THE JOURNAL
Week
April 28
It’s hard, given the state of our world and the stories the nightly news covers, not to feel a bit overwhelmed, maybe even a bit despondent. It’s hard at times not to feel like “what’s the point?” Why should I keep trying? Is there really even any hope that things will get better? And, quite frankly, for those who don’t believe in God, I can understand that sentiment. But the reality is sometimes even we who are God followers live like we don’t believe in God and can so easily fall into the same dark perspective about our world and life. We will begin to look at a journal written by a man who, although he knew God, for a period of time lived like he didn’t believe in God. So, for the next several weeks we will follow his journey till we come to the end and see what he discovered.
EASTER SUNDAY
March 31 | Week 1
Isn’t it interesting how we can look at the same thing as someone else and see something completely different? Or have a conversation with someone thinking we got their point, only to find out later we were completely wrong. A lot of folks have strong opinions when it comes to God and what God is all about. But they can’t all be right. What does his Word say about this? Let’s look at this together.
March 24 | Week 1 Today, we will start off by taking a look at very familiar territory, what we call Palm Sunday. What, at first glance, appeared to be a wonderful day for Jesus and his followers. The reality was far different. In fact, so different that recovering would take a tremendous act of Mercy. Let’s check this out together.
PALM SUNDAY
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
February 18, March 3, 10, 17, 24 (see Palm Sunday above), April 7, 14, 21
The pursuit of happiness. That’s a pathway I dare say, we all want to be on. No one has, as a goal, to be unhappy. Although I have known a few individuals that seem to enjoy their misery a bit too much. But we all want to be happy. Does the Bible have anything to say about this. Well, as a matter of fact, one of Jesus most noted messages was wrapped up in the question, “What does it take to be happy? Or, “blessed?” as he puts it. And some of what he points to is quite surprising, maybe even shocking. We are beginning a series on The Sermon on the Mount, as it’s been called, starting in Matthew 5. I think this is going to be good.
REMAIN IN YOUR POWER SOURCE
Week 1
February 25
When you call tech support for something wrong with your Wi-Fi, the first thing they will ask is, “Can you make sure it’s plugged in?” Something so simple is almost insulting, but when we find it’s not plugged in, it’s amazing how much easier it works. The Christian life is no different. When we abide in the power of Christ it’s amazing how much easier we see Him working though our lives.
LIVING LIFE
January 7, 12, 21, 28, February 4, 11
A lot of folks are into exercising…which is a good thing. The Apostle Paul even mentions that in his letter to Timothy regarding things that are important to being a pastor. But in his letter to the Christians of Philippi, the Apostle Paul talks about another kind of “work out,” one that pertains to how you live your life…What is it? Let’s find out together.