Light In Your Corner

Lauren and Monica are more than excited to introduce Brant Hansen!  Join us as we talk with our new friend (bestselling author, award-winning radio personality, and well-intentioned gardener) Brant Hansen about what life in the kingdom looks like. Also: sabbath rest, what making space for ASD kids looks like in ministry, the burden of being cool, and the value of humility. There are no nobodies.

Excerpts of Brant’s Bio from his website: branthansen.com:

Brant Hansen is an author, nationally syndicated radio host, and advocate for healing children through  CURE International.

His podcast with his friend and radio producer, Sherri Lynn (“The Brant and Sherri Oddcast”) has been downloaded more than 10 million times.

His books are:

• Unoffendable: This book has prompted a national discussion on the idea of forgiveness, and our culture's embrace of self-righteous anger.
• Blessed are the Misfits: Great News for Believers who are Introverts, Spiritual Strugglers, or Just Feel Like They're Missing Something
• The Truth About Us: The Very Good News About How Very Bad We Are
• The Men We Need: God's Purpose for the Manly Man, the Avid Indoorsman, or Any Man Willing to Show Up

Let's start with a riddle:

• It can be our best friend or our worst enemy.
• It’s a tool used by corporate marketers and stay-at-home moms. 
• It guarantees job security for authors, influencers, and psychotherapists. 
• It mobilizes masses of people to perform in marching bands, and it weaponizes masses of people against each other.
• It was regularly utilized by Jesus in His teachings.

And it is something we all possess to some degree. What is it?

It is your imagination.

Our imaginations are beautiful gifts from God, but so easily manipulated by the world around us, as well as our own sinfulness. Today we are going to talk about how we can guard our imaginations by trusting in God and truly knowing our purpose.

And we are going to give mad props to an unnamed Hebrew mother who preserved life and changed the course of history by just being a faith-filled mom. Join us as we dive into Exodus 1 and 2!

"One Thousand Gifts" By Ann Voskamp https://annvoskamp.com/
Ted Talk: Elizabeth Dunn "Helping Others Makes Us Happier-But It Matters How We Do It" https://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_dunn_helping_others_makes_us_happier_but_it_matters_how_we_do_it?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare 

Join Lauren and Monica as we go down a rabbit hole while talking about 2 little verses in 2nd John.

Scripture: 2 John:10-11

"Abide" By Jen Wilkin

We also briefly mention "The Office" TV show, Mario Cart video game, Angry Birds video game.  If you don't know what any of those are, please feel free to Google them!

Join us as we talk about structure and FUN this summer with our kids.
 
 "Abide" by Jen Wilkin https://www.amazon.com/Abide-Bible-Study-Video-Access/dp/1087768802/ref=asc_df_1087768802/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=598360918292&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3133955746647408858&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019035&hvtargid=pla-1666324283682&psc=1

What is your story?  Today we are going to talk about a woman whose encounter with Jesus changed the entire trajectory of her life, and the people who were witnesses to the fact.  You can have two different stories- one marked by grace, and one not.  But what does a life marked by grace look like?  How do we live like it matters in our life?  How does love lead to grace, and grace lead to love?

It doesn't come by ignoring our debt.  True grace sees us completely, sins and all, and loves us right where we are.  Our tears are honored and precious in His sight, and we can so just sit here and cry.

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Books/TV Shows discussed today:
- "Owl at Home" by Arnold Lobel https://www.amazon.com/Owl-Home-Can-Read-Level/dp/0064440346

- "Bad Girls of the Bible" by Liz Curtis Higgs https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Girls-Bible-What-Learn/dp/0307731979/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5KNIBSNDJOVD&keywords=bad+girls+of+the+bible+by+liz+curtis+higgs&qid=1686252446&s=books&sprefix=bad+girls+of+the+bibl%2Cstripbooks%2C104&sr=1-1

- "The Office" Dinner Party Episode (season 4, episode 13) https://youtu.be/5fPVSk6y5aw 

This one is for all the people who don't have everything figured out: What if your life seems like a mess?  Or what if you love someone whose life seems like a total mess?  We all have a lot to manage just to keep life moving forward, even if it isn't pretty or smooth.  Thankfully, Jesus steps right into our boat and blesses us with His presence and gifts before we even know we need them.  Today we are going to talk about that.  We will discuss what the ministry of asking for help looks like, what it means to let down our nets, and a bunch of other real life examples of how Jesus makes our messy lives better-starting now!

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

"A Man Called Ove" by Fredrik Backman https://www.amazon.com/Man-Called-Ove-Novel/dp/1476738025/ref=asc_df_1476738025/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312009759033&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16237036798951977763&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019035&hvtargid=pla-432168393496&psc=1

"A Man Called Otto" Movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFYUX9l-m5I

"With" by Skye Jethani: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=with+skye+jethani&hvadid=580744456532&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9019035&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=745568392776178442&hvtargid=kwd-29833095804&hydadcr=8236_13500857&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_2m80chr0zd_e

"The Chosen" TV Series: https://watch.thechosen.tv/

Whether it is prices on airline tickets or the ripeness of produce at the grocery store, or anything in between, we humans are born to compare. We must compare the importance of tasks on our to-do lists and how to spend our time. We compare schools and job opportunities. Comparing is, at its most basic level, good.

But what happens when we misuse the tool of comparison? What if we use it to judge and determine the value of others or ourselves? How do we fight to believe what God says about us over what others say? And how do we help our neighbors do the same? 

Today we join a woman in Samaria whose story changed the moment she met Jesus, and we get a glimpse of what it looks like to believe Him and live in His truth.

Bible Verses: John 4

Movie and TV Show references:

"Gen Z Reacts to the Chosen" https://www.angel.com/watch/the-chosen/videos/bonus/6592c21e-517d-408b-afc3-c269fb667031

"The Geography of Bliss" https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/rainn-wilson-and-the-geography-of-bliss

"Parks and Recreation" https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/parks-and-recreation

"Guardians of the Galaxy- Volume 3" https://youtu.be/u3V5KDHRQvk

We are told to treat others like we want to be treated. We are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves. But what if my neighbor is a jerk? What if their yard is littered with signs that endorse a candidate or an ideology I don’t agree with? Am I just supposed to ignore that? How do I love someone who is on the opposing side? How do I love someone who is unlovable?

Sometimes we say that if God would only show us which way to go-if He would give us a neon sign or something--we would gladly go. But is that really true? What if the neon sign is pointing at your neighbor’s front door?

Today we are going to talk about the very real issues that come up when we are trying to genuinely love our neighbor. And who better to teach us about that than…Jonah? 

Verses: The Book of Jonah

Books, Podcasts, and Bible Studies we discussed:
1.) The 3-Day Effect by Florence Williams (Link) https://a.co/d/hDEd4Xb
2.) Daniel Bible Study Book- Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophesy by Beth Moore (Link) https://a.co/d/8YjXaeL
3.) Brant & Sherri Oddcast (Can be found wherever you listen to podcasts) https://open.spotify.com/show/4NmleH0D3Env63thHXdKxy
4.) National Park After Dark podcast (wherever you listen to podcasts)

Of all the struggles in life, is there anything harder than change?  When we are called out of our comfort zone, when our small step looks like a giant leap, where can we turn for encouragement?  

Verses: Joshua 3-4

"Be strong and courageous.  Do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

What's your story?   Whether it's on Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat, it is clear that human beings have a hunger to be known.  We want our story to matter.  What if we told you that your story absolutely matters, and for reasons that will last for eternity?

Verses:
2 Kings 5:1-15

Books discussed:
"The Action Bible (God's Redemptive Story)" by Sergio Cariello https://www.amazon.com/The-Action-Bible/dp/083077744X/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=616991184662&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9019035&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=11160350196538443025&hvtargid=kwd-21029761157&hydadcr=24659_13611768&keywords=the+action+bible&qid=1683229362&sr=8-1

"Joining Jesus on His Mission" by Greg Finke
https://www.amazon.com/Joining-Jesus-His-Mission-Missionary/dp/193884002X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ERYDCX2GS9U6&keywords=joining+jesus+on+his+mission+by+greg+finke&qid=1683229562&sprefix=joining+jesus%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-1

"With" by Skye Jethani
https://www.amazon.com/Reimagining-Way-You-Relate-God/dp/1595553797/ref=sr_1_1?crid=V0VDSMYJ4AOK&keywords=with+by+skye+jethani&qid=1683229615&sprefix=with+by+sk%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-1