Following Jesus

On this episode of Following Jesus with Christ Church Andrew & Addison talk with Sarah Ingram, a licensed therapist and member of Christ Church. Sarah works as a licensed therapist/counselor in the Grand Rapids area. Her years of engaging with and encountering different levels of anxiety and depression help us shed some light on our mental health during the COVID time frame.

Quotes/notes from the show:

Definitions:
Fear: An actual threat, AND An opportunity to receive and rest upon Him alone (Faith).
Stress: Activates anxiety BUT His grace is sufficient, His power made perfect in my weakness.
Worry: Managing threats by anticipating possibilities (What if?). EVEN SO, The Lord is my Shepherd.
Anxiety: Risk without resource, OR Risk with the ultimate champion and resource.

Scriptures from the show:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. (Proverbs 9:10)

I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. (Psalm 119:147-148)

Resources/Links:

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Grace & Peace

On this episode of Following Jesus with Christ Church pastors Andrew & Addison talk with long time member Chris Peterson. Chris advises clients on investments and financial strategies in the Grand Rapids area. Chris serves as a deacon at Christ Church with our finance team, giving him some insight into how we are doing right now. It was great to hear from Chris about the ways he has been navigating the financial conversation with friends and clients through a gospel lens as well as some ways the church can rally and serve with generosity.

Resources/Links:

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Grace & Peace

On this episode of Following Jesus with Christ Church Andrew & Addison talk with Craig Kooienga about golf, life during this pandemic, recreation and of course backyard mountain biking! Craig and his family have been long time Christ Church members and serve in a multitude of ways. It was great to catch up with Craig and hear about how his cancer treatments are going, the beauty of being outside and what is happening at the golf course.

Quotes from the show:

"Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots - but you have to play the ball where it lies. "~ Bobby Jones

“Golf is about how well you accept, respond to, and score with your misses much more so than it is a game of your perfect shots.” ~ Bob Rotella

Resources/Links:

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Grace & Peace

On this episode of Following Jesus with Christ Church pastors Andrew & Addison talk with long time members Rick & Maggie Groggel. Rick came to Christ Church in 1978 and Maggie came in 1991. Both are involved in many different aspects of Christ Churches ministries and are beloved members and friends of our community.

The sandwich generation refers to middle-age adults who are caring for both elderly parents and their own children who are grown. While this is always a unique position to be in, add COVID-19 to the mixture and close geographic proximity and there are some unique challenges and joys that follow. Rick & Maggie have been navigating this life pre-COVID and are now working through the implications of what that is like.

UPDATE: On the show Maggie refereed to the blood drive having its "best month ever..."  She intended to say "It was our best month of March ever, not our best month overall."

Resources/Links:

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Grace & Peace

On this episode of Following Jesus with Christ Church pastors Andrew & Addison talk with Lisa Vander Maas and Lindsay Williams. Lisa, wife to Andrew, and Lindsay have been involved with teaching for many years. Through their teaching they have engaged with rhetoric, or thoughtful, reasoned and clear talk.

Quotes from the show:

"Each generation of the church in each setting has the responsibility of communicating the gospel in understandable terms, considering the language and thought forms of that setting." ~ Francis Schaeffer, Escape from Reason

Scriptures from the show:

“[1] If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. [2] And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. [3] If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

[4] Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it his not arrogant [5] or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; [6] it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. [7] Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." ~ 1 Corinthians 13:1-7

"[8] Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. [9] Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. [10] For
“Whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
[11] let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.” ~ 1 Peter 3:8-11

Resources/Links

You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple iTunes by clicking here, or on your Android platform you can find us here.

Consider rating and reviewing us, that's the best way for people to find this podcast. Also share this show with a friend or family member.

Grace & Peace

On this episode of Following Jesus with Christ Church pastors Andrew & Addison talk with Lisa Vander Maas and Lindsay Williams. Lisa, wife to Andrew, and Lindsay have been involved with teaching for many years. Through their teaching they have engaged with rhetoric, or thoughtful, reasoned and clear talk. 

5 Canons of Rhetoric

inventio (invention): The process of developing and refining your arguments.

dispositio (arrangement): The process of arranging and organizing your arguments for maximum impact.

elocutio (style): The process of determining how you present your arguments using figures of speech and other rhetorical techniques.

memoria (memory): The process of learning and memorizing your speech so you can deliver it without the use of notes. Memory-work not only consisted of memorizing the words of a specific speech, but also storing up famous quotes, literary references, and other facts that could be used in impromptu speeches.

actio (delivery): The process of practicing how you deliver your speech using gestures, pronunciation, and tone of voice.

Quotes from the show:

“These are the two loves: the first is holy, the second foul; the first is social, the second selfish; the first consults the common welfare for the sake of a celestial society, the second grasps at a selfish control of social affairs for the sake of arrogant domination; the first is submissive to God, the second tries to rival God; the first is quiet, the second restless; the first is peaceful, the second trouble-making; the first prefers truth to the praises of those who are in error, the second is greedy for praise, however it may be obtained; the first is friendly, the second envious; the first desires for its neighbor what it wishes for itself, the second desires to subjugate its neighbor; the first rules its neighbor for the good of its neighbor, the second for its own advantage; and these two loves produce a distinction among the angels: the first love belongs to the good angels, the second to the bad angels; and they also separate the two cities founded among the race of men, under the wonderful and ineffable Providence of God, administering and ordering all things that have been created: the first city is that of the just, the second is that of the wicked. Although they are now, during the course of time, intermingled, they shall be divided at the last judgment; the first, being joined by the good angels under its King, shall attain eternal life; the second, in union with the bad angels under its king, shall be sent into eternal fire. Perhaps, we shall treat, God willing, of these two cities more fully in another place.” St. Augustine of Hippo (Translated by Marcus Dod in 1876)

Scriptures from the show:

“In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

Resources/Links

You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple iTunes by clicking here, or on your Android platform you can find us here.

Consider rating and reviewing us, that's the best way for people to find this podcast. Also share this show with a friend or family member.

Grace & Peace

On this episode of Following Jesus with Christ Church pastors Andrew & Addison talk with long time members Don & Sherry Levy about the power of joy. If you have been to Christ Church and met either Don or Sherry Levy, one of the first things you would notice about them is the joy that radiates from them.

Quotes from the show:
"the dance that God has invited us to...is always going on: the band playing the music of forgiveness never takes a break .. the real job of Christians as far as the world is concerned is simply to dance to the hidden music...to wake the world up to the party" - Robert Farrar Capon, "Between Noon & Three: Romance, Law & the Outrage of Grace"

Scriptures from the show:
Philippians 4:4-9
[4] Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. [5] Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; [6] do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

[8] Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. [9] What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Resources/Links:

Tim Keller with Kathy Keller: God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life

C.S. Lewis: A Year with C.S. Lewis; Daily readings from His Classic Works

Sarah Young: Jesus Calling; Enjoying Peace in His Presence

You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple iTunes by clicking here, or on your Android platform you can find us here.

Consider rating and reviewing us, that's the best way for people to find this podcast. Also share this show with a friend or family member, it's a good way to keep them connected.

Grace & Peace

On this episode of Following Jesus with Christ Church pastors Andrew & Addison talk with long time member Miriam Engler on grief. Miriam has been practicing therapy in the Grand Rapids area and brings her years of experience and wisdom to the present circumstance we all find ourselves in.

The traditional five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance), as outlined by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross to describe the emotional journey of preparing for the death of a loved one, plot a useful map as we transit through the uncharted emotional aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

David Kessler, who worked with Elisabeth Kübler-Ross prior to her death to update the five stages of grief in their 2005 book On Grief and Grieving, stresses that these stages are not linear, and don’t have to be done in any particular order. “One of the things that’s happened over the years is that they’ve become ‘Five easy steps for grieving’ to sort of tidy up our grief, and I always remind people there’s nothing neat or tidy about grief. It’s a very organic process,” he says. ….

This prompted his most recent book, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief, which he published in November 2019, after getting the approval of the Kübler-Ross family to update her iconic stages of grief. “Meaning is so important because many of us, after every tragedy, deal with post-traumatic stress, and meaning is really the key to us having post-traumatic growth,” he explains.

Quotes from the show:
"the dance that God has invited us to...is always going on: the band playing the music of forgiveness never takes a break .. the real job of Christians as far as the world is concerned is simply to dance to the hidden music...to wake the world up to the party" - Robert Farrar Capon, "Between Noon & Three: Romance, Law & the Outrage of Grace"

Scriptures from the show:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Ps 23:1)

Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. (Ps 124:8)

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Ps 139:16)

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. (Prov 16:33)

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. (Matt 10:29)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Rom 8:28)

And he [Christ] is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Col 1:17)

He [Jesus the Son] is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. (Heb 1:3)

Resources/Links:

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Grace & Peace

On this episode of Following Jesus with Christ Church pastors Andrew & Addison talk with Christ Church Children's Director Debbie Bukovestiki. Debbie has been serving in this position for almost two years at Christ Church. Debbie and her family were missionaries in Ukraine before returning to the states and Grand Rapids. Andrew plays moderator as we look to encourage and come along side all our families with kiddos at Christ Church.

Scripture from the show

Matthew 19:14 - …  but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Mark 10:13-16 - [13] And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. [14] But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. [15] Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” [16] And she took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.”

Resources/Links

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Grace & Peace

On this episode of Following Jesus with Christ Church pastors Andrew & Addison talk with High School seniors and Christ Church regulars Abby Lammers and Quincy Eldersveld. Abby & Quincy lost their senior year due to the Stay Home, Stay Safe orders in response to COVID-19. They both ruminate on what that loss was like, what they have learned and what is coming next.

Scripture

Resources/Links

You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple iTunes by clicking here, or on your Android platform you can find us here.

Consider rating and reviewing us, thats the best way for people to find this podcast. Also share this show with a friend or family member.

Grace & Peace