Luke 10 – Do You See What I See?

Sending out the 72?

The parable of the Good Samaritan?

Yes! But in the middle there’s this: 

“In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’

Then turning to the disciples he said privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.'”

Do you see what Jesus’ sees and do you hear what he’s saying? 

Here we get to see into the mind of Christ. He gives us a Gospel worldview. Let us pray to have eyes that see, ears that hear and a heart that understands. Pray for someone today who you think of who have eyes that need to see Christ for who he truly is.  

Episode

https://nwmedia-ondemand.streamguys1.com/mornings-with-carmen/20201210103009-12-10-2020-Mornings-with-Carmen-HR2.mp3

Do Not Forsake Meeting Together

Read Hebrews 10:19-25

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

If you are able to safely participate in your local congregation, do it! If you are unable to during this Covid-19 season, then find alternative ways to connect with the local church (not to fail to meet together) whether it be through a Zoom Bible study, remote worship, or one-on-one outside fire prayer time. “Consider how to stir one another up to love and good works” and “meet together” however you can this week.

Episode

https://nwmedia-ondemand.streamguys1.com/mornings-with-carmen/20201210101018-12-10-2020-Mornings-with-Carmen-HR1.mp3

 

 

Where in the Word are you?

What you are reading and what are you learning? If you need a place to start, join the MyFaithRaido family this Advent season in reading the Gospel of Luke. Today we are on Luke Chapter 4.

 

Today’s Episode – Hour 2

https://nwmedia-ondemand.streamguys1.com/mornings-with-carmen/20201204104009-12-04-2020-Mornings-with-Carmen-HR2.mp3

Advent, December 4

Join us again in our reading through The Gospel of Luke this Advent season. You can sign up to read along at this link: MyFaithRadio Advent. Today we are reading through Luke Ch. 4

Today’s Guests

Matthew Hawkins – Public Theologian and Former Policy Director of the ERLC

We tackle some of the headlines surrounding Joe Biden’s influence on the rights of Americans including those related to abortion and LBTQ.

You can follow Matthew’s work further on twitter at @mthawk and on his website at matthewthawkins.com.

Dan Dewitt  – Cedarville University and Theolatte.com

Dan joins us to go through the Weekend Worldview Reader, making a list and checking it twice to give us headlines headlines both naughty and nice. Some from today include Santa’s night in jail all the way to myths about the big man in red.

 

 

 

 

Today’s Episode

https://nwmedia-ondemand.streamguys1.com/mornings-with-carmen/20201204103017-12-04-2020-Mornings-with-Carmen-HR1.mp3

Our Shadow Lives

Look in the mirror and check your shadow life today. 

Our shadow life is the one where sin clings to us and we’ve made some kind of peace with it. We’re not actively seeking to expose that part of our life to the light, it follows us around and other people see it, but no is confronting it. And it’s compromising our witness. 

Maybe the shadow life for you is pornography or sexual promiscuity or alcohol or maybe its the subtle way you rob your employer by spending time at work playing video games, streaming videos or scrolling social media. Your shadow life could be anger expressed without reservation that cuts deeply those closest to you or living with an ever increasing addiction to spending money you don’t have. 

Whatever your shadow life, today is the day to expose it to the light. 

One way: confess it to someone who loves you. Say out loud: there’s a shadow clinging to my spirit and I want to walk away from it. I want God to shine the light of His cleansing righteousness upon it but I’m ashamed and afraid and it’s an idol I love and I’m simultaneously disgusted by it and holding onto it. I need your help as my brother or sister in Christ to live out from the shadow of this particular sin. 

Trust me when I tell you, the other person already knows – the shadow isn’t invisible – it’s been compromising your witness for a long time. The confession of the shadow brings it into a place where you – and someone you trust – can together pray and then work to chase the shadow away by focusing on filling your life with the power of a new affection. It’s not enough to say I’m going to stop doing this or that, your heart and mind and time must then be filled with the positive pursuit of that which is holy and honest, beautiful, true and good. 

Take some time today to acknowledge the shadow life and then turn to God and ask Him to shine the cleansing light of His love in that place.

Today’s Guests

Peter Kapsner – 50 Shades of Truth

Peter joins us today and weighs in on the announcement by the Progressive United Methodists of their new denomination, the Liberation Methodist Connexion. He also helps us think through when a church is not really a church.

Alvin Sanders – Author of “Uncommon Church – Community Transformation for the Common Good“

Dr, Sanders is the president and CEO of World Impact and was previously a pastor, church planter, and denominational leader within the Evangelical Free Church of America. In his book, Uncommon Church, Alvin helps the people of God grow churches that seek the good of their poor communities by empowering, partnering, and reaching them. For more information, check out his book here.

Today’s Episode

https://nwmedia-ondemand.streamguys1.com/mornings-with-carmen/20201203105010-12-03-2020-Mornings-with-Carmen-HR2.mp3

Luke 3

We are continuing our reading of Luke today with chapter 3. You can join the MyFaithRadio community for an Advent reading through Luke’s Gospel.

Here are a couple of standout verses from today:

15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Some Conversations:

Discuss some standout verses to you in this chapter?

Read what the other Gospel writers say about John the Baptist – including how he died and how Jesus responded to his death.

Move to a conversation about Jesus’ genealogy and discuss in conversation with the genealogy in Matthew’s Gospel.

 

Today’s Guests

Ben Johnson – Acton Institute

Ben joins us again to discuss topics of the day including California churches ready to defy Governor Newson after a Supreme Court ruling. He also weighs in on Washington State’s erasement of parents from teen healthcare. Check out Ben’s work and more at Acton.org

Kathy Branzell – National Day of Prayer Taskforce

Kathy leads us through prayer and praise in the season of Advent alongside some suggestions for some new and old Christmas traditions. Look for more from Kathy and the National Day of Prayer Taskforce here at nationaldayofprayer.org

Today’s Episode

https://nwmedia-ondemand.streamguys1.com/mornings-with-carmen/20201203104013-12-03-2020-Mornings-with-Carmen-HR1.mp3

Humility and Grace

There are things provided for us that take a lot of humility. Some of our neighbors, maybe even you, have to stand in a food line to receive free food from a food bank. This process even takes grace because there are those who have enough to share and do so to provide for these banks.

Remember humility and grace today. There are places and spaces where we need increase in both of these.

Where are you in the place of humility to receive and how are you being a conduit for grace today? Have you humbled yourself under the Father to receive the greatest grace of Jesus Christ’s gift of eternal life for those who believe? If so, walk in that grace today and stay humble, knowing you have received the gift you did not and could not earn. If not, be humble and receive Christ’s grace of forgiveness of sins and step into new life.

Today’s Guests

Bill English – Bible & Business

Bill joins us to discuss how we reinvent workers for the post-Covid economy and what it looks like to retrain people to new jobs. He also covers information about Biden’s economic team and what they are suggesting for workers and income equality. Check out Bill’s work at https://www.bibleandbusiness.com/

Sean McDowell – Author, Chasing Love

Dr. McDowell is an author with a desire to equip the church to make the case for the Christian faith. He is an Associate Professor in The Christian Apologetics program at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. In his book, Chasing Love – Sex, Love and Relationships in a Confused Culture, Sean invites readers to reflect on Jesus’ approach to love and in so doing answers some of the tough questions people ask today about love such as, can sexual sin truly be forgiven and what if I’m not happy in my marriage?

Connect with Sean McDowell further on his blog at: http://seanmcdowell.org

Today’s Episode

https://nwmedia-ondemand.streamguys1.com/mornings-with-carmen/20201202102009-12-02-2020-Mornings-with-Carmen-HR2.mp3

Day 2 of Our Advent Reading Through Luke

Read Luke 2  – If you would like to participate in the MyFaithRadio Advent reading of Luke reading, you can sign up here.

Here’s a  couple clips from verses that stand out in the chapter (definitely not limited to these):

14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” & 

52 “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. 

Which ones stand out to you and why? Let me know in the comments below. 

Today’s Guests

George Barna – Arizona Christian University & American Worldview Inventory

Cultural researcher, Dr. Barna joins us and discusses his work  with AWI and specifically leads us through, Worldview: The Real Civil War in America; How to Win it and Who Must Lead Us Back.

Ruth Kramer – Mission Network News

Ruth Joins us again to discuss the mission news from around the globe, specifically news about Christians in Indonesia murdered by ISIS, Christians fleeing the threat of Ethiopian forces on the city of Mekelle, and more.

Today’s Episode

https://nwmedia-ondemand.streamguys1.com/mornings-with-carmen/20201202101017-12-02-2020-Mornings-with-Carmen-HR1.mp3

25 days of Christmas

The 25 days of Christmas have begun which means it’s a good day to start the Josh/Christie Straub book! Check out my discussion with Christie on a previous episode here.

Just like Santa, are you making a list and checking it twice? There may be a lot of things on your list…Christmas cards? Tree? Gifts? Visits? Trips? Events? Celebrations? Traditions? 

However, what we’ve come to expect is going to be disrupted so let’s expect the unexpected and anticipate miracles; with God all things are possible!

The AP is not expecting a miracle, rather they are reporting a pall over Christmas in Bethlehem. 

I reject that. Here’s a link to the article if you want to check it out: AP Pall Call

Finally, this next link may seem to have nothing to do with Christmas, but because of Christ who came to earth, died and rose again, we do not mourn as those who mourn with no hope, rather, we look forward to that day when we will be with our Lord. Eric Reed reflects a year after the death of his son, Kaleb, who is with the Lord. One year later: https://erikreed.blog/2020/12/01/one-year-later/

 

Today’s Guests

Justin Giboney – AndCampaign.org

Justin and the AndCampaign is on a mission to educate and organize Christians for civic and cultural engagement. He talks with us about the Georgia run-offs, Giving Tuesday, and Family matters.

Vicki Losson – Author of “Whole: Finding Faith, Hope and Love in the Wake of Divorce.”

Vicki talks joins us to discuss her book, “Whole,” a book about how divorce is not the end, but rather with faith, hope, and love toward God, those in the wake of it can become whole once again.

Today’s Episode

https://nwmedia-ondemand.streamguys1.com/mornings-with-carmen/20201201100011-12-01-2020-Mornings-with-Carmen-HR2.mp3

December 1 – Read Luke 1 with us!

Brett McCracken with the Gospel Coalition gives us a 100 song Advent Playlist: TGC Advent Playlist

A couple of my favs are: O Holy Night and Mary Did you Know.

What are some of yours favorite advent season songs? Let me know in the comments below!

Today’s Guests

Mark Caleb Smith – Cedarville University

Mark gives us the lowdown on how to tie a bowtie. He also takes on the title of imaginary Education Secretary to tell us how he would reform education and the Education Department in the US.

Joel Halldorf – Stockholm School of Theology

Joel Halldorf is associate professor in church history at the Stockholm School of Theology. He is also an author of a number of books on evangelicalism, modernity, and politics, most recently Pentecostal Politics in a Secular World (Palgrave MacMillan, 2020) which delves deeper into the topic of this essay. Alongside his books, he contributes to a number of newspapers and magazines in Sweden, where he lives with his wife and children.

Episode

https://nwmedia-ondemand.streamguys1.com/mornings-with-carmen/20201201095012-12-01-2020-Mornings-with-Carmen-HR1.mp3