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By guest speaker Laurie Anan We all journey through "the night season." If we are completely honest with ourselves and with God, the night season will challenge us to the very core of our being, but is also an opportunity to be strengthened with grace to endure in the middle of mystery.   

Jesus equipped His Church with everything necessary for successfully completing the mission He commissioned before He left the planet. The storms of adversity that swept in after his departure are what Jesus said would happen, and would continue to happen to His Church as they advance the Kingdom. Jesus spoke to the wind and the waves, and walked on the water of the stormy sea not to amaze us, but to activate us to do the same. The only thing necessary to do what Jesus did is our choice to trust the power of His peace.  

It is no secret that our world is addicted to media and glued to screens. With one swite, tap or click, we can be virtually anywhere in the world with billions of bits of information streaming into our brains. In an age where anything is possible, is it possible that the digital world is redefining what it means to be a disciple of Christ? Authentic discipleship is the answer to this digital disease.  

Jesus fully intends to display the glory of the Father and His Kingdom through the Church. This means that the Church is going to need to be able to hold up the full weight of truth that Jesus is placing in its care. The current assault on truth is a stress test to see if the Church will crack and splinter or hold strong and true. How do you think we are doing?  

Guest Speaker. Bishop Rick Callahan Jesus said that the way into the Kingdom of God is a narrow way. Before we bust through the door, we need to be sure that we understand the cost of the calling and the sacrifice we will be making to walk uncompromisingly with Jesus. The narrow way may be hard, but it is the only way to LIFE!  

 What does it mean to have the mind of Christ? Is it really possible to have the same thoughts that God has? If Jesus could see and hear everything His Father was doing, is access to this kind of life actually possible? 

I spoke about God's power to completely transform our lives through his grace. I looked at the examples of Abraham and Sarah, Jacob and Paul. God not only blessed them with what they didn't deserve, but also changed their names and gave them a new identity.

We live in a world of chaos and confusion, and if there is ever a time for believers and the Church of Jesus Christ to hear and discern God's voice, this is it! God speaks to us in so many ways, but the most powerful way is with His whisper, which can only be heard in silence.

The Apostle Paul summed up what it looks like to live with the Resurrection power of God when he said he learned the secret of being content. Contentment is the power to live independently of circumstances. High or low, positive or negative, abounding or abasing, no matter what, Paul declared, "I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me." That's the can-do power of God!  

As the hands of Jesus were lifted up and nailed to His cross, we find the place where all of the pain from our sin and rebellion was paid for. As we lift our hands in thanksgiving for this amazing act of love, we find the place where His piercing becomes our praise!  

God Looks by Ryan by Rayna Bastress 

Tough times demand tough minds and committed hearts to fulfill the Great Commission in a world that is filled with chaos and darkness. God's tough love is training believers in discipline to stand strong and be bold as we declare and demonstrate the power of truth. If we don't endure discipline, we are setting ourselves up for defeat!