Sermon Leftovers

Almost everyone has something to say about impeachment. Very few people are still forming an opinion, yet very many people are vigorously trying to change everyone else’s opinion. I think it is time to stop talking about impeachment. In fact, I think it would do all of us a great amount of good if as many people as possible committed to not talk about impeachment at all for the next 30 days. Not only would we have fewer arguments and hurt feelings, we would all be a little bit happier I think. Consider first, these three reasons why there is no reason for you to talk about impeachment. Then, I’ll suggest ten things more important than talking about impeachment. THREE REASONS YOU DON’T NEED TO TALK ABOUT IMPEACHMENT No matter how much you talk about impeachment, you aren’t going to change anyone’s mind. No matter how much you talk about impeachment, you aren’t going to change what the House or the Senate does next. No matter how much you talk about impeachment, you aren’t goi

PSALM 146:8-9 T he Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. ‭ Why was Jesus born in a barn? Why did God choose to have Him be the child of blue-collar parents? Why were smelly shepherds the first to announce his arrival to their neighbors? Why did He grow up in Nazareth, the place from which “nothing good comes”? I think God wanted to be certain everyone knew that Jesus was for everyone. No person and no class of persons was excluded. Jesus was for the Jew and the Gentile. Jesus was for women and men. Jesus was for servants and for kings. Jesus was for adults and for children. Jesus was for Red, Yellow, Black, and White. Jesus was for democrats and republicans. Jesus was for those who watch Fox News and MSNBC. Jesus was for immigrants and CEOs. Jesus was for shepherds and wis

ROMANS 13:12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Sometimes, at night, I maneuver through the dark house using the light from my cellphone's flashlight. It isn't ideal, but it provides just enough light for me to get where I need to go. The light pierces the darkness but doesn't eliminate it. If I wasn't concerned with waking my family, I would simply flip a switch and turn on the lights in the hall or room where I am. Those lights don't just pierce the darkness, the dispell it. The darkness is eliminated. At Christmas, Jesus pierced the darkness. He was the light that came into the world and showed us what we needed to get to where He wanted us to go. His life was our example, His death was our substitute, and His resurrection was our salvation. He showed us the way back to our Heavenly Father. At His second coming, Jesus will not just pierce the darkness, He will dispell it. He

PHILIPPIANS 4:18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. Marianne loves Bath and Body Works. She has some kind of membership/rewards deal which allows her every so often to get incredible discounts in the store. We often do a lot of our Christmas shopping there (we did much more when we were still buying gifts for our kids' teachers). I don't care for the store. The cacophony of smells is overwhelming, even for someone like me who has a poor sense of smell. Recently, they've added some "male scents" with names like Bourbon, Graphite, and Teakwood. This makes it a little more manageable for me, but I still don't like it. Usually, I'll hang out with Marianne for about 5 minutes, then I'll drift out into the mall and look for a massage chair. The overwhelming fragrance is just not something I enjoy. In Philipp

I love making lists. I made these three lists back in 2011. I guess some things change and some things stay the same. 2011 9 Teams I Prefer to All Others: Michigan State Spartans Detroit Tigers Detroit Lions Liverpool FC Reds Detroit Red Wings Sailor Soccer Cedarville Yellowjackets Detroit Pistons Cincinnati Reds 9 Teams I Love to Hate: Notre Dame Fighting Irish Chicago Bears Minnesota Twins Colorado Avalanche Manchester United Red Devils Green Bay Packers Chicago White Sox Dallas Cowboys New York Yankees 9 Athletes I Admire: Steve Yzerman Barry Sanders Lou Whitaker Steve Smith (MSU basketball) John Stockton/Karl Malone Greg Maddox Isaiah Thomas Brandon Inge Andy Pettitte 2019 9 Teams I Prefer to All Others: George Fox University Bruins Soccer Liverpool FC Detroit Tigers Detroit Red Wings Detroit Lions Michigan State Spartans Dutch National Team (Soccer) Taylor University Trojans FC Cincinnati 9 Teams I Love to Hate: Univ

Every year around Christmas, my small Christian school had a roller-skating party at the local rink. The first time I attended was in third grade and I think it was only the second time I had roller-skated in my life. I wasn't very good, and I was afraid of falling, so I crept around the rink with one hand on the wall. I was more shuffling than skating. Then Jimmy came alongside me, grabbed my hand and said, "Come on." Slowly we skated around the rink over and over and over until I started to get the hang of it. Jimmy was a great skater, he could dart in and out of people, flying around the oval faster than almost everyone else. He won the age-graded races and the limbo competition every year. I imagine it was incredibly boring and a little frustrating to skate beside me when he could have been gliding around the rink at a much faster rate of speed. But he chose to share my trouble. For many years (until I moved away), Jimmy and I were the best of friends. Today, we&

Marianne bakes amazing chocolate chip cookies. She has the whole process down to a science. A while back, we needed to make a batch of cookies and she didn't have time, so she asked me to make them. She gave me her recipe and left me on my own. They turned out ok. Not great. Edible. She understands better than I do the perfect ratios in the ingredients. She has a deeper and more accurate experience with the recipe because she has made the cookies so many more times than I do. Simply put, the better you understand and utilize the ingredients, the better your final product will be. Do you understand the proper ingredients to bake a spiritually healthy life? Paul gave us a recipe in Philippians 4:8. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. This verse follows Paul's instruction

PHILIPPIANS 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. "Rejoice" means "to demonstrate joy." It is an active word. More than something you feel, rejoicing is something you do.   Nat King Cole sang about rejoicing. Smile though your heart is aching Smile even though it's breaking When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by If you smile through your fear and sorrow Smile and maybe tomorrow You'll see the sun come shining through for you Light up your face with gladness Hide ev'ry trace of sadness Although a tear may be ever so near That's the time you must keep on trying Smile, what's the use of crying You'll find that life is still worthwhile If you just smile He was mostly right. What he didn't mention (but Paul did) is that we can rejoice   IN THE LORD . Circumstances change, emotions fluctuate, relationships struggle but Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Sometimes we struggle to

PHILIPPIANS 4:2-3 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. We don't know much about Euodia and Syntyche. We know they were both followers of Jesus. We know they worked alongside Paul. But the thing they are famous for is that they couldn't get along with each other. Paul doesn't mention who was right or wrong, and he gives no details about their dispute. He simply begs them to AGREE. Do you have someone in your life with whom it is difficult to agree? Here are 5 actions you can take to increase agreement with disagreeable people. A -- Assume the best of the other person G -- Give the benefit of the doubt to the other person R -- Recognize the good in the other person E -- Engage in gracious conversation with the other person E -- Emphas

1. Relationships often get upside-down because we feel like we aren’t receiving what we expect or deserve. 2. I must replace selfish ambition (what is good for me) and vain conceit (what makes me look good) with humility (what makes others look good) and a concern for others (what is good for them). 3. The truth about who Jesus was and what Jesus did should define how we view ourselves and how we live our lives. 4. Jesus was God. He created all things, needed no things, and deserved everything. 5. Jesus chose to not hold tightly to what he deserved but to humbly lower himself so He could lift us up. 6. "Humility" means to make oneself lower. Or to place oneself "underneath", not in a demeaning manner, but in a supporting role. 7. A humble person never looks down on anyone and always finds reasons to look up to everyone. 8. A humble person recognizes that everyone around them is better than them... at something. Humility causes us to find the good in

PHILIPPIANS 3:1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. I woke up on the wrong side of the bed, largely because I went to bed in the wrong kind of mood. I was disappointed. You probably know that I am a Detroit Lions football fan. We are really the most unfortunate fan base of all professional sports throughout the world. Our team is not only perpetually losers, but on rare occasions, when they have opportunities to win, something or someone always intervenes. It happened again last night. I am so disappointed. A few highly questionable penalties were called and cost the Lions a much-needed win. Had they won, Detroit would be the first place team in their division. As a result of losing their game, the Lions are in last place this morning. I am so disappointed. There is a part of me that would prefer to spend my day rage-scrolling through twitter, reading all the sports' pundits who agree with me for once. Everybody saw it, the Lions got robbed. I am so disappointed. I

PHILIPPIANS 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 1. Reasonable confidence is often based on knowledge of past performance. 2. God has begun a work IN you. 3. God is changing you. He is not changing your situation or your circumstances. 4. God never promises to change our situation or circumstances. He changes us so that no matter where we find ourselves, we are empowered to handle it. 5. The work God has begun in us is GOOD work. When His work doesn't feel good at the moment we must remember that He is not finished. 6. God always finishes what He starts. 7. Confidence about the future is developed through gratitude for the past. 8. Gratitude is our way of filling our minds with God's record of success. 9. If you are struggling to be grateful, think about the people who have blessed you, the provisions you have received, and the possessions with which you have been entrusted.

I'm still dragging a bit this morning as I cajole my body to join me back in the Eastern time zone. Marianne and I had a great time visiting with Liam this past weekend in Washington. A few days before our trip, we discovered we could change our flight and arrive in Seattle 12 hours earlier than our original flight. Excitedly, we began to make plans for our extra time in the Emerald City. More time meant more Seattle . More Pike Place Market More Coffee More Smoked Salmon More Views of the Puget Sound More Street Walking and Looking for Cool Shops More Time Together! In Philippians 1:21, Paul says that more time on earth meant more Jesus . I've always considered this verse to be a comforting verse, reminding us that death is not the end and is not to be feared as it is the pathway we take into eternity. As I read the familiar words this morning, the first half of the verse grabbed me. "For me to live is Christ." More Jesus means more time together with Him

1. Jesus came to earth to refresh people. 2. Jesus refreshes people by providing relief. 3. Jesus refreshes people by providing a new life. 4. People who have been refreshed by Jesus, seek opportunities to refresh others. 5. Jesus' disciples were so focused on physical needs and desires, they couldn't understand Jesus' deeper spiritual teaching. 6. When a farmer plants a seed, the harvest must wait. When God plants a seed, the harvest is immediate. 7. Jesus commissioned His followers to do for people what He was already doing for people. 8. Jesus desires His followers to refresh people by providing relief. 9. Jesus desires His followers to refresh people by pointing them to new life. 10. Jesus desires His followers to refresh the people they know, the people who are like them, the people who are not like them, and everyone else in the world.

PHILIPPIANS 1:6 --  And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. I just dumped two pounds of meat and several other ingredients into a crockpot and set the timer for 9 hours. Once the meal is COMPLETED, we are going to enjoy a delicious dinner. This afternoon, the house will fill with the smell of our impending feast, and we may be tempted to sample the food early. However, we'll remind ourselves that it might smell good now, but it isn't ready. Give it time, and it will be even better. As I stirred all the contents in the crockpot this morning, I had no desire to eat any of the ingredients. On their own, before being cooked, they are not appetizing and they are not safe to eat. Time, heat, and pressure will form them into the perfect meal for tonight. God does the exact same thing with us. He puts us in the crockpot (or pressure cooker sometimes), and uses time, heat, and pressure to COMPLETE His w

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (JOHN 15:1-5) The thing (or person) to which you are most connected is the thing (or person) from which you draw your life. The source from which you draw your life will either nurture you or poison you. A good source provides healthy life. An evil source provides certain death. Possible sources of life: Friends, family members, significant other, teacher, social media, Netflix (and other streaming sources), music, employment, hobbies, etc… Only

A few times each week I send out a short devotional email from my own study. We just finished up a short look at some "Bible Lists". Now I'm jumping into Philippians. If you would like to receive the email, you can sign up at this link: http://bit.ly/SermonLeftovers The character traits of God which we most love and appreciate are often the same ones we are most slow to emulate. I'm talking about GRACE and PEACE. Most of Paul's letters begin with him sending "Grace and peace" to the recipients. I think this is because Paul most associated these concepts with the person and work of God. At the same time, these two inter-related gifts should be traits which we embrace and pursue in our own lives. This morning, I've been mulling over the many ways grace and peace are made manifest by God as well as by God's people. 1. God extends GRACE to us while we are still sinners. 2. God made PEACE between us by sending Jesus to pay the price for ou

Gethsemene was one of the darkest moments of Jesus' life. He knew He was about to be betrayed. His closest friends had fallen asleep rather than support Him. He was beginning to anticipate the coming separation from His Father. Gethsemene is also the moment of one of Jesus' most famous prayers. Mark's gospel records it like this (Mark 10:36) “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” What can we learn from Jesus' prayer? I noticed four specific movements in this short verse. I believe we can discover four important truths about prayer from each movement. 1. He addressed God as Father. "Abba" is an intimate word, similar to our English word "Daddy". This is the same way He began the Lord's Prayer. We should take heed. Because God is our Father we can depend on Him to always give us GOOD GIFTS. 2. He acknowledged God's power and sovereignty. By saying "al

Psalm 19 is one of the great works of poetry in the Bible. The entire psalm is about how God reveals Himself to us. The first half describes God's revelation of Himself in nature. David uses examples from creation to highlight God's creativity, orderliness, and reliability. The second half lists the benefits of God's written revelation. David was speaking mostly of the Law (Genesis-Deuteronomy), but the principles can also be applied to the entire Bible. Below are 6 ways God's Word can change your life: God's Word can Revive the Soul (get a fresh start) God's Word can Make the Simple Wise (make better decisions) God's Word can Rejoice the Heart (find joy in hard times) God's Word can Enlighten the Eyes (gain a healthier perspective) God's Word can Warn your Servant (avoid bad choices) God's Word can Bring Great Reward (live as God created you to) Psalm 19 is a motivational chapter (it's much better than any mo

2 Samuel 6 tells the story of David's efforts to move the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. His first effort failed miserably. He didn't take the time to consult God or God's regulations for transporting the Ark. Instead of having the Ark carried by priests, he placed it on a cart pulled by oxen. In transport, one of the animals stumbled and Ark began sliding off the cart. The man who reached out his hand to steady it was immediately struck dead (no man was allowed to touch the ark). After a time of repentance and mourning, David tried again and did it the right way. The day began with sacrifices and ended with celebration. Wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What can we learn from David's mistakes? As I read this story, Here are 4 LEADERSHIP LESSONS DAVID LEARNED TOO LATE. 1) Listen to God. Check His Word for wisdom. 2) Pay attention to details. Obey in small things. 3) Think of the people you lead before you think of yourself. 4) Take respo

PROVERBS 29:19 By mere words, a servant is not disciplined, for though he understands, he will not respond. I was sitting around a table with several other pastors, talking about how to disciple our people more effectively. One of the other pastors was lamenting the reality that many in our church had been long-time members with significant biblical knowledge, but their lives weren't reflecting the love of Christ. In frustration he said: Too many people are 100 verses overweight. His statement is a great summary of Proverbs 29:19. Head knowledge alone doesn't lead to growth. If more information doesn't lead to greater transformation, it's wasted effort. James told believers to not just be HEARERS of the Word but to be DOERS. Jesus didn't tell His followers to "make disciples, teaching them all my commands." He told them to "make disciples, teaching them TO OBEY all my commands." God's Word teaches us what we need to know, and we must imp

1) We all face the temptation every day to wear our busyness as a badge of honor. We feel more important when we claim that our "busyness" is an impediment to connection with others. 2) Too many people claim to be "busy" in order to avoid conversation, authenticity, or deeper relationships 3) Much of our busyness is caused by our proclivity to fill the empty spaces of life (waiting in line; riding in planes, trains, and automobiles; bedtime) with technology. Instead of serving us by making us more productive, our gadgets have become our masters. Look around, everyone is bowing to their phone. 4) The deeper reason for our busyness is a desire to prove something to others or ourselves. We take on more and work harder in an effort to prove we are worthy or to disprove the judgment we perceive is directed toward us. 5) The Sabbath command is the only one of ten which demands a repeated ritual. It is a proactive command requiring intentionality and discipline.

PROVERBS 22:13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!” This is one of my favorite proverbs because it paints such a vivid mental image for me. I used to imagine a young man, lying in bed and refusing to get up. His father tells him he needs to get out and get a summer job. Having exhausted every possible argument for why he cannot get out of bed, the son exclaims, "There is a lion in the street!" Today, the mental image has changed slightly. No longer is the son in bed, now he's in the basement playing video games. And he might be 30. And it might be his mother (or even wife) telling him to get out and find a job. Sluggard-Lifestyle has become an epidemic in 2019. DISCLAIMER: Men are not the only creatures who behave like sluggards. Women are also capable (although perhaps not as likely) of finding reasons why they shouldn't do what they know they ought to do. The foundational truth of this proverb is that the sluggard is sup

PROVERBS 16:2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Our dogs have a terrible habit. At least three or four times a day, they will begin barking at the neighbor's dog (actually, the neighbor's dog may be starting it). Their barking becomes so intense that they are all at the fence, clawing at it (sometimes even biting it), trying to get through to the other side. We have a command for them to stop. We say, "Leave it!" If they stop barking and follow us inside, they get a treat. If they don't, we scoop them up (they're quite small), carry them inside, and sentence them to 15 minutes in their cages. Every time this happens, I feel like Mylie (the smarter of the two dogs) looks up at me and her eyes say, "But master, I was protecting you!" She believes that her motivation was pure. I know she was simply acting on her beastly instinct. We do the same thing. We tend to assign ourselves the best motiv

EXODUS 20:1-3 And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. 1) God is a PERSONAL God. "He is the Lord YOUR God". He is not absent, passive or unconcerned. He is present, active and full of compassion. 2) God sets captives free. God's path does not enslave us, it liberates us. 3) Because God is the ONLY God who delivers, He is the ONLY God we should worship. 4) Everyone is devoted to something. The outcomes of your life are determined by the devotion of your life. 5) To be devoted to God is to offer Him the first and best of every part of your life. 6) We offer God our first and best because He gave us His first and best. 7) Too often we are to our self. Self-devotion manifests itself in the pursuit of  POSSESSIONS, PLEASURE, POPULARITY, or POWER. 8) I cannot be devoted to myself and to God. 9) My devotion can be measured

PROVERBS 2:11 discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, Discretion is the practice of making decisions according to a predetermined plan. I show discretion when I choose not to purchase Swiss Cake Rolls because I am following a plan to save money and lose weight. Understanding is the practice of thinking deeply and investigating carefully before reaching conclusions. When I react without thinking, or when I believe the first thing I hear, or when I assume the worst about a person; I am demonstrating a lack of understanding. Discretion and understanding will protect you in life. Discretion is best when your predetermined plan is the path God has laid out in His Word. Understanding is most effective when your primary consideration is whether or not something aligns with the truth of Scripture. Don’t make snap judgments today. Don’t act quickly or without thought. Because you are living in a sinful world, your instincts are sometimes tainted by sin. Instea

PROVERBS 26:4-5 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. This is one of my favorite proverbs. At first glance, it appears to be two contradictory statements. Both cannot be true. They are mutually exclusive. BUT... If you read them together and understand them as one larger proverb, you get the real meaning: Don't argue with a fool. You cannot win. Some people simply do not want to have a reasonable discussion. Some are completely unwilling to consider a change to their position or point of view. Some are interested only in fighting, not finding solutions. Don't argue with them. You cannot win. This feels like a pretty good description of political discourse in America today. It seems to be a fairly accurate snapshot of what happens on social media every day. Here's your challenge. Don't be the fool. Don't be the person who can't engage in a productive c

PROVERBS 18:9 A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things. 1) As image bearers of God, we were made to be creators. We create with our hands, with our actions, with our words, etc. 2) Creating takes action. Lazy people don't create anything (victimhood and apathy are synonymous with laziness). 3) What you create doesn't have to be tangible or physical. You might create joy or peace for someone else. You might create hope by meeting the need of your neighbor. We all have different gifts which enable us to be creative in different ways. 4) What will you create today?

PROVERBS 12:25 Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. Stop. Before you do you anything else, find a piece of paper or a sticky note or a notebook or something you can write on. Now, write down the names of three people you know you will see today. You have no idea what is going in these people's hearts. You may know some of the situations they are dealing with. You may understand some of their hurts and some of their joys. But you don't know it all. None of us do. Something is causing anxiety in these people. You may have an idea of what it is. You may not have a clue. None of us can know everything that is going on in the hearts of the people around us. What we all CAN DO, is offer a good word to everyone we encounter. If you aren't sure how to offer a good word to someone else, here are ten suggestions: encourage compliment motivate inspire praise admire appreciate commend congratulate applaud You

PROVERBS 10:2 Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death. I don't watch it much anymore because I don't seem to have time, but when "The Profit" (a tv show about entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis) was first released, I watched almost every episode for a couple of seasons. I was intrigued by Lemonis' approach to business, particularly the firm but compassionate manner in which he dealt with people. He was also a very good businessman, and he was very successful in turning around family businesses that were failing. In business, success and failure are measured by a simple standard... PROFIT. If your money is increasing, you are winning. If your money is decreasing, you are losing. Proverbs 10:2 challenges our understanding of profit. Not all financial (or material) gain is good. Not all who appear successful are righteous. Temporary gain is not the same as an eternal reward. Jesus had something to say about this in Mark 8. He

PROVERBS 4:7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wi s dom, and whatever you get, get insight . Becoming a wise person is surprisingly simple. Pursue wisdom. Wisdom can come from other people such as parents, teachers, friends, and even pastors. More importantly, wisdom comes from God's Word (particularly Proverbs). I have this picture in my mind of a person who never pursues wisdom and then wonders why life is not going well for them. Wisdom is not found on the couch in a bag of potato chips. It is not found in a secret level of Fortnite (does Fortnite have levels?). It is not found in the fifteenth episode of whatever Netflix show is being binged. Solomon began chapter 4 by telling his son to "be attentive." If you don't pay attention, you won't get wise. So pay attention! I just heard Andy Stanley say, "We get in trouble, not because we don't take advice. We get in trouble because we take OUR OWN advice." Those who don't pay attention, don&#

JOHN 20:17 - go find my brothers and tell them. When you have good news, you love to tell people. Couples go to incredible ends to create elaborate pregnancy/gender reveal parties. Parents love to brag on their children. Major accomplishments are nearly as much fun if they are kept secret. Jesus' resurrection was the best news ever. He didn't want anyone to keep it a secret. When Mary saw Jesus, her first inclination was to embrace Him. That is good. Closeness with Jesus is important. But Jesus had a more important task for her. He said, "Don't cling... GO!" We ought to embrace Jesus and seek closeness with Jesus. We do this through personal study, prayer, meditation. We get closer to Him by attending church services and small group meetings. But Jesus has a more important task for us. He doesn't want us to cling, He wants us to GO! Who will you tell about Jesus' resurrection today?

John 16:33: "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” When I read these words this morning, I immediately thought of Joshua 1. God came to the new leader of Israel and in spite of the daunting task being faced by Joshua, God said, "Be strong and courageous." Joshua "took heart", brought down the walls of Jericho and conquered the promised land. Then I started thinking about other examples of courage in the Bible. I remembered Gideon, who was hiding in a cave when God found him. With the power of God behind him, Gideon "took heart", tore down the idols and defeated the enemies of God with a greatly inferior army. I remembered David, who "took heart" and took down the giant. I thought about Daniel, who "took heart", continued to pray and became the world's greatest lion tamer. I looked at the list of people in Hebr

JOHN 14:1 - Let not your hearts be troubled. Research confirms that anxiety, stress and depression are at an all time high. People (maybe you) find themselves at the point of despair far too often. Fear, worry, concern, uneasiness, tension and nervousness have become defining words. On any given day, as many as half of the people you encounter have troubled hearts. Perhaps you have a troubled heart? Our hearts are troubled because we want everyone around us to think well of us. Our hearts are troubled because we want everyone around us to agree with us. Our hearts are troubled because there is not enough to get by. Our hearts are troubled because we have too much to handle. Our hearts are troubled by the decisions of others. Our hearts are troubled by the consequences of our own decisions. Our hearts are troubled because we don't measure up. Do I need to go on? It's not just a political thing, but politics contribute to our troubled hearts. It's not just a "fa