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Click link for ESM Journal Page:
Excel Still More Journal on Amazon.

Video to describe the ESM Journal.

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

Every decision you and I make that we hope or contend involves God is to be a FAITH DECISION. That is, it must come from knowledge of His nearness and be made to reflect our trust in Him. Anything, any decision, that refuses to do that, is FOOLISHNESS. That sounds simple. But it is not. Because we often rationalize and justify our choices. We look at circumstances and people and what is needful in the moment. And while it may not be what God said, or what we know is right, it becomes right to us. And this is deception and foolishness. 

We need to learn from Saul in I Samuel 13. He had all the reasons in the world, and felt like he'd acted in faith. But God rejected him and called his heart into question. Saul's son Jonathan, on the other hand, did incredible things, God's way, because he knew God was with him. In the end, life isn't about doing the wise thing or the foolish thing, as our own reasoning will often conflate the two. The question is - does this decision in my home, work, life, church... does it trust God. Is it patient, humble and willing to wait? And if I choose any of the 99 other roads, can I stop and call that what it is? Foolishness. God's way is always right. Choose faith. 

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Click link for ESM Journal Page:
Excel Still More Journal on Amazon.

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

II Samuel 24
David:
God is angry with the people.
David responds with his own sin.
Davis is sorry for what he's done.
God punishes him and the people. 
David feels sorrow for the people.
David pays a cost in his offerings.
God relents on the deadly plague.

Me:
People around me sin. 
I sometimes respond in sin.
I need to be sorrowful for that.
There are often big consequences. 
I need to fell compassion about that.
I must willingly pay a cost to God.
God may relent on punishment.

KING JESUS:
God was angry at mankind's sin.
Christ responds in righteousness.
He is sorry for what we have done.
He takes the stripes in our place.
He is ever yearning to save others.
He paid with His own offered life.
God's wrath is satisfied in His death. 

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

Which is it? Do we do well by the grace and power of God? Or do we grow and excel as the result of our own effort? I've really struggled with this balance for much of my life. It feels like something that is never quite right, like a pendulum. Some days I want to take it all on, chock progress up to grit, and make it happen. God is nowhere to be found. Other times I give it all to God in my fatigue and just wait for Him to do it. Neither of these work! A balanced view is needed. 

Maybe balanced isn't the right word. A - grace first, God is amazing... now lets go out in His name and do our very best - approach is what we need! This episode leans into the idea of grit, fight, discipline, and effort. But we try desperately to keep those attached to God. After all, God uses discipline to accomplish great things in you. So with Him at work first in that way, our discipline should naturally be present to accompany and compliment His. 

Do you want freedom? Chances are God wants that for you to. Let's go get it. But let's do it with Him and by Him. The sooner you accept this the better: Discipline Equals Freedom. 

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

Here is the layout for the slide I found in January 2020 and used in the sermon and podcast episode. I'll add in a few verse references as well.

Jesus is our Only Perfect and Eternal King (Revelation 1:16-17)

Jesus is Lord over All the Earth and Every Nation (Colossians 1:15-17)

Jesus is Coming and it will just be Souls and the Word 

Submission to Civil Government is God's Will (Roman 13:1-7; I Peter 2:11-17)

Pray for All People Involved (I Timothy 2:1-2)

Vote for Protectors of the Innocent (Romans 13:1-7)

Apply Ephesians 4:29 to Every Comment

Use Time like These to Carry out the Mission (II Timothy 2:20-26)

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

Tucked deep within the book of judges is a sad little story about people who looked out for themselves over others. Micah starts it off by admitting he stole from his momma. And it just kind of goes downward from there. I ran across it this week and learned some things I wanted to share with you.

This event services the truth of Galatians 6:  "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, what a man sows this he will also reap." This is a life principle that is true for all of us, whether we believe it or not. Micah's story in Judges will help us see it. 

The takeaway from Judges 17 and 18 are these:
1) What Goes Around Comes Around
2) Enablers Are Often Part Of The Problem
3) Our Will In God's Name Won't Last
4) You Can't Win The Self Service Battle
5) God Is Still In The Right Place

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

I had the most amazing experience. I got to attend a graduation ceremony for the Hwy 80 Mission / Triumph Village rehabilitation program. 7 men were graduating the 10-12 month program. One of whom, Ike, is a member at our local work.

Adam Bradley was there. He is a deacon at our church, is 14 years sober himself, and is really the guy who got all of the things started we've been able to join into with the programs. Especially once a great catalyst, Kyle Berry, came to town.

Adam presented a lesson with this opening line "Addiction is addiction." It was AWESOME. Sobering, a little scary, but so on the nose, right to the heart, true that I wish all could hear it. I took notes as quickly as I could and want to share it with you. 

In summery, here are some bullet points to consider:
- Addiction is addiction not matter what you are facing.
- So you are not alone in the fight. 
- But you also must not exchange one addiction for another.
- There is one solution for all addiction: Jesus Christ. 
- But you have to admit the problem is internal. It is yours.
- Christ renovates hearts and mind, the inside, and then lives.
- He can do this for anyone who submits to HIm.
- But deliverance to freedom is the beginning, not the end.
- You MUST deepen your relationship with Christ daily and always.

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

Most of us know the story of David and Goliath really well. But can I open by asking: "Who is that story about?" And "What is the point of that story for your life?" I think it is a common take to suggest that we need to be like David and approach our own Goliaths with faith, courage and wisdom. I'd certainly agree with that! But have you noticed how hard that is. All of the sudden it hits us - our lives aren't really like David's life - and maybe we won't get the same outcome he got! 

Part of the shortfall here is maybe this story isn't about you and me, at least not at first. Maybe this event, like so many before and after it, are about Someone else, Someone grater. Not just greater than you, but even greater than David. Like, David's story is just a two dimensional shadow of the Man's life that overshadows all others. 

Once we find Jesus in the story first, we unlock a special connection. We ARE connected to Jesus, as disciples and as a people He saved by His valiant victory over Satan. Let's find Him, remember Him, and praise Him. Then, let's learn from Him. Let's live victorious lives because of Him, and let's be wise and different like He was, and continue to catch the enemy by surprise!

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

Notes: "Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees" (Matthew 16:5-12)
Avoiding the False Teaching of Jesus's Day

Matthew 5:20-48 - 1) They made the Law Too Easy. Primarily External.
2) Law was Adjusted in the Direction of Less Mercy

Matthew 12:1-8 - 1) Their First Impulse is Rejection and Accusation. 
2) Interpretation of the Law became the Law to them.

Matthew 15:1-9 - 1) They turned their Traditions into the Law of God.
2) Loving Others was set aside in the Name of God.

Matthew 21:23-27 - 1) Deeply Conflicted between Hard Hearts and Fear.
2) They kept Missing Jesus as God's Authority over all.

Matthew 23 - Jesus is fed up and calls it like it is.
SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS (v5-7)
HYPOCRITICAL (v1-4)
LEGALISTIC (v23-24)
SUPERFICIAL (v25-28)
OBSTACLES (v13-18)

Jesus calls us to be different (the opposite of those above)
THE HUMBLE SERVANT
LIVING OUT YOUR FAITH
LED BY A God-LIKE HEART
HONEST ABOUT THE INSIDE
DRAWING PEOPLE TO CHRIST

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

Welcome to the Practical End of the book Practicing the Way. I've added some caveats and concerns about the book. But if you'd like a copy, you can get it HERE.

Today we talk about Vision and a Plan. Vision is the ability to see the better version of yourself and stay excited about it. The plan is the means by which you get from here to there. Both are awesome. But the second one is far more important than the first. God may already be taking you to places you can't even imaging! If you follow a great plan, you get to great places, whether you have vision for them or not. 

To get there, you need 9 things - In the episode we look at them in three pieces. Firstly, number five, the one in the middle. It is central. The first four lead us to a richer interaction with number 5, and the last four come from it. 

1) Sabbath
2) Solitude
3) Prayer
4) Fasting
5) SCRIPTURE
6) Community
7) Generosity
8) Service
9) Witness

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

We covered a lot today so I wanted to just provide an outline you can follow. Firstly, here is a link to John Mark Comer's book: Practicing The Way.

Today we covered the idea of "No Accidental Saints" - The path to greater discipleship, apprenticing under Christ, is a distinct and intentional one. But that doesn't mean the hardest working people are the ones who get there. It's about faith. 

We looked at three losing strategies:
1) Willpower (your own ability to try harder)
2) More Bible Study (if knowledge is all you get out of it)
3) The Zap from Heaven (expecting results without the struggle)

Why can't these things work? They seem good enough to get the job done. Well, there are many reasons. But here are two big ones:
1) Sin (mine, others, the world - there is just too much need for God's grace)
2) You (Ha. You being formed, shaped by habit and others into stories you believe)

So what do we do? Well, next week we will dig in on NINE amazing things. But for today, here are five words that represent A Working Theory of Change:
1) LEARN - Learn something. Get up everyday expecting to be changed.
2) PRACTICE - Be working on something. Have a daily focus of incremental change.
3) SHARE - That is, be around people and share with those who want all this too!

4/5) GOD and TIME - God is with you and at work on you and in you. You are not alone. Let faith in that sustain you. But God likes to use time. He likes it to take a while, so you can, you know, learn new practices. So relax a little. Don't expect or demand immediate change. God is at work in the struggle over time to greater things.