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Listen to the rest of this premium episode by subscribing at patreon.com/knowyourenemy. We talk to Astra Taylor and Aaron Regunberg about their recent New Republic article about MAGA's embrace of animal rights—which, like RFK Jr. and "Make America Healthy Again," has allowed them to make inroads with constituencies typically associated with the left. What actually is the Trumpist right's vision of animal rights, and how does it differ from the left's? What might the matter reveal about the curious, combustible politics of this moment? And what should the left learn from this, not just when it comes to animal rights but the opportunities they seem to keep giving conservatives to offer compelling alternatives to the left on key issues? We take up these questions and more. Sources: Astra Taylor & Aaron Regunberg, "How MAGA Stole Animal Rights from the Left," New Republic, Aug 17, 2026 — "Is Animal Rights the Next MAHA?" The Bemusement Tapes, Aug 17, 2026 Daniel Engber, "MAGA's Animal Nationalism," The Atlantic, Feb 22, 2026 Matthew Scully, Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy (2002) Jay Caspian Kang, "Why an Agnostic Animal-Rights Activist Went to Seminary," New Yorker, Jan 27, 2026 Pope Francis, Laudato si': On Care for Our Common Home (2015) Sunaura Taylor, Beasts of Burden , (2017) Astra Taylor and Sunaura Taylor, “Our Animals, Ourselves,” Lux, Jan 2022. Out in September: Astra Taylor & Naomi Klein, End Times Fascism: And the Fight for the Living World
Who does Jesus call? When Jesus calls Matthew, he finds him in the tax collector booth, considered by all a sinner and a traitor to his people. And yet Matthew… Download Audio
What role should psychology play in pastoral ministry? How did Cornelius Van Til shape the biblical counseling movement? And what is the relationship between presuppositional apologetics and soul care? In this episode, Brandon McLean Smith sits down with Jared Poulton to discuss his new book, Van Til's Counseling Movement: A Critical Analysis of Jay Adams and Biblical Counseling. Jared traces the origins of the biblical counseling movement at Westminster Theological Seminary, explores Jay Adams' theological debt to Cornelius Van Til, examines the relationship between biblical counseling and Christian integrationism, and considers how Van Til's doctrines of covenant, the antithesis, and common grace continue to shape conversations about counseling in the church today. Whether you're interested in apologetics, pastoral ministry, or the history of Westminster, this conversation offers a fascinating look at one of the Seminary's most enduring contributions to the life of the church. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at wm.wts.edu. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the Bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit wts.edu/donate. Pre-order your copy of Van Til's Counseling Movement today! Thanks for listening!
*This Episode was originally published on 06/10/2019. Jamie Dunlop serves as an associate pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC, overseeing administration and adult education as well as several The post The Pastor and Church Budgeting appeared first on Preaching and Preachers Institute.
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We continue our discussion about the newly established seminary by talking about the future of the seminary sports program and the reasons we are excited to have Philip Neri as our patron.
*This Episode was originally published on 06/03/2019. This week, we highlight a previous episode where I interviewed Dr. Jared C. Wilson about his book, The Gospel-Driven Church. Today, Dr. Jared C. The post The Pastor and the Gospel-Driven Church appeared first on Preaching and Preachers Institute.
In this “Articles of News” episode, Richie and Verlin (our resident News Wizard) are tackling a packed listener inbox, playing a pretty wild Old Testament version of Smooch, Marry, Kill, and breaking down all the biggest stories happening around the Church right now. Banter & The Listener Inbox Verlin is joining us straight from the 1994-era Durham, North Carolina stake office—getting ready for some weekend ward cleaning and a massive “pig pickin'” (smoked pork and banana pudding, anyone?). Meanwhile, Richie recaps a high-energy DJ gig for the Nightingale nursing group and calls out listener Jack Marinello to step up his game in the Facebook comments. Plus, we dive into a great email from Chris about navigating the “Moco” (Mormon Corridor) and the tricky balance of separating actual gospel principles from institutional church culture. Global Church Leadership & Events Happy 94th Birthday to President Oaks! We chat about his first international trip as the 18th President of the Church to dedicate the Belo Horizonte, Brazil temple. We also touch on Elder Patrick Kearon’s powerful message at Education Week to a crowd of 15,000, where he urged everyone to “stop earning their worth.” Also on the docket: Elder Rasband’s MTC address on the current global missionary surge, Elder Villar championing religious freedom down in Peru, and the Institute centennial broadcast out of Johannesburg. Policy, BYU & Institute Updates What do you guys think about the new, 25-minute-shorter Sunday block schedule? We cover that, along with the digital release of 10 joyful new hymns and the new ward-level event RSVP feature rolling out on the app. Over in Provo, Education Week just wrapped up with 16,000 attendees focusing on Charity, and the new BYU School of Medicine announced an upcoming “Christ-Centered Physician” conference. Plus, Seminary and Institute enrollment has officially topped 1 million globally, thanks in large part to the “Invite a Friend” initiative. Culture & Retention Trends We dig into some shifting demographics today, specifically a BYU Studies report on the sharp decline in church retention among Gen Z women. We discuss the commentary pointing to politics, purity culture, and feelings of powerlessness as driving factors. We also look at some interesting Gallup data comparing lower European church participation to the high devotion metrics seen in Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Finally, we share a laugh over a story about a YSA who shaved her head just to deter unwanted dates, and we discuss the viral Friend magazine article asking, “Are there any girl bishops?” Question of the Week: We want to hear from you! What was your biggest takeaway from Elder Kearon’s message about slowing down and no longer trying to “earn your worth”? The Cultural Hall, Articles of News, LDS podcast, Mormon Corridor, Smooch Marry Kill, Durham North Carolina, President Oaks, Belo Horizonte temple, Elder Kearon, Education Week, Elder Rasband, religious freedom, church schedule change, new hymns, BYU School of Medicine, Seminary and Institute, Gen Z retention, YSA dating, girl bishops The post Pig Pickin and cry for help AoN – 1062 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.
In this ep, the guys talk about whether or not they see seminary as a necessary thing for someone that wants to be a pastor.REFORMATORY SHIRTS: https://www.amazon.com/s?rh=n%3A7141123011%2Cp_4%3AThe+Reformatory+Podcast&ref=bl_sl_s_ap_web_7141123011JOIN THE PODLUCK: https://www.patreon.com/reformatorypodMukwano Coffee: https://www.mukwanocoffee.com (Use promo code "reformatory" for 20% off your order).Twitter: https://twitter.com/reformatorypod
We begin by talking about what we are looking forward to this school year before diving into the exciting news that Bishop Kemme will soon establish the St. Philip Neri Seminary in Wichita. We break down what this means, explain the process and do our best to answer all your questions.
*This Episode was originally published on 03/29/2026. A seasoned pastor, church planter, and theological educator, Wes planted and led Christ Memorial Church for nearly three decades and has spent years The post Ministry in New England appeared first on Preaching and Preachers Institute.
Support the Seminary: https://mostholytrinityseminary.org/donate/
Doctor Rossi is joined by Laura Ionescu, a former Administrative Assistant at St. Vladimir's Seminary, to discuss how Orthodox Christians can face fear of failure during major life transitions.
Bishop Carl A. Kemme (Wichita, Kansas) promotes the St. Philip Neri Seminary. Shrines and Wonders Wednesday looks at St. Francis and friendships. Joan Lewis checks in with the latest from Rome. Plus, T's Two Sense looks at the bill passed by the Maura Healey making it ok to kill unborn babies at any point in pregnancy, and Fr. Tad Pacholczyk weights in on the story and discusses "Death by Organ Donation".
On January 18th, 2026, protestors marched into a church building in Saint Paul, Minnesota in the middle of the worship service. They began chanting and disrupting the space, forcing the church ushers to evacuate the children's wing and the congregation. The pastor of that church is Jonathan Parnell. Parnell also serves as the Send Network's City Missionary in the Twin Cities, where he works to encourage fellow pastors and train church planters. He is the author of Mercy for Today: A Daily Prayer from Psalm 51 (2020), Never Settle for Normal: The Proven Path to Significance and Happiness (2017) and coauthor of How to Stay Christian in Seminary (2014). A graduate of Bethlehem College and Seminary, he previously worked on the content team at desiringGod.org where he's written hundreds of articles over the years. He and his wife, Melissa, live in the Twin Cities with their eight children. For more information, visit https://www.jonathaneparnell.com/about TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction 1:00 How did you end up doing what you're doing today? 4:42 Tell us a little about church planting 8:08 How receptive is the population of Minneapolis to hearing the gospel? 10:44 Tell us about the ICE protests on January 18th 18:50 As a leader, what was the first thought going through your mind? What did the Spirit do in you in that moment? 24:40 How do you keep upper congregation from being distracted during the service as the protests continue? 29:30 Have you been able to engage with the protestors? 33:05 In hindsight, is there anything you would have done differently? Do you have any advice toward other pastors and leaders today? Questions or comments? Email us at podcast@blackaby.org DONATE: If you have enjoyed this podcast and want to support our ministry into the next 20 years, click here: https://bit.ly/382Exi3 RESOURCES: Desiring God website: https://www.desiringgod.org/ Order Experiencing God in Everyday Life now at: https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/experiencing-god-in-everyday-life-bible-study-book-with-video-access-P005853831 CONNECT: X: @richardblackaby Facebook: https://bit.ly/2WvZPzw Read Richard's latest blog posts at www.richardblackaby.com
Join us for a conversation with Patrick Schreiner, Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology at Midwestern Baptist theological Seminary, and author of many books, including 'The Transfiguration of Christ', 'Acts: The Christian Standard Commentary', and 'The Four Senses of Scripture'. The Four Senses of Scripture: https://a.co/d/00DWn3FO Get Married, Have Babies, Join a Church: https://a.co/d/0d5Yw8wg
Support the Seminary: https://mostholytrinityseminary.org/donate/
Support the Seminary: https://mostholytrinityseminary.org/donate/
Learn how to finish well (or begin well) in ministry as Dr. Danny Akin shares the 10 core convictions that guided his long career. Gain wisdom for your own path. After serving for 22 years as president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Danny Akin delivered a final chapel message that serves as a roadmap for anyone in Christian ministry. This message focuses on the essential principles needed to maintain faithfulness and integrity over a lifetime of service. If you are looking for practical guidance on what it means to finish well, these convictions offer a clear framework for your leadership journey. We explore how your personal theology directly impacts your daily behavior and decision-making. By examining these specific ministry convictions, you can better understand how to align your life with your beliefs and sustain your calling for the long haul. This discussion is essential for pastors, students, and church leaders aiming to build a lasting legacy rooted in biblical truth. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Watch Part 1 to hear more about Dr. Akin's life and Great Commission legacy.
*This episode was originally published on 9/9/2025. In this week's episode, Dr. Jared Bumpers is joined by Dr. Tom Schreiner discussing “New Creation Millennialism.” Dr. Schreiner is an Associate Dean The post New Creation Millennialism appeared first on Preaching and Preachers Institute.
“The Treatise on the Divine Essence within Sacra Doctrina: Its Importance and its Properly Theological Character” by Dr. John O'Neill (Holy Apostles College and Seminary). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2026 Thomistic Summer Conference.
My friend Tucker Boyle (married father of five, PhD in Leadership Studies, went through a faith crisis/transition) joins us to share his story including: - How his doctoral research into church history led to a faith crisis - The pain of that road (emotional, physical, not belonging) - How the whole process changed him to be more kind, compassionate and supportive of others - Discussion of going from “melody” to “dissonance” to “harmony” - Why he won't go back—so grateful for his faith transition—so much more equipped to help others - Why he started “Harmony Road Retreats”—a safe place for people in a faith crisis/faith transition/faith journey - Being a safe person as a YSA Bishop, Institute/Seminary teacher and doing much work to help others walking a difficult road - Helping people understand how they can calm their nervous system during times of transition If you are in a faith crisis/transition or want to have more insights to help others, please listen to/share Tucker's podcast. Links: Instagram: @harmony_road_retreats Harmony Road Retreats website: https://www.harmonyroadretreats.com/ Email: harmonyroadretreats@gmail.com
In this summer repeat, Patrick and Jonah continue their series on heaven and hell by asking why Christian spirituality still speaks of enemies, adversaries, demons, and battle. Wouldn't it be better to move beyond all language of conflict and darkness?The conversation explores the danger of spiritual paths that seek bliss by escaping pain, evil, and the cross. Patrick and Jonah distinguish bliss from love, and ask what it means to follow Christ not out of the world, but into a deeper relationship with it. Through Psalm 23, communion, Halloween, Judas, and the call to “take up your cross,” they reflect on how Christ prepares a table in the presence of our enemies.At the heart of the episode is the mystery that the adversary is not simply removed, but transformed into an unwitting servant of our becoming. In the presence of challenge, betrayal, pain, and evil, we are invited to die to what is hardened in us and become capable of a freer, deeper love.Ask us a question here!Support the showThe Light in Every Thing is a podcast of The Seminary of The Christian Community in North America. Learn more about the Seminary and its offerings at our website. This podcast is supported by our growing Patreon community. To learn more, go to www.patreon.com/ccseminary.Thanks to Elliott Chamberlin who composed our theme music, “Seeking Together."
What if some of the things we do to strengthen our faith are actually getting in the way of truly connecting with Jesus Christ?In this week's episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott sits down with longtime Seminary and Institute teacher and author John Bushman to explore the message behind his book, “King Before Kingdom.” John shares how even well-intentioned Latter-day Saints can fall into a checklist mentality—measuring faith by how well we keep the commandments, attend church, read the scriptures, or fulfill expectations—while unintentionally losing sight of the Savior at the center of it all.Through eye-opening insights about grace, conversion, the sacrament, the Atonement, priesthood, and worship, John invites us to rethink some familiar ideas and language within Church culture. His message is a powerful reminder that the gospel isn't about earning our way to heaven—it's about seeking, trusting, and following Jesus Christ. When we put the King before the kingdom, our relationship with both can begin to change.*** Please hit SUBSCRIBE to get our latest episodes, and hit the SHARE button to help us share John's story and light with others. ***To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/hPB-DLdRspo-----To LEARN MORE about John's work, visit: https://www.johnbushman.com/To READ John's book, “King Before Kingdom,” visit: https://a.co/d/0b6ci5aD-----To READ Scott's new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/-----Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylightsAlso, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, recorded Sun., August 9, 2026. Based on Matthew 14:22-33. Seminary student Luke Staude. Website: crownoflifehubertus.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crownoflifehubertus/ Written transcriptions: https://johnoldstrey.wordpress.com/
Marianne Downing has a master's degree in Education (counseling) and began her career as a therapist before combining it with various roles within the nonprofit sector. She has been an entrepreneur since 2002. Since becoming a Latter-day Saint, Marianne served in the New Zealand Auckland mission, and as Relief Society president, counselor in her stake Primary presidency, stake Relief Society president, early morning Seminary teacher, and Young Women president. While living in Paris, France, she was called as part of a committee by the European Area Presidency to establish LDS Family Services in the French-speaking areas of France, Switzerland, and Belgium. She currently serves as a ward missionary. Alan Downing has a bachelor's degree in music from the Hartt School of Music. He sang professionally for ten years, including in synagogues and churches, while also working as an IT administrator with IBM, Verizon, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. He left the corporate world to become a life coach and has created several men's retreats and trainings. He has led or staffed well over 100 experiential retreats in the United States, Europe, and South and Central America. After his conversion as a Latter-day Saint, he served in the France Toulouse Mission, and has served in callings including as a member of his stake high council, elders quorum counselor, Sunday School teacher, ward finance clerk, ward and stake executive secretary, and many positions related to music. He currently serves as a ward music chairperson. Alan and Marianne are co-founders of the nonprofit organization, Discover Identity, and are both identity coaches. Alan is also on the board of the Utah Valley Interfaith Association and Marianne is a founding member of the Utah Valley Women Leadership Collaborative (now the Bolder Way Forward of Utah Valley). Alan and Marianne are the parents of a blended family of six children and 11—soon to be 12—grandchildren between the United States and New Zealand. Links Your Mission Aligned, nonprofit coaching services Discover Identity, nonprofit retreats Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community Highlights Alan and Marianne Downing discuss the concept of identity and its significance in personal development and leadership within the Latter-day Saint community. They emphasize the importance of understanding one’s identity beyond roles and societal expectations, particularly during life transitions. Key Insights Identity Exploration: The fundamental question of “Who am I?” is central to personal growth. Identity is not static; it evolves through life experiences and transitions, such as changes in church callings or family dynamics. Deeper Understanding: True identity goes beyond titles like “mother” or “bishop.” It involves understanding personal values, beliefs, and what makes each individual unique. Belonging vs. Fitting In: There is a distinction between belonging (sharing core beliefs) and fitting in (conforming to external expectations). Leaders should encourage individuality within the community to enhance unity. Risk and Growth: Personal growth often requires taking risks and stepping outside comfort zones. Experiences, such as retreats, can facilitate deeper understanding and wisdom. Mature vs. Immature Identity: Immature identity relies on external validation, while mature identity is anchored in self-awareness and allows for flexibility and growth. Leadership Applications Encourage Individuality: Leaders can foster an environment where members feel safe to express their unique identities, which can enhance community strength and diversity. Facilitate Experiences: Organizing smaller group discussions or experiential learning opportunities can help members explore their identities and support each other through personal challenges. Model Vulnerability: Leaders should be open about their own identity journeys, demonstrating that it is acceptable to question and explore one’s faith and personal growth, thereby creating a culture of openness and support. 00:05:07 – The Concept of Identity 00:06:40 – Exploring Identity Beyond Roles 00:08:07 – The Depth of Identity in the Gospel 00:09:32 – The Paradox of Identity and Individuality 00:10:29 – Navigating Group Identity vs. Individual Identity 00:12:28 – Personal Experiences with Identity 00:15:00 – The Downings’ Journey into Identity Work 00:18:01 – The Importance of Self-Discovery 00:20:40 – The Role of Experience in Identity Formation 00:24:40 – The Balance of Self and God's Expectations 00:26:41 – Mature vs. Immature Identity 00:30:12 – The Role of Risk in Growth 00:32:15 – Experiential Learning and Retreats 00:34:22 – The Need for Community in Personal Growth 00:36:47 – The Importance of Anchors in Identity 00:39:14 – Embracing the Journey of Identity The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.
In this audio live episode, host Kathleen Masciana explores the philosophical question: Is new natural law really a different sort of thing, and are the integralists right to see this new method as a betrayal of the old method? Drawing from her experience operating an internet radio station and her work across multiple professional roles, Kathleen examines how methods evolve while fundamental truths endure. As an online graduate student pursuing a master's in philosophy at Holy Apostles College and Seminary, she connects practical experience with ethical philosophy. This episode features insights from major philosophers including Plato, Socrates, Confucius, and Nietzsche. Join this thoughtful discussion on tradition, innovation, and the pursuit of excellence.
Sorry this was so long...please listen on 5X speed!
In this episode of the Diocese of St. Cloud's Speaking of Faith, Amber interviews Patty Weishaar, recipient of the Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary Ezekiel Prophet of Hope Award, honoring alumni who embody collaborative ministry and hope. Patty reflects on nearly 36 years at Saint John's, beginning as a graduate student and later becoming a cornerstone of student services who welcomes and supports students on campus and remotely. She shares how Benedictine community rhythms, mentors, colleagues and generations of students have shaped her vocation and why creating a safe, home-like space helps people "unfurl their wings." Patty describes hope as a lifelong gift to be used for good, offers advice about surrendering to being "chosen" and shares her desire to leave a legacy of courage, gratitude and hospitality, specifially through the Patricia Weishaar Scholarship which helps to remove financial barriers for SOT students. To learn more about the Ezekiel: Prophet of Hope Award, visit https://www.csbsju.edu/sot/our-community/our-alumnae-i/alumni-awards/ezekiel-prophet-of-hope-award/ To learn more about the Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary, visit: https://www.csbsju.edu/sot/ To contribute to the Patricia Weishaar Scholarship, visit: https://www.csbsju.edu/sot/about/giving/the-impact/scholarships/ Gifts to the SOT are currently (through October 2027) matched 2:1. Your gift of $5 becomes $15!
In this episode, Dr. Cindye Coates joins Jenny to talk about one of the most practical tools for reading Scripture faithfully—the 5 W's of Bible interpretation. Together Cindye walks us through who, what, when, where, and why these questions matter, and shows how asking them turns confusing or overwhelming passages into clear, life-giving truth.Cindye then applies the 5 W's directly to prophecy, including how Jesus fulfilled Matthew 24, and shares how this approach clears up common misunderstandings in eschatology. If you've ever felt stuck in your Bible reading or wanted a simple way to dig deeper without getting lost in opinions, this conversation is for you. Expect encouragement, fresh insight, and a renewed love for God's Word!Dr. Cindye Coates is a theologian, and educator with a gift for making deep biblical truths clear and accessible. She holds a Master of Divinity and a doctorate in Theology, and she now helps oversee curriculum at Life College & Seminary.Over the years she's taught everything from kindergarten through college, written Bible curriculum, and planted churches with her husband, Dr. Stan Coates. She hosts the podcast Present Truth Matters and leads studies on fulfilled eschatology—especially a verse-by-verse look at Matthew 24. Learn more about Cindye here: https://www.presenttruthmatters.com/Snag her book here.This season of the podcast is sponsored by Rowe Casa Organics—makers of clean, natural, and truly effective products that support your health and home the way God designed. Use code THEROOTEDTRUTH to save 20% on your first purchase, or simply click here.
In this episode, Dr. Cindye Coates joins Jenny to talk about one of the most practical tools for reading Scripture faithfully—the 5 W's of Bible interpretation. Together Cindye walks us through who, what, when, where, and why these questions matter, and shows how asking them turns confusing or overwhelming passages into clear, life-giving truth.Cindye then applies the 5 W's directly to prophecy, including how Jesus fulfilled Matthew 24, and shares how this approach clears up common misunderstandings in eschatology. If you've ever felt stuck in your Bible reading or wanted a simple way to dig deeper without getting lost in opinions, this conversation is for you. Expect encouragement, fresh insight, and a renewed love for God's Word!Dr. Cindye Coates is a theologian, and educator with a gift for making deep biblical truths clear and accessible. She holds a Master of Divinity and a doctorate in Theology, and she now helps oversee curriculum at Life College & Seminary.Over the years she's taught everything from kindergarten through college, written Bible curriculum, and planted churches with her husband, Dr. Stan Coates. She hosts the podcast Present Truth Matters and leads studies on fulfilled eschatology—especially a verse-by-verse look at Matthew 24. Learn more about Cindye here: https://www.presenttruthmatters.com/Snag her book here.This season of the podcast is sponsored by Rowe Casa Organics—makers of clean, natural, and truly effective products that support your health and home the way God designed. Use code THEROOTEDTRUTH to save 20% on your first purchase, or simply click here.
John Frankman is a former US Army Special Forces Green Beret and Captain who spent four years in Catholic seminary discerning the priesthood, got selected to 7th Group, refused the COVID vaccine on moral and medical grounds — and lost his career over it. Now he's running for Florida's 1st Congressional District (Matt Gaetz's former seat) to fight the deep state from the inside.In this episode, Reed and John go deep on the Iran war and whether it was a just strike, Joe Kent's resignation and what it signals, the Chinese influence operation in Latin America and on US campuses, why COVID was the greatest infringement on American liberty in our lifetime, the military vaccine mandate purge that kicked out 8,600 service members with only 1 in 1,000 reinstated, and why the Epstein files being buried is a political betrayal the Republican base won't forget.John also breaks down why he believes America is at a Roman Empire moment, what's actually required to fight the deep state from within Congress, why he refused to fake his vaccination status when almost everyone else did, and what he'd tell Trump if he had five minutes with him today.Topics covered: Iran conflict, Joe Kent, Venezuela/Monroe Doctrine, Chinese land purchases near US military bases, COVID red-pilling, big tech censorship, surveillance state, Palantir, Anthropic and the military, immigration and mass deportations, H-1B visa reform, Mexico as a narco state, abortion and federal vs. state power, the deep state defined, JFK and the Green Berets, Robin Sage unconventional warfare training, AIPAC money and special interest corruption, Epstein files and the two-tiered justice system, vaccine mandate purge and the reinstatement failure, and what it actually takes to not flip once you get to DC.Find John Frankman at frankmanforflorida.com and on X/Instagram/Facebook @JohnFrankmanFLCHAPTER TIMESTAMPSTimeChapter0:00Introduction — John Frankman: Green Beret, Seminary, Congress0:24Growing Up Between LA and DC — Faith, Divorce, and Finding God4:30Can a Christian Be a Warrior? Catholic Just War Theory9:15Afghanistan and Iraq — Were They Just Wars?12:30The Iran Conflict — Joe Kent's Resignation & the 3,000 Troops19:15Venezuela, Monroe Doctrine & Rooting Out Chinese Influence23:00America's Debt Crisis — Are We at the End of the Roman Empire?26:00Why Younger Generations Don't Trust the Government Anymore29:45COVID Was the Great Red-Pilling of America34:00Running for Congress — Jumping Into Matt Gaetz's Seat38:00Illegal Immigration, Mass Deportations & the Border Wall47:00Mexico as a Narco State — How Should the US Approach It?53:50H-1B Visas, Outsourcing Jobs & Chinese Students on US Campuses1:02:00Human Trafficking, the Border & the Cartel Billion-Dollar Industry1:10:00Palantir, Anthropic & the Danger of Big Tech in the Military1:13:00The Surveillance State — Smart Cities, FISA & Losing Our Freedoms1:17:00John's COVID Story — Seminary, Moral Conviction & the Shot1:26:30Media Censorship, Joe Rogan & How They Overplayed Their Hand1:30:00AI, China's Smart Cities & the New Cold War1:41:30100% Pro-Life — Abortion, Federal vs. State Power1:49:00Defining the Deep State — Who's Actually Compromised?1:51:30JFK, Green Berets & Training to Overthrow a Government1:58:00Why John Won't Flip When He Gets to DC2:06:30AIPAC Money, Special Interests & Draining the Swamp2:11:30Epstein Files — Full Transparency or Political Betrayal2:24:00The Military Vaccine Purge — 8,600 Out, 1 in 1,000 Reinstated2:34:00What He'd Tell Trump Today2:36:00Where to Find John & How to Support His Campaign
*This Episode was originally published on 04/06/2026. In this conversation, Dr. Vanhoozer sits down with Dr. Allen to discuss his upbringing and theological development. Kevin J. Vanhoozer is presently Research Professor of The post Special Q&A with Kevin Vanhoozer appeared first on Preaching and Preachers Institute.
In this summer repeat, Patrick and Jonah continue their exploration of heaven and hell by asking what happens after death. If heaven is not simply a place we go forever, and hell is not merely a punishment imposed from outside, what is the soul's journey through purification, truth, and love?The conversation begins with the question of whether life without love is already a kind of hell on earth. From there, Patrick and Jonah turn toward near-death experiences, the overwhelming reality of divine love, and the way this love does not simply excuse everything, but reveals everything. In the light of love, all that is not love must be seen, felt, and transformed.Together they explore repentance, purgatory, and the burning process of self-knowledge as gifts of love rather than punishments. At the heart of the episode is the mystery that bliss is not the fullness of love, but can serve love's fulfillment: the free choice to enter suffering, sacrifice, and earthly life for the sake of blessing another.Ask us a question here!Support the showThe Light in Every Thing is a podcast of The Seminary of The Christian Community in North America. Learn more about the Seminary and its offerings at our website. This podcast is supported by our growing Patreon community. To learn more, go to www.patreon.com/ccseminary.Thanks to Elliott Chamberlin who composed our theme music, “Seeking Together."
Michael interviews Brad Hambrick and Matias Casco discussing ABC initiatives to expand Spanish-language biblical counseling training. Casco, a Honduran living in the Dominican Republic and serving at Santiago Theological Seminary, explains that a 2022 church survey revealed most churches lacked counseling ministries, prompting a one-year, six-module program on key topics like family, marriage, addictions, suffering, and ethics, graduating about 250 students from multiple countries. The seminary is now partnering with ABC to translate Equip to Counsel and related resources into Spanish and provide certification, scholarships, and digital access worldwide, supported by a $100,000 fundraising goal. They announce an August 21–22 kickoff conference in Santo Domingo at Pastor Miguel Núñez's church on “mental health/living with a renewed mind,” featuring Ed Welch, Hambrick, Beth Broome, and Núñez, available for virtual co-hosting.00:00 Conference Wrap Up01:17 Meet Matias Casco02:00 Counseling Needs in DR03:38 How Brad Connected06:02 Designing Church Training08:52 Digital Access Expansion11:31 Funding the Vision13:49 August Conference Launch17:02 How to Register17:59 Final Thanks and AppealEpisode MentionsHelp us translate ETC into Spanish - Donate Oasis Conference Matais talked about - Register Seminario Teologico de Santiago - Seminary information
Leadership failures rarely happen overnight. More often, they begin with unseen pressures, unresolved pain, and unhealthy patterns that slowly erode a leader from the inside out. In this special compilation episode, we bring together four candid conversations with experienced church leaders who openly share the personal struggles that nearly derailed their ministries. Rather than focusing on leadership strategies or organizational systems, this episode explores the inner life of church leaders. From burnout and unprocessed grief to stress management, character formation, and radical honesty before God, don’t miss the lessons that can help you build healthier, more sustainable ministries. Use these conversations as discussion starters with your teams, asking not simply how the ministry is doing, but how the leaders themselves are doing. Unprocessed Loss Eventually Takes Its Toll Bob Riedy reflects on the burnout that brought his ministry to a halt and the painful realization that decades of accumulated loss had never been properly grieved. The death of a family member, staff transitions, declining attendance after COVID, fractured relationships, and personal shame all compounded over time because he kept pushing forward instead of processing what he had experienced. His story is a powerful reminder that even successful leaders are vulnerable when they ignore the emotional weight of ministry. Key Takeaway // Pastors experience constant loss, but simply “moving on” isn’t resilience. Healthy leaders intentionally process grief with God before it silently grows into burnout, anxiety, or shame. Listen to the Full Episode // Burnout, Breakthrough, and the Road to a Healthier Ministry with Bob Riedy (May 29, 2025) Simple Practices Build Long-Term Resilience Charles Stone shares practical neuroscience-backed habits that help leaders reduce stress and remain emotionally healthy. Rather than offering complicated solutions, he begins with something every leader can practice immediately: intentional breathing. By slowing the body’s stress response through simple breathing exercises, pastors can create space to think clearly, regulate emotions, and respond wisely during difficult seasons. Key Takeaway // Resilience isn’t built during a crisis. It’s developed through consistent daily practices. Simple rhythms like intentional breathing can help pastors lower stress before it becomes overwhelming. Listen to the Full Episode // Leading Through Stress Without Burning Out with Charles Stone (July 3, 2025) Crisis Reveals Character Allen Holmes explains that gifted leaders often reach a defining crossroads when crisis exposes weaknesses beneath their talent and experience. Every leader eventually faces a moment when they must decide whether to hide behind their abilities or allow God to shape their character through hardship. Churches that embrace this perspective create cultures where leaders remain, grow, and mature instead of running from difficult seasons. Key Takeaway // Leadership development isn’t primarily about improving skills. Rather, it’s about allowing God to form character. Crisis often becomes the catalyst that moves leaders toward deeper maturity and lasting influence. Listen to the Full Episode // Why Gifted Leaders Still Fail: Lessons from 25 Years of Ministry with Allen Holmes (March 5, 2026) Honesty Before God Leads to Healing Scott Landry vulnerably recounts one of the darkest moments of his life after personal failure left him isolated, angry, and questioning God. Rather than meeting condemnation, he encountered God’s presence in the middle of his raw honesty. His story illustrates that true healing begins when leaders stop pretending, acknowledge what’s really happening inside, and allow God to meet them in their deepest pain. Key Takeaway // God doesn’t meet the version of us we project to others—He meets the person we truly are. Healing begins when leaders stop hiding and bring their deepest struggles honestly before Him. Listen to the Full Episode // Leading After You Lose Everything: Redemption, Honesty & The Fight with Scott Landry (December 18, 2025) This compilation reminds us that leadership health begins long before visible success or failure. Healthy churches are built by healthy leaders, and healthy leaders cultivate habits that address the condition of their hearts, not just the effectiveness of their ministries. Whether you’re leading through growth, challenge, or personal struggle, these conversations invite you to slow down, examine your inner life, and take intentional steps toward long-term faithfulness in ministry. 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! Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary Podcast. So glad that you’ve decided to tune in. You know, the subtitle of our podcast is Stuff You Wish They Taught in Seminary. Rich Birch — And today I wish there was like a big underline under that word wish. I wish this conversation was a robust conversation when I was in school. Today we’re listening in on four senior leaders talking about really stuff that was going on on the inside when nobody was watching. Rich Birch — This is a good time of year for you and I as executive leaders to pull back and to think deeply about the kind of structures we’re building as an organization that really create a flourishing environment for our people. You know, we asked earlier in the year what your greatest fears were for this year and 24.8% of you indicated that staff health, structure, morale, succession were your top fear this year. And so today’s conversation, what we’re doing is listening in on four senior pastors who get really honest on the show about what was happening on the inside of them. Rich Birch — One of the churches that I was an executive pastor at, about a decade after I left, the senior leader made tragic decisions in their own personal life that ended up burning the church down, literally to the place where that organization doesn’t exist anymore. And from my understanding, actually the building is going to be demolished. Literally there’s nothing left. Rich Birch — A ministry that impacted tens of thousands of people doesn’t exist today because of the decisions of a senior leader. And so at this time of year, in the summertime, I want to challenge us to listen carefully to some leaders that have been through some horrific moments and have come out the other side more healthy. And I want us to learn from these moments and say, hey, what can we do to structure our ministry so that we can be the healthiest possible environments we can possibly be? Rich Birch — So up first, we’ve got Bob Riedy at Church of the Open Door, who hit a wall on a Sunday morning a few years ago, and he learned about ungrieved losses that took 40 years of ministry to see. So let’s listen in to Bob and see what you and I can learn as we think about the future. [Clip 1 Begins] Bob Riedy — I really do think that loss, and especially not properly processing and grieving loss, was a big part of what was behind all of this. In 2018, I lost my brother, my younger brother, who was really my wingman in so many ways. That was a loss that I think in some ways I’m still wrestling with. Bob Riedy — During the pandemic, we lost, pick a number, a lot of loss as far as attendance and stuff. At first, we were off for about four months, but then when we came back, people began to trickle in, and it was clear to me that we lost hundreds of people as well from our church during that time. That was probably a profound thing for me. Bob Riedy — We lost some key staff members as well during that time. We lost some friends because of the politics and some of the difficulty of that. And so I think loss was a big part of that. Bob Riedy — My counselor has really helped me a lot with that, not properly grieving loss. Terry Wardle is one who said that ministry is a series of ungrieved losses. And I found that I really wasn’t doing that good. I was shaking it off and just moving forward, shaking it off and moving forward, and not really grieving it and bringing God into it and surrendering it to Him. Bob Riedy — And I think part of what happened with that as well was I was concerned about what people thought. We were this powerhouse of a church, growing like crazy, and all of a sudden, like every other church, we were struggling. Bob Riedy — And I remember the day that I burned out. That afternoon my children all came to our apartment. My wife and I were living downtown, and my daughter reminded me of this the other day. And she said, Dad, do you know what you said to me that day? And I said, no. She said, Dad, you said to me, what are people going to think of me that this happened to me? Bob Riedy — And that was a loss that I wasn’t able to really properly wrap my head around. I was more concerned about how this was going to look with me as a Christian leader in our community. And then I think one of the places that the anxiety came from as well was shame. Bob Riedy — One of the things the enemy, I think, came after me with was like, you’ve been telling people here in York how to live for the last 15 years, and you let this happen to you. And wow, I wrestled with that as well. So I think that loss and worrying what people were concerned about or what they were thinking of me, and then the shame of wrestling through that as a senior pastor whose church had been top 100 churches. Bob Riedy — I taught church leadership and biblical preaching at Lancaster Bible College, and this happened to me. And so I really wrestled with just the fallout of all that. [Clip 1 Ends] Rich Birch — What are people going to think? Bob’s daughter quoting him back to him is a part of this thing I just will not shake. Ungrieved loss, it compounds. Rich Birch — Loss is a part of your role. It’s a part of my role. But what Bob learned the hard way is that shaking it off and just kind of moving on will cost you more in the long run than sitting with it and processing it. Rich Birch — Charles Stone is up next. He’s a friend, a pastor, a counselor, and did his PhD on stress while he got diagnosed with three serious conditions in the same year. And we’re going to focus on an easy kind of habit that he has installed or practiced that he has installed that I think you could use in the midst of your processing, of dealing with even those kinds of ungrieved losses. Let’s listen in on what Charles has to say today. [Clip 2 Begins] Charles Stone — Well, I kind of get thematically. One involves how we breathe. These are practices that can help us develop resilience. Charles Stone — One has to do with how we breathe. Two have to deal with our emotions. One has to do with our thinking. One has to do with contemplative practices, spiritual practices. Charles Stone — One has to do with something called certainty. One has to do with gratitude. One has to do with relationships. And one has to do with sleep. So any of those, I’m game for any of those that you feel like we ought to touch on one or two of them. Rich Birch — Well, what about maybe breathing? Why don’t we start right at the top where you started? And then, you know, we’ll scratch the surface. There’s a ton we could, obviously, we want people to pick up a copy of the book, but let me start with breathing. That might be kind of interesting. Charles Stone — Yeah. Well, actually, this ended up being the first one because it’s very easy to do. Now, I think around 75 times plus, you’ll find the word breath or breathe in the scripture. Charles Stone — And Genesis, God breathed into Adam. He became a living being. I think his early part of Acts, Jesus breathed on the early church, the Holy Spirit came. Charles Stone — And then David, the psalmist wrote, let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Now, here is the interesting neuroscience insight. Deep breathing activates a key set of nerves that come directly from my brain, just come from my spinal cord. But these are these are key nerves that they’re in pairs. Charles Stone — One of them is called the vagus nerve, comes from the word vagrant. What does a vagrant do? He wanders around. So this nerve wanders around our hollow organs, our heart, our lungs, our stomach. So there’s a lot of communication back and forth. Charles Stone — Scientists have found that deep breathing, especially on the exhale, when you exhale a little longer, it actually engages this nerve, which lowers the stress response. And here’s here’s why you practice it. I call it the sniff breath. Charles Stone — Now, the actual term is “a psychological sigh”, but here’s how it would work when you’re facing some stress. Just breathe in, you know, a little more and then breathe out through your mouth. Now on the out breath, you want to be a little longer than the in breath, doing that three or four or five times. Charles Stone — Labs all around the country found it lowers the stress response. So that is a simple, a portable tool you can take. Anybody can use anywhere. Charles Stone — So yeah. [Clip 2 Ends] Rich Birch — I love Charles. He’s such a practical leader. Listen, I’d pick one of those practices this week and really try to install it. Rich Birch — I love that he started with breath work because it’s really the easiest one to start with. You can install it today. Literally, he gave you everything you need, but maybe look at the other ones. Pick up his book, “Stress Less”. Got a bunch in there. Rich Birch — Well, coming up next, we’ve got Allen Holmes. He’s been the senior pastor at Definition Church in Greensboro for 25 years. He has watched gifted leaders crash long enough that he’s built a framework around this to understand it. Let’s listen in to what Allen has to bring to this conversation. [Clip 3 Begins] Allen Holmes — It’s interesting when I, one of the other real key moments for me is I went back to do my doctorate of ministry degree at Gordon Conwell in redemptive leadership. And so much of what we were studying is how God works in the crisis, in these pressure moments to expose the unfinished places in our character so that we can grow and become more like Jesus and therefore maximize our kingdom impact in the world. Allen Holmes — And one of my professors, Dr. Powers, he actually wrote a book called Redemptive Leadership. It’s a simple little book, but profound, where he describes leadership development in five stages. And stage one is a skilled leader where you get a leadership role just based on your skill. So maybe the ability to preach. And so they call you to be the pastor. Allen Holmes — That’s how I became the pastor of my first church. I could preach. I hadn’t done anything else, but they let me be a pastor because I could preach. Allen Holmes — And then the second stage is a principal leader where you begin to understand why you do what you do. But the third stage, which is so important, is the character stage. And in order for a leader to go through the character stage, God always uses a crisis to bring him into that stage. But when he comes into that stage, he has a choice. In that stage, he can open his heart and allow God to do that deeper work, or he can go back and hide behind his skills and principle. Allen Holmes — And that’s what pastors do. A lot of times the reason you see this turnover every, you know, depending on what statistic you read, every two to four years, pastors are leaving churches is because they come into a church and they have this honeymoon season. And then all of a sudden there’s a crisis that exposes some things and they start floating their resume and hiding behind their skill rather than allowing God to deal with their character so that they can advance and become a transformative, redemptive leader. Allen Holmes — So I think one of the things that’s been so true for us is we’ve just tried to say to people when there’s a crisis, don’t panic, don’t run away. See it as an opportunity. Allen Holmes — In fact, I ended up doing my dissertation on the idea that if we could teach this model to leaders, that it would cause them to respond differently in the crisis instead of running from it, they would run to it and open their heart. And God could use that to really propel them into their redemptive future. And the research said that was true. Allen Holmes — And so we’ve tried to really work that in our culture to understand when something goes wrong, don’t run away and don’t hide. Let’s run into it and trust God to meet us there so that this thing God works redemptively to use it for your benefit and to launch you into your future. Allen Holmes — And because that’s been our culture, people have stuck around. I mean, my lead team, Rick has been here 25 years. He was he’s actually here two Sundays longer than I’ve been here. Eric’s been here 24 years. Jonathan’s been here 19 years. Chelsea’s been here almost this year will be 14 years. Steve’s been here 10 years. Allen Holmes — I mean, so they’ve just been here a long, long, long time. And that but that’s why they’ve seen these moments and we’ve helped them to find God in it so that it actually works for us instead of against us. [Clip 3 Ends] Rich Birch — Allen walked us through the five stages. The third one he talked about is character. And that’s really where I think you and I, our greatest test is at. And this is where we meet our crisis. You should go back and listen to Allen’s episode. Super helpful. Rich Birch — Coming up next for our last part of the conversation today is a friend of mine, Scott Landry. He’s the senior pastor of The Bridge near Ottawa. He’s been on the podcast before. Rich Birch — Next is a clip from a book that was coming out or that has come out called “The Fight”. And it’s the moment that he lost everything and that he was alone in a house in the Northwest Territory. The reason why I wanted this on is because I think Scott models for you and models for me an open transparency with ourselves, with our people. Rich Birch — That is something that I think you and I should live with our live with and should think through. How can we be this transparent with the people around us? Heads up. This is a heavy clip and it’s worth every second of your attention to lean in and hear what Scott shares. [Clip 4 Begins] Scott Landry — I hope that’s a powerful moment in the book because it was it’s genuinely the most powerful moment in my life. And this was this was kind of at the crescendo of my my breaking point. So after my marriage and my life specifically falling apart and I kind of lived in a place of isolation. Scott Landry — I was living in the North, Canadian North, and I was yeah, I was lost. I was I was angry like I had so much anger. And it was so, yeah, I talk about in the book and I was angry and ultimately I was angry at myself, but I was also angry at God. Scott Landry — And because even after, again, making a mess of my own life, he didn’t make a mess of my life. Nobody made the mess in my life. I made the mess in my life. Scott Landry — And but then after that, I was trying to do everything right. And I was trying to do the right thing, do the right thing. And I was like, God, when are you going to start intervening on my behalf? Scott Landry — And so, you know, being the preacher that I am, I was like, I got all the Bible verses that tell me that you’re going to like now is you’re going to do the redemptive thing. You’re going to show up. You’re going to move. Scott Landry — You’re going to fix. You’re going to redeem. You’re going to restore. Scott Landry — You’re going to repair. You can do all the R words. And and nothing was happening like it was like and it was almost as if I and I literally heard nothing. And I’d like to say I didn’t feel anything, but I did. Scott Landry — It was just this this anger that was welling up inside of me like a like a pot boiling and eventually it just I just became unhinged. Like I was alone and I was completely isolated. I was in this empty house and I just started crying out like and yelling out and I threw through things. Scott Landry — I I used words I’ve I’m ashamed to admit I used. Like I mean, I was as unhinged as could possibly. I was like, I God, if I saw you face to face, I would give you the…like I told him all this stuff. Scott Landry — And and what I found in that moment was like and I again, I talk about in the book, but like I yelled, God, I don’t even believe in you anymore. I’m done. Like I like I don’t I don’t believe. You’ve promised me that you would never leave me. You would never forsake me. And that’s exactly what you’ve done. I’ve told people that you would never leave them and forsake them. And yet you’ve done that to me. You are you are dead to me. I don’t believe in you anymore. Scott Landry — And I even now I still feel this and I’m just talking about it. But like this is and this is I know some people are going to roll their eyes at this. But like genuinely, when I heard myself say that, I felt this…like over me, over my house. It was like this eerie like pause. Scott Landry — And I heard if I’ve ever heard the voice of God, I heard a voice say, well, then who are you yelling at? And it was like this, like… Rich Birch — Beautiful. Scott Landry — And in that moment, it was like my anger was it wasn’t my degree. It wasn’t my Bible. It was it was my anger was my evidence that God was present right then and right there. And because my anger was directed at him. Scott Landry — And he knew that I was angry with him and he met me at the place of my anger and he was waiting. And this is the part that I still, I can’t do this, what’s in my head and in my heart justice. But it was God was saying, I’ve been waiting for you at this place your whole life. Rich Birch — Wow. Scott Landry — You you have been hiding from this anger from your childhood, from your young adulthood. And I’ve been waiting for you to meet me here at your anger. And I’ve I’ve wanted you to know that I would be here waiting for you. Scott Landry — And if you met me on the top of the tallest mountain and if you look me face to face and if you were to give me the finger, you would find me there waiting because I am waiting at who you really are, not who you’re pretending to be. Scott Landry — And everyone around you, you’ve got them fooled. And you’re a used car salesman and you can spin the Bible verses and you can do all that other stuff. But I know who you really are. And I’m waiting for you to finally be honest with yourself about who you really are. Scott Landry — And now that you finally are, now we can do something about that together. And that was the moment that God truly revealed himself to me. And that’s when I, for the first time in my life, truly discovered who I was. Scott Landry — And yeah, that’s the moment that I hope anybody who ever meets me or talks to me or listens to me or reads it, like that’s the part that I long for people to have before it costs them, like it cost me. [Clip 4 Ends] Rich Birch — I love that moment when Scott said he heard, who are you yelling at? Man, that sticks with you. Rich Birch — Listen, four different stories. What I’m trying to do is raise for you the question about the inner life of what’s going on at your church with the senior leaders around you. Rich Birch — What if you were to go back and look at these four conversations and maybe say, OK, this one might be the best for us to lead a conversation with, and send them one of those, send your team one of those episodes. And say, hey, I’d love for us to take some time this summer. Rich Birch — Maybe you go and relax on a back deck somewhere or jump in somebody’s boat or spend a little extra time at the office. Because there is a little bit of slack at this time of year. And ask the question, hey, what’s going on on the inside of us as leaders at the church? How are we developing and how could this conversation help us ask some different questions than we normally do in our team meetings? Rich Birch — All the links to those four conversations are down below. Thanks for sticking through this this entire conversation. I know there was a lot today, but we’ll see you next week with our regularly scheduled programs, kind of back to what we normally do here at unSeminary. Rich Birch — Thanks for being a part of the podcast. Thanks for doing what you’re doing, including the hard work of the inner life to lead your people in a way that makes a huge difference. Thanks for being engaged in the local church. Take care, friends.
In this episode of Blind Techie Geek Speaks, host Kathleen Masciana bridges ancient philosophy with contemporary parenting debates about technology. Kathleen guides listeners through a thoughtful exploration of whether true moral knowledge is possible without the metaphysical frameworks of Plato, Augustine, and Aquinas, and what this means for how we make decisions about technology in our families. Kathleen examines Rachelle Farquhar's "iPad-free" parenting experiment alongside perspectives from social psychologists Jonathan Haidt and Jean Twenge. She discusses Twenge's rule from "10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World," which recommends waiting until a child has their driver's license before giving them a smartphone—typically at age sixteen. Kathleen offers a critical perspective on this rule, explaining why such a one-size-fits-all approach is unrealistic for persons with disabilities, particularly those who cannot drive. Drawing from her own experience as a blind online graduate student pursuing her master's degree in philosophy at Holy Apostles College and Seminary, Kathleen shares how she received her first smartphone at fourteen and waited until nineteen to join social media—using a flip phone before that to stay connected with family. She argues that Twenge's book would benefit from modified rules that account for different circumstances, as smartphones often serve as essential tools for independence and access rather than just entertainment. Throughout the episode, Kathleen offers insights on digital literacy, balanced technology use, and how devices can serve as vital instruments for education and connection. Her perspective invites listeners to move beyond rigid thinking and consider more nuanced, inclusive approaches to technology in our lives and the lives of children.
Bishop Robert Gruss reminds us that the first place a vocation is nurtured is in the home. Watch his message on how every family can help create a culture of vocations and encourage the next generation to follow God's call.
In this episode, John Piper reflects on God's delight in being God. John Piper is founder and lead teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. He served for thirty-three years as a pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is the author of more than fifty books, including 'The Pleasures of God: Meditations on God's Delight in Being God' from Crossway. ❖ Listen to “Remembering the “Seashells” Sermon 23 Years Later" with John Piper: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show.
*This episode was originally published on 9/22/2025. In this week's episode, Dr. Jared Bumpers is joined by Dr. Don Whitney to discuss “The Spirituality of Martyn Lloyd-Jones.” Dr. Whitney is The post The Spirituality of Martyn Lloyd-Jones appeared first on Preaching and Preachers Institute.
In this summer repeat, Patrick and Jonah continue their exploration of heaven and hell by turning toward a surprising image: the false paradise. Beginning with Christ's words to the criminal on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise,” they ask what true paradise is, and how it differs from a pleasant, controlled, painless world that avoids the cross.The conversation explores the danger of a light that carries a lie within it: a vision of perfection without love, truth without compassion, and utopia built by force. Patrick and Jonah name this as one of the subtler forms of hell, a darkness that masquerades as light and promises peace by eliminating whatever does not fit its vision.Against this false paradise, they point toward the true paradise opened by Christ: the path of compassion, patient endurance, sacrificial love, and the willingness to suffer with others rather than harden the heart. At the heart of the episode is the mystery that heaven is not built by escaping the cross, but by entering the love that passes through death into resurrection.Ask us a question here!Support the showThe Light in Every Thing is a podcast of The Seminary of The Christian Community in North America. Learn more about the Seminary and its offerings at our website. This podcast is supported by our growing Patreon community. To learn more, go to www.patreon.com/ccseminary.Thanks to Elliott Chamberlin who composed our theme music, “Seeking Together."
Kyle Worley is joined by Lauren & Tyler to discuss the story of “The Pilgrim's Progress.” Questions Covered in This Episode: What is Lithos? What is Pilgrims' Progress? Why should everyone read it? What is it an allegory for? Why did the book's popularity fade? Why is there a renewed interest? Why would you tell a family that this story is worth their time? What resources would you recommend are necessities for family discipleship? Guest Bios: Tyler Van Halteren founded Lithos Kids in 2020 after seeing the impact short bedtime stories had on his son. He is the author of the Little Pilgrim series as well as The Kingdom of God Bible Storybook. Canadian by birth, Tyler previously served as a pastor in rural Ontario and later as a Bible professor in Cambodia. His growing young family now resides in Canada. Tyler holds a M.Div. from The Master's Seminary. Lauren Ducommun and her family served as missionaries in Indonesia before returning to Canada. She joined the team in 2020 and currently oversees our US warehouse, social media content, marketing, editing, and proofreading. She also modernized The Pilgrim's Progress: Legacy Edition and formatted Paradise Lost: Legacy Edition! Her family now resides near Fort Worth, Texas, where she works from home with her two kids, ages nine and thirteen. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Lithos “The Pilgrim's Progress” by John Bunyan “Little Pilgrim's Big Journey” by Tyler Van Halteren Follow Us:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | WebsiteSupport Training the Church and Become a Patron:patreon.com/trainingthechurchYou can now receive your first seminary class for FREE from Midwestern Seminary after completing Lifeway's Deep Discipleship curriculum, featuring JT, Jen and Kyle. Learn more at mbts.edu/deepdiscipleship.To learn more about our sponsors please visit our sponsor page.Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
This week's "At Her Career Crossroads" insight comes from me. I want to share another career decision that changed the direction of my life. "Sometimes a decision begins before you know exactly what you're deciding. You just know the path everyone around you seems to be following doesn't feel like yours. That was where I found myself in Seminary. I was surrounded by people who were preparing to become pastors, and for many of them, that made complete sense. They seemed clear about what they were there to do and where they were headed. But I couldn't see myself doing that. I couldn't see myself in a pulpit. I saw myself in a classroom." Here are 3 reasons why you should listen to this episode: If you've ever looked around and wondered why everyone else's career path seems to make sense—but yours doesn't—this episode will remind you that your purpose may not look like anyone else's. You'll hear how one simple question, "What do I want?", helped me begin finding a direction that felt more aligned, even though I couldn't yet see the whole path. If you're feeling pressure to follow what's expected rather than what feels right, this conversation will encourage you to pay attention to the direction that keeps calling you instead. I'm Dr. Robin, and through my work as a leadership and purpose researcher, executive coach, and creator of the PurposeMAKER™ framework, I help high-achieving women close the Purpose Gap so they can create lives and careers that reflect who they truly are. Would you prefer to watch or listen to the podcast on YouTube?Head on over to https://www.youtube.com/@leadershippurposepodcast Want to connect? Connect with Dr. Robin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinlowensphd/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robinlowensphd Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robinlowensphd/ Email: Robin@LeadershipPurposePodcast.com Thank you for listening! Rate, review, & follow on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast player. Talk to you soon! This episode was produced by Lynda, Podcast Manager for Creative Entrepreneurs at https://www.ljscreativeservices.co.nz
Contact us. We'd love to serve youGrow in your ministry preparation through the FREE Practically Trained Pastors Cohort.Give financially to support the work of helping pastors thriveWrite a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Resources(03:20) Framing the Question: Do Pastors Need Seminary?(05:10) Biblical Foundations for Training(06:50) How Seminaries Assumed the Training Role(07:27) Jim's Training Story: Church-Based “Seminary”(10:00) Brian's Training Story: Mentors & “Informal M.Div.”(13:15) Serving at Southern Seminary Without a Seminary Degree(15:45) So, Is Seminary Required? Global & Historical Perspective(18:30) Who Really Needs Seminary? Denominations, Missions, Teaching(21:45) Credentials and Closed Doors(23:30) Seminary as Structure, Deadlines, and Motivation(26:05) The “Educational Bubble,” Enrollment Decline, & Competition(28:10) Tension: “You Need the Church” vs. “You Really Need Us”(29:40) Encouraging Smaller, Church-Connected Seminaries(31:15) Alternative Pathways & Practical Shepherding Cohorts(32:40) Encouragement to Non‑Seminary Pastors(34:45) Pastors, Don't Outsource Training Your Men(37:10) Final Word & Prayer
*This Episode was originally published on 02/01/2026. In this episode of Preaching and Preachers, Dr. Jason K. Allen is joined by Dan Darling to discuss preaching in a polarized age, pastoral faithfulness in The post Christian Patriotism appeared first on Preaching and Preachers Institute.
All the Episodes of the Heidelcast Subscribe to the Heidelcast! Browse the Heidelshop! On X @Heidelcast On Insta & Facebook @Heidelcast Subscribe in Apple Podcast Subscribe directly via RSS Call The Heidelphone via Voice Memo On Your Phone The Heidelcast is available wherever podcasts are found including Spotify. Call or text the Heidelphone anytime at (760) 618-1563. Leave a message or email us a voice memo from your phone and we may use it in a future podcast. Record it and email it to heidelcast@heidelblog.net. If you benefit from the Heidelcast please leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts so that others can find it. Please do not forget to make the coffer clink (see the donate button below). SHOW NOTES Superfriends Saturday: March 7, 2026. Additional information on preparing for seminary How To Subscribe To Heidelmedia The Heidelblog Resource Page Heidelmedia Resources The Ecumenical Creeds The Reformed Confessions The Heidelberg Catechism The Heidelberg Catechism: A Historical, Theological, and Pastoral Commentary (Lexham Academic) Recovering the Reformed Confession (P&R Publishing, 2008) Why I Am A Christian What Must A Christian Believe? Heidelblog Contributors Support Heidelmedia: use the donate button or send a check to: Heidelberg Reformation Association 1637 E. Valley Parkway #391 Escondido CA 92027 USA The HRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Stephen Furtick has often spoken about the importance of raising his children “in the way they should go.” But what happens when the context of that comment is about showing him the music of Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix? What we want to examine are comments from Stephen Furtick as he reflects on his son, the music they've bonded over, and why he says Metallica's album 72 Seasons has been his inspiration for the 18th anniversary of Elevation Church. We'll also look at his past remarks about introducing his son to the top 100 Rock albums at their at-home “Seminary” and ask an important question: What does biblical discipleship actually look like? Are the formative influences we celebrate shaping our children toward Christ, or toward the values of the world? Led Zeppelin Exposed https://youtu.be/F80RzK4jWUA Pastor's Devilish Delight (DVD) https://youtu.be/svqtaNJOQBQ?si=SpmkJLX2I6NmTd6e They Sold Their Souls (10 HR) they-sold-their-souls-for-rock-n-roll-10-hr Hellhounds On The Crossroad (Tract) hellhounds-at-the-crossroads Steven Furtick Is Still Dangerous (Episode) https://youtu.be/583gdYxqCKA?si=iwSVOwd_zTEYt4xV Submerging Church (DVD) https://www.goodfight.org/product/the-submerging-church/ https://youtu.be/H5mvYkEkcyA?si=yINEJ3Zdr-L2RPdL Follow Good Fight Ministries on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodfightministries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodfightministries Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/goodfightmin TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goodfightministries We're on Rumble! https://rumble.com/GoodFightMinistries Support Us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/goodfight
It was one of the hardest decisions of a young Scotsman's life to go and teach at an American seminary. But there, God blessed him with friends. Today, Sinclair Ferguson reflects on the cherished gift of friendship. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/things-unseen-with-sinclair-ferguson/a-seminary-in-philadelphia/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts
China releases Pastor Ezra Jin, a seminary's stand for Biblical teaching, witnessing at America 250, and restoring the American bison. Plus, Joe Rigney on inheriting America's founding principles, a British copy of our Declaration, and the Tuesday morning newsSupport The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donateAdditional support comes from Harbinger Tours. Luxury Israel trips, November and May. Jane Austen, June '27. Tuscany, September '27. HarbingerTours.netFrom The Amplified Bible, from The Lockman Foundation, designed to bring out the full depth of meaning in Scripture by expanding key words and phrases from the original languages. Its unique amplifications and definitions add clarity for reading and study.New TwoTone editions use soft gray typography to distinguish amplified words from the main text, creating a cleaner page and a smoother reading experience.Learn more at amplifiedbible.comAnd from Ambassadors Impact Network, where members bring pattern recognition from building and scaling companies, and they apply that wisdom collaboratively to evaluate faith-driven investment opportunities. The network hosts quarterly meetings for education, deal review, and fellowship, with hybrid options enabling connection across geographies. Membership information is available at ambassadorsimpact.com