The Greatest Sci-Fi Book #1 -- Exposition: 022212

Tonight we began a long (6 weeks) series about the Bible, it is entitled: The greatest sci-fi novel.  But not because the Bible is a sci-fi book, instead we are using The Hobbit as our great sci-fi novel and using the Bible as a book of truth (thought I would clarify that before we go to far).  Every good book as different parts (exposition, foreshadowing, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, and an epilogue that leads to a sequel).  The Bible has all these parts, and though not a sci-fi book, it is a book of truth tha can change your life. 

Exposition introduces the protagonists (main characters) and the antagonists (those opposed to the main characters).  It introduces the conflict and gives the background and the setting for the rest of the book.  Genesis 1-3 is the expositional part of the Bible.  In it we learn who the protagonists are (God and man), who the antagonists are (satan and sin), what the conflict is (Satan tempts Adam and Eve to sin, causing a wedge to divide God and them from a close relationship, death enters the world), the background of the main characters (God has always been and is powerful enought to create everything, he intended everything to be good, man was created in his image, we are made to have relationship with each other and with God, we were intended to be perfect and live forever), and it gives us the setting for the rest of the book (the universe and specifically the earth that God created.  It is where the conflict started and where it will end).

We were created fora  relationship with people and with God.  You might feel alone and as though you are seperated from God and other people.  You don't have to be alone, God wants to restore your relationship with him and hwen you havea  good relationship with him you will be able to restore healthy relationships with people.  How do you get that relationship back?  That is what the next 5 weeks of the study are all about, but let me give you the end of the story.  Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross to restore relationship between you and God.  He was prefect and because of that was able to take your sins upon himself, taking your punishment.  All you have to do is believe and aks for forgiveness, making him your God.  When you do so, and really mean it, your relationship will start to be restored (then it is just a matter of spending time with him and obeying him in order to continue building that relationship).  You won't be seperated from him anymore.

I give tonight: A+
Favorite Moment: Having Jana back for the night.

Promises -- Sunday, January 31st

This morning we completed our study of the book of Genesis. We read from chapter 47:28-31 and 49:33-50:14. In the story Jacob is about to die and asks to be buried in Canaan instead of Egypt because of God's promise that it would one day be there land. When his father dies, Joseph and his brothers do as their father requested and bury him the land. They kept the promise that they had made, just as God had kept his promises throughout the book.

it is important to keep promises. We are never forced to make a promise but when we do we need to follow through. It shows what type of person we are and it makes it so that we are like God. James 5:12 tells us that our Yes should mean yes and our no should mean no. We need to be people that follow through on our promises, not liars. Soem promises are spoken and some unspoken, but regardless we should fulfill them. Make sure you are careful when you make a promise. But when you do, unless it is against God's word, no matter the cost to you, follow through on the promise.

I give this morning: A-
Favorite moment: Being taught the book of Genesis by the students

Revenge -- Sunday, January 24th

Today we read from Genesis 45:1-11 and 50:15-21. Both passages have to do with Joseph being reunited with the brothers who sold him into slavery and having to make a choice of whether to handle them with love and forgivness or revenge. In both cases he chose not to revenge because he knew that God was working and used their evil to bring about good, the saving of all from the famine.

Bad things happen to each one of us. Sometimes this is because of our own actions, sometimes by other people's actions, sometimes by God's will. But who caused it isn't as important as how we react to that bad thing. We don't always understand why they happen but they hurt us non the less. Soemtiems we react with anger, fear, depression, or even revenge. But the proper reaction is none of these but instead a trust that God will take care of you no matter what else goes on. That even though it hurts right now, God is right there besied you taking care of you. We need to trust that one day God will use that expereince to help others. Romans 8:28-38 tells us just this, he works together everything for the good of those who follow after him. No matter what he can take the worst circumstances and turn them for God.

I give this morning: B+
Favorite Moment: Rock Scissors Paper Tourneyment

Bad Things Happen -- Sunday, January 17th

We read from Genesis 41 today as we continued the story of Joseph. A quick review: Joseph was born to a large but rich family, he was the favored son, he did the right thing and told on his brothers for being lazy, he did the wrong thing and bragged about his dreams, his brothers hated him and tried to kill him, his brothers instead sold him into slavery, he was sold to an executioner as his slave, he did the right things and the house prospered, his master's wife offered to sleep with him but he continually rejected it, the wife claimed he tried to rape her so he is thrown into jail, he interpreted dreams of those in jail and asked them to remember him, two years pass while in jail, he is released to interpret the Pharaoh's dream, he intrepts it and is appointed as the 2nd in command of all of Egypt...whew...

Why was Joseph hated by his brothers? Partially for being the favored son, but partially for doing the right thing.

Why was Joseph sold into slavery? For doing what his dad asked.

Why was Joseph put in jail? For not committing adultery.

Why was Joseph put as the 2nd in command? Because God had grace on him.

So hold onto these truths. #1 Life is hard. #2 Doing the right thing doesn't guarentee immediate success in life. #3 Doing the wrong thign doesn't guarentee immediate punishment. #4 Doing the right thing will eventually be rewarded (even if not in this life). #5 Doing the wrong thing will eventually be punished (even if not in this life). In the mean time keep doing the right thing, no matter what the consequences are or what is going on in your life.

I give this morning: B-
Favorite Moment: Lima, Peru Challenge

Flee -- Sunday, January 10th

Today we continued our story of Joseph in chapter 39 of Genesis. In the chapter he is sold into slavery to the captain of the guard: Potiphar. Potiphar's wife tries to sleep with him but he ends up running away from her, so quickly he leaves her holding his cloak. She claims he tried to rape her and he is sent to prison...for doing the right thing.

What is temptation? Simply put, it is something that tries to get a person to do wrong. The devil uses many traps and tempatations to get a person to do wrong. But 1st Corinthians 10:13 tells us that when we are tempted God gives us a way out. Hebrews 2:18 and 4:15-16 tells us that Jesus was tempted but never sinned and he is the one who helps out those being tempted and we shoudl approach him in our time of need. 2nd Timothy 2:22 tells us that we are supposed to flee temptation but also pursue: righteousness, faith, love, and peace. So not just run away from temptation but run to something good.

I give this morning: B
Favorite moment: "If you struggle with lust, stay away from strip clubs"

Widows -- Sunday, January 3rd

This morning we continued the story of Genesis in Chapter 38:6-26. This is not a pretty story, and you can read it on your own. What it taught us was the idea that we need to take care of widows and others that are in need.

What exactly does the bible teach us on this topic? Deuteronomy tells us that God commanded Israel to allow aliens (foreingers), widows, and orphans to glean fro free an be protected while doing it. In Kings God has mercy on widows by providing for them iraculously no less than 3 times. Pslam 68:5 says, God is "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,". Proverbs 15:25 tell us that God protects teh boundaries of a widow. Jeremiah 49:11 says that God can be trusted by widows and orphans and will protect their lives. All these go to show us that God actually cares for those in need, specifically widows.

So what should our response as christians be? In Acts the apostles make it so there are specific works to help distribute the food to the widows. 1st Timothy 5:3 tells us to thelp widows who are in real need, listing that only elderly widwows who were faithful to their husbands and did good deeds should be helped. James 1:27 sums it up this way, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." So God is looking for us to be holy but also look after those in need, we can't forget this. So what are you going to do in order to help widows, orphans, and others in need that are often overlooked? Maybe you could spend some time talking with them, mow a lawn, shovel snow, bring a meal. Regardless, do something!

I give this morning: A
Favorite moment: Johnny's friends not coming

Anger -- Sunday, December 27th

This morning we started the story of the boy Joseph. We acted out what the story from Genesis 37:1-36, which finds Joseph being the favorite son, getting a coat of many colors. He also starts to have dreams in which his family is bowing to him. He also rats out his brothers when they are being lazy. So when he goes to see how they are doing one day, they throw him in a well to let him die. But instead they end up selling him to some slave traders headed to Egypt.

This teaches us how to treatour siblings and something about anger as well. We should treat our siblings (whether natural born or spiritual) with love not hate. We shoudl talk wel of them to their face as well as when they aren't around. We shouldn't show off. And finally we shoudl look after each other not hurt each other.

When you weed, you have to be careful to get the weed's roots or else they will continue to come back. Anger is much the same, we have to get rid of anger out of our lives but if we don't then it just grows in it until it suddenly erupts above the ground. This anger ends up hurting others. But when we get rid of the actions but don't deal with the root, it will just come back again and again. Do you have some unresolved anger in your life? Now is the time to get rid of it and let God heal it from in you.

I give this morning: B
Favorite Moment: "HIPPIE!"

Change Your Clothes -- Sunday, December 20th

Today we continued our series on the Book of Genesis. Jacob had left Canaan to escape his brother and find a wife, on his way out God talked with him and promised him safety and that he would return to the land of Canaan. And sure enough Jacob returned and God protected him, even helping him to make up with his brother. In chapter 35 of Genesis Jacob is told by God to go build an altar and start to worship him. Jacob tells his household to do 4 things, which we will apply to our lives. #1 he tells them to get rid of their idols, #2 to go and purify themselves, #3 to change their clothes, #4 to build an altar.

If we are going to choose to follow God we must do these things as well. #1 Get rid of idols from your life, which means to figure out what it i you are serving or wht you are doing wrong and then stop doing it and stop serving it. We need to be honest with what is going on. #2 Purify yourself, which means to ask God for forgiveness for your sins. #3 Change your clothes, which means change how you think, act, who you hand out with, and where you hang out at. We need to repent, which means turning completely from the thigns that we are doing wrong and start walking a different way. #4 Build an altar, which means we need to make it so you won't forget your decision. Tell others, write it down, do whatever it takes os that you will remember, since then it will be harder to turn back.

You need to decide who you will follow and if God you need to get rid of idols, purify yourself, change your clothes, and build an altar.

I give this morning: B
Favorite moment: Joshua's definition of Samuel (lack of God)

Forgiveness -- Sunday, December 13th

Today we continued our study of the book of Genesis by looking at Jacob and Esau once again. In this portion (Genesis 32 and 33) we find Jacob about to meet up with Esau for the first time since he left many years before. Esau, if you remember had threatened to kill his brother, that is why Jacob had left. Now, Jacob returns with his family and herds to Canaan, where his brother lives. He splits his heards into 3 sections, send out 3 big gifts to Esau trying to convince him to not kill him by buying him off. He then goes on and bows before his brother. Esau comes running at him...and hugs him. He has forgiven his brother. Then the next day, Jacob sneaks off so that if Esau changes his mind he won't have to face him.

What is forgiveness? It means to give up a resentment, to cancel a debt, to pardon or absolve a wrongdoing. This isn't pretending like it didn't happen or accepting blame that isn't yours. To often we have the idea that we have to buy our forgiveness or that someone else ahs to earn our forgiveness before we can forgive them. God wants us to forge each other, because he has forgive us so much, and to forgive just as freely as he did us (Ephesians 4:32). God wants this from us and it can be difficult, but it is good thing to do. Maybe today you need to ask someone for their forgiveness...go and do it. Maybe today you need to forgive someone, do it, even if they have never asked for forgiveness!

I give this morning: B+
Favorite Moment: Calling Haley, "Debbie Downer"

Wrestling with God -- Sunday, December 6th

Today we continued the story of Genesis by reading about Jacob in Genesis 32:24-30. In these verses Jacob is about to meet up with Esau (his brother) for the first time since he left trying to avoid being killed by him. The night before he ends up wrestling with a man (either a pre-incarnate Jesus or an angel) but won't give up all night long, even after being severly injured, because he wants the "man's" blessing. Many times we have wrestled with God, praying for an answer to the questions that we seek or trying to grow closer to Him, but what our response is, is very important. We could never wrestle with God and just do our own thing but then we will end up in trouble and lost. We could quit before we get resolution because we become impatient, lazy, or hurt. Or we can be like Jacob and refuse to stop wrestling with God until we get our answer or until we have a closer relationship with God. In Daniel 10:1-14 we find a story where Daniel ends up having to pray 21 days for an answer. This should teach us that sometimes it takes time for God to answer. We need to get away from distractions (tv, internet, cell phones, video games, friends) and actually listen. And finally we need to not give up, ever.

I give this morning: B
Favorite Moment: Josh almost losing to Becky while arm wrestling

What Do You Want? -- Sunday, November 29th

This morning we continued the story of Genesis. We read from Genesis 29:16-30:24. In these verses we find the strange and messed up family of Jacob. He has ran away from home so that his brother won't kill him for stealing his blessing. He goes to his relative's, Laban, house and falls in love with his youngest daughter Rachel. She is very beautiful so he works for her to be his wife for 7 years. But on the wedding night Laban tricks him by having him marry his older, ugly daughter Leah. He then works for another 7 years for Rachel to become his wife. The two sisters fight. Leah wants her husband to love her, but instead just keeps having kids. Rachel wants to have kids but can't for many years. When she does she ends up having two, the second ends up with her dying during childbirth. Leah focused on earthly love and wouldn't settle for a better love, God's. Rachel focused on what she didn't have and thus was discontent. Eventually the thing she watned most that she thought would give her life meaning ended up killing her.

What is it that you want most? You have more going for you than you think. God created you in a unique way and even though you don't see it others do, so if you are discouraged ask others what they think you have going for you. What you want is an important question for you to know the answer to. It will be the thing that drives you, and if it isn't good then you will be headed in a bad direction and need to change it. If your focus is right you can use what you have, you will end up getting what you want. Meaning if your focus is on a relationship with God, and you put what you have into it, you will get it. So put God as yoru focus and you won't be disappointed.

I give this morning: C+
Favorite Moment: Doug's New Glasses

Yoked Up -- Sunday, November 23rd

Today we talked about being yoked unevenly. We read from Genesis 26:34-35 and 27:46-28:9 in which Esau marries some Hittite women who are not liked by the parents. We next jumped to Ezra 9:1-2 in which the Israelites who had just got back from captivity started to marry Canaanites, which had led them to Idolatry. Next we looked at the wisest man that ever lived, Solomon, in 1st Kings 11:1-9. In this section we learn that he married many foreign women who led him into idol worship rather than worshiping God. Finally we read from 2nd Corinthians 6:14-18 in which Paul tells us that we need to avoid being yoked together with unbeleivers, since we don't have anything in common. The phrase has to do with two oxen tethered together with a wooden yoke, the two becoming one. It is a reference to marriage but can be applied to dating, friendships, and business partnerships. So by these verses we see God saying, if you are a Christian don't date/marry a non-christian. Why? You are going two different directions and have two different puproses. You have two sets of morals (waht is right and wrong). Because of this you are most likely goign to lose something in yoru relationship with God. It also is because there is that constant pain waiting for them to come to God. Finally, God tells us no. So you now know what God tells us to not do, the question is: What will you do with that knowledge?

I give this morning: B+
Favorite Moment: Watching teams drag partners around the room

Video from Sunday School -- November 15th

God Doesn't Waste a Scar

God Doesn't Waste a Scar -- Sunday, November 15th

This morning we continued our story from Genesis in chapter 27. In this story we find Rebekah scheming with her son Jacob to get Isaac's blessing. They lie in order to get it, but by doing so they accomplish God's will. God's will is two fold. 1. That we obey Him by not sinning. 2. That we each have reason for being here and specific things he has for us to do. When we sin we are going against God's will. When we go our own path we are going against God's will. Other people do bad stuff as well and that is going against God's will. Yet, despite all the bad things we do God uses those things to accomplish His will. That doesn't mean he apporves of what is done, or that he likes it. It also doesn't mean that it is the best way, and certainly not the way He intended it, but he still uses it.

Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." God doesn't waste a scar. this verse doesn't mean that everything in life will be great. But it shoudl comfort you that God can take really bad things that others or you have done and change them into something good. It also should remind you that no matter what is happening, God can transform it into something better, as we follow Him. Jesus is the biggest and best example of this. He was killed, yet God used that death to bring about forgiveness for us all.

I give this morning: B+
Favorite Moment: Leah and Laura telling us what Jacob and Esau would be thinking

Praying for Guidance -- Sunday, November 8th

Today we continued our story in Genesis 24:11-22. In this massage Abraham makes a dying request for his son Isaac. He asks his servant to find a wife for Isaac. She has to be from his family, in order to avoid false worship and avoid loss of identity. The servant must find her and keep Isaac from leaving Canaan if he can't. The servant leaves for Ur, 100's of miles away and arrives tired and thristy with his camels. He prays and asks God to help him identify the girl, which God does help him. It is interesting though because he prayed, and God answered his prayer even as he prayed, which means God started to answer this even before he prayed.

So what does this teach us? We are all looking for guidance about what to do with our lives and where to go. When we do, we should pray and ask God for guidance. We should read the Bible and see what God has to say about it. We should get wisdom from wise people. We should trust that God is already working on it. Don't pray unless you are willing to follow through with what God tells you to do. Don't just assume you know what to do, life sometimes seems obvious, but we need to learn to involve God in all stages, even when we think it is obvious. Then wait for the answer.

I give this morning: A+
Favorite Moment: God's plan being like dominos falling

Death Starts the Promise -- Sunday, November 1st, 2009

Today we continued our story of Abraham and Sarah in the book of Genesis. We started by reading from 6 passages in which God promises Abraham that he would own the land around him. We reach Genesis 23 (24 years have passed since the last story, nearly 100 since they left Ur) and in two chapters Abraham will die. We read from Genesis 23:1-20. In these verses we find Sarah, at the age of 127, die. Up to this point Abraham had no land, he had servants, possessions, and a son, but no land. But Abraham is able to purchase a small field with a cave to bury sarah in. It wasn't the whole land but it was a start. It wasn't until over 800 years later when David and Solomon were kings that the land was totally taken over. But the death started the fulfullment of the promise. It took many years of complications before it was done but through patience, perseverance, action, and God's miracles the promise was fulfilled.

For you, Jesus' death bought a foothold in overcoming sin. Victory was guaranteed by his death, just like buying the cave guaranteed vicotry. But you will still go through hard times, times of slavery to sin, times of half-victories over it, but you will eventually have complete victory. But it all started with Jesus' death, but won't end until either he returns or you die. We now live in the middle, the place os truggle. And we have to use patience. Patience is knowing you won't be perfect, so not feeling guilty and frustrated. We have to use perseverance which still trying to rid your life of sin even when you fail. We have to use action, which is actually putting Godly things in our lives and removing the sin. And finally we need God's miracles of forgivness and strength. He also provides others to give us strength as we struggle.

I give this morning: A-
Favorite Moment: Being encouraged

God Will Provide -- Sunday, October 25th

We continued our study of the book of Genesis this morning. We read from Genesis 22:1-18. In the story we find Abraham and Sarah 13 years after their first and only son, Isaac, was born. They had waited nearly 60 years for this promise from God to be fulfilled. Then one day God tells Abraham to take this son, who it was promised he would produce a great nation from him, and go and sacrifice him on a mountain. Abraham and his son go to the hill and he ties Isaac up and is about to sacrifice him. God stops him and provides a ram to take Isaac's place and makes a promise to follow through on his promise.

We looked at this from 4 different perspectives: Abraham's, Isaac's, God's, and our own.

Abraham's Perspective -- Abraham knew God promised to use Isaac as a starting point for his "great nation". He knew that God's promises came true. He loved Isaac and didn't want to have anything bad happen to him. He found himself in a excruciatingly tought rock and a hard place. Would he obey God or put his son's life above that. He decided that he trusted God more than he loved his son, in fact the bible tells us that he thought God would raise him from the dead.

Isaac's Perspective -- Isaac was confused, he knew his dad loved him but had no idea what was going on. He probably noticed his dad was acting oddly and was most likely terrified, thinking his dad had gone insane. Then God provided the ram and he was relieved and grateful for God saving him.

God's Perspective -- God knew everything that was going to happen. He knew Abraham had put Isaac in a high place, almost equal with God and his promise. It used this to show Abraham that God is the most important, not his son. He also used this as a picture of what he would do later with His Son Jesus. He would take our place, sacrificing himself so that we could have real life.

Your Perspective -- People put a lot of things in place of God: money, pleasure, sports, academics, friends, family, work, future plans/goals, dreams, significant others, kids, substances, power, passions, talents, music, entertainment, etc... This is by no means a comprehensive list. Some of these things are good things, some are bad, but even if it is a great thing if it goes above God it is wrong!

We played a game in which we tied a kid up with a rope (Ben Potterton) that represented one of these things and then he had to get up and grab a bible off the ground. We increased the ropes to three and each time he got loose, but each time it took longer. When we put one thing in the place of God it takes us longer to do what we are supposed to do, and the more things we put in front of God the harder it is to do the things we are supposed to do.

What have you put in the pace of God? Are you willing to let it go? Does it scare you to? In the story Abraham was willing to give up the one thing he loved the most for God, and after God provided the Ram he named the hill the Place that God Will Provide. When you give up things that are standing in the way of you and God...God will provide. Sometimes he will hand back that thing to you now that you recognize it isn't the most important thing, sometimes he will take it away and give you something better. Regardless He will provide!

I give this morning: B+
Favorite Moment: Ben's awesome breakouts

What Bothers You? -- Sunday, October 11th

This morning we continued our story in the book of Genesis. In Genesis 18:16-19:26 we find the story of Abraham's nephew Lot. God threatens to destory the city that Lot is living in (Sodom) but Abraham makes a deal that if God finds 10 righteous people living there, then God will not destory it. Angels arrive in Sodom and find the town ready to gang rape them. There are less than 10 righteous people so the angels send Lot and his family out of town before they destroy it and its neihboring towns. Lot is dragged from the town by the angels and his wife looks back (turning into a salt pillar because of it). In 2nd Peter 2:6-8 we find out that Lot was a righteous man but taht he was distressed and tormented by what was going on in his town. Yet he was never so bothered that he left, even though he could have left at any time. And because he didn't want to leave he was almost destoryed along with it.

So what does this mean for us? Our lives as Christians are filledd with sin and we are many times bothered by it and we could leave it behind at any time. But many times we don't because are never bothered enough to leave it behind. We don't leave it behind becasue we don't see a good reason to change or because it is easier not to or because we don't think it is a big deal. But just like Lot, if we don't leave those sins behind we will be destroyed by them.

I give this morning: B+
Favorite Moment: Hercules vs. the Monstor

Set Apart -- Sunday, October 4th

This morning we covered a very ackward but very meaningful section of scripture, Genesis 17:1-27. In these verses we find that Abram and Sarai have their names changed by God to Abraham and Sarah. We also find that God sets a sign between him and Abraham's family to show that he has set them apart as different. This sign was the covenent of circumcision. This circumcison wasn't a way for Abraham and his descendants to have salvation but instead it was a sign of the covenant between God and them, to set them apart to God so that they were different from the world.

When we read from Romans 2:25-29 we find that God isn't looking for us to be physically circumcised but instead have our hearts (soul) circumcised to him. This means that we have our hearts set apart to God. We will struction our lives around God rather than pleasure, wealth, people, a dream, sports, popularity, etc... When we are truly set apart to God it will make you stand out and it will cause others to try and mock and tear you down.

How does it make us stand out? Let me give you some examples...

Christians will pratice abstinance till marriage instead of indulging in pre-marital sex.
Christians will live a pure life instead of using pornography
Christians will give rather than steal
Christians will tell the truth rather than lie
Christians will take care of their bodies rather than using drugs, alcohol, etc...
Christians will repsect thos in leadership rather than mocking them
Christians will love others rather than hating and mocking them
Christians will dress modestly rather than dressing inappropriatly
Christians will use good speech rather than crass or crude speech
Christians will watch/listen to/read things that are pure rather than whatever is fun

And this is not a full list. When we do these things we will look different. We are called to be different (not strange, just different). Are you willing to stand up and stand out for God? Are you willing to be set apart to God in your heart?

I give this morning: A+
Favorite Moment: The challenge to purify our lives

Patience -- September 27th, 2009

Today we continued our study of the book of Genesis by discussing Genesis 16:1-16; 18:1-15; and 21:1-21. In the story today we found out about Sarai and Abram, who had moved from Ur to Canaan. They had been promised by God that they would have descendents and they would personally produce a child. They waited fro 40+ years and finally in Chapter 16 Sarai comes up with the idea to give Abram a different wife to have the kid through. Hagar, the new wife, ends up conceiving, but this makes Sarai jealous. At this point Abram is 86.

In chapter 18 we are another 13 years later and Abram is again approached and told he and Sarai will give brith. Sarai laughs because she is now 89 and her husband was 99.

In chapter 21 we finally see after 50, almost 60, years that they finally produce a child, named Isaac (which means laughter). They waited a long long time, we call this patience.

What is patience? It is bearing trails and pains calmly and without complaint. It is being steadfast despite opposition, difficult, or adversity. Why should we have patience? It helps with anger, God has it with us, it helps demonstrate God's character to others, and it will help your life go better because you will get along with people better.

Why can we have patience? Some of it is us choosing to have it. Some of it is God giving it to us and producing it in us as one of the fruit of the spirit. We can trust God and the more we do the more patience we will have.

I give this morning: F-
Favorite Moment: Leaving