Our culture values and promotes a healthy sense of "self." We are told to know ourselves and love ourselves, to have a healthy self-esteem, full of self-confidence and self-worth. We are told that we are to take care of ourselves, treat ourselves, and even to pamper ourselves because we owe it to ourselves. We are encouraged to be self-starters and self-motivated, with the hope of being self-employed. We honour people like that, calling them self-made and self-reliant. But what if a life with Go...
Sep 12, 2021•27 min•Ep. 376
These days it feels like we are starting to get our lives back. We are out and about more than we have been in a year and half. We are seeing friends more, rediscovering things we loved to do before COVID, taking fewer things for granted than we ever have. It seems like we are finally moving past this remarkable experience that we've lived through together. But, before we put COVID in the rear-view mirror, we want to take some time to grieve the painful ways it has affected us, acknowledge the w...
Sep 05, 2021•43 min•Ep. 375
There is an old joke that says, "A vegan, an atheist, and a cross-fitter walk into a bar... and thirty seconds later everybody knows it." The joke is that when people discover the "truth" about life, as they see it (that life is better fully respecting animals, or being fully free from religion, or fully embracing a lifestyle of fitness) they can't help but talk about it, all the time, with everybody who will listen. The Bible says Jesus came to give us a truly "abundant life." So, how much does...
Aug 29, 2021•23 min•Ep. 374
"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." With these words, Jesus affirms that our hearts are fully devoted to whatever we most fully invest in. Or, to say it another way, if we were to honestly look at where we devote most of our time, where we pour the best of our energy, how we spend our bulk of our money—it would tell us a lot about the things we actually care about most, about the "kingdom" we are actually spending our lives building. What if being fully open to God isn't jus...
Aug 22, 2021•23 min•Ep. 373
The fear in our world is palpable, and seems to be growing. We talk as though everyone is fighting someone, and "they" are fighting against "us." We say that the political right is "at war" with the left, and that faith is "at war" with science. Some say that our rights are being "attacked" and that our way of life is "under siege." Living under this blanket of fear affects how we relate to everyone else, especially those who aren't one of "us." But what if that is exactly the opposite of how Go...
Aug 15, 2021•18 min•Ep. 372
You've heard the saying, "Knowledge is power." You've experienced its truth in too many ways to count. The idea is thousands of years old, found in the Jewish book of Proverbs. Even Jesus affirms the idea that it is the truth that has the power to "set you free." That's why, when it comes to our life with God, we make knowing truth such a high priority. It is why we are so eager to understand the Bible, and why we instinctively close ourselves off to anything that challenges our understanding. B...
Aug 08, 2021•24 min•Ep. 371
Have you ever felt "used" by someone you thought genuinely cared about you? Perhaps it was someone who vowed to love you no matter what, only to walk away when the relationship got hard. Or it was a boss, who professed to value you as a person, yet only ever seemed to take advantage of your enthusiasm. Maybe it was a child or friend, who only ever seemed to care when they wanted or needed something. It is painful to open your heart to someone, only to realize that their heart isn't really open t...
Aug 01, 2021•24 min•Ep. 370
It’s often said that it takes a village to raise a child. And when it comes to raising the next generation at Southridge, all of us are that village! There’s no substitute for the primacy of a parents’ influence, or the partnership that church programs can provide, however each of us has an essential role to play in investing in the full faith potential in every child within our community. Whether or not you have a particular passion for kids ministry, what responsibility do each of us need to t...
Jun 27, 2021•25 min•Ep. 369
The art of delegation is a valuable skill, but there are some things you simply can’t outsource. We sometimes behave as though it’s the school’s job to make my kids smart, their coach’s job to make them a winner, and we imagine that it’s the church’s job to make sure they grow up to be good Christians. But what if that’s not actually the primary role the church exists to play in the lives of kids? If the home is the primary place of spiritual influence in a child’s life, what does it look like f...
Jun 20, 2021•17 min•Ep. 368
Every good parent strives to give their kids a better life; to have more, do more, and be more than they could. Knowing no parent can do it all, we often access outside help from experts, like teachers, coaches, camps, and clubs, to teach and equip them with valuable life-skills, believing that education, opportunity, discipline, and entertainment will give them a great life. But what about when it comes to our children’s spiritual health? What is the foundation of raising spiritually strong kid...
Jun 13, 2021•24 min•Ep. 367
Every family has its rules. They are the foundational principles that give shape to family life and family relationships. There are rules about chores and responsibilities and rules about curfews and borrowing the car. There are rules about reconciling conflict and rules about dinner time, devices, and TV time. The purpose of this elaborate structure of rules is to guide the family towards becoming the best version of itself, where each person is healthy and mature, and the relationships are lov...
Jun 06, 2021•22 min•Ep. 366
Who is your team, the community with whom you share something important in common, which creates a deep sense of belonging? For sports fans, if you see someone wearing your team's logo, you immediately sense a connection (even though they are a complete stranger). For others, those you work with have also become those you play with. Maybe your family is your team, or other LGBTQ+ people, or those who share your ethnic background, or those who understand your unique life circumstances. In additio...
May 30, 2021•21 min•Ep. 365
The are few things more frustrating than being "let down" by someone who wasn't as good as their word. We've all experienced that feeling, whether in small ways like being stood up for a date or having the person who promised to help cancel at the last second, or in big ways like having our partner renege on their wedding vows or being unsupported by someone you thought you could count on. Frankly, if it happens often enough, or hurtfully enough, you may start to question whether you can trust p...
May 23, 2021•23 min•Ep. 364
It has been said that over the past year we have been battling two pandemics: one medical and one financial. It has been a challenging year for many of us who have lost clients or jobs, or have been laid off of work or had to close shop, perhaps more than once. Many of us who have been financially stable in the past suddenly found ourselves asking new questions about the present, and staring into an uncertain future. The question emerges: where is God in the midst of all of this uncertainty? Wha...
May 16, 2021•24 min•Ep. 363
Have you ever taken a "shortcut" to try to accomplish an important goal? Perhaps you experimented with a fad diet or intermittent fasting to try to get ready for beach season. Or maybe you invested in a "sure fire" financial opportunity or a get-rich-quick scheme hoping to turn your finances around. Perhaps you crammed for a test, fudged your taxes, told a little, white lie, or read the Cole's Notes instead of the book. We make these choices to achieve the results we want without having to put i...
May 09, 2021•22 min•Ep. 362
Many people seem obsessed with the Royal family. People love to celebrate their weddings and childbirths and to indulge in their turmoil, like Harry and Meghan relinquishing their status and duties, leaving the UK, and speaking about mental illness and racism. Why is it that watching Royals subvert the Royal Institution unleashes delight in some and outrage in others? What is it about undermining the privilege of the most privileged people in the western world that captures our imagination? How ...
May 02, 2021•25 min•Ep. 361
Who is the most hospitable person that you know? Think of someone you know who is a model of the kind of friendliness, generous welcome and warmth we associate with great hospitality. What can you expect when they welcome you into their home? They make every effort to make you feel comfortable, offer you a drink, marvel you with a spread of sumptuous food, listen attentively, hold your rapt attention as a conversationalist, and on and on. These are the skills that make us feel welcome, and "at h...
Apr 25, 2021•27 min•Ep. 360
Most of us have mixed feelings about our bodies – parts of ourselves that we’re proud of, and parts that make us feel ashamed. Whether it’s the smile we got from our mother, or the nose we inherited from our father, we show off the physical features we consider to be our best, and try to cover up the ones we consider to be our worst. But when it comes to the body of Christ – the church – what are its best features? There are certain body parts we love to show off, but is it possible that, by ign...
Apr 18, 2021•31 min•Ep. 359
It’s been a long, dark, cold, and lonely winter. We’ve been isolated, polarized, and fatigued, surrounded by despair and even death. But even though we’ve journeyed through a season unprecedented in our lifetime, our current experience is not unlike the feelings the early disciples had as they made their way to the tomb where Jesus’ body had been laid to rest just days earlier. What they witnessed next changed everything, dividing the whole world into “Before” and “After”, and they knew immediat...
Apr 04, 2021•15 min•Ep. 358
No event in history evokes such a mix of emotions, debate, and faith as the story of the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus. It has become the subject of countless works of art, including dozens of blockbuster movies and musicals. The plot is simple: Jesus, an innocent man, was executed for political crimes that he didn’t commit. But what was really behind this display of naked injustice? Why did Jesus have to die, and why is the cross so important to His followers today? How did a faith le...
Apr 02, 2021•12 min•Ep. 357
The image of Jesus hanging on the cross is one of the most iconic images world-wide. But what not many people realize is that this was set in motion by one of the most striking religious and political spectacles of all time. We’ve come to refer to that spectacle as “Palm Sunday”. What is Palm Sunday, and how did a crowd of palm-branch-waving Jesus fans seal the fate of one of the most iconic figure in human history? And what does this story reveal about the true identity of Jesus, and why He was...
Mar 28, 2021•22 min•Ep. 356
As you watch the events of our world unfold around you, where do you imagine the world is headed? The COVID-19 vaccine spreading around the world might suggest that with the help of science and technology things are getting better. The political and social unrest we've witnessed might suggest that the things are getting worse. Extreme poverty is falling, but the gap between the rich and poor is growing. Racial tensions abound, though they often go unrecognized and unnamed. But where is it all go...
Mar 21, 2021•20 min•Ep. 355
Have you ever felt "trapped" by your circumstances or anxious about where your life is headed? Sometimes we are trapped by the bad choices that we ourselves have made, which are destined to eventually self-destruct. At other times, we can find ourselves trapped despite our good choices, which have been disrupted by others' bad (or good!) intentions or circumstances beyond anyone's control. Sometimes we can feel trapped even though we've faithfully chosen to do pursue God's purposes for us! What ...
Mar 14, 2021•22 min•Ep. 354
How would you describe yourself to others? In other words, what do you consider to be part of your fundamental identity, part of who you really are? We always start with our name, to let people know who and whose we are. Many of us introduce ourselves by telling people what we do for a living, as though our work is part of who we are. Those who have families of their own will often name them. Sometimes we list our country of origin, our major accomplishments, our alma mater, or other distinguish...
Mar 07, 2021•22 min•Ep. 353
Can you think of a lesson that you had to learn the hard way? Maybe it was a career move that didn't go as planned, a disastrous relationship, or a conversation that blew up in your face. In the 20/20 vision of hindsight, you can see that the signs were there from the beginning that this wouldn't go as you hoped, but you just couldn't see it at the time, or bring yourself to choose something different. Too often, it seems like it has to be a bad experience to be a learning experience. But what i...
Feb 21, 2021•24 min•Ep. 352
Why is spirituality an important part of your life? What do you hope to get out of making religious participation a priority? Perhaps some of us are thinking about the next life more than this one, about what happens after we die. Others may be looking for relief from the guilt and shame they feel. Perhaps still others are hoping for God to "bless" their lives with a family, meaningful work, and material comfort. But what if God's purposes are higher and greater than just what God can accomplish...
Feb 14, 2021•22 min•Ep. 351
What would you say is the most important factor in achieving the life you've always wanted? Some people believe that it is money that makes the world go round, while others insist that politics has the greatest influence on the quality of our life. Others believe that education matters most, or marriage and family, or travel and entertainment But what if there was something more powerful than all of these things, a power that can actually do what we hope and set us free to experience what Jesus ...
Feb 07, 2021•22 min•Ep. 350
Jesus said a lot of memorable things. But perhaps His most famous of all were a talk he gave that we now refer to as 'The Sermon On The Mount'. Tackling everything from poverty, grief, sin, prayer, anxiety and life's ultimate purpose, this sermon is the most clear, comprehensive, and compelling vision for what becoming a Jesus person actually looks like. But at the end of the day, can another message really change our lives? Is it all just a lot of talk, or is it possible that this – the greates...
Jan 31, 2021•21 min•Ep. 349
One of the questions people have been asking lately around here is, "When are we re-opening the church?" But the truth is, the church has never been closed. The presence of God, active through the people of God has continued, despite our challenging circumstances. But for many, the pandemic has caused drift and disconnection from what God is doing in and through this community. So what would it take for our drift to become devotion? What does it look like, even in a season when we can't gather a...
Jan 24, 2021•26 min•Ep. 348
Life was never meant to be lived alone. In fact, alone-ness is the only thing God created and declared "not good." Bottom line: we're hard-wired for relationships. But for many of us, the emotional and spiritual benefits of friendship have never been harder to achieve. Many of us have relied on virtual connections through screens as a way of coping and maintaining a sense of togetherness, only to discover that, while these modern solutions aren't bad, they certainly aren't as good as the real th...
Jan 17, 2021•25 min•Ep. 347
