Christ 2r Culture Podcast

Have you noticed something is terribly wrong in the world? The evening news is a constant stream of world horrors ranging from wars to school shootings. There is suffering, death, sickness, deception, outright lying, and evil everywhere we look. People are popping Prozac like Tic Tacs just to deal with it. What has gone wrong? In this study, we look at the many ways sin shows up in our lives and the bad excuses we use to justify our sin. It will all help us understand why Jesus can be the only answer to the problem of sin.

The Department of Education has proposed a new Title IX rule that demands colleges treat students by their gender identity, not their biological sex. That means a transgender man, who identifies as a woman, will live in a woman’s college dormitory and use the women’s shower facilities. A young woman is to have no say, nor is the school to alert her in any way that her roommate will not be a biological female. How are Christians to respond to the legal push to affirm the transgender life? Is sex-change surgery the answer? How do we help our children if they struggle with transgender desires? These are just a few of the questions we will answer as we look at what the Bible says about transgender.

The Los Angeles Angels struggle as a baseball team. The last time they won the world series was twenty years ago. They could use a little help to win a few games. The Disney movie “Angels in the Outfield” is the fictional story of the Los Angeles Angels receiving help from actual angels to win their games. While real angels probably won’t help us catch balls, pitch strikes, or hit home runs, they are constantly at work in our daily life. Join me as we find out how God has angels at work in our daily life.

America is fascinated by demons and the occult. Television series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer are popular. Movies like The Exorcist and Poltergeist are well-known. While the media presents dark spiritual forces as fantasy, the Bible tells us the power of Satan and his demons are very real. Join us as we learn what the Bible says about Satan, demons and how Christians should engage in spiritual battles.

Have you tried dieting? One of the secrets of dieting is removing food temptations from your life. The Oreos go in the garbage. Healthy foods go in the refrigerator. There is no more walking by the snack machine at the office. Removing food temptations is one of the best ways of beating dieting temptations. We are tempted with more than food. In this study, we learn how Satan, the world, and our own fleshy desires work together to tempt us to sin and how to beat them.

An Internet survey claims being eaten by sharks, burned to death or buried alive are considered some of the people’s worst fears. What is your worst fear? This week, as we continue in 1 Samuel, we will learn what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit and why its absence in life is one of the worst things that can happen but its presence is the best. Join us as we learn how the Holy Spirit changes lives.

In any group, people have different points of view. In our postmodern society, we are taught all points of view are equally valid. Our opinions are just products of our experiences so no point of view is better than another. Does that work? Join me as we discover why truth does exist and how we can find it.

The YouTube Channel “Caught in Providence” are the real-life cases of Judge Frank Caprio who is a judge in Providence Rhode Island. It is the real-life story of people with their traffic tickets, speeding tickets, and parking tickets and the excuses they give to try to get out of them. As we continue our study in 1 Samuel, we are looking at five excuses we give to justify sin and why none of them work.

If you love the game show Jeopardy, you are familiar with Mattea Roach. She was on a 23-game winning streak and well ahead of the second-place contestant when she wagered $1 too much in the Final Jeopardy round bringing her reign to a crashing end. She is not the only one to snatch defeat from the jaws of certain victory. As we continue our study in 1 Samuel, we see how King Saul snatched defeat from a certain God-given victory and what lessons we can learn to not follow in his footsteps.

In June of 2017, Alex Honnold climbed El-Capitan in Yosemite park using a style of climbing known as free-soloing. Climbing the 7,573 granite rock without safety equipment was a feat most considered impossible. His astounding climb was filmed with cameras and drones to produce the stomach-churning movie “Free-Solo”. Daunting rock cliffs and fearless climbers are nothing new. This weekend, as we study 1 Samuel 14, we find a daring free-solo rock climb in the Bible.

When Elon Musk bought Twitter he paid a premium on the stock giving shareholders more than the stock was worth. Was that a foolish decision or was Elon wiser than we realize? As we continue our studies in 1 Samuel, we learn about foolish choices and how to avoid making them.

How do you finish a career? Steven Slater, a former JetBlue flight attendant, made a dramatic exit. A passenger refused to stay seated while the plane was taxing to the gate. The passenger removed her luggage from an overhead bin striking Slater in the head. She then cursed Slater out for getting in her way. Fed up with his job, Slater grabbed a beer from the beverage cart, called out, “It has been great!” then activated the emergency evacuation shoot sliding his way to freedom. This weekend, in 1 Samuel 12, we find an even more dramatic career exit by the prophet Samuel as we learn how God uses repentance and obedience to take our worst sins and use them in ways we don't expect for good.

Every once in a while, I like to share a little something extra. This is the worship music from Easter morning at the CrossWinds Spirit Lake campus. I hope you are encouraged in Jesus. The team did a great job! The link in this podcast is to a video of the service, Enjoy!

As of the end of March 2022, it is estimated Russia has lost between 7,000 to 15,000 troops in its attempt to take over Ukraine. While that number is terrible, we should put that in perspective. Each day there are 6,400 Americans that die of cancer, heart disease, car accidents, and a myriad of other causes. That is 3.3 million people a year. The war between Russia and Ukraine brought about many immediate deaths, but it has not changed the ultimate number of deaths. It doesn’t matter if you eat healthily, buckle up, and avoid war... all of us will die. When that fearful moment comes, is there a way to know our next life will be better than this life? The Bible tells us Jesus came so we do not need to fear our death. Join me on Easter Sunday as we learn how we can know the resurrection of Jesus is true and how Jesus’ resurrection changes our future.

While churches are full on Easter morning, many people in churches are frustrated with Jesus. They feel like He let them down. He didn’t protect them from life’s tragedies. If Jesus isn't living up to your expectations, you are not alone. In the week before Jesus’ death, the crowds in Jerusalem felt like Jesus let them down. Join us this weekend as we find why what Jesus did on the cross is better than anything else the crowds wanted Him to do.

On June 18, 1940, Winston Churchhill delivered a speech to Britain after the fall of France to the Germans. Churchhill braced England for a battle upon which he believed the survival of Christian civilization now stood. He believed that if England did not successfully hold off the Germans, the whole world, including the United States, would plunge into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister by Hitler’s perverted science. If England lasted a thousand years, he was sure history would look back on their defense of freedom in the face of Hitler’s fury as the nation’s finest hour. This weekend, we look at King Saul’s finest hour as he rallies a nation in a last-ditch effort to defend freedom and stop an evil tyrant.

Porch pirating is a popular business. In New York City alone 90,000 packages go missing daily. What can people do to fight back against the thieves? Homeowners have come up with creative ways of payback. One inventor created a package called “the blank box”. It sets off a blank shotgun shell when the package is taken from the porch. Another created a package filled with manure that explodes when opened after being stolen by a thief. In those neighborhoods, porch pirates are thinking twice since packages are not turning out to be what they expect. This week, as we continue our series of 1 Samuel, the people of God get the king they asked for, but like a porch pirate opening a bait package, the king didn’t turn out the way they expected.

How much control does God have over the details of our day? When the alarm doesn’t go off, our car tire goes flat, or the grocery store is out of our favorite peanut butter, are those details of life God is orchestrating for a good purpose or just annoying inconveniences? As we continue our study of 1 Samuel we find how God shaped the ordinary events of one man’s life to move him from a country farmer to the king of a nation.

This week the war on Ukraine dominated headlines. Behind the death of thousands and destruction of the second-largest nation in Europe is one man, Vladimir Putin. He has unchecked authority in Russia and enough power to destroy the world in war. How do tyrants like Putin come to power? What will they always do once in control? These are some of the questions we will cover this weekend as we continue our studies in 1 Samuel and look at the problem with a king.

William Leverett barged into a Connecticut church and confessed to worshippers that he was the man who killed a Harford jogger and mother four years before. Prior to his confession, the homicide had no leads. The pastor and a handful of parishioners knew what they had to do. They took him to the police and helped him turn himself in. William Leverett knew he could never begin to heal from his pain until he confessed and repented of what he had done. As we turn to 1 Samuel 7, we find the power of repentance to experience God’s forgiveness and favor in our lives.