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This Sunday we will take a break from our study of the Minor Prophets and look at how many of the truths can give us insight into our present cultural challenges.

Thus far, our study of the Minor Prophets has revealed God’s involvement in culture throughout history. Our current cultural moment seems just as difficult and corrupt as the generations of the
prophets.

How do we apply what God has said through His prophets and His Word about how we are to follow Him? Looking at the teachings of God’s greatest intrusion into our culture (the Person of Jesus) God’s purpose, plans, and promises have not changed.

As a little boy sitting in Sunday School, I loved the story of Jonah--the idea that some huge fish swallowed a living man! Wow! For years, whenever I thought of Jonah...I thought about this incredible picture. 

Perhaps by now, like me, you have learned that this book is about so much more. In fact, it's really not about a "whale" at all. The prophecy of God through His prophet Jonah is, once again, an object lesson of what happens when we walk away from the clear direction that God has given to us. 

For those of us who have placed our faith and trust in Jesus, the Bible has given us a very clear path on HOW to walk with God through His Spirit. So often, we want God to answer the WHAT and WHERE. This is where so many of us get bogged down. I hope you'll join us as we dive in the depths (pun intended) of Jonah and look at the answer to God's direction in our lives.

Sometimes we forget that all people are created in the image of God. They are of great worth because God made them. So, when we look around and see the depravity of the world around us it's easy to view people who don't know God as the enemy. Especially, when some of those people do such evil things--cheating, murder, abuse and unthinkable violence.  

Many of us long for God to come and put an end to those people--to stop the evil. It's difficult to think of praying for those people or even sharing the hope of Christ with them. But that is exactly what God did with our next prophet, Jonah. God's mercy can reach the one who is farthest from God...it can provide forgiveness and hope to the worst among us.   

Join us as we begin exploring God's message through Jonah.

I remember the season of raising young kids and how challenging it was. Not just the energy of keeping up and running from one event to the next…but the “cost of raising a family” was something I never saw coming. For years we pinched pennies, amassed credit card debt, constantly dealt with broken down cars and struggled to pay bills. That being said, we were still blessed compared to the rest of the world…but we struggled.  

I’ll never forget the season when kids became adults and flew from the nest…when debts began to be paid and life seemed less of a financial strain. I was stunned as I began to see my bank account move in the right direction. It became a game (more of an obsession)—to stay out of debt and amass MORE! Suddenly, I was thinking about retirement and travelling the world and taking it easy.  

Then it hit me.

As an apprentice of Jesus, who has been entrusted with much, I am blessed to be a blessing. The Bible saves us the pain of figuring this out for us—that amassing MORE will never fill the deepest need of contentment in our soul. It’s actually the opposite—by practicing generosity (remember “Practices of the Way?) you begin to experience the joy of being the hands and feet of Jesus. There is no vacation big enough to compare to the joy of loving the way Jesus teaches us. 

Join us as we wrap up our study of God’s message through his prophet-Obadiah.

We dive in to Obadiah. Although it's the shortest book in the Old Testament, it is packed with truth that is relevant for today.

Just think --- We can be instrumental in rescuing the perishing in our families and communities.

Hopefully you are not one that is saying we’re doing all right and we got this. What feeling do you have? Everything feel ok to you in our country and communities?

We don’t live by feelings, but God does give us intuitiveness and insight from His Word.

We do have a big problem in our country and it is called sin. There is no political or economical solution for the Spiritual problem we have. People in the Americanized church are being tricked by the father of lies, and leaders that have become complacent and turning away from the Truth.

As we continue to dive into the book of Amos, may we do as he said, "Seek God and live!"