In this episode of Ponder as You Wander, Patrick and Morgan talk about the importance of reading the Old Testament! We often find ourselves going to read books in the New Testament, but the Old Testament has so much to offer and it's important that we take time to read it and understand the full story of the Bible.

1. The New Testament tells us to bother with the Old Testament (any time you read the word "Scripture" or "Law and the prophets" means the OT Scripture)

2 Timothy 3:16+17 - ALL Scripture is God breathed

John 5:39 - search the Scriptures

Romans 15:4 - everything written in the past is written to teach, encourage and give us hope

1 Corinthians 10:11 - examples for us

Matthew 5:17-18 - did not come to abolish the OT

21 of the 27 NT books directly quote the OT at least once.

Jesus quoted the OT 78 times.

Book recommendation: The Bible Jesus read

2. You can't understand the NT properly without the OT

Ex: Hebrews - over 80 OT references

3. OT is the majority of what God reveals to us.

Overview of Story of Scripture:

5 - Torah

12 - History

5 - Wisdom

5 - Major Prophets

12 - Minor Prophets

How to read the OT:

- Put in more work and time because less familiar

- Use a commentary of the Bible

New Interpreters

Baker Illustrated commentary

- Actually read the notes in the study Bible if you have one!

- Bible Project videos

Dealing with the parts that don't feel relevant to us:

- Remember the context when written

- The sacraficial system and the purity laws do not apply to us in a literal way because Jesus fulfilled them. Still relevant to us because we can still learn about God through these things. Matthew 5:18.

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/. 

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email [email protected]. 

Ponder as you Wander is BACK! After a great summer, we are excited to officially begin Season 2!

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander, Patrick and Morgan talk about creation and discuss the different interpretations of the Genesis 1 and 2 accounts.

Creation Story - Genesis 1 + 2

Psalm 33:6, Hebrews 11:3

Day 1 - Elements of light

Day 2 - Sky

Day 3 - Land and vegetation

Day 4 - Stars (Sun + Moon)

Day 5 - Fish and Birds

Day 6 - Land Animals and Humans

Day 7 - Blessed Day of Rest

Everything the Bible says is true. But not everything is true in a literal sense.

Good question to ask in Biblical interpretation: "What can I learn about God from this story that God inspiried?"

Psalm 90:4, 2 Peter 3:8 - God exists outside of time.

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/. 

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email [email protected]. 

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander, Patrick and Morgan talk about God's will for our lives. We can often overcomplicate God's will, yet it's outlined out for us clearly in Scripture. Whether day to day decisions or big ones, this episode will be a great resource for making decisions and living out God's plan for our lives!

Ephesians 2:10 / Psalm 32:8 / Micah 6:8 

Love God and love your neighbors. Enter into relationship with God that we are so committed to that we are loving God with all of our heart, soul and mind. And as an outcome, we love others well. 

Matthew 28:18-20 

God has a person that God wants you to become. Romans 8:29 

- People we become then make the every day, daily decisions

- Can't discern? Ask God for wisdom. James 1:5. 

- If God not pointing one direction and have sought his wisdom, it's an opportunity to choose. And trust God.

- Seek wise counsel. 

Context of Jeremiah 29:11

"Good theology always starts and ends with God."

When sharing the gospel with others, it's not just a tell. It's time for show and tell! Need to show through our words, actions and priorities. We are each an embodied argument for what's most important.

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/. 

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email [email protected]. 

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander, Patrick and Morgan talk about Heaven, starting with the question we have all asked at some point in our lives: do dogs go to Heaven?

God loves animals! Scripture References:

Psalm 36:6 / Psalm 50:10-11 / Psalm 147:9 / Matthew 6:26 / Genesis 2 + 3 / Hosea 2:18 / Isaiah 11:6-9 / Romans 8:19

What does Scripture say about Heaven? Top 7:

1. You will have a place to live. (John 14:1-3)

2. No more hunger, thirst, affliction or tears. (Revelation 7:15-17)

3. Will be able to recognize the people we love. (2 Samuel 12:23 / 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20)

4. Will be like a city - things to do. (Revelation 21)

5. We will discover new things. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

6. Rewarded in Heaven for what we do on earth. (Matthew 5:12 / Colossians 3:24 / Revelation 22:12)

7. Heaven is filled with God's unfiletered presence.

Book Recommendations:

Heaven by Randy Alcorn

Imagine Heaven by John Burke

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/. 

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email [email protected]. 

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander, Patrick and Morgan talk about another leader we see in Scripture, Ezra, from the Old Testament. As leaders, we are always striving to grow and we are thankful for examples in the Bible to gain insight from.

Ezra 7 - stepped up as leader to help lead the exiles in Jerusalem. 

Ezra's leadership:

High moral character

Great trust in God

Inspired people to prioritize their spiritual life

How to be like Ezra as a leader:

1. Know that other people are watching the life you live. Where are we leading them? Towards God?

Matthew 5:16 

2. Every life is an embodied argument about what's most important. What you choose to do with your time and how you treat people. 

Uncommon leadership excellence:



1. Excellent leaders have a different standard of effort. 

2. Aim with excellence.(Galatians 6:9)

3. Listen with excellence. (Proverbs 19:20 / Proverbs 13:10)

4. Be worthy of imitation. 

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/. 

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email [email protected]. 

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander, Morgan speaks with Scott Torn, the Executive Managing Director of Camp Ozark, about all things leadership - from characteristics of leaders, developing as a leader, mindset, to being bold, there's a lot to learn from this episode!

"Everyone can be a leader. Not everyone will have the same platform, but you're going to have a platform. And all platforms matter."

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/. 

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email [email protected]. 

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander released during Holy Week, Patrick and Morgan talk about Easter. As we get ready to celebrate Easter Sunday, take a moment to listen to this to learn more about the other days of Holy Week and why Easter is so important!

Easter - celebration of the resurrection of Jesus - most important miracle of God.

Lent - Holy Week - Easter

Lent - 40 day time leading up to Easter (technically 46 days if Sundays included). Begins with Ash Wednesday - reminder of Genesis 3:19.

Ash Wednesday - beginning of Lent

Holy Week: Palm Sunday - Maundy Thursday - Good Friday - Easter Sunday

Date of Easter - determined by the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox (anywhere from March 22 - April 25)

Good Friday - Good meant holy. Good for us. Paradox - extraordinarily tragic and terrible what Jesus endured. But absolutely necessary for us to be able to go to Heaven.

Easter Sunday - Jesus's resurrection - important to believe. Signature miracle. What led to our salvation - gives us the opportunity to spend forever with God.

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/. 

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email [email protected]. 

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander, Patrick and Morgan discuss whether or not God really does care about us, as an individual! How could a God SO big, with SO many things to worry about and take care of, care about ME? Listen to find out!

Scripture References:

Nahum 1:7 / 1 Peter 5:7 - God cares about us.

Luke 12:7 / Matthew 10:30 - knows how many hairs on our head.

Psalm 139 - God knows everything about us.

2 Peter 3:9 / 1 John 2:2 / 1 Timothy 2 - cares about EVERYONE.

God is not confinded by the rules of the universe. He exists beyond it as its Creator.

Ephesians 3:20 - God can do immesurably more.

3 O's of God:

Omnipotent - all powerful

Omniscient - all knowing

Omnipresent - all present

Acts 17:27 - God is not far from any person.

What is the gospel? Ephesians 2:8-10 / Titus 3:4-8

Faith = salvation --> works

Why should we care that God cares?

1. Your life matters! You were created on purpose with purpose!

2. You are not alone - God is with you!

3. You have hope!

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/. 

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email [email protected]. 

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander, Patrick and Morgan talk about doubt. We all experience different seasons and types of doubts in our faith. In this episode, we answer questions such as, is doubt bad? How do I overcome it?

Four Variations of Doubt:

1. Skepticism

2. Uncertainty

3. Imperfect Faith

4. Defiant Disbelief

Is doubt bad? Doubt itself is inherently neutral. It's about how you respond to your doubt! Motivating or corrosive.

Skepticism: Fact finder vs. Conspiracy Theorist.

Proverbs 1:7 / Proverbs 18:15

Uncertainty: Productive vs. Lazy

Proverbs 3:7 / Acts 8:30-31

biologos.org / reasonablefaith.org / reasons.org / carm.org / bibleproject.com

Imperfect Faith

Mark 9:21-25

"Imperfect faith is still real faith."

Defiant Disbelief

- Target immediately!!

Hebrews 11:6 / James 1:5-8

Proverbs 3:5-7

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/. 

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email [email protected]. 

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander, Patrick and Morgan talk about Moses and the different ways we can learn from his leadership.

Things we can learn from Moses's leadership:

Persistence.

Patience.

Grit.

Delegation.

Cared about people he was leading.

Exodus 32:11-14

"None of us are the leader of the whole story."

Numbers 20:1-13

Practical takeaways:

1. Trust God above anything else

2. Stick up for other people

3. Be honest with God

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/. 

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email [email protected].