The magi travel to the manger offering their greatest treasures to Jesus. They didn't see their blessings as something to hoard and hold onto, but rather as gifts meant to serve and bless the world. As we continue our journey of Christmas, we'll look at what treasures our lives are being built on. Are we building our life in a way of that generously blesses the world, or, like Scrooge in the beginning of A Christmas Carol, do we find ourselves closed off to the healing path of Jesus?

The invitation of Christmas is to be present to the saving work that God is up to in our world now. This week we explore Scrooge's encounter with the Ghost of Christmas Present to see how we can be present to God's healing work in our lives right now, instead of living in the future with our fear, or in the past with our pain.

A Christmas Carol is a classic tale of transformation. Join us this Christmas as journey with Scrooge to uncover how we can find more peace, hope, love, and joy. This week, we'll travel into our past as we trust Christ to bring healing to the parts of ourselves in need of redemption.

Join us this week as guest speaker Sam Castro looks at John 12 to show us how to cultivate a life of awe by slowing down and being present to the wonder around us.

In Numbers 13, the Israelites stood at the edge of the Promised Land, but chose to follow a report of fear rather than trust and courage. Fear, retreating to comfort, and unbelief thus became normalized.

As we explore our final Twilight Zone episode, we'll explore what has become normalized in our society and how to pursue a life of beauty instead of any ugliness that has become normalized.

Join guest speaker Joe Mrugalski as he looks at the final prayer Jesus offers for his disciples revealing his love and concern for us today.

In this fourth episode of our Twilight Zone series, we explore our universal search for meaning, purpose, and identity. Rather than coming to one single destination, this is an ongoing search that changes with each season we pass through. Listen as we look at how Jesus teaches his followers to pursue these questions in his Sermon on the Mount.

Twilight Zone clips from:

"Five Characters in Search of an Exit" 1961.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEpaq332pmI

In Philippians, Paul tells his readers that he has found the secret to contentment. But what is that lasting contentment built on? Does it come from having his every desire fulfilled, or is there a deeper mystery he is inviting is readers to discover? Listen this week as we look at Paul's words and the life of "Rocky" from the Twilight Zone episode, "A Nice Place to Visit," as we learn how to find a contentment that is durable and eternal.

Video clip from "A Nice Place to Visit" 1960

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77ueTRaYTwg

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Holy Week, the crowd greeted him with joy and excitement. A short time later, the crowd turned on him, demanding his death. What caused this change and response from the crowd?

Listen this week as we look at how our collective fear, anger, and powerlessness can create a powerful mob seeking out a scapegoat upon whom to place our fear and anger.

Video clip from "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" 1960.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPOoEQ2vx7w

Jesus often made a distinction between our inner and outer lives, teaching that the way to true, pure living is by addressing the inner life we all carry within. No matter how clean and polished our outer lives look, we'll never find the true life we desire without removing any rot and decay we have within.

Join us as we look at The Twilight Zone episode, "The Masks," and discover how to live an integrated life of peace and purity.

Audio clip link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMGJLZDLpUg

from The Twilight Zone, "The Masks" 1964.