way good life with Eli Shackelford: Recent Episodes
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Could life be way good-er-er? I think so. This podcast explores the deep connection of all humanity through an ancient text and a new experience of God. Faith. Freedom. Honesty. Hope. Everything points to The Christ at work in all things, all places, and all times. Let's go people. It's a way good life after all.
Another poem generated from another walk. Cause, come on, that's where most of the magic happens. 'It's Always Been Rising' is a reference to smoke from one of the most famous Hebrew scriptures...About a guy who happened upon a bush that was on fire, but not being burnt up. It is always rising. They are always speaking.Blessings.
Started this little poem on a walk with my dog Patch. I was overwhelmed by the goodness and grace of life. Enjoy.
Music by Taylor Lacey of Salt Lake City. Support him wherever music is found.
So...This one sat in my computer for a bit. Didn't feel finished. Not even close. Not even close to close. Just a couple of thoughts about some of the best people I've known. Not finished. The title might be the best part. This is about my friends in the disability community, but I don't do them justice and I can't possibly communicate how much they've changed my life. But. It's been the block to my podcast- so time to unblock. Here we go. Blessings.
I used to have a yellow canoe. It was a rehabbed canoe, like some of you. This episode is the beginning of some thoughts on broken systems and messed up processes. Cause life is way good, but sometimes we miss it, mess it up, and lose our way. This is the beginning of some thoughts on restructuring, reclaiming, and reimagining how life could go even better.
Here's a new track from my buddy Tayler Lacey.
Blessings.
My family plays hard. Whether we're wrestling on the living room floor or exploring through the mountains...but this big snow? Enough is enough. We've had at least a foot more since I recorded this. I was shoveling this morning! The snow's not really the point though. It's how much each of us can handle and why we need each other to carry some of the load. We're about healthy over here at Way Good Life. It will be a constant effort to let things go and pursue the good. Tunes by my buddy Tayler Lacey. Blessings.
Way Good Life! This episode comes from a song that spoke to me about life, love, goodness, and grace...So come out my people. There's a place and a space for you and it's better than you know.
How do people perceive your perception of them?
How do we change this?
How do we welcome and call our people to come out?
I know we need them all. We need you. Them. Those. And all the rest.
Here's a link to the artist: Forrest Clay (bandcamp.com)
Blessings.
Ahhh.
My friend Markie. She was one of the special ones. Unique. Rare. Good.
This is a little tribute to her and also to the beauty of regular old humanity. Scars. Blemishes. Shortcomings. Imperfections. And. Complexities. The whole package.
May you have a Markie and may you be a Markie to someone else.
Music by my buddy Tayler Lacey of the one and only Salt Lake City.
I've got some changes coming up. Stay tuned to hear more.
Be blessed.
Took a little break from 'The Bible Sessions' episodes. You'll see those continued here and there. But this little break happened cause I sold my minivan last night, and it was a strange experience. I met these super sweet dudes from Chilli and Peru. A dad, an uncle, and a son. I don't know anyone that I would rather have sold my minivan to, but it did bring up some strange emotions, which seemed to call for a podcast episode. So I sat down and wrote a quick one. About minivans and soccer camps; about road trips, and first cars. Hopefully, my thoughts will cause some even deeper thoughts of your own.
Still rocking tunes from the one and only, pretty great, Tayler Lacey. This song is called, "Family Dinner" and communicates deep truths from a modern folk artist.
Blessings good people.
WGL: The Bible Sessions is all about working thru some misconceptions around the best-selling book of all time. We're hoping to clarify what it is and what it isn't and most of all...why it matters. The Bible ya'll. Here we go. Send questions, comments, or snarky remarks and I'll try to respond with grace and love.
Still trying to figure out mics, recordings, and mixing---apologies for the echo.
Music by Taylor and Daniel. My friends.
I'm tired of the Bible being weaponized. I'm tired of it being used to manipulate, wound, kill, and abuse. So I'm doing a short series that will be fairly different in hopes of stirring up hope for the potential in the pages of this ancient document.
My hope is that this series will help renew your hope in what the Bible is and what it is not.
"When the Bible is used to curse humanity. You should reject it. Because the Bible would reject itself at that point."- Eli
I know. Trust me, I know there are mixed feelings about this book and its history... Stick with me, I think you'll be blessed.
Book reference: The Bible Unwrapped by Meghan Larissa Good
Podcast reference: The Bible Project bibleproject.com
Intro music by Taylor Lacey
Outro song by Daniel Pimentel
Please support our local artists.
Blessings my friends.
More questions ya'll... Cause why not?
I eventually land on a question from some 1st-century writings that changed my life. Quite literally. I discovered this question from the pen of Dr. Luke over 20 years ago and I ask it to myself at least weekly. It's a good one. And if you start asking it...It will change your life too. Enjoy.
Tunes from my buddy Daniel Pimentel.
Dryer beeps from my daughter, who was doing laundry while I recorded. lol.
Blessings.
Quick little poem inspired by a couple of monks and a sweet time outside. Take a listen, then take a pause, then go write your own! Music by Daniel Pimentel Blessings my friends, thanks for tuning in.
Roles are ours to step into when appropriate. Don't miss the opportunity to love, lead, and serve well. And most importantly, the one who gives all the possible roles also fills them perfectly. So be cared for. Be loved. Be led. Be served. By the Divine everything.
This is about trust as one of the currencies that builds life. Trust as a way of giving away power. Trust as a way of leadership and growth. You've been trusted, now exercise your trust in others as a way of investing in our world.
Music once again by my friends Taylor Lacey and Daniel Pimentel.
Be blessed.
Naming is a sacred task. A God-gifted identity. Don't miss out on your potential, but also handle your people with care.
Poetry blurb by Eli.
Music intro by Taylor Lacey.
Ending song by Daniel Pimentel.
Support local artists and name your people well. It matters.
It's Been Way Too Long. But we're back at it. Because seasons season us, don't they? Some musing on the seasons of life and how we get to navigate them.
Thanks for following. Thanks for sharing. As always, Sunday sermon style messages can be found on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CornerstoneEvangelicalFreeChurch
Look me up anytime. I'll gladly make time for a conversation.
Intro track by Taylor Lacey https://open.spotify.com/artist/6yOxgeXOvrvNJo7FrV2KVm?si=soFs8IUQQUK6hBkMpEnmMA&dl_branch=1
Ending song by Daniel Pimentel https://open.spotify.com/artist/4spIggVfYbznaA8dpxVxKA?si=ncVcS0U_RWOtWudyDqY-sg&dl_branch=1
Oh buddy. This one felt a bit like walking thru a beautiful field with hidden landmines. It came from a convo with my fam...And I really hope they are not offended. I used an expression that I heard this week; 'on the spectrum', but I could have used about a bazillion others...because we all do this all the time. The point is not to make anyone feel like a broken human, but rather to get everyone thinking about ways that they could encourage the humanity in everyone around them. I am also aware that some of these labels can almost become badges of honor (like ADHD has for me!) If you want to wear these proudly, do it! but don't put them on people that don't want them...I guess that's what I'm trying to encourage us all to move towards. Blessings dear friends! Music generously provided by Tayler Lacey---You can find him wherever good music is found, also, if you give him a beer and a couple bucks, you might be able to talk him into playing a gig at your venue! As always, a weekly message for our faith community can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/CornerstoneEvangelicalFreeChurch/ Wherever you are. Whoever you are. Be blessed.
I have been writing poems since I was about 11. I publish, release, share, or whatever, about 1 in a 1,000. Seriously. I write a lot of dang poems and there's no telling which ones will make it out. My all time favorite: "The day I stabbed Jesus with a fork over coffee", only got shared with 3-4 people. My 3rd or 4th favorite, "When Jesus looked death in the eyeball", got shared with 1000's. There's just no telling.
Anyway, here's a little bonus episode about letting go of sacred things to embrace more sacreder things. Praying that this lil' snapshot is your journey too.
Cause you gotta know, if you want more space, somethings gotta go. That thing you believed when you were 5, doesn't need to die, but it should evolve to survive. That's just the way of life. Growth is good. Hope you enjoy.
Taylor Lacey gets credit for his sweet tunes and willingness to let me pepper the cast with them. Gracias amigo.
And blessings to each one of you.
Relational debt is the worst. That's letting people from your past control your future. This episode is all about releasing that debt. Let it go. Just do it. You will be healthier and your life will be fuller.
Music comes from an old pal Garrett Thorn. Please find his band (The Northern Lights) on Spotify and support him: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1hGRxQQhEkAcXnAf7qUGKe
As always Sunday message type talks go out every week and can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/CornerstoneEvangelicalFreeChurch
Please support the show by liking, rating, reviewing, or committing to a monthly donation. Any funds that come in only go out to help WGL work.
Blessings!
I'm tired of black lives being taken. Please do something. This didn't get the time I wanted, because I really just needed to get it out. Music intro by Daniel Pimentel. Song, 'Hold on' by Tim Drisdom. Some resources: https://bethebridge.com. Drew Hart's book 'Trouble I've Seen'. Brian Stevenson. Ibram X. Kendi. Propaganda's work...
Phil Vischer (The veggie tales guy )https://youtu.be/AGUwcs9qJXY
Some Films:
13th: Netflix
Just Mercy (the film version)
When They See Us: Netflix
Birth of a Nation: Amazon Prime, YouTube TV, iTunes, Apple TV
Time: The Kalief Browder Story: Netflix
That should get you started. Now. Please. Do the work.
There is a better way than polarization and it is...wait for it...TOGETHERNESS That's right. Togetherness. Some thoughts and ramblings along with some stories and escapades. If you are in the west, Cornerstone is hosting Criag (Five) James for another hip-hop show. Stop in for good times. Tunes today are from them as well.
As always if Sunday Services are your jam check us out on FB at 9:00 Mountian time---I'm lobbying to call that 'Only Time', but as of now it's still mountain time... (2) Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church | Facebook
Cheers good people.
Some proverbs for your enjoyment. But also a reminder: "Things spoken to you are only of value if they take up residence within you ."- Eli- WGL
Music from Tayler: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6yOxgeXOvrvNJo7FrV2KVm?si=McHi-NnuRsyhNNPF8XWlJg
More Bibley stuff from Eli every Sunday: https://www.facebook.com/CornerstoneEvangelicalFreeChurch/
Also, look up the Bible Project guys...These dudes are great! https://bibleproject.com/explore/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAv6yCBhCLARIsABqJTjbPlOOleqJTZ9M3QHGxysA3DcDZq7gNojP28eqStVQZvUefXcZxHCQaAjbHEALw_wcB
And I mentioned a Rend Collective song...also great: https://youtu.be/qd7R1H79Vok
Blessings to you and on your endeavors.
What do you do when what you're doing isn't working? Change what you're doing of course.
This episode is just a reminder that growth matters. That moving forward is good. That God is always calling. And. That chasing horses is not fun. Blessings my friends.
Another tune from Tayler Lacey.
For Sunday-style messages hop on my Facebook page.
And thank you for your support. I couldn't do this without you.
Blessings on top of blessings.
25 years ago our house burned to the ground. These are a handful of my family's thoughts and reflections about that time. More than just hearing my family's story, I hope that you engage with your story. This fire took everything from us...But we took more back. Count it all joy. All joy. Thoughts and reflections contributed by Ruffin, Jamie, Aaron, Jordan, Cara, and Christian Shackelford. Thank you. Music from my new friends in the hip hop world. As always if you're looking for a Sunday Church message, look here: https://www.facebook.com/CornerstoneEvangelicalFreeChurch/ Blessings good people.
Friends. This one may be the most personal yet. I met a guy (Gabe) who got me thinking about all the people I've been blessed to know. Now, I could only include a tiny sample. There are so many more! Here's a shout out to a few, but also a hope that you would remember yours and that you would engage in those that God is still bringing to your door. Here's to the hope that you would say "YES" to the people around you.
Music is from my new friends (what up Gabe!) at Kingdom Muzic. Their tunes can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36mpmb80iVo&feature=youtu.be And everywhere.
Blessings.
The question is... Everything. So ask, enjoy, pursue, and then ask again! This is just scratching the surface of a better way to be alive.
Music by Tayler Lacey. Look him up and support his art.
Thank you all who support this podcast and the work that fills my life with meaning.
I am humbled by you and grateful for the opportunity to speak life to life.
Be blessed. Be blessed.
Happy New Years! This is a bit of a repeat, but also one of my life themes so...Born from an ongoing conversation with my favorite human, written in a car full of my other favorite humans, recorded in a closet in St George...Finally out for your ears. Cause...Tadpoles. Legs. Raspberries. And Life.
Music by Tayler Lacey.
If a Sunday message is more your thing head over to my FB page.
Please share, rate, review, and share!
Blessings my friends.
Christmas eve ya'll so I'm pulling out some Bible. But have no fear, this little passage is full of fire, in the best of ways. Here's to you seeing the prophetess Mary in a new way and also letting your inner prophet out. Merry Christmas.
Music by good buddy Tayler Lacey. Support him where ever homegrown music is found.
Support this Podcast through Anchor FM. I have my first financial supporter and am so beyond excited. Thank you Leanne Hebling!
As always, if you're looking for a Sunday message thing, they can be found on my FB page for a few more weeks.
Oh, and I'm pretty stinking available if you ever just want to chat.
Merry Christmas.
This one got sadder than I intended...but there's some sadness out there and I barely scratched the surface. So. Let's call it what it is and move on. The new is always calling and the good is always discoverable. Let's go in that direction. Eyes open. Ears tuned. Where is the DIVINE breathing new life in your world right now?
Music for this show was provided by an old buddy Ross Thorn! How fun is that?
As always, if a Sunday message is more your thing, I am still doing FB live every Sunday on my FB page.
Cheers.
Floods. Buckets. Turkeys. Birthdays. Deaths. Roadtrips. And conversations.
WGL today is all about being present. Being present until it just becomes being. Because present, tuned in, awake, eyes open, and hearts full, really is the best way to be. You're there anyway, so make the moments count.
Music by Tayler Lacey of Salt Lake City.
Look up Eli Shackelford on Facebook for Sunday Church style messages.
And keep going after the good life, my friends!
We humans spend so much time and management on what's coming out. What's being produced. Controlling and regulating behavior. But there's a far better. Simpler. Truer way to get to goodness. Enjoy this one and ask yourself some questions!
Music by Tayler Lacey.
Hit me up with your questions.
This life is good. Don't settle for less.
There's always more to the story. More going on. So much more.
So stop trying to know, guess, or control and just understand that you don't understand. Grace upon grace upon grace. I share a couple of quick stories in this one. But you have your own. You know these things are true. So, let's add grace to every situation. Love well. Be generous. Those things always come back to you anyway. Let's go!
Music By Tayer Lacey: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6yOxgeXOvrvNJo7FrV2KVm?si=9_M0aERcSd6WhX6FcZM3ow
Follow Sunday messages here: https://www.facebook.com/eliupnorth/
Uncle Drew reference...Literally, Google: "Uncle Drew".
This episode comes near the end of 2020. The year of revealing some things that have been here all along. Just some thoughts on uncovering truth. Easy when looking at other's lives. Often very hard when looking at our own. Welcome to uncovering. The end times. The apocalypse.
Music today is provided by one of my favorite local artists. Daniel Pimentel is from Salt Lake, but now lives in Honduras. This guy gives his life well and embodies Way Good Life values in so many ways. Please support him here: https://danielpimentel.bandcamp.com/music
Please share these podcasts with your buddies.
Some friends and fellow podcasters collaborated to put this together and were gracious enough to offer it to Way Good Life. So. Savor this. These are poets and artists. Farmers and scientists. Also regular people. Thinking. Hoping. Praying. Planting... and just living for all of us. Give a listen. Be encouraged. Join in.
Of course, regular ol' Eli out of Salty City Utah will be back this Thursday.
And maybe we'll have election results by then, so thats fun...ish. unless it's it's not.
Everybody Now is a podcast about what it means to be human on the threshold of a global climate emergency, in a time of systemic injustice and runaway pandemics. Scientists, activists, farmers, poets, and theologians talk bravely and frankly about how our biosphere is changing, about grief and hope in an age of social collapse and mass extinction, and about taking action against all the odds.
From 19th October 2020, podcasters all over the world began releasing Everybody Now as a collective call for awareness, grief and loving action.
With contributions from:
Dr. Gail Bradbrook- scientist and co-founder of Extinction Rebellion
Prof. Kevin Anderson - Professor of Energy and Climate Change at the University of Manchester
Dámaris Albuquerque- works with agricultural communities in Nicaragua
Dr. Rowan Williams- theologian and poet, and a former Archbishop of Canterbury
Pádraig Ó Tuama- poet, theologian, and conflict mediator
Rachel Mander- environmental activist with Hope for the Future
John Swales- priest and activist, and part of a community for marginalized people
Zena Kazeme - Persian-Iraqi poet who draws on her experiences as a former refugee to create poetry that explores themes of exile, home, war and heritage
Flo Brady - singer and theatre maker
Hannah Malcolm - Anglican ordinand, climate writer and organizer
Alastair McIntosh- writer, academic, and land rights activist
David Benjamin Blower- musician, poet, and podcaster
Funding and Production:
This podcast was crowdfunded by a handful of good souls and produced by Tim Nash and David Benjamin Blower
Permissions:
The song Happily by Flo Brady is used with permission.
The song The Soil, from We Really Existed and We Really Did This by David Benjamin Blower, used with permission.
The Poem The Tree of Knowledge by Pádraig Ó Tuama used with permission.
The Poem Atlas by Zena Kazeme used with permission.
The Poem What is Man?by Rowan Williams from the book The Other Mountain, used with permission from Carcanet Press
As we get close to the 2020 Elections I've been thinking about politics. But politics' day on WGL life isn't what you might think. This isn't primarily about your candidate, It's primarily about YOU and bringing YOUR SELF into better harmony...with YOU. I mention at the beginning of this episode that this is a 'fun' talk. I don't know that it ended up being very fun, but hopefully, it will make you pause. Hopefully, we will think through some deeper things. Hopefully, we will take ourselves less seriously and more honestly. Cheers everyone. Enjoy the set-up and let the truth lead to good places. It's politics day here on Way Good Life. Once again, music is provided by Tayler Lacey. Please support this dude. https://open.spotify.com/artist/6yOxgeXOvrvNJo7FrV2KVm If a Sunday Sermon is more your thing. I'm doing that live on my FB page every Sunday https://www.facebook.com/eliupnorth/ Finally. Love people well, especially those different than you, and get off your you-know-what and vote.
Who is pulling you? What is pushing you? What are these invisible forces that are driving you or holding you back? The point of this episode is that you can control those...at least somewhat. So who are you becoming and where are you going? It depends. Who is pushing and who is helping hold you back? And my son now has a six-wheeler.
Music by Tayler Lacey.
Follow Eli Shackelford if you're into Sunday messages as well. https://www.facebook.com/eliupnort
Some Thursday thoughts about working together. Cooperation. the language of the universe. Everything is better together. Jump on in. I also release a Sunday video every week on my personal Facebook page. Those are similar thoughts with a Sunday morning spin. Look me up on Facebook if that's your thing. Music was once again provided by Tayler Lacey. Please support his work. Be blessed.
Welcome to Dave's kitchen. Where church, and Dave, and barbershops collide. Dave is the chef. He is also the teacher, and Dave has something to say.
The real questions this episode explores are: What good is going on in the world around us? How can we get in on it? Who can we learn from? And. Are we willing to go to uncomfortable places to learn good truths from unlikely teachers... There it is.
You don't have to cross an ocean, sometimes you can just cross a street. So, let me introduce you to my friend Dave and his kitchen.
Once again. Music is provided by my good bud Tayler Lacey. Check out his tunes everywhere that way good home-grown folk happens.
Find Taylor's music here: https://taylerlacey.bandcamp.com/
Look up me on Facebook where there's a whole collection of Sunday messages too. https://www.facebook.com/eliupnorth/
Be blessed, my friends. Way good life.
Pizza. Cigarettes. Cool Tee-Shirts and so much more. I'm kicking off with a fun little story that led to some interesting thoughts on being with people.
Music by Taylor Lacey; a Salt Lake City local folk artist and good friend.