Church for Normies

Did you know that 14.8 million Americans suffer from depression and anxiety?  That's 6.7% of our population.  And with the advent of the coronavirus epidemic, those numbers have jumped significantly.  In fact, the CDC recently reported this past June that 40% of American adults have been struggling with mental health or substance abuse.  In this week's Living Your Dash podcast,...

Elizabeth Elliott Gren was 30 years old with a one-year-old when her first husband Jim Elliott was martyred - speared to death - by an indigenous tribe because they feared for their lives.  Years later, instead of being filled with fear, bitterness, and disappointment, she wrote: "The deepest things that I have learned in my own life have come from the deepest suffering. And out of the deepes...

At the end of Romans 8, Paul - a master teacher - closes out his thoughts with five important questions.  It turns out, these questions are not just asked for rhetorical purposes, but really do reveal the most important facts man-kind must make conclusions on.  This week, Rick and Sean explore another important question that we must have an answer for: Will God Charge me Pardon me? &nbsp...

Have you ever been disappointed by God?  The job you really wanted - prayed for, fasted for, knew you were the best candidate for ... and you got passed over.  Maybe it was a relationship, a sickness, a family member ... you prayed and prayed, but it didn't work out - no GOD didn't make it happen - like you knew it should?  In this week's podcast, Rick and Sean discuss this tough su...

In Roman's chapter 8, inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul is wrapping up his thoughts on the will, work, and ways of God.  Instead of making some summary statements, he instead poses five questions to his audience.  This was no accident.  He intended for us to think deeply about it, and to make the logical consequences of those truths.  What are these important truths?  That...

In this week's Living Your Dash podcast, Rick takes a break and allows Kevin Price, Grace's Pastor of Maturity to help us glean a little more truth from his message from the 8th chapter of Nehemiah.  After 70 years of exile - firm discipline from God because of their idolatry and disobedience - the Israelites have come home to begin again.  How they started and how they established their...

Dr. Dallas Willard wrote: "Every great teacher must teach about the nature of reality; what is real and what isn’t.  It’s assumptions about reality that drive our lives ... Reality is God’s work, not ours; we don’t get to construct truth."  And yet, if we know nothing else about humans, we are addicted to creating the Universe into our own acceptability.   But for the disciple,...

A remarkable tenet - and one very specific to Christianity - is the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Did you know that no other world religion has its founder boldly, conspicuously, and repeatedly saying he will personally and bodily return?  Worldly culture would like to relegate Jesus to simply being a "moral teacher"; but he boldly claimed so much more !  It's as if he were tau...

In 2 Timothy, Paul wrote these last words to his protege: "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." Just as in the first century, the disciple of Jesus today must stand for trut...

Have you ever had the thought: "You know, I really don't need to go to church or be any more spiritual if I go to church?"  Sure you have!  Most people from time-to-time forget - or have at best a poor or misinformed view - about God's intentions and plans for humanity.  Rick Warren put it well:  "The church is indestructible and will exist for eternity. It will outlive this un...

ep 038 - “A proud man", wrote CS Lewis "is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.”  In this episode of the Living Your Dash podcast, Rick and Sean dive deeper into another fundamental component of a Biblical Worldview: that mankind is sinful and needs salvation.  Launching from Rick's May 14th...

Would it make a difference if you believed that God The Holy Spirit wasn't a person, but a symbol or entity?  That's the supposition of a naturalist or atheistic evolutionist. In contrast, a Christian worldview understands that they can't operate without the Spirit's guidance and empowerment; it not only goes against our purpose but would also be a needless and fruitless waste of His time and...

We all have our favorite "dad" sayings - here's mine to my kids: "Often, it's not WHAT you know but WHO you know that makes the difference."  You might be the smarter candidate or more knowledgeable about something, but if you don't have ACCESS to INFLUENCE, your resume stays at the bottom, your voice never gets heard, your name never gets mentioned.  So when we think about eternal thing...

Jesus wrapped up His Sermon on the Mount by saying "everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."  No one should live their lives in fear or insecurity.  We need to begin with the Author of life and truth - and that's God! In this episode, Rick and Sean discuss a bit more deeply the contents of Rick's message...

In this episode: Rick and Sean discuss re-opening Grace for public worship and discuss this past week's message.  A characteristic of the People of God is that - for the most part - we stay under the radar: 1 Tim. 2:2 says that living peaceful and quiet lives should be our desire.  But there are times when we must boldly stand in opposition to the world, and boldly ask for the power and...

EM Bounds was an attorney, Civil War chaplain, and pastor who wrote this about the power of prayer: "God's plan is to make much of the man, far more of him than of anything else. Men are God's method. The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men. ”  By men, he meant "mankind", of course - but the catalyst of God changing people - of God changing history - is prayer....

What gives a person the courage to stand up to the ruler of a nation and tell him they're wrong about everything - and they were invited to do so?  This week, Rick and Sean discuss the importance of the unseen "homework/soul work" that Christians must do - and why we're woefully unprepared.  But it doesn't have to be that way! Also, Rick gives us an update on what we can expect when Grac...

It was William Shakespeare who wrote: "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em."  But when it comes down to it, we'd rather read about it or see it in the movies rather than have our necks on the line.  But when we trust God to write our story, it becomes a pleasure and honor - besides, we can't lose!  Listen, as Rick and Sean d...

In this episode, Rick discusses the necessity of disciples yielding the foundation of their worldview to God that leads to the natural consequences of a life that is pleasing to him.  It was a Biblical worldview that gave courage to Daniel to resolve not to be conformed to his world, but instead firmly insist on God's pattern for his life - no matter what the circumstances.  Is your worl...

In this episode: Rick and Sean discuss the challenges posed by coronavirus to The Church's grandest celebration: Easter!  But wait, is it really the grandest?  Isn't every day an opportunity celebrate The Living Christ in our midst by offering our lives and opportunities to Him to do as he wishes? Using the backdrop of this past week's message, Rick and Sean talk a bit more about how to...

In this episode: It's the most unusual Good Friday we've ever experienced, but we're making the most of it!  Rick and Sean discuss out they've had to deal with the Coronaviris, how there are great lessons to be learned in the midst of this crisis, and how we don't have to be anxious.

"There is nothing that knocks life off-focus like life.  LIfe is so hard, it's difficult; it's unfair ... the journey of the Christ-follower is DAILY." ~ Rick Hale. Corona virus.  Recession.  Cancer.  Divorce.  Addiction.  Family dysfunction.  Life can be messy and painful.  In this episode, Rick discusses the real-life relevancy and power of God's Word in o...

No one is immune to tragedy, trial, or trouble.  It's not a matter of if, but when!  Rick had to endure serious back injury, then 3 months later, a cancer diagnosis - the same type that killed his father.  This past week, Sean not only gave the sermon but also discussed his very recent diagnosis of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. As we wrap up this last part of the How to Enjoy the Rest of Y...

ep. 25 - Keeping a positive attitude and dealing with depression (22 mins) This week: Rick and Sean talk about the sensitive issue of depression.  God is serious when he says: "Rejoice in the Lord!"  But when you suffer from serious clinical depression, something doesn't seem right.  Is God pulling a bait-and-switch?  Is he not strong enough?  Do I not have enough faith. &...

Finishing Strong with Joy Begins Today - ep 24 (25 min.) Think about this: You can have the best flight in the world - great seat, great food, great company, great in-flight movie ... but it doesn't mean a thing if you don't land as intended!  In this episode, Rick talks about overcoming some of the obstacles of "sticking the good landing" of life. https://www.roswellgrace.com/how-to-enjoy-li...