FOUNDRYcast

Over the last year, we have been focusing on gospel passages and the teachings of Jesus on Sunday morning. We have looked at stories He shared, the way he challenged both people and systems, and we've also talked about how people chose to share these stories in the four books we call The Gospels. But what do we do with it? After we have been exposed to Jesus, what should our reaction be? In the la...

Have you ever wished for a 2nd chance? Thought about what it could look like, what you might do different? I think we all have. It's an important thing. Peter, after  last week,  most certainly needed a second chance. And the gospels tell us about the smaller run-ins he had with Jesus after the resurrection. But I imagine Peter still had that weird feeling in the back of his mind. Wondering if eve...

Have you ever found yourself backed into a corner? It's the hard way to learn the world isn't what we thought it was or doesn't work like we want it to. And this is an old tale. Sometimes we learn it easy and sometimes we learn it hard. Peter, a disciple of Jesus, learned a bunch of lessons. And over the next couple of weeks we are going to talk about what might be the hardest one. But this was a...

So who gets to belong? That's a big question. We could almost say the majority of our social discourse these days is about who gets to belong and at what level. The conversation begins when we are kids on the playground and in the classroom and sadly continues throughout our entire life. At our best, recognize differences and learn to live and work together. At our worst, we dehumanize and begin t...

So what surprises you? I'm not necessarily talking about someone jumping out from behind a door, but what behavior do you so rarely see that you end up genuinely surprised when you encounter it? They can be both negative and positive actions, but we all have the things that we hope for, but rarely see. Even Jesus. Yep, the big guy himself ends up surprised in this story. When he had entered Capern...

Jesus liked to tell stories. I imagine he did for the same reason other people like to tell stories. You see, words create worlds, and stories can create the worlds in which we can look at things differently…mainly ourselves. Jesus tells a story about a farmer scattering seeds. It goes like this: "Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell...

When was the last time you got into a disagreement? Did it end well? Do they ever actually end well? We live in a world that seems to be filled with disagreements. And how do they typically end up? What would it look like if the typical reaction to disagreements were better and stronger relationships? (yeah right) "If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If th...

Earlier this year, Chad Brooks (our pastor), had a pretty serious medical scare. He took the time to talk about it on Sunday morning and also to share what Scripture revealed to his heart during the season of healing and reflection. 

So what baggage do we carry around and what are we doing with it? "I have made no trouble for Israel," Elijah replied. "You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the  Lord  and have worshiped the images of Baal instead.   Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are suppor...

Seriously? Think about it. What normally happens before a tough conversation has to happen? One person does something that has sadly turned out to be a repeating problem. Another person has to step in and have one of those tough conversations. I can only imagine both the internal and external words that are part of this realization. Typically, someone has become exasperated enough to realize that...

Everyone loves the inside scoop. Sometimes it's because we are nosey. Other times it's because we want to make sure we have right information. Inside scoops clarify. Especially when big things are at stake. So how do you go about doing it? You typically get to the bottom of the source, make sure you have as much information as you can find, and then make a decision. Part of the story of Jesus is t...

We are starting a new series called "Good Talk Bro" and looking at three conversations Jesus had with individuals. In each of these he confronts an assumption they have and invites them into a new change life. If we think about the people we trust to have these sorts of conversations, they are typically people we know and trust well. And we see different dynamics at play in each one of these situa...

Parties are about change. Are you tracking with me? Think back to late adolescence and early adult-hood. To go to a party was to have the ability to change things. You could finally have a conversation with that special someone, social ladders would move up and down, new people could be met, issues decided…all of it. Parties are where things change. And it's no different in scripture. One of the,...

We often think of Easter morning being this peaceful, calm situation. It has been imprinted on us that the angel was in all white, the women at the grave were squeaky clean and bathed, and even the Roman soldiers guarding the tomb were willing and excited participants of this whole event. insert sound of record player suddenly stopping and the needle moving across the record. I think all of the Su...

In this special palm sunday message, Allan Martin shares about how Jesus showing up in Jerusalem was quite the big arrival. 

So what happens when we bring #JesusIsBigEnough south of the border? 

With Chad out for a few weeks for sick leave, we are hearing stories from those who are part of Foundry. Ben is one of the original leaders of the church and is a pediatric behavioral therapist in North Louisiana. He shares a story learned while working at summer camp in college. 

Each time I lead a funeral service, I include a handful of passages from John 14. They are meant for us to feel comfort, understand the place of death, and reflect on what and where Jesus currently is. In John 14 are many of our favorite readings about Jesus and His love towards us. We learn of the Holy Spirit and get a little insight into why Jesus had to leave. "Don't let your hearts be troubled...

When I was in High School, our principal was a pretty big guy. He actually started at our high school as a freshman the first year it opened, came back after college and began coaching and teaching at his alma mater. Eventually, he became principal. And he was pretty awesome. He set the state bench press record when he was in high school and it supposedly still stood while he was principal. Rumor...

When I was a kid I remember my parents being amazed at how quickly I could work through a transformer. Every now and then my Dad would pick one up and attempt it. He'd quickly be lost. Now, my niece knows how to change the brightness setting on my iPhone. There is this thing about kids being able to teach us lessons we can't learn for ourselves. Jesus, when confronted with a difficult question for...

We are currently producing both devotional content AND the full audio text of Pursuit of God for our discipleship system. Here is a teaser with the devotional content for the preface and the full book text. For more information, go to wearefoundry.com/pursuit

When Meredith and I were engaged I came up with a rule for when we were registering for things. I got to hold the registration gun. You know, the electronic scanner that puts stuff on your digital registry? I felt like it was attempting to maintain some sort of influence over all of the rather unexciting things that are part of showers and getting married. In short, I felt the need to be in contro...

This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done,      on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts,      as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,      but deliver us from the evil one.'   Matthew 6:7-9

When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him.   A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.  "I am willing,"  he said.  "Be clean!"  Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.   Then Jesus said to him,  "See that you don't tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the...

Ever got into one of those situations where a pack of kids just experienced something and are all attempting to explain it to you at the same time? If you know the bunch, you typically learn to listen to each one of them with a different ear. You've got the funny kid, the kid bad things always happen to, the kid that exaggerates everything…and the kid that is pretty true to the actual event. Any t...