In the wake of the devastating news from Florida about the Surfside building collapse, it is natural to ask questions like, "Why? Why does a loving God allow terrible things like this to happen?" And while experts can come back with answers about material strength and building infrastructure that might satisfy the surface why, it does nothing to ease the grief of loss and pain that so many have experienced in this disaster. Today, Pastor Paul and Mark look at what we need to do when God's will is hard for us to handle--rather than seeking after metaphysical answers that won't bring any comfort to an aching heart, we need spiritual guidance from the Creator and Comforter himself. God is not only the God of the Sufferer, Jesus, but he is also the God of the suffering. We can lean on him in times of pain to discover purpose, wholeness, and healing. 

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Is worrying a sin? The answer might be a little more complicated than you think. Pastor Paul tackles this question and more with Mark in the newest episode of A Fresh Take.

More than an emotion, worry is an act of the will. And it sure seems to be a prevalent one in today's day (not to mention in the time of a pandemic). But the question remains: When we worry, are we being present in the day we live, or are we allowing the apprehension of tomorrow to overtake our minds? The solution: Start with a pause. Put on the brakes, downshift, take a moment--and then examine where the worry is coming from. So often, we find ourselves worrying because we aren't living with a kingdom mindset. Our focus has shifted away from the sovereignty of God and toward our own lack of control...and a lack of faith. But an understanding of the character of God can help rectify all that, and more, as you'll discover today. 

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Why do we attend church on a Sunday? Is it for the show? The people? The sense of family and connection? (Probably not for the coffee, right?) 

No matter where you find yourself on a Sunday morning, it's important to remember that no church is perfect. It's an institution made up of flawed, broken humans united in their need for a Savior. There may be many different reasons why we don't feel comfortable at a certain church, be it misalignments in theology, worship styles, culture, or even age. But we have to acknowledge that "church" is so much more than walking into a building, sitting in a chair, and watching a show for an hour. It's more than consuming the content, more than having only our needs met. A church is the place where we find our sense of belonging, our sense of purpose and fulfillment through learning, service, and connection. If you're between churches right now, keep going--don't rest until you're settled somewhere that you can call home. 

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NIV, ESV, CSB, NASB...how are we supposed to choose just ONE version of the Bible to read? Guess what--you don't have to! In today's episode, Pastor Paul and Mark examine the merits of reading multiple versions of the Bible in order to examine their similarities and differences and glean a new, formational understanding of God's Word from all of them. They'll tackle the importance of finding a good children's Bible for the little ones in your life and even look at the right and wrong ways to read a biblical paraphrase like The Message. Finally, we learn about some of the Bible versions you might not want to try, including ones from former slave owners and even Thomas Jefferson himself. Listen to today's episode to find out why. 

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In the final episode of this three-part series, Pastors Paul and Ty join Mark again to take a look at what it means to apply the Word of God to your everyday life. Reading the Bible isn't meant to be easy, so don't be afraid to put the effort in to read and understand it--but remember that you are reading a text from a different culture in a different language from a different time. Ask for help from a trusted pastor or friend if you aren't sure what something means. Consult Bible dictionaries or commentaries to learn more about the cultural context in which these books were written. Don't expect that magical "a-ha!" moment every time you open your Bible or think you'll find a simple how-to book on fixing your marriage or finances. The Bible is the Word of God, intended to allow us to know him better...but it's up to us to put in the work. 

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Pastor Ty joins Mark and Pastor Paul again for another installment in this series of episodes that take a closer look at the Bible--where it came from, how it came to be, and why we should trust it. Today, these three students of the Word examine some of the more nitty-gritty areas of Bible study, including:

Catch up on last week's episode before checking out today's, and make sure to stop back next week for the conclusion of this series and a closer look at the application of God's Word in the lives of all believers, young and old. 

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Here on A Fresh Take, we look at things both timely and timeless--and what could be more timely and timeless than the Bible itself? Our Bible is unique from other religious or spiritual texts in that it is both divine and human: inspired by God, written by man. In today's episode, Pastor Paul and Mark are joined by Pastor Ty Waardenburg as they look at the history of our Bible and answer important questions like:

God's Story to Us will be comprised of three separate episodes over the coming weeks and will give listeners a deeper look into the oral and written traditions of the Bible--more than just a collection a books, it is a complete record of God's covenantal love. 

:: RESOURCES ::

Dethroning Jesus (Bock/Wallace)

Canon Revisited (Kruger)

Myths and Mistakes in New Testament Textual Criticism (Hixon/Gurry)

Jesus and the Eyewitnesses (Bauckham)

Fabricating Jesus (Evans)

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To quote the great Mr. Rogers, "You are special." Why? If for no other reason, it's because you were made in the image of God. This key dogma of Christianity found in Genesis proves at its foundation the value of each unique, special, and intended human being created by an intelligent God. We are the pinnacle of God's creation--all of us, every human. We are image-bearers of God, and, as such, we represent God to his creation. And the only way we can do that with purpose and meaning is to embrace our responsibility to know the One whose image we are bearing. 

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What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word "forgiveness"? It might be a big, resounding "NO!" And while that's very much a human response, it might not be the best one.

Today's episode looks at the importance of forgiveness and why forgiving a personal hurt is not the same as excusing it. When we forgive someone, it doesn't automatically mean we are trusting them again--but it does mean we are exemplifying the love of God. We are a forgiven people, and forgiven people are required to be forgiving people. 

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Doubt is human. Whether it's cold feet on the night before a wedding or questioning the goodness of God, we are all prone to doubting at some point in our lives. It might be head doubt, where we wonder at the mysteries of the Christian faith, or it could even be heart doubt, where we experience real emotional uncertainty linked to the circumstances around us. Doubt is so common, in fact, that it's absolutely biblical: from Eve and Sarah to John the Baptist, doubt surfaces throughout the stories of the Bible.

But here's the thing--doubt is just a pitstop on the journey of faith. It's a hard one, and it happens in both joy and darkness, but it's never without purpose. Today, Pastor Paul and Mark take a hard look at the uncertainty and hesitance that come along with being a follower of Christ. 

:: MENTIONED TODAY ::

Faith and Doubt (John Ortberg)

After Doubt (A.J. Swoboda)

The ESV Reader's Bible (Six-Volume Set)

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