Transparent Christianity

Why do our hearts get so easily shaken when we fail? Why do we so easily distracted from following Jesus. In this podcast, I explain that the love of Christ for us and valuing that as the highest validation possible is the way we find stability in our soul and steadfastness in following Him. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/transparentchristianity/message

It is said of Jesus that the joy set before Him empowered Him through the suffering of the cross. In this podcast, I explore what it might look like to experience joy and suffering simultaneously. How do we understand the roles our mind, soul, and body play in the daily journey with Jesus. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/transparentchristianity/message

We need a healthy balance of perspective when we have tough days. It's OK to groan about our falling short of His glory. But we need to also remember from where we came and how much work the Holy Spirit has done already. In this episode, I talk about a working definition of glory and Paul's reflections in Romans 8 on the longing for our full redemption and glorification.

Over the last year I started to pray the words Jesus taught His disciples, slowly and meditatively. There have been a few discoveries in the process. In this episode, I talk through what I've learned by daily reflecting on His advice on how to talk to God and what to ask for.

As a believer in Jesus the Messiah, we are blessed with the fulfillment of many Old Testament promises. In this episode, I reflect on an ah-hah moment realizing we have in the bible what Old Testament kings and prophets longed to hear and greatly anticipated.

In this episode I tell the story of how God brought someone to mind in one of my dreams. After contacting the person, both of us were in awe of God's timing and increased faith for both of us through the experience.

In this episode, I talk about three different relationships we evaluate on a daily basis and how understanding intrinsic validation can impact those relationships positively.

Recently I've learned the importance of building one another up. Often times we can overlook what is good and dwell on the things that aren't as they should be. Intrinsic validation is a tool we can use to build bridges with others and correct our own negative thinking when observing others.

In Luke chapter 11, Jesus has a conversation with a Pharisee about moral conformity vs. heart transformation. It caused me to reflect on the cup analogy and the idea of pouring ourselves out for others. What do we do when we are too empty? How does God fill us? In this episode, I kick around some of those thoughts

In this episode, I share some of my favorite times when I saw God clearly answering my prayers or used me to bless others. They have become my memorial stones to help me remember that even though God seems silent now, He is always listening and will respond in the future.

When we learn that good relationships are more valuable than accomplishments and accolades, we must embark on a difficult journey. Our heads "get it", but our hearts take a little longer to work out the details. In this episode, I talk a little about my self discovery on that journey and the heart wrestling that has occurred when I choose to surrender my talents to be a father and husband.

Many times I wonder why God doesn't answer my prayers, especially when we see so many miracles in the New Testament. In this episode, I share a little ah-hah moment putting context around the miracles we see Jesus performing and why we don't see miracles now with the same frequency.

In this episode, I share my struggle to find the fine line between absolute dependence on God, and too much independence from others. God wants us in relationships to experience His grace and His love in tangible ways.

We love God, but we may not always be "in love" with Him. Many things can distract us from His goodness. In this episode, I talk a little about my struggle with a dry spell in my relationship with Him.

In this episode, I share my thoughts on what is the driving factor behind lust. Do those desires, rightly interpreted, clue us in to a proper relationship with God and knowing His heart for us?

"What if I'm pursuing pleasure in God and I feel nothing?" In this episode, I talk a little about the importance of Christian discipline on the journey to finding delight in God.

I recently had a very valuable conversation with a friend who struggles deeply with the meaning of suffering. He offered me his perception of God that has formed as a result of the kind of suffering he's been through. In this episode, I offer an alternative view to his perception for reflection.

A reflection on how the understanding that God is the highest of highs and the best of all goods can create a greater assurance in your heart. I talk about how earthly glories can help us to see God's glory more clearly.

As I was reading through Jeremiah 10 and 11 this morning, I had a helpful reflection on why God's glory is more important to me now than it ever has been. There are areas of my heart that are still idolatrous, but God is healing those areas one by one. His love endures forever.

I've been thinking through the biblical narrative in view of God's glory being His most important goal. Sometimes we can get lost in the weeds of day to day Christianity. In this episode, I think out loud about how God seeks to show His goodness and character in creation and throughout scripture.

We often think that God's most important goal is our salvation. But this mindset actually robs us of deeper joy and can lead to self centered living.

True freedom in life is having joy regardless of our circumstances. How can we find that kind of freedom and what does it look like? I make the case that this freedom is found only in the Christian God and is found when pursuing joy and pleasure in Him alone. As we discover His beauty and His soul satisfying presence, His truth sets us free.

God is constantly revealing Himself to us as we seek to know Him and become more like Him. I wanted to share a little bit of my recent journey in how He has worked in my heart to open my eyes to see Him more clearly.