The original Karate Kid debuted in 1984 and has been inspiring kids, teenagers, and even adults ever since. From the lessons of Mr. Miyagi to the never-give-up attitude of Daniel Larusso, there’s something about this story that goes much deeper than the teenage drama and fighting bravado would have you believe. On this episode, Jon Coffey is joined by East 96 campus elder Vijay Rajaji, and 5th degree Tae Kwon Doe black belt Tiffany Ravedutti, to discuss the film and how it speaks about bullying, mentorship, perseverance, and more!

Clear Creek Resources - A Podcast of Clear Creek Community Church

098: Karate Kid, Crane Kicks, and the Craft of Perseverance

When confronted with rudeness, anger, or disrespect, coach Ted Lasso responds with a friendly smile and encouraging remark without a hint of sarcasm or malice. There’s something winsome about this character, and yet there’s real pain in his heart. On this episode, Ryan Lehtinen, Rachel Chester, Lance Lawson and Brad Loser discuss how Ted Lasso offers a refreshing contrast to the cynicism of our day, how marriage is worth fighting for, and how to lead others by genuinely caring for them. (Please note that Ted Lasso is rated TV-MA and contains adult language, so use wisdom to determine if it is appropriate for you or your family. For discernment tips listen to episode 092: Watching Movies with a Christian Worldview.)

097: Ted Lasso on Cynicism, Marriage, and Leadership

It's easy to get swept up in the cinematic universe of Marvel. With its wide range of superheroes and underdogs and its consistent humor and heart, there is something for everyone: spaceships, time travel, spies, and even romance. Beyond the fun and entertainment, these stories also evoke longings we all share like heroism, redemption, and a world rescued from evil.  In this episode, Rachel Chester sits down with Church on Wednesday pastor Lance Lawson, and Mandy Turner, who teaches Clear Creek’s Women’s Systematic class, to discuss their favorite Avengers and how these stories echo the Gospel.  

096: The Avengers & the Gospel

It started with three movies in the late 70s and early 80s, but Star Wars has been a cultural mainstay ever since. So why does this story resonate with people from multiple generations? And what does this staying power say about the God-shaped hole in all of us? On this episode, Jon Coffey is joined by Yancey Arrington and Aric Harding to discuss all the things they love about Star Wars and the bigger story it echoes.

095: Star Wars and the Hope We Have

“Is all this living really worth dying for?” asks 22 — a supporting character in Disney’s Soul. This is the primary question Soul seeks to answer throughout the movie, and it’s the question that many people wrestle with throughout their life. Is there a purpose to living? And if so, what is my purpose? On this episode, Ryan Lehtinen is joined by Aaron Lutz and Lance Lawson to discuss what the Bible says about this topic and how Soul portrays our purpose, identity, and the role of community.

094: What Disney's Soul Says About Purpose and Identity

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone took the world by storm in the late 90s and then again in the early 2000s with its film adaptation. Over the decades that followed, enthusiasm for the series remained a constant in culture garnering millions of fans. But for all its support, the story also found itself mired in controversy over witchcraft and magic. In the first episode of the Clear Creek Resources summer series, Jon Coffey discusses Harry Potter, its tension, and the biblical truths it echoes with Rachel Chester, and Church on Wednesday campus elder, Daniel Garcia.

093: Harry Potter & the Gospel

How do Christians engage movies, books, or music that isn’t created by a Christian or explicitly Christian in its main message or themes? Is it okay to watch content that includes explicit language, violence, or sex? On this episode, Ryan Lehtinen is joined by Rachel Chester and Yancey Arrington to talk about these questions and more as they introduce the Clear Creek Resources summer podcast series on movies and the glimpses of gospel truths within them.

092: Watching Movies with a Christian Worldview

What do the Astros, Texas history, and brisket have in common? They are all things Yancey Arrington loves. On this episode Ryan Lehtinen talks with Yancey about his 23 years of serving as the Teaching Pastor at Clear Creek Community Church, his family, his passions, and what he would do if he wasn’t a pastor.

091: A Conversation with Yancey Arrington

Divorce is a reality for so many, it but can also feel lonely and isolating, whether one is in the midst of divorce or has divorced in the past. What are the hard questions in the wake of divorce? How can you find a community who understands? How can anyone go through something this painful and find hope and new life? Rachel Chester sits down with Brad and Amy Thompson, leaders of Divorce Care at Clear Creek Community Church, to discuss the hurt of divorce and how they found hope and healing.

090: Divorce – Hurt, Hope, and Healing

How Christianity views and depicts women is often in question within cultural conversations. Why aren’t there more women in the Bible? Are women essential to God’s redemptive work? What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus, as a woman? On this episode, Rachel sits down with Dr. Sandra Glahn, author and professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, to discuss the importance of understanding how the Bible depicts women, how God sees and values women, and what that means for women and men today.

089: Women in the Bible

There’s a pandemic sweeping across America, but it was around long before COVID-19. It’s the pornography pandemic. In fact, recent quarantine-influenced numbers show that porn website traffic is at an all-time high. So, how can we fight for purity in this sex-crazed world? How can we raise kids in it? And how can we honor God’s standard of marriage? On this episode, Jon Coffey sits down with Clear Creek’s Director of Marriage and Family Ministries, Lance Lawson, and Clear Lake Student Director, Kyle Mikulan, to talk about how the gospel impacts our response to, and navigation through, this issue.

088: The Porn Problem

The Good & Angry message series brought up some great questions for many people. How does our anger impact our children? What does growth look like? How can we help those in our lives who struggle with anger? How is forgiveness possible? On this episode, Ryan Lehtinen sits down with Greg Poore and Susan Wesley to discuss these questions and more.

087: Redeeming Anger

Included in the Great Commission of Jesus to make disciples of all nations is the call to start new local churches where people can be baptized and taught to walk in obedience to the gospel of Jesus. This call issued two millennia ago is still in effect today. God is at work using churches to plant churches. On this episode, Ryan Lehtinen talks with Bruce Wesley about being a part of a movement to plant churches across the Houston area and to the ends of the earth.

086: Being Part of a Church Planting Movement

It can be difficult to know how to respond to the constant questions and conflicts that arise in culture. How does a Christian engage in the world with kindness and conviction? What issues are worth fighting for and where does the church go next? Rachel sits down with Dr. Russell Moore: theologian, author, and president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, to discuss these questions and more.

085: Engaging Culture Without Losing the Gospel

The last year has been filled with many emotions, but there is one that seems to be everywhere — anger. As we begin a new message series called Good & Angry we look back on a previous podcast episode where Ryan Lehtinen talks with Bruce Wesley to discuss what anger is, where it comes from, and how to overcome it before it destroys us all.

084: Good & Angry

Clear Creek Resources is a podcast of Clear Creek Community Church, a multi-campus congregation in the Bay Area of Houston, Texas.

Clear Creek Resources - A Podcast of Clear Creek Community C...