It’s interesting how easy it is to not care for people we don’t know and how hard it is to not care for those we know well. Jesus said “blessed are the merciful!” The best way for us to be merciful is for us to care, to really step into the shoes of another, to look out at the world from behind their eyes, and to hear and experience what they hear and experience. Matthew 5:7 This week one of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS asked: Who would be the Zacchaeus of our day that we’d be shocked, even disturbed that ...
Aug 14, 2019•18 min
“God blesses those who are poor . . . ” This is a bold and counter-cultural thing for Jesus to say. It was hard to understand and believe in that day and maybe nearly impossible to grasp in our consumer-driven culture where acquiring possessions, power, and influence are so coveted. Jesus says people are blessed and privileged when they come to realize their own bankruptcy—their utter helplessness—and put their whole trust in God. Matthew 5:3 This week one of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS asked: How have yo...
Aug 07, 2019•27 min
Love is something we all want—we all need, and our modern world provides us all manner of messages and definitions of what love is. But Paul says that there isn’t much of what we sing about and talk about that can really get close to the depth of God’s love. In fact, Paul prays for the church that they might be able to somehow grasp this amazing love. Why is it so hard for us to accept, embrace, understand and ultimately translate this core attribute of God? As discussed in this episode, here is...
Jul 31, 2019•36 min
We like to be in charge. We like the planning and the scheduling and the organizing and having the final say in what happens and how it happens. However, our desire to be in charge is only an effort to exert control over things none of us can actually control. What if we let go (even just a little bit) because God is in control? Luke 10: 38 – 42 This is a part 2 of 2 to one of our rare “.5” episodes here on the podcast! As discussed in this episode, here is the link to watch Dorcia Jolliff’s mes...
Jul 27, 2019•35 min
We like to be in charge. We like the planning and the scheduling and the organizing and having the final say in what happens and how it happens. However, our desire to be in charge is only an effort to exert control over things none of us can actually control. What if we let go (even just a little bit) because God is in control? Luke 10: 38 – 42 This is a part 1 of 2 and a predecessor to one of our rare “.5” episodes here on the podcast! As discussed in this episode, here is the link to watch Do...
Jul 24, 2019•3 min
Going from a seemingly easy and full life to one that quickly became broken in all manners — physically, emotionally and spiritually. The Monnier’s journey to embrace this new path required overcoming many hurdles. Understanding that there may not be physical healing to come, but spiritual health, is the most important prescription God provides. Mark 1:35-38 This is a rare part 2 of 2, a “.5” episode here on the podcast! We have only done four of these in our three years and 165 episodes. On eac...
Jul 20, 2019•37 min
Going from a seemingly easy and full life to one that quickly became broken in all manners — physically, emotionally and spiritually. The Monnier’s journey to embrace this new path required overcoming many hurdles. Understanding that there may not be physical healing to come, but spiritual health, is the most important prescription God provides. Mark 1:35-38 This is a rare part 1 of 2, “.5” episode here on the podcast! We have only done four of these in our three years and 165 episodes. On each ...
Jul 17, 2019•4 min
Why is God faithful to us, and what happens when we are faithful to God? Faithfulness is the basic ingredient to begin a relationship with God. Faith is the connecting power into the spiritual realm, which links us with God and makes Him become a tangible reality. Numbers 23:14 One of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS this week asked: Has faith ever transformed your life? If so then how? Please reach out to us directly from the FHC Mobile App. You can share by using the Media tab, and then - Podcast banner - us...
Jul 10, 2019•25 min
Grace is one of the attributes of God’s character that has such drawing power. It’s a simple concept: being given something good that we don’t deserve. Yet it boggles the human mind—so much so that many of us have a hard time accepting God’s generous gifts to us. Ephesians 2:8-9 One of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS this week asked: Think of a time in your life when you were given a gift that you didn't earn and didn't deserve. How did it make you feel? Please reach out to us directly from the FHC Mobile App...
Jul 03, 2019•23 min
Our God is a personal God, and we all relate to him in different ways. He is also a creative God. His creativity is wonderfully on display in nature and human creation, but most importantly throughout our everyday lives. We can trust our God to be in control and that he has a plan for our lives, but more importantly that he has already creatively mapped out how we are to live the rest of our lives with him in Heaven. Scripture: Romans 1:20 One of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS this week asked: What Bible sto...
Jun 26, 2019•20 min
“In Christ,” slaves and free people are one. Distinctions in the body of Christ over position, career, or income are not to be. The one with little economic or no economic lifting power has the same respect, vote, and participation as the person with huge economic lifting power. No preferential classifying based on these distinctions is valid in Christ’s Body. Galatians 3:23-29 One of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS this week asked: Who do you know who needs to be adopted into God’s family? Please reach out t...
Jun 19, 2019•24 min
This hurts the heads of some of Jesus followers. However, Paul is clear in this most personal and self-defining of all distinctions, that in Christ they are gone and irrelevant. The old mindset of “headship” is gone; “in Christ” that is all reversed. There can be no roles withheld or conferred based on gender identity. Galatians 3:23-29 One of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS this week asked: What do you think about creation being of one creature then divided into two and that there is oneness in shared flesh?...
Jun 12, 2019•24 min
What the church is called to is oneness! We, being many – from many nations, cultures, backgrounds, races, language groups, political persuasions – “in Christ” we make up one, ONE Body of Christ. This was radical teaching for Paul and his Jewish culture. It was radical teaching in the Roman culture of hierarchy and privileges based on those very identities. It is radical teaching today in 2019 in our country and our world. Jesus’ Body, the church, is called to be the place where these human dist...
Jun 05, 2019•24 min
Jesus knew who he was. Time spent with the Father confirmed his identity, and this gave him power to face challenges, heal others, and eventually sacrifice his life. Who are we? Who are we called to be, and what influences our understanding of our identity? Matthew 3:16-17 | Speaker: Steven Arauz This week our #fhcTAKEAWAYS came in the form of a guided plan for Creating An Identity Chart. Even if you are confident about “who” you are through God’s eyes, take a few minutes and work through the qu...
Jun 05, 2019•29 min
In honor of those that have fallen, defending our country and our freedoms, this weeks episode features a short story that highlights one of the greatest military hero’s the world has ever known. A man who knew how to float, leaving God in charge, in situations most of us can never hope to understand. A war hero without a gun and Christian misfit. The soldier nobody wanted and that everybody loathed. God took the most undesirable and made him into the one weapon no one wanted to do battle withou...
May 29, 2019•19 min
We love to get applauded for our excellent performance and be handed the trophy. We live in a world where rewards go to the victorious, and so we expect that the whole Christian thing is about performance and measuring up. But it’s not really about my performance, my measuring up, or even my being faithful. We need rescue. We have two natures that war, and the only answer isn’t getting by with a little help from our friends. We need transformation. #fhcTAKEAWAYS video links for this week: * Happ...
May 22, 2019•20 min
Jesus spent time with the Holy Spirit and the Father. Scripture documents his time in the spiritual disciplines of fasting and prayer. It was after practicing these disciplines that he faced the temptation. Matthew 4:1-11 One of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS asked: How do you like the analogy of floating for what life in Christ should be? We would love to hear your take on the floating analogy! Please reach out to us directly from the FHC Mobile App. You can share by using the Media tab, and then - Podcast ...
May 15, 2019•26 min
It is so easy to point the finger at where we imagine the fault to lie. We often think of temptation as coming to us from “out there” somewhere, like a villain coming and knocking at our door to lure us away. We may be surprised by a couple of realities: We can’t be tempted by something we don’t want, and the surprising source of our temptations. James 1:13-15 One of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS stated: How can you help someone learn to float in God’s love and grace? We would love to hear your story! Pleas...
May 08, 2019•22 min
How does a complex and sometimes disturbing natural world shape our understanding of its Creator? Are our ideas about God limited by our discomfort with His creation? Is the nature of the natural world in conflict with the One who made it, or is the very things that surround us and overwhelm us a true reflection of who He is? One of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS stated: What is your spiritual cockroach that you haven’t been able to see through the Creator’s eyes? We would love to hear your story! Please rea...
May 01, 2019•18 min
What is your Easter story – Part 2? Three FHC members (Michael Tran, Heidi Sposato, and Mike Jacob) share how the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus impacted and continues to form who they are. One of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS stated: What is your Easter story? We would love to hear your story! Please reach out to us directly from the FHC Mobile App. You can share by using the Media tab, and then - Podcast banner - use the text and email share buttons, or use one of the following: ■ Text/Voicemail: ...
Apr 24, 2019•9 min
What is your Easter story? How should the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus impact and continue to form the followers of Christ? Join two of our teenage leaders at the Hospital Church, Maurie Andino and Amanda Santos, as they discuss what it means to be followers of Jesus and leading others to be the same. One of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS stated: If you grew up going to church, What was it like growing up in the church of your youth? We would love to hear your story! Please reach out to us directly...
Apr 17, 2019•23 min
It may be the boldest of all the bold asks: “We want you (Jesus) to do for us whatever we ask!” It seems without limit—beyond three wishes of a genie. There is no doubt that we often don’t realize the long-range implications of that for which we ask. Jesus will teach us that his kingdom isn’t about position and power but something far different than what these brothers had in mind. Mark 10:35-45 One of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS stated: How do you handle God saying, “you don’t know what you’re asking”? P...
Apr 10, 2019•20 min
Jesus isn’t just willing to respond to the bold ask of the leper; he does the unthinkable. He does what is not to be done; he puts himself at risk of disease, at risk of being shut out of the temple. He touched the man. But the bold ask of the leper to be healed is followed by a bold ask of Jesus for him to keep quiet about it and follow temple protocol. However, he doesn’t meet Jesus’ request, and the results complicate Jesus ministry. Mark 1:40-45 One of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS stated: What is your ...
Apr 03, 2019•24 min
We have often heard the ask of the one thief: “Remember me…” However, both thieves crucified with Jesus made bold asks. How do they compare? Why was one an ask of faith and the other something less? Both were asks for self, but one was short-sighted, and the other took the long view. What were the results of these two bold asks, and what is the teaching that can shape our faith walk today? Luke 23:39-43 One of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS stated: Why was the thief able to see Christ for who he really was, ...
Mar 27, 2019•24 min
A dad has brought his boy to Jesus to be healed of demon possession. The demon throws the boy to the ground, and Jesus asks the dad about how long he’s been like this. The dad explains, and then the ask: If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. What does it mean to make a bold ask with or without the “if?” Mark 9:14-29 One of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS stated: Jesus said, “You have not because you don’t ask,” how can that be motivation for us to make some Bold Asks? Please reach out to us dir...
Mar 20, 2019•21 min
In our culture today, we imagine we see it all. We believe our scientific minds and rational thinking are seeing the full picture. We forget that, as Paul wrote, “we war against spiritual wickedness.” Jesus recognized personified evil, and the demons recognized Jesus. They recognized his position and power. In light of how they had treated one of his sons—one of his creations, Jesus had every right to deal harshly. The demons make their ask, and Jesus grants their request. As followers of Jesus,...
Mar 13, 2019•21 min
God calls us to worship, and worship is the most important activity of any Christian. Through worship, we acknowledge our Creator, the undeserved grace of salvation, and our mission to bring God's kingdom to our world. One of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS asked: Name 3 ways in which you can be more thankful to God in worship for his extravagant love toward us. What are some application points for you in seeing worship as serious play? Please reach out to us directly from the FHC Mobile App. You can share by...
Mar 06, 2019•20 min
God is wonderful--the Giver of every good and perfect gift. Everything in all creation is from him, through him, and to him. We are the creatures, and God is Creator. It only makes sense that we would respond in worship. But the draw is strong to pick something other than Creator, something in his creation, and make that the object of our worship. However, the more we can come to know God in Jesus Christ, our motivation and the object of our worship will be drawn to God. He does it all, and our ...
Feb 27, 2019•22 min
This episode was taped during the annual FHC Retreat from Camp Kulaqua in High Springs Florida! Our speaker this year, Leclare Litchfield, spoke on “Big Heart, Little Heart,” considering how God pours the love, forgiveness, and grace from his big heart into the little hearts of his children. Therefore, it is God working through us, and not anything we can do on our own, that enables us to live a life in the image of Christ. Please reach out to us directly from the FHC Mobile App. You can share b...
Feb 20, 2019•26 min
God has been gracious to us. While we are running away from him, he reconciles us to himself. He invites us in, adopts us. We’ve been brought back as friends of God. This gift isn’t ours just so we can sit around the campfire with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit singing Kumbaya, and enjoying the warmth of that great fellowship. We are called to love as he has loved us—to do all we can to love others into that friendship circle. Will we join in the saving work of Jesus and really love people? Ma...
Feb 13, 2019•21 min
