Podcasts about leadership journal

In this week's episode of The Direct Sales Done Right Podcast, Katy and Melanie dive into The Leadership Journal created by Melanie. They discuss how reflection is essential for visionary CEOs and the importance of forward-thinking in daily leadership. Katy puts Melanie in the hot seat, asking her why she developed the journal, what it entails, and how it stands out from other journals.HIGHLIGHTS: 3:35 Why Melanie created the leadership journal.  5:17 What Melanie finds that direct sales leaders do in their moring routines that could be holding them back. 6:50 How and why Melanie knew she needed that her morning routine needed to change. 8:16 How The Leadership Journal is affective for those on limited time. 9:23 What a gratitude practice is according to Melanie. 11:20 Importance of your 3 goals and vision you are working towards. 14:20 What will you do today to move closer to your glows?22:19 What you can do to improve your leadership skills + move closer to your goals. Get your own copy of The Leadership Journal here.Follow Melanie and Katy here: Melanie Mitro InstagramKaty Ursta Instagram Direct Sales Done Right Instagram

Guest Bios Show Transcript https://youtu.be/w2rB6NZogbgThe American church is in crisis. After numerous scandals, distrust of the church is at an all-time high. Young people raised in the church are leaving at an alarming rate. And, in a society where loneliness and spiritual hunger are rampant, people are turning elsewhere for help. In this edition of The Roys Report, host Julie Roys welcomes Skye Jethani for a wide-ranging discussion on the crisis in the American church. Skye, a former editor at Christianity Today and former pastor, has for years co-hosted The Holy Post, a popular podcast. Recently, Skye wrote the provocatively titled book, What If Jesus Was Serious About the Church? In it, he looks at what the Bible really says about the church, then compares that with some of the prevailing beliefs and values popular in the church today. For example, the church is commonly referred to in Scripture as a family—but in modern America, it's become a corporation. In its pursuit of expansion, influence, and power, the church has sadly lost the essential Christian virtues of faith and love. As Skye writes, rather than feeling like valued members of God's family, today, many church members feel like replaceable cogs in a ministry machine. Is it any wonder that the church is suffering, and is it any wonder that people are leaving? For people who've had negative experiences in church and have lived through congregational crisis firsthand, this lively conversation brings clarity and hope. Guests Skye Jethani An award-winning author, speaker, and co-host of the Holy Post Podcast, Skye Jethani has written more than a dozen books and served as an editor and executive at Christianity Today for more than a decade. Raised in a religiously and ethnically diverse family, his curiosity about faith led him to study comparative religion before entering seminary and pastoral ministry. With a unique ability to connect Christian thought and contemporary culture, his voice has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, and The Washington Post. Show Transcript [00:00:00] Julie Roys: There’s no doubt the American church is in crisis. After numerous scandals, the distrust of the church is at an all-time high. Young people raised in the church are leaving at an alarming rate and we have a society where loneliness and spiritual hunger is rampant, but people are turning elsewhere for help. [00:00:21] Julie Roys: Welcome to The Roy’s Report, a podcast dedicated to reporting the truth and restoring the church. I’m Julie Roy-. And today I’m going to be discussing the crisis in the American church with Skye Jethani. Skye is a former editor at Christianity Today and a former pastor. He’s also co-host of the podcast, The Holy Post. [00:00:40] Julie Roys: And he’s a speaker and author of numerous books, including the provocatively titled, What If Jesus Was Serious About the Church? In the book, Skye looks at what the Bible really says about the church, then he compares that with some of the prevailing beliefs and values popular in the church today. For example, the church is commonly referred to in scripture as a family, but in modern America, it’s become a corporation. [00:01:05] Julie Roys: And in its pursuit of expansion, influence, and power, the church has sadly lost the essential Christian virtue of love. As Skye writes, now, rather than feeling like valued members of God’s family, many church members feel like replaceable cogs in a ministry machine. Is it any wonder that the church is suffering, and is it any wonder that people are leaving? [00:01:28] Julie Roys: I’m so excited to speak with Skye about the church, not just because he’s a great thinker and teacher, but because he’s my brother. Skye attends the same house church that my family attends, and I’ve seen his commitment to the church on a day to day, week by week basis, and it’s because of people like Skye that I haven’t given up on the church, even though I’ve had a ton of negative experiences. I still believe in the church. I still see her beauty. And so I’m so excited to share this podcast with you. [00:01:49] Julie Roys: But first I’d like to thank the sponsors of this podcast, Talbot Seminary and Marquardt of Barrington. Are you passionate about impacting the world so it reflects biblical ideals of justice? The Talbot School of Theology Doctor of Ministry program is launching a new track exploring the theological, social, and practical dimensions of biblical justice today. [00:02:16] Julie Roys: The program equips students with the knowledge, skills, and spiritual foundation needed to address social issues with wisdom and compassion. Justice has become a key issue in our culture, but more importantly, it’s an issue that’s close to God’s heart. While it’s clear the Bible calls God’s people to pursue justice, we must be guided by His Word within that pursuit. Talbot has created this track to do just that. As part of this program, you’ll examine issues such as trafficking, race, immigration, and poverty. And I’ll be teaching a session as well, focusing on the right use of power in our churches so we can protect the vulnerable rather than harm them. So join me and a community of like- minded scholars committed to social change and ethical leadership. Apply now at TALBOT.EDU/DMIN. Julie Roys: Also if you’re looking for a quality new or used car, I highly recommend my friends at Marquardt of Barrington. Marquardt is a Buick GMC dealership where you can expect honesty, integrity, and transparency. That’s because the owners there, Dan and Kurt Marquardt, are men of integrity. To check them out just go to BUYACAR123.COM. [00:03:26] Julie Roys: Well, again, joining me is Skye Jethani, a former pastor who now co-hosts the popular podcast, The Holy Post. He also speaks and writes books, including one that we’re offering to listeners this month called What If Jesus Was Serious About the Church? So Skye, welcome, and it’s just such a pleasure to have you. [00:03:50] Skye Jethani: Thanks, Julie. I’m happy to be here. [00:03:51] Julie Roys: And you may be surprised to know this, but I’ve actually mentioned you numerous times on this podcast. Do  about this? [00:03:58] Skye Jethani: I do not, because I have to confess, I’ve not listened. [00:04:01] Julie Roys: You haven’t listened to our podcast? Well, that’s okay, but I’ve listened to the Holy Post. I’ve actually been on the Holy Post, which has been really fun. I’ve mentioned you because I use this term that you coined called the evangelical industrial complex. And so whenever I do that, I try to give you credit. I say, , this isn’t my term. This is Skye’s term. [00:04:24] Skye Jethani: I don’t need credit, but you’re appreciated. It isn’t like I get a kickback or anything from every time it’s spoken, but. Yeah, I think it was 2012 I wrote an article that I first used that phrase, and it just took off. A lot of people have used it since then. [00:04:37] Julie Roys: Well, it’s a great term, but for those who are listening who haven’t heard it before, what is the evangelical industrial complex? [00:04:45] Skye Jethani: Right. So it’s a riff off of President Eisenhower in his farewell address to the country. It’s on YouTube. I recommend people go watch it. It’s very interesting, but he gave a televised address to the country where he warned about the military industrial complex. Of course, Eisenhower, having been a general and the commander of the forces in Europe during world war two had a lot of credibility when it came to military stuff. [00:05:08] Skye Jethani: And his concern was that there was this permanent arms industry that had been developed after world war two and the military industrial complex, he said, needed a perpetual conflict and warfare to continue its business model. And so I kind of adopted that phrase, but talking about the evangelical industrial complex, which is this financial money-making industry that constantly needs celebrity leaders, celebrity pastors in particular, and big events to perpetuate its business model. [00:05:39] Skye Jethani: And so it tends to elevate leaders who may be quite talented but lack the character or the maturity to handle large audiences or significant influence. But the evangelical industrial complex will prop them up, publish their books, get them on the big stage, build a big platform for them in order to make lots of money off of this person’s talent and reputation. [00:06:06] Skye Jethani: And then we’re shocked when they end up cracking under the pressure or falling into some controversy or their church implodes. And especially when I was working at Christianity Today, And I got around the country and I was seeing kind of behind the curtain in a lot of these places. I was noticing that tendency over and over and over again, where it wasn’t the Godly mature tested people who were given platforms. [00:06:27] Skye Jethani: It was young, attractive, talented people who were given platforms. And so looking at this in different angles, like I just said, this is about making money. This isn’t about really building up the church. And so that’s the evangelical industrial complex. [00:06:42] Julie Roys: And there’s so much that you just said; just in those few paragraphs about the church and some of our assumptions about the church, the fact that we can have an industrial complex, the fact that we have so many financial interests, and we’re going to dive into a lot of that today. [00:07:01] Julie Roys: And I love your book because you take all of these things that are kind of, we’ve just adopted because we swim in this soup, right? And we don’t even know kind of these false ideas about church that we’ve imbibed. But they’re there. And when you begin to contrast them with scripture, you’re like, Oh my word. [00:07:19] Julie Roys: But as I mentioned in the open, you and I, not only know each other professionally, but we go to the same church and we go to a house church, which is a very unconventional form of church. And I know for me and a lot of others within our house church, we’ve come because there was some sort of, I would say many of us are church refugees. [00:07:44] Julie Roys: Something happened at the church that we were at. And I know I’ve talked about this before on this podcast that for us, it was losing trust in our leaders because of a sexual abuse coverup at the church. And so that was very concerning. Your story, I’m guessing, is a bit different, and I realized as we jumped into this, I mean, I know your former church, and I know some stuff that happened there, but I really don’t know your story of why you came to this house church, which is really, in some ways, unconventional form of church, but if you read the New Testament, it sounds awful lot like what they were doing back then. So, what’s your story? How’d you get there? [00:08:24] Skye Jethani: Quite by accident really. I was at the same church for 20 years and for, I don’t know, six, it’s hard to, to find, but I was on staff at the church for quite a few years. And then when I was at CT, I actually split my time between staff at the church and Christianity Today. [00:08:41] Skye Jethani: So these convoluted timeframes, but overall 20 years. And probably, uh, gosh, trying to get dates straight in my head. A few years before we landed at the house church, my wife and I were struggling, honestly, at the church. And I saw, I think partly because of my own ministry background and from my years at CT, where I had been around the country and seen behind the curtain at all kinds of different issues, I had growing concerns about what I saw happening at my own church. [00:09:12] Skye Jethani: And I took some of those concerns to some of the leaders. They did not share my perspective. They thought I was making a mountain out of a molehill. So in those years, my wife and I kind of decided, well, we’re going to take a step back from like deeper involvement because I was, I just saw yellow flags and yet this was our community. This was the people we loved, people we’d known, our kids were all born and raised in this church. So we were committed to the community, but I just decided as previously having been a significant leader there, I was going to take a step back. And those are hard couple of years because I was constantly told, well, should we be somewhere else? [00:09:52] Skye Jethani: I really wanted to be at a church where I felt like I could contribute my full strength and enthusiasm to the work of that community, and it just wasn’t going to happen at our church in that season. Then 2020 happens and the pandemic hits, and it’s like, Oh! God caused the global pandemic. So we don’t have to go to church and feel awkward anymore in this situation. [00:10:30] Skye Jethani: So like everyone else, our church closed. And so everyone moved online or figured out other alternatives. And a few months into the pandemic, Brady Wright reached out to me, who’s also part of our house church and a mutual friend. And he and I and our families have been friends for a long time. And he said that he knew a bunch of families that were all struggling with just feeling isolated. And it was still warm out. And he asked if we’d be open to gathering in someone’s backyard under a tree, social distance for like a fellowship gathering where we would read scripture, pray for one another, and just have a very, very rudimentary kind of worship gathering. [00:10:53] Skye Jethani: So we started doing that in the spring and summer of 2020. And the people came from different churches, but we said we needed fellowship. And a lot of us were connected through Young Life. And then as we got into the winter months, we realized, well, we actually really like doing this with each other and our churches were still closed. [00:11:12] Skye Jethani: And most of us were maybe engaging somewhere online, but not in a meaningful way. And then by 2021, the church that we had been a part of all those years went through that significant crisis that it kind of finally blew up. And I had concerns that this was coming for years and then it did. [00:11:37] Skye Jethani: And so when people found out that my wife and I had been a part of this little under a tree gathering thing. And then in homes, after the weather got cold, some of those refugees started showing up at this little house church. And then there were other churches in our area, like yours, where people were struggling, and they ended up coming. And before you know it, Brady and I are looking at each other going, this was just supposed to be a COVID fellowship, temporary thing under a tree. [00:11:59] Skye Jethani: Um, But now we realize there’s a bigger reason for this, and there are people who need this place to feel connected and heal and a different way of approaching the basic functions of a Christian community. [00:12:21] Skye Jethani: So fast forward, we’re no longer at that church that we were at, obviously, for 20 years, I’m no longer ordained in that denomination. And this house church has just become our community and home. So we didn’t go into it as refugees from a church. We came into it just because of COVID, but it all kind of aligned with a number of years of suspecting things were coming. And then when they did, I think we were just a little ahead of the curve. I saw what could happen and it did. So maybe God was just sparing us from a more acute pain had we stayed more engaged. [00:12:50] Julie Roys: And we were church refugees, and I kind of knew this, but when we lost what was our church home, we spent about two years visiting tons of churches in the area and it just grieved me because I saw the same sort of system at every church that I just didn’t believe in anymore. [00:13:13] Julie Roys: I still believed in the church, I still believed in God, but I didn’t believe in the system anymore. We’re going to dive into that and actually in your introduction, I like how you talk about the church has changed. Our idea of what the church is, it’s just dramatically changed in 50 years. [00:13:33] Julie Roys: And I would a hundred percent affirm that. The church that I’m seeing everywhere right now, that’s called the evangelical church is not the church I grew up in at all, not even close. So talk about that change and what sort of prompted that change. [00:13:51] Skye Jethani: Gosh, I guess it depends on where you want to start the timeline. It’s probably older than 50 years, but I think one of the significant changes that happened at some point in the mid-20th century was sort of the professionalization of pastoral ministry. [00:14:08] Skye Jethani: And I don’t mean professionalization as in professional training. I think that’s very valuable. But here’s what I mean. Throughout most of Christian history, a pastor or minister would spend most of their time during the week out in the community. They met people in their homes, in their farms, in their factories, in the hospitals and the prisons, wherever they were out in the community, engaging people. [00:14:29] Skye Jethani: And then those people would congregate on Sunday. And the minister would lead them in sacraments and in teaching of scripture and all that. But he or she knew their sheep because they were out in the community. And at some point we flipped a switch and we said, if you desire to be ministered to, you now need to come to where the minister works. [00:14:51] Skye Jethani: You need to come into the church office, the church building, and we, the ministers will create a plethora of programs for you and your family to minister to you. And that was done, I think, with very good intentions and there’s an efficiency in that. But I think what it unintentionally did is it caused those of us who are ministers and our pastors to lose touch with the reality of our sheep. [00:15:15] Skye Jethani: We lost touch with what do people's lives actually look like Monday through Saturday? Because the only time we ever saw people, it was on our turf, on our terms, in our programs, and in our building. And once you made that switch from pastoral ministry out in the pastures, to pastoral ministry in the professional setting of the pastor in their building, well then it’s just a matter of how do I scale this factory? How do I make more programs? How do we make bigger worship services? How do I get more people into this system? [00:16:03] Skye Jethani: And then you get the explosion of mega churches and all of that. That was a big wake up call for me, even, after spending a number of years on staff at my church and then beginning to work outside, I realized, oh, I had no idea what the lives of the people in my church were actually like, because I only saw them in my context. I never saw them in their context. So I think that was a big change. And then you just get this massive growth of the institution because you add into this concoction the sacred secular divide. And a lot of people in ministry think that the only work that really matters ultimately is ministry. [00:16:23] Skye Jethani: So if something’s going to matter, it has to happen under the church umbrella, which is how you get like exercise facilities in a church. It’s how you get auto mechanics in a church. It’s how you get all these because it has to be under the church to count and you get these monstrosities ministries and in some communities that’s necessary. [00:16:43] Skye Jethani: I don’t want to completely diminish that, but a lot of places it isn’t. And then you need more and more professional people to manage and run these huge things. And that becomes the system that you’re talking about. You’re like, wow, this becomes really self-serving rather than ministering out into the community. [00:16:59] Skye Jethani: I think that’s one reason is just the simple professionalization of what happened. There’s a lot of other pieces of this we can unpack, but I think that one doesn’t get enough attention. [00:17:07] Julie Roys:  Yeah. And the church has become a corporation. It’s not  the family that a lot of us knew the church has. And I do think there were good intentions with things. Like I remember the first time we went to Willow Creek, which is the big mega church in the Chicago area, much less big now that everything’s happened with Bill Hybels But I remember going and the thing that struck me, because when I grew up in this little church, it was a great family, really great family, but nobody became a Christian there. Right? Like nobody came to the church and became a Christian. And I saw Willow Creek putting on these amazing shows on Sunday morning, very attractional model. And I remember inviting my boss. I was doing this little sales job in between college and graduate school. And I invited my boss, and my boss became a believer. [00:17:59] Julie Roys:  And then we started doing Bible studies and we used to fill up two rows of people on midweek. Like we’d have a sales meeting and then we go to Willow. And literally there were dozens of people became believers through that. So I mean that at first I was just like, this is amazing. It’s like the para-church church. I saw all of these para church type outreach ministries, that model coming into the church. But then some really unintended consequences we really weren’t thinking about it necessarily biblically, we were thinking about it pragmatically; how do we reach people? [00:18:43] Julie Roys: And that’s kind of how we got there, but really, what is the church, right? I mean, that’s what your book is getting to. What is the church? And I think you rightly say a lot of people think of it as an event, as a building, as an organization. So biblically, let’s go back down to our roots, right? And what is the church? [00:19:02] Skye Jethani: The simplest answer is it’s a community of women and men and children who have been redeemed by Jesus and are living in communion with him and one another. That’s it. And that obviously can take different forms and structures and different cultures and times, but that’s it. I think your observation that megachurch function very much like a parachurch outreach kind of ministry, I think it’s accurate. And I’ve been a part of a number, especially as a college student, a number of parachurch organizations like Campus Crusade CRU now, InterVarsity, Navigators, and at least in my time connected to some of those things. They’re very careful not to call themselves a church because they understand that we may be a ministry, we may do outreach and Bible studies and other things, but we are not a church. [00:20:05] Skye Jethani: But the funny part is when you go to some churches that more or less function like parachurch ministries. they embrace the name church. And I wrote a piece many years ago for Leadership Journal, where I was arguing that these very large churches shouldn’t really be called churches. And I started calling them VLMs, which is a new one. It’s a very large ministry. And I tried to come up with a name that wasn’t disparaging because they are doing ministry. They are reaching people like your colleagues, like they’re doing good work, but there’s something chafed on me about calling it a church when the historic definition and functions of a church community were really not present. But they were preaching the gospel. They were teaching scripture. They were engaging non-believers, all that great. But the functioning of a church in many of these places was not actually happening. [00:20:44] Skye Jethani: Para church organizations recognize that about themselves and stayed away from the label of church, but these mega churches and other ministries embrace the church name. All the while they weren’t really functioning as churches. [00:20:56] Julie Roys: And I think the pastor wasn’t functioning as a pastor. I mean, we have pastors who are basically preachers, but they’re not pastors. They’re not shepherds. [00:21:04] Skye Jethani: Right. Exactly. Yeah. [00:21:06] Julie Roys: You wrote one of the chapters is on, whose church is it really? And it reminded me of an experience I had last fall. So I was doing some investigating on a church where Albert Tate was the pastor. It’s in Monrovia, California, and he had admitted that he had an inappropriate texting relationship, but then his staff started complaining about bullying, about spiritual abuse. [00:21:33] Julie Roys: They found out that they really didn’t have any say. They didn’t own the church the way the bylaws were written. Albert, and a few of his key guys that he put on his board owned the church. I remember at this very contentious town hall meeting that I went to where they were basically the people were demanding their church back, and they were talking about Albert going on this sabbatical, and he came back really quickly. I forget how it’s several weeks. And then he said, and I’m just going to quote, he’s like, I’m not sure if a month would have made any difference, like saying if I had stayed on my break for a month longer. And unfortunately, I still feel like this is my church. And the place erupted. I mean, people were saying it’s our church, it’s our church. [00:22:25] Julie Roys: And then somebody was saying, no, it’s God’s church. But the way that we think about our church, I mean, there, it was really coming to a head, and it really was a matter of who owns this church? And we’ve got legal ownership, and then we’ve got spiritual ownership. So speak to that, because I think we have really messed this one up. [00:22:46] Skye Jethani: Yeah, and there’s a lot of pieces that intersect with this, because there’s different polities, there’s different church structures and governance structures, depending on your denomination and theology and all of that, it gets complicated. There’s some denominations in which they might have congregational polity, but the denomination owns the building, and it goes on and on like in the denomination I was a part of they were congregational in their polity, but the licensing and ordination of clergy was handled by the denomination. So there was some oversight. And one of the things, I used to have stronger opinions, I guess, about these matters, but as I’ve gotten around and had my own experience and just perhaps mellowed a bit with age, I’ve realized I have not yet found a church structure that cannot be abused. [00:23:33] Skye Jethani: They all have weaknesses, and they all have strengths. Some I think are better than others, but none’s immune. So if someone’s looking for a silver bullet of how do we structure these things to avoid abuse? Good luck. The best you can do is try to mitigate against it in your culture and environment by choosing certain models versus others, but they can all be abused. [00:23:56] Skye Jethani: But what you’re getting at in the story that you mentioned, and I’ve seen this up close as well, especially within evangelicalism, so much of our tradition is rooted in charismatic personalities and lowercase C charismatic personalities so that we tend to associate a church with its visible leader, the person in the pulpit. [00:24:22] Skye Jethani: I remember Outreach magazine, I think it was Outreach magazine years ago, used to do an issue every year on like the top hundred churches in the country or something like that. And they measure just based on size, based on attendance. And it was like a centerfold, a fold out. big thing and they’d list all these churches in this chart And there was the name of the church and then there was just a headshot of the senior pastor That was the visual representation of that church [00:25:02] Skye Jethani: So it is a structural problem, but it’s also a people problem We do that we do that because we tend to pick a church based on do I like the preacher? If that’s the criteria you have for picking your church, you’re reinforcing that same idea. And what really grieved me was when I realized, despite the rhetoric, despite the theology, despite all the words about we’re a body and it’s blah, blah, blah. When people in leadership, John Ortberg used to say that everyone has their mission, and then there’s the shadow mission. [00:25:28] Skye Jethani: There’s what you say your mission is, and then there’s what your mission really is. And what I discovered in some of these places is, you might say your mission is the health of the church, or it’s the growth of the church, or it’s the service of the community, whatever it might be, glorifying God. The shadow mission in an awful lot of these places is to protect the pastor and to maintain the pastor’s status and reputation. [00:25:50] Skye Jethani: And that for me to speak about the system being broken is when I lost trust and hope. Where it ceased to be about what’s best for the body, and it became what’s best for the figurehead who represents the body, not Jesus, but the pastor. Again, there’s a bazillion stories of how this happens. [00:26:15] Skye Jethani: I don’t want to point the finger just at the system because we are complicit in creating that system. Because I think for a lot of us, we get a lot of satisfaction after saying that’s my pastor. That’s my leader. Look how great my guy is. Look how many books he’s published, look how popular his radio show is. And I’m a part of that. So there’s something we get from that, which props them up. [00:26:36] Skye Jethani: And somewhere else I wrote about it as being like the relationship between an animal and a zookeeper. They both benefit. The animal gets fed in a safe place to live. And the zookeeper gets the satisfaction of. , being in charge of all these animals. And if you’re content with that model, we’re going to continue to have this dynamic where the leaders are synonymous with the church. And then the church does everything it can to prop up and protect its leader, and it’s really unhealthy for everybody involved. [00:26:57] Julie Roys: That’s interesting. And it is true that it’s comfortable for us because when we go to a church like that, everything’s provided for us, and we don’t really have to bring anything to the table. And that’s been one of the challenges with our house church, hasn’t it? We're like, nobody signed up to facilitate this week. Nobody signed up for worship leading. And it’s like, okay, yeah, we’re going to have to bring a little more to the table if we’re going to keep meeting. Again, biblically speaking, there’s commands about when you meet together, you should bring a psalm, you should bring a word of encouragement, you should bring, I mean, all of these things. [00:27:34] Julie Roys: We’ve gotten into a very consumeristic way of looking at church and of approaching it. And it’s on us. You’re right. You’re a hundred percent right. It is on us. And I think we don’t think of the church. as God’s church. But if we do think of the church as God’s church, then I think it also changes our expectations of who should be in that church. [00:27:59] Julie Roys: You mentioned how a lot of churches, when they plant a church, they’ll talk about their target audience, for example, which implies you can either be in their target or not be in their target, right? So, if you’re not in their target, then do you count? I mean, do you matter? A lot of assumptions there. But when we think about church and we think about who’s coming, how should we perceive that? [00:28:29] Skye Jethani: Yeah, I think that the breakdown here is the way our culture defines hospitality. Again, it’s become an industry; there’s the hospitality industry in the modern world. And so what we usually mean by hospitality, and this trickles down even to our homes, like when we think about do you have a hospitable home? You think, well, if I’m going to have guests, I’m going to find out what do they like? What do they want? I’m going to accommodate to their needs. I’m going to make sure that they're vegan or whatever it is. And we’re going to customize our home to fit the people who are coming. The hospitality industry has taught us, whether it’s airlines or hotels or resorts or whatever, find out who you’re marketing your resort to, and then give them what they want. Customer is king. And megachurches and the seeker movement came along, and they adopted that same approach. Well, we’re going to go after unchurched Harry and Mary, famously was Willow Creek’s thing. And they had this middle-class, middle-aged people, and they tailored a church around what they wanted. [00:29:30] Skye Jethani: That’s very different from the ancient world’s understanding of hospitality. Paul commands us to be hospitable to one another, and so does Peter, and it’s a very ancient idea going back to Abraham being hospitable to the strangers who are angels who came to his home. [00:29:46] Skye Jethani: In the ancient Near East, hospitality was not about catering or changing your home or community to accommodate your guests. It was instead, welcoming guests into the normalcy and flow of your home as it is; it’s been authentically yourself but welcoming those guests into it. [00:30:15] Skye Jethani: So, I’ll give you one example. When I was in seminary, some classmates of mine did an experiment where they took 2 television monitors to Northwestern University, right? This. secular university in Evanston, the north side of Chicago. Julie Roys: Where I got my graduate degree. [00:30:36] Skye Jethani:  Right. One monitor they showed a Catholic mass, and the other monitor they showed a very contemporary mega church worship gathering. And they asked students as they came by, hey, if you were ever to go to church, which one of these would you go to? And this would have been probably 1998-99 in that timeframe. The overwhelming response of the students was the Catholic mass. And then they asked them, why is that? And they said, well, that looks like a rock concert. I can get that anywhere, but that looks sacred. That looks holy. [00:30:54] Skye Jethani: And what they were getting at was, the mega churches said, we’re going to accommodate to the culture and give people what they want. But increasingly with my generation, and I think the younger ones, it smacks of pandering. It smacks of, well, you’re changing who you really are in order to be who you think I want you to be. [00:31:13] Skye Jethani: Whereas the Catholic mass, a lot of these students was like, well, they’re being authentic to who they are. That’s Christianity. They’re not trying to. I mean, goodness, the Catholics just started doing the mass in English not that long ago. They were very slow to accommodate, but that was seen as authentic. [00:31:28] Skye Jethani: So I think that the challenge for us today is not how do you change the church to be what the culture wants you to be? It’s how do you be authentically Christian in your church community? But how do you make it As accessible as possible to the people who might come in? [00:31:49] Skye Jethani: So in our case, like when we gather, we take communion every Sunday when we gather. I know plenty of seeker churches that would say, you don’t do that because it’s off putting to non-believers who don’t understand it. I would hope that if someone came into our community, and I’ve seen churches that do this really well, who take communion regularly, they explain what this is, what it means, why we do it, how to do it, the significance of it and invite people to participate or not, depending on their theology [00:32:13] Skye Jethani: . That’s being hospitable. It’s not changing who you are to accommodate people’s expectations. It’s welcoming them into who you are and to the normal flow of your family and household. And I think that’s a better approach and a more faithful approach than polling the community and finding out what they want. [00:32:29] Julie Roys: Absolutely. And I love that we do communion every week. I think a lot of churches have forsaken this. In fact, you talk about the, what is it, The coffee bar versus the Lord’s table? Like in a lot of these churches, the coffee bar has become more appealing than the Lord’s table to these churches. Again, because I think their mentality is we’re doing church, and this is where I feel like evangelism, which is such an important thing, but it’s almost superseded worship. [00:33:04] Julie Roys: Like, we forget why we come together. We don’t come together to reach the seeker. Not that God, obviously Jesus cared. He left the 99 to get the one. But we come together to worship God; that’s the primary. And so the table, describe, beyond what you’ve talked about, but theologically, why is the table so, and by the way, our RESTORE conferences, every single one, we always end with communion, which I’ve had people come up to me and say, Oh, you shouldn’t do like anything that might trigger people because they were hurt in the church and communion, that's something that’s very churchy. [00:33:46] Julie Roys: And I’m like, we have to redeem these symbols. We can’t throw them out because these symbols are there. God gave them to us because our souls need them. And we need to have this communion with one another and with Christ. I know this is a conviction of yours. It’s very deeply held, but why is the table like a non-negotiable for us as believers when we meet? [00:34:13] Skye Jethani: Let me give you two reasons, although there are more. One, is I think it is the practiced embodiment of the gospel. It is not just the verbal proclamation of the gospel, which is obviously valuable, but it’s the embodiment of the gospel. And in the sense that it’s not just a memorial to Jesus' death, which certainly it is that; my broken body, my shed blood, but in sort of an Ephesians 2 kind of way. [00:34:54] Skye Jethani: There Paul talks about how on the cross God has reconciled us to one another. He’s talking about Jew and Gentiles there. He’s broken down the wall of hostility and he has reconciled us to one another and made us one new person. And then together reconciled us to God through the cross. So It’s not just when I sit alone and take a little juice and a little bread, and I kind of think about the cross and my community with God, it’s when I am sitting side by side or standing side by side with my sisters and brothers, realizing I’m one with them because of the cross, and he has reconciled us to one another, people, maybe who I share something in common with, in an earthly way, but some whom I don’t. [00:35:31] Skye Jethani: And so when we don’t practice communion regularly, I think we can easily fall into the trap of losing the horizontal dimension of the gospel. And we make it simply vertical. It’s just me and God. And we forget, no, it’s the reconciliation between brothers and sisters happens first, Paul says, and then we’re reconciled to God, the father of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. [00:35:56] Skye Jethani: If you’re going to make an offering at the altar, and there, remember your brother has something against you, leave the offering, go be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift to God. He always puts the horizontal reconciliation ahead of the vertical, and we have so lost sight of that. And we don’t think that’s essential to our gospel, but it is. [00:36:11] Skye Jethani: So the table is critically important because it is the embodiment of that full gospel, the horizontal and the vertical. And when we don’t practice that, we get really warped. And it just leads to terrible things in the church. Then the other reason, the second reason, and this gets a little bit more into that coffee bar versus communion table thing is, virtually everything in our society is designed to make us narcissistic consumers. [00:36:41] Skye Jethani: It’s all about me. It’s what I want. And when I go to a coffee bar, I don’t drink coffee. I drink tea, but when I go to a Starbucks or whatever, like there’s infinite options and I pick what I want and I’m the one in charge and I order it and I get it. And a lot of churches have that in their foyer or communion area or common area, whatever might be fine. [00:36:58] Skye Jethani: I’m not against coffee in church, but the table I’m no longer in charge. It’s Christ’s table. It’s not my table. And even if I’m officiating and I’m a pastor at the table, it’s still not my table. It’s Christ’s table. He welcomes us there. This is his body. This is his blood. This is about his kingdom and his family. [00:37:18] Skye Jethani: And it’s a reminder that I am not in charge, and I belong to something other than myself. And so those two realities of the gospel, I think are antidotes to what we get bombarded with in our culture of the privatization of our faith. It’s just me and God and the hyper narcissism of it’s what I want that matters, not what God wants. [00:37:41] Skye Jethani: For me, the practice of communion inoculates me to a degree against all of that cultural garbage and realigns me to the gospel of Christ again. So to not practice it regularly, I think is to lose one of the greatest graces that Christ has given his church. And especially in our context, we need to do that. [00:38:03] Julie Roys: I love about the table too, especially this is probably why I absolutely love liturgical worship, which is something I loved about our previous church because it was Anglican and I love the liturgy, but I love the table because it reminds us of what’s coming, like the wedding feast that we’re looking forward to. [00:38:27] Julie Roys: I think way too often especially in evangelicalism, it’s like our goal is to get people saved and then it stops. Like we forget that ?we’re saved to be part of this community that’s being redeemed and has this glorious thing that we’re anticipating. And I think most Christians forget we’re anticipating something. [00:38:48] Julie Roys: You just get the sense like, Oh, you got saved. You’ve arrived. And then, well,  you should become discipled; that’s important because as you point out, we haven’t really defined what disciple is but that’s important, but we forget. Man, we are just passing through. We’ve got this glorious, glorious feast that we’re awaiting, and it is going to be a family and it’s going to be a family affair where everyone’s gathered. [00:39:15] Julie Roys: I love that part of it. And I love that it takes us out, like you’re saying, out of our present context and reminds us who we are and where we’re going. So love that part of it. And you touched on this when you said, You were hinting at the transactional nature that we come to church with, and I hear this all the time. I’ve probably said it myself. I’m sure I’ve been guilty of this. But we look at church and we say, and if we go and we don’t feel like we were especially inspired or something, we’ll say, I didn’t get anything out of that. [00:39:54] Skye Jethani: Mm-Hmm. . [00:39:54] Julie Roys: Talk about why that’s really not the way we should be approaching church. [00:39:59] Skye Jethani: Oh, gosh, Julie, I wrote my very first book on this whole thing, which no one read. It’s called The Divine Commodity and it’s all about consumerism and the church. With a weird thread of Vincent van Gogh all the way through the book, which is why no one read it. [00:40:16] Julie Roys: That sounds very interesting though. In a dark sort of way. [00:40:19] Skye Jethani: We live and move and have our being in a consumer culture. Everything is measured by its value to me. It’s interesting. Like, there’s an economist who argues that America really transitioned into a truly consumer economy in the 1950s. And it’s the 1950s where you begin to see a massive spike in divorce rates. [00:40:43] Skye Jethani: Now, there’s a lot of factors into that. It’s not just economics, but I think it’s a factor. Because what Consumerism tells us is that the world exists to satisfy my desires. And when something doesn’t satisfy my desire, I’m justified in changing it, whether it’s a product from a shelf or a spouse that I said I was committed to. [00:41:03] Skye Jethani: So we measure everything that way. Most of us don’t even think twice about it. Of course, that’s the right way to live. Of course, that’s what the world is all about. And so we come into our church communities or even our relationship with Christ and we go, well, what have you done for me lately? And is this beneficial to me? And am I getting something from it? We don’t challenge that ethic in most of our churches. We never point it out, we never go, Hey, this might be the way economics works in our society, but it’s not the way the most important things work. This isn’t the way we should think about our children. [00:41:34] Skye Jethani: This isn’t the way we should think about our spouses. And this is not the way we should be thinking about God. And Certainly not the way to think about his church, but we do. And in a weird way, the first amendment has reinforced that idea. We have no established church in America and I’m grateful for that, but it also means there’s a free market of religion in the United States and the religious institutions that are out there are all competing for part of the market. They’re competing for customers. And in that setting, the customer’s King, you give them what you want. So it ends up reinforcing this mindset over and over and over again. I can’t just shake my fist at the culture and go big, bad consumerism. [00:42:12] Skye Jethani: But what I can shake my fist at a little bit are churches and ministers that aren’t speaking about this dynamic and helping people be formed out of it into the values of the kingdom of God. And instead we either stay silent about it or flat out reinforce it and advance it in a weird way. So yeah, things like communion, like commitment, like relationship, like service are antidotes to some of that mindset. [00:42:38] Skye Jethani: But it’s hard. And I find myself in that posture all the time as well. You can’t escape it. It’s just part of who we are as 21st century modern people. But that’s where it’s on the shoulders of church leaders and institutions to help form us and give us a vision of a different way that very few are doing. [00:42:58] Julie Roys: Similar to that is I think this idea that when we come to church, we do so, and we’ve heard churches build themselves this way. We come and experience God, and worship has become, and it’s interesting to me because worship was so huge in my development as a Christian. As I remember being in high school and I got discipled by these, Oral Roberts/Jesus People like wacky charismatics who were druggies maybe 10 years prior to meeting me. [00:43:32] Julie Roys: But they were so on fire for the Lord, and we would get together, and we would pray and worship and literally we’d be there for 3 hours, and it would seem like 10 minutes. It was just an amazing. I didn’t realize up until that point that you could have that kind of intimacy with God and that kind of communion with him. [00:43:51] Julie Roys: So worship was huge to me in my experience of God. What’s been challenging now. And even I look back, we were in a Vineyard church for a long time, and I used to love to invite people and I would see them come into the worship and they just start crying and they don’t even know why they’re crying, right? [00:44:08] Julie Roys: They’re just crying because they’re moved. But now I’m seeing so many of these worship experiences that are, they’re amazing emotional experiences and it’s making me check; like I have a check now because I see these kids raised in their hands and they’re praising the Lord. [00:44:32] Julie Roys: And then the rest of what they’re doing throughout the week has nothing to do with the Lord has nothing to do with worshiping the Lord. I see these ministries that are built on worship, like Hillsong and Bethel. And now we’re seeing just such horrible manipulation and corruption and abuse within so many of these churches. [00:44:52] Julie Roys: And so the whole experiencing God thing,  it’s hard to even parse out, like, is the music affecting me? I think if you try to parse that out, then you’re kind of killing the experience itself, right? So, you destroy it. [00:45:16] Julie Roys: But I think this idea that we have to go to church to experience God. has been baked into evangelicalism where it’s at right now. So address that and why we need to really change our focus when it comes to worship. [00:45:28] Skye Jethani: You and I were very different high school students. [00:45:31] Julie Roys: We were. You were here, I was here, right? [00:45:35] Skye Jethani: Yeah. So I was the worst kid in the youth group in high school because I was such a skeptic. I used to get dragged to these big worship events in Chicago for high schoolers in the early 90s. And I just thought these are the most manipulative and emotionally charged. I just didn’t buy it. I never bought it. And that’s just, that was my own baggage and problem. But let me say, I think the problem is not necessarily these gatherings. [00:46:02] Skye Jethani: I think they can be beautiful in many, and I’ve been a part of some that are just amazingly gorgeous times of communion with God. The problem is not the gatherings. I think the real problem is what we expect to get from them. And here’s the metaphor that I’ve written about elsewhere that I find helpful. [00:46:23] Skye Jethani: In 2nd Corinthians chapter 3, Paul references Moses on the mountaintop of Sinai when he meets with the Lord. And if you remember the story from Exodus 34, when Moses came down the mountain to meet with the people again, they all freaked out because his face was glowing, right? The radiance of God was shown on his face. [00:46:44] Skye Jethani: And in Exodus, it says that Moses put a veil over his face. So that people wouldn’t freak out anymore. Well, Paul, when he’s referencing this in 2 Corinthians 3, adds a little bit of rabbinical tradition into the story that’s not actually in Exodus, but Paul was familiar with. And he said, no, the real reason that Moses put a veil over his face is because he didn’t want the people to see that the glory was fading away and that is was only temporary. [00:47:09] Skye Jethani: And so when you piece these things together, you get a sense of what was really going on here is every time Moses would go up the mountain and meet with the Lord, he would take the veil off and he’d kind of get recharged another zap of God’s radiance. [00:47:20] Skye Jethani: And he’d come down and everyone would see, Oh, he’s been with the Lord. He’s glowing. And then he put the veil over cause it fades away. And I think that’s a little bit what we’ve gotten caught up into, is an external mountaintop kind of communion with God. Moses' experience on the mountain was real. It was genuine. It was good. It was full of God’s presence [00:47:38] Skye Jethani:. The problem that Paul’s pointing out is it always faded. It was temporary. And so you have to go back over and over and over again. And he contrasts that with the new covenant in Christ, which he said is not. about an external glory. It’s about his spirit within us, transforming us from one degree of glory to the next with ever increasing glory. So we can take the veil away. [00:47:59] Skye Jethani: And this is the core problem. I think in an awful lot of consumeristic American evangelical Christianity is essentially what we have done is rejected the new covenant in Christ in favor of the old covenant in Moses. And the reason is if we really buy the new covenant in Christ, You don’t need a 50-million-dollar mountaintop to encounter God, and you don’t need a dynamic preacher to encounter God, and you don’t need a huge worship band o genuinely encounter God. What do you need? You need to cultivate a deep abiding presence with his spirit, the kind that Jesus talks about in John 15. Abide in me and I will abide in you, just as a branch abides in its vine and bears fruit. That’s New Testament spirituality [00:48:53] Skye Jethani: But if you want a big ministry, and if you want thousands or even millions of people buying your albums and coming to your church and doing anything, then you need old testament spirituality. You need to convince people that the only place that they’re really going to have an experience of  God is on the mountain that you’ve built and that you hold the toll road to accessing. That’s old testament spirituality and it’s really lucrative .But it’s not what we’re called to in Jesus. [00:49:13] Skye Jethani: So that’s what worries me is we’re creating kind of worship junkies where they need another hit and the glory fades and they’re like, Oh, my life, I felt really transformed after going to that big event, that big conference, that big whatever. But yeah, a week later, the glory fades and you’re back to the person you always were. [00:49:29] Skye Jethani: And then you go, I guess I need to go again, or I need a bigger thing or a better church or a better speaker. Whatever. And all the while we’re ignoring what we’re called to, which is who’s teaching me how to really commune with Jesus? Who’s teaching me how to pray? Who’s teaching me how to confess my sins? Who’s teaching me how to really live in step with the spirit day in and day out so that I might truly be transformed from one degree of glory to the next? [00:49:51] Skye Jethani: Very few of our mega ministry settings are designed to do that kind of work. They’re designed to give us a show and make us feel great. And to be fair, again, sometimes those are genuine encounters with God, just like Moses was, but it always fades. That’s the problem. [00:50:09] Julie Roys: I’m thinking back to when I was at Vineyard and there was a saying that John Wimber had that I absolutely loved. He would say pretty much everything else in our experience with God is something that he does for us. Worship is the one thing that we do to him, that we give back to him. And I think rightly understood, it comes from that communion with God that you have, that then when you have the chance to verbally express that, it's very much like in a marriage relationship. [00:50:44] Julie Roys: When you have that opportunity to physically express that love to your spouse, it’s extraordinarily meaningful because why? you already have that love that you experienced one for another. And so then that Physical expression becomes so meaningful But if it were just the physical expression without the love, I think that’s where a lot of people are at really in the way that they’re relating to God, [00:51:07] Skye Jethani: Right. Yeah, if we developed a genuine communion with God throughout the week, and then we gather with our sisters and brothers on the weekend and express that, that’s wonderful. I think too many of us again, schooled as consumers don’t have that communion all week long. And then we show up on Sunday going, light me up, make me feel good, give me that charge so that I can go into my week and feel encouraged or blessed or whatever it is I’m looking for. That’s not worship [00:51:34] Julie Roys: We don’t want to disciple people on how to maintain that in their private life because then they don’t need us. And yeah, so good. Well, there’s so much more we could talk about. Before I let you go talk just briefly about leadership and you’ve touched on it somewhat, about the celebrity pastors. You also used a term that’s become somewhat of a buzzword within the church is something called servant leadership. [00:52:05] Julie Roys: I have a feeling that’s much more about the upfront and not like the shadow mission shows whether that servant leadership is actually a thing. But talk about that leader and the approach that leader should have. How a leader should serve within a body, and why maybe we should be suspicious of those who come along and say, they’re visionary leaders and they’re going to impart their vision to us, for the church. And I know I just gave you a big one, didn’t I? [00:52:37] Skye Jethani: It is a big one. And there’s so many landmines in this. I generally don’t like using the language of servant leader because especially again, in American evangelical culture, the assumptions behind it are misunderstood. So let me unpack that a little bit. [00:52:57] Skye Jethani: Usually, when we think of servant leader, we think of a person with authority or power who nonetheless does humble acts of service, right? So it’s the pastor who’s out there shoveling the snow o ,the church leader, who’s still taking out the garbage and you go, gee, look at,  pastor Steve, isn’t he humble? And he’s a servant leader and he’s doing that thing. Just like Jesus washed the disciples feet. In my view it’s great. I’m glad a pastor does that. I certainly wouldn’t want to disparage it, but I don’t think that’s really what servant leadership means. In John 13, that scene where Jesus washes the disciples feet, what he’s really doing there is not only humiliating himself, he’s humiliating his disciples. They had been arguing about who’s the greatest. And then Jesus strips naked and starts washing their feet, taking this grotesquely humiliating role. And he gets to Peter and Peter’s like, there’s no way you’re washing my feet. And he says, if you don’t let me wash your feet, you can have no place with me. [00:54:03] Skye Jethani: Which is like, wow, that’s a pretty strong statement. What’s going on there? In that culture the relationship between a rabbi and a disciple was well established, and a disciple’s identity was completely defined by who their rabbi was. So when Peter and John and James and the others, when they left their fishing boats and their toll booths and all the other things they were doing to become a follower of Rabbi Jesus, Peter especially was thinking, this is a pretty good deal, because I’m leaving a meager fishing business to become the disciple of the most powerful guy I’ve ever seen, who’s probably going to take over the world. [00:54:41] Skye Jethani: And that’s why, am I going to get to sit at your right on your left? Where am I going to get, like, this was a great deal. Cause my rabbi is like bigger than Moses. And then he sees his rabbi do the most humiliating and embarrassing task imaginable. And so what Jesus is saying to Peter is, If you think this is humiliating to me, it’s even more humiliating for you, Peter, because I’m your rabbi, which means you’re even lower than me. [00:55:05] Skye Jethani: And then at the end of the whole scene, he says, I, your teacher and rabbi have done this. You should do likewise. I think the message he’s really saying there is stop caring what others think about you. And love in a self-sacrificial way, take up your cross, die to yourself and follow me. [00:55:37] Skye Jethani: So when I then look at what does that mean in 21st century American church world, nobody is going to look at a pastor shoveling snow or taking out garbage and go, Oh my gosh, what a loser. Most church worlds go, Oh, that’s great. He’s doing something noble and kind and helping out and everything. No one’s going to think he’s a humiliated nothing because of that. So what I’m looking for is a pastor who has given up on their own reputation, who’s doesn’t care how many followers they have on Twitter, who’s not worried about, are they going to have a bestselling book? [00:56:00] Skye Jethani: Isn’t counting how many people showed up every Sunday because that’s a stroke to their ego. It’s where they have truly died to themselves. They know who they are and where they’re going, like Jesus did at the beginning of John 13. They know they belong to God, and they know they’ve been called by him, and they’re set free then to love sacrificially, without caring about their own reputation and ego. So that's, I think, a better definition of a servant leader, the person whose ego is not driving their ministry. That’s hard to spot without real relational connection and knowing somebody well. [00:56:44] Skye Jethani:  I’m all for that kind of serpent leader and it’s rare. I’ve known men and women like that. Sometimes they have an ecclesiastical title. Sometimes they don’t. But they are the salt and light in the church today. And I pray that God will bring us more of them because we desperately need them in the American church. [00:57:02] Julie Roys: I love that. That’s so good, Skye. Thank you. Well, we have to wrap this because I’ve got my grandson’s first soccer game coming up and I’ve got to boot out of here to go see that. [00:57:15] Skye Jethani: I actually have a soccer game tonight too for my high school daughter. So I’ve got to do that too. [00:57:19] Julie Roys: But this has been really good and really rich. I so appreciate this book that you’ve written. Like we said, we’re offering that to anybody who gives a gift to The Roy’s Report this month. Just really grateful for you, Skye. And I think people, when they hear this, they’re like, wow, that guy’s in your church. And we have like so many people who are deep thinkers like this in our church. And it’s been an incredible gift. And it’s been an incredible thing to iron sharpening iron, which we’ve had that opportunity. So just feel blessed to have you as my brother and just appreciate this time we spent. [00:57:57] Skye Jethani: And thankful for all the good work you and your team at The Roy’s Report are doing in helping people navigate a really difficult season in the church and hopefully find healing and deeper communion with God and one another. It’s valuable, valuable work. I’m grateful to have a small little role in this podcast now as a part of it. [00:58:15] Julie Roys: And you’re going to have to watch this podcast now. It’ll be your first. [00:58:18] Skye Jethani: Yes, I probably will. [00:58:20] Julie Roys: Well, blessings to you. And thanks so much. [00:58:22] Skye Jethani: Thanks, Julie. [00:58:23] Julie Roys: And thanks so much for listening to The Roy’s Report, a podcast dedicated to reporting the truth and restoring the church. I’m Julie Roys. And just a reminder, we’re giving away Skye’s book, What If Jesus Was Serious About the Church? to anyone who gives a gift of 25 or more to The Roy’s Report this month. As I often say, we don’t have advertisers or big donors at The Roy’s Report. We simply have you. The people who care about reporting the truth and restoring the church. So if you’re passionate about our mission, please go to JULIEROYS.COM/DONATED. Also, just a q

Writer and editor Julia Roller joins Nate to talk about how God uses books to guide us into transforming ideas and encounters and shares about the book that changed her life.Julia Roller is an author and editor living in San Diego, CA with her husband and three children. She is also the MomCo Coordinator at Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church. Julia's most recent book is Mom Seeks God, but some of her other books include A Year with God (with Richard J. Foster), A Year with Aslan, and 25 Books Every Christian Should Read. Connect with her at her web site, juliaroller.com, or on Instagram Julia (@julialroller) or Facebook.Julia's suggestions for continued reading:In “How Should We Read?”, Christopher Hall discusses some ways to slow down our reading and ruminate over the text. I love that although Hall's thoughts are inspired by a desert monk (of course they are, Chris!), one of his suggested techniques involves his smartphone. I can't think of anyone who's written as much about spiritual reading as C.S. Lewis, and Zach Kincaid's “A Reading Life” post on the official C.S. Lewis site is an admirable compilation of some of Lewis's best thoughts about reading. Lyle Smith Graybeal and I wrote “How to do Spiritual Reading”, an excerpt from the introduction for 25 Books Every Christian Should Read, to offer some practical ideas for spiritual reading as well as some reasons why we should all engage in it.Richard Foster reflects on the books that shaped him as a young man in this article from Leadership Journal, “How Significant Books Become Good Friends.” Many of these books made the cut for 25 Books Every Christian Should Read. My discussion with Nathan inspired me to look critically at my own all-consuming reading practice. In examining my lifelong love of reading, I had to ask the question: “Is Reading Bad for You?” (See if you can guess my answer.) 

Today's episode with Drew Dyck encapsulates why we started this show. Heather had never met Drew in person, but his writing and Twitter have impacted her real life. It is incredible how our online presence can bring about real-life friendships and foster spiritual growth.  Heather and Drew discuss Drew's latest book Just Show Up. Drew wants to remind you that God isn't expecting you to do everything, or to change overnight. The gospel is an invitation to Just Show Up and engage with people and our own lives right where we are.  Heather also breaks down the latest Instagram algorithm update and explains why bait engagement is different from calls to action.  Guest Bio Drew Dyck (M.A. Theology) is the author of multiple books, including Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets To Self Control From The Bible And Brain Science (2019), and Just Show Up: How Small Acts of Faithfulness Change Everything (2023). Drew is an editor at Moody Publishers and the former managing editor of Leadership Journal. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including Christianity Today, Relevant Magazine, The Gospel Coalition, and CNN.com. Drew grew up in Canada and now lives in the Portland area with his wife, Grace, and their three children. They attend The Well Church Church in Portland. Connect with Drew at DrewDyck.com or follow him on Twitter @drewdyck. Host Bio Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I'll See You Tomorrow and It's Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on X, the app formerly known as Twitter at @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Receive Heather's weekly inspirational email every Friday at 7pm EST; sign up at www.heatherthompsonday.com/links. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In dieser Episode geht es um die Definition von Next Level Leadership. Dazu findest du außerdem drei entscheidende Fragen, mit denen du dein eigenes Führungsverständnis reflektieren kannst. Neben einer klaren Vision kommen wirkungsvoller Kommunikation und dem Wachstums der Mitarbeiterenergie besondere Wichtigkeit zu, wenn es um eine zukunftsfähige Führung geht. „In dir muss brennen, was du in anderen entzünden möchtest.“ (Augustinus) Mit einer hoffentlich inspirierenden Metapher zeichne ich dir abschließend ein lebendiges Bild von Leadership, das weit über ein reines Leadership Management hinausgeht. Diese Episode regt dazu an, das eigene Führungsverständnis zu überdenken und sich auf das Next Level Leadership hinzubewegen. Die drei wichtigsten Erkenntnisse: 1. Führung bedeutet, die Energie von Menschen auf Handlungen auszurichten, um einen gewünschten Zustand in der Zukunft zu erreichen, und gleichzeitig die Energie der Mitarbeiter langfristig zu mehren. 2. Eine klare Vision als Führungskraft zu haben und diese wirkungsvoll zu kommunizieren, um die Mitarbeitenden mitzunehmen, ist entscheidend für erfolgreiches Leadership. 3. Next Level Leadership bedeutet nicht nur, Leistungen zu erzielen, sondern auch Energie und Leben in den Mitarbeitenden zu wecken und eine ganzheitliche, regenerative Führung zu praktizieren. „Gute Führung ist großmütig. Sie dient dem Leben und ist Dienstleistung. Kein Privileg“ (unbekannt) Shownotes: Der erwähnte Artikel von Alexander Groth erschien 2016 im Leadership Journal. ---

 In our Motivation Mastery Series, I promise you'll discover how to tap into the kind of motivation that doesn't just spark your ambition but keeps the flame burning relentlessly. Whether you're itching for personal growth or aiming to elevate your professional life, grasping the nuances of motivation is your launchpad to change.Have you ever noticed how the satisfaction from a job well done outshines the allure of external incentives? That's the power of intrinsic motivation, and it's the centerpiece of our discussions. I'll share candid stories, from how the gleam of my freshly mopped garage floor fuels my drive to the reasons behind my decision not to pay my children for chores. We'll dissect the impact of internal versus external motivators and provide you with strategies to stoke your internal fire, including the vital steps of reconnecting with your purpose and immersing yourself in growth-centric circles.As we wrap up the series, I'll reveal seven transformative strategies to master your motivation, ensuring it becomes a sustainable force in your daily life. By understanding what naturally excites us and what requires a little extra push, we can craft a motivational blueprint tailored to our unique aspirations. And because inspiration is contagious, I'm eager for you to share the insights from our Motivation Mastery toolkit with friends and colleagues – let's amplify our collective drive towards success and fulfillment. Join me and let's turn your potential into progress.Join the Brewing Success Mentoring Community: https://leadlikeandreagebhardt.com/brewing-success-community/Get the Digital Version of the ABC's of Leadership Journal: https://stan.store/angebhardt/p/abcs-of-leadership-journalMotivation Mastery Guide: https://stan.store/angebhardt/p/motivation-mastery-guide

EP 183: In this lively and laughter-filled episode of the Revival Town Podcast, we welcome Drew Dyck, an esteemed editor at Moody Publishers and former managing editor of Leadership Journal. Drew's engaging work has captured the attention of readers across platforms like Christianity Today, Relevant, and CNN.com. He's not just a prolific author with titles such as "Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science" under his belt, but also the mind behind the inspiring new release, "Just Show Up: How Small Acts of Faithfulness Change Everything." 

This week, Kirsten welcomes Linda Martindale, a former college athlete (Arizona Wildcats Basketball!), a dedicated mental fitness coach, a motivational speaker, a high school boys basketball coach, a former college basketball coach and an entrepreneur. Linda is also a proud mother of four college athletes and two dogs (one is athletic and one is definitely not). Kirsten and Linda dive into their mutual passion about mental fitness and its' impact on student-athletes. They talk about how honesty and being straight with kids is so powerful to their being “seen” whether they are getting a lot of playing time. Another impressive woman to end our Women's History Month series! https://martindalecoaching.com/ @martindalecoaching SHOW NOTES: The Team Captain's Leadership Journal by Jeff Jansen https://www.janssensportsleadership.com/resources/leadership-for-captains/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsten-jones0/support

Drew Dyck is the author of multiple books, including Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets To Self Control From The Bible And Brain Science (2019), and the book he joins me to talk about today, Just Show Up: How Small Acts of Faithfulness Change Everything (2023).Drew is an editor at Moody Publishers and the former managing editor of Leadership Journal. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including Christianity Today, Relevant Magazine, The Gospel Coalition, and CNN.com.Drew grew up in Canada and now lives in the Portland area with his wife, Grace, and their three children.

Have you ever felt stressed, burdened, or overwhelmed by all the things you have to do? Then along comes the Church, and our relationship with God, and we look at all the things we “should” be doing, and we see more deficits and feel more guilt. Christians are called to live a life that glorifies God and blesses others. How do we do that when we're already feeling stretched to capacity? But what if God didn't expect you to do everything…and certainly not do it all overnight? What if one of the greatest things we could do for God, our families, our communities, and ourselves, was to “just show up”? We tend to think it's the big, bold moments that matter in life, but in reality, it's the steady accumulation of small acts of obedience to God that add up to a life of meaning and impact. For this month's podcast, we are so excited to have Drew Dyck with us. Drew is an editor at Moody Publishers and the former managing editor of Leadership Journal. He is the author of several books, including Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science, and his latest work, Just Show Up: How Small Acts of Faithfulness Change Everything. Drew's work has been featured in Christianity Today, Relevant, and CNN.com. He lives near Portland, Oregon, with his wife, Grace, and their three children. As Dean and Drew jump into their conversation, they tackle such topics as: How are Christians called to truly “change the world?” What does it mean to “just show up” for God and others? Why is physical presence with other people so important? How do we grapple with the many distractions in our lives, especially our screens? Why do so many men struggle with being “escape artists”? What is a way to engage in spiritual disciplines without feeling pressure or shame for not doing “enough”? How can our actions affect our mental health, both positively and negatively? What can guys do in times when they find their faith wavering? All this and more in this month's podcast! Enjoy!

In this Filter episode, I talked with Drew Dyck about his new book, Just Show Up: How Small Acts of Faithfulness Change Everything. Dyck shares his insights on the power of persistence and the significance of everyday faithfulness, challenging the common belief that only big, bold moments matter. He emphasizes the importance of showing up for God, family, community, and oneself, and how these small acts of obedience to God accumulate into a life of meaning and impact. Dyck's candid reflections on his journey, coupled with inspiring stories of ordinary people saying yes to God, offer us a practical demonstration of the power of faithfulness in every area of life.Drew Dyck is an editor at Moody Publishers and the former managing editor of Leadership Journal. He is the author of several books, including Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science (Moody, 2019). Drew's work has been featured in Christianity Today, Relevant, and CNN.com. He lives with his wife, Grace, and their three children, near Portland, Oregon. Connect with Drew at DrewDyck.com or on Twitter @DrewDyck.SHOW NOTES: https://www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/drew-dyckSUPPORT THIS PODCAST: https://www.aaronshamp.com/support ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Track: Perseverance — Land of Fire [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library Plus​––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Stretched to capacity? Moody author, Drew Dyck, will encourage us with his book Just Show Up: How Small Acts of Faithfulness Change Everything. Drew is an editor at Moody Publishers and the former managing editor of Leadership Journal. He is the author of several books, including Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science (Moody, 2019). Drew’s work has been featured in Christianity Today, Relevant, and CNN.com. He lives with his wife, Grace, and their three children, near Portland, Oregon. Also this hour, Dawn's daughter and Moody graduate, Alex May, joins the conversation to talk about mentorship!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special Thanksgiving bonus episode, Michelle Visser is joined by Drew Dyck, author of the brand-new book Just Show Up. Grab a copy here: https://amzn.to/3G7ISmlWe chat about the importance of being present in small but meaningful ways. This episode will remind you to be thankful for those who showed up for you in life while encouraging you with practical ways you can do the same.Dyck shares how busy modern life often prevents us from truly showing up for the people and commitments most important to us. He also discusses the concept of "playing a role" even when your heart's not fully in it, because people need you to show up. Visser and Dyck talk about looking back on gaps and mistakes in your life in order to determine how to move forward and fill those gaps for others. Dyck notes that finding your purpose often comes from starting small steps, not waiting for a big sign. You'll also be encouraged to let some commitments slide, so you can be fully present where you need to be. Overall, the episode will encourage you to just show up this Thanksgiving, and trust that life's meaning is found through small acts of faithfulness, not grand achievements. We even share fun tips for making the most of Thanksgiving dinner. Sponsor for this episode:Please check out this amazing family-run food supplier who has been working to change the broken food system in the U.S. by putting more power into the hands of the consumer:Find out more about Azure, an independent food supply chain that is fixing a broken food system and providing high-quality food and other products to families across the United States, here: SoulyRested.com/azure Use code soulyrested10 for 10% off your first order of $50 or more, delivered to a drop near you. Go here to find your nearest drop location: https://www.azurestandard.com/drop-point-locator/?a_aid=bd9edf28fdWatch this episode on youtube: https://youtu.be/JVgNUZbk6FkMore about Drew Dyck: Drew Dyck is an editor at Moody Publishers and theformer managing editor of Leadership Journal. He isthe author of several books, including Your Future SelfWill Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bibleand Brain Science (Moody, 2019). Drew's work has beenfeatured in Christianity Today, Relevant, and CNN.com.Connect with Drew:DrewDyck.com Twitter @DrewDyck

Maybe this is how you feel! The good news is that God doesn’t expect you to do everything. And He certainly doesn’t expect you to do it all overnight. Showing up is often the most important thing. Drew Dyck is an editor at Moody Publishers and the former managing editor of Leadership Journal. He’s the author of several books, including Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science. Today we’re talking about his new book Just Show Up: How Small Acts of Faithfulness Change Everything. A Guide For Exhausted Christians.Support the show: https://give.moodyradio.org/fall-share?v=def&appeal=MRWM&_gl=1%2a142i9we%2a_ga%2aNTE4MTE5MmUtY2U1Yy00YmQ3LWU4MmUtNjEwYTQ5YzAyODRj%2a_ga_4WH1937046%2aMTY5NTExODEwMS4yOTkuMC4xNjk1MTE4MTAxLjYwLjAuMA..&_ga=2.197426156.215784306.1695059984-1182841406.166859587See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to episode ninety-nine of New Creation Conversations. This week's conversation is with author, speaker, pastor, and podcaster Skye Jethani. Skye has had a number of roles in ministry including local pastoral ministry. He served in a number of positions at Christianity Today including senior editor of Leadership Journal and as the Director of Mission Advancement for CT. These days, Skye is probably best known as the co-host of the popular Holy Post podcast (with Phil Vischer) and as the author and regular contributor to the With God Daily app and email service.  Skye has become a very important voice and thought-leader in today's church. He is an award-winning author, having written about a dozen books. We spend our conversation talking about most recent book, What If Jesus Was Serious About Heaven?: A Visual Guide to Experiencing God's Kingdom Among Us (published by Brazos Press and being released today October 17). It is the next volume in Skye's incredible “What if Jesus Was Serious…” series. Even though it is easy to read and filled with great illustrations, it will challenge you to think deeply about what the Bible has to say about what our hope and our destiny is in Christ Jesus.It is a great book and a fun conversation. I'm a big fan of The Holy Post and was delighted to get a chance to talk with Skye and to get to bring this conversation to you. 

Kimberly Eddleston is an inspiring thought leader on entrepreneurship and family businesses, and specifically how family dynamics can affect the those companies for better or worse. With a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut, Kim became an award-winning researcher focused on family business. She has won best paper awards from the Family Firm Institute, Diana International Conference on Women's Entrepreneurship, and the Journal of Small Business Management. Kimberly is a professor of entrepreneurship and innovation at Northeastern University's D'Amore-McKim School of Business. She is also the co-founder of FamilyBusiness.org, a sister site to Entrepreneur & Innovation Exchange that now receives over a million views a year. Both online academic journals are funded by the Schulze Foundation. FamilyBusiness.org focuses on current and future family business owners, entrepreneurship students, and entrepreneurship professors. The website publishes content regularly: written guides, case studies, explanatory videos, and more on the stickiest of challenges facing family businesses, from succession to maintaining healthy relationships. Kimberly Eddleston speaks with Bob Buday on this episode of Everything Thought Leadership about how FamilyBusiness.org found and expanded its niche as a crucial source of information. If your organization is looking to create a successful thought leadership journal, don't miss this episode.

Today's guest is a gentle disruptor. She knows work is changing, but the beliefs still hold true. People want to do work that matters.  For over 20 years, she has worked with organizations and executives who want to make a positive difference in the lives of those they lead and serve. She is the founder of WorkMatters, Inc., a leadership expert, author, speaker, and trailblazer in her field who helps CEOs and executives shape corporate culture and inspire change. Executives turn to her when they want to explore reinvention as a means to grow their organization in a fast changing environment. She is the author of the award-winning book, “Take the Bull by the Horns” and the creator of “The Leadership Journal.” Her podcast CEO on the GO is designed to inspire leaders who like to learn on the go. Please join me in welcoming Gayle Lantz.  In this week's On the Schmooze episode, we are diving into the essence of leadership and the evolving work landscape with a visionary expert who sparks transformation, Gayle Lantz. In this episode, we discuss the following:

If you've read the Bible all the way through, you know it can be challenging to wake up every morning and get in the Word. It is a big, complex story full of things to learn! Today, we are joined by Drew Dyck for a conversation all about building and sustaining habits when it comes to getting (and staying) in the scriptures.  Drew Dyck (M.A. in Theology) is an editor at Moody Publishers and the former managing editor of Leadership Journal. His work has been featured in USA Today, the Huffington Post, Christianity Today, and CNN.com. Drew is the author of Generation Ex-Christian and Yawning at Tigers. He lives with his wife Grace and their three children near Portland, Oregon. Connect with Drew at www.DrewDyck.com or follow him on Twitter @DrewDyck.  This week's reading: 2 Kings 16 - 1 Chronicles 9See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SHOW NOTESIn this interview, listen as Rev. Dr. Andrew Stirling (Ambassador, Canadian Bible Society) talks with Mark Buchanan (Associate Professor, Pastoral Theology, Ambrose University, Calgary, Alberta) about the influence of Scripture in his life. Mark shares his faith and relationship with the Bible, how his first encounter with Christ had a lasting impact on him, and how there is something in the Scriptures that speaks directly to every situation, every heartache, every doubt and every fear.Mark Buchanan is the Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology at Ambrose University in Calgary, Alberta. A pastor, teacher and speaker, he is the author of numerous books, including "David Rise" and "David Reign" (books in the trilogy on the life of King David) and "God Walk: Moving at the Speed of Your Soul". He is a regular contributor to Leadership Journal and Christianity Today. He and his wife Cheryl lead New Story Community, a ministry that promotes the flourishing of indigenous women.---Learn more about the Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.caConnect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesocietyWhether you're well-versed in Scripture or just starting out on your journey, The Bible Course offers a superb overview of the world's best-selling book. This eight-session course will help you grow in your understanding of the Bible. Watch the first session of The Bible Course and learn more at biblecourse.ca. Give to the Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca/donate---Learn more about Mark Buchanan: markbuchanan.net 

Syler Thomas is a native Texan who has been the student ministries pastor at Christ Church in Lake Forest, Illinois, since 1998. He writes a column for YouthWorker Journal, has had articles published in Leadership Journal and the Chicago Tribune, and is the co-author of two books. Syler and his wife, Heidi, have four kids. Today, he sits down with Tucker Fleming for another installment of our Foundations of Youth Ministry series to chat about the importance of volunteers in youth ministry. Hit play to hear more about it!Resources: Rooted Resources on VolunteersFollow @therootedministry on InstagramJoin us for our 2023 conference in Nashville, TN!

This week Greg, Brad, and Bryan sit down with Dr. Marshall Shelley to talk about difficult people in the Church. They explore the types of difficult people and how/why to care for them well.Dr. Marshall Shelley joined the faculty of Denver Seminary in 2016 and served as director of the Doctor of Ministry program and associate professor of pastoral leadership and ministry. He was editor of Leadership Journal for 34 years, and as a vice president at Christianity Today, oversaw Christian History, Marriage Partnership, Church Law & Tax Report, and Men of Integrity magazines and PreachingToday.com. Check out Well-Intentioned Dragons

Episode Summary: In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, you'll hear Gordon MacDonald, pastor and best-selling author, share leadership advice for every decade of your life, the importance of rest, and more!About Gordon: Gordon MacDonald has been a pastor and author for over forty years. For many years he pastored Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts, and continues to serve as Pastor Emeritus. He has also provided leadership to influential ministries such as Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, which he served as President for three years, and World Relief, which he currently serves as Chairman. Gordon's best-selling books include Ordering Your Private World, Mid-Course Correction, and, most recently, A Resilient Life. He also writes and serves as Editor-at-Large for Christianity Today's Leadership Journal. When not writing, leading, or speaking at conferences, Gordon and his wife Gail can be found hiking the trails of New England.6 Key Takeaways:1. Ambition in leadership can be positive,  but it does have a spectrum that must be kept in check. It's good to want to make a difference, but “Drivenness must be consecrated daily”.2. “Business brings emptiness. I always keep a sabbath.” There are no two sabbaths that are the same. It's all about getting true rest and being renewed. If you can't get everything done in 6 days, then you're either doing too much or are doing it wrong. 3. About every seven years, your dreams will get tested. This is either because you fail, or someone fails you.4. Right now at 81, I am most interested in raising up younger pastors and being a spiritual father to those who will go after me. 5. For those who are looking for a spiritual father or a mentor, my advice is to start “dating”. Date your potential mentor, take them to coffee, ask them questions, see how you click and whether or not you hit it off. Don't just ask someone to be your mentor. Take it slow and take time to develop a real relationship first. 6. Failure always generates humility. Always take full responsibility for your mistakes. Think about what you can learn from them and what you can teach others from them. Never cover up your mistakes.Quotes from the Episode:“Drivenness must be consecrated daily.”“Busyness brings emptiness. I always keep a sabbath.”“Failure always generates humility.”"Never ever waste a crisis. A crisis always produces new answers, new insights, and new people.”“The practice is painful so that the game is pleasurable.”Resources Mentioned:Ordering Your Private World, by Gordon MacDonaldIf you want to 10x your growth next year, I want to challenge you to launch or join an L3 Mastermind Group. Mastermind groups are groups of 6-12 leaders that meet together for at least one year to help each other grow, hold each other accountable, and do life together. Interested? Go to http://l3leadership.org/masterminds or email me at dougsmith@l3leadership.org.

The man who cringes when he gets pegged as the sabbath guy talks about why rest is a necessary component for wildfaring and risk-taking! Mark Buchanan is a pastor, author, and Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology at Ambrose University. His books include The Rest of God, Spiritual Rhythm, Your God Is Too Safe, Your Church Is Too Safe, and others, plus his recently released "God Walk: Moving at the Speed of Your Soul." He regularly contributes to the Leadership Journal and Christianity Today.

We all experience times of fear, worrying, suffering, and stress through life. Sometimes it can last a day, weeks, months, seasons, or even years. But the bottom line is life was never meant to be easy or joyful at all times. However, we can shorten these tough times in our lives by becoming more resilient today, my guest shares from a faith based lens on how we can become more emotionally and spiritually resilient, even when it seems impossible.  Daniel Fusco grew up in a nominal Catholic family, and never heard much about Jesus. Because of faithful people sharing with him the truth about who Jesus is, he came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ in 1998 while he was in his last year at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. He employs what some describe as a unique style of teaching. He likes to take the timeless truths of Scripture and make them easily accessible and applicable for men and women of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures. He also gets to host the Real. with Daniel Fusco TV show and the Jesus is Real Radio Ministry, featuring messages on TV and radio stations across the country. He loves to write and is a featured contributor to “Preaching Today,” and has published articles with Leadership Journal, pastors.com, and Calvarychapel.com. He's written three books, Ahead of the Curve, (self-published), Honestly, Getting Real About Jesus and our Messy Lives, and Upward, Inward, and Outward, Love God, Love Yourself, Love Others (both published by NavPress). All books are available at Amazon.com. He has taught at churches, retreats, youth rallies, leadership seminars, seminaries, college campuses, and pastor's conferences both in the States and abroad. He is married to Lynn. They live with their three children and a crazy dog in Southwest Washington. Show Notes: www.thedadedge.com/friday69

Q&A with Ron Koustas and Tom Kang on June 12th at 1:00pm (PST) Ron Koustas is recently retired and though he prefers the couch, God keeps nudging him off it. He is a founding member and ministry leader of Hope For New York's outreach to people dealing with AIDS. He is instrumental in partnering faith-based ministries with established secular organizations in both Manhattan and New Jersey. Featured in CT's Leadership Journal and Mike Slaughter's book, "unLearning Church," he enjoys speaking to Reformed University Fellowship students seeking to serve in NYC during Spring Break. A Rutgers University graduate, he holds a BS in Business Administration.

Ron Koustas is recently retired and though he prefers the couch, God keeps nudging him off it. He is a founding member and ministry leader of Hope For New York's outreach to people dealing with AIDS. He is instrumental in partnering faith-based ministries with established secular organizations in both Manhattan and New Jersey. Featured in CT's Leadership Journal and Mike Slaughter's book, "unLearning Church," he enjoys speaking to Reformed University Fellowship students seeking to serve in NYC during Spring Break. A Rutgers University graduate, he holds a BS in Business Administration. We live in a world and a time in which we are faced with many conflicts, challenges, and confusion, and we often have more questions than answers. When it comes to how we talk about and understand sexuality, we can find so many different perspectives, viewpoints and experiences - even within the church. So, as a community, we want to humbly embark on a journey of seeking to understand, listen, and learn from the truth of scripture, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and the heart and love of God.

Dr. Tracy R. Powell is a native of South Carolina, receiving her education from the University of South Carolina where she earned her Doctorate of Philosophy, Masters in Social Work and Bachelors in Sociology.  Additionally, Dr. Powell is a Certified Executive & Professional Coach, Award-winning Author and International Speaker.  Throughout her career, Dr. Powell has held various leadership and executive positions. In these roles, Dr. Powell faced and quickly recovered from racial discrimination, managing fear, balancing work and family and speaking with one voice. It was early in her career that Dr. Powell realized her challenges were dramatically different from her counterparts, although they were serving in the same positions and environments. It was at this point, that Dr. Powell established the Executive Coaching Institute for Minority Women, LLC. The intent of the Institute is not to exclude anyone, yet it is a vehicle to narrow Dr. Powell's coaching focus.  Dr. Powell authored of two books Practical Leadership Lessons Learned from Mickey and her award-winning book is The Journey to Authorship: A Pocket Guide for Writers, published a Leadership Journal, written peer-reviewed publications, several eBooks and has been interviewed by various television, radio and podcast hosts.   Episode Summary - To build a successful business you need to ensure that your foundations are strong and one of the most common reasons why majority of the businesses fail is because they lack a strong foundation. Nowadays, with information available at the fingertips, starting a business has become easy. But to build a sustainable business you need your basics to be right which you cannot just search online and learn. In this episode, Dr. Tracy R. Powell talks about the foundations that have helped her to build a successful business.    Snapshot of the Key Points from the Episode: Tracy talks about how she started and scaled-up her business. The importance of niching down your services and audience to grow your business. A myth about social media that most people believe that is effecting their business. Tracy talks about the process of Life Mapping & how it helps. The importance of networking for your business growth and the right network for your business. Tracy talks about how she leverages her online connections. Mistakes people make while setting up their business. The need of a website for building & growing your business. How having a book will help your business and brand positioning.    How to Connect with Dr. Tracy R. Powell: Website - http://drtracypowell.com Facebook Profile - https://www.facebook.com/tracy.mackpowell LinkedIn Profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtracypowell   About the Host: Ann Carden is a highly sought-after Expert Business Growth Consultant, Marketing Strategist, three-time published Author, and a #1 Bestselling Author, and Professional Speaker for small businesses and entrepreneurs.   With more than forty-one years of business experience and coaching and consulting hundreds of coaches, entrepreneur's and owners in more than forty different industries to more success, Ann knows what it takes to succeed in all areas of business. After spending thirteen years in corporate business management, Ann started her journey as an entrepreneur building businesses for herself for twenty-nine years. Her first business started out of financial hardship and Ann was able to propel that business into the international market (before the internet.) After selling that business, she went on to start and build five more businesses to succeed. She has sold those businesses and today has a passion for helping small business owners and entrepreneurs build their success. She has been featured on the affiliates of ABC, NBC, CW, and FOX, among many other media outlets. Her articles have been published on Small Business Trendsetters and Business Innovators Magazine, and she has been a featured guest on multiple podcast shows such as; “Business Innovators Radio” podcast which can be heard at: BusinessInnovatorsRadio.com/Ann-Carden. She was also chosen as one of the top coaches in the world by Six-Figure Coach Magazine. Through the years Ann has educated thousands of professionals through speaking, workshops, seminars, and online platforms as a Speaker.   How to Connect with Ann Carden: Website: https://anncardencoaching.com Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/business-consultant-coach Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/anncarden Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ann-Carden-A-Carden-Inc-110882230558068/

We have a great conversation with Peyton Jones around missional engagement, church planting, and the power of focusing on Jesus and the Gospel and letting the rest happen.Peyton Jones is the author of Church Plantology: The Art and Science of Planting Churches, Reaching The Unreached: Becoming Raiders Of The Lost Art, and Church Zero: Raising 1st Century Churches From The Ashes Of The 21st Century. He began ministry serving at a megachurch in Huntington Beach, CA before embarking to Wales, UK for 12 years. After serving as the Evangelist at Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones's church Sandfields, and as a church planter, and network leader he founded New Breed Church Planting Network which continues to train front-line 1st century style apostolic church planters, and has trained multiple church planters across the globe. In the 25 years that Peyton has been in ministry, he has served in almost every incarnation of church, context (urban, rural, University Town, Industrial) and across multiple denominations. He is a veteran church planter, and expert in the field of missional engagement strategy. One of his passions is starting churches in public spaces. He writes regularly for Outreach, Leadership Journal, and Christianity Today. He blogs regularly at Peytonjones.ninja. He founded Church Planter Magazine, and hosted two podcasts associated with it Church Planter Podcast and Hardcore Church Planting. Both are frequently in the #1 spots or in the what's hot category. Peyton received his MA Theology: Pastoral Studies in 2010 from W.E.S.T. in the UK and has taught both Old Testament and Church Planting at the graduate level at two different Universities. He lives in Southern California with his family. Twitter: @PeytonJonesPunk Facebook: Facebook.com/peytonjonesninjaPeyton's Recommendations:A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals by Shane ClaiborneSimply Anglican by Winfield BevinsThe OfficeGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/shiftingculturepodcastSupport the show

In this episode we talk with Wayne Jacobsen Wayne served as a pastor for twenty years and was also a contributing editor to Leadership Journal. As the director of Lifestream Ministries, he now travels the world helping people learn to live deeply in the life of Jesus and share it freely with others. He has written and worked with others on many books about spiritual intimacy and relational community, including He Loves Me, So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore, A Man Like No Other, and The Shack. You can find his writings at Lifestream.org and hear his podcast at TheGodJourney.com. He lives in Newbury Park, California with his wife of forty years and enjoys his children and grandchildren. You can follow Wayne on: Facebook     Twitter     Instagram Check out the  Lifestream webpage. You can find quite a few good resources including Waynes Blog. Waynes book can be purchased on Amazon.com You can connect with us on    Facebook     Instagram      Twitter Want to help us with our future episodes of This Is Not Church Podcast? Join us on Patreon where you will get access to exclusive patron content such as early access to episode, videos of upcoming episodes, and live Q&A sessions. Also check out our website for upcoming interviews and blog posts Each episode of This Is Not Church Podcast is expertly engineered by our producer The Podcast Doctor Eric Howell. If you're thinking of starting a podcast you need to connect with Eric!

Episode 045 - Let's Normalize Being Wrong (With Matt Tebbe) I grew up in a faith tradition where being right was essential. It's what kept us in community. It's what we thought honored God. For many other reasons--temperament, trauma, and even privilege--being right became an identity issue for me. Then I heard Matt Tebbe suggest that we need to normalize being wrong. For some of us this is the medicine we need. Show Notes "Let's normalize being wrong. Make Repentance Great Again" - Matt TebbeJohn 10:18Philippians 2 Download a full transcript here or scroll to the bottom of the page for a full transcript of this episode.You can also watch and share the video version on Youtube. More about Matt Tebbe Rev. Matt Tebbe (MDiv, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) has been a coach, communicator and consultant with churches in North America since 2011. He has experience as a youth pastor, a bi-vocational church planter, and working on a team at a large church to transition it from a Sunday-centric worship service to a discipleship and mission paradigm. He has written for Leadership Journal, Shattered Magazine, and contributed to the book “What Pastors Wish Their Congregations Knew” by Kurt Fredrickson and Cameron Lee. He's also been a featured writer at Missio Alliance and The V3 Movement. He co-founded Gravity Leadership, and is planting a church (The Table) in the northeast suburbs of Indianapolis, where he and his wife Sharon live with their children Deacon and Celeste. His Church: www.thetableindy.orgGravity Leadership: www.gravityleadership.comTwitter: @matttebbeFacebook: www.facebook.com/matttebbe Today's Sponsor The Writers Advance Weekend - A unique twice-a-year writers weekend that's focused on writing. No break-out sessions. No listening to experts talk about what worked for them. No networking. No social media. Just a small group of writers encouraging each other to write. One-on-one coaching and group feedback available. More from Marc Get The Anchor Prayer: A Prayer and Process for Remaining Grounded in a Chaotic World - This little book is free for you by opting in to my email list.The Wisdom of Your Heart: Discovering the God-given Purpose and Power of Your Emotions.Untangled Heart Course Online. Discovering your Authentic Core Values: A Step-by-step GuideSubscribe to my Email List. You'll get a free copy of a little book called The Anchor Prayer: A Prayer & Process for Remaining Grounded in a Chaotic World. Transcription Marc Schelske  0:00   Did you know you don't have to correct other people? Did you know you can be wrong, and the world won't end? Hey, friends, I'm Marc Alen Schelske. This is the apprenticeship way, a podcast about spiritual growth following the way of Jesus. This is Episode 45. Let's normalize being wrong.  TODAY'S SPONSOR Now, before we jump into that conversation, I'd like to tell you that today's podcast is made possible by The Writers Advance. I'm a writer, I write this podcast. I write blog posts. I write sermons, I've written three books. I've got two manuscripts in the oven right now. I think I've written something close to a million words at this point. And all of that writing, I have learned that there really is only one significant obstacle to writing just one. Life. Life and all its business, obligations, responsibilities, chores, people who need you to do stuff right now. And all that stuff, it takes time. And even when you sit down to write and try to focus at all intrudes into the space into your emotions.  So, one of the disciplines that I have learned over the years of writing is that periodically, I need to get out of my life in order to focus. Not an out-of-body experience, I just need to get off the grid, I need to be out of the reach of my schedule and phone, I need to retreat so that I can advance my writing. That's why I created the writer's advance.  This is a very unique event for writers.

Leadership expert and executive advisor Gayle Lantz is a powerhouse both in her workouts at Wheelhouse and in the leadership field helping CEOs revitalize their teams, shape corporate culture and inspire change in record time. She's the author of the award-winning book Take the Bull by the Horns and creator of The Leadership Journal and CEO on the Go Podcast. Listen in on Gayles story as she reveals how an idea and inspiration from a mentor lead her to gain 20 years of experience, pouring in to brands such as NASA and Southern Company.

Skye Jethani is an author, speaker, consultant, and ordained pastor. He serves as co-host of The Holy Post podcast and is heard on radio programs around the country. He is a featured preacher on PreachingToday.com and has served as managing and senior editor of Leadership Journal and Director of Mission Advancement for Christianity Today.

Skye Jethani is an author, speaker, consultant, and ordained pastor. He serves as co-host of The Holy Post podcast and is heard on radio programs around the country. He is a featured preacher on PreachingToday.com and has served as managing and senior editor of Leadership Journal and Director of Mission Advancement for Christianity Today.

Have you ever wondered where the pastoral office comes from? Have you ever read about church roles in the Bible and thought, "Wait. What?" Us too. Join us as we go back and look at different passages to understand what it is that we're doing on our Sunday mornings and why.In this episode, we talk a little history, we talk condition of the human heart, the exaltation of a few roles, the "proper working of each individual part", and what maturity in Christ might look like collectively.We address counter-questions, pull in some statical results, and continue the fight for a pure Bride.FOLLOW ME ON INSTA:https://www.instagram.com/piercewestfallFOLLOW ME ON TWITTER:https://twitter.com/piercewestfall​SUBSCRIBE TO MY FRIEND SANCTIFIED PUNK:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmaBZZdz7-Ez8mAnpepIbngLEARN MORE ABOUT A JESUS MISSION:www.ajesusmission.org*Note our thoughts are not representative of A Jesus Mission as a whole. We are individuals, just like you, who are encouraged to flesh out our convictions and voice them with the hope of edifying the Church at large.***All these stats are of Protestant pastors from a variety of denominations in America: (1) David Ross and Rick Blackmon's “Soul Care for Servants” workshop reported the results of their Fuller Institute of Church Growth research study in 1991 and other surveys in 2005 and 2006. (2) Francis A Schaeffer Institute of Church Leadership Development research studies in 1998 and 2006. (3) Leadership Magazine's research for their article on “Marriage Problems Pastors Face,” Fall 1992 issue. (4) Grey Matter Research, 2005 scientific study of pastors from every city in America. (5) Pastors at Greater Risk by H.B. London and Neil B. Wiseman, Regal Books, 2003. (6) Focus on the Family 2009 survey of 2,000 pastors. (7) Leadership Journal poll of readers, 2013.**

Rev. Dr. James Choung talks with us about teaching and creating spiritual spaces during COVID-19, why he has a growth-mindset and seeks out mentorship on a regular basis, ways he cultivates self-awareness, how he determined his calling to pursue work in Christian ministry, how his father impacted his spirituality and modeled ways to be a great dad and husband. You can learn more about him and watch the video of our conversation here: http://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/james-choung/ Rev. Dr. James Choung serves as Vice President of Strategy & Innovation — overseeing evangelism, discipleship, multiethnic initiatives, and the Creative Labs — at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA. He is also ordained with the Vineyard USA and written several books; including: "True Story: A Christianity Worth Believing In" and its follow-up, "Real Life: A Christianity Worth Living Out." He speaks frequently at campuses, churches, seminaries, and conferences, and teaches seminary classes on culture, leadership development and evangelism. His work is featured in Christianity Today, Leadership Journal, Outreach Magazine, and Exploregod.com. James wrote his D. Min. dissertation on postmodern leadership development at Fuller Theological Seminary, received his M. Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and studied management science and marketing at MIT.

Show Notes: Author Drew Dyck is back to discuss encouraging self control and willpower in our children. We discuss the difficulties of inspiring self control in young people who do not yet see its merits. Drew shares practical strategies for strengthening self disciple and self control for our children with school, chores, and even their relationships with one another. We also discuss the importance of modeling these behaviors as the adults in our households. Drew Dyckis an editor at Moody Publishers and the former managing editor of Leadership Journal. His work has been featured in USA Today, The Huffington Post, Christianity Today, and CNN.com. Drew is the author of Generation Ex-Christian, Yawning at Tigers, and Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science. He lives with his wife Grace, and their three children near Portland, Oregon. Connect with Drew at drewdyck.comor on Twitter @DrewDyck. Resources Mentioned Episode 207 Your Future Self Will Thank You Your Future Self Will Thank You by Drew Dyck www.drewdyck.com Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear Sponsor Affiliate: The Hopegivers Stories of Hope

  www.TheDavidAlliance.com    TDAgiantslayer@gmail.com    webstix.com Tony Herman - the coolest cat on the net   Who might you think is the hardest to convert to Christianity? The drug addict? The religious person? The really really good person? The satanist? The gang banger? The wealthy? The person in the cult?    My money is on the Muslims. Why? Well first off they intimidate many Christians. The world and the media have done a good job at that. right? They are all out to tear down america and destroy our fine country etc… look I don't know if you have any muslims in your community but they have just as many issues trying to follow their religion as anyone?  It's also hard to answer their questions. They think Jesus is a prophet and I am uncertain when they challenge me.    So why do Muslims come to Christ? Because if we can figure that out it will help us dramatically reach the less challenging.       5 Reasons Muslims Convert   A survey of 750 Muslims who converted to Christianity shows five predominant reasons they chose to follow Christ. The lifestyle of Christians. Former Muslims cited the love that Christians exhibited in their relationships with non-Christians and their treatment of women as equals.   The power of God in answered prayers and healing. Experiences of God's supernatural work—especially important to folk Muslims who have a characteristic concern for power and blessings—increased after their conversions, according to the survey. Often dreams about Jesus were reported.   Dissatisfaction with the type of Islam they had experienced. Many expressed dissatisfaction with the Qur'an, emphasizing God's punishment over his love. Others cited Islamic militancy and the failure of Islamic law to transform society.   The spiritual truth in the Bible. Muslims are generally taught that the Torah, Psalms, and the Gospels are from God, but that they became corrupted. These Christian converts said, however, that the truth of God found in Scripture became compelling for them and key to their understanding of God's character.   Biblical teachings about the love of God. In the Qur'an, God's love is conditional, but God's love for all people was especially eye-opening for Muslims. These converts were moved by the love expressed through the life and teachings of Jesus. The next step for many Muslims was to become part of a fellowship of loving Christians.   The respondents were from 30 countries and 50 ethnic groups. The survey was prepared at Fuller Theological Seminary's School of Intercultural Studies, and reported in Christianity Today. Muslims are now 21 percent of the world population, increasing from 12 percent in the past 100 years. And the growth rate of Islam is higher than that of Christianity (1.81% per year, compared to 1.23%). Christians still outnumber Muslims, with one-third of the world population naming Christianity as their faith. In some parts of the world, significant pockets of Muslims are turning to Christ, including North Africa, South Asia, and Indonesia. —info from J. Dudley Woodbury, Russell G. Shubin, and G. Marks at ChristianityToday.com. Copyright © 2008 by the author or Christianity Today International/Leadership Journal. Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal. Winter 2008, Vol. XXIX, No. 1, Page 13

Welcome to the beginning; the Leader's Journal Episode 1! Our founder Jason (@coachjasonho) introduces himself and what this Journal is about; a resource for MNC leaders, directors and SME business owners to attain PERFECT PERFORMANCE. Stay tuned for practical Leadership Stories and Coaching Insights right here, on the Leadership Journal. Complementary Coaching - http://bit.ly/3reY48E

We've got a really practical conversation for you today on the podcast. Alan sits down with Pastor and Author Daniel Fusco for a rich conversation about battling through growth and discouragement.  About Daniel Daniel came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ in April of 1998 while he was in his last year at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. After spending a few years as a professional musician (upright and electric bass), Daniel felt called into the pastoral ministry. He was taken on staff at Calvary Chapel Marin under the direction of Pastor John Henry Corcoran in January of 2000. After being ordained in 2002, Daniel was sent out to plant Calvary Chapel New Brunswick, located in New Jersey. In November of 2006, that church was turned over to his successor so that Daniel could move back to the San Francisco Bay Area to plant more churches. While in the Bay Area, Daniel planted Calvary North Bay in Mill Valley, CA. In 2010, while continuing to pastor the church in Mill Valley, he also planted Calvary San Francisco. In 2012, Daniel turned over both churches to successors in order to move to Vancouver, WA to become the Lead Pastor at Crossroads Community Church where he presently serves. Crossroads has campuses in Vancouver, WA, Portland, OR and a vibrant international internet campus. Out of his passion for church planting, Daniel founded the Calvary Church Planting Network, which helps facilitate church planters. Daniel has a unique style of teaching that takes the timeless truth of Scripture and makes it applicable and simple for men and women of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds in today's society. His teachings can be accessed at danielfusco.com, through iTunes podcasts, YouTube videos and at crossroadschurch.net. His popular #2MinuteMessage can be found on his Facebook page. The Jesus is Real radio ministry that features messages from Daniel is on 50+ stations across the country. The Real with Daniel Fusco tv program is shown nationally. Daniel is also a gifted writer and a featured contributor to "Preaching Today." He has published articles with Leadership Journal, pastors.com, and Calvarychapel.com. His book, "Ahead of the Curve," is currently available on Amazon.com. His second book, "Honestly," was published by NavPress on April 1, 2016. Daniel's forthcoming book, "Upward, Inward, Outward - Loving God, loving ourselves, loving people" will be published by NavPress in October, 2017. Daniel is a sought after speaker. He has taught at churches, conferences, retreats, youth rallies, leadership seminars, seminaries, and on campuses, both in the States and abroad. Take your next right step Consider Coaching  

Details, credits, errata: This week’s episode is a fun one: Sam and Alissa talk to renowned feminist public intellectual Jessica Valenti about a movie of her choosing: Brian Dannelly’s 2004 Christian high school satire, Saved! It’s a movie neither of your hosts had seen because frankly they were afraid of being retraumatized but it turned out to be really sweet and funny and we recommend it highly.Jessica is a remarkable writer and thinker and there’s a lot we mentioned here that I’ll try to run down: first, her 2009 book The Purity Myth, available here, and the other books and anthologies she’s contributed to, and her column at GEN. We also talk a little bit about The Vow, the new HBO documentary about weird misogynist cult NXIVM (which was covered well by the New York Times Magazine here), and Alissa briefly mentioned Bill Gothard, a Christian sex pest and founder of the Quiverfull movement. Sam mentioned a queasy incident at Christianity Today sister publication Leadership Journal, covered in depth here.Our episode art on the website is Orlando Ferguson’s 1893 Map of the Square and Stationary Earth. Saved! can be rented from iTunes here.Our theme song is Louis Armstrong and His Hot 5’s Muskrat Ramble, made freely available by the Boston Public Library and audio engineering shop George Blood, LP through the Internet Archive. Saved! is copyright 2004 MGM Studios. Brief audio clips are used herein for review purposes. All other content is copyright 2020 Sam Thielman and Alissa Wilkinson.If you’re a subscriber, check back later today for our special episode on Tenet! If not, subscribe now! This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at yammpod.substack.com/subscribe

In this timely SoundPractice podcast interview, Mike Sacopulos interviews Nancy Collins, VP at the American Association for Physician Leadership about their flagship publication, the Physician Leadership Journal.  They discuss the editorial mission of the PLJ, the mechanics of submitting an article, how the peer-review process works, and how the collaborative process with the PLJ editorial team is helping to build the next era of physician leader scholars. PLJ article topics are these:  Careers, Communication, Finance, Healthcare Organizations, Healthcare Professionals, Health Law and Policy, Innovation, Leadership, Management, Patient Care and Quality, Technology. Bonus!  Listen to the end for the inside scoop on what reviewers look for in a quality manuscript, and pitfalls to avoid in paper submissions to any medical journal. Contact Information at editor@physicianleaders.org Submission Guidelines and Policies for the PLJ:  https://www.physicianleaders.org/news/author-submission-guidelines-for-the-physician-leadership-journal Society for Scholarly Publishing – Useful information on journal publishing https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2017/07/25/cabells-new-predatory-journal-blacklist-review/ Review a sample issue of the Physician Leadership Journal  

In this timely SoundPractice podcast interview, Mike Sacopulos interviews Nancy Collins, VP at the American Association for Physician Leadership about their flagship publication, the Physician Leadership Journal.  They discuss the editorial mission of the PLJ, the mechanics of submitting an article, how the peer-review process works, and how the collaborative process with the PLJ editorial team is helping to build the next era of physician leader scholars. PLJ article topics are these:  Careers, Communication, Finance, Healthcare Organizations, Healthcare Professionals, Health Law and Policy, Innovation, Leadership, Management, Patient Care and Quality, Technology. Bonus!  Listen to the end for the inside scoop on what reviewers look for in a quality manuscript, and pitfalls to avoid in paper submissions to any medical journal. Contact Information at editor@physicianleaders.org Submission Guidelines and Policies for the PLJ:  https://www.physicianleaders.org/news/author-submission-guidelines-for-the-physician-leadership-journal Society for Scholarly Publishing – Useful information on journal publishing https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2017/07/25/cabells-new-predatory-journal-blacklist-review/ Review a sample issue of the Physician Leadership Journal  

The Rev. Charles (Chaz) Lattimore Howard, PhD is The University Chaplain and The Vice President for Social Equity and Community at the University of Pennsylvania - his alma mater.He has served in both hospital and hospice chaplaincies, and as a street outreach worker to individuals experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia. His writing has been featured in such publications as Black Theology: An International Journal, Daily Good, Sojourners Magazine, Christianity Today's Leadership Journal, Chronicle of Higher Education, The Huffington Post, The Christian Century, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Forward, and Slate. He is the author of five books including most recentlyPond River Ocean Rain,  a collection of brief essays about going deeper with God, and the forthcomingThe Bottom: A Theopoetic of the Streets. A Son of Baltimore and a Godson of Philadelphia, he shares life with his beloved wife, Dr. Lia C. Howard and their three daughters.Art Direction and Design by Molly Keene Music by Yakov Fleischmann

On today's show, Tim welcomes Drew Dyck, the Managing Editor of the Leadership Journal at Christianity Today as well as author of Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science (A Guide for Sinners, Quitters, and Procrastinators). Your Future Self Will Thank You is a compassionate and humorous guide to breaking bad habits and growing your willpower. It explores Scripture’s teachings on how to live a disciplined life while offering practical strategies for growth based on the science of self-control. Whether you want to deepen your spiritual life, conquer an addiction, or kick your nail-biting habit, this book will help you get motivated, stay on track, and achieve your goals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What can we learn from Christians with different cultural backgrounds? What trends are we seeing in how American culture approaches faith? What challenges and encourages us about how we're pursuing God together? We'll explore these questions with Marshall Shelley today. Marshall joined the faculty of Denver Seminary in 2016 and serves as director of the Doctor of Ministry program and associate professor of pastoral leadership and ministry. He kicks off our time by sharing personal childhood memories of his father and church historian, Bruce Shelley, along with his passions for church history and storytelling. Learn from his experience as longtime editor of the Leadership Journal and hear interesting anecdotes and insights on the state of church leadership in America....

Rev. Dr. James Choung serves as Vice President of Strategy & Innovation at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA, overseeing evangelism, discipleship, planting, growth, missions, and multiethnic initiatives. He is the author of True Story: A Christianity Worth Believing In and Real Life: A Christianity Worth Living Out. He received his D.Min. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and has had his work featured in Christianity Today, Leadership Journal, Outreach Magazine, and exploregod.com. His visit is funded by an endowment from the Thomas F. Staley Foundation.

Rev. Dr. James Choung serves as Vice President of Strategy & Innovation at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA, overseeing evangelism, discipleship, planting, growth, missions, and multiethnic initiatives. He is the author of True Story: A Christianity Worth Believing In and Real Life: A Christianity Worth Living Out. He received his D.Min. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and has had his work featured in Christianity Today, Leadership Journal, Outreach Magazine, and exploregod.com. His visit is funded by an endowment from the Thomas F. Staley Foundation.

Rev. Dr. James Choung serves as Vice President of Strategy & Innovation at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA, overseeing evangelism, discipleship, planting, growth, missions, and multiethnic initiatives. He is the author of True Story: A Christianity Worth Believing In and Real Life: A Christianity Worth Living Out. He received his D.Min. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and has had his work featured in Christianity Today, Leadership Journal, Outreach Magazine, and exploregod.com. His visit is funded by an endowment from the Thomas F. Staley Foundation.

Your Weekend has Begun ... + ... People can’t read clocks ... + ... Nat’l Spelling Bee crowns 8 co-champs Is there a place for Boys and Girls Restrooms in Schools? Doe v Boyertown Area School District GUEST Christiana Holcomb ... Legal Counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom **Nat’l Smile Day: 10 Happiest States ... + ... Celeb bday (Clint Eastwood) How to keep your phone from eating your Soul: Tools for disciplined living in an age of distraction ... GUEST Drew Dyck ... editor at Moody Publishers and the former managing editor of Leadership Journal ... His work has been featured in USA Today, the Huffington Post, Christianity Today, and CNN.com ... Drew is the author of "Generation Ex-Christian," "Yawning at Tigers," and his latest, "Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self Control from the Bible and Brain Science" Study: Dating apps fuel crash dieting, particularly among men Summer Reading: What does the president of one Christian college read during the summer break and why?" My pile for this summer is especially interesting (to me) and diverse. It will get us talking about history, coming to faith, political divisiveness, and the dangers of marijuana ... GUEST Paul J. McNulty, 9th president of Grove City College ... Prior to returning to his alma mater McNulty spent over 30 yrs in Washington DC as an attorney in public service and private practice ... In 2005, the US Senate unanimously confirmed Mcnulty to the positon of Deputy Attorney General, the second in command at the US Department of Justice, and the Chief Operating Officer of the department’s 100,000 employees Robert Mueller’s Wednesday Press Conference ... GUEST Paul McNulty Is it unPittsburgh-y of Kennywood to pick Hunt's over Heinz?(PG)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's guest grapples with big life questions and tries to make the answers he finds, through his careful research, accessible for all people. He is currently the Executive Director of Social Research Lab at University of Northern Colorado, Director of The DeChurched Project, and an associate professor of sociology. He studies institutional participation in America, and helps organizations to understand why their customers, clients and members have left… and what they can do to get them back. His research has appeared in numerous academic and trade publications, including a 2015 entry in the "Leadership Journal" titled, “Meet the Dones.” This refers to the growing number of people who have moved away from organized religion, but not from God. But, you don't have to be an academic to read his work, his first book from The DeChurched Project, called “Church Refugees” is available on Amazon. He regularly speaks, consults and takes on research projects for clients who seek a better understanding of why people are just not enamored with large institutions anymore. We met when he presented on the main stage at Influence 2016, the annual conference of the National Speakers Association. He was there to relay the news that we have to rethink our relationships in order to fully understand authority and influence in the modern era. It's not just one industry that has declining membership - trust in institutions of all kinds are at an all time low. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Josh Packard. Listen, subscribe, and read show notes at www.OntheSchmooze.com - episode 21