• May 5 – Worship Gathering (6:45pm @ Faith Community Church 3450 CR210, 32259)

In 53 years of weekly church attendance, I’ve heard a lot of sermons on how to have a happy life, but not too many on the certainty of suffering. Maybe I wasn’t listening carefully enough – because Jesus promised his disciples that we would have trouble (John 16:33). Suffering is a given for a follower of Jesus. To borrow from Princes Bride, “Anyone who says otherwise is selling something.”

But for the Christ follower, persevering down the path of suffering leads to some really fantastic gifts, like wisdom, compassion, character, and hope.  Few things clarify our understanding of the love of Jesus, the faithfulness of God, and the coming Kingdom of God like persevering through suffering.  Though suffering may be inevitable, the other gifts and clarity about the Kingdom are invaluable. No one lasts on long on mission without hope.  No one truly blesses the world without compassion.  No one loves another sinner without knowing the love of Jesus.  What suffering produces are essential resources for life on mission.  In the face of trouble and difficulty, where does your hope come from?

Let’s work on that together.  This Sunday night, we’ll gather for worship at 6:45 in the St. Johns Room at Faith Community Church (3450 CR210, 32259).  May the Lord bless you as you follow him!

• May 19 – Dinner Together (6:00pm at the Alexanders 320 S. Buck Board Dr, 32259)  Place TBD)
• June 2 – Worship Gathering
• June 23 – Dinner Together