Paying Ridiculous Attention To Jesus

Join Rick for the 4th episode of the new series KINGDOM COME. When we live inside the culture of the Kingdom of God—the way of living that Jesus came to plant, like a seed, in our broken reality—we are very aware of the influence of evil all around us, but we are not impressed by it. The goal of evil is to “kill, steal, and destroy,” and it is impersonal in its approach. We are not “persons,” in the mind of the one Jesus called “the evil one,” we are weeds that must be plucked or cut. At the start of a new year, let’s ready ourselves again for living a life that “overcomes evil with good.” Here let’s explore “The Antidote to Evil,” as revealed and practiced by Jesus. Rick’s new daily devotional, the Jesus-Centered Daily, is now available! Head over to jesuscentereddaily.com to download a 10-day sampler of the devotion, or to order it for yourself or as a gift. Or head straight to Amazon to order it: https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Centered-Daily-Touch-Smell-Taste/dp/1470759608/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Jes

Join Rick for the 3rd episode of the new series KINGDOM COME. In the Kingdom of God, storytelling is not only the highest form of art, it defines the mission and passion of Jesus. Jesus came to tell a new story in our life, and to invite us to do the same with others. But to understand what’s He’s doing, we have to explore the story’s setup, the plot twists, and the takeaway. As you come to understand “The Point of Your Story,” you’ll grow to appreciate the heart of the Storyteller. Rick’s new daily devotional, the Jesus-Centered Daily, is now available! Head over to jesuscentereddaily.com to download a 10-day sampler of the devotion, or to order it for yourself or as a gift. Or head straight to Amazon to order it: https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Centered-Daily-Touch-Smell-Taste/dp/1470759608/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Jesus-Centered+Daily&qid=1599794429&sr=8-1 Have you joined the Pigs? We're a group of friends ready to go all-in with Jesus—to live a life that's “free indeed” because we’re wholly dependen

Join Rick for the 2nd episode of the new series KINGDOM COME. What are some obvious differences between a democracy, like the one we live in, and living under the rule of a king? Most of us have no idea what it means to actually live in a kingdom, and we’ve never actually been in a close relationship with a king. So, even though Jesus tells us that he’s an ambassador for the Kingdom of God, even the embodiment of it, it’s hard for us to understand what that really means. Let’s explore the upending, transformational reality of a “Bow Down” relationship with Jesus. Rick’s new daily devotional, the Jesus-Centered Daily, is now available! Head over to jesuscentereddaily.com to download a 10-day sampler of the devotion, or to order it for yourself or as a gift. Or head straight to Amazon to order it: https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Centered-Daily-Touch-Smell-Taste/dp/1470759608/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Jesus-Centered+Daily&qid=1599794429&sr=8-1 Have you joined the Pigs? We're a group of friends ready to go

Join Rick for the 1st episode of the new series KINGDOM COME. What did Jesus really come to do—what was His “mission”? We’ve been told that it’s basically a rescue mission. But our “rescue” is simply the epic fruit of a restored relationship, which is the passion of God. The mission of God, however, has to do with planting the culture of the Trinity in the broken and scarred garden that was once Eden. Jesus focuses, over and over, on bringing the Kingdom of God, His own “culture,” into our reality. So today we’ll explore what that looks like for us in everyday life, through the lens of “Family Traditions.” Rick’s new daily devotional, the Jesus-Centered Daily, is now available! Head over to jesuscentereddaily.com to download a 10-day sampler of the devotion, or to order it for yourself or as a gift. Or head straight to Amazon to order it: https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Centered-Daily-Touch-Smell-Taste/dp/1470759608/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Jesus-Centered+Daily&qid=1599794429&sr=8-1 Have you joined the

Join Rick for the 8th episode of the new series PRESENT CONCERNS—we’ll explore the challenges that darken our soul’s landscape and discover how Jesus works our ugly into beauty. In this episode we’ll explore… “Exhaustion.” Exhaustion can make us cowards; and it can lead us to the courage we need most. Let’s explore “the road less traveled” today, walking with Jesus on the road to courage in the midst of our exhaustion. Rick’s new daily devotional, the Jesus-Centered Daily, is now available! Head over to jesuscentereddaily.com to download a 10-day sampler of the devotion, or to order it for yourself or as a gift. Or head straight to Amazon to order it: https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Centered-Daily-Touch-Smell-Taste/dp/1470759608/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Jesus-Centered+Daily&qid=1599794429&sr=8-1 Have you joined the Pigs? We're a group of friends ready to go all-in with Jesus—to live a life that's “free indeed” because we’re wholly dependent on Him. Join us for exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, sneak

Join Rick and Becky for the 7th episode of the new series PRESENT CONCERNS—we’ll explore our looming life challenges and discover how Jesus works our ugly into beauty, like clay in His hands. In this episode we’ll explore… “Hope Deferred.” We tend to think about our hopes in the major categories of life, but we have hundreds of tiny, unrealized hopes crawling around our life every day. And those broken hopes are like termites, eating away at our foundation of trust. The repeated destruction of our hope is a relationship-killer—in our relationship with Jesus and with others. So, how do we find a source of hope that isn’t at risk, and can’t be thwarted or killed? Rick’s new daily devotional, the Jesus-Centered Daily, is now available! Head over to jesuscentereddaily.com to download a 10-day sampler of the devotion, or to order it for yourself or as a gift. Or head straight to Amazon to order it: https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Centered-Daily-Touch-Smell-Taste/dp/1470759608/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Jesus-Cent

Join Rick for the 6th episode of the new series PRESENT CONCERNS—we’ll explore our looming life challenges and discover how Jesus is working to bring beauty in the swirl of our ugly. In this episode we’ll… “Consider the Birds.” It’s almost impossible for us to stop worrying—we all have concerns that dominate our thoughts. So how could Jesus possibly expect us to “not worry about everyday life” by merely “considering the birds”? If we slow down to savor what He’s saying, we find freedom… Rick’s new daily devotional, the Jesus-Centered Daily, is now available! Head over to jesuscentereddaily.com to download a 10-day sampler of the devotion, or to order it for yourself or as a gift. Or head straight to Amazon to order it: https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Centered-Daily-Touch-Smell-Taste/dp/1470759608/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Jesus-Centered+Daily&qid=1599794429&sr=8-1 Have you joined the Pigs? We're a group of friends ready to go all-in with Jesus—to live a life that's “free indeed” because we’re wholly depen

Join Rick and Becky for the 5th episode of the new series PRESENT CONCERNS—we’ll discover how Jesus upends the “default” way we respond to the challenges and issues we’re facing in this strangest of seasons. In this episode we’ll dive into—“Good Humor.” Doesn’t really sound like a “present concern,” right? But consider how our lack of good humor right now is a present concern. Could it be that good humor is not only central to our survival during tough times, but central to our life with Jesus? Rick’s new daily devotional, the Jesus-Centered Daily, is now available! Head over to jesuscentereddaily.com to download a 10-day sampler of the devotion, or to order it for yourself or as a gift. Or head straight to Amazon to order it: https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Centered-Daily-Touch-Smell-Taste/dp/1470759608/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Jesus-Centered+Daily&qid=1599794429&sr=8-1 Have you joined the Pigs? We're a group of friends ready to go all-in with Jesus—to live a life that's “free indeed” because we’re wholl

Join Rick for the 4th episode of the new series PRESENT CONCERNS—we’ll explore the challenges we’re facing in this strangest of seasons, discovering how Jesus leaned into similar issues. In this episode we’ll dive into—“Foolishness.” If you do something foolish it’s sort-of like saying you did something “silly,” right? But Solomon reminds us: “A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.” From a biblical/Kingdom of God perspective, foolishness is not only not-silly, it’s way more destructive and dangerous than we treat it… Rick’s new daily devotional, the Jesus-Centered Daily, is now available! Head over to jesuscentereddaily.com to download a 10-day sampler of the devotion, or to order it for yourself or as a gift. Or head straight to Amazon to order it: https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Centered-Daily-Touch-Smell-Taste/dp/1470759608/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Jesus-Centered+Daily&qid=1599794429&sr=8-1 Have you joined the Pigs? We're a group of friends ready to go all-in w

Join Rick and Becky for the 3rd episode of the new series PRESENT CONCERNS—we’ll be exploring the issues and challenges we’re facing in this strangest of seasons, connecting them directly to how Jesus dealt with similar issues. In this episode we’ll dive into—“The Future.” Almost all Americans (83%) say that worrying about the future is a major source of stress in their life right now. So what is Jesus’ relationship with the future, and how do we deal with our desperate need to know what the future will bring? Find the rest you crave as you enter the chaotic unknown… Rick’s new daily devotional, the Jesus-Centered Daily, is now available! Head over to jesuscentereddaily.com to download a 10-day sampler of the devotion, or to order it for yourself or as a gift. Or head straight to Amazon to order it: https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Centered-Daily-Touch-Smell-Taste/dp/1470759608/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Jesus-Centered+Daily&qid=1599794429&sr=8-1 Have you joined the Pigs? We're a group of friends ready to go

Join Rick for the 2nd episode of the new series PRESENT CONCERNS—we’ll be exploring the issues and challenges we’re facing in this strangest of seasons, connecting them directly to how Jesus dealt with similar issues. In this episode we’ll explore—“FEAR.” It’s our everyday fears, not the spectacular supernatural fears of Halloween or horror movies, that are most compelling and most relevant to our relationship with Jesus. Joining us for this series will be none other than the Becky-nator! Becky Herrington, the longtime former cohost of this podcast. Rick’s new daily devotional, the Jesus-Centered Daily, is now available! Head over to jesuscentereddaily.com to download a 10-day sampler of the devotion, or to order it for yourself or as a gift. Or head straight to Amazon to order it: https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Centered-Daily-Touch-Smell-Taste/dp/1470759608/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Jesus-Centered+Daily&qid=1599794429&sr=8-1 Have you joined the Pigs? We're a group of friends ready to go all-in with Jes

Join Rick for the 1st episode of the new series PRESENT CONCERNS—we’ll be exploring the issues and challenges that make up the wallpaper of our life today, connecting them directly back to how Jesus dealt with similar issues. In this kickoff episode we’ll explore—“Division.” It’s perhaps the word that best defines the last year, as Covid restrictions and fears, racial unrest and protests, and political extremism have churned us emotionally and spiritually. Joining us for this series will be none other than the Becky-nator! Becky Herrington, the longtime former cohost of this podcast. Rick’s new daily devotional, the Jesus-Centered Daily, is releasing as this episode is posted. Head over to jesuscentereddaily.com to download a 10-day sampler of the devotion, or to order it for yourself or as a gift. Or head straight to Amazon to order it: https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Centered-Daily-Touch-Smell-Taste/dp/1470759608/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Jesus-Centered+Daily&qid=1599794429&sr=8-1 Have you joined the P

Join Rick for the 12th and final episode of the series IN HIS IMAGE. The tough, marginal, and challenging conditions that produce rare wine from stressed vines also produce martyrs and saints and “beautiful messes” like you and me. Paul tells us we are “struck down, but not destroyed... so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” Jesus will form in us a new capacity for loving others in the “marginal climate” of our soul. In our weakness, He is making us strong. We are plunked down into challenging, weakness-revealing situations because the leverage we experience prompts growth… But that’s not the only way we grow—we need care and tending as well… Rick’s new daily devotional, the Jesus-Centered Daily, is just a little over a week from its release day. But you can get your copy before it’s released by joining the official Launch Team for the book. It’s easy—just click on the link below and sign up. As member of the team, you’ll get your copy before it releases to the public. Plus you'll g

Join Rick for the 11th episode of the series IN HIS IMAGE. When you hear the cares and concerns of others, do you enter into their reality, or do you keep your distance (however subtly)? When a conniving Pharisee asks Jesus about the “most important” commandment, Jesus tells him what he already knows—“Love the Lord your God with all your heart…”—but then adds a second “equally important” commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Here we explore what it means to treat our neighbor’s concerns and struggles and pain is if they were our concerns and struggles and pain. Rick’s new daily devotional, the Jesus-Centered Daily, is just a few weeks from its release day. But you can get your copy before it’s released by joining the official Launch Team for the book. It’s easy—just click on the link below and sign up. As member of the team, you’ll get your copy before it releases to the public. Plus you'll get $5 off and FREE shipping! It’d be an honor to have you on the team… https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5RXXLW

Join Rick for the 10th episode of the series IN HIS IMAGE. We all long to be noticed and enjoyed and appreciated for who we really are—to be pursued by a Lover who will sacrifice to be with us. Today we explore the way Jesus moves toward us in our life, captured best by the word “Pursuit.” And though we long for His pursuit, we are also frightened by it… In much the same way a squirrel freezes when we move toward it. Here’s how to un-freeze—to move toward Him and He moves toward us… Rick’s new daily devotional, the Jesus-Centered Daily, is just a few weeks from its release day. But you can get your copy before it’s released by joining the official Launch Team for the book. It’s easy—just click on the link below and sign up. As member of the team, you’ll get your copy before it releases to the public. Plus you'll get $5 off and FREE shipping! It’d be an honor to have you on the team… https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5RXXLWV?contact_eid=e789e7b9-e1c3-4522-8a3c-116ff4005ba2&emaccount=lifetree&_bta_tid=23790197425

Join Rick for the ninth episode of the series IN HIS IMAGE. Today author Jeff White is on the podcast to talk about “Authenticity.” His new “Story Bible for Adults” called Eyewitness is just out—Jeff’s challenge was to tell the stories of the Bible from a raw, first-person perspective. There’s much in the Bible that might be called “not suitable for children,” so Rick and Jeff explore together what authenticity really is, why we crave it so much, and how Jesus set the standard for it… Have you joined the Pigs? We're a group of friends ready to go all-in with Jesus—to live a life that's “free indeed” because we’re wholly dependent on Him. Join us for exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, sneak peeks of new resources, opportunities to make your voice matter, prayer support, and connections to other Pigs inside our private Facebook group. Join Here- www.mylifetree.com/pratj-member-sign-up/ Visit the Jesus-Centered Daily Web Site for a FREE Downloaded Sample https://www.jesuscentereddaily.com Join Rick’s Email

Join Rick as he dives into the eighth episode of the series IN HIS IMAGE. Today we’ll be exploring an overlooked-but-crucial aspect of how Jesus lived His life—the word is “Presence.” Jesus lived in “a state of active, open attention on the present,” which is how the editors of Psychology Today describe “mindfulness,” a New-Agey word that is actually rooted in how Jesus engaged His environment and exercised influence in His relationships. He knew how to live in the present moment, fully there—and we can learn to live the same way… Have you joined the Pigs? We're a group of friends ready to go all-in with Jesus—to live a life that's “free indeed” because we’re wholly dependent on Him. Join us for exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, sneak peeks of new resources, opportunities to make your voice matter, prayer support, and connections to other Pigs inside our private Facebook group. Join Here- www.mylifetree.com/pratj-member-sign-up/ Visit the Jesus-Centered Daily Web Site for a FREE Downloaded Sample https:

Join Rick as he dives into the seventh episode of the series IN HIS IMAGE. Today we’ll be exploring why “Relaxed” is theologian Dallas Willard’s favorite one-word description of Jesus. When we “live and breathe and move” from a relaxed place in our life, we are fully living our dependent relationship with Jesus. Discover the source of a relaxed soul, and how to drink deeply from that source. Have you joined the Pigs? We're a group of friends ready to go all-in with Jesus—to live a life that's “free indeed” because we’re wholly dependent on Him. Join us for exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, sneak peeks of new resources, opportunities to make your voice matter, prayer support, and connections to other Pigs inside our private Facebook group. Join Here- www.mylifetree.com/pratj-member-sign-up/ Join Rick’s Email List: ricklawrence.com/stay-connected/ Rick’s New Email Address: rick@ricklawrence.com Free Resources: As we continue to navigate these next few weeks of COVID-19 and the changes it brings to our d

Join Rick as he dives into the sixth episode of a new series IN HIS IMAGE. Today we’ll be exploring why Work is a core expression of Jesus’ heart, and why he honors effort but not earning. Work is the transformational expression of His redemptive love, and is therefore central to who we are. But we don’t always work from a place of rest, which is what Jesus modeled. Have you joined the Pigs? We're a group of friends ready to go all-in with Jesus—to live a life that's “free indeed” because we’re wholly dependent on Him. Join us for exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, sneak peeks of new resources, opportunities to make your voice matter, prayer support, and connections to other Pigs inside our private Facebook group. Join Here- www.mylifetree.com/pratj-member-sign-up/ Join Rick’s Email List: ricklawrence.com/stay-connected/ Rick’s New Email Address: rick@ricklawrence.com Free Resources: As we continue to navigate these next few weeks of COVID-19 and the changes it brings to our daily lives, we’d like to c

Join Rick as he dives into the fifth episode of a new series IN HIS IMAGE. Today we’ll be exploring how Trust is central to the Kingdom of God, and is at the core of Jesus’ “operating system.” A proverb reminds us: We gain trust in drops, but we lose it in buckets. Why is this proverb true? Why is it so hard to build trust and so easy to lose it? Can we ever develop an unshakeable trust in anyone or anything, or will it always be fragile? And how can my trust in Jesus and others translate to a relaxed way of living? Have you joined the Pigs? We're a group of friends ready to go all-in with Jesus—to live a life that's “free indeed” because we’re wholly dependent on Him. Join us for exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, sneak peeks of new resources, opportunities to make your voice matter, prayer support, and connections to other Pigs inside our private Facebook group. Join Here- www.mylifetree.com/pratj-member-sign-up/ Join Rick’s Email List: ricklawrence.com/stay-connected/ Rick’s New Email Address: rick@r