Advertise on podcast: Tracks for the Journey

Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you. My new book, Your Ark in the Storm: Everyday Practices for Resilient Living, brings together evidence-based resilience skills and the reimagined story of Noah to help anyone bounce back from the hardships that buffet life. The insights of a love-centered, open, and relational theology offer a fresh perspective on the views of ancient Hebrews and a path to meet today's challenges.   Each chapter offers practical methods of building emotional health and spiritual depth in our modern, turbulent era.  Set sail on Your Ark in the Storm for a voyage that will strengthen your faith and health! Support the show Subscribe to this podcast for only $8 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being! Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.com Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you. In this episode of Tracks for the Journey, I walk the fire-scarred trails of California's Big Basin Redwoods State Park and discover four ways these ancient trees recover from disaster. I discuss how four words (Roots, Bark, Ashes, Wind) become practical strategies for our own hard seasons: building real community, setting healthy boundaries, reframing disappointment into new dreams, and opening ourselves to the Spirit's quiet breath.  Along the I shares a personal story of a painful rejection early in his ministry that turned out to be a hidden rescue, and he closes with Job's striking words of hope for a tree that sprouts again "at the scent of water." You'll come away with a simple, memorable framework of four words you can carry into any crisis. Most of all, you'll hear a hopeful reminder that setbacks don't get to write the final chapter of your life. Support the show Subscribe to this podcast for only $8 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being! Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.com Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you. This episode unpacks the concept of “attunement” from relationship researcher John Gottman, a practice of noticing, honoring, and responding to a loved one’s emotions. I tell the story of Leo and Melinda as a kitchen-table moment goes wrong, then gets replayed and done right.  You’ll find the four building blocks of attunement that build love: awareness, non-judgmental listening, curiosity, and compassion. We can connect the ideas to Jesus’s encounter with the woman at the Samaritan well as a reflection of how God is attuned to us.  Think of one person in your life who needs to feel tuned in to today — and try the four steps in your next conversation with them. Then share this episode with someone who could use the reminder. Support the show Subscribe to this podcast for only $8 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being! Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.com Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you. What if the bestselling self-help advice of the year is only telling you two-thirds of the story? This episode expands Mel Robbins's viral Let Them Theory. Alongside "Let Them" and "Let Me," you’ll learn a third, essential move: Let Us.  Using real examples from healthcare, education, and immigration policy in Texas, it presents what it looks like to widen our emotional health beyond the personal and into the communal.  You can come away with a fuller framework for emotional well-being — one that doesn't stop at personal boundaries but extends into neighborly action.  Take a few minutes to discover what "Let Us" could look like in your own neighborhood this week. Support the show Subscribe to this podcast for only $8 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being! Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.com Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you. What if the most important relationship on your spiritual journey isn't with a book, a doctrine, or even a church? It could be one wise person willing to walk beside you. In a culture of DIY religion, I offer reasons why spiritual mentorship is vital, based on my 50 years of ordained ministry. I share some of my journey and examples from history to help you find the mentor you need. I talk honestly about ordination in today’s faith traditions, marked by uneven standards across denominations, and the ongoing exclusion of women and LGBTQIA+ people from ministry. I think you’ll come away with a clearer sense of what to look for in a spiritual guide and the encouragement to go find one, whatever your tradition or season of life. Support the show Subscribe to this podcast for only $8 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being! Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.com Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you. Every parent wants to do a great job. Dr. Chris Hanson offers practical guidance on how this is done in this episode with the vital skill of Nurturant Parenting.  Chris is a pediatrician and theologian who is showing parents how to balance authority and engagement. That is the essence of being a Nurturant Parent who offers wise direction and loving connection. The idea is founded on evidence-based psychology and love-centered theology.  In the session Chris also shares his spiritual journey which led him to embrace a love-centered perspective on God, the ultimate nurturant parent for us all. His vision of parenting is based in the truth of God as loving, responsive, and co-creative. Chris gives clear guidance on applying these ideas for parenting preschoolers, teens, and young adults. He has special insight into the challenge of parenting the Pandemic Generation whom he feels are still recovering from that traumatic interruption to normal life.  These ideas will help any parent see the importance of balancing warm, supportive engagement with wise direction. Listeners will also be encouraged to ask serious questions about faith and church life to promote maximum spiritual development.   Read for more information  Open and Relational Parenting: Loving Parents Reflecting a Loving God. SacraSage Press, 2025 https://openrelationalparenting.substack.com/ Support the show Subscribe to this podcast for only $8 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being! Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.com Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you. Each faith journey is unique, a work of God and the individual. In this episode Beau Stringer, Associate Pastor at Resurrection Church Downtown in Kansas City, shares his movement from evangelical, to pastor, to seeker, and to a deeper faith reconstruction. His journey casts light on the movement of many sincere seekers today to build something transcendent and meaningful in this challenging world. Support the show Subscribe to this podcast for only $8 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being! Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.com Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you. We all know what it feels like to leave behind what's familiar — a home, a role, a comfort zone — and step into something unknown. This episode of Tracks for the Journey, draws on the words of Jesus on the night before the cross — "Come now, let us leave" — to explore why change is so hard, and why it might be exactly what we need. From biblical figures like Abraham, Ruth, and Mary Magdalene, to a personal story of leaving pastoral ministry for hospital chaplaincy, LP unpacks the grief and gift that comes with every departure. And yes — Tim Walz even makes an appearance as a modern-day example of someone who left his comfort zone and changed history. Listening to this episode will help you: Understand why change feels like loss — and find peace with thatRecognize the invitation hidden inside life's dislocations and transitionsFind spiritual grounding when you're being asked to leave behind a place, a past, or a fearSee your own journey reflected in the stories of Scripture and everyday peopleSupport the show Subscribe to this podcast for only $8 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being! Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.com Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you. Enjoy this warm, imaginative episode of Tracks for the Journey in which I sit in my spring prayer garden and talk with Red — my billion-year-old granite stone. Through this playful yet profound dialogue, I probe Red's geological journey (meteor strikes, ice ages, and all) to offer a surprisingly simple antidote to modern anxiety: stop trying to figure everything out, plant yourself on solid ground, and live fully in the present day. Support the show Subscribe to this podcast for only $8 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being! Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.com Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you. Religious liberty — one of America's most foundational values — is under serious threat, and Texas is where the battle is playing out most visibly. Fueled by the ideology of Christian Nationalism, politicians and public figures have targeted the state's 500,000-plus Muslim residents through discriminatory policies, inflammatory rhetoric, and outright denial of civil rights.  I argue attacks on the freedoms of any faith community is an attack on the freedoms of all — Christian, Jewish, Hindu, and beyond. This episode explains what religious liberty really means, who is threatening it and why, and how ordinary citizens can push back. Support the show Subscribe to this podcast for only $8 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being! Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.com Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you. The secret to material progress has been revealed! It is--Ignorance. Sound crazy? Listen to this edition of Field Notes as I quote the esteemed historian Yuval Harari make the case that we can only learn if we admit that we do not know the answers. Plus, explore the best study Bible I've used in a long time, the New Revised Standard Update Edition. I share why it is worth your small investment to fuel your spiritual development.  Support the show Subscribe to this podcast for only $8 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being! Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.com Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you. Explores the evolving history of where God "lives" to  discover a closer, more personal spirituality. Great stone temples and magnificent cathedrals once located the Divine. We need a better place now for our unique journey through the dynamic 21st century world. Here's your guide for merging spirituality with everyday life to improve your spiritual and relational experience. Support the show Subscribe to this podcast for only $8 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being! Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.com Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you. Have you ever looked at your family's history as a sacred pilgrimage? Centuries ago, families in my heritage like the Magills and the Junkins fled political unrest and poverty in Scotland and Ireland, undertaking a perilous eight-week ocean voyage to America. They faced incredible unknowns with remarkable courage and determination to build a new life. When we look back at the upheavals of the past—whether it's our ancestors stepping onto foreign soil 300 years ago, or the rough patches in our own modern lives—we can often see how God has carried us through. Just like the Jewish patriarch Jacob, who dreamed of a staircase to Heaven while traveling through a strange land, we can look at our difficult journeys and realize, “Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!” Call to Action: Ideas to see your own history as a walk with God.  Support the show Subscribe to this podcast for only $8 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being! Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.com Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you.  If you’ve ever felt like you’re "drifting" from your community or faith, this story proves you aren't alone. Here is a fascinating deep dive into history that ends with a powerful reminder to check in on the people you miss. Just like the mystery of Amelia Earhart, one of Jesus’ inner circle—Simon the Zealot—completely vanished from the pages of history.  From Rebel to Ghost: Simon started as a "Zealot" (potentially a radical political rebel) but after the "spectacular" event of Pentecost, he goes into "radio silence." Gruesome Legends: Did he preach in Britain? Was he sawn in half in Persia? 🪚 Legend says he was martyred in some of the most intense ways imaginable. The "Why" of Disappearing: We all have friends who stop replying to social media or "disappear" from our lives. Usually, it’s not because they don't care—it's just that life, timing, and energy changed. The Search: Just as a shepherd looks for one lost sheep, we’re reminded that it’s never too late to reconnect with old friends or our own faith. Support the show Subscribe to this podcast for only $8 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being! Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.com Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you. Ever feel like a past experience is "stuck," haunting your thoughts no matter how much you talk about it? On this episode of Tracks for the Journey, psychologist Dr. Sharla Boyd explains that trauma isn't a character flaw—it’s a neurological hurdle. What’s inside: Learn how EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps the brain "digest" painful memories that have been stuck for years.Understand the "weed" analogy: why we need to stop just mowing over our symptoms and start pulling trauma out by the root.The Benefit: You’ll walk away with a new perspective on your own resilience and a roadmap for how to finally find peace. Listen now! 🎧 Support the show Subscribe to this podcast for only $8 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being! Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.com Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77