In Search of My Heart

The Great Campaign for the Human Heart

Most of us have been told that God wants our obedience, our sacrifice, or our adherence to the right rules. But what if those are secondary to His primary pursuit? Drawing from the profound insights of John Eldredge’s The Sacred Romance, Bill Harper discusses the "cosmic crisis" of the human soul and the lengths to which a "jealous lover" will go to bring His beloved home. This message is a call to move beyond therapeutic contentment and religious duty into a wild, intimate connection with the Creator.

-- God created humanity for intimacy, and when that intimacy was broken, He launched the greatest rescue mission in history.

-- The incarnation was not just a theological event; it was a daring raid into enemy territory to pull us out of the dungeons of darkness.

-- While conservative circles focus on morality and therapeutic circles focus on happiness, God is focused on your "heart of hearts."

-- Isaiah 29:13 warns that we can perform all our religious duties while our hearts remain far from God.

-- There is an invitation for men to rediscover their hearts through the "Wild at Heart" retreat hosted by Return to Glory Ministries.

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Return to Glory Ministries hosts Wild at Heart men's retreats, and you can find more information at our website:

http://rtgministries.org/

"Oh think twice, ‘cause its another day for you and me in paradise.. “ Phil Collins. Humanity is not doing well here at the end of the age. Jesus come back soon and rescue us! But in the meantime, these two songs have inspired me, motivated me to take another look at how I am living in my “comfort christianity”. What can I do to help this world of broken people.. as addictions, mental illness and spiritual warfare ravages humanity. I suppose I must start with courage in my heart… so I am on a journey to search for more of that. Ah yes, wisdom also I just heard to proceed with wisdom and kindness and courage. The you tube video of Matthew West offered some solutions and was uplifting. My hope and prayer is that this little offering might help you and me make the world a little bit better today.

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Return to Glory Ministries hosts Wild at Heart men's retreats, and you can find more information at our website:

http://rtgministries.org/

This is a song about gratitude. I have found in my years of searching for my heart that the practice and habit of seeking gratitude is absolutely critical. When I say I am a “Man in Search of my Heart” what I really mean is that I am seeking an integrated healthy heart mind soul and spirit. Years ago I was more dis-integrated and this practice of noting and recording a gratitude list has brought me a long way. Gratitude has recently been discovered by mental health professionals and doctors to be vital in our balanced brain, mood, spirit… all that. So it seems to be a great thing to sing about and unpack for you all. I am grateful for all you listeners out there… and my heart loves vitamin G.

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Return to Glory Ministries hosts Wild at Heart men's retreats, and you can find more information at our website:

http://rtgministries.org/

This podcast sermon from Church for the ONE in Lakeland FL - Pastor Kevin Jack - is so loaded with wisdom and inspiration I had to bring it to you all. For “A Man in Search of My Heart” .. I was captivated, captured and moved by the content, wisdom and especially Kevins heart which came out (you can hear it in his voice) Ezekiel 36:26 is one of my “life verses” for my crucible for transformation of my heart began in 2005 with spiritual open heart surgery - by Yeshua et.al. (not medical doctors BTW) Here are some highlights of this message:

"You cannot fully comprehend the majesty of God until you understand the depravity of man." — Pastor Kevin Jack

"Wisdom demands time." — Pastor Kevin Jack

"If you never deal with your heart, nothing is ever going to change." — Pastor Kevin Jack

“My great concern is that in times of difficulty, of pressure, of crucibles, it becomes the easiest thing to listen to voices that validate what we already believe in how we want to live instead of the voices that lead us into life and lead us into truth. There is a Good Shepherd and just because someone provides clarity and direction does not mean that they desire what is best for you in this moment” — Pastor Kevin Jack

“There are many bad shepherds out there” — Pastor Kevin Jack

In this message, Pastor Kevin Jack explores the concept of a new heart, as promised in Ezekiel 36, and contrasts it with the process of a physical heart transplant. Drawing on the stories of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel in exile, he argues that the path to a new heart begins with a diagnosis of our own spiritual depravity. He challenges listeners to see their moments of suffering and displacement not as "coffins," but as "crucibles"—containers designed by God to refine and purify us. This message encourages listeners to examine their own hearts and to stop being shepherded by media and social algorithms, and instead, allow God to transform their stony hearts into tender, responsive ones.

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Return to Glory Ministries hosts Wild at Heart men's retreats, and you can find more information at our website:

http://rtgministries.org/

I dedicate this song to Charlie Kirk. I was awakened to this song several days before Charlie was taken from us. I pondered the significance of the lyrics, took some notes… and then… now the timing is clear. The lyrics speak to a race we need to stay in, to a battle we are desperately needed to fight in, to a calling for us to live and love and fight for truth and justice and compassion. “Have we forgotten who’s trip were on?” I am inspired by the life and mission of Charlie Kirk and I hope this inspires you (as it did me) to stay in the fight, to speak the truth in love, and live lives as a guiding light to others. Charlie would agree with John Eldredge:

You awake to find yourself in the midst of a great and terrible war. It is, in fact, our most desperate hour. Your King and dearest Friend calls you forth. Awake, come fully alive, your good heart set free and blazing for him, and for those yet to be rescued. You have a glory that is desperately needed right now. John Eldredge, Waking the Dead, p186

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Return to Glory Ministries hosts Wild at Heart men's retreats, and you can find more information at our website:

http://rtgministries.org/

These days it seems I am an explorer in an exciting diverse landscape: The Kingdom of God. New features of power and mystery and healing are yet to be fully discovered, even as I encounter them anew as if I never knew them before: They are The Blood of Jesus, the Breath of God, Fire and Glory and… this my immersive experience in the River of Life. This experience prostrate on the floor praying with Sydney is one I will never forget… I have recorded it in my gratitude list so that I can return to it with clarity. A lift, a joy bomb, a window into love and beauty and all is right in the world, or certainly will be soon enough.. thats what I recieved. Without a doubt a supernatural encounter that I am learning to trust and not dismiss. And in this broken toxic world, do we not need more of that? and skill in finding it? Try out this worship video on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/nbHQLszars4?si=1_bserAAbqABD2rW

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Return to Glory Ministries hosts Wild at Heart men's retreats, and you can find more information at our website:

http://rtgministries.org/

There is so much power in story, especially The Larger Story: the story God is telling. In that realm, the Father Son relationship is central. And here comes Luke telling in this song about raising his son. The parent album is entitled “Fathers and Sons” and although Jesus is not centrally mentioned, nor would these country ballads be considered “worship songs” the tender stories of a boy becoming a man and then raising a son… they are too rich to pass by. I heard a father aspiring to become a man of character to raise his son in the same way. The album is so full of heart.. and for a Man In Search of his Heart (thats me) they made me misty… because God is in these stories. The Larger Story and the Father Son relationship is central to the Wild at Heart Mens retreat coming up this 3-6 April in Old Town Florida. Find more information and register at RTGMinistries.org

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Return to Glory Ministries hosts Wild at Heart men's retreats, and you can find more information at our website:

http://rtgministries.org/

I have found lately when God is Speaking to me, He sends the same message constantly from several directions… so my pea brain will get it. This is one example. I have been learning, training, seeking to nourish my heart with healthy spiritual things, and so much of the media, discord and noise in the world today gets in the way of hearing Jesus speak. Multiple sources, like not only this song, but the latest book by John Eldredge Experiencing Jesus. Really. The concurrent message of silencing the noise and our fatal attraction to over stimulation with media, and how to step back in quiet time, and quieting the heart, is so essential. Have we not all become “Disciples of the Internet” ?? in that we turn to our phones et.al. for answers instead of listening and waiting…. on God. And in that shift, we have come to the place where we cannot hear him. Check out that book, and all the podcasts on Wildatheart.org that open all that content. And dont pass up the opportunity to hear from God at the Wild at Heart mens retreat, 3-6 April in Old Town FL. Information and Registration at RTGMinistries.org. God shows up reliably and powerfully; you can count on that.

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Return to Glory Ministries hosts Wild at Heart men's retreats, and you can find more information at our website:

http://rtgministries.org/

This song moved me deeply because it describes my journey toward eliminating the false self.

Self protection and self promotion to be exact. I still suffer from self reliance, and I am working on trusting God more

to handle the issues I am fearful about. But all of my journey to becoming whole and holy with Jesus as my guide - knowing I am not alone for He is with me - it is so difficult, almost impossible to do it alone. We need good people around us. When I find a good moving song like this, I play it over and over until it sinks in. This one is excellent bath water.

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Return to Glory Ministries hosts Wild at Heart men's retreats, and you can find more information at our website:

http://rtgministries.org/

Bill Harper shares details of this year's retreat and why men (and their wives) will be so glad they came.

Find retreat details and register here: returntoglory.regfox.com/return-to-gl…y-april-2025

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Return to Glory Ministries hosts Wild at Heart men's retreats, and you can find more information at our website:

http://rtgministries.org/