The Gospel According to the Bubble Wrap Jesus
Heritage Happenings
Pray the prayer.
Say the verses. Stay positive. And voilà—no struggle, no pain, no resistance, no lions.
Apparently, the modern gospel is:
“God loves you so much He would never let anything uncomfortable happen to you.”
Which is fascinating, because the Bible has clearly never met this version of God.
The Myth We Love
Many believers assume two deeply unbiblical things:
If you follow God, life should be smooth.
If something happens, God must be the one doing it.
That logic falls apart faster than a prosperity sermon when rent is due!
If everything that happens is from God:
Jesus wasted a lot of time healing people God supposedly afflicted.
Spiritual warfare passages are just poetic nonsense.
The devil is unemployed.
And Jesus rebuking sickness, demons, and storms was… God arguing with Himself in public.
Spoiler alert: That’s not what’s happening.
Daniel and the Lions
Let’s anchor this where it belongs.
God didn’t spare Daniel from the lions’ den.
He spared Daniel in the lions’ den.
Say it louder for the people who think faith is an escape hatch.
Daniel was faithful.
Daniel prayed.
Daniel obeyed God.
Daniel still got thrown into a pit designed to eat him alive.
Obedience didn’t cancel the den.
God’s presence redefined it.
Faith doesn’t always keep you out of trouble—sometimes it just keeps trouble from eating you.
Faith Does Not Equal Immunity
The Bible never promises a struggle-free life. It promises a sustained one.
Joseph obeyed God and landed in a pit, then prison.
David was anointed king and immediately chased like roadkill.
Paul followed Jesus and collected shipwrecks like souvenirs.
Jesus Himself was perfect—and still got crucified.
If righteousness prevented hardship, the cross would be divine malpractice.
If suffering meant God abandoned you, Jesus would’ve been the first to qualify.
Not Everything Is “From God”
This one needs to be said with some holy sarcasm:
Stop blaming God for the devil’s work.
Scripture says:
We wrestle not against flesh and blood.
The enemy prowls like a roaring lion.
He comes to steal, kill, and destroy.
Notice how none of that sounds like God’s job description.
If every tragedy is God’s will:
Jesus should’ve congratulated demons, not cast them out.
Healing ministries make zero sense.
Prayer becomes a weird form of arguing with divine sabotage.
If God caused the sickness, healing would be rebellion.
God Is With You—Not Always Editing the Script
Daniel didn’t get a divine exemption slip.
He got divine companionship.
God didn’t cancel the lions.
He shut their mouths.
God didn’t stop the storm for the disciples immediately.
He got in the boat.
God didn’t stop the cross.
He filled the tomb with resurrection power afterward.
God is less interested in preventing every battle and more committed to winning them with you.
The Den Is Not Proof of Disobedience
Some Christians see hardship and immediately assume:
“What did you do wrong?”
Daniel’s answer: Nothing.
Sometimes the den isn’t punishment—it’s platform.
The miracle didn’t happen before the den.
It happened inside it.
And the testimony reached a pagan king who never would’ve listened otherwise.
Your worst chapter might be the only one your enemy actually reads.
Final Reality Check
Christianity is not:
A pain-free life
A divine forcefield
A cosmic customer service plan
It is:
A war zone with a Shepherd
A den with a Deliverer
A cross followed by a resurrection
So no—God didn’t promise you’d never struggle.
He promised you’d never struggle alone.
And that promise?
Still shuts lions up today.
The Best Is Yet to Come,
Rev. John Roberts
Our Prayer Concerns
As a church family, we lift these friends and loved ones before God together
Church family, we invite you to join us in prayer for the following needs. As we pray, we remember that no concern is too small and no burden is meant to be carried alone. If you would like a prayer concern added to our prayer list, please email one of the Deacons, Nancy, or Pastor John at revjohn@heritagechurchcypress.com.
Let us pray together…
All our Y’s are ill.
Father, we lift each of them to You. We ask for healing, strength, and restoration. Bring them back to their true, healthy selves, and surround them with Your peace. Amen.We are missing Carol.
Lord Jesus, thank You for strengthening Carol’s lung capacity. We pray that You would continue this healing so she may return to the Heritage Choir and once again lift her voice in praise. Amen.Don Salyards is recovering from gall bladder surgery, and his COPD and emphysema are slowly affecting his lungs.
We give thanks for his loving family who is walking closely with him during this tender season. Lord, grant comfort, strength, and moments of grace and gratitude in this time together. Amen.Sue’s friend, Richard, is in need of open-heart surgery, but kidney failure is preventing the procedure. He is currently on dialysis.
Father, we pray that the kidney treatments will be effective and that the way will be opened for his heart surgery. We trust You with every step of his care. Amen.Ann’s nephew, Cohen, has received his new heart.
We offer prayers of deep gratitude that he did not have to wait as long as his older brother once did. They now share a powerful bond—both with new hearts. We also remember with thankfulness the generous family whose loved one made this gift possible. Lord, thank You for skilled doctors and the high success of these surgeries. Continue to hold all families involved in Your care. Amen.Liz has now had surgery on her finger.
We pray for complete recovery and give thanks that the surgery was successful. Lord, we ask especially that Liz may continue to play the piano, blessing others through her music. Amen.Heather continues her job search and has had two very positive interviews.
We give thanks for these encouraging steps and pray that You would place her in the company You have prepared for her. Strengthen her faith and confidence as she waits and trusts in Your timing. Amen.Marguerite’s sister, Stephanie, continues to battle pneumonia, which is affecting her blood pressure.
Lord, we pray that the proper treatment will take hold and bring healing, so Stephanie may continue to live fully with those she loves—her friends, her twins, her sister, her son, her daughter-in-law, and all who mean so much to her. Amen.Marguerite and Russ’s friend, Dave, who has recently lost his wife, Beverly.
We give thanks for Dave’s witness of joy and faith, as he continues to live in the spirit of his heavenly wife. May Your comfort and hope surround him each day. Amen.Sue Small, Angie Martin’s mother, is facing the return of cancer.
We praise You for her successful radiation and chemotherapy treatments—hallelujah! We also give thanks that her hip surgery after her fall before Christmas was successful—another hallelujah. Now, as bloodwork shows cancer cells present, Lord, we lift Sue before You. She is truly an earth warrior for You. Strengthen her body, renew her spirit, and let her win this battle once again. Amen
You Get What You’re Willing to Follow (and Fund)
Every church gets the leadership it’s willing to follow—and the future it’s willing to fund.
That sentence won’t make it onto a Hobby Lobby wall plaque anytime soon, but it will preach.
Mostly because it’s a bit rude. And true. And biblical. Which is the holy trifecta.
Israel Didn’t Have a Leadership Problem—They Had a Followership Problem
Israel didn’t stumble because God failed to provide leaders.
He sent Moses.
Then Joshua.
Then judges.
Then prophets.
The issue was never availability—it was obedience.
They followed when it was convenient.
They funded when it was comfortable.
And they complained when it got hard.
Numbers 14 tells us they stood at the edge of the Promised Land and said, essentially, “We love the promise, but we’re not sure we trust the process.”
Giants were big. Trust was small. Giving was… nonexistent.
“Faith that won’t follow God forward will always vote to go back to Egypt.”
Churches don’t stall because leaders stop dreaming.
Churches stall because people stop moving.
You Can’t Clap for Vision and Starve It at the Same Time
Jesus was very clear:
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
Notice He didn’t say, “Where your opinions are.”
Or “Where your Facebook comments are.”
Or “Where your nostalgia is.”
Treasure tells the truth.
Always.
You can say you want Heritage to be here for your kids, your grandkids, and the next family who walks through the doors broken and desperate—but if generosity never follows, the vision is just spiritual fan fiction.
Applause is appreciated, but it doesn’t pay the light bill.
The early church didn’t grow because they had cool branding or fog machines.
Acts 2 says they gave sacrificially, and then God added to their number daily.
God grows what people are willing to invest in.
God Funds Futures Through Faithful People, Not Wishful Thinking
Nehemiah didn’t rebuild the wall with vibes and good intentions.
The people showed up, picked up tools, and paid the cost.
Heritage’s future won’t be secured by hoping someone else gives more.
(It’s amazing how generous “someone else” always is.)
The future of the church is not funded by intentions—it’s funded by obedience.
If you want Heritage to be here, generosity matters.
If you want Heritage to grow, generosity multiplies.
If you want Heritage to reach people you’ve never met, generosity becomes ministry.
Final Encouragement (Because This Is Not a Guilt Trip)
Giving is not about keeping the church alive.
Jesus already promised He’d build His Church.
Giving is about deciding whether this expression of His Church—Heritage—will be part of that story.
Paul told the Corinthians:
“God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)
Not a pressured one.
Not a resentful one.
Not a nostalgic one clinging to the past.
But a cheerful one who says,
“I believe in this. I’m following this. I’m investing in this.”
Every church gets the leadership it’s willing to follow—and the future it’s willing to fund.
So if you want Heritage to be here, lean in.
If you want Heritage to grow, give boldly.
And if you want to see God do something miraculous—remember, miracles often start with obedience that costs something.
Click here to give to Heritage Church:
Heritage Church’s First-Ever Grief Share Group
If you’ve recently lost a loved one, you don’t have to walk through grief alone.
Heritage Presbyterian Church is honored to host our first-ever Grief Share grief support group, led by Pastor John, a certified grief counselor who has guided many people through the healing journey of grief over the years.
Grief Share is a safe, welcoming place for anyone grieving the loss of a family member or friend—no matter the circumstances. Grief can feel overwhelming, isolating, and unpredictable, but healing is possible, and support matters.
Over 13 weeks, Grief Share offers practical teaching, compassionate community, and biblical hope to help you understand what you’re experiencing and how to move forward at your own pace. There are no “right” or “wrong” ways to grieve, and there are no tidy stages you’re expected to complete. Instead, you’ll learn healthy ways to cope with grief in real life, one step at a time.
Topics include:
Managing grief-related emotions such as loneliness, anxiety, sadness, anger, and regret
Coping with changes in your life and relationships
Understanding what’s normal in grief
What to do when you feel stuck, discouraged, or hopeless
Each weekly session includes:
A video presentation featuring trusted grief counselors, teachers, and healthcare professionals
A small-group discussion time for sharing, encouragement, and personal application
A Grief Share workbook you’ll take home, filled with helpful exercises and reflections to support your healing journey
Group Details
When: Tuesdays at 6:30 PM (CT)
Dates: January 27 – April 21, 2026
Where: Heritage Presbyterian Church (Conference Room)
Who: For anyone who has lost a loved one
How to Register
You can sign up:
Online through the Grief Share website:
https://find.griefshare.org/groups/287217Or through the Heritage Church website
Grief is painful—but you don’t have to carry it alone. We believe there is a healing journey for anyone and everyone who experiences loss, and we would be honored to walk with you.
If you have questions or would like more information, please feel free to reach out or visit griefshare.org.
You are not alone. Healing is possible. And hope is still ahead.
Finding Hope After Loss — You’re Not Meant to Do This Alone
Separation and divorce can turn life upside down. It’s a season many never expect—filled with grief, uncertainty, isolation, and questions about what comes next. If you’re walking this road right now, hear this clearly: you don’t have to walk it by yourself.
Heritage Church is grateful to offer Divorce Care, a weekly, Christ-centered support group created to help individuals navigate the pain of separation and divorce with honesty, compassion, and hope. This biblically grounded program provides a safe and structured environment where healing can begin and restoration can take root.
What to Expect
13-Week Weekly Gatherings:
Each session includes a video featuring experienced Christian counselors, pastors, and people who have been through divorce themselves—sharing insight, encouragement, and real stories of healing.
A Caring, Understanding Community:
You’ll be part of a small group where others truly understand what you’re facing. This is a judgment-free space where listening is just as valued as sharing, and participation is always at your comfort level.
Practical Help for Real Life:
Topics include managing anger and grief, coping with loneliness, navigating financial and legal challenges, learning forgiveness, and discovering how to move forward with confidence and purpose.
A Path Toward Hope and Renewal:
Divorce Care helps you apply God’s truth to your circumstances so you can rebuild your life, grow stronger, and find renewed hope for what lies ahead.
Join Us
Restarting—-and Begins: January 26th, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Conference Room, Heritage Church
14139 Huffmeister Road, Cypress, TX 77429
Cost: Free and open to the community
Questions or Registration
Contact Rev. John Roberts at 361-876-0534
or register online at:
https://find.divorcecare.org/groups/284595/registrations/new
If you know someone who could benefit from this ministry—a friend, family member, coworker, or neighbor—please invite them. Healing is possible. Hope is real. And no one has to walk this journey alone.
God did not promise us a life free of travail! But he did promise to go through our difficulties with us! I am thankful for that promise!