Pathways Church | Messages

Our world is becoming increasingly filled with distraction. Information moves faster, louder, and brighter than ever before. Entertainment, social media, and marketing have never been so prevalent. They beg for our attention and our focus. In so doing, our minds are diverted from a life that matters.

As parents, we don't like for our kids to see our weaknesses. Especially for Dads, we want our kids to think we are superman, but the older they get, they realize we are not! This week our Trek takes an unexpected turn as this lesson becomes all too real.

There is something so invigorating, soul-awakening, renewing, restoring, refreshing and healing about being in the mountains. There is good reason we call them mountain top experiences. 

Regrets. We all have dealt with regret, whether it is the result of our own doing, or the result of holding too tightly, to something that was done by someone else. This week we learn to look differently at the rearview mirror.

Mottos and slogans are important, they can encourage and motivate. On the Appalachian Trail, the unofficial motto is, "Don't Quit On A Bad Day." There is a warning in that statement, "Bad Days Are Coming!" When the weather turns bad, the temperature falls, the food runs out, or pain and injury sets in, a beautiful place can turn ugly quick!

The Appalachian Trail (A.T.) is over 2,190 miles long, passes through 14 states, eight different national forests, six national park units and numerous state parks, forests, and game lands. All hikers know that to reach a destination they have to keep moving. The life you live is about taking small steps toward a BIG God.

What is it that makes you loose your patience the fastest?  Let’s face it.  Impatience permeates our entire persona. We all know the high price tag of impatience because we have been wounded by the impatience of others and we also have hurt others with our impatience. We have seen the damage professionally. We have seen the damage relationally. We have even felt the damage spiritually.

The phrase "Elephant in the room" means a major problem or controversial issue that is obviously present but avoided as a subject for discussion. Today we are a people of pride, James 4 warns us about this sin and the downfall it can bring.

If you want to know the direction your life is moving, look at your conversations. In James 3 we are taught that words are powerful, they can build people up or tear them down.

We don't always have to have the "right" words in order to show Jesus to someone. We can show Jesus simply by our actions and choosing to love someone even when it is hard.