Podcasts about Everyday life

Learn more about the Hebrew Months and Feasts of the Lord: https://curtlandry.com/hebrewmonths 5787 Hebrew Calendar: http://curtlandry.com/calendar Do you know what time it is in God's Kingdom?In this episode of the Curt Landry Podcast, Rabbi Curt and Pastor Michael talk about integrating the Hebrew calendar into everyday life, not as a form of legalism but as a spiritual rhythm.The Feast Days are described as everlasting ordinances unto God Himself – His appointed times and seasons. The gift of Sabbath set a Creation, and the Hebrew months show patterns, cycles, and insights that are part of the inheritance of every grafted-in Believer.Aligning with God's calendar and coming into greater awareness of His times and seasons is not an obligation or legalism, but a homecoming – an invitation to crawl, walk, run into a deeper life with Him.Join Rabbi and Pastor Michael as they share the cycle of the Feasts and their unfolding purpose, practical resources to learn more, and how aligning with God's appointed times establishes a legacy of Kingdom purpose, faith, and identity for your family.#ChristianPodcast #TheCurtLandryPodcast #HebrewCalendar #JewishRoots #BiblicalTeaching #FeastsoftheLord

Health insurance is one of the biggest questions standing between you and leaving your job, and for a lot of families, it's the reason one spouse never does. In this episode, I welcome back Jordan Grumet, hospice physician, host of the Earn & Invest podcast, and author of Taking Stock, The Purpose Code, and his newest book, The Healthcare Heist. Jordan lost his father, a physician, when he was seven and made it his mission to become a doctor like him. Once he got there, he burned out fast, and financial independence became his way out. He breaks down what healthcare really costs once you leave an employer plan, how long-term care can drain a family's assets, and how insurers, drug companies, and private equity have pulled money out of the system. Jordan makes the case that real change starts when doctors and patients share their stories and push for reform together. Until then, there are practical steps you can take now, from appealing insurance denials to planning for long-term care early. In this episode, Jordan Grumet shares: Why healthcare is one of the biggest obstacles to financial independence and early retirement The limits of ACA subsidies, health sharing ministries, Medicare Advantage, and Medigap plans How long-term care costs, Medicaid spend-downs, and the five-year lookback affect families Everyday ways to protect yourself, from appealing denials to choosing generics and physician-owned practices What's New in the Paperback Edition of Your Journey to Financial Freedom: A bonus chapter: When Life Happens: Staying on the Path to Financial Freedom Through Setbacks, Shifts, and Uncertainty A book club and discussion guide with prompts, exercises, and action steps Updated corrections from the original hardcover Exclusive bonuses when you purchase the paperback, including: The Fire Starter Course The Find Your FIRE Number Worksheet Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: The Healthcare Heist: jordangrumet.com/books Taking Stock and The Purpose Code: jordangrumet.com/books Episode 281, Lessons About Living From the Dying: journeytolaunch.com/episode281 Episode 407, Building a Life of Purpose & Finding Meaning in Everyday Life: journeytolaunch.com/episode407 The White Coat Investor: whitecoatinvestor.com Health Insurance Marketplace: healthcare.gov Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Jordan Grumet: Website Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

Most ambition advice is about how to reach the top of the mountain. Luke Burgis points out that many of us have an upstream problem: we're climbing a mountain we don't actually care about. Michael and Megan sit down with Burgis, a Wall Street suit turned entrepreneur turned philosopher, father, and author of several books on desire. They unpack why not all desires are created equal, how to unearth the ones that lead to real satisfaction, and what the monastic tradition offers those of us who will never be monks. This conversation gives you a way to separate what you actually want from the noise of mimetic desire.Memorable Quotes“Ambition without a sense of self or a differentiation of self is just a highly sophisticated form of conformity.”“You can get really good at achieving goals without wondering whether they're the right goals in the first place.”“A simple exercise is just: Name the models of your desire. Who are the people who have given you your own desires?”“One of the easiest ways to kind of determine whether a desire is thin or thick is: Does it persist through different seasons of life, through different environments, through different friend groups, through different relationships?”“A lot of people go straight to productivity and organization… before asking the most important question: Should I even be trying to integrate this at all?”“Each person has an unrepeatable calling, something that only they can do with their unique history and situation and context. I think our thickest desire is oriented towards living out of a personal vocation... Thick desire is a signpost to a calling which can be lived out in and through our work.”“Being in communion means learning how to be a differentiated self with a calling while also being part of something bigger. And sometimes that creates a little bit of tension, and our instinct is to flee any form of tension or any anxiety. And I think there's a lot to be learned from sitting in the tension to be a part and to be oneself.”“Which kinds of communities and groups flatten any kind of distinctiveness? And which ones actually allow people to evolve and to be part of the whole, or to be part of the body without demanding that they be something that they're not, or demanding that they sacrifice their integrity?”Key TakeawaysYour Ambition Might Be Borrowed. Mimetic desire means we absorb what we want from the people we watch. Whose careers do you track closely, with mixed feelings? Naming our models of desire creates helpful distance for effective discernment.Thin Desires Are Short-Lived. We might feel thin desires strongly, but they erode when the context shifts. A thick desire persists across seasons, relationships, and jobs. Write down what you want, then wait: Is the desire durable?The Tension of Communion. Being in communion requires being a differentiated self and participating in the larger whole—which creates an enduring, unresolvable tension. We must have the courage to decide who we will be without fleeing or falling into crowd instinct.Every Check Comes with Terms. A financially sound decision can still be the wrong one if it commits you to work you don't believe in. When there's money on the line, weigh the funder's desires for alignment with your own before you agree to terms. You Might Need a Rule. There's a reason the Rule of Saint Benedict has governed communal life for fifteen hundred years. Setting your own rules of engagement within your organization or just for yourself can equip you to navigate complex situations before you're in the middle of one.Discernment is a Community Endeavor. Blind spots are invisible from the inside. Recruit the people closest to you—whether within formal groups or informal relationships—to offer feedback on complex decisions. (But be sure to filter for communities that invite you to become yourself rather than requiring conformity.)ResourcesWanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life by Luke BurgisThe One and the 99: Forging Identity in the Age of Social Contagion by Luke BurgisUnrepeatable: Cultivating the Unique Calling of Every Person by Luke Burgis and Joshua Millerlukeburgis.comThe Courage to Be by Paul TillichLifeFocusThis episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound

Send us Fan MailMost people think dominance and submission means a dungeon full of gear, and they never get past the shopping list.This week I'm showing you the part that actually builds the heat. This is a foundational episode with power-exchange couple Auntie Carmen, the Desire Midwife, and her dom Linwood, the "dom domestic" who cooks, runs the house, and hands the power right back to her. You almost never get both halves of a real D/S couple in one room being this honest, and they hold nothing back (there's a zucchini story you won't forget).In this episode, I break down:Why the feeling you're chasing matters way more than the gear, and how to name itHow to figure out what you actually want, even if you always say "I don't know"The everyday rituals that keep the dynamic running all day long, no toys requiredDominance through service, and how to flip who's in chargeWhy this is the fix for sex that's started to feel like one more jobThe golden rules: consent, building slow, and never a cold spankBy the end, you'll have a real on-ramp into power exchange instead of a scary idea you never act on, and it's landing just in time for Kinktober.Want to see the full conversation? The video version is on my website, and you can grab every toy, lube, and discount code I mention in my e-newsletter at talksexwithannette.com. My listeners should never pay full price for their pleasure. Until next time, I'll see you in the locker room. Cheers.Guest: Auntie Carmen, the Desire Midwife, Find her at: https://shameproofyourdesires.com/ Insta: @shameproofyourdesires.The Masterclass: https://midcenturymischief.com/Sign up for my e-newsletter here:https://she-explores-life.ck.page/8a1d9ba932Want the full written guides? Read them here:

This week, Pastor John takes us through Acts 2:42–47 as we look deeper into the five identities of a disciple: worshiper, family member, servant, steward, witness. Ultimately, disciples of Jesus don't just believe differently—they live differently.

The fruit of our lives is expressed in words and actions. Everyone will produce some kind of fruit, whether it is good or bad. Abiding in Christ offers us all we need to have a harvest of good from our lives. However, living disconnected from Jesus will result in fruit that looks like the world. We will be identified by the fruit of our lives.

This episode explores the deep connection between mathematics and creativity, highlighting how they serve as different expressions of the same fundamental principles.

Join us for a compelling conversation on The Brand Called You as Ashutosh Garg interviews Delphin Kyubwa, Branch Chief at the California Department of Technology, AI researcher, adjunct professor of computer science, and author of Make Sense of AI: A Simple, Practical Guide for Everyday Life, Work, and Business.In this episode, Delphin Kyubwa shares his motivation for making AI accessible to everyone, explains why AI literacy is an important civic skill, and explores the key differences between AI and human intelligence.The conversation also examines the importance of human judgment in the era of AI, common mistakes people make when using tools such as ChatGPT, and how organizations can balance innovation with governance and ethics.Drawing on his experience in both America and Africa, Delphin Kyubwa discusses how AI can affect developing nations differently and offers perspectives on how people from diverse backgrounds can learn to navigate AI in everyday life and work.If you're looking for practical perspectives on AI, insights into responsible technology use, and a deeper understanding of AI's role in everyday life and business, don't miss this episode!

Feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, or like you're constantly trying to keep up? In this episode, Andrea sits down with birth doula, birthing educator, and Happy Birthing AZ owner Rachelle Navarro to break down nervous system regulation and why it matters far beyond pregnancy and birth. They talk about recognizing when you're stuck in fight or flight, simple tools to help you feel more grounded, the role of breathing, affirmations, support, and even changing your environment, plus how these same practices can support women through pregnancy, labor, postpartum, and the everyday stressful seasons of life.Make Fit Simple is sponsored by KION Go to Getkion.com/simple for 20% off. Andrea highlights Kion's creatine, essential amino acids and protein powder and shares a 20% off offer. Episode resources: Follow Rachelle in IG @rachelle_happybirthing.azhttps://www.happybirthingaz.com/Join my newsletter!  https://www.deliciouslyfitnhealthy.com/emlsFollow the Make Fit Simple Podcast@MakeFitSimplePodcastHave a suggestion for a topic click HEREHave a suggestion for a guest click HERENEW! Leave a question for Andrea HERE on SpeakPipe!Follow Andrea on Instagram@deliciouslyfitnhealthy@dfh.training.picsTraining & Coachinghttps://www.deliciouslyfitnhealthy.com/linksVisit Andrea's Websitewww.deliciouslyfitnhealthy.comProduced by Light On Creative Productions 

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:1-2

After moving abroad for studies, Minh Anh came to know Jesus as her Saviour. Moving back home to Vietnam, she explains the opportunities to share Jesus with her colleagues, as well as the challenges of being a Christian.

‘Choiceless awareness is a state of mind that sees what actually is taking place, factually, without any condemnation or justification.' This episode on Choiceless Awareness has three sections. The first extract (2:43) is from Krishnamurti's first talk in New Delhi 1967, and is titled: Choiceless Awareness in Everyday Life. The second extract (15:06) is from the first question and answer meeting in Saanen 1984, and is titled: Choiceless Awareness Ends the Brain's Recording. The final extract in this episode (30:40) is from Krishnamurti's fifth talk in Amsterdam 1968, and is titled: Awareness of the Whole of Life. The Krishnamurti Podcast features carefully selected extracts from his talks. Each episode highlights Krishnamurti's different approaches to universal and timeless themes relevant to everyday life, the state of the world and the future of humanity. This episode's theme is Choiceless Awareness. Upcoming themes are The Timeless and the Eternal, Ignorance and Blindness, and Non-violence. This is a podcast from Krishnamurti Foundation Trust, based at Brockwood Park in the UK, which is also home to the Krishnamurti Retreat Centre. Situated in the beautiful countryside of the South Downs National Park, The Krishnamurti Centre offers retreats individually and in groups. The focus is on inquiry in light of Krishnamurti's teachings in a conducive atmosphere. Please visit krishnamurticentre.org.uk for more information, including our volunteer programme. You can also find our regular Krishnamurti quotes and videos on social media at Krishnamurti Foundation Trust.

We move away from animal issues this time for 100 minutes of free-range conversation (excuse the pun) and accessible psychology with film analysis legend Rob Ager.   This discussion actually took place face-to-face in Rob's house in Liverpool in August, quite a rarity for podcasts nowadays, and the idea was to pool our wealth of collective knowledge and experience to offer some useful and hopefully inspiring ideas, covering both the inner and outer truth strands of this podcast.   On the inner truth side, there are nods to the role of narratives in our lives, the roles we play, class & cultural issues, shame, humour, self-education, truth through disorders and keys to happiness. In terms of outer truth, we discuss among other things office politics, media narratives, 9/11 and its crisis-managed aftermath   Rob also talks about his interesting background (partly through films) and we briefly touch on previous LALO topics of interest, namely Southport, Lucy Letby and the establishment's favourite weapon against dissidents, the phrase ‘conspiracy theory'   Finally, we discuss alternative ‘New Hollywood' 70s films and the surprising effect that dark material and our own demons can have on us   Hope you enjoy it!   Feedback to lifeandlifeonlypod@gmail.com   Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/lifeandlife75   Twitter https://twitter.com/lifeonly75   Support the show at: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno   Antony's website (blog, music, podcasts, life coaching)  https://www.antonyrotunno.com   Antony's John Lennon podcast https://glassoniononjohnlennon.com   If you are interested in very affordable Life Coaching, or know someone who might be, you can contact Antony on lifeandlifeonlypod@gmail.com   Rob's website & you tube channels https://www.collativelearning.com/   https://www.youtube.com/@collativelearning https://www.youtube.com/@robag555 https://www.youtube.com/@robagergames   episode notes Rob on Billy Moore's podcast (Liverpool background & films) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lPYhqvd1Ns   Coppola on Rumblefish https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoeBFpbDH_0   Tom Brown's School Days (1951) full film colourised https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axeanYQOPlM   I Swear (2025 film about Tourette's) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31514146/   Barry Morrow on his script for Rain Man https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnoffZoQmuw   Rob on how to manage your boss (includes the 2007 Rob Ager!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIm3epFU2Tw   Robert Greene books (The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction & The Laws of Human Nature) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1303.The_48_Laws_of_Power https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20995.The_Art_of_Seduction https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39330937-the-laws-of-human-nature   The Power of Nightmares (Adam Curtis) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxBbw13Y3Gc&list=PLtsknc8NVnKMWXbxbm5STDuaBoxrYEtjk&index=25   Manufacturing Consent (Noam Chomsky) https://zeitgeistfilms.com/film/manufacturingconsent   Moviedrome documentary (cult films) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuA_m2llcRQ   Antony appears on a review of ‘Capricorn One' https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/b862b31f-5020-4bf0-98a9-0440f526de1f/id/42329730   Bill Hicks- It's Just A Ride https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgzQuE1pR1w   The Boy Who Cried Wolf (Aesop's fable) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9YllX5eeKY

No plane ticket. No ministry degree. Maybe just a grocery line, a neighbor who needs dinner, and enough margin to actually notice. What does living on mission in everyday life look like when your calendar is already gasping for air? Trevor and Tanya Kravick join Cheryl Shumake on FamilyLife Today to talk about finding purpose right where you are—and bringing your kids along for the ride. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/84/29?v=20251111

John Veal, Senior Pastor of Enduring Faith Christian Center in Chicago, discusses what spiritual warfare looks like in everyday life, how Christians can recognize spiritual attacks and deception, and how to respond through prayer, Scripture and faith.    https://johnveal.org/

What if some of the sorrow, fear, and uncertainty we experience comes not from our circumstances, but from the thoughts we've learned to believe? This week, Heather is joined by life coach Jen Maher to explore Isaiah through the lens of coaching and everyday life. Starting with Isaiah's promise that the Lord can give us "rest from thy sorrow," Heather and Jen talk about what it means to recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost, find peace even when life feels chaotic, and question the thoughts that pull us away from who God tells us we are. In this episode, you'll hear: How recognizing peace can help us become more aware of the Spirit Why you don't have to believe every thought that enters your mind How thoughts influence our feelings, actions, results, and beliefs Why our worth in God's eyes doesn't rise and fall with our successes or failures How Isaiah's imagery of the desert blossoming like a rose can teach us about our own spiritual growth Heather and Jen also explore how coaching tools can help us better understand our brains, regulate our reactions, cultivate Christlike love, and become more intentional about the thoughts we choose to believe. As you study Isaiah this week, consider where God may be inviting you to find rest, question an old belief, or blossom into more of who He already knows you can become. And if you'd like support doing that work in your own life, visit LDSLifeCoaches.com to connect with a coach who can help. For more information about and for links to access all Jen has to offer, please click HERE. View on YouTube, go HERE. For more information and available downloads, go to: https://ldslifecoaches.com/ All content is copyrighted to Heather Rackham and featured coaches. Do not use without permission. Niche: Mindset Coach Find out more about Jen Maher HERE. Find this Interview on YouTube, HERE Come Follow Me Lesson: Isaiah 12-14; 22; 24-30; 35 HERE

The Great Commission isn't only carried out on mission trips,…

Big K Hour 02: Following Meta's big lawsuit loss, they have just released a brand new AI agent with the goal of assisting every day life. full 1415 Tue, 22 Sep 2026 13:19:03 +0000 k0KwSPmbGI0fKCCDXGIOAZl1RDsdXBPi news The Big K Morning Show news Big K Hour 02: Following Meta's big lawsuit loss, they have just released a brand new AI agent with the goal of assisting every day life. The Big K Morning Show 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc.

Indian politics is deeply complicated, and existing frames don't do it justice. Srikrishna Ayyangar joins Amit Varma in episode 453 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss the deep dives he has made in the field, including with innovative methods like set theory. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also check out: 1. Srikrishna Ayyangar on LinkedIn, Amazon and NLSIU. 2. A Logic of Populism: India and Its States -- Srikrishna Ayyangar. 3. Administrative Analysis -- Christopher Hood. 4. The Burden of Democracy -- Pratap Bhanu Mehta. 5. The Republic of Apathy (2007) -- Amit Varma. 6. Manish Sabharwal is a Good Ancestor -- Episode 451 of The Seen and the Unseen. 7. 300 Ramayanas — AK Ramanujan. 8. Can Economics Become More Reflexive? — Vijayendra Rao. 9. Biju Rao Won't Bow to Conventional Wisdom — Episode 392 of The Seen and the Unseen. 10. Shaping the Political Arena -- Ruth Berins Collier and David Collier. 11. A Certain Idea of Europe -- Craig Parsons. 12. Building State Capability: Evidence, Analysis, Action -- Matt Andrews, Lant Pritchett and Michael Woolcock. 13. From Strength to Strength — Arthur Brooks. 14. The Age of the Partial Outsider — Janan Ganesh. 15. State Building: Governance and World Order in the 21st Century — Francis Fukuyama. 16. John Collison's tweet on the world being a museum of passion projects. 17. The Structures of Everyday Life -- Fernand Braudel. 18. The Design of Everyday Things -- Don Norman. 19. What is Populism? — Jan-Werner Müller. 20. Why Both Modi and Trump are Textbook Populists (2017) -- Amit Varma. 21. The Populist Playbook — Episode 42 of Everything is Everything. 22. The Populist Zeitgeist -- Cas Mudde. 23. Populism: Its Meaning and National Characteristics -- Ghita Ionescu and Ernest Gellner. 24. The Macroeconomics of Populism in Latin America -- Rudiger Dornbusch and Sebastian Edwards. 25. Populism: Concepts in the Social Sciences -- Paul Taggart. 26. A Tale of Two Cities -- Charles Dickens. 27. Neoliberalism and the Transformation of Populism in Latin America: The Peruvian Case -- Kenneth Roberts. 28. Populism: What's in a Name? -- Ronaldo Munck. 29. Kiran Ahluwalia Finds Our Aam Zameen -- Episode 328 of The Seen and the Unseen. 30. Facts Don't Matter. Stories do (2016) -- Amit Varma. 31. Barack Obama roasting Donald Trump. 32. A Life in Indian Politics — Episode 149 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Jayaprakash Narayan). 33. Radically Networked Societies — Episode 158 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Pranay Kotasthane). 34. Populism and Hindu Nationalism in India -- Ashutosh Varshney, Srikrishna Ayyangar and Siddharth Swaminathan. 35. The Logic of Social Science -- James Mahoney. 36. Ethnicity and Populist Mobilization -- Narendra Subramanian. 37. A Sixth Of Humanity: Independent India's Development Odyssey -- Devesh Kapur and Arvind Subramanian. 38. Raja Yoga -- Swami Vivekananda. 39. Evolution of Pragmatism in India, The: An Intellectual Biography of BR Ambedkar -- Scott Stroud. This episode is sponsored by CTQ Compounds. Check out The Daily Reader and FutureStack. Use the code UNSEEN for Rs 2500 off. Amit Varma, Shruti Rajagopalan and Pranay Kotasthane have just started a new YouTube Show called Watching the Wheels. You must watch it. You must! You simply must!! It's mast!!! Amit Varma runs a course called Life Lessons, which aims to be a launchpad towards learning essential life skills all of you need. For more details, and to sign up, click here. And have you read Amit's newsletter? It's madly active right now! Subscribe right away to The India Uncut Newsletter! It's free! Also check out Amit's online course, The Art of Clear Writing. Episode art: 'Rally' by Simahina.

Teaching from Ephesians 2:1–10, Chrissy Cole explains the biblical order of grace, faith, and good works. Discover what it means to be God's workmanship, allow Him to form you, and serve from the security of knowing you are already accepted and valuable in Christ. (00:00) - The Made for More Series (01:06) - A Work in Progress (06:04) - The Riches of God's Grace (09:03) - Grace Comes First (10:20) - Faith Is the Result of Grace (15:15) - Works Versus Good Works (16:29) - Good Works Are Evidence of Faith (18:13) - Three Tests for Good Works (21:31) - Grace Works from the Outside In (23:36) - You Are God's Workmanship (27:35) - Allow God to Use Your Gifts (29:16) - Allow God to Form You (34:45) - Allow God to Shape Your Purpose (37:16) - Servanthood in Everyday Life (41:44) - You Serve Because You Are Valuable

Life moves fast and it's easy to miss the joy in the everyday moments. In this episode of Elevate the Day, we explore why choosing joy is less about your circumstances and more about your perspective. From gratitude journals to celebrating small wins, they share practical ways to embrace the life God has given you right now, not someday.Key Topics:• Choosing joy as a daily decision• Finding contentment in every season• The importance of celebrating milestones• Letting the joy of the Lord be your strengthScripture Reference: "Now godliness with contentmentis great gain." (1 Timothy 6:6 NKJV)

Many of today's sailors are between 18 and 24 years old and Navy leaders are rethinking whether traditional shore-side dining facilities still meet their expectations. A pilot program in Gulfport is built around more choice, fresher food and a greater focus on nutrition. Here with the details is Capt. Tate Metlen, Installation Commanding Officer of Naval Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tired of being told how to breathe? This one barely says a word. Nothing to get right, nothing to get wrong.About 10 minutes with Steven Webb's calm voice and music underneath. Mostly quiet.No one tells you where to put your hands. We just sit together and do very little. Your mind will wander off, to the shopping or what's for tea, and that is fine. That is what minds do. We notice we've been away and come back to this moment. That isn't failing at meditation. That is the practice. Near the end, a minute of just listening, doing nothing with what you hear. Meditation doesn't have to be complicated. It can be done just by becoming aware.Treat me to a coffee, keep the podcast free, and get my Weekly Calm every Sunday. It is all on stevenwebb.ukThank you for sitting with me.StevenStevens new course: Finding Peace in Everyday Life (you choose how much to pay)Support Stevens work and links to other podcasts: stevenwebb.ukDonate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Buy Steven a coffee

Join Jeff Lakin (Elder team) as we continue our sermon series, How to Hear God: Listening to Jesus in Everyday Life.

It's Mailbag Friday! You've got questions, we've got answers. Segment 1 • What questions should I be asking if I'm interested in dating a girl who's a Messianic Jew? — Jonathan • My church's music is showy and the preaching isn't very exegetical. Is that enough reason to leave? — Ryan Segment 2 • How does a wife biblically submit to a husband who has proven himself foolish with finances? — Anonymous • When should the men and elders of a church step in to protect and care for a woman struggling in her marriage? Segment 3 • I suffer from a debilitating condition that makes it nearly impossible to work or keep up with things around the house. Am I the sluggard Scripture warns about? — Tom • When you physically can't do what you want to do, how should the church come alongside you? Segment 4 • My epilepsy medication keeps me from feeling joy. If I can't experience the joy of Christ, am I still saved? — Joe • Is it wrong to turn the Bible into a sport through Bible quizzing? — Anonymous • Should churches ask someone with disruptive Tourette's to leave the sanctuary during the service? — Anonymous Preorder Todd Friel's new book, Go Serve Your King: The Key to Extraordinary Purpose in Everyday Life, available December 1. Preorder your copy at https://FortisInstitute.org/King ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn't be more thankful for you if we tried!

In this episode, Jonah Berger explains why we fight the changes we know we need. Jonah explains why pushing harder, piling on more reasons, or simply telling ourselves what we “should” do can actually create more resistance. Instead, he shares how identifying and removing the barriers to change can make transformation easier and more sustainable. They explore why small steps are often more effective than dramatic ones, how to work with our natural resistance, the hidden cost of staying with what's “good enough,” and how the people around us quietly shape our choices. ⁠Good Wolf Reminders⁠ A little wisdom, right when you need it. Start receiving free text reminders designed to help you pause, reflect, and take meaningful action. Sign up at ⁠oneyoufeed.net/sms.⁠ Key Takeaways: Why pushing harder can actually make change more difficult How identifying barriers can make change easier Why giving ourselves choices reduces resistance How to turn a “should” into something we actually want to do Why starting small can be more effective than making a dramatic change How noticing the gap between what we say and what we do can motivate change Why “good enough” can keep us stuck longer than something that's clearly bad How the immediate costs of change can overshadow its long-term benefits Why other people influence our choices more than we realize How becoming aware of those influences helps us choose them more intentionally For full show notes, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠How a Little Becomes a Lot: The Art of Small Changes for a More Meaningful Life⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is available now! Order your copy today! If you enjoyed this conversation with Jonah Berger, you might also enjoy these other episodes: Mimetic Desires in Everyday Life with Luke Burgis Effectively Thinking Ahead with Bina Venkataraman This episode is sponsored by: ⁠⁠⁠Monarch⁠⁠⁠: Take control of your finances with Monarch, the all-in-one personal finance app that helps you budget, track spending, monitor investments, and work toward your financial goals. Get 50% off your first year of Monarch Core, go to https://www.monarch.com/ and enter Promo Code: FEED ⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Refresh your wardrobe with Quince by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince.com/feed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. ⁠⁠⁠⁠ZocDoc⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Taking care of your health just got easier – ⁠⁠⁠⁠start here with Zocdoc⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shopify⁠⁠⁠⁠ – The commerce platform that helps you build, grow, and manage your business all in one place. Start your $1/month trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠shopify.com/feed.⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pebl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – an AI-powered platform that helps companies hire and manage global teams in 185+ countries. Get a free estimate at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hipebl.ai⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiny Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‘s at-home gut health test provides science-backed insights into your microbiome, along with personalized recommendations to help you improve your digestion, energy, and overall well-being. Get $50 off your first test kit at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ tinyhealth.com/FEED⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ButcherBox:⁠⁠⁠⁠ Make dinnertime easier with ButcherBox, delivering high-quality 100% grass-fed beef, organic chicken, wild-caught seafood, and more, right to your door. Get $20 off your first box, plus your choice of free ground beef for life or free chicken thighs or top sirloins for a year, with free shipping always. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠ButcherBox.com/FEED⁠⁠⁠⁠ to claim your offer. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkiatry⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ connects you with licensed psychiatrists for personalized, evidence-based mental health care, all online and covered by most major insurance plans. To get matched with an in-network psychiatrist in just a few minutes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkiatry.com/FEED.⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Christian nationalism the biblical answer to a culture moving further from God? Todd works through Phil Johnson's case against Christian nationalism, examining Scripture, church history, political power, and what Jesus actually commissioned His church to do. Segment 1 • What did John MacArthur really mean when he said there is “no such thing” as Christian nationalism? • How can you distinguish ordinary Christian patriotism from Christian nationalism? • The movement has some troubling voices, but Todd says there's an even bigger problem: Is it biblical? Segment 2 • What happens when the church gains the political power to enforce Christian values? • Christian nationalism isn't new. What can its track record teach us? • Before embracing a “Christian nation,” consider what happened when Christians actually tried to build one. Segment 3 • Who is supposed to establish Christ's kingdom on earth: the church or Christ Himself? • Are Christians fighting a political war or a spiritual one? • Laws can restrain evil, but can political power actually change the people you're trying to change? Segment 4 • Was Jesus a Christian nationalist? His response to Peter's sword offers an important clue. • Want a more moral country? Changing behavior without changing hearts won't get you there. • Todd offers a different strategy for creating a more Christian nation: go make disciples. Preorder Todd Friel's new book, Go Serve Your King: The Key to Extraordinary Purpose in Everyday Life, available December 1. Preorder your copy at https://FortisInstitute.org/King ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn't be more thankful for you if we tried!

Questions? Comments? Text Us!A piece of music, a friendship, a moment in nature, a struggle with suffering, a quiet stretch of contemplation, or a remark made almost in passing can become a point of contact with something larger than ourselves.In this special episode, Jerry L. Martin considers theology as an inquiry into divine or ultimate reality. Particles are ultimate in physics. Leibniz had his monads. Jerry is interested in the kind of ultimate reality that has, or ought to have, a gravitational pull on our lives.Religious traditions offer rich glimpses of that reality, alongside philosophy, literature, depth psychology, art, music, love, friendship, suffering, and the demands that arise unexpectedly in the course of a life. A calling may be one of those moments. So may a clue, a nudge, or something said by a friend at exactly the right time.Spiritual discernment means learning to notice those glimmers and take them seriously without losing the ability to question them. Jerry considers projection, fantasy, groupthink, and the assumptions we bring to our own experience, while also asking what can be missed when doubt becomes the starting point for everything.His “epistemics of trust” offers another possibility: an open mind, an open heart, and a willingness to let experience teach us. No one can take in everything. The task is more personal than that: to recognize the breadcrumbs along your own path and follow them as faithfully as you can.Jerry L. Martin is the founder of Theology Without Walls, a cooperative, constructive, trans-religious theological project devoted to understanding ultimate reality as fully as possible. Its premise is that revelation, enlightenment, and insight into the divine are not confined to a single tradition, so theology should be willing to learn from the insights found across religious traditions.Get the books:Radically Personal: God and Ourselves in the New Axial AgeGod: An Autobiography, As Told to a Philosopher***Continue the conversation with Ultimate Questions on calling, divine guidance, and how we recognize what is ours to do:https://substack.com/@ultimatequestions***Other Series:The podcast began with the Dramatic Adaptation of the book and now has several series:The Life Wisdom Project – Spiritual insights on living a wiser, more meaningful life.From God to Jerry to You – Divine messages and breakthroughs for seekers.Two Philosophers Wrestle With God – A dialogue on God, truth, and reason.Jerry & Abigail: An Intimate Dialogue – Love, faith, and divine presence in partnership.What's Your Spiritual Story – Real stories of people changed by encounters with God.What's On Our Mind – Reflections from Jerry and Scott on recent episodes.What's On Your Mind – Listener questions, divine answers, and open dialogue. Stay ConnectedShare: questions@godanautobiography.comUltimate Questions SubstackGet the books: God: An Autobiography, Radically PersonalShare Your Story | Site | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

It's Witness Wednesday at Georgia Tech! Todd talks with students about faith and politics, whether science could eventually disprove Christianity, and why an emotional response to the gospel isn't necessarily conversion. Segment 1 • Should your faith shape your politics, or should the two stay separate? • What does your everyday life reveal about what you actually believe? • Being sorry for your sin isn't the same as being saved. So what is? Segment 2 • If science explained what ancient religions attributed to gods, could Christianity be next? • How would you answer someone who asks, “Why is your religion right and everyone else's wrong?” • What makes Christianity radically different from every works-based religion? Segment 3 • Can you actually prove to someone that God exists? • Your conscience tells you something about yourself you may not want to admit. • If everyone deserves judgment, how can God forgive anyone and still be just? Segment 4 • Wearing a cross doesn't mean you understand what happened on it. • Think you're good enough for heaven? Here's the problem with that. • Why Todd won't lead someone in a sinner's prayer, even when they appear ready to respond. Preorder Todd Friel's new book, Go Serve Your King: The Key to Extraordinary Purpose in Everyday Life, available December 1. Preorder your copy at https://FortisInstitute.org/King ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn't be more thankful for you if we tried!

On the eve of the most potentially dangerous day of his life, Jacob wrestles with God instead of getting some sleep. In episode 431, Richard and Daniel discuss Jacob's encounter with God and his reunion with his brother Esau.   TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction 3:35 Leadership Trivia 4:30 Genesis 32-33: The Reunion and Wresting Match 29:20 Leadership Trivia Response   Questions or comments? Email us at podcast@blackaby.org   DONATE: If you have enjoyed this podcast and want to support our ministry into the next 20 years, click here: https://bit.ly/382Exi3   RESOURCES: Register for October Leadership Coaching: https://www.blackabycoaching.org/workshop   Ways of God Online Class: https://www.blackabyinstitute.com/course/the-ways-of-god   Order Experiencing God in Everyday Life now at: https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/experiencing-god-in-everyday-life-bible-study-book-with-video-access-P005853831   CONNECT: X: @richardblackaby Facebook: https://bit.ly/2WvZPzw Read Richard's latest blog posts at www.richardblackaby.com

Today's headlines raise some big questions. What happens when uncomfortable facts become off-limits, men increasingly struggle to find work, and Christianity's exclusive claims collide with “all roads lead to God”? Segment 1 • How can AI be genuinely useful without becoming something you rely on too heavily? • If God ordains everything, does that make Him responsible for evil? • How do ultimate, proximate, and efficient causes help explain God's sovereignty over a world where evil exists? Segment 2 • A church plays Dolly Parton's “9 to 5” on a pipe organ. What belongs in a worship service? • Do archaeological discoveries and holy sites strengthen our faith, or has God already given us something more certain? • Why has LGBT identification risen so dramatically in America, and how much does cultural affirmation play a role? Segment 3 • Nearly all recent U.S. job growth reportedly went to women. What happens to a society when men increasingly struggle to find work? • A Virginia school district tells teachers not to associate 9/11 with Islam. Can you teach what happened without addressing the attackers' religious motivation? • When does legitimate criticism of a religion get wrongly dismissed as “Islamophobia”? Segment 4 • Jane Fonda challenged the Archbishop of Canterbury with a question that sounds like it could have been asked today: aren't there many valid ways to God? • Why wasn't “Jesus is the only way” the Archbishop's immediate response? • Fifty years later, what can this exchange teach Christians about responding clearly to religious pluralism? Preorder Todd Friel's new book, Go Serve Your King: The Key to Extraordinary Purpose in Everyday Life, available December 1. Preorder your copy at https://FortisInstitute.org/King ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn't be more thankful for you if we tried!

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi YY Jacobson, one of the foremost online teachers of Torah, about how each of us can experience redemptive consciousness by feeling Hashem's infinite love and presence in this moment.In this episode we discuss:—Why has there been a shift in the way we approach publicly sharing Torah?—What is the nature of the Torah approach to vulnerability?—What are we trying to achieve with our own teshuva?Interview begins at 5:02.Tune in to hear a conversation about the pain of existing seemingly separately from the Divine.Rabbi YY Jacobson is a Chabad rabbi, teacher, and scholar of Torah and Jewish mysticism. He is the founder and dean of TheYeshiva.net, where his classes reach thousands of students around the world. A sought-after speaker, Rabbi Jacobson draws on Torah, Chassidic thought, Kabbalah, and Jewish philosophy to explore contemporary questions of faith, spirituality, relationships, and Jewish life.References:The Dance of Teshuva by David EbnerLikkutei TorahBen Porat YosefThe Trauma of Everyday Life by Mark Epstein M.D.To Live with an Open Heart: Tanya through the eyes of a Psychotherapist by Devorah Leah NussbaumTalmud DailyTzidkat HaTzadikFor more 18Forty:NEWSLETTER: 18forty.org/joinCALL: (212) 582-1840EMAIL: info@18forty.orgWEBSITE: 18forty.orgIG: @18fortyX: @18_fortyWhatsApp: join hereBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

What makes a sermon truly powerful? Todd reflects on Tim Challies' preaching, explains where he differs with John Mark Comer on spiritual disciplines, and shares an important lesson from Challies about trusting God when suffering doesn't make sense. Segment 1 • What gives a sermon real “oomph”—powerful delivery, great writing, or something more? • Tim Challies shows how a soft-spoken preacher can still deliver a sermon with serious impact. • The goal of preaching isn't impressive oratory—it's to help you see Christ more clearly and love Him more. Segment 2 • Todd compares Go Serve Your King with John Mark Comer's Practicing the Way. Where do their approaches differ? • Should spiritual disciplines produce an integrated Christian life—or should knowing and loving Christ drive those disciplines? • What's the difference between systematic, biblical, and historical theology, and how should theology actually change you? Segment 3 • When someone is suffering, even good theology can be delivered at the wrong time. • Tim Challies shares lessons learned through the devastating loss of his son about grief, comfort, and simply being present. • You may never see the good God brings from your suffering in this life—do you still have reason to trust Him? Segment 4 • Do you constantly wonder, “Am I really saved?” or “Have I repented enough?” • Your feelings aren't a reliable measure of your salvation—so what biblical signs should you look for? • How trusting Christ and leaning on your local church can help break the cycle of constantly questioning your salvation. Preorder Todd Friel's new book, Go Serve Your King: The Key to Extraordinary Purpose in Everyday Life, available December 1. Preorder your copy at https://FortisInstitute.org/King ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn't be more thankful for you if we tried!

The Question | 7.13The Conundrum | 7.14-15The Counsel | 7.16-17The (Quasi) Conclusion | 7.18

When Erika Kirk said at she forgave her husband's murderer, it seemed to imply a power to complete the forgiveness dynamic that was entirely unilateral. In other words, it seemed to imply a model of forgiveness that is foreign to Scripture. Scripture teaches that true forgiveness requires repentance on the part of the wrongdoer in cases of what Dr. Doug Geivett calls "asymmetrical harm." To help us with this topic, we're doing a fair use and transformative reading and discussion of Dr. R. Douglas Geivett's "Forgiveness" essay in his co-edited volume "Being Good: Christian Virtues for Everyday Life." The volume is made available by Eerdmans 2012. The co-editor of the volume is Michael W. Austin. It includes essays on a variety of topics related to Christian character formation. We'd like to thank my commonsense epistemology mentor Dr. Doug Geivett -- himself Ph.D. a mentee of the late great commonsense epistemology professor extraordinaire Dr. Dallas Willard of USC's Philosophy Dept -- for writing the essay. We'd like to thank Eerdmans for making it available and Michael W. Austin for co-editing it along with Dr. Geivett. Go out and get your physical copy today and follow along. Have it on your bookshelf. Support your brick and mortar book dealer. The Republican Professor is a pro-correckly-understanding-forgiveness podcast. Therefore, welcome Dr. R. Douglas Geivett back to the podcast through his careful writing on the subject. The Republican Professor is produced and hosted by Dr. Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D.

Built a wall to keep the world out, and now it feels like a prison? A meditation for boundaries with a gate.About 11 minutes with Steven Webb's calm voice and music underneath.Imagine a wall around you, all the way round, to keep out everything that stings. At first it feels wonderful. Then the strange thing: inside the wall our own strength goes soft, like a leg in plaster. And one day we need people again, and the world never reads our rules. So we try a garden with a gate instead, and tend what grows inside it. A little wisdom, a little strength, a little kindness. Then three gentle wishes with a hand on your heart. May I be safe with my gate open. May I be loved just as I am. May I be strong enough to let the world in. A boundary was never meant to be a prison. It is a garden edge, and you hold the key.The companion talk episode: Gates, Not Thorns: Are Your Boundaries a Prison?Treat me to a coffee, keep the podcast free, and get my Weekly Calm every Sunday. It is all on stevenwebb.ukThank you for sitting with me.StevenStevens new course: Finding Peace in Everyday Life (you choose how much to pay)Support Stevens work and links to other podcasts: stevenwebb.ukDonate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Buy Steven a coffee

Join Lead Pastor Terry Ishee as we kick off our next sermon series, How to Hear God: Listening to Jesus in Everyday Life. *The beginning sound quality had some issues, but the recording improves - please stick with it!

This material and theoretical history of seriality shows it to be the dominant form of culture since its inception within 19th-century print culture, as both a media structure and a psychic one.The serial is everywhere. Commonly identified by the segmented release structure of an ongoing narrative—from installments of Victorian novels to TV episodes to comic books—seriality names the spread of installment-based storytelling across a range of media. However, Ryan Engley argues that seriality is not only a narrative structure but also a psychic structure. Seriality—in its dependence on gaps, delay, and constraint—names the fundamental trauma of contemporary life: that there exists an intrinsic relation between self and other, a relation that is often difficult to see and difficult to bear.Through formal readings of media texts alongside Freudian and Lacanian psychoanalysis, the dialectical method of G.W.F. Hegel, and Jean-Paul Sartre's existentialism, Seriality: Media and the Psychic Form of Everyday Life (Bloomsbury, 2026) shifts the focus of seriality studies. In so doing, Engley presents a rebuttal to the common refrain that our lives, like contemporary media, have become endlessly fragmented. Rather, Engley finds, we have become radically—serially—connected.Ryan Engley is Assistant Professor of Media Studies at Pomona College, USA, where he teaches and researches the intersection of psychoanalytic theory and media studies. Along with Todd McGowan, Engley co-hosts the podcast Why Theory, which brings Continental philosophy and psychoanalytic theory together to examine contemporary phenomena.Helena Vissing, PsyD, SEP, PMH-C is a Licensed Psychologist practicing in California and Associate Professor at California Institute of Integral Studies. She can be reached at contact@helenavissing.com. She is the author of Somatic Maternal Healing: Psychodynamic and Somatic Treatment of Trauma in the Perinatal Period (Routledge, 2023).This is Part 2 of a 2 Part interview. Listen to Part 1 here

Source

When life gets hard, the Bible doesn't give us easy comfort...it points us to eternity. Here's why that matters. In this episode, Ellen Krause talks with Bible teacher and author Jennifer Rothschild—who has lived with blindness since age 15—about how the hope of eternal life shapes the way we live right now.Together, they discuss:Why heaven is more than a future promise and how it changes our lives todayCommon misconceptions Christians have about heaven and eternal lifeHow an eternal perspective can help us navigate suffering, grief, and disappointmentHow our longings, losses, and loves can point us toward ChristWhat it means to keep Jesus at the center of our hopeEncouragement for trusting God when He doesn't change our circumstancesHeaven for Today: 60 Devotions on How the Life to Come Changes Your Life Right NowScripture referenced:John 14 | 2 Cor. 5:8 | 1 Cor. 15:51 | Romans 8:18 | 2 Cor. 4:16-18 About Jennifer:JenniferRothschild.com | HeavenforToday.com | Facebook Jennifer's Bible study tools:NASB 1995 | NIV | YouVersion | Dwell Bible App | GotQuestions.org

Waiting to hear back, and the mind keeps playing out how it might go? A meditation for the fear of not knowing what comes next.About 11 minutes with Steven Webb's calm voice and music underneath.The mind hates a gap, so it fills it. One version, then another, then another. Not because it is broken, because it cares. But you can't steady the tide by grabbing hold of it. So we sit on a quiet beach and let the days come and go like the weather. A worry arrives like a wave. You don't judge it and you don't grab a surfboard. You watch it go back out. Then one quiet question: who is doing the watching? The thoughts come and go, and the watcher stays. It has seen every day of your life arrive and pass. Three wishes to finish: may I trust myself with whatever comes, may the not knowing within find a little calm, may I know I am held, even here in uncertainty.Treat me to a coffee, keep the podcast free, and get my Weekly Calm every Sunday. It is all on stevenwebb.ukThank you for sitting with me.StevenStevens new course: Finding Peace in Everyday Life (you choose how much to pay)Support Stevens work and links to other podcasts: stevenwebb.ukDonate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Buy Steven a coffee

Send us Fan MailSeptember is busy—and sometimes the unexpected kid stuff just keeps coming. Between orthodontist appointments, physio, tryouts, sick days, social plans, broken instruments, and all the little things that pop up, it's easy to feel frustrated and think, “Really? I have to deal with this too?”But what if we adjusted our expectations and remembered: this is part of what we signed up for?In this episode, I'm sharing the mindset shift that helped me stay calmer during a very chaotic week. I'm also talking about letting go of perfectionism—whether that means counting the imperfect exercise reps, recording a day late, clearing out one garbage bag of clutter, or showing up with temporary teeth that got hilariously stained by berries and seeds.Life is not always neat, organized, or perfect—but it can still be good, funny, and meaningful. Sometimes we just need to lower our expectations a little, stop making the inconvenience bigger in our minds, and give ourselves credit for doing what we can.TranscriptHey guys, how's it going? How's your September going? Is it super busy?It's been really busy for us, but this is what we signed up for, right? That's actually what I want to talk to you all about today—the mindset shift that helped me this week, and hopefully it will help you too.This week, just like every other week—but this week a lot more—I've had a lot of unexpected things happen. Not necessarily bad things, but kid-related things, requests, schedules, and things that I had to deal with unexpectedly. Things we didn't plan for.While I was preparing to record this, I thought about a conversation I had with my friend. We went for a walk, and she was sharing some of the struggles she's having at work.She has to work with someone in another department, and every time she has to communicate with that person, they seem surprised and unhappy about the request—even though it's literally their job to accommodate the department my friend works with.They have to work together on all the events, schedules, calendars, and everything. My friend works in the planning department, and the marketing department is responsible for communicating all the events through emails, flyers, and other communications. So it's my friend's job to give marketing all the information about the events, when things should go out, and what needs to be included.Yet every time they communicate, this person seems displeased. Maybe the information came too late, or too early, or there wasn't enough detail. They just seem unhappy, even though this is their job.We laughed about it and said, “Well, it's their job to do that, but why are they so unhappy about it?”Obviously, there's probably some kind of miscommunication or something going on in their head that we don't know about. Maybe they want things done differently, or maybe there's something missing from the picture.But from the outside, it looks like it's their job, and yet they're bothered every time they have to do it.Then I started sharing about all the things I've had to do unexpectedly with my kids. We realized that I was acting exactly like that marketing department.I was thinking, “Oh, really? Do I have to do that now? Couldn't you have told me sooner? Really?”It's kind of comical when you think about it, because it is literally my job to take care of my kids. I'm a stay-at-home mom with four children, and I chose to stay home to take care of my family.So when things come up—like an unexpected trip to the orthodontist because my son broke his bracket again—I have to make the phone call, schedule the appointment, drive there, and work it into the rest of our schedule.And this is probably the tenth time he's broken that bracket.That same boy also got injured again, so I had to get him into physio. I had to make the calls, schedule the appointment, drive him there, and pick him up.Then two of my boys had tryouts for something, but we didn't know the times until the very last minute.On top of that, I had a sick kid at home. Every day, I didn't know whether he was going to school or staying home.And if you're listening to this, you're probably thinking, “Yes, that's me. I understand.”We've all had sick kids at home. But because we're hoping for some peace and quiet, we expect the best. Then when we don't get the best, we have that little feeling of dread and disappointment.I also had to repair an instrument, and this was all in one week.Then there are the social requests. The kids want to hang out with their friends, and there are all the other things that come up.I realized that simply reminding myself, “This is part of my job,” gave me a little bit of a cushion. It helped me calm myself down and not overreact.I'm very easy to overreact and make things into a bigger deal than they need to be. But at the end of the day, this is my job.If I don't have to do those things, that's great. But if I do have to do them, I already signed up for this.That little shift in mindset helped me calm down. At the end of the day, it's not a huge deal to make the phone call, drive somewhere, drop someone off, or wait.It's more the way we think about it that makes it feel so bothersome. We think about it, and then we drive and do all these things, and the inconvenience just compounds.There's a great quote from Modern Family that always makes me laugh. If you haven't watched that show, we love it.The father says, “Everyone can experience life's greatest moments if you just lower your expectations.”And I think that applies here too.When we lower our expectations, we can access more calm. We can stop feeling like a victim and instead feel like, “Hey, I'm in charge. This is okay.”Then we can see the beautiful moments in it too.The other thing I've been practicing is connected to the same idea: not going for perfect.I've been doing some core exercises at home, and I noticed that if I couldn't do a movement perfectly, I didn't want to count that repetition toward my goal of 30.I had to correct my thinking and say, “You know what? This does count, even if it isn't perfect.”One side of my body is weaker and tighter, so the movement isn't always going to look perfect. I had to decide that I'm going to count all of the imperfect repetitions because I'm still doing the exercise.That has been a big change for me—letting go of perfectionism and letting go of the fear that something doesn't count if it isn't done perfectly.I'm still getting closer to my goal of getting stronger. I'm still getting exercise in during the day. I'm making progress, and I don't have to be afraid that it isn't enough.So if that's you, try counting the imperfect repetitions toward your goal.I know it's easier said than done. Sometimes we don't even realize we're trying to make something perfect until someone points it out, or until we realize we didn't count a repetition because it wasn't perfect.A lot of people don't count exercise unless it's an hour at the gym or an intense workout. But a walk is exercise. A bike ride with a friend is exercise.Count the things that aren't perfect, but that still move you toward your goal.That's helping me get stronger, and it's also helping me not be upset that everything isn't perfect.Hopefully these examples help you too.That's what this whole journey is about for me. I'm just a stay-at-home mom sharing the things I'm struggling with and how I'm working through them.Hopefully it inspires you to approach your own problems in a similar way and keep solving them. Because solving problems gives you momentum to keep solving more problems, and that feels really, really good.And, by the way, I'm going to give you another example. I'm all over the place, but I think they're all related because they're all about solving problems.Get another garbage bag and go through your house. Collect things that can be donated, things that are broken, and things that are garbage.It's going to feel so good. It's going to feel productive, and it will get you moving in the direction of tackling the clutter wherever it is.It's going to make your life easier. I promise you. It feels so good, and it is so worth it.Even if you only do five minutes a day, it's worth it. It will clear out the clutter and make space for the life you're already living.It will make it easier to organize your home and live in it. It's really worth it.So that's what I have for you today.By the way, I'm recording a day late because yesterday was crazy. But see? Not perfect.I just told myself, “It's not a big deal if it isn't on a Wednesday. Who cares?”Ideally, I'd like to release an episode every Wednesday, but today is Thursday. So what?But I'm having a good day. I played tennis with my friend, and she beat me today—but I beat her last time.Still, not perfect, but great.Oh my gosh, I have to tell you this funny story. This is definitely another great example of not being perfect.I'm getting some dental work done. I'm replacing the two veneers on my two front teeth. I've had them for 17 years, and it's time to replace them.I went in yesterday and had the procedure done. It was a very long procedure, and I was so ready to leave by the end.They put in temporary teeth while the lab creates the permanent ones. I'm going back in a week to have the permanent ones put in.The temporary teeth don't match the colour of my other teeth perfectly. They're much lighter, so they already look terrible—like a little Halloween decoration.I had t Support the show

This episode is presented by Mightier. In 1988, Jaime and Tracy Parent were stationed in England when their son Bryan was diagnosed with autism. There was nothing out there. No resources, no roadmap, no Rain Man yet. What they found instead was other families, and Jaime says that has been their best resource ever since. Jaime is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel with twenty years of service, and a family that moved every three years. Every move meant starting over. New doctors, new teachers, new school district, and a lot of guesswork about which house to buy so they landed in the county with the services Bryan needed. In this Seen and Heard conversation, he talks about the day clinicians at a UCLA residency program asked what their goals for Bryan were. A job, drive a car, balance a checkbook. He says the looks on their faces were pure pity. You poor delusional people. Bryan is an adult now. He works at Publix, he lives at home, and he competes in Special Olympics bowling, soccer, and basketball. He also tells the wrestling story. Bryan made the team at Oakland Mills High School in Maryland with no shortcuts, wrestled heavyweight, won matches, and went to regionals, states, and nationals. The first time Jaime watched him wrestle, Bryan got pinned in about thirty seconds. His dad calls it one of the biggest wins of their lives. Then there is the part aimed at the rest of us. Jaime's advice to other autism families is four words: don't become a wallflower. His message about bureaucracy is that there are big boulders everywhere, but get past them and you will find angels. And his message to military families is one you need before you separate. Autism does not end with your military service. Jaime B. Parent and Elizabeth Tracy Parent are the authors of The Mission at Home: Navigating Military Assignments, TRICARE, Education, Benefits, and Everyday Life with Your Child on the Autism Spectrum. Available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. SPONSOR This episode is presented by Mightier. Mightier is a biofeedback video game program developed and tested at Boston Children's Hospital. Your kid wears a heart rate monitor and plays games that get harder when they get dysregulated and easier when they calm down, so they practice regulation in their own body at a moment when they can feel it working. Visit mightier.com and use code theautismdad22 for 10% off. Rob's book, So Your Child Was Just Diagnosed with Autism, comes out December 29, 2026. Preorder at theautismdad.com/book.

At 86 years old, Alice Lajoie has lived through a remarkable amount of change, but some of the things she values most have remained surprisingly constant: family, faith, hard work, humor, and showing up for the people you love. In this episode of Conversations with a Chiropractor, Dr. Stephanie Wautier sits down with Alice for a warm trip through more than eight decades of life in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. From growing up in Ishpeming as one of eleven children to becoming one of the women who worked at the historic H.W. Gossard factory, Alice offers a glimpse into a UP that looked very different from the one we know today. The conversation eventually turns to marriage, motherhood, loss, aging, and the family Alice and her husband Bobby built over nearly 65 years together. There are funny memories, difficult ones, and plenty of moments that reveal just how much history can live inside one person's ordinary life. Most of all, it is a conversation about gratitude, resilience, and the stories worth preserving while we still have the opportunity to ask. Listener Offer This episode of Conversations with a Chiropractor is supported by Lemongrove Oil. Use code DRSTEPHANIE at checkout for 10% off your order. https://www.lemongroveoil.com/ Featured Wellness Resource: Exodus Strong Explore Exodus Strong, a faith-centered wellness company offering red and near-infrared light therapy products including full-body mats, masks, wands, belts and other at-home devices, along with molecular hydrogen and botanical supplements, frequency-based wellness products, and complete Light Code wellness systems. If you're interested in exploring what Exodus Strong has to offer, please use Dr. Stephanie's link below. Purchases made through this affiliate link help support Conversations with a Chiropractor and allow us to keep bringing you new conversations each week. https://exodusstrong.com?a_aid=drstephanie In This Episode Stephanie and Alice talk about growing up in Ishpeming, family life in the 1940s and 1950s, French Canadian roots, Catholic faith, working at the H.W. Gossard factory, marriage and motherhood, raising a large family, nearly 65 years with Bobby, grief, aging, resilience, and the value of preserving family stories across generations. Conversations with a Chiropractor YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@ConversationswithaChiro Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wautierwellness Email: drstephaniewautier@yahoo.com Want to be a guest on Conversations with a Chiropractor? Send Stephanie Wautier a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/drstephanie Credits Podcast production by Brand|Sound. Start your podcast journey by emailing brandsoundpodcasts@gmail.com. Chapters 00:33 Meet Alice Lajoie 01:28 Growing Up in Ishpeming 05:32 Family Life and Food in the 1940s 07:25 School, Faith, and Catholic Upbringing 13:34 Penny Candy, Hand-Me-Downs, and Hard Work 16:11 Laundry, Clothing, and Everyday Life 18:40 How Alice Met Bobby 20:35 Becoming a Mother at 21 22:32 Building a Family Together 25:29 Loss, Judgment, and Family Unity 28:19 Nearly 65 Years of Marriage 31:47 The H.W. Gossard Factory 37:10 Alice's Dream of Motherhood 39:02 Love, Marriage, and Family Legacy 41:39 Learning to Live With Loss 47:28 Faith, Heaven, and Remembering Bobby 52:50 Gratitude, Family, and Legacy 54:16 Closing Thoughts

Lynne Rienstra is a recovering Pharisee and spiritual orphan. Through her mentoring, writing, and speaking (she's taught thousands of listeners for over three decades), she leads women out of hiding and into a place of discovering how union with Christ transforms their identity from fearful children of wrath into treasured daughters of God. Her first book, Sacred Refuge: Finding Unexpected Shelter in Your Crisis, was a #1 Amazon bestseller and was named "Book of the Year" by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. Lynne has been an English teacher, corporate insurance broker, women's ministry leader, homeschooling mom, and development professional. She served as a regional director for Samaritan's Purse for twelve years, traveling around the globe with that ministry. She holds a BA in English from Smith College (Northampton, MA) and a Certificate in Spiritual Formation from the Transforming Center (Wheaton, IL). Lynne has contributed to numerous books, magazines, and online devotionals. Serving alongside her husband Rob, a senior pastor in the PCA (Presbyterian Church in America), gives Lynne joy, as does being "Gigi" to three granddaughters. You can find out more about Lynne at BraveBeloved.com or https://lynnerienstra.com/   TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction to Lynne Rienstra 0:55 Key moments that made Rienstra who she is 12:30 The Sacred Refuge: What do you do when you've come through your upbringing broken but want to live a wholesome life? 22:50 How do you come out of a childhood of broken marriages and have your own healthy marriage? 25:05 What do women need refuge from? 30:25 What's your advice to women who feel God's call on them to lead? 37:20 Final Thoughts   Questions or comments? Email us at podcast@blackaby.org   DONATE: If you have enjoyed this podcast and want to support our ministry into the next 20 years, click here: https://bit.ly/382Exi3   RESOURCES: Sign up for the monthly newsletter at the bottom of the BMI homepage: https://blackaby.org/   Sign up for Fall Coaching Workshop here: https://www.blackabycoaching.org/workshop   Order Experiencing God in Everyday Life now at: https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/experiencing-god-in-everyday-life-bible-study-book-with-video-access-P005853831   CONNECT: X: @richardblackaby Facebook: https://bit.ly/2WvZPzw Read Richard's latest blog posts at www.richardblackaby.com

Favor isn't supposed to be an irregular experience for you. Favor is supposed be a part of your everyday life. In today's devotional, Pastor Kerrick shares how favor is designed for your path and your everyday life.

Woke up replaying something you said or did? A gentle morning meditation for the voice inside that says it was your fault.About 10 minutes with Steven Webb's calm voice and music underneath.We don't argue with the voice. It thinks it is helping, like a guard who shouts to keep you safe. Terrible manners, but a good heart. So we thank it, find where the blame sits in the body, usually the chest or low in the belly, and let that place soften a little on each out breath. Nothing to fix. Then three wishes, said slowly: may I be kind to myself today, may I put down what I cannot change, may I know I am enough, even on the days I get it wrong. You are allowed to begin the day forgiven. I'm human. It's what we do.Treat me to a coffee, keep the podcast free, and get my Weekly Calm every Sunday. It is all on stevenwebb.ukThank you for sitting with me.StevenStevens new course: Finding Peace in Everyday Life (you choose how much to pay)Support Stevens work and links to other podcasts: stevenwebb.ukDonate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Buy Steven a coffee

Lamentations 3:25 NLT “The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.”   *Transcription Below*   Mike Blackaby serves as a church planter in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, where he lives with his wife, Sarah, and their four children. He holds a PhD in Worldview and Apologetics from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of several books and Bible studies including God, Heroes, and Everyday Dragons, Experiencing God in Everyday Life and Straight to the Heart: Communicating the Gospel in an Emotionally Driven Culture. Listen to his sermons.   Daniel Blackaby is the author and co-author of nine books, including Experiencing God in Everyday Life, 7 Steps for Knowing, Doing, and Experiencing the Will of God and God, Heroes, and Everyday Dragons, as well as the imaginative fiction trilogy The Lost City Chronicles. Daniel holds a PhD in Christianity and the Arts and a ThM in Philosophy, Apologetics & Worldview from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He speaks on cultural engagement, Christianity and the arts, apologetics and reaching the next generation for Christ. He is the founder of The Collision (thecollision.org), a multimedia ministry designed to help Christians thoughtfully and biblically engage with culture and the arts. Daniel is married to Sarah, and they are the parents of twin boys.    Blackaby Website   Thank you to our sponsor: Sam Leman Eureka   Questions and Topics We Cover: How has faith been strategically passed along in your family to the next generation (and how can we do the same?!) How do your families personally preserve these stories of the generations of faith? Can you tell us more about Spiritual Markers and share how we can use this practice in our family to disciple our children?    Related Savvy Sauce Episodes: Brain Science and Spiritual Abundance with Ken Baugh Theology and Discipleship with Ken Baugh Gospel Truth for Salvation and Sanctification with Hunter Beless   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:09)   Laura Dugger: (0:09 - 1:45) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   The principles of honesty and integrity that Sam Leman founded his business on continue today, over 55 years later, at Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka. Owned and operated by the Bertschi family, Sam Leman and Eureka appreciates the support they've received from their customers all over central Illinois and beyond. Visit them today at lemangm.com.   Mike and Daniel Blackaby are my guests for today. They come from a long line of incredible generational faith, and so they're going to share some stories about how they've inherited this rich legacy, and then also inspire us to do the same in our families. They also are authors of this recent resource, Experiencing God in Everyday Life.   Here's our chat.   Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Mike and Daniel. Glad to have both of you joining and would you first mind both introducing yourself and share your connection to Dr. Henry Blackaby, and maybe tell a few stories about his life to illustrate how his legacy has helped shape the heart behind this recent study.   Mike Blackaby: (1:46 - 5:00) Sure. My name is Mike Blackaby. I'm the oldest grandson of Henry, so I'm not gonna say that he loved me the most, but he loved me the longest of all of his grandkids, and I remember we lived close to him for a while, and then far, and then close again, so it was interesting being around him when we were teenagers, and then being around him later on as our own children were being born, sort of two significant times in our lives where we lived close, and I just remember when I was a teenager chatting with him about, what am I gonna do with my life?   What am I gonna do after high school? You know, like what everybody tries to figure out, and his advice was really just, if you follow God one day at a time, then you'll be exactly where you need to be in 10 years. You don't necessarily have to plan out your whole life. God has a plan, and you trust him today, and you'll end up where you need to be tomorrow, and so I've really taken that advice ever since then, and so I was grateful for that, especially at the time when I was trying to figure out, what am I gonna do with my life after high school graduation?   Daniel Blackaby: Yeah, I'm Daniel Blackaby, his second oldest grandchild. He would have probably said his favorite. Yes, second oldest, first favorite, and I live down here in Atlanta, Georgia, actually in the same neighborhood that he lived in. I came on to work for the family ministry, so kind of got to overlap with him the last couple years of his life, which was just a blessing to see him up close. Obviously, we grew up around him at various stages, but just kind of see him finish well, and to have both Mike and I have kids.   Our oldest kids are around the same age, and I think one of the memories, I was gonna share the one that Mike just shared, but I think one of the memories that, I don't know, was meaningful for me came near the end, and I actually wasn't even there personally, but the last picture, actually, that was taken of my grandfather before he passed away was actually him with my two, I have twin boys, and my father was gonna be on the road traveling, and he had stopped by, and I was busy doing something, but he took my kids, and they got to spend a bit of time with him, and there's a picture with them kind of by his chair, smiling, and I just sort of had that last moment. I think that's, and then he passed away, I think just a couple days after that, but the last time any of the family got to see him, and for me, it's just such a testimony of his faithfulness. He has his great-grandchildren around him, and being able to be blessed by him, even at the end of his life.   He had the opportunity to travel the world, do amazing things, but I think his, for me, his lasting legacy is just the way that he inspired his family, that he lived in such a way that even his great-grandchildren are inspired by his faith, and want to hear more about his story. So even though I wasn't there, that picture of my two kids sort of representing my family has just been a really meaningful one for me.   Laura Dugger: (5:01 - 5:12) Such a life well-lived, and I'm so curious, how has faith strategically been passed along in your family from one generation to the next?   Mike Blackaby: (5:14 - 10:41) Well, the funny thing is, I don't know that it's always been super strategic. In some ways, I think it's been organic. We didn't always maybe do all the things that you would expect a family to do. We didn't sit down at dinner time and have family devotions and stuff. I think we tried it for a while, and it never really took, but for us, when we watched our parents, both our mom and our dad, and aunts and uncles and grandfather, so many people live out their faith, it was just very real for them. There was never this sense of, I'm just doing this, or that they were different behind the scenes than they were when they were in ministry.   We got to see them on stage preaching, but then in the car on a road trip when they're frustrated with us annoying kids in the back, and there was no hypocrisy. It was the same thing, and I think something that's always stood out for me is, so much of our family was in ministry, so not just even in the faith, but in active Christian ministry, and we just never really heard our parents bad talk the church. There was lots of issues. There's always issues, and there's always things that happen, and it didn't mean that they wouldn't call out sin when there was sin, and not that, but this sense of, they always talked positively about God's church and about ministry, and I don't know, I think the more people I talk to, I think maybe that's not super common.   I think sometimes people, maybe especially pastor's kids, get turned off of it all because they see behind the scenes how, oh man, this is not good, and my dad, he served these people, but he kind of hated these people or whatever, and we just never really got that sense. It was very personal. It was very consistent. It was very authentic, and it was very positive, even though our dad and mom dealt with issues in ministry, and people are messy, right? You're gonna deal with that anywhere, but they're like, the church is God's plan A, and there is no plan B, and so my whole life, I've tried to be very, very slow to criticize the church in general.   A lot of people love to do that. I'm very slow to criticize something that God loves and Christ died for. It's not perfect, and there's issues that need to be pointed out for sure, but we just had a very positive example, I think, growing up, and so for myself at least, I was fearful of stepping into ministry because I was like, I can't preach. I can't get up in front of people, that sort of thing, but I also saw it as a great privilege. I didn't want to do it, but it wasn't because it was a bad thing to do. It was almost because it was such a good thing to do, and I didn't feel like I could or I was worthy of it or whatever, but just a very positive example, and the more people I talked to, the more rare that seems to be the case of people growing up in ministry families.   Daniel Blackaby: Yeah, I think too, like Mike said, it wasn't necessarily always strategic as far as super scheduled, or we do this at this day, but I do think strategic is to build on what Mike said as far as just the mindset. Like our family was always very intentional, not just about not bad talking and being negative, but to celebrate where God has done things, like very much a value on just telling the stories of what God has done, either currently of just, hey, this happened today, or else just sharing stories of, hey, have I ever told you the story about your grandpa when he did this, or what God has done in the past, to the point that even like my kids who were, wouldn't have been born until decades and decades after those stories, and never even probably heard them firsthand from my grandfather, or even the generations before their great-great grandfather, know a lot of these stories because they were just, we would tell them, we would share them, we'd celebrate the things that God has done in the past, the things God has done in the present, so I think maybe not strategic as far as, okay, this is our Bible time now, from whatever, 10 to 10:30, but I think very strategic as far as just, we are going to celebrate what God has done, and sort of cultivate a posture of always looking for God's activity, and then not taking it for granted that everyone just sort of knows that, like making sure our whole family knows, this is a God thing, let's talk about it, and so in some ways, I think we probably had more spiritual conversations than we would have, had we sort of been more structured in our Bible study time, because it was very natural to say, when God does something, let's talk about it, and I think for both Mike and I, that's something we've tried to do with our own kids now as they're getting older, is just make sure you, to seize those opportunities to just celebrate when God does, you know, is faithful in our life, and not take it for granted that, you know, ourselves or our kids or families are just going to naturally sort of recognize that as God's faithfulness.   Laura Dugger: (10:43 - 11:34) Okay, that's huge, what you both are saying, because that is very biblical to pass along to the next generation through our words, through sharing the stories of God's goodness, I don't know how many verses there are that encourage us to do that, and it helps us remember, I think, reading and writing and even conversation that can all go together, so I was struck with all the stories that were included, that you recounted so well in this Bible study, so two parts, do you write these down like in a journal as they happen, and also it's so interesting to see the two of you being related, and even your background right now, full of books, and so I'm wondering if that was a value in your family, and just how that ties in the love of story and reading.   Mike Blackaby: (11:34 - 19:55) Yeah, at least I preached a lot of those, because anytime there's a good story, it usually ends up in a sermon, and that's something we both sort of drew from our dad, he's a great storyteller, but just coming out of even what we were just talking about, you know, there's always stories to tell, I don't keep all the details, which is why usually I don't have a ton of the details in the story, it's sort of more the gist, my wife's the detail person, and we joke that she'll tell a story, and it'll take like 10 minutes, because she'll know every, and she loves all the details, and I'll tell the same story in like two minutes, because it's just like, you know, just hit the main points here, but I keep a little, I call it an illustration file, because I use them for preaching, but I think it's good to keep some sort of record, even if it's not all the details, but just the gist.   When we moved to Victoria, I live on Vancouver Island, we planted a church here in Victoria, the west coast of Canada, and it's a hard place to plant a church, and I have a file on my computer that's God's stories from Oak Bay, and it's just whenever we see God do something, I mean God's always at work, but whenever we see something, you know, that really stands out, I'll write that down, and I'm like, I don't want to forget these things, like I want to be able to pass on these stories, and I know I will forget them if I don't write them down, so there's the record of the stories, and then, you know, when we put them in a book, we try to make it interesting, and you know, we try to write it in a compelling way, but we do, at least I do, keep a record of those things, because I don't want to forget those stories. Those are worth passing down, and then when we get an opportunity to write something like this book, it's great because you can draw on these things, and you can say, whenever God does a work in my life, it's never just for me, like it's always part of something bigger, a bigger story of what God's doing, and so I want to pass those along, and if those stories can be encouraging for others, then great.   And one of the differences, I would just add, and then let Daniel go, but one of the differences between this book and the original Experiencing God is that the original Experiencing God has a lot of big God moment stories where you read, you're like, whoa, that's amazing, you're like, these miracle stories, but sometimes we can expect that that's the only way that God ever works, is the burning bush, or the fire from heaven, or these sort of big miracles we see in the Bible, or we read about in grandpa's life, and in this other book, we were very intentional to try and not just put the wow stories in there, there are those, those do happen, but we wanted to put some stories of just, hey, here's how this plays out, and it's not a huge earth-shattering miracle, it's just sometimes just regular life stuff, and most of life is in those moments, and God is in those moments, as well as the big moments, and so a lot of the stories we put in this book were, we actually edited out some of the ones that were a bit more like, whoa, that's cool, because we want people to see that God is in the ordinary stuff as well, and so sometimes those are a bit harder to think of, because the big moments stick in your mind pretty good, but when you're thinking about, what does this look like though in just the day-to-day, you're like, that's not as interesting, but we think hopefully it's even more powerful for people, because they can come to realize, wow, God is at work all around me, even in the ways where I didn't expect to see him, he's in those places too.   Daniel Blackaby: Yeah, well, and I'd quickly just say too that, you know, Mike's better at keeping track of stories, my wife and I were just talking the other day, how we regret that we weren't better like when our kids were growing up, and some of those funny things that they did, but I think in some ways that is also the value of just being very intentional about constantly sharing stories, is sort of the old oral tradition of just, you know, you may not remember, but you've told the story, and other people remember, because the funny thing with these books is you'd probably assume that, you know, if it's a personal story from me or Mike, that we were the one that put that story in, that we added, that was our idea, but a lot of times it would actually be, you know, like Mike might, he might not, I might still write the story, but he might add, hey, remember when this happened, and this would be a great illustration of this, and I'll be, oh, I forgot that happened, you know, like, oh yeah, now that I think of it, like, you know, or we'd tell our dad, like, hey, we heard you tell this story, like, why don't you add that here, and so it's sort of that collective memory of, you know, we may, it may jolt our memories, you know, and we learn some new ones.   Like, we wrote a youth version of this book, too, that comes out in the fall that parallels it, but we swapped out a lot of the stories for a bit more youth, youthy, kind of humorous ones, and I learned some stories about Daniel that I actually didn't know, that, like, one story that might be one of the funniest things that I've, like, ever heard is in that book, and so, yeah, it is fun to sort of go back into the archives and even learn some new ones. So, yeah, it is fun to sort of collectively and reminisce, even as we were writing them, but I'll say to you, because you asked us about the storytelling, like, the books, and that that very much is, I think, an application of what we were trying to get at in this book, of just, that was something we saw, like, our dad has a big library, we constantly would come into his office, see him reading a book. I think back, even our mom, when we were quite young, kind of had two rules that, I don't know if you even remember these, Maggie, one was we can always have an apple. At any time of the day, we can, we're always allowed to have an apple, and the second one was that she'll always buy us a book, if we read a book that she bought us, she'll always buy us a new book, so that we can keep reading, which she made that promise before we got quite as, as hooked. She had to sort of back down, when she couldn't keep up with, you know, the credit card couldn't handle. I had a huge stack of Goosebumps books. I think she was, like, hoping to steer us a little bit, like, well, I guess not just any book.   But that was just always a value to them. I mean, I mean, apple, and be healthy, make healthy choices, but the reading of just constantly be stretching yourself, you know, whether that's fiction, and as we got older, more non-fiction as well, mixed in there, different types of literature, but, you know, just any way that, as a family, we can encourage thinking, and storytelling, and, you know, whether, even if they weren't necessarily, you know, faith, Christian books, just stories, learning the power of stories, and a well-told story, and I don't know if you've done that, Mike, that's one of the, we've adopted those rules for my kids, of just, you know, if you're going to read a book, I'll buy you a new book. I want you guys to, and just, I want you guys to see me reading in my library, and just the power of books, and literature, and thinking, hopefully, some of that rubs off.   Mike Blackaby: Our kids love apples so much, though, that we can't really do the apple rule, because then we would just never have any apples. We just wouldn't have them for lunches. Well, and even today, we're all in a book club together, so with our dad, and with our sister, and our brother-in-law, and our cousin, and so we'll all choose a book that sort of stretches our thinking, and then we'll, they all, most of them all live right by each other, so they'll all meet together, eat Chinese food, and then a couple of us outsiders will zoom in, but that's even still a practice that we have in adulthood, is we'll do a book club together, and we'll read a book, and we'll discuss it, and big, big fans of reading old school books. Daniel's maybe more of a Kindle guy nowadays, too, but, and anything, same with our kids, just, hey, you guys just read anything. It's just good for you.   Laura Dugger: (19:57 - 20:13) It is so helpful in, I think, cultivating faith. That's fascinating to hear how different families do it in different ways, and I know that we can't share all of the stories, but now, Mike, you kind of left us hanging. Do you want to share that one story about Daniel that they may find in the youth resource?   Mike Blackaby: (20:15 - 21:52) Yeah, it might be a little, a little bit PG, Daniel, you may have to correct me, but you were, like, brand new to a school, too, like, your high school. He was a new student at his school, and they all went, they all went out on a lake, going, like, being pulled on a tube behind, behind, like, a speedboat, and so, of course, you're trying to make a good impression. You're, you're brand new. You don't have any friends yet, and so you're trying to, you're trying to break into this crowd, so Daniel goes on that tube, and, of course, you're trying to get you to fall off, and so they're taking these huge corners, and, and they, they wipe Daniel off of the back of that tube so hard that he loses his swim trunks, and he's floating there, and the boat's got to, like, make the big wide turn, and come back, and pick him up, and he looks, and his shorts are, like, you know, he's lost them way out in the lake, and so he's frantically swimming, trying to, trying to get to his shorts before, before the boat comes back, and so, for those of you who are, who are audio listeners only, you'll be thankful for that, I guess. Sorry, I apologize to the listeners, but I forget what point we're making. So, not, not the age you want to be to, to humiliate yourself.   Daniel Blackaby: I did find, I did swim fast enough, just to tie a bow on that. I was able to be covered. Somehow, I had never known that story, and I've laughed for, I mean, months now, I guess, whenever, whenever you wrote that. I'm still laughing about that.   Laura Dugger: (21:53 - 23:29) And now, a brief message from our sponsor.   Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka has been owned and operated by the Bertschi family for over 25 years. A lot has changed in the car business since Sam and Stephen's grandfather, Sam Leman, opened his first Chevrolet dealership over 55 years ago. If you visit their dealership today, though, you'll find that not everything has changed. They still operate their dealership, like their grandfather did, with honesty and integrity. Sam and Stephen understand that you have many different choices in where you buy or service your vehicle. This is why they do everything they can to make the car buying process as easy and hassle-free as possible.   They are thankful for the many lasting friendships that began with a simple welcome to Sam Leman's. 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Thanks for your sponsorship.   Kind of getting back to some of the thoughts of your study, why is it that you think so many Christians struggle to meet God just in the ordinary moments of life?   Mike Blackaby: (23:31 - 29:40) I think one reason might just be that our ordinary time is so full of distractions now, just so much more than it ever used to be, and everybody knows this, like with phones and just ads coming at you all the time, and constant noise, constant stimulus, and just being as busy. Technology has also allowed us to be very productive, which doesn't mean that we rest more. It means that we attempt to do more because we can do more, and so our lives are just full and busy, and I would say that probably one of the biggest reasons why we don't see God in the everyday is because our every day is so full of distractions, and if we're not intentional, just there's a million things that will come and take our attention and fill our time, and so that would be, I think that would be a big reason is life's just too crazy, and unless you push back against that intentionally, there's just so much that you'll miss out on.   Daniel Blackaby: Yeah, I think too, just expectations. I think it's easier, maybe it's more flashy to see God in like a burning bush type moment of, oh that must be God, because that's a miracle that never happens, as opposed to just in the daily grind of life, and I think we're just we're sort of stuck in a worldly perspective. I know like our grandfather in the first Experiencing God book talked about God's activity is always God-sized, which is true, there always is that God eternal dimension, but I think even as we've, you know, the decades since that book and being able to go through that study with people, and we're so conditioned I think to think, well God's size must be big, you know, God's big, so whatever he does must be big and spectacular, which is not what our grandfather meant, you know, God's size just means God is in it, and the significance comes because God's in it, not because it's flashy, or it was in front of a lot of people, or you know, it was some miraculous story, and I think a lot of times we just miss the ordinary, because we're not looking for it, we're kind of looking, we may even get discouraged that God's not doing anything in my life right now, because there hasn't been a big moment, and if our spiritual eyes were open to just, well God was all around you in your family today, God is all around you at work today, or you know, that conversation you had at the grocery store, this, you know, that sense of peace you had when, you know, your schedule went crazy, and it was a chaotic day, but somehow you had this, those are all God moments, that's God's presence too, but we don't always recognize that, just because we're not looking for it, we don't, that's almost too small for God in our eyes, which I think says more about us than it does about God.   I know even just in the process of writing this book, it was sort of the act of trying to apply it into my own life, of you know, just being more intentional about, you know, if I'm just like in the living room with my kids, or doing, you know, whatever I'm doing at work or something, and just sort of sitting back a bit and being, this is a good moment, like this is a God moment, like this is, you know, my kids are laughing, this happened, there was a breakthrough at work, you know, some small comment that maybe I would brush off, that no, that actually is a sign of God's activity, and I think once you get in the habit of that, once that becomes sort of, you know, not that you're trying to like, where's Waldo, and force it if it's not there, and make everything a God moment, but if you just sort of get in the habit of keeping your eyes open and recognizing it, I don't know, it's sort of contagious, if you start noticing more and more, and you get in, you sort of, that becomes more of your default, and the more you do that, the more you realize, so God's been doing a lot of stuff that I've been missing, just because my own expectations are, I want God to do something that, in my eyes, seems more miraculous and spectacular, when maybe God wants to do something just as important, but way more intimate, or personal, or sort of, you know, behind the scenes.   Mike Blackaby: And something that's come up a couple times in our conversation is just the consistency and the practice of something, like Daniel said, if you put that into practice, it may not feel natural at first, but if you put that into practice, Daniel just said like, that'll become more your default, and even the language we use in the book, and other people use as well, is just the rhythm of your life. What is your life rhythm? What is those defaults that you fall into, either unintentionally or intentionally?   And if you, you have to create the rhythm of looking for God's activity, and I think that's one thing the original Experiencing God did, is it opened people's eyes to, God is at work all around me, and if I'm gonna see that, if I'm gonna recognize that, then I need to be looking for that. It's not that it starts happening because I start looking, but I start seeing it because I start looking. It's always been there. And so just building that consistency, and those rhythms, and one of the things we really hit on in the book is, you are shaped by what you do consistently over time. And it's interesting, because the big moments maybe inspire you, but they don't necessarily shape you into who you are. It's the erosion of rock. It's the consistent small things that build up over time that really shape your character and shape your faith. And so, the big moments play a part in that, but just like anything else, if you want seeing God's activity to become the default rhythm of your life, it's one of those things that you have to put into practice, because it's not going to be naturally what you do, just right off the bat. It's one of those things that has to be learned and practiced. But as you do, it slowly does become second-rate, and it does become more of the default. And you are just aware of looking around for where God is at work and recognizing it, but it's not going to just happen by accident, because very rarely do good, healthy things happen just unintentionally and by accident. Absolutely.   Laura Dugger: (29:42 - 30:22) And there's this verse that's been meaningful all year, but it's one that I was, again, reflecting on today from Lamentations 3:25, and it kind of ties into what you're talking about. It says, "The Lord is good to those who depend on Him, to those who search for Him." And I think you're talking about cultivating those small incremental steps of spiritual growth by even just searching for Him and being on the lookout and expectantly awaiting for Him to do something. So, would you build on that and share a few more practical habits that we can cultivate to experience progressive sanctification?   Daniel Blackaby: (30:25 - 37:43) Yeah, well, I know, because in the book, each unit, we give different suggested habits that contribute to that rhythm of intentionality. And obviously, we start the book with sort of the standard, you know, read your Bible, pray, things that every Christian should, that should just be a part of your rhythm at any stage of life. But I think a lot of times when we think of habits and things, I think people get intimidated because we're busy, and obviously, it's a matter of priority. We make time for the things that we love and prioritize. So, most of the time, busyness is an excuse to prioritize, you know, watching Netflix or going to bed early or whatever it is instead of God things.   But I think one of the things we try to do in the book, too, is just redeeming the time of, you know, that they're not necessarily that you need to, okay, well, I have a busy life, and I got to add 10 new habits into my life, and slot them into whatever remaining, you know, openings I have in my busy schedule, but just kind of reclaiming some of these times or, you know, and a lot of the habits, too, they're not necessarily just, you know, go spend two hours fasting and prayer before work every day, things that are that are daunting. I think a lot of them can be small, just mindset things. I know one of our habits is just gratitude, where we encourage people, like if you're standing there by the coffee maker half asleep, you know, in the morning before you're going to go to work or school or whatever you're doing, like if you're just standing there waiting for your coffee, you got whatever, two minutes, you know, use that moment to voice a prayer to God and just thank Him. Find one thing that you can thank Him for that day, and that's not adding, you know, that's not adding a lot of commitment, but it's starting your day, you know, one of the first things you do is, before you even had coffee, is thanking God for something, and you do that every day, every day, you start every day thanking God for something, then that begins to shape your rhythm, to grow you into being a more thankful person.   Rather than, you know, spending that time to think about how much you don't want to go back to work this morning, or you're too tired, or you know, regretting that you stayed up too late, or, you know, you feel sore from how you slept on your pillow, like things that could sort of shape our day, and I mean, the book has a lot of those sort of things, even just commutes, you know, we encourage people, pick one day, just, you know, one day, if you're going to work or picking up your kids from school, or whatever your regular commute is, and just turn off the radio, turn off the audiobook, just, you know, you can pray in that time, or you can just look and, you know, appreciate the sky, or you can just have some silence to kind of clear your mind from all the stimuli that you get, you know, so much throughout the day, and so I think, for me, those are the ones that have been the most impactful for me. Obviously, if you're not reading your Bible, or praying, some of those things work to include those, but I think a lot of the habits, especially when it comes to noticing God, and joining God in the small things, can be small habits of just shaping, how can I become a more gratitude, or grateful person, or generous, or encouraging person, you know, encourage one person at work each day, there's different things like that, but I think over time, those do contribute to sort of these bigger rhythms of aligning yourself more with kind of God's presence.   Mike Blackaby: Yeah, one that I like, that has challenged me and stuck with me is the water basin. It says he went over to this water basin, and he used that to wash his disciples' feet, and of course, the practice would have been for a servant to have done that when they all got there, and maybe a servant already did that, it would seem odd if a certain servant had already done that, and then Jesus repeats it, maybe that's how it happened, but I get a sense that they went in, and nobody had done that, sort of the custom got missed, and they're all sitting there with dirty and disgusting feet, and Jesus is the one that takes the initiative, doesn't just wait for somebody else to do it, we don't hear of any of the other disciples saying, oh, well, somebody's got to do this, sort of like someone's got to do the dishes, I guess I'll go do it, like it's Jesus that does it, there's the sense that the water basin was there the whole time, but Jesus is the only one who took the initiative to use it, and so I would say everything that we want to develop in our character towards Christlikeness is going to come out of the foundation of humility, a posture of humility is where all of that is built on, and so the act of serving others, what it does is it slowly makes us humble, it's the action of putting someone else before myself, if I do that over and over again, eventually that starts to wear down my pride, that actively pushes back against my pride by putting somebody else in front of me, and that's good, if I can work my way down to a place of humility, then that's a great starting place for everything else that God wants to develop in my character, and so one of the practices would be everywhere you go look for the water basin, like every room you walk into, everywhere you go there's going to be an opportunity to serve others, most people are going to ignore it, most people are going to let that water basin sit there and wait for somebody else to do it, cultivate the habit of being that person, of saying everywhere I go I'm going to be the one who starts stacking chairs, I'm going to be the one who starts collecting everyone's dirty dishes, I'm going to be the one who asks if anybody could use a top-up on their water or their coffee, I'm going to be that person, and when I'm at home, it's like where are those moments, if I see that my wife needs something, am I going to wait for her to ask, or am I going to see that as a water basin moment, and I'm going to jump on it, and that's hard for me, that's not natural for me, and so that is something I'm actively for years now just trying to do that, but every time I see a water basin and use it to serve somebody else, I'm pushing back against my natural tendency towards pride, and I'm setting myself up to receive whatever else the Holy Spirit wants to, whatever fruit of the Spirit that needs to be developed in me, comes out of the foundation of humility, and so something like that, it's not a scheduled thing, but it's a mindset, it's a habit of saying, okay, everywhere I go, there's going to be a water basin, and so every room I walk into, I can ask where is that, and then take that opportunity to serve, and over time, that should start to develop humility in you, and that's a great place to be for everything else that God wants to do in your life.   Laura Dugger: (37:43 - 39:07) I love that picture of the water basin, and I was telling my husband last night, he does this so well to jump to serve others, and it's a quiet form of leadership, but that is one way that he spiritually leads our family, and I was hoping to encourage him last night, I saw it in one of our daughters then as well, and I know that it sadly didn't come from me, but from her witnessing him and just that eagerness to serve, so I think it's contagious as well, these even practices, and the spirit lights the flame, but to fan the flame, you guys talk about some other ideas, I'll just mention a couple more. I love how you said activate the other side, so maybe learn from podcasts or from reading, and that's more of our thinking brain, so to activate the emotional brain, you're talking about listening to worship songs, or vice versa, if you're always going to music, activate the other side, and another personal favorite was reflective journaling, and you just elaborate on all of these practical ideas, and I think it was really helpful, but you also sprinkle in insightful questions and tips throughout the whole study to inspire us to deeper levels of connection with God, so do you mind just sharing a handful of those?   Daniel Blackaby: (39:09 - 48:32) Yeah, I think just trying to think of it in that terms of all, where, you know, where has God brought me, where do I have to go, and then I'm curious, because we repeat that activity at the end to see if throughout the study, people maybe evaluate themselves differently than they did at the start, but even just questions like, which I believe Mike actually added these ones in the book, but just, you know, list the places that you go to, kind of your weekly schedule, and then how many, what percentage of the people there are believers or not believers, you know, as far as just joining God on mission in your everyday life, I don't think we're always aware of those things, that we assume we believe in missions, we want, we're joining God's activity, but if we actually stop to reflect, is what, you know, I may go, other than maybe like the dentist or something, I may go or the grocery store, and I'll talk to these people, like I could go days without even coming in contact with someone that doesn't share the faith that I do, I mean, Mike is in a more secular surrounding, like I'm down here in the Bible Belt, so it's, you even have to be more intentional to, even like the restaurants, and my dentist is already a Christian, you know, they're playing, I was there yesterday, they were playing worship music, so I get, you do sort of need to be, you know, more, maybe more intentional with that, but I think it starts with just being honest and sort of reflecting on where has God placed me, and how am I, you know, am I joining Him the way that He has called me to, am I around Christians all the time, am I around non-Christians, am I, you know, my community, am I actually being a blessing to my community, am I involved in my community throughout my everyday, you know, weekly schedule, so I think a lot of the activities are just kind of guidance to reflect on sort of where we are in that process, and maybe where God could have us if we were to step out a bit more with faithfulness.   Mike Blackaby: Yeah, I like that. Some of the questions we asked are, they're not necessarily super profound, but there may be questions that aren't intentionally asked all that often, even something like, how would you define spiritual maturity? You ask somebody, “Do you want to grow in your faith?” They're like, yes, I do. Okay, so what are you growing towards? Like, what's the end goal? And most people will probably say, well, I want to be like Jesus. Well, what do you mean by that? Like, you want to go around casting out demons and, you know, feeding 5,000 people through miracles? Well, I don't know, I mean, I want to reflect his character. Okay, so in what way? What character trait of Jesus do you think? Like, narrow it down. Don't just say, I just want to be like Jesus. Well, like, here's Jesus, and we're all way down here, so that's just like, it's like climbing Everest. It's like, well, yeah, I want to get up there. Okay, so what's your map to get there? I don't know. I don't have one.   And so, this idea of just making it, just zeroing in, okay, the fruit of the Spirit, start there. What's one fruit? Pick one thing. You spend the rest of your life working on that one thing, but it's like, okay, what stands out right away to you? Patience. Yeah, for me, it's patience with my kids and with, you know, everything, traffic. It's just like, okay, man, I need this fruit in my life. Okay, so start there. Don't try to just become like Jesus. Say, here's one thing about Jesus that I need to cultivate in me. And if I become a more patient person, then I'm actually becoming a more spiritually mature person, because there's a certain part of my life that is aligning more with the character and the person of who Christ is, who is our model. That is the blueprint of who we desire to be like.   And so sometimes the questions we ask, they're not necessarily super deep or profound, but maybe they're just hopefully helping people to focus it a little bit and to say, okay, we all want to be spiritually mature, but none of us really have a plan to get there. We just sort of hope it happens, like Daniel said, over time. If I'm a Christian long enough, or if I just also, if I fill my life with enough Christian activities, if I just read enough Christian books, if I go to enough Christian Bible studies, that will just make me into a mature Christian. And there is some truth to that. That stuff does shape you. But I heard a pastor one time say, experience doesn't make you wiser, it makes you older. Evaluated experience makes you wiser. And so just putting in time doing Christian activities without reflecting on them or being intentional about it doesn't necessarily make you a more mature person. It just makes you somebody who's been to a lot of Bible studies.   And in one sense, it can almost be immature to say, okay, I don't actually know how to disciple myself. And so, I show up every time the church offers me something to sign up for, but if they don't offer me something to sign up for, then I actually don't know how to take control of my own discipleship. I don't know what to do. And so, in one sense, ironically, the end goal of this book is to help wean people off of needing these types of books all the time. It's sort of counterproductive. Like, hey, the best thing is less and less people need to buy this book. But this idea of build rhythms into your life, take control of your discipleship. A mature Christian shouldn't be needing to be spoon fed or bottle fed 20 years into their Christian walk by saying, okay, what's the next thing that I need to read? After 20 years, Jesus had his disciples for three years, and then he made them the leaders of the church. It's like after three years, he thrusts them into leadership. And we go for 20 years. And if somebody's not telling us what Bible study to take, we don't know what to do.   There's a sense of, God, would you make me a mature believer, that I can then begin to pass this on to someone else, to a believer that's coming behind me. And slowly, as we progress down this road, we're passing it on to the others coming behind us. And we never stop growing. But there is a sense of, am I still doing the same things 20 years down my Christian road that I did when I started? Or have I grown at all? And what's the evidence? How do you measure spiritual growth to even know that? And so those types of questions, they're not necessarily super deep or profound, but they're questions that we may not ask in our normal everyday lives. And so, I think that's a good starting place just to get people thinking, if I want to grow, what am I growing towards? And then how do I get there? So that's some of the heart behind it.   Laura Dugger: (48:32 - 50:04) I want to make sure that you're up to date with our latest news. We have a new website. You can visit thesavvysauce.com and see all of the latest updates. You may remember Francie Heinrichson from episode 132, where we talked about pursuing our God-given dreams. She is the amazing businesswoman who has carefully designed a brand-new website for Savvy Sauce Charities. And we are thrilled with the final product.   So, I hope you check it out. There, you're going to find all of our podcasts now with show notes and transcriptions listed, a scrapbook of various previous guests, and an easy place to join our email list to receive monthly encouragement and questions to ask your loved ones so that you can have your own practical chats for intentional living. You will also be able to access our donation button or our mailing address for sending checks that are tax deductible so that you can support the work of Savvy Sauce Charities and help us continue to reach the nations with the good news of Jesus Christ. So, make sure you visit thesavvysauce.com.   One other tip that we can hit on is another personal favorite, something that you call spiritual markers. So, can you tell us more about this idea of spiritual markers and how can we incorporate these into our own walk with the Lord and discipling our children?   Daniel Blackaby: (50:07 - 54:54) Yeah, well, I think in some ways this sort of brings us full circle to where we started with as far as just, you know, as you recognize the moments that that you have, you know, very clearly heard from God or experienced God or joined in God's activity and just allowing those, you know, like through the Bible there's, especially in the Old Testament, people are constantly making altars and, you know, God doesn't think we'll stack a bunch of rocks here so when we see the rocks we remember and we can tell our kids about it and this sense that let's do things that remind us of what God has done in the past, not just so that we can sort of, you know, be nostalgic and reminiscent about the good old days, but that as we face challenges today, we can, you know, hey, God was faithful there.   Every time I see, like I know I have a part of my testimony involved, kind of pretty miraculously receiving a letter, a handwritten letter from a friend that God used to answer prayer, and as we're recording this podcast, I can look and like I have that framed, you know, in my office, like every day I see, you know, at my lowest moment, God was there for me and I have physical evidence that God was there for me, that as, you know, as I face new challenges decades and decades later, that, you know, may look nothing like those challenges. I know it's the same God that guided me, that was provided for me, was faithful then. He's still the same God that I can trust today.   So in many ways, I mean, that can be stories, that can be, you know, I'm a big proponent of just getting physical objects or reminders or things that, whether that's like a picture or just, you know, like I have another, when I was working on my dissertation for my PhD and under a lot of stress, my kids were very young, you know, they were born my first semester, so I was very stressed, and I had one of my kids came up one day when I was just really under a lot of pressure and gave me a picture. It's just a bunch of scribbles and some random, like, animal stickers and stamps, and it's just very abstract, modern, impressionist art, but he gave me that and just sort of, you know, on his own initiative and, you know, just to let me know that he, you know, he loved me, and that's so meaningful. I have that also framed, you know, he's embarrassed now, he's 11, and you say, oh man, that's awful, but I keep that in a very prominent place in my, you know, that's not necessarily God's provision, but I think it is God working through my son to remind, just remind me that, you know, God is at work in my family and using my family and my children, and so I have sort of all around me even now, like, there's just things that I've put around me to remind myself that, you know, when I face a challenge today, trust to what God's done in the past, you know, trust those moments that, you know, that I can move forward with that confidence, that I can still trust him today.   Mike Blackaby: I think that all of that is dead on. I'm a fan of the physical reminders too, like, have, like, that's what they did in the Old Testament, they would, they'd pile rocks together and that would spur on conversations specifically with the next generation, and so, yeah, I think tell the stories to everybody, but be even more intentional to tell the stories to the generation coming behind you, and if you need reminders of those things, then, yeah, fill your home, don't just clutter up your home, but fill your life with reminders of God's goodness, because no matter how good he's been in the past, it's easy to forget that when you're right in the storm today, and so sometimes you just need that reminder, say, okay, like, I remember feeling this way before, and yet God got me through it that time, and I believe he'll get me through it this time too, and not even just the hard times, but recognize and be quick to give God credit for the good things, and just, you know, remember those, we're in a good, we're in a good season in our church right now after some difficult, just hard work, and we're seeing some harvest, and we're seeing some good things, and I know there's ups and downs in ministry, and so I've been telling people I'm just enjoying the up right now, you know, and probably should memorialize it in some way to also look back and say, hey, when things get rough, it doesn't usually stay there forever, and things are good, it doesn't always stay there forever either, you know, growth happens through struggle and tension and those types of things, not ease, and so, yeah, the physical reminders are good.   Laura Dugger: (54:56 - 55:12) And we didn't even get to touch on something, you're bringing out the seasons of life and how God brings the harvest and those winter seasons and how it's cyclical, so if all of this message is resonating with someone, where can we go after this chat to learn more from the two of you?   Mike Blackaby: (55:14 - 57:32) Most of, I'm not super active on social media anymore, I probably should be, but I would say most of anything worth hearing that I have to say, I put in my sermons, and so if anybody ever wants to just tune in, we've got a live stream at our church where whatever God is currently teaching me usually ends up in my teaching just week to week on Sundays, and so I would say commit to your own church, let your pastor be your pastor, but if you're ever interested in maybe gaining some other perspective or, you know, looking for something to listen to on the way to work, our church has a live stream that you can go to, Canvas Oak Bay is what our church is called, so anything profound that I have to say will at some point end up in there.   Daniel Blackaby: Yeah, I think you can, for me, you can, I mean, blackaby.org, I work for the ministry, and a lot of the stuff that, I mean, Mike or I, or our father, or other relatives, or things related to this book, I gather resources, and you can find a lot of information and resources on the website, and one of the things I personally do is I run a kind of a culture engagement ministry, The Collision, if anyone wants to check out TheCollision.org, do a lot of, in some ways, applying the message of this book, just in the field of kind of the arts and pop culture, you know, in movies, you know, finding where's God at work, or what's the conversations happening in culture through, you know, the trends, and the stories, and things that are happening, and just trying to guide people to join those conversations, so if that sounds like something, or if you have kids, and you want to help, you know, guide them through some of those conversations, love to have you guys check out our website there, too.   Mike Blackaby: Yeah, I also recommend TheCollision.org, it's good, I love reading Daniel's movie reviews, and it's unlike other things that are out there, what he sees in culture is really good, helping people navigate as a Christian exile, navigating through this world, it's really good, and so I encourage people to check that out, too.   Laura Dugger: (57:33 - 57:54) Thank you for those wonderful recommendations, we'll add links to all of that in the show notes for today's episode, and the two of you may already be familiar, we're called The Savvy Sauce, because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge, and so as my final question for both of you today, what is your savvy sauce?   Mike Blackaby: (57:57 - 1:00:59) Do or do not, there is no try. I would say, this is, I heard somebody say this years ago, and I've always loved it, they said, nothing good happens after 11 p.m., so put away your phone, turn off the TV, you're not going to do anything typically that grows your faith, or encourages your soul, after 11 o'clock, just go to bed, I mean, not much of good typically ever happens late at night, and so, I mean, I know someone will say, well, no, at midnight, this great thing happened to me, like, yeah, I know, it's not a, it's more of a proverb than anything, it's a, typically, this is what, typically, good things don't happen after 11 o'clock, and so, build the habit of putting your phone away, and getting off screen time, getting off your computer, any of that sort of stuff, don't go late into the night on any of that stuff, because typically, healthy things don't happen.   Daniel Blackaby: Yeah, but my two kids had their first sleepover last night at our house, and so I think they learned firsthand that staying up super late, I don't know, there's a lot of chaos, I don't know what was good that came out of that, but I think, maybe for me, kind of a motto, and I've sort of phrased it different ways over the years, but something that I've really tried to use when faced with decisions, is just to, like, choose what I want most, instead of what I want now, and I feel like most healthy decisions can be summed up in this, what I want now is to eat this, you know, donut that was left on the counter, or eat, you know, potato chips for breakfast, or whatever, like, what I want most, though, is to be a healthy example for my kids, or to feel good, or, you know, what I want now might be to just veg on the couch on my phone, and just do nothing, like, what I want most is to, you know, be well-read, or to be, you know, in good shape, so I should go for a run, or whatever it is, like, just, and I'm not, I don't always make the right choice in that, but that, for me, that's just been a helpful of, you know, most decisions come down to, like, this is what I want, but what I want most, and what would be the decision that gets me closer to that, rather than just sort of feeding my kind of carnal impulses, which usually are very rarely edifying, or healthy to the spirit, or body, or mind, or anything, so I've put that on, you know, like, if I make a running schedule, or different things, I've sort of put that, some version of that slogan, just to remind myself, like, even this, you know, I once printed off a sign, I put it on our pantry, of just remembering, what do you want most, what do you want now, like, because don't, you know, don't go for that snack shelf now, but so, for me, that's just been one of those things that I've tried to, I'm constantly telling myself, just, you know, choose what I want most, not just what I want now. That's good.   Laura Dugger: (1:01:00 - 1:01:30) I love it. You both have just shared profound wisdom and insight today. I'm so grateful for your generosity of time, and just inspiring all of us, even giving hope, and all of that through this uplifting conversation, where we're getting to see the thousand generations blessed through the faithfulness, even of those who have gone before you, and you two also carrying the torch on. So, thank you so much for everything you shared today, and thank you, Daniel and Mike, for being my guests today.   Mike Blackaby and Daniel Blackaby: (1:01:31 - 1:01:32) Thanks so much for having us.   Laura Dugger: (1:01:33 - 1:05:16) One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin.   This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you.   Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray.   Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him.   And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started.   First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it.   You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you.   We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

Romans