In this brief message we explain and pray a practice developed by Ignatius of Loyola hundreds of years ago. In the Prayer of Examen, we reflect on our everyday life looking for places of "Consolation" and "Desolation." Take a minute to listen, reflect, journal, and pray with us.

1. CONSOLATION -- Places of life and blessing, when you feel "In Step" with the Source of Life.

2. PAUSE AND REFLECT -- Where did you sense life, goodness, and God's presence?

3. PRAYERFUL CONVERSATION WITH GOD -- Holy Spirit, what do you want me to know now about that moment(s)?

4. DESOLATION -- Places you've drifted "Out of Step" with God and/or sense the absence of God.

5. PAUSE AND REFLECT -- Where did you sense a "Drift," struggle, or shortcoming?

6.

In this message Kathy Keasler explores one of Jesus' most powerful metaphors -- that of "Abiding in the Vine." How would our lives look if we took the time to stay connected to Jesus, our True Vine? What flourishing would we see in our lives if we allowed God to prune and grow us?

// SCRIPTURE FOCUS -- John 15.1-11

TAKEAWAY -- Here's an example of Kathy's Rhythm of Life. What does yours look like Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Annually?

// DAILY:

-- Read Scripture with Syd. (1-3 chapters in the Old and New Testament)

-- Morning Prayers (Brian Zahnd - School of Prayer)

-- Welcoming Prayers throughout the day

-- Exercise. (walk most days 2 miles)

// WEEKLY:

-- Community Worship (TNC)

-- Read. (I try to stay in a book that will help me grow in God)

-- Study. (Preparing a sermon when Adam asked me to preach)

-- Sabbath. (Take a break to be with my Lord)

// MONTHLY:

-- Spiritual Direction. 90 minutes

(by appointment)

-- Practice silence and solitude for 1/2 day

// ANNUALLY:

-- Take a Personal Spiritual Retreat (I would like to do this more often)

John 21 is like a "Post Credits Scene" after the movie's story has wrapped up. We see two snapshots of everyday life -- work and table -- that are suddenly filled with new possibility now that Christ is raised. Can you imagine how your familiar places might be transformed in the light of new creation this week?

// SCRIPTURE FOCUS -- John 21.1-14

// REFLECT: Have you ever had a "Full Circle" moment where you arrive in a familiar place or life situation but everything feels different?

// It's when they recognize God's blessings that they recognize the presence of Christ.

// If God is at work in everyday places, we need to be Detectives of Divinity dusting for God's fingerprints.

// REFLECT: Where have you seen God's fingerprints this week?

// The Table is Jesus' favorite place of inclusion and forgiveness.

// BIG IDEA: The risen Christ colors our places of familiarity (like work and table) with new creation possibility.

The week after Easter we're asking and answering (literally from an open mic!) 3 big questions about faith and doubt. Thomas shows us how questions (and even doubts) can be holy when they lead us on a quest to go deeper. Thomas eventually sees Jesus face-to-face. But what about us? Can we "See" without seeing?

// SCRIPTURE FOCUS -- John 20.24-31

// QUESTION 1 -- What is it about God that (like Thomas and the disciples the first Easter) still leaves you questioning, wondering, or even doubting?

// QUESTION 2 -- When was the last time you were surprised by God's peace, power, or presence in a difficult situation?

// QUESTION 3 -- What have you experienced (that you've "Seen without seeing") that is the tangible evidence of God's living presence breaking into your everyday life?

// BONUS -- Why do you think Jesus' resurrected body still has scars?

// QUOTE -- Slowly Thomas extends his hand toward the ragged edges of those injuries, wondering if he's about to touch a ghost or God. (VIRGINIA STEM OWENS, "Looking for Jesus")

We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus this Easter Sunday. Life has triumphed over Death. Light has triumphed over Darkness. The New Creation springs forth from the empty tomb. We look at the 7th sign of John's Gospel pointing to Jesus who is the Resurrection and the Life. But there's a question hanging over us -- Can we really trust Jesus in waiting, weeping, and death? God's power is at work in the lives of a grieving family and in the empty tomb. Today, we see and believe that the answer to this question is an emphatic "Yes!"

// SCRIPTURE FOCUS -- John 11.17-27

// Jesus makes a BIG STATEMENT (11.25) that leads to a BIG QUESTION (11.26).

1. Can we trust Jesus in WAITING?

// While we are waiting God is working (even if we're not seeing)

2. Can we trust Jesus in WEEPING?

// Jesus experienced suffering and death so that one day he might wipe away all tears and renew all things.

3. Can we trust Jesus in DEATH?

// The Resurrection and the Life are WHO Jesus is and WHAT Jesus gives

// When we're waiting, when we're saying "If only...", when we're facing death, Jesus invites us to see HIM.

// These 7 signs lead us down the road to Jesus so we can believe & find life in his name. (John 20.30-31)

// JOHN 20.8 -- Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.

John 9 begins with a faulty assumption,

then a man sees, followed by some big controversy all before the man REALLY sees. But the question leaping off the page throughout the chapter is this - do WE really see who Jesus is yet? Join us as we explore the sixth miracle leading us down the road so that we might see and believe.

// SCRIPTURE FOCUS: John 9

// This whole scenario begins with a faulty ASSUMPTION about how the world works. (Do we have any?)

// God doesn't reveal sin to shame or mock us. God reveals sin and weakness to forgive and restore us to life.

// It's not about "Why?" this happens but "What can God do next?" Even better -"WHERE is God?"

// God's grace turns tragedy into an opportunity to restore our brokenness.

// What's your "Used to..."?

What if we could prepare our hearts today for when the storms of life come tomorrow? Jesus is teaching his disciples about how they might trust him in the midst of a storm. In this message we "Feed Forward" 3 lessons that can help us navigate the winds and the waves.

// SCRIPTURE FOCUS: John 6.16-21

// How do we react to fear?

// How long does it take us to recognize Jesus walking near us in the storm?

// Fear clouds our vision -- distorting our view of God.

// Fear narrows our vision -- discouraging our faith in God.

// What are 3 things you know about WHO God is and WHAT God does? (Write them, Remember them, Share them)

// What's the storm you're rowing against now? What's the storm looming on the horizon?

// What would you say if Jesus leaned over and asked, "What are you afraid of?"

// ISAIAH 43.1b-3a -- “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior..."

The fourth sign in the Gospel of John has the distinction of being the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels. Jesus feeds a multitude and if we're not careful, we can dismiss the crowds for settling for the gifts instead of the invitation of the Giver. But at the end of the day, Jesus doesn't dismiss them. He feeds them. Listen as we hear two invitations for those of us who, like this crowd, come to Jesus tired, hungry, and hopeful.

// SCRIPTURE FOCUS -- John 6.2-15

// Where is Jesus leading you into a deeper understanding?

// What little do you have (a dream, resource, gift...) that you're led to offer so that it might be multiplied in Jesus' hands?

// What has he already given to you that has helped you make it thus far?

If Jesus approached you today and asked if you wanted to get well, how would you respond? What does "Well" even look like for you in this season? In this message we explore the third sign in the Gospel of John pointing us to who Jesus is. Follow along as we ask and answer 10 questions that connect with our own journey this Lent.

// These 7 signs lead us down the road to Jesus so we can believe & find life in his name. (John 20.30-31)

// SCRIPTURE FOCUS -- John 5.1-18

// In this message we ask 10 questions -- listen for and reflect on each of them as we go.

// "Want" doesn't really matter when "Can't" is all we see. Our framework for wellness is limited.

// Jesus is where we go for healing, restoration, and life.

// QUOTE -- “Pay attention to avoidance mechanisms that surface when you face the unknown, unknowable, uncomfortable, or unavoidable. Do you eat more? Sleep more? Domineer more? Disappear more? Why? Ask God's Holy Spirit to sensitize you today to the existence of avoidance defaults in your life." (Alicia Britt Chole, 40 Days of Decrease, Day 10)

// BIG IDEA -- The point is NOT that our issues aren't issues (they are). The point is that Jesus doesn't really see them as issues or obstacles at all when it comes to his restorative work. He wants us to see it that way, too.

// At TNC we pray believing God can, asking that God will, and trusting God loves us no matter what.

// Get up and walk when and how Jesus asks you to move (even when it doesn't make sense).

// GALATIANS 5.1 (NIV) -- It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

If the first sign pointed to Someone we could trust for the everyday miracles, John's second sign invites us to trust Jesus for the big things. The question for us in our story from John 4 is this: Will he - will we - trust Jesus' word enough to walk Jesus' way? Listen in to find how this dramatic story intersects with your own situation.

// SCRIPTURE FOCUS -- John 4.43-54

// BIG IDEA -- Real faith is trusting Jesus' word enough to walk Jesus' way.

// QUOTE -- “To follow Jesus implies that we enter into a way of life that is given character and shape and direction by the one who calls us. To follow Jesus means picking up rhythms and ways of doing things that are often unsaid but always derivative from Jesus, formed by the influence of Jesus. To follow Jesus means that we can't separate what Jesus is saying from what Jesus is doing and the way that he is doing it. To follow Jesus is as much, or maybe even more, about feet as it is about ears and eyes." (EUGENE PETERSON, The Jesus Way)

// QUOTE -- By doubting we come to inquiry, by inquiry we come to truth. (PETER ABELARD)

// QUOTE -- “The way of Jesus cannot be imposed or mapped -- it requires an active participation in following Jesus as he leads us through sometimes strange and unfamiliar territory, in circumstances that become clear only in the hesitations and questionings, in the pauses and reflections where we engage in prayerful conversation with one another and with him.” (EUGENE PETERSON, The Jesus Way)

// We've heard about Jesus...

So we come to him for healing and help...

Jesus speaks (sometimes it's strange or surprising)...

So we keep asking and listening...

Jesus says that there's life...

So we keep walking through the hills and valleys trusting that there is life at the end of the road.