Orchard Hill Church Blog
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Upside Down Living #21 - Certainty in a Time of Accounting
Adult Ministry Director, Josiah Leuenberger, looks at Matthew 7:21-23 where Jesus talks about those who thought they were certain in their faith but find out the opposite.
How Do Heaven and Nature Sing?
The last words to the first verse of the Christmas carol, “Joy to the World” are: And heaven and heaven and nature sing. So, the question is: How DO heaven and nature sing?
Perspectives Podcast - Mount Rushmore of Faith (Part 1)
In this episode, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund, Joel Haldeman, and Emily DeAngelo have a conversation about who each of them would put on their Mount Rushmore of faith, who has had a large impact on their own faith journey and on the stories in the Bible, and more!
Upside Down Living #20 - Outward Focus in a Time of Inward Focus
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund looks at the passages on the narrow gate and false prophets in Matthew 7:12-20 and 3 ways we can be outward focused in a time where we have a tendency to be inward focused especially in the year 2020.
Thanksgiving is More than a Once a Year Celebration
It is a common tradition that some families on Thanksgiving Day go around their tables one by one sharing something specific that they are thankful for. But what about thanking God even in the mundane days or in the hard trials we go through?
Perspectives Podcast - Returning To Your Faith
In this episode, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund, Josiah Leuenberger, and Jenette Cline have a conversation about returning to faith or church after not engaging for a period of time, how to encourage someone in that position, dealing with guilt around not taking faith seriously, and more!
Upside Down Living #19 - Dependence in a Time of Self Reliance
Looking at the famous ask, seek, and knock passage in Matthew 7:7-11, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund talks about the questions we ask when God seems distant, 3 experiences we have in prayer, and some reasons God seems to not respond to our prayers.
The Limitations of Virtual Church
“Church without the commute, in my pajamas, and on demand – yes please.” Is virtual church a positive or a negative to one’s spiritual life and to the life of the church? While there are some positives, I have come to believe that there are several important limitations to virtual church.
Perspectives Podcast - The 2020 Election
In this episode, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund, Joel Haldeman, and Pete Mendes have a discussion about the 2020 election, reactions while watching the coverage, thoughts on the election process as a whole, how we should think about elections as Christians, and more!
Upside Down Living #18 - Tolerance in a Time of Judgement
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund continues Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:1-6 looking at the topic of judgement, the different ways we judge the people around us that we may or may not realize, and what it would look like if we took Jesus' words seriously to not judge others.
What Jesus Really Said about Social Justice and Economics | Book Review
Jerry Bowyer’s new book, “The Maker Versus the Takers: What Jesus Really Said About Social Justice & Economics,” is an eye-opening economic commentary on Jesus’ teaching based on where he was geographically. He successfully rebuts liberation theologians who peddle Marxism by hijacking Jesus’ teaching and caricaturing him as a poor peasant.
Beauty in Brokenness
Brokenness has been on my mind a lot lately, partly because of the work I get to do each day, but also because I have come to better understand that being broken is exactly the condition of all humans. Sometimes stories of brokenness are so ridiculous that in the sharing of them, we discover laughter together, which helps to mend our fractured souls.
Perspectives Podcast - Online vs. In-Person Church Services
In this episode, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund, Dan Shields, and Emily DeAngelo have a conversation about online vs. in-person church services, the advantages and disadvantages of each, if online church can completely replace in-person church, and more!
Upside Down Living #17 - Confidence in a Time of Anxiety
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund looks at the passage in Matthew 6:25-34 on worrying about the future, Jesus’ simple command to not worry, the lesson of the birds, the lesson of the flowers, and the power of prayer in the midst of our anxiety and worry.
Barriers to Joy
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! If you are a follower of Jesus that verse may be familiar to you. And if you are in a season where the last thing you feel like doing is rejoicing then that may make you feel guilty or irritated. How can I possibly rejoice in the Lord always if my circumstances are lousy?
Perspectives Podcast - Candid Conversations Between Women
In this episode, Emily DeAngelo, Emily Roberts, and Jenette Cline have a conversation about finding balance in life, in serving their families, church, and colleagues, dealing with life transitions, if life balance is even possible, and more!
Upside Down Living #16 - Investment in a Time of Opportunity
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund continues Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:19-24 looking at what our culture says about wealth, how Jesus' words are upside down compared to culture, and three realities we should hold close to as Christians.
Deeply Rooted in Jesus
When a tree has strong deep roots, it produces a crop. When a tree is deeply rooted, scary things like chainsaws can come and attack it but its roots hold strong. Being deeply rooted in Jesus is about understanding the Gospel.
Perspectives Podcast - Lebron James… “I want my respect”
In this episode Senior Pastor, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund has a conversation with Worship Leader, David Bowens, and Director of Student Ministry, Russ Brasher, about Lebrons James' recent comments after winning the NBA Championships, what the group thinks about his comments, if the comments have any spiritual meaning, and more!
Upside Down Living #15 - Prayer in a Time of Trouble
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund looks at the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:5-15 in a message on the importance of prayer in our life, how to approach praying, and practical steps for how to pray.