Salem Church

The temptation to assume that our One thing in life is the most important thing is always going to be with us. But as we look at a famous story of two sisters this week, we will discover that there is often a difference between our thing and the main thing. Learning to manage that difference can make all the difference in how we treat each other and respond to needs around us.

Jesus never promised that the yoke that we bear with him would literally be "easy." This is a mistranslation. In this context of yoking oxen, the translation means "well fitting." As we begin our "Crazy Busy" series, we discover that each of us has a tempo that fits well, that energizes us. The question that we need to be asking is what tempo gives us life and energy? What tempo of life feels toxic? What is the cost? We will dig into this a little bit deeper this Sunday as we look again at Jesus teaching and begin our Unhurried Lenten Journey.

In the midst of our shipwrecked moments, it is natural to fight against the waves. We are taught to struggle and fight against the gravitational pull of the waters. But we know better. By nature, we know that life is found through the water and on the other side of the water. This week, we will take a closer look at the sign of Jonah as a path towards realizing our purpose in life. The example that Jonah lays before us is one of complete surrender to the waves in order to live into the purpose that God had for him.

Despite our constant attempts to have an uncomplicated Christmas, Christmas is often complicated. When Christmas gets complicated, we have to remember that the wonder of Christmas is not found in what's happening, but in what's happened.

When isolated individuals choose to bring who you are on the inside to the outside world, change is born. But this change is short lived if communities of support are not found and alternative rewards are not discovered. Ultimately, in every movement for change, people are counting on you to give public voice to your private issues.

Rewards are always key in motivating our movement. Through the story of Jeremiah, we discover which rewards are best. While there are some rewards that provide us with much-needed relief. There are still other relational rewards that move us from surviving to thriving in life. And these are the rewards that give clarity to the courage needed to live the life that God has planned for us to live.

Every brave and courageous decision to live divided no more is often followed by loneliness and isolation. And it is that isolation that can lead to devastation. But it doesn't have to be this way. True community is the key to consistency in our fight for change. But not a community that tickles your ear with things you want to hear. True community both comforts and confronts and in this part of our series we will discover why this combination is so vital for our long-term success.

What if our approach to change is all wrong? So often we look for a change in the ivory tower or state house, but real social change starts when we look at ourselves. In this week's lesson from Scripture, we discover that real change doesn't always come through the established structure and systems. Lasting change often comes when one individual makes the decision to live that is true to who they really are; to live a life divided no more. ďťż