-
Why ComicCon Made Me Cry: The Heartbreaking Reality For Some Who Attend (and What We Can Do)
I’ve always looked forward to ComicCon, but this year, it was more than just an event for me. It became a window into a deeper truth. In fact, telling this story has brought me to tears twice this week. Over the past couple of years, I’ve been able to bring some young people with…
-
How To Replenish and Protect Your Soul When You Feel Spiritually Dry, Attacked, or Hopeless
New Video: How do you replenish and protect your soul when you’re in a spiritual “dry season” where God feels distant, the Enemy is winning battles, and/or you are struggling to grow in faith and hope? This video might help. I’ve been working really hard to make good and helpful videos lately, so if…
-
Watch This When You Feel Forgotten, Worthless, Guilty, or Inadequate
New YouTube Video: Do you ever feel worthless? Like God and the world are against you? What about nagging feelings of inadequacy or guilt that won’t go away? This devotional on Psalm 139 might help. This video was recorded live during the regular opening devotional I do before each of my streams. I’d love…
-
Such an Original Experience! Fighting Through the Creative Side of the Brain (Figment – Part 3)
The artistic interpretation of someone’s creative side was amazing – and seeing what the corruption of depression and sadness had done to it was quite moving. Check out my Livestreams: http://www.twitch.tv/XtianNinja Game Summary: Figment is an action-adventure puzzle game where you battle nightmares and various mental illnesses that are taking over someone’s brain as…
-
This Game is Special: Figment Series (Part 1 & 2)
Figment is an action-adventure puzzle game where you battle nightmares and various mental illnesses that are taking over someone’s brain as a result of facing a terrible trauma. It sounds super serious – but it’s actually a fun, interesting, and really touching story – that has some of the best game music I’ve ever…
-
Why You Keep Falling Apart: How to Stop Being Afraid of Your Life
Living in fear that if anything goes wrong your mind and body will react like it’s the end of the world and you’ll end up losing all the progress you’ve made is a terrible way to live. It stops you from trying new things, meeting new people, and leaving your comfort zone. Here are…
-
When Your Past Hurts Your Present, Saul Did Not Become Paul, The Hill of Difficulty (PP 6.1)
This week, I share an interesting idea about how your past trauma doesn’t need to dictate your present feelings, an interesting article about how Saul didn’t actually turn into Paul, and an interesting study of Pilgrims Progress by exploring the sixth chapter where Christian begins up the Hill of Difficulty. Interesting Links:– Article: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/no-saul-the-persecutor-did-not-become-paul-the-apostle/– Twitch:…
-
Wow, Psalm 107!, What to do When You’re Down, & Pilgrim’s Progress Ch 2.2
This week, I share an interesting idea about Psalm 107, share an interesting article about what to do when you’re feeling down, and then we’ll be continuing our interesting study of John Bunyan’s classic, Pilgrims Progress by exploring more of the second chapter, entitled, “The Slough of Despond” Interesting Links: Idea: https://www.esv.org/Psalm+107/ Article: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-to-do-when-youre-down/ Study: https://www.desiringgod.org/books/the-pilgrims-progress Want…
-
Elijah: A Nature Like Ours – Burnout, Depression & The Let-Down Effect
Turn with me to 1 Kings 18:1–40 and I want to read two stories about the prophet Elijah today, but we need to read a large section so we can get the whole story. A lot has already happened up to this point, but you’ll figure out how things are going as we…
-
Contemplating Sin & Rebirth (Lent 2019)
“From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God,…
-
Where Do You Turn For Comfort? (HC: LD1)
Audio: Text: Introduction Most of you know that my family has been going through a tough time lately, but I know we’re not alone. Many people here today are going through difficult, confusing, painful times. It’s been heartening for us, as a church family, to spend time talking to one another about the struggles…
-
“Incels”, Chick-Fil-A, Obesity, Atheism, Pilgrim’s Progress, Depression, and Bacon! (Ninja News)
“Incels”, Chick-Fil-A, Obesity, Atheism, Pilgrim’s Progress, Depression, and Bacon! (Ninja News). Thanks for taking the time to give this a listen and I want you to notice that I (finally) turned on the comments section for these posts!
-
Christians & Depression IV: The Truth
Audio: Text: Ok, just for fun we’re going to start today with a True or False test of some random questions I found around the internet: Approximately one-quarter of human bones are in the feet. (True – 52 bones in the feet and 206 in the whole body.) In ancient Rome, a special room…
-
Depression: What It Is and How To Respond (Carnivore Theology Ep. 85)
What is depression and how does it differ from sadness? How can sufferers, friends, and churches respond to those facing depression? Podcast Audio:
-
Christians & Depression III: Jesus Knows How You Feel
Sermon Audio: Sermon Text: We’ve been talking for the past few weeks about Mental Illness and Depression, something that is all too common in our community. We’ve talked about what Depression is, what causes it, and a bit of what it’s like to live with it. Last week we talked about the stigma of…
-
Christians & Depression II: Fighting The Stigma
*Sorry, no audio. Tattoos & Human Branding I don’t have any tattoos, but I know lots of people who do – and a few that don’t have one yet but want one. As far as the Bible goes, there’s no problem with getting or having a tattoo, so long as it’s not done in…
-
Christians & Depression: A Few Things Your Pastor Wants You to Know
Sermon Audio: Sermon Text: Well, we took down the Christmas decorations at home this week. No more tree, lights, or socks on the wall (nothing says Christmas like decorating the wall with fancy socks you’ll never wear, right?). The socks have been replaced with our standard portrait, the tree has been boxed up and…
-
Your Weaknesses Are Very, Very Important (Acknowledging the Necessity of Lack)
If you have your Bibles with you, please up to 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 and let’s read it together. Those of you who have been following along with the sermon series so far are going to see some really important words in there and will, hopefully, recall some of the things we’ve already learned. When…
-
Mind Your Buckets: What You Need to Know to Get Your Priorities Straight
I was given the opportunity to be a special speaker this week and as I was preparing my sermon, I ended up stopping and thinking: “You know what, the talk I just wrote for this other group really lines up to what we’re talking about in 1st Corinthians. Maybe I should just share this…
-
Called and Cleaned Part 1: The Doctrines of Election & Sanctification
Voices In Your Head One of my favourite country songs is one by Chris Young called “I Hear Voices” which is about a man talking about how thankful he is for all the good advice he’s gotten in his life –from his mom, dad, grandparents, etc – who now exist as voices in his…
-
We Need Both God and The Church (Paul Comes to Corinth)
Quick Review Last week we started a new series on Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians and I talked about the two principle players involved , that being Paul and the city of Corinth. The two things that I hope you walked away with last week was Paul’s passion for spreading the love of…
-
How Do I Deal with Depression? (Burning Questions Series #4)
The Kickstarter for my new book is coming along very well! I’m 80% of the way to my goal, praise God! The special prizes for backers are coming along well too. Check them out under “Updates”. I still need your help to push it over the top though. Please consider pledging and sending this link to your…
-
From Superbowl to Suicide
I don’t follow the NFL, but I do enjoy watching the spectacle of the Superbowl each year. Unfortunately, in my mind, the fun and excitement that comes with the word Superbowl, will always be attached to a much more ominous word: suicide. I can’t remember where I heard it, but at some point in…
-
“If God is For You…” (Where to Turn When You Have a Bad Week)
Podcast Audio: Have you ever had a bad week? I had a tough week this week, and I’m sure that some of you did as well. Holy Week is a tough week for Christians. There’s a lot on the calendar, a lot of emotional ups and downs, and of course there always seems to…
-
You Are AMAZING! (But What if You Don’t FEEL Amazing?)
Last week I gave a talk to an AWANA group to help them understand that no matter how different they feel, God made them special, with a purpose, and doesn’t make mistakes. Podcast Audio: People Can Do Amazing Things Did you watch the Olympics this year? What’s your favourite sport to watch? Mine is hockey, but I…
-
Coffee & Outreach
So far so good this week, so let’s continue our experiment and see if we can connect Coffee and Outreach. Basic Outreach Outreach, in its most basic form, is simply sharing the love we have experienced through Jesus Christ with others through our words and deeds. We are grace, therefore we are gracious. We…