Cowboy Jesus - The Rodeo of Life and Religion

Steve interviews Dr. Mark Foster. Mark was born and raised in the Mormon church. He spent several of his adult years raising his family in the faith. Mark comes to a crises where he puts everything at risk and takes a spiritual leap of faith. His story is one of spiritual liberation. 

Thanks for listening!

Surviving Spiritual Abuse Part 3, Steve continues his series on Spiritual Abuse, interviewing Kathy Brown. Kathy grew up in a fundamentalist evangelical family. She shares the story of her life from early childhood through college years. She shares how it took many years of her adult life to recover from her upbringing. It's a compelling story that many can identify with. Thanks for listening!

Surviving Spiritual Abuse Part 2, Steve continues his series on spiritual abuse by interviewing Susie Burke. Susie is a long time member of Columbine United Church. What most people don't know about Susie is that she was raised in a Satanic cult. Susie shares different stories of what it was like to live in this cult. But more, she reflects as an adult about coming to a place of healing, and working as a healer in her own life and occupation. Enjoy the interview. 

Have you ever been spiritually abused? Has a religious leader, organization, church, synagogue or mosque manipulated your emotions? Has your soul ever been batted about? If so then tune into this episode. 

Steve begins the conversation by defining spiritual abuse and what it looks like in a congregation. He shares what a healthy faith community looks like. Steve closes by sharing things to do if someone you love is a part of a community that is spiritually abusive. 

Being a part of a faith community should nurture and uplift your soul. Hopefully by listening you'll be committed to finding a joyful community to participate in.

Steve invites his colleagues Rev. Jill Bouton VanderWal and Rev. Jane Ritterson to join in a conversation about the resurrection of Jesus. They have a lot of fun and cover everything from the Shroud of Turin, to Jesus bodily raising, to Jesus blasting off in the Ascension. It's a lot of fun. Hang in there until the end. Jane rips a funny out take. 

This week is the twentieth anniversary of the shootings at Columbine High School. While we prepare for holy week, we also prepare for the day that twenty years ago was a watershed in the nation, as well as in Steve's life. Steve shares his thoughts, feelings and recollections about being a first responder that day and the most profound message he carries forward, the need to forgive. 

Steve shares that he's not enlightened like Walter from Craigslist. Steve struggles to follow the teachings of Jesus. Sometimes we all need a "come down" and here is Steve's story. Enjoy the Podcast. Catch his blog Cowboy Jesus. Let Steve know about topics you'd like him to cover. 

A few weeks ago Steve was asked to do a podcast on how to read the Bible and how to discern what the historical teachings of Jesus are. Short of giving a thirty minute lecture, this is Steve's attempt to share how he reads the Bible. Steve shares that the Bible is not holy, but it's a medium that points to what is holy: your relationship with Jesus. Let Steve know if you have topics you'd like him to cover. Thanks for listening. Read his blog, Cowboy Jesus on stevescowboyjesus.blogspot.com

This past Sunday Steve bought a bed from Walter off of Craigslist. It was a simple exchange, yet he'll never forget Walter's generosity. Walter's small act has inspired Steve. Steve's challenged now to pay it forward. He hopes that you too are touched by this story and you'll be inspired to pay it forward as well. 

Thanks for listening! 

This sounds like a boring topic. Let's face it, church can be boring. However, Steve does everything in my power to keep church fun, exciting and relevant. Steve explores his thoughts and feelings on going to church. This past Sunday Steve interviewed people about their reasons for coming to church. Then Steve closes with his own riff on the topic. 

Who wants to be boring? Not me baby, not me.