How Do I Know What’s True — Part 1

Pastor Rick Warren
Four Steps to Strengthening Your Worldview

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2 (NIV)

We all have a worldview—a set of beliefs we build our lives on. And that worldview affects absolutely everything: your relationships, your work, how you spend your money, and how you handle suffering. So how can you strengthen your worldview to live the life God has planned for you?

1. Learn the truth. Jesus told a story about two men who built themselves houses—one on a shaky foundation of sand and the other on a solid foundation of rock. When storms came, the house on the shaky foundation collapsed, but the house built on solid rock stood the test of time.

The point of the story is this: You’re going to build your life either on popular opinion or on God’s unchanging truth. If you build your life on eternal truth, you’ll be able to stand up under the most difficult circumstances.

The Bible says, “Learn the truth and never reject it. Get wisdom, self-control, and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23 NCV). You can learn the truth by studying God’s Word, reading good Christian books, and being part of a church family.

2. Discern what is false. The Message paraphrase says, “Don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world” (1 John 4:1). Even people who claim to be speaking God’s truth sometimes aren’t. But when you know the truth of God’s Word, you’ll be able to discern false teaching when you hear it.

3. Turn from the world to the Word. The Bible tells us to not be part of the world’s value system or, in other words, to not take on the world’s worldview: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2 NIV). You have a choice: Will you get your advice on life from God’s eternal Word or from a world that is filled with constantly changing opinions?

4. Concern yourself with God’s agenda. Jesus promised this in The Living Bible paraphrase: “[God] will always give you all you need from day to day if you will make the Kingdom of God your primary concern” (Luke 12:31). You can have only one “primary concern.” God wants to be number one—and for your other interests and goals to be secondary. He promises that if you put him and his agenda first, he’ll take care of everything else in your life.

All over the world, people are looking for meaning, significance, and purpose. If you build your life on shifting sand—on things like power, pleasure, and wealth—you’ll never find what you’re looking for. Instead, build your life on the truth of God’s Word and concern yourself with God’s agenda. You’ll find yourself with a clear worldview and a consistent, purposeful life that stands up to all of life’s storms.

Talk It Over

• What foundation is your life built on? How can you strengthen your foundation?
• Think about the teaching you’ve been listening to lately. Is there anything you’ve been believing that actually might be false?
• In what ways have you been listening to the world’s values instead of the truth of God’s Word? How can you start changing that?

Lazarus Rises, Israel Returns: Transformation, New Life, and Hope in Jeremiah and John 11

Jeremiah 3-4; John 11

Jeremiah 3:12-15
Therefore, go and give this message to Israel. This is what the Lord says:

“O Israel, my faithless people,
come home to me again,
for I am merciful.
I will not be angry with you forever.
13 Only acknowledge your guilt.
Admit that you rebelled against the Lord your God
and committed adultery against him
by worshiping idols under every green tree.
Confess that you refused to listen to my voice.
I, the Lord, have spoken!

14 “Return home, you wayward children,”
says the Lord,
“for I am your master.
I will bring you back to the land of Israel—
one from this town and two from that family—
from wherever you are scattered.
15 And I will give you shepherds after my own heart,
who will guide you with knowledge and understanding.


John 11:20-22,27
20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”

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The Need for a Spiritual Twin in Jesus

Summary
The recording discusses the spiritual journey of Thomas, a disciple of Jesus, who initially had good intentions and bold declarations but had to learn that these were insufficient to overcome human brokenness and mortality. The speaker emphasizes the need for a 'better twin' than Thomas, someone who can triumph over death and reconcile humanity to God. This role is fulfilled by Jesus, who, as a brother, overcomes sin and death, calling individuals to join him in new life. The speaker shares a personal prayer for understanding and experiencing the life offered by Christ, extending this prayer to his family and the audience.

Key Topics

Thomas's Journey and Limitations
The speaker reflects on Thomas, a disciple of Jesus, who had good intentions and bold
declarations but had to learn that these were not enough to overcome human
brokenness and mortality. The speaker highlights the need for a 'better twin' who can
triumph over death and reconcile humanity to God.

Jesus as the Spiritual Twin
The speaker explains that Jesus fulfills the role of the 'better twin,' overcoming sin and
death. Jesus calls individuals to join him in new life, offering a way out of the grave. The
speaker shares a personal prayer for understanding and experiencing the life offered by
Christ, extending this prayer to his family and the audience.

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Hunter
Now may our Lord, who gathers his children from all around the world, may he now give
his blessing to the reading of His Word. Amen. Thomas was full of good intentions and
bold declarations. Let's go too, and die with Jesus, he said. But Thomas had to learn that
all the best intentions, all the bold declarations, cannot overcome the reality of our
brokenness, our slavery to the flesh and the certainty of the grave. What we need is a
better twin than Thomas. We need someone who can do for us what we cannot do for
ourselves. We need a twin who will triumph over death and reconcile us to God. We need
someone who has emerged from the tomb, someone who will draw us into his
resurrection life, right here, right now. That's what Thomas would need, and that's what
Thomas would eventually get. But it wouldn't be accomplished by his good intentions, his
piety, or his boldness.

He didn't see it at first, but soon he would see and believe that his friend Jesus would
stick closer than a brother, even closer than a twin. And that brother would make a way
for him and for us to come out of the grave, to remove our grave clothes and step into
new life. Jesus, our brother, has overcome our brokenness, our slavery to sin and the
certainty of the grave. And now he calls us by name to come out from the grave and join
him who his life. And the prayer of my own heart today is that I will see and understand
and experience what Christ has done, that I will participate in the life that is mine now in Him. That's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that's a prayer that I have for you. May it be so.

Following the Good Shepherd: Hearing Jesus’ Voice and Living God’s Story

 Jeremiah 1-2; John 10

Letting the Light In: Seeing God’s True Nature Through Zephaniah and John 9

ZEPHANIAH 1-3; JOHN 9

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

He opens our eyes to the truth of who God is. What is God to do with a world trapped in darkness, unable to see, fumbling after answers and lost beneath lies about who he is? Many of us, even those who have walkead with God, labor under the false assumption that God is distant, angry, and waiting to punish us, that his aim is to make an example out of us for our sins or our parents’ mistakes. But when Jesus steps onto the scene, he is the light of the world, shining in our darkness—a living answer to every doubt and misbelief about God’s heart.

We witness this firsthand in John 9, as Jesus bends to the earth, forms mud from his own spit and the dust, and spreads it across a blind man’s eyes. What was lifeless and incapable of sight is remade by the hands of God, and suddenly the impossible happens—this man sees. The very power of God is revealed in this healing, but it’s not just a physical miracle. This is a sign. Jesus is showing us what he longs to do for each of us: to remove the scales from our eyes, to free us from crippling untruths about the Father, and to welcome us into the radiant light of his presence.

Yet, so often, lies keep us bound in darkness. Religion might paint God in the colors of our own fears, as if he is more interested in punishment than in restoration, as if he is more judge than Father. But Jesus shows us something utterly different—self-giving, radically forgiving, co-suffering love. When we look at Jesus, we are seeing the heart of the Father. As he told Philip: “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.” There is no shadow side to God, no surprise cruelty or hidden rage, only the faithful love we see in Jesus.

Are you weary of the darkness, of striving and fearing separation? Let Jesus open your eyes today. Let him show you who God really is: the one who heals, who welcomes, who sings over you with joy. You are not separate or abandoned; you’re invited into his light, already embraced in his love.

This is the prayer I carry for my own soul, for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And it is the prayer I hold for you. May it be so.

Seeing Jesus for Who He Is: Habakkuk’s Vision and Freedom in John 8

Habakkuk 1-3; John 8


TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Who are you? That was the question on everyone’s lips in John 8. The religious leaders, confused and threatened by Jesus, kept demanding an answer. Who could he possibly be? Why did his words stir up so much fear—and so much hope? Sometimes, just like those early listeners, our own hearts are not ready to truly hear Jesus’s answer. We find ourselves blinded by lies—lies that feed our fears, that swell our pride, that paint God with the colors of our own anxieties. These lies keep us from seeing Jesus for who he really is, and they keep us from the healing he longs to give.

So what does God do when we are lost in that darkness? He comes. He doesn’t shame us or turn away—he steps into our confusion and brokenness with love. In Jesus, God shows us the way of love: self-giving, radically forgiving, co-suffering love. Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will know that I am he.” If we want to see who Jesus is, we have only to look at the cross. There, we see what the woman caught in adultery saw: the one who stoops down, enters into the dust of our lives, and writes something new—a story not of condemnation, but of mercy and life.

At the cross, we see the one who takes away the sin of the world, who includes us in the love he shares with the Father. We see love; that is who he is.

That’s the prayer of my heart today: that I would truly hear and see Jesus answer that old question, “Who are you?”—and that I would recognize Love lifted up for the world. This is my prayer for myself, for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that’s my prayer for you, too.

May it be so.

From Covenant Renewal to Rivers of Life: Bible Readings and Reflection

2 Kings 23; 2 Chronicles 35; John 7


TODAY'S DEVOTION:

He is the Source of Living Water. Picture the scene at the festival of shelters—each day, the priest carries water from the pool of Siloam, pours it out upon the altar, and it runs down the temple steps. For seven days, this ritual is repeated, and on the final day, the expectation and hope of the people reach their pinnacle. This act was more than tradition; it was a symbol, a living picture of the Messiah pouring out the Spirit upon God’s people, a promise rooted in the Scriptures—“I will pour out water to quench your thirst and irrigate your parched fields… I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants and my blessing on your children” (Isaiah 44:3).

And in this very moment, Jesus stands and shouts to the crowds: “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me. Anyone who believes in me may come and drink.” It’s as if Jesus steps into the very heart of the ceremony and says, All of this points to me. I am the One you’ve been waiting for. I am the Source of the Living Water the world so desperately needs. The promise, the hope, and the life the ritual anticipated is found in Him—and received by coming to Him, trusting Him, believing.

That’s the invitation Christ makes to you and to me: to come to the Source, to drink freely, to allow His Spirit—like streams of living water—to flow within us and out of us into a thirsty, longing world. No longer do we look for life in ceremonies or traditions—good as they may be—because the true fulfillment is Christ Himself, the One in whom all God’s promises find their “yes.”

We don’t come to Jesus for fame, for recognition, or for any fleeting thing. His brothers sought notoriety, but Jesus came, not to be applauded, but to do what the Father asked—to seek, to save, and to invite us into the overflowing life He shares with the Father and the Spirit. His heart is to give, to pour out, so that we too would be channels of living water, blessing, hope, and renewal to the world.

So, today, let’s come to Him who is the Source. Let’s drink deeply of the life He freely gives. Let’s allow the living water to flow through us—transforming us, refreshing us, and reaching out to others.

That’s the prayer I have for my own soul. That’s the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that’s the prayer I have for you. May it be so.

Finding the Bread of Life: Josiah, Jesus, and the Word Hidden in Plain Sight

2 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 34; John 6


TODAY'S DEVOTION:

For generations, the Word of God was lost to God’s people—even lost right where you would expect to find it, right in the temple. But no one was looking. No one was listening. King Josiah, by God’s providence, would eventually find it. When it was read, it broke his heart and drove him to deep repentance.

In our reading from John today, we see that once again the Living Word is right where you would expect to find him: among God’s people, in the synagogue. And yet, he’s hidden in plain sight. Jesus is present, performing miracles, feeding the multitudes, walking on water. All of this points unmistakably to who he truly is—the Bread of Life, the Living Word made flesh. Yet, many still do not see him. They are distracted by their own needs, their own expectations. Their eyes are on the gifts, not on the Giver.

The living Word can be lost in the midst of ruins—the ruins of our past, the self-indulgence of our lives. The living Word can even be lost among God’s people when we lose sight of him, even when he is right before us. Jesus challenges the crowds because they are looking for provision instead of understanding the signs; they are preoccupied with the food that perishes, instead of seeking the eternal life he offers.

He tells them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again.” He invites us not simply to look for what we want, but to see who he is. The one who satisfies, who fills the emptiness within, who gives us himself. It is a call to shift our focus—from ourselves and our anxieties, to him, the One who has come down from heaven for us.

We see it in Josiah, who, when confronted with the Word, tears his clothes in repentance, realizing how far the people had strayed. We see it in Peter, who after witnessing Jesus’ power and presence, falls to his knees and confesses his own brokenness and need. We find Jesus, the Bread of Life, at the center of it all—our true sustenance, our source of life.

Are we seeing the Word of God that is right before us? Are we letting our hearts be satisfied—not by what we can acquire, but by who he is? Are we, like Josiah, like Peter, humbling ourselves before the living Word, turning from what is perishable to what is eternal?

May you see the bread that has been hidden in plain sight. May you take it, eat, and be satisfied. That’s my prayer for my own soul, for my family—my wife, my daughters, my son—and that’s a prayer I have for you. May it be so.

Seeing Jesus in Scripture: Nahum’s Prophecy and the Healing at Bethesda

Nahum 1-3; John 5

Heather Barnes

Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.

John 5:19 So Jesus explained, "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever thr Father does, the Son also does. 20 For thr Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing, In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. 21 For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants.  22 In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, 23 so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him,

John 5:44 No wonder you can't believe! For you gladly honor each other, but don't care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.

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Reflections on Honor, Knowledge, and Governance

I find it profoundly interesting how conversations about honor on Gor often focus on the bond between father and son, or the respect exchanged between individuals. Yet, there's a striking disconnect: while they meticulously honor these earthly bonds, they seem to disregard any honor stemming from the divine. It's a stark comparison, I know, but one that resonates deeply as I move through this world.

Here I am, a magistrate in the world of Gor, observing its cities. There are the Five High Castes, ostensibly guiding and leading, yet I see individuals among them who claim to run entire cities, wielding power because they can afford a plot of land or a segment of a caste. They proclaim their actions as "honor," but without truly understanding the deep-seated rules and traditions that should guide a polis. They neglect to study the very scrolls and books that define their society's principles.

This leads me to a parallel in our own lives. How many times do we, myself included, fail to study the ancient scrolls of our own world – the Bible, a book overflowing with profound knowledge and guiding principles? We don't delve into its wisdom as we should. I wonder how often we choose to honor what we desire, rather than what is truly right.

Just as a city cannot run well if only a single caste, be it Builders, Warriors, or Scribes, attempts to dictate everything without understanding the interconnectedness of all parts, so too does our world need balance. Divine intention, as I understand it, calls for a balanced world, complete with checks and balances, ensuring every person receives what they need and possesses their own measure of honor. If we neglect to study the source – the foundational book of principles – we can never truly grasp what honor means. We can claim it, demand it, but without genuine understanding, it remains an empty declaration. A warrior may assert control, a scribe may seek to govern all, but without acknowledging the inherent balance intended for all of society, true honor remains elusive.

It is an interesting thought, is it not? How the pursuit of knowledge – both in Gor and in our own lives – is often overlooked in favor of perceived power, and how true honor can only be found in embracing the complete, balanced truth.

- Kati Evans

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Daily Bible Reading and Reflection

 Created with Smart Noter 

Summary 

The recording is a daily Bible reading and reflection session led by Heather. The session begins with an introduction to the day's readings from the Book of Nahum, chapters 1 through 3, and the Gospel of John, chapter 5. Heather provides historical context for Nahum, explaining its timeline relative to the Book of Jonah. The reading from Nahum focuses on God's judgment against Nineveh, highlighting themes of divine vengeance, justice, and the eventual downfall of the Assyrian empire. The reading from John describes Jesus healing a man at the pool of Bethesda and the subsequent conflict with Jewish leaders over Sabbath laws. Jesus explains his divine authority and relationship with God the Father, emphasizing that the Scriptures point to him as the source of eternal life. Heather reflects on the importance of recognizing God's love through Jesus, contrasting it with the religious leaders' focus on rules and control. The session concludes with prayers for guidance, peace, and the fulfillment of God's purpose. 

Key Topics 

Introduction and Context 

Heather introduces the session, mentioning the date and the purpose of gathering to read the Scriptures. She explains that the readings are from Nahum and John, and provides historical context for Nahum, noting its timeline relative to Jonah's story. 

Reading from Nahum 

The reading from Nahum chapters 1 through 3 focuses on God's judgment against Nineveh. It describes God's vengeance, the destruction of Nineveh, and the eventual liberation of Judah from Assyrian oppression. The text emphasizes God's power and justice. 

Reading from John 

The reading from John chapter 5 recounts Jesus healing a man at the pool of Bethesda. The Jewish leaders challenge Jesus for performing the miracle on the Sabbath. Jesus explains his divine authority, his relationship with God the Father, and the importance of recognizing him as the source of eternal life. 

Reflection and Prayer 

Heather reflects on the readings, emphasizing the importance of recognizing God's love through Jesus. She contrasts this with the religious leaders' focus on rules and control. The session concludes with prayers for guidance, peace, and the fulfillment of God's purpose.

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Daily Bible Reading and Reflection 

Created with Smart Noter 

Heather Barnes 00:04 Good day to you all and welcome to this third day of August. It is day two hundred and fifteen in our journey through the Scriptures. Hello out there to everyone. My name is Heather and I am here with you most Sundays. And we're about to do what we do every day here. We are coming together to the Scriptures not because they are life in themselves, but because they bear witness to Jesus, the source source of our life. So we are gathering with people from all around the world and asking the Holy Spirit to illuminate these Scriptures so that we are able to see Jesus and have our hearts and minds reoriented to the reality of our life in God and together be strengthened, reassured and encouraged in the love of God. Today's readings are going to be Nahum Chapters one through three in John John five. As we start out in the Book of Nahum today, we'll be hearing what Nahum is saying to the people of Nineveh. 

Heather Barnes 01:12 Just to help give us a little bit of timeline perspective, Book of Nahum was written about a hundred to one hundred fifty years after Jonah interceded for the Ninevites. So with that tucked into the back of our minds, let's jump right in. Nahum Chapter one. This message concerning Nineveh came as a vision to Nahum who lived in Elkosh. The Lord is a jealous God, filled with vengeance and rage. He takes revenge on all who oppose him and continues to rage against his enemies. The Lord is slow to get angry, but his power is great and he never lets the guilty go unpunished. He displays his power in the whirlwind and the storm. The billowing clouds are the dust beneath his feet. At his command, the oceans dry up and the rivers disappear. The lush pastures of Bashan and Carmel fade and the green forests of Lebanon wither in his presence. The mountains quake and the hills melt away. 

Heather Barnes 02:25 The earth trembles and its people are destroyed. Who can stand before his fierce anger? Who can survive his burning fury? His rage blazes forth like fire and the mountains crumble to dust in his presence. The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him. But he will sweep away his enemies in an overwhelming flood. He will pursue his foes into the darkness of night. Why are you scheming against the Lord? He will destroy you with one blow. He won't need to strike twice. His enemies, tangled like thorn bushes and staggering like drunks, will be burned up like dry stubble in a field. Who is this wicked counselor of yours who plots evil against the Lord? This is what the Lord. Though the Assyrians have many allies, they will be destroyed and disappear. O my people, I have punished you before, but I will not punish you again. 

Heather Barnes 03:37 Now I will break the yoke of bondage from your neck and tear off the chains of Assyrian oppression. And this is what the Lord says concerning the Assyrians. In will have no more children to carry on your name. I will destroy all the idols in the temples of your gods. I am preparing a grave for you because you are despicable. Look, a messenger is coming over the mountains with good news. He is bringing a message of peace. Celebrate your festivals, O people of Judah, and fulfill all your vows, for your wicked enemies will never invade your land again. They will be completely destroyed. Nahum Chapter two Your enemy is coming to crush you, Nineveh. Man the ramparts. Watch the roads. Prepare your defenses. Call out your forces. Even though the destroyer has destroyed Judah, the Lord will restore its honor. Israel's vine has been stripped of branches, but he will restore its splendor. 

Heather Barnes 04:49 Shields flash red in the sunlight. See the scarlet uniforms of the valiant troops. Watch as their glittering chariots move into position with a force of spears waving above them. The chariots race recklessly along the streets and rush wildly through the squares. They flash like firelight and move as swiftly as lightning. The king shouts to his officers. They stumble in their haste, rushing to the walls to set up their defenses. The river gates have been torn open. The palace is about to collapse. Nineveh's exile has been decreed, and all the servant girls mourn its capture. They moan like doves and beat their breasts in sorrow. Nineveh is like a leaking water reservoir. The people are slipping away. Stop. Stop. Someone shouts, but no one even looks back. Loot the silver pl under the gold. There's no end to Nineveh's treasures. It's vast, uncounted wealth. 

Heather Barnes 05:58 Soon the city is plundered, empty and ruined. Hearts melt and knees shake. The people stand aghast, their faces pale and trembling. Where now is that great Nineveh, that den filled with young lions? It was a place where people like lions and their cubs walked freely and without fear. Tore up meat for his cubs and strangled prey for his mate. He filled his den with prey, his caverns with his plunder. I am your enemy, says the Lord of Heaven's armies. Your chariots will soon go up in smoke. Your young men will be killed in battle. Never again will you plunder conquered nations. The voices of your proud messengers will be heard no more. Nahum Chapter three what sorrow Awaits Nineveh, this city of murder and lies. She is crammed with wealth and is never without victims. Hear the crack of whips, the rumble of wheels, Horses hooves pound and chariots clatter wildly. 

Heather Barnes 07:14 See the flashing swords and glittering spears as the charioteers charge past. There are countless casualties, heaps of bodies, so many bodies that people stumble over them. All this because Nineveh, the beautiful and faithless city, mistress of deadly charms, enticed the nations with her beauty. She taught them all her magic, enchanting people everywhere. I am your enemy, says the Lord of heaven's armies. And now I will lift your skirts and show all the earth your nakedness and shame. I will cover you with filth and show the world how vile you really are. All who see you will shrink back and say, nineveh lies in ruins. Where are the mourners? Does anyone regret your destruction? Are you any better than the city of Thebes, situated on the Nile river, surrounded by water, she was protected by the river on all sides, walled in by water. Ethiopia and the land of Egypt gave unlimited assistance. 

Heather Barnes 08:25 The nations of Purpose and Libya were among her allies. Yet Thebes fell and her people were led away as captives. Her babies were dashed to death against the stones of the streets. Soldiers threw dice to get Egyptian officers as servants. All their leaders were bound in chains. And you, Nineveh, will also stagger like a drunkard. You will hide for fear of the attacking enemy. All your fortresses will fall. They will be devoured like the ripe figs fall into the mouths of those who shake the trees. Your troops will be as weak and helpless as women. The gates of your land will be opened wide to the enemy and set on fire and burned. Get ready for the siege. Store up water, strengthen the defenses. Go into the pits to trample clay and pack it into molds, making bricks to repair the walls. But the fire will devour you. You, the sword will cut you down. The enemy will consume you like locusts, devouring everything they see. 

Heather Barnes 09:35 There will be no escape even if you multiply. Like swarming locusts, your merchants have multiplied until they outnumber the stars. But like a swarm of locusts, they strip the land and fly away. Your guards and officials are also like swarming locusts that crowd together in the heavens on a cold day. But like locusts that fly away when the sun comes up, all of them will fly away and disappear. Your shepherds are asleep, O Assyrian king. Your princes lie dead in the dust. Your people are scattered across the mountains, with no one to gather them together. There is no healing for your wound. Your injury is fatal. All who hear of your destruction will clap their hands for joy. Where can anyone be found who has not suffered from your continual cruelty? John, Chapter five. Afterward, Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. Inside the city, near the sheep gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. 

Heather Barnes 10:53 Crowds of sick people, blind, lame or paralyzed, lay on the porches. One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, would you like to get well? I can't, sir, the sick man said, for I have no one to put me into the pool. When the water bubbles up, someone else always gets there ahead of me. Jesus told him, stand up, pick up your mat and walk. Instantly, the man was healed. He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking. But this miracle happened on the Sabbath. So the Jewish leaders objected. They said, said to the man who was cured, you can't work on the Sabbath. The law doesn't allow you to carry that sleeping mat. But he replied, the man who healed me told me, pick up your mat and walk. Who said such a thing as that? They demanded. The man didn't know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. 

Heather Barnes 12:06 But afterward, Jesus. Jesus found him in the temple and told him, now you are well, so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you. Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him. So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. But Jesus replied, my Father is always working, and so am I. So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill Him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making Himself equal with God. So Jesus explained, I tell you the truth. The Son can do nothing by Himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. 

Heather Barnes 13:15 For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge so that everyone will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent Him. I tell you the truth. Those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their their sins that they have already passed from death into life. And I assure you that the time is coming. Indeed it's here now, when the dead will hear my voice. The voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. The Father has life in himself. And he has granted that same life giving power to His Son. And he has given him authority to judge everyone. Because he is the Son of Man. 

Heather Barnes 14:23 Don't be so surprised. Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God's Son. And they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life. And those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just. Because I carry out the will of the One who sent me, not my own will. If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid. But someone else is also testifying about me. And I assure you that everything he says about me is true. In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist. And his testimony about me was true. Of course, I have no need of human witnesses. But I say these things so you might be saved. John was like a burning and shining lamp. And you were excited for a while about his message. 

Heather Barnes 15:33 But I have a great greater witness than John. My teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish. And they prove that he sent me. And the Father who sent me has testified about me Himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face. And you do not have his message in your hearts because you do not believe Me, the One he sent to you. You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. Yet the Scriptures point to Me. Yet you refuse to come to Me to receive this life. Your approval means nothing to me. Because I know you don't have God's love within you. For I have come to you in my Father's name and you have rejected me. Yet if other things come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. No wonder you can't believe. For you gladly honor each other. But you don't care about the honor that comes from the One who alone is God. 

Heather Barnes 16:39 Yet it isn't I who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you. Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes. If you really believe Moses, you would believe me because he wrote about me. But since you don't believe what he wrote, how will you Believe what I say. In John five forty one, Jesus tells the religious leaders, your approval means nothing to me because you don't have God's love in you. God's love is there. God's love came into the world for all people, including these he's talking to. But they don't recognize him or his love. They have made no room in their hearts for the love of God. It does not resonate in them because they are obsessed with control, power, the rule book, judgment and wrath. And they are missing out on experiencing God's love. You study the Scriptures diligently, Jesus says, because you think that in them you have eternal life. 

Heather Barnes 17:53 But the Scriptures point to me, yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life. Love was standing right there in front of them in the person of Jesus. God's love was there. They just refused to recognize it. Today we have a choice to come to him. We might be struggling to recognize him because of what we have been told. You may have missed him because you've been told that he is about power and control, rules and wrath and judgment. While John is telling us that he is love and his love is already there in our hearts waiting for us to recognize him. The prayer of Hunter and I at daily Bible is that we will see it, that we will come to the one who is what we've always hoped for and sought, the one who is love. And now let's pray together. Lord God Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day. Preserve us with your mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. 

Heather Barnes 19:23 And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you. Bring the nations into your, pour out your spirit on all flesh and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. And now, Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, vote. Where there is darkness, light, and where there is sadness, joy. O Lord, grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned. 

Heather Barnes 20:43 It is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen. And now, as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image and nourishing us with spiritual food. Now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. Dailyradiobible dot com that's our home base out here on the interwebs where you are the on always welcome to come and stop by. Thank you for spending a few minutes of your time here today with us. 

Heather Barnes 22:09 We cannot do any of this without you, so thank you for being here. Don't forget to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. Rate and review us as well. And if you would like to receive our once a month email newsletter.

Voices: Live Like a Mist - July 27, 2025

Eagle Brook - Guest Speaker Bob Merritt

The days might seem long, but life?  It's short, and we don't get re-dos.  So don't miss out on even the littlest moments God's given you today.

Those baptised last weekend - die to self to live the way God wants us to live.  

Been five years since he was the senior pastor.

James 4:14 - how to live our life.  We are just a mist.  What ever you are going through is temporary.  Life is short and how we should live it.

Hunting story - 6 years of preparing and dreaming. 800 pound Elk and he hit the tree.  It is no longer about the kill... it is about the moments that lead up to and which follow it that are the blessing. 

Enjoy the little things...

Your life is so short - enjoy the little things the moments of life

#1 Do some good every single day. James 4:17, In all our planning fir thr future, we can miss the beauty of today. HUG people. Smile at people. Give a kind word. What is your life all about.

- Love the Lord

- Love Others

#2 Give up Control. Let go of things you can not control. James 5:7 Stop stressing about things you can not control. Focus on what you can control. We can control how much you consume.  Love is a behavior, it is a choice. Feed your faith and God will honor your life. We all have difficult people in your life. Don't allow them to control our peace and our joy.

- Lower your expectations.

- Limit your exposure. Proverbs 13:20

- Outlast them - wait them out.

- Pray - sometimes all you can do is ask God to help you control your anger and emotions.  Sometimes the person that we need to control firsyt is ourself.

Jesus coming is near. James 5:8 Trust him. It can take time, it can take years, but he is coming for you. 

#3 Don't live life mad. James 5:9 It is ok to get angry. Ephesians 4:26 Do not be the person who is always mad. Be grateful and you won't live mad. Thank God for coffee; Genesis 1:11 It is a miracle, watermellon.  Sight is a miracle. Puppies are one too. 

#4 Persevere through difficulty. James 5:10-11 Blessed are those who push through - they are blessed.  God has a purpose for our pain. Job 42:10 God is working for my good. Persevere and push through. Bower (basset hound), was put to sleep after 15 years. There is a kind of grief in life that you can not fix. It increases our joy.

Blessed are those who push through!

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Living a Meaningful Life: Lessons from the Book of James 

Created with Smart Noter 

Summary 

The recording is a sermon by Bob Merritt, a former senior pastor, who shares insights on living a meaningful life based on the Book of James. He emphasizes the brevity of life, likening it to a mist, and outlines four ways to live purposefully: doing good daily, giving up control, not living in anger, and persevering through difficulties. Merritt shares personal anecdotes, including a hunting story and a family wedding, to illustrate his points. He stresses the importance of relationships, gratitude, and trusting in God's plan. The sermon concludes with encouragement to live with purpose and faith, trusting that Jesus is coming and that God has a plan for each life. 

Action Points 

• Pray for those who were baptized last weekend. 
• Continue to support and pray for those who have taken steps of faith. 
• Reflect on personal relationships and consider reaching out to loved ones. 
• Practice gratitude daily to combat living in anger. 
• Trust in God's plan and persevere through personal difficulties. 

Key Topics 

Introduction to the Sermon Series 'Voices' 

The speaker introduces the sermon series 'Voices,' highlighting the diversity of speakers and perspectives. Bob Merritt, a former senior pastor, is welcomed back to share his insights. Merritt's background and current role in coaching pastors are briefly mentioned. 

Reflections on Baptism and Personal Growth 

Merritt reflects on the significance of baptism and the ongoing journey of personal growth and faith. He emphasizes the importance of daily self-denial and living in accordance with God's will, acknowledging that life is imperfect but encouraging perseverance. 

Life's Brevity and Living with Purpose 

Drawing from the Book of James, Merritt discusses the transient nature of life, likening it to a mist. He urges listeners to live with purpose, highlighting the temporary nature of current struggles and the importance of seizing opportunities to do good. 

Personal Anecdote: Hunting Story 

Merritt shares a personal hunting story to illustrate the lesson that life is about the journey and experiences rather than the end goal. He reflects on the importance of appreciating the moments and relationships that make life meaningful. 

Doing Good and Building Relationships 

Merritt emphasizes the importance of doing good daily and nurturing relationships. He shares a personal story about attending a family wedding, highlighting the impact of small acts of kindness and the value of being present for loved ones. 

Giving Up Control and Trusting God 

The sermon discusses the importance of relinquishing control over uncontrollable aspects of life, such as weather and other people's behavior. Merritt advises focusing on what can be controlled and trusting God to handle the rest, using the metaphor of a farmer waiting for rain. 

Dealing with Difficult People 

Merritt offers advice on handling difficult people, suggesting strategies like lowering expectations, limiting exposure, and praying for patience and understanding. He emphasizes the importance of controlling one's responses and maintaining peace and joy. 

Living with Gratitude 

Merritt shares how practicing gratitude has transformed his life, encouraging listeners to appreciate everyday blessings. He highlights the joy found in simple pleasures and the importance of recognizing the miraculous in the mundane. 

Persevering Through Suffering 

The sermon concludes with a discussion on perseverance through suffering, drawing on the story of Job. Merritt encourages listeners to trust in God's plan and find strength in faith, even amidst life's challenges and losses.

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Living a Meaningful Life: Lessons from the Book of James

Created with Smart Noter

Pastor Jason Strand    00:06 God speaks to us through a variety of voices. Whether it's a funny story, a challenging idea, a word of encouragement, God can meet us right where we are. We're in a message series called Voices with a different gifted speaker each week, bringing their own unique perspective, wisdom, and Heart for God's word.

Pastor Jason Strand    00:27 Bob Merritt was our senior pastor at Eaglebrook for twenty nine from nineteen ninety one to twenty twenty. Now he coaches and advises pastors and church leaders, drawing on his own experiences of both success and struggle. Bob is the author of three books, Proud dad of two kids and grandpa to seven grandkids, and the lucky husband to his high school sweetheart, Lori. Please welcome back my friend, Bob Merrit.

Pastor Bob Merritt    01:04 Thank you. They did that last night. And my family sits up here and I can see them. They don't stand. That touches me in a place in my soul that you'll never understand. Thank you for that. I love this church. I love what God is doing through you and through this church, our leadership. Jason's doing such a fantastic job. I'm so grateful to him. Those of you who were baptized last weekend, I just have been praying for you all week long that this would be a new beginning in your life, that God would do a new work because of your obedience in going public with your faith. We all make mistakes, and even after being baptized, you'll make mistakes. Life is not perfect. It never will be. But I'm just so proud of those of you who took that step of obedience. You know, denying yourself, laying down your life, being buried in the watery grave, if you will. Just dying to self and then being raised to new life and dying to self is an everyday thing.

Pastor Bob Merritt    02:32 Even as a pastor and Christian, I need to die to myself every single day in order to live in the way that. That God wants me to live. But way to go. Those of you who are baptized, praying for you will continue to do that. You know, it's been over five years since I stepped down as senior pastor of this amazing church. And on my last day, the whole church showed up. Two kids, my two kids spoke, the dog came. Blue, by the way, is good. People ask about blue. They never ask about our grandkids, but they ask about the dog. But the minute we got home, here's what my wife said after that service. She said, well, that was your funeral. She said, I'm not going through that again. When you die, we're gonna put you in a box and bury you out back. My wife's very pragmatic. I love that about her. But ever since my funeral, I'VE wondered about my life and really what it all means.

Pastor Bob Merritt    03:34 And so I'm gonna dive into the book of James a little bit today with you. James is such a great book, teaching us how to live our Christ. Those of us who are followers of Christ, look how James describes our life. He says, what is your life? Great question. Have you ever thought about that? What is your life? He says you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. He says we're just a mist. I should have come on tried this earlier. But he says we're just a mist that appears for a while and then we're gone. Which means that whatever you're going through right now is temporary. Whatever you and I are going through right now, whether it's good or bad, is temporary. It also means that if we're going to do something significant with our lives, we really better get to it. The title of this talk today is Live like a Mist. Since life is short, how should we live it?

Pastor Bob Merritt    04:51 And James touches on four ways we should do that. But before we get into the verses, I want to tell you a hunting story because you are starving for hunting stories. So last summer I spent hours shooting my bow because I finally drew a coveted Montana out tank. And my good friend Ron Iverson lives out there. Ron and Pam are watching right now today from Montana. And Ron would guide me for eight days in September, last September. So Ron has guided me five other times. We've come close. But some years you don't even see an elk. So if I ever got a chance, I was practicing and practicing so I would be ready. First two days we didn't see anything. But the third morning Ron did some bugling and immediately. I love that sound by the way. Beautiful sound. Immediately a mature bull answered back about a quarter mile away and Ron quickly grabbed his cow call and literally it's called the hoochie mama.

Pastor Bob Merritt    06:02 That's what it's called. And this is what a cow elk sounds like. So Ron was doing this and his bull elk hears it and he wants to come to see this co Ron told me to move one hundred yards up the ridge and get ready. I tell you, my heart was pounding out of my chest. The adrenaline was surging through my body. Ron kept calling, the bull kept coming. We could hear him coming. Six years, six years of preparing and dreaming came down to this. One of the most intense and surreal moments of my entire life. By now this eight hundred pound animal was coming fast and the first thing I through the timber where the tips of his Antlers just kind of swaying back and forth. Then, steam blowing out his nostrils, he closed to one hundred yards. Seventy five yards. I drew my bow. And at fifty yards, I had this six inch window between two pine trees. And I thought, this is it. All the practicing, all the waiting and trying, for this one single moment, I held steady, I took a deep breath, I let it fly.

Pastor Bob Merritt    07:30 And smack, right into a tree. The elk ran off, out of my life, gone forever. Here's a photograph of my arrow that just sunk into the tree and I'm unscrewing it. Ron is making fun of me. That's why I'm smiling. Twenty years ago, though, I would have been so upset by this, it would have bothered me for months. Here's what I'm learning. After sixty eight years of life, it's no longer about the kill. It's no longer about the trophy or the deal. It's more about all the moments leading up to and after it that really matter in life. It's about the woods. It's about the sunsets, the mountain streams, and the absolute joy of even seeing an animal that. But mostly it's about sharing with a good friend and knowing that God has blessed us with all of it. Well, the next morning, we were out again. And two hundred yards away, we spotted not another elk, but a grizzly bear that was coming our way.

Pastor Bob Merritt    08:48 Now, you do not want this to happen when you're carrying a bow. I literally jumped behind Ron and hid behind him, and then I pulled out my bear spray. Ron, however, unsnapped a. Fifty seven Magnum that was strapped to his chest. And I thought, I'm standing here with a spray can and he's got a. Fifty seven mag. Seriously, I'm Pee Wee Herman and this is Clint Eastwood standing next to me. The bear eventually caught our wind and ran off the other way. But, man, what a moment. What a moment. I love what author Robert Ralph says about life. He says in Enjoy the Little Things, for one day, we will look back and realize that the little things were actually the big things. So true. So James asks, what is your life? He says, it's so short. Don't miss the little things. And then he mentions four ways to not miss the small moments. And the first way is this. Today.

Pastor Bob Merritt    10:05 Do some good every single day. He says, since life is short, anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it actually sins. So I want to raise a question. Is there good that you and I ought to do today, or is our schedule so full there's Actually, no time for doing good. James warns us. He says it this way. He says, there are those who say, you know, today or tomorrow, we'll go to a certain city. We'll stay there maybe a year. We'll even do business. We'll make a profit. But James says, how do you even know what's going to happen tomorrow? And notice here, they've got it all planned out. When? Today or tomorrow. Where? To a certain city, not sure how long, for about a year. What are they going to do? They're going to expand their business and make a profit. Now, there's nothing wrong with making trips and making money. What he's saying is this. That in all of our planning for the future gang, we can miss the urgency.

Pastor Bob Merritt    11:19 We can miss the beauty, the absolute gift of what today is, what today holds for us. He says, you don't even know what's going to happen tomorrow. So anybody who knows the good he or she ought to do today and doesn't do it misses the point. One of the things that I don't want to miss are the little opportunities to do good that come along every single day. Things like a hug. I have become a hugger. Shocking, But I have been a smile, a kind word. Two years ago, we got a wedding invitation. And it was for the son of my wife's sister, Carolyn. But I immediately dismissed. Cause it was in Baltimore. And who wants to go to Baltimore for a wedding? Plus, Carolyn and I have some history that goes way back to when I was dating her sister Laurie in high school. I didn't like the crowd she hung with. And she didn't like me, always pointing that out to her. In fact, this is prom night.

Pastor Bob Merritt    12:35 We were just mad. We were always mad. It didn't matter about what, sometimes about nothing. We were just mad. We didn't like each other at all. Today, Carolyn, who's in the foreground here, one of my favorite people. And it meant the world to her that we would come to her son's wedding in Baltimore. The night we left the reception hall to come home, we were saying our goodbyes. And Carolyn singled me out of about a hundred people. And this is what she said. She said, bob, I can't tell you how much it means to us that you came to Andy's wedding. And I kind of brushed it off, said, of course we come. And then Carolyn did something I will never forget. She took my face in her hands and she said, bob, look at me. Tears were pooling in her eyes. And she said, I will never forget that you came. And the words you said in your toast to Andy about being a real man was so good for every young man here.

Pastor Bob Merritt    13:46 And then she said, I love you, Mom. I mean, what's that worth? We arrived home tired. I was behind at work, hadn't exercised in four days. But the moments spent with Carolyn and Tim were so good. I have missed way too many of those moments. So James says, look, what is your life? What's it all about, gang? Isn't it mostly about relationships? You know, Jesus, when he was pressed on this, he said, look, life comes down to two things. Do these two things and your life will work. Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, soul and mind. Have a relationship with the Creator who loves you and knows you. And the second thing he said, love others. If you do those two things, you got life nailed. James said, anyone who knows the good he should do and doesn't do it mainly in relational. The relational world misses the point. That's why. Does anybody here need to get on a plane and go visit a son or a daughter, a sister or brother?

Pastor Bob Merritt    15:09 Or maybe just send a text, a kind word, make a call. One of my favorite Instagram reels of all time is of an older Irish couple who are recording a message for their daughter who just had a baby. And they totally mess it up. I want you to watch this and just smile. Take a look. Hi. Hope you're having a wonderful time. Won't belong now till you hold your. Please. Sorry, Joe, we're not used to making videos here. I know. Everything will be fine. Everything will be fine for your dog. Oh, sorry, love. We have the now. Anyway. Can't wait to see her. Hold her in our arms. Know you and Sha will make wonderful parents. I'm sorry, O. He's laughing at me. Anyway, hope you have a great day, sweetheart. We will see you soon. Yeah. I just love these two. Don't you wish they were your parents or grandpa? I mean, they're just good people wanting to do a good thing. First way to live like a mess, do some good every day.

Pastor Bob Merritt    17:01 Second way, give up control. I'm a bit of a control person. I like to be in control. Most of us do. But people who know that life is short begin to learn they can't control everything. They shouldn't try to control everything. They need to let go of things they can't control. So. Verse seven. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its crop. He has no control over this. How patient he has to be for the fall and spring rains. I just Want to ask anybody here? Waiting for something that is beyond your control, like a promotion or a ring or a date, he says, look, a farmer has to wait and be patient because he has no control over certain things, like the weather. So what does he do? He does what only he can do. He plows his field, he plants his seed, and then he has to wait patiently for rain. When you live like a mist, you stop stressing so much about things you can't control.

Pastor Bob Merritt    18:26 Like the way weather or world events or another person's behavior. We have no control over those things. So what should we do? Focus on what we can control. Dang. We can't control what's on the news. That just spikes our anxiety. But we can control how much we watch of it. Same with social media. You know, after scrolling through Instagram, not once have I said, oh, I feel so much better about myself. I always feel worse. We can't control what's on our screens, but we have a hundred percent control over how much we consume it. I tell my kids all the time, Megan, Dave, control what you can control. Number one, love your. Love your spouse. Love, by the way, is not a feeling. Primarily, it's a behavior. So when you love your spouse, if you're married, you learn how to forgive. You learn how to overlook faults. And every one of us has many, many faults.

Pastor Bob Merritt    19:31 You learn to bite your tongue. You learn to give up certain things. That's what love is. It's a behavior, it's a choice. It's not necessarily a feeling. Feelings come. I tell my kids, control, love your spouse, raise your kids, which is the second most difficult thing you'll ever do in your life. Raise them, you can control some of that. Go to work. That's a thought. You have control over some of that. Most of that. Fraud in your faith. That's up to you to feed your faith and grow in your faith and God. I tell my kids this all the time, control what you can control. And I'm telling you, God will honor your life. Another thing we can't control is other people. Have you noticed that? Do you have anybody in your life who's difficult? I asked that question last night. Some lady back here, but just the guy sitting right next to her. Yeah, this guy right here.

Pastor Bob Merritt    20:36 I don't know what's up. We all have difficult people in our lives. It could be the person we're married to. Marriage is hard. It could be another parent who just annoys the heck out of you because their child is on your child's soccer team. And they just drive you nuts. Worse than nuts. Could be a coach, could be a co worker, could be a teammate, a neighbor. I've had that neighbor, by the way. We all have difficult people we can't control. But what's tragic is when we allow somebody else to control us, to control our peace and our joy. Friends. We can't control the other people, but we have one hundred percent control over our responses to them. I gave this a lot of thought this week, actually this whole last month. How should we respond to difficult people? Four quick tips. Number one, lower your expectations. People aren't that good. I'm not. You're not?

Pastor Bob Merritt    21:48 Don't expect a foolish person to be wise or a dishonest person to be honest or a toxic person to be kind. A foolish, dishonest or toxic person will always be that way because that's who they are. Stop being so shocked when a fool behaves like a fool. Lower your expectation. Second, limit your exposure. This is so important. It is okay to lovingly avoid a fool. Proverbs thirteen twenty. Love this verse. A companion of fools suffers harm. I take this verse very seriously. It is a warning to avoid people who don't take responsibility for their foolishness. Boorish, toxic behavior. Did you see him in aisle four? Duck into aisle six. That's okay. Third, difficult people sometimes just outlast them. Sometimes you just gotta wait them out until they just kind of die off or whatever. This the eleven o', clock, I get a little loose. Neighbors move.

Pastor Bob Merritt    23:20 Co workers quit. Classmates graduate. Just outlast them. Finally, form. Here's the biblical word. Pray. Biblical response this is so true. Dang. Sometimes all you can do is say, God, help me. Help me control my emotions. Help me control my anger. God, would you fill me in this moment? Fill me with your spirit. Fill me with your love, your joy and self control. By the way, you know who else is difficult? I. I know that's shocking for some of you. I can be very different. I can be very self centered. I can be very petty. I can be very harsh and unfair to the point where you'd wonder he's a bastard. I love this. I agree with this quote from author John Ortberg. He says we have all been idiots and we'll be idiots again. It is that bad. So true. Sometimes the first person we need to control is ourselves. Control. You can control the virus plows his field, he plants his seed and then he waits patiently for God to show up.

Pastor Bob Merritt    24:55 Ben James adds a very interesting statement at the end of this. It says for Jesus coming is near. Farmer has to wait patiently. He's planted his seeds. He's waiting for Jesus. It's kind of an odd state. What it means is that no matter what you're going through in life right now, Jesus is coming. He has come. He will come. He sees what you're going through, how hard it is sometimes. Friends, Jesus is coming. Maybe you're single right now, you don't want to be. By the way, I have a huge heart for young people in their twenties, single, wanting a relationship. And it's not happening for whatever reason. Twenties are very difficult. Trying to figure life out, careers, relationships, all of that. And you're tempted, sometimes you're tempted to make a bad decision out of desperation. If you're single right now, God sees you. Jesus is coming. He said, I'll never leave you or forsake you.

Pastor Bob Merritt    26:19 He is with you. He knows all about that. Trust him. Maybe you're in a job without much purpose. So you show up, you put in your time and wonder, is this ever going to get better? And it can take time, it can take years. But if you, you control what only you can control, I promise that Jesus will reward your effort. He is coming for you. Maybe you've prayed for children and it's your deepest sorrow and you wonder if God even cares anymore. I don't know why, I don't know how, but if you will trust him. Jesus is coming for you. Maybe not, not in the way you think, but he's coming. He will come. He has come. And he will show you his goodness in ways you might not even expect. Or maybe it's just a sadness that you can't even explain. James says our life is so short. And he promises that no matter what's happening right now, Jesus is coming for you in this life and the next.

Pastor Bob Merritt    27:27 The farmer plows his field, he plants his seeds. He controls what only he can control. He shows up, he does the right things, and then he trusts that the right time in the right way. God knew what only God. Third way to live Like a mist. Don't live mad. Don't live mad. He says, don't grumble against each other or God will judge you. And the word grumble here is in the present perfect tense, and it refers to someone who's just always mad, just always in a bad mood. Don't anybody like that. Hey, it's okay to get angry. In fact, we should get angry at things like theft and abuse and dishonesty. But the Bible says, in your anger, in your anger, don't sin. It's okay to get angry, but don't let it turn into ongoing anger. Do you know anybody who just. They're just mad. They wake up mad. They go to work mad. They drive mad, for sure. They wait in line mad. Is that you?

Pastor Bob Merritt    28:58 I lived mad for a very long time. I had almost no patience. Critical. Harsh. I still struggled with these things. By the way. My wife and I used to go on long walks together. And there was a lady on our route who watched us from her window. And I'd never met this lady, but I heard through the grapevine that she had a name for me. She called me the Mad Walker. Apparently, I walked mad. But in recent years, I'm happy to tell you I have found something finished, changed me. Mister Gratitude. Because when you look for things to be grateful for, it cures you from living man. First. First thing I do every single morning. I did it this morning. I thank God that I'm alive. That he's. That he's actually gifting me another day. It's amazing that I can feel this new day. I thank God that I'm alive and that the absolute joy of mourn. Coffee with French vanilla creamer.

Pastor Bob Merritt    30:08 It's heaven. You tea drinkers. What are you doing? Coffee. Have you ever thanked God for the coffee bean that comes from a tropical plant that God created from the very beginning and the vanilla bean that originated from Reunion island in the Indian Ocean? God sent, said, let the land sprout with every sort of seed bearing plant. When was the last time you marveled at a watermelon seed? Can the camera catch this? Just tiny. When was the last time? I love what William Jennings Brown wrote about the watermelon seed. When you can tell me how this siege is. Sprouts as a tiny leaf that turns into a sprawling vine that blooms yellow flowers that forms a hard surface of green with a red heart so delicious it drips down your chin. When you can explain the miracle of the watermelon seed, or peach, apple, pear or avocado seed, only then can you explain the miraculous work of God.

Pastor Bob Merritt    31:22 This comes from this. You've got to be joking. You're not just seeing a watermelon in Sam's Club or Costco. You're seeing a miracle every time you see it. The only proper response is gratitude. Sight. Your retina transmits data through an optic nerve at a rate of ten million bits per second. And I don't understand any of that. What I do understand is this body part filled with fluid and nerves and muscles can see a million different Shades of color. Your eye has the ability to pick that up. Some people can't see color. Grateful for puppies, Grateful for God's grace. Grateful that God has forgiven a sinner like me and continues to do so. James says, your life is a mist, gang. Don't live it madness. Life's too short for that. If you live it grateful, I'm telling you, it'll change your life. It'll change your marriage, it'll change your family, it'll change your friendships, your work, culture, the whole thing.

Pastor Bob Merritt    32:50 Mostly, though, it'll change you. Wake up, be grateful for what God has done in your life. Finally, when you live like a mist, you learn to persevere through difficulty. James five eleven says this. Be patient. He says, be patient in the face of suffering. Be patient for blessed. This is kind of strange. For blessed are those who push through, persevere through the hard times in life. You've heard of Job's perseverance, seeing what God finally brought about with him. Friends, everybody suffers in this world. But those of us who have Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, who've received him into our life know that our suffering is temporary and that God has a purpose for our pain. He doesn't cause our pain, but he uses it for greater purposes that often we don't see to form our character, to form things like tenacity and perseverance. Wisdom. James references Job in a two day period.

Pastor Bob Merritt    34:06 Lost his family, health, money. He lost everything. But his faith never wavered. He didn't understand his pain, but he had a quiet calm that no matter what happened to him, God was in control and God had a purpose for his life. The Bible said God made Job prosperous again, gave him twice as much as he had before because he persevered through suffering. What I've learned when I'm going through a season of suffering is I might not understand why in the moment, but that in all things, even in the hard and painful things, God is working for my good, that God has a plan and purpose for my life, and that my job is to persevere, push through, see what God has for me. A few months after they were married fifteen years ago, my daughter and son in law bought a basset hound who they named Bauer after Jack Bauer. Even though Jack Bauer is a guy, Bower's a girl and this dog was often the steady source of calm through the early years of marriage, med school, residency and now the last four years relocating here in Minnesota.

Pastor Bob Merritt    35:36 Bowers, droopy eyes and floppy ears endeared her to everyone. So Last fall, when it was becoming too hard for her to walk, we knew it was time. And the girls, the gals at the vet, were so kind. They were so compassionate. We lifted Bauer out of the back part of my truck that day. She was able to walk in. But I'm telling you, it was heartbreaking to watch my daughter lie on the floor grieving, holding her beloved dog for one last time, just beyond words. So Laurie and I got down on the floor with her and we held our daughter and we cried with her. Eventually, the vet asked if we were ready and she gave the medication. Laura closed her eyes, her breathing slowed, and she was gone. Fifteen years of loyalty and love. Fifteen years of waiting at the door, howling in protest when they left her home alone. Fifteen years letting the kids lay on her, tug on her ears, pushing her away from their snacks.

Pastor Bob Merritt    37:21 That evening, Nellie drove to her house after work, and they lifted Bauer out of our car. He carried her to the backwoods and laid her next to the hole that we had dug. And then Nellie, this wonderful man of God, got down on his hands and knees and he just cried over her. None of us said a word as we let Nellie grieve and say his goodbye. A couple months later, the kids made a cross, and we planted it there to remember the sweet. As I reflect on this and other losses that we experience in life, there is a kind of grief in life that you can't fix. There are losses that you can't avoid. You just have to go through them and trust. And God will meet you. You. God will carry you. Some of you, it's not a dog that you've lost. Some of you here today, watching online, fourteen campuses just lost your spouse of fifty years or sixty. Or you've lost a son or a daughter. I can't imagine.

Pastor Bob Merritt    38:51 Or you've lost a friendship, or maybe your health. Through his servant James, God says to us, be patient in the face of suffering. He says there is a blessing, there is a strengthening. It's counterintuitive, but he says there's an actual joy that comes through suffering. My capacity for joy has actually increased because of suffering. Isn't it true? If it wasn't for suffering, we wouldn't know the joy of being comforted. If it wasn't for sadness, we wouldn't know the joy of being happy. If it wasn't for loneliness, we wouldn't know the joy of being loved. If it wasn't for fear, we wouldn't know the joy of having peace. And if it wasn't for death, Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior. When he died, it was darkness around the planet. The universe cried. It was over. There was no hope. But that death was the cause for the best moment in human history.

Pastor Bob Merritt    40:15 The resurrection of Jesus Christ, who defeated to death. And paid for my sins. And paid for your sins. And he says, whoever put their faith in me, I will forgive you and I will raise you as well someday. The worst moment three days later became the very best moment. Some of you are going to season of suffering right now. And it's so blinding that it's hard to see your way through. It's hard to see any sort of purpose in it. Dang. It's a hard world. It is. But God understands it. And he sees your quiet moments of desperation and loss. He knows all about your loneliness. He sees you right now, right here. He loves you. He is for you. He. He has a plan for your life. And he gives us this promise. Be patient in the face of suffering. For blessed, blessed are those who push through, telling you Jesus is coming. In the meantime, in this brief existence we call life, do something good every day.

Pastor Bob Merritt    41:47 Give up control of the things that are beyond your control. Don't live life mad. Push through the tough stuff. And I'm telling you, if you do, God still has a plan and purpose for your life. The farmer plows his field, he plants his seeds. And then he waits patiently for God. So great to be with all of you today. Next week, Jason kicks off a brand new series called Escape Room. It's about how to deal with temptation. We're all tempted in this life. Jason's going to deal with that. Let me offer a quick prayer. We'll be on our way. Father, thank you so much for your love and grace. Thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you for puppies, thank you for watermelons. Thank you for all the great things you pour into our lives. We love you. You too. We're so grateful for you in Jesus.

Acceptance and Forgiveness Encountering Jesus at the Well

 2 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 33; John 4

2 Chronicles

12 In his (Manasseh's) distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors.  13 And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back ti Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord. is God.

John 4

13 Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.  But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

https://www.dailyradiobible.com/august-2nd-25radical-acceptance-and-forgiveness-encountering-jesus-at-the-well/