This week, we look at the unexpected messengers in the angels and shepherds. Being a shepherd was a very blue-collar sort of occupation, yet a bunch of shepherds were chosen to hear the news of the birth of Jesus in a very unexpected way. After the unexpected messengers depart, the shepherds become messengers of their own. They carry the message of the birth of Jesus as God shows us; He can use anyone, anywhere, to proclaim the greatest & most unexpected message ever.
Dec 15, 2024•35 min
This week, we look at the unexpected messengers in the angels and shepherds. Being a shepherd was a very blue-collar sort of occupation, yet a bunch of shepherds were chosen to hear the news of the birth of Jesus in a very unexpected way. After the unexpected messengers depart, the shepherds become messengers of their own. They carry the message of the birth of Jesus as God shows us; He can use anyone, anywhere, to proclaim the greatest & most unexpected message ever.
Dec 15, 2024•27 min
Dec 10, 2024•11 min
This week, we will focus on Joseph and all the unexpected events that swirled around this man’s life. His life went from a simple engagement to the news that his fiancé was pregnant. Joseph is then faced with how to handle this unexpected situation to bring the least amount of shame on himself and Mary. In the middle of this contemplation, he then is given a very unexpected dream that changed the course of his life forever.
Dec 08, 2024•26 min
This week, we will focus on Joseph and all the unexpected events that swirled around this man’s life. His life went from a simple engagement to the news that his fiancé was pregnant. Joseph is then faced with how to handle this unexpected situation to bring the least amount of shame on himself and Mary. In the middle of this contemplation, he then is given a very unexpected dream that changed the course of his life forever.
Dec 08, 2024•28 min
Our midweek service will focus on this interaction when the pregnant Mary unexpectedly visits her aunt Elizabeth's house. Both women are experiencing unexpected pregnancies, but it isn’t the presence of Mary that is the most remarkable visitor when John the Baptist and Jesus meet for the first time. Even in the womb John was jumping for joy that the Savior was in the world!
Dec 04, 2024•23 min
Dec 03, 2024•11 min
We begin our Advent journey by looking at the unexpected appearance of the angel with Mary. Mary is a young Jewish girl who lives in a poorer part of the region, but her life has been unexpectedly turned upside down. Not only was the angel unexpected, but the message this messenger brought was beyond unexpected. I know how I react when unexpected news comes my way, and it is definitely not like the response of this young girl who shows us such bravery, obedience, and faith.
Dec 01, 2024•22 min
We begin our Advent journey by looking at the unexpected appearance of the angel with Mary. Mary is a young Jewish girl who lives in a poorer part of the region, but her life has been unexpectedly turned upside down. Not only was the angel unexpected, but the message this messenger brought was beyond unexpected. I know how I react when unexpected news comes my way, and it is definitely not like the response of this young girl who shows us such bravery, obedience, and faith.
Dec 01, 2024•28 min
Nov 26, 2024•12 min
This week, we are looking at the very heart, the key, of living thankful, and that is the power of prayer in our lives. I heard it said that prayer is when we come before God to let Him figure us out. Prayer is the ultimate power of perspective as we make ourselves available for God to speak to us, empower us, clarify us, and motivate us to continue to believe and live faithfully and thankfully. Jesus has invited us to ask the Father for whatever is on our hearts, and God will give us exactly wh...
Nov 24, 2024•31 min
This week, we are looking at the very heart, the key, of living thankful, and that is the power of prayer in our lives. I heard it said that prayer is when we come before God to let Him figure us out. Prayer is the ultimate power of perspective as we make ourselves available for God to speak to us, empower us, clarify us, and motivate us to continue to believe and live faithfully and thankfully. Jesus has invited us to ask the Father for whatever is on our hearts, and God will give us exactly wh...
Nov 24, 2024•23 min
Nov 20, 2024•1 hr
Nov 19, 2024•12 min
This week, we are focusing on something that, in my opinion, is a huge piece of what steals people's joy, power, and peace, and that is the lost art of being able to say “no.” Every yes we make is a no to something else, and every no we say is a yes to something else. Our yeses and nos point to our greater identity, focus, and mission of life, and so this week, we look at what it means to say no to the things the world is offering so we can say YES to the things that God is working out in our li...
Nov 17, 2024•22 min
This week, we are focusing on something that, in my opinion, is a huge piece of what steals people's joy, power, and peace, and that is the lost art of being able to say “no.” Every yes we make is a no to something else, and every no we say is a yes to something else. Our yeses and nos point to our greater identity, focus, and mission of life, and so this week, we look at what it means to say no to the things the world is offering so we can say YES to the things that God is working out in our li...
Nov 17, 2024•32 min
What "rules" do you have regarding technology in your home? How does an increase in social media platforms correlate with increased social deprivation? As a parent, has your phone gotten in the way of the presence and socialization your child needs from you? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Five.
Nov 15, 2024•11 min
Modern technology makes it easy to track our children's whereabouts, grades, and even behavior electronically. This can become "the world's longest umbilical cord." Could you cut down on the ways in which you electronically track or watch your child in the real world? What were the impacts of the studies of two schools that went phone-free? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Eleven.
Nov 15, 2024•9 min
Does a phone-based life generally pull us upward or downward? Has the digital age made us better at loving God and loving others, or not? Do you feel your cell phone, social media accounts, and screen time are making you more like Jesus or more like the world? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Eight.
Nov 15, 2024•13 min
Is it too late to fix the impact the digital world has created on our children and on us? How are parenting decisions driven by doing what every other parent is doing? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Nine.
Nov 15, 2024•9 min
The rise of the digital age has impacted boys just as much as girls but in different ways. How is the digital world enabling boys (and men) to flounder? Why are boys more drawn to video games and the fantasy world more than girls? What boundaries do we need to instill in boys from getting lost in the virtual world? How are the addictions different when it comes to men versus women in their online behavior and what they are drawn to? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Seven.
Nov 15, 2024•14 min
Most parents experience a feeling of being trapped or powerless when it comes to technology, cell phones, social media, and the digital age. What role do these things play in the vicious circle of social disconnection, loneliness, anxiety, and depression? Explore this question and more in Chapter One.
Nov 15, 2024•11 min
How can our own phone habits teach our children the importance of cell phones? How can we, as parents, keep a lid on total screen-based activities and be mindful of our behaviors and what they're modeling? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Twelve.
Nov 15, 2024•14 min
How can we help bring our children "back to earth" and lead them into a fuller and richer experience of childhood? How important are adults' habits toward cell phones in this process? Explore these questions and more as we conclude our study of "The Anxious Generation."
Nov 15, 2024•7 min
How does the 24/7 nature of the smartphone impact relationships? What caused the spike in mental health issues for teens? What does it mean for a child to practice attunement? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Two.
Nov 15, 2024•9 min
What does it mean to be living in an "attention economy"? Is social media safe to use, harmless, should be used in moderation, dangerous, or should be illegal? Should we encourage phone-free schools? Can and should the government incentivize more and better real-world experience? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Ten.
Nov 15, 2024•10 min
What actions can you take to lessen your child's time spent in the virtual world and increase their opportunities for fun and responsibility in the physical world? How can we help guide our children from adolescence into adulthood? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Four.
Nov 15, 2024•11 min
Join us for a deep-dive into the book, "The Anxious Generation," by Jonathan Haidt. After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. Rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rose sharply, more than doubling on most measures. Why? In The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. He then investigates the na...
Nov 15, 2024•8 min
This chapter discusses the overprotection and under protection of children/adolescents in the real world versus the digital world. What is your parenting style? How does a digital childhood deprive our children from key experiences necessary for full development? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Three.
Nov 15, 2024•16 min
Is it safe to allow teenagers to participate in social media platforms? How does social media affect the individual and the social lives of groups? Why are girls more vulnerable to the effects of social media than boys? What steps could you take toward adding more quality time for your family? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Six.
Nov 15, 2024•9 min
