The Israelites left Egypt and got a fire behind them. We leave Empire and get a fire within us.
<p class="button-wrapper"><a class="button primary" href="https://bit.ly/Crux-Community"><span>Support this work for $8/YEAR</span></a></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!08oA!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F837e14e3-5bae-40ea-933b-8f6950dce04e_1000x750.jpeg" target="_blank"><div class="image2-inset"><source type="image/webp" /><img alt="Beauty and Resistance: Spiritual Rhythms for Formation and Repair: Walton, Jonathan P.: 9781514012284: Amazon.com: Books" class="sizing-normal" height="750" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!08oA!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F837e14e3-5bae-40ea-933b-8f6950dce04e_1000x750.jpeg" title="Beauty and Resistance: Spiritual Rhythms for Formation and Repair: Walton, Jonathan P.: 9781514012284: Amazon.com: Books" width="1000" /><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image" tabindex="0" type="button"><svg fill="none" height="20" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="1.5" viewBox="0 0 20 20" width="20" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image" tabindex="0" type="button"><svg class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2" fill="none" height="20" stroke="currentColor" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="20" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><div class="pullquote"><p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>The views and opinions expressed here are solely my own and do not represent those of my employer, any affiliated organization, or any institution with which I am associated.</strong></em></p></div><p>It was a privilege to serve <a href="https://bethelcommunitysl.org/">Bethel Community Church in San Leandro</a> a few months ago and it was a blessing to be with so many in the Bay Area a few weeks ago. As I reflect on my time there I am deeply grateful for the pastors and leaders who hosted me and created space for the Spirit of God to speak.</p><blockquote><p> <strong>Check out the message here: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sabbath-as-resistance-to-anxiety-exodus-20-8-17-jonathan/id1514527167?i=1000752377194">Sabbath as Resistance to Anxiety</a>. And you’d like to see the slides, they’re <a href="https://bit.ly/SabbathWithBethelSL">here</a>!</strong></p></blockquote><p>Something that I appreciate about Pastor <span class="mention-wrap"></span> is that she pastors. She is not attempting to build an audience or a following but instead a community of Jesus followers that loves God, people, ourselves and creation well. The same is true for her husband <span class="mention-wrap"></span> who ushered us into worship with Negro Spirituals and a communion song from Nicaragua. I was truly grateful to be with them.</p><div><hr /></div><blockquote><div class="digest-post-embed"></div><p><em><strong>A NOTE ABOUT MY WORK</strong>: I am leaving my full-time job with InterVarsity USA and with that change, paid subscribers become much more important. I love to write and the DREAM would be for this to be a full-time occupation. If you’d like to make that more possible, please become a paid subscriber. My new work will be with<a href="https://bit.ly/Support-CBR-ArochaUSA"> AROCHA USA // Center for Beauty and Resistance</a>. If you <a href="https://bit.ly/Support-CBR-ArochaUSA">DONATE</a> you will be made a founding member here. Thanks for your prayers, support and generosity.</em></p><p class="button-wrapper"><a class="button primary" href="https://thecrux.substack.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p></blockquote><div><hr /></div><p>This week, I will be preaching<a href="https://www.jonathan-walton.com/events-1"> 5 sermons from the Gospel of Matthew 8-11</a>. Please pray that the 200 students, staff and volunteers who gather are able to receive the liberating love of God that leads to deep shalom in the midst of all circumstances now and to come. </p><div><hr /></div><div class="digest-post-embed"></div><div><hr /></div><p><strong>Let me know what you think! I look forward to the conversation and comments because our screens make us into lonely consumers but God made us to be a vibrant community.</strong></p><p>– jonathan</p><p>PS. Order your copy of <a href="https://bit.ly/BeautyAndResistanceAMZ">“Beauty and Resistance: Spiritual Rhythms for Formation and Repair”</a>. I pray that it blesses you.</p>