(Sunday at The Gathering, Colorado Springs)

If you’re searching for a church in Colorado Springs where the Gospel is preached with depth, prayer is central, and community is real, I’d love to invite you to The Gathering—Sundays at 10 a.m. at 720 Elkton Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80907. This week’s message, The Disciple Jesus Loves: How John’s Gaze Outlasted Peter’s Vows, called us out of white-knuckle striving and into the wonder that keeps us near Jesus when nothing makes sense.

Watch Sunday’s message on YouTube →

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Determination vs. Fascination (Peter & John)

Some of us learned to follow Jesus with our jaws set and our fists clenched—determined to prove our devotion. That’s Peter:

Matthew 26
33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”
34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”
35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!”

His words carried strength—but his strength couldn’t carry him.

And then there’s John, the one who simply stayed. He didn’t win the night with arguments or vows. He stood near Love and would not look away:

John 19
26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”
27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

Determination says: “I’ll do this for God.”
Fascination says: “I can’t stop beholding Him.”

One burns hot and burns out. The other keeps you at the foot of the cross.

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A Colorado Springs Story: How the Lord Reframed My Starting Point

Right before our Table & Thread gathering here in Colorado Springs, I had an encounter with Psalm 24. I’ve started many regional meetings with, “Open up, you ancient gates…”—but this time I sensed the Father was the One saying it first, welcoming the Son—and astonishingly, welcoming us in Him. The shift? We don’t climb ladders to reach God; we start at the finish line of Jesus’ work and echo heaven from here.

That shift matters for our city. We’re not gathered to convince a reluctant God to move in Colorado Springs. God is convincing us of what He has done, and of what He’s doing now.

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The Prayer That’s Shaping Us Locally

I’m 51. I don’t have faith in my faith anymore—I have faith in His faithfulness. In this house, God keeps burning little “bushes” to get our attention—through conversations after worship, a line in a book, a memory in a song. The question is whether we’ll turn aside.

Exodus 3
3 “I will turn aside to see this great sight…”
4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him…

Here in Colorado Springs, we’re asking for eyes to notice everyday holy moments—at the grocery store, at work, in the mountains, in traffic on I-25. Will we turn aside? Will we let wonder interrupt our certainty?

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Pure in Heart—Right Here, Right Now

Matthew 5
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Not one day—today. To be “pure in heart” is to have a single gaze. When our gaze is single, we begin to see God everywhere in Colorado Springs—at CSCS on Sunday, in family dinners, on the trail in Garden of the Gods, in tough meetings at work. Isaiah 6 declares the whole earth is full of His glory; that includes our city.

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The Resonance of Love (and a Book I Didn’t Know I Needed)

After a heavy news week—I can spiral like a former journalist—I picked up Love Poems from God. The poems of Francis of Assisi disarmed me. They carry a resonance—a frequency of love that loosens the grip of performance. Francis writes like someone who found God in all things:

“Everything imparts His grace.”

It reminded me: fascination is not spiritual hype; it’s the quiet, steady gaze that finds Christ in acorns and owl feathers—and in communion bread and cup. It’s how John lived.

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Shalom: Becoming His Resting Place

Song of Songs 8:10 (NIV)
10 I was a wall, and my breasts were like towers; thus I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment.

“Contentment” is shalom—wholeness, flourishing, completeness. In union with Christ, we don’t just receive peace; we become His resting place. Fascination is reciprocal: as we are captured by His love, He delights in us.

Determination: “I’ll bring God something impressive.”
Fascination: “In His eyes, I’ve become one who brings Him shalom.”

This is the mystery changing our church in Colorado Springs. We’re not building on the pride of performance; we’re learning to live as a people of Presence.

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Scripture at the Center

John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word…
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

The light of Christ is not scarce in this city. It shines in everyone. Our call is to behold—and then to agree with heaven over Colorado Springs: His glory fills the earth.

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“Repeat After Me” (Prayer from Sunday)

Jesus, I bring You my striving and my vows.
I lay down determination as my source.
Captivate me again with who You are.
Make my heart single—pure in its gaze.
Blessed are the pure in heart; let me see God.
I receive Your love as the truest thing about me.
I am the disciple whom Jesus loves.
Give me John’s gaze to stand near Your cross.
When I don’t understand, keep me close in wonder.
I trade performance for Your Presence.
I receive Your shalom—make me one who brings You rest.
Teach me to turn aside and behold.
Open my eyes to Your glory filling the earth.
Jesus, fascinate me, lead me, and keep me. Amen.

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Join Us in Colorado Springs

If you’re longing for a Gospel-centered church in Colorado Springs—rooted in prayer, communion, and the Word—come be with us this Sunday.

• The Gathering — Sundays at 10 a.m.
• 720 Elkton Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80907
• Plan your visit →
• Interested in prayer groups and covenant friendship beyond Colorado Springs? Visit Company318.com