It is a mistake to believe that the best way to live life is to do so independently. It is a mistake to NEVER ask for help, never accept help, never rely upon people - because you believe they won't do it right or because you believe they'll let you down. There's a reason Jesus said that you have to BECOME like a (little) child to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And it's probably NOT for the reason you think.

It is a mistake to believe that the best way to live life is to do so independently. It is a mistake to NEVER ask for help, never accept help, never rely upon people - because you believe they won't do it right or because you believe they'll let you down. There's a reason Jesus said that you have to BECOME like a (little) child to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And it's probably NOT for the reason you think.

These days, we have an army of psychologists and therapists reminding people to self-advocate, to not allow themselves to become doormats (or become co-dependent), to stand up for themselves. And while there's truth to all of it, something profoundly POWERFUL happens when you stand up for someone else. In the midst of the pandemic and lockdowns, many pastors and churches are generating noise about THEIR rights to gather and worship. But what if they're missing it? What if they're missing an opportunity to BE the church?

These days, we have an army of psychologists and therapists reminding people to self-advocate, to not allow themselves to become doormats (or become co-dependent), to stand up for themselves. And while there's truth to all of it, something profoundly POWERFUL happens when you stand up for someone else. In the midst of the pandemic and lockdowns, many pastors and churches are generating noise about THEIR rights to gather and worship. But what if they're missing it? What if they're missing an opportunity to BE the church?

The Christmas story is saturated with risk and faith. We see it play out, over and over again, with Zechariah & Elizabeth, Mary & Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, and even Herod. Why does God (seem) to ask people to trust Him to do the impossible? And how is it that people, like Mary, can simply let it unfold?

The Christmas story is saturated with risk and faith. We see it play out, over and over again, with Zechariah & Elizabeth, Mary & Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, and even Herod. Why does God (seem) to ask people to trust Him to do the impossible? And how is it that people, like Mary, can simply let it unfold?

The world's kings and queens and presidents KNOW how to make an arrival, which makes the arrival of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (on Christmas Day, so to speak) quite odd and quite extraordinary. To mark the first Sunday of Advent, Pastor Max takes a loot at the genealogy of Matthew 1 and what Matthew is saying about Jesus.

The world's kings and queens and presidents KNOW how to make an arrival, which makes the arrival of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (on Christmas Day, so to speak) quite odd and quite extraordinary. To mark the first Sunday of Advent, Pastor Max takes a loot at the genealogy of Matthew 1 and what Matthew is saying about Jesus.

There is one sure test of whether or not God is ruling someone's life. And some people pass the test with flying colors, while others simply don't. What is this test? It's a test Jesus, Himself, put forth as the ultimate sign of God's Kingdom.

There is one sure test of whether or not God is ruling someone's life. And some people pass the test with flying colors, while others simply don't. What is this test? It's a test Jesus, Himself, put forth as the ultimate sign of God's Kingdom.