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It's a curious pairing that doesn't happen very often, but this year Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day occur on the same day. For 2024, February 14th will commingle Christian themes of repentance of sin with expressions of love and this may not be as strange together as it might seem at first! If you don't know much about Ash Wednesday, it is the start to the season of Lent. It is the day that kicks off 40 days before Easter (excluding Sundays). Lent is a season characterized by three Christian disciplines that help prepare one's heart to fully celebrate the awesomeness of the resurrection of Jesus. Valentine's Day, too, is an important day. Of course, today, it has been commercialized

For Ben Pflederer, soccer has always been a part of life. From playing at a strong youth club in his childhood, to joining the Vanderbilt University Men's Club Soccer team during his college days, to today and continuing to play pick-up in and around Denver, soccer has been a joy and a passion. For Ben, another passion has been ministry and understanding the call of God on his life leading him into exploring full-time ministry. Beginning with serving as a YoungLife group leader in Nashville, to serving with Ubuntu Sports Outreach in Cape Town, South Africa in the summer of 2010, and (now) as Youth Ministry Coordinator of Denver Presbyterian Church, Ben is continuing to explore all that God has

One of the biggest issues faced by elite footballers is the issue of identity. So much time and energy and investment — emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually — goes into the sport, that it can be difficult when our status or position in the game changes or comes to an end. In today's Lesson From Lasso, we talk about this issue of identity. AFC Richmond's Roy Kent is having an identity crisis. All he knows. All he loves. All he cares about is football — and to imagine life without football, it's overwhelming and daunting. Where ought our identity be? What do we do when our context changes and pieces and parts of our identity with it? Listen as I

There will always come a point when we need to have a tough conversation with someone. How do we have the "tough talks" and the "courageous conversations" with people? How do we enter into a place with people where we can bring our best even when they are faced with their worst? In today's Lesson From Lasso, we see AFC Richmond's Roy Kent faced with a first in his career — being benched, the end of his career on the horizon. It's a tough task that Coach Lasso is largely unsuccessful at and Kili is a little better in her approach. I share from a few places in scripture that I think can help us to have the tough conversation moments

Lucia Eberle is half French and half Greek. She met her husband in Niger, West Africa where they served with SIM for over 25 years. Lucia and her husband (Scott) now reside in Longview, Texas and are part of Longview EPC church. Scott Eberle teaches mathematics at LeTourneau University and Lucia has been traveling back to West Africa as she continues to minister with the Dorcas Widows project in Niger, Benin and Burkina Faso. Last year, in February, Lucia visited Parakou, Benin and met a béninois, Dorothé, working in the treasury at SIM. Dorothé (pictured below) coaches’ teams of soccer with the aim to share the gospel amongst the young men that are passionate about the sport. He shared with Lucia this ministry and how he

Forgiveness. It's massive when we receive forgiveness for something we've said or something that we've done. It can be like a massive weight comes off of our proverbial shoulders. But how many times should we forgive a person? Once, twice, seven times? In today's Lesson From Lasso, we quickly examine a parable that Jesus told about a servant who failed to forgive. He failed to receive the forgiveness that he was granted after being forgiven a massive cancelation of debt. Instead he turned around and was vengeful and spiteful with others. It give some insight into why Ted Lasso is able to forgive Rebecca for what she's just confessed and come clean about. Listen to the podcast to find out