Have you ever had someone say something of the sorts, “God told me that…” and then they proceeded to tell you what you should do next in life? How can we be sure they were actually hearing from God and not simply making something up in their heads? This is what we turn our attentions to this Fall as we focus on Pastor and Author Pete Greig’ book, How to Hear God:  A Simple Guide for Normal People. Go

In today’s scripture, Jesus reminds his disciple and us that love is the way of God, not hate.  It was this sort of sacrificial love that left such an indelible imprint upon the pagan world that it attracted non-believers toward the way of Jesus.  And today our world is desperately needing this same kind of witness, especially as we love those with whom we disagree.  

One look at the world news and one immediately notices that there is great suffering throughout the world.  So much so that it can be overwhelming to know how we as a people of God and followers of Jesus Christ ought to respond.  The Prophet Isaiah reminds us that we are “engraved” on God’s hand.  Literally etched onto them, as a promise that God does not forget us in our suffering and promises to be with us.  That is Good

I don’t know about you, but I have thoroughly enjoyed our Members in the Spotlight Sermon Series this summer.  We have some truly incredible people who make Cascades their church home.  It has been so insightful to hear people’s stories of faith, what brought them to Cascades, what they do six days of the week, and how what we do on Sundays informs the way they live throughout the rest of the week.  I’m thinking this might be

Adversity tends to help us focus on what is most important today…particularly if our lives are at stake.  We slow down.  We focus on doing one thing at time.  And we are more present with one another.  Today’s psalm, Psalm 118, reminds us that Today is Our Day.  Not tomorrow.  Not yesterday.  But today.  And we are to rejoice and be glad in it!  

Heaven is for real!  Jesus often talked about it to his disciples and referred to it with images that we can relate to on earth.  Wedding banquets.  Feasts.  Vineyards.  Etc.  The only difference is that in heaven there will be no more sickness, dying, or pain and it will never end!  That is great news!

Godly wisdom and worldly wisdom are two different things.  Godly wisdom is vertical, whereas worldly wisdom is horizontal.  Throughout the Bible, we are exhorted to get godly wisdom.  As we apply that wisdom to our lives, living in right relationship with God, others, ourselves, and creation, we will live well.  That is good news! 

One of the most common messages we hear throughout the Bible is “Do Not Fear.”  Fear, and particularly the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), is plaguing many young people in our world today. Fear cripples us from being who and doing what God desires for us. This morning, we will focus on how we often fear others, the future, and even ourselves, and learn how to place our trust more in God.

If you’ve ever been stuck in a place where you’d rather not be, then today’s message might be for you.  God’s people were stuck in Babylonian exile for some seventy years or more.  Certainly, they prayed for deliverance, but God answered those prayers in a completely different way than what they had ever expected or hoped.  

We all have things in our lives that can distract us in our relationships with God. In the Old Testament, these were known as high places. In the New Testament, Paul called them idols. Whenever we place these human constructs above our worship of the living God, we can believe, say, and do things that we never thought we’d do. That’s what is in our scripture story today from 2 Kings, we are told to let go of our&