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This edition is sponsored by Gloo |
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This simple question has made such a difference in my life. Not just a one-and-done moment in the past, but something that continues to illuminate in the present. |
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I realize we typically hear this question from someone who literally wants or needs to know our physical location, but it is more than geographical. It carries far more payload than an address. Think of it as a whole-life GPS. This question has the ability to help us find our bearings in crucial areas of life: our physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational well-being. |
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That seems to be the purpose God had when he posed the question to Adam in the garden, after he and his new bride decided to go their own way (Genesis 3). "Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man. ‘Where are you?’" (vv. 8-9). |
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What an opportunity. After profound deception and failure of epic proportions, Adam is invited by God to locate himself, to get his bearings. At the very least, he got the chance to leave the delusion of self-determination and return to the reality of life under the loving leadership of God. |
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I get the sense that God’s question wasn’t so much a way of rubbing Adam’s nose in his failure, but rather a gift of seeing his way out of the dead-end road he had taken. The Lord clearly indicated that he had a plan, one that involved conflict between the serpent and the seed of the woman, but also one that would end with ultimate victory of her offspring over the serpent. We’re left wondering if Adam would come to his senses and realign his way with God’s way. |
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I hope you will celebrate any part of your answer that reflects healthy bearings aligned with God’s heart and purposes for you and the world around you. In addition, if you find that your location in some area of life seems distant from what God wants for you, take that as an invitation to repent, return, and recover the fullness of life that is yours in Christ. |
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As you are locating yourself, I trust you will find some encouragement and insight from fellow travelers at CT Pastors, along with those who are walking closely with you in your circle of trusted companions. If you find a need or desire to expand that circle, consider taking a look at Chip Sweney and Robert Kim’s article below, It’s Time to Make New Kingdom Friends. |
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Executive Director of CT Pastors |
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| Chip Sweney and Robert Kim |
It’s not just God who is for us. We’re meant to be supported by a band of saints across dividing lines.
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John exemplifies the classical rhetorical necessity of ethos, giving an example to pastors today.
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| By Seth Troutt |
An excerpt from Authentic Masculinity: Leaving Behind the Counterfeits for God’s Design.
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| REVIEWD BY Claude Atcho |
Brian Zahnd’s new book explores how "the greatest wonder of all is to be found in the mystery of the incarnation."
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No matter who you are celebrating this spring–a new graduate, your mother, your father–or if you are just looking for a little bit of renewal and new life for yourself, we have a book for you.
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| Erik Petrik |
The sanctuary quieted as it cleared. The worship team finished packing up and departed. Daniel’s thoughts faded, interrupted by the sound of Norma’s voice.
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| Dylan Musser |
In a rootless and self-focused world, the church can provide meaning to college students by inviting them into the story of God.
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| Casey Dwyer |
Our pastoral forefather, George Herbert, orients us to the music that stops the flow of discouragement.
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| Matthew D. Love |
Knowing the ways God uses our preaching feeds our faith in the outcomes.
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| PAID CONTENT FOR GLOO |
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Somewhere in the Midwest, a pastor sits at his desk, dreaming of ways to better serve his people. From the congregation he pastors each week to the staff he shepherds…
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