It Ain't Over Till It's Over: Presence
December 23 & 24, 2011
Everyone is on a pilgrimage. Our paths cross so we can encourage each other.
It Ain't Over Till It's Over: Ask Forgiveness
December 18, 2011
Could the power of forgiveness lead to a better world around us?
It Ain't Over Till It's Over: The Myth of Control
December 11, 2011
When you are living in the future, it's hard to find God. When you are living in the moment, you'll find God is right there with you!
It Ain't Over Till It's Over: Deciding to Live
December 4, 2011
It's not about how much time we have left...it's about how we spend the time we do have.
Resources:
Ed's Story
Unfinished: Why I am Unfinished
November 27, 2011
Every day of our lives Jesus Christ falls further and further in love with us. God’s love for us is never ending…God’s love for us is Unfinished!
Unfinished: Why I am Biblical
November 20, 2011
The Bible is the Story of God and God's people. We have a connection to the Bible, and the people of the Bible. We have the challenge to carry on God's mission by living out the next chapters of God's story.
Resources:
Which version of the Bible is right for you? Try the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), Today's New International Version (TNIV), Contemporary English Version (CEV), or The Message.
Bible Reading Plans
Bibles.com
Biblegateway.com
Abebooks.com
Unfinished: Why I Am Mystical
November 13, 2011
God may seem like a mystery to us, and we might not understand all there is to know about God, but God is very real, very alive, and very present.
Unfinished: Why I Am Missional
November 6, 2011
God is not done with us…we are just like that Unfinished project…we are not abandoned by God, rather God continues to keep working on us!
Small: Small Changes the World
October 30, 2011
What would you attempt if you knew God would not allow you to fail?
Resources:
Free the Children
Free Rice
Free Wheelchair Mission
Small: Small Steps
October 23, 2011
The best way to take on a large challenge is one small step at a time.
Small: Branching Out
October 16, 2011
Pastor Kerry Thrush interviews Carol Alexander, founder and manager of Operation: Thank You, a non profit organization that supplies items of care, relaxation, and comfort for service personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. Operation: Thank You ships thousands of items each year to our troops, and it all started with a simple prayer.
Resources:
Operation: Thank You!
Small: Planting Seeds
October 9, 2011
God takes the small things we do and makes them big!
Small: Seeds of Change
October 2, 2011
Moving beyond our own desires involve a shift in perspective from the grandiose to the meaningful.
Elevation: Real Inspiration
September 25, 2011
There are times when we feel stuck in the mud and the mire and all we want is to be lifted up…Elevated above the mess. What lifts you up? There are times that the only one who can lift you up, the only one who can Elevate you is Abba, Father God.
Elevation: Real Love
September 18, 2011
In the name of Love….how do I lay down my life for my friends, my family, the people in my community?
Elevation: Real Community
September 11, 2011
We are who we are through other people...through belonging, through participating, through sharing. We are formed in community.
Elevation: Real Hope
September 4, 2011
Because Jesus Christ gives us hope, we can give hope to others.
Refraction: A Journey in Pilgrimage
August 28, 2011
Have you ever had a point in time in your life where you’d like to call for a “Do Over”? One option is to walk it off…. literally….a pilgrimage, an adventure that leads you to new life and an encounter with God.
Refraction: A Journey in Fasting
August 21, 2011
A simple lifestyle change can make a big difference in the journey.
Refraction: A Journey in Prayer
August 14, 2011
How would your journey change if you paused at certain times during the day to talk with God?
Refraction: A Journey in a New Direction
August 7, 2011
Instead of just putting Jesus in a box and visiting Jesus on Sundays – what would it look like if you turned in a new direction…broke out of your routine….for the sake of growing closer to Jesus Christ?
Here is the New There: Say Yes to the KOG
July 31, 2011
Everyday we are surrounded by opportunities that we make decisions about. Some decisions are mundane, but some have more meaning.
Here is the New There: Trust the KOG
July 24, 2011
How well do you trust God?
Resources:
VBS video
Here is the New There: KoMe vs. KOG
July 17, 2011
Which version of the story do you believe? Do you believe what others say about you? Or do you believe the version of the Story that God tells you about yourself?
Here is the New There: Faith Walking in the KOG
July 10, 2011
Heaven on Earth, God being present right now….means we are called to make a difference here on earth.
Resources:
Awaken The City Mission video
Here is the New There: New Life
July 3, 2011
Out of the ashes there comes to us new life in God.
Here is the New There: Choices in the KOG
June 26, 2011
Relationships are difficult and so often we are not very good at connecting with each other. It’s just not easy. But here’s the catch. We worship a God who would do anything to connect with us.
Here is the New There: Judgement Call
June 19, 2011
How does God judge? God is the ultimate Father, the most powerful Messiah, and the most life-giving Holy Spirit.
Resources:
Dad Life
Here is the New There: Life in the KOG
June 12, 2011
Jesus blurred the lines between Heaven and Earth.
Here is the New There: Questioning the KOG
June 5, 2011
What do you have to do, say, believe, to be a Christ follower? We live out our lives as a response to the story of Christ. We live in response to the questions.
Resources:
Kermit and Grover explain the difference between here and there
Love Wins by Rob Bell
Love Wins trailer
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Show Me Your ID
May 29, 2011
What's your perspective? Your point of view is very important when it comes to your faith.
Resources:
Wyatt and Alex intro the Wimpy Kid video clip
Acts 17
Wimpy Kids at The Park - bloopers and outtakes
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Curveball!
May 22, 2011
When you are surrounded by community, you can grow your faith through life's surprises.
Resources:
Joey and Sawyer intro the Wimpy Kid video clip
Acts 16
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: With A Little Help From My Friends
May 15, 2011
Change is not easy, but the journey is better together.
Resources:
Emily and Peyton intro the Wimpy Kid video clip
Acts 12
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hand Me Downs
May 8, 2011
Growing our faith where life happens means passing our faith along...
Resources:
Brittany and Dylan intro the Wimpy Kid video clip
Acts 8: 26-38
Dairy of a Wimpy Kid: Who's The Boss?
May 1, 2011
When it comes to your connection with God, when it comes to growing your faith...who's the boss?
Resources:
Zee and Elle intro the Wimpy Kid video clip
Acts 7, 9
The Art of Failure
April 24, 2011
Easter Sunday
God wastes nothing. There is life, even in suffering.
Resources:
John 21
Easter Egg Hunt Pictures
Easter Sunday Pictures
The Art of Elimination
April 17, 2011
Suffering removes the clutter, and puts the focus on what is most important.
Resources:
John 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
The Art of The Cross
April 10, 2011
Jesus suffers what we suffer, and knows what we feel.
Resources:
John 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
The Art of Honesty
April 3, 2011
To live a life full of meaning, we must go beneath the surface...experiencing pain makes us honest with ourselves. The truth is, we are all going through some kind of pain. We are not alone.
Resources:
John 8, 9, 10
Playfor4.org
God is...Disruptive Father
March 27, 2011
We have our plans about how things are going to go in our lives. But sometimes God has a different plan!
Resources:
John 4, 5, 6, 7
God is...So Close
March 20, 2011
Are you even thinking about looking for God? If you are, you will realize that God is so close!
Resources:
Gospel of John Reading Plan
God is...Moving Towards You
March 13, 2011
God is on the move...God moves toward us every day.
God is... Not Like Me
March 6, 2011
Sometimes we forget about God. We don't trust God. We think we are self-sufficient and that we don't need a savior...we put God in a box, and we don't think He can do much. In these days leading up to Easter, you will see that God is bigger than the box you have stuck God in!
Love Lab: DNA
February 27, 2011
Overcoming Gridlock. We all have personality traits that are so ingrained they have become part of our identity, our DNA. It’s not a surprise that each one of those traits may not line up well with our spouse. How should we deal with the gridlocked problems in our relationships that will never change?
Resources:
Connection Quiz
Gottman.com
Love Lab: Controlled Experiment
February 20, 2011
Solve your solvable problems. Conflict resolution often ends up becomming a screaming match that morphs into angry silence. There is a controlled experiment you can replicate that will move you closer to a resolution of your solvable problems.
Resources:
Solvable Problems Questionnaire
Love Lab: Chemical Imbalance
February 13, 2011
Let your partner influence you. No one likes a "fair" situation. We all want the benefit of the imbalance to lean in our direction. What happens when we are willing to yield? Another's influence can change your life.
Resources:
Accepting Influence Questionnaire
OK Go - This Too Shall Pass
Love Lab: Chemistry & Compatibility
February 6, 2011
Turn toward each other instead of away. Often chemicals have negative reactions to each other. When chemistry begins to click, positive things begin to happen. Making connections leads to compatible chemistry.
Resources:
Compatibility Questionnaire
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John M. Gottman and Nan Silver
Hungry! Gonna Eat All That?
January 30, 2011
Where do you go to spend time with friends and neighbors? A "third place" is a place of community. Like the front porch of a home, it's not inside or outside, but someplace between the two.
Viva Tequila/Luke
Hungry! Special Sauce
January 23, 2011
When there is a celebration, there is usually a meal attached. What's more important - the meal itself, or the people you share it with?
Tano Bistro & Catering/Matthew
Resources:
The Alexanders Video on Presence and Faith
Tano Bistro & Catering
Hungry! Joy
January 16, 2011
What are the ingredients of a joy-filled life?
Buca di Beppo/Philippians
Resources:
Brian Regan - Doctor Visit
Hungry! Comfort Food
January 9, 2011
When trouble hits, what hits your plate?
BBQ/Job
Resources:
Cornbread recipes
Hungry! Good & Hungry
January 2, 2011
What do you eat to stay alive and make it through the day?
Skyline/The Psalms
Resources:
Hungry at Skyline Video
BibleGateway.com