Spiritual Life and Leadership

In this episode, Esther Lightcap Meek and I talk about love as the starting point for truly knowing reality, what it means to experience communion with the real—and why this matters for the on-the-ground work that you and I are doing as leaders of God’s people. THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDEEsther Lightcap Meek is Professor of Philosophy at Geneva College and author of A Little Manual for Knowing.In chapter one of A Little Manual for Knowing, Esther states that “reality is a gift, and love is at the core of all things.  It is not impersonal; rather, it is person-like.”The pilgrimage of knowing begins with love, not with information.Active listening invites the real.  Not mere passive collecting of information, but actively inviting reality to self-disclose.Because we’ve reduced knowledge in the modern West to little bits of information, we can’t see what is really there.We need to go into our communities in humility looking for what God is already at work doing there.Creation is in its essence the love of God.  It is the expression of God’s love.When we truly begin to know reality, we enter into communion with that which is known. RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKSEsther Lightcap MeekWebsite:  http://www.longingtoknow.com/Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Esther-Lightcap-Meek-110487169038640/Books mentionedA Little Manual for Knowing by Esther Lightcap MeekTo leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-life-and-leadership/id1435252632 ---Links to Amazon are affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through any of these links, I'll receive a small commission--which will help pay for the Spiritual Life and Leadership podcast!  :-)Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

In this episode, we speak with Dave Ebert, Director and Founder of Well-Versed Comedy, and also the host of the Gifts for Glory podcast.  There's something life-giving about comedy, isn't there?  Why is that?  Why, after we have a good belly laugh, do we feel like the world is better than it was before?  Dave Ebert discusses what makes comedy so life-giving when it comes to restoring shalom in the world. THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDEDave Ebert is the Director and Founder of Well-Versed Comedy.Dave found his way into comedy from a season of deep depression.Laughter has a tangible healing quality.Laughter can unite people.  It can break down walls.Dave’s comedy team will often go onstage before a keynote speaker in order to get the audience laughing.  But the purpose is not mere entertainment; it’s to bring everyone together and break down walls.In Episode 55: Healing Our Polarized World, Markus spoke with Dan White, Jr. about breaking down walls in our polarized world.Markus tells a story about seeing Brian Regan and the shared experience it created for him and another person.Dave Ebert says that, of the qualities of God that get expressed in comedy, love and joy are two of the first.“Laughter is the tangible evidence of hope.” –Michael JuniorMarkus shares about how the comedy show, Impractical Jokers, kept hope alive in him during a dark season of his life.Dan has been able to use his comedy to bring hope and healing to women who have been rescued from sex trafficking.There is a restoration of shalom when people laugh.Dan shares his thoughts on humor in the Bible.Dan started an annual comedy event called PureFest.  Next year it will be on the last weekend in September.You can find out more about Dave Ebert and his comedy at Gifts4Glory.com.If you are struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, you are welcome to e-mail Dave Ebert anytime at dave@gifts4glory.com. RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKSDave EbertWell-Versed Comedy website:  www.gifts4glory.comPureFest website: https://purefest.wixsite.com/purefestBooks mentionedLove Over Fear by Dan White, Jr.Choose Joy by Kay WarrenTo leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-life-and-leadership/id1435252632 ---Links to Amazon are affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through any of these links, I'll receive a small commission--which will help pay for the Spiritual Life and Leadership podcast!  :-)Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Jim Mullins recently wrote The Symphony of Mission: Playing Your Part in God’s Work in the World, which focuses on the ways we have been called to participate in God's mission of restoring healing and wholeness in the world.  In today’s episode, Jim and I talk about the basic “notes” of God’s mission (going with the "symphony of mission" metaphor), which come from chapter 2 of Jim's book.  The question Jim answers is, what basic elements are fundamental to our participating in God’s mission of restoration in the world?  THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDEJim Mullins is Pastor of Theological and Vocational Formation at Redemption Tempe and the Director of the  Faith, Work, and Rest Initiative for the Surge Network.Jim Mullins is also the author of The Symphony of Mission: Playing Your Part in God’s Work in the World.The Symphony of Mission as a metaphor is meant to capture the idea that we all have a part to play in the mission of God.Christ is the composer and conductor of this great song of the gospel that is being played to the nations.  And we, as his people, are called to find our instrument, our place in that symphony.The basic “notes” (i.e., the fundamental elements) of God’s mission are:With – Mission must include incarnational presenceFrom – Mission must be empowered by the SpiritAnd – Mission must be comprehensive in scopeUs – Mission must be communalBe – Mission must include a distinct way of lifeWhy – Mission must be motivated by loveLiving into God’s mission in these fundamental ways really must begin with the last one—love.A Symphony of Mission is available wherever books are sold.  Jim recommends purchasing it at www.heartsandminds.com.Also, check out Jim’s podcast, Faith, Work, and Rest. RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKSThe Symphony of Mission by Jim Mullins and Michael GoheenOn AmazonOn HeartsandMindsBooks.comFaith, Work, and Rest podcasthttps://soundcloud.com/faithworkrestTo leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-life-and-leadership/id1435252632 ---Links to Amazon are affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through any of these links, I'll receive a small commission--which will help pay for the Spiritual Life and Leadership podcast!  :-)Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

We live in a highly polarized culture.  We are polarized in all kinds of ways—politically, racially, even theologically.  And it keeps getting worse.  Why?  Because we don’t talk to each other.  All we see on the other side are monsters.  Even though, as today’s guest Dan White Jr. says, those "monsters" are image-bearers of God. In this episode, I speak with Dan White, Jr., about what causes polarization and how we can begin to heal from it. THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDEDan White, Jr., is a Movement Developer for V3 Movement, church-planting and author of Love Over Fear: Facing Monsters, Befriending Enemies, and Healing Our Polarized World.Dan recently read Living Into Community by Christine Pohl.  This book riffs off of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together.Dan shares what led him to write Love Over Fear.The book is a deep dive into how fear can control us.Dan describes how polarization involves the process of taking people who have something in common and turning them toward hate for one another.In a polarized culture, moving toward one another with love can feel like complicity.Dan explains some of the neurology involved in polarization.Some of the disciples came from vastly different backgrounds.  Yet, Jesus was able to bring them together.Jesus brings people together by being indiscriminate in his table fellowship.When we have compassion toward someone, we are able to see where they are suffering in their life.We can start connecting with people who are different by simply being inquisitive, by asking them questions.Dan tells the story of connecting with someone who believed strongly in legalizing marijuana.  Dan began by simply asking him inquisitive questions.We have a tendency to make “monsters” out of people we disagree with.Jesus didn’t see monsters.  He saw image-bearers.Find out more about Dan White, Jr., at www.loveoverfearproect.com.  And follow Dan on Twitter and Facebook. RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKSDan White, Jr.:Website: https://www.loveoverfearproject.com/Twitter:  https://twitter.com/danwhitejrBooks mentioned:Love Over Fear by Dan White, Jr.Living Into Communityby Christine PohlLife Together by Dietrich BonhoefferTo leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-life-and-leadership/id1435252632 ---Links to Amazon are affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through any of these links, I'll receive a small commission--which will help pay for the Spiritual Life and Leadership podcast!  :-)Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

In this episode, Aaron Klinefelter shares the story of how God called him out of that evangelical tradition into the Episcopal tradition. Aaron loves getting to belong to the Episcopal part of God’s family. But he’s noticed that there are some things he’s beginning to miss from his evangelical background.THIS EPISODE’S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Aaron Klinefelter is the Associate Rector at Trinity Church in Menlo Park, CA.Out of Solitude by Henri Nouwen is one of the most formative books Aaron has read.It was in college that Aaron was first introduced to the Episcopal church.But Aaron did not yet find a way into the Episcopal church at that time.After some time at Fuller Seminary, Aaron and his family moved to Cincinnati where he got involved in an emerging style church that had strong evangelical roots.Aaron was eventually hired to do youth ministry in an Episcopal church in Cincinnati. A few years later, Aaron began the Episcopal ordination process.When Aaron Klinefelter joined the Episcopal church, he felt like he had come home. But he also saw all the downsides of the denomination.Since being in the Episcopal church, Aaron finds there are aspects of his evangelical background that he misses.Aaron, still loves his Episcopalian home and is just now beginning to be able to express his feelings.In 1985, Robert Webber wrote Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail where he observed a trend in which evangelicals were moving toward Anglicanism.Aaron Klinefelter’s evangelical background and Episcopalian present makes for fertile soil for experimentation. RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKSAaron Klinefelter: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aaronklinefelterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaronklinefelter/Trinity Church: Website: http://www.trinitymenlopark.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinitymenlo/Books mentioned: Out of Solitude by Henri NouwenA Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLarenEvangelicals on the Canterbury TrailSend me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

What happened to Solana Beach Presbyterian Church?  Oh, it's still a big church, but it's half the size it was twenty years ago.  Some would say that Mike McClenahan, the Senior Pastor, failed in some way.  He must have done something wrong and that's why this church has declined so much.Maybe.  Or maybe it's just a reflection of what's going on everywhere in our culture.Mike McClenahan and his team have been wrestling with these challenges for almost two decades.  And what they have found is that maybe they've been measuring the wrong thing.  Maybe, rather than measuring weekly church attendance, what they needed to measure was what was going on in people's hearts.In this episode, Mike McClenahan shares the story of his journey from trying to lead a successful church to recognizing that it’s more important to grow people’s hearts than it is to grow people’s church attendance.THIS EPISODE’S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Mike McClenahan is the Senior Pastor at Solana Beach Presbyterian Church in Solana Beach, CA.When Mike was nine years old, his three-year-old brother tragically died. Two years later, Mike’s dad left and his parents divorced when he was thirteen.These events were significant moments of loss in Mike’s life that taught him about the importance of the church.If you understand attendance as a measure of success, pastors experience loss and feelings of lack of success all the time.Solana Beach Presbyterian Church engaged in the Reveal Study, which showed that people in the church were engaged in the things that the church did together, but they were not experiencing their own personal spirituality.In the book Move, Greg Hawkins and Cally Parkinson identify four qualities of leaders whose churches were the most spiritually vital: Disarmingly humbleModeled a surrendered lifeGrow hearts, not attendanceThey had one passion: Intimacy with JesusMike McClenahan had to vulnerably admit to his congregation that he was committing to deeper spiritual intimacy with God.The most important thing for pastors to do—as they lead their churches into deeper intimacy with Jesus—is surrender.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKSBooks mentioned:Move by Greg L. Hawkins and Cally ParkinsonSolana Beach Presbyterian ChurchWebsite: https://solanabeach.church/Reveal StudyWebsite: https://revealforchurch.com/To leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-life-and-leadership/id1435252632— Links to Amazon are affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through any of these links, I’ll receive a small commission–which will help pay for the Spiritual Life and Leadership podcast!Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

I’ve discovered that therapy—good therapy—is something that everyone needs. Especially if you’re in leadership.  In this episode, I speak with Elaine Hamilton, founder of a therapy group in San Diego called the Soul Care House. Elaine helps to demystify therapy for us.  What is it?  Why is it important?  Why do leaders, especially, need good therapy?THIS EPISODE’S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Elaine Hamilton is founder of the Soul Care House and author of Church on the Couch.Elaine Hamilton grew up in a German Mennonite community in Canada. They had a very rigid way of living their lives, but they also were very committed to doing good in the world.Good therapy involves sitting with someone who is trained, but who is also on their own journey toward wholeness.The therapist should be leading the process.Bad therapy can include any of the following: Too passiveToo directiveStates the obviousNo boundariesWhen the therapist talks too much about themselvesLeaders often have a hard time being vulnerable enough to truly care for their own souls.Spiritual leaders are constantly hearing people’s stories. Because of their position, leaders have the potential for wounding people in ways that others wouldn’t.Leaders need to become aware of their own stories.As leaders, it’s also helpful to be able to process current circumstances so that we can deal with them in a healthy and helpful way.The spiritual life isn’t merely about intellectual content (e.g. theology, Bible verses). It’s also about how we live in the world and in relation to other people.Psychology and therapy is a gift from God in that the tools of psychology help us to better understand ourselves.The Soul Care House website is www.soulcarehouse.com. The Soul Care House is also on Instagram at @soulcarehouseandbarn.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKSSoul Care House Website:  http://www.soulcarehouse.com/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/soulcarehouseandbarn/Soul Care House Podcast:  https://soulcarehouse.com/pages/PodcastElaine Hamilton E-mail:  elaine@soulcarehouse.comBook mentioned Church on the Couch by Elaine HamiltonTo leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-life-and-leadership/id1435252632— Links to Amazon are affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through any of these links, I’ll receive a small commission–which will help pay for the Spiritual Life and Leadership podcast!Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

There is no easy solution to homelessness and extreme poverty.  But some solutions are definitely better than others.  In this episode, Michelle LeBeau, Director of Church Partnerships at the San Diego Rescue Mission, shares why deep inner life transformation is so important for helping people escape poverty.THIS EPISODE’S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Michelle LeBeau is the Director of Church Partnerships at the San Diego Rescue Mission.Michelle LeBeau is the daughter of a Presbyterian pastor. She shares about her life as a “rebellious” pastor’s kid.Michelle LeBeau shares about her journey to joining the San Diego Rescue Mission.The San Diego Rescue Mission is a twelve-month holistic recovery and rehabilitation program.There are four phases in the Rescue Mission’s recovery process: WellnessEducationEmploymentHousingThe staff at San Diego Rescue Mission does “trauma-informed care,” which approaches behavior from a perspective that asks, “What happened to you?” rather than, “What’s wrong with you?”The first step to getting healthy is to acknowledge you have a problem. This is true in the recovery process, as well as in the church and in life in general.To be a “red-letter Christian” is to focus on the teachings of Jesus.In regard to church partnerships, the Rescue Mission wants to start by asking, “How can we help the local church?”RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKSSan Diego Rescue Mission Website:  https://www.sdrescue.org/Twitter:  https://twitter.com/SD_RescueMichelle LeBeau E-mail:  mlebeau@sdrescue.orgTo leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-life-and-leadership/id1435252632— Links to Amazon are affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through any of these links, I’ll receive a small commission–which will help pay for the Spiritual Life and Leadership podcast!Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Can an atheist participate with God in the healing of the world? If one who doesn’t believe in God volunteers at the local homeless shelter, should Christians dismiss that? If an atheist adopts an abused child into a home of love and acceptance, a place where that child can heal from the wounds of their past, are we to dismiss that?Those are the kinds of questions that Kutter Callaway and I wrestle with in this episode.  We talk about culture. We talk about the church. We talk about atheism. And we talk about “the previousness of the kingdom.”THIS EPISODE’S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Kutter Callaway is the Associate Professor of Theology and Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary and the other of several books including The Aesthetics of Atheism.A formative book that Kutter Callaway has read in recent years is Nobody Cries When We Die by Patrick Reyes.Kutter’s colleague at Fuller, Bill Dyrness, defines culture as the stuff we create from God’s creation. It’s what we make of what’s here.Religion “makes culture odd.” For instance, everyone eats bread and drinks wine. But we do that in an “odd” way.Christianity is not separate from culture. We are called to engage culture because we are a part of the culture.Lesslie Newbigin, in the The Open Secret, talks about “the previousness of the kindgdom.” God is already ahead of us in the culture and we are invited to joing God.In The Aesthetics of Atheism, Kutter Callaway interestingly says that theism and atheism need each other.Interesting thought: In that moment when Jesus on the cross feels abandoned by the Father, God becomes an atheist.The Bible is full of prophetic voices from outside of God’s people.Culture can be a destroyer of shalom. It can also be a restorer of shalom.A healthy posture for pastors and ministry leaders to take toward culture is the posture of the injured man on the side of the road in the Good Samaritan story. It is a posture of humility and receptivity. Culture is like the untouchable Samaritan, but we need to let it help us.The right question today might not be, “How do we help culture?” Rather, “How do we listen to, learn from, and humble ourselves in ways that allow us to be evangelized by the God who is at work out there?”Learn more about Kutter Callaway at www.kuttercallaway.com and listen to his podcast, The Kutter Callaway Podcast. RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKSKutter Callaway Website:  https://www.kuttercallaway.comPodcast:  https://www.kuttercallaway.com/podcastBooks mentioned: The Aesthetics of Atheism by Kutter Callaway and Barry TaylorNobody Cries When We Die by Patrick ReyesThe Open Secret by Lesslie NewbiginGod’s Wider Presence by Rob JohnstonTo leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership: Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

In this episode, Trevor Lee discusses the importance of getting past the ministry model that just tries to get people through our discipleship programs. Instead, we need a model that values the uniqueness and inherent worth of each person.  We also talked a lot about suffering.  And we talked about the part suffering plays—ironically!—in the healing of the world.THIS EPISODE’S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Trevor Lee is a Development Representative with Made to Flourish and host of Speak in the Suffering podcast.The most formative book Trevor has red is A Failure of Nerve by Edwin Friedman.Trevor Lee learned through Made to Flourish that the work of every person is sacred and is a participation in the mission of God.The mission of Made to Flourish is to help pastors bridge the gap between Sunday and Monday for their congregations.Made to Flourish is focused on equipping and forming pastors to walk their people to live for the good of the world in their places of work and home.There is no inherent distinction between sacred and secular, between clergy and laity.A great idea is to do interviews with people about their work in the worship gatherings. Trevor got mixed reviews when he did this in his church.The mission of Trevor’s former church was worded like this: “Participating with God in the renewal of all things, and people in particular.”The mission involves evangelism, but it points toward something even bigger—the renewal of everything.Trevor Lee defines shalom as everything being as God intended.God wants people to be made whole.God wants the harmony of all things.Suffering plays a unique part in the fulfillment of God’s mission. God uses suffering in profoundly redemptive ways that nothing can replace.Trevor Lee shares about the challenges he faced in his last congregation.Embracing our suffering can help us move through the pain and into healing on the other side.Markus’ experience of suffering changed the way he thinks about what really matters in ministry.Markus suggests that organizations like Made to Flourish and Flourish San Diego want to help pastors humanize their people.The key quality a pastor needs to help people flourish is humility.You can find out more about Made to Flourish at https://www.madetoflourish.org/ RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKSSpeak in the Suffering podcast with Trevor LeeBooks mentioned: A Failure of Nerve by Edwin FriedmanManaging Leadership Anxiety by Steve CussMade to FlourishWebsite:  https://www.madetoflourish.org/Twitter:  https://twitter.com/MadeToFlourishTo leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podSend me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.