City & A Hill

Update:City & A Hill is paused for now. While I loved working on this project, talking to people, listening and thinking about what they said, various life changes caused this to be set aside for now. I hope to continue this either as a podcast or in another form. For now, you can find me on YouTube or take a course with A Sweet Savor Bible School.Summary:Join me as I interview my neighbor Todd who grew up amid religious tension and found solace in trucker trailer chapels. In this episode we’ll talk about:unlearning church baggage we grow up with, and about looking to the Bible to find what the church can be. We’ll dive into 1 Timothy 3:15 which shows us the power of a living house like church which uphold and lives out Truth.  Sign up for our email list:Never miss an episode!http://eepurl.com/hcNpSXConnect on Facebook:@cityandahill Leave a comment or a question!Bible verse used in the episode:1 Timothy 3:14-1514 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

Update:City & A Hill is paused for now. While I loved working on this project, talking to people, listening and thinking about what they said, various life changes caused this to be set aside for now. I hope to continue this either as a podcast or in another form. For now, you can find me on YouTube or take a course with A Sweet Savor Bible School.Summary:Does everything really happen for a reason? Does the Bible say that? Can good actually come for the bad things that we go though? Join my conversation with Sonny and Cher as they explore these questions from opposite ends of the spectrum.We’ll see how the Bible answers these questions in a way that is more complicated yet realistic than a lot of faith slogans people toss around.Sign up for our email list:Never miss an episode!http://eepurl.com/hcNpSXConnect on Facebook:@cityandahill Leave a comment or a question!Bible Verses used in the episode:John 11:35Jesus wept.Romans 8:28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.Fun Fact:Robert Estienne created another numbering in his 1551 edition of the Greek New Testament which was also used in his 1553 publication of the Bible in French. Estienne's system of division was widely adopted, and it is this system which is found in almost all modern Bibles.Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapters_and_verses_of_the_Bible

Update:City & A Hill is paused for now. While I loved working on this project, talking to people, listening and thinking about what they said, various life changes caused this to be set aside for now. I hope to continue this either as a podcast or in another form. For now, you can find me on YouTube or take a course with A Sweet Savor Bible School.In this episode we'll cover:How to deal with sin at its source. Stop managing symptoms!How your spirit can be born again. How to know you know God daily in your spirit.Today we continue last episode's conversation with Miguel. We consider how the forgiveness offered by Jesus deals with sin at its source. More than that, it paves the way for us to be born again and to know God in our spirit. Lastly, we'll try a practical exercise to find out how to know you know God in your spirit.Sign up for our email list: Never miss an episode!http://eepurl.com/hcNpSXConnect on Facebook:@cityandahill Leave a comment or a question!Featured Bible verse:John 17:3And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.'find your spirit' exercie Bible verses: my1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.Romans 8:15-1615 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,Other Bible verses:Romans 3:23For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,John 3:16For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.John 3:6-76 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

Update:City & A Hill is paused for now. While I loved working on this project, talking to people, listening and thinking about what they said, various life changes caused this to be set aside for now. I hope to continue this either as a podcast or in another form. For now, you can find me on YouTube or take a course with A Sweet Savor Bible School.Summary:How can we begin to be a better us today? Do we just need some daily mindfulness, discipline and goal setting?   Do these tips produce lasting change or are we just managing symptoms of something deeper and harder to uproot in the human experience?Join us as we discuss the nature of sin in the human condition as well as the usefulness and limits of Stoic Philosophy.Sign up for our email list: Never miss an episode!http://eepurl.com/hcNpSXConnect on Facebook:@cityandahill Leave a comment or a question!Bible Verses used in the episode:Mark 7:20-2320 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”Romans 7:18-25a18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! What do you think about these verses?

Update:City & A Hill is paused for now. While I loved working on this project, talking to people, listening and thinking about what they said, various life changes caused this to be set aside for now. I hope to continue this either as a podcast or in another form. For now, you can find me on YouTube or take a course with A Sweet Savor Bible School.Summary:In today’s episode, explore the life of Brother Lawrence, a quiet monk who's  'Practice of the Presence of God' made a huge impact. We’ll join a Zoom class for a youth summer camp, talk about this special individual and learn how to apply his lessons to our daily walk with God. All the quotes and Bible verses used in the class are below. More about Brother Lawrence:Nicolas Herman (1614-1691) took the name Lawrence of the Resurrection when he became a monk at the age of 30. He was the monastary's cook for 30 years and the sandal maker once the kitchen became too demanding. Though a simple man he became known throughout France for his habit of ‘practicing the presence of God’ and his uncommon peace in all situations. His advice was even sought after by religious greats such as Father Fenelon.Brother Lawrence’s book can be found wherever books are sold under the title, The Practice of the Presence of God.Special thanks to Eric Hao for the music in the episode!Quotes used in the episode:he called himself ‘a big awkward fellow, always breaking things.’For the first years, I usually employed myself during the times set apart for devotion with thoughts of death, judgement, heaven, hell, my sins(This pattern continued for some years)The rest of the day, I applied my mind, even in the flow of business, to the presence of God. I considered Him always with me and in me.At length I began to practice the presence at the times set apart.When I finally saw what was happening, my heart leapt for joy! And comfort leapt over me.When sometimes he had not thought of God for quite some time, he did not allow himself to get upset;But after acknowledging his wretchedness before God, he returned to Him with much greater trust.Something about forgetting Him stimulated remembering Him.This, too, he found true in the fresh discovery of God: the trust we put in God honors Him very much and draws great help right down to us.When I fail in duty, I acknowledge my error immediately, admitting I often make mistakes, and cannot improve if left to myself.Dear God, I shall never do better if you leave me to myself; You only can keep me from falling; You alone can mend what I have broken.The first quote is taken from Wikipedia -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother_LawrenceThe rest are from Donald E. Demaray’s edition published by the Society of St. Paul (1997)Bible Verses used in the episode:1 John 1: 6 & 9 (ESV) v.6 If we say we have fellowship with him (God) while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.v.9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Update:City & A Hill is paused for now. While I loved working on this project, talking to people, listening and thinking about what they said, various life changes caused this to be set aside for now. I hope to continue this either as a podcast or in another form. For now, you can find me on YouTube or take a course with A Sweet Savor Bible School.Summary:One of the first things affected by the pandemic was our financial security. From businesses closing to staff being laid off or furloughed, many were in a scramble to pay their bills. As a community, how should we respond? Do we hoard our resources for fear of what else may come? Or do we take a risk to be generous to those around us?In this episode we will hear how Jennifer and John reacted and consider what lessons we can learn for ourselves and our communities. Special thanks to Eric Hao for the music in the episodeSign up for our email list: Never miss an episode!http://eepurl.com/hcNpSXConnect on Facebook:@cityandahill Leave a comment or a question!Bible verses usedin the episode (ESV):2 Corinthians 8:1414 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.Matthew 6:19-2119 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.Matthew 6:2424 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money1 Timothy 6:17-19 17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.Matthew 6:1-41 Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Update:City & A Hill is paused for now. While I loved working on this project, talking to people, listening and thinking about what they said, various life changes caused this to be set aside for now. I hope to continue this either as a podcast or in another form. For now, you can find me on YouTube or take a course with A Sweet Savor Bible School.Summary:In this episode we tackle a tough qusetion - was sin part of God's plan? People often wrestle with the existence of sin and evil in the face of the Bible's soverign God. How can these both be? We'll turn to the Bible to uncover the answer and see how everything fits together in the light of God's Eternal Purpose.Sign up for our email list: Never miss an episode!http://eepurl.com/hcNpSXConnect on  Facebook:@cityandahill Leave a comment or a question!Special Thanks to Eric Hao for the music in the episode!Main Bible verse in the episode: Ephesians 1:3-4v.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, v.4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, -NKJVFurther ReadingT. Austin-Sparks - Stewardship of the Mystery vol. 1.For a specific paragraph, look at chapter 1 and see the paragraph under the subheading ‘The Eternal Purpose of God in His Son.’C. S. Lewis - Mere ChristanitySee Book 2 Chapter 3 specifically.Other Bible verses mentionedJeremiah 2:22 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the Lord,“I remember the devotion of your youth,    your love as a bride,how you followed me in the wilderness,    in a land not sown. -ESV Hosea 2:14-1614 “Therefore, behold, I will allure her,    and bring her into the wilderness,    and speak tenderly to her.15 And there I will give her her vineyards    and make the Valley of Achor[a] a door of hope.And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth,    as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.16 “And in that day, declares the Lord, you will call me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.’ -ESV

Update:City & A Hill is paused for now. While I loved working on this project, talking to people, listening and thinking about what they said, various life changes caused this to be set aside for now. I hope to continue this either as a podcast or in another form. For now, you can find me on YouTube or take a course with A Sweet Savor Bible School. Summary: I've been out on the streets hearing how the pandemic has effected people's lives and views on spirituality. In this episode, you'll hear my conversation with Michael. In our conversation he shares how the Coronavirus caused him to come to terms with the fact that he may die if he gets it. And that led in our discussion to consider John 3:16 and the Bible's view of Eternal Life. We will explore more of what the Bible say Eternal Life really is and how we can live this forever life today. Eternal Life is not something we 'wait till we die and go to heaven' for. But it is something we can receive in Jesus now and transforms our life on earth today!Sign up for our email list: Never miss an episode!http://eepurl.com/hcNpSXConnect on  Facebook:@cityandahillLeave a comment or a question!Main Bible verse:John 3:16 (ESV)For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.