Joy City

Human trafficking is an activity that dehumanizes individuals and makes them simply a commodity to be consumed by other human beings. No person should be allowed to be bought or sold anywhere on the globe, listen in as I interview Set Free Movement Director, Rev. Dr. Kevin Austin. Kevin discusses the vulnerability factors that expose people to human slavery, what the Set Free Movement is doing and how you and I can play a role in the reduction of human trafficking in our own communities. If you would like more information on the Set Free Movement, please visit their website at setfreemovement.com. 

Continuing my discussion with sister Olisha regarding her journey through her knee replacement surgery and recovery. What was a hopeful day, a day in which Olisha believed her mobility and quality of life would be restored, turned into a journey of faith, trust, belief verse doubt, fear, anxiety and worry. The battlefield of the mind. Olisha's confidence grows each day as God is removing resources to demonstrate to her that He alone is the Source. Listen in, be encouraged and may you find hope, trust and faith in Christ.  

Just a little over one year ago, Olisha made the decision to have total knee replacement surgery in order to alleviate the pain, discomfort and lack of mobility that was severely impacting her life. She didn't know at the moment, that decision would change the very trajectory of her life forever. 

What Olisha would consider the worst day of her life is becoming one of the most developmental seasons of her life. How God is using what appeared to be a terrible experience and changing it into a new sense of calling in her life, a sensitivity to the needs of others and watching God grow her faith, confidence and trust in the Lord. Is it easy? Not at all, she describes a daily battle, the battlefield of the mind. Something I call negative soundtracks that play on repeat. However, she has found strength in her church community, support & friendship that she never could of imagined.

In this episode we talk about Somatic therapy, The Body Keeps the Score and how our emotional trauma impacts our physical health and healing. Listen along as we hear Olisha's story of trial, sadness, joy & rejoicing. Valley moments, mountain high experiences have become a part of her life. If you find yourself in these moments of challenge, my prayer is you be encouraged, find a supportive church community to belong to and trust God even in your moments of uncertainty. Like Olisha, you will find God is ever present and always faithful because He loves you and all of us. 

Welcome to Joy City

Soundtracks are those internal voices that play on repeat in your head. Positive or negative, mostly negative, that will keep you from moving forward and have you stuck because your brain believes what your brain believes. Your thoughts determine your actions, and your actions determine your results - good or bad. But they can be erased, changed, and impactful in your pursuit of your goals. Don't allow your negative soundtracks to derail your vision, the plans for your life and that dream you have been putting on hold for years. Get a new playlist. 

In this episode I interview author Cassandra Watts-Houston about her book, "The Power of Becoming." Available on Amazon. Cassandra is the CEO of Evolve Leadership and Development, LLC and is an author. We will discuss the meaning of becoming who God created you to be and how to move in that direction. Cassandra can be contacted by email at: [email protected] or from her website: developaleader.com. Cassandra is available for speaking engagements, workshops and seminars. 

Today's episode is one that truly lit me up-because I had the privilege of sitting down with three incredible young people I met at Exponential 2026. If you've never heard of Exponential, think of it as a global classroom without walls-a space designed for learning, growing and connecting with others who are passionate about making a difference in the world. And these three? They embody everything that spirit stands for. They're curious, driven, and they have something powerful to share. My conversation with them reminds me why the next generation gives us every reason to be hopeful. 

The church is at its best when every generation is in the conversation together. 

What happens when you put thousands of the world's most forward-thinking people in one room? My episode guest, Pastor Scott Ehle of New Berlin FMC in New Berlin, Wisconsin is my guest and he has a few answers. I want to unpack the real value of attending a conference like Exponential 2026-beyond the keynotes, beyond the networking buzzword, and into what actually changes when you show up.

We try and post and cover a lot, but here's what doesn't get posted-the hallway conversation that turns into a business partnership. The lunch table where you meet the one person who's already solved the problem you been stuck on for six months. The moment where you're sitting in a room full of people who "get it." This causes something to shift in how you see what's possible for you. 

The internet gives us information. A room like Exponential 2026 gives you transformation-and those are two different things. Thanks for joining Joy City, enjoy this episode. 

Did you see that Super Bowl halftime show? Which one? Oh, the only one? Which one was that? Join m and my friend Josh Helton as we continue our discussion on handling disputes. Whether it's the pandemic and masks, no masks, ICE or any other political or cultural situation that arises, we feel it's our right to chime in with our opinion and then make others believe it. However, I have never seen a shouting match or name calling sway anyone. Josh says, Jesus command to love even our enemy, isn't a suggestion or a motivational speech on trying harder. No, it's a command to be Christ-like. Welcome to Joy City. 

Welcome to our first episode of 2026. Handling disagreements. My goodness, in today's climate we have lost the ability to, "Come and reason together..." We lose our tempers, emotions flare, name calling because the norm and we stop listening to one another. In this episode, my friend Josh Helton and I discuss a disagreement we recently had and how the bonds of our friendship are stronger than the disagreement on a political position. While in discussion, Josh received a call from another dear friend, Choong Man Kim and he imparted some tremendous wisdom on how our "tone" can be misunderstood. So, his prayer when he speaks is not just may he speak the word of God, but may he speak in the tone of God. This helps contain the emotion. In Acts 15, the Bible describes the Apostle Paul and his ministry partner, Barnabas, having a "sharp" dispute. So much so, that Paul selects Silas to go off and do ministry and Barnabas, selects John Mark. However, later in biblical writings, the Apostle shares, "as much as is dependent on you, live peaceably with all men..." in other writings, he encourages us to be kind, tenderhearted towards one another. Many see this as hypocritical; I see it as spiritual formation and development in our relationship with the Lord. Jump in, enjoy the episode and send a question if one arises. 

Indomitable joy in the midst of suffering & sorrow is the topic of this recording. This calls for a meteoric mind shift, that God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him. Not in our situations or circumstances or the roller coaster of life, but that we find our joy in the Lord. Consider some "Thank Therapy" as we enter the Thanksgiving holiday, list 20 things each day that you are thankful for. Now you may of never imagined the earth's orbit? That God keeps us spinning, just the right distance from the sun? Or even the air we breath? Those are things to be thankful for.

So James is instructing us to make a deliberate choice to see your trials as an opportunity for joy. God bless you all and happy Thanksgiving.