Expansion Lab

In this episode, Phil and Jen talk about the various responses that can happen when we are presented with new information. They discuss the value of the Bible. And they talk about a path to holding and engaging it in ways that breathe life, liberation and hope. 

In this episode, Phil and Jen talk about how we hold the Bible and why it matters. They discuss inspiration, interpretation, and authority. They talk about the ways the Bible has been weaponized and used in harmful ways as a result of how it was held. They discuss freeing the Bible from what it was never intended to be. They address the question: Is the Bible God-breathed? And finally, they discuss embodiment, what it means and the freedom that comes with it.

In this episode, Phil and Jen talk about the ways the Bible and the movement have grown and changed over time. They discuss the History of the Bible, the process of people capturing what they sensed God doing over time and how it evolved. They discuss what kind of scriptures Jesus had in his time and how technological advances and societal shifts changed people’s access to the Bible and their view of God. They talk about how growth and change is actually baked into the whole movement and how we are invited to embrace it rather than fear it. And they discuss the Bible’s lasting influence and the hope and freedom they find from it: especially the idea of embodying the messages today.

In this episode, Phil and Jen talk about how the average household has 9 copies of the Bible and purchases another one every year, how people have a high esteem for it and yet the fact that many (if not most) don’t actually read it. They discuss the impact of consumerism on the Bible and how our expectations of the Bible don’t actually match up to our experience of it. They talk about how many would rather buy another copy than read one. They discuss the disconnect between our expectations and our experience of the Bible and ways to set the it Free (and in doing so set ourselves free).

In this episode called “What is It?” we talk about why we are still having a discussion about a several thousand year old book, what it is, empire, authority and power. We discuss its history, how it (and the way we hold it) has evolved significantly over the last 2,000 years, and also the ways it has been weaponized and abused. We talk about setting the Bible (and ourselves) free in order to hold it and engage it in ways that bring life and hope and that helps us to embody the life that it contains.

In this last season, Phil and Jen have grabbed onto a phrase and idea that has become super helpful to them- “The Pivot”. The Pivot in life is the times when things don’t work out as planned and we have to make a change, or when we get more information and change our minds about something, or when we realize something isn’t working for us and decide to make a change. Those are all pivots. But the art of pivoting isn’t just an action- it’s a mentality. It’s a way operating and holding it all loosely. When we don’t grip our lives to death, then when things don’t work out as planned, we can just roll with it so much easier. Living more open handed with the ability to easily pivot and make adjustments is like flowing in a beautiful river rather than constantly trying to steer it- it’s just a more enjoyable ride.

In this episode, Phil and Jen share their own story from the last 9 months and how they’ve had a full-on marriage renaissance. They share how, after stepping out of the church they were leading, Phil began to see Jen in a fresh way and that in turn made her see him in a whole new light. It was like they were dating and getting to know each other all over again. They share how they leaned into what at first they stumbled into and how it’s made all the difference in their relationship. They remind us that all relationships require us to do our own inner work, require a ton of grace and that, wherever you are at, you can begin again and again and again.

In this episode, Phil and Jen discuss cultural expectations and the pressure to do life at a pace that is often not sustainable. They talk about times when they chose a pace of life that was unhealthy and about the opportunity we all have to choose the pace of life that works for us- especially coming out of a cultural reset. They discuss the concept of what they call The Vortex- a strong gravitational pull into a busy, fast-paced life. The Vortex can pull us in even when we are intentionally trying to live at a healthy, relaxed pace. They offer practical ways to slow your roll and live more aligned so that you can live your life in line with your priorities and what (and who) really matters to you.

Everybody has a perspective, the lens through which they see and the perspective from which they operate, but our perspective is also a choice. In this episode, Phil and Jen talk about how our perspective shapes reality. The way that we choose to think about things and the narratives we tell ourselves changes how we experience our lives. Our perspective shapes how we move and interact with the world. Each day can be shaped entirely by the view point in which we approach it, which means our reality is partly shaped by the WAY we see things. Ultimately, we can shape our reality by how we choose our perspective.

In this episode, Jen shares about setting down things in your life that are not yours to carry and how to travel lightly. Phil listens and then asks Jen some questions about how to practically examine our lives, discern what is ours to carry, and then how to set down heavy weights in our lives and not keep picking them back up.