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Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we're talking with Jeremy Baker, Lead Pastor of Elevate Life Church in Connecticut. In just over three years, Elevate Life has grown from 70 people to more than 2,000 weekly attendees, becoming one of the fastest-growing churches in the country—especially remarkable in a region widely known as spiritually resistant and unchurched. Jeremy shares the honest, behind-the-scenes story of how God has moved, and what his team has learned about loving people well, building invite culture, and helping people take meaningful steps in their spiritual journey. Is explosive growth possible in spiritually dry regions? How do churches keep the focus on people instead of preferences as momentum builds? Jeremy offers a refreshing reminder that growth is less about formulas and more about faithfulness. Humble beginnings and a clear calling. // Jeremy and his wife left a comfortable ministry role at a large church in Dallas after sensing God's call to the Northeast—one of the least churched regions in North America. With no church-planting playbook and their personal savings on the line, they launched Elevate Life with high expectations and a large marketing push. When only 70 people showed up on launch day, disappointment could have ended the story. Instead, it became the starting point. Jeremy describes the journey as a “God deal” from the beginning—marked by prayer, obedience, and a willingness to go after people rather than polish programs. Loving people from the street to the seat. // One of Elevate Life's defining values is making people feel seen, heard, and celebrated. Jeremy believes every person walks in carrying an invisible sign that says, “See me.” That belief shapes their entire guest experience. From banner-waving parking lot teams to outdoor tents for first-time guests (even in winter), the church treats arrival as sacred ground. Volunteers walk guests through the building, help with kids check-in, offer tours, and even escort people to their seats. The intentional warmth sends a clear message: you matter here. Taking people where they are. // With nearly 4,000 first-time guests in a single year, Elevate Life assumes nothing about biblical knowledge or spiritual maturity. Rather than pushing people toward instant maturity, the church focuses on meeting people where they are. Grow Track, life groups, and clear next steps help people move forward at a sustainable pace. Jeremy warns that churches often forget how far they've traveled spiritually—and unintentionally expect newcomers to keep up. Invite culture that never lets up. // Elevate Life's growth hasn't come from direct mail or massive ad budgets. Jeremy says he'll never do mailbox ads again. Instead, growth flows from a relentless invite culture. Every service, hallway conversation, life group, and ministry environment reinforces the same message: Who are you bringing? Invite cards, QR codes, social media ads, and consistent language keep invitation top of mind. Jeremy believes repetition—not creativity—is the secret. Reaching people over protecting preferences. // As the church has doubled in size, Jeremy is vigilant about guarding its mission. Growth brings new pressures—parking shortages, crowded services, limited space—but he resists shifting focus inward. If churches aren’t careful, they’ll trade purpose for preferences,. Elevate Life's mission—making heaven more crowded—keeps the team outwardly focused. Jeremy regularly reminds leaders that people are not problems to solve; they are people to pastor. A challenge for church leaders. // Jeremy closes with a simple encouragement to pastors: love people deeply, steward what God has given you, and don't lose sight of why you started. Churches don't grow because they chase growth—they grow when leaders refuse to give up on people. In regions others have written off spiritually, God is still moving—and often through ordinary leaders who simply refuse to stop caring. To learn more about Elevate Life Church, visit elevatelifect.com or follow them on Instagram @elevatelifect. Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Portable Church Your church is doing really well right now, and your leadership team is looking for solutions to keep momentum going! It could be time to start a new location. Maybe you have hesitated in the past few years, but you know it's time to step out in faith again and launch that next location. Portable Church has assembled a bundle of resources to help you leverage your growing momentum into a new location by sending a part of your congregation back to their neighborhood on Mission. This bundle of resources will give you a step-by-step plan to launch that new or next location, and a 5 minute readiness tool that will help you know your church is ready to do it! Click here to watch the free webinar “Launch a New Location in 150 Days or Less” and grab the bundle of resources for your church! Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. Pumped that you have decided to tune in today. We’ve got a very good conversation. I’m really looking forward to leaning in and learning from this leader and the story that God’s been writing at his church in the last two and a half years.Rich Birch — Elevate Church in Connecticut has grown from 70 people to over 2,000 on a weekly basis. It’s been named one of the fastest growing churches in the country. I love their mission and purpose is really simple: making heaven more crowded. Today we’ve got Jeremy Baker with us. He is the lead pastor. Jeremy, welcome to the show. So glad you’re here.Jeremy Baker — Thank you so much for having me. So excited. And what a great privilege and honor to be on on live with you today. So thank you.Rich Birch — Yeah, I’m excited that to unpack this story a little bit. It is not normal for a church to grow from 70 to 2000 in any part of the country, but even more so in Connecticut. I can say as a guy who served in New Jersey, I’m Canadian, you know – don’t hold that against against me. Jeremy Baker — Let’s go.Rich Birch — So I understand the spiritual context that you’re in a little bit. But why don’t you unpack the story? Kind of tell us a little bit what’s gone on over these last couple of years. For folks that don’t know, tell us about the kind of spiritual, you know, climate in Connecticut. Talk us through those issues.Jeremy Baker — Yeah, I first of all, it’s a God deal all the way. And I know a lot of people are asking me, hey, give me some handles, what’s some formulas, what’s some how-tos.Rich Birch — Right.Jeremy Baker — I’m just blown away by what God’s done. And I think it’s really just the heartbeat of God is going after his people and serving the community really well. So we’re in an area, I’m 30 minutes away from Yale University.Rich Birch — Okay.Jeremy Baker — I’m not too far away from New Haven, Connecticut. I’m in in a town about 100,000 people. Rich Birch — Wow.Jeremy Baker — Matter of fact, the building is actually in between two cities. Rich Birch — Okay. Jeremy Baker — The building is divided right down in half. One half being, yeah, it’s crazy. One half being Meriden, one half being a town called Wallingford. And so in those two cities is about 100,000 people. Rich Birch — Okay. Jeremy Baker — So three and a half years ago, I’m working at a big church in Dallas, Texas, mega-world, mega-church, on staff, XP, and the Lord just pressed on our heart, me and my wife that we’re comfortable. We’re we’re living the good life, we’re living the Dallas life, the big Texas life, and there’s more, you know. And nothing wrong with that, nothing wrong with the Dallas life, the big life, the Texas life, nothing wrong with big churches – God loves this, the capital “C” church, you know. And so long story short, prayed for about a year, and we said, we’re going to the Northeast. Rich Birch — Wow. Jeremy Baker — This is where my wife is originally from, the Connecticut region, this area, actually called a little town called North Haven. And we’re going to go back up here because there’s a group of people that need the Lord. And, you know, the Northeast, New Jersey, you know, New York, Maine, Vermont, Pennsylvania, these kind of, this region up here in this New England region is ah is an unchurched region. Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — There’s great people that are God-fearing people, great good Bible-believing churches, but there’s it’s not known as a Southern, you know, Christianity. Rich Birch — Yep.Jeremy Baker — Like everybody goes to church in the South, but up here, it’s a little different region. So we came up here. We didn’t know how to plant a church, honestly.Rich Birch — Love it.Jeremy Baker — I’m just giving you all the honest, the the real, real.Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — I wish I could tell you that I wrote the book on it and I know how to do everything perfectly. Rich Birch — Love itJeremy Baker — But i could I could tell you every horror story what not to do, you know? So we we pulled out our life savings and we started a church and we had 70 people on our launch date. Rich Birch — Wow. And we put about $100,000 into our launch date thinking we would have… Rich Birch — Wow. Jeremy Baker — …you know, 800 people, a thousand people are going to show up. We put mailers in everybody’s mailbox. So long story short, we had 70 people. Rich Birch — Wow, wow.Jeremy Baker — And then out of that, we have just been going after our city. Out of that, we have just been reaching people, inviting people to God’s house, serving our community, clean days, outreaches, food ministry, backpack giveaways, Christmas, Thanksgiving. I mean, just every major holiday, we have just attacked our community. And this last week, we had over 2,400 people in attendance.Rich Birch — Wow. Wow. Praise God. Jeremy Baker — And and so in three and a half years, it’s just been wild. And there’s so much in that story I could tell you.Rich Birch — Right.Jeremy Baker — But that’s kind of been from where we were, planning humble beginnings. God, what do you want to do? And it’s not about the size of a church, as you know, because I know there’s great churches out there that are ministering very well to the size that is in their community, and they’re doing a really good job shepherding people, caring for people.Jeremy Baker — But it’s just, you know, I always believe, God, let me not mess this up. Lord, if I can steward this well, you’ll keep bringing them to me. And so we have a brand new team, new staff. I like to call us the the misfits of Toy Island, if I could use the if i could if i could use the Christmas kind of you know… Rich Birch — Yes. Jeremy Baker — …thought process, you know. We don’t know what we’re doing, but we’re loving people well. We’re serving. We’re discipling to the best of our ability. We’re preaching the full gospel now. I don’t want people to think that we’re not preaching the gospel.Rich Birch — Yeah.Jeremy Baker — We’re preaching from Genesis to Revelations, and we’re preaching the whole Bible, the whole council. And but that’s kind of that’s a little bit of kind of like how the beginning happened, but it’s been wild.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s cool.Jeremy Baker — It’s been wild, man.Rich Birch — Yeah. And I know, you know, we know that, well, all of our churches, you know, they they have the impact they do because God chooses to use what we’re doing at the end of the day. It’s got nothing to with us. It’s got everything to do with him. Jeremy Baker — Right. Rich Birch — But he is choosing to use something that you’re you’re doing. He’s clearly blessing something. He’s working through something. When you step back and think about the last couple of years, two or three years, What would be some of the things that you’ve seen him use that are like, hmm, this seems to be a part of the equation of what he’s pulling together.Rich Birch — And that’s not from a like, hey, we want to replicate all this, but it’s like, hey, here’s here’s your story. This is what God seems to be using in your context to reach your people. What would be some of those things that bubble up to your mind?Jeremy Baker — Yeah, great question. I would think the first thing for us is people want to be seen. People in the world that we live in today want to know that someone cares about them, that someone loves them.Jeremy Baker — We like to say it around here. We have little cultural sayings. We see you. We hear you. We celebrate you. We see you, we hear you, we celebrate you. I love what Mary Kay said, the the makeup organization. She had a quote, and if I can quote her right, she said, everybody has an invisible sign around their neck that says, see me. Jeremy Baker — And and I think it’s important. I think it’s real important that we see people the way God sees them. You know, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever would believe in him. So the whole thing is about seeing people the way God sees them, not seeing them through their lens of brokenness or through the lens of maybe a divorce or the pain or the regret or the shame. No, we got to see them through the grace and the mercy of God, through through what Jesus wants to do in their life. So we’re just loving people really well from the street, if I could say it like this, because I know it’s been said in church conferences, but from the street to the seat, we’re just loving people really well, you know, how to how to make people feel like they’re the big deal. Rich Birch — Right, right.Jeremy Baker — You know, that God does love them. So that would be probably one thing that I would say would kind of be our bread and butter of just loving people well… Rich Birch — Yes. Jeremy Baker — …helping people find hope, especially in a season like this, you know, holiday season. It’s like, a you know, a lot of people are hopeless and we need to give hope to people. And so that would be a big thing. Jeremy Baker — I say think the second thing I would say is taking people on the spiritual journey where they’re at. You know, I’ve been a ministry for 30 years. My dad’s a pastor. So I’ve been in church for a long time. And I think sometimes, you know, we can as as as church kids, or if I could say it that way, or church people, we are called the shepherd. We’re called to minister. We’re called the guide. But sometimes we want people to be on the road that we’re on. And and they don’t realize… Rich Birch — That’s so true. Jeremy Baker — …we have we have we have been on this journey for a long time. There’s been a lot of going to the mat, dealing with us, God doing a work in us. Like David said in Psalms 51, Lord, create me a clean heart. Help me help me grow, Lord, as a leader, as a mature, you know. Put away childish things. I, you know, I want to grow. So so we’re taking people on their journey. Okay, you’re new to faith, so we need to start you on this road or this path, if I could say, you know. Oh, you’ve been walking with God for three years. Okay, we’ve got to make sure that you know some of the foundations, some of the basics. Rich Birch — Right.Jeremy Baker — You know I think that’s been some of our greatness of helping people stick, find community, be a part. So those are, I think those are two things. Understanding people need to be seen. And the second one is taking them on a journey of where they’re at, you know?Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. I love that. The let’s let’s unpack that a little bit. I’d love to start with the loving people well thing – a little bit more detail. Jeremy Baker — Yeah.Rich Birch — When you say that, so what does that mean from the street to the seat? How are you how do you feel like, oh, this is something that Elevate Life’s doing well to love people as they’re coming, as they’re arriving, as they’re a part of what’s going on at the church?Jeremy Baker — Yeah, so great. So for me, it’s going to be guest experience. Rich Birch — Yep.Jeremy Baker — What does it look like when people pull on your parking lot? You know, do we have parking lot – we don’t call them attendants. We call them parking lot banner wavers. Rich Birch — Yeah. Yeah. Love it.Jeremy Baker — They’re waving a banner, a blessing over your car. Now, it’s going to be a little charismatic a little bit. There’s going to be a little bit of a, you know, my background is, you know, is I’m I’m very very energetic, very enthusiastic…Rich Birch — Sure.Jeremy Baker — …passionate as a leader. So I want people to know it’s a big deal that you’re on property today. Rich Birch — Right.Jeremy Baker — It’s a really big deal that you brought your family, that you showed up. You didn’t have to show up. You didn’t have to be here. You could have stayed home. You could have did what you wanted to do, but you gave God some time today. And so what we do is we we we we really pray that as the tires hit the parking lot, that miracles take place in people’s lives.Jeremy Baker — Whatever that miracle might be, miracle of salvation. A miracle of of of a mindset change, a miracle of restoration. So banner wavers in the parking lot, loving on people. Jeremy Baker — We have a team called the Impact Team that’s in the parking lot. They’re what we call our first time guest experience connection moments. So when they when there’s tents outside, of course, even in the winter, we got tents outside with heaters outside. You know, we just got four inches of snow the other day, but they’re still outside.Jeremy Baker — So the commitment from our servant leaders is there. The commitment from our staff is there, just to make people seen and feel loved. So as they’re walking into the property, if they’re a first time guest, our team has been trained how to identify a first time people, even with the amount of people that are coming. And they’ll walk up to them and just say, so glad you’re here.Jeremy Baker — Is this your first time? No, I’ve been here for about a month. OK, do you need anything? How can I serve you? How can we help you? Do you know how to check your kids in? Or, hey, can i can I walk you to your seat? I mean, we literally have a team over 100 plus people that are helping people walk into a building… Rich Birch — Wow.Jeremy Baker — …get a free get a get a cup of coffee, find them to their seat, make them feel loved. If they’re new, hey, let me take you on an experience tour is what we call it, an experience tour. You’re walking into a brand new building. You’ve never been into the building before. You know, lot of churches, it’s all love, but might not have the right signage of communication of where restrooms are, kids check-in nurseries, nursing mother’s room, you know, special needs, whatever. So we have these people that go and walk these people through this building. And, you know, we don’t have a large building. We’re we’re adding on to our building, but we’re about 28,000 square feet.Rich Birch — Okay.Jeremy Baker — And so even in that size, you know, you can get lost in a building that size… Rich Birch — Right, right. Jeremy Baker — …you you know, especially where there’s hallways and doorways you don’t know. And so we’re having people walk through. And then people walk up all the way to their seat.Rich Birch — Wow.Jeremy Baker — And then when they’re in their seat, we got people that are on the host team, which we’d call modern day ushers. We call them host team members. They just walking up to them. Hey, good to see you. How you doing? Good morning before service starts.Rich Birch — I love that. Yes.Jeremy Baker — So we’re creating this we’re creating this interaction culture. Now, if you’re introverted, I’ll be honest with you, it’s going to be hard. It’s going to be hard, man.Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — It’s going to be hard. If you’re more introverted in your personality and your style, you’re going to feel overloaded at a level, you know what I’m saying?Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — So so that that’s some of the feedback we get.Jeremy Baker — Like, hey, I love the church… Rich Birch — It’s a little much. Jeremy Baker — …but I got 18 people talking to me, man, before I even find a seat. And it’s like, I get it, I get it, I get it. But, you know, we just want you to feel seen and feel loved. So that’s part of what we do.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s very cool. I love that.Jeremy Baker — Yeah.Rich Birch — Super practical. That’s cool. And then I like this idea of talking to people where they’re at. I think that can be a concern we run into or a it’s like we’re not even aware that in our our churches we’re we’re we’re using language or or we’re assuming everyone’s at a certain place. What does that look like for you at Elevate Life? How are you helping? Because that’s a lot of people in a short period of time to both get to know and then also try to communicate in a way that actually connects with where they’re at. Talk us through what do you mean by that when you say we’re trying to talk to people where they’re at in their spiritual journey?Jeremy Baker — Yeah, so if it so if you’re new, let me just give you context. This year alone, in 2025, we’ve had 3,919 first-time guests walk through our doors. Rich Birch — That’s great.Jeremy Baker — This year alone. Rich Birch — Yep. Jeremy Baker — So for us, we know as a new plant, as a new church, we’re going to have to really walk people through this spiritual journey. Some of these people maybe have some form of God, maybe they have been walking with God. Maybe they’ve been out of church since, you know, let’s just talk about pre, know, after or during COVID. Maybe they haven’t been back to God’s house because that’s really real in the Northeast. Rich Birch — Yeah.Jeremy Baker — I mean, some people are just now coming back to church in the Northeast that have not been in church for the last four years. You know, it’s like, oh yeah, I’ve been out of church for about three and a half years and I’m just now getting back into the rhythm of getting back in my faith.Jeremy Baker — So there’s so much I can talk about that. Like how how do we make our services flow? Like I always introduce introduce myself, hey, my name is Jeremy, and I have the privilege to pastor this church, and I just want to say welcome. If if this is your, you know, 52nd welcome this year or if this is your first welcome, I just want to say welcome. Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — Because i want I want them to know that we’re real, that we’re authentic, and we want to help them on their spiritual journey. Rich Birch — It’s good.Jeremy Baker — So we offer stuff like, you know, first-time, you know, decision, if you made a first time decision, let’s go, let’s go into, you know, who is Jesus? You know, what does Jesus, you know, want to do in your life? So there’s, there’s, there’s classes, there’s paths that we offer there. Jeremy Baker — Grow track, you know, we have grow track that we offer every month. Hey, hey, won’t we want to teach you a little bit more about faith, who Elevate Life is, what, what our mission is, what our vision is, what, what the values of our church is. And so we walk them through that.Jeremy Baker — And then, and then what we have is we have life groups. And these life groups are from all different walks. Deep dive of Revelation, deep studies of the Old Testament. Or, hey, we’re just going to go through the book of John. We’re just going to start in John 1 and learn what Jesus, you know, who Jesus is. And we’re to start there. Or if you’re more intellectual, we’re going to go a little bit deeper. You know, so we we we we we have these these life groups, we call them, because we’re Elevate Life. So we call them life groups. We want we want these groups to bring life to people.Jeremy Baker — And and so ah so we just we we have people, we encourage them to sign up, to get involved. That’s our conversations always in the hallways. Hey, are you are you serving on a team? Are you in a life group? Here’s here’s why. The goal for me is not just gathering large crowds. The goal for me as as a shepherd, I would just say as ah as as the lead pastor now in this season of my life, is is to help people develop spiritually… Rich Birch — Yeah, so good. Yeah, definitely. Jeremy Baker — …to help people find their personal walk with God, not just come and hear a good word. You know, motivating, it’s inspiring, it’s it’s helpful. Yes, it’s practical. I’ve got handles I can live my life by throughout the week. But my my heart is, don’t just take a Sunday and give it to God, but give God every day of your life. Rich Birch — So good.Jeremy Baker — You know, sometimes we just turn the surrender switch on on Sunday, not realizing the surrender switch needs to be on every day of the week.Rich Birch — Amen. So true.Jeremy Baker — So I’ve got to turn that surrender switch on every day. And just like you a natural thought when you turn the light switch on when you’re in the room, you turn it off when you leave the room. Well, a lot of people look at church that way. I’m going to turn my surrender switch on today. It’s Sunday. I’m going to go to God’s house. And then on when they leave Sunday, they leave away the property. They pull away. The surrender switch turns off. And I think that’s where the consumer mindset, especially in the Western part of the country… Rich Birch — Sure. Jeremy Baker — …you know, we have gotten, you know, we’re, we’re inundated with consumerism. Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — And so, and so how, do how do we help people really become disciples of of Christ? So the second part of our mission statement is making disciples that follow Jesus. So the goal is making heaven more crowded, but making disciples that follow Jesus.Rich Birch — So good. That’s great. Let’s talk about a bit like up the funnel a little bit, like at the top end, where, how are people learning about Elevate Life? You talked about when you launched, you did a bunch of marketing stuff. Has that continued to happen? Is this just like, you’re really good at Facebook ads? Help me understand. What does that look like? How, why is the church growing?Jeremy Baker — Yeah, great question. I personally, I will never do an ad in a mailbox again. That was $25,000 that I think one person showed up, and then we had a bunch of them ripped up and mailed back to us and told us to never mail them and again. It’s the funniest story.Rich Birch — Wow. Yes.Jeremy Baker — Yeah, so it’s it’s all good. It’s it’s it’s this is not the South. I’m a Texas guy, and I’m living in the New England region, and it’s it’s night and day, you know.Rich Birch — Yes. Yes.Jeremy Baker — So what we have done really well at, I believe, causes some of the growth to happen is two things, is every week we’re encouraging people to invite somebody. That is a part of our culture. Invite culture. Who you bringing? Who do you know that’s far from God that needs the Lord right now? Who do you know that’s far from Him that you know that that you could bring?Jeremy Baker — So then the second thing is we’re doing really good social media ads. We’re spending about $1,500 a month on social media ads. And our team has done a phenomenal job. And all my team is 19, 20, 21, and 22-year-old young men and women that are running all of my social media.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s great.Jeremy Baker — I’m 50. I want to act like I’m current. But I’m not. You know, there’s things I don’t, I’m not adverse in. There’s things that are constantly changing with technology.Rich Birch — Sure. Yeah, sure.Jeremy Baker — And and and I just got to trust this younger generation.Rich Birch — Yep.Jeremy Baker — And they have done a phenomenal job.Rich Birch — Yeah.Jeremy Baker — That’s been one of our huge success for us to put us on the map in this region, to put us, make us aware.Rich Birch — Let’s pull it, but pull apart both of those. When you say you’re encouraging people every week, so you’re like ringing the bell that I want to hear churches to hear more of. You’re inviting people every week to invite their friends. Give us a sense. What does that look like? How are you doing that every single week? What’s that look like?Jeremy Baker — Yeah, so part of that is in our services. It’s in language. Rich Birch — Yep. Jeremy Baker — You know, we always say, you know thank you for being here this morning. We pray that you have brought somebody with you. And then at the end of our service, we’re saying, hey, don’t forget to invite somebody back next week. So we’re always saying that in our language. So it’s become part of our our culture. It’s become part of of who we are as a church. We are a bringer church. We are an inviting church. We are a reach the lost church. We are the great commission. Because the goal for us is not just giving information, but we’re hoping that the people will receive the information that causes some type of revelation in their own spirit that leads them to the Great Commission. Rich Birch — That’s good.Jeremy Baker — Because we want them to be a part of what Jesus said. He you know he said in in Matthew 10, he goes, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. You know. Pray to the Lord of the harvest that he would send more laborers. So we are we are Ephesians 4, equipping the church to do the work of the ministry. We are we have to encourage people to build the local community of the church, the local house of God. And so that’s part of our language in our hallways. We have really practical things. We have invite card stands everywhere. Invite card stands everywhere. So simple. We have QR codes. You can scan. You can download all kinds of invite information. Rich Birch — Yeah.Jeremy Baker — You can invite our service times. So really practical steps like that have really helped us. And then in our life groups, it’s in it’s being said. In our midweek services, it’s being said. We do eight services a week. So that’s what we’re doing right now, eight services a week. And and and so in every service, it’s just been indoctrinated. Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — It’s been just repetition, you know, over and over and over. Rich Birch — Yep. Jeremy Baker — And then And I think that’s a big part of why God’s allowed us to… Honestly, I don’t know church any other way. Rich Birch — Right. Sure.Jeremy Baker — I personally don’t know church any other way. I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer.Rich Birch — I don’t know about that.Jeremy Baker — I’m just I know I’m just appreciate the love. I mean I I’m a guy who barely graduated from seminary. I barely graduated, you know. I was like everybody looked at me, all the professors, like, oh, man. I hope you make it. You know, it’s like, it’s like one of those guys, it’s like, I just, I just love people well. And I want people to know Jesus. I mean, Jesus changed my life. I mean, he changed my life. He, he did something in me that no one ever has ever done or no one could ever do. And my life is I’m indebted to him.Jeremy Baker — I’m I’m living my whole life for him. That’s why 30 years of working through whatever I’ve got to work through in ministry and working through stuff as a as a young man, now as an older man. I’ve just stayed the course, stayed faithful. Not perfect, but stayed faithful, step moving forward every season of my life. And so I just love people well, and I think people hear the heart of that through our pastoral team, through our elders. Rich Birch — Sure. Jeremy Baker — They hear the heart of loving people well, that we want people to find Christ. So that’s the language I think helped us in this last season, you know, really in this last season, really grow. A year ago, a year ago, this time, we only ran, not not only, it’s great, but we were around about 900 people a year ago.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s crazy.Jeremy Baker — And then it’s last year, we’ve exploded.Rich Birch — Yep.Jeremy Baker — We’ve doubled our church.Rich Birch — Yeah.Jeremy Baker — I mean, we’ve doubled. I mean, we we we have no more parking. I mean, we we we have 345 parking spots. And then two out of the five weekend experiences, because we do other services throughout the week, two out of the five weekend experiences, we have to turn people away, which just breaks my heart as a pastor because it’s like…Rich Birch — Right. Yeah. Yes.Jeremy Baker — …we can’t build fast enough. We’re looking for bigger venues. Again, I could go on that, but we want to make more room. We want people to find hope. It was never about being big. I told a pastor locally, I said, and he was he was coming here to, you know, just to encourage us to keep going, which was very kind of him. But I said, pastor, it was never about being big. It’s always been about reaching the lost.Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s great.Jeremy Baker — It’s always been about reaching the lost.Rich Birch — Yeah.Jeremy Baker — So I don’t know if that makes any sense.Rich Birch — It does. It does. There’s a lot there that you, that I, you know, I, I, I didn’t want to interrupt because there’s so much packed in there that I think was so helpful for people. And, you know, that singular focus on, Hey, we’re trying to reach people. I want to come back to that in um in a minute. I want you to kind of speak to, leaders on that. Rich Birch — But I want to underline one of the, it’s a simple thing that um we miss in too many churches. And I’ve done a bunch of study on invite culture and you’re doing classically, you’re doing the best behavior classically. You’ve got to keep invite in front of people. We can’t, you can’t let up the gas pedal on that one. You’ve got to keep that in front of people, make it super practical, give them tools, all that like invite card stuff, all of that super important.Rich Birch — Years ago, I was talking to a lead pastor of a church that was growing very rapidly. And this wasn’t on a podcast. We were talking sidebar and I was like, Hey, asked a very similar question. What’s God using? And he’s like, Oh, it’s a little embarrassing. I don’t want to say it. And I’m like, no, no, tell me, what do you think he’s using? And he said, well, every weekend for this last year, We put invite cards on every single chair in every auditorium for the entire year. And we told people, take those and invite people. And he’s like, I really think that that is like just the intensity…Jeremy Baker — That’s it.Rich Birch — …of we’re keeping it in front of people. We can’t let up. So I want to I want to encourage you and that and listeners. Jeremy Baker — Thank you. Rich Birch — Hey, friends, that is that is a key part of this. Talk to us about the the focus on reaching the lost or reaching people who are far from God or unchurched people. Talk talk us through that. Rich Birch — Because what what’s happening at your church, I know we’ve kind of we’ve referenced this a few times, is super unique in in, you know, New England. What would be some of the challenges that you’re facing to keeping that singular focus of reaching unchurched people, people far from God? What’s been the challenge there and how are you having to adjust and kind of keep your culture focused on that as you continue to grow?Jeremy Baker — Such a great question. I mean, such a great question. I would, man, you’re such a great question asker, if I could say it that way.Rich Birch — Oh, that’s nice. Thank you.Jeremy Baker — Yeah I mean, a great question.Rich Birch — Sure.Jeremy Baker — I would think for me, for me, I got into ministry so that people’s lives could be changed by the good news. There’s no other way there’s no other reason why I’m in ministry. I’m here because I want people’s lives to be changed the way my life has been changed. So the the thing I’m always projecting from the the the the platform that I get to walk in, the the place that I get to stand, is it’s got to be about people. That’s why Christ came. He came and he and he died on a cross so that people would find eternal life, so that people would find hope.Jeremy Baker — And so we’re always pushing that agenda from the front. And, you know, whatever said from the platform stage, whatever you want to, however you want to articulate it, is is is is being pushed for a reason, I believe. So we’re constantly pushing this from the stage. We’ve got to reach people. People are dying and going to hell every day. And this is where I think the church sometimes trips. We got enough people now. So now let’s get let’s let’s stop making it about people and let’s start making it about preferences. Rich Birch — Come on.Jeremy Baker — And I think that’s the danger that’s the danger where guys like me can, you know, I was just having an elder meeting a few days ago, and I andI was telling our elders, because now we’ve got to implement some other pathways of discipleship, some other handles to help people grow and mature faster. And I said, you can’t push maturity. Maturity takes time.Jeremy Baker — If we’re not careful, we’ll we’ll lose the vision of what got us here. And then what happens is we’ll become inward focus rather than outward focus. said, I’ve seen it, guys. And I was talking to my elders. and I was just opening up my heart to them. I said, I’ve seen us do this. I’ve been a part of big churches where now it’s about the building. It’s about the butts.Rich Birch — So true.Jeremy Baker — It’s about the budgets. It’s about, you know, I’ve seen that. And I’m like, let us never lose the very thing that God’s allowed us to be a part of in in this season. Rich Birch — Yep, so true.Jeremy Baker — I never woke up one day and said, hey, let’s go and have one the fastest growing churches in America in the New England region. I woke up one day said, God, I’m comfortable. And I don’t want to be comfortable anymore. Rich Birch — So good. Jeremy Baker — I want you to use my life for the rest of my life until I see you to bring an impact in this region, whatever region that you send me. He sent us to the Northeast. Rich Birch — Yep.Jeremy Baker — He sent us back home to where my wife was from. And so that’s our prayer. And I want to keep the main thing the main thing. I don’t want to drift because there is a difference between, there is a difference between preferences and then and then purpose, you know. The purpose of Elevate is to make heaven more crowded. The purpose of Elevate is to make disciples that follow Jesus. The purpose is to reach our community, to make an impact. But but if you’re not careful, you’ll you’ll get you’ll get satisfied with the people. You’ll settle. You’ll get complacent. We got enough people now.Jeremy Baker — But what if but what if God really wants to change? What if God, this is my question I’ve been wrestling with, and maybe maybe you have answers for me, but I’ve been wrestling with this question in my own spirit. Like, is it possible that one church could really change a community? Is it possible that one church could, God could use a church, a group of people. Not not I’m not talking I’m not talking about domination. I’m talking about just a group of people that are passionate about making heaven more crowded, that God could use a group of people that would change the facet of a community. Rich Birch — So good.Jeremy Baker — You know? That would that that that’s the that’s the thing I’ve been wrestling with. Can God use Elevate Life in this region? What if God wants to use us to help Yale? What if God wants us to use us to, you know, to to to get on college campuses and see a revival, you know, at Yale University?Rich Birch — So good.Jeremy Baker — You know, and I mean, that’s an Ivy League school. Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — I mean, people from all over the world go to that school. And we haven’t even, I feel like, scratched the surface. So that’s part of my my always, I got to keep the main thing the main thing. It’s got to be about people. So one of our values is, people is our pursuit. That’s what we’re, we’re pursuing people.Rich Birch — That’s so good.Jeremy Baker — And not programs, not not preferences. I got preferences. I mean, I’m sure we all got preferences. Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — But I’m putting down my preference so that I can carry the purpose of the good news. I hope that makes sense.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so good. Makes total sense. And yeah, super encouraging. And yeah, I think I think God’s placed your church in a, you know, every community across the country is an important place. There’s people all over the world that need Jesus, obviously, but I i don’t think you’re, I think it doesn’t, it’s not surprising to me that the Northeast is a place that is, some call it a spiritually dead or spiritually dry part of the country, while at the same time, it is of global significance in a lot of different ways. Like the the communities that you’re serving are are different than other parts of the kind country from an influence point of view. You place like Yale, it’s not just another university.Jeremy Baker — Yeah.Rich Birch — You know. And so I think God’s placed you there for a real specific reason, which I think is you know, super encouraging. Well, this has been a a great conversation, Jeremy. I just want to encourage you, thankful that you would come on today and help us kind of peek behind the curtain a little bit. As we land today’s episode, any kind of final words you give to church leaders that are listening in to today’s conversation?Jeremy Baker — You know, the only thing I would encourage church leaders is my my my thing I always tell pastors and and people that I am connected with always is just make it about people. Make it about people. And I’ll say it this way. It’s not problems to be solved. It’s people to be pastored. It’s not problems to be solved. It’s people to be pastored. Sometimes pastors, and I get it because I’m talking to myself, sometimes we make people the problem, and the people are not the problem. The people are the purpose of why we do the pastoring. That’s why we do what we do. That’s why we do shepherding. Jeremy Baker — So, you know, when you’re dealing with when you’re dealing with people, it’s messy. It can be hurtful. There’s there’s different things that come with that, and we could list a thousand things in that. But I would just say, just love people well to the best of your ability. Give them grace. Give them mercy. Jeremy Baker — If they leave your church and they go somewhere else, just let them know the key under the mat. We’re on the same team. We’re part of the same family. We’re all going to go to heaven to we know one day. It’s not about who’s got the bigger church or who’s better? Who’s got the better kids program or who’s got ah the more youth? It’s not about any of that. It’s about just trusting God with what he’s given us stewardship over and in stewarding that really well and just loving the people that God brings.Rich Birch — Yeah, so good. Pastor Jeremy, appreciate you being on today.Jeremy Baker — Thank you.Rich Birch — If people want to track with you or with the church, where do we want to send them online to connect with you guys and kind of follow your story a little bit? I would encourage people to follow your Instagram. So where can we find that and your website and all that? Jeremy Baker — Yeah, so our website is elevatelifect.com, elevatelifect.com, and that would be the same for our Instagram. And so thank you so much for having me. ‘m very grateful, and thank you for your time.Rich Birch — Thanks so much. Take care.

Like David, we are greatly outmatched!

In this episode of Side Notes, Pastor Josh and Adam take a deeper look at David's love for God's Word in Psalm 119 and what it means to truly cherish Scripture. They explore how engaging the Bible helps us know God more personally, along with the beauty of worship, stillness, and responding to God in different ways.

In 1 Samuel 21:8–9, David is given the sword of Goliath and declares, “There is none like it. Give it to me.” It was a weapon already proven by victory, stained with defeat, and feared by the enemy.That's how the Word of God is. The Bible is living, incorruptible, and fully inspired. It is not untested or outdated. It is powerful, proven, and still effective today. Jesus is the Word made flesh, and Scripture is inseparable from Him. When the Bible speaks, God speaks.In this message, you'll learn:•  Why the Word of God is proven and powerful•  How Scripture and Jesus are inseparable•  Why the enemy fears a believer who knows the WordIf you need direction, strength, or a word from God, open your Bible. He is speaking.Like David, we come and declare, There is none like it. Give it to me.

Dealing with Depression: Finding Hope and Victory in the God of All Comfort    Depression is a profound heaviness of soul that the Scriptures describe with raw honesty. The Bible does not employ our modern clinical term, but it portrays the experience vividly: the spirit overwhelmed, the heart cast down, the bones troubled, the soul in despair, even the wish that life would end. Yet the same Word that records this darkness repeatedly declares that God draws near to the brokenhearted, that He is the lifter of the head, that His comfort abounds in affliction, and that joy comes in the morning. Throughout Scripture we see God's choicest servants pass through seasons of deep discouragement. Their stories are recorded not to magnify their weakness but to display God's faithfulness in the lowest places. By examining these lives, and by listening carefully to the voice of God in His Word, we discover divine principles for enduring and overcoming depression from a thoroughly biblical standpoint. I. Elijah: Despair After Victory The prophet Elijah stands as one of the clearest examples. In 1 Kings 18 he experienced one of the greatest public triumphs in redemptive history—fire falling from heaven on Mount Carmel, the prophets of Baal defeated, the people confessing that the Lord is God, and rain ending a three-and-a-half-year drought. Yet in chapter 19, a single threat from Jezebel sends him fleeing in fear and exhaustion. Hear the Word of the Lord in 1 Kings 19:3-4 (KJV): “And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” Elijah, the man who had just called down fire, now prays for death. He feels his labor has been in vain, that he is no better than his fathers, that everything is “enough.” This is the language of depression: exhaustion, hopelessness, isolation, and suicidal ideation. But observe God's tender response. Verses 5-8: “And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.” God does not begin with rebuke. He begins with physical care—sleep, food, water—twice. The angel acknowledges the reality of Elijah's limitation: “the journey is too great for thee.” God remembers that we are dust (Psalm 103:14). When Elijah reaches Horeb, he repeats his complaint in verses 9-10: “And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” Depression distorts perspective. Elijah believes he is utterly alone. God gently corrects him in verse 18: “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” Then God gives Elijah new work and a successor. God meets Elijah in his depression with physical provision, truthful perspective, renewed purpose, and the quiet whisper of His presence (verses 11-13). II. Job: Prolonged Suffering and Overwhelming Grief Few stories portray sustained depression more graphically than Job's. A righteous man suddenly stripped of wealth, children, and health, Job sits in ashes, scraping his sores, wishing he had never been born. Job 3:1-3, 11-13, 20-26 (KJV): “After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. And Job spake, and said, Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived… Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck? For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest… Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures; Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave? Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in? For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters. For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I am not at ease, neither am I quiet, neither have I rest; but trouble cometh.” Job's anguish is physical, emotional, and spiritual. He cannot eat without sighing; anxiety and dread consume him. His friends' misguided counsel only deepens the wound. Yet through forty-two chapters God allows Job to pour out every complaint. God does not silence him. Finally, in chapters 38–41, the Lord speaks—not with easy answers, but with a revelation of His sovereign wisdom and power. Job's response in 42:5-6: “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Seeing God afresh brings repentance, humility, and eventual restoration. Job's depression lifts not when circumstances immediately improve, but when he encounters the majesty and goodness of God in a deeper way. III. David: The Psalms of the Cast-Down Soul No biblical figure gives us more transparent language for depression than David. The Psalms are filled with his cries from the depths. Psalm 42:1-11 (KJV): “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Notice David's pattern: honest lament (“my tears have been my meat,” “all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me”), self-exhortation (“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? … hope thou in God”), remembrance of God's past faithfulness, and confident expectation of future praise. Psalm 43 continues the same theme, ending with the identical refrain. Psalm 77 shows Asaph following the same path—remembering God's mighty deeds until hope revives. Psalm 88 is perhaps the darkest psalm, ending without explicit resolution on earth, yet still addressed to “LORD God of my salvation.” Even unresolved sorrow is brought to God. IV. Jeremiah: The Weeping Prophet Jeremiah's ministry spanned decades of rejection and judgment upon Judah. He is called “the weeping prophet” for good reason. Lamentations 3:1-20 (selected verses, KJV): “I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light… He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy. Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer… He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood… And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity. And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD: Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.” Jeremiah feels God has become his enemy, that prayer is blocked, that hope has perished. Yet in the very center of Lamentations comes one of the most hope-filled passages in Scripture, verses 21-26: “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” Jeremiah preaches to himself the truth of God's character. Remembering God's steadfast love and faithfulness becomes the turning point. V. Other Examples: Moses, Hannah, Jonah, Paul Moses, burdened with leading a complaining people, cries in Numbers 11:11-15 (KJV): “And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? … I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.” God responds by sharing the burden with seventy elders and providing meat—practical help and companionship. Hannah, barren and provoked, is “in bitterness of soul” (1 Samuel 1:10). She pours out her soul before the Lord, and though her circumstances do not change immediately, “her countenance was no more sad” (1:18) after entrusting her grief to God. Jonah, angry at God's mercy to Nineveh, prays in Jonah 4:3 (KJV): “Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.” God patiently teaches him through a plant, a worm, and a wind. Even the apostle Paul knew despair. In 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 (KJV): “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.” Paul's despair drove him deeper into dependence upon the God who raises the dead. VI. The Lord Jesus: Sorrow Without Sin Our Savior Himself entered into sorrow. In Gethsemane, Matthew 26:38 (KJV): “Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.” He sweat as it were great drops of blood (Luke 22:44). Yet He submitted: “not my will, but thine, be done.” Hebrews 5:7 speaks of His “strong crying and tears.” Christ identifies with our weakness and intercedes for us as One touched with the feeling of our infirmities (Hebrews 4:15). VII. God's Promises of Comfort and Deliverance The Scriptures abound with assurances: Psalm 34:17-19 (KJV): “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” Isaiah 41:10 (KJV): “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (KJV): “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” Psalm 30:5 (KJV): “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” VIII. How Believers Today Can Deal with Depression and Gain Victory from a Biblical Standpoint The examples and promises above yield clear, scriptural pathways for fighting depression today: Bring every feeling honestly before God. The Psalms model unfiltered lament. Do not hide your despair; pour it out. God invites it and can handle it. Preach truth to yourself. Like David and Jeremiah, recall God's character, past faithfulness, and unchanging promises. Speak Scripture aloud when feelings contradict truth. Care for the body God gave you. Elijah's story reminds us that exhaustion, hunger, and isolation exacerbate depression. Sleep, nourishment, exercise, and medical care when needed are acts of stewardship, not lack of faith. Seek godly community. Elijah felt alone, but was not. Isolation feeds depression; fellowship counters it. Confess faults, bear burdens, receive prayer (James 5:16; Galatians 6:2). Fix your eyes on Christ. He endured the cross for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2). Our light affliction works an eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). The gospel assures us that nothing can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:38-39). Wait upon the Lord with hope. Seasons of darkness do not last forever. “They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). Victory is not always immediate deliverance from the feeling of depression, but it is certain triumph through union with Christ. Even if the night lingers, the Morning Star has risen in our hearts (2 Peter 1:19). One day He will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4). Until then, we walk by faith, anchored in the God who has never forsaken His own. The same God who sustained Elijah under the juniper tree, lifted Job from the ash heap, turned David's mourning into dancing, and carried Jeremiah through the furnace is your God. He is faithful. Hope in Him, and you shall yet praise Him, who is the health of your countenance and your God.

Like David in the wilderness, fasting awakens us spiritually, where our hunger becomes a place of fulfillment. // A message by Chris Hyatt.

Like David, we all have giants we face in life—it could be depression, marital problems, or financial issues. But the good news is no giant is too big for our God. In this powerful and timely message, Pastor Greg Laurie equips each one of us to face our personal giants with Him in the new year. Spiritual momentum is building! Help us continue to meet this unique moment by supporting our evangelistic efforts in 2026—give before the year ends! — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like David, we all have giants we face in life—it could be depression, marital problems, or financial issues. But the good news is no giant is too big for our God. In this powerful and timely message, Pastor Greg Laurie equips each one of us to face our personal giants with Him in the new year. Spiritual momentum is building! Help us continue to meet this unique moment by supporting our evangelistic efforts in 2026—give before the year ends! — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most of us don't realize the weight of what we're carrying. Like David, we're often living inside a story bigger than we can see—faithfully holding responsibilities, wounds, and callings without knowing how God might use them. Long before the crown, David learned dependence as a shepherd, repentance as a worshiper, and courage as an overlooked fighter. His life reveals that God's promise doesn't move through perfection or control, but through hearts that return to Him and trust Him fully. David's story ultimately points beyond himself to Jesus—the greater Shepherd who carries the wounded, the better King who restores broken hearts, and the true Victor who fights the battle we could never win. Tune in as we discover what David carried, what Jesus has already accomplished, and how surrendering what's in our hands places us inside God's unfolding story of redemption and hope.

Authority must be used to fight, not passively tolerate defeat. Authority advances, not retreat. Like David, go toward your enemy bold & focused.

Big Idea:Responsibility is not a burden God puts on you—it is a gift He puts in you that produces joy when you live it out.The angels announced the birth of Jesus not to kings or crowds, but to shepherds quietly doing their jobs in the fields. They weren't chasing excitement. They weren't escaping responsibility. They were being faithful—and that's where joy met them.This sermon challenges the idea that joy is found in escape, novelty, or comfort. While culture tells us joy is something we chase, Scripture shows us joy is something we discover when we faithfully steward what God has placed in our hands.Joy is rooted in responsibility, not escape. God often meets His people not when they are running from what He's called them to, but when they are obedient in obscure places. Like David tending sheep before slaying Goliath, or delivering bread before winning battles, joy is often hidden behind the responsibilities we'd rather avoid.Responsibility gives life meaning. When we trade faithfulness for distraction, we lose joy. But when we commit to showing up—in our homes, our work, our relationships, our church—we find that joy emerges in the ordinary.Advent reminds us that joy came to a manger, not a palace. To the faithful, not the famous. And that same joy—Jesus Himself—is present with us today in the mundane, the unseen, and the responsibilities God has entrusted to us.Joy is found when we show up.Joy is found in obedience.Joy is found in Jesus.

“Dad, can you get me some water?” my youngest daughter asked. “Sure,” I said, bringing her a full cup. She took it wordlessly. Then my oldest daughter made the same request. She didn’t respond either after I got her some water. Annoyed, I blurted out, “Is anyone going to say, ‘Thank you’? Why is that so hard?” Sometimes there’s nothing like parental frustration to open the door for God to work. Immediately, I felt the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit: Yes, Adam, why is it so hard to say “Thank you”? Busted. Turns out a lack of gratitude isn’t just my kids’ problem; it’s mine, too. I don’t know why saying thank you can be so hard, but it certainly seems to be a part of the human condition. In the psalms, however, we see a model for growing in gratitude. There, David and others often praise God amid myriad trials. And a particular phrase frequently precedes their thanksgiving: “I will.” In Psalm 9:1, David deliberately chooses thankfulness: “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” We might be prone to think of gratitude primarily as a feeling. But David reminds us that it’s also a choice. Like David, as we choose to cultivate a habit of giving thanks, we can gradually grow to recognize and appreciate God’s goodness in every aspect of life.

Pastor Scott wraps up our series in 1 Samuel with chapter 29. Join us in the new year for the conclusion of this book and the start of 2 Samuel!

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that our advancement is in God's timing. Like David, our focus is to be ready for service in whatever role we find ourselves in. To live a Christ centered life is to submit to His agenda, not rushing ahead or comparing ourselves to others.

You have a choice. Repent for REAL Immediately WORSHIP Sever Unhealthy Relationships Endure by Faith To learn more, please visit us at mercyhouse365.org

Pastor Scott shares from 1 Samuel 28.

God's leaders maintain their calling and good influence when acting wisely both during prosperity and persecution before the eyes of their authorities, those they serve, and of God. When Prospering or Persecuted Behave Yourself Wisely.

Today we are sharing a special episode of the new podcast: David Greene Is Obsessed. David is one of America's most familiar voices and longtime co-host of NPR's Morning Edition. On the show, he seeks out obsessives of all kinds, while unpacking his own fixations. You'll hear actor David Arquette discuss his love for Bozo the Clown; Paula Poundstone on her house full of cats; celebrity chef Michael Symon explain why he just can't quit the Cleveland Browns, even though they often make him miserable; and so much more. It's pop psychology disguised as conversations with the world's most fascinating people. In this episode, comedian, actress, and podcast host Tig Notaro explains why she quit eating meat almost a decade ago, and hasn't looked back. Plus, she shares a really good potato recipe.  Listen to David Greene Is Obsessed at https://link.mgln.ai/SYSK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Generation Z faces unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression, and suicide, yet the church often labels them as lost while doing little to reach them. Like David being left in the field while his brothers were presented to Samuel, we've overlooked a generation hungry for God's touch. True leadership begins with leading ourselves authentically before God, then boldly inviting others into relationship with Christ. The church must stop making attendance optional for young people and start seeing them as God sees them - full of potential and ready for His anointing. This generation contains future spiritual giants who simply need someone to tell them about Jesus.

When fear takes over, we instinctively reach for emotional armor to protect ourselves - control, people-pleasing, self-victimization, or withdrawal. Like David removing Saul's ill-fitting armor before facing Goliath, we must recognize that our defensive mechanisms often don't work and leave us exhausted. The armor of control makes us micromanage everything, believing we'll be safe if we stay in charge. People-pleasing armor drives us to keep everyone happy to avoid rejection. Self-victimization armor tears us down before others can. Withdrawal armor keeps us isolated to prevent hurt. Instead of relying on these faulty protections, God calls us to trust His strength and put on His armor of truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and His Word.

In Week 2 of Dependence, Josh brings a deeply personal and powerful word from Psalm 63, preaching from the heart of the wilderness; both David's and our own. In this raw and honest message, we discover how the wilderness seasons of life, though painful and disorienting, are not punishment; they are a severe mercy. Like David, we find that spiritual hunger is born in dry places, and that beholding God in the midst of suffering brings true satisfaction. Josh reminds us that the wilderness is not the end of the story, it's where God forms us, feeds us, and calls us to deeper intimacy with Him. If you're walking through a hard season, this message is for you. The wilderness is where dependence begins.

In this episode of She Lives Purposefully, I'm opening up about a season that's very real for me right now — a season of waiting, uncertainty, and trusting God when I don't know what's next. As we welcome a new baby and care for our little one, I've found myself returning to these unshakable truths: Seek God first. Before the blessing, before the next step — seek Him. (Matthew 6:33) Stay in His Word. God's Word lights the path one step at a time. (Psalm 119:105) Pray and listen. He wants to guide you. (Isaiah 30:21, Psalm 32:8, Proverbs 3:5-6) Seek wise counsel. There's safety in godly advice. (Proverbs 15:22) Do the next right thing. Like David and Joseph, obedience in the small things leads to God's greater plans. Trust His timing. Just like in Esther's story, God's timing is never off. Whether you're praying about your next move, waiting for a promise, or simply unsure what God wants from you — this episode will encourage you to seek His presence more than His plans, to trust His heart even when you can't see the full picture, and to rest knowing He's leading the way. LINKS: Shop 20% off Carly Jean Los Angeles using code MEGAN20 - only until November 17: https://www.carlyjeanlosangeles.com Shop 10% off Daily Grace Co. using code MEGANHOLMES10: https://tinyurl.com/2m7fxh86 Start my FREE Esther Digital Bible Study: https://tinyurl.com/25xzbde4 Christmas Gift Guide: https://tinyurl.com/3c7mw3am #ChristianPodcast #Faith #GodsTiming #TrustGod #WaitingSeason #ChristianEncouragement #SheLivesPurposefully #BibleStudy #ChristianWoman #FaithPodcast #Purpose #GodsPlan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cotton, Cameos, and Cashmere: The Accessories of Revolutionary Style. The Graces made cotton, previously worn by lower classes, the most fashionable and revolutionary fabric, often importing high-quality white muslin from India. Painters like David were fascinated by how the thin fabric revealed women's bodies, making the women appear artful and allowing them to move freely. When big skirts disappeared, the need to carry belongings led to the invention of the handbag as we know it, which instantly became the "it accessory." Other vital accessories included flat laced shoes and cashmere shawls. The long, rectangular cashmere shawls, first sent by Napoleon from Cairo to Josephine, were draped seductively around the slim dresses, becoming highly desirable for decades. Josephine (Rose) also invented the tiara by adapting Italian cameos to headbands. Juliet's rigorous all-white look became a powerful rallying symbol for the purity of revolutionary principles. 1805 Josephine

Suppressing emotions is at the heart of what drives people to escape reality - we call this fantasy...What if you could face reality with your Saviour? What if you had a grasp on your internal battles and let God fight for you?One of the greatest weapons against suppression is journalling. And one of the greatest weapons against distance from God is a heart that wants to be known This episode was inspired by a group call Shawn did where he had 15 men write their own psalm of lament... 4 Steps to writing a psalm:- Questioning- Complaint- Petition for Help- Statement of Confidence To learn more about Shawns porn recovery coaching, hop on this free MasterClassHelena was also moved by journalling in her journey. As a mom, a betrayed partner, one who went through pain and loss, this method of therapy was HUGE for her.In this episode, you'll learn about- How journalling helped us quit addiction, grow closer and move into new season- How to read the psalms - Vulnerability and trust- Why men are desperate for expression and safetyIf you're looking to get free from porn, its not a secret how to do that in the next 90 days. We have a very clear system and our new Inner Circle Brotherhood is only $2 a dayJoin Inner Circle

Join us for this week's sermon!Whether you're seeking hope, direction, or a deeper connection with God, this message is for you. Each week, we open God's Word together to find truth, encouragement, and strength for the journey.

Prophet Sally Goodwin from GPA South Africa joins Emma Stark and Louise Reid to tell the astonishing story of a “church without walls” where extravagant worship is rewriting what gathering can look like. No band — just a boombox, radical praise, and a room where people are delivered and healed as Jesus takes His rightful place.They discuss:How worship breaks the spirit of religion and heals traumaWhy “Jesus is dangerous” is good news for the ChurchWhat happens when we stop performing and start magnifying the KingThe power of movement and corporate unity in songWhy sacrifice and presence can't be separated (lessons from David and the Ark)Healing testimonies include Crohn's, Parkinson's, blind eyes opened, and deliverance through worship alone. If you're hungry to see religion shattered and Jesus enthroned again, this episode will ignite you.

Fighting Like David // Crown Of Contradictions // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast

Host Brian Luce sits down with David Eigenberg to talk about his unexpected path to playing Christopher Herrmann, the behind-the-scenes camaraderie on Chicago Fire, and the time he singed his eyebrows on set. The episode also features the LeFevours, the legendary father-son stunt team, who share how they pull off some of the most unforgettable stunts on Chicago Fire and Chicago Med.

What kind of David are you– one whose enthusiasm fades with circumstances, or one who stays joyful in the midst of them? In his sermon Enthusiasm, guest speaker Pastor Samuel De Sousa Jr. reminds us that true enthusiasm– éntheos— doesn't come from what's around us, but from who is within us. Like David, we're called to trust, worship, and walk with God daily. “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want…. He restores my soul.”  Stay rooted in His presence and let your enthusiasm overflow. Press play now!

Dance Like David - Black Voices Movement (BEAT IT - MICHAEL JACKSON REMIX) Mixed by @jkdthedj by JKD

Psalm 51 is widely known as the psalm in which David confesses his sins related to Bathsheba and her husband. But in this week's message, Pastor Bryan takes us through Psalm 32, revealing a look into David's heart in the year before he actually confessed. Like David, we sometimes have a tendency to be slow in confessing our sins, mistakenly believing that in these moments we should keep a safe distance from God. The truth, however, is that God is a safe place for us precisely because our sins have been covered by the blood of Jesus.

Lesley and Brad reflect on their conversation with author and podcast host Wendy Valentine, whose story of rebuilding after divorce and debt inspires bold self-discovery. In this recap, they unpack her perspective on authenticity, why growth requires discomfort, and how carving away what isn't you can reveal your true self. Plus, they connect Wendy's wisdom to practical ways you can face fear and step into the life you really want.If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co mailto:beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/#follow-subscribe-free.In this episode you will learn about:Why letting go of what doesn't belong reveals your authentic self.How your comfort zones keep you stuck in fear and familiarity.Why courage grows only when you take action.How to reframe your fear as a signal for possibility.Episode References/Links:P.O.T. Chicago 2025 - https://pilates.com/pilates-on-tour-chicagolandCambodia October 2025 Retreat Waitlist - https://crowsnestretreats.comWinter Tour Waitlist - https://opc.me/eventsPilates Journal Expo - https://www.pilatesjournalexpo.com/los-angeles-pilates-expoContrology Pilates Conference - https://www.korneliamulak.com/contrology-pilates-conferenceSubmit your wins or questions - https://beitpod.com/questionsThe Midlife Makeover Show - https://wendyvalentine.com/podcastBook: Women Waking Up by Wendy Valentine - https://wendyvalentine.com/womenwakingupEp. 316: Jessica Papineau - https://beitpod.com/jessicapapineauEp. 400: Gay Hendricks - https://beitpod.com/gayhendricksPilates Journal Expo - https://www.pilatesjournalexpo.com/los-angeles-pilates-expo12 If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. https://lovethepodcast.com/BITYSIDEALS! DEALS! DEALS! DEALS! https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentCheck out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentBe in the know with all the workshops at OPC https://workshops.onlinepilatesclasses.com/lp-workshop-waitlistBe It Till You See It Podcast Survey https://pod.lesleylogan.co/be-it-podcasts-surveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates Mentorship https://lesleylogan.co/elevate/FREE Ditching Busy Webinar https://ditchingbusy.com/Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gLesley Logan website https://lesleylogan.co/Be It Till You See It Podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjogqXLnfyhS5VlU4rdzlnQProfitable Pilates https://profitablepilates.com/about/Follow Us on Social Media:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lesley.logan/The Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gFacebook https://www.facebook.com/llogan.pilatesLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-logan/The OPC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@OnlinePilatesClasses Episode Transcript:Lesley Logan 0:00  We all have a little bit of fear when we step outside our comfort zone, but you got to do it if you want to have the life that you want to have. It just doesn't happen in the way. If it was going to happen in the life you're having now, you'd have it already. Lesley Logan 0:13  Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 0:55  Welcome back to the Be It Till You See It interview recap.Brad Crowell 1:02  I feel caught any of the shit talking that happened before we started. No, you don't even know. You don't even know. Take it away. Lesley Logan 1:12  Brad am I just gonna keep going. I'll just keep going. Brad and I are going to dig into the refreshingly genuine convo I had with Wendy Valentine in our last episode. If you haven't yet listened to that interview, feel free to pause this now and go back and listen to that one, then come back and join us. You can listen to it twice if you're like Brad, maybe remember, just saying, love you so much. Lesley Logan 1:35  So today is September 25th 2025 and it is One-Hit Wonder Day. One-Hit Wonder Day takes place every year on September 25th.Brad Crowell 1:48  Yeah, I put that stuff in there just so that you have to repeat literally the same.Lesley Logan 1:52  Well, sometimes it's every third Thursday, so it's not exactly the same but, but the day is the perfect excuse to listen to songs that have been in your head since they first aired. So that doesn't make sense. If it's a one-hit wonder, it should just be the day to be honoring other one-hit wonder they flubbed it anyways. I think you should go listen to only one-hit wonders, and I have some good ones for you. So buckle up and get ready to remember all the artists whose names have have been lost to time, but whose works have stayed behind in our minds and hearts. Here's everything you need to know about one-hit wonders and the people who made them. Brad has a list.Brad Crowell 2:26  Well, I don't have a list of everything you need to know about them, but I do have a list of one-hit wonders. So (inaudible) I'm just gonna pick one from each decade. Lesley Logan 2:35  Okay, that's fine. But then can I share my favorite one-hit wonder of the 90s?Brad Crowell 2:38  Okay, when we get to the 90s. All right, so the 1970s, My Sharona. Lesley Logan 2:46  That was a one hit wonder? Brad Crowell 2:47  By The Knack. Yeah, ever heard of The Knack? Lesley Logan 2:50  No, but I heard My Sharona.Brad Crowell 2:55  Okay, from the 80s, all right, we've got, let's see, this is one of my favorite songs of all times, all time, the times, Take On Me by A-ha. Lesley Logan 3:12  A-ha. Take On Me.Brad Crowell 3:14  Take on me.Lesley Logan 3:15  You don't love that because it's you can't actually, that is hurting people's ears, (inaudible) but that's a hard song to sing. It's kind of like Africa. You can't like you like, A-ha, because it's like, Toto like, it's really hard to sing. Take like, like, he changes.Brad Crowell 3:32  Yes, he does, yes he does. It's a very it's like crazy range. 1990s. Lesley Logan 3:38  Hey. Well, why don't you say, well, let's just see if you picked the one I pick.Brad Crowell 3:41  All right. Well, so there's a bunch. Brad Crowell 3:44  There's so many. (inaudible)Lesley Logan 3:45  It also really spans a whole decade, because, like, one of the songs I was like, that was the 90s, I remember being like, in the sixth grade, and the one I picked, I remember, like, knowing in high school. So anyways, clearly, that's what I did in the 90s, was go to school. What do you got?Brad Crowell 3:58  All right. All right. So obviously, Tubthumping by Chumbawamba.Lesley Logan 4:03  Oh, of course, I wouldn't pick that, but yes, Tubthumping was great. But they're not really a one-hit wonder because they had another hit. Brad Crowell 4:09  No, they didn't. Lesley Logan 4:10  Oh, they didn't? Brad Crowell 4:10  I don't think they had another hit. Lesley Logan 4:11  They had another song that, like, made it to my radio in Lodi. It wasn't as good, you're right. Brad Crowell 4:19  I mean, if they did, oh yeah, you know what, I get knocked down. Lesley Logan 4:25  Yeah, that's not Tubthumping? Brad Crowell 4:27  I think it is Tubthumping. How come it's oh, they released it different titles. Lesley Logan 4:31  Okay. Brad Crowell 4:32  No, I think it's the same. So, yeah, I basically, I think that's their song. Lesley Logan 4:35  Okay, all right. Brad Crowell 4:36  That is the only one that I actually know. Lesley Logan 4:38  Okay, so okay, how do you how are you going to pick between Sex and Candy and Closing Time? Brad Crowell 4:43  Oh, Sex and Candy is great. Lesley Logan 4:45  Because did you even listen to Sex and Candy when you were in the 90s? Brad Crowell 4:47  No, on the school bus. Lesley Logan 4:49  Okay. Brad Crowell 4:49  I love sex and candy. Yeah, so, but, but also, listen like there's so many others. Lesley Logan 4:55  Yeah, it's a lot deeper. Brad Crowell 4:57  How about Macarena?Lesley Logan 4:58  Well, no, can't even start with that one. That's not good. It's gonna get in your head. Brad Crowell 5:02  How about Breakfast at Tiffany's by Deep Blue Something? Lesley Logan 5:05  Is Chumbawamba and Tubthumping the same song or different song?Brad Crowell 5:08  Chumbawamba is the band. Lesley Logan 5:10  Oh, I see, I see, I see. Okay. Brad Crowell 5:11  Yeah. How about Semisonic?Lesley Logan 5:14  Well, yeah, that's exactly what I was saying. Closing Time. That's the best song. Brad Crowell 5:19  It's a great song. Lesley Logan 5:20  Did you know? And I think Bitter Sweet Symphony was a one-hit because they, I think they got in trouble with the music. Brad Crowell 5:25  Oh yeah, yeah. Lesley Logan 5:26  Which is such a bummer, because it's such a good song. Brad Crowell 5:28  Um, okay, 2000s. Lesley Logan 5:30  Oh yeah, I guess we have to get out of the 90s. Brad Crowell 5:31  We're moving on. 2000s, there's a couple, but I think my famous, my favorite.Lesley Logan 5:38  Hold on, I have to go back. Save Tonight. That's another one-hit wonder. Brad Crowell 5:43  Yeah. Eagle-Eye Cherry, I would never have been able to tell you the name of the band.Lesley Logan 5:48  Yeah. Okay. Anyways, go ahead. 2000 Brad Crowell 5:49  All right. 2000s. Lesley Logan 5:50  A great time for fashion. Brad Crowell 5:52  Yeah. Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus. Lesley Logan 5:56  Oh, that. I need. Brad Crowell 5:57  I'm just a teenage dirtbag baby.Lesley Logan 6:00  Dirt bag, baby. Oh, my god.Brad Crowell 6:03  Or Somebody That I Used to Know by Gautier. Lesley Logan 6:07  Oh, yeah. Brad Crowell 6:08  You're just somebody that I used to know. Gnarls Barkley, I don't know if he's really a one-hit wonder, because he has a career and but, but he's also part of another group, all the things.Lesley Logan 6:20  Is this I Wasn't Me? Brad Crowell 6:21  No, crazy.Lesley Logan 6:23  Oh, okay, but isn't he the same person who Wasn't Me? Brad Crowell 6:26  Wasn't me. I don't think so. Lesley Logan 6:29  Okay, this is exactly what people want to hear. They're yelling at us in their videos. I want you, if you're yelling at as right now, tell us who.Lesley Logan 6:36  2010's Psy. Lesley Logan 6:38  Psy. Brad Crowell 6:39  Yeah. Gangnam Style.Lesley Logan 6:41  Oh, that. That's an annoying that's like the Macarena. It makes me mad.Brad Crowell 6:45  I think it became like the most watched YouTube video in history, or something like that. I can't remember. And then here we go. Now we've got other notables. Vanessa Carlton, 1000 Miles. Oh, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The impression I Get, yeah, that's the 90s. 1000 Miles is 2002. Anyway, if you have a favorite one-hit wonder that we did not cover here, you have to make sure you let us know. Lesley Logan 7:18  I guess, when do we find out it's a one-hit wonder? Because, like, is there any one-hit wonders that are recent, you know, or is it like we don't it doesn't happen because, like, the labels don't even make any, you know, risks, take any risks anymore. You know what? I have a one-hit wonder for everyone. It's not happened yet, but I believe in it. There is a great turkey song that you can all go listen to our dear friend, Geoffro. This is going to be a definite one-hit wonder. He is not a one hit wonder. He is a Grammy Award winning writer, but he has a gobble song that we can all, as a Be It group, make a one-hit wonder, if you go to Spotify right now and listen to this. Brad Crowell 8:00  Really hilarious turkey song. Lesley Logan 8:01  Hilarious Thanksgiving song in September.Brad Crowell 8:06  Geoffro is G-E-O-F-F-R-O. If you're really curious about this, ping us and I'll send you a link. So I looked it up at what time after a band is out, do we decide that it's a one-hit wonder band? There's no official rule, but there is an understood 10-year rule. The music industry observers often consider an artist a one-hit wonder if they fail to produce another significant chart topping hit within 10 years of their initial success.Lesley Logan 8:30  10 you've 10 years to have another hit. You guys, did you hear that?Brad Crowell 8:34  Chart-topping. So that's like getting drafted to the NBA twice.Lesley Logan 8:39  Okay. Regardless, uh, that means, everyone, you are allowed to have two amazing goals happen in 10 years and still be considered ridiculously amazing. And so don't like, don't worry about how long the valley is in between, because you too could have another hit. Brad Crowell 8:57  Ain't no valley. Lesley Logan 8:58  Oh, but that's not a one-hit wonder. That, in fact, is a wonderful song, which we're not going to sing right now because we got to move on. Lesley Logan 9:05  You guys, next week we're going to be in Chicago, P.O.T. Chicago at Burr Ridge. We're going to celebrate our 10-year wedding anniversary. I'm gonna teach at Joe gyms, Joe's gyms. You gotta check it out. I don't think there's any spots left, but if, you should always come by.Brad Crowell 9:19  Yeah, come hang at the booth. Just come say hello, you know.Lesley Logan 9:22  I should always just check because sometimes people can't make it and someone's trying to sell a ticket, so go check it out. Also in October, which is next week. So we're gonna go to Cambodia. We're gonna fly from Chicago to Cambodia. Yeah, I'm shipping clothes home. This is not I'm shipping clothes to somewhere, and I don't even understand the weather that we are doing in this world. Brad Crowell 9:41  Yeah, maybe I'll ship clothes home too. That's not a bad idea. Lesley Logan 9:44  Yeah because, like, what? What are we going to do with Chicago clothes in Cambodia? Yeah. Also, we kind of just stay indoors the whole time so, but whatever, still gonna send some clothes home. You can go to crowesnestretreats.com to sign up for next year's Cambodia retreat. There's an amazing waitlist you can get on. Brad Crowell 10:03  Yeah, get on the waitlist because in January, we're going to be making a big announcement about the dates and all the things and doing the early bird, so.Lesley Logan 10:10  People on the wait list, get the best early bird. Brad Crowell 10:12  People on the waitlist get the early bird. Lesley Logan 10:14  And if it sells on the early bird, well, then that's all. Then we're going to go to, on our way home from Cambodia, we're gonna hit Singapore. We have a long layover. We're going to do a little bit Botanical Garden viewing, but we're also gonna teach some Pilates there. So I'm super, super excited about that. I don't even know if you can go, but I'll be there. Brad Crowell 10:29  No, it's a closed event. Lesley Logan 10:30  It's closed event. But Brad, so Brad just wants to make sure, you know, we're gonna be in Singapore. Brad Crowell 10:33  That's where we're gonna be. Lesley Logan 10:34  And you can't come. Brad Crowell 10:35  No, sorry. Lesley Logan 10:36  Sorry. In December, we're also going to be on winter tour, and we're actually announcing that next week. Opc.me/events, October 1st. Brad Crowell 10:46  October 1st y'all. Get ready.Lesley Logan 10:47  We have people who are like, when is it announcing? When is it announcing? You better be on opc.me/events, because they're gonna get a special email, then our list gets email, then it does get posted on the socials. But you know the algorithm, so you're gonna want to make sure this is gonna be the coolest event, and I want to see you at several locations. I'm just saying, I'm demanding that. So before we get into the amazing. Lesley Logan 11:08  I mean, this past tour, this past summer tour, we had multiple people at multiple events.Lesley Logan 11:12  I think I also just want to announce, can I? I'm going to add two more things, because it's now officially announced, we could talk about it. So January, we're going to be at the Pilates Expo, so that you want to be the Pilates Journal Expo will be there with a booth, and I'll be teaching. And then. Brad Crowell 11:26  Where is that? Lesley Logan 11:28  It's in Huntington Beach. But there it says L.A. so it's L.A. adjacent. It's in Huntington Beach, (inaudible) in January is stunning, wonderful. And we're going to be there. The dates, I don't remember, but they're, they're kind of like that right after we're done with winter tour, we're like, just going to keep the tour bus, going to be completely honest, and then we are going to go, we'll be home for a little bit. Then in March, I'm going to be in Poland at the Contrology conference in Poland, with Karen Frischman, and then Karen, Brad and I are going to do a little backpacking around the lovely Europe for a couple days, and we're going to land in Belgium, and I can officially announce we are teaching in Brussels at Elle's studio. Pillow Tells, and we're having a really wonderful conference with Elle's and Karen and I. So I don't have a link for that in the moment we're recording, but I promise you, if you go, if you just Google.Brad Crowell 12:23  I just want to make a clarification. It's not the Pilates Expo, it's the Pilates Journal Expo. Lesley Logan 12:29  Yeah, I said that. Brad Crowell 12:30  Okay. Pilates Journal Expo, yeah. So search for the Pilates journal Expo 2026, and you'll find the one that Lesley is at. They are tickets are open. I think for that now.Brad Crowell 12:42  Yeah they're open. Lesley Logan 12:43  So yeah, definitely check it out. Yep, and then, and then Poland, and then Brussels, so that takes you all the way into end of March. So Europe, it's not technically a tour, but we got two places, so you better come. You better come I'm telling you, don't even know what 2027 has in store. Barely can keep up with what's going on right now. Just saying. So anyways, okay, now, before we get with Wendy, we have to answer one of the wonderful questions that came in. Lesley Logan 13:13  We sure do. All right, betterdaypilates is asking, hey, I'm not a foot this isn't a footwork question per se, per se, but footwork related, what are your thoughts on an unpadded foot bar? Lesley Logan 13:27  Love it. Brad Crowell 13:28  Betterdaypilates, I can already tell you the answer is, better than a padded foot bar. Why? Feedback. Oh, shoot. Because also safety. Oh, shoot. Brad, jumping in for the win here, okay, you can take over. Lesley Logan 13:42  Yeah, I think some people would argue that the padded bars are less slippery, so they'll there's a, here's a deal on. Brad Crowell 13:48  If your feet are like, crusty or slimy, then sure you're gonna slide, but. Lesley Logan 13:54  Some people have sweaty palms. Brad Crowell 13:56  I mean, I guess so. I personally would just have chalk in the studio for that. I think it would make it stickier, though it's metal. Brad Crowell 14:02  You would, one would think, but I think it depends on the person. But anyway, I agree with you on all of that, just because you can have a better grip on the foot bar with an unpadded bar, you can feel it. It is. We are. We need to teach grip strength. Grip strength does not come from hanging out in wrist. So I love an unpadded foot bar so when your hands are on, you can actually get your forearms on. I love it on the feet. I know people were. Brad Crowell 14:25  You were thinking about with your hands. Of course, I was thinking about it with my feet. Lesley Logan 14:29  Yeah, yeah. So with feet, I love it because you're right feedback, um, a football, a foot pad, a foot bar. It's really easy for you not to notice that your foot is pushing harder on one side than the other. Also, those who think it's gonna be painful. The actual reality is, if you're doing footwork correctly, unless you have a like, like, a literal foot condition, like some sometimes diabetics, or some people with like, neuropathy, you actually are not feeling the metal on your foot because you're not pushing from the knee. You're pushing from the whole center. And so if you're doing it, if you're doing footwork correctly, even on four springs, I do not feel pain. And I used to have, like, like, I kind of don't have any fat on the bottom of my big toe ball of my foot, but it doesn't, I don't feel it as painful I thought I would. I truly did. I remember, I remember the studio when they're like, oh, we're gonna take the pads off the foot bars. I'm like, I just, I just was like, oh my god. I literally thought to myself, they're gonna lose all their business. Like, that's what I thought. I fucking love it. I love it. Take the pad off. I promise you'll love it. If you have an if you've a question and you want to answer to a question, any kind of question, you can go to beitpod.questions and submit your questions, or your win, beitpod.com/question?Brad Crowell 15:41  Yes.Lesley Logan 15:41  Yeah, that's what I said. Brad Crowell 15:43  Say it again. Lesley Logan 15:45  BeItPod.com/questions, yes.Lesley Logan 15:47  Or you can text us at 310-905-5534.Brad Crowell 15:51  310-905-5534Lesley Logan 15:56  We still haven't, see, it's really easy see, we still haven't purchased like, 310 be it pod.Brad Crowell 16:03  We're not gonna do that. Lesley Logan 16:05  Why? I think it's so much more easy to remember. Don't you remember like, the oh, you know, like 805, called, got junk. Like, yeah. All right, let's talk about Wendy Valentine. Brad Crowell 16:19  Stick around. We'll be right back.Brad Crowell 16:21  All right. Welcome back. Let's talk about Wendy Valentine. Wendy is an author and the host of the midlife makeover show, and is often described as a magical beam of light, known for her energy and constant evolving.Lesley Logan 16:36  Please add something like that to my bio. She's often talked about as a magical beam of light, I would like it added to my bio.Brad Crowell 16:44  You're just a red-headed magical beam of light. Lesley Logan 16:46  Yeah. Brad Crowell 16:47  At 45 Wendy overcame divorce, chronic illness and $150,000 of debt, pivoting from unemployment. Pivoting is I hate that word. She figured out a way to get out of unemployment. And then had corporate success, and then she quit her corporate success and to follow her passions, which is pretty (inaudible).Lesley Logan 17:09  Yeah, she like, got in and out and, like, really, yeah, within a couple of years, I think we hate pivot guys, because we are tired of being the pivoters. Like, we're so good at pivoting and like, I can't fucking pivot one more time before I'm turned back the way I started. I'm just gonna say it right now. Brad Crowell 17:22  Well, Wendy pivoted into authoring Women Waking Up: The Midlife Manifesto for PassionPurpose and Play. She's providing guidance through her robust framework for individuals seeking to make significant shifts in their lives, especially during pivotal periods like midlife. Lesley Logan 17:40  That's a better pivotal. Brad Crowell 17:41  That's a better pivotal, that's a pivotal, that's a real pivotal.Lesley Logan 17:45  I don't know why we just started critiquing a bio. Alright. Brad Crowell 17:48  It's a bio we wrote. Lesley Logan 17:49  Yeah, it's a bio we wrote. Brad Crowell 17:51  We wrote it. Lesley Logan 17:51  So that's not how we treat our guests. We wrote that one.Brad Crowell 17:55  Wendy kicks ass and takes names. And it's amazing. You know, it's always, it's always fascinating to me to meet someone who is divorced, because if they're out and about and they're putting their their best foot forward, you're meeting them and you're like, This person is so cool. How could they have been in a relationship that didn't go well, right? And.Brad Crowell 18:21  I agree I understand what you mean, because you. Brad Crowell 18:22  Do you know what I mean. Like, we meet them and we're like, wow, I love this person. How did, how did it, how did it all break down and, and I, I want to say that her bio kind of, I feel like her bio is something that we often overlook in that assumption, and that she pivoted. She made major changes from where who she was and where she was and what she wanted and all the things to who she is today. So now that we're meeting her, she's had this massive life experience that forced change, forced self- reflection, and she's come out the other side a magical beam of light.Lesley Logan 19:05  Yeah, exactly, exactly. And I think, like, you know, especially if you get divorced in your 40s, right? Like she had a kid, like she had a whole life, and, you know, life turned out differently than she expected. And it does when you're when you're into your 20s, like, this is how my life's gonna be. And then you get to your 30s, like, thank fucking god, it didn't turn out like that. But some people got married in there and so.Brad Crowell 19:29  Well, I feel like that, like, and the reason that I, I am reflecting on that is because I feel like that happened for me too in in that. Lesley Logan 19:36  Oh, were you hoping I say how did you get divorced? How could anyone let you go?Brad Crowell 19:40  Yes, this was really just a long fishing excursion for you to compliment me. You're lucky to catch me, babe. No, I even it personally, in my own self-love, who I was before, I thought I knew who I was and I felt confident, sort of, but after that experience, then I actually was like, I had spent the better part of a year just working on me, just thinking about me, thinking about my actions, my thoughts, the things that I was doing, and making decisions on those instead of spending like coasting through or floating through or just not really being attuned to any of that stuff, like we often get into these, these grooves, these ruts, and that don't realize, because you're forced into this, this period of self-reflection and introspection, I feel like you come out the other side feeling better, you know, hopefully, yeah. Lesley Logan 20:46  Yeah. I think so. I think also, anytime something literally changes your life, like you're lit where you wake up, who you wake up with, where you wake up, all that, all that stuff you it has to change you, and if it doesn't, you get to do it again. That's how life goes. Here's I liked. She said she critiques the often big advice, like, be your authentic self. Love her. Brad Crowell 21:10  Be authentic. Lesley Logan 21:11  My god, when we first saw this podcast, you remember like we had so many people whose be it action was like, get to know yourself. Be authentic. And I was like, so we're gonna need to understand, how do you do that? Brad Crowell 21:22  How? Lesley Logan 21:23  How do you do that? Brad Crowell 21:23  How does one get to know themselves? Lesley Logan 21:26  She said, she clarified, it's not learning who you are to become. It's learning who you are not. I love that, because I think a lot of people start with what they want or who they want to be, but you certainly know who you don't want to be. You certainly know what you don't like and what you don't want to be. I think that sometimes it's easier to start with, like, I don't want to be that, so I want to be that. Then what changes do I have to make? If I don't want to be person who who mopes around all the time, well then what are you gonna do? You know? So I really, I really liked that. And she said, oh, she, she, she used an analogy of Michelangelo's carving, David, where he just, is it Michelangelo or David? Brad Crowell 22:08  Michelangelo's carving of David. Lesley Logan 22:09  Of David. Clearly, I'm not. Hello, guys, my family was a was poor.Brad Crowell 22:13  Our history 17 over there. Lesley Logan 22:15  Well, okay, let me just tell you, there was no art history in my schooling. I was a poor girl at public school known art history, and my family doesn't have art because that's expensive stuff. So I am not educated. So Michelangelo's carving of the David, where he just carved everything away that was not him.Brad Crowell 22:35  Yep. Lesley Logan 22:36  You don't like the word of the David. Brad Crowell 22:37  It's not the David. Lesley Logan 22:38  It's just David. Lesley Logan 22:39  It's just David carving dvid, carving of David. Yeah, is this David?Lesley Logan 22:45  Somebody? Where is it? When the one from the Bible? Is it just a random David?Brad Crowell 22:49  I'm pretty sure it's David from the Bible. Let me find out now, because (inaudible).Lesley Logan 22:52  Like David of David and Goliath,Brad Crowell 22:55  they say Michelangelo's David because it's called the statue is called David. But who is David? Michael and David? No one. Lesley Logan 23:10  GDavid is, come on chat GPT. Come on right. Be faster. People are waiting.Lesley Logan 23:18  They're yelling at us. They already know.Lesley Logan 23:20  Doesn't actually say, oh, so we don't it could be any David. Brad Crowell 23:22  No, I don't think so. She was somebody. Lesley Logan 23:22  Like from Schitt's Creek. It's David from Schitt's Creek. Brad Crowell 23:22  No, it's, okay, so, it is from the biblical story of David, the tale of a young shepherd boy who served the Israelites. So David and Goliath. David, pretty sure it's that David.Lesley Logan 23:38  Okay, that David, um, I think we like that. David, all right. Anyways, she advised. Brad Crowell 23:43  Did some good things, did some not so good things. Lesley Logan 23:45  Right, I'm pretty sure later in life. Brad Crowell 23:47  He's human. Lesley Logan 23:48  Yeah, um, we're all allowed to be a little human. Uh, she advised, so he caught so Michelangelo essentially carved everything was not him. And I kind of like that, like, you're just chiseling away at what's not you. Like, it's like when you clean out your closet, like, Jessica Papineau's episode, right? You got to get rid of the clothes that no longer represent who you are.Brad Crowell 24:07  I love that. And I think that's, that's a great comparison. Actually, I love that. Lesley Logan 24:11  Well, it's something we can actually apply to ourselves, since none of us are going on carving statues. I mean, maybe three listeners are. But like, I'm certain.Brad Crowell 24:18  We did end up at a sculptor's studio here in Vegas. And I was, like, intrigued, because she's been doing it for something like 50 or so years. And it was like, Wow. What a it's she made it way more hobby. She turned it into a business. Lesley Logan 24:31  It's called Romancing the Stone. Brad Crowell 24:33  Yes, it is. That's what it's called. That's impressive.Lesley Logan 24:37  Well, it's because I, like, thought about the movie, but I was never like, I just remember sitting in that place going, he's gonna want to take a class here. And I this is a skill set, I can tell you right now don't have, I don't have the patience to carve away what's not this rock. So anyways, she also explained that sometimes we know the things that are not us because we still cling to it for comfort. That's why people stick around to people that treat 'em like shit or a job they hate, because it's comfortable. It's not uncomfortable enough. Brad Crowell 25:11  Yeah, I think it's also fear, you know, fear of the unknown. I think that comfort and fear kind of go hand in hand. Believe it or not, you feel comfortable, but you're actually afraid to make change. Yeah, so you're unwilling to, like, take a risk?Lesley Logan 25:26  What is it? Like, the, the the villain you know, or the, what is it? What's the saying? Like. Brad Crowell 25:31  The devil you know is a. Lesley Logan 25:32  The devil you know it's the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know. But, like, so negative, because, like, you're assuming there's always a double out there. Anyways, there's a story about a dog that. Brad Crowell 25:44  Better the devil you know, than the devil you don't. Lesley Logan 25:47  Yeah. That's, you know what that is, you guys, the patriarchy trying to keep you small. That's what that is. It's like the penny saved is a penny earned bullshit. All those things are bullshit.Brad Crowell 25:57  That's a Malarkey, right there. Lesley Logan 25:59  Yeah. So, um, but, uh, but I also I just think, like, I go, we can go back to Gay Hendrickson. We all have a little bit of fear when we step outside our comfort zone. But you got to do it if you want to have the life that you want to have. It just doesn't happen in the way. If it was going to happen in the life you're having now, you'd have it already, right? Brad Bizjack is going to have an episode coming out really soon in October. Stay tuned. But the other day, he mentioned something like, you know, what got you here won't take you there. Brad Crowell 26:28  Yeah, yeah. I think it's good to clarify that, because if it was going to happen in the life you have right now, meaning, if the thing that you want was going to happen, why wouldn't have it have already happened today, right? Like, why wouldn't it have happened to date?Lesley Logan 26:43  Doing doing the exact same things over and over again, expecting a different result is insanity.Brad Crowell 26:48  So, I mean, that's not, that's yes, but yes, it is not a you have to change in order to get attain, or grow, or any of those things.Lesley Logan 26:58  If you hate your job, but you never look for another job, the likelihood of a job landing in your lap isn't going to happen unless you're telling people, I want a new job.Brad Crowell 27:07  Yeah, yeah. I mean, and putting that out there allows people to start, you know, responding to you, responding to that, thinking about you. You are constantly thinking about that. You know, it's you gotta, you gotta take action. Y'all take action. Lesley Logan 27:27  What do you like? Brad Crowell 27:27  My favorite thing was, when she was talking about comfort zone, we were just kind of covering it. But the comfort zone, it is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there, and I'm not and like, it's just another way to talk about, like, what we were just saying that I've never really thought about, I don't know, like we have these goals and what's going to happen, like, we want to get to this place or or build this thing, or have a house, or I don't buy a car, or whatever it is, like, whatever the goal is, Right? And then when we get it, you know, I think, I think that there's a time to we can allow ourselves to enjoy the thing, and we should. It's important to celebrate, right? But that shouldn't be the end of the story, right? We're not going to celebrate forever. We're not going to enjoy it forever. There's, I think, like there. This is where this idea of balance, like there's, there's a, imagine, if you're, let's think about about, like a work week. Imagine if the work week, you take the weekend to enjoy the fishing boat that you bought, because you use it, you go out and you use it. But then during the week, you're doing what you're moving the ball forward with life with, you know, there's you're creating growth. And this idea that the comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there, you know, unless you're trying to become a pro fishermen you know, or woman, you're not going out on the fishing boat to practice. You're going out in the fishing boat to enjoy. It's a comfort. It's a comfort, but, but nothing's growing there, you know, except maybe your beer belly, right? Because you're just throwing them back. Lesley Logan 29:09  It's an interesting analogy. I can follow it, I think so.Brad Crowell 29:15  She quoted Marianne Williamson. She said, our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. I don't know. I'm like, she's I think she's an interesting lady, yet she's very influential. But I think that, I don't think that people are afraid that they're powerful. I think that's a that's like, that's an interesting, intriguing thing to say, but I don't think anybody thinks about themselves being powerful and being afraid of that, unless maybe, if they're a parent, maybe then they're like, oh my god, I'm in I have I'm responsible for somebody's life. There's power there.Lesley Logan 29:53  I certainly hope every parent thinks that. I really wonder. Brad Crowell 29:56  I really hope so. But. Lesley Logan 29:58  Our listeners, who are parents, do. So I hear you. I don't, because I don't go wrong. I'm so powerful. I'm going to, like, I don't. I often think, like, oh my god, I'm not good enough for this, but I understand the sentiment. And so if we just put a different person's name on there, I think you probably wouldn't doubt it so much. Brad is just showing his true colors on Marianne Williamson, I actually think that is I, I actually think I can explain that sentence too. So many people's goals actually scare them. You don't think of a goal in life that you want to do. Nothing comes to your mind of something that you desire to do unless you had the power to do it right. And so I think their goals are exciting, and then scare the fuck out of them. And so I think that that's what the deepest fear is (inaudible) because they're what they what everybody here believe, like, someday I'm going to be doing X, but then they go, then they have to, like, take the next step, and it's like, oh, how am I going to do that? You know, like, and so I actually think that that's where the line is, but.Brad Crowell 31:03  I just, I just went to a rally where somebody made an announcement that they were going to run for a political office, and and I immediately felt scared for them, of like, oh my god, this is like a really tall order, like, this is a this is a huge this felt intimidating, and it created this fear. And it was really weird, because it was a relatively intimate setting. And she, she jokingly said, Does anybody think I'm crazy? And I raised my hand, and she said, Oh, you have a question? And I said, no, I think you're crazy to the whole crowd. I said, But crazy in a good way. I said, this. This creates a lot of fear in me, but it's the kind of fear that makes you want to go do the thing. It's not like the fear of that, like, incapacitating fear, but it's that, like, it's like, if anybody's ever done skydiving, there's that moment where you're leaning out of the plane and you're like, holy shit, I'm about to do this, right? And, yeah, so, you know, I think, you know, there's something to that, like, that's, that's kind of fear, that is, like, it is motivating, yeah, you know what I mean.Lesley Logan 32:28  Yeah, I do. I think it's really great. I think that, like, I really just like what Wendy said, let's go back to when quoting Wendy, yeah, which is the comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there. Like, a comfort zone is like laying on your couch every night watching binge watching Netflix, but wishing you had a friend or a partner. Nothing's growing on that fucking couch. Nothing so you know, what else?Brad Crowell 32:52  Yeah. Well, that just made me think of your coffee for two things. I thought, I think it's I just really think it's cool that you were very intentional about how you were building your life so that you weren't just sitting on the couch, or weren't just working yourself to death. You know, in the middle of working hard.Lesley Logan 33:09  I also saved every Thursday night for a date night. Would not let a fry, would not hang out with a friend if nothing had nothing, no one asked. I just went home on a Thursday night. I saved that night and I saved Christmas for a partner. Look what I got.Brad Crowell 33:25  That's right, you're lucky to have me. Lesley Logan 33:26  I got a divorcee who would ever let him go.Brad Crowell 33:32  Wendy said when you get to the other side of that comfort that is more beautiful, and yes, you will then grow. So comfort, I feel like has its place, but it's also it can be like a sticking point. So, yeah, I think it's great. I think, you know, there's a time for it, but there's also a time to keep moving. Yeah. Brad Crowell 33:57  Well, stick around. We, by the way, I don't know if we said this yet, except for the very beginning, but Wendy is a fireball of energy.Lesley Logan 34:08  Oh, if you haven't listened, you need to go, she's like a cold shower in a good way, you know. Brad Crowell 34:13  Yeah, it's such a fun conversation. Lesley Logan 34:16  If you're having a funky day, you gotta go listen to it. You'll have an unfunky day. Brad Crowell 34:20  Yes, love it. Lesley Logan 34:21  I'm pretty sure that this recap is one of the weirdest you've ever listened to, so.Brad Crowell 34:24  Well, stick around. We'll be right back, because we're going to cover those epic Be It Action Items that we got from Wendy, that she made up on the treadmill right before while she's doing her workout, right before your interview. So we'll be right back. Brad Crowell 34:38  All right, so finally, all right, so finally, let's talk about those Be It Action Items. Say it with me, what bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted action items can we take away from your convo with Wendy Valentine? Lesley Logan 34:52  Well, why don't you start? Brad Crowell 34:53  Yeah, so she made up her own Be It framework, and she said, B become your own BFF. She really is focused on self-love, I think that was one of the things that she learned after going through her midlife crisis. She said you've got to stop that ticker tape of thoughts, the negative thoughts, and replace it with something really good, friendly thoughts. E, envision, envision who you want to become, not just the what, who you want to become, not just the what. Right? I is invite her in, act as if, literally say every single day, act like the woman or person you want to become, right? So invite her in. And then T she said take it. Lesley Logan 35:37  Take action. Brad Crowell 35:38  Take it. She asked how do you get courage? By taking action. Leap and then network will appear, right? So I love it. I think that's a great spin on, you know, bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted.Lesley Logan 35:51  And she gave more. But also I feel like we should like save this, because this is a great way to describe what being it till you see it is. From the beam of light of Wendy Valentine. She defined it for us. She also said she heard Deepak Deepak Chopra say, feel your way through life. Feel your way through life. And so she advised, no matter what we were doing, to ask ourselves, how does it feel, and more importantly, how does it feel to who you are becoming and the life you're creating? Does it does it lie? Does it align? That's, that's not a one-hit wonder, but it's a great song. She also said stop overthinking. Just feel your way through life. I, actually, I know that can scare people, because they're like, I they're like, holding a tight grip on life, because, if they like, let go, chaos is gonna happen. It's gonna fucking happen anyways. That's life. I tell you right now, on one of these days, we'll tell you about how hot the house got and how we had to move a workshop.Brad Crowell 36:48  Oh that was so fun. Lesley Logan 36:49  You know, like, it doesn't matter how planned out your life is, how well you thought about all the things, how many reminders you sent things, the AC can still blow because it's not like it has a warning symbol. So I'm just telling you all, explode. So stop overthinking and feel your way through. Because I promise you, if you can take that like, just feel your way through and then your tight grip on reality, I think you're gonna land right there in the middle. So.Brad Crowell 37:16  It's a win.Lesley Logan 37:17  I'm Lesley Logan. Brad Crowell 37:18  And I'm Brad Crowell. Lesley Logan 37:19  Thank you so much for listening to our amazing episode, I have to say, let us know if you like how the wheels fell off today, and if you think it was great, or if you want us to go back to how we've done it before. Until next time, Be It Till You See It. Brad Crowell 37:33  Bye for now. Lesley Logan 37:35  That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod.Brad Crowell 38:18  It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell.Lesley Logan 38:23  It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co.Brad Crowell 38:27  Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.Lesley Logan 38:34  Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.Brad Crowell 38:37  Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Throughout the Bible we see incredible stories of radical faith. Faith that makes you wonder how you would respond in similar situations. Faith that challenges you to trust deeper, step forward confidently, stand firm, and be bold. Over the next 9 weeks we are going to be looking at these radical faith stories from throughout scripture, and seeing how we can grow as a church and individuals to walk out our faith in bold, God honoring ways. Cliff Miller, one of our local missionaries and ministry leader over the His Hill college ministry, will be bringing the message about the faith of David this Sunday. Join us this weekend for the launch of our fall campaign! We will have a ministry fair, coffee and donuts, Core Classes launching, and great times of worship as we fellowship together. Grab a friend and come! See you Sunday! -Pastor Ben For this week's Scripture and notes: http://bible.com/events/49489863 Stay Connected: • https://www.mitchellberean.com/ • https://www.facebook.com/MitchellBerean • https://www.instagram.com/mitchellberean • https://www.youtube.com/@MitchellBerean

What does it mean to truly worship with all your heart? In this message, we look at the life of David and how his authentic, passionate worship points us toward a lifestyle that goes beyond Sunday mornings.Worship isn't confined to a song or a service—it's a way of living. From washing dishes to driving to work, every moment is an opportunity to honor God. David's example reminds us that God looks at the heart, not the performance, and that worship is about freedom, authenticity, and love for our Creator.Whether your worship is quiet or exuberant, what matters most is that it flows sincerely from your heart. Worship is a two-way street—a loving exchange between us and God that brings transformation and deepens our relationship with Him.For more on LifePoint Church go to lifepointaz.com Find all our links in one easy spot https://linktr.ee/lifepointaz Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lifepointaz Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lifepointchurchaz/

Playing to Win: How to Defeat Your Giants Using God's Strategy explores how victory over life's challenges often requires unconventional approaches. Like David refusing Saul's armor to face Goliath, we must discern God's unique strategy for our battles through Scripture, godly counsel, and inner peace. Success comes when we embrace our true identity rather than imitating others, and when we utilize the resources God has already provided. Instead of waiting for perfect circumstances, we should act now with what's in our hands, trusting that God's power will transform our simple tools into giant-slaying weapons.

Mike Picone shares with us about the heart of King David.

We are not living in neutral times—we are living in a war zone. Culture is confused, truth is attacked, evil is celebrated, and the enemy is working overtime to distract and divide. But Scripture makes it clear: this isn't a battle against flesh and blood—it's a spiritual war.In Ephesians 6, Paul calls us to “put on the full armor of God.” This is not a comfort gospel—it's a combat gospel. The good news? We don't fight for victory, we fight from victory, because Jesus has already disarmed the enemy at the cross (Colossians 2:15).Here are the four key truths we walked through:1. Know the Enemy The real battle isn't against people—it's against the powers of darkness (Eph. 6:12). The enemy's strategy is distraction, division, and deception. If you don't know who you're fighting, you'll fight the wrong battles.2. Know Who You Fight For We don't fight in our own strength, but in God's authority. Like David, who faced Goliath “in the name of the Lord of hosts,” we step into battles knowing the Lion has already roared. (Exodus 14:14; Romans 8:31)3. Gear Up – With Your Armor You can't fight with someone else's armor. Just as David couldn't wear Saul's armor, you can't live off borrowed faith or borrowed obedience. Walk in your own daily discipline, your own salvation, your own prayer life. (Eph. 6:13–17; 1 Sam. 17:38–40)4. Stand – Don't Stand By Israel stood frozen before Goliath for forty days. David stood up and declared: “The battle is the Lord's” (1 Sam. 17:45–47). Too often we “stand by” while the enemy mocks. God is calling us to stand up, suit up, and speak up in His authority.

Sinful thoughts often begin quietly—an unchecked idea, a hidden fault, or a willful choice. Left unattended, they can grow into habits that enslave us. In Psalm 19:12-14, David prays for God’s forgiveness, protection, and guidance so that his heart and words might be pleasing in God’s sight. In today's prayer and devotional, Jessica Van Roekel reminds us that victory over sin isn’t about willpower alone. It comes from surrendering our hearts and minds to the Lord, allowing Him to be our Rock, Refuge, and Redeemer. God provides a way out of temptation, giving us strength to overcome sinful patterns and live in freedom. Main Takeaways Sin often begins as a thought and progresses if not surrendered to God. Like David, we can pray for forgiveness of hidden faults and strength against willful sins. God is our Rock and Redeemer, rescuing us from spiritual oppression and restoring us. The Holy Spirit always provides an escape from temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). Living in victory requires dependence on God and aligning our words and thoughts with His will. Bible Verse References Psalm 19:12-14 – “But who can discern their own error? Forgive my hidden faults…” 1 Corinthians 10:13 – God provides a way out from temptation. Hebrews 4:13 – Nothing is hidden from God’s sight. Calls to Action (CTAs) Subscribe to Your Daily Prayer for daily devotionals rooted in Scripture. Leave us a review to help others discover encouragement through God’s Word. Reflect in prayer: Ask God to reveal hidden faults and give you strength to overcome temptation. Share this episode with a friend who needs encouragement in their spiritual walk. Resources and Mentions Related article: 5 Ways to Take Your Thoughts Captive – Crosswalk.com Explore more daily devotionals at Your Daily Prayer SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts: The Crosswalk Devotional: https://www.lifeaudio.com/crosswalk-devotionalYour Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today, we're going to pick up on the story where David is about to face off with Goliath:1 Samuel 17:32-37 NLT“Don't worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I'll go fight him!” “Don't be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There's no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You're only a boy, and he's been a man of war since his youth.” But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father's sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I'll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”David saw his life of being alone in the shepherd's field as preparation for just such a moment. He saw the protection of his sheep from the mouths of lions and bears as training for protecting God's people from the hands of a giant. David didn't see a difference in the circumstances because he had the same God helping him defeat the threat in both places.Listen to the shepherd-warrior's words once again: “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I'll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” (1 Samuel 17:34-37 NLT) No, you aren't fighting lions and bears or even giants, but the principle behind David's mindset can be yours today.Can you remember a time that God gave you the strength to do something beyond your own ability? A time where you prayed and asked for help, and God showed up and gave you strength you didn't know you had? Picture that situation.The same God is with you now. He has never left you since He formed you in your mother's womb. He is here to help you in every battle and struggle your life.Fill in David's words with your own right now. When I pause, in your own mind, fill in the blanks for you: The Lord who rescued me from … will rescue me from this too!”Let's pray: “Father, thank You that You have always been with me. Strengthen me and fill me with Your courage today to face my giant. Like David, I know You are with me. As above, so below.”

2 Samuel 16 In this week's message, Pastor Scott walks us through the painful moment in 2 Samuel 16 when David, broken and weeping, is cursed and attacked by Shimei. Though falsely accused and humiliated, David refuses to retaliate, modeling meekness and trust in God's sovereignty. Instead of lashing out in anger or defending his reputation, David accepts that even unjust suffering can be used by God for redemptive purposes. Pastor Scott challenges us to consider our own “Shimei moments” — those times when we're hurt, misunderstood, or slandered — and to respond not with bitterness, but with forgiveness, humility, and dependence on the Lord. Meekness is not weakness; it is power surrendered in trust to God. Like David, we too can find refreshment in God's presence, even when wounded. As Colossians reminds us, we are called to bear with one another and forgive as the Lord forgave us.

Sin doesn't just want a piece of you it wants all of you. In Matthew 5:29–30, Jesus uses intense language to show how seriously we should treat sin. He's not asking us to self-mutilate, but to cut off anything that keeps us bound. It's a call to action, not passivity to flee from what entices us, before it devours us. Pastor Amy Perez reminds us that inaction is just as dangerous as wrong action. Like David with Bathsheba, it often starts with small compromises. But God's grace isn't just to forgive it's to train us. Discipline isn't legalism; it's the path to freedom. What we surrender may feel costly, but what we gain in Christ is worth far more.

Psalm 19 reveals to us what we can know about God: first in creation, and second through His revealed Word to us. Like David, we can respond rightly in worship by repenting from the sins within us that we see and asking God for help to see the sins within us that we don't yet see.

Discover how to break free from the chains of disappointment and restore your faith through the powerful story of the man at the pool of Bethesda. For 38 years, this man waited for healing, watching others receive their breakthrough while he remained in his condition. His story mirrors many of our own experiences with unanswered prayers and delayed promises.This message explores what happens when disappointment becomes our lens for viewing life and God's work. Like David who was anointed king but spent years running for his life, or Joseph who received divine dreams but ended up falsely imprisoned, we often find ourselves questioning God's timing and methods.Learn how Jesus approaches our disappointment with the vulnerable question: 'Do you want to be made well?' This question challenges our comfort with familiar circumstances, potential victim mentality, and fear of hoping again. The breakthrough for the man at Bethesda came not through the expected waters, but through the unexpected word of Jesus.This teaching includes a personal testimony of waiting six years for housing breakthrough that finally came—but in an unexpected package. Discover why God sometimes makes us wait and how Romans 8:28 guarantees that He works all things for our good, even when the outcome doesn't match our expectations.This sermon was recorded at a Sunday morning gathering at Church of the Lookout in Longmont, Colorado.Visit our websiteFollow us on FacebookFollow us on Instagram

In today’s powerful devotional prayer, Jaime Hampton, host of Praying Christian Women, reflects on the spiritual battles we all face—and the truth that God is the Lord of Breakthrough. Just as He delivered King David from the hands of the Philistines, God stands ready to break through the strongholds, doubts, and despair that wage war against us today. Whether you're weary from long-standing struggles, facing impossible odds, or simply feeling spiritually stuck, this episode will remind you that you serve a matchless, miracle-working God who fights for you and calls you to take back what’s yours in Him. There is no battle too great for the God of Israel, your God.

What happens when a top-tier academic walks away from the ivory tower and becomes a powerhouse investor? In this episode, Peter Winick sits down with David Bell—former Wharton professor, founder of Idea Farm Ventures, and investor in some of the biggest direct-to-consumer brands you know: Warby Parker, Bonobos, Harry's, Diapers.com, and Jet.com. David shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, offering real insight into why some thought leaders are drawn to the business world—and how they can thrive there. It's not just about having ideas. It's about turning those ideas into scalable, revenue-generating ventures. Execution isn't optional. It's everything. We dig into the frameworks David uses to evaluate whether a business is built for success—or doomed by bad execution. Why do 90% of ventures fail? Why do smart people struggle to build smart businesses? And how can thought leaders avoid the trap of "great idea, poor implementation"? You'll hear how David thinks about reinvention, the crumbling edges of higher education, and why thought leaders need more than charisma—they need operational rigor. This isn't theory. It's the playbook for transforming thought leadership into a business engine. Three Key Takeaways: • Ideas are easy—execution is everything. Most ventures fail not because of bad ideas, but because of poor execution. Thought leaders need discipline in branding, pricing, and go-to-market strategies. • Academia is no longer the only path. Experts are increasingly leaving universities to apply their knowledge in startups, tech, and corporate innovation roles—where their insights can drive real-world impact. • Strong thought leadership needs a solid business model. Concepts must be packaged into tangible, scalable offerings to succeed—whether that's products, platforms, or frameworks. If you found the David Bell episode insightful—especially the focus on turning great ideas into scalable businesses—don't miss our conversation with Michael McFall, co-CEO of Biggby Coffee. Like David, Michael dives deep into the reality that execution—not just inspiration—is what drives success. He shares hard-earned lessons on building systems, staying aligned with your purpose, and scaling a business without losing sight of your values. Both episodes tackle the tough questions around bringing thought leadership to life in the real world. Tune in to hear how strategy meets sweat equity.

What do you do when your world feels like it’s caving in? Jennifer Slattery brings us face-to-face with a powerful moment in David’s life where everything was falling apart—and yet, he found strength not in strategy, but in God. In today’s devotional, we explore what it means to “strengthen ourselves in the Lord,” and how to follow David’s example in our own moments of fear, anxiety, and deep distress.

This MTM Minute is powered by Move to Millions Live 2025 After Party The MTM Minute is a quick dose of inspiration with a powerful affirmation based on our weekly full-length episode.    You are a Giant Slayer!!! In this week's full-length episode of the Move to Millions Podcast, Play Big Series Part Three: David, we dive into how to play big in your business, using the story of David as a model for overcoming obstacles. Darnyelle discusses how to face your fear, confront your giants, and step into bold leadership to achieve seven-figure success. David's journey teaches us to trust our unique strategy, even when it feels small or unconventional. By embracing the courage to lead, trusting timing and preparation, and taking action, you can elevate your business and mindset to reach your financial goals. This episode is perfect for entrepreneurs who are ready to stop playing small, confront their fears, and step into their purpose-driven leadership to achieve sustainable growth and business success. If you're ready to stop playing small and face the giants holding you back from your seven-figure success, this episode is for you. David didn't wait for the perfect moment to act—he ran towards his fears and overcame them with boldness. This is your moment to do the same. In this episode, I'll show you how to step into your bold leadership, use your unique strategy, and take action with confidence, just like David did. If you're tired of waiting and ready to step into your next level, this episode is the sign you've been waiting for This week's 7 Figure CEO Affirmation is "I slay the giants that show up in my life and business with confidence, clarity, and consistency. I boldly face fear, doubt, and overwhelm, knowing that these are the very giants that are meant to push me toward my next level of success. Just as David ran toward Goliath, I run toward the challenges that stand between me and my seven-figure success. I trust my unique abilities and strategies, and I take decisive action to eliminate what is holding me back. I am a seven-figure CEO, and I rise to every occasion with courage and unwavering faith in my ability to succeed." Here are three actionable tips to anchor in this week's affirmation Face Your Giants Head-On: Identify the fears or challenges in your business that are holding you back. Instead of avoiding them, lean in and tackle them with bold action. Whether it's a difficult conversation or a decision that scares you, face it knowing that overcoming it is key to your growth. Trust Your Unique Strategy: Don't be afraid to do things your way. Like David with his sling, trust that your unique approach and strengths are enough to overcome obstacles. Refuse to imitate others and stay authentic to your process, knowing that your authenticity is your power. Embrace Bold Action: David didn't hesitate or wait for perfection. He acted with confidence, and his action brought victory. Similarly, take bold, decisive action in your business, trusting that your preparation and courage will lead you to success. No more waiting—run toward your business goals. Affirm with me: "I slay the giants that show up in my life and business with confidence, clarity, and consistency. I boldly face fear, doubt, and overwhelm, knowing that these are the very giants that are meant to push me toward my next level of success. Just as David ran toward Goliath, I run toward the challenges that stand between me and my seven-figure success. I trust my unique abilities and strategies, and I take decisive action to eliminate what is holding me back. I am a seven-figure CEO, and I rise to every occasion with courage and unwavering faith in my ability to succeed." And this week's journal prompts are: "The giant I need to face in my business right now is... "The strategy I will use to move toward my seven-figure success is... "I am called to lead with boldness and purpose, and today I will show up by..." And Your Prayer Of The Week: Heavenly Father, We thank You for the opportunity to step into our bold leadership, knowing that we were called to play a bigger game. We ask for the courage to face the giants in our lives—fear, uncertainty, and hesitation—knowing that with You, we have everything we need to overcome. Help us to step into our purpose-driven leadership, just as David did, and trust that our unique strategies are enough to lead us toward the seven-figure success we are destined for. Give us the strength to move forward, even when the path seems uncertain, and help us to use what we already have to create the impact and success we desire. May we trust in Your timing and follow the path You have set for us. In Your name, I pray. And So it Is. Amen. Ready to shift the statistics in your favor by joining the top 4.2% of all business generating 7 figures or more a year?  If you are a small business owner or entrepreneur who has crossed six figures and you're ready to play bigger, we are on a mission to help you make the move to millions.  Visit movetomillions.com to learn all the ways we can equip you to make, move and leave millions.     Want more of Darnyelle? Personal Brand Website: https://www.drdarnyelle.com Company Website: https://www.incredibleoneenterprises.com Move to Millions Website: https://www.movetomillions.com   Social Media Links: Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/darnyellejerveyharmon Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darnyellejerveyharmon Twitter/X: http://www.twitter.com/darnyellejervey LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/darnyellejerveyharmon  Links Mentioned in the Episode: Movetomillions.com MovetoMillionsGroup.com HausofMillions.com Move to Millions Continuum Episode Move to Millions Live 2025 Subscribe to the Move to Millions Podcast: Listen on iTunes Listen on Google Play Listen on Stitcher Listen on iHeartRadio Listen on Pandora   Leave us a review Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you're not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don't want you to miss an episode. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you're not subscribed there's a good chance you'll miss out on those. Now if you're feeling extra loving, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they're also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

Fr. Mike focuses on trust today, specifically trusting God in difficult times. Like David, we need to learn to trust God in the midst of the battle, rather than waiting until the batter is over. Today's readings are 2 Samuel 15, 1 Chronicles 19-20, and Psalm 3. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.