Haven

<p>Shopping for rich, authentic, organic fruit in the grocery stores can be very expensive. Unfortunately there is no substitute for the real thing. Therefore the cost is real.<br>So is the case with salvation and justification before God as well as the fruit of the Spirit. There are not shortcuts. There is a cost for the real thing. Ultimately that cost was paid by Jesus and to add anything on our end to aside from accepting that payment is to diminish the work of the cross and the resurrection. <br>The quickest way to see the fruit of the Spirit in our lives is to call on God for help, recognizing the cost and focusing our faith on the seed of the fruit, which is Jesus Christ, as opposed to the fruit itself.<br><br>Check out Episode 21 of The After Service as a few of our young adults talk about this and more.</p>

<p>Healthy fruit can only come from healthy roots. It is very easy for one to begin with the right beliefs and slowly become distracted by the enemy only to replace what is right with what is good. What is good, may not be bad, but it certainly isn't right. In order to have the right fruit it must begin with rich soil for the right seed.<br>"We mustn't be so focused on the fruit that we neglect to recognize it's root."<br><br>Check out Episode 20 of The After Service to hear a group of young adults talking about some of these things and how they battle against distractions from the simple gospel of Jesus.</p>

<p>Nathan & Rebecca Blank share with young adults 5 myths about being single, dating, and marriage. They also sat down with a couple other young adults to answer a few questions that were text in during the service. You can check that out on The After Service, Episode 19.</p>

<p>There are a number of circumstances that make life messy leaving us discourage, confused, and with many questions. What is our response when this happens? Where do we go? Who do we go to? <br>One thing is certain. Regardless of how messy life can be, the presence of God is the beauty in the mess.</p>

<p>Why did God use the Judges He used in this book? How can we be used like them, and how can we remain in a position, like them, to be used to rally others to Jesus?<br><br>Check out The After Service podcast, Episode 11, for a continued conversation about this and a few other topics.</p>

<p>He is one of the more popular judges listed in the book of Judges as well as one of the more tragic stories of a leader that God had a plan for. We witness what a life of compromise can lead to and how easy it can take place.<br><br>Check out The After Service podcast, Episode 10, for a continued conversation about this and a few other topics.</p>

<p>Do you remember the silly grammar game Mad Libs? Sometimes we can fall into a dangerous place of playing Mad Libs with where we find out delight and who/what we depend on by replacing God as the source with any other noun or plural nouns. We see this take place in the life of Abimelech and the people of God.<br><br>Check out The After Service podcast, Episode 9, for a continued conversation about this and a few other topics.</p>

<p>We continue looking at the life and leadership of Gideon and the process of God leading us to trust Him even when the odds are stacked against us.<br><br>Check out The After Service podcast, Episode 8, for a continued conversation about this and a few other topics.</p>

<p>Do you feel insecure about hearing God's voice and/or trusting God's will? You're not alone. Gideon felt the same way. We look behind the scenes to see how Gideon dealt with his questions and confusion in trusting God's will and voice.<br><br>Check out The After Service podcast, Episode 7, for a continued conversation about this and a few other topics.</p>

<p>Have you ever felt insecure about the things God calls you to do? Often we can best walk in what God has for us when we see ourselves as God sees us. The story of Gideon stepping up and leading is the behind the scenes of what a leader may often encounter when God calls.<br><br>Check out The After Service podcast, Episode 6, for a continued conversation about this and a few other topics.</p>

<p>What happens when leaders lead and people willingly offer themselves to the Lord? Here's a hint: worship.<br><br>Check out The After Service podcast, Episode 5, for a continued conversation about this and a few other topics.</p>

<p>She was a prophet, a leader, and the only woman listed as a judge. Above all, she was someone others knew they could go to for wisdom, insight, and encouragement about who God is and what He desires.<br><br>Check out The After Service podcast, Episode 4, for a continued conversation about this and a few other topics.</p>

<p>Ehud was a judge who was able to use what would have been a cultural weakness in his day as a great strength to deliver the children of Israel. We must be careful not to view what makes us unique as a weakness, but rather a strength to be used for God's glory and rallying others to Him. <br><br>Check out The After Service podcast, Episode 3, for a continued conversation about this and a few other topics.</p>

<p>We do not have much about the first judge, Othniel. However, what we do have is equally powerful and foundational for anyone who desires to be used by God to rally others to Him. <br>The Bible does say that Othniel lead for 40 years. How did he do that? How are we able to rally a generation to God?<br><br>Check out The After Service podcast, Episode 2, for a continued conversation about this and a few other topics.</p>

<p>God uses men and women throughout our lives to guide us, point us, rally us back unto Himself. Praise God for the "judges" He places in out lives, but let's not forget that ultimately He is our deliverer.<br><br>Check out The After Service podcast, Episode 1, for a continued conversation about this and a few other topics.</p>