A Fresh Take

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. [Matthew 6:9-13, KJV] In this final episode on prayer, Pastor Paul and Mark step back in biblical tradition to examine the Lord's Prayer. This collection of verses is recited and celebrated by churches the world over, but can it have real meaning in the prayer lives of people today? The answer, it turns out, is yes. The Lord's Prayer, when spoken with genuine thought and intention, is more than just another rote recitation. It is a place where you can learn how to start praying. It is a tool to teach your children how to build flourishing prayer lives. It is a chance for every believer to examine not only their needs but their wants as well and to ensure that they align with what God wants for his people. In today's episode of A Fresh Take, Paul and Mark break down each section of this prayer and apply it to our lives. From adoration to confession and from thanksgiving to supplication (or, as Paul prefers, the "stuff" of prayer), this final foray into prayer finds new value and worth for the world of today in one of the most well-known sections of Scripture. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: Not into the audio podcast format? Check out A Fresh Take on YouTube, too! :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

"Prayer is not meant to be a grocery list... Prayer is communication with the God of the universe who calls Himself our parent and longs for a deeper fellowship." Ever seen those three dots? They pop up in your text messaging app when you're waiting for a response from someone...they appear, they disappear, they reappear, and still...no answer comes. Prayer can feel like that sometimes. You ask, you please, you beg, and still...nothing. In today's episode, Pastor Paul and Mark look at some of the reasons our prayers might go unanswered, as well as steps we can take to make sure we are in the right place with God before we even begin to pray. They'll cover topics like: actually asking for what we want during prayer to help us understand the deeper purpose ensuring that we are relationally right with God whenever we go to him in prayer examining our motives for prayer refusing to quit praying even when it seems the answer we want will never come praying in Christ's name alone, and why this seemingly obvious step is really important; and doing our own part during the process of prayer. Our series on prayer continues with even more vital information on how our prayers can be more effective, more focused, and more powerful. Thanks for joining us for another episode of A Fresh Take. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: Not into the audio podcast format? Check out A Fresh Take on YouTube, too! :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

"The power is not in the prayer. It's in the God to whom you are praying." Today's episode of A Fresh Take has it all--questions, answers, and all the gray areas in between. Mark serves as today's mini-panel correspondent, questioning Paul on the multi-faceted topic of prayer and helping create conversations that apply to anyone searching for better ways to talk to God. His questions include: If God knows everything, why should I pray? What should we do when we pray? Get on our knees? Close our eyes? Bow our heads? What's more important: our praying or our doing? How do we handle unanswered prayer? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in prayer? If you've ever wondered anything similar to the points above, this episode is for you. Together, let's explore and identify the purpose of prayer and learn how we can best communicate with the God and Creator of the universe. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: Not into the audio podcast format? Check out A Fresh Take on YouTube, too! :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

"Part of our spiritual lives is to realize, that's real prayer. Sometimes real prayer is long or journal-written but sometimes it just starts with that: 'Lord, help me.'" As we continue with our latest series on prayer, Pastor Paul and Mark are looking at the reasons why we DON'T pray. After all, how do you pray when you're sad, lonely, or depressed? Does God meet us where we are even if we're struggling to pray? In today's episode, we emphasize the importance of remembering that when we pray, we are physical beings participating in a spiritual experience--and as such, it's expected for us to struggle at times. But when we do, there's three things that can help: Keep it short: Prayer doesn't have to be long-winded to be meaningful. Talk it out: Consider talking through your concerns with others and with God. Name your "why:" Work on naming your reasons for your struggle with prayer. Pastor Paul and Mark fill this episode of A Fresh Take with practical steps you can use to help you overcome that feeling of separation from God and answer the question so many of us wrestle with: How can we reach toward heaven when we've hit rock bottom? :: VIDEO PODCAST :: Not into the audio podcast format? Check out A Fresh Take on YouTube, too! :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Welcome back to Season 3 of A Fresh Take! Today, we're kicking off the new season with the first episode in a series on prayer: what it is, how we do it, and why it can be both challenging and rewarding to develop it into a consistent habit. In this episode, Paul and Mark cover such topics as: making deals with God, celebrity Christianity, and the possibility of a Word on the Street cruise (hint: it's remote); the history and ubiquitousness of prayer in different forms around the world; and a simple answer to the most important question you'll ever be asked. The conversation today includes not just the definition of prayer but its application, methodology, and common misunderstandings as a way to encourage the listener toward a countercultural life of faithfulness that fulfills the way we were always intended to live. Thanks for tuning in to another season of A Fresh Take! :: RESOURCES :: The Westminster Larger Catechism (specifically, Q.178) :: VIDEO PODCAST :: Not into the audio podcast format? Check out A Fresh Take on YouTube, too! :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

We've turned the page (or stone tablet, as it were) and reached the end of our series on the Ten Commandments. In today's episode, Pastor Paul and Mark summarize all the relevant points made over the course of the last few months and reinforce the need for a continued commitment to the principles laid out so many years ago--even when they might seem antiquated or out of date, the Ten Commandments are just as necessary to the life of a Christ-follower today as they were for Moses and God's people all those millennia before. A Fresh Take will be breaking for the remainder of the summer and picking back up in the fall of 2022 with a whole new roster of topics, ideas, and fresh takes on the issues that intersect both Christianity and culture. Thanks for being a listener! :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Do not covet your neighbor's house. Do not covet your neighbor's wife, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbors. [Exodus 20:17] We've saved, as they say, the most applicable and convicting for last. (Well, maybe they don't say exactly that.) Let's face it: We all covet. We might not murder, or commit adultery, or steal--at least, not in the most obvious sense--but we ALL covet. We envy. We desire. We feel discontentment. There's something out there that we need, something that will complete us, make us better or smarter or skinnier or just plain happier. The advertising industry thrives on our propensity to covet: ads that show us what we're missing and how much greater our lives could be if we just had *it* (whatever the it du jour is, of course). Today, Pastor Paul and Mark start their sprint toward the finish line of the second season of A Fresh Take by taking a look at the tenth and final commandment. Beginning with the question of why this commandment is so important--after all, it seems tame in comparison to cheating on your spouse or taking someone's life--and ending with the conclusion that God definitely knew what he was doing by including this one in the list, we're wrapping up this series and season with one more deep dive into the command against coveting. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

We're counting down our last couple commandments by taking a deeper look at Number 9: do not lie. We live in an age inundated with fake news and fake bodies, but what about fake personalities? Today's episode examines five different types of liars who skirt the edges of the definition with the intention of coming out ahead: The Blowfish: puffs themselves up through exaggeration The Bully: constantly gossips to make others look bad The Elephant: never forgets the bad but dismisses the good The Soap Bubble: flits and flies and promises with no commitment The Escape Artist: creates excuses for themselves when confronted with the truth This one hits home, because we can probably see ourselves in at least one of these personalities at least some of the time. The truth is out, and it hurts--but the damage done by lies might even be worse. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Do not give false testimony against your neighbor. [Exodus 20:16] Fake news, anyone? Lying has become so pervasive in our society today, we barely bat an eye at it anymore. But it turns out there's a good reason that it's included as one of the Ten Commandments. Pastor Paul and Mark examine the concept of truth and its opposite in today's episode of A Fresh Take as they dive first into a discussion of ethics (When is lying justified? Why do we have to follow rules? Shouldn't I decide for myself which laws to obey?) before turning to the ninth commandment and beginning to scratch the surface on why God would make such a point of telling us to the truthful. Far from restraining us, the law of liberty, love and Christ is the one that sets us free. Our freedom in Christ might look different than the rest of the world's, but ultimately it is our attractive ethic of living that will help attract others to the Savior. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Do not steal. [Exodus 20:15] We're deep into our series on the Ten Commandments now, and the relevance just keeps growing: In today's episode, Pastor Paul and Mark expand upon the eighth commandment to bring its meaning into the current day. No longer applying only to taking physical items that aren't your own, stealing encompasses a lot--whether it's time, money, or even sermons. (Yes, it happens.) And let's not even get started on what stealing looks like at the gas pump nowadays... This episode touches on many of the different ways that the biblical command not to steal applies to our lives today and also features an introduction to Pastor Paul's biblical theology of economics. While we know that people are always sinful, we also learn from God's Word that work is good, and it is the hard work done by the honest person that serves as a cultural antidote to the rampant and ever-present problem of stealing. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Do not commit adultery. [Exodus 20:14] Adultery: It's not just a plot point in half the romantic comedies out today. In this week's episode of A Fresh Take, Pastor Paul and Mark examine the deepest, hardest, and quietest facets of the sin of adultery--what it is (hint: there's more to it than just having an affair), who it affects (spoiler alert: everyone), and why it's part of the Ten Commandments. More than just the breaking of marriage vows, adultery shatters the relationship not just between us and our spouse but between us and God. The sacred covenant meant to reflect God's love for his people suddenly takes a backseat to our own selfish whims and desires, and the outcome is just slightly different than that happy ending you see in today's culture where everyone ends up with the person they're meant to be with, no matter who gets hurt along the way. The vertical bonds of our relationship with God are mirrored in the horizontal bonds of marriage, and when one goes...well, the collateral damage involved wouldn't produce such a happy ending. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

"You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment." [Matthew 5:21-22a] If the Ten Commandments were the first piece of the puzzle, Jesus fills in all the rest. The laws that dictate our external and superficial behavior suddenly become only a precursor to the commands laid down by Christ. Where the Law of Moses looked at the outward appearance, Jesus looks at the heart. This is especially evident in today's episode of A Fresh Take where Pastor Paul and Mark examine how Jesus equated murder with anger in his teachings during the Sermon on the Mount. Anger isn't going anywhere. We're angry all the time, whether it's at our spouse or our kids or the driver in front of us or that unnamed "other" that has the audacity to disagree with us. And while anger in itself is not a sin--at least, not when it's appropriately directed--our responses to our anger certainly have the potential to become sinful. I'm angry, so I hit. I'm angry, so I cheat. I'm angry, so I yell. Unfortunately for our human nature, however, the emotion does not justify the response. Instead, we have to follow Jesus' lead and look inward to find the solution. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Today's Fresh Take is an insert episode that was recorded after the horrific events of May 24, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas. In the midst of their discussions about the sixth commandment, in which God tells us not to take the life of another, the news about this latest tragedy to befall our nation broke. Pastor Paul and Mark decided to dedicate additional time to looking at how we can respond in the wake of yet another story of innocence lost, families broken, and childhoods shattered: How are we, as Christ-followers, supposed to react to the shooting in Uvalde? How can we find hope, peace, or even a sense of stability in these times, where it seems like we're moving from one devastating catastrophe to another at warp speed? We will always fall short in trying to understand these kinds of disasters, but today's episode offers a glimpse of the life-giving restoration offered only in the person of Christ. Thank you for joining us for this special edition of A Fresh Take. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Do not murder. [Exodus 20:13] Let's face it: Murder is everywhere. It's on our TV screens, in our movie theaters (or streaming services, if you prefer), part of our video games, and tucked between the pages of our books. It's been a part of society since the dawn of entertainment. Actually, it's been a part of society since almost the dawn of creation. Murder is ubiquitous, and as a result we have become desensitized to its impact. How many of us remember that some of the great heroes of our faith were themselves guilty of murder? It's hard to believe that the young shepherd boy David is the same person who would later take the life of one of his loyal warriors. Today, Pastor Paul and Mark look at the prevalence and consequence of murder in our world: From the war in Ukraine to capital punishment to abortion, the sixth commandment still holds a lot of weight--and for good reason. Next week, make sure you join us again as we continue the conversation by unpacking the recent tragedy in Uvalde, Texas. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. [Exodus 20:12] We've reached the middle of the Ten Commandments today as we examine the importance of the fifth commandment: honor your parents. When we think of the two tablets of the Law that were handed down to Moses on Mount Sinai, we can imagine that the first four commandments instructed us how to live "vertically"--that is, between us and God. The final five commandments tell us how to live "horizontally"--in community with other Christ-followers. The fifth commandment, to honor your father and mother, bridges the gap by reinforcing the relationship between God and parents as his representative authority in the lives of their children. Parenting is, as anyone who's experienced it knows, a weighty subject, and today's episode of A Fresh Take gives it its due by recognizing that "honoring" parents isn't just obeying or following rules, it's the foundation of a relationship built on respect. Covering everything from how to respond when rules are broken to how to handle financial struggles to what happens when the care of an elderly parent becomes impossible, Pastor Paul and Mark show us yet again how relevant and realistic the Ten Commandments are in today's modern world. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy... [Exodus 20:8] Our series on the Ten Commandments continues this week with a deeper look at the fourth commandment: honoring the Sabbath and keeping it holy. In our deadline-driven, accolade-hungry, sleep-when-you're-dead corporate world, "rest" can be *that* kind of four-letter word. Our work becomes our idol and our productivity becomes its worship. But God had a better plan for us. From the very beginning, God always intended for there to be balance--work hard, yes, but rest well. We are commanded in Exodus 20 to "labor six days and do all your work" because the seventh is intended to be "a Sabbath to the LORD your God." So what is a Sabbath, anyways? Derived from the Hebrew shabbat, a Sabbath is our chance to step aside from our busyness and embrace the kindness that God has given in this day's gift. In today's episode of A Fresh Take, Pastor Paul and Mark break down four ways we can use the Sabbath to grow in our walk with God: REST: Take a break from whatever you're working on. RHYTHM: Give your body a chance to get into the rhythm of taking a day of rest. REFLECT: Think back and examine your work, your marriage, your family, and look for ways that God has been there for you. RELY: Embrace the opportunity to trust and rely on God to provide even as you take this day off. The gift of the Sabbath impacts not only our physical lives as we take time each week to decompress, but it also manifests spiritually in the person of Christ--the living embodiment of God's kindness and goodness toward his people. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Continuing last week's topic of what it means to take the Lord's name in vain, Pastor Paul and Mark tackle a facet of that theme that rears its head from time to time in the lives of many believers: Does God audibly speak? Do people actually hear the voice of God? And, if they only profess to, is that taking God's name in vain? In today's episode, Paul and Mark look at the various ways that God does communicate and how we can know whether the inner impressions we're getting that we attribute to God might actually come from him. When we receive a message or feeling or idea that we think might be from God, we can ask: Is it in contradiction to the Scriptures? Is it consistent with the character of Christ? Is it confirmed by the community within the church? Yes, God can communicate in ways that are unexpected or ones we are not used to. But we have to do our part to examine our hearts to see if the clarity we're chasing after is actually coming from God or from our own hopeful desires. Those three questions will help us make the distinction. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God, because the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name. [Exodus 20:7] There is power in a name. Whether it's the nickname you received from your family as a small child, or the moniker bestowed upon you due to your accomplishments, or even the pet name you share with a spouse, speaking a name gives worth and value to it. And when we speak a name in something other than love, care, or affection, that worth has the potential to diminish. Today, Pastor Paul and Mark look at the commandment that tells us not to misuse the name of God. On the surface, it appears like this command might only apply to swearing or exclaiming in anger. But it's so much more than that. The name of God is representative of his character and identity. When we misuse it, either in flippancy, blasphemy, or hatred, we are allowing that misuse to creep into our own identity and rob us of the truth we know about the person of God. More than just a "tag" that allows us to interact with him, the name of God speaks to the consistency of his character and points us toward the true nature of who he is. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers' iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands. [Exodus 20:4–6] When we think about the term idols, we might think of statues of Greek, Roman, or Egyptian deities, adorned in flowers and gifts and worshipped by acolytes who are putting their faith in stone. When we think about idols, we might think of alcohol, or junk food, or money, things the world promises will make us happy or whole or allow us to escape. But when we think about idols, what we're really doing is not thinking about God. And therein lies the problem. The second commandment provides us with a guideline for our perspective on life: God first, in everything. The rebellious parts of us will want to push the boundaries and see how far we can in loving something or someone else more than God. Our posture of worship will adjust when we're not facing the LORD. It will become harder and harder to turn away from our lesser gods, especially when those idols are fleeting, abstract, or intangible things. But they are idols all the same. In today's A Fresh Take, Pastor Paul and Mark will have a hard and candid conversation about idols in their own lives, and how our idols tend to fall into four distinct categories. As John Calvin famously wrote, "Our hearts are idol factories," and it's time to break the cycle. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Then God spoke all these words: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not have other gods besides me. [Exodus 20:1–3] The Ten Commandments weren't just rules to follow. They are how God revealed his character and truth to Israel as a way of shaping his people into a godly example for other nations. As we continue through our series on the laws of God, we turn our attention to the first and foremost of them all. The Israelites received these laws after coming out of slavery in the polytheistic culture of Egypt, where gods were fallible and flawed and not expected to be perfect, just powerful. Moses' encounter on Mount Sinai provided God's people with a new and greater understanding of the holiness of the LORD. Unlike the other societies of the day, God does not share power with others. He wants to be first in our lives. He desires our exclusive devotion, affection, trust, and love—and what's more, he's worthy of all that and beyond. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Ready to kick off a new series of A Fresh Take? Today, Pastor Paul and Mark start looking at some of the most ancient biblical laws: the Ten Commandments. On the surface, it might seem like that list is the Bible's answer to every "Top Ten Ways to Improve Your Life" you see out there, but when you look closer, it's so much more. "Eat ice cream from the container" and "smile more" might be good ways to improve your happiness temporarily, but the Ten Commandments are more about becoming right with God than right with your own fleeting feelings. This episode serves as a fun introduction to a topic that is not only relevant to everyday life but truthful in its adherence to biblical principles, so yes--grab that ice cream (because it does make things better, of course), turn to Exodus 20, and get ready for a modern take on an ancient ten. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Welcome to the fourth and final part of our series on how to determine the health of your soul with Pastor Paul and Mark. We've looked at the disciplines of solitude and fellowship and now it's time to examine the last piece of the soul-health puzzle, service. Today, Paul and Mark start by looking at the example of one of history's great paragons of service, Mother Teresa. She incorporated the value of serving others into every fiber of her being and reaped great joy and fulfillment from her experiences. We can do the same. What the world lacks in wholeness, the person of Christ provides. And we can grow in that relationship through our selfless service to others. Our souls become full alive when we are serving, not just because we are doing things for other people, but because we are doing things for God. We hear God's voice in solitude, we experience God's presence in fellowship, and we sense God's affirmation in service. Combined, these three disciplines contribute to overall health, growth, and well-being of our souls. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

We're continuing our examination of three essential disciplines for the health of your soul with a deep dive into the topic of fellowship this week. Jesus set the example for us when he created a ring of fellowship around himself in the twelve disciples. Although it was a group made up of drastically different backgrounds, careers, and personalities, the disciples found common ground in their beliefs, their souls, and their community--which allowed them to grow in their relationships with each other and with Christ. When we build our fellowship around Jesus, we will see a flourishing of emotional health and a deepening of souls. The commonalities we discover through shared joy or sorrow will allow us to develop a healthy soul even in the midst of pain. Fellowship joins solitude and service as an imperative part of keeping our souls at their best in every circumstance. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Pastor Paul and Mark are continuing their quest to help us examine the conditions of our soul by looking at the first in a trio of topics all vital to our soul-health: solitude. The importance of solitude and its ever-present partner, silence, might seem counterintuitive in a world that so values and exalts being productive above all else. But solitude is a discipline that forces us to be present in the moment and face the truth of ourselves in a distraction-free environment. It allows us to press pause on our daily lives and start reflecting and reconnecting with the One whose voice can sometimes be drowned out by the chaos and cacophony of the world around us. In the practice of solitude, we follow Jesus' example in Luke 6 of taking time away to be with God. The seemingly unproductive nature of stepping away to do nothing actually helps produce a soul that is happier, healthier, and more grounded in Christ. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

It won't come as a surprise to anyone when we say that we are living in world full of strife right now. Between tensions at home and aggressions abroad, the world around us is coming up a bit short in the soul-comfort department. We look at those an ocean away who are suffering beyond belief and we feel guilt about the even minor blessings we experience each day. Our souls are in trouble, and it's time to find out why. In today's episode of A Fresh Take, Pastor Paul and Mark will try to answer some of these questions about the condition of our souls: What in our daily lives is corroding our souls? How can we change it? Being busy keeps us distracted, but is it really the best course of action? How does Wordle affect my soul? (Yes, they'll really cover that!) When so much about the condition of our soul is based on the conditions around us, how can we ever hope to find inner peace? A Fresh Take will take you on a journey over the next few weeks to discover important steps to healing, comforting, and soothing your soul. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

After a four-month hiatus, A Fresh Take is finally back with the final chapter of our series on Job! As we turn the page on this series and look forward, we focus again on the topic of suffering--but this time, we're examining different vehicles outside Job's story. Suffering can look so unique for so many across the world, from the global impact of the pandemic or the Russian-Ukraine conflict to the intimately personal repercussions of a devastating medical diagnosis. Today, Pastor Paul and Mark examine what the sovereignty of God looks like in both large and small spheres of influence and how we can trust that no matter the suffering, God is still on the throne and still in control. In a world where we are limited by the scope of our understanding, we can rest in the limitless providence of God. :: RESOURCES :: Watch Nightbirde's powerful performance on America's Got Talent. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

We're three acts into one of the greatest tales of suffering ever told, and it's time to meet some new characters: Job's friends. While on the surface they display true commitment to their friend in the midst of his suffering (have *you* ever sat in complete silence with someone for an entire week?), their attempts at "helping" Job through his grief turns out to be anything but. This week's episode of A Fresh Take looks at how we can help others in times of pain and sorry--and it might not be exactly how you think. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Our story continues to unfold in the second act of this four-part series on Job, a "super saint" who finds himself in a super sad situation when a conversation between God and Satan turns to something unexpected. Job is faithful, hardworking, and committed to God, but Satan poses a thought-provoking question: Would Job still be as faithful if everything he had was stripped away? Take his animals, his home, his family, even his health from him, and would he still praise his Maker? God's response: Challenge accepted. In a book that's named for its protagonist, the Book of Job is really more about God. Yes, God allowed Satan to torment Job, just as he allows hard things to happen in our lives. God does not always prevent pain or suffering. In fact, sometimes he uses it to teach us how to rely even more thoroughly on him. And as we examine the good God who loves us through the lens of Job, we have to ask ourselves: What is our image of God even in our pain? Is he worth our faith in times of trial? Let's see what Job has to say. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

We open on Job, a prosperous man of faith who unknowingly becomes the center of an unfolding drama between God and Satan. And so begins one of the oldest and hardest stories in the Bible, a tale of suffering, counseling, and restoring that comes through finding meaning and purpose solely in our relationship with God. Today, Pastor Paul and Mark begin a new series that asks a question so relevant it hurts: How can a good God allow terrible things to happen? In the midst of pain, loss, grief, disease (we're looking at you, COVID), and other evils of the world--where is God? Over the next four weeks, we want to challenge our listeners to not only follow along with us as we uncover the drama of Job's pain, but to read his story as well in the Bible. The curtain rises this week on a powerful introduction to one man's faith in the midst of suffering and continues as we examine the conversation between God and Satan, the "counseling" provided by Job's friends, and ultimately the healing that is found in God alone. Can a person hold onto his faith in God when there are no benefits attached? Enter Job. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

We're wrapping up our series on idolatry by taking a closer look at some of the more common idols we create in our lives--science, politics, nationalism, money, pastors, ministries, and even religion itself. But while it's helpful to identify our own idols, that's only the beginning of the process of defeating the problem. Today, Pastor Paul and Mark outline the steps needed when we are confronted with an idol of our own: identify it, name it, confess it, pray about it, and, ultimately, replace it. Because in the end, we created that idol, but it's God who helps us overcome it. We'll be back in a couple weeks with a new series. Stay tuned! :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

We look at that celebrity, that influencer, that person who's got their life all together and we think, "If only I could be them." Admiration is one thing, but it's a fine line between that and idolatry when the thing we see (or seek) becomes the thing that gives us meaning and purpose--and it's not God. In today's episode, Pastor Paul and Mark talk more about the rampant spread of modern idolatry in our world: No longer golden calves or secret, hidden-away worship, we've begun to elevate that which we feel will "complete" us to the place where God should be. With a call to heart-examination and a reminder that our identity can be found only in the One who calls us his own, we're delivering another fresh take on how we can avoid becoming "idol factories" in a time where it's easier than ever to set God aside and put--well, pretty much anything--in his place. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Money. Cars. Clothes. Status. Relationships. Sports. All fine things on the surface, but when the sin of idolatry rears its ugly head...watch out! The problem isn't so much with the money or the cars or the clothes (or the watches) themselves but with our elevation of those things to idol status. When we find our identity more in the idol than in Christ, we are committing ourselves to a hard relationship with both. Today, Pastor Paul and Mark look at what kinds of things can become idols in our lives and how the process of idol-making begins in a person's heart. Thanks for joining us on another new series in Season 2 of A Fresh Take. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

We're wrapping up our series on great books for believers to read this week by looking at a tough conversation facing many people today: transgender identities. Pastor Paul and Mark are joined by Pastor Ty Waardenburg as they look together at an excellent resource for Christians who might be wrestling with how to show love in situations where the Bible's truth interacts with and may differ from many of our world's lifestyle choices. Preston Sprinkle is the author of Embodied: Transgender Identities, The Church & What the Bible Has to Say, and this title is one that reminds us to see those in the transgender community solely as people rather than statistics or issues. Here on A Fresh Take, we don't always find hard and fast answers to difficult issues. Instead, we look to express how to represent truth, grace, and Christ without being cold and judgmental to those we may not agree with. As Sprinkle says, "Outrage doesn't change the world. Love changes the world." :: RESOURCES :: Embodied by Preston Sprinkle :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

You know him as C.S. Lewis, the great mind behind The Screwtape Letters, Mere Christianity, and The Chronicles of Narnia--but all his friends and family just knew him as Jack. Today, Pastor Paul and Mark look at the extraordinary life of Lewis and his faith journey from ardent atheist to committed Christian. So many of his books, whether fiction or not, have had an enormous impact on the lives of believers and searchers around the world. From the youngest of readers who open a wardrobe to a magical winter to the seasoned skeptic who just wants some clarity on what Christianity really is, the timeless tomes of Lewis will enchant, inspire, and transform anyone who turns a page. :: RESOURCES :: The C.S. Lewis Signature Classics The Chronicles of Narnia BUT read them in the following order: 1. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe 2. Prince Caspian 3. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 4. The Silver Chair 5. The Horse and His Boy 6. The Magician's Nephew 7. The Last Battle :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

As we continue this opening series of Season 2 by looking at some of Pastor Paul and Mark's favorite authors, we're doing a dive into some of the harder topics of Christianity alongside three timeless yet modern authors: J. I. Packer, a theologian; Tim Keller, a recently retired pastor; and Philip Yancey, an unassuming but prolific writer. Each of these men has penned works that speak to the more difficult issues--pain, disappointment, justice, prayer--and as a result created a new set of classics that are not only deep in their thinking but accessible to any reader. Here's your taste of just a few of the many books from the great minds of Packer, Keller, and Yancey. :: RESOURCES :: J. I. Packer: Knowing God Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God Tim Keller: The Meaning of Marriage The Prodigal God Generous Justice Prayer Philip Yancey: Where Is God When It Hurts Disappointment with God Reaching for the Invisible God The Jesus I Never Knew The Bible Jesus Read :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Season 2 of A Fresh Take is underway, and it's time to get back to the books! Pastor Paul and Mark Pennell will open this new season with a four-week series on some of their favorite books--ones that have challenged, encouraged, inspired, and transformed them throughout their faith walks. This week, we begin Season 2 by looking at some titles that revolve around spiritual formation. These books will reveal the unseen part of you that demands attention in order to grow your soul. Every title discussed today has had impact in some way or another on the lives of Paul or Mark...how might they impact you? :: RESOURCES :: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (Comer) The Divine Conspiracy (Willard) The Spirit of the Disciplines (Willard) Celebration of Discipline (Foster) Prayer (Foster) An Invitation to Solitude and Silence (Barton) The Return of the Prodigal Son (Nouwen) In the Name of Jesus (Nouwen) The Dark Night of Soul (St. John of the Cross) The Reflective Life (Gire) :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

As we close the book on Season 1 of A Fresh Take, Pastor Paul and Mark continue their conversation from last week on how we can grow closer to God through our relationship with Christ. So many of our relationships nowadays are transactional in nature--we want to know what we can get from the other person and how much it will cost us. These relationships are never unconditional and, as a result, never safe or secure. Yet more evidence of our fallen nature, our humanistic drive to seek after transactional relationships also leads us to ask the wrong questions when it comes to cultivating a deeper knowledge of and connection to God. Instead of asking, "What do we need to do?" to be in relationship with God, the real question is, "What has God already done?" The answer, of course, is Christ. Just as a bride doesn't have to "earn" a proposal and commitment from her groom, so we too never have to earn our relationship with Christ. In today's episode, Pastor Paul looks at the traditional Jewish marriage ceremony and its different parts (proposal, betrothal, and marriage supper) serve as an analogy of the relationship between Christ and his bride, the Church. Thanks for joining us for the first season of A Fresh Take, and we look forward to having you join us again for more fresh takes on timely and timeless issues with Season 2 starting in September. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Have you ever felt that God was just *really* far away? As though no matter what you did, you couldn't get closer to him? If you have, don't worry--that's a really common feeling that many Christ followers have experienced at one time or another in their lives. Even some of the great heroes of our faith like Martin Luther or Mother Teresa have felt fear over the distance they sense between themselves and God. So, what do we do? Today, Pastor Paul and Mark look not only at the "why" of feeling far from God but also at the "how" we can start to fix it. It's a very real possibility that God has purpose for his distance--maybe to teach us the honesty of our emotions or the confusion of our feelings. It even could be just to remind us that while we shouldn't ignore our feelings, we shouldn't rely on them either. Instead, we need to remember the truth and not the deceit of our emotions: God is there even when our feelings are fickle. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Howard Hendricks, prolific writer and longtime Bible professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, might seem like a larger-than-life figure to many who have only heard about him. But for Pastor Paul, he's the real thing. As a seminary student-turned-lifelong friend of Hendricks, Paul recounts funny and poignant anecdotes about the man and mentor himself before moving on to some of his classic "Hendricks-isms"--sayings that embody the humor, wisdom, and honesty of a man of God who made an enduring impact on the life of each student, church leader, and reader he touched. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

On A Fresh Take, Pastor Paul and Mark are always in prayer that God will use this program to open eyes and soften hearts. And yet it is hard to let that happen sometimes when we are faced with continuous suffering. In the second part of this mini-series on how God uses pain for his purposes, we look at Deuteronomy 29:29, which reads, "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." The "secret things," which include suffering and evil, are unable to be understood apart from the wisdom that comes from knowing God--and sometimes, not even then. Today, Paul and Mark pause from their constant chase after the mystery of God to look instead at some things that are known: God did not create evil and suffering. Suffering is not good, per se, but God can use it to accomplish good. Suffering and pain will one day come to an end. The good and beauty that awaits us are so much greater than our present suffering. The final word on dealing with suffering as a Christ-follower? We have a choice: We can be bitter about our current lot, or we can choose peace, have courage, and trust God's purpose. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

In the wake of the devastating news from Florida about the Surfside building collapse, it is natural to ask questions like, "Why? Why does a loving God allow terrible things like this to happen?" And while experts can come back with answers about material strength and building infrastructure that might satisfy the surface why, it does nothing to ease the grief of loss and pain that so many have experienced in this disaster. Today, Pastor Paul and Mark look at what we need to do when God's will is hard for us to handle--rather than seeking after metaphysical answers that won't bring any comfort to an aching heart, we need spiritual guidance from the Creator and Comforter himself. God is not only the God of the Sufferer, Jesus, but he is also the God of the suffering. We can lean on him in times of pain to discover purpose, wholeness, and healing. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Is worrying a sin? The answer might be a little more complicated than you think. Pastor Paul tackles this question and more with Mark in the newest episode of A Fresh Take. More than an emotion, worry is an act of the will. And it sure seems to be a prevalent one in today's day (not to mention in the time of a pandemic). But the question remains: When we worry, are we being present in the day we live, or are we allowing the apprehension of tomorrow to overtake our minds? The solution: Start with a pause. Put on the brakes, downshift, take a moment--and then examine where the worry is coming from. So often, we find ourselves worrying because we aren't living with a kingdom mindset. Our focus has shifted away from the sovereignty of God and toward our own lack of control...and a lack of faith. But an understanding of the character of God can help rectify all that, and more, as you'll discover today. :: VIDEO PODCAST :: A Fresh Take is on YouTube, too! Watch this week's episode now. :: FIND OUT MORE :: Trinity Church | Take 5 | To the Point :: FOLLOW TRINITY :: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube