We're taking a lighthearted look at some really challenging realities facing us and we're calling the series "Surviving Crazyland". No matter where you look you're probably seeing it: things are going crazy. This series is all about how we survive it.

As Gene points out in this message, we don't have to be surprised or overwhelmed by the craziness. We know that Jesus said things would keep getting crazy, but He also promised that there was a hope that would take us through the craziness. This hope centers around having the big-picture view – an eternal perspective – and as Gene shows us, it gives us the courage and perspective we need for surviving Crazyland.

Continuing our series on "Surviving Crazyland", Brian digs into the reality that we all live by some kind of faith: something that gives us meaning and identity in life. Yet, we have to be careful what we choose to put that faith in. If we put it in something temporary it will let us down, but when we put our faith in something strong and unchanging, like Jesus, we have a faith that keeps us as we navigate Crazyland.

Craziness happens all around us and the church is not immune: many of us have wounds from bad church experiences. Brian acknowledges this, but also gives a different view of the church as a bride: a group of people who are deeply loved by God. While this means that many of the problems still happen, it also gives us a path to healing, a choice to make, and hope for our future together.

One of the biggest factors of Crazyland isn't anything new, but something that seems to be increasing more and more every day: selfishness. Selfishness lies at the root of so many of our problems and steals joy and peace from us all the time, but Gene shows that there is an antidote to all this selfishness. Taking a tour through scripture Gene shows us how we were made to "pre-serve" and the attitude that helps us return to this calling.

One of the more dangerous aspects of Crazyland is the proliferation of preventable health problems. It seems that we don't do a very good job of taking care of ourselves. Yet, as Gene points out in this message, our ability to give care to others is directly related to the care we take for ourselves and the love we show to others will always be related to the love we first receive. If you're looking to make a positive contribution to the world, make sure you listen to this message and get some very important tools for Surviving Crazyland.

Looking at how our internal vulnerability can be triggered by external pressures and how we can position ourselves towards healthy behaviors instead.

With a sermon series about Surviving Crazyland, you knew we had to talk about parenthood one of these weeks. Whether or not you're currently a parent, Brian shares some important information about what parenthood is like for parents, for the community that surrounds them, and important things to keep in mind as we look at a scriptural model for parenthood. Whether you're not a parent, you've already raised your kids, or you're right in the middle of it, the lessons from this talk can help all of us.

Incivility seems to be on the rise these days, and that's not good news. Getting caught up in the picking of sides and the bickering back and forth is starving us of something absolutely necessary: kindness. As Gene points out in his message, God is in control, we are on a rescue mission, and it is kindness that will win the day. After all, it's kindness that leads us back to God and helps us survive Crazyland.

The thing Jesus talked about the most in the scriptures is the Kingdom of Heaven, but close behind that is a surprising topic: money. Looking around us, though, we can see why; there is a great deal of confusion, fear and insecurity around the issue of money. As we pay attention to these words of wisdom, our attitude towards money becomes less of an anxious grasping as we gain freedom from greed and idolatry and we experience the joy of generosity.

In this message Gene takes a look at the chaos and confusion that are often symbolized by darkness in scripture. In the beginning, God brings light into this darkness and starts a story with a beautiful conclusion full of light. Now, darkness remains a part of that story, but this won't last forever. Until the end, we are invited to live from a place of hope and participate in this story of light invading the darkness.