The Glass House

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Managing time well is one of the greatest challenges for anyone in ministry. Between sermon prep, meetings, family commitments, and personal spiritual growth, finding balance can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Chris and Nikki Ogden open up about the realities of time management as a pastor and pastor’s wife. They walk us through their weekly routines, the unique challenges of sermon preparation, and how their time management styles differ. Along the way, they offer practical advice for young couples in ministry and share wisdom on staying faithful both in marriage and in the calling God has placed on their lives. I

t’s an encouraging conversation and whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting out, this conversation will encourage you to prioritize what matters most while effectively managing your time.

Thanks for listening and sharing with a friend!

SHOW LINKS:
-Leave Ben & Lynley a voice mail HERE
-Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE
-Please email us your questions and feedback to [email protected]  or leave us a voice mail HERE

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Welcome back to another exciting episode of The Glass House—where Ben and Lynley Mandrell dive deep into the real-life highs and lows of ministry with pastors and their spouses, all while living in a glass house! 

This episode is extra special because we’re bringing you highlights straight from the Southern Baptist Convention! Ben and Lynley had some surprise guests swing by the booth this summer, and here’s the fun part: each guest blindly picked a card with a question they had to answer on the spot! 

Thanks for tuning in and don’t forget to share this episode with a friend!

SHOW LINKS:
-Leave Ben & Lynley a voice mail HERE
-Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE
-Please email us your questions and feedback to [email protected]  or leave us a voice mail HERE

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People can be mean! No matter what position you serve in, none of us are exempt from receiving criticism. On today's show we're featuring a crossover episode from Youth Ministry Booster with Chad Higgins and Zac Workun. They share stories of thier own experience with criticism and offer practical strategies to process feedback without losing your cool. This episode also underscores the importance of emotional health, both through your closest ministry relationships and friendships outside of work, ensuring that you're grounded and ready to face each challenge with grace and a smile.

Youth Ministry Booster is a podcast that has the most hilarious and honest conversations between Zac Workun and Chad Higgins. They are big fans of youth ministry and desire to engage, entertain, and equip youth leaders.

So get ready for a laugh and some heartfelt stoires that reflect the resilience needed to handle candid feedback while still forging meaningful connections.

SHOW LINKS:
Listen to more of Youth Ministry Booster
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-Leave Ben & Lynley a voice mail HERE
-Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE
-Please email us your questions and feedback to [email protected]  or leave us a voice mail HERE
 

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As a ministry leader, do you ever feel like you're just going through the motions while your heart isn't really in it anymore? Checking off the tasks, doing your job, while all the while our hearts are drifting and the Holy Spirit is quietly leaving the building. This message is for you! When looking at Samson's life, you see a man who drifted far from God without realizing it until it was a little too late. Thankfully, we can learn from Sampson and it doesn't have to be too late for you!

Thanks for listening and sharing this episode with a friend!

SHOW LINKS:
-Leave Ben & Lynley a voice mail HERE
-Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE
-Please email us your questions and feedback to [email protected]  or leave us a voice mail HERE

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Send us Fan Mail

The church building was built in the 40's, and it's really starting to look like it! The new pastor has a vision for making it more visually appeasing, first time guest friendly, and updating the security for the sake of children. But there's a big problem, how can he get the congregation on board with a project that has a minimal budget?

Today's episode is a conversation Ben and Lynley had at the Southern Baptist Convention with Dave Milam and John Parker from Visioneering Studios discuss the importance of intentional and thoughtful church building design. They highlight the challenges that many pastors face with their church buildings, including functionality and limited budgets. They emphasize the need for a master plan that looks ahead to the future and allows for phased renovations or additions. The conversation also touches on the significance of creating welcoming and well-designed spaces for guests, the value of outdoor spaces, the return to on-campus adult education spaces, and the opportunity to right-size large sanctuaries. Dave and John share inspiring stories of church building projects that have had a positive impact on communities and individuals.

Thanks for listening and sharing with a friend!

SHOW LINKS:
-Leave Ben & Lynley a voice mail HERE
-Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE
-Please email us your questions and feedback to [email protected]  or leave us a voice mail HERE

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Happy Monday Friends! Filmmakers Alex and Stephen Kendrick have an incredible discussion with Ben and Lynley about their latest movie, The Forge. This film focuses on discipleship and following Jesus, and Alex and Stephen share their hearts behind making this film. They emphasize the importance of having a strong foundation in Christ and prioritizing Him above all else. 

 Alex Kendrick has dedicated his life to following Jesus Christ and making His truth and love known among the nations. After serving in church ministry for 20 years, he now writes, speaks, and produces Christian films with his brothers Stephen and Shannon. Alex directed and co-wrote the movies OVERCOMER, WAR ROOM, COURAGEOUS, FIREPROOF, FACING THE GIANTS,  FLYWHEEL, COURAGEOUS Legacy Edition, SHOW ME THE FATHER, and LIFEMARK. Alex co-wrote the New York Times bestselling books The Love Dare, The Resolution for Men, and The Battle Plan for Prayer. Alex and his wife, Christina, live in Albany, Ga. with their six children and are active members at Sherwood Church. 

After serving in church ministry for 20 years, Stephen Kendrick now writes, speaks, and produces Christian films with his brothers Alex and Shannon. Stephen produced and co-wrote the movies OVERCOMER, WAR ROOM, COURAGEOUS, FIREPROOF,  FACING THE GIANTS, COURAGEOUS, SHOW ME THE FATHER, and LIFEMARK. Stephen co-wrote the New York Times bestselling books The Love Dare, The Resolution for Men, and The Battle Plan for Prayer. He serves on the boards of the Fatherhood CoMission and the Christian Film Foundation. Stephen and his wife, Jill, live in Albany, Ga. with their six children and are also active members at Sherwood Church. 

As God moves you through a path of discipleship through surrender, our prayer is that you encourage others to join you in this path! Thanks for listening and sharing with a friend!

SHOW LINKS:
-theforgebooks.com
-To find out more about the movie, buy tickets, or rent theaters go to: theforgemovie.com
-To watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szH5_y-0aqg
-Leave Ben & Lynley a voice mail HERE
-Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE
-Please email us your questions and feedback to [email protected]  or leave us a voice mail HERE

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In every pastor's ministry, there comes a time when they must walk through a transition and hand over leadership to the next generation. Is it possible for pastors and congregations to navigate these waters smoothly?

On today's episode of The Glass House, Ben and Lynley discuss succession planning with Bryant Wright and Clay Smith during the Southern Baptist Convention last summer. These two pastors share from their personal experiences and insights on how to navigate the transition from an outgoing pastor to a new leader. They emphasize the importance of starting the succession process early, having a clear plan, and considering the cultural fit of the new pastor. They also discuss the need for honoring the predecessor and maintaining a positive transition for the congregation. The conversation concludes with advice for pastors and church leaders who are considering a similar transition.

Thanks for listening and sharing with a friend.

Show Links:
-Succession
-Leave Ben & Lynley a voice mail HERE
-Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE
-Please email us your questions and feedback to [email protected]  or leave us a voice mail HERE

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Last summer at the Southern Baptist Convention, Ben and Lynley got to sit down with pastors and wives from all over the country and have them choose one of four different questions to answer. On today's episode, we asked two couples "what is one thing you would change about your brain?"

In this conversation, ministry leaders Brandon and Amy Peterson, and Matt and Julianne Longworth, discuss their experiences in ministry and the challenges they have faced. They talk about the importance of not getting defensive in ministry and learning to understand that people's responses are often influenced by their own filters and history. They also discuss the struggles that come from overanalyzing and people-pleasing when attempting to make decisions.

We're sure that leaders all over the country have dealt with these issues before, and we hope you find encouragement in knowing you're not alone! Thanks for listening and sharing this episode with a friend!

SHOW LINKS:
-Leave Ben & Lynley a voice mail HERE
-Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE
-Please email us your questions and feedback to [email protected]  or leave us a voice mail HERE

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Have you ever been listening to someone spew out their feelings and you immediately want to "fix" it? Have you felt the need to tell them everything is going to be okay and to look at the positives? Now imagine what it would feel like to simply sit with them in their feelings. To simply let them experience the depth of their emotions. On today's show Ben and Lynley are joined with Jennie Allen as they discuss how to untangle the tension of sitting with others in their emotions, and also the tension in experiencing your own emotions.

Jennie Allen, Bible teacher, author, and the visionary behind IF:Gathering, leads a new chapter as the Founder & Visionary of Gather25, a 25-hour global prayer gathering. Driven by a deep love for God and an unyielding belief in the potential of this generation, Jennie's mission is to disciple a generation of Jesus followers to live what they believe. Jennie is a passionate leader following God's call on her life to catalyze a generation to live what they believe. Jennie is the New York Times' best-selling author of Untangle Your Emotions, Find Your People and Get Out of Your Head. Jennie has a masters in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary and lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband, Zac, and their four children.

Today, Jennie discusses her new book, 'Untangle Your Emotions,' and shares her personal journey of learning to embrace her emotions and the impact it has had on her relationships. Jennie emphasizes the value of being present with others in their pain and the healing power of connection. She also explores the concept of numbness as both a gift and a hindrance, and encourages listeners to give themselves grace in navigating their emotions.

Listen now to the five steps Jennie gives to identifying and dealing with emotions! Thanks for listening and sharing with a friend!

SHOW LINKS:
-Connect with Jennie Allen
-Untangle Your Emotions
-Leave Ben & Lynley a voice mail HERE
-Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE
-Please email us your questions and feedback to [email protected]  or leave us a voice mail HERE