Transformed & Transformational

Sometimes it's hard to see how God's redemptive plan is playing out in our broken world. Brian Delamont joins us to talk about how the Gospel transforms us.

• "Transformed leaders will lead others to the transformation that they are experiencing."
• "When we see leaders being transformed, we see both small and large differences.  It's the difference in how I frame my day, how I respond to a situation. Am I saying 'yes' to the prompting of the Holy Spirit?"
• "God steps into my isolation, my brokenness, the injustice that we see everywhere right now. He Himself comes in and experiences isolation, brokenness, and injustice because He has come to redeem us."
• "He wants to see me become all that He has always known I can be as His beloved son or daughter. This creation, fall, redemption, restoration narrative is really what drives transformation."
• Gospel Fluency by Jeff Vanderstelt
• "Transformation comes, first and foremost, in getting back to that Garden [of Eden] relationship and understanding this is who I worship and this is why."
• "It's a thousand yes-no decisions that enable transformation to happen.  It's also a process of disciplining myself to choose to listen - choosing to listen to who God is and who He longs for me to be and become versus being king of the universe."
• "We all love change. We just don't want to do it."
• "In the midst of all of that, there's still the presence of Christ, there's still a story of redemption being written and this longing of an outcome that will have us be restored to the relationship and the incredible context that God meant for us to live in in the first place."

  What's changing our lives:

• Keane: Louis L'Amour books
• Heather: Spindrift 
• Brian: Getting back on his bicycle & seeing people through the eyes of Gospel transformation

Weekly Spotlight: Chiang Rai International Christian School   October Reflection:

• What difference do you see in your life over the past 6 months?
• Where do you see the grand narrative of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration?
• What would you want your life to look like 6 months from now?
• Where do you need to see more transformation to become all that God has created you to be?

We'd love it if you would subscribe, rate, review, and share this show!  And as always, you can reach us at [email protected]. See you next Friday!

"Calling" is a big topic with many facets.  Dean takes it down to the everyday level and invites us to lean into our calling today: desiring God (Psalm 73), seeking direction (Psalm 143), and offering ourselves (Romans 12:1-2).  

• "So much of God's calling is intended to be experienced day by day as we identify with Christ, grow in personal holiness, and commit to intentional Biblical community, that is, the local church."
• "Our flesh and heart are inadequate to sustain us, but God is able to sustain us. We delight ourselves in God when we meditate on His goodness and His love in contrast to the unworthiness of worldly and fleshly pursuits."
• "God is faithful. As we delight ourselves in Him, then we delight to do His will and He will show us what to do."
• Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Pete Scazzero
• "Coming to God with a hungry humility prepares our souls to receive what we need. What we need more than direction is God Himself."

  What's changing our lives:

• Keane: Picnics with friends
• Heather: Heather's Autumn Playlist
• Dean: Counseling

Weekly Spotlight: Bucharest Christian Academy   We'd love it if you would subscribe, rate, review, and share this show!  And as always, you can reach us at [email protected]. See you next Friday!

How is God at work in the midst of virtual learning? Tune in for today's conversation with Russ Kraines and Christine Moussa to hear more. This episode is for teachers, parents, and anyone who wants to love their neighbors better in 2020.  

• "I love connecting with students. That's why I got into teaching: to pour into my students and be a positive example for them." -Christine
• More on Bitmoji classrooms here!
• "We put our hopes and expectations in God, knowing that He has good things in store for us. Even if we don't see that right away, we can still trust that He is going to make things work for good, knowing that He loves us and cares for us and is faithful." -Christine
• "God is greater than my unknowns.  This whole year has been a really great reminder over and over that even if I don't know what's going on, God does." -Christine
• "God is sufficient. God will reveal Himself. We need to wait for God to unfold certain things." -Russ
• "It isn't new that God works at us up close and at a distance at the same time.  To have that equanimity through it was great." -Russ
• "Let's not forget the calling that God has placed on us and that He has brought us to this season and... these students 'for such a time as this.'  Regardless of what we have to do to revise our teaching materials, it doesn't change our calling." -Christine

  Check out articles from today's guests:  "Where is God in Distance Learning?" (Russ) and "Getting to Know Your Students Online" (Christine)   What's changing our lives:

• Keane: Plastic medical clips
• Heather: Catan Universe
• Russ: Living near his grandchildren
• Christine: Blogilates

Weekly Spotlight: Beyond Inglês   We'd love it if you would subscribe, rate, review, and share this show!  And as always, you can reach us at [email protected]. See you next Friday!

What do we mean by "transformation"?  Transformation is inside-out, heart and mind, Holy Spirit-fueled change.  Let's talk about what it looks like to be part of that kind of work.

• "The Holy Spirit is doing this inside-out, heart and mind first.  That's transformation."
• "Everywhere you went in that classroom, the teacher had set the table so that these kids would be able to see that Jesus loves them and wants to be in relationship with them."
• "It goes beyond just knowing the good practice and into the application of that practice in a loving way.  That teacher is the centerpiece between taking something that could be just great practice and applying it with a heart that is pouring out personal transformation that kids can see."
• "We can do no great things.  We can just do small things with great love." -Mother Teresa
• "Education will change this next generation... We want to be at the forefront of that kind of movement that is relating to this next generation what it means to be transformed little Christs - Christians - wherever He would have us go."

What's changing our lives:

• Keane: Story tickets for his son
• Heather: Propagating tomato plants
• David: Having his kids back in school

Weekly Spotlight: Belize Christian Academy   We'd love it if you would subscribe, rate, review, and share this show!  And as always, you can reach us at [email protected]. See you next Friday!

What does it look like to "be transformed by the renewing of our minds"?  How do we live intentionally for Kingdom impact?  Join co-hosts Heather Brown and Keane Fine for this kick-off episode - and tune in every Friday to learn from our guests about how we can grow in Christ and impact the world! This show is brought to you by TeachBeyond, an international Christian mission organization focused on transformational Christ-centered education serving individuals and communities.