The Unbroken Ground

Ep. 48: Darkness

Hello Fellow Travelers! The last episode was silence; this episode is darkness. All must deal with two realities of human life and existence.  Jesus promised trouble to those in this world. The Psalms are filled with questions of God going missing. Prayers wondering why the world is the way that it is. This week, we think through the connection between darkness and light and Jesus.

Ep.47: Silence

Hello Fellow Travelers! Six podcasts to go before 52 full podcasts and my year-long goal of podcasting. And I know what the final six topics will be. The first one is a look at silence. From the silence of broken relationships to the silence of 400 years before Jesus' birth, we cannot escape the implications. We hate silence. Most of us are unnerved by it. The holiday season can be a time for great joy, hope, and family, but it can also be a time of grief and silence. This podcast and the next will focus more on the complex parts and challenging questions. Then, the last four podcasts of the year will take on the season of Advent. 
 
Here is the link to the Rich Mullins song I mentioned - https://youtu.be/UFNB2oVcNgg

Ep. 46: Seasonal Prodigal

Hello Fellow Travelers! One way to turn our eyes from Jesus is to look at the waves and the turmoil around us. We most commonly think of the negative parts of life that will often distract us. But what if we are equally capable of being distracted by the good things in this life? What if we make it our passion to chase after the gifts rather than the giver? One of the areas from Ep. 45 that caused worry was the false belief that we were in control of everything. Similar to that false belief is believing we should constantly be experiencing material blessings and seeing ministry success. What if we instead viewed things as a more natural rhythm? What if we cried out not for the gifts but instead found the heart of the Father?
Books | Mark Buchanan

Ep. 45: Worry

Hello fellow travelers! Worry is not a new issue. Jesus addressed it when he spoke to the crowd in the Sermon on the Mount. But how do we avoid allowing worry to crowd our thoughts and hearts? I have a couple of thoughts and a solution I hope will encourage you. 

Ep. 44: Why Aren’t You a Pastor?

Hello Fellow Travelers! Promise this is the last bio episode. I tackle the question that many people have thought, though most don't ask me directly. Yes, I have a master's of Divinity, and I am an ordained minister. But I followed a different path than even I had imagined. Not unlike my Christmas course correction on where I was going to college, after graduation, I was once again in a place to reconsider everything. Here are the highlights of how I went from interviewing for a church to moving to another state in less than 30 days. 

Ep.43: The One About A Girl

Hello Fellow Travelers!! If you have been following along with the life of Paul and wandering when my wife enters the story, the wait is over. How we met and got married is in this episode—also, just a few thoughts about marriage in general and relationships. And continuing the theme of God directing and guiding us everywhere, we have been and will go. 

Special Guest - Trav and Odawg answer the Potato Question

Hello Fellow Travelers! I was joined by two of my friends. I had them explain Be Real to me. And then we all answered the most important question in all of life. You have to listen to find out what it was. Thanks to Travis and Olivia for hanging out with me and chatting. 

The Interview: Jim

Hello Fellow Traveler! Jim has been a guest in a couple of different episodes. We have done the goofy would you rather, but this one, Jim got to share what God is doing in his life. It is an interview and the chance to learn more about what makes Jim, well, Jim. 

Ep. 42: Mountain Top Experience

Hello Fellow Travelers! Unofficially, Paul season 2. One of the most impactful experiences of my life was spent at 11,000 ft in elevation, living outside a mountain town in southern Colorado. God brought me to a crucible that shaped me and exposed me to different ways of thinking about the world. This was no longer the deep south, conservative Christian country - I got to meet people who would forever change how I see God and the world. 

Ep. 41: Where Are We Now?

Hello Fellow Travelers! Finally, a topic I am an expert on. Me! In this episode, I think through the different twists and turns I experienced while pursuing where God was calling me. I never had a five-point plan to obtain my perfect job, and I always had a willing heart that was open to say yes to whatever and wherever I felt God leading. I hope you will find encouragement in knowing that God is a good father who directs our steps and shapes our hearts. I hope my story reminds you (as it reminded me as I walked back through it) of how good God is and how faithful He remains.