Over the years of my ministry as a youth pastor, I've spent my share of time in funerals. I've attended the services for people that I knew and people that I didn't. I've preached them, too, even the funeral of my brother. But the one I sat in yesterday almost brought me to my knees in anguish because eternity never felt more real to me than it did then.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God has set eternity in our hearts, and so it shouldn't really sneak up on us, even though it often does. It seems that we spend the great part of our lives trying to escape eternity. We live day to day and really don't stop to consider eternity, and it's easy to understand why. You see, you and I live in The Land of Second Chances. It's a hard place to live in at times, full of mistakes, careless words, even anger-filled tantrums. It's a place where on any given night we can hurt the ones that we love the most. It's a place where we often lay our heads on the pillow of regret. Admittedly, it can be a land of pain, confusion, and raw, unbridled emotion. But at the end of the day, it is still The Land of Second Chances ... [ more ]

IGNITE 08 was absolutely one of the best gatherings in Stanly County history. Unbelievable messages, intense worship and an electric atmosphere. You want pictures? Oh, we've got 'em.

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