This week’s story in The Gospel Project for Kids® was “Deborah and Barak.” After the death of the first judges, the Israelites fell into a continuous cycle: sin, bondage, deliverance, and peace. When the people of Israel were oppressed by the king of Canaan, Deborah was the judge of Israel. Deborah sent for Barak and encouraged him to gather an army and fight the Canaanite army and its commander, Sisera.

In November we’ll be walking with a man the Bible introduces as Abram.  Soon enough, God changes his name to the more familiar “Abraham.”  

“Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called their on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God.  And Abraham sojourned….” (Genesis 21:23-24)

As I write this in early October, there are a whole lot of trees being planted around here.  Trees are an easy sell.  People eagerly sign up to put a tree in the ground.  Doing so in honor of a loved one makes it all the more special.  A newly-planted tree, it seems to me, points both to our past and to our future.

Whenever we see the tree, we remember why we planted.  What was the occasion?  Who is it for?  When did we do this thing? And, whenever we see the tree, we know it has many, many more years left.  It will bring joy and delight to future generations.  We may never sit in its shade or enjoy its fruit.  

It’s not about us.

Sunday’s Bible story took  place chronologically after the death of Joshua.

This weeks message is on the good news about sin.  Yes, you read that correct — sin is actually good news.  Well, OK, the sin itself isn’t good.  But knowing about sin, how pervasive and universal it’s reach is, that is good news.