What are you looking for? The mistake most pastors make is to assume that the goal is to fix a marriage, or make our children behave, or change someone's behavior.

These are good things, but they must serve the goal - the goal is knowing God.

Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness

My thoughts on Luke 14 - where kingdoms collide. The powerful elite sit for the feast while the riffraff watch. Jesus is invited.

What will he do? Whose side is he on?

Will he side with the powerful, righteous, godly church leaders?

Or the poor beggars outside?

Our natural religion and the moral order of the universe is used by violent and abusive men to exert control. Do more, work harder. Lazy children deserve to be beaten and shame. But shame doesn't cause rest, does it?

We cannot rest because we are locked into the bondage of sin and misery, making bricks day in and day out, and hoping that will be enough. We need a redeemer, not a better way to make bricks. God calls Israel out of Egypt, and redeems them and gives them their first Sabbath.

Is this something? How our quest for something solid in the world of vanity leads to restlessness and emptiness.

The first episode of a podcast outlining how Jesus gives us rest.

When we are desperately seeking to justify our existence and striving to fill on this earth that which can never be filled on this earth, we cannot simply sit and rest.

We don't enjoy the meal, because we are too busy jockeying for position.

How much of the story from Luke 2 do you know?

Jesus the savior is born, and the angels give the shepherds a sign, that they might believe that he is the Christ, the son of the living God.

Two questions answered - why did God command Joshua (and others) to completely destroy the Canaanites, and how does that apply today?

Second question - why did God allow David's concubines to be raped by Absalom? Is it right for others to suffer for someone else's sin?

These are difficult questions, but we need to look at them squarely. When we face them, as tough as they are, we will see the beauty of Jesus and the joy of our redemption.