Real Jesus in a Real World

Renew Your Joy with Real Jesus

Newer, Deeper Peace with Real Jesus

As we turn the page into a new year, we yearn for (and often pray for) peace.  Not just a weak, conditional, only for some people peace, but real, universal, everywhere for everyone PEACE.  It seems so impossible.  But the truth is that even when peace seems hard (seemingly impossible) to find, Real Jesus is never, ever giving up.  He's all about love-powered, lifegiving, new every day, PEACE.  After all, one of his many names is Prince of PEACE!  First, what might it be like to experience the power of the Prince of Peace (Jesus) every day, always, forever - even if you've "messed up" - so fully that peace "leaks and squirts out of you all over the place"?  Wow.  Then we'll witness how investigative reporter Carla experiences some love-powered words of Rev. Martin Luther King in action.  And we'll be inspired by a boy who brings the love and peace power of Real Jesus into a grocery store in the days of un-peace during the covid-19 pandemic.  

Renew Your Hope with Real Jesus!

As we turn the page into a new year, we have hopes.  Most of us could fill in this blank (at least once):  I hope _____________.  Even in the midst of life's disappointments, even when hope seems hard (seemingly impossible) to find, Real Jesus is never, ever giving up.  He's all about love-powered, lifegiving, new everyday HOPE.  First, what could a light-up, stuffed green worm have to do with spreading this hope?  Then, we'll be challenged to think about these words from the Bible: "...the person whose hope re3sts on the Lord - is truly happy!"  Hope >>truly happy...what a connection!  And speaking of forever, steadfast hope, we'll take a ride in an airplane cockpit as a young pilot experiences "hope beyond measure" - an experience begun when he received a simple envelope.  Next, how would you link the words "confession" and "hope"?  We'll meet a little boy and a grocery store worker who, with seemingly small acts, demonstrate the power of Real Jesus hope - especially in the midst of those storms of life.

Real Jesus - Real Love

Hope. Peace.  Joy.  Love.  Those are the "theme words" many Christian traditions hold in common in the weeks leading up to Christmas.  Every year, we return our focus to the ways Real Jesus defines these powerful words in the midst of a world in which the very opposite of each of them seems to dominate, seems closer and closer to "winning".  And yet, nothing and no one can ever truly redefine the hope, peace, joy, and love God offers each and every one of us in the gift of Real Jesus.  This week we look at love.  First, a group of people attending a weekly meal called Soul Cafe discuss the relationship between faith, hope, and love.  Why does the Bible say that love is the greatest of these three, and how are they connected?  

Real Jesus - Real Joy

Real Jesus - Real Peace

Real Jesus - Real Hope

Hope.  Peace.  Joy.  Love.  Those are the "theme words" many Christians traditions hold in common in the weeks leading up to Christmas.  Every year, we return our focus to the ways Real Jesus defines these powerful words in the midst of a world in which the very opposite of each of them seems to dominate, seems closer and closer to "winning".  And yet, nothing and no one can ever truly redefine the hope, peace, joy, and love God offers each and every one of us in the gift of Real Jesus.  This week we look at hope - as defined and redefined by God in Jesus.  If you could picture what someone called their "wallet words of hope", what might they be?  And what would it feel like to have your "empty hope well filled by Jesus at His Table"?  And imagine the power of that hope in the life of a boy lost in the wilderness for three long days who hears an owl call - every time he gets scared.  Then we'll visit the hospice room art gallery in which every picture contains these words from Psalm 71:14: "But me?  I will hope, always."  Finally, a woman facing serious medical issues reaches over to her bedside table for a flashlight.  Not just any flashlight either.  You could call it a "heaven-sent flashlight of hope"!  Real, rock-solid, last-through-any-challenge hope that lights the way to real peace, joy, and love.  That's the Real Jesus way!

Thankful for the Love of Real Jesus

Full of thanks.  Not just any thanks, but a thankfulness filled and fueled by a love so big, so powerful, so indestructible that no mere words can describe it.  This week, we'll meet some people who discover that kind of thankfulness.  First, we encounter two young Marines in the waiting room of a military hospital - one preparing for his first deployment to Afghanistan and the other returning there soon on his second.  They share in thankfulness for the affirmation of a chaplain that "God is the King of Semper Fi and has the night watch covered".  Then we'll be invited to place ourselves in the shoes of an ordinary gardener as soldiers arrive in the garden to arrest Jesus.  We'll sit with him as he dines with his family that night, as his thankful heart realizes that the love of God always wins.  Always.  Then imagine how thankful you might be to discover a church where everyone was truly welcome, included, and valued.  Finally, a group of vacation Bible school kids is given a project: together, create a picture of Jesus.  The result of that will shine and resonate with the love power of Real Jesus - for everyone.  Not THAT's something to be thankful for!

In the Lost & Found with Real Jesus

Ever found yourself feeling like you're in life's "lost & found", just waiting...for something or someone?  Well, it is the lost and FOUND.  No matter how lost you feel, Real Jesus is all about you FINDING yourself in HIS love.  First, we'll meet Marissa.  Diagnosed with cancer, she decides to end her life - she's in the ultimate "lost" place.  And then everything changes...   Then we'll go (literally) on the road with the "Jesus on the Road" church, which meets in various truck stops along a highway.  Talk about lost and found!  Next, we'll meet Meghan, home on spring bread, as she's invited by her friend Terri to "get wasted" at a party.  Lost...or found?  Finally, we'll join in the fun of a week-long youth camp game where points are encouraged for all kinds of fun "lost & found" type things.  The final event - a tough puzzle competition...but there's a secret "lost & found" strategy!  Bottom line - you can never be too "lost" to be FOUND, filled, and strengthened by Real Jesus and His love-power!

The Leading Love of Real Jesus

This week, we'll meet 5 real people who made the decision to accept the leading love of Real Jesus.  Led by that love, their lives are strengthened and forever changed.  First, a young man named Toby is surprised and challenged to see, and live into, the truth that he is a leader.  Second, we'll meet a class of third graders and their teacher Mr. Stevens when, in the midst of a science experiment, a boy named Todd leads with what he calls "Leaky grace"!  Third, what happens when you hear a song about "running a hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction" and realize that no matter what, you can always "return to sender" - the powerful love of God - and the leading love of Real Jesus?  Then at their 20th anniversary party, Sue and Bo see clearly the strength of the leading love of Real Jesus, and how it has led them through so much...  And finally, we'll listen in as Tim shares with his friend Eric about how Real Jesus led him into what he calls his "second (holy) childhood".  Hmmm...Just fire true and powerful examples of the life-changing power of the leading love of Real Jesus.  Lead on!