My Faithwalking Journey Podcast: Recent Episodes
Jim Herrington
For over 25 years Jim has been serving the church in Houston Texas by working to mobilize individuals and congregations into collaborative efforts that are designed to serve the common good. In this podcast series Jim is talking to community leaders in Houston and across the country who are working to build more loving communities as a systemic solution to the big challenges that our communities face today.
- "To love someone is not first of all to do things for them, but to reveal to them their beauty and value, to say to them through our attitude: 'You are beautiful. You are important. I trust you. You can trust yourself.' We all know well that we can do things for others and in the process crush them, making them feel that they are incapable of doing things by themselves. To love someone is to reveal to them their capacities for life, the light that is shining in them." - Jean Vanier, founder of the L'Arche communities
- For statistics on trauma - The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog
- The Body Keeps the Score
If you enjoy listening to My Faithwalking Journey Podcast, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds and leave a rating and/or comment over on iTunes … Thank you!
In this conversation, Jim and Trisha consider the impact of how we read the bible on how we love. It is possible for people who are committed to the authority of the Scriptures to come to different conclusions about important social issues? And when that to happens how do they relate to one another? How do you love another person who reads the Bible really differently than you do?
"I believe that Jesus says in multiple, unequivocal ways that love is the supreme value. I believe It is more important than theology . . . more important than preference or tradition . . . more important than politics . . . more important than race or culture or context. It's more important than anything.
Yet across the country, congregations are divided and dividing because they have differing views of politics, of same-sex-marriage, of immigration reform, of black-lives-matter, and of so many other things. By their actions many congregations are saying that it is more important to be right (often based on their personal interpretation of the Bible) than it is to stay in loving relationships where disagreements - even sharp ones - exist." (From my Facebook Post)
How can we experience the deep change needed to increase our capacity to love? Spiritual formation.
- Spiritual formation is a human process
- In spiritual formation you get say over what forms you
- Everyone has a first formation
If you enjoy listening to My Faithwalking Journey Podcast, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and/or comment over on iTunes … Thank you!
It’s a normal impulse to want to work for justice. How do you do that in a way that actually brings change? In this episode, Jim and Trisha explore a very counter-intuitive way of bringing about the change you want to see. And, they assert that to engage this counter-intuitive strategy will require you to continue growing your emotional maturity.
- "Three Laws of Performance" by Steve Zafforn and Dave Logan
- Peter Rollins
- "To Change The World" by James Davidson Hunter
If you enjoy listening to My Faithwalking Journey Podcast, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and/or comment over on iTunes … Thank you!
In this episode, Jim talks with Marty Troyer, author of The Gospel Next Door.
Overview of the book on Amazon: "As Christians, we pray for God’s kingdom to come “on earth as it is in heaven.” But what does that even mean? Would we recognize God’s kingdom if it moved in next door?
Learn to see God’s work in your neighborhood, city, and the world—and learn how to join it. With stories from his own city of Houston, Texas, author Marty Troyer introduces a theology of place that empowers us to truly see the work of God where we live, work, and play. The Gospel Next Doorunpacks the gospel through the lenses of following Jesus, making peace, and overcoming injustice. Those seeking to connect more deeply with the world that God so loved will find compelling stories and practical ideas for healing brokenness and imagining new life. Start living out the kingdom of God here and now."
You can get the full show notes on Jim's blog, www.jimtherrington.com
Marilyn describes herself as an "MBA graduate and perpetual learner committed to helping the Church love their neighbors, with a background in corporate recruiting and event planning." After receiving a BA from Rice and an MBA from the University of San Fransico with some time in the workforce in-between, Marilyn found her way back to Texas where she now works to advance community transformation by helping churches serve local schools as the Communications Manager at Loving Houston.
You can learn more about Loving Houston on their website, by visiting their Twitter page, or you can reach out by email.
If you enjoy listening to My Faithwalking Journey Podcast, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and/or comment over on iTunes … Thank you!
"Kevin Palau is president of the Luis Palau Association, a Portland, Oregon based ministry that has shared the Good News of Jesus Christ with 1 billion people around the world through Kevin’s father, evangelist Luis Palau.
The first CityServe in Portland, Oregon has developed into a long term movement for the Gospel and city transformation around the Portland-metro area. Cities across the country have begun to take notice, and now similar movements are taking place under Kevin and the Palau Association’s guidance, with or without a Palau festival." (Palau Organization)
Kevin is also the author of Unlikely: Setting Aside Our Differences to Live Out the Gospel which is an "inspiring story of an unlikely partnership between a band of churches and the openly gay mayor of Portland that led to unprecedented change throughout the city and launched a nationwide movement called CityServe."
About Dr. Chuck Degroat: "I am Associate Professor of Counseling and Pastoral Care at Western Theological Seminary Holland MI, and Co-Founder and a Senior Fellow at Newbigin House of Studies, San Francisco. I’ve spent the last 15 years in a fluid combination of pastoral ministry, seminary teaching, and clinical counseling. I write mostly about the intersections of psychology, theology, and Christian spirituality.
Most recently, I was a teaching pastor at City Church San Francisco, where I co-founded Newbigin House of Studies, an urban and missional training center with M.Div. and M.A. offerings through Western Theological Seminary, MI. I’ve started two church counseling centers, a Lay Counseling Program further developed by my City Church colleagues, and a Fellows program. All of this represents my commitment to formation for mission."
Show Notes: * (4:05) Why have you given so much of your life to spiritual formation work? * (8:20) Discovering a disconnect * (10:42) Getting fired and a “Dark Night of the Soul” period * (13:20) Relationships, Therapy, & Contemplative Prayer * (18:40) How do people develop into a more loving way of being? * (22:30) The power and importance of vulnerability, space, and presence * (27:37) Sharing recent thinking around wholeheartedness
Mentioned in the podcast:
- Richard Rohr
- Paula D'Arcy
- James Finley
- “The antidote to exhaustion is not necessarily rest,” I repeated woodenly, as if I might exhaust myself completely before I reached the end of the sentence. “What is it, then?” “The antidote to exhaustion is wholeheartedness.” Crossing the Unknown Sea (excerpt) by David Whyte
- Brené Brown - The power of vulnerability
- Wholeheartedness: Busyness, Exhaustion, and Healing the Divided Self
If you enjoy listening to My Faithwalking Journey Podcast, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and/or comment over on iTunes … Thank you!
For nearly 15 years Trisha and I have worked together closely to equip people to live missionally. We have written a book, developed materials for training pastors and congregational leaders, and have traveled together to cities across the country to implement the training.
We both hold deep convictions that the relationships between men and women present one of the systemic challenges that we face in our families and communities. We believe It is in the design of God for men and women to collaborate as equals in the missional life. As we have worked here in Houston and in congregations across the country, we are frequently asked about our beliefs and practices related to working together as an unmarried couple.
We’ve recently decided to do this series of five podcasts that address the questions and concerns that we have heard expressed by people in a wide variety of settings. In this episode, we address some questions that have come up during this series.
The 3 main questions we address are:
(3:21) Do men have to be diminished in order for women to be empowered? (13:16) How does this conversation apply to other contexts? (27:12) Doesn’t this just make it easier for people to have affairs? Is the risk too high? If you enjoy listening to My Faithwalking Journey Podcast, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and/or comment over on iTunes … Thank you! Series Links:
- Part 1: What is God’s design for men and women as they work together?
- Part 2: What about the Billy Graham rule?
- Part 3: Can you hear what I am saying?
- Part 4: How can men and women support each other in this journey?
- Part 5: Q&A with Jim and Trisha
For nearly 15 years Trisha and I have worked together closely to equip people to live missionally. We have written a book, developed materials for training pastors and congregational leaders, and have traveled together to cities across the country to implement the training.
We both hold deep convictions that the relationships between men and women present one of the systemic challenges that we face in our families and communities. We believe It is in the design of God for men and women to collaborate as equals in the missional life. As we have worked here in Houston and in congregations across the country, we are frequently asked about our beliefs and practices related to working together as an unmarried couple.
We’ve recently decided to do this series of five podcasts that address the questions and concerns that we have heard expressed by people in a wide variety of settings. In this episode, we address the question, “How can men and women support each other in this journey?”
Show Notes:
- (2:06) – Recap previous 3 conversations in this series
- (6:15) – Getting into the topic of conversation: How women and men can support each other in this journey
- (10:30) – Choosing discomfort over resentment
- (16:17) – How can men support women in this work?
- (20:35) – Maybe you need a token woman
- (25:05) – Looking at experience and pay
- (27:09) – The importance of affirmation and public recognition
- (30:10) – Increasing awareness to what we don’t know
- (32:45) – The importance of mutual respect and appreciation
If you enjoy listening to My Faithwalking Journey Podcast, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and/or comment over on iTunes … Thank you!
Series Links:
- Part 1: What is God’s design for men and women as they work together?
- Part 2: What about the Billy Graham rule?
- Part 3: Can you hear what I am saying?
- Part 4: How can men and women support each other in this journey?
- Part 5: Q&A with Jim and Trisha
In our next podcast, we want to dig into some of the questions that have come up for you as you have listened to this series. You can submit your question in the comments section, on Facebook, or however else you can reach us! We look forward to hearing from you!
For nearly 15 years Trisha and I have worked together closely to equip people to live missionally. We have written a book, developed materials for training pastors and congregational leaders, and have traveled together to cities across the country to implement the training. We both hold deep convictions that the relationships between men and women present one of the systemic challenges that we face in our families and communities. We believe It is in the design of God for men and women to collaborate as equals in the missional life. As we have worked here in Houston and in congregations across the country, we are frequently asked about our beliefs and practices related to working together as an unmarried couple.
We’ve recently decided to do this series of five podcasts that address the questions and concerns that we have heard expressed by people in a wide variety of settings. In this episode, we address the question, “Can you hear what I am saying?”
Show Notes:
- (3:45) Quick summary of the first two parts of this series (Links to the first two parts of the series below)
- (12:28) Men, women, assertiveness, and perception.
- (14:15) Having a courageous conversation
- (17:25) The rules of professional communication
- (18:06) It is a progressive process
- (24:00) A cultural assumption on points of view and reality
- (29:59) Interrupting
- (32:45) Mansplaining
If you enjoy listening to My Faithwalking Journey Podcast, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and/or comment over on iTunes … Thank you!
Series Links:
- Part 1: What is God’s design for men and women as they work together?
- Part 2: What about the Billy Graham rule?
Our next podcast will be about how men and women can support each other.
For nearly 15 years Trisha and I have worked together closely to equip people to live missionally. We have written a book, developed materials for training pastors and congregational leaders, and have traveled together to cities across the country to implement the training.
We both hold deep convictions that the relationships between men and women present one of the systemic challenges that we face in our families and communities. We believe It is in the design of God for men and women to collaborate as equals in the missional life. As we have worked here in Houston and in congregations across the country, we are frequently asked about our beliefs and practices related to working together as an unmarried couple.
We’ve recently decided to do this series of five podcasts that address the questions and concerns that we have heard expressed by people in a wide variety of settings. In this episode, we address the question, “What about the Billy Graham rule?”
Show Notes:
- (7:00) Introduction to the Billy Graham Rule
- (11:15) Acknowledging risks
- (16:09) The rules aren’t working
- (18:00) Addressing the impact on Trisha and Jim
- (23:35) Boundaries
- (33:44) Looking at other places of impact
If you enjoy listening to My Faithwalking Journey Podcast, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and/or comment over on iTunes … Thank you!
Series Links: * Part 1: What is God’s design for men and women as they work together? * Part 2: What about the Billy Graham rule? * Part 3: Can you hear what I am saying? * Part 4: How can men and women support each other in this journey? * Part 5: Q&A with Jim and Trisha
For nearly 15 years Trisha and I have worked together closely to equip people to live missionally. We have written a book, developed materials for training pastors and congregational leaders, and have traveled together to cities across the country to implement the training.
We both hold deep convictions that the relationships between men and women present one of the systemic challenges that we face in our families and communities. We believe It is in the design of God for men and women to collaborate as equals in the missional life. As we have worked here in Houston and in congregations across the country, we are frequently asked about our beliefs and practices related to working together as an unmarried couple.
We’ve recently decided to do this series of five podcasts that address the questions and concerns that we have heard expressed by people in a wide variety of settings. In this episode, we address the question, “What is God’s design for men and women as they work together?”
Notes:
- God Created both male and female in His image
- Jesus redefines power and authority
- Authority, roles, and collaboration
- The importance of context
- Do we take the scriptures literally?
- Mutual submission
- Why this conversation is important
If you enjoy listening to My Faithwalking Journey Podcast, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and/or comment over on iTunes … Thank you!
Join us next time for a conversation on the “Billy Graham Rule”
Series Links:
- Part 1: What is God’s design for men and women as they work together?
- Part 2: What about the Billy Graham rule?
- Part 3: Can you hear what I am saying?
- Part 4: How can men and women support each other in this journey?
- Part 5: Q&A with Jim and Trisha
Matt Russell is a pastor, activist and professor. Currently, he is on staff at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, working in the area of faith formation and community development, and is an affiliate professor at Fuller Theological Seminary in Practical Theology. Prior to joining St. Paul’s, he was on faculty at Duke Divinity. Matt recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Cambridge, where he explored redemptive narratives and models of reconciliation, particularly that of Coventry Cathedral. Matt is married to Michele and they have 3 crazy boys: Miguel, Lucas, and Gabriel. [This is Matt’s bio from the Project Curate staff page] (10:30) - A counter narrative of women’s redemption (13:20) - Challenge to loving your city (15:45) - The city is designed in a way that works against building bridges (18:45) - Humanity, community, and the Genesis story (19:15) - Project Curate overview & introduction (25:10) - How you go about changing a city The Reclaimed Podcast with Matt Russell Project Curate
If you enjoy listening to My Faithwalking Journey Podcast, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and/or comment over on iTunes … Thank you!
Nate Foster is Assistant Professor of Social Work at Spring Arbor University as well as a writer, and pastor. Nate is the author of "The Making of Ordinary Saints" where he "explores the classic spiritual disciplines in fresh, creative ways, sharing engaging personal stories that show how these ancient practices can help us live more like Jesus in everyday life." He frequently contributes to Renovare through blogs and podcasts. He is currently lives in Jackson, Michigan with his wife of 21 years and two children.
- (6:00) Introduction to the difference between spiritual disciplines and spiritual formation
- (6:35) What does the word saint mean to you?
- (9:20) If we are going to take seriously the call to make disciples, what does it mean to make?
- (12:10) What is the role or impact of authenticity in the spiritual formation process?
- (16:08) The solution is not that we are just honest about everything and then we just stay there but there is hope for change and that we get to grow.
- (16:35) How do I know if I am loving more maturely?
- (19:30) What would you say to a pastor who wants the work of spiritual formation to be the first work they do?
Here is a link to Nate's father, Richard Foster's, book Celebration of Discipline Come visit Jim's blog for more articles and podcasts: www.jimtherrington.com
Michael De Ruyter is a husband, father, and pastor who lives and serves in Midland, Michigan. Mike serves his city and his church by focusing his ministry on pastoring the city. In this episode Mike shares how he and his church increasingly saw a need to not only pastor their congregation but pastor the city from within the congregation. Thank you for listening to this conversation!
Show Notes:
- (4:30) Introduction to the story of how Mike moved into the roll of pastoring his city
- (6:25) Mike shares what God revealed to him during a Faithwalking retreat
- (7:18) “The fruitfulness comes after the faithfulness” - Michael De Ruyter
- (13:45) The shift from pastoring a church to pastoring a city
- (18:40) How Mike and pastors in the area got connected with the Mayor
- (22:00) What is the goal of pastors networking to be good neighbors in the neighborhood?
- (30:00) Parting thoughts
Podcast Overview:
For over 25 years Jim has been serving the church in Houston Texas by working to mobilize individuals and congregations into collaborative efforts that are designed to serve the common good. In this podcast series Jim is talking to community leaders in Houston and across the country who are working to build more loving communities as a systemic solution to the big challenges that our communities face today.
Dave Runyon has served the city of Denver as a high school teach, a pastor, and has spent the last 6 years of his life as bridge builder--building relationships between different leaders in his community then helping them work towards the common good. He is a husband and a father of 4. Dave is a coauthor of The Art of Neighboring.
- (3:10) We have found that if you are gonna go after a city the size of Denver you need to break it into small pieces.
- (4:05) When we talk about going after the city we are talking about trying to demonstrate the gospel
- (5:20) An example of demonstrating the gospel
- (7:30) A story that led to the writing of the book The Art of Neighboring.
- (9:10) ”Relationships always trump programs”
- (13:15) God is using this discipline of neighboring to put me into relationships with people who are in different seasons of life, who think about the world and think about God totally different than I do.
- (16:25) Neighboring can begin with simply learning and remembering a name
- (17:35) No matter the kind of neighborhood you live in there are people in need all around you.
Nate Pyle serves as Lead Pastor at Christ’s Community Church in Fishers, Indiana. Nate has written, "As I follow Jesus, I have found that I need to unlearn how to live in the world in order to learn a new way of living. The way Jesus lived.” He shares his thoughts on this new way of living through his blog and his new book “Man Enough.” Thank you for listening to this conversation with Nate.
Show Notes;
- (3:00) The importance of intentionality in building community
- (6:35) What can I take off my plate so I can focus on relationships
- (7:20) Building loving communities isn’t a task It is about being present with God, with yourself, and with others.
- (8:00) The conversation about being in community is a conversation about learning how to love.
- (9:50) The unspoken idea of having to prove yourself and the implications on building loving communities
- (13:30) Nate shares a story that really shaped him
- (19:00) Our need to be known
- (21:40) The book is about being fully human as Jesus was fully human
Nate Pyle's Book: Man Enough: How Jesus Redefines Manhood by Nate Pyle
Other Book Mentioned: The Making of Ordinary Saints by Nathan Foster and Richard Foster
Show notes:
- We learn how to do relationships by the age of 5 years old
- Trauma changes our brains and makes loving self and others much more challenging
- About 40% of American children will have at least one potentially traumatizing experience by age 18*
- Our level of person safety in key relationships impacts our capacity for intimacy
- We need to develop a deep level of compassion for what we see around us
- Building loving communities is almost impossible to do solo
- Missional marriage - our culture gets healthier as our families get healthier**
*The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma
**Upcoming Missional Marriage Workshop!
For over 25 years Jim has been serving the church in Houston Texas by working to mobilize individuals and congregations into collaborative efforts that are designed to serve the common good. In this podcast series Jim is talking to community leaders in Houston and across the country who are working to build more loving communities as a systemic solution to the big challenges that our communities face today.
Today's conversation is with John Ogletree, Pastor at First Metropolitan Church in Houston, Texas.
- (1:40) Is it obtainable to live in a world where everyone is safe and everyone has enough?
- (4:53) How might you, John, come to this conversation differently than someone who is not african-american?
- (9:05) The impact of labeling events as racially motivated, specifically around the Deputy Goforth tragedy.
- (14:57) Political rhetoric, loving others, and moving away from either or thinking
- (18:05) If we are going to build loving communities we need to do two things: 1. Learn to love people who see the world differently than I do. 2. Move away from either or thinking
For over 25 years Jim has been serving the church in Houston Texas by working to mobilize individuals and congregations into collaborative efforts that are designed to serve the common good. In this podcast series Jim is talking to community leaders in Houston and across the country who are working to build more loving communities as a systemic solution to the big challenges that our communities face today.
In this podcast Jim and Cindy Wu explore the what it looks like when we are fully present and fully committed to our communities.
Our Global Families: Christians Embracing Common Identity in a Chancing World by Todd Johnson & Cindy Wu
A brief overview: * The impact on Cindy and her family by connecting with her neighbors. * How connecting with our communities brings a broader perspective which is a vital part of why we need to know our neighbors * How does Cindy's heritage impact her perspective on building community? * Cindy talks about religious demography and specifically Christian demography and how the data she is finding paints a picture of how the world and the church is changing * Shares some key concepts from Our Global Familiesthat give insight into building loving communities.
