A theory I love to believe is that being made in the "image of God" has less to do with physical appearance, and more so with the ability to create. Creativity feels essential to the human experience and necessary for the health of the soul. So I invited a close friend and fellow creative, Ivan Gonzalez, to explore aspects of creativity and how they permeate the human experience. From good to bad to ugly, we cover everything from the Garden of Eden to nazi propaganda. 

Episode Notes:

Exodus 31:1-11 | Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent— the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand— and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you.”

Music - Show Out by Theevs

I've been thinking a lot about this concept called technical debt. It's when developers and software engineers create code that isn't ideal and may have problems but is a short-term solution to hit a deadline or push a release. The more I think about it the more I find parallels to how our souls operate in our day to day. This episode is an exploration of what "Soul Debt" is, how we can understand it, and what are the ramifications for unpacking our past to help define our future. 

Technical Debt - Building on a foundation of code that is messy, not perfect, and potentially broken.

Example of Soul Debt:

We often believe we will fix our past but the next season of life comes our way and ends up getting buried deeper.

If we don't heal from our past we will simply become more of who we already are, we cannot just change. Habits, routines, and memories are powerful forces to push up against.

Soul debt isn't just spiritual, philosophical, or ideological... it is tangible, physical, and weighty.

Soul debt requires us to slow down, break into our past, and begin to understand how our past has impacted our present and will impact our future.

The application of this goes beyond the episode, but I can see community, mentorship, patience, boldness, grace, and so much more being an intricate part of the process of removing soul debt to free our souls up for the future.

Music - Come a Little Closer by Lance Conrad

This is a short episode for you. I wanted to explore what it means for us to pursue great things over good things. I often find that good things are easy to come by, and most of our days are spent pursuing such things, but great things take time, sacrifice, diligence, discipline, and focus. It's a good reminder to pull back, evaluate our day-to-day, and choose to pursue great things.

Music - Chillicon Valley by Samurai Royal

I'm stoked for this episode. It's a long one, but a good one. I wanted to unpack the idea of power and how it interacts with the human soul, both from the perspective of those in power and those impacted by power. This episode tackles how we perceive power, how power draws the soul, the impact of power, the restraint of power, and ultimately how to handle the responsibility of power. It's a wild ride, a few soap box moments, and even some unfiltered passion, but hopefully it sparks a conversation so desperately needed in our community.

Episode Notes:

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely" - Lord Acton, 1887

1971 Stanford Prison Experiment (https://exhibits.stanford.edu/spe)

Power doesn’t corrupt, it reveals and heightens.

“Power doesn’t always corrupt, power always reveals. When you have enough power to do what you always wanted to do, then you see what the guy always wanted to do.” - Robert Caro, Pulitzer Winner, speaking about Lyndon B. Johnson. 

“Any man can withstand adversity; if you want to test his character, give him power.” - Abraham Lincoln

“All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it is magnetic to the corruptible. Such people have a tendency to become drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted.” - Frank Herbert in Chapterhouse: Dune

Leaders are chosen by charisma, often times at the expense of character.

Five Forms of Power - French and Raven, 1959

A form of power that is often hidden - Emergency.

How do you handle power? Give it away.

Jesus was an excellent example of having immense power and yet serving in humility and grace.

A genius with a thousand followers will have significantly less impact versus a strong team - Jim Collins in Good to Great

Music - Free Spirited Future by Lance Conrad & Above the Clouds by Kagen

How does our soul experience community and what role does community play in our day to day? It often feels as though community comes and goes, perhaps in cycles, putting us in a position to yet again go out and seek new relationships. The cycle of community can become tiresome, frustrating, and challenging. What does it look like to root ourselves in a local community? What are the benefits of becoming vulnerable to those around us and diving deep to connect at a soul level?

Episode Notes:

Diverse community can pull you together, instead of divide.

We often are driven to those who are just like us, while not a bad thing, doesn't give us the opportunity to be challenged, to face disagreement, or to compromise in a communal setting. 

Community is often broken up into two camps:

It is ok to let relationships go.

It is ok to give yourself grace in pursuing community.

Recognize that your soul deeply needs local community. 

When community breaks away or falls apart, continue to seek it, don't settle for subpair relationships that will only remain surface level, drive deep and look for those who will go with you.   

Music - Shine by Kagen

Music is a fundamental part of the human experience. Some of our deepest memories involve music. We often use music to entertain, ponder, grieve, and rejoice, for weddings, funerals, events, etc. How does our soul truly interact with music? Why does our soul need it? What role does worship play in connecting with God? 

Episode Notes:

Jon Bellion - https://open.spotify.com/artist/50JJSqHUf2RQ9xsHs0KMHg?si=Cz-bRgbHQe-JtPlKpyBKwQ

Music invites the soul to connect on a level the soul needs to grow.

Worship positions the soul to connect with God.

Corporate worship deepens unity with each other.

Ephesians 5:19 (NIV) - “Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord...” 

Colossians 3:16 (NIV) - “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

Psalm 150:1-6 (NIV) -

Music - Break of Dawn by Captain Qubz

How the soul perceives wealth can alter the course of our life. It’s a powerful resource that is often pursued at face value without asking deeper questions about wealth's influence on the soul.

Episode Notes:

1 Timothy 6:17-18 (NIV) - “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”

We know that wealth itself is not sinful. Wealth is not offensive to God because He often blessed His servants with wealth when they pleased Him (Deuteronomy 28:1–8). Abraham (Genesis 13:2), Jacob (Genesis 30:43), and King Solomon (1 Kings 10:23) are examples of wealthy men in the Bible who were used by God in mighty ways.

The Rich Young Man - Matthew 19:16-22 (NIV) 

And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Music - Ocean Breath by Sunny Fruit 

The past can be a difficult place to ponder. Full of regret, bitterness, and locked-up pain... the soul can wrestle with unpacking the past. But there is something profound about those who face their history, recognize the brutal facts, and are able to uncover wisdom for the future. It's a discipline, no doubt, but the healing to the soul may be worth the cost.

Episode Notes:

We can gain valuable insight into our future if we are willing to wrestle with our past.

Three places our souls benefit from remembering where you came from:

Deuteronomy 6:12 (NIV) - be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Deuteronomy 32:7 (NIV) - Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you.

The previous generation has many stories to pass down, how can we be receptive to their wisdom and understanding?

Music - Pink Desert by Samurai Royal

Grace is a necessary component for the soul to heal. It mends the soul, allows love and care to embellish the soul, and moves us to a place of receptivity to learn and grow alongside others. And yet, fully embracing grace can also potentially lead us to complacency, living outside of wisdom, and abusing the infinite grace given to us. So the question becomes, "How can the soul become disciplined enough to accept grace when we fall short of ourselves and God, without using grace as a crutch to become comfortable in our shortcomings?" 

Episode Notes:

Romans 6:1-2 (NIV) - What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

Grace = Blessing

Romans 3:23-24 (NIV) - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

A true acceptance of grace seems to involve a movement of humble action.

1 Corinthians 15:9-10 (NIV) - For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

The Parable of the Lost Son - Luke 15:11-32 (NIV)

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Healing involves recognition, invitation, and action; all within the confines and freedom of grace.

Music - On and On by LiQWYD

Accountability is often met with strong emotions from past experiences. It's a word that imposes deep vulnerability and opens the door to manipulation, shame, and guilt. The wounds left on the soul cast doubt on trust and intimacy in future relationships. But can accountability be done differently, and does the soul ultimately desire deep relationships grounded in the concept of accountability?

Episode Notes:

James 5:16 (NIV) - Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Galatians 6:1-5 (NIV) - Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.

A friend’s countenance is a look or expression of encouragement or moral support.    

How's Your Soul: Episode 19 - Loneliness - https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/AXYkzZHwhtb

When is the last time you had a friend call you just to ask how you were doing?

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV) - And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Music - Break of Dawn by Captain Qubz