorup #dads #kids #fun #food #fellowship #joinus #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #johnstown #utica #danville #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

It was always a joy for me to go home to help my Mom and Dad in their later years. I made hundreds of trips to Bradford to preach or to be with them during a time of sickness. Mom was always excited for me to be home and wanted to cook something special for me. “What could I cook for you, Sweetie?”, she would often ask. Many times I would tell her that I would love some of her fried chicken. Wow. What a homecoming that would make... fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh tomatoes, and corn on the cob. Mom got a special joy out of fixing meals that I really wanted. Mom, alongside my wife, was the best cook that ever cooked for me. She was so good at it that you would think she would be a little proud of her culinary artistry. But Mom, because of a troubled childhood, was very insecure for the rest of her life. It was really hard for her to take a compliment, and she would always deflect to someone else who had participated in the meal. Mom could have wallowed in her insecurities and disappointments, but she chose to find ways to rise above them. Because she was so good at cooking, it meant that she had an abundance of dishes to wash. Above her kitchen sink were the cabinets where the glasses lived and where the plates resided, with the bowls and pots and pans. Those tools were enclosed by cabinet doors to shut them out from view when not being used. But behind those doors, as you opened them wide, you would find a handmade bulletin board to uplift and encourage the dishwasher. As Mom would find a little note that impressed her, she would cut it out and scotch tape it inside the door. And often, when my Dad preached a message from a scripture that blessed her heart, she would type the scripture out and scotch tape it inside the door. If she heard a song that ministered to her in a special way, she would write it out and scotch tape it inside the door. Dishwashing was not only a chore to get things clean for the family. It was also a time for her to stand at the sink and find words in the cupboard that lifted her soul. *continue reading in the comments*

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I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.-Psalm 122:1 Isn’t it amazing that God welcomes us into His house with arms open wide? How long has it been since you’ve accepted His invitation to come and worship in His house with His people? It’s time to come home. If you are looking for a place to worship, we invite you to come and join us at 10a tomorrow! #come #worship #church #Godshouse #home #psalm122 #joinus #bible #fellowship #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #johnstown #utica #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

Have you ever misremembered the lyrics to a song or a quote? For years I assumed the song Barbara Ann was about fishing. I thought they were saying “Bob bob bob bobber in” the lyrics that say “Rockin and a reeling” supported my mental picture of a happy fisherman singing as he cast the line and launched his “bobber in.” I could give you a whole comedic list of misheard and misunderstood lyrics. I have come to realize that it wasn’t just lyrics that I had stored incorrectly in my head, but there was a verse I had wrong. I was trying to find the reference for a verse I wanted to share with someone. I searched for “Restore unto me the joy of MY salvation…” I ended up finding that the verse was Psalm 51:12a, but I had it wrong. In the King James Version it says “Restore unto me the joy of THY salvation…” This realization that I not only misremembered it, but misunderstood it hit me hard! Salvation is not MINE. I did nothing on my own to deserve it, I do nothing to maintain it. I am wholly unworthy of it. No, salvation is a gift from God. It is His. HE sent His Son, HE died on the cross and bore the sins of all, HE rose again, HE is preparing a place for us! Ephesians 2:8-9 says “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” When I realized the error of my memory it was like a weight I didn’t realize was there had been lifted. The second half of the verse in Psalm 51:12 says, “and uphold me by Thy generous Spirit.” I am thankful that salvation is not mine, but His. That Jesus chose to love you and me and to give us this gift of grace fills me with Joy! Not only does He give us this gift, but He holds us fast within it. May we not take this gift for granted, may this year be a year of restored joy in the only thing that matters, the joy of HIS salvation! (Shared by Stasi Culbertson)

Mark your calendar and make plans to Armor Up with Dads on Sunday, March 3rd from 5-7p at Church at Chapel Hill! This event is hosted by Chapel Hill Kids Church. Dads are welcome to bring their sons AND daughters for a fun night of food, fellowship, and Nerf battles! If you plan to attend please send us a message letting us know your name and how many people you plan to bring. Bring your Nerf weapons and we will supply standard Nerf ammo! We are located at 7530 Johnstown Rd. Mt.Vernon, OH 43050. We look forward to seeing you there!

One of my daughter’s chores is to take out the bathroom trash. She went into the bathroom to complete her daily task when she saw that someone had thrown a paper towel on the ground beside the trashcan. That particular day, she felt frustrated and disrespected, leading her to skip her chore until the next day. That decision only gifted her a bigger mess to clean up since extra time allowed it to grow and spill over. Similarly last week, I walked into my sons bedroom to find his bed a mess. Making beds have been on my children’s morning to do list for over a decade. I had my own feelings of frustrations as my kids are well aware of this expectation. My typical reaction would have been to address this as soon as they got home or perhaps on the car ride home from school. Having them correct their mistake would take priority over anything else. However, a friend just a week prior was telling me that when something similar happened in her home, she took time to pray for her child. That day, I chose to do the same. As I made his bed, I spent that time praying over my son, his heart, his day, his friends, his character, his future, etc. It wasn’t long that my frustrations turned into thankfulness. Both instances were frustrating and birthed feelings of disrespect but there were two contrasting responses. My question to you is, which response would lead to a better day for you? For them? And more importantly, which would please our Lord? When my son came home from school he quickly found me after he discovered a note explaining that his neatly made bed represents the time I chose to pray over him instead of getting upset that he cut corners. He gave me a heart melting hug, a thank you for making his bed, and a genuine thank you for praying for him. Apparently that small act of grace and love was what he needed after a terrible day of middle school, I didn’t know he was having. *continue reading in the comments*

Happy Valentine’s Day! We love Him because He first loved us. -1 John 4:19 #valentine #valentines #happyvalentinesday #truelove #love #jesus #john316 #1john4 #cachmv #mountvernonohio

With great sadness, I watched the Minority Leader of the Colorado House step down in disgrace. The news media showed clips of him standing beside the road as an officer handcuffed him for DUI. He had been pulled over because he had passed the officer at 90 MPH, his judgment noticeably impaired. In forty minutes along the roadside, his life began to tumble down: His training at West Point, his considerable business experience and ownership, his advanced degrees and his accumulation of power in the Colorado House.  In moments, achievements of a lifetime burned like rubble at his feet. Our society would shake its head with a measure of pity and say he had a disease. He ruined his life because he couldn’t help it. His only hope would be treatment, and for the rest of his life, he would be an alcoholic. His liquid drug of choice had become an inescapable disease. As a pastor, I witnessed many examples of broken homes and broken lives because of my generation’s drug of choice.  We looked down on the druggies who chose heroin, cocaine, marijuana, fentanyl, meth, etc. etc. etc.  But our drug of choice, alcohol, became socially and religiously acceptable. Somehow, the snake was welcome into society, and we urged it not to bite us. We would be nice if it would be nice, and we would cohabit in peaceful coexistence. We would keep it light and fun and just enjoy the buzz and fellowship it could generate.   *continue reading in the comments*

I love to eat. Pizza? Yep. Burgers and fries? Absolutely. Chips and dip? You betcha. Room for dessert? Always. I know the options that I shared are not the most nutritious but they certainly are delicious! I am an “all things in moderation” type of girl when it comes to my eating habits. Realistically, I know that if my diet contained only sugar, carbs, and dairy products that I would be satisfied for a little while but if I want to be filled and fully satisfied I need lean protein, vegetables, and fruit…and a lot less antacid medication! A bible verse that has become one that I pray over myself, my family, and our church family is found in Matthew right in the middle of Jesus speaking about the beatitudes in chapter 5. The sixth verse reads, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” It caused me to pause and ask myself, “What am I hungry for?”. So often we want to pull up a chair to the buffets that this world has to offer and we crave to feast upon things like popularity, status, material riches, education, the next big trend, etc. Is popularity, status, money, having an education, and keeping up on trends (that aren’t sinful) a bad thing? I don’t believe so as long as we indulge in them in moderation and we don’t make the things of this world our main focus. All the things I mentioned above can be blessings in our lives, but just like if all we ever ate is pizza, milkshakes, and items of no nutritional value…they satisfy us for a moment or a season, but they will never truly fill us. If we want to be filled in our daily lives we need to create an appetite for righteousness. We need to crave to be right in the eyes of God when it comes to our character, our attitude, and in keeping our word. *continue reading in the comments*

Last week, Pastor Jon began walking us through the book of Nehemiah with a message titled, Rise Up and Care. Once God has laid something on our hearts, it is time to Rise Up and Pray! Join us tomorrow at 10a to see how we can follow Nehemiah’s example of seeking the Lord and His guidance! We can’t wait to worship with YOU! #nehemiah #riseup #pray #prayer #church #sunday #worship #bible #truth #family #joinus #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #utica #johnstown #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

I recently preached a message titled, “Pledge/Prepare, Pray and Praise.” The final part of the message centered on maintaining the right attitude, temper, and character. I shared how important it is to trust God because he knows how to give good gifts. I emphasized the generosity of our Lord and how we should happily serve Him regardless of circumstances simply because he is worthy. “After all, he saved a wicked sinner like me!” In the days leading up to delivering this message, our family had a car engine seize up, a flat tire on a second vehicle and the check engine light come on in a third vehicle. I was struggling to maintain a “right attitude” in the midst of these transportation and financial struggles. The irony of preaching on something that you are currently struggling with was not lost on me. I tried to change the message because I just didn’t want to deliver it, but time was short and every time I attempted to pivot to a new topic I could feel God say, “No!” The day after delivering the message, I was sitting in the tire shop, hoping to get at least one vehicle to operate, and noticed the sign on the wall that said, “ A bad attitude is like a flat tire. Until you fix it, you’re going nowhere.” This spoke to me. I had just preached on having a right attitude, yet there I sat frustrated with my circumstances. My attitude was definitely “flat” and I was going “nowhere” for the glory of the Lord. Thankfully, the Lord convicted me of my bad attitude and forgave me when I repented of it. It was then that I realized that God isn’t at all like that tire. Thankfully, we can put all our weight on Him and he will never go flat. With that, I grabbed my keys and walked out the door. Thankful for a running car, I praised the Lord and thought, “Maybe one of these days, I’ll finally learn to practice what I preach! (Shared by Assistant Pastor Gary Hankins) #socialdevotional #devotional #practice #preach #obedience #bible #scripture #truth #encouragement #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #utica #johnstown #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work. -Nehemiah 2:18 God has given us a work to do according to His will. It’s time to rise up and build, Church! Join us tomorrow at 10a as Pastor Jon begins this new series from the book of Nehemiah! #nehemiah #riseup #build #church #bible #preach #worship #joinus #newseries #come #welcome #family #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #utica #johnstown #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

If you had no eyes in your head to see...  If you had no social media accounts to scroll and compare...  If you had no TV to hear all the ads and alerts of what’s missing in your life...  ...would you be more happy, grateful, content, satisfied and settled with what you have, what you look like, what you drive, where you live, where you work, where you worship, who you are, who you know and to whom you belong to?  Maybe, right?? But this devotional is not an appeal to gouge out your eyes, delete all your SM accounts and throw your TV in the dumpster (although the latter two might be helpful). However, if you find yourself in a state of discontentment, comparison, a fouled-up spirit, an incessant desire to have a little or a lot more and/or you’re constantly daydreaming of a different life—it’s probably time to take a break from your phone, turn off the TV, get in your quiet place, close your eyes, and repent. Get your mind, heart and soul back in tune with the Lord. Let the Holy Spirit correct your bad attitude, warm your cold heart and restore your anxious soul.   Read Psalm 136 to yourself out loud (I suggest using the NLT version for a change). Twenty-six times the Psalmist repeats the same line and it is CPR to the soul. Go read it. Then take inventory of just how blessed you really are. And lastly, for the twenty-seventh pump to get you upright, go to YouTube or Spotify and listen to Matt Maher’s “Lord, I Need You.” I love you, family, church family and friends, and I am happy, grateful, content, satisfied and settled to have you in my life to shepherd, serve, lead and love.  -Pastor Jon #socialdevotional #devotional #truth #psalm #encouragement #comparison #contentment #bible #cachmv #mountvernonohio

It was a couple of weeks before Christmas and, like always, I was in a rush to get ready for the day. With teeth brushed and makeup on, I grabbed my curling iron to put a few waves in my hair. “Ugh, c’mon!” I huffed. My curling iron didn’t seem to be working. In my rush to get ready, I assumed I hadn’t given it enough time to properly heat up. I waited a couple of seconds and tried again…a wimpy, lukewarm kink was all I got!!! “Really?!?,” I thought, “I’m going to have to buy a new curling iron right before Christmas?” (I know…the expense isn’t large, but every extra penny spent before the holidays seems momentous, right?) I checked the temperature….500 degrees (yes….i realize you can crisp-or burn-a pizza at that temp , but you get the jiist). I turned it off, then on again, hoping a reset would fix the problem. Then, I attempted one more curl as plan B swirled around in my mind. Nothing. Just a cold metal rod laid parallel to my head. Before I released the wand and surrendered to “bad hair day” defeat, my eyes just happened to glance at the wall where the curling iron was plugged in. Wouldn’t you know that the plug had come loose from the outlet and was barley hanging on? I pushed it firmly into the receptacle and within seconds, I was back in business! As I twirled my hair around that hot wand, I had an “aha” moment…. YOU’VE GOT TO PLUG IN!!!! If you don’t want to be lukewarm in your walk of faith and in your relationship with Christ, you’ve got to plug into Him, His Word, prayer, and church! See, I had been feeling lukewarm. It was Christmas time and the busyness of the holiday left me like that plug on my curling iron. I wasn’t teaching the Word at school or church so I wasn’t studying It well, my prayers were quick, and my focus was on checking off “to-do” lists and the next holiday meal. All of the hustle left me feeling disconnected, mediocre, and “blah….” like my hair. *continue reading in the comments*

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.-Hebrews 10:24-25 Let’s start the new year off strong! Join us for church tomorrow at 10a. We will save you a seat! *We are located at 7530 Johnstown Rd. Mt.Vernon, OH 43050* #newyear #2024 #newyearsresolution #church #sunday #joinus #worship #praise #bible #truth #family #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #johnstown #utica #danville #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

One of my least favorite things is the darkness of January. In December, everyone decorates their houses for Christmas. People audaciously cover their houses and lawns with lights and inflatables and signs expressing their excitement for the holiday season. Even Christians adorn our lawns with Nativities and tidings of comfort and joy. I love driving around and seeing all of the lights, it’s so bright and cheery. In January, I’m disappointed as everyone turns out their lights and they begin to take down their displays. Especially where we live out in the country, street lights are few and far between, so it’s very dark. The skies are cloudier, and nights are longer during the winter with more hours of darkness. Even in our homes, as we put away our decorations and take down our trees, they feel barren and stark in comparison to the light and color that filled it just a few weeks ago. I was thinking about how that relates to our spiritual walk. In December as we lead up to Christmas we will unabashedly talk and freely sing about the coming Savior. Even non-Christians will tell the story of the baby Jesus as part of their holiday traditions. We will let our lights shine and put up our decor declaring the Savior’s birth. But, when January comes our lights begin to dim. We begin to settle back into our routines and we don’t speak as freely about Jesus or sing His praises. We become more self-focused making resolutions and trying to be successful by the world’s standards. *continue reading in the comments*

Have you ever felt lost and looking for direction? Have you ever not known where to turn next? Reflect on what you have been through in 2023. Having made it to the end of the year, now what is next?  and what does 2024 hold?   It hit me like this on Christmas when hearing the story of the Magi. They were “wise” men from their culture with intelligence and wealth to spare. Sounds like they had it all, right? What more could they want? Even they, however, were looking for more. From their studies and revelation from God they were seeking for direction … for the Savior of the world. The Wisemen’s direction was found in the Light of a guiding Star. They did not fully know what they were looking for, nor did they know where it would lead or which city it would take them. The Wisemen even visited with the Jewish King Herod to seek counsel and ask for further clarity. King Herod was not any good direction for the Wisemen. His vision was too clouded with his own power. It does not say in the Bible how long they followed the Star but some believe it to have been a number of months or years until they found the babe Jesus. The Wisemen persevered and stuck fast to their guide post. They followed the Light of the Star until it finally came to rest over Bethlehem and led them to Christ Jesus!!! Book-ending the New Testament, Jesus is famously described in John 1:1  as the Word that was with God before creation then to Revelations 22:13 Jesus is the Alpha and Omega the first and the last the beginning and the end. As a reminder we have been celebrating the Light at our church leading up to Christmas. Let me point out a few key verses for Jesus as the Light. Using the same scripture structure book-ending the New Testament. *continue reading in the comments*

“It’s going to be a different kind of Christmas. Nobody is coming.” Those were my thoughts several years ago when facing the Christmas season as an empty nester. I found myself in a bit of a funk, “Why bother decorating for nobody, baking nobody’s favorite cookies, preparing the house for nobody…”. As I was whining to God-I mean praying-His Still Small Voice broke through my lament, “I am coming.” His voice grew stronger. “I AM coming. The promised Messiah, Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. A Savior who is Christ the Lord. Get ready!” My thoughts shifted, my heart changed, my mood lifted. Isn’t that Christmas? Celebrating the truth that He came! Throughout that December month I turned my thoughts toward Him. Without the demands of the usual hubbub filling my days, I had more time to read His Word, more time to pray, and to just sit in His Presence; quiet worship. I received that extra time as a gift from Him. What peace and comfort I received from Him. My joy began to return. Isn’t that Christmas? Celebrating the truth that He is here among us, in us, all around us. That year was indeed a different kind of Christmas-one of the sweetest I recall. One day He is coming again. He promised, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I AM there will you be also.” While my children were home, I used to spend the whole month of December ‘getting ready’ for Christmas morning. Jesus has been preparing now for two thousand years; what a place, a homecoming and celebration that will be! Isn’t that Christmas? Celebrating the truth that He is coming again. “Even so, Lord Jesus come”. (Shared by Becky Whitney) #christmas #hecame #hescoming #bible #truth #encouragement #socialdevotional #devotional #jesus #loneliness #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #utica #johnstown #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

It was a blessed weekend celebrating the birth of our Savior at our Christmas Concert: Let There Be Light! Thank you to everyone who used their giftings and talents to bring this concert to life! You are a BLESSING! Thank you to everyone who attended. We pray that you were ministered to and that you experienced the gift of Jesus: The Light of the World! #christmas #concert #lettherebelight #music #praise #worship #thankyou #grateful #blessed #cachmv #mountvernonohio

TOMORROW!! Join us at 10a or 6:30p! The choir and our church family have been praying for YOU this week. Don’t miss what God has for you at one of these special services! We are located at 7530 Johnstown Rd. Mt.Vernon, OH 43050. There will be childcare provided for children ages 3 and under at both concert times. There will be a Kids Church service for children ages 4-12 during the 10a concert. We are incredibly excited to see you tomorrow!! *There will NOT be a livestream tomorrow at 10a or 6:30p.* #lettherebelight #christmas #christmasconcert #concert #music #praise #worship #sing #choir #sunday #joinus #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #utica #applevalleylake #johnstown #knoxcountyohio

I have always loved hearing a great choir. So much so that I began to direct choirs when I was around ten years of age.  My very first choir performed all across the U.S., in demand at some of the largest Christian venues. And oh how they could sing!!  The crowds, so enthralled by their majestic music, would stand to their feet, their applause filling the auditoriums night after night. They were the kind of choir that couldn’t be led by just any style director... but by one who could actually feel what they were singing, someone who could pull the song right out of them with their passionate and demonstrative leading. It wasn’t uncommon during their concerts for their director to collapse in a chair to recoup, catch their breath and wipe the sweat from their eyes before continuing to lead them. For most of the performances that I directed that choir, I went out alone with them, making it easier for me to lead in total abandon, uninhibited — engrossed only in my own expression of worship as I led those amazing singers.  It wasn’t until years later that my parents let me in on a little secret... that, unknown to me, they actually had attended several of my initial stints as a choir director.  And oh how they had enjoyed being secret observers!  As my Dad told of how it was one of their favorite things to watch, he began to demonstrate what they had seen... mimicking me kicking my shoes off, moving back and forth barefoot in front of the choir, his arms gesturing dramatically, all the while pretending to wipe a mix of tears and perspiration running down his face.  His eyes sparkled as he said, “I told your mother the reason you enjoyed it so much was because that was the only time you were allowed to dance!”  (And he was right on point... Since that was strictly prohibited in our very conservative church, leading the choir allowed me to partake in some “holy dancing”.)  It wasn’t until I was well into my forties that I became the director of another great choir. Before our church’s first anniversary, our ‘choir’ sang together for the very first time. *continue reading in the comments*

NEXT SUNDAY! Make plans to attend our 2023 Christmas Concert: Let There Be Light! We will have two performances of the concert on Sunday, December 17th. You can join us at 10a or 6:30p. There will be childcare provided for children ages 3 and under at both times. We are located at 7530 Johnstown Rd. Mt. Vernon, OH 43050. Don’t miss it and invite a friend! We pray that this concert will be a blessing to you and yours as we sing praises to the Light of the World in these dark times! We look forward to seeing you on the 17th!! #christmas #christmasconcert #music #choir #praise #worship #concert #joinus #lettherebelight #light #sing #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #utica #johnstown #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

“As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”-Proverbs 27:17 The last three Thanksgivings, Becky and I have traveled to Colorado Springs to spend the holiday with our son Max and his wife Anna. These visits just keep getting better: from the greetings to the farewells. We eat, we laugh, we play games and then we eat some more. We even went to a hot springs place in the mountains. Whenever we visit our kids, I have a little job. It is to sharpen all the knives in the house. I really enjoy my job but I have purchased “steels” for them all. However, it’s always at the bottom of the drawer waiting just for me. This year I wanted to purchase some new diamond sharpening stones for my workshop and happened upon a store that carried them. When we got back to Max and Anna’s house, I was anxious to try out the new stones but instead of sharpening the knives myself, I asked Max if he would like to learn how. Though he has shown little interest before, he showed eagerness this time. We sat at the kitchen table for an hour together as I demonstrated how to draw the knife across the stones to slowly improve the edge and then check for sharpness. Each pass improving the quality of the edge. With all the knives sharp and returned to the drawer, we sat, satisfied with a job well done. King Solomon wrote the “iron sharpens iron” proverb and it has been used everywhere in Christian circles. Most times it references two people where one is more spiritually mature so as to improve the countenance of the other, yet because both are “iron” something happens to the other. I found for that day, both pieces of iron would be affected. Max learned and so did I. He gained principles to improve his skills and I learned that I needed patience. Not just for the teaching but in waiting for the right opportunity. Both of us got sharpened. God showed me that day that while I might be more “seasoned”, it was my countenance that needed to be improved. I anticipate another wonderful visit with my Colorado family next year, but while I will find joy in the visit, I suspect I will not be employed as the knife sharpener. (Shared by Tedd Whitney)

December Memory Verses #bible #scripture #memoryverses #truth #light #encouragement #cachmv #mountvernonohio

This time last week, Thanksgiving had passed, and I was gearing up for one of the biggest days of my year: Black Friday shopping! It’s the one day of the year where I spend a 12-hour + day seeing what glorious Christmas treasures I can find for the best bargain, of course! It may sound crazy, but millions of others do the same trying to find the best gift ever for their loved ones. As I watched so many scouring the stores, I was thinking of some of the best Christmas gifts I had ever been given. My mind went to being at my grandparents’ house as a little girl on Christmas Eve and hearing sleigh bells coming from the front porch and sprinting to see what Santa had left. I opened the door to find a Little Tikes playhouse that was on the top of my wishlist! Or maybe the best gift was when my parents gave me my first cell phone…that was super exciting until I found out that I had to share it with my sister. Then again, maybe it was a dishwasher that Jon bought for me the first year we were married after we had hosted family for Thanksgiving and we washed all the dishes by hand! That gift was a top contender for the best gift ever! As my mind wandered down a Christmas movie-esque memory lane, a song began to play. It’s a song by the band Cain called “Wonderful” that references Isaiah 9:6. When I got home, I looked up that scripture in my Bible. It says, For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is GIVEN; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. In an instant I was reminded of truly the best Christmas gift that was ever given to me…and to you. It was prophesied hundreds of years before it was given and arrived on that first Christmas night long ago in the little town of Bethlehem; a little baby that would grow to be our Savior, Jesus. He is the gift that keeps on giving. He will never go out-of-style, expire, or be returned. He costs nothing to receive but yet is of more value than any earthly treasure. He has never failed as our Wonderful Counselor, His wisdom and guidance is unmatched. *continue reading in the comments*

Mark your calendar and make plans to join us on Sunday, December 17th as our choir presents their 2023 Christmas Concert: Let There Be Light! We are pleased to announce that special guests, Jonathan White, The Barnett’s, and Katie Swift will once again be joining our choir for these performances! The concerts will be at 10a and 6:30p on December 17th. Admission is free and there will be childcare provided for children ages 3 and under. Bring your whole family and join us as we celebrate the birth of the Light of the World: Jesus! We can’t wait to see you on the 17th! #christmas #concert #lettherebelight #music #choir #community #celebration #joinus #invitation #december #family #praise #worship #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #johnstown #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

As we enter the Christmas season, let us remember with great gratitude the precious gift of our Savior. Join us for communion at 10a tomorrow. #communion #remembrance #sunday #church #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #johnstown #utica #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

I was listening to a podcast recently and a contributor made the following statement about perversion: “If you don’t have any biblical ground to stand on for the first perversion how are you going to stand against the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th” ~ Delano Squires What was Delano’s point? The justification of perversion (sin) is a slippery slope. You start making allowances in one area and it becomes much easier to justify perversion in another area. That is why it’s so important to stand on God’s word. And, why I’m so thankful for His word. God in his mercy gave us the Bible. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path,” said the Psalmist. The wonderful thing about having the light of His word is when we veer from the light the darkness is evident. Unfortunately, we see the darkness globally, nationally, and personally. While we can’t control the world or our nation we can control ourselves. I’m not suggesting we can be perfect but, by the power of the Holy Spirit and obedience to His word, we can stay in the light. This Holiday I’m thankful for His Word, His sacrifice, His light! #socialdevotional #devotional #psalms #walkinthelight #light #bible #truth #encouragement #cachmv #mountvernonohio (Shared by Assistant Pastor Gary Hankins)

The three year old boy sat quietly on his foster mother’s lap.  As the lights dimmed and the music began to play, his curiosity peaked and he began to ask her lots of questions.  I could hear his excitement when she pointed out his foster dad, who was on the stage playing guitar and leading the church in praise and worship.  As the music ended and the crowd was seated, the tyke clapped his hands and yelled out, “YAY!  We did it!”  After a few announcements and a prayer, the congregation was asked to stand and sing once more .  “WE GONNA DO IT AGAIN,” the little boy shouted with elation! My heart was touched right then.  Not only was it, perhaps, the most adorable thing I’ve ever witnessed during a worship service, but I was challenged by the little fella.  If i’m being honest, I’m not always excited about praising the Lord.  As Pastor Dan would say, in my flesh, it’s easier to keep a “gripe list,” instead of a praise list!  Why that is, I don’t know…. Jeremiah said God’s mercies are new every morning.  The Psalmist said we are His sheep of His pasture and He, daily, loads us with His benefits.  Paul reminds us that no height or depth can separate us from His love and that, even on my darkest days, He is working all things together for good!  No wonder David could say, “I will bless the Lord at all times.  His praise shall continually be in my mouth!”   But, for me, praise doesn’t always come so easily.  It’s become a discipline.  I’ve had to train myself to TRY to overcome this rotten, selfish, prideful flesh!  In fact, during this month of thanksgiving, I’ve even attached a calendar to my refrigerator to help.  Each day, I will add something to it that I’m grateful for….and it has to be specific (everyone is thankful for a house and food, right?).  As I’m halfway through the month now, I’m finding it easier and easier to list my praises!  I’m, INDEED, loaded (perhaps, even overloaded) with benefits and it’s hard to choose just one or two to write on my calendar! *continue reading in the comments*

TONIGHT! Join us for Praise and Pie at 6:30! The pie will be sweet and delicious but the praise, worship, and fellowship will be even sweeter! We will save you a seat! #praiseandpie #praise #worship #music #pie #family #fellowship #thanksgiving #tonight #joinus #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #johnstown #utica #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

It was a blessed morning honoring our veterans! THANK YOU to our Sew Blessed ladies who spent countless hours making Quilts of Valor to honor the men and ladies who have served our nation! #veterans #veteransday #quilt #quiltofvalor #blessed #grateful #thankful #honor #military #cachmv #mountvernonohio

In my Bible next to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19, I have a note that says ‘Daily Checklist’ and a ‘P. S.’ (All throughout my Bible I’ve marked PS for Personal Standards) this section is telling us to: Be joyful always-not be happy always, even Jesus was known as a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. BUT we are to have joy, the kind that only comes as a fruit of the Spirit. A deep understanding that no matter what the joy of the Lord is our strength. Pray without ceasing-that means we should never stop. We should always have a constant line of communication with our God. He knows and hears us. These are not just praying for our wants and desires, but prayers of praise and thanksgiving. Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for your life-are you searching for your purpose, to find what God has for you? It’s right here. He wants you to be thankful. Count your blessings, daily He loads us down with benefits. He blesses us above and beyond what we can ask or think! Do not quench the Spirit- when God prompts you to do something, ACT! Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe. Also, when someone reaches out to you and offers to help, don’t immediately dismiss them in your own pride. Maybe the Spirit has prompted them to reach out to you, to be His hands and feet in a situation. Don’t put out the Spirit’s fire! The Word of God is rich with instruction. It is alive and applicable today. God tells us very clearly how to have a fulfilled life. In fact it says in the next stanza: Verses 23-24, May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it. When we follow this simple checklist each day, our focus, our actions, everything will line up with His purpose and we will bring Him the glory! He is faithful and HE WILL DO IT! (Shared by Stasi Culbertson) #socialdevotional #devotional #bible #scripture #truth #encouragement #godlyliving #obedience #1thessalonians5 #cachmv #mountvernonohio

Next Thursday, November 16th at 6:30p our sanctuary will be filled with candle lit tables, the aroma of homemade pies, the voices of our choir singing to the Lord, friendly faces, and people giving thanks for all the ways that God has blessed them this year. We can’t think of a better way to welcome in the Thanksgiving season! We warmly invite you and your family to join us for this greatly anticipated well-loved service! We will save you a seat! #praiseandpie #thanksgiving #praise #pie #worship #music #singing #joinus #invitation #seeyouthere #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #utica #johnstown #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

Our November memory verse… #memoryverse #bible #scripture #november #truth #isaiah #cachmv #mountvernonohio

Don’t forget to set your clocks back 1 hour tonight! Enjoy that extra hour of sleep! We look forward to worshiping with you at 10a tomorrow. #fallback #timechange #daylightsavings #cachmv #mountvernonohio

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 My sweet grandma had a quote that she would say to her family: “Disappointment…His appointment. Change one letter and I see, the way that seemed so grievous, was God’s better way for me.”  When I think back to the times of being with my grandma before she passed, I can remember the steady joy and kindness that she always had, and how she would make people feel so valued and loved. Though she had hardships and trials of different kinds throughout her lifetime and she experienced her body failing her towards her latter years, she still radiated joy and peace that can only come from knowing and loving Jesus and trusting in Him. I’m grateful for the sweet testimony and legacy that my grandma left for her family and others that knew her. In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 we see how Paul was challenging and encouraging the believers in Corinth to stay the course, keep their eyes fixed on Jesus, and have an eternal mindset despite the troubles that this temporary life brings. Paul himself experienced suffering, persecution and opposition in his ministry, but he demonstrated an example of remaining faithful and being determined to spread the Gospel and put his trust in the Lord. The chorus of one of my favorite hymns says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” May we continually shift our gaze to Jesus and remind ourselves that our true hope is found only in Him.   (Shared by Keli Swanson)   #socialdevotional #devotional #dontloseheart #disappointment #encouragement #bible #truth #hope #trust #cachmv #mountvernonohio

For Pastor Appreciation Month, we want to praise the Lord for our Senior Pastor! Pastor Jon was called into ministry at the age of 18 at youth camp and has never looked back! He has served at Church at Chapel Hill as the Preteen Pastor, Young Families Pastor, Administrative Pastor, and currently serves as our Youth Pastor and Senior Pastor. Pastor Jon has a heart for the Lord. He faithfully preaches the truth of God’s Word in its entirety every Sunday he is behind the pulpit. He preaches with conviction and without fear or favor of man. He carries out the charge of 2 Timothy 4:2 that says “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” Pastor Jon has a heart for his family. He deeply loves and cares for his wife and children. He has a heart for his flock. As a shepherd to the people at Church at Chapel Hill, he is faithful to pray for, pray with, challenge, encourage, and exhort us in our walk with Christ! He also has a heart for our community. He loves the city of Mt.Vernon and has served our town as a police chaplain for the past few years and finds great joy in doing so! He has loved well and is therefore well loved! We love you, Pastor Jon! Thank you for ALL the ways you serve the Lord, your family, your flock, and your community! #pastor #pastorappreciationmonth #shepherd #preach #faithful #grateful #thankful #cachmv #mountvernonohio

If only one word could be used to describe Pastor Gary, it would be fierce. He’s often, jokingly, called “Peter” because much of what he says and does reflects the passion and zeal of his pal who Jesus called “rock.” Gary does everything with passion! He does his job passionately, yard work passionately, loves and leads his family passionately and even drops his keys on the countertop passionately! So, it came as no surprise, in the fall of 2020, as God began to call Gary to preach, that he yearned that the doors would open for him to lead at Chapel Hill. For, as you can imagine, he FIERECLY loves his church and it’s people even more. Gary was thrilled when God, indeed, opened the doors at Chapel Hill and he became an Associate Pastor, in May of 2021. In addition to presenting Sunday morning announcements and principaling Chapel Hill Christian Academy, Gary was humbly privileged to begin preaching God’s Word to the flock that Pastor Jon so graciously shared with him. Gary is currently bi-vocational and loans his experience in public administration to the leaders and pastors of Chapel Hill. He is often working behind the scenes; leading our church school, assisting with church finance, and attending meetings with church leadership to ensure that he can be of aid and assistance wherever needed. Gary loves being a part of Church at Chapel Hill and is humbled to serve his Savior alongside of his church body. One of his favorite passages of Scripture is found in Hebrews 10:25. It says, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Gary loves the church. His passion is to see everyone there! And, more importantly, he is FIERCE about preaching the Word there! Thank you, Pastor Gary, for your service! Happy Pastor Appreciation month! #pastor #pastorappreciationmonth #associatepastor #preach #grateful #thankful #cachmv #mountvernonohio

The Fall Festival is on! Come on out and see us! We will be here until 7:30 tonight! #cachfallfestival23 #come #invitation #cachmv #mountvernonohio

TOMORROW, Sunday, October 29th!! Bring your whole family out to our Fall Festival from 4-7:30p! Here is the schedule of events taking place: 4-5p- Trunk or Treat 4:30-6:30p- Hay Rides (Choose free pumpkins and gourds while they last!) 4:30-6:30p- Games/Trinity Game 5:15p- Pet Parade/Pet Prize Giveaway 6:15p- Kids Parade 6:30p- Concert and Prize Giveaways (Must be present to win!) We will have food trucks on site tomorrow so come hungry! A percentage of food truck sales will be given back to our Kids Church ministry! We are located at 7530 Johnstown Rd. Mount Vernon, OH 43050. We can’t wait to see you at the festival tomorrow afternoon but if you are looking for a place to worship tomorrow morning, we would LOVE to see you at church at 10a! #cachfallfestival23 #fallfestival #youreinvited #invitation #joinus #come #family #fun #fellowship #rainorshine #food #games #candy #hayride #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #utica #johnstown #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

NEXT Sunday!! Join us for our Fall Festival on October 29th from 4-7:30p! There will be plenty of FUN for the entire family!! #fallfestival #family #trunkortreat #games #food #candy #fellowship #worship #joinus #youreinvited #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #johnstown #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

Last week I had the opportunity to take a trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with some great friends. We were able to visit the Sleeping Bear Dunes, Tahquamenon Falls, and the Pictured Rocks Cliffs. While exploring the various sights, we were in awe of the amazing scenery. Everything we observed was truly breathtaking. When reflecting in the car on the sites we saw, our group discussed that the beautiful creation we saw was an amazing experience… but how amazing it is that we have an opportunity to know the Creator of that creation, and have a relationship with Him. It’s humbling to think in the vastness of Creation, God would desire to have a relationship with me. Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Creation demonstrates God’s creativity, power, and order. It should remind us daily about Who God is, what He is capable of, and that He is in control. My prayer is that when we view the world God has made, we can rest knowing that He is sovereign and in control, and be reminded of what Philippians 4:19 says: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”  (Shared by Riley Swanson) #socialdevotional #devotional #withoutexcuse #creation #Creator #bible #scripture #truth #encouragement #cachmv #mountvernonohio

During the glorious final song of our church's 28th Anniversary celebration service this past Sunday, I believe we experienced a pouring out of some bottles.  I can't prove it, I can't explain it, I didn't physically see it... but I'm quite certain I experienced drops of those bottles being sprinkled among us. As I looked around the church and observed the faces of people as they praised the Lord together, I was overwhelmed with a sense of joy. With tears streaming down my face, I looked Heavenward and whispered in my heart, "Thank you, mother and Daddy!  This is a direct result of your prayers!"   Lest bottles and tears and whispered Heavenward messages start sounding a little too hokey, let me try to explain: One of the sweetest memories of my mother and daddy is captured in the picture attached. It depicts them doing what they did every single morning that I can remember... coffee cups in hand, their Bibles opened on their laps, studying God's Word, as they daily lived out Matthew 6:33 to "Seek first the Kingdom of God". If you happened to walk through their family room, one of them was sure to call you over so they could share of the sweet, satisfying portion that was feeding their soul that particular morning.  Following their meditation, they would then pray together, often, even in their old age, on their knees. And oh, how they prayed!! Their prayers weren't fluffy little "now I lay me down to sleep" kind of prayers, but earnest, fervent, effectual prayers. They usually began by praising the Lord, blessing His name, recounting the many ways He'd blessed them.  Then their voices would often build as they proclaimed of God's goodness, of their unworthiness of His love... and many times their tears would flow as they would humbly ask God for forgiveness and help in areas of their lives that they felt weren't pleasing to Him.  As one prayed, the other would chime in, often commenting to the Lord out loud, right along with the other's prayer (I can just hear them now, with a groan in their voice... "Oh yes, Jesus, we're trusting in You!" "Ohhhh, grant it, Lord!” *continue reading in the comments*

TOMORROW!! Make plans to join us as we celebrate our 28th anniversary! To God be the glory! We are located at 7530 Johnstown Rd. Mt.Vernon, OH 43050. You won’t want to miss this special service! #church #sunday #anniversary #happyanniversary #28 #invitation #joinus #come #worship #praise #preach #bible #music #choir #coffee #donuts #family #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #utica #johnstown #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

Join us THIS Sunday for our 28th Anniversary Service on October 8th! We’ve got a story to tell of how God has been faithful for the past 28 years to the Church at Chapel Hill! You will not want to miss this special service! We invite you to join us for complimentary coffee and donuts beginning at 9a, the music prelude featuring the Chapel Hill Choir will begin at 9:45a, with the Anniversary Service immediately following at 10a. Bill and Patty Marks will also be here teaching an exciting and dynamic Kids Church service for children ages 4-12! We will also have a fully staffed nursery for children ages 3 and under. We are located at 7530 Johnstown Road Mount Vernon, OH 43050 We can’t wait to CELEBRATE with YOU and your family! #anniversary #happyanniversary #church #celebration #invitation #joinus #28 #sunday #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #utica #johnstown #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

“Hello?”, I said as I groggily answered my phone. “Good morning, You have a few minutes to come down here if you want to watch the sunrise on the lake.”, said Jon’s voice on the other end of the phone. “I’ll head that way.” Jon and I had the opportunity to spend a couple days at Lake Erie to celebrate our anniversary. We ended our celebration in the cute little community of Lakeside, Ohio…which obviously is nestled on the banks of the lake. I hurried down to the pier that morning to join Jon to watch the sunrise. When I arrived it was cloudy, windy, and cold. Not exactly the sunrise I was hoping to experience. The waves were high that morning and crashed over the pier. They appeared to be out-of-control and ominous. Although the conditions were lackluster, I sat beside Jon on a bench and waited. And waited. And waited for the sun to rise above the clouds. I looked around and saw a handful of people doing the same…waiting. As we sat staring at the horizon it felt like the “waiting” would never end. How much longer would we have to wait in the dreary darkness before the dawn? Would it even be worth the wait to experience the morning sunshine…if it even ever arrived? The answer is YES! Slowly and steadily that morning, the sun started to break through the clouds. Suddenly, the long waiting was over and if we hadn’t been paying attention we would have missed it! Bright beautiful shades of orange and yellow burst across the water. The sun didn’t just bring beauty, it brought warmth! The waves no longer looked treacherous. The sunlight glittered upon them and what seemed dark and scary before was now brought into the light. The second part of Psalm 30:5 says; “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” I felt like the Lord literally showed us that verse through His creation that morning. We go through difficult seasons where life feels dark and bleak. We cry out to the Lord and wonder if He is even listening. Then we wait. And wait. And wait…wondering if we will experience true joy again. But then suddenly, joy comes. It brings the beauty of faith and the warmth of peace with it. *continue reading in the comments*

Don’t forget to mark your calendars and make plans to join us for our 28th Anniversary Service on Sunday, October 8th! We have MUCH to celebrate!! #anniversary #happyanniversary #28 #celebration #ourstory #storytotell #glorytogod #joinus #invitation #coffee #donuts #praise #worship #music #choir #family #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #johnstown #utica #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream Kristin and I spent last Sunday afternoon with some of the middle school students in our church. My wife tasked me with teaching a brief devotional to the students. The kicker - she wanted me to link it to ice cream because we were having a sundae bar after lunch. Initially, this seemed challenging. How will I tie scripture into middle school and ice cream? Thankfully, I came across an article titled “Middle School Tips for Success” by some Christian Educators. While the paper had nothing to do with ice cream, these teachers were very honest with their students and utilized Romans 5:3-5 to advise and guide them: We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. The advice given to middle school students applies to adults as well. As Romans tells us, problems and trials are coming. When they arrive, will we endure and develop character and hope, or complain, grumble, and scream? It’s this simple. Two hundred years ago, ice cream ingredients were thrown in a copper tube, and the maker had to continually turn the cylinder housed in a barrel surrounded by ice and salt. The wealthy were fortunate enough to have cranks attached to the tube. Regardless, someone had to turn or crank the ingredients continuously. If the maker persisted and pushed through the resistance of the components and physical exhaustion, then a fantastic treat would be the reward. For the Christian life can be similar. Christ died for you and promised to work all things together for your good (Romans 8:28) if you love Him. So we can cry and scream or keep cranking when times are tough. Keep cranking by attending church. Keep cranking by reading the Bible. Keep cranking by praying. If you do, it will lead to character, endurance, strength, and hope. Additionally, God may bless you with something amazing at the end.

Mark your calendars and make plans to come and join us at Church at Chapel Hill for our 2023 Fall Festival, on Sunday, October 29th from 4-7:30pm. 
We will start with a trunk or treat from 4-5p. From 4:30-6:30p, you can choose to visit one of the food trucks, bounce on the several bounce houses, meet our local first responders, tour a firetruck or a deputies car, visit our toddler area, enjoy a hayride to a pumpkin patch and select a pumpkin or gourd to take home, play one of our carnival games, join in on a lawn game, or sit back and play a board game and make a new friend. At 5:15p you can watch or participate in a costume pet parade. At 6:15p you can enjoy a kids costume parade. At 6:30p you can join us in worship at a wonderful outdoor concert by Church at Chapel Hill's Praise Team. This is an event that the whole family will enjoy! You won’t want to miss it! *This is a FREE event open to the public! The only cost will be if you purchase food from a food truck. A percentage of food truck sales will be given back to our Chapel Hill Kids ministry!*. #fallfestival #markyourcalendars #october #trunkortreat #food #family #games #hayride #community #fun #kids #fellowship #music #firstresponders #wnzr #chapelhillkids #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #utica #johnstown #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

Mark your calendars and make plans to attend our 28th Anniversary Service on Sunday, October 8th! We’ve got a story to tell of how God has been faithful for the past 28 years to the Church at Chapel Hill! You will not want to miss this special service! We invite you to join us for complimentary coffee and donuts beginning at 9a, the music prelude featuring the Chapel Hill Choir will begin at 9:45a, with the Anniversary Service immediately following at 10a. Bill and Patty Marks will also be here teaching an exciting and dynamic Kids Church service for children ages 4-12! We will also have a fully staffed nursery for children ages 3 and under. We are located at 7530 Johnstown Road Mount Vernon, OH 43050 We can’t wait to CELEBRATE with YOU and your family! #church #anniversary #28 #come #celebrate #invitation #donuts #music #praise #worship #october #cachmv #mountvernonohio #centerburg #sunbury #fredericktown #danville #utica #johnstown #applevalleylake #knoxcountyohio

I love it when scripture plays out in daily life. To see illustrations of God's love, principles or instructions excites me. However, rarely do I get a picture of "love" like the one I submitted with this post. Our family had an amazing vacation in a couple of cottages on a beautiful lake in Ontario, Canada. All 14 of us! First time! The setting is peaceful and quiet, with no cell phone service and no WIFI. There's a television but nobody cared about it. Just people time. Swimming, fishing and just lounging. Between the one canoe and 4 kayaks available to all the cottagers and the 4 our family brought; it seemed as though someone was always paddling around somewhere. My son-in-law Scott was so excited to be a part of it all. He wanted to make sure everyone was having as much fun as possible. He was truly our entertainment director. Games, toys, food but mostly enthusiasm. His desire was to fill every moment he could and include everyone, even if they needed a little coaxing. Scott especially wanted to get Eden, his 2-1/2-year-old daughter, into the water and eventually into a kayak for a ride with him. Eden would have none of it. The farthest she got into the water was ankle deep, happiest when just playing in the sand. At one point, Scott got in a kayak and took her stuffed animal, Daniel Tiger, to show her how fun it might be. He paddled around right in front of her and still she was not tempted in the least. It was just fine for Daniel Tiger, but as much as she loves her Da Da, nothing would entice her to get in the kayak. How hard is it sometimes to trust our Heavenly Father when He's asking for us to trust Him and we don't understand that His desires for us are always for our good. Jeremiah 29:11 says " For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Scott's love for Eden only includes what is good for her. However, at her young age, she has yet to trust him past her fears. As long as we hold onto our own understanding ahead of God's goodness, we'll never understand how much He has for us. (Shared by Tedd Whitney)

God whispered into my heart, “this is for you”, as I listened to my audiobook. Instantly, my heart was moved. My mind, thinking differently, perhaps more clear. The disappointment I was holding onto had faded. I backed up my audiobook and listened again. I wanted be sure I heard it in its entirety. I didn’t want to miss what God had for me. I listened carefully as Corrie Ten Boom’s sister, Betsy, told her, “If God has shown us bad times ahead, it’s enough for me that He knows all about them. That’s why He sometimes shows us things, you know, to tell us that this too is in His hands.” You see, I had a dream several years ago, not a terrifying nightmare but an unpleasant matter-of-fact dream that my mom was gone. I couldn’t see her. I couldn’t call her. She was just- gone. It was quite disturbing even though nothing specific had happened. It shook me so much that the next day I called her a few extra times than normal. During one of the conversations, she mentioned to me that she wasn’t feeling well. After telling me her symptoms, I urgently insisted she go to the ER. Shocked by my response, my mom told me that was absurd, I was overreacting, and she would be fine. However, I couldn’t shake the dream. I couldn’t exactly tell her my drive was coming from a dream. I would sound crazy and maybe I was being crazy. However, I needed to do something. So, I called her best friend, who was a nurse, and asked her to check on her. When Valerie arrived, she too suggested she go to the hospital. So, now I didn’t feel quite so crazy. That ER visit led to a stay in the hospital and a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, which ultimately took her life 3.5 years later. I’ve often wondered about that dream. Was I to do more? It didn’t turn out how I wanted, so, what was the purpose? In life that often happens, things don’t turn out how we want them to. We receive news we do not want to hear and we don’t like. We have to face unpleasant things. As I heard the words, “sometimes God shows us things to tell us this too is in His hands.” I realized, that was the purpose of my dream many years ago. To tell me, it was in His hands. *continue reading in the comments*

Our memory verses for the month of September! #colossians #bible #scripture #whateveryoudo #forthelord #encouragement #truth #cachmv #mountvernonohio

I was preparing to teach the students at the Christian school a lesson on the Pledge to the Bible. It’s a pledge we cite daily, right after pledging our allegiance to the Christian flag and Ol’ Glory. Based on Psalm 119, it says: “I pledge allegiance to the Bible, God’s Holy Word. I will make it a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. I will hide its words in my heart, that I might not sin against God.” I love these words and when I say them, I mean them…well, at least I thought I did. You see, as I was focusing on the words “lamp” and “light,” God brought something to mind and actually taught me a lesson that afternoon. For 20 years now, I have often, jokingly, called my husband, Gary, “Motel 6” because “he always leaves the light on.” Morning, noon, and night Gary seems to need extra illumination wherever he is and for whatever he’s doing. And, as he has aged, it’s gotten worse and his love of light has spread to our children. Being raised by a father who wasted NOTHING, especially electricity, you can imagine how my inner Frank (that’s my dad) flares up when I find the kitchen light on at 4pm in the middle of the summer. Well, one day, I began prepping dinner early in the evening. Gary came to the kitchen, turned on the light to search for something, found it, turned out the light, and left the room. While still having plenty of daylight, I caught myself thinking “Hmm. That light was actually helpful!” However, in my stubborn frugality, wanting to save money on the electric bill, I left the light off and never gave it a second thought. That is, however, until preparing the pledge lesson. The Lord showed me that I often sit in the dark. I don’t know about you, but I complacently plan my life in dimness or fumble, sometimes, in complete darkness, often neglecting to seek God’s Word for guidance and clear instruction. The Bible says His Word is a lamp, like a flashlight… it will guide us little by little, step by step, day by day. And, if we chose to apply it faithfully, God’s Word is a light and promises to illuminate the entirety of our life. *continue reading in the comments*