The Almost Amazing Podcast

In Episode 188 of The Almost Amazing Podcast, Jennifer, Ashley, and Justin gather for a lively mix of ministry updates, personal reflections, and classic off-rail banter !

The team kicks things off by recapping a hilarious "trash monster" game with new student ministry hire Max, debating the ultimate zero-sugar drinks (Topo Chico, Diet Coke, and Bloom, anyone?), and taking an unexpected dive into world geography and language learning .

Later in the episode, the conversation turns to meaningful spiritual insights . The team reflects on the grand reopening of CityRise Missouri City (CRMC) and its new spaces . They also discuss what God has been teaching them lately—including a powerful look at Acts 4 on praying for boldness during trial rather than just asking for hard circumstances to go away .

00:00 - Pre-Show Banter: BSM Ministry & Spiritual Leaders

02:15 - Podcast Intro & Welcoming the Panel

03:07 - Student Ministry Updates & Max's Trash Can Game

05:38 - The Great Soda & Sparkling Water Debate

10:11 - Onboarding New Staff & Ministry Team Dynamics

13:08 - Reflecting on 10 Years & Hurricane Harvey Memories

18:35 - Learning Spanish, Duolingo & Memorizing World Geography

24:11 - Bike Safety, Helmets & Olivia's Close Call

25:31 - Celebrating the Grand Reopening of CityRise Missouri City (CRMC)

28:59 - What Is God Teaching You? (Writing Sermons & Acts 4 Insights)

34:47 - Trusting God Through Difficult Seasons & Ministry Struggles

38:42 - Finding God's Grace in a Broken World (The Lego Set Analogy)

42:21 - Discernment, Waiting on God's Voice & Final Thoughts

48:32 - Wrap-Up & Show Outro

We are back together and catching up after a busy summer! In this episode of The Almost Amazing Podcast, Jennifer, Ashley, and Justin re-engage with our lack of direction to talk about everything happening in our lives .

From the overpriced obsession with Tru Fru to Dutch Bros drive-thru encounters, we dive into the latest fall drink trends and generation gaps . We also discuss back-to-school routines, calendar chaos, and whether AI is taking over our personal and professional planning . Plus, Ashley and Jennifer share highlight stories from summer mission trips to Belize and Germany—including an embarrassing jet-lagged prayer moment you don't want to miss !

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with a friend !

Timestamps & Chapter Markers

• 00:00 - Pre-Show Banter & Tru Fru Obsession

• 02:29 - Welcome to Ep. 187 & Fall Drink Trends

• 05:38 - Outreach, Text Messages & Outlook Calendar Chaos

• 10:18 - Type-A Personalities vs. Type-B Realities

• 11:34 - Ashley's Summer Recap: Belize Mission Trip

• 13:48 - Fall Decorating & Sweet Tarts Interruption

• 17:08 - Justin's Summer: Back to Seminary & Theological Questions

• 21:05 - Phones, Social Media & Raising Kids Today

• 24:22 - AI Assistants, Organization & Internet Mean Culture

• 30:33 - Jennifer's Germany Trip & The Red Dye 40 Contraband

• 34:25 - Organ Players & Falling Asleep During Group Prayer

• 41:06 - Wrap Up & A Potential Dream Podcast Guest

Welcome back to The Almost Amazing Podcast from the CityRise Network! Hosted by Jennifer Dennis and produced by Justin Kellough, this episode drops into full "summer vibe" mode while co-host Ashley is away. Jennifer and Justin cover a little bit of everything in this unstructured chat: The Reality of Ministry: What parts of church leadership require the most energy (and why hot summer outdoor events are the ultimate test). Public Speaking & Reading the Room: Navigating extemporaneous speaking, pacing, making eye contact, and overanalyzing audience facial expressions. Water Park Survival Stories: Jennifer's terrifying experience getting stuck on a spinning waterslide at Typhoon Texas. Community & Neighborhood Culture: Craving real-life Encanto or Little House on the Prairie community in a world of Nextdoor app drama and tall fences.

Welcome back to the Almost Amazing Podcast from CityRise Church! In this episode, host Jennifer Dennis and producer Justin Kellough lift a two-year "ban" to welcome special guest Andy Dennis back to the studio. We dive deep into why real human connection is becoming "gold" in a digital world and how church communities need to pivot. Andy, Jennifer, and Justin explore fascinating cultural trends—including the surprising reasons why young men are flocking to traditional church structures while women are dropping out. We also unpack the struggles of raising kids to be realistic (even if they want to play college softball!), the generational gap of voice-to-text messaging , and why embracing ambiguity is the secret weapon to solving major life problems. If you are looking for encouragement, raw authenticity, and a few good laughs, this episode is for you!

In this episode of the Almost Amazing Podcast, Jennifer Dennis, Justin Kellough, and Ashley Miksch sit down to chat about life, friendship, and the misconceptions we often hold about God, suffering, and our past. From our hilarious experiences with drive-thru apps and "point hoarding" to the deeper, meaningful conversations about reconciling our theology with difficult life seasons, we're keeping it real. We also dive into: The excitement of meeting Beth Moore at Truett Seminary. Unexpectedly reconnecting with high school friends after 30 years. Reflecting on why we sometimes believe lies about our worth or God's character during times of suffering. Whether you're here for the laughs or the deep, soul-searching questions, we're so glad you joined us!

Welcome back to The Almost Amazing Podcast! In this episode, Jennifer Dennis, Justin Kellough, and Ashley Miksch dive into the "Wild West" of AI, relationship boundaries, and the unexpected darkness of high school theater. The conversation kicks off with Jennifer's recent call-in to a Houston radio show regarding a major dating dilemma: when is it actually "safe" to give someone a key to your apartment? From there, the team explores the existential "dark corners" of our minds, the ethical minefield of using ChatGPT for professional emails, and a heated debate on whether aliens exist—or if they're already swimming among us as octopuses. Later, the group shifts gears to discuss ministry, the power of storytelling in the Gospels, and the "messenger-teachers" like Phoebe and Lydia in the early church. We wrap up with a "Get to know you" question about weird collections—ranging from salt and pepper shakers to human teeth.

Welcome to Episode 182 of The Almost Amazing Podcast! In this episode, Jennifer Dennis, Justin Kellough, and Ashley Miksch dive into the art of conversation and the struggle of moving past perfunctory small talk. We explore why the standard "How are you?" often feels like a missed opportunity for real connection and brainstorm better ways to truly see the people around us.

From Beth Moore's "concentric circles" of vulnerability to the messy reality of being authentic in a church hallway, we discuss how to navigate relationships with honesty and grace. Plus, we share personal updates on summer student ministry transitions, sermon prep breakthroughs, and what God is actively teaching us through the parables.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why we should (maybe) stop asking "How are you?"

The difference between being authentic, vulnerable, and intimate

Justin's experience researching Scripture for his latest sermon

Summer student ministry: VBS, camps, and seniors graduating

Wrestling with hard questions and the beauty of "deconstruction" that leads back to Christ About

Welcome back to a very special "Reunion Show" edition of The Almost Amazing Podcast! After a long hiatus due to the CityRise "Pathways" campaign, Jennifer Dennis, Justin Kellough, and Ashley Miksch are finally back in the studio to catch up on everything that's been happening in their lives. In this episode, the team dives into the complexities of work relationships, sharing honest stories about the struggle of not letting your boss "get in your head" and the unique challenges of being friends with the people you work for. Ashley shares incredible stories from her recent mission trip to Ecuador with 13 seniors, where they served local villages through One Heart Missions. Meanwhile, Justin discusses his deep dive into Greek midterm studies and the "lent thing" that changed his perspective on secular media. Finally, Jennifer gives us a candid (and slightly hilarious) look at her recent "Spring Break" spent navigating medical appointments.

Welcome back to The Almost Amazing Podcast! We are kicking off a brand-new year with some much-needed reflections on growth, digital habits, and the power of honesty. In this episode, Jennifer Dennis, Ashley Miksch, and Justin Kellough dive into their New Year's resolutions for the show—including a new bi-weekly schedule to keep things steady and sustainable. We also have a candid conversation about the "why" behind getting off TikTok, the growing challenges of AI-generated content, and why real accountability is more than just a church buzzword. Plus, Justin shares some behind-the-scenes stories (and a few spelling mishaps) from our church's latest print project. In this episode, we discuss: Setting personal and podcast boundaries for the new year. The struggle with "AI trickery" on social media. The history and impact of "Wesleyan Bands" and partner accountability. Lessons in pastoral care from the latest Knives Out movie.

Welcome to another episode of The Almost Amazing Podcast! 🎙️

This week, Jennifer and Justin dive into the chaos of the holiday season, starting with a hilarious look at their Spotify Wrapped results. From Jennifer's obsession with "Brown Noise" and "Space Music" to Justin's surprising status as a top 1% Beyoncé fan (and his K-Pop secrets), we explore what our listening habits really say about us.

But it's not all laughs and sloths—we also get real about spiritual growth. We discuss how to move past awkward small talk to have deeper, more meaningful conversations about faith. We talk about the "Crazy Tony" method of asking people what God is teaching them, and why it's more important to hear someone's life story before their theology.

In this episode, we discuss:

The Sloth Phobia: Why Zootopia triggers some awkward memories.

Spotify Wrapped Confessions: Listening ages, hipster vibes, and still being on an old church's family plan.

Seminary Lessons: Why it's more about the questions than the answers.

Meaningful Connections: How to ask "What is God teaching you?" without being aggressive.

Spiritual Transformation: A heartfelt moment reflecting on how God is working through this podcast.