Turns out, most things shouldn't surprise us. If we're paying attention, we will notice and be able to respond compassionately to the warning signs around us. Kris spends a little time thinking about death, disaster, and the lessons of Pompeii as we look at Mark 13:24-37.

You better watch out, you better not cry... Actually, Advent is about watching out AND crying. Crying in the wilderness, that is! Changes we make because someone else ("Santa-God"?) might be watching rarely stick around. Changes we make because we are living into a preferred future have a much better chance. Susan digs into Luke 3:1-19 and helps us check our internal whiny children in this 3rd Sunday of Advent message.

John the Baptist gets invited to a party in the worst possible way: by losing his head. King Herod's family dynamics might make yours look tame... but what does this have to do with us now? Susan serves up Mark 6:14-29.

There are some things it is simple too taboo, too awkward, or too embarassing to talk about. And yet... in every question, there is a promise tucked away. Kris reflects on Malachi 3:1-4, and the prophets who are willing to help us look for the promises of God, even in our big, scary questions.

What stories have you heard about yourself, or told about yourself, that give glimpses of key elements of who you believe you are? Whether accolades and affirmation, or tales of infamy, it's amazing how quickly we attach labels to ourselves and others. Perhaps one way to capture the bigger, fuller picture of who we are and who we are called to be, we need to find some quiet, and listen. Susan retells the tale of John the Baptist's dad in Luke 1:68-79 in this Second Week of Advent sermon.

Times change, trends come and go, and navigating the serially new world can be challenging. But change is hard! Susan talks about Jesus's tips for adapting in Mark 3:1-16.

It's hard to hear an unpleasant truth, but it's nearly impossible to hear a beautiful one. Why do we insist on making Christmas so tender and mild, and what happens if we let it speak to us an uglier truth? Kris delves into Jeremiah 33:14-16 in this Advent episode of the podcast.

What does the second coming of Christ look like to you? Is it more Armageddon or Hunger Games? Does the world go out with a bang or a whimper? Glimpses of God in the world aren't reserved to calm, quiet moments; sometimes God is present when it feels like our whole world is crumbling around us. Susan invites us to take a look at Luke 21: 25-36 and VanGogh's A Starry Night.

What do you think about when you pass a hospital, pharmacy, or health clinic? What if we let our surroundings inspire us to find ways to create true healing - space for people of all ability levels in our community? Kris dives into Mark 5:21-43 and its practical implications for us today.

Whether it's out loud or in the quietest corner of your heart, at some point in your life, you've probably needed healing from something: medical, psychologiacl, relational, spiritual. So... have you gotten it? What does it look like? What do you need healing from now? Susan dives into the mysterious ways of Jesus in Mark 5:21-43.