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Facing life means enjoying it, too. Too often, we get imbalanced with 'too much fun', but more importantly we seem to overlook the end-game of it all, too. This story helps us to clearly understand moderation, self-control and maybe even complete avoidance. Previous Sin is Fun! Facing life means enjoying it, too. Too often, we get imbalanced with 'too much fun', but more importantly we seem to overlook the end-game of it all, too. This story helps us to clearly understand moderation, self-control and maybe even complete avoidance. Sin is Fun! Next Sin is Fun! by G.W. Bill Elliott, Jr. Sin Is Fun Well… it IS… right? Now, I know… you are almost immediately thinking, “ No, it leads to… ”, but I am hoping you will focus with me on this quick simple sentence… Sin is Fun. No two ways about it… whatever we are not supposed to be doing is always fun to do… fun to experience…. fun to escape to, even to explore some new territory of life… a quiet guilt… a quiet shame, maybe… a quiet little season of relief from the stress, the pressure, the tensions of life. Sure, sin is fun and actually quite a hoot… for a season anyway. That is one of the core things about sin that is so hard to grasp while sin is taunting us… while we are distracted by the potential fun… the pending excitement… The anticipation of the probable and gleefully exhilarating thrill of the encounter…. aaaahhhhh…. the endorphin release seems SO necessary and seems to almost justify that this ‘sin’ thing is really OK, after-all. I mean… God DOES want us to enjoy life… to experience happiness… to learn and grow. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. James 4:17 Wait… who is to say what Sin even is, in the first place? What “I” think is right, you may consider wrong. What one country or culture deems wrong, many others consider appropriate, acceptable, even encouraged. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Hebrews 11:25 It is the tail end of that passage that clearly defines sin… pleasure for a season. No… not ALL pleasure is a sin… just that pleasure only lasts for a season, and sin is an ugly form of pleasure. Sure, pleasure is always good… right? Your sins/escapes will vary from other peoples’ sin/escapes. Essentially though, we can summarize things this way; Sin – Things that separate us from loved ones; anger, rejection, breaking a vow/promise, lying. Sin is actually defined as; any act regarded as such a transgression, especially a willful or deliberate violation of some religious or moral principle. Fun – Things that titillate and provide pleasure, such as; Partying, Dancing, Entertainment, Sex, Drinking. Seasons – always changing, always in the same sequence. Seasons can be defined as; a period of time marked by certain conditions, activities, or events to name a few. Examples? Please keep in mind, these following examples are all OK, in-and-of themselves. Enjoying life is NOT a sin… it is NOT contrary to God, His will, His leading… doing these ‘instead’ of following the Lord is a Sin! Go back up and re-read the first portion of that passage from Hebrews… it states, “ Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God… ” NO ! Not being pious… not being isolated… not even just attending a church service instead of Golfing, say. Our society puts so much focus and advertising energy in an effort to convince us just how fun these things are… not really sure WHY they do that, because almost everyone knows they are exciting! There was a commercial many years ago that stated, “ It just doesn’t get any better than this. “, and they are right… well… unless you know the Lord! Jesus said, “I am come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly.” So yea.. it CAN be ‘better than this’. Drinking and Partying is one area that just thrills… well… aside from the social anxiety of meeting new people, or being in a group, or in a location that is new… drinking or drugs… partying… music concerts… just having a ‘blow out’ kind of time, is very, VERY fun. There is, however, a certain point to which that level of fun, exhilaration, and that thrilling Yahhhoooo fun can begin to dull… lose it’s zeal… even get to the point of being boring. One of those ‘too much of a good thing’, things, huh! Drinking and Partying is fun ...for a season! I really enjoy a well designed roller coaster ride. Some are just freaky steep, or too twistie… even over hyped. But a smooth, fast, and well laid-out roller coaster ride can be exhilarating, thrilling, and very, very inviting for a 2nd, 3rd, and many more trips! Now… a roller coaster ride is by no means a sin… well… obsessive sure, but it sure would not seem like a sin… right? It is actually that thrill… that exhilaration…. that fun energy I am trying help you grasp. Too often, our attempts to keep that excitement level in our lives can be something of an escape… something of a replacement for the sorrow or somberness our normal life hands us. A Thrilling Roller-coaster Ride is fun …for a season! Eating is yet another way we seek fulfillment or satisfaction. Sure, we must eat to survive… to exists… to be healthy. Eating does take on another characteristic for us, too… something that is actually so prevalent in our lives anymore these days, it is the norm. Overeating is such a tough practice to keep in check, too… the taste of food… the feeling in our bellies… the pleasant odors… just the way some foods trigger the saliva glands as our bodies prepare to ingest the food!!Too much though…. bloating… overweight… sluggishness… sleepy… just so many bad things occur! Eating or Overeating is fun …for a season! Please keep in mind… as you ponder these ‘thrill’ things (and others) in your life… this writing is NOT to point out that you are sinning… how you are sinning (doing something I may not do)… or even that these items are even sin… it is the ‘thrill’ we get from these ‘things’ that actually becomes the sin! See that? As that opening scripture from James 4:17 noted, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.“, so you have to face the Lord over things in YOUR life… and only Him! Sure, society puts ‘shame’ on many things in life, but you answer to the Lord. More than ‘what it is’ though… I am presenting the ‘what it does’ for us, part. See… it is the ‘…for a season‘ part that has always gotten my attention. Just how long can we sustain a pleasant, thrilling, or even fulfilling thing in our lives. I am pretty sure you can agree to any and all of the following; I dislike Sorrow I dislike Pain I dislike Loneliness I dislike Anger I dislike Emptiness I dislike Fear We tend to overcompensate our lives… these dislikes… with pleasures… with thrills… with happiness, really. So much so, we lose track of just how sad… how hurt… even how scared we actually are. If you have a chance, read the “Pursuit of Sadlessness” here on the site. It helps explain how much trouble we are actually going to in an effort to avoid the ‘noise’ of our fears. Avoiding sin is the best way to go. Sure, way easier said than done and since we all define or perceive sin to be different, who is to really say how you are going to avoid sin. That is not so much up to you as much as it is your responsibility to work it out… to figure it out… to find you own way… well… sort of! I mean, the Bible says in Philippians 2:12 that we are to “ …work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. ” You read that right… work out your OWN salvation! No, goofy… not ‘get saved on your own‘… not ‘we are saved by working at it‘… not even ‘your salvation depends on your works‘. Your salvation was bought with the Blood of Jesus and His sacrifice for you… take that ‘salvation’ and put it on (like a funky fitting coat), and ‘work out’ how it fits on you… how you move in it… how you live in it. But… NEVER forget the end of that passage… “with fear and trembling“. Be respecting of His love for you… of His will for you… of His leading and calling for you. Obtain a lasting joy through the Holy Spirit in your life. Remember… sin is great fun… sin is a great fulfiller… sin is a great means of exhilaration, thrills, and even that wonderful feeling of being alive… but… for a season! Lasting joy… everlasting joy… never ending joy, fulfillment, and thorough peace can only be obtained through the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27 I know… again… easier said than done. Well… no, actually. Just easy… simple… plain. Just trust the Lord for His peace in your life! See… we tend to RUN to the easy pleasures… to the quick and tangible thrills… to the ‘within my grasp and control’ activities that we know will give us pleasure (a hobby…. a vice… a pending event). Take the time to let the Lord have His way in your life AND let your inner-person (your spirit) get use to waiting… to resting on His timeline… to gleaning His peace in your heart. Enjoy peace and fulfillment through all seasons of your life… not just as ‘flash in the pan’ moments like Sin does for us. Being consistent with His will for your life will help level out those highs-n-lows… help stabilize your spirit, your personality, even your very life. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end. Hebrews 3:14 Sure… we all sin… we all fail… we all struggle with keeping a consistent and growing life with the Lord. But, it is these Sin Escapades that keep setting us back… keep derailing the forward progress… keep convincing us that these ‘instant gratification’ mechanisms aren’t all that bad… harmless… silly little splashes of fun! Remember though, the Bible ‘does’ say in Romans 6:23 , “ …the wages of sin is death “… and like Adam and Eve misunderstanding that this did not mean physical death… the death of your spirit… your connection to the Lord… your very life… is subtle, quiet, and not-so-easy to recognize.

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Week: 9 Priorities and Alignment Ordering life, priorities, aligning with God’s rhythm. This week helps participants evaluate and reorder commitments so life reflects gospel priorities. It offers practical frameworks for decision-making, time use, and aligning daily routines with spiritual values. The focus is on coherence—making choices that sustain spiritual health and mission over time. Objectives Practice practical ordering of daily life. Align time and energy with God’s purposes. Reassess priorities and simplify life. Reflections How will I measure alignment with God’s purposes? What is one priority I will protect this week? What drains my time and energy? NowTo the HowTo Accountability/Tracking Use a weekly planner template to block time for top priorities and submit a screenshot to your partner. Community Action Host a “priority swap” where members share one thing they’ll say no to and one thing they’ll protect. Creative Project Build a “Priority Map” poster with top three spiritual priorities and daily actions for each. Leader Prompt Lead a short exercise to help participants identify one nonnegotiable spiritual priority. Personal Practice Do a one day time inventory and circle one activity to reduce; replace it with a spiritual priority. Previous Week Devotionals Pants First, Then Shoes 4 min read Too often, we dive into solving our problems without checking in with the Lord and tend to ask Him for direction once we have totally boogered things up! This devotional helps remind us that God's sequence of 'faith first' is always the right way to go. Sparrows and Ants; Fancy Pants 2 min read Not sure how you grew up, but me... I'll bet I was well into my teens before 'the future' really crossed my mind. Sure, I worried about... More or Less 2 min read God doesn't tear down any barriers we put up between Him and us. God doesn't set up any barriers between us. Now, is it just me, but isn't it odd we aren't very, very close to God? The only barriers keeping us apart are our own! Sure, physically close is not part of the equation, but it seems like we'd be much more spiritual, much more content, and certainly much more 'heavenly minded' than we are as a people, let alone as individuals. Mostly, one of the key things that keeps us from being... Peace at Stake; Piece of Cake 2 min read It is very, very simple to choose peace. It is quite a whole other thing to apply that choice! Consider the last time you had a gut-wrenching decision to make... many times, that quickening from our Lord IS the path He wants you on, but too often we choose something safer, something less ridiculous appearing (to those around us), and maybe even something not quite so challenging for our lives. His peace is at stake, so just how do you chose that path, and stick with it? Our devotional today... Synchronize Your Spirit 2 min read I know, the typical phrase is, "synchronize your watch", so pardon me as I make a spiritual reference to that well established phrase. Way too many times through my day, through my week, through my life I have gotten my spirit sort of out-of-sync. Something of a disjointed feeling, or 'pending doom', or maybe even just an unsettled and restless feeling of anguish, fear, and/uncertainty... and I finally hear 'that still small voice', and get linked back up with the Lord, and sort of... And the Future Holds... 2 min read ...nothing you should worry about today! Sure, we hear that all the time, but so quickly and rather easily we are right back there... fussing over a pending job opportunity, toiling over a potential home, stressing about the weather and an upcoming outdoor event... even just planning a strategy for your career or retirement... forget medical concerns... those alone are more than most can handle! The Lord insists we refrain from 'getting ahead' of today, from getting all wrapped up in 'what... View More Next Week

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Week: 10 Trials and Perseverance How suffering refines faith and endurance. This module addresses the reality of hardship and how trials can deepen character and trust when met with faithful practices. It provides pastoral frameworks for lament, endurance, and meaning-making, plus community practices that sustain people through seasons of testing. The aim is resilient faith that endures without losing hope or compassion. Objectives Build community support items for hard seasons. Learn practical ways to persevere. Reframe trials as formative, not meaningless. Reflections What spiritual practice strengthens me in hardship? What supports help me endure now? How have past trials shaped my faith? NowTo the HowTo Accountability/Tracking Use a shared tracker to note daily practices (rest, prayer, Scripture) and one sign of endurance. Community Action Form triads for mutual prayer and check ins during a current trial. Creative Project Compose a short, honest letter to your future self about what you’re learning in this season. Leader Prompt Offer pastoral language for lament and lead a brief guided lament/prayer time. Personal Practice Write a one paragraph “perseverance plan” listing Scripture, person, and practice to rely on in hard moments. Previous Week Devotionals Appreciating Anguish 2 min read I once knew a man who did not pray for patience... hated the thought/idea of it... strictly because of God's promise that came along with... The Meaning of Suffering 3 min read Almost since the beginning of time, we have wondered, pondered, contemplated, argued, and fought over this one question; "If God is good, loving, and merciful, why does He allow suffering and pain?". The short answer is, 'He doesn't, you do'! See... suffering is actually a tool that is intended for you specifically, not the world populous in general. Sort of a separating of the sheep from the goats , as we recently discussed. Too often, we want to lump the world (the masses) into an... Wearing Your Bearings 2 min read What? Bearings as in Ball Bearings? No, those are rarely worn, if ever. But Bearings as in 'directions', or 'route', even a 'destination point'... those bearings. Now, wearing them may seem odd, but you know me... I'm aiming to show you not only why, but how. Today's devotional is actually close to the Wandering You one in-that the focus is regarding how the Lord promised to be close to us, to lead us, and especially give us His peace, love and grace... He never falters. Isaiah 26:4 ... Guilty by Reason of Calamity 2 min read No one really knows the intents of the heart, the core thing(s) that motivate us to do and to be like we are... many times, we don't even understand them ourselves. Too often, we go through the motions. In many ways 'powering through' some crisis or event for the sake of impressions, or your commitment to a task, or even just out of fear, guilt, or lack of strength to challenge what you've become. Our devotional today reminds us that a guilt driven life can certainly lead to more calamity... Perseverance Preserved 2 min read There have been times when I inherited someone else's project, and had to get my head/heart wrapped around their original vision, or intent/goal for the goal and intent of it all. Until I actually 'took ownership', it was really just a half-hearted responsibility I was fulfilling. Today's devotional touches on that same lackadaisical way we approach our life with the Lord... almost like we are 'going through the motions' of someone else's vision or 'project' for our lives; be it a perceived... Frazzle Beater 2 min read G.W. Bill Elliott, Jr presents a practical encouragement for calming frazzled hearts through prayer, rest, and simple practices. View More Next Week

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