RG AUDIO 060120   Ezra 1:1-11 Sometimes, questions abound. Often, the longer we journey this narrow Jesus-road, the more things don’t always make simple sense. Prayers we agonize over are not resolved the way we hope. People we love walk through tremendous times of difficulty. Life has a way of causing us all disappointment, suffering, […]

RG AUDIO 053120   Psalm 56:1-13 Ever felt helpless or hopeless? The world tells us that it’s weak to be in need or ask for help. Scripture tells us a different story. The Bible is clear that there are dark times in life, even life-threatening moments, but there’s no shame in calling out for help. […]

RG AUDIO 053020   1 John 4:7-21 There is no fear in love. Perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. What does the term love mean today? We love to travel, sing, draw, act. We love sports, music, movies, toys. […]

RG AUDIO 052920   1 Peter 4:7-19 My daughter asked me, “Why do girls have to be so mean?” It’s difficult when we’re hurt, insulted, or persecuted to not want to retaliate. Seriously, what could be the harm in someone getting what they deserve? Peter was continually challenged by Jesus, and later by the Holy […]

RG AUDIO 052820   Acts 1:1-11 Jesus informed His disciples to wait and receive the gift God the Father promised. Can you imagine spending the past forty days hanging out with the resurrected Jesus and as He’s about to leave, He tells you to wait and receive? You gotta be kidding me! This is the […]

RG AUDIO 052720   John 20:19-31 Some first words are infamous throughout history: “Four score and seven years ago,” “I have a dream,” “In the beginning.” Jesus could have said anything to His disciples on this first encounter together after the resurrection. The first words the resurrected Christ chooses are words of peace. The morning […]

RG AUDIO 052620   Matthew 8:18-27 “Do you trust me?” Trusting moves us away from the comfortable and controllable. It requires us to step in the boat and push out into a sea of unpredictability. In Jesus’ day, the sea was revered because it was untamable, chaotic. When fear creeps in, we often settle for […]

RG AUDIO 052520   Isaiah 26:1-12 Isaiah understood that God would show up and deliver. God brought peace and came as the One who is Peace: Jesus. When my son puts on his gaming headset and takes the controller, his whole being is fixed on his video game. It takes near physical force to divert […]

RG AUDIO 052420   Isaiah 40:1-11 Mark can’t read Isaiah 40 and not immediately recall the memory of playing timpani for Handel’s Messiah while attending Olivet Nazarene University. This passage, and Messiah’s musical presentation of it, came as good news to people in exile. The word from the prophet came to the people saying, “Take […]

RG AUDIO 052320   Hebrews 13:13-25 Mark’s a dad. He and his wife have three children, and he cannot imagine life without them. When their oldest son was born, a good friend Joel said to him, “Congratulations. You have a new identity. You are now officially ‘Nick’s Dad.’” One of the things Mark has learned […]