Sweet Jesus: Recent Episodes
Emil Gretarsson
Tired of all the drama in churches and religious institutions?
Feel like Christians represent everything but the One they claim to?
Ever wonder where Jesus is in all of this?
Let's talk about Jesus and His Kingdom.
Brock is back for a brief introductory conversation about the Holy Spirit and the crucial role the HS plays in our path to faith and salvation in Christ.
Join me as I sit down with Pastor Mark Renner, author of "Curious Cases: A Series of Short Pastoral Case Studies."
We're taking some selections out of his book and pondering some of the challenging situations we face in ministry and in the world.
We jump all over the place and I think there are some topics we should probably dig deeper on in future conversations. But the heart of the conversation is the extent to which Christians should care for the poor and why.
Join us and let us know your thoughts!
Join me as I sit down once again with Pastor Brock Cain to pick up where we left off a LONG time ago with the Apostles' Creed.
We talk primarily about the "new obedience" and how we live in response to a salvation won for us and given to us freely as a gift.
Join me as I sit down with my friend, Bruce Jaeger! He is the brains behind our new book, "Open ARMS: Connecting People to Jesus."
Listen in as we talk about his background, experience, and the inspiration for this practical guide to living a life focused on witnessing to the love of God for all people in Jesus Christ.
Join me as I sit down with friend, pastor, and now AUTHOR, Mark Renner.
He has a new book out filled with case studies of actual, real life situations that have occurred in his life and ministry, and others he has known.
It will help Christians everywhere be better equipped for facing the messiness of life and ministry. But as you'll hear, Pastor Mark also hopes it will help us reach people outside the Christian community that see us as out of touch with the real world.
It's a wonderful conversation about grace, forgiveness, and the power of Jesus to work in this world even through messy people and situations. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Here are some thoughts I had in response to some conversations I've been having with people about Christian mission and Multipli, an organization that is helping train people to reach others with the love and good news of Jesus.
Join me and Brock Cain as we talk about the redemptive work of Jesus and our need for rescue.
The episode gets cut short rather abruptly. Our apologies! But some time duty calls!
We'll pick back up again soon.
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!
Join me and Brock as we pick up with the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed.
This one's all about Jesus. Who is he? What is he made of? Is he just some dude looking to stir up trouble with some provocative teaching? Or is he more than that?
We get into all kinds of cool stuff here. Loki even makes an appearance, if you happen to be a Marvel fan.
But it all is ultimately about Jesus because...well, Jesus is sweeter!
Join me and Pastor Brock Cain as we finish up our discussion on the First Article of the Apostles' Creed.
This is about recognizing our dependence on God, being thankful, serving, and a dirty word in our day and age, "obedience!"
Join in as we wrestle with these important aspects of the Christian faith. We pray you will be as blessed to listen in as we were to have the discussion.
After an extended break, Brock is back and we are wrestling with suffering.
If God is provider and protector how do we deal with the fact that life is so full of pain and misery?
This is an important topic for Christians and skeptics alike. Tune in and see how important it is for us all.
If you have comments or questions, please email us at: jesusissweeter@gmail.com
Join me as I hear about how the Lord rescued Sidney Dusang for planting the seeds of Christ's Kingdom!
Join me and Brock as we continue our analysis of the Apostles' Creed.
We engage a little bit with the somewhat controversial topics:
God as Father (as evidenced by the "Sparkle Creed" from a couple of weeks ago), death as an enemy, evolution as a weak, flawed, and incomplete theory, and science in general as wholly inadequate for explaining life as we know it.
It's a wild ride, but we definitely had fun. Join us! If you enjoy it, make sure to like, comment, share, subscribe, etc.
Brock is back and we are tackling the Apostles' Creed.
This is mostly an introduction to the Creed. But we tackle all kinds of interesting topics that come up as we consider its place in the life of faith.
Join us as we explore things like the Trinity, how we worship, and the humility all Christians should have when we consider the truths we hold dear.
Hey Y'all!
Listen in as my daughter interviews me and my wife about our recent publication.
I have so much more to say about why we did this and the connections to what I believe the future of church work looks like.
But this is a good start for now. Plus it was fun for me, Heather, and the kids. Maybe they have a future in podcasting! :)
Nobody's Nola is out on Amazon now and available in select locations.
Join me and Pastor Brock Cain as we tackle the least pleasant topic there is: judgment and hell.
Honestly, I think we both hated this and assume many of you will too.
But is God the one with the problem? Or the Bible?
Or are we the ones with the problem? Does our worldview fall apart without this?
How can a loving God "send" people to hell?
I don't know for sure. I'm not sure Brock is either.
But as we discussed, there sure seems to be a place for this. It just may not look like what we think.
Join us as we get to the end of the Ten Commandments and turn back to the real issue behind them all - our hearts.
Coveting is an unhealthy inclination of the heart to have what others have.
Coveting disrupts the contentment God desires for us. Join me and Pastor Brock Cain as we explore this topic together.
Pastor Brock is back and we are talking about reputations and words.
Reputations are far more precious than we may realize. The 8th Commandment tells us to be careful what we say.
When we speak we hold our reputations in our hands. When we speak about others, we hold their reputations in our hands.
Join us as we explore this topic and see how it applies to our everyday lives.
Join me as I sit down with two phenomenal brothers in Christ.
We talk about the sweetness of God's patience, the Way of Jesus, and true worship.
Their ministry helps people grow in worship of the Lord by gazing on him and being transformed.
Their lives and their ministry certainly testify to the transforming power of Christ for people around the world.
Join me and Pastor Brock Cain as we take a look at the 7th Commandment - You shall not steal.
As usual, we found a way to talk about things we never would have guessed related to this.
But looking back, we think you'll see some important connections with this Commandment and our daily occupation, the hassle of being an honest
customer, struggling to make ends meet, being generous, and helping improve and protect our neighbors' possessions and income.
Join me as I sit down with Joy Hartley.
Joy is a member at Open Arms Church in Slidell. She wanted to share how Jesus is sweet even when he completely obliterates your plans with his.
She thought she had her life figured out. But then a sudden relocation for work came along.
After wagging her finger at God for messing up her plan, she soon realized how good it was for her to be back closer to home.
We even go over how God calls us to be everyday missionaries wherever he leads us each and every day. How sweet it is that he can and does use US.
Let's talk about SEX!
Pastor Brock is back to continue walking through Christian basics. We're up to the Sixth Commandment.
Perhaps it's a bit of an uncomfortable and awkward topic. But an important one!
Join us as we do a deep dive on God's gift of sex.
It feels like it's been a while since I've recorded a podcast!
But December felt even longer this year. I was surrounded by so much sadness, despair, and death that the year couldn't end fast enough.
That's when I had a realization and made a major "Dad Pronouncement" about our family's Christmas celebrations going forward.
Tune in to find out what!
Join me as I sit down with my friend Tom Abney on the 40th Anniversary of him coming to Christ, who transformed his life.
After a series of disappointments, including missing out on a scholarship to play football at Ole Miss, Tom turned to alcohol and "carousing" to mask his growing depression.
But then he met Jesus...and everything changed.
Get yourself some ice cream, cookies, cupcakes, or some tea with honey and taste and see once again that the Lord is good!
You shall not murder. Seems pretty straightforward, right? If you aren't in prison for murder you've probably got this one covered, right?
Well, believe it or not, there's a lot more at stake here. Join me and Pastor Brock Cain as we think through what God is telling us in this commandment.
Wouldn't it be nice if there was more kindness in the world?
That's what Orly Wahba thought. One day she decided to do something about it.
Join me and Laurie Becnel as we chat with Orly about the origins of Dance for Kindness and her vision for changing the world through kindness.
"Honor your father and your mother." That's tough to do sometimes. When we expand that honor to all forms of authority it gets even harder!
Yet, as Paul points out in Ephesians 6, this is the only commandment with a promise! There are blessings in better applying this in our world!
How can we better embody what God is trying to teach us in this commandment? Join me and Pastor Brock Cain as we discuss exactly that.
Are you tired and worn out? Are you tired even when you take a day off or go on vacation? Maybe you need to rediscover the Sabbath.
Join me and Pastor Brock Cain as we take a look at this Commandment and consider how important it is to God and his people.
Brock is back! It's been a while folks. But Pastor Brock Cain is back in the podcast studio to pick up where we left off.
We're taking a look at the Second Commandment and the use and misuse of God's name.
You may be surprised how important it is to take God's name and reputation seriously.
Join me as I sit down with Almando Jean Louis and Justin Jones from Praying Pelican Missions.
We talk about God's plan and how it always seems to come together, though it's only obvious looking back.
We talk about how they got connected to PPM and jumped into full time mission work, leaving home and career behind for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We talk about God's faithfulness...all over ICE CREAM at 8am! :)
Join me as I sit down with my new friend, Lynn Vonciell Morris.
She talks about how she went from tragedy to tenacity to triumph with the help of the Lord Jesus.
From entering the world "out of wedlock" and all the stigma at the time, to abuse at the hands of relatives to a successful academic and professional career, as well as a marriage of 34 years to a great husband she shares 4 children with, her story is inspiring!
Listen in to remember that God can help YOU overcome anything and use it for GOOD.
Join me and my wife as we talk about the inspiration behind our most recent publications.
We hope these are helpful resources to support daily spiritual practices and growth in faith.
But we also hope that our experience encourages you to try something new.
Jesus gave us the confidence to try something we've never done before.
Taste and see that the Lord is good!
Morris St. Angelo has some fantastic stories. Fifty years ago he came to faith in Christ. Since then, it's been a wild ride.
There are some high highs and some low lows. But one thing remained constant: Jesus Christ crucified and risen.
That's how he's made it through. The stability of Jesus Christ even helped him navigate the loss of his right arm.
Join us as we talk about all kinds of things that prove that Jesus is sweeter than anything - even ice cream!
Does God have an urgent message for you? If he did, would you ever hear it?
Join me as I take a look at 1 Kings 19:9-18 and the way God spoke to Elijah the prophet.
If you needed encouragement to slow down and find some quiet and solitude, this is it!
Hey y'all!
Recently had an experience that made me SO glad I got over my issues with Needtobreathe music.
It made me think there might be parallels with church and Christianity. Is there something special waiting for us when we get over those issues?
I think it's Jesus. Let's talk about it!
Join me as I sit down with my friend, Pastor Archie!
We met through a mutual friend and got to do some exciting mission work together.
Working together we saw young and old, black and white, male and female come together. It was exciting! Join us as we talk about our experience.
Man have we had an interesting week or two!!!
Listen in as I tell you how the spiritual battle heats up leading up to Holy Week.
Satan wants you distracted from the most important events in history. So, he goes after leaders in the Church to distract them first.
So, pray for your pastor. Then make it a point to dig in to Holy Week. Reflect on, meditate on, and immerse yourself in the most significant events in history.
These events changed the world, and made eternity a reality for us all.
Many people have had terrible experiences with church, Christianity, and pastors. A lot of that has to do with abusive leadership.
Listen in as Brother David shares the signs of abusive leadership, how healthy leaders operate, and just how seriously we need to take this topic.
Ikem is back! Join us as we wander around for a bit talking about the love of Jesus.
The Holy Spirit eventually helped us get to some REALLY good stuff.
We also talk a bit about Mardi Gras and pain churches and Christians inflict on people. NONE of it takes away the incredible love of God for us.
Join me as I sit down with two wonderful Sisters in Christ about how the Kingdom of God is at working in our public schools.
They are helping change the lives of kids in junior and senior high schools and the principals are seeing the results and welcoming them back!
Next Generation's motto is "Change the campus, change the culture."
I'm excited about the future because of the hope they are brining to these students and their families!
We had some technical difficulties in worship this morning. But I really believe the message of forgiveness is one our world desperately needs.
So, I stepped into the podcast studio and shared the message again. It's based on Matthew 18:21-35.
Here's the link to the video I mention about the trial and Botham Jean's brother Brandt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGpSfVdPBiE
Brock is back! After an extended break over the holidays and a podcast studio revamp, we are back to looking at the basics of Christianity.
After taking a look at the Bible, and in particular, the two main messages of the Bible - Law and Gospel - we're looking at the Ten Commandments.
What are the Ten Commandments? Why do they matter? Aren't they just things that make people feel bad and are used to judge others?
And what about the First Commandment? Are we really worshiping other gods? How does that work? Why should we care?
Well, listen in! Lots of food for thought, and we sure had a blast putting it together for y'all!
Super psyched to finally have Ikem (pronounced "ee-kem") in for a podcast!
The trouble is, we have such awesome conversations BEFORE the podcast that we are going to have to go back and go over all the cool things you missed before we hit record!
But there's no doubt that this is a good conversation. Listen in to find out a God actually used a street preacher to reach this incredible man of God. You won't believe it! He gives us a nice little detail about the event near the very end.
Listen in and enjoy! I have a feeling Ikem will be back!
Join me as I take some time digging a little bit deeper into something my wife and I touched on earlier this week.
It's hard to trust again. It's hard to try again. But one of the things that makes Jesus so sweet is that he gives us strength to do just that.
Some words often attributed to Mother Theresa also provide some inspiration for this episode. Hope it helps you try again too!
True confession time! Join me as I share a slightly embarrassing story. But it's a story that reminds me how important it is tell you, and to tell everyone I can, about the sweetness of Jesus and his grace.
Join me as I sit down with my wife, Heather!
Although we work as a team every day to keep our family together and moving in the right direction, today was different.
We teamed up to share a little bit about the joys and struggles of life as a pastor's family.
This is not something that's normally in her comfort zone. But I think she did a GREAT job!
If you know a pastor, pastor's spouse, or pastor's kid, make sure to do something to bless them today.
Maybe even send this their way so that at the very least they know they are not alone!
Join me and my buddy Bay as he shares about his battle with grief.
Nearly 20 years ago, Bay lost his first wife Deb. He lost his Mom, then his Dad. His joy for life went with it.
But Jesus provided a way for him to make it through to the other side.
Tune in to hear about how Jesus guided him, and eventually led him to his current wife, Terri.
Join me as I sit down with my friend Anne over a bowl of ice cream. She has a lot of insight for us.
She has had some really bad religious experiences.
She comes from a dysfunctional family.
She has felt fearful of and far from God and church.
Shame has kept her away for a long time.
She thinks Jesus is great! He loves everybody! She just has a hard time believing he loves her.
If this sounds like you or someone you know, you need to listen in.
So grab some ice cream, cookies, cupcakes, or pie, and taste and see that the Lord is good.
Join me and Morris St. Angelo, pastor of New Beginnings Church in Slidell and lead minister of the Slidell Minister Association.
Morris shares his testimony of coming to Christ, how the sweetness of success turned bitter, and led him to the sweetness of Christ.
We also talk about a book he wrote recently called, "Slidell, Our Kind of Town: The Story of Us."
It is a fascinating story of how Jesus can bring people together across denominational, political, and racial lines for the good of a community.
Brother David is back! We're starting a series on spiritual abuse!
Brother David is the pastor of Christian Fellowship Church in Marrero, LA. He is the president of the Therapon Institute, and Koinonia Bible College.
He teaches a course on spiritual abuse with KBC and is sharing some helpful nuggets with us today and in the days to come.
If you or someone you know has struggled with toxic churches, toxic pastors, toxic leadership, maybe they've even walked away from Jesus
because of it, this is for you. This is for them. Chances are they are rejecting a Jesus and a God that isn't the God of the Bible.
Tune in today, and in the weeks to come. Affirmation and validation in these situations can be POWERFUL.
Join me as I share about a painfully disappointing experience from a few weeks ago.
Bad experiences often drive us away from things that may not have had anything at all to do with causing the pain.
But that tells us a lot about why some people don't come to church.
But is church a place? Or a people?
Is Jesus only found in a building?
Listen in for my thoughts!
Join me and my Charismatic Catholic friends as we talk spiritual warfare.
I had quite the experience recently and I asked them to help me deal with demonic attacks and activity.
Brock is back, and we are moving on the final discussion on the Bible and what it's really all about as we take a look at the Gospel.
Christians, pastors, and non-Christians often mess this part up. But it's really the key to everything. Without it there is no Christianity.
Join us!
Join me as I sit down with Brother David Rodriguez!
Bro. David is Pastor of Christian Fellowship Church in Marrero, LA, President of Koinonia Bible College, and President of The Therapon Institute.
Today, he shares his testimony and begins to get us on the path to a discussion about the signs and dangers of spiritual abuse.
If you or someone you know has experienced pain at the hands of a pastor or a church, this is a MUST listen.
I'm looking forward to having him back for more in-depth conversations on the topic.
Join me for something historic! It's 500 years in the making, but Lutherans and Catholics are talking! Nicely! Even agreeing about stuff!
Naomi, Gary, and Chris stopped by to talk Martin Luther and the Reformation!
I think we opened a can of worms here. We are going to need to do some more talking about this topic.
Let us know what you think!
Danielle Barosse of the Abundantly Able podcast is back and brought a friend!
Jennifer Cotney is Assistant Director of Christian Mix 106, a Christian Radio station designed not only to entertain, but enlighten, and bring people to Jesus!
She came by to talk about what it's like raising special needs kids, how God works miracles, and how he chased her down and brought her to faith.
We also talk about how the church often gets in the way, as well as how God works through our frailty, weakness, and brokenness to do GREAT things.
Join us!!
Join me and Pastor Brock Cain as we continue to talk about the Bible.
This episode tackles the topic of how to read and understand the Bible. People come up with all kind of ideas and use the Bible to defend them.
But what does it actually say? What is its purpose? How do we understand what we read? What is the "Law"?
Tune in as we talk about a helpful "lens" or "filter" through which we view the Bible.
Join me as I sit down with Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist Ted Jackson!
Ted's book, "You Ought To Do A Story About Me" recently came out in paperback and chronicles his thirty year relationship with Jackie Wallace.
Jack is a retired professional football player who played in the Super Bowl. Jackie is also a recovering addict.
We talk faith, friendship, love, and service. We talk about poverty, addiction and recovery, as well as how we can help those God places in our life.
It's a great conversation. I feel like I had to cut it short. Enjoy!
Join me as I sit down with Pastor Mike Paulison of the missionary ministry Mission Experience.
We talk a bit about his new book, Unsafe Faith, that tells the incredible story of Mission Experience's adventures in mission in Haiti.
We also talk about learning through the tough times and finding great joy. We talk about the fact that we don't need to go to some far away place
to reach people with the Gospel. All we have to do is go outside our comfort zone.
I wish we could have talked for hours! Pastor Mike is really a gift to God's Church! I'm glad to introduce him to you!
Join me and Pastor Brock Cain as we take a look "under the hood" of the Bible.
In this episode we try to help you dip your toe in the water as we discuss the diversity of people,
literary genres, and aspects of the one story of God.
Join me and Pastor Brock Cain as we continue our look at the basics of Christianity.
Today we dig a little deeper into the Bible. How did it come to be? Who wrote it? Why should we consider it reliable?
We touch on some of these questions, and more. Pull up your favorite dessert and "taste and see that the Lord is good!"
Join me as I go over another great song from my all-time favorite band, Needtobreathe.
"Able" is a song that really helps me remember that it's not all on my shoulders. I can't do it all on my own, and I don't have to.
The video wasn't working. But the audio came through just fine!
Have you ever noticed how things just NEVER seem to go as well as you hope?
Have you found yourself dissatisfied with even some of the BEST things in life?
Do you yearn for perfection? Do yearn for things to just be the way you want? The way you hope? The way they should be?
Join me as I reflect on my recent vacation, and a conversation with a dear friend about how our dissatisfaction can actually be a holy thing.
Maybe even a SWEET thing. :)
Join me as I take some time to meditate on Psalm 46.
Hurricane Ida is bearing down on us here in LA, so no in person worship this Sunday.
But we can worship, pray, meditate, and hear from God anywhere. Here is one resource to help you do that, not just today, but any and every day.
Stay safe y'all!
Join me and Pastor Brock Cain as we sit down to continue our exploration of the basics of Christianity.
Today we turn our attention to the Bible. We talk about how we get to know a person, how we get to know ourselves, and how the Bible fits in.
Join me as I chat with Danielle Renee Barrosse, host of the Abundantly Able Podcast.
She has a fascinating story of forgiveness, overcoming abuse and disabilities, and even rejection at the hands of Christians.
But she still thinks Jesus is super SWEET. Tune in to learn more about her story and to "taste and see that the Lord is GOOD."
Join me as I sit down to talk with evangellusionist, Jim Chester!
We discuss his coming to faith in Christ, his call to an unusual ministry, and his encouragement to all people to use the gifts God has given.
Sometimes those gifts aren't always popular among church people. But boy can God use it for some powerful ministry!
We also discuss a whole bunch of other cool stuff we hope to unpack in some future discussions.
Check out the video on FB and YouTube to see an outstanding illusion done right here in studio!!!
Tune in while I talk about one of the best, most underplayed, and therefore under-appreciated songs ever: Walking on Water.
It's a Needtobreathe song. Expect to hear more about their songs. They are starting a new tour and I'm going!
The song is based off the biblical account of Jesus walking on water in Matthew 14:22-33.
Join me as we talk about it all, and see again how sweet Jesus really is.
Join me and my Catholic friends Naomi, Gary, and Chris, as we consider Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body.
Today we discuss how it relates to caring for our bodies. You'll be surprised at the wide variety of topics! Enjoy!
Join me and Pastor Brock Cain as we continue our conversation about the basics of Christianity.
We're starting with the "pre-requisites," things all human beings need, that Christianity meets better than anything else out there.
Today the topic is hope.
There's a series of talks done by Tim Keller at Oxford University that are the basis for this. They can be found on YouTube. Search "Tim Keller, Uncover."
Join me as I chat with my new friend, Jim Thomas! He is a part of some amazing work in the prisons of Ghana.
You'll hear some amazing stories of how God has been at work through Jim, and others, in some of the darkest most destitute places on earth.
It will challenge you to listen to God more, to expand what you think is possible, and to really reassess what's most important in your life.
But most of all, you will see again just how sweet Jesus really is.
Join me and Ryan as he shares another FANTASTIC song, "It's Your Love."
It's the love of God that transforms our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. It's the love of Christ that changes us into lovers of others.
Ryan and I follow up with a discussion about how God can actually, really, truly bring about powerful transformation in our lives.
Join me, Chris, Naomi, and Gary as we talk about shame.
The world defines it one way. The world says it's all bad.
God defines it another way. He says there is healthy shame and unhealthy shame.
Take a listen. Some of the powerful, personal sharing that takes place will help provide a breakthrough moment for you.
Join me and Drew as we test out some AWESOME new equipment, and talk Independence Day, Christians (supposedly) behaving badly, and all the crazy stuff that passes through our ears while we enjoy some delicious dessert and conversation.
Join me and Pastor Brock Cain as we continue to explore the basics of the Christian faith.
We're still dealing with what we've been referring to as the "prerequisites." Identity is the topic today.
Check out Tim Keller's talk on the topic here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GJTklg4cZs
Here's the song y'all! Check it out! It's awesome! Ryan's awesome! And this audio is much better!
Brother Ryan is back! He's got another song for us too!
Learned some things about audio and the new sound board too! That's a nice way of saying the song didn't come through as well as I hoped.
But we figured it out and recorded it again later. Will post after this.
But listen to Ryan and I talk about how this song speaks to baptism, true freedom, true life, and more!
Join me and Drew as we talk Father's Day. Drew has a unique experience that often gets lost in the celebrating and love fest for dads.
Join me and Pastor Brock Cain as we continue to explore the basics of the Christian faith.
We're still dealing with what we've been referring to as the "prerequisites." Freedom is the topic today.
Check out Tim Keller's talk on the topic here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yusWbIc8DhY
Join me as I reflect on fathers and Father's Day.
sweetjesus #tasteandseethatthelordisgood #icecreamissweet #jesusissweeter #fathersday #fathers
Join me as I sit down again with Drew for a lively discussion about life, meaning, Jesus, Christians, and the human ego.
As a nice surprise, Sean Murray drops by to join us!
Join me and Pastor Brock Cain as we continue our exploration of the Christian faith.
We're starting out with some "pre-requisites," things that tell us why we should even care about God, Jesus, and Christianity.
The inspiration comes from a series of talks by Tim Keller where he discusses five things human beings can't live without.
Today we tackle our deep need for satisfaction. You can find the YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/pDdsLnJ6Z9k
Hey Y'all! Here's a clip of just the song. But make sure you go back to the full episode to hear Ryan's story. It's powerful!
Join me as a sit down with a phenomenal brother in Christ, musician, and friend.
He plays an amazing song he wrote called, "The Prodigal." Listen to his story and the song becomes even more powerful.
Join me and Drew as we talk about the marvelous "crunch cup" and finding meaning in life!
Join me, Gary LeBlanc, Naomi Kim, and Chris O'Neill as we continue our discussion of Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body.
Today we turn our attention to understanding "Eschatological Man."
Join me and Pastor Brock Cain as we begin our exploration of the Christian faith.
We're starting out with some "pre-requisites," things that tell us why we should even care about God, Jesus, and Christianity.
The inspiration comes from a series of talks by Tim Keller. You can find the YouTube video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2KGLbU-r68
Another Tuesday Tunes! Finally! It's been too long!
Join me as I spend some time reflecting on a song from Needtobreathe's latest album, "Mercy's Shore."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtgadTkJ0nc
The Lord's been trying to remind me that my challenges are about more than what I can see.
Tune in to hear some of my reflections on this idea.
Join me as I sit down and talk - long distance (!) - with my friend and brother in Christ, Josh Craig!
He is trained as a Director of Family Life Ministry (DFLM), but currently works as a Director of Christian Education (DCE).
He has been really helpful to me in helping me understand how to best shape the faith of my kids. Excited to share some of it with you!
Join me and Drew as we take a look at "The Outlaw's Prayer" by Johnny Paycheck, and the repentance of Phil Vischer of Veggie Tales fame.
Christianity isn't always represented well, or understood well, even by it's most committed members.
Don't let that stand in the way of connecting with Jesus. He said, "Follow ME," not "Follow them."
Tune in as I talk with Brock Cain, pastor at Lutheran Church of the Pines in Waveland, MS.
He's a great guy and we have some exciting plans to share.
Take some time to get to know Brock and to get some background on our future efforts.
UPDATED WITH FULL AUDIO
Join us as we talk some more about Pope John Paul II's "Theology of the Body."
There's a lot to talk about with "Historical Man." So, here's part 2! This time we tackle the topic of lust and sins of the human heart.
We also could really use a new MacBook if you're feeling generous!!! :)
My Roman Catholic friends and I had a chance to chat more about Pope John Paul II's "Theology of the Body."
This time we turned our attention to exploring "Historical Man." God made everything perfect. But we don't live in that perfect world.
Tune in as we explore the challenges we face trying to live the way God originally intended.
Join me as I sit down with Laurie, one of our staff members at Open Arms, as we talk about the ongoing saga of Axel.
If you've ever struggled trying to help people, or found yourself wondering why you should help, or why they don't seem to receive it, tune in!
Join me as I sit down with Rosemary Manint, Sandra Douglas, and Trey Brownfield as they tell me about their vision to end teen homelessness in St. Tammany Parish.
Join me and Drew as we have our first Sundae together!
We talk a little bit about the historic significance of today, April 18. We talk about how there is Christianity, and a false version of Christianity. We talk about how most people reject Christianity based on ideas that aren't true about the Christian faith.
We also talk about Star Wars, playing cards, and other random things that capture our attention! Ha!
Join me as my Roman Catholic friends and I continue our discussion of Pope John Paul II's "Theology of the Body" with a deeper dive into what God did when He first created us.
Join me and Trey Brownfield as we discuss how to Keep Slidell Beautiful!
If you aren't in the Slidell area, you can start something in your own community through the Keep America Beautiful program.
God's first command to the humans He created was to take care of this place. Let's do it together!
Join Brother Greg and I as we try to put ourselves in the shoes of everyone involved to get past the noise and see if we can't find something to do to make things better in the wake of the shooting of Daunte Wright.
Hey Y'all!
Join me as I sit down with the guy who has been instrumental in making Sweet Jesus possible.
We talk about how and why churches should be involved in digital ministry, creative ways of using their space, and what people are looking for. We talk about life, faith, kids, and of course, Jesus.
Tune in!
Dig In to Holy Week with Hallgrimur Petursson's reflections on the Passion of Jesus Christ.
I hope these hymns/poems can be a helpful resource for meditating on what makes Jesus so sweet.
Dig In to Holy Week with Hallgrimur Petursson's reflections on the Passion of Jesus Christ.
I hope these hymns/poems can be a helpful resource for meditating on what makes Jesus so sweet.
Dig In to Holy Week with Hallgrimur Petursson's reflections on the Passion of Jesus Christ.
I hope these hymns/poems can be a helpful resource for meditating on what makes Jesus so sweet.
Dig In to Holy Week with Hallgrimur Petursson's reflections on the Passion of Jesus Christ.
Finally! Getting back to recording some of these hymns after a LONG break.
As you dig in to Holy Week, I hope these hymns/poems can be a helpful resource for meditating on what makes Jesus so sweet.
Listen in for encouragement to dig in to Holy Week. John 3:14-15 and Numbers 21 tell us a lot more than we think!
Join Brother Greg and I as we talk about Holy Week and the role of traditions in the Christian faith!
Join me, Naomi, Gary and Chris as we start digging into Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body.
First, defining terms: original man, historical man, eschatological man. Check it out!
Join me and Brother Greg as we talk about St. Patrick.
We touch on lots of things. But all about what it means to be "sent" in the world.
Join me and Drew as we talk about cancelling Daylight Savings Time.
That's not all! Rockets, planes, death, music...a virtual potpourri of topics!
We did jump around quite a bit. But give us a break! It's DST Sunday! :)
Join me as I sit down with some Roman Catholic friends as we begin to look at Pope John Paul II Theology of the Body!
There is a proposal to bring a casino to our community.
Up until now, I haven't know much about this issue. Pastor Randy and others have made a compelling case.
Tune in to find out why, if you're going to bet on anything, bet on this, the house always wins.
Join us as we jump around a bit but discuss millenials and the church, taking criticism, among many other topics!
Submitting? Is that really a good thing? In 21st Century America? Seriously?
Tune in to find out the freedom that comes from godly, biblical, submission.
Listen in for hymn 3 from 17th Century Icelandic priest Hallgrimur Petursson's "Hymns of the Passion."
Listen in to hymn 2 from 17th Century Icelandic priest Hallgrimur Petursson's "Hymn's of the Passion."
Hallgrimur Petursson was a 17th Century Icelandic priest and poet. His Hymns of the Passion are still a part of Iceland's traditions during Lent.
To help you on your Lenten journey this year, I'll read from each of them. Meditating on them has proved fruitful for me. I'm sure it will be for you as well.
Looking for a stronger sense of the peace of Christ in a chaotic world?
Join me and Brother Greg as we discuss the way to get there: The Discipline of Solitude.
Join me as my friend Drew and I let you listen in on the kinds of conversations we typically have.
Hold on! It's a wild ride! Lots of rabbit holes!
But one thing in common: we want to listen and understand one another!
Join us! Let's see if we can transform our culture to allow for more dialogue!
Join me as I sit down with an excellent Brother in Christ and certified sex addiction recovery coach!
Gary has a fascinating testimony. A friend in high school helped lead him to Jesus. Jesus transformed his life!
But Gary still had struggles to work through. With the help of Christ he was able to overcome. So can you! Whatever it is!
Tune in to hear this incredible story of God's supernatural love and power!
Join Brother Greg and I as we dive into the next chapter of Richard Foster's book.
This is a pretty important discipline, perhaps THE most important one.
Without practicing simplicity, there is no time, no space, no margin available for the others!
Join me as I take a look at a song from Jesus Culture we sang this past Sunday.
Great song! Rich scriptural references! We have nothing to fear!
Join us as Brother Greg and I continue our study of "Celebration of Discipline." Today we turn to the topic of study.
COD gives us some great conversation starters, as well as some steps to implement more study into our lives.
It's another Throwback Thursday with a twist!
Another reason to always stay hopeful and confident with Jesus: the conversion of His most fierce persecutor!!
It sure seems like it's feast or famine when it comes to the topic of fasting!
Join me as I chat with Brother Greg about why "fasting is feasting!"
Living a hurried life of distraction? Looking for ways to get some peace and calm?
Meditation is God's gift to us to help us!
Join Brother Greg and I as we discuss chapter 2.
We had our kids ministry again for the first time in a long time!
Scary to think that I was running this, but I was.
Listen in to find out some of the principles behind what I did...and didn't do.
In light of events at the Capitol and the ongoing back and forth, I've determined that I agree with G. K. Chesterton:
"I am."
Join Brother Greg and I as we take a look at the Spiritual Disciplines.
Get the book and read along with us: Celebration of Discipline, The Path to Spiritual Growth, by RIchard J. Foster.
Join me as we hear about how Sweet Jesus is to Derrick and Vicki LaCombe.
Grab your favorite dessert. This time we had pie!!
Brother Greg shares some of his experiences sharing the Gospel with people outside the walls of the church.
Kind of an abrupt ending due to some technical issues. Looking forward to picking up where we left off next time!
Join Brother Greg and I as we consider the place of the Christian in the American political landscape.
(Due to a technical glitch, the first few seconds/minutes was cut out. No intro. Just jump right in!)
Brother Greg Trumbach joins me as we try to tackle a tough topic.
Join us as we try to sift through some of the extreme positions, and think about how we can actually help.
In light of some troubling, high profile, local stories, Brother Greg Trumbach and I discuss spiritual abuse.
If you have suffered at the hands of pastors, priests, churches and ministries, tune in. Let us know what you think.
Taking a look at a great new song! But brace yourself. It will challenge you!
Grab your Bible and listen in!
(2 Chronicles 7:14, Mark 8:31ff, Matthew 7:1-5, Luke 15)
The day after the first presidential debate of 2020, Brother Greg and I have NOTHING to talk about!!
We delve into the book, "Speaking of Jesus," racism, patriotism, who's in as a Christian and who's out...
Just tune in...there was a lot!
Had a great time getting to know another pastor in the Slidell area!
Brother Greg has a fascinating story coming out of NOLA and Islam.
Join us as we get to know each other and talk about how sweet Jesus is!
Getting started is great! Overcoming fear of failure is crucial!
But how do we become the best we can be?
We need to hear criticism well!
How can we do that? Jesus!
The most fun episode yet!
Cheryl Scaglione, Open Arms Family Member, Assistant Director at Hospice House joined Sweet Jesus
We talked about faith as a relationship, and as a journey.
We also talked about the great work of her non-profit, Hospice House.
Tune in, like, subscribe, and share!
We've talked about getting started. We've gone through the interruptions.
What else keeps us from taking risks and trying new things? The fear of failure.
Listen in on why Jesus is the sweetest answer to dealing with fear.
What happens when your plans don't pan out? It happens far too often than any of us care to admit.
So, why bother? What's the point? Is there any order to this mess we call life?
There are lots of ideas about this out there. But once again...Jesus is sweeter!
It's been a while since the last episode! Just when you get started...things seem to get in the way...they don't go as planned...tragedy strikes.
That's what this episode is about. It also includes a sermon from a funeral from several months ago to answer some questions and provide some hope for those experiencing the most painful of interruptions: the death of a child.
Here it is! Episode 1! Finally!
Sometimes the key to getting started is just...getting started!
Nothing fancy here. Just encouragement to take a step in the direction God is leading you.
A little history on how I got here, and why "Sweet Jesus."