How do we get our heads around what is going on in our country? Seriously, this is a century of pain compressed in five months. The mishandling of the George Floyd arrest that led to his death has sparked a wave of protest and violence around the country. People are standing with their black friends, neighbors, community members, brothers and sisters to protest the systemic mistreatment of black Americans. I have asked Joseph Hamilton, my friend and fellow pastor and social reformer in the Los Angeles area to have a frank conversation about the events of May 25, 2020 and what the church can do to be an agent of change. Please listen in to our conversation this weekend as we join to worship the Lord and address a critical social issue of today.

Todd

It’s a strange thing to think that a story never ends. Even the best stories come to a finality where the drama concludes either for bad or for good. But it does come to an end. Ever read a really really good book that you just wish it never ended? But they all do. And you're left thinking, "I wonder what happens next in the life of the characters of the story?" But the end comes and we are left feeling incomplete in a way.

In recent months we have been faced with the reality that people die every day. That the end of the story for so many are drawing to a sudden conclusion. I cannot tell you a time like this that I have been more aware of death. It haunts us every day. We didn’t ask for it. The media has made sure that we are all well aware of the fact that people are dying all around us. The resurrection of Jesus paints a totally different picture, a radical departure from this morbid obsession with death, with the unjust finality of life. Close the media feeds. Object to this absurd fear based journalism and look at the resurrection story again. In Luke chapter 24 Jesus' life does not come to an end but to a fantastic great new beginning. And he offers it to us.

Let’s see.

Todd

It’s happening! The beach is open for activity, more and more businesses are opening back up, folks are making summer plans, and L.A. traffic is making a comeback. We’re not out of the “safer-at-home” woods yet, but it’s starting to look like the beginning of the end of quarantine. Even as I’ve been chomping at the bit to “get back to normal,” a realization hit me this week—slowly but surely this very difficult and completely unprecedented global quarantining event will be just a strange chapter in the history books. Like you, I will not miss the bizarro world of face masks, social distancing, and zoom meetings all day. But there is one big question with which I’ve been wrestling recently: what did I do with my season of quarantine? How did I use it? How did I invest? This leads me to a bigger “resurrection” kind of question: How am I investing during this relatively short phase of existence I call my life? To put it in financial, stock market terms, am I day-trading on volatile, short-term fad speculations, or am I all-in on resurrection futures? That is, are the things that I pour my affections, efforts, heart, money, and minutes into good investments? Are my life priorities—whether conscious or passive, articulated or taken-for-granted—real? true? beautiful? lasting? In short, am I living my “now” into “forever?” Do the skills I’m acquiring, habits I’m forming, pleasures I’m pursuing, and loves I’m cultivating perish with the now or grow into forever? We’re going to explore this constellation of questions this week. If nothing else, tune in to see how my mustache is coming along.

James

This weekend at the River, wow. Another great service planned for you. Wait till you hear the worship, testimony, and the teaching. I hope you’re enjoying our online services as we continue to stay connected through worship and staying in God’s word. Resurrection life is about recalibrating the loves of your life. We all have deep loves, desires. They drive us. Jesus knew that. That’s why in Matthew chapter 22 Jesus gives us the great commandment- “love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul.” So many competing loves wrestling around in our hearts. We are what we love.

Todd

Disruptions are painful, but they can bring focus to our lives and to what matters. For me, I have been thinking about friendship these days. "Missing my friends" is the phrase I most commonly hear from our high school students. I picked up a book called Friendship by Lydia Denworth on the science of friendship. It is a good read and she highlights the new science showing how destructive loneliness is to our health. Friendship is good contextual soil for us to understand faith and spiritual growth. Our sermon this week will look at three ways the Resurrection changes friendship. With the book of Philippians as our guide, we will see that Jesus' death and resurrection usher in a new way of relating to each other in our friendships.

Matt

I am sure we all have a “storm” story. You were probably out hiking or out on a boat or in the elements when out of nowhere a storm appeared. How did you feel? Did you feel in control? I’ve had many of those experiences. In one particular storm experience I can recall, the lightning was touching down all around us as we were completely exposed on the side of a mountain. Scary. Think of yours. Did you feel like, “I have this”? Where was Jesus in the midst of your storm? I suspect you felt a lot like the disciples in Mark 5: 35-41 who encountered a storm on the way to the other side of the lake. Even with Jesus right by their side, albeit asleep, they became afraid. Jesus will later question them on their faith. Guys, all you needed was a little faith. Let’s look at this passage this weekend. What can we learn about fear vs faith in the midst of a storm? What can we do that could alter how we respond next time?

Todd

Join us as we continue our sustained study of the spiritual supernova that is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This Sunday we’re going to gaze into the enduring, multifaceted, and transformative implications of the resurrection for your otherwise normal, day-to-day life. Specifically, let’s meditate on two questions: 1) What happens/has happened to my individual life because of the resurrection? 2) Practically speaking, how can I live into these resurrection aftereffects in my everyday life? It’s gonna be a blast and I’ve tried to bribe Josh to dub a laugh track into the message so my jokes will land (just kidding…or am I?)!

- James

Easter comes and goes once a year, that is, as an event. But, it actually lingers on all year in our thoughts and our hearts if we really think about it. It’s all about the Resurrection of Jesus. Resurrection means new life. Jesus offers us new life in his death, burial and resurrection, now and forever. So how do we live it? Especially now, in the midst of this cultural angst? We are running the bases of emotions right now aren’t we? Disbelief, panic, fear, anxiety, worry, confusion, discomfort, annoyance, anger, frustration, and now rounding third base, a feeling of distrust. We are all over the map. Collectively we are hurting in all sorts of ways. Resurrection life in Jesus is our only hope. As things and conveniences have been ripped from our grasp, we are all wondering what is going to give us staying power through to the other side. Let’s hold on to the Resurrection. And it starts with celebrating new life. Jesus tells three parables in Luke 15, each about something lost and then found. And in all three parables a party breaks out. Maybe it's time for small celebrations. Athletes have told us for years that the way to the finish line is through celebrating small victories. Counselors will tell us the way through loss and grief is getting through life in 15 minute intervals and celebrating the small victories along the way. New life is worth celebrating. Let’s talk about Resurrection life as a party this weekend.

- Todd

This Easter will be a first for all of us. Every segment of this service is from our homes to yours. We are truly living as first century Christians, huddled In our homes celebrating the Easter morning as family and friends. Jesus has risen. He brings hope even if things look or appear hopeless. With Jesus it is far from it. I was feeling pretty stressed about filming myself preaching the Easter message this year at my home yesterday. It didn't go as planned. To be honest, I spent five hours trying to make it through a 20 minute message without messing up. I almost gave up. That's an honest truth. The evil one was literally pummeling me for five hours telling me how terrible The message is and I should give up. I persevered and here we go. This morning I got up and decided to turn on some praise music and walk. Randomly, a particular song came on. It's Entitled Living Hope. Have you heard it? I was so blown away by the lyrics and how well they match the message of hope from John 20 that I texted Jasmine and asked her if she would consider playing that song at the end of the service. I knew she had already recorded and planned out the worship so I was half expecting, "sorry, we don't have room for that song". To my surprise, she texted and said, "The worship has all been recorded and set to go, but you will happy to know that Living Hope is actually the last song of the service". She had planned that over a week or two ago. On my Walk I was overcome by emotion and teared up. I was feeling really discouraged and God showed up and reminded me he's got everything under control. He always does.

-Todd

I have to say, none of us were totally prepared for this worldwide pandemic. Do any of us have everything we need professionally, emotionally, spiritually, and practically?

Every day changes. Now, more than ever, we have to prepare our mind, as we attempt to walk with peace and courage.

Daniel's life was threatened, fear beckoned him, his faith was challenged. His security and protection came from a regular time in prayer and security in his God.

His daily practice prepared him for the big challenges.

One author says, "God's chariots and horses are all around us providing the way to glorious victory." We just have to prepare ourselves and open our eyes!

-Denise