March 25, 2021 // Finish the sentence: I LOVE _____ so much! Assuming that our answers would be incredibly varied somewhere between "my lovely kiddos!" and "hot dogs at the ballpark!". Such a WIDE degree of answers begs the question: "If we use that word consistently in meaning, then do I love my kids with the same degree as I love that ballpark frank?" WE WOULD HOPE NOT!  // In this episode, Brandon is joined by our worship leader and father, Jordan Manchester as we talk about LOVE and the true meanings behind it!

I'm active, I'm involved, I'm successful, I'm accomplishing things, I'm winning... so why do I feel empty? Why do I feel unmotivated? Why am I exhausted? It's called "Burnout," and if we ever experience it, we almost never see it coming. What do I do when I'm blindsided by burnout?

March 18, 2021 // Kindness is a good thing, maybe even one of the best things. When we show kindness to someone else, it makes them feel good and makes us feel good to. But Peter is more specific here when he says that we need to be more active in showing "brotherly kindness." What's the difference between that category of kindness and "regular" kindness? And how do I know if I'm being brotherly kind to someone else? // Marshall is flying solo this week while Brandon is out of town. Join him for a discussion of what brotherly kindness really is and why Peter says it matters.

::Sorry for the late start of the stream - we had technical difficulties::  Let's be honest, we would prefer to never experience any difficulties or challenges in our lives. But even if we have to go through hard times, it would be nice to see those experiences coming, wouldn't it? Sometimes the hardest part of dealing with a hardship is that it caught us by surprise. We weren't ready for it. What do I do when I didn't see that hardship coming?

According to a recent survey, 8 in 10 Americans carry significant debt. Credit cards, mortgages, car loans, student loans - we are a society steeped in debt. But many of us never expected to be carrying the debt load we're carrying. We feel like we suddenly looked up and we owe thousands of dollars to creditors, and we never saw it coming. How do I get myself free from this overwhelming burden? And if I get free from it, is there a way to keep myself from ending up here again?

March 11, 2021 // Christians are supposed to be "godly," right? That seems like it's kinda assumed - if you're a follower of God, then you're godly. But there's more to godliness than just saying you believe in God and are trying to be a good person. // Join Marshall and Brandon as we talk about what godliness actually looks like and why Peter said it matters so much.

We have those times in our lives when things seem to be going great - we're moving forward, we're healthy, our relationships seem to be going well. And then - bam! - we get blindsided. Something we weren't ready for derails whatever it was that was going so well, and now we're struggling and trying to figure out what to do next. What do we do when life surprises us?

March 4, 2021 // Perseverance doesn't sound very fun. Choosing to keep going when there's adversity, when things are tough? Who really wants to do that? But Peter tells us that if we don't persevere, if we don't endure hardship, we can't fully experience the life God wants to provide for us. Peter himself struggled with perseverance sometimes though and had to watch how Jesus kept going, even when things got difficult. // Join Marshall and Brandon as we talk about the challenge to persevere as well as the reward that comes from "sticking with it."

Loneliness was already a real struggle that affected many people on a daily basis, and the covid pandemic has seemed to make the problem even worse. But is it wrong for me to feel lonely? Is there anything I can do about it, or do I just have to try to smile and suffer through it? 

February 25, 2021 // Of all people that maybe shouldn't be telling others to exercise self-control, it would be Peter. The man had ongoing "control issues" - not with wanting to control others but with not always being able to control himself! But after years of walking with Jesus, towards the end of his life Peter recognized that one of the KEY INGREDIENTS to a good life is to learn to maintain self-control as much as possible. // Join Marshall and Brandon as we talk about how important it is to have a little self-control and how we see the ultimate example of that in Jesus.