Jeremiah 7:32-34; Ezekiel 37:1-3

And now something has happened to drive us from God. Maybe it was failure at the revolution. Maybe we feel abandoned. Maybe we have had a loss that threatens to undo us. We are in the valley now. Valleys are where wars take place, and valleys are where the bones of the fallen are bleached in the sun. But is all hope lost?

Exodus 24:9-18; Mark 9:2-13

Our faith is deeper now, and it is inspiring us to take on the daunting challenge of organizing the world around the reign of God. We are ready to try to make the world in the image of God.

Numbers 14:26-35; Matthew 4:1-11

Something happens to drive us from the garden. Perhaps it is because we have encountered something in life that a simple, comfortable faith can’t address. We are wandering in the wilderness now. And remember – wilderness and desert are the same words in Hebrew. What does our desert season look like but one where our faith is being tried in the refiner’s fire?

Items on the list:

- a two-quart canteen of water (per person)

- a magnetic compass

- a compress kit with gauze

- a topcoat

- a red-and-white parachute

- a jackknife

- a sectional air map of the area

- two quarts of vodka

- a book entitled "Edible Animals of the Desert"

- a plastic raincoat

- a cosmetic mirror

- a .45-caliber pistol

- sunglasses

- a bottle of salt tablets

- a flashlight (4-battery size)