Chats with Chaplain Anthony

As soon as Judas walks out of the room, Jesus drops one of the most important lines for our Christian faith. Imagine the air in that room. How wonderful would it have been to see that moment in history. Today, we reread these words and remind ourselves the importance of living that very simple truth..love one another. It's by that love that the world will know that we are His disciples. 

John 13:34-35 ESV

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Following Jesus and enjoying life are not opposite ends of the spectrum. Let's connect to find out more about how that can look in your own life.

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That's a big promise, especially during Pumpkin Spice Latte season. Think about how many life changes you make in order to find satisfaction, peace, joy, and fulfillment. Now remember that you have a relationship with the creator of the universe. Your ultimate fulfillment can come straight from Him and through Him. Allow yourself to dwell and meditate on how God's love can quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger. Allow God to do this and you'll reach a new level of peace that any new purchase could never attain. 

John 6:35 ESV

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believesin me will never be thirsty.

Following Jesus and enjoying life are not opposite ends of the spectrum. Let's connect to find out more about how that can look in your own life.

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Are you striving on a daily basis for food, love, acceptance, or purpose? This piece of the Psalms appears to have a stark challenge to the way that you and I live life. God created nature to exist and be not strive and stress. I challenge you to lay down your stress today in order to grab hold of God's provision in your life. 

Psalms 104:21 ESV

21 The young lions roar for their prey,
seeking their food from God.

Following Jesus and enjoying life are not opposite ends of the spectrum. Let's connect to find out more about how that can look in your own life.

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This one is a little different. My family would appreciate your prayers as we walk together through this tough time. 

"Highlands (Song of Ascent)" - Hillsong United

Oh, how high would I climb mountains
If the mountains were where You hide
Oh, how far I'd scale the valleys
If You graced the other side

And, oh, how long have I chased rivers
From lowly seas to where they rise
Against the rush of grace descending
From the source of its supply

'Cause in the highlands and the heartache
You're neither more or less inclined
I would search and stop at nothing
You're just not that hard to find

I will praise on the mountain
And I will praise you when the mountain is in my way
You're the summit where my feet are
So I will praise You in the valleys all the same
No less God within the shadows
No less faithful when the night leads me astray
'Cause You're the heaven where my heart is
In the highlands and the heartache all the same
Oh

Oh, how far beneath Your glory
Does Your kindness extend apart
From where Your feet rest on the sunrise
To where You sweep the sinner's past

And oh, how fast would You come running?
If just to shadow me through the night
Trace my steps through all my failure
And walk me out the other side

For who could dare ascend that mountain
That valleyed hill called Calvary
But for the one I call Good Shepherd
Who like a lamb was slain for me

Oh, I will praise You on the mountain (you sing)
I will praise You when the mountains in my way
You're the summit where my feet are
So I will praise you in the valley all the same
No less God within the shadows
And no less faithful when the night leads me astray
'Cause You're the heaven where my heart is
In the highlands and the heartache all the same
Oh, oh, oh (sing it out)

Whatever I walk through
Wherever I am
Your name can move mountains
Wherever I stand
And if ever I walk through
The valley of death
I'll sing through the shadows
My song of ascent

Whatever I walk through
Wherever I am
Your Name can move mountains
Wherever I stand
And if ever I walk through
The valley of death
I'll sing through the shadows
My song of ascent

My song of ascent
Oh, oh, oh (and sing it out)
My song of ascent
Oh, oh, oh

From the gravest of all valley
Come the pasture we call grace
A mighty river flowing upward
From a deep but empty grave

So I will praise You on the mountain
I will praise You when the mountains in my way
You're the summit where my feet are (yes You are)
I will praise you in the valley all the same
No less God within the shadows
No less faithful when the night leads me astray
You're the heaven where my heart is
In the highlands and the heartache all the same

Writers: Benjamin William Hastings and Joel Houston

Following Jesus and enjoying life are not opposite ends of the spectrum. Let's connect to find out more about how that can look in your own life.

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Today's podcast should give you a sense of peace and confidence. As a Christian, you did not earn your salvation. If you're unsure of how to attain salvation then I hope this message also gives you some insight into how you can be saved by God and not yourself. And lastly, the good news is that God has created you on purpose and with a purpose. 

Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Following Jesus and enjoying life are not opposite ends of the spectrum. Let's connect to find out more about how that can look in your own life.

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God is not a hermit with an inapproachable celebrity mentality. He walked as we walked and felt every bit of temptation that life could throw at him. Now his position by the Father gives us access to his mercy, grace, and relationship. Jesus can be trusted because of His leadership to our lives. 

Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Following Jesus and enjoying life are not opposite ends of the spectrum. Let's connect to find out more about how that can look in your own life.

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Our lives are full of decisions. If we make the right choice when people are living with ulterior motives. But the right thing done in private speaks to our character and integrity. Live for God in public, at church, is easy and assumed. Living for God and honoring Him in private reveals the state of your heart and trust that you truly do have in him. As you do the right things, even when people are not looking, then no one will have a credible bad thing to say about you. 

Psalm 119:1-3 ESV

1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord!
2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
3 who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!

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Following Jesus and enjoying life are not opposite ends of the spectrum. Let's connect to find out more about how that can look in your own life.

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As humans, we are naturally wired to find community. The problem is that when we allow community to stumble upon us it will only affect us to a certain degree intentional community allows us to love and serve others as others are seeking to reciprocate God’s love. Seek these types of fellowships and you will be better equipped to take on life’s difficulties. 

Acts 2:42 ESV

2 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

Following Jesus and enjoying life are not opposite ends of the spectrum. Let's connect to find out more about how that can look in your own life.

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The idea of being pruned in any sense is never a fun thought. But the value and benefit and pruning is for the greater good of yourself and others around you. Every time someone visits the gym or runs the track, they are pushing their body to a limit to see it come back stronger. The same thing can be thought about our spiritual development while following and trusting Jesus. Have hope in the pruning process, check-in on someone else's pruning process, and reflect on what fruit that you yourself are producing. 

John 15:1-2 ESV

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.s.

Following Jesus and enjoying life are not opposite ends of the spectrum. Let's connect to find out more about how that can look in your own life.

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If God has rescued you then you are on the path of growth development. Any new believer is learning new things and implementing new spiritual practices that were not an original instinct. But this path toward's Christ's righteousness is both an already present reality and a journey to make it our own. Philippians 3 reminds us to strive but to do so humbly in order to honor God not ourselves. 

Philippians 3:12-14 ESV

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Following Jesus and enjoying life are not opposite ends of the spectrum. Let's connect to find out more about how that can look in your own life.

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