David fasted and prayed in sackcloth and ashes for the life of his child. God did not answer affirmatively. He was repentant. He did the thing: body talk, body plea, body grief, body contact, body hope. It didn't work. What do we do when we have the grievous sacred moment and we respond to the moment God's way (fasting) but the thing we are hoping for (healing) doesn't come?

Jeff addresses the widespread dissatisfaction among Americans with the political system, as reflected in a Pew Research report showing that only 4% believe the system is working well. Despite these concerns, Jeff emphasizes the importance of elections and political leadership, referencing Romans 13, which calls government authorities "servants of God" for the good of the people. Christians are called to respect authority, even when the leadership does not align with their beliefs, while still acknowledging the significance of the character of those in power. However, the key message is that while Christians should be concerned about political matters, they should not be overwhelmed with worry. Jeff distinguishes between concern (caring deeply) and worry (being burdened by uncertainty). He urges the congregation to remember 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, which speaks of being afflicted but not crushed, perplexed but not driven to despair. The upcoming election, while important, is framed as a "grievous sacred moment" – a time that calls for fasting and prayer rather than anxiety.

Final message on fasting this week and we're turning toward fasting to stand with the poor. Fasting, like many spiritual practices, can often focus on self-improvement and that's a danger of talking a lot about formations.  However, this shouldn't be an excuse to ignore the needs of others.  By seeking justice and solidarity, as Jesus instructed in Luke 4:16-19, our fasting aligns our hearts with God's, enabling us to bless others while growing spiritually.

Human logic often leads to failure, whereas trust in God’s ways and a new covenant with Him involves a “going through.” The Old Testament examples illustrate how God’s terms, although sometimes strange, are always best and lead to blessings when followed with faith.

In this series "Baptism: Dead or Alive," we explore how God calls us to complete trust in His ways, even when they seem strange. Baptism, an essential part of God's perfect plan, embodies our trust and transformation in Christ. God went through the broken animals for us to begin a covenant. Christ goes through the waters of baptism and the cross for us to begin the last and greatest covenant. He calls us to do the same.

God calls people to encounter Him, often in ways that may not make sense but are always best. One significant way God meets people is through water, specifically through Christian baptism. The question posed is whether one will respond to this call and be baptized.

Throughout scripture, God calls His people to encounter Him through water of rebirth, renewal, and salvation.  Naaman's story in 2 Kings 5 teaches us that humble obedience to God's seemingly, at times, strange instructions leads to miraculous healing and transformation.