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Today we conclude our study on Solomon's book of Ecclesiastes, focusing on 2 themes: man's anger - either temporary or residing anger, leading to bitterness and sinthe fear of God - letting God restore you in His love for you, remove your heart of anger, and give you an awe of God being in control of all things. In Ecclesiastes 12:13, Solomon gives his final words of advice for life: "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind." >>Watch on YouTube

What's so wrong with wanting more? To want something that someone else has? In Ecclesiastes 4:4, Solomon tells us what he observed about this:"And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind." Solomon is saying that all work and all achievement spring from a person's envy of someone else. We can't just focus on our jobs and be satisfied with our work. We always have to look over to our neighbor and say, "Well, I wonder how he's doing compared to me?" And so envy involves comparison. >>Watch on YouTube

What would it mean if there was no God? As we continue studying the book of Ecclesiastes, we see that Solomon goes through some really interesting times in his life. He experiences a dark period where he thinks about life as if there is no God, and what that would mean. I recently heard the famous song by John Lennon called "Imagine." Lennon sings: "Imagine there is no heaven. It's easy if you try. No hell below us above us only sky. Imagine all the people living for today..." Solomon expressed the same message. He said that without the existence of God—no heaven, and no hell—then life is bleak. The only thing we can do is try to divert our minds. One of the ways you do that is to live for today. And living for the moment is what pleasure is all about. You. But in Ecclesiastes 3:11, Solomon expresses that God set eternity in the heart of mankind: "He (God) has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, without the possibility that mankind will find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end." >>Watch on YouTube

Why are we always looking for more? It seems as if we are always looking over the horizon for something more or different than what we have, regardless of how much we have. Do we believe that more is better? Could it be that materialism is not so much about things, but more about the heart? Perhaps we believe more is always better because we believe that life is linear. From Ecclesiastes 2, Solomon tells us, "I said to myself, 'Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.' And behold, it too was futility. I said of laughter, “It is senseless,” and of pleasure, “What does this accomplish?” I explored with my mind how to refresh my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely; and how to seize foolishness, until I could see what good there is for the sons of mankind to do under heaven for the few years of their lives. I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; I made gardens and parks for myself, and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees....  All that my eyes desired, I did not refuse them. I did not restrain my heart from any pleasure.... So I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold, all was futility and striving after wind, and there was no benefit under the sun." >>Watch on YouTube

What is your life all about? What are you trying to accomplish? If we are not asking these kind of questions, we may not be living very thoughtfully. And where can we find lasting enjoyment? Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 says, "There is nothing better for a man than to eat and to drink and to tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without God?" We hope this series will help us to think more thoughtfully about our lives and what our lives are all about. >>Watch on YouTube

Today's episode is Jerry Leachman's message from our recent Men's Breakfast, a great event with almost 400 in attendance! He shared from his new book, Brave Hearts, Strong Arms. Jerry read from Deuteronomy 6:6-7, " These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."  Brave Hearts, Strong Arms is not about being a perfect man. It's a book about being a committed one—showing up, staying in the fight, and playing for a Head Coach who never leaves the field.⁠⁠  >>Watch on YouTube >>Get Jerry's book on Amazon. Also now on Audible! Jerry Leachman of Leachman Ministries is a favorite speaker at The Center's events. Along with being an associate Chaplain in The NFL for many years, Jerry has done ministry in Guatemala, Scotland, Russia, Europe and Africa as well as all over the U.S. He and his wife Holly have been on Young Life Staff and continue to be involved with Young Life here and also internationally.

Join Richard for Part 2 of his interview with former chaplain Jerry Leachman on his brand new book ⁠Brave Hearts, Strong Arms⁠. Drawn from years of heartfelt talks, Jerry Leachman blends the grit of the game with the truth of Scripture. Forty‑six short chapters, written to be read one locker‑room talk at a time. This isn't a book about being a perfect man. It's a book about being a committed one—showing up, staying in the fight, and playing for a Head Coach who never leaves the field.⁠ >>Watch on YouTube⁠ ⁠>>Get Jerry's book Brave Hearts, Strong Arms

Join Richard in this 2-part interview with former chaplain Jerry Leachman on his brand new book Brave Hearts, Strong Arms. Drawn from years of heartfelt talks, Jerry Leachman blends the grit of the game with the truth of Scripture. Forty‑six short chapters, written to be read one locker‑room talk at a time. This isn't a book about being a perfect man. It's a book about being a committed one—showing up, staying in the fight, and playing for a Head Coach who never leaves the field. >>Watch on YouTube >>Get Jerry's book Brave Hearts, Strong Arms

What is it that really drives us as human beings? We really have two primary dimensions: 1) The physical dimension - our bodies, and 2) The spiritual dimension - our souls. So every human body has a soul, and that soul thirsts for God. But many of us don't realize that we yearn for Him. Psalm 42:1-2 tells us, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?" >>Watch on YouTube

How should we be sharing our faith in the public square? Paul gives us some great instruction about dealing with with those outside the faith. In Colossians 4:5-6 he says, "Conduct yourself with wisdom towards outsiders (those outside of the faith). Let your speech be with grace, seasoned as it were with salt, so that you know how to respond to each person." I think Paul is following his own instruction and we should too. Acts 17:16-17 tells of Paul's time in Athens: "Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he observed that the city was full of idols. So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be present." >>Watch on YouTube

Once you realize how big God is, is anything too hard for Him? What's harder for God to pick up one pound or a million pounds? Neither one. Nothing's hard for God. Remember that when you say your prayers. Preach to yourself. If you take all the teachings of Christ, they can be distilled down to three ways you can spend your life: You can just waste it. It's like the Lord's given you a bag of tremendous seeds to grow marvelous things and you just walk around. There's a hole in your bag, then the last seed goes out, you're dead. It was like you were never here.You can sell out. Spend all you have on things for yourself. But on the day you die, who's all this stuff belong to?You can give your life away. It's what Jesus did. He gave his whole life away for us. You give your whole life to God and you give your whole life to people that God loves. Just give it away.I want you to check yourself. Are you all in or is this just the religion you believe in? If that's true, you're wasting your life. He wants you to deploy, get in the fray, stay in it till you cross the finish line. Amen. Luke 6:38, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” ⁠>>Watch on YouTube⁠  Jerry Leachman is a favorite speaker at The Center's events. Along with being an associate Chaplain in The NFL for many years, Jerry has done ministry in Guatemala, Scotland, Russia, Europe and Africa as well as all over the U.S. He and his wife Holly have been on Young Life Staff and continue to be involved with Young Life here and also internationally.

What happens when we truly understand the power and privilege of prayer? In this encouraging and challenging message, Richard's guest, Jerry Leachman calls believers to take their prayer lives seriously—not as a religious exercise, but as direct access to the God who created and rules the universe. Drawing from Scripture, personal experiences, and powerful stories from history, Jerry reminds us that praying in the name of Jesus is powerful, that God looks for a sincere and humble heart, and that forgiveness is essential to a life of effective prayer warrior. He shares practical ways to develop a consistent prayer life, including keeping a prayer list, using short “breath prayers,” and asking the Holy Spirit to guide us when we don't know what to pray. Above all, this message is a call to trust God even when we cannot see what He is doing. As Jerry's closing story reminds us: sometimes we cannot see God, but He can see us. The question is, will we trust Him enough to jump? 2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us, "If my people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." >>Get Jerry Leachman's new book! Brave Hearts, Strong Arms ⁠ Jerry is a favorite speaker at The Center's events. Along with being an associate Chaplain in The NFL for many years, Jerry has done ministry in Guatemala, Scotland, Russia, Europe and Africa as well as all over the U.S. He and his wife Holly have been on Young Life Staff and continue to be involved with Young Life here and also internationally. ⁠⁠>>Watch on YouTube

We are re-airing this popular episode by Richard's guest, Jerry Leachman of ⁠Leachman Ministries Are we in the land of the living? Actually, we are in the land of the dying. My guest today, Jerry Leachman, would tell you that this is a message from a dead man. Five years ago he had a massive heart attack, and experienced what his doctor described as “sudden death”. Jerry tells his story about being with Jesus during that time, and the message that he was impressed with to share with us. A second touch. A second opportunity to get your life right with God. That's what Jerry got. Could you or someone you love be in need of a second touch from God? Jesus and heaven are real. They are real. Don’t miss either of them. ⁠>>Get Jerry Leachman's new book! Brave Hearts, Strong Arms ⁠ Jerry is a favorite speaker at The Center's events. Along with being an associate Chaplain in The NFL for many years, Jerry has done ministry in Guatemala, Scotland, Russia, Europe and Africa as well as all over the U.S. He and his wife Holly have been on Young Life Staff and continue to be involved with Young Life here and also internationally. ⁠⁠>>Watch on YouTube *This episode originally aired on November 21, 2021

What kind of friend are you? I'm going to talk today about something that affects our everyday life. If you have it or if you don't have it, it'll make you or break you. I'm talking about friendship. The entire Old Testament and the entire New Testament is all about friendship, not religion. Christ is not looking for Christians or religious people—He's looking for friends. In the Old Testament Abraham was called a friend of God. God is offering us friendship. Now if a great man called you around his deathbed and he said, "I got a few things I want to tell you. I'm on the way out." Would you listen to that? He is going to give you the good stuff. These are some of the last words of Jesus before He was arrested, brutally tortured and then murdered. He looks at His guys and a lot of women that were following their band, and He says: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." - John 15:9-11 What kind of friend do you have in Christ? He laid it all out there for you. Are you holding anything back? If you give it all, you'll never be afraid again. >>Get Jerry Leachman's new book! Brave Hearts, Strong Arms Jerry is a favorite speaker at The Center's events. Along with being an associate Chaplain in The NFL for many years, Jerry has done ministry in Guatemala, Scotland, Russia, Europe and Africa as well as all over the U.S. He and his wife Holly have been on Young Life Staff and continue to be involved with Young Life here and also internationally. ⁠>>Watch on YouTube

How important is our human sexuality? In Chuck Colson's last book The Final Word, he writes "Christianity is becoming more and more unpopular in our culture, primarily as a result of conflicts over sexuality. This is where modern human beings do not want to be in any way restrained. Most of the Bible they accept; they just do not like the way it governs sexual passion." Conflicts over sexuality is a very serious issue in our culture, and we may not be paying much attention to it. But as you'll see in today's talk, this issue really has implications for our children. Our souls have a deep longing to belong and be accepted and to have soul oneness. All of us desire to alleviate our sense of loneliness and to be deeply and permanently connected with someone else. This is why God created sex. It is the means of expressing and achieving complete life unity between a man and a woman in the covenant relationship of marriage. In this episode, Richard is discussing his book Sex At First Sight, available on Amazon and Audible and richardesimmons3.com.