"When something is important enough," said Elon Musk, "you do it even if the odds are not in your favor." Musk should know. His company, SpaceX, nearly went bankrupt. SpaceX's purpose is "to revolutionize space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets" and you cannot deny that he's been committed to that purpose. With a healthy dose of humility, Musk even released a really funny "How Not to Land an Orbital" video, because great things are never done successfully at first. But with the right motive, you can't go wrong. In its very short history, SpaceX has successfully lauched and landed (think about that!) 420 Falcon9 reusable boosters that self land.

But what about our spritual lives? The most important thing to God the Father is that our motives match his intentions. "Impossible!" you might cry ... but if Jesus commanded it, then it is not only possible, it is within the grasp of everyone. Still - it's not easy. Listen to this conversation between Nate and Sean.

▶️ Nate's Message on YouTube: https://youtu.be/r7pF3nMbs7k?si=mNwufm6PxGarqxlI&t=2536

🍊 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FELiq68GMo0iRp4rhVaLp

🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/church-for-normies/id1482318546

💚 Grace Community Church: https://www.roswellgrace.com/

📧 Send us questions or comments! [email protected]

The Ugly Christmas Sweater Series!

"Joyeux Noël" in French is translated "Merry Christmas" in English. It comes from the Old French "Noël", which is based on the Latin word, natalis, which means "birth". In fact, natalis dies literally means "birth day." You can see the root for "nativity", "neonatal", and even the name "Natalie" in the Latin word natalis.

What's with the excercise in etymology? Words. Words have meaning and power. They are meant to. Words can inspire, express love, make promises, build nations, and even empower the destiny of humanity. Think on this: Christmas, is all about the reality of THE Word - "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us ..." (John 1:14)

Therefore, we must be careful, judicious, loving, and generous with our words. Ugly Christmas sweaters are fun to have in the closet, but ugly words should not be coming out of the disciple's mouths. Watch Nathan's message, then come back and listen to this conversation of choice words between Nathan and Sean!

▶️ Nate's Message on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7k6h2u2d7AY?si=gkO1OScNyFlf3pr9&t=2793

🍊 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FELiq68GMo0iRp4rhVaLp

🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/church-for-normies/id1482318546

💚 Grace Community Church: https://www.roswellgrace.com/

📧 Send us questions or comments! [email protected]

Is it a subcategory of the Ultimate Meme: The Ugly Christmas Sweater? By "ultimate" I mean that Christmas (especially the nativity scene) is a meme unto itself - spanning two millenia! But other Christmas memes exist: Christmas movies, Christmas foods ... delicious Christmas fruit cakes! And suddenly - as memes always tend to do - the Ugly Christmas Sweater went from banished to the Isle of Misfit Gifts to a favorite and expected harbinger of glad tidings and good will towards men. Go figure that one out! But there's a lesson to be learned - several, in-fact - and Nate Marsh has some ideas worth pondering on: like how we can allow negative mind-sets to "decorate" and spoil our souls. But it doesn't have to be that way! I bet you're curious, now! Listen to the message and then hear Sean and Nate's discussion!

▶️ Nate's Message on YouTube: https://youtu.be/r3bWfFBI8Ys?si=c17ATIgBiBtmm8zt&t=2499

🍊 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FELiq68GMo0iRp4rhVaLp

🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/church-for-normies/id1482318546

💚 Grace Community Church: https://www.roswellgrace.com/

📧 Send us questions or comments! [email protected]

Sean grew up in Kansas City, MO, and knew well the stories of a writer for the Kansas City Star who was later fired because he "lacked imagination and had no good ideas."

That man's name was Walt Disney.

Hard to believe isn't it? History, it seems is replete with stories like that: Albert Einstein was turned down by many universities as a teacher, "Harry Potter" was rejected by 12 publishers, Vera Wang tried out for the US figure skating team - but was rejected.

You never know how the "rejects" or "strange ones" may turn out - especially when that "ordinary person" is used by an "extraordinary God"!

John the Baptist was one! Listen-in on this fascinating conversation between Nate and Sean!

▶️ Nate's Message on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/MEG1wPQWUaY?si=MQI72Anx4NJs6lQM&t=3778

🍊 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FELiq68GMo0iRp4rhVaLp

🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/church-for-normies/id1482318546

💚 Grace Community Church: https://www.roswellgrace.com/

📧 Send us questions or comments! [email protected]

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote to a vagabond group of disciples 700 miles away from Jerusalem, the center of the events that made up the basis of their faith. Perhaps there were tired of feeling like everyone's whipping boy - the butt of everyone's joke. They were just ordinary people struggling to make sense of this Gospel they couldn't get away from.

"Brothers," he encouraged them, "think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth." And then he dropped this nuclear truth bomb: "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not–to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him." (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)

To be ordinary - maybe even "sub-ordinary" - is to be placed in a great position! You are poised - if you choose it - to be partnered with the Most High.

That's the point of this series that Nate is starting - Listen in as Sean and Nate discuss how God, in extraordinarily intentional ways, uses blandly ordinary people.

▶️ Nate's Message on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DP8wFY-Nrs8?si=vcVbzQJRY5SQWp60&t=2325

🚑 Live in Roswell and still need help? Call us at (575) 623-5438

🍊 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FELiq68GMo0iRp4rhVaLp

🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/church-for-normies/id1482318546

💚 Grace Community Church: https://www.roswellgrace.com/

📧 Send us questions or comments! [email protected]

Ever hear of a 100/500 year flood? It is a designation by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to describe the likelyhood, or percentage of probability that a flood would happen in a given year. So basically a 1 in 500 chance. On Saturday On Oct. 19th, Roswell, NM was hit with such a flood, causing millions of dollars of damage, and prompting NM Governor Michelle Lujan Grishim to declare this area a disaster area.

The flood waters started receding that day - but the devestation it caused is indescribable. If you've been through one, you know.

Imagine being a brand new senior pastor in the area, and you have to guide your congregation through such an event. That's exactly what Nate Marsh had to do, and he mobilized his staff and his church to be the hands and feet of Jesus to our city.

Join in on this conversation as we discuss what this means to us emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

▶️ Nate's Message on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/BS0QuStpn3g?si=MC0l6wDoRhV467j3&t=3311

🚑 Live in Roswell and still need help? Call us at (575) 623-5438

🍊 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FELiq68GMo0iRp4rhVaLp

🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/church-for-normies/id1482318546

💚 Grace Community Church: https://www.roswellgrace.com/

📧 Send us questions or comments! [email protected]

The Afters wrote a song where the chorus went like this: "I wish we all could win | I wish we all could smile | I wish we all could make our mothers proud." Perhaps that is our desire when it comes to life after death: Why can't we all win? Why can't all roads, in reality, actually lead to heaven? Maybe all of the world religions are basically saying the same thing?

With respect, that is not just an oversimplification, in the end it is not logical and in a way is actually disrespectful to the beliefs of others. There are very important differences. In fact, what one person hopes to be the afterlife would not be their version of "heaven" at all.

Make sure you watch Nate's message, then come back and listen to his discussion with Sean afterwards.

▶️ Nate's Message on YouTube

🍊 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FELiq68GMo0iRp4rhVaLp

🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/church-for-normies/id1482318546

💚 Grace Community Church: https://www.roswellgrace.com/

📧 Send us questions or comments! [email protected]

Pop culture has relegated the Christian Bible to simply another religious book, full of fairy tales and myths. Some have even said it's a dangerous book. But most people don't know the pains taken to ensure the integrity of the Bible. The Bible describes itself as "living and active" - and one third of the world agrees!

Don't miss this very candid conversation regarding the Bible that Pastor Nate and Sean have, and also listen to them field some questions that were sent in! Actually - don't YOU forget to send in some questions that you have!

See Nate's Sermon here:

https://youtu.be/B8keyB9KD_k?si=Tr82HZm6j7ZTAu5k&t=2675

It all started with Rick Hale and the Living Your Dash. But all good things must come to an end ... and fortunately, they have a NEW BEGINNING as well!

Pastor Nathan Marsh has rebooted the podcast and we have a new name, new content, and new theme music! In this fresh start, we also talk about Pastor Nate's new series: "The God Questions!" Check it out at roswellgrace.com!

Please submit questions for Pastor Nate at [email protected]

Get a chance for a drawing for some great books!

Did think yesterday's announcement that ep 231 was the LAST Living Dash podcast? Well, actually, that is true. BUT what you need to know is that this is the MUST LISTEN "B-Side" - a #231.1, a bonus edition!

In this special podcast interview, Sean has a remote discussion with Pastor Nathan Marsh as they are getting ready to leave the state of Kansas (which is far too humid) and come to the Land of Enchantment! Nate discusses