Go Outside with Alton Lee Webb

Throughout this five-part journey towards recovering curiosity, have you noticed a common theme? Curiosity calls for change and action -- and usually against a backdrop of uncertainty. In this final episode of our Curious series, I pause to reflect on the role curiosity has played in my personal call to Go Outside across the past 10 years and share a few changes on my family’s horizon. In spite of not knowing exactly what’s coming in our next season of life, let’s center ourselves in the security of who Jesus is and what He has done. Episode Highlights 0:00 Have you noticed curiosity and times of transition tend to go hand-in-hand? I share a passage of Scripture we can cling to in times of new growth and change 1:16 How curiosity is leading to a change in Rachel’s and my life right now 1:54 “I wasn’t trained in it, and I didn’t see it on my horizon.” What I remember most about making the decision to plant Christ Community Church in Shelbyville ten years ago 3:38 What happened when Going Outside seeped into my family life and my career 4:27 “It was self-therapy.” How a “horrible manuscript” exploring the Go Outside lifestyle became a published book and podcast series 5:38 What do we believe about Jesus again? How Jesus’ actions on earth author and sustain our next steps 6:44 So where are we, and what’s next? I share my gratitude and hopes for this podcast and the Go Outside journey

Are you curious about discovering how to use your unique gifts to share Christ with your local community but struggling with the fear of leaving the safety of the sidelines? Welcome to Curious, a five-part series of conversations inviting all tired Christians to rediscover and reclaim their God-given gift of curiosity. In this episode, Rob Perez, owner of DV8 Kitchen and Saul Good restaurants, shares why he’s glad they didn’t wait until they had it all figured out before Going Outside and starting their social enterprise. Now with over 20 employees in early stages of drug and alcohol recovery, Rob gets real about the hard balance of loving people and making a profit in business -- and what makes the risk so worth it. Episode Highlights 0:00 How curiosity led Rob Perez to start a business designed to “invest in recovery” 0:18 “It’s been bad on the pocketbook but the most rewarding experience my wife and I have ever had.” Rob shares how the mission behind DV8 Kitchen first came about 2:42 “I didn’t bring Christ to work with me at all.” Where Rob was spiritually when his wife suggested they take on this social enterprise 3:45 Can we love people and be profitable? Lee and Rob get practical about how to balance and sustain a social enterprise 6:31 The three “bottom line” questions Rob’s team asks themselves every week to keep them focused on what matters most 7:33 What Rob realized was wrong about their financial model when he first “put his hands in the dough” 10:14 Rob and Lee call out a faulty philosophy: you don’t have to have all the details figured out before you Go Outside! 12:29 “I’m not positive I’m doing the right thing.” Rob gets real about the paychecks, tough choices, and hard conversations necessary to keep DV8 going 16:07 Rob’s encouragement to anyone who feels a tug to Go Outside but doesn’t know where to start 18:23 Calling all cinnamon roll lovers… What DV8 Kitchen has in the works for starting a new bakery Episode Resources DV8 Kitchen - https://dv8kitchen.com/ Saul Good Restaurant & Pub - http://saulgoodpub.com/ On giving people a second chance - https://www.thefix.com/restaurant-gives-second-chances-people-recovery-gets-rave-reviews

When was the last time you asked someone more experienced, “What advice would you give me?” Welcome to Curious, a five-part series that invites all tired Christians to rediscover and reclaim their God-given gift of curiosity. In this episode, I share something inspired by a conversation I had with several college students, hungry to learn more. Tune in to hear the top 20 lessons I’ve cultivated after 20 years in business. You’ll leave challenged to ask others what God has taught them through their work -- and to share your own experience with others as well. Episode Highlights 0:00 The question I was asked by curious college students that inspired this episode: what advice do you have after being in business for 20 years? 1:33 One opportunity you have once everyday 1:58 Be distinct (and how it’s paid off for me) 2:42 Be fluid (and some Scripture to help you stay open to the unexpected) 2:48 It’s not all about us looking good. 4:34 “Owner absenteeism doesn’t work, but persistence does.” 4:52 Develop a system (and what my workflow looks like) 5:33 I share the friend who inspired #9: Drive a different way home 6:13 “Almost everything can wait one night.” 7:25 One way you can help people decide if they want to join in on your vision 7:44 Big opportunities are the same as small opportunities. 8:49 “When the time comes to take a big risk, you’ll be ready.” Why it’s best to stay low 9:20 Are you using your gifts to help others? 9:38 What I do every day before leaving the office

What if I told you that reading well could actually help make you a better steward of language on Twitter? Welcome to Curious, a five-part series of conversations inviting all tired Christians to rediscover and reclaim their God-given gift of curiosity. In this continuation of Episode 1, I’m joined by Dr. Karen Swallow Prior, author of On Reading Well, to talk about how being curious in reading literature is necessary preparation for navigating our culture of polarized thinking. Dr. Prior reminds us that Christians are “people of the Word” and that as Outsiders, we have the responsibility to own and steward the language we speak, type, and interpret every day. Episode Highlights 0:00 Reading as a virtue? I set us up for Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Karen Prior 0:25 My reactions to what The Great Gatsby teaches on the virtue of temperance, as discussed in On Reading Well 1:57 “On Twitter, you have become a target for extremists on both sides.” Dr. Prior explains why studying virtue through literature equips her for navigating our polarized culture 3:31 “When we try to avoid one error that we should avoid, we swing to the opposite side and commit another error.” Dr. Prior on what she’s observed from extreme stance-taking in both the classroom and the church 5:54 What allegory and Pilgrim’s Progress has to teach us about the language we use (and interpret) on social media 9:36 Why I believe Dr. Prior’s theory on virtue in literature is a framework for faith leaders everywhere 10:40 You could call us modern-day monks. Why Dr. Prior says it’s the responsibility of Christians, the people of the Word, to preserve literacy in our decaying world 13:15 Where you can find Dr. Prior and how you can contribute to the Reading Well movement 14:30 Now it’s Dr. Prior’s turn: her question for me about reading and writing Episode Resources Part One of this episode On Reading Well Dr. Prior’s Twitter Dr. Prior’s Speaking Engagement Schedule The Great Gatsby A Tale of Two Cities Pilgrim’s Progress The Outsiders

What if I told you that you could live counter-culturally today just by reading extra slowly? We’ve all heard that leaders are readers, but nobody actually enjoys plunging through a long checklist of titles as fast as they can. Outsiders, we need a new approach. It’s time to slow down and be curious again. Welcome to Curiosity, a series of five conversations that explore the recovery and rediscovery of our curiosity, the God-given fuel behind Go Outside. In Part 1 of this first episode, Dr. Karen Swallow Prior, the author of one of my favorite books, On Reading Well, is here to help us rethink how and why we read. Together, Karen and I explain how reading well is a straight-out rebellion against our fast-paced culture but also a deeply rewarding virtue that slows us down, opens us up to notice, and makes us powerful stewards of language. Episode Highlights 0:00 Would you call yourself curious? Why curiosity is foundational for Go Outside 0:40 Any bookworms tuning in? I share my latest curiosity: literature (and introduce a guest who’s got quite the appetite for reading herself!) 1:10 “I don’t think most people dare to go that far.” Dr. Prior’s response after I asks about the most important thing we have in common 3:25 A week-in-the-life: Dr. Prior talks her chaotic schedule of traveling, teaching, and living in rural Virginia 5:50 The story behind how Dr. Prior’s book ended up in my hands 9:21 Do you also struggle to enjoy reading in our fast-paced world? Dr. Prior talks about the time, patience, and attention it takes to read well 11:10 “Reading good literature is a radical, rebellious act against our culture.” What Dr. Prior says a counter-cultural mindset towards reading should look like and feel like 13:31 Reading is a virtue? Dr. Prior gives us a refresher on what it means to live in tension between having too much and not enough 17:00 Karen Prior shares her 4 favorite virtues (as of today, at least) 18:55 The young adult novel that inspired both me and Dr. Prior 20:45 Christians should read more than self-help books? Dr. Prior explains why she chose the books she did for her top 100 reading list Resources - On Reading Well by Karen Swallow Prior - Karen Swallow Prior on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ksprior - Her website: www.karenswallowprior.com - The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton - The History of Tom Jones by Henry Fielding - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

To find people who are well-acquainted with operating in life’s messy gray-area, we need to look no further than the dedicated men and women of our educational system. In this episode of Operating in the Gray, I invite Kentucky educators Tina Tipton and Artavia Acklin to share their experience in navigating how to be God’s light in the classroom. Whether you’re an educator yourself or not, every Outsider will benefit from hearing how these two women came to recognize teaching as a ministry and how we too can live out God’s love, even when we’re operating in the gray. Episode Highlights 0:08 - How do we operate in the gray in the classroom? Welcome educators Tina Tipton and Mrs. Artavia Acklin 1:40 - Impact over income: why Mrs. Acklin chose to come back and teach in her small hometown 3:49 - Flashback to 1968! What 50 years has taught Tipton about teaching as a passion (and how its ministry goes hand-in-hand with Going Outside) 5:08 - “I just want the babies at school and to know that they’re safe.” How God called Mrs. Acklin and her staff to step out and extend love to immigrant families 8:40 - From tradition to technology: the one thing that Tipton says hasn’t changed in education since the sixties 10:50 - What inspired Lee the most about his conversation with Tipton 11:39 - Want some wisdom? What Mrs. Acklin and Tipton want to tell you about operating in the gray

What does it take to leave a lucrative career and start loving people in a completely foreign world? How does a willingness to follow God lead us outside of conventions, so much so that strip club owners become friends? In this interview, my wife, Rachel, sits down to answer those questions with Rachelle Starr, the founder of Scarlet’s Hope and Scarlet’s Bakery. Over the past ten years, Rachelle has followed God outside the gates to love those who society says are unlovable and to give a sense of worth to those who society says are worthless. Listen to this inspiring story of what happens when we abandon what we want and pursue what God wants. Episode Highlights 00:51 - How Rachelle learned to love people different from her 3:06 - The moment Rachelle was called to work with women in the sex industry (and her husband’s response) 4:23 - When churches didn’t step up, God stepped in 5:10 - What God told Rachelle that pushed her out of her comfort zone and into His will 7:02 - A woman’s response to Rachelle’s offer of a home-cooked meal 10:54 - The factors that contribute to women entering the sex industry 12:47 - What led to Rachelle quitting her successful career in marketing and starting Scarlet’s Hope 19:45 - How the bakery (Scarlet’s Bakery) serves the women of Scarlet’s Hope 23:20 - The one habit that helps transition the women from working in the club at night to working in the bakery during the day 25:36 - Teams in over 120 cities have been trained to reach women in the sex industry 25:01 - How you can get involved with Scarlet’s Hope 27:36 - The truth about why the sex industry exists 29:38 - The woman from the club who inspired the name “Scarlet’s Hope”

The older I get, the more I realize that for some of the big questions in life there’s not always a clear right or wrong answer. There are degrees to each answer, so much so that the answer looks gray, instead of a simple black or white. For this 6-part series, called Operating in the Gray, you’ll hear from leaders in all different kinds of occupations, from education and non-profit, to business and entertainment. The guests share how they’ve responded in situations that don’t have clear-cut, black and white answers, when the answer is found somewhere in the middle of right and wrong. When have you found yourself in a situation that didn’t have an easy answer? How did you respond? You’ll be encouraged as you walk through those questions and listen to others who are doing it alongside you. ------------ Episode Highlights 0:11 - When small business owners get stuck; what difference-makers ask themselves when things don’t go as planned 1:07 - How do we keep moving forward as God’s light in a chaotic world? (and who he’s inviting to help tackle that question) 2:08 - Why you should tune into Operating in the Gray (and how it will help you apply the Gospel into your life)

Every couple of months a group of Christian businessmen and leaders get together for something called “The Lunch.” It’s an informal gathering where someone shares about the ups and downs of operating in the business world, and how they navigate the gray areas. From real failures, like bankruptcy and family problems, to successes, like acquisitions and IPOs, the lunch is a safe place for these men to come together and talk about real life. Find out how it got started, why you can start something similar where you live, and what makes this different from any other “networking” event you’ve ever been to. 0:11 - What happens at the informal meeting called “The Lunch” 0:40 - How “The Lunch” started, and why 1:39 - The 3 key elements that make this gathering different from other networking groups 3:41 - How the term “netweaving” is different from “networking” 5:53 - The connection between generations that is hard to find somewhere else 8:04 - The mindset that allowed the lunch to flourish with a “hands-off” approach from the leaders 9:23 - Why Lee keeps coming to the lunch, even though it’s 45 minutes away 11:10 - The scripture that motivates Ryan Hilliard to connect people to each other 12:20 - The plan Jesus modeled regarding mentoring and leadership

As an Outsider called to be God’s love in a messy world, do you ever run into situations that have no clear right answer? In this episode, Lee opens up 1 Timothy and shares 3 things we should remember and implement in our daily ministry at work, challenging us to reflect upon how we can fight the good fight of our faith in a world that’s anything but black and white. Episode Highlights 0:10 - You’re not the only Outsider! The many entrepreneurs Lee has met after 20 years in real estate 0:35 - The 3 things 1 Timothy 6:12 is teaching Lee about fighting the good fight of our faith in the workplace 1:15 - Taking ahold of eternal life in the ordinary day-to-day 1:41 - A calling from work to church: Why what you do through the week is just as important as what you do on the weekends 2:26 - You are in the presence of many. Are you waiting for an opportunity to share Christ with someone? 3:41 - Introducing Operating in the Gray: an Outsider’s world is not black and white 4:54 - What gray-area looks like for Lee in the real estate world 5:52 - 240 days of gray. How do we fight the good fight of our faith in a world we can’t control?

The performing arts world is known for being difficult to live in as a follower of Christ. From deciding what shows to audition for to interacting with your co-workers to balancing family, there are plenty of situations that don’t have a clear black and white answer. That’s where Darian Sanders comes in. He’s a husband, father, cabaret performer, pastor and worship leader. With all of those responsibilities, he is constantly operating in the gray and has come on the show to share how he lives in all of those tensions. Episode Highlights 1:15 - What song Darian has performed the most (and who he performed in front of) 3:19 - How Darian become involved in singing (even though he played the trumpet) 6:21 - How Darian balances working on staff as a church with a calling to Go Outside 7:47 - The musical theater’s response to Darian having a family and being a minister 9:40 - Peanut butter, the University of Kentucky, and the Gospel 10:54 - What led Darian to give up a full-ride scholarship to the University of Kentucky 17:52 - What a woman said to Darian after his performance that provided much-needed confirmation 20:05 - Darian’s encouragement for you: “It’s not arrogant, but it’s authorized.” 25:20 - About Darian’s family and how he and his wife have decided to live their life

In this final episode of the Coffee House Sessions, we ask one last question to help us in our quest to develop a right perspective: Who gets the credit? How do we deny our instincts to glorify ourselves and instead surrender that glory to God? Thank you for walking alongside us in re-centering our perspective around Christ for 2018. Join us as we Go Outside and apply what God's revealed to us through this series in our day-to-day lives. Episode Highlights: 0:52 - No guts, no glory: do you have the guts to do something that doesn't give yourself glory? 1:56 - Why we're now free to serve 3:03 - Wrestling with how to give God glory in the workplace 4:34 - A few actions steps towards how we can surrender glory to God 5:43 - What seeking the right perspective is teaching Lee about being an Outsider and setting goals

Welcome back to the Coffee Table Sessions! In this episode, we continue in our discussion about how to gain the right perspective. Here, I share from John 7, a passage in which Jesus' own brothers resist His timetable. Join us as we open up about what we've learned about trusting God's timing and how it moves us closer towards a Christ-honoring perspective. Episode Highlights: 0:25 - John 7: Are we just like Jesus' brothers who tried to force their agenda and their way onto Him? 2:10 - What Lee left written on his whiteboard all 2017 as a reminder to check his perspective of God's timing 3:42 - How following God's timetable goes hand in hand with making Him the Boss

Welcome back to the Coffee Table Sessions! In this fourth episode, we pose the most convicting question yet in our search for a refreshed perspective: Who's the boss? Grab a cup of coffee and join us in some honest self-reflection: is God truly the Boss of your life? Have you been living as though you know better than He does? Do you recognize Him as the basis and essence of your perspective? Episode Highlights: 0:39 - How we, if we're the boss of our own lives, get in our own way of finding good perspective 1:13 - Why having God as our Boss is not a burden (even for independent people!) 3:10 - The hard question we need our friends to ask us if we want to make sustainable goals 3:41 - What if we're unhappy with the Boss and are ready to give up? 5:34 - John 6: Our human power is no match for God's spirit

Welcome to Part Three of the Coffee Table Sessions! In this episode, we look to John 6-7 for the second question in our search for better perspective in 2018: What's your end-game? Here, we get to the heart of what matters them and explore how having Godly end-goals can empower us live with an eternal perspective now. Episode Highlights: 0:24 - What Lee keeps posted in his office as a reminder of keeping good perspective 1:23 - Why Lee wants to hear from you 2:19 - How knowing your end game is key to setting your current goals 3:45 - What an eternal perspective looks like practically in the marketplace and in our finances 5:58 - Why Philip's end game is not to give himself away to corporate America 6:52 - Do you have a wildly important goal? 7:26 - What Lee is asking himself about his end game

In this second episode of the Coffee Table Sessions, Philip and I dive into the discussion of how we can live life from a daily perspective that glorifies God. I ask the first question on our journey to evaluate the current state of our perspective: What do we really believe about God? And later, I address the question that so many of us ask the Lord: What is the work you want me to do? Join Philip and me as we look more closely at how our beliefs about God directly impact the sustainability of the goals we set for this year. Episode Highlights: 0:32 - Why this century-old question is crucial for our journey towards a Christ-honoring perspective 1:45 - How Jesus answers our works-based question: "What is the work God wants me to do?" (It's not what you think!) 4:50 - How God the Sustainer gives our work on earth an eternal value and impact 6:25 - What a works-based mentality sounds like 7:05 - What we have to remember about who God is before we can turn our believing in Jesus into action

Welcome to the Coffee Table Sessions-where I walk alongside you through the 5 questions that will help us gain better perspective in 2018. In this episode, I share how my New Year's reflections brought me to realize I'd lost perspective in 2017. Why do we sometimes lose healthy perspective, and where do we even begin to rediscover it? We talk about all this and more in this week's episode! Episode Highlights: 0:40 - Lee reflects on losing his father one year ago 2:00 - How my end-of-the-year reflections led me to realize I'd lost perspective 3:30 - How thinking too much about ourselves endangers our perspective 4:58 - Why you should pursue good perspective before making goals for 2018 6:08 - Why Lee believes asking good questions is the first step to gaining the right perspective 9:14 - How poor perspective produces useless goals 9:52 - The 5 questions that will help us all find better perspective

After retiring from a successful career coaching baseball at the University of Kentucky, Coach Keith Madison found himself at a loss when he was asked what he was going to do next. In this interview, Coach Madison shares with us how a gravel road and big hands taught him a valuable truth about God, the five words players say that mean the most to him, and how God prepared him for work in the Dominican Republic. Perhaps what’s most important is that Coach Madison shares how he stays close to God.

Dan Lewis, Executive Director of the River Foundation, joins me to talk about how the best mentoring relationships are structured and what the Church can learn from leadership in the marketplace. Find out how the Millennial generation is changing the landscape of faith in the marketplace and so much more. Episode Highlights: 2:13 - How an office table serves as a reminder of the River Foundation’s mission 7:12 - Who taught Dan about mentoring, and what he did with what he learned 8:29 - The situation that forced Dan to take mentorship seriously 10:22 - How the best mentoring relationships are structured 12:36 - “Netweaving” instead of “networking” 13:56 - Why we’re all one generation away from the faith stopping, and what do to about it 14:34 - What the Church can learn from leadership in the marketplace 17:40 - How the Millennial generation is changing the landscape of faith in the marketplace

As we continue our series on mentorship, my wife, Rachel Webb, joins me to talk about the many things we have learned from our marriage mentors, Karl and Susan.  Their impact on our relationship is something that we’re thankful for every day. Episode Highlights: 3:15 - Most important things Rachel and Lee learned from their marriage mentors 4:22 - What Rachel learned early on about marriage 6:14 - The Bible verse that reminds them of their priorities. 7:52 - How vulnerability can break this destructive cycle 13:30 - Real dating vs. fake dating 15:39 - What being open with sin can do for your marriage 20:42 - How to slow down, and why it’s important 22:33 - When to talk about your spouse...and what to say 26:13 - Why the practice of drawing broad lines leads to a healthy marriage 30:49 - Sharing God’s truth with your spouse 35:29 - The question that keeps you connected to each other

For the Outsider, the Go-Getter, the passionate follower of Christ, it’s a challenge to slow down enough to pray.  And considering our dependence on God, prayer truly is the lifeblood of pursuing our God-given dreams.   With that in mind, I reached out to Curt Vernon to share with us how he has made prayer his primary activity, and what that means for us as we continue to Go Outside. Resources: Commonwealth City Church Book: “Go Outside” by Alton Lee Webb Episode Highlights: 2:10 – What it means to “pray for a living” 4:10 – “Instead of complaining from the outside, pray from the inside” 5:37 – How to make prayer your primary activity 7:00 – What happened when Curt took God at his word 11:23 – “Young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” – Psalm 34:10 12:46 – How to live by faith while also having a family, job, ministry… 16:40 – Lexington Prayer Room 16:58 – “He’s an always more, never less kind of God.”

So often, we look to the newest business model or successful ministry for a solution to our challenges. But what if we really just need a shift in perspective? This week, Daniel Im joins me to share from his new book, No Silver Bullets, five small shifts that will transform your ministry. As you listen to this interview, I think you'll find that what he shares applies to those of us who work in the marketplace as well.

Since the beginning of time, culture has always tried to define groups with labels and boxes: it's "us" versus "them," or some version of that. Thankfully, God has a way of breaking down those barriers like he did with my Mamaw, and my dear friend Marie Loving.  The culture told them they should never be friends. The beauty of their relationship is so much more than what first meets the eye. I learned so much from how they interacted and protected each other. I learned how to be open to appointments on God's calendar, regardless of what I had scheduled on mine. And I learned that the local church really is the best vehicle for shining a light a dark world. Thanks for spending a few minutes with me on the podcast. Do me a favor and share this with a friend who will find it valuable. Resources: - Book: Go Outside  Episode Highlights: 2:23 - The story of unlikely friends that has inspired hope for Lee 4:13 - How Marie Loving responded to criticism (and how it shaped the conversation) 5:11 - The catalytic moment for Lee, Mamaw, and Marie - and what it led to next 5:42 - How God uses his church to bring people together 7:03 - Where to look for God as you navigate the marketplace 8:03 - Why this financial strategy reflects faith in the local church 8:54 - How to be advocates for unity, in business and ministry

College is a time when many young adults decide for themselves what they believe about God and the Bible. Join in as I catch up with Brian Marshall - the leader of Christian Student Fellowship at the University of Kentucky - to hear about what is happening on campus.

When you’re leading an organization that ministers to the next generation, being self-aware and understanding of how the Gospel applies to students is absolutely critical. Brad Barnett leads Student Life, an interdenominational ministry that serves local churches through camps, mission trips, and retreats for youth. Listen to the conversation between Brad and myself--I think you’ll find it encouraging, empowering, and most importantly, you’ll walk away better equipped to serve with Gospel-intentionality.

Jesus said loving God is our greatest responsibility, and second to that is loving our neighbor. So what does it look like when our neighbor is a refugee? Refugees continue to remain a hot-button issue, in both our politics and our churches. What’s the best way to engage the issue? What happens to the families when they arrive on our shores? And how are we as Outsiders to respond? Listen in on my conversation with John Barnett, Executive Director of Refuge Louisville, an organization that empowers local churches to embrace refugees as their neighbors with the love of Christ.

Acts 2:44 talks about the believers having everything in common, sharing their resources with each other. And often, we think about our physical possessions and stop there. But what if we have more to offer? When Jesus went to the cross in our place, he didn’t give us clothes on our back, or a roof over our head. Instead, he used his influence with the Father to vouch for us. That’s something we can’t repay, and don’t deserve. But it is something we can emulate. When we approach networking from a kingdom mindset, we realize that the best thing we can do is share our network with someone else. In this week’s episode, I share 5 ways to share your influence. But more importantly, you’ll learn what Jesus’ action on the cross means for your network.

Outsiders end up in all kinds of different places. Sometimes we end up starting and leading a ministry that shows kids they’re loved; other times, we end up planting a church and writing a book. For our guest on this week’s episode, Going Outside led her to become the current Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky. This interview approaches public service from a Kingdom perspective and gives us an inside look at what happens when Going Outside takes you inside a public office.

There’s something exciting about hearing from a fellow Outsider, someone who is directly impacted by the message of Go Outside. This week I switched seats with Philip Devine and asked him to share where Go Outside is taking him, along with some key takeaways he’s learned so far. From how Outsiders can continue learning, to staying in a constant state of discomfort, you’ll learn the single most important principle about going outside, and 5 strategies to keep you focused on your vision. Episode Highlights: 2:19 - How we learn: caught vs taught 3:23 - Why the story matters 4:18 - How discomfort moves us forward 5:45 - The art of the ask: invest in the relationship, not the resource 6:39 - How the gospel informs our “why”

It started with a conversation with someone who was in the early stages of starting out. There were lot’s of things they needed, but there was something about the interaction that made me want to share about a shift in leadership that I’ve experienced over the past couple of years. Regardless of where we are on our journey Outside, we all experience similar situations: - asking a trusted advisor for advice - sharing our vision with a potential team member - stepping out when it’s easier to stay in When we start out, we start out as the “doers” — the “doers” of everything that needs to be done. But as we journey, there’s a noticable shift, one that is more than just building a team around us, or reading the newest book on leadership. Episode Highlights: 00:50 - Why leadership is more than just a buzzword 2:13 - The mentality that repels capable people from joining your team 3:02 - The wrong way to pitch your idea (and what do to instead) 4:49 - Identifying the ultimate Outsider 5:48 - The difference between being a leader and a doer 8:11 - The struggle every generation faces 10:32 - How your circumstance and context impacts your vision

While we might not admit it to others, we all have things we've done that make us feel like we're unqualified and unable to move forward with God's call on our life. But many times, the difference between those who make a difference and those who stay on the sidelines isn't how loud their voice is or how great their idea is...it's the freedom they've found in Christ that allows them to move forward. Diana Cahill, the executive director of ALC Shelbyville, is one of those people. She shares not just her incredible story, but the stories of women and their families as they navigate unplanned pregnancies. This is one story of an Outsider that will give you instant inspiration, and a clear call to action. Episode highlights: 2:33 - Diana shares her story of being pregnant and afraid at 18 4:47 - How the birth of one baby and the loss of another shaped her perspective of the future 5:43 - Why bad things that happen aren't punishment from God 6:44 - The song Diana clings to when she thinks about how she moved forward after multiple difficult periods in her life 10:09 - The craziest days at ALC Shelbyville, and how women are encouraged 12:28 - How abortion recovery includes the entire family unit (not just the women) 14:55 - The morning routine that Diana uses to prepare for her mission every day 25:44 - The answer to the question, "How do you know when you're 'outside'?"

There is one thing that everyone faces when they take the next step outside. Planning out every step won’t push this issue back, and your “why” isn’t enough to keep it at bay (more on that later). In fact, it’s a necessary part of going Outside, and following God’s call on your life. Whether you’re starting a business, taking next steps in your ministry, or leading out in the community, this feeling is something we all need to get comfortable with. Uncertainty. It’s not a good feeling, but it’s a reality that comes when we act in faith. In this episode, you’ll not only find practical strategies you can apply today, but paradigm shifting stories to help you move forward, despite the uncertainty. Episode Highlights: 02:37 - A true story of someone dealing with uncertainty 3:21 - The reason your “why” is unsustainable, and what you should look for instead 5:27 - How Jesus’ action on the cross can impact your business 7:10 - The “elephant principle,” and how to apply it 9:00 - Authentic community: how to find it, and why you need it

Harry Truman famously said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” If you’re like me, reading wasn’t a favorite pastime in high school and college. But over the years, that’s changed. Now I’ve got a stack of books I regularly work through; and while I can’t carve out hours at a time for reading, I can make incremental progress. But this is about more than the simple act of reading. As leaders, we’re constantly going to face new situations, some of which will have us scratching our heads, wondering how we got there in the first place. Regardless of if you’re in a new leadership role, or have been leading your organization or church for decades, there are books that have helped me in every season of leadership. They’re not all best sellers. In fact, they’re not all recently written. But they all speak to different stages and seasons we experience in our leadership, and creative ways that Outsiders before us have approached them. This week I share the 5 essential books for every season of leadership. Listen, get copies for yourself and your team, and then let me know what books are currently on your reading list, I’d love to hear from you!

I remember a conversation I had with someone I just met recently, and I asked this person what they do. As we got to know each other, it became clear that there wasn’t just “one” thing my friend did. In fact, they were involved in all facets of life, from family and church to politics and business. As leaders in marketplace ministry, it’s important that we put some thought into what we say when people ask, “What do you do?” It’s tempting to put ourselves in a box, and it’s usually the job we spend the most time on. But what if that question is really a springboard, and opportunity to take the conversation to another level? What if that question allows you the freedom to elevate it to a kingdom conversation? In this week’s episode, I share what a kingdom conversation is, what it looks like, how can you turn a regular conversation into a kingdom conversation, and more. Episode Highlights: 2:46 How the framework strengthens conversations 4:07 How differences of opinion become points of unity 5:14 The right way to ask questions 6:55 What leaders in marketplace ministry focus on

Marketplace ministry is becoming more and more of a buzzword, and for good reason: it’s a holistic view of living life as a follower of Christ, regardless of our immediate context.

Relationships are the building blocks of anything we do as Outsiders. As I reflect on how relationships have impacted me, I think about - My relationship with Christ, and how it drives everythingI do - My relationship with my wife, Rachel, and how we pursue each other and our dreams together - My relationship with my mom and dad, and how they gave me a heritage of faith and a firm foundation There are so many relationships that have had a positive and powerful impact on my life, and I’m sure you can think of many that have made a difference in your own life. There are some common themes that have been present in all of those relationships, all of which contributed to keeping them healthy. In this episode we discuss: - Interview with Wade Haga, leader of TND (Thursday Night Dinners) - What it feels like after you’ve pushed through the fear of starting - Three habits for healthy relationships - How to stabilize the vision as you get going - What it looks like to intentionally invest in relationships

As Outsiders who live on mission, we're constantly presented with opportunities to make a difference. But how do we go about deciding which opportunity is the the right opportunity? Find out how to filter opportunities, and uncover which ones you need to be "all-in" for.

When we're just getting starting, it's can be comforting to know that no one cares what we're doing. But what happens if people start caring? And why should we, as Outsiders, care? We also share three facts about fear, and how to over come them.

So often, fear causes us to feel a flood of emotions, and usually it culminates in inaction. But there’s a better way. In fact, Jesus beat back our fear when he defeated death and was resurrected…and he was just getting started! In this episode, we’ll share: - What Easter means for an Outsider (1:17) - How you can harness your fear and use it for action (3:23) - What someone born in 1927 can teach us about fear (5:10) - How to get over being scared, and recognizing opportunities (8:30)

There's always a reason (or 20) to quit. But who wants to be a quitter?

Another year, another opportunity to learn what it means to join Jesus outside the camp. Join Lee and Rachel as they discuss how they are starting off 2017.

So many of us hesitant starters dream up ways we can help people. But then life smacks us in the head and we remember that it's too complicated, we don't have the time or money and helping people is messy. But not Brook. Jump in as I sit down with an Outsider who is going and doing the thing that many of us dream about every day - building a global movement from scratch. *Brook Brotzman is the Founder and President of GO Ministries and has been actively involved in global partnerships since 1982. Spending time on the field, hearing the needs of local leaders, and knowing their passion to share the love of Christ with others is what started the vision of empowering local leaders in partnership to redeem, renew and restore. Brook resides in Louisville with his wife, Sandra, and daughters Gabrielle and Brianna.

College is a time when many of us are making decisions about what we want to do with our life and what we believe about God. Brian Marshall leads the largest campus ministry at the University of Kentucky. Join in as he shares about faith on the college campus.

Join in as I hang out with former University of Kentucky Basketball player and fan-favorite, Jarrod Polson, as we discuss the game, faith and his book - Living Beyond the Dream.

The Go Outside podcast welcomes Daniel Im. A true Outsider that serves as Director of Church Multiplication for New Churches and LifeWay Christian Resources. He's a Husband, Father, Author, and Teaching Pastor at The Fellowship, a multisite church in Nashville. Listen & Learn from Daniel...I know I did!

Bob Russell joins us on the Go Outside podcast to share about his new book, "After 50 Years of Ministry: 7 Things I’d Do Differently & 7 Things I’d Do The Same." He offers wisdom and perspective on all phases of ministry. Don't miss this one!

Learn how the Fedd Agency helped me finalize the book, Go Outside. Rachel and I became fast friends with these generous and highly talented professionals. They're the best - Listen in as we chat about what it takes to get a book done!

Lee and Rachel catch you up on the summer and talk about the exciting things coming for Go Outside this fall.

Interview with Esther Fedorkevich - Go Outside Podcast SO2E5 by Alton Lee Webb

The Local Church Goes Outside - Jay Hardwick Go Outside Podcast SO2E4 by Alton Lee Webb

How was the party? Go Outside Podcast SO2E3 by Alton Lee Webb