For the Joy

In this interview with Lisa, we get to hear her heart for people and the perseverance that she and her husband have had in the more than two decades of life and experience. Despite the trials, suffering and persecution, Lisa and her husband have only grown in their love for the lost and in their desire to "be the presence of Jesus, proclaim the message of Jesus." There is so much to be learned in this episode and I'm so excited to get to share my dear friend, Lisa with you all!

Have you ever thought that a commitment to having fun or creating an environment where people can enjoy themselves is a great model for ministering to others? Do you feel the freedom to fail and see it as a valuable way to grow? Is suffering your constant companion? If so, this episode is for you! Warren Janzen, the International Director of SEND International, shares so many valuable things that he has learned. You are going to want to have a pen and paper with you! Also, don't forget to email me at forthejoypodcast@gmail.com!

Do you want to know how to live the good life? Today we turn to the prophet Jeremiah to learn what it means to have an intimate relationship with God and how to discern lies from the truth. We'll also get a lot of insight from the late Eugene Peterson on his life. If you want to grow in your understanding of Jeremiah and in your prayer life, you're not going to want to miss this episode!

For all of us we are living in a time where we can easily be overcome by frustration with all of the things we can't control. Do we have any control over our thoughts and feelings? We discuss this as we dive into Dallas Willard's Renovation of the Heart. We also talk about the seriousness of sin and how we must be fighting daily against sin and temptation. Not only do we hear from Dallas Willard but for those Little Women fans, we hear the tender but powerful words of Marmee March. May this episode be a source of light for you in the darkness of these winter days!

In this interview with Lynn Jackson, you'll get a glimpse of what ministry looks like through the many seasons of life. Lynn boils it down to something simple found in 1 Thessalonians 2:8: sharing the Gospel of God but also sharing ourselves. It's never a bad idea to invest yourself in others whether that be your kids or the people that are in your area of influence. Even when we can't see it, the love we pour into others does make an impact.

Rabbits with swords, rabbit trails, multiplication? Rabbits are a big theme in this week's episode as we discuss the Green Ember series especially as it has to do with the importance of training for our goals. We also talk about a couch to 5k program but we'll probably want to run like the tortoise rather than the hare in this race! All of the rabbit trails lead to our talk on discipleship and evangelism so you don't want to miss out!

Join me as I interview Bill Schroeder, who works in Member Care with SEND International. We'll discuss some valuable lessons he's learned from a lifetime in ministry including the importance of keeping an eye on your gauges, being mindful of your shadow mission and the good thing about being weak. You won't want to miss this episode!

For some reason, it is so easy to become boring, old or cynical. In this episode, we look to Jesus, Peter Pan, C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton to rediscover what it means to become like a child. If you want to remain forever young, listen in! And no, unfortunately, there's no 80's music in this episode.

In today's episode, I explore the similarities between Bilbo's adventure in the Hobbit and my experiences in missions. I discuss the call to ministry, discovering new cultures and facing dragons. If you're interested in missions at all, this episode will hopefully provide insights into what you're getting into or be a reminder of the beginning of your own journey.

Join me as I interview Philip Jackson, the European Regional Director of SEND International. We'll hear many sound tips for how to avoid burnout and depression, how to treat this life as a marathon and also how the finish line is only the beginning for followers of Christ. You should only listen to this episode if you want to be encouraged and inspired by a man who knows what it means to live for the joy.

We'll talk about how we can endure suffering and strive to glorify God in the midst of trials as we discuss The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as well as passages from the Book of Hebrews. How can we learn from Mr. Tumnus and how does the conquering of the constant winter without a Christmas give us hope as we deal with the Corona virus?