Real Jesus in a Real World

Walking in Love with Real Jesus

Walking IN love.  Walking IN LOVE.  What might that be like?  Mo matter what, to know that Real Jesus is ready to walk right into each and every situation and struggle you face, and to lead you through and onward walking IN that love from that day into forever...wow!  In the aftermath of accidentally striking and killing a young man named Carl with her car, she feels so much gui9lt that she says, "Jesus never came out of the tomb in my life".  Then she reaches out to Carl's parents and her life is forever changed as they lead her out of her own tomb and back into love's life path.  And then we'll meet Jared, a young stockbroker on the floor of the stock exchange the day the markets crashed.  Choosing to walk in the love of Real Jesus leads them to adopt 3 new amazing sons!  And how about a unique university "abnormal psychology" class first session and it's "abnormal invitations" to choose pathways of loving care?  Finally, imagine getting lost in the middle of nowhere while participating in an "orienteering challenge" - following a set of hiking instructions with just a compass and backpack...where's Real Jesus on THAT walk?  Walking IN the love power of Real Jesus - it makes all the difference!

The Forever Love Legacy of Real Jesus

If you were asked to describe a "legacy of love that would last forever", what would you say?  Perhaps these very real examples will help.  First, we'll witness the awful reality of military personnel knocking on the front door to share the news of the death of a beloved son and brother - and the love legacy aftermath.  Then, we'll meet Todd, who hasn't been to church in a long time.  His dad's the youth leader though, and he needs someone to play the role of Simon (who carries the cross of Jesus) in an upcoming church play.  At 6 foot 8, Todd would be perfect.  Decisions, decisions...will Todd say yes?  What happens next is indeed love legacy building!  And when Joe's friend Will dies without any living family, Joe and his family step up to be that family.  In doing that, they discover the powerful love legacy of Will's mission to "place as many seals of hope in the world as I can".  Simply amazing!  Then Brad (big brother to 6-month-old brother) and BJ (soon to have a baby sister) meet in the doctor's office, a legacy of love friendship begins.  That's Real Jesus in action - builder of forever love legacies too numerous to ever count!

"In Line" with Real Jesus

Ever been in line for something?  We all have.  Waiting.  Waiting.  Not always the easiest thing to do.  In fact, sometimes we just give up.  Where IS the "get you through it" power of Jesus in THAT line?  He's all over it, in every part of it - first, last, and every spot in between.  First, we'll learn about a whole different king of "Sam's Club" - a legacy of love indeed.  Then Brian shows up for a job interview and finds a room full of applicants.  Yike!  Does he even stand a chance?  And then there's Maureen, diagnosed with "terminal cancer", which could feel like being in the worst kind of line ever - waiting to die.  But then she discovers the love power of Real Jesus - right there in line with her!  And finally, the two students "last in line" to be assigned science class lab partners - the "new kid" and the "kiss of death" lab partner.  Just wait till you hear how that "in line" experience turns out!  That's the strength of the love power of Real Jesus at work - in any and every "line", and in each and every place in that line!

Transformed by the Love of Real Jesus

What would it feel like to have your life, bit by bit and day by day, transformed by the essence of love itself?  That's the mission of Real Jesus for each and every one of us!  Imagine your wedding is...tomorrow.  But there are a few problems.  Brothers had a huge fight, not coming.  Dad found "someone else" and moved out.  He didn't think it would be right for him to come either.  And then a surprise guest shows up.  Love transformation!  And a little girl becomes love's transforming agent in the hospital waiting area right after the death of her beloved grandma.  And what happens on a school playground as a group of bullies' home in on a little girl?  Transforming love power!  Finally, is it too late when Millie gets caught selling test answers?  Nope - Real Jesus in on it - transforming love power at work there too!  Step by step, transformed into the living breathing image of love itself!

Real Jesus NEVER Gives Up

As human beings, it can be easier than we think to get to the point of "I'm just done!", or "I give up!" Isn't it good to know that Real Jesus never, EVER gives up loving us through whatever, whenever...?  This week, I'll share the "I give up" moments of 5 very real people - the very place the love power of Real Jesus lifted and carried them through.  A mom and her daughter ponder... how much Jesus love is enough...and when is enough forgiveness enough?  And meet Staci, who has endlessly prepared and studied for her professional board exam...and just failed for the second time...ugh!  And then there's Max, a seven-year-old with Down's syndrome who waits in the obstetrician's office as his mom is being seen.  When is she coming back?  Hasn't she been back there long enough?  Then there's the crazy overwhelmed life of a high school track coach at the start of the season...and then a colleague calls to urge him to add Jess to his team.  Jess, who is nonverbal.  Where will coach find the energy and attention to handle that?  Finally, we'll travel with a child flying "unaccompanied" as the airline "hands him over" again and again...when will it end?  With Real Jesus, the answer is - the guiding, strengthening power of His love never ends - because He never, EVER gives up!

Real Jesus - Bring It!

What, and who, would Real Jesus say, "Bring it!" to?  His answer just might surprise you.  Loke when a woman named Nirvana wanders into a church kitchen and asks, "So what do you do to celebrate the winter solstice here?"  Ummmm...bring it!  Or a loud, energetic, not quite in tune group of 20 - 30 kids parading down the middle aisle during a church worship service ringing bells, shaking tambourines, beating drums, dancing, and singing.  "When We All Get to Heaven...".  Some thought it was great - others not so much.  But Real Jesus says, Bring It!  And then a man from a homeless encampment arrives at a church Thanksgiving potluck - bringing a 50-pound bag of popcorn.  Bring it!  Ad finally, the surprise of reconciliation.  Real Jesus says: Bring it!  

Real Jesus - Ask It!

Real Jesus is open to questions - lots of questions.  Especially questions about love.  Where is it?  With Him, everywhere!  Who's it for?  With Him, everyone!  When is it?  With Him, always!  This week, we'll meet some real people who had their own "ask it!" moments with and about Real Jesus.  First, a woman has a very good question:  What do the words "disciples of Christ" really mean - are they REALLY all about his real love, or...?  And then we'll meet Bill, who has just been "downsized" out of his job of 17 years.  After one of his daily "help me Jesus" prayer walks, and as the bills kept pouring in, until he discovers a surprise in the bottom of his basket of bills...wow!  And what about a struggling single dad and his daughter, as they discover the power and love of Real Jesus is all the "gray times" of their lives.  Finally, what does the future look like in the aftermath of a fire that totally destroys an under-insured church building?  Out of those ashes rises the newly named Miracle of Hope Christian Church.  Real Jesus says - Ask it!

Real Jesus: Beyond Appearances

"Looks can be deceiving" - it's a common (and true) statement.  Sometimes things are much worse than they appear.  But many times, the very opposite is true, especially when we travel life's road intentionally in the love-filled footsteps of Real Jesus.  Like the guy who is finally able to buy the restaurant of his dreams...only to find out the supplies long past their "use by" dates.  Then there's Brett, who is deaf and unable to speak.  When he decides to join a local church and claim the love of Real Jesus, the way he does that is amazing - and way beyond appearances!  We'll also meet a woman named Tuki, blind for years, who receives new physical sight.  But what she really receives is way beyond what it "looks like".  And finally, a group is given a weird choice of snacks: figs... or fig leaves.  Say what?  Seems like an easy choice, but...looks can be deceiving!

Real Jesus: Love Inventory

Every now and then, something happens in our lives that leads us to "take inventory" of where we are in life.  Often, how much love is in our lives is a big category in that inventory.  This week, I invite you to hear the stories of some real people who found themselves in just a such a place in their lives.  First, we'll meet Bill, a 20+ year homeless man who finds himself in the middle of a health emergency and parked on a gurney in a busy hospital hallway.  Both Bill and the doctor new to the ED dig deep into their inventories of love, and both their lives are changed.  Then we'll meet a teacher named Todd and a boy named Jay who sneaks into his classroom to "inventory" his trash can.  Their lives will never be the same, as they open themselves to a restocking of the love in their lives.  And a little girl meets a blind Santa who has no legs right before Christmas.  Right there in the mall, our heart's love inventories were refilled.  And finally, a police officer pulls a faded picture out of his wallet - a powerful, life-saving reminder of his own lifechanging, steadfast love-power inventory.  Real Jesus - He'[s all about refilling and restocking our life's love inventory!

The Turnaround Power of Real Jesus Love

Turnaround Power.  What comes to mind when you think about that?  Perhaps it's realizing that there's no "quicksand" times in life that the love power of Real Jesus can't and won't pull you out of.  Or maybe it's in the difference between what one child calls "science teacher heaven" and "Jesus' teacher heaven:  And then there's the high schooler caught with drugs in his school locker who's given a choice: juvenile detention...or community service time spent helping at a place called the "Death to Life House".  Talk about turnarounds!  Last, we'll meet a "travelin' man whose afternoon "weeding with Jesus" draws him into the turnaround lane of Real Jesus love.  That's the amazing turnaround power of Real Jesus love!