Be sure to download the pdf for the diagrams we are talking about.So, here we are in week three and we attempted to look at three common scenarios for the end times. The first one we touched on last week, but this week we gave a more concise look at this popular teaching and why we don't agree with it.We then moved on to look at two more scenarios and talk about each one. If there are pauses in the recording, this is probably due to the Q&A we had while discussing.

There's an old saying, "How do you eat an elephant? ... One bite at a time." This week, I felt like I started to eat the elephant and tried to consume an entire leg! Needless to say, there were a few moments where I felt that my mouth and stomach were so full, I didn't think I could take another bite.Be that as it may, we made a good start in discussing the subject of the rapture, which lays the groundwork for our next conversation.

"So, a strange thing happened on the way to our Sunday gathering.... " Sounds like the opening line of a comedy night, but I kind of feel that way. There are times when I have a clear picture of where I am going with the teaching at our gatherings and other times when I am just trying to listen and obey. In this case, I have a general idea that I want to talk about what we believe, but the specifics of what to cover is more a process of trying to discern what I need to discuss in a particular season. So.... you get a few weeks on "Worship, Lent & The End Times". You'll just have to listen to get the correlation!

This recording is intentionally long, due to the fact that we captured the music as well as the speaking.Our worship leader, Jason, and I teamed up on this continuation of our discussion about worship. How do we, as human beings, connect with and worship a God, who is Spirit?

Although Jesus did not say much about the subject of worship, one could certainly say that He lived a life of worship and what He did say was pretty important.It's been said that if a word means everything, it means nothing. That's why it is important for us to understand what the word means and more importantly, what kind of worship God wants from us.

The NY normally brings talk of weight loss, exercise, more effort, financial stewardship, etc.... Whether you are a resoution person or not, most of us take this time of year to do a little reflection and consider how we want life to go. If we don't do this, the words of the famous Steve Miller song, will likely be our mantra at the end of yet another year; "time keeps on slippin, slippin, slippin, into the future..."When the Bible talks about time, it uses two main terms; "chronos", meaning the numeric increment of time, and "kairos", meaning the quality or type of time (often "a time of God's choosing, ie., a special time). Here's a little thought....The “kairos” of life, periodically come because of something outside of our direct planning or anticipation (such as a heart attack or God moment), but more often than not, “kairos” happens because of how we use “chronos”.

The story of God coming to earth in Jesus, is not all starlit night and angel song.“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?'" (Mt. 2:1,2) "When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi...A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." (Mt. 2:16,18) A short time ago, we could hear weeping from Newtown Connecticut. It was almost audible.20 Children.....20: Six and seven year oldsAll of whom will not wake up on Christmas morning and run to their stockings or sit and stare at the Minorah.All of whom will be grieved for decades to come.Historians estimate, that at the time of Jesus’ birth, there were likely about one thousand people in the little town of Bethlehem. They also have come to the conclusion, based on what they know from the historical time period, that Herod’s murderous outburst may have taken the lives of around twenty little boys.20 Children....20: Zero to 24 month baby boysAll of whom were wept over, just as those in Connecticut have wept.What does the incarnation of Jesus say about God's heart for this world? I hope you'll take a few minutes and consider the question!

Advent is a season of listening in faith. There is a story of a little boy who approaches his Rabbi, not understanding why God isn't speaking anymore. The Rabbi shook his head as though he were in pain. "My son", he said, "It isn't that God is no longer speaking to His people. It's just that silence is God's favorite language. Right now, he is letting all of life speak for Him... But very few can stoop down low enough to listen to all of life. Very few can stoop down low enough....to listen to silence."In a season filled with so much noise, how do we hear God, especially when He is speaking through silence?

Advent; the season of waiting, watching and anticipation. Over this week and the weeks to come, we will encourage reflection and meditation on the incarnation of Jesus.Based on Jeremiah's prophecy in Jeremiah 33, this weeks meditation focuses on waiting, watching and hoping.

On this Sunday, we had the great privilege of not only participating in Sean Hall's Ordination, but also in the baptism of Tammy Fehr. Tammy's testimony is included in this recording, as well as the ordination.The other special feature of this Sunday, was a song exchange between Sean Hall of Fountain Parish and Jason Houtsma of Mosaic. They both shared some of their recent song writing and what inspired the songs.