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Counterfeit Morality :: (re-recorded)

Because the original recording was misplaced, this podcast was re-recorded. Recording in an empty sanctuary takes a little of the vibrancy away from the recording — but the material remains.

I grew up attending church faithfully. So I saw it’s weaknesses and I saw it’s strengths. One of the glaring weaknesses I saw in the church, early on, was its tendency toward being rule-focused. This led to what we called legalism and judgmentalism.

Ultimately, this counterfeit morality led to the dysfunction of hypocrisy.

While legalism is not characteristic of all church groups, I would guess that all of us have had a brush with it. For me, as I saw it, legalism was something that strictly belonged to the church. Outside of the church, people were accepting and non-judgmental.

How naive.

Counterfeit morality isn’t something that belongs to religious groups alone. Counterfeit morality has permeated society thoroughly.

You see it in politics, school systems, bowling leagues, sports and news shows.

Counterfeit morality is everywhere.

This podcast speaks about counterfeit morality, giving us a way to discover the meaning and source of genuine morality.

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What Gives Life Meaning? :: Counterfeits

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 1/27/2019 by Pastor Steve Shields

Have you ever fallen for a counterfeit? Counterfeit wisdom, meaning, morality, intimacy, security, knowledge, and authority.

I want to be honest with you.

When I look at them, I see how I have been – and continue to be – vulnerable to them.

I have accepted counterfeit wisdom many times throughout my life.

And it has caused me damage.

I’ve allowed myself be confused by the other counterfeits to a greater or lesser degree.

Today’s counterfeit – counterfeit meaning – is no exception.

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Identifying and Replacing Counterfeit Wisdom :: Counterfeits

Presented by Pastor Steve Shields at Curwensville Alliance on 1/13/2019

Have you ever done something and thought, “What was I thinking”?

The common answer to that question is that you weren’t.

But there’s a strong possibility you actually were thinking.

You were just drawing from the wrong pool of wisdom.

Much of what passes for wisdom today is counterfeit. But how do you identify counterfeit wisdom? Is there some litmus test you can use?

This podcast addresses this question with practical answers.

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Seven Counterfeits You May Own :: Counterfeits

Presented by Pastor Steve Shields at Curwensville Alliance on 1/6/2019

Several years ago, I received a phone call in the middle of the night from someone alleging he’d been to our church and was now stranded with his wife and daughters in Florida.

Pastor – I was in your church just a month-and-a-half ago. How can you not remember me?

I didn’t remember him.

He was quite convincing and told me of his visit to my church and that he needed money for bus tickets home.

And, because I am so bad at remembering names, I wired him $200.

Later, I thought to Google his name. And when I found it, I learned he was a scammer. He pretended to be one thing, but he was another.

When someone pretends to be someone else, that’s fraud. When something pretends to be something else, that’s counterfeiting.

In the weeks that are ahead, we’ll talk about seven counterfeits to which Christians often fall prey. This podcast outlines them as a preview of coming attractions.

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A New Year of Living Water

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 12/30/2018 by Pastor Steve Shields

In 1929, Coca-Cola introduced a great slogan: Coca-Cola, The Pause that Refreshes. Coke wanted people to think that their beverage was superior – more than that, refreshing.

I feel like the pause that refreshes in my life needs to include more than a beverage. It needs to have something living in it. Maybe living water.

Jesus spoke of living water — the water that refreshes.

And this living water changes our lives from being mundane, laborious, disappointing, and burdensome to being … refreshing.

When we are refreshed by the living water, our lives become refreshing.

In this podcast, I discuss Jesus’ presentation of the living water in John 4. I hope your new year is marked by such refreshment.
— Pastor Steve

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Why Did God Come Near, Anyway? :: Reflections at Advent

Presented by Pastor Steve Shields at Curwensville Alliance on 12/24/2018

What is the real meaning of Christmas? When you ask that, most people I know will answer with something like this:
– Jesus
– Love
– Giving
– Family

I like those answers, but I think sometimes we give them because that’s what we’ve heard.

If you want to know whether you honestly know the real meaning of Christmas, ask yourself these kinds of questions: Why was this Jesus, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, born? 
Why did God come near?

This podcast of the Curwensville Alliance Christmas Eve Devotional addresses those questions.

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From Overspent to Over Blessed :: Reflections at Advent

How much are you spending on Christmas? I am not talking about money. I want you to think about everything else you pour out in the holiday season.

The energy that is required for social interactions.

The brain power that is necessary for thinking about the right gift.

The scheduling effort that you have to invested to…

Social obligations.

Family considerations.

Dining.

Church.

How much are you spending on Christmas?

And in the end, when you look in the mirror, do you see someone who is overspent? Or over-blessed?

In this podcast, we look at Mary and see how much she had to spend on the first Christmas – and how God enabled her to manage it.

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From Overtaxed to Over It :: Reflections at Advent

Ever feel like you’ve been pushed to the limit?

Or stretched beyond your stretching point?

Like this poor donkey.

Image result for overloaded
You ever feel that way?

Ever feel this way?

All of us feel overtaxed from time to time.

And more often than we realize, the overtaxing comes, not from someone else, but from our own expectations and mindsets.

This podcast speaks about moving from being “overtaxed” to being “over it”.

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From Overfull to Overflowing :: Reflections at Advent

Presented on 12/9/2018 at Curwensville Alliance Church by Pastor Steve Shields

There are a lot of things in the holiday season that make me feel full.

Food

Stores

People

Parties

Obligations

And when they are concluded, I feel full

Stuffed

But I don’t feel overflowing.

Jesus said:

“Whoever believes in me,
as Scripture has said,
rivers of living water
will flow from within them.”

That’s overflow.

How do I transition from feeling overfull to being overflowing?

That’s what this podcasts addresses.

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From Overwhelmed to Overjoyed :: Reflections at Advent

Presented on 12/2/2018 at Curwensville Alliance by Pastor Steve Shields

Have you ever glimpsed yourself in a mirror as you walk by and think, “Is that how I look? Really? Is that how I REALLY look?”

We’ve all experienced that.

Looking at your reflection can give you a surprise.

When Paul is talking to the Christians in Corinth about their behavior at the Lord’s Supper, he tells them they should examine themselves. That’s a good thing to do on Communion Sundays. It’s a good thing to do anytime.

This Advent, Curwensville Alliance is talking about looking at your reflection, seeing who you are, and beginning a leg of the journey to get you from the person you see in the mirror to the person God wants you to be.

In this podcast, Pastor Steve talks about how to transition from being overwhelmed at Christmas to being overjoyed.

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