Halfway There

By Eric NevinsSociety & Culture Religion & Spirituality Christianity Spirituality Personal Journals

Halfway There episodes

July 06, 2020Tina Smith the Praying for Your Kids
Tina Smith is the founder of Raising Kids on Your Knees a ministry dedicated to equipping parents to pray and parent life into the lives of their children. It’s a journey she knows from experience having successfully done so with her four children. Today, Tina shares the disparity between her early faith and actions, how this led to an abortion, and the mentor who helped lead her to wholeness. Tina is a powerful prayer warrior whose story will inspire you to take everything to Jesus.
Listen to Tina’s story in your favorite podcast app now!
Stories Tina shared:
Starting Raising Kids on Your Knees
Growing up bouncing between the North and South U.S. not going to church
Sensing God’s calling as a teenager
The “path of destruction” in her life
The disparity between her life and faith
Her decision to have an abortion before marriage
The breakdown of her marriage
The mentor who came alongside her and began a process of healing
Learning to hear the Holy Spirit
The pastor who taught her spiritual warfare
How prayer became a huge part of her story
Following the Holy Spirit’s lead to start a podcast
Great quotes from Tina:
Relationships that begin in deceit end in deceit.
It takes a lot of years to grow old friends.
Pray for your kids.
Resources we mentioned:
Tina’s website Raising Kids on Your Knees
Tina’s podcasts: Raising Kids on Your Knees and Not All Heroes Wear Capes
Praying Moms DO Matter
Love Must Be Tough: New Hope for Marriages in Crisis by Dr. James Dobson
Creating Calm in the Center of Crazy: Making Room for Your Soul in an Overcrowded Life by Nicole Johnson
Related episodes:
Laura Flanders and the Mentored Life
Os Guinness and Carpe Diem Redeemed
Gisela Kreglinger and Savoring the Goodness of God
The post Tina Smith the Praying for Your Kids appeared first on Eric Nevins.
51 min
June 29, 2020 200: Randall Sean Garcia and the Father's Love for Us
Randall Garcia is a pastor, online businessman, and podcaster. Randall shares the story of growing up an overachieving pastor’s kid, secretly wandering away from his faith, and the funeral that convinced him to change his ways. Around that time, he confessed his lifestyle to his dad and received love instead of rejection, an experience that [...]
45 min
June 29, 2020200: Randall Sean Garcia and the Father’s Love for Us
Randall Garcia is a pastor, online businessman, and podcaster. Randall shares the story of growing up an overachieving pastor’s kid, secretly wandering away from his faith, and the funeral that convinced him to change his ways. Around that time, he confessed his lifestyle to his dad and received love instead of rejection, an experience that had a profound effect on him. Randall shares how he balances his desire to achieve with an active relationship with the Lord and how lectio divina helps. He’s pursuing ministry and creating a Christian podcast network to serve Christian leaders. Randall’s story reminds us that no matter what we do, the Lord is always pursuing us!
Listen to Randall’s story now!
Stories Randall shared:
Growing up as a pastor’s kid in the Assemblies of God
Trying to fit in with his friends as a teenager
Realizing that he was depressed in his early 20s
Confessing his sins to his father
How he experienced God’s love through his dad
His friend’s murder and the legacy that inspired him
Studying the attributes of God
How he motivates himself to keep reading the Bible
Starting his LX3 devotional group on Facebook
Discovering lectio divina as a practice
Deciding to go to seminary
Contemplating his next step for ministry
Shifting his podcast to create a podcast network
Great quotes from Randall:
I knew in that moment that God was going to use me.
God is our heavenly Father.
Wherever you’re at in the journey, continue putting one step in front of the other.
Resources we mentioned:
Randall’s website
YouVersion Bible App
Randall’s LX3 Facebook Group
Related episodes:
Mark Waltz and Radical Acceptance in Relationship
Edith Leland and Intimate Friendship with God
Jim Bowman and the Heart of the Father
The post Randall Sean Garcia and the Father’s Love for Us appeared first on Eric Nevins.
45 min
June 22, 2020199: Lauren Gaskill and the Joy of Healing
Lauren Gaskill, author, speaker, podcaster, and founder of She Found Joy. Today, Lauren shares the story of growing up in a family of new Christians, dealing with severe health issues, and the healing the Lord has brought her. Lauren describes her journey from accepting illness to asking the Lord for healing and receiving it. The whole experience has changed the direction of her ministry. Lauren’s story reminds us that God is not done working yet!
Listen to Lauren’s story now!
Stories Lauren shared:
Growing up in Indiana in a baby Christian family
The genuine faith of a child
Wrestling with oppression as a high schooler
Having health problems in college and going through severe pain
Receiving a diagnosis and how that affected her
Feeling mad at God for suffering so much
Hearing God speak to her about healing
Screaming at God on a beach in the Bahamas
The moment her heart broke after moving into a new house
Following her hunger for healing
Weeding her heart for months
Taking a healing journey to Brazil to minister
What the Holy Spirit said to her on an airplane and the healing
Pursuing what God wants for her as a healing ministry
Great quotes from Lauren:
There are moments in life when revelation comes and you just finally understand what you’ve been missing.
There’s no such thing as a perfect journey.
He knows how to encourage our hearts with exactly what we need.
Children don’t make formulas out of things. They just follow their father.
Resources we mentioned:
Lauren’s website
Lauren’s Instagram
Into the Deep: Diving into a Life of Courageous Faith by Lauren Gaskill
I Give You Authority: Practicing The Authority Jesus Gave Us by Charles H. Kraft
Related episodes:
Sarah Koontz is Changing the World One Person at a Time
Patrick Meyers and The Kind Initiator
Iain Bradbeer and God as the Architect
The post Lauren Gaskill and the Joy of Healing appeared first on Eric Nevins.
46 min
June 15, 2020198: John Matarazzo and Learning Along the Way
John Matarazzo is a television producer and podcast host. Today, he shares the story of how he joined YWAM, the burnout he experienced after years of leading, and following his passion for broadcasting. John also tells us about amazing steps of faith he took as he followed the Lord’s direction. For instance, he started volunteering at a Christian television station before he started working there because he believed God wanted him there. His story reminds us that obedience is often the most important thing.
List to John’s story now!
Stories John shared:
Hosting Along the Way Podcast
Going on a missions trip to Mexico and how that changed his life
Serving as a missionary with YWAM after high school
Going to broadcasting school in South Africa
Not getting the opportunity he was hoping for and how that shaped his trust
Learning that God wanted him to broadcast
Leaving the mission field and the difficult season that brought
How his friend trained him for television production
Learning to trust the voice of the Holy Spirit
The missionary stories his mom would read him as a child
Starting his podcast Along the Way
What he’s learned from his podcast
Great quotes from John:
There’s a lot more to people than the facade they wear.
The things that God isn’t saying are as important as what he is saying sometimes.
God can speak to you however he wants to get your attention.
Pay attention to the people God is bringing into your life.
Resources we mentioned:
John’s podcast Along the Way
Connect with John on Facebook
Youth with a Mission
Listen to Eric on Along the Way
Related episodes:
Tonya Blessing and the Servants Who See the Miracles
Matt Till and Living on Mission
Amy Patton Says God is in Your Story
The post John Matarazzo and Learning Along the Way appeared first on Eric Nevins.
50 min
June 08, 2020197: Julie Hamilton and Trusting Over Pleasing
Julie Hamilton is a faith based podcaster, speaker, radio and TV co-host and encourager. She has been married for 21 years, is a mom of two girls & loves living in Napa Valley. Today, she shares how in the last 8 months, she went from homeschooling mom of 14 years to Media Director for a Mayoral campaign & building a social media branding company. We talk about her struggle with anxiety and how it taught her to trust the Lord which ultimately led to her finding her voice of encouragement. Julie’s story reminds us that trust is what the Lord wants from us.
Listen to Julie’s story now!
Stories Julie shared:
How her family is weathering the quarantine
How God used podcasting to prepare her for a role in politics
Growing up with parents who were first generation Christians
Moving to California as a girl
How the new crowd inspired her to love the Lord
The mentor who helped her
A season of anxiety that kept her homebound
Learning that God is her portion through Psalm 73:26
Getting through PTSD after a scary experience
Choosing to go to Africa and how that represented healing for her anxiety
Discovering her own voice when she turned 40
How she helps people today
Great quotes from Julie:
We don’t know when our last day is, but in all of that, we learn God is good.
What’s normal to us is magic to other people.
You never know what God has in store for you and that’s why you have to trust Him.
Resources we mentioned:
Julie’s website and podcast
5 Tools to Interrupt Anxiety by Julie Hamilton
Julie’s Easy Podcasting Master Class
Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change (Resources for Changing Lives) by Paul David Tripp
Related episodes:
Troy Greenwood and his Mid-Life Awakening
Marie White and How God Turns Tragedy into Trust
Billy Berglund and Trusting God in Uncertain Times
The post Julie Hamilton and Trusting Over Pleasing appeared first on Eric Nevins.
49 min
June 01, 2020196: Kyle Strobel and Integrating Spirituality and Theology
Kyle Strobel is the associate professor of spiritual theology at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. Today, Kyle shares the story of how he discovered spiritual formation, feeling abandoned by God and surrendering to him, and studying the works of Jonathan Edwards. Kyle brings a unique historical perspective to the spiritual formation conversation. We also talk about his newest book, Embracing Contemplation: Reclaiming a Christian Spiritual Practice. Kyle’s story reminds us that our tradition is rich if we only take the time to mine it.
Listen to Kyle’s story today!
Stories Kyle shared:
Growing up at Willow Creek
Doing his PHD on Jonathan Edwards
Leaving Willow with a lot of relational brokenness
Going to college and having a profound realization about prayer
Feeling abandoned by God and surrendering to it
Learning about prayer and how
Understanding spiritual practices through Jonathan Edwards and John Wesley
How love works itself out in his life
The conversation he hopes Embracing Contemplation starts
Great quotes from Kyle:
If prayer is performative then the psalter makes no sense.
It took me wrestling profoundly with myself to open up others people’s lives.
The journey to God is a journey to love.
Prayer isn’t something you generate, something you start; it’s something you enter.
Resources we mentioned:
Embracing Contemplation: Reclaiming a Christian Spiritual Practice edited by John H. Coe and Kyle C. Strobel
Dark Night of the Soul by John of the Cross
Renovation of the Heart: Putting On the Character of Christ by Dallas Willard
Formed for the Glory of God: Learning from the Spiritual Practices of Jonathan Edwards by Kyle Strobel
Ravished by Beauty: The Surprising Legacy of Reformed Spirituality by Belden C. Lane
Related episodes:
Phileena Heuertz and Christian Contemplation
Os Guinness and Carpe Diem Redeemed
Amy Jackson and Trusting God with the Questions

The post Kyle Strobel and Integrating Spirituality and Theology appeared first on Eric Nevins.
55 min
May 25, 2020195: Katie Hornor and Rain as a Blessing
Katie Hornor is a best-selling author, business coach and international speaker. After leaving all for a ministry opportunity overseas only to have it pulled out from under them, Tap & Katie built a business and a movement in their second language among in the fastest growing market demographic in the world, changing the future of education for Hispanic families. Today, Katie shares the story of wanting to go overseas as a child, wrestling with postpartum depression, and learning to see rain as a blessing from God. Katie turned a series of closed doors into an international business and her story reminds us that God always has something better for us.
Listen to Katie’s story now!
Stories Katie shared:
Growing up in North Carolina
Choosing life with Jesus as a young girl
Surrendering to the Lord’s will for her life in high school
Attending college at Bob Jones
Deciding to get a master’s degree in curriculum development
Wrestling with postpartum depression
Hosting a girl who need mentoring and how that helped her out of depression
Seeking the Lord for where to go next and moving across Mexico
Being asked to leave from two ministries within one year
Starting a company to homeschool Spanish speaking kids
Learning to see rain as a blessing
Observing flamingos in ocean
Great quotes from Katie:
If I really believe God is in control and everything he does is good, then I’ve got to look for the good.
Why are we working so hard for a harvest and all we’re getting is rained on?
He taught me to see the rain as a blessing.
Your title is about who you serve not who you are.
Resources we mentioned:
Katie’s website
Faith Like Flamingos: The Christian Business Guide to Walking Out Your Faith in Bold Color! by Katie Hornor
Lies Women Believe: And the Truth that Sets Them Free by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth
Related episodes:
Chris & Joi Copeland Say When God Calls You Go
Ellen Rosenberger and What Being a Missionary Is Really Like
David Jacob and Seeking After God
The post Katie Hornor and Rain as a Blessing appeared first on Eric Nevins.
55 min
May 18, 2020194: Jeff Munroe and Stewarding Your Pain
Jeff Munroe is Executive Vice President of Western Theological Seminary and author of the book Reading Buechner. Today, Jeff shares the story of the bad advice he received about emotions, how Frederick Buechner helped him fix it, and looks back at the providence of God in leading him to Western Theological Seminary. Along the way, we talk about Buechner’s work and how it applies to today. Jeff’s story reminds us that the Lord is always at work and he never wastes anything.
Listen to Jeff’s story now!
Stories Jeff shared:
Serving as an administrator at Western Theological Seminary
Growing up in a Christian family and being discipled in a Young Life style
His wife’s stroke one month before their wedding
Losing touch with his emotion based on bad advice
Discovering Frederick Buechner in a bookstore
What he things of the person who gave him bad advice
Finding peace with God through community
Leaving Young Life during a difficult season
Receiving a call to Western Theological Seminary
How speaking at a workshop about Buechner and being asked to write this book
Great quotes from Jeff:
We go to books and we want lots of different things. But we want books that change our lives. That’s what Buechner did for me.
Pain is a universal human experience.
I spend the whole week figuring out the ways I don’t believe in God and then the community calls be back every week.
Resources we mentioned:
Reading Buechner: Exploring the Work of a Master Memoirist, Novelist, Theologian, and Preacher by Jeff Monroe
Western Theological Seminary
The Clown in the Belfry: Writings on Faith and Fiction by Frederick Buechner
Related episodes:
Douglas Groothuis and Walking Through Twilight
Sarah Geringer and Transforming Your Thought Life
Jay Holland and the Goodness of God
The post Jeff Munroe and Stewarding Your Pain appeared first on Eric Nevins.
45 min
May 11, 2020193: D.L. Mayfield and the Gift of Paying Attention
D. L. Mayfield is a writer and podcaster who is just trying to be a good neighbor. Her podcast is the Prophetic Imagination Station Podcast and her new book is The Myth of the American Dream. Today, D.L. shares her journey wanting to be a missionary as a child, experiencing the Holy Spirit in college, and working with refugee communities in Portland. D.L. says paying attention to her neighbors changed the way she sees the world and it can change us, too.
Listen to D.L.’s story now!
Stories D. L. shared:
Growing up as a pastor’s kid all over the place
Wanting to be a missionary since the age of 6
Wrestling with the idea of the Kingdom of God in college
Thinking about Good Friday as a child
Some of the problems with missionary movements
Experiencing the Holy Spirit in college
Choosing to send her child to one of the worst public schools in her state
How the pandemic is challenging her sense of community
How she started writing as a way to reflect
Why she choose her title for The Myth of the American Dream
How paying attention to marginalized people changes your perspective
Bringing shalom for everyone
Great quotes from D. L.:
I didn’t fundamentally understand the main thing Jesus talked about and that terrified me.
Now that I’m free to be honest with God, I don’t feel God’s absence necessarily.
The only true prayers are honest prayers.
Resources we mentioned:
D.L.’s website
The Myth of the American Dream: Reflections on Affluence, Autonomy, Safety, and Power by D. L. Mayfield
Assimilate or Go Home: Notes from a Failed Missionary on Rediscovering Faith by D. L. Mayfield
Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times by Soong-Chan Rah
Related episodes:
Jordan Vargo and Justice on a Mission
Craig Greenfield and Good News for the Poor
Karen Gonzalez and the God Who Sees
The post D. L. Mayfield and the Gift of Paying Attention appeared first on Eric Nevins.
51 min

About Halfway There

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Each episode of Halfway There features an ordinary Christian sharing their story of spiritual formation on the journey of life with God. Go beyond the classic Christian testimony into the ups and…

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