Paying Ridiculous Attention To Jesus

Join us for this special 15 minute interview about how one woman is using the Jesus-Centered Bible to make a huge impact in her community.

Welcome to October! If you're like Becky, you might be keeping your head down as you walk through town, afraid that a creepy zombie poster will leave you with bad dreams for a week. What better time to talk about the supernatural, right? In spite of its modern-day spooky reputation, the supernatural was a natural part of Jesus’ life. And if you're spending time with him today, it’s likely that you'll start to notice supernatural events happening in your life, too. So join us this week as we unpack exactly what the supernatural is, and take a look at the culture around us that's fascinated by supernatural entertainment but resistant to having a supernatural relationship with Jesus. We'll examine the roadblocks in our life that keep us from experiencing the Holy Spirit, and Jesus' response to removing those barriers. Related Articles and Resources- -The Jesus Centered Life by Rick Lawrence - https://www.mylifetree.com/shop/the-jesus-centered-life/ -The Jesus-Centered Bible- https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nht

It's the last week of September and we're heading into the fastest time of the year—like boarding a water slide that’s about to speed us through the weeks ahead and then drop us feet-first into the new year. In addition to the rush, Rick also likes to call this the season of "overs," like overspending, over-scheduling, and over-obligating ourselves. How do we pay attention to the right things during so many “overs” and so much rush? How do we find our own balance between rest and busy (because it's not a one-size-fits-all formula)? This episode explores the answer as Rick and Becky take a look at the Jewish holiday calendar and discuss how it was specifically designed to lead people from season to season. Then they ZOOM in at how Jesus handled his schedule, obligations, and time, and how we can follow his lead by letting the Holy Spirit--not culture or the expectations of others--set our schedules. Bonus: Check out our holiday planner that's more than a planner! It's an invitation to slow down, pay ridicu

We don't know about you, but the prospect of personal and spiritual growth is encouraging. Even more encouraging is the promise of the Holy Spirit to actively help us grow. If only he didn't use change as a way to do it. At least when we get to choose the change--like accepting a new job or deciding to move--we can embrace the inevitable bumps with a sense of "well, I did ask for this" bravery. But when we don't choose the change, or when it surprises us with its difficulty, we tend to freak out a little. Okay--maybe a lot. Join Rick, Becky, and special guest, Kami, as they discuss how change--even (especially!) the painful kind--produces growth in our spirits and in our relationships. Listen in as the conversation flows from Jesus' many teachings on organic, growing things, the lessons we can learn from his metaphors, and ideas for thriving during times of change. 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 de

Jesus often compares living in the Kingdom of God to becoming like children. He rebuked his disciples for sending children away. He said that to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, we’d need to become like little children. But he also called people out who were being childish. So how do we tell the difference between being childlike and childish? Join us this week as we ask that question, and then ZOOM in on passages where Jesus talked about children, and what he meant when he was praising a childlike attitude. BONUS: we're using our new Friends with God Story Bible for kids (or adults like Becky who like pictures and children's stories) as we experiment with experiencing the Bible like kids do. Download a free sample of the Friends with God Story Bible. 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,

We all have baggage. Whether it's wounds caused by a friend or family member, or scars still healing from church, this baggage can become a heavy burden to lug around. Heavy, that is, until we let a friend carry it for us. Join Rick and Becky with special guest Andrea Syverson--author of the brand-new book, Alter Girl: Walking Away From Religion Into the Heart of Faith—as they celebrate this helpful friend. Of course his name is Jesus. From growing up with a Catholic background, to marrying a Protestant man, to attending and then leaving multiple churches (for different reasons), Andrea discusses the different seasons of her life that have ultimately led to a baggage-free relationship with Jesus. Her story will draw you in with its honest look at how we do "church" today, and how Jesus is the simple answer we can come back to again and again. Join Here- https://www.mylifetree.com/pratj-member-sign-up/ Related Resources and Articles Alter Girl by Andrea Syverson- https://www.mylifetree.com/alter-girl/ W

From the time we're born we begin getting feedback. "You have gorgeous eyes." "Oh- I think he's going to follow in his father's footsteps." "You're funny." "You're smart." As we begin to grow older the definitions start to change. "Doctor" "Mother" "Divorced" When people introduce us, they use these describing terms as ways to explain who we are to other people. We hear these terms so often that we adopt them more fiercely into our lives than what Jesus says about us. In this episode we meet up with Simply Jesus Gathering speaker Lina AbuJamra. In addition to being a pediatric ER doctor, Lina’s also an author, host of a very popular podcast, “spokesperson of singlehood,” and the founder of Living with Power. While she's often outwardly defined by those terms, she's strives to live a life that’s defined by Jesus alone, and wants to encourage you to do the same. [NEW FREE DOWNLOAD & CHALLENGE] This fall we want to invite you to join us as we prioritize our schedules, goals and lifestyles with Jesus. Thi

When we hear the term "rabbi," we often associate it with the Jewish equivalent of a pastor. But when we do this, we miss out on a unique and overlooked perspective that transforms how we view the Holy Spirit, and how he works in our lives. Join Rick and Becky as they dive into the role of rabbis in the Old Testament, and explore their uniquely powerful relationship with a student apprentice called a "talmid." This relationship was VERY different from what we experience with our faith leaders today, but it's very much what Jesus wants us to have with his Spirit, the Invisible Rabbi. In this episode you'll zoom in on John 15 & 16 vs Acts 1-3, and discover how Jesus removed the highly exclusive role of a talmid so that all of us can be transformed by the Rabbi within us. This conversation about our Invisible Rabbi features an exclusive sneak peek of Rick's upcoming book, Spiritual Grit (releasing April 2018), where he shares the top six practices of following the Rabbi within us PLUS an invitation to tak

All. In. This describes the level of commitment a marriage thrives on. Through seasons of joy, pain, struggle, and triumph, when two people are all in, their relationship flourishes. All in is also the level of commitment Jesus has for us, and it's how he hopes we'll feel about him, too. This is why our interview guests, Justin Rossow, pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor, MI, and his wife, Miriam, have approached their 21-year marriage as a metaphor for their own ongoing intimacy with Jesus, using it as a test kitchen to learn how to communicate, love, listen, and put each other first. So join us as we conclude our series of episodes recorded at the 2017 Simply Jesus Gathering with an intimate and honest view at marriage, intimacy, and how all of us, married or single, can be all in 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 in

Welcome to episode 50 of Paying Ridiculous Attention to Jesus! We can't believe it but we’re celebrating a YEAR of the podcast and want to say a BIG thank you to all of our listeners. Today’s episode is on marriage, where two wills combine into one. Two broken people with opposing views combining their wills until death do them part… (Who's idea was that?! It’s just crazy!) And yet, it's in the moments that we or our spouses fall short in marriage that we cling to Jesus with everything we've got. Join us this week for a special 50th episode that shares stories from real people in real marriages,and how Jesus came through. Some of them ended in divorce, some of them stayed together, but in every one Jesus revealed to them a greater understanding of his never-ending love. This episode is inspired by a project we've been working on at the Jesus-Centered Life called We: Outrageously Committed to My Marriage (https://www.amazon.com/We-Outrageously-Committed-Jesus-Centered-Devotions/dp/1470748460/). Our goal

Have you ever noticed how many stories about Jesus in the Bible start out with him on his way to a party somewhere? It's a subtle thing, usually the kind of thing you skip right over when you're reading the story. Why do you think he was always being invited to parties? Join us this week as we ZOOM in with special guest Jay Pathak at the Jesus Gathering and pay attention to the radical way Jesus participated in relationships. Experience a little slice of our time at the Simply Jesus Gathering this week. Rick sat down with Jay at the gathering in the mountains to have a chat about everything Jesus. Be sure to be looking for next year's dates and don't miss out on this opportunity to experience real Jesus and real relationships. And is it time for you to join the Pigs? Are you ready to go all-in with Jesus? Ready to live a life that is “free indeed,” because you’re wholly dependent on Jesus? Are you ready to slow down and wallow in the mud-puddle stories of Jesus? Join the Pigs. We’ll invite you into exclusiv

If someone you trust promises to do something, then doesn’t do it, it can be devastating. Well, what happens when we embrace a promise Jesus has given us, but we’re stuck waiting for it to happen? And what if it never happens? We feel frustration, anxiety, anger, and fear. And we don’t understand the purpose of the delay. Join Rick and special guest Conrad Gempf, an author and professor of New Testament studies at the London School of Theology, for a special interview recorded the Simply Jesus Gathering in Colorado. Continuing our July theme of doubt, Rick and Conrad zoom in on the story of Jarius, a synagogue ruler who’s desperate for Jesus to miraculously heal his daughter, and Jesus agrees. But along the way He gets sidetracked, and the daughter dies. Conrad reveals how we are all Jairus in this story, and what Jesus is actually doing in this breeding ground for doubt. And is it time for you to join the Pigs? Are you ready to go all-in with Jesus? Ready to live a life that is “free indeed,” because yo

Our doubts about ourselves, sometimes buried beneath a façade of overconfidence, eat away at our identity. We hear that sneering voice telling us we’re not good enough, that we’re a failure waiting to happen, and that we should hide the truth about ourselves from others. Self-doubt not only shackles us to fear, but it can infect and thwart our relationship with Jesus. And it’s universal—the issue isn’t if you’ll face self-doubt, it’s how you handle it when it creeps into your life. Join Rick and his longtime friend Andy Brazelton, the architect of Group’s youth ministry division who’s now an international business consultant, as they talk about their own personal battles with self-doubt, and their journey toward freedom. Through the lens of the Apostle Peter’s own descent into self-doubt, we’ll explore what it takes to keep moving when self-doubt sets in. Is it time for you to join the Pigs? Are you ready to go all-in with Jesus? Ready to live a life that is “free indeed,” because you’re wholly dependen

Early in his ministry, Jesus delivered a shotgun-blast of teaching known as the Sermon on the Mount to a massive crowd following him. In the middle of a litany of “required behaviors” that are pretty much impossible for any of us to maintain, Jesus says something that sticks out, because it seems out of place. It’s a warning to about throwing pearls to pigs—not wasting what is holy on those who do not understand or appreciate holy. Join Rick and Becky as they dive into Jesus’ teaching, exploring what it means to guard the treasure Jesus has given to you. What can we learn about the “no pearls before swine” standard by simply slowing down and paying attention to the way Jesus has designed our bodies on a micro-level? And, is it time for you to join the Pigs? Are you ready to go all-in with Jesus? Ready to live a life that is “free indeed,” because you’re wholly dependent on Jesus? Are you ready to slow down and wallow in the mud-puddle stories of Jesus? Join the Pigs. We’ll invite you into exclusive beh

We have lots of choices when we consider what to do about patterns of sin in our life—we can ignore them, explain them away, beat ourselves up about them, or “re-frame” them. Or, we can find freedom from the prison of them by tapping into a strength that is greater than our own and finding our way out of the darkness. Join Rick and special guest Tom Melton, a longtime pastor who’s now a leadership and business consultant, as they take a deep dive into the “Jesus way” of rooting out and overcoming sin in our life, continuing our month-long focus on discipline. No matter what you’re struggling with, there is hope for you… Join the Pigs. Are you ready to go all-in with Jesus? Ready to live a life that is “free indeed,” because you’re wholly dependent on Jesus? Are you ready to slow down and wallow in the mud-puddle stories of Jesus? Join the Pigs. We’ll invite you into exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, give you opportunities to make your voice matter, pray for you, and connect you to other Pigs inside ou

Dependence > Discipline Jesus is about to send His disciples on a daunting (to say the least) mission, so what does He do to help them out? He takes every last support and comfort from them before they leave. What gives? Well, join us this week as we slow way down to chew on Matthew 10, where Jesus offers a master class on dependence. How can something that feels so uncomfortable bring us so much life and strength? With Rick and Becky, learn what it looks like to practice radical dependence on Jesus in your everyday life. Join the Pigs. Are you ready to go all-in with Jesus? Ready to live a life that is “free indeed,” because you’re wholly dependent on Jesus? Are you ready to slow down and wallow in the mud-puddle stories of Jesus? Join the Pigs. We’ll invite you into exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, give you opportunities to make your voice matter, pray for you, and connect you to other Pigs inside our private Facebook group. Join Here. Related Articles and Resources: Jesus Centered Life, Rick Law

Continuing our month-long primer on “self-discipline” (and how we’ve turned it into both an idol and a prison), we give lots of practical help for tapping into our TRUE source of life. If Jesus is simply asking us to “abide” in Him, with fruit in our life as a result, then what’s the use of trying hard in life? We'll go after two important contrasting Scripture passages to find our balance point—James 2 and John 15. And if you’re struggling to let go of shame and guilt in your life, we’ll show you how to let it all go. Join us we pay ridiculous attention to what Jesus says about discipline. Join the Pigs. Are you ready to go all-in with Jesus? Ready to live a life that is “free indeed,” because you’re wholly dependent on Jesus? Are you ready to slow down and wallow in the mud-puddle stories of Jesus? Join the Pigs. We’ll invite you into exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, give you opportunities to make your voice matter, pray for you, and connect you to other Pigs inside our private Facebook group. Join H

When it comes to living a dependent life with Jesus, how much of it is about our effort, and how much is about His effort? Jesus often pointed out religious leaders who were over-emphasizing discipline, and used them as examples of what not to do. But He’s also called us to live our lives on purpose. When He rescued the “adulterous woman,” He told her to “go and sin no more.” And He vowed that not even the smallest detail of God's law will disappear—instead, He promised to “fulfill the law.” What does that mean, anyway? In the Jesus-Centered Life, Rick Lawrence offers a path into a life free from all the “shoulds" we like to promote in the church. Join us this week as we dive into Paul's message—to two different audiences spaced five years apart—to see how he reveals the role of discipline in our lives. Join the Pigs. Are you ready to go all in with Jesus? Ready to live a life that is free because it’s wholly dependent on Jesus? Are you ready to slow down and wallow in the mud puddle stories of Jesus? Join

What if spending time with Jesus went beyond a typical pre-packaged daily “quite time”? You vow to get to your 30-minute quiet time and some days you do, but most days you don't. The days you do you're in and out, and don't know why you still aren't seeing Jesus in everything. Days you don't you feel guilty the rest of the day, vowing you will get on top of this. What if your relationship with Jesus was a 24/7 event where he is invited into every moment, not just a set period of time? What would that look like? Would you laugh with him more? Would you start to feel like you have a regular everyday friendship with him? What would that look like? Join Becky and special guest Stephanie Hillberry (author) as they unpack a journey the embarked on nearly 600 days ago that involved removing the boundaries that can sometimes artificially exist in a typical quiet time. It started with reading the book The Jesus-Centered Life and has led to a deeper connection with Jesus that occurs in everyday moments throughout th

God has a plan. Everything happens for a reason. All things work together for good. But what does that mean? If God has a plan, what if his plan isn't the same as mine? What if the thing he is keeping from us that we want so desperately is to protect us? What if God knowing what's best for us, doesn't automatically result in getting what we want? Join us this week as we interview legendary rock star Brad Corrigan of Dispatch. Despite being one of the most legendary rock stars of one of the most popular bands world-wide, Brad shares about living a life of being single despite having the strong desire to be a family man. Understanding that the chosen lifestyle of spending half his life touring with the band and the other half living in a trash dump in Nicaragua is the reason why that family dream hasn't worked out, he now devotes himself to being a "Spiritual Papa" to kids who sort through trash piles. This week on Paying Ridiculous Attention to Jesus Podcast Rick and Becky tackle a mud puddle story that ma