Halfway There

Lyndsey Medford is a writer and speaker living with a rare autoimmune disorder in the crumbling empire of the American South. Today, Lyndsey shares what her disorder was like as a child, the pressure she felt to make her story a redemptive one, and the kind response of the Lord who only wanted to be with her. We talk about how to develop a holistic view of yourself and the spiritual implications of doing so. Learning to listen to God, to our bodies, and to one another is a crucial discipline for the spiritual journey. Lyndsey reminds us that doing so means letting go of expectations and learning to simply be with God.

Listen to Lyndsey’s story in your favorite podcast player now!

Stories Lyndsey shared:

• Moving and finding herself back with family

Great quotes from Lindsey:

I did have a strong sense of having a relationship with God and being loved by God and that didn’t depend on being good at suffering or hiding my suffering in the ways I though it did at the time.

To turn [suffering] into a nice pretty story while it’s still happening is an unfair pressure we put on people.

I’ve been told all my life that there’s things you have for me to do. So when are we going to do them?

When we are really still, God is inviting us to let of some of the expectations about ourselves that no longer serve us.

Resources we mentioned:

• Lyndsey’s website

Related episodes:

• Becky Castle Miller and Trusting Your Emotions

The post Lyndsey Medford and Releasing Expectations appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Matt Fagioli coach, consultant and a serial entrepreneur. His company is called Certain Success and he works with business owners and entrepreneurs to help them grow amazing Christ centered businesses while becoming (as closely as possible to) exactly what Jesus intended for them to be. Today, Matt shares his upbringing in the Roman Catholic church, why he decided to return to church after he had children, and how the pandemic shifted his perspective. He also tells the story of discovering that there is so much more to walking with Jesus than checking the boxes on the Christian to do list. He’s found a new way of relating to the Lord. Matt’s story reminds us that wherever you are now on the journey, the Lord has more to show you.

Listen to Matt’s story now in your favorite podcast player!

Stories Matt shared:

• Wrestling with how to be a Christian business owner

Great quotes from Matt:

The front door for me was worship.

I spend massive amounts of time speaking to the Lord but not a lot of words are said.

Resources we mentioned:

• Matt’s website

Related episodes:

• James Bryan Smith and Loved Beyond Imagination

The post Matt Fagioli and Beyond Check Box Faith appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Beth Allison Barr is the James Vardaman Professor of History at Baylor University and author of the book The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth. Today, Beth shares how she grew up knowing Jesus, learning that there were some things women didn’t do, and how intellectual curiosity is deeply important for her spiritual journey. We also discuss how knowing Church history and taking a curious approach to biblical interpretation can shape our faith in positive ways. Beth’s story reminds us that understanding church history with an inquisitive mind is a vital part of Christian growth.

Listen to Beth’s story here or where you get your podcasts.

Stories Beth shared:

• Growing up in a Christian family in Texas

Great quotes from Beth:

My parents were never afraid of me being curious.

My story fits into a story that’s a lot bigger than me and I’m thankful to be part of that story.

Historical context does not diminish the Bible as God’s Word. It just helps us better understand God’s Word.

God does not look like the white, Evangelical church.

Resources we mentioned:

• Beth’s website

Related episodes:

• Aaron Niequist and Swimming in the Eternal Current

The post Beth Allison Barr and Christian Curiosity appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Frank Viola is a bestselling author, conference speaker, blogger, and podcaster. Today, Frank shares how he found Christ, a moment when he experienced the overwhelming love of God, and an encounter with a demon. Frank shares that his calling is to those who want to experience Jesus more fully and he shares multiple stories from his writing. We also explore the idea of the dark night of the soul and how he understands it and whether he’s experienced one. Frank’s story reminds us that the Lord is active even when we can’t directly sense him.

Listen to Frank’s story in your favorite podcast player now!

Stories Frank shared:

• Exploring the deeper journey

Great quotes from Frank:

You can put yourself in a position to hear from the Lord.

When you have the mind of Christ, you don’t have to consult the Lord about everything that comes up.

One of the ways God speaks to his children is coincidence.

The flesh is nailed to the cross and that’s where it ought to be in the life of the Christian.

Resources we mentioned:

• Frank’s website

Related episodes:

• Mike Bolton and the Power of Yes

The post Frank Viola and the Subtlety of the Kingdom of God appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Sara Billups is a Seattle-based writer and cultural commentator whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Christianity Today, Ekstasis, and others. Sara writes Bitter Scroll, a monthly Substack letter. She is completing her Doctor of Ministry in the Sacred Art of Writing at the Peterson Center for the Christian Imagination at Western Theological Seminary. Today, Sara shares about her 90’s youth group kid upbringing, moving to Seattle and finding a devastated church, and the dark season when she compartmentalized her faith. Sara’s story reminds us that while the spiritual desert is isolating, community is the best way through.

Listen to Sara’s story in your favorite podcast app now!

Stories Sara shared:

• Growing up in a house where her father converted to Christianity from Judaism

Great quotes from Sara

If I actually believed the Christian story, I needed to make a change.

There are seasons when the people who love us carry us.

It doesn’t do any good to burn things down but I do think we need to talk about this stuff.

Being faithful to a congregation through many waves, throughout decades is a really interesting place to sit and I’m grateful that I can.

Resources we mentioned:

• Sara’s website

Related episodes:

• Brian Zahnd and the Beauty of Christ

The post Sara Billups and Moving Toward Community appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Mike Bolton is a husband, father, grandfather, and loyal friend. While he defines himself more by relationships today, he also is an author, podcaster, former pastor, and businessman. Today, Mike shares the story of how he found faith in Christ, the scholarship he lost and how that changed his life, and the ways crisis has shaped him. He tells the story of how he discovered the Lord at work in unexpected places which taught him to say yes to opportunities and see what He was up to. Mike’s story reminds us that while life with God has twists and turns, it’s a beautiful sight to behold.

Listen to Mike’s story in your favorite podcast app now!

Stories Mike shared:

• Growing up in Manitoba, Canada

Great quotes from Mike:

God’s got a great track record.

I thought everything had to happen in the church but it seems like God is at work everywhere.

What you believe about God and his purpose in your life has to be tested.

Resources we mentioned:

• Mike’s website

Related episodes:

• Todd Johnson says Just Say Yes

The post Mike Bolton and the Power of Yes appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Lisa Lamb is a professor of preaching, a writer, and a pastor working to equip leaders in South East Asia. Her passion is to develop leaders who preach radically good news, deeply rooted in Scripture. The Lord took her and her husband on a surprising pandemic journey to seven countries, where they experienced his amazing provision at every turn. Today, Lisa shares the story of how she fell in love with preaching of the Word, the journey of becoming a professor, and why she wrote a book for pastors. Her story reminds us that the Lord is leading even when the circumstances may not appear so.

Listen to Lisa’s story in your favorite podcast app now!

Stories Lisa shared:

• Serving in South East Asia and how that’s different from the US

Great quotes from Lisa:

I still think there’s something really holy and beautiful when we open the Word together.

When it’s working as intended, preaching is meant to nourish us.

God is still at work through the Church to bless the world, to be a light and a witness.

Resources we mentioned:

• Lisa’s website

Related episodes:

• Dan Rudman and Ripples of the Gospel

The post Lisa Lamb and the Spiritual Formation of Preaching appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Chris Grainger is the founder of The Lion Within Us and has a passion for serving others. He is building a community that provides Christian men encouragement to become the leaders God intends them to be. Chris connects with others by sharing personal stories of professional success, hurdles encountered and how every circumstance is an opportunity to build the Kingdom. Today, Chris shares how he found Christ as a young man, sensed the Lord’s presence during one of the most difficult moments in his life, and the questions he asked when tragedy struck his family. He also shares how suffering catapulted him to a place of service and led to creating the men’s community, The Lion Within Us. Chris’ story reminds us that even in our darkest moments, the Lord is with us.

Listen to Chris’ story in your favorite podcast app now!

Stories Chris shared:

• Creating a ministry for men

Great quotes from Chris:

Anytime we say “I got this” is a moment we are about to be humbled.

Most men’s ministry sucks.

What you’re really craving in your relationship with your spouse is intimacy.

Resources we mentioned:

• Chris’s website

Related episodes:

• Jerry Dugan and Becoming A New Man

The post Christopher Grainger and Growing Through Trials appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Melony Brown Author, speaker, and host of the Challenges Won’t Stop Me podcast. Today, Melony shares about the neurological condition she’s had since she was two years old, how living with her condition changed her relationship to the Lord, and the peace she felt leading up to brain surgery. We also talk about the mindset she developed that allowed her to overcome the challenges she faced and help her students as a result. Melony’s story reminds us that two things can be true at the same time: suffering is difficult and the Lord is present within them.

Listen to Melony’s story in your favorite podcast app now!

Stories Melony shared:

• Growing up in Atlanta, Georgia

Great quotes from Melony:

It’s hard to pray when it feels like your head is in a vice.

I am glad to have gone through the challenges that I did.

We’re facing challenges all the time and we have to have the right mindset.

Trusting God as your navigator takes a lot of pressures off you.

Resources we mentioned:

• Melony’s website

Related episodes:

• Alicia Michelle and the Renewing of Your Mind

The post Melony Brown and Empowered to Meet the Challenge appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Alex Sezer is helping other do business better by transforming their culture. Always a high achiever, Alex led the Texas A&M football team as captain and scaled multiple business in his 20s. Today, Alex shares how he learned the value of hard work, his calling to preach, and the season of doubting his faith that helped shape him along the way. Ales also shares how he knew it was time to leave his fancy job and start something new which is a fascinating look inside his experience. Then, we talk about how to create a culture wherever you find yourself.  Alex’s story reminds us that culture is what we create through our treatement of other.

Listen to Alex’s story in your favorite podcast app now!

Stories Alex shared:

• Growing up in Orange, TX in a pastor’s family

Great quotes from Alex:

It’s hard when you feel it but nothing in your world looks like it.

Everything we are blessed to steward should be

If Jesus was here in the flesh, he’d probably be a content creator.

Resources we mentioned:

• Alex’s website

Related episodes:

• Os Guinness and Carpe Diem Redeemed

The post Alex Sezer and Creating Culture appeared first on Eric Nevins.