For many families, the holiday season brings with it several extended family gatherings. Almost inevitably, some comments and questions will be made that will make us a little uncomfortable. Whether a personal comment- like, "When are you going to have kids?" or a political one- like, "Can you believe what the president did this week?" These gatherings can be awkward. How should we respond to those moments? As we head into Thanksgiving and Christmas, here are our thoughts on how to handle awkward family conversations.

On November 5, one of the most deadly mass shootings in US history occurred at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs in Texas. At the time of this recording, 26 people had been killed, including children and elderly. As we process such a horrific event and pray for the families, a few questions come to mind. How concerned should we be about the frequency of shootings in public places? Is this a sign that churches in America are being targeting by acts of violence? How can churches put measures in place to protect against a shooting? In this episode, we address some fears that we have heard expressed as we pray for those affected on November 5.

You have probably heard of seminary and of ordination - but you might feel a bit confused about what these words actually mean. Who is seminary for and why would someone go? Do non-pastors go to seminary? And then there is the term "ordination" that gets used in the church. What does it mean to be ordained and do you need a seminary degree to be a pastor? These are the kinds of practical church questions we're going to be answering today on the 10 Minute Think Thru.

Throughout the year, our church sends out several teams on short term mission trips - both domestic and international. Many churches do. But have you ever stopped and considered... is it something we should be doing? What is the value of short term mission trips, and is there a right way and a wrong way to do them? In this episode, we put the idea of short term missions under the microscope and think through their purpose.

Celebrating halloween has long been a controversial topic among Christians - a prime example of "culture wars." Some believe it's harmless for kids to dress up and to trick or treat, as long as the parents disassociate it with its history. Others believe it's sinful to participate in any halloween activity. Is there an answer? Is it worth considering in 2017? We think so.