Message From Pastor Michael Kea
As we settle into this new month, I have been meditating on a single word: Alignment.
In our daily lives, we understand alignment well. We know that if a car's wheels are out of alignment, the ride is shaky and the tires wear out unevenly. We know that if a clock isn't aligned with the correct time, it becomes useless. Yet, spiritually, we often try to push forward while slightly out of sync with God's will, wondering why the journey feels so difficult.
This month, I want to challenge every member of Christian Fellowship to make a conscious choice: Choose to align with God more.
Alignment isn't accidental. You don't "drift" into a deeper relationship with Jesus; you have to steer into it. It requires us to look at our schedules, our finances, our conversations, and our quiet moments and ask, "Does this match what God wants for me?"
Three Ways to Re-Align This Month:
- Audit Your Inputs: What voices are you listening to most? If the news or social media is louder than Scripture in your life, you will naturally drift toward anxiety rather than peace.
- Prioritize the Pause: Before making decisions this month—big or small—take ten seconds to ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Make space for Him to speak.
- Gather Together: Alignment happens in community. When we worship together, we tune our hearts to the same frequency.
Let's not just go through the motions this February. Let's walk in step with the One who leads us beside still waters.
With expectation and love,
Pastor Mike
Since it is still early in 2026, this month the spotlight is going to be on charitable deeds. People often make resolutions early in the new year. These resolutions tend to focus on personal, professional, or spiritual growth. Our society, our nation, and for the most part, the entire world is in utter chaos. Julie Andrews sang "A Spoonful of Sugar" in the Disney classic Mary Poppins. She was trying to encourage children with "Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down in a most delightful way." Imagine our charitable deeds impart positivity and help bring order at least to a small part of society. Kindness, honesty, and charity matter.
1 Corinthians 13:3-8 (KJV)
"And though I bestow all of my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away."
It is early enough in 2026 for each of us to reevaluate ourselves, take a long honest look at our characters, and try to align ourselves more with what would be pleasing in our Father's sight. Actually, it is never too late to make a positive change in our actions or thoughts. All of us fall short in Jehovah's sight. Let me share a little skit with you.
Three brothers lived together in their family home after their parents died. One of them was a veterinarian, one was a lawyer, and one was a bus driver. The veterinarian wore designer fashions and drove a Lamborghini. He was single, but he always had a beautiful woman on his arm. Though the boys were reared in the church, the veterinarian stopped going to church.
He stopped praying. He never donated to charities and he never had time to volunteer for events in the community. He had a nasty attitude, and he carried himself like he was above everyone around him. He was unapologetically puffed up and very arrogant.
The lawyer had a private practice, and not only did he work constantly, he mandated the three individuals on his staff to work at least 60 hours a week. He didn't allow them personal time to attend church or do anything else for that matter. The lawyer paid tithes, but he never attended church, and he never prayed. He never volunteered to help with projects in the community where he could give free legal advice, and he was mean and difficult to get along with. Many viewed him as a tyrant, thus people tended to avoid him whenever possible.
The bus driver was pleasant and kind to everyone he encountered. Once a month, he did his grocery shopping. He made a habit of paying for a random elderly person's groceries whenever he shopped. Likewise, whenever he went to the pharmacy, unbeknownst to them, he paid for a couple of people's medicine. He volunteered to tutor children in the community in math and English. He paid tithes, and he went to church whenever he didn't have to work. He prayed every morning and every night. He wasn't involved in any ministries per se, but he volunteered to clean the sanctuary each week. He volunteered to mow the church lawn each week spring thru fall, he shoveled snow outside the church each winter, and he swept the pavement outside the church a couple of times each week. He also contributed to Khan Academy and the ASPCA monthly.
After reading that short description of siblings, which one do you think is a positive motivator to everyone he encounters? Which one would you rather be around?
💝 Building Fund Donations
Donations in the form of special assessments are still being collected for CFEC's Building Fund. These donations do not take the place of your tithes; donations are in addition to your tithes. Whatever you can spare will be greatly appreciated. It is only through God's continued grace and working together that CFEC can continue to complete dominion projects. You need not be a member to contribute. All contributions are greatly appreciated.
Contributions to our newsletter are encouraged! If you would like to include something in CFEC: Say What Now??? email your copy to top1sg1@gmail.com no later than the 20th of the month.
Community events, accomplishments of members, etc. — we would be pleased to publish all uplifting copy. If possible, please include a photo, your name, and a number where you can be reached with all copy.
It takes a village to make CFEC: Say What Now??? a success!
