We want to matter, be noticed, be liked, admired, and appreciated don't we? Surely, there is nothing wrong with that? Jesus' wisdom is, Yes, it can be problematic if we look to others for something we already have and yet are quite unaware of.   Text. Gospel of Luke 14 Pod 142  

Trouble in the family or conflict at work or with friends? The division is necessary and expected. Jesus taught that if you are committed to living a life of integrity (wholeness) and being true to yourself you will divide away from anything or anyone that hinders you from moving ahead. Growth of any kind often causes division.  The text is Luke 12 Pod141

Trusting God has nothing to do with being some kind of goodie-two shoes, Jesus teaches. Off course, you will make mistakes and sometimes they will be massive ones but that doesn't mean you are not a person of great faith. Trust moves ahead despite fears and mistakes and takes the next step. That's great faith. Hebrews 11. Pod 140

Money is not the problem for most of us, Jesus teaches. Greed is the problem and we can be unaware of it. When we lack contentment and always want just a little bit more, when we spend our time and energy pursuing more, chances are, greed is urging us forward.   Today we look at Jesus' wisdom on money and possessions in the Parable of the Rich Fool. Pod 139 Luke 12:13-21

Have you ever wondered if your prayers make any difference? Today, we look at Jesus' advice when he is asked by a student, "Teach us how to pray." If we look at prayer as a way to guide God into acting, Jesus' corrects our understanding and reminds us God doesn't need help knowing what we need. Prayer isn't about encouraging God to do anything. Prayer is for our benefit, not God's. Luke 11 P

Jesus uses life's daily irritations in his students' lives to encourage them to step into a new way of relating to people and each other. We can forget we have a choice, especially when certain situations, circumstances, and people ruffle our feathers. The text is Luke 10. Podcast 137

Chances are, you don't need a teaching or a parable telling you that God desires you to love and care for people. We already know this, but do we know what to do when we can't love someone? Rather than rationalize and make excuses for ourselves, Jesus teaches another way to live when love is beyond us.

Luke 10:25-37 Pod 136

Just like our emotional lives, our spiritual lives are not static. There are many highs and lows in our relationship with God. God does not change, but we certainly do. There are times when you wonder if you have lost your faith altogether. Jesus addresses this phenomenon in the Parable of the Sower. Text Matthew 13 Podcast 135

It's bound to happen. There will come a time when you are rejected, misunderstood, or criticized. How do you deal with that? Will you react with anger and hostility, or will you respond by staying on track? It's easy to be derailed by the wrong people. Jesus teaches James and John and us a better way to respond when people come against us or don't understand us at all. Podcast 134 

Text Luke 9:51-62

Nicodemus thinks that his religion is all about rule-following. "No," Jesus said, that's not enough, and it will never bring you peace. Trying to do the right thing doesn't change you; what changes you is developing a trusting relationship with God. Trust is the foundation for transformation and inner change. Nicodemus tried to live a good life; he wasn't a bad person but was still unsatisfied with his life. Like, Nico, we can spend a lot of trying to do the right thing and feel like it's getting us nowhere. Podcast 133 Text John 3