Paying Ridiculous Attention To Jesus

The holidays are meant to be filled with joy, yet they can also bring a lot of stress and pressure. What would it look like to start being an “apprecianado,” a person who pays so much attention to something that they can discern and delight in the nuances of it? Join Rick as we continue a series devoted to practices that naturally draw us into a closer “orbit” around Jesus. Let’s take a closer look at Matthew 6:19-34 to explore the ways that Jesus lived as an “apprecianado.” 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: The Jesus-Centered Planner 2020 https://www.mylifetree.com/shop/jesus-centered-planner-2020/ The Jesus-Centered Bible www.m

Jesus has a transformational presence that can radiate healing and salvation. Instead of wondering what Jesus would do, let’s try to understand the importance behind where would Jesus be. What would it look like for us to start carrying the presence of Jesus with us? Join Rick as we continue a series devoted to practices that naturally draw us into a closer “orbit” around Jesus. Let’s take a closer look at Luke 8:40-56 to explore the way Jesus offers his presence to us. 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: The Jesus-Centered Planner 2020 https://www.mylifetree.com/shop/jesus-centered-planner-2020/ The Jesus-Centered Bible www.mylife

Christmas is supposed to be a season full of peace and goodwill as we celebrate the Savior’s physical arrival into this world. So why 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 in the first episode of a month-long pursuit of the heart of Advent while seeking to draw near to Jesus. Seeking 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 Resources: The Jesus-Centered Planner 2020 https://www.mylifetree.com/shop/jesus-centered-p

When something is beyond our control, our initial reaction to this is one filled with fear. Yet, during these times, our dependence on Jesus is what helps us through. What would it look like to start “scaring” ourselves in a good way, so that we can grow closer to Jesus? Join Rick as we continue a series devoted to practices that naturally draw us into a closer “orbit” around Jesus. Diving into the Gospels, we’ll look at examples of how Jesus guides others when they’re experiencing fear. 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: The Jesus-Centered Planner 2020 https://www.mylifetree.com/shop/jesus-centered-planner-2020/ The Jesus-Centere

It can be easy for us to go on “autopilot” mode when it comes to our relationship with Jesus. What would it look like to stop automating our relationship and start experiencing Jesus on a deeper level? Join Rick as we continue a series devoted to practices that naturally draw us into a closer “orbit” around Jesus. Diving into the Gospels, we’ll look at examples of Jesus helping his disciples experience him. 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: The Jesus-Centered Planner 2020 https://www.mylifetree.com/shop/jesus-centered-planner-2020/ The Jesus-Centered Bible www.mylifetree.com/jesus-centered-bible-shop-page/ The Jesus-Centered

The unknown. It causes anxiety, makes us uncomfortable and often downright fearful. While it can be hard to let go of our desire for certainty, could embracing the unknown help us deepen our relationship with Jesus by making us more dependent on him? Join Rick and Becky as they continue a series devoted to practices that naturally draw us into a closer “orbit” around Jesus. Diving into Matthew 10:5-19, they’ll explore what a posture of dependence looks like in a 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 Resources: The Jesus-Centered Planner 2020 https://www.mylifetree.com/shop/jesus-centered-planner-2020/ The Jesus-Centere

We sing “Jesus loves me, this I know,” but what do we actually mean by that? What would it look like to start asking what is love, and how does Jesus express it? Join Rick as we continue a series devoted to practices that naturally draw us into a closer “orbit” around Jesus. Looking at Matthew 5: 43-48, we’ll explore how Jesus redefined what love means. 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: The Jesus-Centered Planner 2020 https://www.mylifetree.com/shop/jesus-centered-planner-2020/ The Jesus-Centered Bible www.mylifetree.com/jesus-centered-bible-shop-page/ The Jesus-Centered Life: The Life You Didn’t Think Was Possible, With the

From our deepest fears to our own self-image, we all have ideas of what we consider to be true. While these may hold an element of truth, most can be distorted. What would it look like to slow down and start using Jesus as a filter when it comes to the truth? Join Rick as we continue a series devoted to practices that naturally draw us into a closer “orbit” around Jesus. Diving into real-world examples, we’ll look at how Jesus can redefine truth for us. 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: The Jesus-Centered Planner 2020 https://www.mylifetree.com/shop/jesus-centered-planner-2020/ The Jesus-Centered Bible www.mylifetree.com/jesus

Critical thinking has become a quaint habit of a bygone era. In its absence, assumptions and partial truths can run amok, compromising the freedom Jesus offers to us. But what would it look like to start pushing back against these false beliefs? Jesus shows us how. Join Rick Lawrence and Stephanie Hillberry as we continue a series devoted to practices that naturally draw us into a closer “orbit” around Jesus. Diving into the “Beatitudes,” we’ll explore common cultural beliefs and practices that Jesus outs as “false-givens.” 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: The Jesus-Centered Planner 2020 https://www.mylifetree.com/shop/jesus-centere

When we think about Jesus, we generally rely on popular assumptions made about him. Often times people think Jesus was a “good teacher” or a “really good person.” How would these assumptions change if we started critically thinking about what Jesus did and didn’t do? Join Rick and his daughter Lucy as we continue a series devoted to practices that naturally draw us into a closer “orbit” around Jesus. Diving into the Gospels, we’ll look at what Jesus did and didn’t do when he healed people. 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: The Jesus-Centered Planner 2020 https://www.mylifetree.com/shop/jesus-centered-planner-2020/ The Jesus-Ce

When we asked young adults all over the United States to describe Jesus, their most popular description is that Jesus was a “nice guy.” When we consider Jesus’ encounters, we are either forgetting or maybe never really knowing Jesus. What would it look like to stop imagining and start remembering Jesus? Join Rick as we continue a series devoted to practices that naturally draw us into a closer “orbit” around Jesus. Diving into the Gospels, we’ll examine different encounters where we have forgotten how Jesus really acted. 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: The Jesus-Centered Bible www.mylifetree.com/jesus-centered-bible-shop-page/

At the end of every show and magazine issue, Oprah asked this question to her guests, “What’s one thing you know for sure?” Using this simple practice, what would it look like to ask this question about Jesus in our Bible studies and our lives? Join Rick and Becky as we continue a series devoted to practices that naturally draw us into a closer “orbit” around Jesus. Diving into John 17, let’s look at the things we know for sure about Jesus, based only on this passage. 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: The Jesus-Centered Bible www.mylifetree.com/jesus-centered-bible-shop-page/ The Jesus-Centered Life: The Life You Didn’t Think Was P

When a child comes to a mud puddle, they jump right in and splash around, while an adult either jumps over or goes around the mud puddle. Why do adults react this way? Jesus said you won’t understand or appreciate the kingdom of God unless you become like little children. What would it look like to take that invitation and wallow in mud puddles with Jesus? Join Rick as we continue a series devoted to practices that naturally draw us into a closer “orbit” around Jesus. Diving into Luke 9 and 22, we’ll look at how Jesus can help us through the mud puddles in our lives. 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: The Jesus-Centered Bible www.mylif

In our culture, curiosity isn’t always viewed as a good thing. After all, it’s “what killed the cat.” So why then does Jesus seemingly encourage curiosity rather than simply accepting what we’re told, especially when it comes to some of life’s most hard-to-answer questions? Join Rick as we continue a series devoted to practices that naturally draw us into a closer “orbit” around Jesus. Diving into Matthew 13, we’ll look at two parables Jesus uses to show the important role curiosity plays in providing the answers we so desperately crave. 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: The Jesus-Centered Bible www.mylifetree.com/jesus-centered-

Today’s world is filled with distractions. As a result, we are becoming more disconnected from the relationships around us. What would it look like to ignore the distractions and not let them fill the empty spaces of our lives? By slowing down and paying attention, how can we start to live a “thicker life”? Join Rick for a series that will focus on the everyday practices that draw us into closer and closer “orbit” around Jesus in our life. Diving into the Bible, we’ll look at specific examples of how Jesus modeled the thicker 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 Resources: The Jesus-Centered Bible www.mylifetree.com/jesus-centered-bible-shop-pa

Trust is a central part of our relationships, especially in our relationship with Jesus. But as broken people, how can broken trust impact us and is there a way to restore it back to normal? Join Rick and Becky for a new series that will focus on the everyday practices that draw us into closer and closer “orbit” around Jesus in our life. Diving into two encounters, we’ll explore what “acting on trust” looks like. 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: The Jesus-Centered Bible www.mylifetree.com/jesus-centered-bible-shop-page/ The Jesus-Centered Life: The Life You Didn’t Think Was Possible, With the Jesus You Never Knew by Rick Lawrence w

“I’m just really trying hard to be a better person.” At first, it sounds like a goal that’s admirable and full of good intentions. So why does it so often lead to frustration, failure, and pain, especially when it comes to our relationship with God? And is it possible that a form of laziness is what God desires more? Join Rick for the last episode in a series exploring life’s essential questions and the ways Jesus answers them. Turning to Matthew 5, we’ll explore how Jesus explains a tension between trying hard to follow the law and embracing grace. 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: The Jesus-Centered Bible www.mylifetree.com/jesus-centered-b

A chief source of anxiety in our lives comes from the idea that what we bring to the table will never be enough. When it comes to the struggle of feeling like we’re never enough, what would it look like to invite Jesus to reveal the truth to us? Join Rick and Becky for two “P.S.” episodes in a series exploring life’s essential questions and the ways Jesus answers them. Diving into Matthew and Luke, we’ll explore how Jesus helps people answer this question through their lives. 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:      The Jesus-Centered Bible https://www.mylifetree.com/jesus-centered-bible-shop-page/       The God Who Fights for Y

It can be extremely hard for people to agree on what is right and what is wrong. Whether it be a simple or complex question, people often have their own thoughts and opinions and struggle to agree. But what if we slowed down and considered how Jesus can help us answer? Join Rick in the ninth episode in a series exploring life’s essential questions and the ways Jesus answers them. Diving into the Gospels, let’s look at how Jesus discerned right and wrong. 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:      The Jesus-Centered Bible https://www.mylifetree.com/jesus-centered-bible-shop-page/       The God Who Fights for You: How He Shows Up in Y

It’s a question philosophers, poets, and songwriters have pondered endlessly, yet a universal answer is still hard to find. What is love? And would it become less complicated if we started by seeking and embracing the greatest love of all? Join Rick and Becky as they continue a series exploring life’s essential questions and the ways Jesus answers them. Diving into the Gospel of Matthew, we will look at multiple examples of Jesus’ high standard for love.     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:      The Jesus-Centered Bible: https://www.mylifetree.com/jesus-centered-bible-shop-page/       The God Who Fights for You: How He Shows Up