One of the great tragedies of our day is that we have more than we ever have had, but for the most part, people are unhappier than they have ever been. More is the motto of the day. He who has the most, wins is the mantra of our world. Yet even in this time of plenty, so many are not happy. Simply put, more is not the answer. This is nothing new. God placed man in the Garden of Eden and gave him complete rule over it. He had all there was to have. Man’s downfall is wanting more than God has already given. Bro. Hughes tells us that we are looking to the wrong place to find happiness.

In our text, the Psalmist understood that his happiness in life was not based upon his location or his possessions, but upon knowing God. True happiness does not come from things and what we may be experiencing, but from the Lord. When God becomes the source of happiness it does not matter what we have, where we are, or what we are experiencing.

In our scripture text, we see Jesus struggle with his flesh in the Garden of Gethsemane. He pleaded for the cup to pass from Him. Jesus emerges from Gethsemane having defeated his flesh and was ready to face the cross. He provides for us an example of perseverance. The bible describes the struggle as being so intense that Jesus sweat as great drops of blood. On His way to this struggle, our text tells us that He was singing a song. Most historians agree that the song He was singing the 118th Psalm. The 118th Psalm is a song of faith and praise of God’s strength. Jesus teaches us here that no matter what we may be facing, if we will praise the Lord and trust in Him, He will see us through.

In our scripture text, we see Jesus struggle with his flesh in the Garden of Gethsemane. He pleaded for the cup to pass from Him. Jesus emerges from Gethsemane having defeated his flesh and was ready to face the cross. He provides for us an example of perseverance. The bible describes the struggle as being so intense that Jesus sweat as great drops of blood. On His way to this struggle, our text tells us that He was singing a song. Most historians agree that the song He was singing the 118th Psalm. The 118th Psalm is a song of faith and praise of God’s strength. Jesus teaches us here that no matter what we may be facing, if we will praise the Lord and trust in Him, He will see us through.

To the Romans, the crucifixion of Jesus was just another crucifixion. The practice was to force the condemned man to carry the cross to which he would be nailed though out the city. This was done as much as to humiliate the condemned man, as it was to serve as a message to other Jews about the consequences of violating Roman law. When Jesus stumbled and became unable to continue, the Roman Centurion conscripted Simon to carry the cross to the place of execution. Bro. Hughes notes that surly he did not want to do this, but that somewhere along the way to Calvary, Simon underwent a transformation. Later in the bible, Simon and his son’s are cataloged as being leaders in the new church and people who went and preached the gospel to the world. Whatever plans and desires Simon had that day were changed by a meeting with Jesus. There are many unexpected things in life. Life changes too quickly for many of us. These changes can make us angry and frustrated. As with Simon, changes in life can be a change for the good. Bro. Hughes reminds us that this story shows that there are no unimportant moments in our life. Any moment can be a rendezvous with destiny. This story also shows us that we can be blessed by things that we are compelled to do. Simon could have been angry and resentful about being compelled to act, but by his action he blessed himself, his family and thousands of others in the world who received the message of the gospel.

To the Romans, the crucifixion of Jesus was just another crucifixion. The practice was to force the condemned man to carry the cross to which he would be nailed though out the city. This was done as much as to humiliate the condemned man, as it was to serve as a message to other Jews about the consequences of violating Roman law. When Jesus stumbled and became unable to continue, the Roman Centurion conscripted Simon to carry the cross to the place of execution. Bro. Hughes notes that surly he did not want to do this, but that somewhere along the way to Calvary, Simon underwent a transformation. Later in the bible, Simon and his son’s are cataloged as being leaders in the new church and people who went and preached the gospel to the world. Whatever plans and desires Simon had that day were changed by a meeting with Jesus. There are many unexpected things in life. Life changes too quickly for many of us. These changes can make us angry and frustrated. As with Simon, changes in life can be a change for the good. Bro. Hughes reminds us that this story shows that there are no unimportant moments in our life. Any moment can be a rendezvous with destiny. This story also shows us that we can be blessed by things that we are compelled to do. Simon could have been angry and resentful about being compelled to act, but by his action he blessed himself, his family and thousands of others in the world who received the message of the gospel.

In his message Sunday evening, Bro. Hughes preached to us about going to a higher place. This church is on a journey to the high place. We need to elevate our desires, our effort and our actions. Our media fast will be a season of sacrifice. It will be a season of improvement. Sacrifice is supposed to hurt. If it does not hurt, it is not sacrifice. Our scripture text is the beginning of a group of Psalms that are known as songs of assent. These songs were sung as worshipers traveled to Jerusalem and to the temple. As we begin our month long media fast, Bro. Hughes wants us to begin to songs of assent on our way to a higher place. This first song of assent is one of disconnection. They were asking God to help them disconnect from their current situation so that they could go to the higher place. If we want to get to a higher place in life, we need to make decisions about what and to whom we remain connected. If the people and things to which we are connected have different wants and desires than are in our heart, then these influences can keep us from getting to the place we need to be.

In his message Sunday evening, Bro. Hughes preached to us about going to a higher place. This church is on a journey to the high place. We need to elevate our desires, our effort and our actions. Our media fast will be a season of sacrifice. It will be a season of improvement. Sacrifice is supposed to hurt. If it does not hurt, it is not sacrifice. Our scripture text is the beginning of a group of Psalms that are known as songs of assent. These songs were sung as worshipers traveled to Jerusalem and to the temple. As we begin our month long media fast, Bro. Hughes wants us to begin to songs of assent on our way to a higher place. This first song of assent is one of disconnection. They were asking God to help them disconnect from their current situation so that they could go to the higher place. If we want to get to a higher place in life, we need to make decisions about what and to whom we remain connected. If the people and things to which we are connected have different wants and desires than are in our heart, then these influences can keep us from getting to the place we need to be.

Most people try to hide and mask the ugly side of our lives. We are masters of disguise. We hide and cover the problems and issues in our life and act as if nothing is wrong. We carefully disguise our failures, mistakes and shortcomings. Adversity tends to bring out the worst in us. We do not usually show our best side when adversity comes. Trying times have a way of bringing out the worst in people. The truth is that we never know the true nature of a life until a little pressure comes. The revealing nature of adversity strips away all the pretense and disguise and shows the true character.

In our text, the psalmist looked back over his life, and observed that God had seen him at his worst. God had seen him in his weakest moments and those words and thoughts came too easily. The bible says that God had known the psalmist in his weakest moment but that He did not leave him in that state. Nothing but love can explain why God stays with us even when we are at our worst. The psalmist praises God for not handing him over to his enemies. God could easily look and any of us and wash His hands of us and leave us alone. But He does not do that. In fact, He does more than not leave us, He puts into a setting where we can turn around and get life back on track. Even at our worst, God never quits loving us. When everybody else walks away, God remains

We live in a time when base, trashy and vulgar things are presented as normal and even classy. We live in an hour when low things are promoted at high places. Almost every billboard suggests and displays things that will cause life to continue to take a downward spiral. Even among God’s people there can be a high level of low living. Bro. Hughes has called for September to be a month of a media fast. We carry in our pocket devices that allow us to be in almost constant contact with people from all over the world. In thinking about this endeavor, Bro. Hughes says he is looking forward to seeing what can happen when we put down those things that have control of our life. Spiritually we all need times when we lay aside all the junk and we get into contact with what God has planned for our life. Until we get out of the low level and low expectation and low desires, we will not get to the place where God can communicate to us what He needs to say. God is calling us to higher things, and until we leave the low places, we will not experience what He has for us.

During our media fast, Bro. Hughes asks that we do these things.

• We elevate our values. What matters to us and to God. If this were our last month on earth, what would be important?

• We elevate our priorities. Once we reassess our values, we will realize what is important

• We elevate our standards. After we elevate our values and our priorities, we will demand and expect better.

How long has it been since we came to church expecting someone to get the Holy Ghost? How long has it been since we came to church expecting that someone will receive a miracle?

God has something more for us, but we cannot receive it living in the low places. Until we move to the higher ground, we will continue to battle the same things, and fighting the same battles. Bro. Hughes declares that it is time to put our foot down and not accept things as they have been and that we need to put our food down on that higher ground. If we can get a little higher, we will be able to see more clearly

Bro. Hughes asks that we use the media fast to put aside those things that are keeping us down and begin to seek the higher things that God has for us.

Most people try to hide and mask the ugly side of our lives. We are masters of disguise. We hide and cover the problems and issues in our life and act as if nothing is wrong. We carefully disguise our failures, mistakes and shortcomings. Adversity tends to bring out the worst in us. We do not usually show our best side when adversity comes. Trying times have a way of bringing out the worst in people. The truth is that we never know the true nature of a life until a little pressure comes. The revealing nature of adversity strips away all the pretense and disguise and shows the true character.

In our text, the psalmist looked back over his life, and observed that God had seen him at his worst. God had seen him in his weakest moments and those words and thoughts came too easily. The bible says that God had known the psalmist in his weakest moment but that He did not leave him in that state. Nothing but love can explain why God stays with us even when we are at our worst. The psalmist praises God for not handing him over to his enemies. God could easily look and any of us and wash His hands of us and leave us alone. But He does not do that. In fact, He does more than not leave us, He puts into a setting where we can turn around and get life back on track. Even at our worst, God never quits loving us. When everybody else walks away, God remains