Paying Ridiculous Attention To Jesus

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

Humans can be brutal; we marginalize people, mocking and judging them for their flaws. But when someone acknowledges their imperfections and admits them to Jesus—like the woman in Luke 7 who weeps at his feet—something downright counter-cultural happens. Join Rick as he dives into her story, and invites us into a discussion about Jesus' unexpected response to imperfect and marginalized people…including us. Also in the episode, Rick interviews Emma Mae Jenkins, a teenager who is determined to wear the marginalization she’s faced as a badge of honor. 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

As Jesus-followers we often believe that "doubt" is a dirty word pointing to a lack of faith. But what if our doubts are actually embraced by Jesus, and even lead us down a path of all-in belief? Join Rick and guest host Stephanie Hillberry as they continue a month-long series examining the tender aspects of Jesus. They'll focus on his response to Thomas’ skepticism about the resurrection, and how he greets our doubts in similar, transformative ways. 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 Simply Jesus Gathering- http://simplyjesusgathering.com/ The Great Divorce by C.

Living a life dedicated to following Jesus includes pain. In fact, pain is expected. What’s often unexpected, however, is Jesus’ response to that pain. Join us as we continue a month-long series examining the tender aspects of Jesus by revisiting our most popular podcast of the year so far. In this episode Rick and the Beckynator slow down and pay attention to the story of the rich young ruler found in Matthew 19. Personalizing Jesus’ tenderness, Rick and Becky share examples from their own lives about what the tenderness Jesus shows us during difficult seasons. 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-G

We all have ugly inside whether we want to admit it or not. Anger, greed, lust, jealousy, and a host of other qualities plague us all. While admitting our ugly to others often initially triggers hurt feelings, acknowledging our ugly to Jesus leads to a very different response. Join Rick and special guest Scotty Priest (pastor of Journey Church in Denver) as they focus on Jesus’ unexpected tenderness toward people who admit their faults. Turning to the Bible, they’ll dive into the different responses of the two criminals crucified next to Jesus found in Matthew 27. 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

As Christians, we’re probably most familiar with the loving and grace-filled side of Jesus. And we’ve heard about the angry, flipping tables in the temple side of Jesus. But what about the bothered, miffed, or the downright annoyed side of Jesus? Join Rick as he wraps up a month-long series highlighting tough aspects of Jesus by focusing on examples when Jesus seems frustrated and annoyed with people. Turning to the Bible, we’ll slow down and pay attention to passages where Jesus appears particularly irked including Luke 4 where he is rejected in his home town of Nazareth. 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

Profanity. It has the ability to shock, disrespect, and hurt people. Your mom would wash out your mouth for using it, and the Bible gives warnings about speaking it. So why did Jesus use it? Join Rick and special guest Stephanie Hillberry as they continue a month-long series looking at tough aspects of Jesus by examining what’s behind Jesus’ use of seemingly profane words. Diving into to the Bible, we’ll slow down and pay attention to Matthew 23 where Jesus calls Pharisees "hypocrites," "white-washed tombs," and "snakes." 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 Simply J

Hell. It’s the theme of TV shows, books, and Halloween costumes, but it’s rarely brought up in church, let alone in everyday conversations. Surprisingly, it was a subject Jesus focused on a lot. Join Rick and special guest Tom Melton (a longtime pastor and now leadership consultant) as they continue a month-long series examining tough aspects of Jesus by zooming in on what he says about Hell, particularly the parable of the rich man and Lazarus found in Luke 16. 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 Simply Jesus Gathering- http://simplyjesusgathering.com/ Melton Leade

If you've ever taken a personality test and then followed it up with a lively conversation about how you compare with others, then you know how affirming it is for people to get you, and to get them in return. Naturally we want this same experience with Jesus, but just when we think we've got him figured out, he seems to contradict himself. This summer we'll be paying attention to one particular contradiction: his toughness and his tenderness, starting with John chapter 1 when he calls Phillip and Nathaniel. From there we'll press even deeper into how Jesus breaks the mold. It'll challenge us, but the result will be understanding him (and ourselves) better than a personality test could ever reveal. 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