Pastor Judah Smith of Churchome in Kirkland, Washington succinctly stated in a sermon entitled “What Happened to My Passion” that Christians are more often known for what they stand for than for who they follow. I couldn’t agree more. In America, Christians are often viewed as a people with sets of beliefs or political stances, rather than a people who have a saving relationship with the living God. America’s political landscape over the past few years has become as divided as it ever has been. I almost daily come across social media posts full of divisive political opinions, from Christians and non-Christians alike. So, how should the Church in America respond to the present “cancel culture” climate? As Pastor Judah Smith stated, we need to be known for WHO we follow, not WHAT we stand for. It is important to have sound biblical opinions that align with God’s will, but it is all the more important to live the way Jesus lived and act the way he acted towards the lost and sinful people of His day. In this blog, we will look at how Jesus approached sinful people during His ministry and how He used compassion to impact those who were far from God in their opinions, thoughts, and actions. The Wee Little Man If you grew up attending Sunday school classes, you are certainly familiar with the story of the wee little man, Zacchaeus. In Luke 19:1-10, we see the compassion of Christ at work, as he interacts with Zacchaeus: “Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭19:1-10‬ Tax collectors were despised amongst Israel in Jesus’ day. They often were Jews working for the Roman empire, who oppressed the people of Israel, so these tax collectors were viewed as traitors. On top of that, tax collectors were not paid wages by the Romans but were told to collect more than what was owed on taxes, keeping the leftovers for themselves. It is understandable that the Jews detested these money laundering traitors. However, we see in this text how Jesus interacts with the tax collector named Zacchaeus. It is important to note the heart of Zacchaeus in verse 3. Luke notes that Zacchaeus had a desire to see Jesus, which is why he climbed the fig tree in verse 4. How can we apply this to our presently divided and opinionated society? Well, a lot of people are looking for and seeking something that will fulfill their desires and mend their hearts. Many people are climbing the fig tree. As we will see in the remainder of this text, it is how we as the Church interact with the lost that defines how they view Jesus. In verse 5, Jesus sees Zacchaeus in the tree and says, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” The word “must” in verse five is derived from the Greek word dei, which means “it is necessary” or “there is need of”. Matthew uses this same word in Matthew 16:21 when describing Jesus’ explanation of the necessity of His death and resurrection. Jesus didn’t just kind of want to hang out with Zacchaeus, rather He made it clear that it was necessary to do so. Why? In verse 10, Jesus makes it clear His purpose in visiting Zacchaeus’ home: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Jesus came to this broken world to seek and save those who are lost and far from God. It is also important to note HOW Jesus chose to seek and save Zacchaeus in this interaction. Jesus didn’t condemn Zacchaeus for laundering money from God’s chosen people for his own wealth (Luke 19:2). He didn’t demand Zacchaeus to change his behavior. He didn’t turn to the crowd to tell them how disappointed or disgusted He was with Zacchaeus. Instead, the God-man demands to stay at Zacchaeus’ home. It was the simple act of Jesus’ compassion towards a sinner that resulted in the salvation of the tax collector Zacchaeus (Luke 19:9). It should be expected that non-believers will have thoughts, opinions, and actions that go against God’s will as revealed in Scripture. Zacchaeus was living a life that directly went against God’s will. However, our response cannot be that of the crowd in Luke 19:7. The crowds following Jesus and praising Him were the ones who grumbled against Him for spending time with a sinner. Our knee-jerk reaction should not be to condemn, ostracize, or point out the faults and opinions of lost people. Instead, we as the Church should show the compassion that Christ showed Zacchaeus and provide people outside of the Church a picture of the heart of Who we follow, not the stances we take or the opinions we hold fast to. The Adulterous Woman I was scrolling through Instagram one day and I saw a post that read, “Jesus Hates Abortion”. The first thing that came to my mind when I read this was John 8:1-11, in which Jesus forgives the adulterous woman in front of a crowd of fuming Pharisees: “but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him, but Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”” ‭‭John‬ ‭8:1-11 I didn’t disagree with the Instagram post I mentioned, but the post did not reflect the heart of Christ to the non-believers that interacted with it. Yes, it is true that God opposes abortion, but it is also true that God revealed himself through Jesus Christ to be compassionate, forgiving, and patient. Similar to the Instagram post, the Pharisees in this text bring forth the Law to condemn the woman who was caught in adultery. In verse 5, the Pharisees bring up the Law before Jesus that this woman was to be stoned for her actions. Jesus, the author of the Law (2 Timothy 3:16-17), responds to the Pharisees' accusations against the woman by taking some time to write in the dirt. John didn’t mention what Jesus was writing, but the point of including this action is to show the patience of Christ. He did not lash out against the woman for her sin, but instead of siding with her accusers, He takes a few moments to write in the dirt. In verse 7, Jesus breaks His silence by telling the crowd of accusers that the one among them who has no sin can be the one to throw the first stone. While it is true that this woman was an adulterer, it is also true that her accusers were sinners, as well. Jesus notes the hypocrisy of the Pharisees' accusations because they too had been unfaithful to God’s Law. In verse 10, after all of the woman’s accusers had left, Jesus asked her who was left to condemn her. He then states in verse 11 that He does not condemn her either, and He tells her to go and leave her life of sin. Jesus is the only One who had the right to condemn the woman. He was the sinless One. He has been given the right to judge (John 5:22). However, Jesus chooses not to condemn the adulterous woman but provides her with great compassion and mercy. It is important to note that Jesus sends the woman out with the command to leave her life of sin. Jesus is compassionate but does not condone sinful behavior. What can we learn from Jesus’ actions in this story? It can be easy to point out sin and accuse people who accept or live sinful lifestyles. My biggest issue with the Instagram post “Jesus Hates Abortion” was not the message it was sending, but how the message was sent. It was accusatory. It did not reflect the heart of Christ revealed to us in Scripture. As the Church, we need to treat the lost in the same manner that Jesus treated the adulterous woman. We need to leave our opinions and accusations at the door and stand beside lost people, in an effort to show them the immeasurable grace that Christ offers those who are far from Him. If the judge of all people chooses not to condemn, then neither should His church condemn those who are lost in thoughts, opinions, and actions of sin. Conclusion More than anything, it has been my own actions that pushed me to write this blog. I have been the self-righteous Christian who posted his divisive opinions on social media about abortion. I was the self-righteous Christian who made sure to note what the Bible says about homosexuality. I was the self-righteous Christian who failed to show others the immeasurable grace of God that is shown to me daily. Through my own mistakes and the ministry of Christ, I learned that loud opinions and accusations are not what draws non-believers to Christ. However, it is His compassion, grace, and patience that draws outsiders to grab the hand that Jesus extends to all people. Jesus stayed at the house of a thief and a traitor. Jesus stood beside and defended an adulterer in the face of accusations from religious people. In our increasingly divided and opinionated American culture, the Church needs to reflect these same actions and spend time serving, seeking, and walking beside those who are lost. In the end, the Body of Christ needs to be known for who we follow, not what we stand for.

USG had the pleasure of traveling to New York City, New York to host an Impact Weekend with ten of our Academy participants. The Impact Weekends allow our Academy participants the opportunity to put everything they've been learning in the Academy into practice. The weekend is fully-funded for every student by USG’s Clean Out For A Cause initiative, which is a huge blessing from the Lord! What Are Impact Weekends? The USG Academy is both an eight-week virtual study and a fully-funded Impact Weekend. The purpose of the eight-week study is to challenge and admonish participants to think deeply about how to live called to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), committed to becoming like Christ in word and deed (Romans 12:2), and to live connected through fellowship and accountability (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). Our Impact Weekends serve the purpose of allowing our participants to put everything they have been learning in the Academy into practice through the weekend activities and to connect with one another! The weekends begin on Friday afternoon and end Sunday afternoon. What Did We Do in New York? We began the weekend with a guest speaker panel to help the students grow professionally! The panel featured three of our St. John's members, who are all current graduate assistants at St. John's. Some of the topics they discussed were the Christian community in sports, how to take advantage of undergraduate opportunities in sports, how to find your niche in the industry, and more! We then took the group, along with some of our present members, to Times Square for a social event at Bowlero! The group was able to interact, network, and build authentic relationships with one another, all while bowling and enjoying some great food! We closed Friday night in prayer groups and then got some much-needed sleep! We began Saturday morning with small group Bible studies. We studied Acts 2:42-47, which highlights the early church and how it functioned! We discussed the importance of Christian fellowship and being in awe of God. This study challenges the group and pushes everyone to consider their roles in the church! After Bible study, our group was fortunate enough to have the Assistant GM of the Brooklyn Nets, Andy Birdsong, come and speak. He highlighted the importance of living out your faith through your actions, especially in the workplace! Andy even gave out his phone number to the group and invited everyone to connect with him! The USG staff talked the group through the importance of evangelism and how to properly go about sharing your faith! This was an awesome conversation and we were even able to talk about the true meaning of the gospel with the group! We then broke out into groups of four and went out into Central Park to evangelize and pass out impact bags, which contain basic necessities to benefit the homeless and underserved. This is always a highlight of our impact weekends, because it challenges the entire group to reach outside of their comfort zone! It can be really scary to share your faith with complete strangers, but God can use that act of faith to change someone's eternal destiny! One group had a cool testimony from the outreach activity! They were able to pass out an impact bag to an underserved individual in the park and pray for him. On the way back, they saw him again and he was reading the Bible that was in the impact bag! This was such a cool testimony and it showed our group how the Lord can use even simple conversations to work in someone's heart! We finished the night with a group dinner at Shake Shack and our prayer groups! The weekend concluded on Sunday with some awesome events and discussion. The USG staff was able to talk the group through the parable of the sower and commission them to live for Christ and avoid the temptations, challenges, and pressures that come with a career in sports! We then made our way to Madison Square Garden, where our group received a private tour of the facility! How Can You Get Involved? Are you curious as to how you can have an experience like our students did in NYC? Getting involved with Uncommon Sports Group is easy, and not to mention beneficial for both your career and walk with Christ! Simply click this link, fill out a short application, and one of our staff members will get in touch with you! If you are already a member of USG, share this article with a friend or co-worker who would benefit from our opportunities! We look forward to connecting with you and continuing our mission of developing Christ-centered leaders of the sport industry.

It was exactly nine years ago this month that Managers On A Mission (MOAM; now known as Uncommon Sports Group) was launched. What had started as a class project during my final semester of grad school officially became a real organization. In May of 2013, I had thought the organization could simply be an “on the side” type of thing while continuing my career within the sports industry. By May of 2014, the Lord made it clear to me that I needed to either go all-in with what was developing for me career-wise or move back home to focus on the growing needs of our organization. Below is an excerpt I wrote shortly after moving back to Minneapolis, Minnesota in June of 2014. To say that I was overwhelmed and fearful would be an understatement. I struggle with feelings of loneliness and depression as I come to accept I have no job lined up now that I am back in MN. I struggle with trying to comprehend and accept that Managers On A Mission has become so heavy on my heart that I quit my job at Auburn, and have walked away from what I believe was a very promising career in the sports industry. There are times when I experience a great sense of freedom when thinking about the opportunity I now have to pour even more effort into something that means the world to me in Managers On A Mission, but I’d be lying if I said this doesn't also make me feel extremely overwhelmed as I have no clue how my financial needs will be met, and often long to have a sense of normalcy or security that a regular job can provide. I struggle with the fact that for so long my identity has been too closely wrapped up in my career in sports. It has been easy to find pleasure and joy each Fall through games every weekend, and the excitement and attention that each game garnered from my family, friends, and fans throughout the country. I rejoice in God’s promise that He gives perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and place their trust in Him (Isaiah 26:3). Do I, or the rest of our Board know exactly what is to come for Managers On A Mission? No. But we do have great reason to rejoice and view the future with hope as we know God is sovereign and in control. I never imagined when I made that decision to leave Auburn University to move back home that our organization would develop into what it is today. There is no shortage of mistakes that I have made, and lessons the Lord has taught me throughout the past 9 years, but arguably the most significant item He has revealed over and over again has been the reliability of His promise in Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. If I were to write a letter to myself 9 years ago, here are a few of the items I would remind myself of in light of Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart” As my journal entry above attests, I had zero idea what would happen when I first moved back to Minnesota to focus more time and energy into MOAM (now USG). I did not have a road map or even aspirations of MOAM becoming my full-time career anytime in the near future. My plan at the time was that I was moving back so that I could get a ‘normal’ 9-5 job that would give me the opportunity to spend evenings and weekends working on MOAM. When I moved back to MN in 2014, I was fortunate to have enough money saved up that I could afford to be patient before jumping into a new job. I had no grand plan, but God gave me clarity that one small step I could take for now would be to volunteer 100% of my time on MOAM for the rest of that summer to see what may develop. By the end of those 3 months, the organization was in the position to hire me as a full-time employee. As I reflect upon USG’s 9 years of existence, I can honestly say that there is not one defining moment that seems to stand out in the development of our organization to what it has become today. When first trying to launch our organization, I had always envisioned there would be one magical moment where a big donor buys into our vision, or a brilliant leader comes alongside me and turns my vision into reality. The development of our organization has instead seemed to be a journey of thousands of very small steps day by day. Frank Beamer’s motto when I worked at Virginia Tech was “Take care of the little things, and the big things will come.” I believe this motto is exemplified by the Parable of the Talents in the Bible, and I have experienced it to be trustworthy. “Lean not on your own understanding” I have also come to recognize the blessing of not always knowing what awaits us around the corner. “Ignorance is bliss” as the saying goes. I often tell people that if I had known what would all need to transpire for this organization to become a reality and the challenges it would entail, there is no way I would have pursued it. I had no idea the number of donors and partners and mentors and staff members the Lord would need to bring alongside this organization at exactly the right time. I certainly had some tangible estimates of what the needs would be, but I am also incredibly thankful that God helped me to “lean not on my own understanding” in regards to all that our organization would “need” these past 9 years. It will be hard, but “He will make your paths straight” A final item I would remind myself of is that it will be hard. I would tell this to myself not so that I would be afraid, but so that I would not be blindsided. One of the things I most appreciate about the Word of God is that it doesn’t hide the challenges and heartache we will experience on this side of eternity. While our organization has certainly been incredibly blessed to experience a lot of fruit in the lives we have been able to impact throughout the college and pro sports industry, there has of course been no shortage of challenges as well. Difficult employee situations, long seasons of being understaffed, uncertainty about how we will cover payroll, criticism from those closest to you, and the list goes on and on. These things are challenging, but I am incredibly thankful that God constantly reminds us in His Word that this earthly life is not our home, and “He will make our paths straight”. This not only protects me from being blindsided when challenges and heartache inevitably come here on earth, but it also fills me with great hope as I fix my eyes on the eternal inheritance that awaits all who trust in Jesus.

At the ripe age of 37 years old, LaVall Jordan became a Division 1 head basketball coach and only one season later he became the head coach of his alma mater, Butler University. There is no question that Coach Jordan's story is special, but recently he was let go as head coach of the Bulldogs. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, Coach Jordan talks about his coaching journey, the role his faith in Christ has played in that journey, and how he has worked to overcome his recent termination. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this week's episode, and be sure to follow our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! Curious about Uncommon Sports Group and what our ministry has to offer? Contact us to learn more here! Do you want to join the largest community of future Christian leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!

My experience at SEME 2022 was amazing! During the two-day conference, I was able to hear from experts in the sports industry on a variety of different topics. One of my favorite panels was the post-pandemic effect: opportunities, challenges, and lessons learned. I was also fortunate enough to network with other young professionals in the sports industry! Learning about the different backgrounds people had and how they got to where they were was inspiring and insightful. I was also fortunate to meet Buffy Filippell, Founder & President of TeamWork Online. It was such an honor to introduce myself to the person behind the website that has helped me so much in my career! Her advice and tips on how to stand out in the sport industry were also invaluable to me.

Upon accepting a new job in the sport industry, it can be difficult to know what the proper next steps are to prepare for the job transition process. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, USG members and leaders within the college sport industry, Nick Hunt and Kyle Richardson, discuss their recent job transitions and how young professionals in sports should manage their job transitions. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this week's episode, and be sure to follow our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! Curious about Uncommon Sports Group and what our ministry has to offer? Contact us to learn more here! Do you want to join the largest community of future Christian leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!

As Christians working in the sport industry, it is becoming increasingly important to speak out on cultural issues. A common cultural topic that is addressed in the sport industry via the media, organizations, universities, and teams is racial tensions and injustices happening across the country. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, Baltimore Ravens chaplain Johnny Shelton, talks about the issues of racial injustice in the United States and how Christians should respond. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this week's episode, and be sure to follow our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! Curious about Uncommon Sports Group and what our ministry has to offer? Contact us to learn more here! Do you want to join the largest community of future Christian leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!

All too often in my life I have found myself feeling alone and left in a place where I deeply desire community with other believers in my daily life. After graduating from Liberty University and moving to a new state, my greatest prayer was that I would come across Christian community with other like-minded individuals in my new city. God did not hesitate to answer this prayer! After becoming a USG member last year, I have been overjoyed to meet many Jesus-following sport professionals who have a similar mission as myself – to use the game of basketball as an avenue to reach people for Christ. The network that USG has connected me with shows me that I am not alone in this fight of being a Christian in the sports industry. Last week, with the help of USG, I was blessed to be sent to New Orleans, Louisiana for the NABC Coaches Convention. I was overwhelmed by the blessing it was to experience a weekend of relationship building, professional development, and spiritual growth. Growing up a college basketball fan, the spectacle that is the Final Four always captivated my attention. The buildup that is generated throughout the month of March, all being culminated into a single weekend of fandom and excitement stirs up a childlike joy in the hearts of fans from every corner of the country. Now I find myself walking the halls of the largest NCAA coach’s convention, seeing the faces of coaches and players I have admired my entire life. This time, not as a fan, but a fellow coach. My natural response in this moment was to reflect on the blessing the Lord has given me of pursuing the opportunity of being a college basketball coach. Without the mission of USG, I would not have had the chance to participate in such an experience as this. I left the weekend with a great sense of appreciation of what God has done in my life and the purpose that has been set on my heart to live for Him in the environment I have been placed. After feeling rejuvenated and aligned with this mission, I leave this once-in-a-lifetime experience with deep friendships, a clearly defined purpose, and unforgettable memories.

My weekend at the WBCA Final Four coaches’ convention was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget. I did not go into the weekend expecting anything, I just went and embraced every opportunity and tried to live in every moment. With it being my first experience, it unfolded in a way that I could not have imagined. I met so many different coaches from many different teams from all over the country from every level of collegiate basketball. I connected with a lot of great individuals and learned from some of the nation’s greatest coaches and former players. I loved every on-court session that I attended that was presented to us. I also enjoyed the roundtable talks along with the knowledge we gained from well-known speakers. One of my favorite parts of the convention was the FCA service that we went to on Sunday morning which was followed by a Kay Yow breakfast event. The message from the service was fantastic and the Kay Yow event was special as well. I am already looking forward to going next year in Dallas. My experience was great, but I was not used to the weather in Minnesota. It was cold for me, but it is was something new to go along with my overall experience. I saw things in the city of Minneapolis that I have never seen before. Overall, my weekend with the WBCA and being with USG was one for the books. I most certainly saw God working a lot in my life during my weekend in Minneapolis. A year ago, I would not have imagined myself in the position I am in today. I also thank USG for allowing me to have that opportunity and to help me get there. My knowledge has grown, and I learned so much from that one weekend, and I will never forget for as long as I live.

In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, Noah Weiss and former Ministry Operations & Events Manager for Uncommon Sports Group, Seth Ralston, sit down to discuss the NABC Convention in New Orleans and the WBCA Convention in Minneapolis, as well as the Easter holiday and their reflections on the resurrection of Christ. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this week's episode, and be sure to follow our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! Curious about Uncommon Sports Group and what our ministry has to offer? Contact us to learn more here! Do you want to join the largest community of future Christian leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!

It was exactly one year ago to the day that I returned from a three-month sabbatical. USG’s Board of Directors graciously afforded me the opportunity from late January until early April of 2021 to spend 10 weeks completely “off the grid” in Cartagena, Colombia. It was 10 full weeks of zero social media, zero work-related email, zero Netflix, etc. I turned off my phone completely, and the only communication I had with the “outside world” was through a weekly check-in with a coach, and my parents. Below is my journal entry to God from April 8th, 2021 as I concluded that time of solitude chronicling some of the things I was most grateful for, along with my three biggest takeaways from the sabbatical. “Father, I conclude my time in Colombia today GRATEFUL. This sabbatical has not gone like I expected in terms of 'productiveness', but it has been everything I have needed. I am grateful for: How You have revealed Your goodness to me. How You have revealed Your desire for Union with me. How You have reiterated You are the fulfillment of the Scriptures to me Revealing my identity as CHOSEN. Chosen by You. Not by any merit, but Chosen nonetheless. Chosen to have the makeup that I have. Chosen to start MOAM and now lead USG. Chosen to be Simon's uncle. Chosen to be Jenny, Liz, and Nick's brother. Chosen to have a passion for Significance. Chosen to be single at 31 so that I might experience 2.5 months of complete solitude with You. Chosen to fear You, and greatly desire to honor You. Chosen. Chosen. Chosen. The incredible experiences You have provided me these last 10 years of my life. 10 years ago, I could have never predicted or dreamed that You would lead me into all that You have led me into.. Virginia Tech, Auburn, Starting MOAM, leading me to Grace Church, incredible mentors. I cannot even imagine what You are capable of leading me into in these next ten years. The friends and family I have awaiting me back in Minnesota. The reality that there is nothing I need to earn or prove here on earth. I am completely free and eternally secure. There is literally nothing that can happen to me here on earth outside of Your perfect plan. Even if I am killed suddenly, it means I get to be with You. I have the privilege of giving up that which I cannot keep for that which I cannot lose. The joy and peace Your Spirit continues to renew inside of me. Even though I was definitely burnt out going into this sabbatical, I never lost joy and peace in the work You have continued to allow me to do. You have given me so much victory over depression & anxiety. The ways You continuously draw me near to You. The hope I have to find a spouse (UPDATE: met my now fiancé’ approximately two months later). The growing desire I am experiencing to read Your Word and learn more about You. The good health of my loved ones. The top three faith items I will takeaway from my time in Colombia are: 1) Your goodness. I've long found it easy to worship You because of Your 'grandness', in recent years especially, but You have revealed the neglect I've often had towards Your goodness. Subconsciously, I would admit my notion of You would frequently be that You are disappointed in me, and that I am in debt to You. The following items helped me truly comprehend in an entirely new way how Your goodness has always been true. The way You describe Your own character in Ex. 34:6 "The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "Yahweh, Yahweh, a God merciful & gracious, slow to anger, & abounding in steadfast love, and faithfulness," Seeing how You so often respond to the cries of Your people with such patience, gentleness, and compassion. Especially in Nu. 11 & 14:20, 2 Kgs. 20. The revealing of Yourself as 'gentle & lowly' in Mt 11:29 Slow to anger. Patient. Gentle. Lowly. Words I have long been too slow to equate with You. 2) How much You desire UNION with me. I was made for Union with You. To walk step by step with Your Spirit that is IN ME. Mk 16:20 - as the disciples went out, "..the Lord worked WITH them.." Your invite in Mt 11:28-30 - .."take my yoke upon you.." hitch yourself to ME & walk with ME! 3) You are the fulfillment of the Scriptures! I have enjoyed the opportunity to press into really deep questions and challenges like how and why would a good God allow hell to exist, how does Jesus dying equal salvation for me, etc. I have found answers for many items, but ultimately my finite mind will never fully comprehend how, and why God does all that He does. But in Your grace, You have at least made extremely clear in the Bible that Jesus' life, death, and resurrection is the fulfillment of the Scriptures. Jesus accomplished exactly what You said must, and will happen. And the fulfillment of these Scriptures equaling salvation is something Jesus Himself makes crystal clear (esp in Lk 24:44-49).