Jonathan Puddle is the author of You Are Enough: Learning to Love Yourself the Way God Loves You, and is a pastor and podcast host himself. Today, Jonathan shares the first time he was moved by the Holy Spirit, deconstructing his faith for a season, and falling in love with Jesus all over again. Jonathan’s love for the Lord comes through as he shares his story and it’s a really beautiful way to reflect on the goodness and nearness of Him. Jonathan’s story reminds us that God loves us deeply.

Listen to Jonathan’s story now!

Stories Jonathan shared:

• Quitting his day job to become a writer

Great quotes from Jonathan:

I never renounced the faith that’s never occurred to me I just couldn’t make it all work in the package I’d been given.

When you’re in the wilderness, God feeds you from his own hand.

We were taught that pride is the unworthy thing and the antidote is self-hatred.

[That experience] has given me a faith in God’s willingness and God’s ability to come and disrupt our lives.

The issue with pride is self-righteousness not thinking too highly of yourself.

Resources we mentioned:

• Jonathan’s website

Related episodes:

• Paul Edwards and Serving God’s Other Children

The post Jonathan Puddle and the Nearness of God appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Charmaine Cooper is an author, speaker, and host of the the Char Candid Podcast. Today, Charmaine shares her experience at the Toronto Blessing, her struggle to forgive her father, and why she chose to go to seminary. Charmaine is a dynamic storyteller who saved one of the best stories for last involving hearing God on the dance floor. Charmaine’s story reminds us that God is with us everywhere even if we try to avoid him.

Listen to Charmaine’s story now!

Stories Charmaine shared:

• Born and raised in Toronto, Canada

Great quotes from Charmaine:

It’s amazing how, in time, the feeling follows the acts of faith.

I love seeing how the church is so human and yet God uses them.

Just because you’re alone, does not mean you need to embrace loneliness.

Resources we mentioned:

• Charmaine’s website and podcast

Related episodes:

• Quentin Banks is Free in Christ Forever

The post Charmaine Cooper and the Everywhere God appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Manny Randhawa is MLB.com reporter, Statcast researcher, and author of The Blake Street Bombers. Today, Manny shares how his dad’s political desire led him to faith, the surprising sermon that let him to pray for salvation, and how he ended up being a sports writer. He also shares how he led his mom to Christ. Plus, we geek out a little bit about baseball, of course. Manny’s story reminds us that God is always working even when our circumstances are painful.

Listen to Manny’s story now!

Stories Manny shared:

• Growing up in the San Francisco area to immigrants from India

Great quotes from Manny:

If you’re not an emotional guy, everything has to make sense…but it didn’t.

If you’re young and depressed, you don’t know it.

The very cause of distress in my life, God used as a conduit to put me in the right place.

We say “right place, right time,” but actually God places you there.

Resources we mentioned:

• Manny’s website

Related episodes:

• Skye Jethani and Living Life with God

The post Manny Randhawa the Conduit of Grace appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Sheila Wray Gregoire is a popular speaker, marriage blogger, and the author of nine books, including The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex and her latest book, The Great Sex Rescue, which she coauthored with her daughter Rebecca Lindenbach and Joanna Sawatsky. Today, Sheila shares how she became a Christian sex blogger, when she first realized that she must stand for justice, and how studying the messages Christians were sending about sex affected her faith. Plus, we talk all about the research behind The Great Sex Rescue, and the more faithful way to look at a hot issue like sex. This conversation reminds us that love and mutuality is the way.

Listen to Sheila’s story today

Stories Sheila shared:

• Picking up a copy of Love and Respect and how that bothered her

Great quotes from Sheila:

Life does not have to be happy for it to be real. Your faith can still be genuine even when you’re grieving. It doesn’t you’re spiritually weak to grieve.

My heart is with the oppressed. When I see an injustice I can’t handle it and I need to speak out.

God is an intimate God.

When we follow Jesus we are not harmed.

Resources we mentioned:

• Sheila’s blog

• Making of Biblical Womanhood by Beth Allison Barr

Related episodes:

• J. Parker and How the Gospel Applies to Sex

The post Sheila Wray Gregoire and the Great Sex Rescue appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Shea Watson is the cohosts The Pantry Podcast with his wife Michelle. Today, Shea shares his journey of sexual abuse at 8 years old, joining the army to avoid jail for drug dealing, and realizing he was losing it in the special forces. He constantly strived to keep up appearances by succeeding in high school sports and excelling in the army but it wasn’t enough to base his identity. Finally, after the failure of his second marriage, he turned to the Lord. Shea’s story reminds us that God’s love overcomes shame.

Listen to Shea’s story now!

Stories Shea shared:

• The Pantry Podcast with his wife

Great quotes from Shea:

I needed someone to tell me I was good because I didn’t feel good inside.

My life in the Army started through reckless decisions.

I was tired of turning to things to cover the pain. I didn’t want to put a band-aid on it anymore.

Resources we mentioned:

• Shea’s website

Related episodes:

• John Swanger Shares Light in Dark Places

The post Shea Watson and Conquering Shame appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Merritt Onsa is a trail guide for the passionate and creative Christian woman who wants to get over her fear of failure, comparison, and imposter syndrome so she can get moving on her God-shaped dream without wasting more time second-guessing herself, procrastinating, or trying to be perfect. Today, Merritt shares how her ex-boyfriend led her to Christ, learning to be honest with her story, and how her husband taught her about God’s patient love. Merritt’s story reminds us how sweet the Lord’s patience is with us.

Listen to Merritt’s story now!

Stories Merritt shared:

• Growing up in Central California whose parents were educators

Great quotes from Merritt:

This man that I had betrayed ministered to me.

When I stopped hiding, the healing exponentially grew.

The infatuation and passion that you see in movies is unsustainable for a marriage.

Resources we mentioned:

• Merritt’s website

Related episodes:

• Brandy Goebel and Running Back to You

The post Merritt Onsa the Patient Love of God appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Phil Mershon is the founder and host of the Man in the Pew Show. By day, he is director of events for Social Media Examiner. He’s a jazz saxophonist, songwriter, former pastor, and author of two forthcoming books. Today, Phil shares the journey of discovering he is a creative. He shares how he studied economics, the mentor who encouraged him to speak and write, and how he discovered his need to express his creativity every day. Phil’s story reminds us that it’s so valuable to know yourself and express yourself creatively.

Listen to Phil’s story now!!

Stories Phil shared:

• Clinging to God in the middle of chaos in his life

Great quotes from Phil:

I wasn’t around people who could see that side [the creative side] of me.

Abundance is the way the Kingdom works.

There are certain parts of who I am that I can’t allow to go unexpressed.

I am more than enough because God is more than enough.

Resources we mentioned:

• Phil’s website

Related episodes:

• Matt Tommey and Partnership in the Gospel

The post Phil Mershon and the Creative’s Journey appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Kristin Du Mez is Professor of History at Calvin University and author of Jesus and John Wayne. If you haven’t heard about this book yet, you will soon because it is lighting Evangelicalism on fire. Kristin shares about growing up a bit sheltered in Northwest Iowa Dutch country, how moving and travel began to expand her understanding of the world, and why she decided to address militarism in the Christian faith. Kristen’s story reminds us that we need to know Christian history to understand our faith.

Listen to Kristin’s story now!

Stories Kristin shared:

• Growing up in Dutch Reformed circles in Northwest, Iowa

Great quotes from Kristin:

My working assumption was that Christianity is constant within history. If anything, my historical studies disrupted this notion of communion with my fellow believers.

If you’re holding on so tightly to your narrow conception of truth, that’s a faith that can easily be shaken.

A lot of Evangelicals have bought into a very us versus them mentality, that God is on our side and therefore anything that I do is righteous.

Resources we mentioned:

• Kristin’s website

Related episodes:

• Karen Swallow Prior and the Spiritual Practice of Reading Fiction

The post Kristin Du Mez and Knowing Christian History appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Rob Lohman currently helps people suffering from substance abuse to find freedom from addiction and incarceration. Today, Rob shares his journey of avoiding consequences for destructive actions, the moment God spoke to him in a bar, and the action that sent him to prison. Today, Rob helps others break the chains of addiction as an interventionist. His story reminds us that God is still pursuing us no matter how messy our lives become.

Listen to Rob’s story now!

Stories Rob shared:

• Growing up in several cities in a Christian family

Great quotes from Rob:

Parents and loved ones, don’t ever quit praying for your kids.

Resources we mentioned:

• Rob’s website

Related episodes:

• Mike Savage and God’s Great Sacrificial Love

The post Rob Lohman and Breaking Addiction appeared first on Eric Nevins.