Everyone lives by some purpose, goal, or standard. Maybe your purpose in life is to assure your family's safety and happiness. Maybe your goal is to get to the top of your profession. Maybe your priority is to spend as much time as possible in leisure pursuits. Whatever it is, you put effort, resources, and intention towards it. You do your best to learn, apply, and master the tips, techniques, and strategies to move you most efficiently and effectively toward your hoped-for end. Jesus also had a very clear standard for his life. When asked what the most important commandment (directive for living) was, he said very clearly: Love God and love others. Everything else grew out of these priorities. Followers of Jesus commit to this same goal and purpose. And the good news is, it's not as hard as you might think to keep your focus on loving God and loving others! Worship Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP19IDgyHvc

The Hacked Life: Connect Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel and Online: We begin every day with the best of intentions. "Today I will.... get out of bed on my first alarm... stick to my diet... be kinder to my spouse... spend more time with my kids... be to work on time... go to bed early..." But, as one wise person noted, "Life has a way of disregarding even our best intentions." The same happens with our spiritual lives. Our best intentions to stay connected with Jesus and other followers get waylaid by competing priorities, overbooked schedules, and the many demands of life. But there are things we can do to stay in deep connection with Jesus. Just like life hacks can help us stay on track with daily intentions and habits, let's consider some spiritual hacks that can help us walk more closely with Jesus... Worship Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZjX7VZZyI4

Especially for those outside the faith - but also for those seeking to follow Jesus - being a Christian can be confusing. There seems to be so many rules, restrictions, and exclusions! But at its core, the Christian tradition is about Jesus. And Jesus didn't give us rules, restrictions, or regulations. Jesus extended an invitation. To all kinds of people he met in all kinds of circumstances, he simply said, "Follow me." Life with Jesus does not have to be complicated or burdensome. The Bible gives us some clear, concise words to guide and grow our spiritual lives. And just like life hacks make our day-to-day easier, there are tools and techniques for incorporating more of Jesus into our everyday lives. How about some 'faith hacks' to make life with Jesus a bit easier? Worship Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emLW3x5msJ0