Podcasts about Spiritual formation

This episode of Awaken to God's Presence offers a guided practice for connecting with the divine during troubled times. Host Robin Linkhart, leads listeners in a prayer recognizing Pride Month, which honors the LGBTQ community and its contributions. The prayer asks for courage to be true to oneself, love and acceptance of neighbors, and justice and equality for all. It also prays for those seeking to understand diversity, for a world free of discrimination, and for love and acceptance to prevail. Listen to more episodes in the Awaken to God's Presence series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

Jeff Crosby reads about 75 books a year. But in this conversation—his third appearance on the podcast—he's quick to say the number isn't the point. What matters is what reading does to you, including what he calls being "unselfed." Jeff Crosby is a 24-year veteran of InterVarsity Press, current executive with ECPA, and author of World of Wonders: A Spirituality of Reading.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:jeffreycrosby.net — Jeff's website, including his books and information on his forthcoming book on musicECPA — Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, where Jeff servesBooks mentioned:World of Wonders: A Spirituality of Reading, by Jeff CrosbyEvery Moment Holy, Vol. I, by Douglas Kaine McKelveyA Diary of Private Prayer, by John BaillieReading While Black, by Esau McCaulleyThe Cross and the Lynching Tree, by James H. ConeJesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, by Kenneth E. BaileyPlainsong, by Kent HarufEventide, by Kent HarufBenediction, by Kent HarufMere Christianity, by C.S. LewisThe Ragamuffin Gospel, by Brennan ManningA Touch of Wonder, by Arthur GordonRELATED EPISODES:Episode 194: Saudade, Leadership, and Nurturing the Inner Life, with Jeff CrosbyEpisode 96: Crossing Leadership Thresholds, with Jeff CrosbySend me a text! I'd love to know what you're thinking!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

The Apostasy of Spiritual Formation - A Critique of Practicing the Way, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Spiritual formation is designed for those who don't know Christ. This is Christianity in name only. Using verses from Hebrews, Bob warns that turning from the promises of God given to all believers and going to spiritual formation leads to apostasy. (duration 00:22:40) Click here to play

In this message from The Beatitudes, Angie Richey teaches from Matthew 5:5 that meekness is power under control. Meekness is not weakness, but strength submitted to God, emotional regulation, holy restraint, and trust that God can defend, heal, and lead us without our need to dominate, retaliate, or control every outcome.Click here to view the episode transcript. (00:00) - Power Under Control (01:18) - An Attitude Adjustment on Meekness (02:03) - Living in a Triggered World (03:17) - Matthew 5 and the Upside Down Kingdom (04:22) - Blessed Are the Meek (05:44) - Jesus Redefines Power (07:30) - From Survival to Spiritual Formation (09:12) - The Order of the Beatitudes (10:26) - Releasing the Need to Control (15:37) - Meekness Is Not Weakness (16:02) - Jesus Was Meek, Not Weak (19:44) - The Meek Will Inherit the Earth (23:21) - Psalm 37 and Abundant Peace (25:03) - Meekness and Emotional Regulation (31:43) - David, Saul, and Trusting God's Timing (33:50) - Practices for Meekness (37:12) - The Eagle, the Snake, and Spiritual Battle

Samuel Goulet shares a practical and encouraging message on how strong families are built by centering the home on Christ. He explains that discipleship begins at home through both testimony and structure—parents modeling God's faithfulness while creating a culture marked by love, forgiveness, compassion, and daily spiritual formation. This episode challenges families to move beyond condemnation, embrace conviction, and intentionally build homes where God's Word is lived out, passed on, and reflected in everyday life.

Today, we continue our Summer Forecast with Dr. Lanta Davis, who will be teaching "Imagination and Spiritual Formation" at Regent Summer School from June 29 - July 3. In this conversation, Lanta introduces us to how the imagination shapes our lives with God. She brings us back through Christian history to show how visual art, stories, and symbols shape our faith, identity, and understanding of God. We discuss how the contemporary imagination is being influenced by consumerism and political agendas, and reflect on the power of images of Jesus in particular. Lanta takes us deep into the fascinating world of saints' lives and bestiaries as sources that train and model our imaginative capacities, but also gives practical suggestions for ways to practice growing our imaginative capacities through visual art and literature. We hope you enjoy this conversation and consider joining us this summer for a class that may contain unicorns!Lanta's BioDr. Lanta Davis writes and teaches about the sacramental imagination, beauty, and character formation. Her book, Becoming by Beholding: The Power of the Imagination in Spiritual Formation (Baker, 2024), was named one of Christianity Today's best books of the year. Her writing has also appeared in publications such as Smithsonian Magazine, National Geographic, Christianity Today, Plough, Parabola, and Christian Century. As a Professor of Humanities and Literature for the John Wesley Honors College at Indiana Wesleyan University, she has researched and lectured on topics as diverse as ancient Christian mosaics, sacred architecture, virtues and vices, pilgrimages, memento mori art, and contemporary Irish fiction. She will be teaching Imagination and Spiritual Formation at Regent from June 29 to July 3. Regent College PodcastThanks for listening. Please like, rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice and share this episode with a friend. Follow Us on Social MediaFacebookInstagramYoutubeKeep in TouchRegent CollegeSummer ProgramsRegent College Newsletter

What does joy look like in the midst of pain and grief? K.J. Ramsey's memoir, The Place Between Our Pains, was written while she was fighting for her life - and in this conversation, she talks about what that actually means. We get into how dependence on others opens us to love in ways independence never could, why grief is a gate into aliveness rather than a place to get stuck, and what it looked like to launch a book about joy while facing a tumor diagnosis and an IV drip on launch day. This is a conversation about the kind of joy that doesn't require a tidy resolution and why that might be the kind we're searching for.K.J. Ramsey is an increasingly feral mystic who is utterly devoted to the joy of being alive. She is a body-centered licensed professional counselor specialized in trauma recovery and an acclaimed author of prose and poetry, including The Book of Common Courage, The Lord Is My Courage, and This Too Shall Last, as well as the bestselling essay Substack Embodied. KJ advocates for fellow autoimmune patients and lives in Colorado with her husband Ryan, a hospice chaplain, and their two velcro dogs.K.J.'s Book:The Place Between Our PainsK.J.'s Recommendation:Project Hail MaryConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeSupport the podcast and the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below Support the show

Throughout church history there has always been an interesting tension between creativity and functionality. What is more important? Creating beautiful things or getting a certain message across? What is more important to worship? Right theology or beautiful art that displays the glory of God? Do we need better theology in our songs or more honesty? We intuitively know this is a tension to manage, not a problem to solv  e. No one would argue that theology doesn't matter. But has our pursuit of rightness caused us to lose some imagination? Some humanity? Has our church culture fixation on efficiency, productivity, and uniformity formed us to forget the mystery and wonder of singing together as people? My guest today is John Mark McMillan. John Mark is a brilliant artist, singer-songwriter, and lyricist. He has existed at this interesting intersection of artistry that most people don't understand while also writing some of the most popular worship songs of the last 30 years. We talk about a lot of things. We talk worship. We talk church. We talk spiritually formative practices. We dive into guitar tone, abuse in the church, and the real story behind the infamous line, “sloppy wet kiss.” Topics Covered: What JMM loves about life right now Reading and listening to records Why it’s helpful to listen to music different than the music you make How worship music is uniquely positioned to serve our society How we’ve missed the point of worship music The tension between creativity and serving our congregations Why you should make art for yourself and not an audience How JMM created the guitar tone on “Daylight” Why art is never safe Spiritual formation habits and practices Viewing church as a spiritual practice How to process abuse and injustice in the church The story behind “sloppy wet kiss” Resources Mentioned: Show Sponsor: Dwell Bible App Show Sponsor: Planning Center 1996 by Ryuichi Sakamato Playing the Piano by Ryuichi Sakamato The Way to Love by Anthony de Mello Awareness by Anthony de Mello How Music Works by David Byrne Show Sponsor: Dwell Bible This episode is brought to you by dwell bible app. In our busy lives finding quiet moments to read the Bible can be challenging. I get it. Traditional, reading focused apps demand undivided attention. You have to carve out specific time and space in your day but this also means missing opportunities to engage with scripture in your car or during workouts, or while you're just doing stuff around the house. And that's where Dwell Bible app comes in, offering a unique way to engage with Scripture. Unlike reading apps, Dwell is audio-based. It allows the truth of Scripture to be read over you throughout your day. Imagine hearing the Bible while driving to work or running in the park or cooking dinner. You don't always need to find a quiet corner. The word is with you wherever you are, filling your every day, mundane moments. So give Dwell a shot— it's a no-brainer. You'll get to experience a whole new way to connect with God through the Bible. To get started listening, head to dwellbible.com/beyondsunday for up to 50% off today! Show Sponsor: Planning Center This episode is brought to you by Planning Center, helping you sync all your ministry details across your whole church. Planning Center has become so essential to how I manage a team, that it's almost impossible to consider local church ministry without it anymore. Today, I want to leave you with a PCO pro-tip. Does this sound like a familiar situation? It's the end of the week. You're about to leave the office when you suddenly think: Did all of our volunteers confirm for Sunday? You scroll through the schedule and sure enough—there's a gap. Instead of allowing yourself to spiral into a panic, try this: In Services, Planning Center has gap alerts. Turn them on, and you'll get a heads-up days before service if positions are still unfilled or unconfirmed. No more end of the week scrambling. Speaking of less scrambling, did you know you can access everything you need for rehearsals right from the Service media player on your phone? Lyrics, chord charts, arrangement notes—it's all right there, so you're not hunting for files in the middle of hitting those power chords. To see what else you can do to make your Sundays easier, go to planningcenter.com/blog. The post #392: Spiritual Formation, Art, And The Beauty And The Tragedy of Worship Music with John Mark McMillan appeared first on Beyond Sunday Worship.

The truth is what our minds dwell on forms us. The stories and images we behold imprint themselves on us, shape who we become, and impact how we see the world. In this way, our imaginations are powerful. In today's episode, Lanta Davis helps us better understand the power of our imaginations and how what we dwell on forms who are becoming. Lanta Davis is professor of humanities and literature in the John Wesley Honors College at Indiana Wesleyan University and the author of Becoming by Beholding: The Power of the Imagination in Spiritual Formation. Her writing has appeared in Christianity Today, the Christian Century, Smithsonian Magazine, Plough, and Christ and Pop Culture. In my time with Lanta, she discusses the importance of training our imaginations, why the imagination is a ‘stamp for the soul,' and how and why it's important to allow beauty to shape our imaginations.Lanta's insights are fascinating and formational; I can't wait for you to listen to our conversation.Buy Melissa L. Johnson's book, Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless, here. Learn more about Impossible Beauty and join the community here.

Father Alex continues our series on the Anglican distinctives with a lesson on Via Media, referencing tracts #38 and #41.

Why have we misunderstood what is normally involved in spiritual growth? What does it mean to say that our God is a withdrawing God?” And what do we do when the bible becomes boring and prayer seems pointless? We'll discuss these questions and more with our guest Dr. Kyle Strobel around his new book When God Seems Distant.Kyle Strobel (Ph.D. University of Aberdeen) is the director of Talbot's Institute for Spiritual Formation and Marriage and Family Therapy program. He is a systematic theologian interested in theological anthropology, Jonathan Edwards, spiritual formation and prayer. He writes both popular and academic books and articles, and is on the preaching team at Redeemer Church, La Mirada. Kyle writes regularly on kylestrobel.substack.com==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.   Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.   To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.  

S10 E2—What do you do when you've done all the “right” spiritual things and still feel exhausted? Tish Harrison Warren, a writer and Anglican priest, joins Amy Julia Becker to explore burnout, spiritual dryness, midlife weariness, and the practices that help us stay rooted when God feels distant. For those who are tired, discouraged, or wondering why faith feels harder than it used to, here's hope for the long middle of life from Tish's latest book, What Grows in Weary Lands.00:00 Introduction to Tish Harrison Warren03:29 Exploring Spiritual Weariness and Doubt14:47 Understanding Fortitude and Resilience23:23 The Imagined Good Life30:20 Navigating the Desert of Faith35:10 The Practice of Stability44:04 Community in Seasons of AridityMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Books by Tish Harrison Warren: What Grows in Weary Lands Liturgy of the Ordinary Prayer in the Night _SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.comWATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTubeJOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabeckerLISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/_ABOUT OUR GUEST:Tish Harrison Warren is an Anglican priest and the author of several books, including Liturgy of the Ordinary, which won Christianity Today's 2018 Book of the Year, and Prayer in the Night, which won Christianity Today's 2022 Book of the Year and the 2022 ECPA Christian Book of the Year. She formerly wrote a weekly newsletter for The New York Times, which focused on faith in public discourse and private life. She was also a columnist at Christianity Today. Her articles and essays have appeared in Comment Magazine, The Point Magazine, Religion News Service, and elsewhere. She currently serves as the C.S. Lewis Theological Writer-in-Residence for The Anglican Episcopal House of Studies at Baylor's George W. Truett Theological Seminary. She is a senior fellow with the Trinity Forum and an assisting priest at Immanuel Anglican Church. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three children.https://tishharrisonwarren.com/https://www.instagram.com/tishharrisonwarren/We want to hear your thoughts. Send us a text!Connect with me:InstagramFacebookYouTubeWebsiteThanks for listening! 

In this conversation, Tim opens up about the wound that shaped his early life, the silence that followed, and what the long road toward healing has actually required. We get into what secrets do to the body, the difference between vertical confession and horizontal healing, why accountability that feels like parole isn't really accountability, what grief work demands and what gets stuck when we skip it, and what it looks like to stop letting a younger, wounded version of yourself run the show.Tim Ross, bestselling author and host of the popular podcasts The Basement and Wide Open, was born in Inglewood, California, and went to college to study administration of justice to become a law enforcement officer. But God had other plans and Tim gave his life to Jesus Christ on January 14, 1996, and he started preaching on February 25, 1996. He's been walking with Jesus ever since. In June of 1997, he moved to Dallas, and in the time he's spent in the great state of Texas, Tim served in several ministry capacities, including youth evangelist, young adult pastor, director of student ministries, associate campus pastor, executive pastor of Apostolic Ministries, and lead pastor. Tim now occupies his time as a podcaster, social media influencer, bestselling author, and preacher.Tim's Book:The Missing PeaceConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeSupport the podcast and the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below Support the show

In this month's spiritual formation conversation, we continue our series by reflecting on the practice of fasting and why it matters for our walk with Christ. Spiritual formation helps re-center our lives on Jesus when everything else competes for our attention. Fasting is more than just abstaining from food; it's intentionally setting something aside to create space to seek God. Looking at Jesus in the wilderness, we see how fasting prepares us to depend on God rather than comfort, control, or distraction. Alesia shares her experience fasting from social media and how it reduced anxiety, comparison, and noise while increasing presence and attentiveness to God. Brian shares his experience of fasting during a season of medical testing, and how it became a reminder of God's goodness and steadiness in uncertainty. Ultimately, fasting reveals what we rely on and invites us to re-center our lives on God. We encourage listeners to consider practicing fasting in some form this month as a way to step away from distractions and lean more fully into God's presence.  Episode Highlights:  Spiritual Discipline Fasting Living Less Distracted  Focusing on God  Foster Care Crisis   Find More on Hope Bridge: Visit Our Website  Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook  

 Family relationships can be some of the most meaningful and painful relationships in our lives. In this message, Pastor Mark explores what the Bible really means when it says to “honor your father and mother,” especially when family relationships are emotionally complicated, unhealthy, or deeply painful. Through the example of Jesus, this sermon examines boundaries, emotional health, forgiveness, guilt, and the challenge of staying loving without losing yourself. 

Three Renovaré staff members—Carolyn Arends, Monty Harrington, and Brandan Spencer—joined Nathan on Life with God to describe the team's pilgrimage to Montgomery to give sustained attention to injustice against Black people in the United States and celebrate the legacy of God-empowered resistance and resilience.

Have you ever held back because you didn't feel ready enough for God to use you? In the Season 6 finale, hosts Keane Fine and Heather Brown talk with Brian Delamont, Executive Vice President of TeachBeyond, to close out the series on myths that shape how we live out our faith. Walking through Biblical characters from Moses and Gideon to Paul and the disciples, they trace the ways that God empowers His people. If you're waiting until you're prepared or strong enough to serve, this episode is for you. 1 Cor. 1:27 "He does choose things that we would not choose to accomplish His purposes." Exodus 4:10-17 Joshua 1:9 Judges 6:14 "We don't have to be perfect or ideal; this unlimited strength is not a prerequisite to God using someone." Psalm 27:13-14 "The heart is being strengthened in the waiting." Ephesians 6:10-17 "God doesn't use the strong [...] but God makes you strong." "You know my strengths because they're from You, and You know my failures because You've been graciously present in those, too." Acts 7:58 "This is why the myth is crippling: because it can lead me down the path of believing the lie that I'm not usable, that I'm deficient or that I have to be perfect for God to use me or to do something meaningful in my life." May Reflection: Do I believe the lie that God only uses the strong?  What's changing our lives from the past season: Keane: Having guardianship of their youngest son and his brother's Frontier Airlines pass Heather: Developing Go Beyond Brian: Meeting TeachBeyond leaders in their contexts Weekly Spotlight: Master's International School We'd love to hear from you! podcast@teachbeyond.org Podcast Website: https://teachbeyond.org/podcast Learn about TeachBeyond: https://teachbeyond.org/

Navigating the complexities of pastoral leadership can be challenging, especially when striving for longevity in ministry. Many pastors face discouragement, burnout, and moral failures that can hinder their effectiveness. In this pod, Luke Geraty has a conversation to learn valuable insights from Vic, a seasoned pastor who has transitioned through various roles in church leadership. He shares his journey and highlights key strategies for sustaining a healthy and long-lasting ministry.

In this conversation with Richard Beck, author of The Book of Love, we explore what it actually means to read Scripture through the hermeneutic of love. Richard helps us see that we have to reckon with our attachment to God - whether we actually believe he's for us - because that fear or security shapes everything about how we read. We get into the violent texts of the Old Testament, why both conservatives and progressives have their own blind spots, how the Bible raises hard questions, and what seeing the cross through a hermeneutic of love looks like.Richard Beck is professor of psychology at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, where he also lives. He is a popular blogger and speaker and the author of several books, most recently The Shape of Joy and The Book of Love. His published research also covers topics as diverse as the psychology of profanity and why Christian bookstore art is so bad. Beck leads a Bible study each week for inmates at a maximum-security prison.Richard's Book:The Book of LoveRichard's Recommendations:What it Means to be ProtestantConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeSupport the podcast and the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below Support the show

In this episode on early Christian monasticism, Geoff and regular guest David Clayton explore how the Desert Fathers and Mothers understood sin as discorder (of all kinds) and how asceticism was a path toward freedom to love God and others. They discuss sin not merely as rule-breaking but as patterns that impair clear seeing, free choosing, and loving well. Asceticism is presented as training that frees the heart by reshaping habits, while emphasizing grace, mercy, and the hope to “begin again” each day.Dive deeper in our new book, Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection, and learn about our trainings and other resources at embodiedfaith.life.Stay Connected: Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort.Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources.Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).

Father Alex continues our series on the Anglican distinctives with a lesson on ancient and existing liturgies, pulling from tract #63.

How do we move students from simply talking about truth, goodness, and beauty to actually living those ideals out in everyday life? In this episode of BaseCamp Live, Davies Owens is joined by Sharon Carlson for a thoughtful conversation about what it means to develop an “operational theology” , a faith that shapes not just beliefs, but daily decisions, relationships, failures, and future plans. Sharon draws from decades of experience in classical Christian education, student formation, counseling, and college advising to explore how schools and parents can help students connect theology to real life. Together, they discuss: Why students often struggle to apply Christian truth in practical decisions What “the good life” actually means from a biblical perspective How parents and schools can respond redemptively when students fail Why discipline moments can become discipleship opportunities The difference between knowing Christian virtues and becoming more like Christ How theology helps students navigate anxiety, uncertainty, and major life decisions Why “the best next step” matters more than fear of making the “wrong” decision Sharon also shares insights from mentoring students through college and career decisions, helping them understand that God's will is ultimately about being conformed to the character of Christ, not simply finding the perfect school, job, or path.

Administration is more than paperwork—it's a spiritual calling. Jana Holiday, author of Taking Good Care: Administration for Christian Formation, explores how stewardship, imagination, and hospitable leadership can transform administration into a ministry of care and Christian formation.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Jana Holiday explains that she loves administration because it involves solving problems and collaborating to move people, resources, and projects toward fulfilling a mission.Administration centers on stewardship—taking good care of people, resources, and projects.Jana Holiday connects the idea of stewardship to Genesis 1, positioning it as an expression of imago Dei and a pursuit of good work and good results.Effective administration requires reflection, intentionality, and love.Jana Holiday cautions against letting the pursuit of productivity override empathy and care in leadership.Administration works best when it is open-handed and welcoming, rather than controlling and restrictive.Administrators must choose between stewardship—an open invitation—and dominion, which relies on control.Jana Holiday warns that exercising dominion in administration risks missing out on the collective wisdom and creativity of a group.Administrative work is not unspiritual; all good work—including administration—can be ministry and part of Christian formation.Jana Holiday introduces three categories related to work: jobs, callings, and invitations, suggesting that many administrative roles may function as invitations from God more than callings.Approaching administrative work as an invitation can lead to a more purposeful and responsive engagement with people and resources.Markus Watson and Jana Holiday discuss the importance of boundaries for administrators and the need for leaders to help protect staff from being overloaded by excessive demands.Over-functioning and under-functioning both erode trust in organizational settings.Jana Holiday suggests administrators regularly audit their responsibilities and seek feedback from colleagues to maintain a healthy balance in their roles.Hospitable administration involves creating belonging and valuing people as part of stewardship, not just completing tasks.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Gordon-Conwell Theological SeminaryIDEO (Design & Innovation Firm)Books mentioned:Taking Good Care, by Jana HollidayDesigning Your Life, by Bill Burnett and Dave EvansDesigning Your Work Life, by Bill Burnett and Dave EvansThe Art of Innovation, by Tom KelleyRELATED EPISODE'S:Healing Workplace Wounds, with Meryl HerrTrust, Teams, and Transformational Leadership, with Mike BonemPursuing Your Purpose, with Nicholas PearceSend me a text! I'd love to know what you're thinking!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Brian Zahnd joins me to talk about his new book Unseen Existences — and we get into why modern Western people suffer a kind of spiritual homelessness, how philosophical materialism has convinced us the spiritual world isn't real, and what it looks like to recover a sense that heaven and earth actually overlap. We also dig into the Incarnation as a doorway into mystery, wonder and awe as non-negotiables for living faith, and what it means to hold onto a God who intervenes without turning prayer into a transaction.Brian Zahnd is the founder and lead pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. Known for his theologically informed preaching and his embrace of the deep and long history of the church, Zahnd is a frequent speaker at conferences, universities, and seminaries around the world. As a pastor-theologian, he is the author of numerous titles, including The Wood Between the Worlds, When Everything's on Fire, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God, A Farewell to Mars, and Beauty Will Save the World.Brian's Book:Unseen ExistencesBrian's Recommendation:Wendell BerryConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeSupport the podcast and the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Shame doesn't only live in the dark corners of a broken life. It lives just as quietly in the person everyone else envies — the one who has achieved everything and still wakes up feeling like it isn't enough.Ken Shigematsu grew up moving between Japan, England, and Canada, carrying the weight of a shame-and-honor culture that most Western theology never addresses. In this conversation, he and Michael explore why deep grace is different from knowing grace is true, what it means to grow our capacity to actually receive love rather than deflect it, and why beauty and joy aren't spiritual extras — they are among the most direct routes out of shame and into the self God made.Ken also shares the simple daily practice that, over 30 days, can literally rewire the neural networks that make it hard to feel loved by God — even when you believe it.Ken Shigematsu is a pastor in Vancouver, Canada, and author of Now I Become Myself: How Deep Grace Heals Our Shame and Restores Our True Self.Support the showENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:- Follow us on YouTube - Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS- Like us on Facebook- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter- Follow Michael on Twitter- Email us at info@restoringthesoul.com Thanks for listening!

Family Culture Formation Culture is the shared set of beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and habits that shape how a family lives and relates. Beliefs → Behaviors → Habits → Culture BELIEFS • God is central in our home — Joshua 24:14–28 • Truth matters — Ephesians 4:20–25 • Deal with anger before sleep — Ephesians 4:26–27 • Forgiveness is essential — Colossians 3:12–14 BEHAVIORS Behaviors are the visible actions flowing from beliefs. • Praying Together — Philippians 4:6–7 • Speaking Encouragement — 1 Thessalonians 5:11 • Serving One Another — Galatians 5:13–15 • Listening With Patience — James 1:19–20 Repeated behaviors reinforce the spiritual and emotional atmosphere of the home. ` HABITS & CULTURE Habits are behaviors repeated consistently over time. These repeated rhythms form identity and family culture. Habit: Daily Scripture and Conversation About God • Deuteronomy 6:1–9 Healthy family culture develops when godly beliefs shape behaviors, repeated behaviors become habits, and habits form the atmosphere of the home.

What does it truly mean to love others as Christ has loved us, and how far are we willing to go to live that out? We are reminded through the life of Mary Slessor that the call to “do unto others” is a call to sacrificial love—one that moves us beyond our comfort into compassionate action for others. From a life marked by hardship, she was transformed by Christ and sent to bring His light into deep darkness, rescuing the vulnerable, living among those she served, and giving herself wholly for their good. In her surrender, we see that such love is not possible in our own strength, but through dependence on God who leads and empowers us. Therefore, we commit ourselves to follow where He leads, to serve selflessly, and to reflect His heart to others—trusting Him with the results, and seeking to make our lives a melody of His grace in both the light and the dark places.   

In this message, Pastor Ricky Ortiz reminds us of a ministry focus that's been missing at Meta Church over the past two years. Using Acts 5-6, he reminds us that we've got to get back to the streets!

Elizabeth Berget joins the podcast to explore the maternal heart of God — tracing how the Hebrew word rakum, often translated simply as "compassionate," is linguistically rooted in the word for womb, and what it means that God reaches for that word first when describing himself to Israel. The conversation moves through pregnancy, labor, and the crucifixion, the theology of secure attachment, what scripture's birth language reveals about salvation, and why expanding our image of God isn't a departure from orthodox Christianity but a return to something ancient that's largely been lost in translation.ELIZABETH BERGET is a speaker and author of Love like a Mother: How the Sacred Work of Motherhood Reveals the Maternal Heart of God. Her work has appeared in Christianity Today, Coffee + Crumbs, Mothering Spirit, and other online spaces where mothers gather to find meaning in the mundane. She shares her thoughts in her Substack newsletter, Back of the Flock, where she explores the image of God in the everyday work of motherhood. Berget has lived in Africa and Asia but now resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her husband, three kids, and one mischievous dog. And yes, she'd love to hold your baby.Elizabeth's Book:Love Like a MotherElizabeth's Recommendations:Nervous SystemsLiving EasterConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeSupport the podcast and the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

This week, we share an exclusive For the Journey conversation between Rev. Bill Haley, Scott Buresh (Coracle Baltimore Community Minister), and Wade Ballou (Co-pastor of the Coracle Community). They discuss Celtic Christianity, Ignatian spirituality, pilgrimage, the Desert Fathers, the development of Western monasticism, and much more. All of this serves as an introduction to A Common Way, Coracle's initiative to translate the riches of monastic wisdom for normal people in the modern world.EXPLORE A COMMON WAYEXPLORE THE CORACLE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMinthecoracle.org  |  @inthecoracleSupport the showFor the Journey is a resource of the Coracle Center of Formation for Action and is made possible through the generous support of men and women across the globe.

Light is a language, and learning to read it - in a darkened theater, in the stories of your neighbors, in the films you were told to avoid - helps us see clearly. In this conversation, Jeffrey Overstreet and I talk about cinema as a spiritual practice, what it looks like to love your neighbor by actually watching their films, why the filmmakers he was told to fear have shaped his faith far more than he was told they would, and why pursuing truth and beauty on the big screen has a way of leading us back to Jesus.Jeffrey Overstreet is the author of two film-focused memoirs—Through a Screen Darkly (2007) and Lost and Found in the Cathedral of Cinema (2026)—and the four-volume fantasy series The Auralia Thread. He has served as Senior Film Critic at Christianity Today, a film columnist for the literary arts journal Image, and has been published at Paste and Bright Wall/Dark Room. In 2024, students at Seattle Pacific University voted him Undergraduate Professor of the Year for his work teaching creative writing and film studies. You can find more than 25 years of his writing on film, music, and faith at JeffreyOverstreet.comJeffrey's Book:Lost and Found in the Cathedral of CinemaJeffrey's Recommendations:Scott CairnsTania RunyanDelicate Machinery SuspendedConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeSupport the podcast and the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Spiritual growth has become a buzzword in modern Christianity, but not every path labeled formation leads to truth. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar examine how the modern emphasis on spiritual formation can drift from the gospel when it prioritizes experience over Scripture. They explain that while the desire to grow in Christ is good, many teachings introduce subtle distortions that pull believers toward mysticism, legalism, or emotionalism. Culture often reshapes spiritual growth to mirror the world's values rather than God's design. True sanctification is not about chasing experiences but about being transformed through Scripture and union with Christ, rooted in the truth God has already revealed.The guys highlight the growing problem of biblical illiteracy and its impact on the church. When believers stop meditating on God's Word, they begin to elevate personal experiences and opinions above truth. This shift opens the door to confusion, weak doctrine, and influential voices lacking biblical depth. The guys stress that discernment is essential. Spiritual growth requires investing in Scripture through meditation, memorization, and study, rather than treating the Bible as a quick solution. When the Word is neglected, believers become vulnerable to ideas that feel spiritual but are disconnected from truth.The conversation turns to the danger of replacing the gospel with methods or formulas for growth. There is no shortcut to spiritual maturity, and growth comes through the means God has already provided, including His Word, prayer, and dependence on Christ. The guys emphasize that believers are not striving to earn holiness but living from the holiness already given through union with Christ. When people focus on imitation rather than union, Christianity becomes self-effort rather than grace. True transformation flows from knowing Christ deeply, not from mastering techniques or chasing emotional experiences that promise quick change.Finally, the guys address how misplaced priorities affect both worship and evangelism. When experience replaces truth, worship can become self-focused rather than God-centered, and the urgency of the gospel begins to fade. A lack of emphasis on sin and judgment leads to a diluted message that removes the need for repentance. The guys call listeners back to a reverent, Scripture-anchored faith in which worship is rooted in truth, and the gospel remains central. Spiritual life is not about appearances or feelings but about trusting Christ, resting in His finished work, and being shaped daily by His Word.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! If you've been helped by this podcast, we'd be grateful if you'd consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

Send us a Text Message - include your name! In this episode of Faith Over Breakfast, Pastor Eric and Pastor Andy talk about what they are reading, why they read, and how books shape their daily lives. You may want to keep a pen and paper nearby, or check the transcript afterward, because they mention several books and resources along the way. Some links may take a little searching, but if a title catches your attention, it will be worth tracking down. Beyond The BeaconJoin Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Catholics living out our faith!Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showSupport"Faith Over Breakfast with Pastors Andy & Eric" is a weekly podcast where Pastors Andy and Eric come together over a imaginary delicious breakfast to talk about faith, food, sermons, culture, and more. In each episode, the pastors delve into thought-provoking topics and offer inspiring insights and practical guidance for those seeking to deepen their relationship with Jesus. With occasional guests joining the conversation, "Faith Over Breakfast with Pastors Andy & Eric" provides a unique perspective on what it means to live a life of faith in today's world. Whether you're a seasoned Christian or just starting on your faith journey, this podcast is the perfect companion for your morning routine. So join Pastors Andy and Eric each week as they explore the intersections of faith, food, and life over a delicious breakfast.Support:https://www.buzzsprout.com/97804/support

The hardest person for an elder to pastor is himself. In this final episode of our series on pastoral leadership, Dr. J. Mark Beach doesn't let elders off the hook. He looks at the unchecked bad habits of the heart, the hidden sins that hollow out a shepherd's credibility, and the gap between what they confront in others and what they tolerate in themselves. He's candid about what that costs a man over time, and what it costs the people under his care who need a shepherd with skin in the game, not a functionary with a clean conscience. The gospel that elders administer to broken people is the same gospel they desperately need. God, Beach reminds us, shoots straight with crooked arrows. But first you have to admit you're bent.

The hardest person for an elder to pastor is himself. In this final episode of our series on pastoral leadership, Dr. J. Mark Beach doesn't let elders off the hook. He looks at the unchecked bad habits of the heart, the hidden sins that hollow out a shepherd's credibility, and the gap between what they confront in others and what they tolerate in themselves. He's candid about what that costs a man over time, and what it costs the people under his care who need a shepherd with skin in the game, not a functionary with a clean conscience. The gospel that elders administer to broken people is the same gospel they desperately need. God, Beach reminds us, shoots straight with crooked arrows. But first you have to admit you're bent.

Welcome back for our twenty-ninth season of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast. This season is years in the making. We've long wanted to bring a season full of Spirit-directed conversations on the experience of being human, in all its complicated glory, but the timing was never quite right. And now, it's finally here: Season 29 | Becoming Human: With God in Our Bodies. Our goals this season are to confront the dualism between life in the body and life in the spirit, to hear stories of people who experienced their bodies as a place of encounter with God, and to explore the connection between the integration of life in our bodies and our spiritual lives with our leadership. We will be having deep, spiritual conversations with friends of the Transforming Center about their very human experiences in their bodies and how they've experienced God in and throughout these experiences. We will explore God in concrete bodily realities like gender, sexuality, race, ability, aging, illness, and death, to name a few.   In this first episode Ruth helps to set up our upcoming season, laying down the biblical and foundational groundwork for embodied spirituality. Drawing on Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, she reminds us that we are “spiritual beings learning to become human.” This episode is a map to help us know where we're going this season. Ruth concludes with Brian Wren's hymn “Good is the Flesh.” Mentioned in the episode: Soulful Spirituality by David Benner  How Can So Many Pastors and Leaders Be Godly and Dysfunctional at the Same Time? By Todd Wilson   Tending Soul, Mind and Body, the Art and Science of Spiritual Formation by Todd Wilson Into the Silent Land by Martin Laird Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton Honoring the Body Biblical Foundations (document Ruth references in the episode)   Music: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Led by the Spirit from Music in Solitude   We're on Substack! “On the Journey with the Transforming Center” is our home for “reflection, conversation, and connection with our transforming community.”  It includes thoughtful reflections from Ruth Haley Barton and the Transforming Center team, as well as alumni and friends of the Transforming Center, occasional special video teachings and guided practices, and space to interact with our content and respond with how God is working in your life through the posts. This is also where you find all of our podcast patron content! There are free and paid tiers. We'd love for you to join us over on Substack.  Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus conversations with each of our guests. Become a paid member of Substack today to receive these practices and so much more!   The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!   *this post contains affiliate links

Today, on Karl and Crew, we continued our weekly theme, “Sticking with it when…” exploring prayer. Dr. Bill Thrasher joined us to discuss how to tell if our prayer life is dead or disconnected, and how the Holy Spirit helps bring it back to life. Dr. Thrasher is a lead professor in the Master's program in Spiritual Formation and Discipleship at Moody Bible Institute and has written “How to Resurrect a Dead Prayer Life.” We then had Dr. Eric Scalise join us to explain how Hope for the Heart is using AI to offer biblical guidance on life’s hardest questions and to point people toward deeper care and support. Dr. Scalise is the President and Chief Strategy Officer for Hope for the Heart, an international counseling ministry. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps:Dr. Bill Thrasher’s Interview [ 26:56 ]Dr. Eric Scalise’s Interview [ 47:27 ]Ally’s Jokes [ 56:31 ]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fr Alex continues our series about the Anglican distinctives with a lesson on Apostolic Succession.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we continued our weekly theme, “Sticking with it when…” exploring prayer. Dr. Bill Thrasher joined us to discuss how to tell if our prayer life is dead or disconnected, and how the Holy Spirit helps bring it back to life. Dr. Thrasher is a lead professor in the Master's program in Spiritual Formation and Discipleship at Moody Bible Institute and has written “How to Resurrect a Dead Prayer Life.” We then had Dr. Eric Scalise join us to explain how Hope for the Heart is using AI to offer biblical guidance on life’s hardest questions and to point people toward deeper care and support. Dr. Scalise is the President and Chief Strategy Officer for Hope for the Heart, an international counseling ministry. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps:Dr. Bill Thrasher’s Interview [ 26:56 ]Dr. Eric Scalise’s Interview [ 47:27 ]Ally’s Jokes [ 56:31 ]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A year ago I started binge-watching shows during workouts and didn't notice when it became a problem. Then a new season dropped, I finished it in 48 hours, and I sat in front of the screen feeling a specific blankness — that sensation of having consumed something and received nothing. This essay is about that feeling. Not screen time. Not the hours. The architecture beneath them, and what it is doing to our capacity for depth. This is the first in a short series of essays in conversation with the German-Korean philosopher Byung-Chul Han, whose book The Disappearance of Rituals I cannot stop thinking about. Han names what most of our cultural commentary cannot quite reach: the loss of the forms that once let experience accumulate into meaning. Over the next several essays I'll put his diagnosis to work on the actual texture of our lives — our screens, our feeds, our worship, our politics, our relationships. Here is the question this one leaves you with: what have we quietly trained ourselves out of? This audio essay is the kind of theology you will find at Process This — my Substack. You the join 75k+ subscribers and get them all delievered to your inbox or follow the podcast feed wherever you listen. Join our upcoming online class – THE FUTURE OF RELIGION⁠ Tripp and Ilia Delio are teaming up for a brand-new four-week online class, ⁠The Future of Religion ⁠— for everyone who's read the books, asked the questions, and realized the faith they inherited doesn't quite fit anymore. Together they'll trace religion's evolutionary arc and map what's emerging on the other side. Includes 4 video lectures, 4 live Q&As (replays available), and a community of fellow travelers. Donation-based, pay what you're able (including $0). Live sessions start this month — register at ⁠www.thefutureofreligion.com⁠ ⁠⁠Theology Beer Camp 2026 — The God-Podcalypse — hits Kansas City October 8–10, exactly one month before the election⁠⁠⁠. Thirty scholars (Ilia Delio, Cornel West, Diana Butler Bass, Gary Dorrien, and a stack more), thirty God-pods, four post-apocalyptic stages, and the community everyone keeps telling us is the real reason they come back. Come find your people at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Theology Beer Camp ⁠⁠⁠ This podcast is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homebrewed Christianity ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠production. Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theology Nerd Throwdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Rise of Bonhoeffer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 75,000 other people by joining our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack - Process This!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get instant access to over 50 classes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheologyClass.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the podcast, drop a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, send ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠feedback/questions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or become a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠member of the HBC Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Make Your Home In This Luminous Dark A conversation with James K. A. SmithIn this episode, I sit down with philosopher and author James K. A. Smith (Jamie) to explore the mystical tradition as a living pathway into deeper faith, creativity, and presence.Jamie shares how his journey into mysticism began not through abstract theology, but through personal crisis, an experience of depression that exposed the limits of intellect and certainty. From there, voices like St. John of the Cross and Thomas Merton opened up a new way of understanding faith, not as mastery, but as surrender; not as knowing, but as unknowing.Together, we explore what it means to “make your home in the luminous dark,” to embrace mystery as a space of transformation rather than failure. We also dive deeply into the surprising role of art, especially contemporary and “difficult” art, as a powerful and often overlooked gateway into contemplation. Rather than delivering clear messages, great art invites us into encounter, disorientation, and wonder, forming in us the very capacities needed for a mystical life.This conversation is an invitation to let go of control, to trust the deeper currents of love beneath reality, and to discover how both mysticism and art can open us to the presence of God in ways that certainty never could.JOIN US FOR BOOK CLUB! Every Tuesday at 8 pm EST in June 2026, we will be reading James's book online in our Patreon community! We'd love to have you with us. Visit patreon.com/makersandmystics to RSVP. Send us Fan MailSupport the showJOIN US FOR BOOK CLUB! Every Tuesday at 8 pm EST in June 2026, we will be reading James's book online in our Patreon community! We'd love to have you with us. Visit patreon.com/makersandmystics to RSVP. Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1Give a one-time donation https://buy.stripe.com/9AQeYj7431fD12waEOJoin the Makers & Mystics Creative Collective https://www.patreon.com/c/makersandmystics

Paul wasn't just helping people get to heaven. Nijay Gupta joins me to make the case that Paul's letters were written for people trying to figure out how to live, not how to escape. Drawing from his new book Paul for the World, Nijay walks through the Greco-Roman world Paul was writing into - its economic disparity, its philosophies, its hunger for meaning - and shows how we can see our world similarly. The conversation moves through economics, the arts, the Stoics, and the resurrection to land on a grounded, new creation vision of the Christian life. This is a conversation about meaning, hope, and what it looks like to be fully alive in the world God hasn't given up on.Nijay K. Gupta (PhD, Durham University) is Julius R. Mantey Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary. He is the coauthor (with A. J. Swoboda) of the book Slow Theology, cohost of the Slow Theology podcast, and founder of the popular Substack newsletter Engaging Scripture. Gupta is an award-winning author of numerous books, including Tell Her Story, Strange Religion, and commentaries on Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1 and 2 Thessalonians. He is also a senior translator for the New Living Translation. Gupta lives in Portland, Oregon.Nijay's Book:Paul for the WorldNijay's Recommendation:God's HomecomingConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeSupport the podcast and the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Most people assume temptation is about weakness or willpower. But the wilderness story in Matthew 4 reveals something far older — evil moves first against the places where we have not been seen, soothed, safe, and secure.In this conversation, Michael and AJ Denson walk slowly through the baptism and temptation of Jesus, presenting them as a portrait of attachment under siege. They explore how the devil's opening accusation — if you are the Son of God — lands precisely where God's voice had just spoken identity and belonging, why hunger, loneliness, and exposure aren't just physical states but the exact conditions evil exploits, and what it means that after the ordeal, angels came and attended to him — a scene almost never preached, yet the one that puts the bow on the whole story.This is a co-host episode from Michael's ongoing series unpacking Sacred Attachment, chapter by chapter.Support the showENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:- Follow us on YouTube - Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS- Like us on Facebook- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter- Follow Michael on Twitter- Email us at info@restoringthesoul.com Thanks for listening!

 What parts of yourself need more attention? What would it mean for those parts to be given space? Today's conversation dives deep into these questions, leading to a conversation on what it means to be fully alive – and the individual and systemic obstacles that can get in the way of thriving.  Brad and Christin spoke openly about how they confront issues of power and privilege. And they also shared their wisdom on what it really means to bring spirituality into the therapist's office; and how we can reframe unhealthy experiences of spirituality and religion.  Dr. Brad Strawn is a licensed psychologist, ordained minister, and one of the leading figures in the integration of psychology and Christian theology in the U.S. He is the Evelyn and Frank Freed Chief of Spiritual Formation and Integration, Dean of the Chapel, and Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Fuller Graduate School of Psychology. His latest book is The Integrative Mindset: Pathways to Practicing as a Christian Clinician Dr. Christin Fort is a therapist and Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary who specializes in the integration of clinical psychology and biblical theology. Her scholarship, research, teaching, preaching, and clinical practice lie at the intersections of faith, race, emotional health, and relational well-being.  With & For is a podcast of the Thrive Center, an applied research center that exists to catalyze a movement of human thriving, with and for others through spiritual health. Learn more at thethrivecenter.org. Follow us on Instagram @thrivecenter Follow us on LinkedIn @thethrivecenter Dr. Pamela Ebstyne King hosts With & For, and is the Executive Director of the Thrive Center and the Peter L. Benson Professor of Applied Developmental Science at the School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy at Fuller Seminary. Follow her @drpamking. About With & For Host: Pam King Senior Director and Producer: Jill Westbrook Operations Manager: Lauren Kim Social Media & Graphic Designer: Wren Juergensen Senior Producer: Clare Wiley Executive Producer: Jakob Lewis Produced by Great Feeling Studios Special thanks to the team at Fuller Studio and Fuller Seminary's School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy. The podcast was made possible through the support from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the host and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.

What does it truly mean to ask, seek, and knock? Does God still answers prayer today? How does a life devoted to prayer shape not only our hearts, but the world around us? We are reminded through the life of E.M. Bounds that prayer is not merely a duty, but a powerful communion with God through which He accomplishes His purposes. In trials, hardship, and ministry, E.M. Bounds continually turned to the Lord, showing us that persistence in prayer—fervent, believing, and unceasing—invites the moving of God, even bringing revival in the most barren places. As we see that God works not through methods but through yielded lives, we are called to become people of prayer, seeking Him early, earnestly, and continually. Join us as Gabe helps us understand the life and impact of E.M. Bounds. 

Equipping Hour | Avenues for Spiritual Formation | Means of Grace by OrlandoGrace

This week, we share a sermon offered by Rev. Bill Haley back in 2018.  He reflects on 2 Corinthians 12 and the connection Paul draws between God's grace and our gratitude, especially in our areas of greatest weakness. In cultivating that gratitude, we develop true courage to face anything life throws at us.View Our Complete Archive of “Space for God” Prayer PracticesLearn More About Spiritual Direction through CoracleExplore the Full Archive of Bill's Sermonsinthecoracle.org  |  @inthecoracleSupport the showFor the Journey is a resource of the Coracle Center of Formation for Action and is made possible through the generous support of men and women across the globe.

Nathan talks with Grace Pouch about her new book Savoring Childhood and how small steps toward a slower, simpler lifestyle create space for a deeply rooted life of love for God and others.Grace's book Savoring ChildhoodA few excerpts:A sample chapter from the publisher"Animal Friends""Simple Tastes""Joy is in the Waiting" on Christianity TodayGrace's website gracepouch.comFollow along for reflections on family life, spiritual formation, and the slow work of renewal on Grace's Substack @GrapplePie, and on Instagram @Grace.Pate.Pouch 

What if you have more power over how you experience your life than you think? What if you could learn how to change the patterns that are keeping you stuck? What if there is a life-changing art of self-brain surgery?Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw interview neurosurgeon, trauma survivor, and author Dr. Lee Warren about the shift from feeling like a helpless “patient” to acting with agency like a “doctor.” Drawing from bereavement after his son's death and the breakthroughs of functional MRI observations, he shows us how the mind can transform the brain.Find out more about Dr. Lee Warren here.Dive deeper in our new book, Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection, and learn about our trainings and other resources at embodiedfaith.life.Stay Connected: Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort.Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources.Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).

Justin reflects on a recent interview with Diplo about AI replacing singers and uses it as a doorway into a deeper conversation about art, product, beauty, and human value. He argues that art is not valuable because it sells or because it reaches technical perfection. Art matters because it comes from a human being in process. Drawing on examples from Diplo's collaborations, Billy Corgan's resistance to AI songwriting, CS Lewis on beauty, and Justin's own work coaching artists, this episode invites creators to resist the machine's value system and remember that the work is not the point. The human becoming through the work is. Links For Justin: Read Justin's Substack Order In The Low - NEW Book with Scott Erickson Coaching with Justin Order In Rest - New Book of Poems Order Sacred Strides JustinMcRoberts.com Support this podcast NEW Single - Let Go NEW Music - Sliver of Hope NEW Music - The Dood and The Bird The Book - It Is What You Make it Hearts and Minds Amazon Barnes and Noble