Faith is a complicated and very personal piece of who we are. We don't all share the same beliefs and understanding when it comes to faith, so Entry Point Faith meets you where you're at. Hosted by Pastor Nancy Lafferty, these short but relevant messages are designed to give you the opportunity to discover fresh meaning in the world so you can find faith your way.
Entry Point Faith is part of the SwitchPoint Media Network. For bonus content and more, visit https://switchpoint.media
Although we are all hard-wired to seek connection, we don’t always know how to make friends or reach out to connect with others. Sometimes that leaves us feeling lonely. How can we find a way to bridge the gap and make friends?
Produced by https://MyPodcast.Media / Two On The Lobster Productions
What is love? All of the world religions encourage us to love others. But honestly, we don’t really get much training in how to do that. It’s time we learned a little more about what love is, actually.
Produced by https://MyPodcast.Media / Two On The Lobster Productions
According to some estimates, there are over 4,000 religions, faith groups, and denominations that exist around the world today. While there is diversity, there are also great similarities. In this episode of Entry Point Faith, Pastor Nancy Lafferty examines some of God's Greatest Hits across the world religions.
Produced by https://MyPodcast.Media / Two On The Lobster Productions
Everybody messes up. Sometimes we don’t get the chance to fix what we messed up or to improve. In the television series Ted Lasso, we are able to see the power of offering second chances.
All too often, our dreams and our purpose get lost in the stream of daily living. Have you lost your passion? It’s 2024! Let’s get motivated to go ALL in for 2024!
Produced by https://MyPodcast.Media / Two On The Lobster Productions
Christmas Eve is a wonderful gift, because the hassle of the previous weeks is finally slowing down. All is calm, all is bright. We all just need a little Christmas. Not a big one. A little one.
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'Tis the season for family gatherings and memories. At the end of the day, may we be able to say, indeed, it is a wonderful life!
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Thanksgiving 2023 is in the books, so the Christmas madness is upon us. It’s time to get ready for Santa Claus and Jesus — the secular and the sacred sides of this Christmas holiday.
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Living well is finding a balance between our body, mind, and spirit. When we are suddenly thrust into difficult circumstances we can lose our balance or feel lost at sea. Let’s examine the relationship between our bodies, minds, and spirits.
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Spirituality is a path that is often traveled by many people to find answers to the big questions in life. There is no one right way to find your spiritual path, and everyone’s journey is unique. Join us as we spend time finding our spiritual self this week.
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Like many of the ways we make ourselves smaller, we often apologize when it’s unnecessary. With every unwarranted “I’m sorry,” our true self slips further and further into the shadows while others step arms-wide into the light. Let’s examine the right and wrong times to say, “sorry.”
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The television series Ted Lasso is wildly popular, in part, because Ted is a highly positive individual. This week, guest speaker, Bettye Ellison, will explore the surprisingly inspirational elements of The Ted Lasso series.
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October is a beautiful month in Indiana. The colors are at their peak, and the leaves will soon fall as we get ready for winter. Are there lessons we can learn from a change in seasons?
Entry Point Faith is produced by https://MyPodcast.Media
Our American society is more polarized than ever, due to a variety of factors and events, including racial inequality, and politics. Everything is filtered through politics now, and we just keep bantering back and forth. How can we stop fighting?
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Instinctively, intuitively, we know that music makes life better. Music soothes our souls and comforts our pain. Music is so deeply woven into the fabric of our being, we can’t imagine life without it.
Produced by https://MyPodcast.Media
Hosted by Pastor Nancy Lafferty. "Go outside and play!" said our parents, when they were tired of us being underfoot. Turns out they had the right idea. Spending time outside improves our emotional and physical health Everybody needs to get up off the sofa and go outside and play.
Visit Entry Point Faith online at https://entrypointonline.org
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"To err is human. to forgive divine" But we are human. When someone hurts us, we are sometimes more interested in getting revenge than in granting forgivenes. Is it ever right to do a little bit of both?
Join us for this episode with Guest Speaker Nancy Lerch
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We all have to do hard things and face difficult times, throughout all of the ages and stages of our lives. Are there ways to make it through those times that we haven't tried yet?
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We live in a world full of wonders. Two thousand years ago, ancient Hellenic travelers marveled at the world’s most incredible man-made constructions, and they made a list of the seven wonders of the world. The list was recently updated to the seven wonders of the modern world. If you could make your own list, what are the seven wonders of your world?
Produced by https://mypodcast.media
As the Entry Point Faith Community finds its way back home to Midwest Academy in Carmel, Indiana, Pastor Nancy Lafferty takes on this feeling of Deja-Vu, and what it ultimately means.
We have celebrations for birthdays, anniversaries, retirements and marriages and other big accomplishments. What if we begin to intentionally celebrate everyday victories and events? We might all be happier if we can celebrate a lot more often.
Our homes have always been a gathering place, shelter, and sanctuary - providing escape from the busyness and intrusivness of the world. How does the house we build become a significant part of our lives and legacy?
We are always movin' along. We are on a life journey, which is also a spiritual journey. We never know where we are going to end up, and we never know what is just around the corner. How can we make the journey better, and more enjoyable?
Produced by https://MyPodcast.Media
Human beings are born with a need and desire to connect with each other. What are some of the barriers that keep us from doing that?
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It has often been said that there are two kinds of people in the world: givers and takers. Takers try to get as much as possible from people and places, and they contribute very little. Givers are looking to help others and they prefer to be on the contributing end of an interaction. Let's examine how givers and takers effect our energy and our quality of life.
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As we prepare to celebrate our independence from England, let's pause and acknowledge the truth: We are a nation challenged in our current moment - facing ugly truths about our history, and struggling to get along. How can we come together with a shared love and respect for our country?
Being a good dad means never having to say, "You're welcome." Please celebrate Fathers 's Day with us this Sunday as guest speaker, Mark Miller, shares his experiences as a father.
We all have stress, responsibilities, and seemingly endless tasks to complete. The only way to survive the challenges of #adulting is to figure out how we can step away and take a break when we need it.
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Worries, doubts abd anxieties are a normal part of life. It's natural to worry about an unpaid bill, an upcoming job interview, or a first date. When our "normal" worries become excesive, though, we get caught up in the worst-case scenarios and "what-ifs." How can we stop the anxious thoughts that interfere with our daily lives?
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Author Harper Lee wrote: "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view." Understanding and listening to someone else is a true art. How well have you been heard and understood? How willing are we to listen to understand? (Guest Speaker: Jerry Toomer)
Produced by MyPodcast.Media
We often hear the phrase, "Just be yourself," yet we don't always know how to do that. We feel more comfortable behind our masks, unsure of how to let go of the labels and judgments we have paced on ourselves. Let's investigate how to achieve the freedom to say: This is Me
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When the world seems to be spinning out of control, we tend to get anxious and stressed. Instead, what if we focus on the things in life that make us happy? How can we help society let go of the cynicism and experience more joy? Let's find more joy in our lives.
Produced by: https://MyPodcast.Media
We have all made mistakes. Unfortunately, sometimes our mistakes hurt the feelings of loved ones, friends, and co-workers. The ability to repair mistakes can make or break relationships. Let's examine the elements of an effective apology.
No matter where we are on our faith journey, and no matter which part of the biblical story we believe or connect with, we can all learn something from the Easter Season. Most importantly, we will examine how to embrace our lives and live well as we come back to life.
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As we examine the events leading up to Easter Sunday - Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday - we will discover surprises and unexpected plot twists. What can we learn from Holy Week and how does it shape our lives?
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Hve you ever felt unnoticed, unimportant, or invisible, like no one hears you or looks into your eyes? Sadly, there are many people who experience this feeling. Let's investigate how we might remove their cloaks of invisibility.
We have been told all of our lives, that we are here to help each other out, that we are all connected, that we are all neighbors. Let's examine how our ability to love allows us to care for and assist our neighbors.
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Beth Thorp is an author, philanthropist, and mother on a mission to help other children fighting for their tomorrows. She is Co-Founder & Executive Director of the Mitchell Thorp Foundation, a nonprofit organization, whose mission is to “Support families whose children suffer from life-threatening illnesses, diseases, and disorders, by providing financial, emotional and resources to their desperate situation.”
Her new book ANEW Creation written as a labor of love for her son Mitchell who passed away from an undiagnosed illness after five years searching for doctors who could help heal her son. Detailing their encounters with God’s power to heal, restore and transform. ANEW Creation is a testament to how God speaks to those who listen and believe.
Beth's Links:
https://www.anewcreation.org/
https://www.mitchellthorp.org/
Produced by https://mypodcast.media
Cody is medically retired from the Air Force and went through 5 rare brain surgeries to try and stop his nocturnal grand mal seizures. He had a Stereo EEG in April that required 24 electrodes implanted deep into his brain so that they could narrow down where the seizures were originating from to a millimeter. He had his final two surgeries in July of 2022, including a brain mapping done on July 11th that he almost died from in the ICU.
Cody is using his experience to show people around the world how faith in God can give an indescribable peace.
Entry Point Faith is produced by https://mypodcast.media
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of our country reads: “…one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Yet we continue to experience injustice for many people in our nation and across the world. How can we live up to those words and become the Nation we profess to be?
Today as we honor and celebrate this man and his legacy, we need to ask a few questions. How do we, in 2023, look at his legacy and the issues he addressed over 50 years ago. Have we made any progress? Are things better, or about the same, or even worse than they were during King’s lifetime of activism? How much progress has been made? Has Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s dream come true yet?
View or download the graphic Nancy talks about here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HESu733JEYCZOeCMupyzTvlsWoIWuwwy/view?usp=sharing
BIBLE PASSAGE:“…What does the Lord require of youbut to do justice, and to love kindness,and to walk humbly with your God.” — Micah 6:8
In this episode of Entry Point Faith, Nancy sits down to talk with Terry Tucker. She and Terry talk about his battle with Acral Lentiginous Melanoma, five years of incredible suffering due to a medicine he was taking, and the amputation of his foot and ultimately his leg. Through his experiences, he wrote a book called "Sustainable Excellence, Ten Principles to Leading Your Uncommon and Extraordinary Life," to help people find and live their uncommon and extraordinary life.
Terry's Links:
Website: https://www.motivationalcheck.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainableexcellenceauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/terrytucker2012
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-tucker-9b5605179/
Produced by MyPodcast.Media
Join us for this special Holiday edition of Entry Point Faith as we welcome the Rev Dr Linda McCoy to deliver a Christmas message of hope.
The holiday season is upon us, and there will be gatherings of family and friends in the coming days. It’s surprising to acknowledge that some of us are not as polite and kind with those closest to us, as we are to total strangers. How might we make this holiday season more pleasant for everyone?
SCRIPTURE:Luke 15:11-32 (the Living Bible)
’Tis the season for Christmas music. From sacred hymns to children’s songs to popular secular songs, our ears are filled with the mixture. Did you ever wonder why some of those songs were written? Let’s find out, as we join the Entry Point musicians for a caroling sing-a-long.
BIBLE PASSAGE:
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” — Acts 20:35
It’s time to get out the lights, the candles, and all the tree trimmings. It’s time to set out the nativity sets, the holly and the mistletoe. It’s time to deck the halls.
BIBLE PASSAGE:
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” — John 8:12
Produced by https://MyPodcast.Media
Thanksgiving 2022 is in the books, so the Christmas madness has ramped up. Our lives are filled with shopping, wrapping, decorating and feeling stressed. It’s time to buckle our seatbelts for the Christmas season.
BIBLE PASSAGE:
“May the God of hope fill you with such peace and joy in your faith, that you may be filled with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” — Romans 15:13
Produced By https://mypodcast.media
As we approach the thanksgiving season, how might we find gratitude — perhaps even for the adversities we have endured?
BIBLE PASSAGE:
“Give thanks in all circumstances.” ~ I Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
Produced by: https://mypodcast.media
In this episode, Nancy Lafferty sits down for a conversation with Kimberly Morgan to discuss the ins and outs of letting go.
We all have a good life- a happy life. The problem is, we don't always know what steps to follow to get that "good life." Join us this week at your host, Pastor Nancy Lafferty, takes a deep dive into what makes for the good life with executive, founder , author, and educator, Jerry Toomer.
Join Pastor Nancy Lafferty as she talks with therapist Jennifer Jansen about fear and anxiety, especially as it relates to a post-Covid world.
For more information, visit https://entrypointonline.org
Produced by https://mypodcast.media
Mark Miller joins host, Pastor Nancy Lafferty, to talk about his take on her previous message about metamorphosis of people throughout our lives.
Visit https://entrypointonline.org for more information about Entry Point Faith
Produced by: https://mypodcast.media
October is about trees revealing colors they’ve hidden all year. People have an October as well. We all go through a metamorphosis as we adapt to life.
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Sometimes love means not giving people what they want. How do you know when the support you're giving is helping... or hurting?
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Many of us have a situation, relationship, or challenge in our lives that we need help with. We long for divine intervention to fix the problem. In many ways, we are waiting for a miracle. What should we do while we wait?
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Every organization has a leader who “drives the bus,” as well as people who “ride on the bus” because they are “onboard” with the organization, and they believe in its mission. Are you on the Entry Point bus? If not, get on the bus this Sunday!
Produced by: https://mypodcast.media
It's back to school time! The school buses are rolling, and kids are back to learning. For those of us who no longer attend school, are there lessons we need to keep learning?
A mantra is “a sound or word repeated to aid concentration in meditation.” A mantra is also a statement or a slogan that we repeat frequently. Often called affirmations, mantras get us through tough times. Mantras help us to remember our strengths. What’s your mantra?
When we feel like we have ‘enough’ in our lives, we are happier, and more contented. Does this feeling of having enough only come from having enough money and material things, or does it come from a mindset that we might be able to develop?
We have all experienced moments of misunderstanding. We have sung the wrong lyrics to a song for years. We have struggled with mishearing words spoken to us, or we misinterpreted the meaning beneath the words that someone has said to us. At least once in our lives, we have all said, “Wait….What!?”
Small acts of kindness can make a big difference in the lives of others. As it turns out, when we engage in an act of kindness, we receive benefits as well.
They say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Photographs are precious to us, and they can tell a lot about a person’s life and their experiences. When a photo is very special to us, we want to frame it and display it for everyone to see. How do you decide what is suitable for framing?
On July 4, 1776, the original 13 colonies of the United States of America officially severed their ties to the rule of Great Britain with a Declaration of Independence. Today, this holiday allows us to reflect on not only our freedom from Great Britain, but also on how we identify as citizens of the United States of America.
In honor of Pride month, we acknowledge all of the individuals who are “under the rainbow flag.” The life of any individual who does not fit into the mainstream of a culture is a life of exclusion, shunning and pain. It has long been the mission of Entry Point to embrace and welcome all, and we mean what we say.
Entry Point Faith is part of the SwitchPoint Media Network. For more great podcasts and videocasts, visit https://switchpoint.media
Many years ago, when something broke, we mended it, or we took it to a repair shop. Now, when something breaks, we just throw it away and get a new one. Sadly, we often have that same attitude about the people in our lives. When people disappoint us, we toss them aside and look for new people. How can we affirm the value of our relationships by mending them?
Special Guest Speaker: Steve Ehrlich
Faith and religion are often handed down from father to child. This Father's Day we explore the final days a father and son shared, and faith revelations that surfaced.
Entry Point Faith is part of the SwitchPoint Media Network. For more great podcasts and videocasts, visit https://switchpoint.media
Call it being realistic, call it being cautious: worst-case scenario thinking is exhausting. And most of us are experts at it. We concoct intricate and elaborate scenarios and play them on a loop that we can’t stop. What if, instead of creating worst-case scenarios, we could imagine the best that could happen?
Letting go of things can be incredibly difficult. On this episode, Pastor Nancy Lafferty encourages us to let go of the things we are holding on to and move forward.
Mother’s Day is the time to recognize those mother figures who have cared for us and influenced our lives. As we grow older, we sometimes recognize that in some ways, we have, indeed, become our mothers.
Who doesn't love a little righteous anger? But the fact is, living in peace requires that these resentments, whether justified or not, be cast away. Join our special guest speaker, Mark Miller, for this relevent message on releasing resentments.
Former first lady, Rosalyn Carter once wrote: “There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver.” Let’s take time to acknowledge the caregivers in our lives, and the lessons we might learn from this incredibly loving lifestyle.
No matter where we are on our faith journey, and no matter which parts of the biblical story we believe or connect with, we can all learn something from the Easter Season. Most importantly, we will examine how to embrace our lives and live well as we come back to life!
Entry Point Faith is part of the SwitchPoint Media Network. For more great podcasts and videocasts, visit https://switchpoint.media
Our culture has popularized the phrase “Stay in your lane.” This phrase has several meanings, from “mind your own business” to “focus on what you know best.” This week, we are going to focus on another way in which this phrase is used. Let’s examine the establishment and maintenance of healthy boundaries.
Entry Point Faith is part of the SwitchPoint Media Network. For more great podcasts and videocasts, visit https://switchpoint.media
So much of life cannot be planned, since surprises come along all the time. Because of those surprises, we spend a great deal of our time in reactive mode instead of proactive mode. Consider how much less stressful our lives would be if we were able to plan ahead, and be ready to adjust our plans as needed.
The SwitchPoint Project is part of the SwitchPoint Media Network. For more great podcasts and videocasts, visit https://switchpoint.media
As we emerge from the pandemic, we continue to struggle with being productive and decisive. While many tasks and projects feel overwhelming right now, we might be much more successful if we simply take baby steps.
Entry Point Faith is part of the SwitchPoint Media Network. For more great podcasts and videocasts, visit https://switchpoint.media
Losing is a part of our everyday lives, yet we are always somewhat surprised and disappointed when it happens to us. Even though we get a lot of practice at losing, we don’t always handle losing well. How can we stop being a sore loser?
Entry Point Faith is part of the SwitchPoint Media Network. For more great podcasts and videocasts, visit https://switchpoint.media
Much of our life is spent waiting. We wait for results, we wait for people, we wait for our calls to be answered, and truth be told, we don"t wait well. Waiting angers us. It wastes our time. How can we become less impatient and learn to wait better?
Entry Point Faith is part of the SwitchPoint Media Network. For more great podcasts and videocasts, visit https://switchpoint.media
What is love? All of the world religions encourage us to love others. But honestly, we don’t really get much training in how to do that. It’s time we learned a little more about what love is, actually.
Entry Point Faith is part of the SwitchPoint Media Network. For more great podcasts and videocasts, visit https://switchpoint.media
We live in a world where we are encouraged to love others and put their needs over our own. Sometimes we find ourselves caring so much for others, that we ignore the need to care for ourselves. It’s time for us to love ourselves.
The SwitchPoint Project is part of the SwitchPoint Media Network. For more great podcasts and videocasts, visit https://switchpoint.media
They say love is blind. I disagree. Infatuation is blind. Love is all-seeing and accepting. They say love at first sight is possible. I disagree. Infatuation at first sight is what we feel. Infatuation is fragile and will shatter when life is not perfect. Love is strong, and it strengthens because it is real.
Sophocles wrote: “One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: that word is love.” As we grow up and pursue love, we encounter a myriad of rituals and expectations. As a result, most of us grow up believing that after we go to school and graduate, we will meet someone and fall in love, marry that person, have children, and live happily ever after. Let’s discover what is beautiful and brutal within the rituals and expectations of Love, American Style.
The SwitchPoint Project is part of the SwitchPoint Media Network. For more great podcasts and videocasts, visit https://switchpoint.media
Our core emotional need is to feel valued. We want to know our life matters, and that we are worth something. How much are you worth?
The SwitchPoint Project is part of the SwitchPoint Media Network. For more great podcasts and videocasts, visit https://switchpoint.media
When it’s the middle of winter, and we are in a pandemic funk, we don’t have the best mindset. And when we aren’t in the best mood, we don’t really like it when others are. Sometimes it feels like the happiness of others is too loud.
The SwitchPoint Project is part of the SwitchPoint Media Network. For more great podcasts and videocasts, visit https://switchpoint.media
Join Pastor Nancy Lafferty to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In his speech entitled "The Future of Integration," King said, "The time is always right to do what is right." Lets examine what those words might mean, and how we might best respond to them.
Entry Point Faith is part of the SwitchPoint Media Network. For more great podcasts and videocasts, visit https://switchpoint.media
There's nothing better than a fresh start, a new page, a brand new day, or a brand new year. On this episode of Entry Point Faith, Pastor Nancy Lafferty examines some of the ways we can maximize this magnificent opportunity to begin again, in 2022.
The SwitchPoint Project is part of the SwitchPoint Media Network. For more great podcasts and videocasts, visit https://switchpoint.media
Pastor Nancy Lafferty reminds us that setbacks happen to everyone. The only way out is to make a comeback.
Entry Point Faith is part of the SwitchPoint Media Network. For bonus content and more great podcasts and videocasts, visit https://switchpoint.media
2021 is coming to a close. As we bid 2021 farewell, and call it a wrap, let's take stock of what we've accomplished.
Entry Point Faith is part of the SwitchPoint Media Network. For bonus content and more great podcasts and videocasts, visit https://switchpoint.media
Entry Point Faith is part of the SwitchPoint Media Network. For bonus content and more great podcasts and videocasts, visit https://switchpoint.media
When we wish someone “Happy Holidays,” we are conveying acceptance and the acknowledgment that there are a multitude of holidays to celebrate during this time of year, beyond Christmas. Additionally, we aren’t always sure which holiday an individual will be celebrating. It’s time to investigate some of the non-Christmas holidays. In this episode, Pastor Nancy Lafferty explores the similarities of other celebrations such as Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, and Las Posadas.
Entry Point Faith is part of the SwitchPoint Media Network. For bonus content and more great podcasts and videocasts, visit https://switchpoint.media