Podcasts

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks! I sometimes get annoyed at things other people do... even though I do them myself. This is part of life. The real revelation is when I discover that it was my influence that led to their behavior! Yes, we all cast a shadow. It is inevitable and powerful. You have an impact, an influence, on every person you are around. Taking ownership of that importance is crucial. But it can be overwhelming to be responsible for how others behave. Fortunately, there is a secret to that: the Light. Shadows are what happens when a focused

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Podcast Jul 11, 2019

Episode 23 - "I Have The Chicken!"

This week we kick off a new series called “Here’s Your Sign,” mining the miracles of Jesus for their insights into the Lord himself. We start with a wedding story about Jesus saving the day! Plus, what Jesus Said in John 12:20-28 has us doing Mad Libs as we aim to glorify the Lord in the everyday moments of our lives. Weekly Challenge: Glorify the Lord in your everyday life. Show Notes Jesus Said … John 12:20-28 Episode 20 - “Almost Funny” (EPISODE) Jesus Turns Water into Wine (VIDEO)

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Podcast Jul 9, 2019

King Asa. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Work-life balance. Newton.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about Asa, king of Judah. Is it possible to be blessed too much? There’s every reason to think the answer is yes, and that we should take warning. I’ve been reading … Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Jonathan Edwards is often cast as believing in a God searching for opportunities to destroy us. The truth, and Edwards’ actual message, are quite different. I’ve been hearing … Work-Life balance is a myth. Kudos to Time Magazine for publishing something that the Bible has been teaching us all along. I’ve been pla

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Podcast Jul 8, 2019

Ep. 49 - The Intermittent eFast

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks! Most of us struggle with overuse of electronic devices. They are so convenient and address so many issues all in one place. But most of us also know that such things can become addictive and keep us locked in to them and away from the walk God has planned for us. But we can't just put the cell phone in the drawer for a month. We need it everyday to interact with others, conduct business, or find needful things. However, if we can learn the value of daily intermittent fasting, creating ever increasing pockets of hours away

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Podcast Jul 4, 2019

Ep. 48 - The First Concession

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks! We all make mistakes. We do things we wish we did not do. We say things we wish we had not said. But do we understand where those issues begin? It is not about the moment the thing is said or done, it goes back to the very first concession. Sometime earlier a mental allowance gave the tiniest of inner green lights, leading to poor behavior. We will look at the "parable of the stove" to understand how this works. Then, we can optimistically make changes in the way we think, leading to much greater results! - Understanding

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Podcast Jul 4, 2019

Episode 22 - "Hug It Out"

Broken relationships, misunderstandings, hurt feelings. So easy to say “forgive and forget,” but how do we get past a wrong? Throughout this episode we keep coming back to life’s complicated moral debts — like the pain we cause others — so much harder to pay off than mortgages and credit cards! So we’re “Flying Through” Philemon, the short letter that tells the story of two brothers with some big problems to work out. And we find an answer to the question, “How can I love Jesus more?” when we hear what Jesus Said in Luke 7:36-47. Hope you join us! Weekly Challenge: Examine your relationships t

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Podcast Jul 2, 2019

Intoxication. Jonathan Edwards. Chinese prisoners. Euphoria.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about intoxication. Proverbs 23 describes two kinds of drunkenness, literal and figurative — and they both start before the first sip. I’ve been reading … Jonathan Edwards, by Iain H. Murphy. I’m no Calvinist, but I dare say Edwards could have taught some of my brethren some things about the sovereignty of God. I’ve been hearing … Religious dissidents in Chinese prisons are being executed and their organs harvested. Give it to the Communists: they’re all about efficiency. I’ve been playing … Euphoria: Building a B

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Podcast Jul 1, 2019

Ep. 47 - The Priorities Fallacy

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks! Did you know that the word "priorities" was rarely known or used before 1940? It doesn't really makes sense when you think about it. How can you have most important things? How can there be multiple things that come first. By definition, they wouldn't be most important. Instead, people used the word "Priority." That is, the most important thing. Everything else, no matter how valuable to you, has to fall under the power and leadership of the one singular priority in your life. This may sound hard, since many people and th

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Podcast Jun 27, 2019

Ep. 46 - Start From Here

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks! No matter who you are, there will be stretches when things don't come together. Streaks get broken. Outside influences distract. We don't get the frog eaten. We don't fulfill our daily highlight. There is no one great hour. For some, this means the end. Great progress is abandoned by "setbacks." Listen, don't worry about days that don't go well, just start from here. No matter what is gone wrong or how long it has been since you've had it all together: start from here. If you have listened to episodes and just haven't got

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Podcast Jun 27, 2019

Episode 21 - "That's Bad Advertising"

The ladies have arrived! This week we discover that our wives are better at podcasting than we are, as they join us to discuss the trap of comparing ourselves to others. We begin with what Jesus Said about anxiety in Matthew 6:31-34 and end with a challenge to combat comparison with appreciation. In between, Adrienne and Sharilyn talk about beauty, lawn care, swimsuits, homeschooling, and working outside the home as a mom. You don’t want to miss this one! Weekly Challenge: Express gratitude to someone this week. Show Notes Jesus Said … Matthew 6:31-34 Backwards Beauty by Jessie Minassian (BOOK

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Podcast Jun 25, 2019

One thing. Da Vinci (2). Galaxy's Edge. Catan.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about the one thing. If you could ask God for only one thing, what would it be? You might be surprised what David asked for. I’ve been reading … How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci, by Michael J. Gelb. Again. Becoming a genius sounds like a lot of work. Maybe I’ll pass. I’ve been hearing … Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will open soon at Walt Disney World. If I were given free tickets on the space shuttle I would sell them on Ebay; yet I am pretty excited about leaving the galaxy for a few hours. I’ve been playing … Cat

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Podcast Jun 24, 2019

Ep. 45 - The Persuasion Triangle

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks! Everybody is trying to persuade someone. In fact, most of us are trying to shape other people's thinking every single day, and in many relationships! And each of us has some skill or two that God gave us to bring other's around to our way of thinking. However, most of us don't have all three! I'm talking about the big three Greek words Aristotle introduced in 400BC. When these three ideas: Pathos, Ethos, Logos, are working together, soft hearts can be shaped and molded to greater godliness. You can help persuade people to

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Podcast Jun 20, 2019

Ep. 44 - Our Daily Bread

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks! We all know the importance of daily prayer. But what are you praying for daily? Most of us do a great job of praying about our daily bread. That is, daily provisions like health and safety. But we may be missing some things from "The Lord's Prayer" in Matthew 6. If we model our prayer after what He taught us, we can keep physical things like daily bread in its proper place, while putting much greater emphasis on our spiritual needs. This, of course, will have an affect on the entire day: "As goes your prayer life, goes yo

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Podcast Jun 20, 2019

Episode 20 - "Almost Funny"

Getting to know you, getting to know all about you — this week we’re sharing some of our Favorite Things about the connection between the New and Old Testaments, marriage, parenting, morning rituals, and organization. We look out the window in our Jesus Said segment to see the angels of God ascending and descending on the Messiah from John 1:51, and we search for more in-depth ways to connect with others by asking deeper questions. Weekly Challenge: Learn more about someone by asking some of their favorite things. Show Notes Jesus Said … John 1:51

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Podcast Jun 18, 2019

Faith in Adversity. How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci. Whataburger. Carpe Diem.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about faith in adversity. The key is not finding a kinder, better life; it’s finding the strength to cope with the life you have — and finding it in God. I’ve been reading … How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci, by Michael J. Gelb. I would love to be as good at one thing as Leonardo seems to have been at absolutely everything. I’ve been hearing … Whataburger, the legendary Texas burger chain, has been sold. All my friends in Texas are panic-stricken, and I totally get it. I’ve been playing … Carpe Diem, a game that

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Podcast Jun 17, 2019

Ep. 43 - The Accountability Partner

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks! You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. There is power in your relationship with God, and you are hopefully experiencing that every day. However, God's plans and Christ's power may demand that you ask for help. There are some things so difficult, so challenging, so transformative, that you simply cannot do it alone. This is neither a knock against you, or God. This is just an opportunity to embrace the power of teamwork. By finding an accountability partner, someone who you can trust, someone who can wor

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Podcast Jun 14, 2019

Episode 19 - "Go Get Her A Sandwich!"

We’re moving beyond the "life hacks" and "tips & tricks" on this episode, talking about productivity from a biblical perspective. We discuss what “Jesus Said” in Luke 13:6-9 about His investment in us, how God will determine when enough is enough, the ways we can be more fruitful in small next steps, and the importance of recharging our batteries. So put down your day planner, grab a hoagie (if you’re getting hungry), and listen along! Weekly Challenge: Find time this week to recharge. Show Notes Jesus Said … Luke13:6-9 The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman (BOOK) Deep Work by Cal Newport (

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Podcast Jun 13, 2019

Ep. 42 - New Every Morning

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks! I'm excited to share this! It really captivates what the Excel Still More journey is all about for me. Firstly, this is about optimism, redemption and hope EVERY single morning! Every day we are new, God's mercies are new, opportunities refresh and we can make that day great. You guys know what a great week is, right? It's seven great days, each one lived and utilized to the fullest. You can do this! To help, we have designed a journal: The ESM 3-Month Journal. The second half of the episode walks you through the pieces o

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Podcast Jun 11, 2019

God's plan for you. Start With Why. Kawhi Leonard. Wingspan.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about God’s plan for you. Psalm 114 is a great reminder of the extremes to which God will go to glorify you. It would be a shame to get in His way. I’ve been reading … Start With Why, by Simon Sinek. And I’m more convinced than ever that a large number of Christians have no idea what it really means to be a Christian. I’ve been hearing … Kawhi Leonard, one of the best basketball players in the world, has had trouble relating to teammates who needed help. I can relate to him. Sort of. I’ve been playing … Wingspan,

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Podcast Jun 10, 2019

Ep. 41 - Change Your Geography

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks! We should always make the most out of any situation. If this is where you are now, then make the most out of this. This applies directly to location. Wherever you work, work well. Wherever you worship, worship well. Wherever you life, live well. With whomever you spend your time, use it well. And so on. However, sometimes things aren't going well. Sometimes things have gotten to a point where they keep you from getting better. Well, it may be time to ask a tough question: Do I need to move? Is a change in geography the an

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Podcast Jun 7, 2019

Episode 18 - "More Than Enough WiFi"

On this episode, we explore the difference between “enough” and “more, more!” This takes us from what Jesus Said about covetousness in Luke12:13-15 to what David said about a good night’s sleep in a Psalm 4 edition of Poetry in Motion. From our modern “FOMO” to Paul’s “secret,” contentment is a timeless answer to human restlessness and misplaced desire. Weekly Challenge: Identify something you have in abundance and share it with someone in need. Show Notes Jesus Said … Luke12:13-15 Finding Contentment by Bryan Schiele (SERMON)

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Podcast Jun 6, 2019

Ep. 40 - Hey I'm 40!

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks! Well, we all have to grow up sometime, right? I turned 40 last December and made the decision to make some fairly dramatic life changes. Maybe dramatic isn't the right word, but there were some internal struggles I'd been very hit or miss about. It was time to say, "Hey, I'm 40. I'm done with that inconsistency. I will give myself wholly to Christ. And I will live with abiding daily peace." Let me tell you: it's been awesome! I can't wait to share with you what some of those things are and how you too can finally decide t

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Podcast Jun 4, 2019

Being perfect. The Sushi Economy. Martin Luther King. Reworld.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about being perfect — how it’s possible, and how it’s impossible, and how that isn’t a contradiction. I’ve been reading … The Sushi Economy, by Sasha Issenberg. Japanese wholesalers are willing to spend $100,000 for a single fish — and that’s not even the crazy part of this story. I’ve been hearing … Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. may have been guilty of numerous reprehensible behaviors. I don’t approve, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t still a hero of mine. I’ve been playing … Reworld, in which earthlings abandon an un

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Podcast Jun 3, 2019

Ep. 39 - Parents Effecting Change