098: Karate Kid, Crane Kicks, and the Craft of Perseverance

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The original Karate Kid debuted in 1984 and has been inspiring kids, teenagers, and even adults ever since. From the lessons of Mr. Miyagi to the never-give-up attitude of Daniel Larusso, there’s something about this story that goes much deeper than the teenage drama and fighting bravado would have you believe. On this episode, Jon Coffey is joined by East 96 campus elder Vijay Rajaji, and fifth degree black belt Tiffany Ravedutti, to discuss the film and how it speaks about bullying, mentorship, perseverance, and more!

097: Ted Lasso on Cynicism, Marriage, and Leadership

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When confronted with rudeness, anger, or disrespect, coach Ted Lasso responds with a friendly smile and encouraging remark without a hint of sarcasm or malice. There’s something winsome about this character, and yet there’s real pain in his heart. On this episode, Ryan Lehtinen, Rachel Chester, Lance Lawson and Brad Loser discuss how Ted Lasso offers a refreshing contrast to the cynicism of our day, how marriage is worth fighting for, and how to lead others by genuinely caring for them.

**Please note that Ted Lasso is rated TV-MA and contains adult language, so use wisdom to determine if it is appropriate for you or your family. For discernment tips listen to episode 092: Watching Movies with a Christian Worldview.

096: The Avengers & the Gospel

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It’s easy to get swept up in the cinematic universe of Marvel. With its wide range of superheroes and underdogs and its consistent humor and heart, there is something for everyone: spaceships, time travel, spies, and even romance. Beyond the fun and entertainment, these stories also evoke longings we all share like heroism, redemption, and a world rescued from evil.

In this episode, Rachel Chester sits down with Church on Wednesday pastor Lance Lawson, and Mandy Turner, who teaches Clear Creek’s Women’s Systematic class, to discuss their favorite Avengers and how these stories echo the Gospel.

 

095: Star Wars and the Hope We Have

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It started with three movies in the late 70s and early 80s, but Star Wars has been a cultural mainstay ever since. So why does this story resonate with people from multiple generations? And what does this staying power say about the God-shaped hole in all of us? On this episode, Jon Coffey is joined by Yancey Arrington and Aric Harding to discuss all the things they love about Star Wars and the bigger story it echoes.

 

094: What Disney’s Soul Says About Purpose and Identity

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“Is all this living really worth dying for?” asks 22 — a supporting character in Disney’s Soul. This is the primary question Soul seeks to answer throughout the movie, and it’s the question that many people wrestle with throughout their life. Is there a purpose to living? And if so, what is my purpose? On this episode, Ryan Lehtinen is joined by Aaron Lutz and Lance Lawson to discuss what the Bible says about this topic and how Soul portrays our purpose, identity, and the role of community.

 

093: Harry Potter & the Gospel

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone took the world by storm in the late 90s and then again in the early 2000s with its film adaptation. Over the decades that followed, enthusiasm for the series remained a constant in culture garnering millions of fans. But for all its support, the story also found itself mired in controversy over witchcraft and magic. In the first episode of the Clear Creek Resources summer series, Jon Coffey discusses Harry Potter, its tension, and the biblical truths it echoes with Rachel Chester, and Church on Wednesday campus elder, Daniel Garcia.

 

092: Watching Movies with a Christian Worldview

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How do Christians engage movies, books, or songs that aren’t created by a Christian or explicitly Christian in its main message or themes? Is it okay to watch content that includes explicit language, violence, or sex? On this episode, Ryan Lehtinen is joined by Rachel Chester and Yancey Arrington to talk about these questions and more as they introduce the Clear Creek Resources summer podcast series on movies and the glimpses of gospel truths within them.

 

091: A Conversation with Yancey Arrington

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What do the Astros, Texas history, and brisket have in common? They are all things Yancey Arrington loves. On this episode Ryan Lehtinen talks with Yancey about his 23 years of serving as the Teaching Pastor at Clear Creek Community Church, his family, his passions, and what he would do if he wasn’t a pastor.

35: Prophets

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Who were the prophets? Did they know the future? Why are they so important? Are there prophets today? We’ll answer these questions and more in this episode of Who’s in the Bible

090: Divorce – Hurt, Hope, and Healing

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Divorce is a reality for so many, it but can also feel lonely and isolating, whether one is in the midst of divorce or has divorced in the past. What are the hard questions in the wake of divorce? How can you find a community who understands? How can anyone go through something this painful and find hope and new life? Rachel sits down with Brad and Amy Thompson, leaders of Divorce Care at Clear Creek Community Church, to discuss the hurt of divorce and how they found hope and healing.

Resources: 

Divorce Care September – December 2021

Professional Counselors at Clear Creek Community Church