Caris Snider is a speaker, author, coach, and podcaster. Her latest book is There’s an Elephant on My Chest, a picture book for children she wrote to help kids understand what anxiety feels like. Today, Caris shares her story of growing up in a Christian home in the Bible belt feeling like she had to be perfect. Trying to live up to her beliefs led to anxiety and depression until she was willing to accept help. Caris shares with us how she found hope over anxiety and the Lord’s closeness during the process. Caris’ story reminds us that we need community and don’t have to be perfect to be loved. Listen to Caris’ story in your favorite podcast player today! Children's Picture Book- There's an Elephant on My Chest Stories Caris shared: Overcoming anxiety and helping othersGrowing up in Alabama in a Christian family as a twinHer mom’s example as a prayer warriorHaving to overcome cerebral palsy on the left side of her bodyTrying out for cheerleader and not making itStudying early childhood developmentMeeting her husband who was in a Christian boy bandBuying her own childcare center and realizing that it wasn’t for herThe season of uncertainty after giving up the childcare centerTrying to pull herself up by her bootstraps and finding it impossibleHaving anxiety attacks with increasing frequencyTrying to numb her pain by not eatingHaving a miscarriage and how that affected herRealizing she had to accept help to get out of her depressionGiving up the idea of perfection for herselfLearning the identities that the Lord has for herWriting books about anxiety and helping others Great quotes from Caris: When I looked up the things I was believing were proven to be lies. I had to recognize that help was not bad. I had to stop believing that I had to be perfect to be loved by Him. Those struggles are real but there is real hope. Resources we mentioned: Caris’ websiteThere’s An Elephant On My Chest by Caris SniderCar Line Mom Devotional: 100 Days of Encouragement for the Mama Who Gets Everybody Everywhere by Caris Snider Related episodes: Edith Leland and Intimate Friendship with GodJon Fugler and Ditching Performance ChristianityChristy Boulware and Love That Casts Out Fear The post Caris Snider and Hope Over Anxiety appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Jacci Turner is an author, spiritual director, trainer of spiritual directors, and a retried trauma therapist. Today, Jacci shares her story of discovering the Lord at camp, serving as a trainer for campus ministers for decades, and how her growing understanding of God’s love changed everything. She lost her position and became an outcast from a community she loved. Jacci shares how she got through that difficult season and how spiritual direction helped her see the way through the spiritual desert. Jacci’s story reminds us that we all get a little tumbled by life but that the Lord makes something beautiful out of us all in the end. Listen to Jacci’s story in your favorite podcast player now! Stories Jacci shared: Growing up as a daughter of a produceFinding Jesus “for the first time” as a childPraying for Jesus to take away her nightmaresForgetting her relationship with God as a teenagerGiving her life to Christ as a teenager at campGoing to college and learning ScriptureGrowing in love for the LGBTQ+ communityLeaving her organization by invitationThe pain of becoming an outcast because of her positionThe dreams she had during this painful seasonStarting a group called Shalom for church wholenessExperiencing Jesus even through the difficult timesThe identities she had to let go in order to get through the spiritual desertHow a spiritual director helped her through her issues with the churchWhat spiritual direction is and why it is valuable at every stage of the journeySpiritual cairns in the desert Great quotes from Jacci: If I never get to Hollywood, I still want to follow you. As we got to know them, they didn’t become our gay friends. They became just our friends. Look to hope. Find hope in people, in God, in the books, in Scripture, in the forest, wherever you can find it. Resources we mentioned (affiliate links): Jacci’s websiteTumbled People: Deconstructing and Reconstructing Your Faith by Jacci TurnerThe Gravity CenterThe Divine Hours (Volume Two): Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime: A Manual for Prayer by Phyllis TickleYes And…Daily Meditations by Richard RohrSacred Earth, Sacred Soul: Celtic Wisdom for Reawakening to What Our Souls Know and Healing the World by John Philip Newell Related episodes: Cliff Haddox and The Story that Grows With YouPhileena Heuertz and Christian ContemplationSuzanne Stabile and How Enneagram Heals Relationships The post Jacci Turner and Tumbled People appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Sam Black, author of The Healing Church: What Churches Get Wrong About Pornography, and Director of Life Change Education at Covenant Eyes. Today, Sam shares how his life changed when he was first exposed to pornography, how it became a crutch for him, and why it’s so destructive. He explains the inner turmoil he felt which often kept him from church but then, he discovered a community that allowed him to be honest about his addiction. Plus, Sam tells us how to get started making your church a place that’s safe, too. Sam’s story reminds us that God’s grace is enough for everyone regardless of what sin they struggle with. Listen to Sam’s story in your favorite podcast app now! Stories Sam shared: Why he wrote The Healing ChurchGrowing up in Indiana, Kentucky, and Florida in a “hypocritically violent” homeBeing exposed to pornography at 10 years oldHow pornography became an escape for himThe messages that he received from his churchHow his wife came to ChristThe relationship between how much pornography and serviceBelieving that he could not live up to a Christian lifeGoing to an event at his wife’s churchThe marriage class that became a safe spaceHow his life changed as he was able to be vulnerableThe spectrum of how the Church handles problemsHow to be the safe person for your community Great quotes from Sam: No one comes to the Father except through the Spirit. And the Spirit was doing a number on me. What part of James 5:16 do we not believe? What we need is a safe place with a safe process where it’s okay to come as you are. Resources we mentioned: Sam’s websiteThe Healing Church: What Churches Get Wrong about Pornography and How to Fix It by Sam BlackCovenant Eyes – Code for one month free: safeguardStrive Program Related episodes: Rob Lohman and Breaking AddictionRose Ann Forte and Letting Go of ShameChristy Boulware and Love That Casts Out Fear The post Sam Black and The Journey of Freedom appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Lyndsey Medford is a writer and speaker living with a rare autoimmune disorder in the crumbling empire of the American South. Today, Lyndsey shares what her disorder was like as a child, the pressure she felt to make her story a redemptive one, and the kind response of the Lord who only wanted to be with her. We talk about how to develop a holistic view of yourself and the spiritual implications of doing so. Learning to listen to God, to our bodies, and to one another is a crucial discipline for the spiritual journey. Lyndsey reminds us that doing so means letting go of expectations and learning to simply be with God. Listen to Lyndsey’s story in your favorite podcast player now! Stories Lyndsey shared: Moving and finding herself back with familyHer experience of learning to live in her bodyGrowing up in North Atlanta and how church was part of her lifeExperiencing an autoimmune disorder as a childPraying for healing a lotThe pressure she felt to turn her story into a redemptive oneWhat the Lord said about her sufferingThe idol of productivity and how her time on the couch addressed itHow studying theology shaped her faithAsking questions about what it means to be human and vocationExperiencing an intense depression after collegeUnderstanding incarnation and empire Great quotes from Lindsey: I did have a strong sense of having a relationship with God and being loved by God and that didn’t depend on being good at suffering or hiding my suffering in the ways I though it did at the time. To turn [suffering] into a nice pretty story while it’s still happening is an unfair pressure we put on people. I’ve been told all my life that there’s things you have for me to do. So when are we going to do them? When we are really still, God is inviting us to let of some of the expectations about ourselves that no longer serve us. Resources we mentioned: Lyndsey’s websiteMy Body and Other Crumbling Empires: Lessons for Healing in a World That Is Sick by Lyndsey Medford Related episodes: Becky Castle Miller and Trusting Your EmotionsSkye Jethani and Living Life with GodJim Barnard Finds Hope in Suffering through Community The post Lyndsey Medford and Releasing Expectations appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Matt Fagioli coach, consultant and a serial entrepreneur. His company is called Certain Success and he works with business owners and entrepreneurs to help them grow amazing Christ centered businesses while becoming (as closely as possible to) exactly what Jesus intended for them to be. Today, Matt shares his upbringing in the Roman Catholic church, why he decided to return to church after he had children, and how the pandemic shifted his perspective. He also tells the story of discovering that there is so much more to walking with Jesus than checking the boxes on the Christian to do list. He’s found a new way of relating to the Lord. Matt’s story reminds us that wherever you are now on the journey, the Lord has more to show you. Listen to Matt’s story now in your favorite podcast player! Stories Matt shared: Wrestling with how to be a Christian business ownerGrowing up in the Philadelphia area in a Catholic schoolNot thinking very much about the Lord during his 20sWanting something more at a time in life when he had it allAsking around for a church and going to an Evangelical church for the first timeBeginning to investigate ChristianityGiving his life to Christ and wanting to change everythingBelieving that he did all the right things as a ChristianCheckboxing his faithHow Covid changed his business and lifeBusiness events that changed his trajectoryHow suffering has helped him growLearning to ask the Lord every day who he isWhat the experience of listening to the Lord is like for himLeaving his bag at the airport and how God spoke to him Great quotes from Matt: The front door for me was worship. I spend massive amounts of time speaking to the Lord but not a lot of words are said. Resources we mentioned: Matt’s websiteDirty Disciple by Matt FagioliLiving Fearless: Exchanging the Lies of the World for the Liberating Truth of God by Jamie Winship Related episodes: James Bryan Smith and Loved Beyond ImaginationPhileena Heuertz and Christian ContemplationBrian Zahnd and The Beauty of Christ The post Matt Fagioli and Beyond Check Box Faith appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Beth Allison Barr is the James Vardaman Professor of History at Baylor University and author of the book The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth. Today, Beth shares how she grew up knowing Jesus, learning that there were some things women didn’t do, and how intellectual curiosity is deeply important for her spiritual journey. We also discuss how knowing Church history and taking a curious approach to biblical interpretation can shape our faith in positive ways. Beth’s story reminds us that understanding church history with an inquisitive mind is a vital part of Christian growth. Listen to Beth’s story here or where you get your podcasts. Stories Beth shared: Growing up in a Christian family in TexasNever not knowing faith in Jesus and getting baptized as a young womanRealizing that there were expected gender roles in high schoolUsing her intellectual curiosity and how that clashed with a literal interpretation of the BibleThe distinction between man’s interpretation of God and who God really isMeeting her husbandSeeing churches regressing in terms of intellectual curiosityWhy KJV only is problematicWhy historical context is critical to understanding textsHow medieval history can help us nowBeing angry at God and the letters of despair that helped herWhen God spoke to her after her husband was firedHistorical context and how it helps our hermeneutic Great quotes from Beth: My parents were never afraid of me being curious. My story fits into a story that’s a lot bigger than me and I’m thankful to be part of that story. Historical context does not diminish the Bible as God’s Word. It just helps us better understand God’s Word. God does not look like the white, Evangelical church. Resources we mentioned: Beth’s websiteThe Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth by Beth Allison BarrThe Rise of Christianity by Rodney StarkThe Showings by Julian of Norwich Related episodes: Aaron Niequist and Swimming in the Eternal CurrentAimee Byrd and Recovering from Biblical Manhood and WomanhoodScot McKnight and Laura Barringer and Becoming an Agent of GoodKristen Du Mez and Knowing Church History The post Beth Allison Barr and Christian Curiosity appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Frank Viola is a bestselling author, conference speaker, blogger, and podcaster. Today, Frank shares how he found Christ, a moment when he experienced the overwhelming love of God, and an encounter with a demon. Frank shares that his calling is to those who want to experience Jesus more fully and he shares multiple stories from his writing. We also explore the idea of the dark night of the soul and how he understands it and whether he’s experienced one. Frank’s story reminds us that the Lord is active even when we can’t directly sense him. Listen to Frank’s story in your favorite podcast player now! Stories Frank shared: Exploring the deeper journeyGrowing up in New York and then moving to FloridaThe “two conversions” he experiencedThe awakening he had when he was 16 years oldSensing a call to ministry at 17Encountering a demon and asking for help from his churchFeeling like God is far awayThe distinction between the dark night of the soul and the dark night of the spiritWhat it’s like to have a sense of God’s presenceWhy you don’t need to have a conversation with God for everything when you know himThe value of coincidence in the Christian lifeThe meaning of the word evangelical Great quotes from Frank: You can put yourself in a position to hear from the Lord. When you have the mind of Christ, you don’t have to consult the Lord about everything that comes up. One of the ways God speaks to his children is coincidence. The flesh is nailed to the cross and that’s where it ought to be in the life of the Christian. Resources we mentioned: Frank’s websitePagan Christianity by Frank Viola & George BarnaInsurgence by Frank ViolaJesus Speaks by Frank Viola & Leonard SweetHang On Let Go by Frank Viola48 Laws of Spiritual Power by Frank Viola48 Laws of Power by Robert GreeneWhen Christian Leaders Deny the FaithMinistry Mastermind Related episodes: Mike Bolton and the Power of YesSara Billups and Moving Toward CommunitySkye Jethani and Living Life With God The post Frank Viola and the Subtlety of the Kingdom of God appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Sara Billups is a Seattle-based writer and cultural commentator whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Christianity Today, Ekstasis, and others. Sara writes Bitter Scroll, a monthly Substack letter. She is completing her Doctor of Ministry in the Sacred Art of Writing at the Peterson Center for the Christian Imagination at Western Theological Seminary. Today, Sara shares about her 90’s youth group kid upbringing, moving to Seattle and finding a devastated church, and the dark season when she compartmentalized her faith. Sara’s story reminds us that while the spiritual desert is isolating, community is the best way through. Listen to Sara’s story in your favorite podcast app now! Stories Sara shared: Growing up in a house where her father converted to Christianity from JudaismHer parent’s relationship and her father’s conversionCelebrating Jewish holidays and how that shaped herHow growing up in 80s Christianity influenced herExploring a Christian counterculture and finding her peopleReading creative people in high schoolMoving to Seattle to start an intentional communityThe cultural impact of the Mars Hill implosionThe season of disillusionment she facedRealizing that her husband was carrying herWriting for believers who feel like they are orphaned by the ChurchHer church experience as she processedPractices that help when you feel alienated Great quotes from Sara If I actually believed the Christian story, I needed to make a change. There are seasons when the people who love us carry us. It doesn’t do any good to burn things down but I do think we need to talk about this stuff. Being faithful to a congregation through many waves, throughout decades is a really interesting place to sit and I’m grateful that I can. Resources we mentioned: Sara’s websiteOrphaned Believers: How a Generation of Christian Exiles Can Find the Way Home by Sara BillupsThis Cultural Moment The Rise and Fall of Mars HillThe Case Against Sermon Centric Sundays by Skye Jethani Related episodes: Brian Zahnd and the Beauty of ChristBrandon Andress and the Controversy of LoveBecky Castle Miller and Trusting Your Emotions The post Sara Billups and Moving Toward Community appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Mike Bolton is a husband, father, grandfather, and loyal friend. While he defines himself more by relationships today, he also is an author, podcaster, former pastor, and businessman. Today, Mike shares the story of how he found faith in Christ, the scholarship he lost and how that changed his life, and the ways crisis has shaped him. He tells the story of how he discovered the Lord at work in unexpected places which taught him to say yes to opportunities and see what He was up to. Mike’s story reminds us that while life with God has twists and turns, it’s a beautiful sight to behold. Listen to Mike’s story in your favorite podcast app now! Stories Mike shared: Growing up in Manitoba, CanadaDeciding not to go to church in high schoolLife falling apart and the question it made him askDeciding to follow Jesus because of the peace he saw in others around himWhy we need to ask, seek, and knockLosing his hockey scholarship in school because of his faithHow the Lord provided at his church insteadThe mindset that helps him face adversityHaving a crisis in his marriage and digging in to figure it outHis wife’s business and living out her faith in itDiscovering God at work where he did not expectLearning how to think of othersUnlearning the sacred/secular divide Great quotes from Mike: God’s got a great track record. I thought everything had to happen in the church but it seems like God is at work everywhere. What you believe about God and his purpose in your life has to be tested. Resources we mentioned: Mike’s websiteIgnite Your Mission: The Spark That Empowers Your Purpose by Mike Bolton Related episodes: Todd Johnson says Just Say YesShā Sparks and Finding PurposeAndrew Klavan and The Truth and the Beauty The post Mike Bolton and the Power of Yes appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Lisa Lamb is a professor of preaching, a writer, and a pastor working to equip leaders in South East Asia. Her passion is to develop leaders who preach radically good news, deeply rooted in Scripture. The Lord took her and her husband on a surprising pandemic journey to seven countries, where they experienced his amazing provision at every turn. Today, Lisa shares the story of how she fell in love with preaching of the Word, the journey of becoming a professor, and why she wrote a book for pastors. Her story reminds us that the Lord is leading even when the circumstances may not appear so. Listen to Lisa’s story in your favorite podcast app now! Stories Lisa shared: Serving in South East Asia and how that’s different from the USGrowing up in California in a Christian family full of prayerHow she was shaped by her sister’s disabilitiesThe wholehearted way here sister approached lifeReading a lot of four views books in collegeGoing to seminary right after college and leavingHer sense of calling as a childThe moment she realized she wanted to help others learnGoing on staff with InterVarsity, getting married, and doing campus ministryHer first homiletics classGoing to get her PhD in homileticsGraduating in 2008 and how that affected herThe spiritual formation of preachingThe hope of the preacher for the listenerTrying to move overseas during the pandemicWhy she wrote a book for pastors Great quotes from Lisa: I still think there’s something really holy and beautiful when we open the Word together. When it’s working as intended, preaching is meant to nourish us. God is still at work through the Church to bless the world, to be a light and a witness. Resources we mentioned: Lisa’s websiteResonate: How to Preach for Deep Connection by Lisa Lamb Related episodes: Dan Rudman and Ripples of the GospelChristy Boulware and Love that Casts Out FearMarkus Watson and How Suffering Transforms The post Lisa Lamb and the Spiritual Formation of Preaching appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Chris Grainger is the founder of The Lion Within Us and has a passion for serving others. He is building a community that provides Christian men encouragement to become the leaders God intends them to be. Chris connects with others by sharing personal stories of professional success, hurdles encountered and how every circumstance is an opportunity to build the Kingdom. Today, Chris shares how he found Christ as a young man, sensed the Lord’s presence during one of the most difficult moments in his life, and the questions he asked when tragedy struck his family. He also shares how suffering catapulted him to a place of service and led to creating the men’s community, The Lion Within Us. Chris’ story reminds us that even in our darkest moments, the Lord is with us. Listen to Chris’ story in your favorite podcast app now! Stories Chris shared: Creating a ministry for menGrowing up in Virginia in the countrysideStarted going to church because his girlfriend went to churchGiving his life to Christ at 16Going to college at Old Dominion University and spending a lot of time at the barFeeling resistant to God as he got into adulthoodBelieving his life was good before his wife left himThe eerie silence that told him he needed peopleHaving his Bible at the custody hearing open to James 1 to help himBeginning to serve others at his churchHow courting his wife helped him growWanting to have childrenHaving a stillborn child and how it challenged him to run to GodThe additional tragedies that came in a short periodFeeling angry at God and how he handled itThe emotional intimacy found through struggling with griefStarting a podcast for his companyStarting The Lion Within Us as a membership for menHelping men go from lost and along to connected Great quotes from Chris: Anytime we say “I got this” is a moment we are about to be humbled. Most men’s ministry sucks. What you’re really craving in your relationship with your spouse is intimacy. Resources we mentioned: Chris’s website Related episodes: Jerry Dugan and Becoming A New ManNicole Jacobsmeyer and Joy After SufferingJon Fugler and Ditching Performance Christianity The post Christopher Grainger and Growing Through Trials appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Melony Brown Author, speaker, and host of the Challenges Won’t Stop Me podcast. Today, Melony shares about the neurological condition she’s had since she was two years old, how living with her condition changed her relationship to the Lord, and the peace she felt leading up to brain surgery. We also talk about the mindset she developed that allowed her to overcome the challenges she faced and help her students as a result. Melony’s story reminds us that two things can be true at the same time: suffering is difficult and the Lord is present within them. Listen to Melony’s story in your favorite podcast app now! Stories Melony shared: Growing up in Atlanta, GeorgiaHaving a stroke at the age of 2 and the health challenges that ensuedHer family’s reaction to the stroke and the mindset they instilled in herThe family’s sudden decision to return to churchMom’s visit to find a church while she was in collegeMeeting her husband at the first church she went toLearning to study the BibleDeciding to get baptized as a result of their studiesBeginning to have migraines and questioning GodThe passage that helped her through a dark nightStruggling with how much she wasn’t able to accomplishLearning the value of relying on othersBeginning to have mini-strokes and struggling with other issuesGetting a diagnosis and having neurosurgeryThe peace that she felt leading up to the surgeryThe mindset you need to overcome challengesKnowing that God will empower you to meet the challenges you face Great quotes from Melony: It’s hard to pray when it feels like your head is in a vice. I am glad to have gone through the challenges that I did. We’re facing challenges all the time and we have to have the right mindset. Trusting God as your navigator takes a lot of pressures off you. Resources we mentioned: Melony’s websiteChallenges Won’t Stop Me: An Interactive Survival Guide for Overcoming & Thriving (Journey On!) by Melony BrownThe Journey On quiz Related episodes: Alicia Michelle and the Renewing of Your MindJesse Eubanks and Relationships in the EnneagramDr. Amy Sherman and The God of Shalom The post Melony Brown and Empowered to Meet the Challenge appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Alex Sezer is helping other do business better by transforming their culture. Always a high achiever, Alex led the Texas A&M football team as captain and scaled multiple business in his 20s. Today, Alex shares how he learned the value of hard work, his calling to preach, and the season of doubting his faith that helped shape him along the way. Ales also shares how he knew it was time to leave his fancy job and start something new which is a fascinating look inside his experience. Then, we talk about how to create a culture wherever you find yourself.  Alex’s story reminds us that culture is what we create through our treatement of other. Listen to Alex’s story in your favorite podcast app now! Stories Alex shared: Growing up in Orange, TX in a pastor’s familyHow the Lord came through to get a scholarship to play footballHow his grandfather and father influenced himGiving his life to Christ at 13Falling in love with the Lord and reading the Bible voraciouslyStudying preachers like Dr. Tony Evans and H.B. Charles Jr.Getting involved in apologetics in collegeWhat God showed him through apologeticsGetting into the SEC to play footballLearning the value of hard workGoing to work for a consulting firmDeciding to get into real estateHow God speaks to him and how he knew it was time to leave his jobQuestioning his foundationHow to build a positive culture Great quotes from Alex: It’s hard when you feel it but nothing in your world looks like it. Everything we are blessed to steward should be If Jesus was here in the flesh, he’d probably be a content creator. Resources we mentioned: Alex’s websiteOn Preaching: Personal & Pastoral Insights for the Preparation & Practice of Preaching by H.B. Charles Jr. Related episodes: Os Guinness and Carpe Diem RedeemedChris Staron Calls for Truce to the Culture WarFelicia Song and Digital Discipleship The post Alex Sezer and Creating Culture appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Julia Gentry is the Founder of The Dream Factory and Co & author of a best-selling book in Christian Leadership, Dream-I Dare You. Today, Julia shares about how her mom’s faith influenced her, the dream that moved her to action, and the beliefs she had to let go in order to embrace the life God had for her. Julia also shares how failure builds endurance and why it was a leap of faith to write her own book. Julia’s story reminds us that God’s dreams for us are bigger than we could imagine if we’ll listen. Listen to Julia’s story wherever you get your podcasts! Stories Julia shared: The work she does with The Dream FactoryYearning for something more in her mid-life awakeningGrowing up in Denver, CO in a Christian familyKnowing God at a head levelRealizing that God was inviting her to something deeperThe dream she had that moved her to actionWhat she had to unlearn in order to growThe moment that she learned her parents were getting divorced as a child and the ramifications for her beliefsThe core desire to control her life and be perfectBuilding endurance through failureThe lanes of belief and how you can stay in the right one Great quotes from Julia: Growth is about unlearning what we think we know that isn’t so. He will blow our minds in order to get to our hearts. The hard is designed to be a blessing in our lives. We want the dream. God wants our hearts. The in-between is not designed to break you; it’s designed to make you. Resources we mentioned: Julia’s websiteDream – I Dare You: A Wake-Up Call to Greater Alignment in Your Faith, Family, Career, and Community by Julia Gentry Related episodes: Bill Brown and Waiting on the LordKate Berkey and The Humility of HonorRyan George and Living with Courage The post Julia Gentry the Freedom of Dreaming appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Bob Wheatley is a bestselling author, podcaster, and former professional athlete. He serves as a co-host of That Singles' Show a singles ministry sponsored by KCBI Radio in Dallas and his work has been featured on nationally syndicated radio outlets like WAY-FM and THE FISH. After graduating from the University of Southern California, Bob played four years of professional baseball in the Toronto Blue Jays' and St. Louis Cardinals' minor league systems. Today, Bob shares the focus he had to have to become a professional athlete, knowing the right things to say and do, and the moment when the Gospel got ahold of his heart. Bob’s story reminds us that conviction of sin is part of the process when living life with the Lord. Listen to Bob’s story in your favorite podcast app today! Stories Bob shared: Moving to Nashville, TennesseeGrowing up in California in a Christian familyGetting baptized because it was just timeFeeling that God was an umpire in the sky who will make you follow the rulesLearning to follow God’s willFeeling conviction of sin and giving his life to ChristWatching everything he dreamed of get taken awayDeciding to move to Nashville and finding godly menReading the Bible cover to cover in 2018Deciding to become an authorWhy we love to cheer for the hero in a storyHow the stories we tell ourselves expand Great quotes from Bob: I know there’s more but back then, I didn’t know. It was casual Christianity; it wasn’t a relationship. My heart was not ignited until I was 25 and it didn’t happen until I was convicted of sin. Resources we mentioned: Bob’s websiteOur Heart’s Desire: How Our Stories Reveal the Thing We Want Most by Bob Wheatley Related episodes: Karen Swallow Prior and the Spiritual Practice of Reading FictionAndrew Klavan and The Truth and BeautyTim Morris and How Your Heart’s Desire Unlocks Your Purpose The post Bob Wheatley and The Moment of Conviction appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Lisa Woolery is a mom, author, and widow. Today, Lisa shares how her life changed when her husband died and the spiritual journey she took as a widow. She tells us the story of finding faith as a teenager, meeting her husband in high school, putting her faith on hiatus and living the “good life,” and how adopting children changed all that. Then, Lisa relays how the Lord was with her through the valley of the shadow of death even when she was mad at him. It took small steps of faith and courage to find herself and her faith again. Lisa’s story reminds us that the Lord cares about the widow and so should we. Listen to Lisa’s story in your favorite podcast app now! Stories Lisa shared: Growing up in a Christian family in Southern CaliforniaThe moment in 4th grade when she gave her life to ChristThe mentor who helped her learn to read the Bible and prayMeeting her husband at youth group for the first timeBecoming a teacher at a Lutheran school and strugglingLeaving church and going into public relationsHow her faith went on hiatus for a seasonWaiting for children and praying for themAdopting children and the weird things people sayHow the Lord feels about us as his kidsHow marriage changed and got harder after adopting childrenDeciding to grow together and do things that enhanced their faithMoving to get stress out of their livesHow her husband passed away and how it changed her lifeTaking care of her kids and the experience of griefA season of being mad at GodRealizing that she could walk through the valley of the shadow of deathLearning how to be her own personWhat she’s learned about herself through this process Great quotes from Lisa: I’ve never had a problem trusting God. I decided not to do the why and to do the acceptance instead. I realized that my acceptance was actually submission. Resources we mentioned: Lisa’s websiteLisa’s Instagram Related episodes: Harriet Miller and A Fierce FaithTricia Lott Williford and How God Works in the WaitingLisa Appelo and The Lord’s Mercy The post Lisa Woolery and The Widow and the Orphan appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Thom S. Rainer is the founder and CEO of Church Answers. With nearly forty years of ministry experience, Thom has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of the local church and its leaders. He has been a pastor of four churches and interim pastor of ten churches He is the author of numerous books, including I Am a Christian and I Believe. Today, Thom shares how he ended up in ministry instead of banking, the difficulty of losing his father, and his thoughts on the changing nature of the American church. He reveals what he’s seeing as churches struggle to come back from the pandemic and the problems pastors are asking to be solved. Thom has been steeped in American Evangelical churches for decades and has a finger on the pulse of the local church. His story reminds us that the local church is still a vital institution for growing in Christ. Listen to Thom’s story in your favorite podcast app now! Stories Thom shared: Hearing the Gospel from his high school football coachWhy it took a couple of days for him to become a ChristianDropping out of church almost immediatelyDeciding to get closer to Christ when he started dating his wifeGoing into banking when they got married and getting immersed in churchWatching a five year old die and how that led him to a sense of callingLosing his father and how that became a dark night of the soulBecoming the CEO of Lifeway and how that affected himThe issue of glass houses for people in the pastorateWhy he started Church AnswersHow churches can get healthierWhether the digital church counts as “being in church”The problem with “consumer Christianity”The issue of expectation in churches Great quotes from Thom: I was probably my pastor’s both best and worst church members. One of the surprises since Covid is that digital attendance has fallen off the cliff. With expectation should come equipping and empowering. Resources we mentioned: Thom’s website for Church AnswersI Believe: A Concise Guide to the Essentials of the Christian Faith by Thomas S. RainerI Am A Church Member by Thomas S. RainerChurch Equip Related episodes: Jonathan Carone and Unlearning and RelearningMichelle Ferrigno Warren and Life on the Jericho RoadLoren Hicks and the Practice of Discipleship The post Thom S. Rainer and The Changing American Church appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Becky Castle Miller is a PhD student in New Testament at Wheaton College with Esau McCaulley, researching emotions in the Gospel of Luke. She did her master’s thesis on emotions and discipleship under Scot McKnight. She writes and speaks on emotional, mental, and spiritual health in the church. She and her husband and their five kids and cat returned to the US in 2020 after living in the Netherlands for eight years, where she served as a discipleship director at an international church. Today, Becky shares about growing up homeschooled, the moment God loved her and the belief she had to let go of, and some practices to try when church gets difficult. Plus, she encourages you to learn and understand your emotions because Jesus cares about them, too. Listen to Becky’s story in your favorite podcast app now! Stories Becky shared: Moving back to the US during the pandemicStudying emotions in the Gospel of LukeTracing the history of teaching on emotions in the American churchGrowing up as a military kid all overBeing homeschooled using Abeka curriculumForcing herself into the box of American fundamentalist ChristianityRealizing that she believed God loved her less because she was a womanExperiencing an emotional breakdown and what she learned about herselfPractices for interacting with the BibleTalking out  her ideas in real timeDiscovering church icons and why they are valuable Great quotes from Becky: If we’re suffering under legalism, that’s not an easy yoke. I had to face the fact that I had believed that God loved me less because I was female. When Scriptures are used against you, it is hard to read the Bible. Retraumatizing yourself is really unhealthy. Resources we mentioned: Becky’s SubstackBecky’s InstagramThe Blue Parakeet, 2nd Edition: Rethinking How You Read the Bible by Scot McKnightA Year of Biblical Womanhood: How a Liberated Woman Found Herself Sitting on Her Roof, Covering Her Head, and Calling Her Husband ‘Master’ by Rachel Held EvansJesus Feminist: An Invitation to Revisit the Bible’s View of Women by Sarah BesseyThe Wisdom of Your Heart by Marc Alan SchelskeTruce Podcast by Chris StaronCreating Space for God by Jodi Niznik Related episodes: Noble Gibbens and Emotional Healing for GrowthMarc Alan Schelske and The Wisdom of Your HeartTim Morris and Why Your Heart Matters The post Becky Castle Miller and Trusting Your Emotions appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Kent Sanders is a ghostwriter who helps leaders grow their impact and influence through books and other content. He is the host of the Daily Writer podcast and the founder of the Daily Writer Club, a membership community that helps writers build a business with their skills. Today, Kent shares how his faith was shaped by spending time in Ukraine, the season of doubt and searching he had while pastoring others, and how learning about the history of worship shaped him. Then, Kent tells us how he ended up as a creative and writer including the work he does today to support writers. Kent’s story reminds us that while the Lord provides at every step, some of where they lead will surprise you. Listen to Kent’s story in your favorite podcast app now! Stories Kent shared: Growing up in Missouri in the woodsGoing to church with his mom as a kidParticipating in Bible BowlGiving his life to Christ as a middle schoolerTravelling with a music team in collegeSpending the summer in UkraineComing back to the United States and realizing the complacency of the cultureFeeling a strong pull to vocational ministryStruggling with his faith in his late 20sWhat he learned about himself on the other side of his questionsTeaching the history of worship and how it shaped himExperiencing different Christian traditionsDiscovering blogging and podcastingBeginning to write and get clientsLeaving his professor job and starting his own businessWhy you should write a book Great quotes from Kent: As a kid, you don’t appreciate the sacrifices adults make for you. The more challenges you have the more opportunities  you have to grow. I was starving for beauty but didn’t know it until I experienced it. Resources we mentioned: Kent’s websiteThe Daily Writer websiteThe Case for a Creator: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God by Lee StrobelThe Faith of Elvis by Billy Stanley, Kent Sanders Related episodes: Sarah Geringer and Transforming Your Thought LifeGregory Gillam and The Road of HealingJon Fugler and Ditching Performance ChristianityAndrew Klavan and The Truth and Beauty The post Kent Sanders and The Beauty of the Written Word appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Christy Boulware suffered a nervous breakdown caused by severe panic and anxiety disorder in 2011. Today, Christy shares the story of her first panic attack sitting on a beach when everything should have been fine. Then, the anxiety got worse and changed her life. Christy tells us bout her holistic approach to healing, the passages of Scripture that helped her, and the moment she understood God’s love for her for the first time. Plus, we discuss what you can do to redefine success and pay attention to your body and heart when you need to. Christy’s story reminds us that while we may have anxiety, fear does not equal a lack of faith and God is still with us. Listen to Christy’s story in your favorite podcast app now! Stories Christy shared: Growing up in Missouri in a Catholic familyGetting into life as an achieverHaving an anxiety attack on the beachGetting checked out for serious health issues and being diagnosed with anxietyThe science behind stress and anxietyExperiencing back to back panic attacks for three weeksContemplating suicide because of the darkness she was experiencingPraying with her husband for the first timeHer holistic approach to get back to normalThe passage of Scripture that helped herUnderstanding God’s love for the first timeLearning that her identity was shaped by her understanding of God’s characterRedefining success as faithfulness to the LordPractices that help you navigate anxietyPaying attention to your body to avoid anxietyWhy fear does not equal a lack of faith Great quotes from Christy: Surrender is a daily choice. When fear is operating, love can’t freely flow. Fear is an indicator not a dictator. Anxiety will isolate you more if you are not vulnerable about it. Resources we mentioned: Christy’s websiteNervous Breakthrough: Finding Freedom from Fear and Anxiety in a World the Feeds It by Christy Boulware Related episodes: Alicia Michelle and the Renewing of Your MindRyan George and Living with CourageSarah Geringer and Transforming Your Thought LifeMarc Schelske and The Wisdom of Your Heart The post Christy Boulware and Love That Casts Out Fear appeared first on Eric Nevins.