Listen Now

My friend, Oliver, was visiting this week in Michigan and we started talking about family. We are both in pursuit of work-life balance, if there is such a thing, and it got us thinking about how we spend our time on what matters most. For both of us that is our families. Listen in as we talk about family in the 21st century and parenting practices. Oliver is one of the most creative high school teachers I've ever met! He's been awarded countless teacher of the year awards and he's a sought-after educator. Learn how he's taken his creativity for life and applied it to his family. 

Melissa is the author and creator of A Bible & A Girl, a faith-based social media network. Her ministry is primarily focused on sharing the gospel online. She resides in Florida with her husband Braxton and their two cats Oliver & Olivia.In this episode, I get to talk with Melissa, about her social media ministry with all of its challenges and opportunities and what led Melissa into this avenue of outreach. She connects her ministry with her testimony and explains why it's essential to have a Biblical perspective of God. A clear message from this episode is what we believe about God definitely has an impact on our life.Be sure to check her out on Instagram at @unmistakablymelissa for daily inspiration and clarity on Bible topics. You can also find her on YouTube by searching A Bible & A Girl. For more information about Melissa and her ministry, you can visit https://www.thebiblegirl.com/. 

Without knowing it many of us go through life unaware of our day-to-day experiences. Many call this mental absent-mindedness "auto-pilot". Socrates would probably refer to this as the unexamined life. Too much happens to us at any given moment which makes it difficult to be mindful of all that we're experiencing. In this episode, I sit down with my friend Jon Daniel to talk about the importance of mindfulness. He shares his own story of when he was kicked out of his undergraduate program with a GPA of 0.8 and recently went back to that same school and graduated with a 4.0 to receive a master's degree in clinical mental health! His story is inspiring as it challenges us to be mindful of the negative thought patterns we form and what we can do to retrain our minds to think positively. 

Each of our life journeys as individuals is unique. Meaning no two experiences are the same. However, can we find similarities across our stories that can help point us in the right direction? Pastor Eddie Turner and I discuss this as we talk about core issues surrounding masculinity. This conversation is applicable to all since Eddie is able to clarify certain "steps" we should all take in order to become our best selves. As you listen ask yourself who's helping to mentor and shape you into your best self. Instagram: @kingeclipseSermons: https://www.youtube.com/c/GlendaleAZSDAChurch/featured

Niq Ruud grew up amongst the vistas of the Pacific Northwest, hooking him on alpine climbing, surfing, and storytelling. Since earning an undergraduate degree in religion, graduating from seminary, and working as a pastor, he is presently a postgraduate at The University of Edinburgh keenly interested in the human perception of God. You can connect with him at niqruud.com and @niqruud on Instagram. I get to talk to him about his newly released book, "Only Love: How Everything Was, Is, and Will Be". In it, he talks about how he lied saying he couldn’t smell for nearly a decade. He lived in his car during college to afford tuition. He got lost in a blizzard during his first mountaineering trip then learned to ski a few months later while climbing Mount Rainier. He saved his little sister from a kidnapper by leaping from a plum tree with a Nerf toy while they were children. And it is with wit and a scholar’s touch that he uses these and many other stories to wrestle with the question: What if the deity you grew up learning about in church doesn’t exist?For while the God of the Christian tradition is often said to be good, that same God doesn’t seem to shy away from endorsing genocide, homophobia, racism, sexism, or eternal damnation; leading many persons of faith to justify violence and oppressive behaviors for thousands of years. But in this book, Ruud works readers into the supposition that God desires none of those things. And, on the contrary, with a theology that pushes the boundaries of God much larger than we might ever imagine, he argues that the only god who can truly be good is a God of other-centered, self-sacrificial love. The implications as to what a God of only love means, for everything, are vast—because everything changes when we see God as nothing more and nothing less than love.

Aileen Martinez is a chicana artist based in Phoenix, Arizona. Her color drawings center around places in the valley and pay homage to the city of Phoenix. She also works making commissions of people's homes and places that they find special and dear.Aileen has a bachelor's degree in Art Therapy and believes in the power of using art as an expressive and creative outlet to bring joy and healing in life. She lives in Arizona and enjoys traveling, thrifting, and eating at local restaurants.We all have something we dream about doing whether it be a passion we want to pursue or the hobbies we'd like to turn into our job. In this episode, we discuss the perspectives that she feels have contributed to her success and she offers advice on what we can do too when it comes to following our dreams. Aileen's Website: https://lookseedraw.com/

Dan Smith is the former Specialist for Creative Evangelism at the Southeastern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Riverside, California, and was previously Senior Pastor at the La Sierra University Church for over 14 years. He grew up in Thailand, the son of missionary parents which gave him a passion for mission. His experience has led him to active involvement in many countries including Ghana, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, and Zimbabwe. In this episode, he shares the many life lessons he has learned in the mission field and how they have shaped him. One of the biggest things he taught me was the importance of keeping your passion alive. Make sure to check his podcast "What Do You Think" on YouTube and Apple Podcasts.YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzBgExX5HWH0mtagXTD2FMw/videosApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-do-you-think/id1534496247

Self-awareness has been a game-changer for my spiritual growth recently. Rich Villodas said it best in his book, The Deeply Formed Life, " You can't know God if you don't know yourself and you can't know yourself if you don't know God". Self-awareness, I would say, is a spiritual discipline that can better position us to live the life God wants for us. Socrates said, "The unexamined life is not worth living". Authors suggest that Paul agreed with some of Socrates's ideas and even used them to reason with greek unbelievers. He knew what we need to know which is just existing with no higher purpose can be detrimental to our inner lives. Dr. Geof Tio is a well-respected clinician. He has been involved in clinical supervision, teaching clinical chaplains and clinical pastoral supervisors in New York, New Jersey, Arizona, and other states since 2002. He has also coached, trained, and mentored clergy, businessman, and lay leaders to become more successful leaders in ministry and/or the marketplace. Geof is a great friend of mine and I'm happy that we got to talk. He shares his self-awareness journey and why it is so important for you and me. 

In this episode, my friend Randy Ramos and I interview Will Kellum & De’Aris who are Christian rap artists and producers from Dayton, Ohio. Randy is a pastor from Korea-Town LA. Who loves spoken word and photography. He has a passion for spreading the gospel to others. You can check him out on Instagram at @randyrhymez109.We interview Will and De’Aris about the role of Christian rap music in culture and discuss various principles that can help us stay focused on using our gifts to do God’s will without getting distracted by personal ambition. Make sure to check out their content on Instagram. Will is @willkellum and De’Aris @the.lofi.legend. The instrumental for this episode was produced by De’Aris.Link Tree: Will Kellum - https://linktr.ee/willkellumDe'Aris (King Silxs) - https://linktr.ee/kingsilxs

Summer camp was very formative for me as a teenager. I went from a drugged-up teenager who was in a recovery group my 8th-grade year to a Jesus-loving 9th grader who would later become a pastor. Camp Yavapines located in Prescott, AZ is what helped make all the difference. Pastor Wendy Eberhardt is currently the Young Adult & Camp Director for the Arizona Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. She is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ.  At the age of 8, she went away to summer camp for a week and continued to attend each summer till she was too old to be a teen camper, then immediately applied to be a summer camp staff and really never stop spending her summers at camp.   She has had the privilege to work at the following Adventist camps across the NAD,  Camp AuSable, Indian Creek Camp, Laurel Lake Camp, Camp MiVoden, and Camp Yavapines.  She has been the director at four of those camps and it was during these years that she truly found the joy that God promises when He talks about the abundant life He desires for each one of us.  She says she has had the privilege of working side by side and doing life with hundreds of young adults over the past 30 + years, building those relationships in which she has had the honor to help them in the process of finding God’s calling for their life. This is where her joy comes from. She has been involved in youth and young adult ministry for over 34 years, married for 37 years to Ed Eberhardt, and they have a son named John. Besides the joy she receives from mentoring leaders for Jesus,  I enjoy being outdoors especially in or on the water, spending time with the people I love, and reading great books! We discuss the advantages summer camp ministry has over more traditional ones and how this ministry is cross-generational serving both Youth and Young Adults alike.

I got to sit down and talk with Pastor Melanie Cruz about women in pastoral leadership. She's the Family Life Associate Pastor at the Camelback Seventh-day Adventist church. She's worked various ministry roles including being the Assistant Director at the North American Division for the Children's Ministries Department.Pastor Melanie is an excellent communicator and a great leader. As we talk she shares her experience being a female pastor in a community that is historically traditional. We talk about ordination, true biblical leadership, and the importance of following the calling that God has given to each of us. 

I enjoy all types of spicy foods, sauces, and condiments. Which is why I was excited when my friend Scott Kabel let me interview him about his company Scott Sauce.  Scott is really unique in his approach to life and it shows in this episode as we talk about his company, what we can learn through the fermentation process about relationships, and how owning his own company has impacted him personally.To try the sauce for yourself or to purchase a shirt you can visit his website at https://scottsauce.net. Or become a patron by supporting his company at https://www.patreon.com/scottsauce. 

Things get wild on this episode as I talk to my friend Danny who’s the host of the Wild Man Dan Show! He has a passion for animals that gets him into all kinds of crazy situations.  Danny gets to show off and talk to us about some of his favorite reptiles while getting into their psychology. He also shares his story about how an encounter with creation reaffirmed his faith in a Creator. You can follow his journey on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter by searching  Wild Man Dan Show! Also, please consider donating to support the creation of a new wildlife and nature show, the Wild Man Dan Show, that will focus on education and fun. By contributing today, your support will help fund the Forever Wild rescue organization and the Loma Linda Children’s Hospital and Research Facility.   https://www.gofundme.com/f/wn3fxh-wild-man-dan-show?utm_source=fb_copy_link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp%20share-sheet&fbclid=IwAR3l1GuFmivQFEIHPo3Rm_WlMVuLeemjW7mwzB-XcPuYIoC-H1z9dK67O8g

I finally get to sit down and talk to my friend Mason about money, entrepreneurship, what it takes to start a side hustle, and living the life God wants for us. Mason has powerful perspective on life and shares about how entrepreneurship has opened him up to so many different God moments.  We talk about why financial freedom is so important and how we shouldn't sell ourselves short of the ideal God has for us. He presents the fact that word money is mentioned just as much, if not more times than the word love in the Bible. With great power comes great responsibility. One of my favorite lines in the interview is when he says something like, "If God is going to give money to somebody, why not me?"  Why not be the type of person who God can trust with this tool called money to be a blessing to others in our community?This episode is packed full with all kinds of insight. Spoiler alert! Mason gives his contact information at the end, so make sure to listen in for your opportunity for a consultation that will bring you closer to your dreams. If you've ever been interested in developing a side hustle or are seeking to follow your God given dreams then this episode is perfect for you. 

"The Enneagram is a system of personality typing that describes patterns in how people interpret the world and manage their emotions" (truity.com). The Enneagram helps you learn about your inner motivations while a personality test helps you discover more about yourself based on your behavior. If you ever found yourself struggling with decisions you keep making or habits that you can't seem to break. The Enneagram will help give the tools to uncover the reason for those decisions. These reasons aren't necessarily tied to anything, but your personality and how you are wired. Chris Morris breaks down each of these inner motivations that all of us have and can struggle with, while giving us biblical tools to overcome those parts of our character that we do not like. Therefore, the Enneagram along with scripture can help you live more healthfully mentally and emotionally. Resources: 1. Truity: Enneagram Test: https://www.truity.com 2. The Enneagram for Beginners: A Christian Guide to Understanding Your Type for a God-Centered Lifehttps://www.amazon.com/Enneagram-Beginners-Christian-Understanding-God-Centered/dp/0593196775/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3MGTC4UQUD2IS&dchild=1&keywords=enneagram+for+beginners&qid=1610328136&s=books&sprefix=enneagram+for+beg%2Cstripbooks%2C192&sr=1-13. The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discoveryhttps://www.amazon.com/Road-Back-You-Enneagram-Self-Discovery/dp/0830846190/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2JGI9TGVVMNYL&dchild=1&keywords=the+road+back+to+you&qid=1610328235&s=books&sprefix=The+road+%2Cstripbooks%2C225&sr=1-14.  What's Your Enneatype? An Essential Guide to the Enneagram: Understanding the Nine Personality Types for Personal Growth and Strengthened Relationshipshttps://www.amazon.com/Whats-Enneatype-Essential-Guide-Enneagram/dp/1592339522/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1V7KU25C4CRQ2&dchild=1&keywords=what%27s+my+enneatype&qid=1610328289&sprefix=What%27s+my+end%2Cstripbooks%2C209&sr=8-25. The Path Between Us: An Enneagram Journey to Healthy Relationshipshttps://www.amazon.com/Path-Between-Us-Enneagram-Relationships/dp/0830846425/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+road+between+us&qid=1610328346&sr=8-2

Self-awareness is something a lot of us feel we don't have time for. With everything that demands our attention the last thing we want to do is slow down to understand what we're doing and where the rhythm's of our lives are taking us. 2020 has given many of us the unique opportunity to slow down and reevaluate what we're doing with our lives. It's important that we not only check in with ourselves, but that we ask ourselves questions that help us uncover if we're truly happy. Have you ever worked so hard for a promotion only to find out that it didn't bring you true fulfillment? Or maybe you reached a lofty goal of yours but still don't feel as happy as you thought you would? Aaron breaks down the importance of why asking the right questions can be just as important as finding the right answers. His emphasis on self-awareness is the tool that will give all of us just what we need to find the life we're all looking for. 

What is the ultimate role of the health care system and what affect does it have on us? Does the potential of access to healthcare free us from the anxiety of worrying about how we're living?Jonathan is a resident physician in California and has  just finished his medical schooling at Loma Linda University and previously Pacific Union College. He enjoys being active and dabbling in theology. In this episode, we discuss such questions such as the role of health care and also what we can do to make sure we're involved in our own preventative care. 

Mark Courtad is a runner extraordinaire! He currently averages about 8 miles a day and ran 15 miles in college just about every morning at a 5 minute pace! He also used to run competitively in marathons, triathlons, and an Iron Man. I was excited to be able to tap into some of Mark's training regiments, not just for running, but for his overall well being. He shares the secrets to his success in the episode, which have to do with diet, sleep, and exercise. Listen to how you can maximize your physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual health in this episode and come meet a guy that genuinely loves running. 

It's difficult to talk about certain topics within our own communities. Especially ones such as infertility or the struggles that can come with trying to grow a family. I had the opportunity to talk with my cousin Liz about her own challenges. She shares about loss, IVF, and the challenges that come along with it and what she did to weather the storms that came her way. I find encouragement in this episode because it's a reminder that all of us have the opportunity to be fighters.1. Here'a a link to her blog where you can read some more about her journey: https://linktr.ee/Mermaidsandmacarons2. Link to an article about her story, written by @lovewhatmatters: https://www.lovewhatmatters.com/ill-have-you-pregnant-in-no-time-i-held-my-breath-at-the-ultrasound-ill-never-forget-the-panic-in-their-eyes-mom-births-rainbow-baby-after-losing-son-in-utero-never-stop/?fbclid=IwAR1OUy4kNDlqmtIQ2yJgwaFNWnrhgj9Byu76BcHqA2EGiXXX1hwxsF-pepQ3. Instagram: @lizziekaybean

This episode is definitely a personal one for me. Mental health has played a vital role in my family. Jess Stelfox who recently graduated with her Masters of Counseling from Arizona State University explores the importance of therapy. She agrees that there's a stigma with mental health in culture. It seems that to admit that we need therapy is to admit that there's something wrong with us. However, when that "check engine" light comes on in your car it's usually a sign that maybe it's time to take it in to get it looked at. Our minds are more than just machine. Our minds contain our psyche, personality, and is the center for healthful living. It is my hope that as we share our own stories with mental health and therapy that you will be moved to care for your psychological well being.