Church

Like many of you, I grew up playing Little League baseball and pick-up games in the school yard. If you didn't swing at a bad pitch, someone would you tell you a “good eye.” At some point, every kid was told “Keep your eye on the ball.” When our girls were little and just starting to play softball, I developed a jingle that I thought would help them become better hitters. "Too high, let it fly. Too low, let it go." Unfortunately, it never caught on. What is true in baseball, is also true in life – we have a natural tendency to take our eye off the ball. One easy mistake to make when it comes to living the spiritual life is this: we focus on our external behavior while neglecting our inner person. We take our eyes off the ball. Which is unfortunate because a healthy spiritual life grows…

Many of the religious leaders who opposed Jesus had a very external – or performance-based – view of religion. To them, maintaining the appearance of being spiritual was as important as actually being spiritual; in some cases, it was even more important. Jesus understood that much of this behavior was based on human traditions, not the commands of God. Jesus redefined a healthy spiritual life as preceding from the inside out, rather than from the outside in.Watch more videos at the Mountainview YouTube channel. Need a Speaker or Presenter? Interested in having me speak for your church, conference, or organization? Follow this link to learn more. Looking for a Speaking Coach? The most successful people are not always the smartest people. But they have one thing in common: they communicate well. I'd love to help you become a better communicator. Click here.

This story highlights the tension between a human response and the response of faith. Jesus had already instructed his disciples that they were going to the other side of the lake. In the meantime, a “furious squall” hits the boat, causing the disciples to panic (which is the normal human response). We face the same situation when we live in the space between receiving God’s promises and experiencing the fulfillment of those promises. In that in-between space there is often challenges and discouragement. Jesus is able to remain calm – asleep – because he knows that he is in control.Watch more videos at the Mountainview YouTube channel. Need a Speaker or Presenter? Interested in having me speak for your church, conference, or organization? Follow this link to learn more. Looking for a Speaking Coach? The most successful people are not always the smartest people. But they have one thing in…

How do you picture Jesus? Many people picture Jesus surrounded by a group of well-behaved children. Or, Jesus is holding a lamb or praying (usually with a halo over his head - just like you and me!). When C.S. Lewis wrote Chronicles of Narnia, he portrayed Jesus as a lion called Aslan. In the first book, a young girl named Lucy is about to meet Aslan for the first time. She asks her guide, “Is he a safe lion?” “Safe? Who said anything about safe? Of course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.” Following Jesus isn’t always safe – if safe means the absence of trials or challenges. As we will see in today's story, your faith is developed when it gets challenged by a storm. In today’s passage, it’s a literal storm. It happens on the Sea of Galilee, which is nearly 8 miles long and 700 feet below…

In the opinion of the religious leaders, Jesus was always running with the wrong crowd. He is often criticized for the company he keeps (e.g., Zacchaeus – All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” Luke 19:7). The religious leaders tried to use this as a way to discredit Jesus; Jesus turns it around and uses it to show the true nature of his role as Messiah. The key phrase in this passage is “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” While Jesus never condoned immoral behavior, he did have a way of making all people feel comfortable in his presence. As followers of Jesus, we must be comfortable seeking out and spending time with people who are considered outsiders by our religious culture.Watch more videos at the Mountainview YouTube channel. Need a Speaker…