Exploring Exile

"One of the staple axioms of change theory is that you cannot have new levels of change and maintain previous levels of control."

Wayne has been the General Superintendent of the Wesleyan Church since 2016. Prior to that he served as the Chief Administrative Officer of Wesley Seminary.  And even further back, Wayne was the senior pastor of Kentwood Community Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 30 years. But more than all of that, I believe Wayne is a man that embodies what being a non-anxious presence looks like in every day life and leadership.

Parenting has never been a cake walk, but like everything in our world today, it's become increasingly complex and confusing. In this episode, I chat with two of the most intentional parents I know, Andrea and Jeremy Summers. We talk about the unique challenges facing 21st century families, why resiliency may be the most important virtue to cultivate, our greatest hopes and fears for our kids, and some practical things they've done to spiritual form their children.  I've always benefitted from learning from others a little further down the road than me , and this conversation was no exception (their kids are 17, 15, 13, and 11).

It's been a popular past time for American theologians, pastors, and cultural critics to look to Canada to get a snapshot of our future. Is that true? What does it look like to not only follow Jesus, but lead a church, in the predominantly post-christian context of Atlantic Canada? In this episode, I sit down with Brent Ingersoll, lead pastor of Kings Church. He gets real about the struggles of the past two years, what's he's learned about himself, the danger of "culture wars," and the revival he sees brewing.

Brent's website, blog, & podcast 

Twitter

Instagram

Woke Jesus article

"Often the most anxious person in the room holds the most power."

The Book - Managing Leadership Anxiety 

The Podcast - Managing Leadership Anxiety 

The Website - https://www.stevecusswords.com/

The Twitter - https://twitter.com/stevecusswords

Is there a better alternative than "canceling" those we disagree with? In this episode, I sit down for a wide ranging conversation with David Kinnan.  David is the Lead Pastor of Fountain Springs Church, and the author of Off the Fence: Live the Life You Were Born to Live. David and his wife Katy have been married eighteen years and enjoy raising their four children in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota.

Check out David's book - Off The Fence

And subscribe to their raw and practical podcast -- David and Katy's podcast 

We apparently really like using the word "great" to describe things (see episode 1)

The Great Resignation.

Whatever you want to call it, it's clear that something strange is happening in the world of employment. It's estimated that up to 33% of the non-farm US workforce voluntarily quit their jobs in the last two years. These aren't layoffs. These are people pursuing other opportunities, while others are choosing to leave the workforce altogether. What are we to make of this? On this episode, I chat with my friend and vocational coach Trisha Welstad from the Northwest Leadership Center to discern what's going on and whether or not the Christian faith offers anything to the conversation.

Picking up from our very first episode...we talked about how in every one of those massive 500 year shifts in history, one of the core issues was TRUST. Something would happen -- the fall of Rome or the Great Schism of the church , etc -- there was this event that pops the collective balloon of society, and it triggers this breakdown of previously trusted institutions or understandings. And in its wake, you have this large vacuum of authority and a climate of severe DISTRUST.

Does that strike you as something that might be relevant for us today? 

How has trust been so broken? And how can we begin to get it back? 

And what role do mandates (vaccine or otherwise) play in all of this?

Though it's certainly not a new phenomenon, there is a growing number of Christians, particularly in the West, who are deconstructing parts of the religion they've inherited. Is it possible to travel that road without completely abandoning Christianity? Can doubt and deconstruction actually lead to a more rich and authentic faith in Jesus? Today's guest thinks so.  Dr. Aj Swoboda joins Exploring Exile drawing on his most recent book and his many experiences walking the desert of doubt with young adults in the Pacific Northwest.

To listen to AJ's brilliant podcast, co-hosted by Ninja Gupta -- In Faith and Doubt 

Add your voice to the conversation and connect more on the Exploring Exile Facebook page 

We live in an age where many people are deconstructing the faith they have inherited. Some are rebuilding something more faithful and beautiful, while others are walking away all together. Why is this happening at such a rapid pace today? And what, if anything, should we do about it? Is it possible to question your faith without losing it? AJ Swoboda certainly thinks so. In fact, this journey into the desert is not really "new" at all and has been walked by many faith-filled Christians for 2,000 years. Whether you are someone who is deconstructing, or love someone who is, we hope this episode helps you navigate the valley with more hope and clarity.

Buy After Doubt or check out AJ's other books at www.ajswobodawrites.com

Check out his amazing podcast with Dr. Ninjay Gupta - In Faith and Doubt

Do you remember the "two week" COVID shutdown... that actually took a few months...and then became a "season"...and now, 18 months later, is still very much affecting our lives? One of the biggest challenges of this moment is finding a way to keep hope alive. Every time we think we are about to come out the other side, we just see more tunnel. Can we face the hard facts of our situation, and yet stay encouraged? I think so. And I think it's vital that we not only figure out how to do this for ourselves, but find a way to do it for others. In this episode, we learn from the incredible example of Admiral Jim Stockdale, a POW during the Vietnam War.