This week we will be exploring Genesis 35 together, Rededication According to God.
Jacob's life is filled with ups and downs. One victory in his life seems to be followed immediately by a failure. Right after he wrestles with God and reconciles with his brother, Esau, he finds himself in a place of complacency, hanging out in Shechem longer than he should and exposing his family to great danger.
God finally has to wake Jacob up and tell him to get out of Shechem and go to Bethel.
In modern words, God would be telling him, "Get out of your complacent, apathethic, self-pitying, half-hearted commitment to Me and do what I have called you to do!"
We all need this reminder.
Complacency is easy. Half-hearted commitment comes naturally. Mindless, passionless apathy seems to always invite us into its comfortable doldrums.
But God calls us to more.
He calls us to wake up! He calls us to set aside our idols! He calls us to remember who we are! He calls us to remember Who He is!
God calls us to live for Him no matter what happens around us.
The world likes to lull us to sleep and conform us to its image.
May we have the courage and strength to get out of Shechem and go to Bethel, the house of God!
This Sunday we will also celebrate communion together as fellow partakers of God's grace and members of His body!

This Sunday, September 7 (9am, 10:45am), we will have a special guest speaker for our Genesis series, Dr. Terry Mortenson of Answers in Genesis.
Dr. Mortenson has a Ph.D. in the history of geology from Coventry University in the UK. He has taught on creation and evolution issues for over 50 years in 37 different countries. It will be an encouragement to have Dr. Mortenson with us this coming weekend to address some of the controversies surrounding the book of Genesis and how science supports the Bible.
This Sunday morning, Dr. Mortenson will be speaking in both worship services on the topic, Creation vs Evolution: Does It Matter?
Dr. Mortenson will have six more sessions while he is here at CBC. Here is the schedule for this coming Sunday and Monday (September 7-8).
Origin of Species: Was Darwin Right? (Sunday, 6pm)
Ape-Men, Adam, and the Gospel (Sunday, 7:30pm)
Seven C's of History (for children, Monday, 9am)
How to Think about Origins (for teens, Monday, 10:30am)
Millions of Years: The Idea's Unscientific Origin and Its Catastrophic Consequences (Monday, 6pm)
Noah's Flood: Washing Away Millions of Years (Monday, 7:30pm)
The Monday morning sessions are open to all children, teens, and adults who are able to attend.
We are not sure of the number of people who may be coming to CBC for these sessions. Please be patient with our limited space and, if you are able, please park towards the rear of our property or on the other side of our youth building to allow some of our visitors to park toward the front. We plan to have overflow seating in our CBC Cafe area if needed.
May God fill our hearts with awe as we consider the reality, majesty, and beauty of His creation!