The Well: Recent Episodes
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As a lifelong fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Shawn shares why he has been rooting for the Bengals in the playoffs. Can we mix sports and faith? He certainly tries to do so in this podcast.
Many of us are still trying to navigate life in this pandemic. In this podcast Shawn looks at two extremes that he believes aren't serving any of us well.
Today we welcomed Laurent Che, founder of Tending To Your Temple, to The Well. You're invited to listen to Laurent's story of losing weight; becoming healthier and closer to God.
Amy Jo Barkley welcomes Jim and Phyllis Null to The Well this week. The Null's are the founders and Co-Directors of the Metanoia Center in Lockland, OH. They share their stories of ministry in that urban setting.
Nancy Knapp and AJ Barkley have a conversation about Nancy's journey with Freeset/Joyya. Appreciating the beauty and the grit, the profound and the profane of a ministry of community transformation in Sonagaachi.
As a precursor the the Crestview IF Gathering, these three ladies ask: "If God is real, then what...?"
In the Book of Acts we see the early church as a movement of believers empowered and led by the Holy Spirit, and prayer was (in many ways) the fuel used by God to give them that power and direction. In this podcast we'll look at some things we can learn from their example.
In the midst of this super-charged climate in our country, God's people are more than ever called to live faithfully. One of the things I keep hearing is the question: "How do I live faithfully in a way that's both bold and humble?" Good question, let's talk about it...
This week Shawn and Amy Jo discuss the concept of hope. In particular they talk about what they're hopeful for, the source of this hope, and hope to develop "hope-colored glasses."
In this podcast Shawn discusses Matthew 25 with his wife, Amy Jo. Together they explore what it means to be watchful and active ministry during this unusual season in America's history.
It has been said: "You know how much you value something based on what you're willing to give up for it." In these two parables Jesus teaches on the value of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Shawn shares some of his thoughts regarding the voice of the church as it relates to the broader culture.
We continue to look at some of the questions that God answers in the Psalms; today we turn to the subject of "purpose". Whether you are age 10 or 100, you have probably wondered why you're here. In this podcast we'll look at God's simple, yet profound reason for there being a "you" on this planet.
This week we'll read Psalm 1 together and ponder the question, "Can I experience happiness?" Of course, being happy is something we all want; ask most any parent what they want for their children and their answer will involve a desire for them be happy. In this podcast we'll see what the Psalmist claims won't make us happy, and then what he writes will indeed bring happiness.
In this podcast we look at the subject of doubt. Where do our doubts come from, what do we do with them, and how God often responds. We'll begin with asking a penetrating question: "Do I love and serve God only for what I get get out of Him, or to simply have a deeper experience of Him?"
The story of David and Goliath seems to be an appropriate on for these days. You, know, the concept of an underdog facing and defeating a great giant. In this podcast we'll talk about the giants we face, and learn from David how we might approach them. If you have a moment to watch Malcolm Gladwell's Ted Talk on the subject, you'll get it even more.
Using the Lord's prayer as a guide, Shawn shares four commitments he's trying to make during the COVID 19 restrictions. The podcast begins with the question, "How are you praying during this time, and for what and who are you praying?" And 19 minutes later it concludes with a summary of these four commitments.
In the midst of this COVID 19 pandemic many are asking important questions such as:
"Did God cause this pandemic?"
"What is God teaching me in and through all this?"
In this podcast, we'll explore these questions and more.
During this season of COVID 19 we have some time to reflect on the course of our lives, where we are and where we're going. Yet it's also a time for many of us to make plans for how to "get ahead" when the national emergency passes. Using the story of Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) as our scripture for this podcast, we'll explore the ambitions of the crowd versus Jesus' ambition for the crowd.
As we continue to live in uncertain days (aren't they all?!), many are finding themselves held captive by fear, or even anger. In Revelation 1 John writes about being set free by Christ, and thus being called a "Kingdom of Priests." This podcast features the two images, prisoner and priest, discusses the mindset of both, and asks which we will be during the great virus of 2020. Once this has passed, each of us will have a story to tell...will we tell of being a prisoner or a priest?
Last week was unlike any other I can remember in my lifetime. As we see the country and our individual lives interrupted by the very real threat of the Corona Virus, I'm wondering what impact this will have on our relationship with God and each other. In this podcast we'll look at John 15, and consider what it might look like for you and me to "bear much fruit" in the coming days and weeks.
Many of us would agree that we live in a distracted world; we find ourselves almost constantly battling against becoming distracted by anything by various forms of technology. We get that. But here's what we'll talk about in this podcast: why do we allow ourselves, or even prefer, to be distracted. In an unusual take on John 8, you'll be invited to consider how Jesus dealt with those who were, "Unable to hear what I say."
Yesterday I took a Sunday away from teaching, leading, or even attending a worship service. Toward the end of the day I spent a few minutes reflecting on what I missed in the morning. Of course the obvious and main thing I missed was the opportunity to encounter, praise and worship the Living God in the fellowship of other believers. But other thoughts, maybe not so obvious, came to mind. Some of those thoughts are included on this podcast; and will could provide insights for church leaders, as well as those who are merely contemplating becoming engaged in Christian community.
2 Kings 19 records the encounter between two Kings - Hezekiah and Sennacherib. Hezekiah, King over God's people, is facing Sennacherib's massive army that is ready to destroy Jerusalem. Considering that Hezekiah has an army about 1/10th the size of Sennacherib's; the odds are stacked against God's people (again!). In this podcast we'll look at how Hezekiah approached this "challenge" in prayer, and consider what God might be teaching us about how to face the challenges of our lives.
There's not a soul around who doesn't have his/her struggles. However, what often compounds these struggles in the fact that we're taken it to God in prayer...and still struggle. In this podcast we'll ponder the story of Jacob "wrestling" with God (Genesis 32). We'll explore some insights about prayer, and the notion of "wrestling" with God.
Many of us often feel moved to pray, but then find ourselves wondering, "Does prayer really move God? Does it change anything? If God has a will and plan, why bother to even pray?" If you've ever had such questions, this podcast will hopefully help in your journey of understanding the nature and purpose of prayer. Using the story of Moses' prayer on Mt. Sinai found in Exodus 32, we'll look at three central affirmations that we can make regarding our questions about prayer.
Music by Purple Planet
There is an inspiring lesson we learn from Paul regarding the way we use our "gifts, power and position"; found in Philippians 2. He encouraged the church in that Roman colony to adopt the "mindset Of Christ", in other words - to share His attitude about about ourselves and others. In this podcast we'll explore what it means to leverage what we have been given by God, not for our own advancement, but the advancement of others.
The title of this podcast (rant!) is from an article that I found to be both challenging and inspiring. There's no shortage of folks who are predicting the demise of the (Big "C") Church in America, and the data can be found to support that claim. However, I go back to Matthew 16, and Jesus' promise that the gates of Hades will not overcome His Ekklesia/Church. Of course it goes without saying we that just because Christianity is "withering" in America doesn't mean that it's dying worldwide; to the contrary it is flourishing in other parts of the globe. This week let's talk about why His Ekklesia is still vital to the development of our spiritual fruit and gifts.
Key passages for this devotional are: Mathew 16: 15-18, Ephesians 3: 6 and Hebrews 10:25.
Of all the things Jesus said according to the Gospel writers; "Fear not" or "Do not be afraid", were among His most common exhortations. In fact, those words from the Divine were spoken to Abraham, Moses, and numerous others who's stories are told in God's Word. Yet in spite of this frequent refrain, many of us live our lives in a nearly constant state of fear. In this podcast we'll talk about the difference between feeding our fears, and feeding our faith.
We all know that the pace of life is accelerating, and the fact that this is causing us to become less patient with things/people/circumstances that force us to slow down and wait. This week we'll look at a man named Simeon, a devout and righteous person, who was made to wait for the moment when God would allow him to see the Messiah. There's a pattern we see in that story that is often mirrored in our own lives as we wait for God to fulfill promises He has made to us.
In this podcast we'll discuss an essay titled, The Mundanity of Excellence in connection with Paul's admonition in 2nd Corinthians that the believers "excel in everything." Yes we live by God's grace, yet He wants us to respond with joyful obedient lives that bear good fruit for His purposes. In other words, God desires that you and I enjoy life with Him as partners in His work. But first we have to understand where excellence comes from, and how we develop it in our lives over time.
We find ourselves in "communities" of varying types; clubs, neighborhoods, and simple informal communities of like-minded people. We can find groups and individuals to adopt as our community around most any interest or affinity we might have. And this is a good thing, because we understand that God wired us to be in relationship with others. So if being in fellowship/community with others is one of our greatest desires, and there are countless available ones to choose from...why do we need Christian community? In this podcast we'll look at some of the features (and blessings!) of being in a community of faith.
Laura Rasmussen is an American Pastor who spent 31 days walking the Camino de Santiago, a spiritual pilgrimage that ends in Spain. Along the way she gained new insights into who God is, and what it means to enter into a "friendship" with Him. We're blessed to have Laura share a few thoughts with us, and who knows, maybe this conversation will prompt something in you.
We'll look at Hebrews 12 this week, and in particular, the notion that life is called a "race". God has called each of us to run (live) our own race with faithfulness and perseverance, yet we must acknowledge that He is the one who sets our course. As tempting as it is to go our own way in life, we won't experience flourishing if we try to do our own thing. Flourishing results from understanding the course God has set before us...and running that course as we're led.
All of us have things that we regret saying and doing, and we often feel guilt over these things. Guilt can be a good thing; it drives us to confess, apologize, repent and make changes in our lives. Show me a person who never feels guilt, and I'll show you someone with serious psychological issues! However, guilt that accumulates and goes unchecked can also lead to a serious issue - shame. Shame causes us to loathe ourselves and engage in some devastating practices. In this podcast we'll look at how God deals with our guilt and saves us from shame.
In this week's episode we talk with Chuck Proudfit, founder of "At Work on Purpose". Having studied trends in church and culture for many years, Chuck shares valuable insights about where the church is in 2019 and how we can better serve the Lord in our rapidly changing world. This is a must listen for church leaders!
We love DIY projects...such a great feeling of accomplishment after a job well done! This week we'll think about how we often try to approach our relationship with God with a DIY attitude; we can work it out ourselves. Good luck with that!
I love the ad campaign for Snickers candy bars (I love the candy too), that features the phrase, "You're not yourself when you're hungry." It causes me to ponder those moments when "I'm not myself", and consider the reasons why. For me, the answer is often tied to my energy level. This weeks podcast covers the topic of Sabbath and the idea that in taking Sabbath time, we make room for God to provide for and strengthen us.
Over the years I've had hundreds of conversations with folks who wanted to discuss what they were lacking in their life. We all lack certain things; we have our wants and needs to be sure. The author of Hebrews wants to convince those 1st century hearers that God had provided for all their spiritual needs in the person of Christ Jesus, the fully divine and fully human object of their worship. You're invited to spend 15-20 minutes with me exploring the Biblical truth of how God replenishes us spiritually when we are feeling depleted (or lacking).
Do you at times find that your faith is waning, as well as your commitment to Christ and the work of His Community (the Church)? If so, you're not alone...the issue is as old as the first generation of believers. This week Shawn begins a study on the Book of Hebrews, and invites you to see Christ in a whole new light.
God invites us into a relationship with Himself; a relationship that leads to spiritual transformation. Sadly, many of us try to find that spiritual transformation by relying on our own human efforts, rather than the work of the Spirit. In this episode we'll look at two people who were looking for spiritual meaning/satisfaction/purpose in all the wrong places.
In times like these; filled with anxiety, confusion and even chaos, what does our culture need the most? Some possible responses to such question might involve the law, the family, mental heath treatment, and the like. In this podcast Shawn will weigh in on what he believes is needed most in times like these.
It is indeed difficult to admit where we're wrong, or to admit our flaws, or where we harmed another. Sometimes the most important person to make such an admission to is ourself. In other words, we're good at hiding the truth about us - from us. Yet being honest with ourselves, God and others, can be the beginning of living in the freedom of God's grace. In this episode we'll explore the process for moving from hiding the truth, to admitting it...and the great things we might see in our lives as a result.
Many of us find our lives overcrowded with commitments and activities, often good things, that crowd out things that are of even greater value. This week we'll study the three temptations Jesus faced at the beginning of His public ministry, and how by saying "No", He fulfilled His Divinely ordained purpose and enjoyed intimate communion with the Father in heaven.
In our study of 2 Corinthians 1: 18-20, we'll ponder these questions:
When you think of our Father in heaven, do you encounter Him as one who says "yes", or who says "no" to you?
Do you perceive that God has a calling for your life, and if so, have you responded to Him by saying "yes" or "no"?
Would the people around you say that they experience you as a "yes" or a "no"?
Would you characterize yourself as a "giver" or a "taker" in the way you live. Givers look to add value to the people and places in their lives, while takers try to enrich themselves by using the people and places that are placed in their path. We'll look at Luke 19; a classic story of a person who transitioned from giver to taker.
This weekend we celebrate our nation's independence; it's an awesome thing to be free, self-sufficient and and independent indeed. Yet when it comes to our life with God, self-sufficiency is an illusion that hinders our growth in His grace. In short, we need help from our Lord. We're going to look at John 2: 1-11, the story of Jesus' first miracle that took place at a wedding. We'll note that this was not only his first miracle; but also His first answered prayer and it teaches us the first step in our walk with Him.
Is gratitude a character/personality trait we're born with, or a learned behavior? Paul wrote that followers of Christ Jesus are to "give thanks in all circumstances". Let's look at how we can make gratitude a part of our daily life, also how this will strengthen our relationship with God and with each other.
According to one prominent social commentator, our culture finds itself facing a social and relational crisis. We're disconnected and isolated, and now seeing the fruit of this lifestyle in the form of rising rates of suicide, addiction, depression and the like. Thankfully God has a different will and design for our lives, one that encourages deep relationships and firm commitments.
Have you ever considered how the church differs from any other social/civic club? There are some similarities: community, support and encouragement, personal growth, education, public service to those in need, etc. The difference is simply Christ Jesus, and the call He makes on our lives to engage in worship. Let's talk about worship, and in particular, what the Apostle Paul says about the subject in Ephesians 5.
Many of us tend to think of peace as the absence of certain things, such as conflict and discord. But what about those of us who are in an environment where there is some strife? Can we still experience peace in the midst of all this? Let's talk about experiencing "shalom"; the fullness of God's presence in our sometimes chaotic lives.
Let's spend 15 minutes talking about what it means to receive unmerited favor and kindness from God, and...how we are to share that same grace with those around us.
How we perceive God's face has much to do with how we live our lives. When you close your eyes in prayer and address God, what do you see? Is God angry? sad? pleased??
In this week's devotional we'll explore the concept of God's face "shining" on us, using the Priestly blessing from Numbers 6.
Sometimes God takes on a journey, maybe a journey that seems like a season of being in the desert. In these times will we continue to trust Him, or will we take matters into our own hands? Sometimes by quickly attempting to remedy a situation in our own (ordinary) way, we might miss God's best solution.
God has made some amazing promises to us, yet many of us don't want to receive them. Content to live in our own strength and intellect, we miss the blessing of allowing God to make us flourish. In this episode Shawn looks at Galatians 3:1-6 and talks about how we are to allow the same power of the cross that justified us in God's sight - grow and bless us.
Living as children of God means that we're accepted by HIs grace. This frees us from feeling inferior, yet it also frees us from feeling superior to those around us. In this podcast you'll look at Galatians 2, and learn two of the key attitudes that can lead to a "superiority complex".
Many of us go through life doing what the Apostle Paul would refer to as, "seeking the approval of people". He contrasts that vision for life with the notion that we are approved by God and can live in a way that's pleasing to Him. in this episode Shawn looks at some of the features of "people pleasers" and "God pleasers".