Christian Consumer vs. Disciple

Raising kids is a big deal.  I’m in the Pappy stage, but I clearly remember the days when we were in the middle of it.  The days when we were three little girls deep.  I remember being so tired and wondering if there would ever be a Saturday when I could sleep in and relax.  I remember the insane amount of things we had to pack into the minivan to spend the night anywhere.  I remember the nights everyone fell asleep in their beds.  And then waking up to discover that the n

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Life: Either I'm blowing it or God is holding out on me

Today, I want to start with a section from the book, Waking the Dead. 

Oh, I’d love to wake each morning knowing exactly who I am and where God is taking me.  Zeroed in on all my relationships, undaunted in my calling. It’s awesome when I do see.  But for most of us, life seems more like driving along with a dirty windshield and then turning into the sun.  I can sort of make out the shapes ahead, and I think the light is green… After a while, the accumulation of event after

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Why We Still Believe We Must Earn God's Love

We have covered huge topics in this series, and I am wondering how you are doing so far.  So let me ask you a few questions.  After reading scripture, hearing the sermons, and after your real-life experience, do you believe in the power of God’s grace that can radically change your life?  Do you believe you have an enemy trying to steal everything Jesus died to give to you?  Do you believe you are in a spiritual war?  Looking at your life, do you see that your enemy’s lies

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The Real Reason, Maybe, Why Life Is So Frustrating

There is a story in the Bible that Jesus told.  You are probably very familiar with it.  It’s a story of two sons.  The younger son demanded his inheritance early and left home.  It was extremely disrespectful to his father and shows the true condition of his heart.  As you hear this story, he seems to be the bad son.  The older brother, he stays at home and works on the farm with his dad.   He seems to be the good son.  He is loyal and faithful.  As the story goes on, the

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Self Doubt And The Damage It Does

This series is a big deal.   Why?  Because we are dealing with the things that can significantly damage how we live our lives.  If you are wrestling with these things, it's like adding one hundred fifty pounds to your daily life, and it's exhausting.  Topics like living with regret and guilt.  Being stuck in the world of people pleasing.  Being paralyzed with feelings of self-doubt.  Living with a sense of entitlement that steals our gratitude.   Constantly feeling unlovab

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The Sneaky & Dangerous Trap of People Pleasing

This spring, we jumped into an important conversation called "Mind Games: Winning the Battle Within."  It’s important because our lives are so intense, with so much happening on the outside that we can physically see, that I’m not sure we even recognize that the real battle is spiritual, and what we are up against is happening on the inside.  The Christian life isn’t a playground; it’s a battlefield fought for your mind.  And what we have set out to do in this series is lo

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Guilt and Regret and the Damage They Do

I want to start this week in scripture.

Romans 6:2-5 That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace - a new life in a new land! That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised in

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How To Stand Firm Daily In This Spiritual War

Today, we are starting a new series called Mind Games – Winning the Battle Within.  We are really looking forward to this conversation because life is so hard, and we face so much on the outside that I’m not sure we realize the real battle is being fought on the inside.  Our lives can feel like a whirlwind; they are so busy and intense that it's hard to pick up on the thoughts and inner conversations we have that impact so much of our lives. We need to understand that our

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It's Easter, But What Does That Really Mean For Me?

Before we jump into today's talk, I want to ask you something.  If you are a Christian, meaning you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and know that our sins, past, present, and future, are forgiven and forgotten, when was the last time you really thought about what Jesus has done for you?  When was the last time you slowed down and reflected on where your life was before you met Jesus, and where it is today because of Jesus?  When was the last time you truly rem

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The Wide Road and Narrow Road

Do you remember Sam’s talk last week?  I’m curious to know how it impacted you.  He gave us the analogy of a lost cell phone.  How do we react when we can’t find our cell phone?  Our heart rate goes up.  We get focused.  We hunt for it.  Why?   Because finding that phone is important.   Jesus taught to ask, seek, and knock.   Then Sam asked, “Why do people who love God struggle to make the daily choice to spend time with their Heavenly Father?”  

The latest research shows t

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Around 70% of Christians Choose Not To Do This But 100% Want What Would Happen If They Did

Welcome back, everyone, to our study of The Sermon on the Mount called “Rethinking Our Faith.”  Last week, Ken kicked off chapter 7 for us, which led to an important conversation about our hearts toward others, and something we should avoid: judging others.  It was an important talk where Ken was able to lean into something that many of us struggle with.  It can be so easy to overlook the planks in our own eyes while focusing on the little specs in someone else’s eye.  Ken

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How Do I Know I Think I Am 'god"?

One of the most popular sayings that you hear today is, ‘Don’t judge me.’  When someone says, ‘Don’t judge me,’ that basically means they want unlimited approval of everything they do.  Every thought.  Every belief.   Every bad decision.  Every moral decision.  Just accept it.  Approve of me, no matter what I do.   Validate me, no matter how badly I perform.  And if you don’t, you make me feel bad.  You are mean.  You are judging me.  You hate me.   And any negative feedba

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Don't Worry About Your Life or Future, Easier Said (and Preached) Than Done!

Welcome back to our study of The Sermon on the Mount: Rethinking Our Faith.  Today, we will finish Matthew 6.  In this chapter, Jesus moves from talking about being real and authentic in life and in our spiritual practices right into teachings on serving, prayer, fasting, and giving. Last week, Ken did an awesome job leaning into a conversation about money, how Jesus explains a Christian should view and treat it.  That was fun, right?  It is interesting; money is a major s

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You Are Going To Love The One and Hate The Other

Did you know that the practical day-to-day choices you make in life impact your spiritual life?  It’s been my experience that people often think the opposite.  Many think, ‘God will change me.  I don’t have to make choices that make me feel uncomfortable.  Or, I don't have to stop something or start something.' So, many passively wait and wait and wait for God to do something while at the same time not making any changes.  And for some, they leave the church thinking that

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Being Real Is a Gift To You and To Others

Today, we continue our study of the Sermon on the Mount called Rethinking Our Faith.  At this point in the series, a couple of things are clear.  We will have some things to rethink and unlearn in our faith.  We can see how important this sermon is to the Christian life.  And if you think about where we have already been in this series, Jesus addresses many tension points in our faith, you know, those things that we struggle to understand, or just wrestle with in our faith

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