Enduring Christianity

In the beginning was God! 
Since the beginning God has been and will forever be the supreme authority of all things.  Sadly, since the beginning of humanity we have taken issue with this.  From a lack of patience or forgiveness, to an out right insisting on our own way in replace of Gods'.  Insisting on our own way has led to a self determination of what is right and wrong in our own eyes, proclaiming an elevation of selfish concern above an all consuming love for God's will being done on earth as it is in Heaven.  God does not hide His will from us and we know this because He has graciously revealed it to us through His word. It is apparent that humanity is in grave error and in need of Jesus as a Savior, but what is also apparent is our grave need of the Holy Spirit to transform us into a lover of God rather than a lover of self.  Listen in as we discuss the story of Adam and Eve and the importance of Jesus' words; "If you love me, you will obey me."

God's desire for us to know Him will always be greater than our desire to know Him. From the cross to our mother's womb, God's desire is for intimacy with us.  While there are specific moments in our life that stand out in a growing relationship with Christ, every moment in life is meant to draw us near to Him.  In this episode we discuss how every moment, including the womb, is a life moment for God to  draw us near.  While our eternal salvation is made possible in the cross and resurrection of Jesus, we must always remember that eternal life is about a continual understanding of personal relationship with Him.
"Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."  John 17:3 

The Bible is filled with stories and some of its stories may leave us wondering, “Why did that happen”?  While the question of why can be a common question of Bible stories it can also be a common question of our own lives as well. We can tend to fixate on the tangible practical’s, missing the practical process of a relationship being built.  This is a story from my life, giving proof to God reaching out to me in a way to grow a joyful, FUN relationship.

If there is one thing guaranteed in life it is the experience of unexpected trials.  We can say that we trust God, but it is in the unexpected trials of life that we learn to trust Him.  God desires for us to learn how to walk through life with Him. Trials in life often bring no warning, they appear in our life in a way that draws our heart to the surface.  
Listen in as Alissa walks us through her journey of not just one trial but more so; compounding trials piling one top of another beginning with the dire news of having breast cancer. Her beautiful faith and trust in the Lord shines bright as she shares intimate details of how God taught her to know Him in a deeper way than she could have ever imagined, in the midst of her trials. 

This is a true story from my life of which I call my "Lions Den" experience.  Although there are no lions involved in this story, it could only have been God who rescued us this day. Listen in as I tell of this rescuing story during a YWAM missionary trip in South Africa dating back to 2001. Yes that's over 20 years ago... but His love endures forever. 
"For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth." Daniel 6:26-27

God uses people in different ways according to His will and often with that calling places a specific burden for it within our hearts. While we can think of the word "burden" as a negative connotation, this is a reflection of God's heart empowering us to reach His people, for His purpose. 
Listen in as Jay tells us how God revealed Himself to him and then placed a specific burden to reach the poor and homeless. I hope you enjoy listening to his journey as Jay not only carries the burden for the lost, but daily and actively lives it out despite the obstacles.  Let us pray for God to help Jay in his ministry to reach more and more people for God's glory. 

So often we focus on what we want to receive from God and yet fail to realize what we must  give up in order to receive it.  This is what we find with Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler in the book of Luke.
"Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”  Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”  “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:26:30

As a child, Kyle endured life altering exposure to violence, substance abuse and the unintended consequences of a broken family.  The behaviors of which he was exposed not only impacted his adolescent years, but as he grew began to shape his own behavior.  Listen in on how the sins of the past continued to be a curse of his present, and how God redeemed it all through a simple prayer from jail.  "God, if you are real, if I follow you, will you meet me halfway."  And God did, quite literally meet him halfway. We hope you choose to listen to this remarkable testimony of God's amazing grace and how following the word of God not only changes one life, but the lives of a generation to follow.

Join in on the conversation with my wife Rachel and I as we discuss the everyday opportunities of following Christ's teachings through the practice of patience from  driving to the grocery store to shopping at the grocery store, and everywhere in between. While patience is openly recognized as a Godly characteristic, how many times during our normal day do we acknowledge frustration's opportunity to love?  If we are willing to take every thought captive and just pause in every moment of presented frustration, we will find the opportunity to abide in patience.  The reality is we are presented with frustrations all through the day and although frustrations are naturally undesired, they are also our greatest opportunity to die to self in order to display Christ's character. 

Listen in on the conversation of Lauren's testimony as she shares the most trying season of her marriage. Going beyond just the event, she extends to us the treasure of God's enduring promise of faithfulness.  And it was at her lowest moments where God did His best and most important work in her.  She now speaks of these testimonial truths not just with us now, but in one on one ministry opportunities with others who are going through trialing times. God's great promises of the Bible times still ring true today and are overflowing into our lives when we trust Him. When our reality is lived in His reality, we then can be a cup that overflows onto others.