Pivotal Decisions

In this episode of the Pivotal Decisions Podcast, Stan talks with Mark Hallock from the North American Mission Board's Replant and Renewal Team to discuss the vital work of church replanting and revitalization. We explore why churches struggle, what it takes to turn a congregation around, and how God can use healthy partnerships, courageous leadership, and a renewed commitment to the Great Commission to bring new life to churches and communities.

Whether you are a pastor, church leader, or someone who loves the local church, this conversation will challenge and encourage you to see that a church's best days may still be ahead.

Does it ever feel like your prayers are going unanswered? Have you wondered why God hasn't responded, why the answer is taking so long, or why His plan looks so different from what you expected?

In this episode of Pivotal Decisions, Stan explores the power of prayer through Revelation 8:1–5. In a remarkable scene in heaven, there is silence for half an hour before God's judgment unfolds. During this silence, we see a powerful reminder that the prayers of God's people are not forgotten. They are brought before His throne, and God responds in His perfect time and according to His sovereign plan.

But what do you do when you're praying and still don't see an answer?

Stan shares three important truths to remember when God seems silent: God has a bigger perspective, God's timing is perfect, and God's plan is better. While we may not understand the delays, closed doors, or unexpected turns in life, we can trust that God sees what we cannot see and knows what we do not know.

If you're struggling with unanswered prayer or waiting for God to move, this episode will encourage you to keep praying boldly, keep believing, and keep trusting His heart—even when you cannot trace His hand.

Your prayers are not forgotten. Keep trusting the God who hears you.

Have you ever wondered what God wants you to do with your life? In this episode of Pivotal Decisions, Stan explores Ephesians 2:10 and the truth that God created you on purpose and for a purpose. Your purpose is bigger than your career, accomplishments, or success. It’s about using the life God has given you to make a difference for His kingdom.

Stan shares five practical steps to discovering your God-given purpose: know God and know Him well, learn about your spiritual gifts, identify the burdens God has placed on your heart, look for opportunities to serve, and start taking faithful steps today.

He also reveals four ways the enemy tries to keep us from fulfilling our purpose: distraction, discouragement, criticism, and delay. Learn how to recognize these obstacles, overcome the temptation to drift through life, and intentionally pursue the path God has prepared for you.

You have one life, and that life is a gift from God. Don't waste it drifting. Make the decision to live intentionally, walk faithfully with God, and fulfill the purpose He has for you.

Your purpose isn't something you simply discover; it's something you discover as you walk with God.

Subscribe to the Pivotal Decisions YouTube channel, share this episode with a friend, and remember: The decisions you make today will determine your tomorrow.

What if your purpose isn’t something you have to create—but something God has already prepared for you?

In this episode of Pivotal Decisions, Stan talks about one of the most important decisions we can make: the decision to discover and live out our God-given purpose.

Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand for us to walk in. Your purpose is bigger than your career, your accomplishments, your income, or your success. God created you on purpose and for a purpose.

But discovering your purpose requires more than simply asking, “What do I want to do with my life?” It begins with knowing the God who created you.

In this episode of Pivotal Decisions, Stan explores the importance of biblical community and why God never intended us to live the Christian life alone.

We live in a world where technology has made us more connected than ever, yet loneliness and isolation remain significant challenges. Having hundreds of followers doesn't necessarily mean having someone who truly knows you, prays for you, encourages you, or walks with you through difficult seasons.

Biblical community is more than simply being around other people. It is God's design for helping us grow spiritually, find support, make wise decisions, and demonstrate the love of Christ to the world.

What if the most important decision you make isn't about your career, your relationships, or your future—but about whether you will truly know God?

In this episode of Pivotal Decisions, Stan launches a new series based on his book Pivotal Decisions: 10 Decisions That Will Transform Your Destiny. This episode explores the difference between values-based decisions and reaction-based decisions and explains why the decision to know God is the foundation for every other decision we make.

Stan interviews Dr. Jim Burns. Jim Burns is the founder of HomeWord. He speaks to thousands of people around the world each year. He has more than 3 million resources in print in over 20 languages. His popular HomeWord with Jim Burns podcast is on all the major podcast platforms. Jim writes and speaks primarily on the values of HomeWord which are strong marriages, confident parents, empowered kids, and healthy leaders. Some of his most popular books are: Doing Life With Your Adult Children, Teaching Your Children Healthy Sexuality, Confident Parenting and Creating an Intimate Marriage.

Who—or what—is shaping your children?

In this episode of Pivotal Decisions, Stan takes a hard look at one of the greatest challenges facing parents today: the battle for our children's attention.

A recent legal settlement involving Meta and social media platforms has brought renewed attention to the way technology is designed to capture and hold the attention of young people. But this isn't simply a conversation about Facebook, Instagram, smartphones, or screen time.

The deeper question is: Who is in control?

What you believe about God shapes everything, your thinking, your decisions, and your future.

In this episode, Stan unpacks 10 common lies people believe about God and replaces them with truth from Scripture.

-You don’t live better than your theology for very long.

- Many people aren’t rejecting God—they’re believing the wrong things about Him.

We are living in a time of uncertainty—global conflict, political division, economic pressure, and cultural confusion. The weight of it all is creating anxiety and instability for many people.

Even the secular world is acknowledging this reality. Psychologists and researchers are sounding the alarm: uncertainty is taking a toll on mental and emotional health.

But while the world offers ways to cope, Scripture offers something deeper—an unshakable foundation.

In this episode, Stan walks through 8 practical responses to uncertainty, comparing cultural wisdom with biblical truth, and showing how to move from anxiety to anchored faith.