It seems like everyone is offended these days, whether it be our opinion on politics, the church, race, vaccines, sports, and yes, even masks. Offense usually leads to anger, and we have the bad habit of saying we are “righteously angry” to excuse bad behavior. What do the Scriptures have to say about being offended? And is it possible to choose to NOT be offended?

At Lionshare, we often reference the practice of “beginning with the end in mind.” So, in the first week of January, let’s do that.  Let’s begin the year with the end in mind, not necessarily the end of 2021 but with the idea of “finishing well.” Research shows that on average, only one in three spiritual leaders from the Bible, church history, and in modern times finish well.  We certainly had some high-profile examples of that in the last year. In this episode, we revisit our discussion about engaging in practices to keep you from finishing poorly.  

In this advent season, Jesus’ name Emmanuel reminds us that God is with us.  His act of coming to Earth as a baby and putting on the constraints of being a human was an act of humility.  In this episode, we revisit our discussion on humility—how it does not rule the day in our culture.  It’s looked upon as a sign of weakness.  What are some practical steps we can take to live a humble life, and what do we often forget? 

Most of us will agree that 2020 has been hard.  There’s no guarantee that when the calendar flips to January 1, 2021 that things will magically get better.  But 2021 could be the year that you seize your great opportunity. 

We may consider our work just a job or a means to a paycheck but have you ever thought about how what you do is rooted in who God is? If you work in construction, God is the master builder.  If you’re an artist, God the Creator has put his artistry on display.  If you work in business, God is the master who expects a return on his investment. If you take care of children, God is our teacher and wants to be our Abba father.  If you work in technology, God is the ultimate, instant processor. If you care about the environment, remember He gave us the job of stewarding his creation. Thinking about our work through this lens helps us see how our work shapes our character and how God can work in and through us. 

It’s Election Day and everyone is talking about who will lead our country on the national, state and local levels.  Instead of talking about Christians and voting, Christians and political parties, and how the Church is viewed by the world, let’s talk about how to be and develop godly leaders.  Our guest Heather Zempel, discipleship pastor at National Community Church in Washington, D.C., talks about what is going right in the world of faith and politics and what she says to Christians who are struggling to be in relationship with fellow believers who are “on the other side.”