Have you ever tried to learn something? It's not easy. Spiritual growth is no different. Did Jesus know what this is like?

Pastor Andrew Russell delved into the humanity of Jesus Christ. We might think that Jesus had an unfair advantage, but in Christ's humanity, he had to depend on the Holy Spirit. And we do too!

As Jesus was human like you and me, he enjoyed things such as a good food, laughter around a table, a fine glass of wine (and was criticized for it). However, many of the things he approached with joy mystify and challenge us--suffering and sacrifice. How do we come to know this joy?

When you consider all the damage anger has wrought in our world--genocide, murder, assault, slander, verbal abuse--we must ask: can anything good come of anger? However, there is an alternative: righteous anger. It is the anger we see in Jesus Christ.

God became human in the person of Jesus, so we could know him. We often focus on knowing Jesus' teachings, miracles, and suffering--but what about his feelings? To know God is to know his feelings.

Throughout history, the full humanity of Jesus has been questioned and debated. But there is more at stake than theology. It's a matter of knowing God understands you.

As 2018 comes to a close, we reflect on the times that God has brought us through. Good times and bad times, times of blessing and times of need. When our inner person begins to grow anxious in the new year, we can bring to remembrance the blessings that God has given us and stand upon God as our solid hope for all things.

All who have come to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior are bound for a eternal destiny of beauty. These children of God will be robed in beautiful garments and living in a beautiful city and God will be with them. Though the world is harsh and ugly at times, the children of God have the capacity to look beyond the ugliness and wait patiently for the beauty that will be revealed.

One of our deepest human longings is intimacy. We desire nearness with others and being known by others—perhaps, most especially with God. Unfortunately, we’re daily drawn to counterfeit versions of intimacy—which never satisfy and often destroy us. Advent promises the recovery of true intimacy—beginning with the coming of Immanuel (intimacy embodied), and consummating in his return.

Pastor Russ Whitfield exhorts us to hold onto our check that is linked to God's joy account. God will not fail in cashing this check in the here and now and in the future. Focusing our attention on the God's end game will allow us to see through the darkness that pervades our current situation.