Yes this next Hot Topic is yet another tough one, Depression.  We kick off this episode with a powerful sign dance and finish with a revealing testimony.  Depression is a growing trend in our culture so we do some investigation and look at both the common causes and how you can Let It All Out and deal with our bouts of depression when they occur.  The truth is constant but our emotions change every 20 minutes.  You are not alone and there is no need to kill today with yesterday's problems.  08.12.07 (video iPod friendly)

What do you want on your tombstone?  From marriage to finances and now to dealing with death, you are probably thinking Hot Topics should be called tough topics.  We see that it is healthy to look at death and that the joys and experiences of now are what makes it even harder when it comes.  But on the flip side, when we think about death and meeting our maker, it makes the now that much more rich and adds to the natural cycle of the life and adjusts our perspective.  Why, is a good question and wisdom comes from looking to see what we can learn through this painful process by taking our honest feelings and questions to God.  08.05.07 (video iPod friendly)

From the first Hot Topic of marriage we move on to the next topic picked by the New Hope congregation... finances, money, the root of all evil, something we all struggle with and often dread dealing with.  We look at the KISS acronym and some tools to simplify such a hot topic.  Ask yourself who is the ultimate owner of everything, what can you take with you when you die and what is the distinction between your obligations, your needs and your wants?  Where does faith fit in?  Listen, watch through some great testimonies and a powerful drama.  07.29.07 (video iPod friendly)

In this episode, we kick off a new summer series called Hot Topics, a series designed by the New Hope Seattle congregation.  In this first episode, we look at our own personal views and directions on marriage.  Acknowledging that perfect marriages don't exist, we examine and share some great tools to have a successful marriage.  Comparing marriage to a vehicle, the checklist may look something like this; passenger list, luggage or baggage, a road map, and a final destination.   07.22.07 (video iPod friendly)