Iowa City Church Podcast

A popular comedian once said, “If money talks, all it ever says to me is good-bye!”  Can you relate?  With an uncertain economy looming and rising prices on just about every commodity, it probably feels like we hardly get a chance to know our paychecks before they pack their bags! If your money could talk what would it say?  What would it say about your life?  Your values?  Your faith? Have you ever heard of The Ring Lady?  When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, one rich young woman did not flee like most residents. She stayed behind collecting as much jewelry as she could carry rather than escape by boat. Her rings went on her fingers, she didn’t have time to pick up a bag but rushed into the street clutching her pearls and rubies, gold brooches and earrings. Poisonous fumes overcame her, she fell and died and remained under the ashes until in 1981 archaeologists found “The Ring Lady” preserved with her hands still laden with the jewels that cost her everything to hold onto. Whether you realize it or not, what you are holding on to tells a story about what is valuable in your life, it tells a story of your faith. As James begins to wrap up his letter, he addresses a serious issue for the Christians he is writing to: How they are using their money is revealing their lack of faith in God.  He writes these scathing words: "You have lived luxuriously on the earth and have indulged yourselves.  You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter."  James 5:5 The way they were using their money revealed how little faith they had in God.  Instead, they were using their money in a way that demonstrated that their trust wasn't in God, but themselves.  James points out the foolishness of this choice because judgement was quickly approaching, and everything would be gone. Sobering thoughts, yes? Instead of quickly dismissing this teaching because you aren't rich, maybe take a moment and consider what your money management is saying about your faith in God.  If your money could talk, what would it say?    If you want to learn a practical plan for how to grow your faith with your money, make sure and check out part nine of All Day, Every Day...we know you will find it to be very helpful!

Have you heard of the Tikker wristwatch?  It's a basic wristwatch, the difference is that this watch counts down your life so you can make every second count? You answer a basic questionnaire and they deliver to you a watch that is essentially a countdown clock to when you are predicted to die. The effect is sobering, a sort of incessant grim reaper reminding you time is running out. Tikker's inventor is a 45-year-old Swede named Fredrik Colting. He says he invented the gadget not as a morbid novelty item, but as an earnest attempt to change his own thinking. Colting, a former gravedigger, said, "The occurrence of death is no surprise to anyone, but in our modern society we rarely talk about it. I think that if we were more aware of our own expiration I'm sure we'd make better choices while we are alive." That's why he calls Tikker "the happiness watch." It's his belief that watching your life slip away will remind you to savor life while you have it. On one hand, this may feel very depressing. Daily being reminded of our expiration date can't possibly be a source of joy. However, maybe Mr. Colting is on to something. Maybe if we realize we only have so much time left, we would actually choose to use it differently. However, this raises an even more important question: What is the best way to use those seconds?  Take a moment and consider how you would answer that question. James points out in his letter, that there is a war of wills when it comes to how to best live out those few seconds each person is given.  One option is to arrogantly choose to do what we want to do.  You could phrase it this way: "My kingdom come, my will be done."  Or there is a second option.  Here is how James frames it: "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." ~ James 4:15  Most Christians want to do God's will.  The problem is, they aren't for sure what it is and are even more confused about how to live it out in their everyday life.  Do you want to learn how to take the rest of your time on earth and live it according to God's will?  Make sure and check out part eight of our sermon series, All Day, Every Day...we know that you will find it to be very helpful! 

In 1152 a war started between the countries of France and England, all because King Louis VII shaved his beard and refused to grow it back.  Sadly this conflict, referred to as 'The War of Whiskers' raged for 301 years until peace  was finally declared after the Battle of Rouen in 1453. As one studies the countless wars and battles fought down through the ages, it doesn't take long to discover that many were instigated because of a trivial incident; a king was offended, a monarch wanted more of something, or a ruler was simply bored.  Sometimes it's kind of entertaining to poke fun at all these out of touch monarchs who stir up conflict over petty matters, until we stop and realize that our latest argument with our spouse was about where to park the car at Target!  It's actually quite impressive when you stop to consider all of the trivial things people fight about.  Take a minute and consider what areas of your life are you experiencing conflict.  Are you having some issues within your marriage or family?  Do you sense conflict in the culture around you?  Are you personally feeling conflicted about decisions or choices...or maybe even past regrets?  Here's a big one to consider: Is there conflict between you and God?  Are you upset about something God has or hasn't done? If you answered, "Yes" to any or all of these scenarios, the next question is important: Where can I find peace when conflict abounds?  One of the most overlooked traits of a Christian is that of a peacemaker.  Jesus said that Kingdom-citizens are peacemakers (Matthew 5:9).  His brother James uses this same description in his letter:   "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." ~ James 3:17-18  Does the word "peacemaker" describe you well?  For most Christians, peacemaker is not in their vocabulary.  Neither is living at peace in a world of conflict.  It's safe to say that Christians, struggle with conflict in most every area of their lives, in fact maybe that describes you right now.   In part seven of our series through the book of James, the author not only addresses the myriad of conflicts we face, he also provides a helpful pathway to a life of peace.  Do you want to learn more?  Check out our worship service this Sunday and discover how to live in peace even when conflict abounds.

Did you know that the average person spends 1/5 of their lifetime talking?  That is A LOT OF WORDS! If all the words we spoke in a day were printed, on average we would fill a 50 page book EVERYDAY.   In his book, James has spent considerable time focused on our words. He challenged us to be "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" James 1:19.  But it is very to do just the opposite - "to be slow to listen, quick to speak and quick to become angry." We've all said things to people we care about that we wished we could take back.  We wish we could take them back because we know that our words have the power to influence us positively or negatively..  Take a moment and ponder these two questions: What has someone said to you that has encouraged you? What has someone said to you that hurt or discouraged you? Every single day, as you go about your business, you are influencing people with your words.  Jesus says that our tongue is a reflect of our heart: "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things our of the good stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. " ~ Luke 6:45    Join us this as we seek out God's wisdom on taming our tongue and transforming our heart.

When we all were growing up as children, we wanted to impress our friends, kind of show off to demonstrate our importance.  Some times that would include making big claims that may or may not have been true.  For instance: "I rode my bicycle with no hands for five blocks!"  As a friend, what is the most appropriate response to such a claim?  "Prove it!"  Prove it.  Give me proof that you really did this incredible feat. Another phrase we use in this age of information is "fact check."  Quite literally as we watch news or listen to a communicator, we can use our devices to fact check the reliability of what is being communicated to us.  It's a helpful tool when trying to filter through what is true and what is not true. Take a moment and ponder this question: If someone asked you if you were a Christian and you said "yes", would they ask you to, "Prove it"?  Or if they "fact checked you", would they find enough evidence to prove you were a Christian? Every single day, as you go about your business, you are leaving evidence in your wake as to whether or not you are a Christian.  James puts it this way: "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead." ~ James 2:26 What's his point?  Your faithfulness to Jesus is measurable.  The character of our lives, the convictions with which we live, the generosity and service we show are all evidence of true faith in Jesus. So, as you do a quick analysis of evidence, how do you think you are doing?  It's a tough question to answer, isn't it?  If you feel like you aren't measuring up, there's good news!  We can always go back to the starting point to discover our motivation for why we decided to follow Jesus in the first place.  Answer this question: Who is Jesus to you? Now that you've answered that question, join us for part five of All Day, Every Day and we will unpack how to live out a faith that works.  

There is a popular reality TV show that is garnering a lot of attention called, 'Real or Cake?'  The premise of the show is quite simple, top notch pastry chefs make incredible cake masterpieces which look like regular everyday objects; shoes, plants or doorknobs...use your imagination!  In many cases, the only way to tell the difference is to cut into it and take a bite! It is really quite amazing how these cake artists can literally take such ordinary items and turn them into pastry works of art.  In most cases, just by looking at a picture of the ordinary object and the cake imposter, a person can't really tell a difference, they are that good!  However, this raises a great question about authenticity.  If people can fake cake that well, how can we know if something is real or counterfeit?  Money, clothing, shoes, cars, etc. can all be faked.  Now take a moment and ponder this question: How do you know if your faith is real or fake?   It's a good question, isn't it?  Or here is another question: How am I doing on my faith journey?  One of the driving motivations for James in writing this letter is to challenge Christians to take their faith in Jesus seriously.  To take one's faith seriously, there needs to be tests and measurements of progress.  So throughout his letter James provides these different ways Christians can measure or test their faith journey.  A perfect example of this is in the opening section of chapter two.  Here's the first verse: "My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism." ~ James 2:1 Throughout the rest of the chapter, James will lay out an argument as to why our treatment of people is directly connected to our faith in Jesus.  Now, before you dismiss this test as irrelevant to your life because you treat people well, please stop and consider this question: Do you show favoritism?  To help you answer that question and to learn how to treat all people equally, make sure and join us for part four of All Day, Every Day...it's going to be good!  

The Trust Fall.  A simple, yet profound exercise in testing a person's faith in another.  This test requires one person to face a certain direction, looking straight ahead, not looking behind them.  A second person then stands directly behind the first person and tells that person to blindly fall backwards.  There is always a moment of uncertainty for the first person as they slowly fall, wondering if this second person will catch them. To up the ante, have a person stand on a chair or table, and then have a group of four or five people stand underneath them, promising to catch them.  Then ask the person on the table to fall backwards!  It doesn't take long to see who is trusting and who is not (or who is a bit crazy!).  Every day as we go about our lives, we are playing a form of "Trust Fall".  As followers of Jesus, we know that Jesus has some very specific things to say about how to live life; he instructs on money, possessions, sexual ethics, anger, how we treat people, serving other, forgiving enemies...and many other things.  The problem is that what Jesus teaches is often counter intuitive to how culture teaches us to live.  So there is this moment of tension.  This moment of trust.  Will I do what Jesus instructs or will I do what everyone else is doing? In this sermon we will continue with part three of our study of James.  In chapter one, verse twenty-two says this: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says." ~ James 1:22 Just like The Trust Fall exercise reveals our level of faith, so do these simple yet powerful words from James.  If you want to deepen your faith in Jesus, you do what he says.  Do you want to learn more?  Make sure and join us for another step in our series, All Day, Every Day. 

No one likes taking tests.  If you do, you're an anomaly (and might need prayer)!  The average person doesn't like taking any tests: driving tests, heart tests, COVID tests, or ACT tests.  The truth is, there are some folks, maybe even you, who suffer from extreme anxiety whenever the possibility of taking a test arises.    However, even though there is a certain amount of disdain for testing, we all agree that testing is essential.  For example, you are getting ready for a major surgery.  You can approach your operation with confidence if you know that your surgeon has passed all of their tests.  Oh, and not just passed, but was an "A" student.  If we have a choice, we want an "A" student cutting us open and not a "C" student!  Let's say you are getting on an airplane for a big trip.  As you board the plane you want your pilot to be in the top of his or her class.  You want to have confidence that they passed all the testing and didn't skip one requirement.  It's not very comforting to think that your pilot got an "A" in take offs, but got a "D" in landings!  We not only care about tests, but all agree they are essential.  We just don't like to take tests when it comes to our everyday, personal lives. God cares about you, more then you care about you.  God is all in, on your maturity and character development.  As the saying goes, God cares more about your character then your comfort.  Most of us, unfortunately, flip the order around.  However, with character development comes...testing.  In fact James says: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." ~ James 1:2-3 James says, "trials of many kinds"; there are a variety of obstacles, hardships and tests we will face on our journey of following Jesus.  Yet, they are there for a reason.  According to James, those tests move us towards maturity.  Most Christians don't have a maturity plan laid out for their lives.  Thankfully God does!  He will take whatever obstacle comes our way and provide us with the skill and resources to not only make our way through it, but in so doing--mature.     So how can a Christian embrace the hardships of life and mature in faith?  That's the question we will answer this episdoe of All Day, Every Day.  Don't miss it! 

If you've ever gone white water rafting, you know it can be a very intimidating experience, especially the first time.  A raging Rocky Mountain river is no joke!  It's fast, cold and dangerous.  The only way to navigate such a place is with a guide. The rafting guides are expertly trained in their craft.  They have spent countless hours on the river.  Many of them could coast through the many rapids, rocks and rip currents in their sleep.  In fact, they have fun names for these dangerous places.  It's almost like they are meeting an old friend when they enter into "Twisted Sister" rapids!  However, one is very thankful that the guides know the rapids so well.  With expert precision they tell the adventurous passengers when to paddle, how many times to paddle and in what direction. Most importantly, in case of an emergency or someone going overboard, these guides are expert lifesavers...moving with precision to make a life saving grab in the blink of an eye!  What few people realize is that before anyone can be a rafting guide, they must travel the watery path with only a life jacket and wet suit!  Simply put, these guides know their stuff and are more then capable of getting their passengers safely through the treacherous course. Life is a lot like a raging river!  It's full of ups and downs and harrowing twists and turns.  There are stretches of calm water, however, that's not the norm.  Unsuspectingly around the corner one finds the crazy rapids of financial stress, relational conflict or just disappointment slamming people into rocks or pulling them under the waves.  How is one supposed to navigate life well with such turbulence?  We need a guide; someone who has gone before us.  One who knows the way well.   In this sermon we begin a journey through the New Testament book of James.  In it James will point out that there is a way to live life well, all day and everyday...even if it feels like "raging white water".  However to begin the journey of a life well live, we have to answer one important question: Who will be our guide?  Do you want to learn more?  Make sure and join us on this very helpful, yet challenging journey of becoming like Jesus in every aspect of our lives.   

Two years ago I was able to travel to Israel and visit a number of significant places we read about in the Bible.  On my last day in Jerusalem, our group visited the Garden Tomb site (pictured below).  It's the place which best matches the description given to us in John's gospel as to where the body of Jesus was buried. When we first arrived, I was surprised by two things; the number of people in attendance, and secondly, the diversity of those people.  There were people from every continent on earth gathered as one group near the Garden Tomb.  At one point I was able to hear multiple languages singing worship songs to Jesus, it was truly a small glimpse of Heaven! Why were we all there?  We wanted to see the empty tomb of Jesus (and I can verify, it was empty)!  My brothers and sisters from every corner of the planet and myself know this simple truth: Our faith in Jesus is built entirely upon his resurrection from the dead.  I could walk away from the Garden Tomb with added boldness, courage and devotion because my savior lives! Why does this matter?  There continues to be a growing wave of skepticism regarding the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.  Smart, intelligent, and sophisticated influencers continue to share their skepticism as to why it's silly to believe that dead people rise from the dead.  This then raises a very relevant question, which many people, maybe even you, wrestles with: Can a reasonable, rationale person believe that Jesus rose from the dead? In this sermon we will talk about how history provides us with ample evidence to believe that Jesus of Nazareth not only died on a cross, but rose from the dead!  And because of these facts, our lives can be transformed forever.

Have you ever had one of those days when you just aren't feeling it?  You need to go to the gym, but the flannel sheets feel so much better, so you snuggle down and hit snooze.  It's time to go to work, but you're just not feeling it, so you call in sick.  Or maybe it's Sunday morning.  You should go to the worship service at church, but it's cold and rainy, and you're feeling a bit down...so because you're not feeling it you stay at home. Listen, we've all had those moments when we just aren't "feeling it."  However, there is something significant we need to realize when we skip out on life, just because we aren't "feeling it": We miss out on experiencing God's blessing!  Just take a moment and think about those moments when you did something you didn't feel like doing, only to be pleasantly surprised or even shocked about how God worked.  Instead of hitting snooze, you go to the gym and crush a PR you never thought you could hit.  Instead of calling in sick, you go to work and make a connection which leads to a promotion.  Or instead of skipping worship service, you attend and are reminded of how much God has blessed you!  To experience God's blessing, often times we have to do things we don't feel like doing. For the last 14 weeks we have been studying the Psalms of Ascent; learning how to take faithful steps of obedience on our long journey of following Jesus.  The last psalm (Psalm 134) kind of seems a bit off at first glance.  One would expect the conclusion to be this huge, big, grandiose worship song (you know, like the Hallelujah Chorus) but it's not.  It's different. However, at a second glance, Psalm 134 is the perfect conclusion to a long pilgrimage of tired worshippers who aren't "feeling it".  They are ready to check into the Marriott and ice their feet and prepare to "feel it" the next day.  Yet, they ignore their feelings, and tell their muscles to go...and in a shocking turn of events they are not only reminded of God's blessings, they experience his blessings as well!   Do you want to learn more about how to overcome your feelings and continue your journey of becoming like Jesus?  Make sure and to part 15 of Long Obedience in the Same Direction, we know that you will find it to be very helpful!

Sometimes teachers ask their students to do difficult, strange, even unorthodox things.  In the cult classic movie Karate Kid (and current reboot, Cobra Kai) we meet a gangly NJ teenager named Daniel LaRusso, transplanted to Southern California.  He's trying to fit it, but of course there are the bullies, in this case a dojo of karate thugs who constantly harass Daniel.  Along comes the apartment complex custodian Mr. Miyagi, who also just happens to be a karate master.  Mr. Miyagi befriends Daniel and agrees to train the eager teenager.  In his first few days of "training" Daniel sands a deck, paints a fence and waxes cars.  For obvious reasons, he becomes angry with his teacher for his lack of teaching...only to find out that in those manual labor jobs he has in fact been learning karate. From that point forward Daniel learns to trust and be obedient to his sensei's unorthodox, sometimes even unreasonable teaching methods.  It doesn't make sense, but because it's Mr. Miyagi, he does it.  (To see what happens you need to watch the movie!) As we read through the Bible, God asks his people to do difficult, even unreasonable things (circumcision anyone?)  He doesn't do it because he's mean or angry, he does it because he cares about his people. The same is true of Jesus.  He legitimately asks his followers to do preposterous things; loving their enemies, selling their possessions, hating their families, and even taking up their crosses to follow him!  Is Jesus just being mean?  Is he trying to put people in their place?  Or is it simply the fact that Jesus cares about what his followers become?  He wants to transform his followers into a new kind of people.  However, for there to be transformation there must first be obedience.   In Psalm 132 there is a pivotal verse (vs 12) which points the reader to the importance of obedience and how it shapes our story as God's people.  If you want to learn how obedience can shape your story, give a listen to this sermon as we continue with part 13 of Long Obedience in the Same Direction, we know that you will find it to be very helpful!

One of the hardest things to see in a mirror...is yourself.  Oh, you can see the light rays reflecting back your image, but it's incredibly difficult to see the real you.  Here's why: humans typically have an over inflated view of themselves.  In a fascinating Washington Post article, author Nitin Nohria writes about how You're Not As Virtuous As You Think.  "Moral overconfidence is in line with what studies find to be our generally inflated view of ourselves.  We rate ourselves as above average drivers, investors and employees, even though math dictates that can't be true for all of us.  We also tend to believe we are less likely than the typical person to exhibit negative qualities and to experience negative life events: to get divorced, become depressed or have a heart attack." Why does any of this matter in regards to our Christian faith?  The truth is, you are more then likely inflating your success in regards to your discipleship journey.  Is that hard to hear?  Probably, no one likes to be told the truth.  However, there is an attitude we can all take which not only helps us hear the truth, but also positions us to grow in our faith.  What is this attitude?  Humility. Humility.  The ability to put aside pride and ego...and listen to the truth.  Humility, having the guts to admit you're wrong and want to change.  Humility, a desire to put the needs of others above ahead of yours.  Humility can literally change your life, yet it's so hard to implement. "Ego builds a cardboard fortress that humility must, every day tear down." ~ Frederica Mathewes, The Jesus Prayer How can we begin to "tear down our cardboard fortress" and continue the journey of true life change?  Psalm 131 zeros in on the importance of humility, but also the powerful result of practicing it in our lives.  If you're ready to take another step towards humility, make sure and listen to part 12 of Long Obedience in the Same Direction.  

Sometimes on this journey of following Jesus, we get stuck in cycles of hurt, habits and hang ups.  It can happen as we battle our habitual sin which feels like we can never break free from.  It happens when we have a close family member who just continues to make bad decision after bad decision and it hurts us every time.  It happens when we simply feel like a failure in the eyes of our Heavenly Father.  It's as if our life seems like it's stuck in a deep pit of despair.  If you've ever been in that pit, or maybe if you find yourself in that pit right now, you know how debilitating it can be to your discipleship journey.  There is a sense of resignation, that life will always be this way...that things will never change. When you're stuck in a pit, the one thing that can help get you through another day is hope---hope that things will finally change.  Hope that someone is going to reach down and pull you up out of the pit! Human beings can live for forty days without food, four days without water, and four minutes without air.  But humans cannot live for four seconds without hope.  It is quite amazing what people are able to endure when they have just a little bit of hope. Psalm 130 is all about hope, written to a people who found themselves in a pit of despair.  If you need a dose of hope and want to learn more, make sure and listen to this sermon as we continue with part 11 of Long Obedience in the Same Direction.  

Humans are notorious for not finishing what we started.  For example, how are those New Year's resolutions going?  Exactly, we don't want to talk about it!  Yet, it begs this question:  Why is it so hard to finish the things we start?  Think of all the projects that are waiting for your attention: the stamp collection, scrap books, sewing projects or the car you've been meaning to restore.  There's the guitar in the corner of your room or the tread mill you now use to dry your clothes.  The list could go on and on!  If it's starting to get personal, don't take it that way...all humans do it.  We are good at starting things, it's just the finish that's so hard.  However, here's the hard truth we all need to acknowledge: It's not how you start, it's how you finish.  The Christian faith falls into the same discussion.  In some regards, it could be said that starting the journey of following Jesus is the easy part.  When we recognize our need for a savior and Jesus is the one who loved us and died for our sins, who doesn't want that kind of savior?  The hard part is staying faithful to Jesus over the long haul, especially when we begin to face obstacles, struggles and worst of all persecution.  We've all had those moment when we questioned our decision to follow Jesus, those moments when it was just too hard, too frustrating or too painful because of the opposition.  Maybe that is the place you find yourself right now.  So how do we persevere and actually finish the journey well, especially when things get hard? If there was ever a people group who understood the struggle of opposition and persecution it was Israel.  Psalm 129 focuses in on the journey of being God's people and facing severe persecution, here's a powerful metaphor for the affliction they faced: "Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long." ~ Psalm 129:3 That's an image that's easy to understand...and feel!  So what can we learn from this psalm to help us persevere in our relationship with Jesus?  How can we not only have a strong start to our journey of following Jesus, but also endure to finish well?  To learn more, listen to part 10 of Long Obedience in the Same Direction.  

How do you pursue happiness? This is a big deal that needs to be figured out because evidently, one of our purposes in life is to pursue and find happiness. It’s such a big deal that Thomas Jefferson, the main author of the Declaration of Independence embedded it into this revolutionary document. If you have forgotten, this is what is says: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. So do you think Jefferson was just randomly grabbing three things to throw in at the end?  According to his statement, he believed that these three rights came from God, going as far as saying it's "self-evident" (obvious) that God gives us the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. How does one pursue happiness?  Well, in our culture there are a number of seemingly legitimate options.  One really doesn't need to list them or describe them because most of you have given them a test drive or you're on a particular happiness path right now.  The better question might be, how's it going?  Experiencing happiness? Here's one other question to consider: Is it possible to pursue God and find happiness? In this series we have been talking about the journey of discipleship; following Jesus, being transformed by Jesus and on mission with Jesus.  We've talked about the ups and downs, the commitment, and obedience, but there's an elephant in the room that needs to be addressed; does following Jesus make one happy?  In this episode we will take a look at Psalm 128 and see if a life committed to pursuing the LORD actually makes people happy.  Do you want to learn more?  Make sure and listen to this sermon as we take another step on our journey of Long Obedience in the Same Direction.   

Would you consider yourself a "DIY" expert? Do you love watching all the fixer upper episodes on HGTV?  I have to admit that I'm not a "DIY" expert, I'm a "can someone help me" expert when it comes to home improvement projects. In this sermon, we will take a look at Psalm 127, as we continue the journey toward Long Obedience in the Same Direction.  We will look at how God desires us to weave him into the fabric of our homes, communities, work and children. Discipleship isn't design to just happen on Sunday mornings.    There is the temptation for us to try to just work harder and spend more time to pursue success, both personal and professionally...but without God actively involved it will be in vain. Do you want to learn more about how to weave God into every area of your life? Check out part eight of Long Obedience in the Same Direction.   

Humans are "wired" to experience joy.  What exactly is joy you ask?  Joy is the emotion evoked by well being, success, good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires.  So take a moment and consider this: When was last time you experienced joy?  In 2018 a report came out stating that the life expectancy of Americans dropped for the second year in a row.  In a surprising statement from Dr. Steven Woolf, a co-author of this report, there were two causes for this drop: the opioid crisis and despair.  Simply put, Americans weren't finding much joy in living.  We were created for joy, yet most people weren't finding it.  One of the reasons is because so many folks have become dependent on supplementing with "cheap joy". "Cheap joy" can be found in a number of places, for example there is joy found in purchasing that item you have been dreaming about, and it's all fine and good until the credit card bill comes the following month.  There is joy found in having a favorite sports team that wins the big game...only to have them lose every game the next seasons.  There is joy found in beginning a new relationship with someone who "checks all the boxes", until they turn out to be a jerk!  If our only source of joy can be so fickle, no wonder people find themselves constantly dealing with hurts, habits and hang ups!  So where do we find our joy?  Is it possible that the one who created us, can also supply us with joy? In Psalm 126, the psalmist focuses in on the ebb and flow of joy as God's people pursue him.  Sometimes the joy is overwhelming, like a dream.  In other seasons, the joy is absent, like walking through a desert.  Following God is literally like a roller coaster, but here's the strange paradox of joy: it's best experienced after a season of struggle. So here is what we learn, no matter what season of life you find yourself in, trust in the Lord...and the joy will come.  "The LORD had done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." ~ Psalm 126:3 Do you want to learn more about how this can work in your life?  Give a listen to part seven of Long Obedience in the Same Direction.   

In 1887, Anthony Showalter's hymn, "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" was first published.  This steadfast song has a familiar and comforting line in the chorus: Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms The main idea is that when we put our faith in Jesus, we are safe and secure.  It's an interesting lyric considering all of the Christians who have been martyred because they follow Jesus.  It actually seems a bit misleading, unless we are talking about a different type of "security."   Every Christian has had a misstep in their lives; a moment of failure, sin or doubt.  In those moments there is a thought: "Have I messed up so bad that God's done with me?"  Or maybe a more theological way of saying it is this: "How do I know my faith is secure?"  If you have ever watched a rock climber, there are definitely moments where your heartbeats a bit faster.  You see how precarious their situation is; how one misstep or slip could cost them their lives.  This is why climbers are hooked into a safety rope.  As they make their way up the rock face, they will stop and hook into a crack or crevice...or manually drill a bolt into the rock.  They do this so if they do make a mistake, they won't fall very far--they are safe and secure from all alarms. In Psalm 125, the psalmist is reminding God's people that in the ups and downs of their journey with God, they are safe and secure.  Here is what he writes:   Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. Do you want to learn more about the security God provides?  Make sure and listen to this sermon as we take another step on our journey of Long Obedience in the Same Direction.  

No matter how well you prepare and plan for a road trip, you still can't stop the hazards of the road.  Unpredicted thunderstorms, road construction, pot holes, bad drivers and flat tires are all a harsh reminder that life happens.  That's such an odd phrase, "Life happens."  What does that even mean?  It simply means that life is composed of good times and bad times and we all intuitively know it.  So, if life happens is a thing, that means you better have road side assistance! A life devoted to following Jesus is much the same.  There will be days that are relatively free of difficult circumstances--and then there will be days where that is all you experience.  If we are paying attention, Jesus even said as much: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world." ~ John 16:33  An immediate question arises from Jesus' poignant statement; "What is the point of following Jesus if it guarantees trouble?  That's a fair question indeed.  So what is the answer?  Maybe the answer comes by first acknowledging that every road in life will have trouble (life happens).  So by deciding to follow Jesus we are choosing the path where roadside assistance is provided.  Simply put: When life happens, Jesus will help you. In Psalm 124 we find King David writing a song about how God has helped his people in the past.  David does this because when the hazards of life spring upon people, they typically want to give up in despair as opposed to remembering the past; all of the times when God faithfully helped.  Remembering how God has helped us in the past gives us the hope we need to live with confidence that God will help us when the next "flat tire" comes along. Do you want to learn more about how you can learn to trust God and experience his help?  Make sure and listen in as we take another step on our journey of Long Obedience in the Same Direction.