Messy Christianity

Back again in the studio are Jared and Dawn Proctor.  Today we discuss how God often uses our passions, skills and desires to bring his purpose in and through our lives.  God made us, therefore he knows us.  Life is more fun when we realize we were made with a purpose.  

When Dawn and Jared Proctor found out they were having another baby, they were crazy excited.  Everything in their life seemed to be right on track.  And then they were given the devastating news that there was a problem with the pregnancy.  They were hit with a bombshell...their son would be challenged with Down Syndrome.  Choosing to trust God through the storm, their life changed dramatically.  But in the midst of it all, God has given them great peace and hope as they face each new day.  Today's podcast will encourage you.  

Dr. Larry Reesor has immeasurably impacted the world with the gospel.  He has introduced hundreds of thousands of believers to develop a kingdom mindset and a heart for missions,  Some would say, in the last 50 years, he has had the greatest influence on helping the Church be fully engaged in fulfilling Acts 1:8.  His story is an example of what it means to be faithful to God's call with your whole life. Today's podcast will help you discover how being obedient to God will likely give you the ride of your life.   

We all want more of God or do we? The quick answer most Christians would give is "yes I want more of God". But, isn't that a bit risky? What if God asks more of us than we are wanting to give? What does it mean to want more of God and how do we get more of Him?

God still speaks today. For those of us that have been around church life for any period of time, this is not breaking news. We have heard this message many times. But, how does God speak? How do we hear from Him? How do we know it is God speaking?

Life is full of transitions.  Change can be challenging for some, and exhilarating for others.  Some transitions are unexpected, while others are known far in advance.  Some are very difficult and tragic, while others are momentous and life shifting.  Transitions and change are inevitable.  What we do with them, and how we handle them is the key.

Are vacations Biblical?  Is it wrong to take a vacation?  Is it necessary?  What does the Bible actually say about getting away?  What is the ideal vacation for each of us?

Just three guys opinions about some of their favorite movies.  Not the deepest and most spiritual conversation we've ever had, but there might be a nugget or two in this episode.  Some choices you might expect on this list, but there might be a few you don't see coming.

This was a heavier subject matter for us.  Suicide is a reality, and it seems to be increasing in our society.  What's the reason and what can we do about it?  For the one listening to this that might be contemplating suicide ... before you even listen, know that you are loved, and that there is a purpose for you.  Take time right now to call the national suicide prevention hotline:  800-273-8255.  Your life DOES matter!

We live in a world where calling someone he or she is considered offensive.  Businesses are now asking their employees to not refer to a customer as a specific gender until they give permission.  It's in the news quite a bit lately.  How do we as believers deal with a society this confused about identity?  What is the appropriate response?

The calling of God.  Is it for everyone?  Is there a different call for those that are in full-time vocational ministry?  How do you know if you are being called?  We dig into these questions and more in this episode!

So just what is all this talk about digital money?  Does it hold actual value?  Can it be used in the real world?  Is it something we should pay attention to or invest in?  

The way we think determines the way we act.  Said another way:  Your life is a result of your thoughts.  It sounds simple, but controlling our thought life maybe the biggest battle in the Christian walk.  The positive outlook is change your thinking, and you'll change your life.  So how?  How do you change the way you think?  How to you renew your mind?

All three of us are right around the 50 year old age. The last thirty years have in many ways passed by quickly. In this episode we reflect back upon the 20 year old that had all of the aspirations of the future. Have we lived up to our dreams? Are we surprised by where we are? What would we do differently? Would that 20 year old be proud of are disappointed in who we are today?

Sin is always there. That strong desire to do what we know to be wrong. The pull to do the things we know will ultimately leave us unsatisfied. We grit our teeth and dig in with the same determination to "not do it again". Yet, once again, we fall. What is the secret to defeating sin in our lives? If freedom is possible, why are so many people living in defeat?

Little things. So much of life is made up of little things. Routine can seem mundane. Small efforts can appear unfruitful. But all of these little things can combine to make a much bigger thing. There is a cumulative effect in life. One little thing can change a direction completely. Little things matter.

Criticism is something that everyone deals with to some extent or another. For those in leadership positions, it comes with the territory. Some criticism is constructive, and some is not. This week we deal with how to handle the criticism that isn't helpful. We discuss dealing with the critical person that "always has an opinion."

Easter is the heart of Christianity. Without the resurrection of Jesus, we have nothing. Because of this, Easter Sunday is traditionally the most important day of the year on the Christian calendar. But, was this one Sunday a year as big a deal to the early church? Was Easter an annual event or an every day reality?

Waiting. It's one of the hardest things we do, but it is a part of life. It's a big part of the Christian life. God uses waiting. It's in the waiting that the best lessons are learned. We are impatient people, but we have a patient God that's always at work.

This is part two of a discussion on forgiveness. In the last episode we talked quite a bit about the "Why", and then touched the surface on "How" to forgive. In part two, our attempt was to dig a little deeper and offer some practical steps to help. Forgiveness is at the heart of Christianity!

Forgiveness. It's at the heart of Christianity. We are forgiven people. Now, we are to be forgiving people. We live in a world full of injustices. Yet, we are called to forgive. In this episode, we dig into the "Why" and then more challenging the "How" of forgiveness.

The Bible teaches that we are to "take up our cross and die daily". Also, "if you want to find your life, you must first lose it". Have we made it too easy in American Christianity? How did we get to this place, and what can we do differently going forward?

Words are important. They can encourage, but they can also be a weapon. The Bible has much to say about what we say. It's been said many times before, but the most powerful muscle in the human body is the tongue. Words matter.

What does a good pastor look like? Ask 10 people, and you'll likely get 10 different answers. The pastor is asked to be many things too many people. Expectations are high for a pastor. Rarely (maybe never) are all of these expectations met. So, what is fair? What should you expect from your pastor?

The Creator loves the creation. God created us for relationship with Himself. Once we know we belong to Him it truly changes everything. So, how do we know for sure we belong? Are doubts allowed?

Happiness. That's the goal right? We all want to be happy. What does that even look like? What does it mean to be happy? Is it possible to be happy when circumstances are crushing in? What does the Bible say about happiness? This episode actually got a little deeper than I think we expected. We tackle these questions and more.

There are times when God seems far away. No matter what you do, it just feels wrong. It seems there isn't a way out. What do you do in these times? How did you get here in the first place? The wilderness isn't easy, but it's where God does some of His best work.

Small groups are where relationships are built. Small groups are crucial to growth. For many years Sunday School served this purpose, a new trend promoted home groups. But, we live in a time when small groupings of people are discouraged. Beyond Covid, we also live in a very busy society. Trying to carve out more time to be a part of a group seems almost impossible. But is it? Can we still do small groups in today's world? Is it important?

Habits can be good, habits can be bad. Habits are hard to make, hard to keep, and easy to break. So, what habits do we have? Are there secrets to habit-forming and habit-keeping?

What makes up your life? Everything that makes up your life? What takes up your time? What about your emotions and thoughts? A good inventory check might be very revealing.

Resolutions. Do you make them? Do you break them? Do you keep them? Are there tools to help us over the coming year? How many are too many? We dig in on the whole concept of resolutions. Get your mind right, and get ready for the new year!

Tomorrow is Christmas Day. It's that time of year again. Even after a tough year, this is a time to celebrate, to reflect, to be with family. What makes Christmas so special? It's our Christmas episode ... enjoy!

We are called to "go". It is a Biblical mandate. For years countless Christians have participated in local, domestic, and international missions. Short term trips, extended trips, and even sent missionaries. But, what do you do when the airlines don't make reservations? When the countries require a quarantine? Even local ministries have shut doors in order to protect. What do you do? How do you fulfill the mandate to "go", when going seems impossible?

Turn on the news any day of the week and you are sure to see chaos and depravity. Things that were once wrong seem to be OK now. Right is wrong and wrong is right. Should God still bless America? Is He still blessing America?

The Coronavirus has changed the way we do everything. Will things ever return to the way they were? Will church ever look the same? Are things forever changed? Is this all bad? These are just a few of the questions we discussed this week.

Of all of the topics that we have covered, this one might be the most controversial of all. Well, not really, but we did have some fun this week. This episode does dive a little deeper than the original question. Enjoy!

People are a collection of emotions, backgrounds, traditions, personalities, giftedness, talents, demographics, experiences, and of course opinions. How in the world do we get along? How do we cooperate with each other? Relationships are indeed messy.

This is a topic we've discussed before, but one worth repeating. Isn't it really "the" question. How do I know what God's Will is for my life?

Your job is where you will spend a great majority of your life. It's a huge decision. How important is the pay scale? Does it matter at all? How to you find the "right" job? These are just a few of the questions we tackled in this episode.

It's the year of all years. 2020 will definitely be written about in the history books. For many, there is a desire to just the year over with. Is the whole year a loss? What lessons have we learned this year? Will things ever be "normal" again? These are just a few of the questions we discussed in this episode.

The election is coming up, and there is no shortage of opinions. Social media is full of memes, talking points, and conspiracies. This week we tackle things from a Christian perspective.

Time flies! Twenty years old doesn't seem like that long ago, but in reality, it's been awhile. Are there things we would have done differently? Regrets? How about just some good solid advice? In this episode we talk to our younger selfs.

At the risk of sounding like old dudes, we are approaching 100 years of combined ministry experience. It's actually around 80 years, but it's getting close. In this episode we discuss our experiences. What have we learned? What is different than we expected?

In this episode we discuss our calling into the ministry. We each have unique experiences. How did we know we were called? What does it mean to be called? Isn't everyone called into something? Just a few of the questions we dove into.

Sin. It's a primary topic in God's Word. It started early in the creation story. It's been around forever, and it's something obvious all around us today. But, what is it, and better yet, how do we deal with it?

The sermon has been the central part of most Christian worship services for centuries. It is the word of God opened and presented. But, how do you prepare a sermon? Is there a wrong way and a right way? Are there different ways to prepare? We pull back the curtain a bit on this episode to let you know how the three of us prepare.

Doubt. For some Christian circles that is a taboo word. But is it all bad? How much doubt is too much? Are there some things that we cannot doubt as Christians? We wrestle with some tough questions in this episode.

There is an opinion in some Christian circles that Christians should pull out of all public school systems. According to this stance, public schools teach anti-Christian world views. On the flip side, many Christians believe it is healthy for their children to be "in the world, but not of the world". The school is an opportunity to be salt and light in the world.