In 1898, Jim White discovered for himself a cave of wonders. "I found myself gazing into the biggest and blackest hole I had ever seen, out of which the bats seemed literally to boil." And if you've ever been to Carlsbad Caverns when the bats take flight, you know what he's talking about!

But caves can be a metaphor of darkness, the unknown, of feeling trapped, and sinister intent.

What do we do when were in a cave and not only do we not know when we're getting out - there isn't a snack shop and souvenirs! That's the topic of this series and this podcast!

⚠️🚀 The MEN's 1613 Simulcast Conference: https://tinyurl.com/42n4b85w

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Douglas Adams, famous English author, quipped: "You live and learn. At any rate, you live."

Sometimes we assume that we live and learn but, if we're honest, we know that's not true. We have to put faith and energy into it. And what do we call it when faith, energy, and living meet circumstances beyond our control? A test. Nobody - not Christians, atheists, or mole-people - like testing. But testing is a gift! And our Lord's testing? It was a gift to us - not just as an example in discipleship, but the whole world to see that he is absolutely in control.

Are you going through a struggle? Join us in this week's podcast as guest speaker, and Grace Youth Pastor, Ryan Balderrama talks about Life off the Grid!

⚠️🚀 The MEN's 1613 Simulcast Conference: https://tinyurl.com/42n4b85w

▶️ Nate's Message on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/ytp4e3df

🍊 Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/4y3r8c9s

🍎 Apple: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/m54hzd3r

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The opening of The Seals ... it is the beginning of the end! A vision of catastrophe and mayhem! The very definition of the Apocalypse! Well, not really ... Yes, the last one, but the others, calm down. This is not a Michael Bay film! So what do the opening of the Seals by the ONE AND ONLY JESUS, The Lamb and Lion of Judah, mean? How does that change what I do now?

Listen-in on this conversation!

⚠️🚀 The MEN's 1613 Simulcast Conference: https://tinyurl.com/42n4b85w

▶️ Nate's Message on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/ytp4e3df

🍊 Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/4y3r8c9s

🍎 Apple: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/m54hzd3r

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

📰 Grace COMMUNITY Blog: https://tinyurl.com/mue5epjf

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It's a Church for Normies OFF THE GRID Day! What's that mean? It's when Nate is away, but Sean makes some excuse to keep talking. Well, it's also support information for some very important things that are happening: Father's Day, fathering, masculinity that is Biblical, the 1613 Conference, the Mid-Term Spiritual Maturity Survey (and why you should take it), and why authentic discipleship takes intentionality and priority.

▶️ Nate's Message on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/ytp4e3df

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So today is a special episode of Church for Normies - we're calling it: Church for Normies 'Off-Grid' because we're departing from normally scheduling podcast to do something slightly different.

"It's about as interesting as watching grass grow." Ever heard that phrase? It's the somewhat sarcastic comment one might make when rendering something as boring. But ask any homeowner who desires the deeply verdant, non-dandelioned yard, and they'll tell you - it takes work! The greenness in all plants comes from special cells called chloroplasts, which enable photosynthesis, the process of converting sunlight and CO2 into glucose and oxygen. Growing grass is not boring. It - and all living plants - provide for us what we absolutely need.

Grass, grows, by the way, at a place called "the crown" - the layer of cells that sit just at the soil line. And it's THE Crown, the soveriegnty of Jesus Christ, that all life and order exists: "For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." Rom. 11:36

We're talking about the throne in this week's episode of Church for Normies ... not grass. Let us know what you think!

▶️ Nate's Message on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/ytp4e3df

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"I like your Christ," he confessed to the missionary. "But I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ." Who was that man? Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi - the East-Asian Indian counterpart to America's George Washington, who led his people to a new identity outside of British colonial rule. Ghandi had to endure a constant barrage of racism, classism, and inequities. But the worst of these indignities was done by so-called Christians who turned him away from worshipping "with their kind" and supported cultural imperialism.

When the church forgets its mission, its not just a shame, it creates monstrous consequences. At the most basic level is the Christian church member who either takes personal responsibility, or doesn't. What does it mean to be a basic Church member? That's the discussion that Sean and Adam have in this week's Church for Normies!

▶️ Nate's Message on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/ytp4e3df

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🍎 Apple: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/m54hzd3r

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

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Gal. 4:4-5 says "But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons." Our eye quickly (and with good reason!) is drawn to our redemption and adoption. However, God's Lamb, the subject of our atonment, his only begotten Son, had to be phyically birthed into this world - and it began with an appropriate colaboration: a woman who was a virgin, who would willingly be overshadowed by the Almighty. The demonstration of Mary's faith is an important lesson for us all to reflect on, emulate, and demonstrate.

Listen-in on this conversation with Grace's own Mary Ruth Farmer as we discuss her message on Mother's Day!

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“What would you do if you knew you only had a few minutes left to live?”

It's concievable that how you answer that question will not only sum up the practical philosophical/theological beliefs in your life, but also how committed you are to them in reality.

In this third message in Nate's series of "The Easter Challenge", Nate challenges us to accept the reality, the responsibility, and make the appropriate response to what Easter means for our mission on earth. Don't miss his message! Don't miss this podcast!

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The historical event of the resurrection of Jesus is a curiosity to a secular or disdainfully naturalistic culture. Maybe they have a point? If he's alive - truly not dead - why isn't he walking around now? Why lead the world on like this? They demand irrefutable proof to tests they demand answers to. But as research author Craig Mertler said, "a valid test is always reliable, but a reliable test is not necessarily valid." They could be (and I submit they indeed *are*!) asking the wrong questions, therefore, contriving the wrong or invalid answer.

What does it mean, then, if the Only Begotten Son of God rose from the dead, and ascended, promising to return? What does that mean that his mission is left to his disciples? What if those disciples - 2,000 later - are still faithfully executing that mission? What if every person born is meant to be a part of that mission? That's Easter and that's the discussion!

▶️ Nate's Message on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/ytp4e3df

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What's the difference between satiety and contentment? (We know ... WHAT?!) "Satiety" is the physical and psychological feeling of fullness and satisfaction after eating, which eases the feelings of hunger and keeps you from continuously feeding. Imagine if you never felt full ... Since we live in a time of relative plenty, we actually have to work hard at disciplining not only WHEN we eat but WHAT we eat, and HOW MUCH! And it's more than just food ... it's "stuff" and "experiences" ... we can consume a LOT of different things, making contentment rather hard.

But Paul, who lived in a very different time and very different circumstance, could still say "I have learned the secret of contentment", not just satiety. How do we get there? Nate discusses how it's one of the most important keys to discipleship.

Also ... EASTER is upon us! Make sure you bring a friend when you come to Grace!

▶️ Nate's Message on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/ytp4e3df

🍊 Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/4y3r8c9s

🍎 Apple: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/m54hzd3r

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

📰 Grace COMMUNITY Blog: https://tinyurl.com/mue5epjf

📧 Send us questions or comments! ⁠[email protected]