Life Together

Suppressing sin in exhausting.  Yet, too often, you settle for attempts to hold captive or hide destructive appetites, habits and behaviors.  You tell yourself you have it under control, only for a resurfacing in a moment of weakness or frustration.  In this episode, hear what happened when Jesus entered a community that worked diligently to suppress a move of spiritual darkness - only to find that their best efforts were ineffective.  Jesus brought a better plan.  His answer is freedom through the eradication of evil.  This freedom is available to you as well.

We value loyalty.  This is true in our marriages, extended families, friendships, businesses, and churches.  Our Heavenly Father was loyal to us before we were loyal to Him.  He will not abandon us.  The question we wrestle with, "will we abandon Him?"  Strive toward a life where nothing can separate you from God.

Throughout the Bible, we see examples of God using food to teach and reinforce spiritual truths.  The Daniel Fast is a 21-day partial fast for the purpose of strengthening our relationship with our Heavenly Father and identifying unchecked sin in our lives.

Sexual desires, temptations, and relationships are deeply personal.  In Leviticus, God warned His people that they would be surrounded by a culture that would affirm, endorse and encourage behaviors that are outside of His plan for sexuality.  Experience the freedom that begins with allowing your Heavenly Father to speak into this area of your life, and the restoration offered through Jesus Christ.

We have a measure of time, talent, and treasure.  God places a value on the order in which we release those resources.  He rarely asks for the most of what we have - but, our Heavenly Father does ask for the first.  Experience the joy linked to building your daily life around your relationship with Christ that flows from placing Him first.

Jesus is woven throughout all of Scripture.  The Bible reveals a unified message about God desiring relationship with His people centered on the hope that comes through the death and resurrection of Christ.

That's it.  I'm out.  Someone once asked Jesus when they could stop forgiving another person.  How many times must I forgive before I end the relationship?  You may have wondered this before.  Others are bound to disappoint us and fail to meet our expectations.  They owe us a physical or emotional debt because they wronged us - accidentally or intentionally.  Jesus gave us a challenge to live out today so that we can experience better relationships and freedom from holding that debt.

This week's podcast includes reflections on the life of a faithful church member, testimony of a man who was revived on a volleyball court, and a teaching on Psalm 18:1-2.

Watching a marathon is not the same as running a marathon.  Reading about rock climbing is not the same as actually rock climbing.  Taking a campus tour is not the same as earning a college degree.  There are many experiences that are far more meaningful when we voluntarily put ourselves in the risk and challenge - instead of just observing from the sidelines.  Jesus led His closest followers into a storm so they could experience an amazement that could not be discovered from standing on the shore.

Past rebellion and sin can be enticing and tempting.  We remember the highlight reel of what left behind while forgetting the hurt, guilt, and regret .  Pastor Tom encourages us to live a forward-looking life in Christ by overcoming desires for what's in life's rearview mirror.