Episode 27 of the podcast features an interview with Bethany Jett. Bethany is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur. She has worked on all kinds of projects, including the moving book, Through the Eyes of Hope. She is also one of the founders of the new Serious Writer Academy. It was truly wonderful to talk to Bethany. She and I met about 18 months ago at the only writers' conference I have ever attended. Since then, we've continued a friendship, mostly talking about writing, and connecting regul...
Oct 06, 2017•56 min
Episode 26 of the podcast features an interview with S.D. (Sam) Smith. Sam is the author of The Green Ember books and is a co-founder of Story Warren, a website for parents and others dedicated to helping foster holy imagination in children. Sam and I have a great time on this interview chatting about what it means to anticipate the kingdom of God, why the imagination is important, and some of the resources he uses to remain connected to God. Some of What We Talk About: Anticipation of the Kingd...
Sep 26, 2017•1 hr 5 min
Episode 25 of the podcast features an interview with Sundi Jo Graham. Sundi Jo is an author and blogger, and is the founder of a ministry called Esther’s House of Redemption, which is a faith-based residential discipleship program, located in rural Missouri, offering hope to broken women. They serve women from all backgrounds, ages 18+, who struggle with life-controlling issues, such as alcohol and drug addictions, depression, self-harm, the aftermath of physical and sexual abuse, and more. You'...
Sep 19, 2017•38 min
Episode 24 of the podcast features an interview with Adam Weber. Adam in the pastor of Embrace Church in Sioux Falls, SD, and is the author of Talking to God: What to Say When You Don’t Know How to Pray . What a phenomenal conversation. Adam has tons of energy, so much depth, and wants to help people connect with God in real ways. His book does just that! It is great for people who don’t know much about prayer or God and it provides encouragement for long-time Christians while being engaging for...
Sep 12, 2017•57 min
Episode 23 of the podcast features an interview with Lindsey Brackett. Lindsey is a writer of beautiful words. From her about page, Lindsey writes: "I like to string words together and make stories and images and memories that live and move and breathe in the confines of the imagination.” She observes life, beauty, grace, and God. Her first novel, Still Waters - (released on Sept 8, 2017), has forgiveness as its core theme. Some of What We Talk About: What does it mean to be “worthy” of forgiven...
Sep 05, 2017•1 hr 1 min
Episode 22 features an interview with Steve Brown. Steve is the president of Arrow Leadership , which is an organization focussed on developing Christian leaders. We talk about how we often want a "balanced life," but that this might be quite different from a Christ-centered life. Steve is passionate about helping people develop sustainable rhythms that support a life centered on Jesus. Some of What We Talk About: Gaining basic awareness that God loves you, and why this is so important Getting o...
Aug 29, 2017•53 min
Episode 21 features an interview with Steve Weins . Steve is the author of Whole and Beginnings. He is the pastor of Genesis Covenant Church and had a podcast called This Good Word . This interview is packed with great stuff - what an amazing conversation! We spend most of the time speaking about Steve’s latest book, but it is a pretty free wheeling conversation. So much fun! Get Steve's latest book, Whole: Restoring What is Broken in Me, You, and The Entire World Some of What We Talk About: The...
Aug 22, 2017•1 hr 3 min
Episode 20 of the Spirituality for Normal People Podcast features an interview with Michael Priebe . Michael is the author of The Lovely Grind: Spiritual Inspiration for Workdays, a collection of 90 devotions for stress relief and personal growth. Some of What We Talk About: What do people need in their working life? What is spiritual health and its relation to physical health? Staying in a job and bringing meaning to it. What is Calling and Vocation? What does it look like to speak about faith ...
Aug 15, 2017•49 min
Episode 19 features an interview with Erica Barthalow . Erica has been in various forms of ministry in her life, including three years as a missionary in India. She wrote a not so typical book about her experience there. It’s called Holy Doubt: Finding Hope When Faith is a Struggle . She admits that three months into her time in India she felt abandoned by God. Some of what we talk about in the interview: What questions to ask about God: Is God good? Does God cause bad things to happen to us? Un...
Aug 08, 2017•48 min
Episode 18 of the Spirituality for Normal People Podcast features an interview with Jann Martin . Jann is a children’s author and has previously served as a youth leader at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Westland, Michigan and as the Director of Family Ministry at Faith Community Presbyterian Church of Novi, Michigan. Jann has an interesting story of falling into the calling of writing, after not being able to find a children’s story for a Christmas Eve Service. God asked her to write one, s...
Aug 01, 2017•47 min
Episode 17 of the Spirituality for Normal People Podcast features an interview with Kelly Edmiston . Kelly is the student minister at First Colony Church of Christ. We pack a ton of amazing stuff in this episode, as you can see from the notes below. Such a great conversation! Some of What We Talk About What happens when we don’t “feel it” in our spiritual life? Making feelings and experiences into idols. Seeking them instead of seeking God. When God might use a period of spiritual dryness How do...
Jul 25, 2017•48 min
Episode 16 of the Spirituality for Normal People Podcast features an interview with author and podcaster James Prescott . We talk a bunch about James' book, Mosaic of Grace , and also touch on themes related to his podcast called Poema on the intersection of faith and spirituality. From the Intro to the Episode - I mention: That I happened to be on the Poema Podcast as a guest last week (beginning of July 2017). You can listen here. That I've started a Patreon Page where you can support the podc...
Jul 18, 2017•59 min
Episode 15 of the podcast features and interview with Scott Perkins . He is a discipleship coach and the author of the book Tree of Lies: Transforming Decisions, Behaviors, and Relationships By Gaining Perspective On Your Identity in Christ. We have a fantastic conversation about what identity in Christ really means, and the dangers of basing our identity and value in other things. Visit Scott’s website for a special bonus just for listeners of the Spirituality for Normal People Podcast! Quotes:...
Jul 11, 2017•1 hr
Episode 14 of Spirituality for Normal People features a fantastic interview with Stephanie Jones. Stephanie is known as the Giving Gal, having given a gift every day for over 500 days. She is the author of The Giving Challenge. What we talk about: What does it means to give a gift? Recognizing opportunities to give a gift How gift giving moves us away from being judgmental Listening to that “nudge” within you Gift-giving is about the other person. Not being scared of rejection when it comes to g...
Jun 27, 2017•45 min
Listen in as Matthew Brough talks about Psalm 4, which moves from our cry to God out of distress to God addressing our propensity to seek for peace in all the wrong places, to dealing with resentment at others' prosperity, to God granting us peaceful rest. Get full access to Faithfully Creative at mattbrough.substack.com/subscribe
Jun 22, 2017•11 min
Episode 13 features an incredible interview with Glen Soderholm . Glen is the pastor of T wo Rivers Church in Guelph, Ontario . Two Rivers began as a single house church of what he calls “a collection of strays, orphans, and exiles,” born from the idea of actually being neighbours with the people you live close to. He had so much to share about the Spiritual life, including his theology of Spirituality and the very practical things he does. As an accomplished musician, Glen spoke about the role ...
Jun 20, 2017•1 hr
Listen in as Matthew Brough talks about Psalm 3 with its powerful images of God being a shield and the lifter of your head. Get full access to Faithfully Creative at mattbrough.substack.com/subscribe
Jun 15, 2017•7 min
Episode 12 of Spirituality for Normal People features an interview with Lisa Whittle . Lisa is a speaker and the author of six books. From her official bio: "Her love runs deep to see people pursue Jesus for life, grow deep roots of faith, and walk strong in the midst of a world that so often seems to have gone crazy." Lisa's latest book: Put Your Warrior Boots On: Walking Jesus Strong, Once and for All What a great conversation! Lisa has incredible passion and straightforward honesty. Here is j...
Jun 13, 2017•55 min
Episode 11 of the Spirituality for Normal People Podcast features and interview with Jennifer DeCombe. Jen is the associate secretary for Canadian Ministries, working at the National Office of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. At the end of the interview, there is a really interesting conversation about inviting non-Christian friends to learn about faith. SOME OF THE TOPICS IN THIS INTERVIEW: What role can institutions or denominations play in the development of Spirituality? The ways congregat...
Jun 06, 2017•41 min
Episode 10 of the podcast features an interview with Rev. Dr. Margaret Mullin. Margaret is the executive director of Winnipeg Inner City Missions and the pastor of Place of Hope Presbyterian Church. I had the opportunity to do this interview in person at Anishanabe Place of Hope in Winnipeg and Margaret was so gracious and generous in her honest conversation with me. Margaret recently received a Women of Faith Award, which you can read about here . TOPICS COVERED: Challenges of ministry in the I...
May 30, 2017•1 hr 2 min
Episode 9 of the podcast is with Juno-award winning musician, Steve Bell . This interview was such an amazing experience, recorded in Steve's own studio in Winnipeg. Steve was incredibly gracious and generous with his time and his honest sharing. Steve shared a ton in this episode, and you can find all kinds of links on the Spirituality for Normal People Website that reference just some of what Steve spoke about. This podcast episode also features several of Steve's songs, used with his permissi...
May 23, 2017•1 hr 5 min
Listen in as Matthew Brough talks about Psalm 2 and the struggle we sometimes find between love and justice. Get full access to Faithfully Creative at mattbrough.substack.com/subscribe
May 16, 2017•15 min
Episode 8 of the Spirituality for Normal People Podcast features an interview with United Church minister Robin McGauley. Robin is a metalsmith, makes amazing art and jewelry, and is also a Certified Labyrinth Facilitator, a faculty member of the Expressive Arts program at the Haliburton School of Art and Design, and a graduate of the Jubilee program in spiritual direction. We discuss a quote on Robin's website but never get around to actually saying what it is. Here's the quote from Dark Nights...
May 16, 2017•42 min
Episode 7 of the Spirituality for Normal People Podcast features an interview with Rev. Germaine Lovelace, minister of First Presbyterian Church in Kenora, Ontario, Canada. Prior to serving in this small town, Germaine ministered in his home country of Jamaica. Here are some of the topics discussed in the interview: The struggle of Church membership in small town, increasingly secular, contexts Ministering among the poor and the importance of the Church for the poor in small towns The difference...
May 09, 2017•56 min
Listen in as Matthew Brough talks about Psalm 1 and the wonderful image of being like a tree planted by streams of water. Get full access to Faithfully Creative at mattbrough.substack.com/subscribe
May 04, 2017•10 min
In this 6th episode, Shannon Kiser, speaks about finding God in the midst of a sometimes chaotic and busy life. Shannon is the Director of Training for Fresh Expressions US . She also works supporting the Coaching Network for New Churches in The Presbyterian Church USA and it on on staff at Riverside Presbyterian Church, in Sterling, Virginia. Some of the things we talk about in this episode: staying on track spiritually in the midst of busyness reading the Bible in a year (or, trying to…) leani...
May 02, 2017•45 min
Rev. Dr. Ross Lockhart is Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Missional Leadership at St. Andrew’s Hall. Ross serves as the Presbyterian Director of Denominational Formation at Vancouver School of Theology as well as an Adjunct Professor of Homiletics at St. Mark’s College, UBC. He also teaches regularly at Regent College. In this interview we discuss: What ministry students need in terms of their spirituality, and the importance of deep prayer practices. A new monastic experiment...
Apr 25, 2017•53 min
This week's episode is a great practical interview with Author, Speaker, Retreat Leader, and Spiritual Director, Jean Wise. Jean blogs regularly at healthyspirituality.org . You should really check out the tons of posts and resources on her page! In the course of the interview we discuss: What it is like to go on a personal spiritual retreat, including how to prepare for and reflect after a silent retreat. The power of journaling Writing a Rule of Life What is Spiritual Direction and how talking...
Apr 18, 2017•49 min
What a fantastic interview! The guest on episode three was Matthew Ruttan . He is the minister of Westminister Presbyterian Church in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. He also writes a regular devotional called Up. We had a wide ranging and super-practical conversation. Some of what we discussed: How it can be work to tend to spirituality. What to do when you “don’t feel like it.” The Psalms as being an anchor for spirituality doing less, better How to engage spiritually when you are so busy and distract...
Apr 11, 2017•48 min
I was thrilled to have Theresa McDonald-Lee on this second episode of the Spirituality for Normal People Podcast. Theresa is the co-executive Director of Camp Kintail, a camp of the Presbyterian Church in Canada located on the shores of Lake Huron. Over the course of the conversation, we talked about her spiritual practice of memorizing Psalms and reciting them to her children. She also shared about what it means to live out her faith in front of her kids. As the director of a very busy camp, Th...
Apr 04, 2017•34 min
