At the Frontier

How do you see God at work in your everyday life? How do you view the church? If it's as a place you go on Sunday mornings, then listen up. As Tim Soerens shares this week on The Do Gooders Podcast, the church is more relevant than ever but we must question our default settings in how we pay attention to God at work in our lives.

Have you heard the saying that God uses broken people to do great things? That's good news for all of us, and if you haven't yet been personally invited to know more—consider this episode especially for you. Lt. Paul Chisholm from The Salvation Army Fountain Valley is on the show today to share more about his own testimony and why he knows firsthand that discipleship—relationship—makes all the difference in making the choice to do things differently, to evolve.

Are you living with purpose—your unique purpose? Are you embracing what's uncomfortable in order to fulfill your purpose? As Dr. Deborah Gorton says, every decision involves a loss and a gain. But are you pausing to consider what that loss might be in your daily decisions—and whether or not it is then in line with your purpose? She's on the show today to share the practical skills to help you pursue and live in your purpose, from "practicing the pause" to "balancing your emotions." And in doing so, you'll discover the freedom and joy that will fill your life when you begin to see discomfort as an important step toward reaching your goals.

The pandemic has affected so much of how we live and interact. And for many, it's directly affected the way we work—and if we work. As of mid-June, more than 45 million people have filed for unemployment at some point during the pandemic. David Jones found himself out of work as a chef when the catering company he worked for no longer had any business to cater to. But he kept cooking, volunteering with The Salvation Army in Broomfield, Colorado, where he made lunch for 100 seniors a day.

We're feeling a collective unsettling in this time, which is lasting longer than any of us would like. So how do we cope? As clinical psychologist Dr. Jack Anderson will tell you, fear is natural, it's instinctive. But calmness has to be learned.

What are the critical questions to ask in the slow-paced middle ground of refining? (And in case you were wondering, that's where we are right now.) In this episode of the #DoGoodersPodcast, Krysta Masciale doesn't offer a task list of busyness or a one-size-fits-all solution to making the most out of this time we find ourselves in. Rather, she asks, how can we let the full truth we're discovering reveal what matters most to us?

Did you listen in on what it means to do good, what it's really like to be homeless, principles to spend differently, how to foster gratitude, and more? After nearly a year of weekly shows on the Do Gooders Podcast, we have a lot of good ideas to catch up on. So we're hitting pause and giving you a chance to do just that. Hear how The Salvation Army is working to double its impact on homelessness, strategies for raising kind kids, or why understanding the Bible better makes your life better—all of it is right here, waiting for you to press play. We'll be back before you know it with a new season focused on helping you do good right where you are. And you can stay up to date with all the goodness by heading to caringmagazine.org/newsletter and signing up for the free, weekly Do Good Digest email newsletter. Until we chat again, keep on doing good.

Find show notes for all episodes at caringmagazine.org/podcast.

The Salvation Army Orange County's Anaheim Emergency Shelter is a temporary home to 224 individuals. While there, residents have a place to stay, meals and job and housing services. And now, Site Supervisor Benjamin Anozie said The Salvation Army has adapted life at the shelter to increase the safety of residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the crisis has forced a deeper reflection among his team and for himself about why they do the work they do—despite the risks.

Sarah Bentley started the Silver Line, a toll-free phone line seniors can call for emotional and spiritual support—and a connection to practical support as well. It's important, she said, that these older adults know they're not alone. And the phone has been ringing ever since. She's on the show today to share how she's helping in the midst of COVID-19 and what she is seeing from the frontlines of service.

Evie Russell drove a truck for 12 years before joining The Salvation Army as the service coordinator in Cortez, Colorado. That's why she had such a strong reaction when she heard that some truck drivers were being turned away from restaurants or having a hard time finding a place to eat as they helped deliver essential goods during the coronavirus pandemic. So she devised Operation Thank a Trucker.