MercyCast

No matter your story, you have something to contribute.

Joe Thorn is back for a bonus episode of More Mercy to talk about how he learned how to give back to the local church through his writing and podcasting. Look for more information next week on subscribing for weekly to bi-weekly bonus content.

In 2011, I bought a copy of “Note to Self” by Joe Thorn. Little did I know that Joe would encourage me to start a podcast a decade later. In today’s inaugural episode of More Mercy, Joe shares why he believes in writing multiple books (tomes, even), preaching Law and Gospel to ourselves, and encouraging the body of Christ.

Pick up Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself on Amazon. Follow Joe on Twitter and Instagram, and learn more about Doctrine and Devotion here.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected].

For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable.

Reeling from losing her first daughter during a complicated pregnancy, Katie shares the story in her book, I Choose Brave. Shortly after its release, she was tested in many of the same principles as her father’s heart failed. A brand new author, she had her first marketing call with her publishing team from the waiting room of the hospital’s ICU. She needed to live and re-live the principles she wrote and spoke on.

Today, Katie Westenberg, the author of But Then She Remembered: How to Give God Your Full Attention in a Distracted World, joins MercyCast to talk about how to move from being distracted to being present and focused.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

• Distraction as a symptom
• Borrowing the faith of others
• How to differentiate between interruptions and distraction

Learn more about Katie on her website, and follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected].

For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable.

How we speak to ourselves and what we believe about ourselves matters. Negative self-talk can have a profound impact on self-esteem and can create endless self-fulfilling prophecies.

Joe spent his entire life believing that he was not good at anything. In his own eyes, he was a “bad” kid. The adults in his neighborhood restricted their kids from spending time with him, reinforcing his negative self-concept. For a kid, who desired to belong, this was painful as it was formative. This negative self-perception and self-talk hounded him throughout his life.

Today, Joe Thorn, the Pastor of Redeemer Fellowship in St Charles, Illinois, the author of several books, including Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself, and the host of Doctrine and Devotion, a podcast exploring Christian faith and practice, joins me to discuss the Impact of negative Self Talk and the hope of the Gospel.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

• Perfectionism vs. Becoming
• Preaching Law and Gospel to ourselves
• Learning from failure

Joe gives the nod to NF's album, The Search. Raleigh nods to Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It.

Pick up Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself on Amazon. Follow Joe on Twitter and Instagram and learn more about Doctrine and Devotion here.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected].

If you don’t believe me, check your social media accounts. Political and social divides seem commonplace these days. How do we navigate these divides in our churches?

Jacob moved to New York to become the assistant rector of Cavalry St. George’s Episcopal church—a historic parish in the Union Square area of Manhattan. Shortly after arriving, Jacob noticed tension present in his congregation. Though the church is to be one body, he saw deep division along political and social lines. The difficulty only deepened because Jacob felt the tension in his own life, as he has his own political and social approaches. This stress led him to explore what could bring unity to this church.

Today, my long-time friend, Rev. Jacob Smith, the Rector of Calvary St. George’s Episcopal Church and co-host of the Same Old Song podcast, joins me on the MercyCast to talk about navigating division in the local church.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

• Starting where you are.
• The impact of death and resurrection on your life
• Moving forward by looking backward

Follow Same Old Song on Twitter, and follow Jacob on Instagram.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at [email protected].

After leaving NYC, Blaire Brown had to live with her parents for an unforeseen amount of time while also building a business simultaneously. It was challenging because, being in her 30s, this was not the life she expected. She had no friends or social safety net in Maryland as she had previously in NYC, and life was uncertain.

Today, Blaire joins me to discuss learning the art of embracing what you can't control. Blaire is the founder of Visionary Advantages Brand Strategy Group and the host of the podcast, Curate Your Success.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

• Controlling what you can control when life is uncertain
• Seeing transition as an opportunity for personal growth
• Focusing on doing the next right thing

Follow Blaire on Instagram and connect with Visionary Advantages on LinkedIn.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at [email protected].

For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human trafficking

When it comes to reality, you can accept or deny it, but you can't undo it. 

I was on cloud 9. The release party of my book Vulnerable was over, and I felt that I had finally reached my goals. Life was going great. The following day,  I flew to promote my book. However, my life would change in a matter of moments.

In this episode, Jessica Minhas joins me as we discuss how I found reality in a significant life transition.

In this episode, we cover the following:

1) Accepting the reality of your situation.

2) The Gift of others

3) Leaning into your new reality

Also, Raleigh gives the nod to Nathaniel Branden's book, The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem, and Peter Scazzero's Emotionally Healthy Relationships Day-By-Day

Follow Let My People Go on Twitter and Facebook. Learn more at LMPG.org.

To learn more about Raleigh's work and how to contact him, go to Raleighsadler.com.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at [email protected].

For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking.

We are not bigger than our bodies. 

Physical limitations can affect anyone at any age and can be caused by a wide range of factors, including injury, illness, genetics, and aging. Living with physical limitations can be physically and emotionally challenging, but it's essential to understand that you're not alone.

Today, Jessica Minhas, founder, CEO, and host of the I'll Go first podcast, joins me to discuss living with limitations. Jessica has always used her platform to care for others. As Miss Florida, she used her role to focus on those often ignored. As a nonprofit leader, Jessica brought awareness to issues involving human trafficking and mental health. Along the way, she began to suffer from crippling migraines and seizures. She went to the doctor only to discover that they had no idea what was causing her pain. What happens when our bodies fail us?

In this episode, we discuss the following: 

How limitations lead to community.

The invitation and responsibility of "going first."

The stewardship of your own story.

How your limitations can free you to find purpose.

Also, Jessica gives the nod to the NYT Best Selling book, Brain On Fire.

Follow I'll Go First on Instagram and Facebook. Learn more at Illgofirst.com.

To learn more about Jessica's work and how to contact her, go to Jessicaminhas.com.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected].

For bonus episodes and content, click here.

For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human trafficking.

Whether it's a global pandemic, a natural disaster, a personal loss, or any other difficult situation, tough times can leave us feeling overwhelmed, helpless, and unsure of how to move forward.

But as difficult as these times may be, they also present an opportunity for growth, resilience, and a deeper connection to ourselves and others. Today, Courtney Adams, the founder of Rise Collective, joins the MercyCast to talk about moving forward, even when it's hard.

Follow Rise Collective on Instagram and Facebook. Learn more at rise-collective.org.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected].

For more conversations like this one, read my book, Vulnerable.

Often, when our futures are in question, chaos and anxiety are the only sure things.

Today I'm joined by Chef Brian Duffy. He's with the Duffified Experience Group and has been featured on the Food Network, Spike TV, and Paramount's hit show, "Bar Rescue."

In this episode, we discuss the following:

• Finding peace (and Zack Efron)
• Caring for your community by doing what you love.
• Discovering new routines

Follow Brian on Instagram and Twitter. Learn more at chefbrianduffy.com.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Please email us at [email protected].

For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human trafficking.

How do we navigate the times when the darkness doesn't lift? Today, Chris Lim, author of The Heart of the Healer, drops by to talk about how to have faith when life falls apart.

In this episode, We discuss the following:

• The next right thing
• Vocation as a way forward
• A humble faith

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn and Twitter and find his book, The Heart of a Healer, on Amazon.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at [email protected].

For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human trafficking.