The road of life can introduce us to some unexpected people, new experiences, and profound challenges. However, there are many ways many tend to avoid these people, experiences, and challenges along the way. They avoid unexpected people by surrounding themselves with people just like them. They circumvent new experiences because they stay in their little socioeconomic silos. They rarely confront profound challenges because they remain shelters and complacent. But who’s really paying the consequences in the end? When we don’t embrace unexpected people, new experiences, or profound challenges, our worldview remains narrow and we cease to grow.

One of the Four Core Values of Perch.Church is open-mindedness. We believe that in order experience healthy and holistic spirituality, open-mindedness is absolutely essential. But the concept of openness is important in terms of being open to opportunities, relationships, and other spiritual practices. In short, if we are not open, we are not growing.

During spiritually dry seasons, it seems like our spirits are barely trying to survive. We easily distract ourselves with busyness, activities, and entertainment, but our souls are shriveling within. God sends us little graces along the way to help sustain us during times of spiritual droughts. We just have to be able to open our spiritual eyes to see them.

It’s summertime and it’s been hot and dry in Souther California. This begs the question, have you been in a spiritually dry season? Maybe you’re in a spiritually dry season right now. How do we get out of spiritually dry season? Is it simply waiting on God, or is there more to it?

Have you ever felt FOMO? If so, is it possible God wants to grow you through that experience?

Last month Rev. Sam Roberson guest spoke on “Forgiveness” for our Justice Series.
This Sunday, he’ll be visiting again and sharing “A Sad Tale of FOMO.”

Last Sunday we went over the theme of Judgment in our Justice Series. However, it seemed like we just scratched the surface on this important theme. So we will be continuing our discussion on Judgment this Sunday for 4th of July weekend.

Are you guilty of being a judgmental person? Far too often people have looked down on others in judgment because of their lifestyle, social status, or other reasons. I have found that as I have gotten older, I am becoming less and less judgmental and more and more understanding. There are probably many reasons behind this, but one big reason is because I have suffered and learned from my sufferings. One truth I’ve realized is that judging your neighbor is the beginning of hatred.

Jesus taught us to forgive our enemies and pray for those who offend us. Isn’t that annoying? But Jesus actually gave this command because of His concern for His followers and not the offenders. Forgiveness is a gift for the forgiver more than the forgiven.

Justice is something we all want. In fact, justice is a God-given desire innate in everyone. Yet, how many of us are willing to do the difficult work of looking inward and asking ourselves how we’re embodying justice in our own lives? While it’s easy for us to point fingers and blame others for what’s wrong with the world, what is God calling His people to do in times of turmoil, division, and injustice?

Justice is something we all want. In fact, justice is a God-given desire innate in everyone. Yet, how many of us are willing to do the difficult work of looking inward and asking ourselves how we’re embodying justice in our own lives? While it’s easy for us to point fingers and blame others for what’s wrong with the world, what is God calling His people to do in times of turmoil, division, and injustice?