Reflection

Dreams are a reflection of what is in our heart. And if our heart belongs to God then our dreams can be anchored in God!Today's conversation is with Dave Ficken, who is the Chicago City Director for LINC - Leaders in every Community (the "e" is silent). The dream of LINC is that there will come a day when everyone on every corner of our cities can experience the Gospel in terms they can understand from someone they know.To find out more about LINC click here.Some books that Dave recommends to help you catch their dream:The Other Half of Church: Christian Community, Brain Science, and Overcoming Spiritual Stagnation by Jim Wilder and Michel HendricksThe Voice of the Heart: A Call to Full Living by Chip DoddCanoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory by Tod BolsingerPlease take a quick second to rate this podcast on your favorite platform—Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening. Those stars really help others discover us. Next, hit that like button or give us a thumbs-up—it’s a small gesture that makes a big difference. Finally, share this episode! Text it to a friend, post it on social media, or tell someone about it over coffee. You never know who might need to hear this message today.For more about St. Matthew, click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Latin Phrase "Extra Nos" means "outside myself." This is the theme of the life of Flame, a rap music artist who was taught about Jesus from his grandmother and grew up in the Reformed Church tradition.But then he discovered God's grace comes outside of himself and found a home in Lutheranism.Now he composes music, hosts a podcast, and writes books telling his story and leading others to find the grace of Jesus Christ outside themselves!To find out more about FlameExtra Nos with FlameExtra Nos: Discovering Grace outside Myself by FlamePlease take a quick second to rate this podcast on your favorite platform—Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening. Those stars really help others discover us. Next, hit that like button or give us a thumbs-up—it’s a small gesture that makes a big difference. Finally, share this episode! Text it to a friend, post it on social media, or tell someone about it over coffee. You never know who might need to hear this message today.For more about St. Matthew, click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Untamed Prayers will take you out of your spiritual comfort zone. On this episode we’ll leave behind the boring, predictable prayers that so many Christians are stuck in and dive into ones full of praise, despair, joy, and lament. Based on The Book of Psalms, these prayers cover all parts of life—the good times and the tough ones—and what better way to find the right words to say to God than the very prayers He gave us to pray?But wait! There’s more! Chad Bird shows how these ancient prayers are connected to Jesus as you go through the Psalms. You'll discover that you're not just talking to God by yourself; Jesus is right there with you, praying alongside you. This is part 2 of a conversation with Chad Bird about his new book Untamed Prayers. A conversation that will help you feel a closeness to God, freeing you to speak to the Father with complete honesty. Order Untamed Prayers here.⁠Find out more about Chad Bird and 1517, where he is Scholar in Residence, ⁠here.⁠For a reading plan to read through the Book of Psalms in 30 days, Ed Blonski recommends this plan based on the Book of Common Prayer ⁠here⁠.Please take a quick second to rate this podcast on your favorite platform—Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening. Those stars really help others discover us. Next, hit that like button or give us a thumbs-up—it’s a small gesture that makes a big difference. Finally, share this episode! Text it to a friend, post it on social media, or tell someone about it over coffee. You never know who might need to hear this message today.For more about St. Matthew, click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Untamed Prayers will take you out of your spiritual comfort zone. On this episode we’ll leave behind the boring, predictable prayers that so many Christians are stuck in and dive into ones full of praise, despair, joy, and lament. Based on The Book of Psalms, these prayers cover all parts of life—the good times and the tough ones—and what better way to find the right words to say to God than the very prayers He gave us to pray?But wait! There’s more! Chad Bird shows how these ancient prayers are connected to Jesus as you go through the Psalms. You'll discover that you're not just talking to God by yourself; Jesus is right there with you, praying alongside you. This is part 1 of a conversation with Chad Bird about his new book Untamed Prayers. A conversation that will help you feel a closeness to God, freeing you to speak to the Father with complete honesty. Order Untamed Prayers here.Find out more about Chad Bird and 1517, where he is Scholar in Residence, here.For a reading plan to read through the Book of Psalms in 30 days, Ed Blonski recommends this plan based on the Book of Common Prayer here.Please take a quick second to rate this podcast on your favorite platform—Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening. Those stars really help others discover us. Next, hit that like button or give us a thumbs-up—it’s a small gesture that makes a big difference. Finally, share this episode! Text it to a friend, post it on social media, or tell someone about it over coffee. You never know who might need to hear this message today.For more about St. Matthew, click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Join us for an inspiring episode featuring Pastor Matt Peeples of the Kairos Network in Saint Louis, MO, as he shares the journey of creating The Missionary Pathway. Born from a passion for making disciples and connecting the disconnected to Jesus, this project builds on Matt’s ministry experience that began in 2011 at The Point in Knoxville, TN. There, he pioneered innovative outreach strategies—like advertising on hard rock radio, hosting Bar Church, and engaging at beer festivals and tattoo conventions—reaching people who hadn’t attended church in 10-20 years.Hear how these experiences shaped a new vision for church planting, equipping everyday Christians to be missionaries in their daily lives. From launching the Kairos Network in post-Christian Ridgewood, NJ, in 2017 to making it his full focus in 2022, Matt’s path led to the development of The Missionary Pathway. Launched in September 2022, this training has already empowered 80 disciples across 8 countries in just four months to plant the gospel and make disciples where they live, work, learn, and play.Tune in to discover how Matt is reimagining ministry to reach the disconnected in today’s world!Find out more about Matt Peeples and the Missionary Pathway here: https://thekairosnetwork.comBooks, Videos, and other things mentioned by MattGod is on the Mic – Louis GiglioNo Silver Bullets – Daniel ImAND: The Gathered and Sacattered Church – Hugh Halter & Matt SmayPlease take a quick second to rate this podcast on your favorite platform—Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening. Those stars really help others discover us. Next, hit that like button or give us a thumbs-up—it’s a small gesture that makes a big difference.Finally, share this episode! Text it to a friend, post it on social media, or tell someone about it over coffee. You never know who might need to hear this message today.For more about St. Matthew, click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Season 5 Begins September 3, 2025!

Ever feel like your own worst enemy when chasing your dreams? Those nagging voices in your head whispering, "Your purpose is too big," or "Your dreams will never come true"? In this electrifying episode, Jeff Meyer unveils a game-changing mindset shift: transforming those inner critics into your personal Internal Board of Directors! Discover how to harness these voices, align them with your purpose, and turn your biggest dreams into reality. Tune in and learn how to make your mind your greatest ally!  #DreamBig #MindsetMastery-----Links to resources and previous episodes with Jeff.Your Internal Board of Directors by Jeff Meyerhttps://books.by/Jeff-Meyer You Are a Co-Creator with Your Creator, the episode Jeff Meyer talks about his previous book Fear Not, Dream Big and Execute!https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/r0EeEtZIPVb There is Unity in Harmony, the episode that includes Jeff Meyer and the other men in the music group The Master’s Voicehttps://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/wpjGDPXIPVb Boundaries for Your Soul by Alison Cook & Kimberly Millerhttps://a.co/d/hvYjIOdA Still and Quiet Mind by Esther Smithhttps://a.co/d/aV9RfQgTempered Resilience by Tod Bolsingerhttps://a.co/d/b1w2D2yThe Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holidayhttps://a.co/d/7ajmdL4-----Please take a quick second to rate this podcast on your favorite platform—Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening. Those stars really help others discover us. Next, hit that like button or give us a thumbs-up—it’s a small gesture that makes a big difference.Finally, share this episode! Text it to a friend, post it on social media, or tell someone about it over coffee. You never know who might need to hear this message today.For more about St. Matthew, click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The "Sermon." It has been a part of the Christian Church forever.But how does a preacher craft a sermon? On this episode, I talk with three preachers and collectively, we have over 120 years of experience crafting and preaching sermons!To find out more about these pastors, here is there contact information:Kurt Taylor - https://blog.cuw.edu/dcm/Steve Kline - https://www.shepherdhills.orgMark Shaltanis - https://stpaulsfallschurch.orgAnd to find out more about Jeff Meyer - who is also a member of The Master's Voice (but couldn't join us for this conversation today) - https://livelifetogether.comBook mentioned:Preaching by Heart: How a Classical Practice Helps Contemporary Pastors to Preach without Notes by Ryan P. Tinnetihttps://a.co/d/6wkvr4gPreachers mentioned by the guys:Craig Goeschel - https://www.craiggroeschel.comFrancis Rossow - https://www.csl.edu/emeritus-faculty/rossow-francis-c/Matt Popovits - https://stmarkhouston.orgMax Lucado - https://maxlucado.comKyle Idleman - https://www.kyleidleman.comFor more information about St. Matthew Lutheran - https://www.stmatts.net

God took the son of a milkman from the Southside of Chicago and used him to reflect His light and love via parish ministry, teaching, a speaker on the longest-running religious radio program in the world, and as president of a prestigious theological institution.Now you'll hear his story - this is Dale Meyer who tells us, "Tomorrow needs you!"Books recommended by Dale⁠Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by  Neil Postman⁠⁠My Utmost for His Highest: Updated Language by Oswald Chambers⁠⁠The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel⁠⁠Conservative Sensibility by  George F. Will ⁠⁠Find out more about St. Matthew Lutheran here⁠

Poetry and music go together! On this episode you'll get both!The poetry and stories of Tanner Olson.The music and stories of Blake Flattley.Rate, comment and share the show!Tanner’s Websitehttps://www.writtentospeak.comTanner’s Merch (including published books)https://www.writtentospeak.com/storePre-Order All The Things I Say to God: Learning to Pray Anytime, Anywhere by Tanner Olsonhttps://a.co/d/4v54LhkBlake’s Websitehttps://www.blakeflattley.comFor more about St. Matthew Lutheranhttps://www.stmatts.net