It is almost Christmas Day and we wanted to peel back the layers on Christmas traditions, let downs, and ways of celebrating. 

We also wanted to share about our craziest Christmas. Yes, one Christmas we were sitting in the living room when water started pouring down on us. Tune in to find out more about that crazy Christmas. 

We also wanted to share Revelation Ch. 12 as we talk about that Silent and Holy Night when Christ was born. I have never thought about it this way before! 

Did you have a good youth group growing up? Do your kids? Are they surrounded by friends who pray with them and lift them up?

Today on the Artichoke Heart, we are peeling back the layers on teen ministry. Kris and Jessica Drew are joining us to talk about how they started their ministry, The Gathering. What is their heart for teen ministry? How easy has it been to start a teen ministry out of their home? How has this affected their children? What are the hard parts of running a teen ministry?

How many kids do you have? Is it what you always planned on or do you have more or less than you had expected?

Join us as we peel back the layers on big family life with the Drew Krew. Kris and Jessica have 11 kids! What made them decide on a big family? What challenges do they face as a big family? What are the best parts of big family life? 

This is a fun conversation as we got to picture what big family life is all about. What an adventure! 

“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” – John Wooden

Are you a glass half full or a glass half empty type of person? Do you live a life of thankfulness and gratitude or full of despair and disappointment? Are you a victim or a victor? 

Join Gretchen Peters and Maggie Butterfield as we talk about Thankfulness in our lives and rewriting our stories to find the positive and to live a life of gratitude and joy. Thinking positively is vital for how we build our future and move on from our past! 

Happy Thanksgiving Week! 

Have you ever noticed that you can read a scripture and believe it means one thing and someone else can read it and get something different from it? Or maybe you thought a verse had one meaning until someone gives a good message on that verse? Third scenario, you read a verse and think that it is confusing and doesn't make much sense. Maybe you are still puzzled over those verses. 

One thing that I love about my husband is that he is a seeker and will find me the depth that I need on bible verses. He is constantly bringing me insight that has strengthened my understanding and love for the bible. 

Join Jason and Gretchen Peters on S2:E12 of The Artichoke Heart Podcast as we talk about two verses in the bible that we recently learned more about. Revelation 3:15-16, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

Mark 12:41-44 "Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much.  Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF9DexKd2Bg (Hot or Cold Revelation 3:15-16)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5XiIkHl-50 (Widow's Mite Mark 12:41-44)

Off the Grid is the kind of life you don't need a vacation from. Some people want a big house, fast car, and lots of money. Other people want an off grid solar powered home away from those kind of people. -Unknown

The term "off the grid" refers to living without reliance on a utility for power. It is the act of not having to rely on things that might go up in cost or have issues. There is a growing group of people that are purposefully picking home and locations to live that give them this independence.

Join The Artichoke Heart Podcast as we peel back the layers to get to the heart of what really matters on the topic of Off Grid Living. Guest Angie Dalton shares her story of moving from California to Missouri and picking to live an off grid life. From drilling a well to compost toilets, we will hear some real life ways to implement this lifestyle. We might learn some ways to reduce our costs, garden, take care of animals, and more. This is a 2-part special conversation that will peak your curiosity.

Is it really possible to live off the grid? How do you even go off the grid?

The term "off the grid" refers to living without reliance on a utility for power. It is the act of not having to rely on things that might go up in cost or have issues. There is a growing group of people that are purposefully picking home and locations to live that give them this independence. 

Join The Artichoke Heart Podcast as we peel back the layers to get to the heart of what really matters on the topic of Off Grid Living. Guest Angie Dalton shares her story of moving from California to Missouri and picking to live an off grid life. From drilling a well to compost toilets, we will hear some real life ways to implement this lifestyle. We might learn some ways to reduce our costs, garden, take care of animals, and more. This is a 2-part special conversation that will peak your curiosity. 

This is the continuation of our conversation with Melany Lane. She shares with us about the Fall Feasts that are spoken of in the book of Leviticus. They point the way to Christ and his second coming. Join us as we learn more about these feasts and celebrating them. The feasts conclude with a camping trip that reminds us that our time on earth is a temporary home. What will it be like to celebrate the second coming of Jesus Christ and our forever home?

What are the biblical feasts listed in Leviticus? Why do the Jewish people celebrate them? Should Christians ignore this part of the history or are there things that can strengthen the Christian faith through the feasts? Guest, Melany Lane, shares with us her story of beginning to celebrate the biblical feasts. She will teach us an overview of what each of the Spring feasts is all about and how it foreshadowed Jesus Christ. Melany also explains to us the dangers of going back under the law and how you can keep that from being a part of your journey into studying the old testament. 

We pray that this overview gives you insight and maybe intrigues you to learn more.  

Did you grow up with Christian music or did you discover it when you were older? Have you been listening since the 80's or 90's? Have you seen the new documentary, The Jesus Music? 

Join Gretchen Peters and Jason Peters as they take you on a musical journey through the past 40 years of Christian music. This is a review of the new documentary on the origins and history of our modern Christian music. Let's talk about how music affects us as Christians and how God has spoken to us through music. How do we react to music that isn't our favorite? Let's talk about the difficulties in the Christian music industry.