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had dinner with some friends last night who admitted they still have a room full of things they’ve never touched since they moved over three years ago.

I could relate! Why do we avoid the chore of unpacking? Are we afraid we won’t know what to do with everything when we do get to it? Or are we waiting until we have just the right place to put all our stuff?

Have you noticed that we do the same thing with some of our most deeply held beliefs? We have them, but they remain in storage. Are we afraid to examine our intellectual baggage too closely, afraid that we might not know what to do with it when we get to it? Do we need a safe place to unpack our stuff?

Welcome to Faith Café. For the next several weeks you have a safe place to begin unpacking your thoughts, beliefs, and values. Let’s start by examining what we believe about ourselves. In these first three episodes we ask, “Who Are We Now?” “Who Do We Want to Become?” and “How Do We Get There?” In the fourth episode we will take some time to consider a way of learning more about our-

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selves with God and discover the value of listening to “The Sound of Silence.”

The next segment of five episodes turns the attention toward what we believe about God and how we can approach him. We will think about some spiritual disciplines and discuss how they fit in our lives. We will examine “The Need for Reverence,” “Celebration and Worship (Personal),” “Celebration and Worship (Corporate),” “Encountering Scripture,” and “Hearing God’s Voice.”

Finally, we consider how we prepare our home for company. How do we display what we hold dear to others? In the four final episodes we will unpack the ideas of “Serving,” “Giving,” “Understanding Our Beliefs,” and “Sharing Our Faith.”

Unpacking is a daunting task. Yet in the company of trusted friends at the Faith Café, we just might find uncovering and examining our packed away beliefs a lot simpler and more enjoyable than we would think.

:CI:G In our gatherings we do not want you just to sit back and listen. Faith Café invites you to enter into an environment where it is safe to ask for and seek answers. Phrases lure your mind toward deeper paths; quotes dare you to stare into your real self; questions give you a chance to talk to yourself and your friends about what is relevant in your lives.

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This segment highlights portions of Scripture to help you gain a better understanding of truth, while friends beside you voice their own reflections about how the biblical story inspires them to believe in new ways. Your soul can be refreshed by drinking in the living water of God’s Word.

As we examine society’s trends and scrutinize Christianity’s core beliefs, we choose not to leave it there. We offer suggestions to walk out with the truth you’ve explored and straightforward strategies for declaring doctrine daily to those around you. Actions such as writing letters, serving meals, or visiting hospitals will allow you to take your faith and share the delight with desperate people.

Every session includes an invitation to experience the truth you’re studying on a regular basis. Spiritual disciplines such as intercession, silence, worship, study, and journaling help move you toward transformation. Your heavenly Father can guide and change you as you evaluate your habits and lifestyle.

H6KDG You will savor the stories of the struggles, musings, and triumphs of imperfect people like us who are journeying into a deeper relationship with Jesus. You will get a taste of ancient reality as it touches our fast-paced culture. And these bites of life will help to guide, challenge, and focus you.

:ME:G>:C8: Faith Café also offers statistics to investigate, books to read, video clips to watch, Web sites to peruse, and thoughts to ponder. The discussions of our society today will provoke groups to enter and experience lessons together. You’ll create community and in doing so, learn more about yourself.

You are invited to taste and see, to drink and be refreshed. By reflecting and exploring, by examining and investigating, by meditating and applying, you just might discover a way to know God more and to get closer to the person he created you to be. We have no doubt you’ll be glad you decided to sit, sip, and talk about life at Faith Café.