Looking for the Real God

#101 Rethinking Christmas - A Savior for the World (S5E15)

Christy finishes her series on rethinking Christmas with a reminder of who Jesus came to be: not just a baby in a manger, but a Savior on a cross. God's wrath, justice, and punishment for sin might not seem like Christmas messages, but Jesus came for one reason -- to die. Unless we remember that, we will always be missing the real magic of Christmas. A God who loved us enough to become one of us, live among us, and take the punishment that we deserved upon Himself. In Jesus God's wrath and love collided. Someone had to die, so God chose that person to be Himself.

#100 Rethinking Christmas - God with Us (S5E14)

As Christy continues to Rethink Christmas, she reminds her listeners that Jesus is God with Us. His entire life was a picture for us of who God really is rather than who we expect him to be. Instead of seeking power and fame and a position of authority, Jesus came quietly, humbly, and without fanfare.
As we look at the mess of our modern evangelical church, it's easy to be discouraged. But Christy reminds her listeners that the same God who lived among us isn't finished yet.

#99 Rethinking Christmas - Extra Traditions (S5E13)

Christy continues her season on Rethinking Christmas by looking at all the extra details and traditions that we have added to the Christmas story over the years that aren't actually in the Scriptures. She wonders if maybe we feel disillusioned with the season and struggle to find the meaning of Christmas because we have lost sight of the reality. Jesus came humbly even in His birth to serve and not to be served, to reach the poor and lowly, and to call all people to Himself. This is the magic of Christmas.

#98 Rethinking Christmas - Lost Perspective (S5E12)

Christy continues her series on rethinking Christmas with a look back at the Jewish history and culture at the time of Jesus' birth. We often miss the anticipation of the Messiah as modern Western believers. We also miss the history of exile and occupation the Jews faced. The time when Jesus was born was messy and complicated, not unlike our own current experience. And yet Jesus did not come to build an earthly kingdom but to restore humanity to their Creator.
Using history and prophecy, Christy encourages her listeners to settle into their own time in space knowing that God is in control.
Scripture referenced:
Genesis 49:10
2 Samuel 7:12-13
Psalm 8:5-6
Jeremiah 29:10-14
John 1:4, 9-13
Isaiah 9:1-2
Isaiah 53:1-6

#97 Rethinking Christmas - Missing Pieces (S5E11)

Christy begins her series on Rethinking Christmas with a look at our modern messy church. She talks about The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill Podcast and the way it is exposing the junk that is going on in many churches. Christy contemplates the way people seem to divide into two camps: one that holds onto all of the Christianese traditions and beliefs and one that rejects anything not lining up with human reasoning. As always, Christy encourages her listeners to look for the Middle Way of grace and truth.
Christy jumps from our current church culture into the religious culture in the time when Jesus was born. She compares us to the Pharisees and Sadducees and reminds everyone that Jesus was found by the humble and broken from His birth until His death.

#96 Do the Thing You Love (S5E10)

Christy shares stories from her past that connect with her current experience as a 5th grade teacher. It's fun to watch things come full circle as she reconnects with an old version of herself from almost twenty years ago.
God has made us unique as individuals and we each have passions and gifts that makes us come alive. Christy shares from her own experiences and encourages her listeners to pursue those things that put them "in their element."

#95 Desires of our Hearts (S5E9)

Christy contemplates the longings of our hearts, how we try to meet them by ourselves but fail, and the ways those longings point us to our Creator.
Religion will never satisfy, good behaviors will fall short, and formulas promising wealth, health, blessings, and success will fail. But the Real God isn't waiting for us to DO anything except turn to Him and seek Him. And in Him we will find that those deep desires of our hearts are met.

#94 God Comes Closer (S5E8)

Christy shares some thoughts from her recent Scripture readings in Ezekiel. As she read about the future temple that will be built during the Millennium, Christy began to think back to the way God started out in Eden separating Himself from His creation because of Adam and Eve's sin of disobedience.
But despite that separation, God continued to pursue people: Abraham, Moses, the Nation of Israel. He provided the tabernacle and then the temple with a system of worship that created a path for forgiveness. God continued to move closer to His creation.
Christy explores Jesus -- Emanuel: God with us -- and the way He drew even closer. After Jesus returned to heaven, He sent His Holy Spirit to indwell all believers in Jesus Christ. God is even closer than ever!

#93 Stuff We Deconstruct (S5E7)

Christy jumps back into the topic of deconstruction. This week she explores what might be behind the purity culture and narrow gender role ideas that have become so mainstream. What if in our desire to fix the broken world we live in, we become fixated on rules instead of a relationship with the only One who can save us?
Purity culture, gender roles, and spiritual abuse seem to be the hottest topics among deconstruction conversations lately. Christy reminds her listeners that the Holy Spirit is up to something as He restores and reforms His church.

#92 Celebrity, Obscurity, and Real Life (S5E6)

Christy takes a break from her series on deconstruction and reconstruction of our faith to voice some heartfelt thoughts about her real life. She shares her disillusionment with social media and the Christian celebrity culture.
Pursuing a book contract is something that Christy thought she wanted until she realized the pressure of platform building and sustaining was not mentally or emotionally healthy. Christy has gone back to teaching this year and as a result has significantly less time available for social media. She has discovered that she is better off without it. Christy encourages her listeners to embrace their real lives even if they aren't glamorous or Instagram worthy.