Most of us hear “You shall not make for yourself a carved image” and assume the second commandment is aimed for some folks worshipping a metal statue long ago. But the same human frailty that raised the golden calf still reaches for something visible, manageable, and reassuring. What have we begun to trust, protect, or worship in place of the God who rescued us?
How far should we go to control the things we say? James says we should go a lot further than we often do.
Pharmaceutical commercials fill the screen with daisy fields and frolicking joy so you’ll tune out the side effects. Are God’s Commandments filled with killer side effects, too?
Faithtoberfest returns to a crisp autumn night outside of FaithTree’s home, the Upper Room. On October 18 at 6:30 pm we will have a special, in-person and live streamed festival of incredible music from gifted artists all around our area, entertaining skits and terrific gift card prizes! Come in person if you can, because we will have delicious food as part of the festivities, but either way, please RSVP for this year’s event and relive last year’s fantastic festivities, below.
How is God working even when things seem to be going in ways we think are “shipwrecks”? Pastor Tim turns to Paul’s journey to Rome for this week’s encouragement ahead of Faithtoberfest.
James encourages us to listen but not to stop at listening. Combining listening and acting is necessary for arriving where God wants us.
Family conflict. Our attempts to force a good outcome. So often our all too human messes and efforts leave life looking like a train wreck that gives sin the final word. Yet Genesis 35 closes Isaac’s story by calling him “old and full of days” and placing his divided sons together at his burial. Maybe even our broken lives still have hope of being full?
Pastor Tim thinks of the splendor of the autumn leaves and how that splendor points to the even more wondrous Creator behind them.
How often do we “listen” to other people without really listening? How often do we jump immediately to actions and words that don’t reflect the heart of God? James challenges us to do something different.
When a mess lands in our lap—whether it’s the fallen world’s doing or our own—the natural move is to grab control and start fixing, doubling down on whatever we think will work. In Genesis 28, two sons of the same broken family face that same moment, and the difference between how they respond reaches right into the choices we face today.