As we head into the Fall, and run headfirst into the start of the school year, getting back into routine, and whatever else might be starting fresh for all of us, how do we find those moments of stop - those moments of rest that we definitely need? The book of Psalms gives us many examples of this, and on Sunday morning, we will discuss what it means to find Selah - opportunities to pause in the Lord's presence - in our busy and full lives.
As we continue in Daniel this week, we find he is challenged right away to define what lines he will cross and what ones he will not. The instance of turning down the King’s food and drink reveals the character of these young men, and we discover that when we seek to honor God and His holiness, things tend to work out in the end.
This week we are going to re-visit in a way our vision, where we are and have journeyed since January 8 of this year. God has done and continues to do amazing things here at the Rock. My hope and focus is always to make much of Jesus and engage the world in which He has set us down.
This week at COTR, we will finish up our mini-series on Jonah. Last week, we looked at "typecast" - how our opinions and stereotypes can cause us to unfairly judge and treat other people. This week, I want to give us all a chance to draw a line in the sand, and leave at the altar our tendency to do this.
This week and next we will be taking a look through the book of Jonah. Jonah had a difficult time knowing how to treat others that not only did not look, act, or believe like he did, but also had a hard time not placing them into the category of unworthy. This led to all sorts of problems and issues for him! As we look at Jonah, we will also look at ourselves. How are we like him, and unlike him? What can we do to protect ourselves from stereotyping others? We will look together.