Paying Ridiculous Attention To Jesus

Christmas music on the radio, movies on television, lights on houses, and delicious cookies baking in the oven. These have commonly become the sights, sounds, and smells of this season; but are they distracting us from the true meaning of Advent? Join Rick as he continues a month-long pursuit of the heart of advent by examining how Christmas traditions (the medium) can help, or hinder our celebration of the beauty of Jesus (the message) highlighted during this time. 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, 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/ Related Resources: Jesus-Centered Advent Challenge (on Instagram)- www.instagram.com/ajesuslife/?hl=en Spiritual Grit- https://www.group.com/product/9781470750893-s

Christmas is a supposed to be a season full of peace and good will as we celebrate the savior’s physical arrival into this world. So why instead are we often bombarded with feelings of pressure and extreme stress? We know Advent’s not supposed to be this way, but how do we change it? Join Rick and Steph as they kick off a month-long pursuit of the heart of Advent while seeking to draw near to Jesus. Searching for relief from Christmas stress, we’ll examine three examples of how Jesus responded to people facing stressful situations. 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, 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/ Related: Jesus-Centered Advent Challenge (on Instagram)- https://www.instagram.com/ajesuslife/?hl=

Worship is designed to be a natural outflow of our reverence, adoration and exaltation of God. It’s our expression of mirroring back the truths we undoubtedly know about Jesus while showcasing our pure affection for Him. So why has people’s idea of worship frequently been reduced to singing some songs and listening to someone teach? Join Rick as he wraps up a month-long series on reinventing basic elements of our faith. Focusing on what it means to worship, we’ll slow down and pay attention to Jesus’ closest friendships in the Bible and examine how worship naturally flows as a byproduct of relationships. 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, 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/ Related: Spiritual Grit- w

A sense of humor. It can help make a good situation even better, and a difficult situation bearable. Could it also be a crucial element for a developing relationship with Jesus? Join Rick and very special guest Tommy Woodard (one half of the Skit Guys) as we continue a month long series focusing on examinging the basics of our faith. Taking a few minutes to laugh a little, we’ll slow down and explore God’s purpose for humor, including if it should be a spiritual discipline. 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, 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/ Related: The Skit Guys- https://skitguys.com/ Spiritual Grit- www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Grit-En…nce/dp/1470750899 Friends of God: A Discipleship Experience

Impatience. Restlessness. Feelings of shallowness. Emotional instability. These are just a few of the potentially destructive symptoms of living reactively. There is a known cure however, and it starts with a little bit of silence. Join Rick as he continues a month long series designed to upend expected spiritual norms by reimaging the basics of our faith. Focusing on the healing power of silence, we’ll slow down and pay attention to Matthew 14 where Jesus uses a time of personal retreat to rest and regroup. 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, 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/ Related: Rick’s Guide to Personal Retreats- https://www.mylifetree.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/your-guide-to-a-personal-

Contemporary Christian music is positive, uplifting, and full of songs talking about prayer and purpose. It’s populated by music referencing joy, peace, and God, so there couldn’t possibly be a negative consequence to listening to it… right? Join Rick and Steph as they kick-off a month long series on reinventing the basics of our faith. They’ll start by discussing how the music we listen to, including contemporary Christian music can positively or negatively impact our relationship with Jesus. 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, 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/ Related: (Now Available) Spiritual Grit- www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Grit-En…nce/dp/1470750899 Friends of God: A Discipleship Experience- h

“One way to define spiritual life is getting so tired and fed up with yourself you go on to something better, which is following Jesus.” – Eugene Peterson Join Rick as he pays tribute to Eugene Peterson by revisiting an interview with the beloved pastor and author from our first season. During this very special conversation Rick and Eugene discuss technology, observing the Sabbath, megachurches and even Eugene’s experience at a U2 concert. 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, 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/ Related: (Now Available) Spiritual Grit- www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Grit-En…nce/dp/1470750899 Friends of God: A Discipleship Experience- https://www.group.com/product/1210000307958-friends-of-g

At the end of a novel, it’s helpful to see how a character’s past impacts their present. Moments of narrative foreshadowing are revealed and the ending hopefully makes sense. Is it the same with your own personal story? What does it take to slow down and see the narrative foreshadowing Jesus is using to make you who you are and will become? Join Rick as he continues a special series examining how portions of “The Chronicles of Narnia” series point to truths about Jesus revealed in the Bible. Returning to Aslan’s sacrifice in “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,” we’ll discuss the symbolic meaning of the stone table cracking in this story, and how it mirrors the Temple curtain separating after Jesus was crucified. 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, opportunities to make your voice matter, prayer support, and connections to other Pig

Fight Club (the 1999 cult classic film) tells the story of two bored men searching for meaning and identity, and finding it in underground bare-knuckle brawls. The film is brutal, violent, and sorta/kinda serves as a metaphor for the life Jesus calls us into. Join Rick and Steph as they continue a month long series examining how passages from “The Chronicles of Narnia” reflect parts of Jesus’ heart. Jumping into the book “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe,” we’ll focus on how the final battle between Aslan and the White Which mirrors the battle Jesus fought at the cross. 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, 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/ Related: (Now Available) Spiritual Grit- www.amazon.c

“They got more than me.” “Why do they get to and I don’t?” “That’s not fair.” These are phrases we’ve all used when comparing ourselves to siblings or friends, but if we’re honest, could they also describe our attitude toward Jesus when things don’t seem equal? Join Rick and Steph as they continue a month long series dedicated to exploring passages from The Chronicles of Narnia that mirror truths in the Bible. Diving into the story of Shasta from “The Horse and His Boy,” we’ll unpack an encounter with Aslan that points to our struggles to understand God’s fairness. 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, 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/ Related: (Now Available) Spiritual Grit- www.amazon.com/Spiritual-

Redemption is mostly seen in a positive, especially when talked about in the context of a relationship with Jesus. But when you slow down to look at the cost, the weight, and pain that comes with the process, does redemption turn into something that’s downright terrible? Join Rick as he launches a month long series highlighting passages in The Chronicles of Narnia that point the beauty and truth of the Bible. Starting things off, he’ll examine how the story of Eustace and the dragon found in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader parallels the story of the story of the Rich Young Ruler found in Matthew 19. 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, 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/ Related: (Now Available) Spirit

You can feel it, and observe the symptoms, but it’s difficult to see with the untrained eye. You can’t help but spread it to others, and some would say it’s downright contagious. The description is often associated with the flu, or a common cold, but could it also be a picture of true discipleship? Join Rick, and guest host Stephanie Hillberry as they examine what a path to maturity in discipleship looks like, including how true discipleship operates like an infection. Turning to the Bible, they’ll discuss 1 Corinthians 9 and Paul’s description of a decompartmentalized life. 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, 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/ Related: (Now Available) Spiritual Grit- www.amazon.

Serving others—we can do that. Loving others—sometimes difficult, but not impossible. Forgiving others—that’s when things get tough. Join Rick as he welcomes back friend of the show and former co-host Becky (the ‘Beckynator’) to discuss what it means to forgive someone rather than taking offense. Turning to the Bible, they’ll dive into Matthew 18 and the parable of the Unforgiving Debtor. 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, 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/ Related: (Now Available) Spiritual Grit- www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Grit-En…nce/dp/1470750899 Friends of God: A Discipleship Experience- https://www.group.com/product/1210000307958-friends-of-god.do?ecList=&ecCategory= The Unreasonable Jesus

At times, discipleship is based upon measuring how many Bible verses you know by heart, or how well you can articulate the existence of God. Head first. What would look like to approach discipleship not as an academic pursuit, but more like something more intimate and familiar, a friendship. Join Rick as he continues a month long series on discipleship by examining the differences between a head first versus a heart first approach. Turning to scripture, we’ll slow down and pay ridiculous attention to three passages where Jesus challenges discipleship as a servant to master relationship and instead invites us into friendship. 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, 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/

Each day Samuel Kimeu knowingly puts himself in harm’s way and works tirelessly fully aware his actions could cost him everything. Why? Because he loves Jesus; and because he loves Jesus, he’s compelled to seek justice. Join Rick for as he welcomes very special guest Samuel Kimeu (executive director of Transparency International) for an interview recorded in Nairobi, Kenya. Continuing a month long focus on discipleship, Rick and Samuel examine how being a disciple of Jesus fuels a passion for justice, even if it comes at a great cost. 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, 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/ Related: (Now Available) Spiritual Grit- www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Grit-En…nce/dp/1470750899 The

Discipleship. It’s a word Christ followers are probably familiar with, especially if they’ve spent any time around a church. But when we try to explain it, a wide range of descriptions, categories and even practices emerge. Is it really that complicated? Or is discipleship actually much simpler? Join Rick as he kicks off a month long series on discipleship with an interview with special guest John Eldredge (bestselling author of Wild at Heart). During the interview, Rick and John discuss the difference between discipleship as a transfer of information and discipleship a pursuit of falling deeper in love with God. 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, 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/ Related: (Now

When you feel attacked, especially from an unseen enemy, it’s easy to want to fight back. But what if the best way to retaliate is not to battle, but to remain calm and rest instead? Join Rick as he wraps up a series examining Jesus’ interactions with dark forces by focusing on spiritual warfare and the do’s and don’ts of battling evil. 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, 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/ Related: (Now Available) Spiritual Grit- www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Grit-En…nce/dp/1470750899 The Unreasonable Jesus by Thomas Christianson- www.group.com/product/9781470748…easonable-jesus.do Jesus-Centered Bible- www.mylifetree.com/jesus-centered-bible-shop-page/ The Jesus-Centered Life by Rick L

Harry Potter, yoga, meditation, and Dungeons and Dragons—for some Christ-followers, these are fun, entertaining, and healthy activities. Others firmly believe they're a gateway to evil. Which view is correct? Join Rick and co-host Stephanie Hillberry (producer and author) as they explore what it means to "open yourself to dark influences." Using Paul's advice to the Corinthian church as a guide (1 Cor 8), they talk about why activities such as yoga can be acceptable to some Christians, but not for others. 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, 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/ Related: (Now Available) Spiritual Grit- www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Grit-En…nce/dp/1470750899 The Art of Neighboring by Jay Pat

As Jesus walked the earth, nearly every day he encountered demons, the supernatural, and even Satan. But in our modern, Western society, it can be easy to believe these occurrences have lessened, or even completely stopped. Why? And if they’re still happening, how does that impact our daily lives? Join Rick and special guests Conrad Gempf (Professor at the London School of Theology) and Jay Pathak (Lead Pastor of the Mile High Vinyard) as they kick off a month long series focusing on Jesus’ relationship with Satan. Personalizing the conversation, the trio will share their own personal experiences dealing with an unseen spiritual world, including interactions with demons. 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, opportunities to make your voice matter, prayer support, and connections to other Pigs inside our private Facebook group. Join Here-

Deep in our core lies a basic desire to belong--a need we often try to meet through our earthly families. But when that desire is met with dysfunction or brokenness, how can Jesus meet us in our pain and offer the promise of a bigger, more fulfilling family? Join Rick and special guest Charles Moore (a graduate of Denver Seminary and a member of a Bruderhof community) as they conclude a month-long series focusing on the tender aspects of Jesus by discussing how living in a family, even a broken one, shows us a glimpse of what it’s like to live in the family of God. 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, 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/ Related: (Now Available) Spiritual Grit- www.amazon.com/Spirit