Faith,
When conflict arises in your home, neighborhood, or workplace, what’s your go-to battle plan?
Each of us grew up with a “toolbox” for handling conflict. As we’ve matured, some of those tools have proven helpful, but others come with a high cost. Have you ever “won” an argument only to look at the casualties left behind? I’m still learning that the tools I was given as a child aren’t always God’s tools for the battle.
Maybe the better question is: What’s your go-to faith plan?
This Sunday, we find the Israelites under attack in the wilderness. The Amalekites have snuck up from behind to target the weak and weary. Moses’ battle plan looked “nutty” compared to the tactics of the world: he climbed a hill and raised the “staff of God.” As long as that staff—his banner of faith—was raised, the people were protected.
That story is thousands of years old, but it couldn’t be more relevant. Whether you feel like you’re fighting in the valley or weary on the hilltop, I pray you’ll join us as we find our place in God’s story.
We also have a bittersweet celebration this week. Please come and give a warm, loving farewell to our Worship Director, Kon, and his wife, Tori Nagy. This will be Kon’s last Sunday before they begin their new calling at Bethlehem Covenant Church. (Note: Kon will still be back to lead our Ash Wednesday service—a special start to the Lenten season you won’t want to miss!)
In Christ alone,
Pastor Brad
*Message Notes are here.
Here are some deeper-dive videos relevant to our journey:
Why does God lead us the Longer, Harder Way? (6:01)
How do we make sense of God’s judgment in the Old Testament? (5:31)