Failing Boldly

We hear all the time that we're supposed to love our neighbor, but what does that love look like and what does it have to do with living a "Good-Enough" life? This podcast will reflect on this question and look at Mark 12:28-34.

It's hard to believe that just showing up for something is any great accomplishment, but what does it mean to show up and be present in our faith lives? In the way we pray? In the way we work for justice? Is that good enough? We'll explore these questions as we take a look at Luke 18:1-8.

January sometimes brings resolutions and the desire to strive to obtain the mythical "good life." But what does that mean? Will God favor us more if we achieve more? We'll explore what it means to have the good-enough life as we reflect on Matthew 5:1-12.

Do you feel like you don't have a place in your family? In this world? In life? It's interesting to note that the birth of Jesus--the Messiah, the Savior--literally took place in "no place." God comes to us in those moments of displacement as God did that day thousands of years ago. A Christmas Eve podcast based on Luke 2:1-20.

Sometimes saying yes to God may mar one's reputation in "popular" society. Are we ready for that? Was Joseph? We'll explore his "yes" to God as we read Matthew 1:18-25.

I mention a clip in the podcast and you can view that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYgM6WpjCy8

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We may have an image of Mary as this sweet, safe woman who gave birth to the baby Jesus. But her story is more risky and courageous than that as is her "yes" to God.

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

I mention Shonda Rhimes' TED Talk and you can see that here: https://www.ted.com/talks/shonda_rhimes_my_year_of_saying_yes_to_everything

 

To learn more about Chicago Run: www.chicagorun.org

At times in our prayer lives, we may feel like all we hear from God is silence or a "no." How can we truly hear God's yes? This podcast reflects on Luke 1:5-25 and also mentions two film clips:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcB4XXGr1us

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u56OqFjs1dg

 

 

Sometimes healing can come in surprising ways and from surprising places. Today's podcast reflects on this and on John 5:2-9.

This week's podcast is a bit different: It's a conversation that I had during our worship with Jenan Mohajir from Interfaith Youth Core. Jenan is a committed Muslim and has significant interfaith dialogue experience. I think you'll find it helpful, particularly in light of last week's election results.

 

We're in the season of receiving financial commitments to Urban Village for 2017. Your support helps us continue our ministry, which has been helpful to many both in Chicago and outside of the city. You can pledge your support here: www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give.

That's a big question in any relationship: What are you thinking? It's also a question we ask ourselves: What's on my mind? What thoughts are running through my head? Sometimes, unchecked thoughts lead us to places of fear and anxiety that make life particularly hard.

What do we do with those runaway thoughts? This is the first sermon in a series about healing and wholeness and I'll unpack this question and how it relates to our own healing. This podcast uses Luke 22:47-53.