This week I've got a lot on my plate with the end of the semester, so I'm doing an introduction to the idea of digital literacy. I've been meaning to put this episode together for a long time and now is the perfect time. I'm making an argument about why we need to pull the curtain back on what digital tools do to us and for us. God bless you this week!

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For the past few weeks I've been drawn again and again to Philippians. There's a lot of hope and exhortation in this short book. I thought seriously about giving a reflection on Philippians for this episode. I seem to always be drawn to 4:8 where Paul tells us what to think about. But that's in a larger discussion where he talks about where to focus and what to do in response. I could give the context. Or I could simply...

This week I'm talking to a colleague and friend, Dr. Stephen Okey. Okey (as I call him) is an excellent educator and has a good understanding of the relationship of Christ, Christians and culture. He discusses the different ways Christians often try to see Christ in regards to culture, and proposes a better way we might be able to be "in the world but not of the world."

If you'd like to get in touch with Okey, he is ...

This week on the program we talk to the hosts of the podcast Devotional Doctors, Bryan Nash (Doctorate in ministry) and JD Souder (Doctorate in physical therapy). 

They have a simple but powerful message about the importance of understanding the body's relationship to Christianity. God created us both body and soul. Ultimately we rely on our bodies to carry out our Christian service. 

I start this episode with a simple exercise. ...

In this episode, I collaborate with my good friend Darin Gerdes. Darin hosts The Leadersmith podcast. This episode is our conversation about the importance of failure, and part 2 is available on his podcast where we talk about the importance of taking risks.

Darin takes over the hosting reins for this episode. It was fun and, I hope, worthwhile. This is the first time I've been a guest on my own podcast.

Thank you, again, for joi...

Craig Bean is a close and dear friend and, I think, one of the very best to talk about intentional culture creation. Most people believes the culture to our congregations walk in the doors and leadership should respond to the culture in the pews. 

Craig talks about how to foster and create the kind of culture where Christians actively make positive change the places they are. Craig is a smart guy, and he's been a blessing to me ...

Matt Bassford is a minister in Columbia, Tennessee. In this episode, he talks about how he and his wife dealt with the tragedy of a stillborn birth of their first daughter, Macy and how their relationships with God and other Christians were the only things which could fix it.

This is a difficult but important conversation. I think about how all of us are broken, but we often feel those topics are taboo or need to be avoided. 

Matt...

This week, we discuss one of the most basic parts of being a Christian, Bible study. Jason Hardin is a minister and author of Hello, I'm Your Bible, (affiliate link) a practical guide to Bible study.Jason has his own strategy for Bible study which helps put you in the right mindset and helps you develop a good attitude toward reading.

Jason and his family minister at Charlestown Road church of Christ which has some innovative di...

So how good are you at communication? I'm not sure we think about that question a lot...but we definitely hear a lot about its importance.

This week I talk to one of my old students, Ryan Cummings, about the importance of communication for Christians. He covers the importance of productive conflict, working together, and how communication forms an important part of our relationship with God.

Ryan's podcast with co-host Mike S...

This week we talk to my cousin, Craig Embry. Craig is someone who knows how to get things done and he has helped his congregation in the Sarasota area use the tools of digital discipleship to cope with Coronavirus and spread Christianity. I'm impressed with Craig, and I think you will be, too. You can see what they're trying at South Trail church of Christ.

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Do you journal? I don't. Well, not yet. So when I talked to Jeremy Dehut about what made his Christian life better, I was curious why he said journaling was one of the most important things he does to help his Christian walk.

Jeremy made some practical points about how journaling can help you both review and put in perspective your relationship with God. He also talks about how journaling started for him at a point in his life ...

This episode concludes the conversation we started last week with Edwin Crozier, Kris Emerson, Jason Hardin and Mark McCrary. 

In this episode, the guys talk about their own podcasts and what roles they play with their congregations, the love/hate relationship we all have with Zoom, concerns about returning to worship at a building and what they plan to keep doing after the pandemic is more controlled.

I'll say it again, these ar...

Well...this was a conversation with four guys I think are doing excellent work in light of Covid. Edwin Crozier, Kris Emerson, Jason Hardin and Mark McCrary. Three of these guys are past guests. I just wanted to know how they reacted to Covid and putting together something they could use to help their members still feel connected.

This is very frank, and I so appreciate the vulnerability they express. We're all figuring this out...

Phil is an old friend who has a knack with teens and someone I greatly admire. I planned this episode to be about the teens he works with, but Phil quickly turned the conversation to parenting, and I think he was right. He shines a spotlight on what we can do better as parents.

We also talk a little about digital discipleship and how his congregation in Gainesville may use tools such as Zoom after the pandemic is a memory. I think i...

This is my second half of the conversation with Edwin Crozier. This part focuses on his view of digital discipleship and his writing process.I said it before, Edwin is a really good guy.

Consider  listening to his podcast, Text Talk, it's available at Apple podcasts, 

A few of Edwin's books include (affiliate links):

Support the...

Edwin Crozier is someone I have known for several years but never really talked to. This is the first part of a great conversation I had with Edwin. In this episode, Edwin talks about his own spiritual walk. If you're interested in listening to his podcast, Text Talk, it's available at Apple podcasts, 

A few of Edwin's books include (affiliate links):