Being "with Jesus" requires slowing down long enough to rest and listen. This week, Pastor Jenn reflects on how sabbatical rest opened the space to be with Jesus in new and richer ways, and invites us to step into holy rest this Labor Day weekend.

This weekend our Pastors, Ryan and Jenn Alexander, returned from a 4 month sabbatical. This time was set apart for them to Rest, Renew, and Be With Jesus. We heard about what they did, but more importantly we heard them reflect on what God did in their souls during this sacred time. Our conversation today allows us the opportunity to consider the metaphors and themes they brought forward for inspiration and application in our lives.

Jesus was a healer. With the touch of his hand, he healed short term illnesses, and lifelong diseases. With his voice, he commanded evil spirits to cease tormenting people. And he told his followers they could and would do the same. What could happen today, if we were open to asking Jesus for healing?

Jesus declared that he did not come to be served, but to serve. As his followers, do we consistently position ourselves to be servants?

Jesus deeply invested in relationships. He spent significant time eating, walking, and sharing life with his followers and friends, so that he could influence them, receive their support and empower them to do the very work he did. How could my relational life look more Jesus?

Jesus spent his days engaged in meaningful and high impact activities, including consistent and intentional Prayer. How could my prayer life look more Jesus?

We discover what deeply matters to Jesus, by paying attention to what made him angry. Jesus reserved his harshest words for the hypocritical religious leaders who did not practice what they preached.

We discover what deeply matters to Jesus, by paying attention to what made him angry. The most famous account of Jesus expressing anger happens when he "turns the tables" in the temple. What about this scene made him so angry?

One of the ways to discover what really matters to a person is to pay attention to what makes them angry. As Jesus followers, do we have righteous anger about the same things he did?

Jesus was a great storyteller, and he harnessed the power of story to capture and convey his largest truths.