Video

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 When we feel overwhelmed by the suffering in this world, we realize that suffering is a complicated question that involves personal responsibility and living under the curse of sin.  But God is always in the healing and the redemption from human suffering.  If you have felt a tug at your heart strings from  the news images from Afghanistan this last week, I want to encourage you to become involved in Christian mission.

 People are uncomfortable with change yet God calls us to change.  We can miss what God is doing in the here and now because we get distracted by looking over our shoulder at the 'good old days".   In Isaiah 43:18-19 God encourages His people:  "Remember not the events of the past,  the things of long ago consider not; See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? In the wilderness I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers." 

 Do you remember having a fear of being called weird when you were child? Or maybe, do you still have that fear today.  No one likes to be the odd person out because it makes us vulnerable to insult and injury.   Shame is a powerful instrument of oppression.  Listen to Pastor Cheryl’s talk on how Christ can empower us out of our shame. 

 Do you ever wonder why God expects us to pray.  If God already knows what we need why does he expect us pray.  I think there is a reason for this expectation,  Faith demands participation.  Listen to Pastor Cheryl's Blog on introduction of next week's sermon on the how God uses our prayers and our friends to encourage us in the faith. 

August we'll be preaching on the Healing Journeys in the Scripture.