What do an empty fridge, an empty pantry, and the piercing screams of hungry, crying children have in common? They all evoke stress, panic, and gut-wrenching pain—experiences that are simply traumatic.

Sadly, this is the harsh reality for some of our fellow Haligonians—a state of food insecurity. You may have heard about the rising costs of living on the news but may be unaware of what it looks like day to day for the vulnerable segment of our population. As Christians in the community, it's crucial to understand and address this pressing issue together.

One of the most prolific themes throughout Scripture is God’s care for the vulnerable.  In the Old Testament God commands the Israelites to, “not mistreat any widow or fatherless child” (Exodus 22:22).  In Job 34:28 God is described as a God who hears the cries of the poor and the afflicted.  And in Psalm 68:5 it says that God is the, “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows.”

This past weekend we dove into 1 Samuel 18 and looked at an often unappreciated and certainly under-talked-about topic: friendship.  As I sat in and prayed through this passage of Scripture all week - I was overwhelmed at the significance and vital importance of godly friendships.  I was struck at how much of a gift they are from God to his children.

Every week the hardest part of preparing to preach is not figuring out what to put in the sermon but trying to prayerfully discern what to take out of the sermon. After spending hours studying, reading, praying, and writing, there’s more content than I know what to do with. And let’s be honest…no one wants to listen to a two hour sermon.

One of my favourite passages in Scripture comes from the book of Joshua.  As God is leading the Isrealites towards the Promised Land - he parts the Jordan River and allows them to cross on dry land.  This is just one of dozens of mind-blowing miracles that the Lord has done (and will continue to do) for his promised people. As the Israelites reached the other side of what seemed like an impassable pathway towards a land flowing with milk and honey, God gave them a very unique instruction.