It's a commandment from God. We are to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. This command is one of the top ten. It made the ten commandments. Christians know and promote the commandments. Don't kill, don't steal, don't commit adultery. We live by the commands. But, "remember the Sabbath", do we really take that commandment seriously? Should we?
We can't go back and do it again, but what if we could? What would we change if we had another chance? We also delve into what lessons we can glean going forward.
The obvious answer to today's podcast is "yes, God is kind". We agree. But, do we really live our lives in a way that reflect that reality? Do we see God as a kind God? What about when things aren't going the way we had hoped? What about when our world seems to be falling apart? What about all of the corruption and suffering in this world? How do we proclaim the kindness of God in the midst of tragedy?
The Bible is clear that we are not to worry. But, we do. Worry brings stress, and stress is the catalyst for so many other issues. Stress leads to a multitude of other health issues. Stress can lead to relationship challenges. Stress can promote wrong decisions. We live in a stressful world. How do we handle stress? Is it possible to overcome?
Our lives are made up of habits. So much of our daily routine is centered around our habits. Starting new habits can start a ripple effect in our life. Moving past good intentions into consistency is all about starting new routines. As Christians, we should always be seeing ourself in process. Developing a mindset of habit forming is the key.
It seems to be a more and more common story. Leaders fall. Moral failures, criminal charges, pride, heresy. Whatever the reason, it still hurts the body of Christ when a leader falls. The world is watching and ready to pounce on the church. So, how do we handle the situation? Whether it's a prominent leader, or a local leader, the effect can be just as severe.
We pulled back the curtain a little this week into our personal lives. Our wives are Godly women, and this week we took the entire podcast to focus on what we love about them.
Sometimes relationships end. Personal relationships, business relationships, casual relationships. For various reasons, relationships end. But, is there a time to burn bridges? How do we keep from burning bridges that don't need to be burned?
We all want more of God or do we? The quick answer most Christians would give is "yes I want more of God". But, isn't that a bit risky? What if God asks more of us than we are wanting to give? What does it mean to want more of God and how do we get more of Him?
Sometimes leaving a church has to happen. There is a wrong way and a right way to do this.
Once you've involved yourself and your family in a church body, how do you stay? Conflicts come and personalities clash. Congregations are full of people, and people aren't perfect. How do you stay when things get tougher?
Choosing a church family is a big decision. What factors should you be looking for? What is most important?
In this episode we each picked out 5 books that have had a major impact on us. There was some overlap, and we also struggled keeping the list to "just 5".
We are to be encouragers and life-givers. Is what we say and what we do helping or hurting others? Does this mean we always have to be positive? How do we have the hard conversations, and how does this fit into giving life? We explore these questions and more in this podcast.
God still speaks today. For those of us that have been around church life for any period of time, this is not breaking news. We have heard this message many times. But, how does God speak? How do we hear from Him? How do we know it is God speaking?
Busy, Busy, Busy. Schedules are hectic. Our lives are full. We run from one meeting to the next appointment. Calendars and planners are a tool to keep us on track. But, are we a slave to our day or is it a slave to us? How in the world can we get everything done that needs to be done, while still saving time for family, self, exercise, and rest?
Giving God a blank check is scary. He has a plan, but we don't always know what that plan is. How do we give God an open-ended "yes"? The Christian life requires faith, sometimes a blind faith. In this episode we discuss how this practically plays out.
Cluttered. For many of us, that is a description of our lives. We have busy schedules, we have more than enough stuff, we have learned to fill every single second of our lives. But, what if the whole secret is having less? Less stuff, less entertainment, less clutter, less to do. Could this be the path to fulfillment?
Life can be discouraging. Situations come at us everyday. Everyone is busy and trials and challenges abound. Bad work environments, disobedient children, financial struggles, relationship problems. It is so easy to be overwhelmed. Meanwhile, everyone else seems to be content and happy. So, what about us? How can we stay encouraged in this tough world?
What expectations are placed upon us as Christ followers? God pursues us and desires relationship with us, but what does He want from us in return? People are wired to be "doing" people. We love tasks and checklists. But, as we discuss in this episode, going through the motions and performing isn't God's desire for us.
Holiness. It's the standard that God gives us in His Word. As a Christian, we are considered "set apart". On the surface today's podcast question seems simple, but as it is unraveled, it becomes a little more challenging. How do we live holy lives in an unholy world?
One of the most popularly quoted Bible verses today is, "Judge not, lest you be judged yourself." It's a popular opinion in today's culture: Christians are Mean. In today's society everyone has an opinion, and it's much easier to voice that opinion. In this episode we discuss finding balance between standing for truth, and being compassionate.
It's a question that many seem to be asking today. Do I really need to go to church? Can I do church online? What exactly is a church?
Billboards line our roads. Promotions flood our social media pages. Ad videos pop up everywhere. Marketing is not a new concept. Good advertisements are targeted towards a specific demographic. So, what about all of the Christian merchandise? There is a whole world of Christian paraphernalia. On this episode we talk about "Jesus Junk" and the vast amount of Christian-specific trinkets, toys, movies, music, and yes, even candy!
God has created us to be unique. Everyone of us has a distinct set of gifts and personality traits. Yet, often we strive to be something we are not. In this episode we dive into the topic of finding our uniqueness, and then being comfortable there.
No one likes someone that is fake. We strive to live an authentic life, and part of that is being transparent. Transparency reveals who we are and what we do. But, at what level are we to be transparent? How much of our lives should be an open book?
God has an assignment for everyone of us. But, what if we don't feel equipped? What do we do when we don't have what we need to take the next step?
Facebook is one of the most visited websites in the world. It is also among the top downloaded apps on all devices. Hours are spent on facebook. In this episode we discuss Facebook (and other social media platforms). What is the downside, and what is the upside of using social media platforms?
Busy. Everyone is busy. This world is chaotic. In this episode we talk about navigating through the hustle and bustle.
What is the difference between heresy and a different theological view? Where is the line? What determines when something can be called heretical?
