Alpha Talk #3: How Can I Be Sure of My Faith?

The audio of this talk is from the third talk of the Alpha Course which Northshore Vineyard is running each week at Mattina Bella restaurant in downtown Covington, LA. Click on the above title to listen/download the talk or download through Itunes.

Living in a Larger Story Part 1

This is the introduction to a series that Northshore Vineyard will be going through over the next few weeks. The story that God began in a garden in Genesis 1-2 ends in a city in Revelation 21-22. If we misunderstand the beginning and the ending of the story then chances are that we will miss much of the point in the middle where we now find ourselves. However, when we properly understand the beginning and the end then we will find unfolding meaning and purpose right here. We will find that Christianity is not simply about going somewhere else when we die but that the real action is right here, right now, lived in the story that God is writing. The podcast of the audio from Crispin's message given on Saturday October 24 at Northshore Vineyard Church.

You can listen to the audio by clicking on the title at the top of this blog post or by downloading it through Itunes.

Recommended Reading:
As part of this series we are recommending that people purchase Todd Hunter's new book Christianity Beyond Belief: Following Jesus for the Sake of Others.

Alpha Talk #2 - Why Did Jesus Die?

In this talk we explore why Jesus died and the ramifications of his death on humanity. The audio is available for a free download through Itunes. Just enter "Northshore Vineyard" into the search and it will take you to the podcast.


Note that this talk contains 2 film clips which will not make as much sense in audio form. We will try and find a clip on line to link to so you can watch the clip for yourself.

Search Itunes for "Northshore Vineyard"

For those who missed last week's Alpha talk, it is now officially up on Itunes. Just search "Northshore Vineyard" and it will take you to the podcast. You can then subscribe and your ipod will automatically update with each new podcast we release.

Alpha Talk #1 - Who Is Jesus, Available for Download

Northshore Vineyard is now offering podcasts of audio from our various gatherings. This first MP3 available for download is from week #1 of the Alpha Course. This talk was given by Crispin Schroeder on the topic "Who Is Jesus?" at Mattina Bella restaurant in Covington, LA on October 13, 2009.

Alpha Promo Video

Join us Tuesday October 6 at Mattina Bella restaurant in Covington at 6:45 p.m. for live jazz, dinner, and a talk on what to expect in the coming weeks of Alpha. The dinner and the course are offered free of charge. Register for dinner and/or the course at www.northshorevineyard.org

Lost Dogs in the Rain

So I’m driving home…. It was one of those rainy cold nights we get in the winter. I’m not sure what time it was, but I was the only car on the road.

I see this dog walking on the side of the road on Highway 22. Now, I’ve had dogs all my life. I love ‘em, and I couldn’t just keep driving and leave this dog out there. I pulled over on the shoulder and rolled down window. As soon as I did, this dog (who was soaking wet) stopped walking and looked at me.

I whistled, and I could tell I got his attention, but all he did was look at me.

I reached across my console, opened the passenger door into the rain, and patted the seat… The dog just looked at me. He didn’t run away, but he got no closer to me either.

“What's the matter with this stupid dog?” I thought. “It's cold, dark, and raining - doesn't he know I'm trying to help him here?”

“If I leave him out here, he's gonna wander into traffic and get killed.”

Crap - I'm gonna get soaked but I can't leave him here. Suppose it was my dog Rigby out there? I'd want somebody to pick him up.

Reluctantly, I put the truck into park and got out. The dog saw me approach, and welcomed me with a low growl. I could see his hair, wet as it was, come up on his neck.

I got down low, and put my hand out to let him smell it as I walked slowly to about 5 feet of him. He took a cautious step towards me. And then, another.

The poor dog was shaking – I’m not sure if it was with fear or cold..

I slowly reached for head to pat him, and he turned to watch my hand the way only dogs can do. I could tell he’d been tricked before. He didn’t seem like he’d bite me unless I provoked him, so I patted his head gently until he was ok with that.

He was wearing a collar – and I started to reach for it. The dog growled and flinched simultaneously. “One hand at a time, Mike,” I told myself as I patted his head and slid my hand down his head to reach for his collar and see if there was a name on it. Turning the medal in the dim light, I could see a name – Dave.

“Hi, Dave” I said in the voice we have for talking to dogs. “I’m gonna get you home now.” I looked back – my truck’s door was still open.
I knew I couldn’t pick him up to put him in the truck, so I went to Plan B.

Stepping back to the truck, I called the dog. No deal, he just looked at me.
I went back to him, petting him and talking softly until I felt the time was right to try again.

I took a step back, and called him again – “C'mon Dave!”
He took a hesitant step towards me..

I stepped back again, calling him, and he took another hesitant step.
And again.
And again.

Finally I reached the truck… I patted the seat and he cautiously got in.

Closing the door and hoping he wouldn’t go beserk if he felt trapped, I quickly ran around to my side. By the time I got in, Dave was sitting up in the passenger seat. I could tell, he had ridden in a truck before.

As I drove away, I thought to myself….

He wasn't scared of the truck.

He was scared of me.

I’m soaking wet and freezing, but at I dialed the telephone number on his collar, I breathed a sigh of relief. I’m gonna get him home safe.

This is a true story

Well, except for the name

His name wasn’t Dave – it was Tony

Well, and he's not a dog, he's a guy I work with.

And it wasn't actually raining. He was just caught in that storm that I know is life without God because I lived it for 35 years.

But just like the dog was scared of me and not the truck, people aren't scared of God, they are scared of the church.

And we (the church) can't show them what God has done for us until we get past that fear.

But the first step is getting them close enough to hear us.. to listen… To not feel threatened by who we are or what we say…. To know we are people like them, with bad days and bosses who do stupid stuff and kids that won’t listen and spouses who don’t always agree…

The difference in our lives is the peace God has given us, the peace He offers all of us… If we accept it…