To listen to a current selection: click on the arrow in the play bar that is located below each topic. To download a selection in MP3 format: click on "Click here to download". Older selections are located in the Media Archives. Click here to visit the Archives.

If you are unable to listen to the audio file go to www.adobe.com and click on "Get Adobe Flash Player."

 

July 18 through August 29

 

Signs of Life


This year NASA will spend almost $19 Billion dollars; a good portion of that money is directed toward efforts to detect life beyond the earth. While much has been learned about the universe, galaxies, solar systems, stars, and planets – there hasn’t been any notable signs of life found. Certainly nothing like we would expect if shows like Star Trek and Battle Star Galactica were any indicator of what is out there.

But what about back here on planet Earth? Are there signs of life here, not just the existence of intelligent life, but what type of life exists here? One way to evaluate the life that exists is by observing the values that get expressed through people’s lives. 
During this Life Connection series we will look at some of the values that The Bridge holds. We will explore why it might be helpful to give expression to these values as individuals and as a church.
Core Values
July 18th - Belonging by acceptance: We believe that people want to be received with non-judgmental love, be given the right to ask questions as well as to voice doubts, and to be transformed by the power of God.
     
     Click here to download.

July 25th - Relating with relevancy: We believe in meeting people where they are. Faith is best developed in the contemporary setting of an individual rather than in a context not understood.
     Recording not available.

August 1st - Identifying with Jesus: We believe in exposing people to the authentic Jesus. Most people are turned off by religious trappings but are captivated by the simple teachings of Jesus.
     Recording not available.

August 8th - Developing healthy relationships: We believe that God guides people into meaningful life-change that influences every relationship in a healthy way. A person’s relationship with God determines the health of relationships with others.
    
     Click here to download.

August 15th - Giving compassionately: We believe in encouraging people through acts of kindness. Every person deserves to be treated with kindness and every person is capable of showing kindness to others.
    
     Click here to download.

August 22nd - Extending the mission of Jesus: We believe that a relationship with Jesus changes a person’s outlook on the world. Followers of Jesus are privileged to join his mission; locally, regionally and globally.

August 29th - Community Service Day and Church Barbeque

 

July 11

Special Guest Speaker - Tim Day


From The Meeting House, Toronto, Canada
Topic: The Secret Mission of Jesus


Click here to download. 

June 6 through July 4

  The Stuff We Don't Talk About


Almost every group of people has a list of topics that are "off-limits". Within groups of friends, in our families, at places of work, and in our communities we can see people tip- toeing around certain issues. More than just the fear of being politically incorrect, there are discussions that people stay away from because of how uncomfortable the topic makes them feel. Often the stuff we don't talk about is more important than what we do talk about. At times it can be helpful to clear the air about these issues and put the topic on the table for discussion.

In this series of life connections we will open up the floor for some discussions about a few of the topics that we don't often address directly at The Bridge. We will explore both why we don't talk about these things and why having some dialog about them might be helpful. As part of each connection, we will provide opportunities each Sunday during the series for questions to be asked. Our hope is to create an environment where questioning and discovery are possible.

6/6 Church


     Recording not available

6/13 The Bible


    
     Click here to download.

6/20 Accountability


    
     Click here to download.

6/27 Money


    
     Click here to download.

7/4 The "S" words (Sin and Salvation)


    
     Click here to download

 

 

April 11 through May 30 

Green Spirituality

Everywhere we look these days things are “Going Green.” Houses, cars, food, clothing, furniture, light bulbs; just about anything you can imagine is being produced with Eco-friendly materials and methods. People seem to understand that the earth has limited, finite resources and that we all share a responsibility to live in ways that best care for our planet and the life that it supports.

In this series of life connections we will be looking at how the ideas that are being used to care for our planet could be applied to our lives. Remarkably, many of these environmentally friendly ideas can trace their roots to age old spiritual principles. Join us as we explore what a Green Spirituality might look like.

4/11 Reduce: Living with less


    
     Click here to download.

4/18 Reuse: Making the most of who you are


    
     Click here to download.

4/25 Repair: Fixing what is broken


    
     Click here to download.

5/2 Refrain: Non-toxic, pollution free living


    
     Click here to download.

5/9 Replenish: Creating an environment that encourages growth


    
     Click here to download.

5/16 Sustain: Living a life that lasts


    
     Click here to download.

5/23 Serve: Looking after the interests of others


    
     Click here to download.

5/30 Community Service Sunday

 

 

March 14 through April 4 

The Paradigm Shift

All of us have a way of looking at the world — a core point of view that shapes how we live; a paradigm. Some of our points of view help us to live well, but others don’t. Recognizing our own paradigms can be difficult, and often we are unaware of how of our way of looking at the world impacts how we live.

In this series of life connections we will be looking at how our paradigms affect different aspects of our lives. And we will explore how a clear view of Jesus might shift our paradigms in ways that lead to living life as it was meant to be lived.

March 14: Identity Crises – A New Identity


    
     Click here to download.

 

March 21: From Here to Eternity – A New Purpose


    
     Click here to download.

 

March 28: It’s all about me (or is it?) – A New way of Thinking


    
     Click here to download.

 

April 4: Dying to Live – A New Life


    
     Click here to download.

 

 

February 7 through March 7 

Life is like a Slinky

It would be almost impossible to have lived within the past 60 years and not to have seen a slinky. The slinky was invented in the 40’s by a naval engineer by the name of Richard James. He made a batch of 400 slinkys and demonstrated them at Gimbel’s department store in Philadelphia. They were a hit and the entire inventory was sold out in 90 minutes. Slinkys have been used in Vietnam as radio antennas and have even been in space for experiments at zero gravity. If you would wrap all the slinkys ever sold around the earth they would encircle the planet 126 times. In 2002 the Slinky became the official toy of the state of Pennsylvania.

In moving toward a time of transition in pastors at The Bridge, Pastor John will be using the Slinky as the theme of his life

connection series. Come hear how the slinky is like life. You can leave it in the box but that’s not where the fun comes from. A slinky doesn’t always go where you want it to go. A slinky is a good reminder that simplicity and change make for more than a good toy.

February 7 Embracing Change

    
     Click here to download.

February 14 Love Hurts

    
     Click here to download.

February 20 Vision Night

    
     Click here to download.

February 21 Motion and Commotion

    
     Click here to download.

February 28 Healthy Goodbyes

    
     Click here to download.

March 7 Farewell Service

    
     Click here to download.

 

January 3 through January 31 

The Art of Making a Decision

One of the common human experiences is that of decision making.  Everyday each person makes decisions that influence the course of his or her life.  Funny thing is that most people have never taken a course on how to make a good decision.  What’s even more evident is that persons with differing personalities come at decision making in a variety of ways.  This series of life connections will take a look at some of the core spiritual ingredients of making a decision.  Pastor John will share out of his own experience of making the biggest work decision of his life.

January 3 Keeping Choice Alive

    
     Click here to download.

January 10 The Anatomy of a Decision

    
     Click here to download.

January 17 Discernment and Knowing God’s Take

    
     Click here to download.

January 24 How Decisions Get Hijacked

    
     Click here to download.

January 31 The Grand Trump Card in Decision Making

    
     Click here to download.