::MID WEEK PREVIEW

Check out this week's Mid Week Preview, featuring our City Church Kids Director, Teri Hill, and our Lead Pastor Dean Inserra here.   

::DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING 

Tallahassee Biblical Counseling Ministries will be offering a discipleship class entitled, "Self-Confrontation."  This is an in-depth discipleship training program that teaches you how to study the Scriptures for answers to all of life's problems.  Its unique approach enables you to learn biblical principles from the Bible and practically apply them to your own life.  This class will also prepare you to help others to do the same. The classes begin May 17^th and will continue for 13 weeks and will be led by Caryn Shivar and Rev. Dick Brown.  For more information, please e-mail Caryn Shivar at carynlaurel@hotmail.com.

::SERVICE: TUTORING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS 

We're helping high school students prepare for final exams. Come to one or all tutoring days.
Contact Heidi Schaff for more information heidi.schaff@gmail.com or sign up on the Facebook page!

Volunteers Needed: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Saturday May 14    Saturday May 21    Saturday May 28

::MOTHER'S DAY BABY DEDICATIONS 

On Sunday, May 8th, we will honor our families and new babies during the 11:15 am service with Baby Dedications as the church commits to help support, love, encourage and raise children alongside parents.  If you would like to have your child dedicated, sign up here, and if you've got questions or would like more info, contact Teri Hill, our Kids Director. 

 ::COLOMBIA CLOTHING DRIVE

We have a goal to clothe 100 families in the city of Cartagena that our group will be visiting this summer.  We're hoping to fill the trailer at the Warehouse, and donations are starting to be accepted this Sunday at every service.    

::YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK  

Thursday, May 26th, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm @ Chez Pierre where it all started!

We'll meet under the Oaks, so there should be live music and hopefully great weather!. Check out the facebook event for more information on this great way to meet new people. 

by Caryn Shivar

Easter was awesome! I could relate very well with the idols that Dean was teaching about because I have idols. One idol is to be "a good Christian." Another idol is to be accepted no matter what. 

For a long time, I believed if I wasn't a "good Christian", God would not be pleased with me. I worked hard to be accepted. For example, when my husband was not happy, I believed it was my fault. As a result, I tried harder to meet his everchanging standards. I lived a hypocritical life - pretending to be happy because "good" Christians didn't have problems. While I really wanted to serve Christ - and I tried to (based on my husband's demands and interpretations of Scripture), I never measured up. I didn't realize my husband was an idol too.

My husband and I met with a counselor who would end each session praying that we would fall in love with Jesus. That prayer bothered me. I didn't know how to fall in love with Jesus. I wanted that! I wanted to know all I could about Jesus. I started understanding the gospel; understanding who I was in Christ and what I had because of Christ. At the same time, things got worse at home. I was challenged to give total control to the Holy Spirit, and I was scared. However, after several weeks I wrote Him a "blank check" to my life. 

Three days later, all hell broke loose at home, and the following two years were horrendous. My husband and I counseled with our pastor, who eventually told me that my 27 year marriage was over and that my husband did not like me. I was devastated and confused. Disillusioned, I filed for divorce. When I told my pastor, he thanked me, stated he would support my husband, and turned his back to me. In shock, I left and never went back. 

Religion was another idol. I thought God was done with me; the counseling ministry He called me to- gone. But God didn't throw me away (Eph. 2:4). He lavished grace on me by giving me seminary professors who spoke truth to me; a friend who battled for me when I couldn't; people who encouraged me when I wanted to quit. God was crushing my idols through my divorce. I never hurt so much, but God never gave up on me. 

In His mercy, God determined to destroy the idols of my heart (the idol of self is quite stubborn!!). It has been hard - but so worth it. I've come to know Christ in ways I never imagined. He's transforming my idolatrous heart into the image of Jesus! Many times, I cry through services because you (my City Church family) are learning truths about Jesus I wish I heard years ago. 

I am thankful our Lord has given the leadership of City Church a heart to preach Christ. Along with you, I am learning to walk in Christ's righteousness! Oh, how I want to know Him. Oh, how I want to fall deeper in love with Him! Oh, how I want to serve Him! I proclaim with the Apostle Paul, "Just think! Though I did nothing to deserve it, and though I am the least deserving Christian there is, I was chosen for this special joy of telling (others) about the endless treasures available to them in Christ" (Eph. 3:8 NLT). God rescued me - from me........ now I get to joyfully serve Him!