G.O.A.T. - The Greatest Of All Time. In recent years this acronym has shaped the way we view sports and achievements. Much debate swirls around who the GOAT is in every field of study. For instance, Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James? Beethoven vs. Mozart? Or Leonardo da Vinci vs. Bob Ross? That one cracks me up.

Although there is much disagreement around who the GOAT is in these categories of art today; there would not have been any question who the GOAT was in the land of Babylon during the life of Daniel; King Nebuchadnezzar. To disagree would cost you your life. But something happened to the king that caused him to declare with his own lips, I am not the greatest of all time, only the God of heaven is. In fact, in this week's passage the king actually shares with us timeless lessons he learned about the fatal human flaw of PRIDE.

I'm not sure if you're like me, but as we continue to make our way through the book of Daniel and we continue to learn about the obstacles he and his friends come up against, I wonder if I would have the courage to respond the way they do. What we are going to see this week as we roll into chapter three is where their courage actually comes from and how it develops. Loved ones, there are great things the Lord is wanting to help you accomplish, but you will undoubtedly need courage.

Can you think of a time when you woke up in a cold sweat from a nightmare? You wake up and think, "Oh, I'm so glad that was just a dream." But, what do you do when the nightmare actually happens in real life? Your worst nightmare comes true. What then? This week, we watch how Daniel responds when the bottom falls out and life takes a terrifying turn. There are a few reassuring truths from this passage that remind us in moments like this, there is still a God in heaven.

With each passing day in Babylon, it can often feel like our lives are playing out like a movie that we cannot control - sort of like a spectator just forced to watch the story unfold - often having to deal with disappointment, discouragement, and even despair. But what if I told you that God has made a way for you to alter the outcomes? This week, that's precisely what God is going to show us as we continue in our series Daniel: Light in the Darkness.

The book of Daniel is about recognizing God’s supremacy over all things including the kings and kingdoms of this world. The reason I'm so excited to begin this series is because we are given insight into how we can be a faithful witness in a very dark and hostile world. You see, unlike most of the other books in the Hebrew Bible, the book is set not in Israel, but in the heart of an enemy, pagan Empire where God’s people have been taken captive. What we are going to discover is that the culture of Babylon is still very much alive today. In this first message, you will be faced with the question, how are you, “Christian,” going to live in Babylon?