This podcast episode is a special episode. it’s directed towards new people who happened to have stumbled across our ministry. So if you’re new here, then welcome. Welcome to the Millennial Spark ministry. For today’s episode, I want to talk about where me and my brother come from whenever we make content for the ministry. In short, it’s going to center around authenticity. To do this, let’s first tell a story.
There was a man, an evangelical pastor, named Paul David Tripp, who was considered hard-working, productive, and successful. Paul would serve as an event speaker throughout the country. He was very influential, and made an impact wherever he went. But eventually, he started to experience trouble with his health. It wasn’t much. Only minor health symptoms. But Paul made an appointment with his doctor anyway, to see what the issue was.
When he went to see his doctor at the appointed date, his condition worsened in an instant. He began having severe, painful full-body muscle spasms. He was admitted into the hospital, and continued to have these painful spasms for the next 36 hours. Paul would learn later that the cause of this episode was the fact that he was experiencing acute kidney failure. So he went into emergency surgery and, as a result, was unable to return to work. In fact, his sickness had forced him to cancel many of his public speaking engagements. It was a major blow to his finances. But worst of all, it was a major blow into how he saw himself. How he defined himself. And it would only get worse from there. He had a second surgery. Paul elaborated on the life-changing event by writing a book called “Suffering.” And in this book, he expressed himself and how he viewed this second needed surgery. I want to get this wording right, so let me give you a quote from his book. He said this before his second surgery began:
“I knew I would be knocked back physically and have to start the recovery process all over again. I knew that my life and ministry would be put on hold again. And I knew that I had no power whatsoever to keep all that from happening.” After saying that, Paul then went on to say this: “I didn’t recognize the person I had become and couldn’t relate to the level of inability I felt.”
He finished the chapter by saying one last quote. He said this:
“So this book will place the gorgeous, honest, and hopeful theology of suffering, which is a core theme of the redemptive story, into the context of an actual sufferer’s story. Beautiful truths will be presented and understood in connection with real human pain and struggle. Remember that the theology of suffering in Scripture is never, ever an end in itself but is designed as a means to the end of real comfort, real direction, real protection, real conviction, and real hope.”
With all that said, I wish to conclude this podcast episode with two different talking points. The first point I wish to mention is a mental health disorder called Borderline personality disorder, or also referenced as BPD. Borderline personality disorder has multiple signs and symptoms. It’s known as a rather distressed condition, which is evident in the symptoms themself. These symptoms include a chronic feeling of emptiness. Self-harm. Suicidal ideation. Impulsivity. Affective instability. These symptoms can lead to further troubles for BPD patients. Unstable relationships. Fear of rejection. Lack of self-identity. Intense dissociative episodes, or also called moments of brain fog. In the end, it still has a similar characteristic of Paul Tripp’s trouble with kidney failure. It’s something that’s uncontrollable. It’s something that is heartfelt. It’s something that’s real.
The second point I wish to mention is the motives behind creating content. The sole purpose of a written article, recorded video, or any created content is to project a valuable idea to the audience. The one and only purpose is to serve the audience with the transformation and growth that they desire. To make things clear, the basis of this one podcast episode is to show you where me and my brother come from whenever we create content here at the Millennial Spark - a place of authenticity. In 2019, I was diagnosed with BPD - which has encouraged me to be rather transparent when making content. So all podcast episodes, recorded videos, and written articles that I or my brother post here at the Millennial Spark all tie in with our one, major value - transparency. The idea of authenticity, The idea of empowerment to become our own thought leader. We appreciate any trust you have in us. But more importantly, we ask that you learn to trust yourself. To wrap everything up, the purpose of this podcast episode is this: Any written articles, podcast episodes, or recorded videos here in the ministry are sincere and from the heart. It’s here to serve you and for your sole benefit to grow as a person.
So with all that said, thank you for joining me in this podcast episode. Make sure to send me a message on our Facebook page. Let me know what you thought about this episode. And let me know how I can improve my content in this ministry. For those who don’t know, my name is Caleb McCool, and I’m an ordained preacher. I’m joined with my brother named Jared McCool, who is a religious scholar from the University of Pikeville. And our mission here in this ministry is to go out to Christian Millennials and teach them to be a spiritual leader within their community. Thank you for listening to this episode, and I look forward to talking with you again.
God bless.
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