RWHPodcast

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Today we are looking at friends. Do you have enough good ones? Welcome to Run With Horses. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as a follower of Jesus. You are not in this alone. God intends for you to make the journey with others. How are you doing at building and developing lasting friendships? Hopefully better than the average! Reference - https://www.americansurveycenter.org/research/the-state-of-american-friendship-change-challenges-and-loss/ Number of close friendships has declined over the past few decades. - SM influence? Contact does not equal close relationship! More friends equals more satisfied with the number of friends you have. No surprise there! Why is it so important to have and maintain friendships? Prov. 27:6 - Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Prov. 27:17 – 17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 – 9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 1 Cor. 15:33-34 – 33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. John 15:12-15 - 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 1. Friendships give you hope. A good friend will talk you down when you are crazy. 2. Friendships encourage you to take time away from stress to recharge and refocus on what is really important. 3. Friendships encourage you to try new things and meet new people. Exercise is better with a friend, so is Thai curry. 4. Friendships encourage thankfulness. Thanks for joining me today. If you have thoughts or questions about your spiritual life, write me at norman@runwithhorses.net I would love to hear from you. Find a friend today and encourage them to keep on the journey with you. Keep running!

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast An Interview with Pastore Chris O;Reilly from Immanuel Baptist Church, Wausaukee, WI

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Today we are looking at some reasons why people don’t go to church. And can I start by saying that this is part of the problem. We “go” to church, something that was impossible in the NT. Welcome to Run With Horses. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as a disciple of Jesus. God is working to grow you into the image of Christ and HE will complete that work. What a joy to know that it all doesn’t depend on us! Let’s go to church! Ok, we already have a problem. . . Church is not a place. The church is a group of people called out by God, gloriously saved by His Son and united through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. You cannot GO to church. If you are genuinely saved by Faith through Grace you can choose not to use your Spirit given gifts to strengthen and build up the Family of God, the Bride of Jesus, His glorious Church. Avoiding time with God’s family will keep you from serving His Church. Let’s call that what it is, disobedience. But you cannot GO to church. The church is not a building that can be taken away or a service that can be scheduled. The church can meet in a building or under a tree. The church can meet in a large group with thousands or in a coffee shop with three. But you cannot GO to church. And if that is what you have been doing, you are part of the problem. Because if you can go to church, you can NOT GO to church. If your life, your family, your community and yes, even your church, are to change, we have to stop going to church and start BEING the church. Every day in every house, on every street, in every town, in every nation. We ARE the Church of the True and Living God. So why don’t people go to church? Reference - https://churchhelper.net/why-people-dont-go-to-church/ 1. They deem the church irrelevant. The church is a group of people who are bought and paid for with the blood of Jesus. As such, He has placed us into His family. The church is instantly relevant if you understand the mission of Jesus in the world. Sermons that are theology without application. Although some can take a sermon and run with it, most people need or at least will benefit from discussions about the passage/ topic that allows them to see how it works out in their life. 2. They cite the hypocrisy and moral failures of church leaders. This is straight up bad news. It points to the need to emphasize character as we train and prepare leaders in the church. Dealing with sin in the lives of leaders. Confession, repentance, humility. Side rant. We cannot allow the training and preparation of pastors and church leaders to be left to bible colleges and seminaries. They are great supplements to churches discipling and preparing leaders but they cannot replace the churches role. 3. They feel God is missing in the church. Spectator churches can easily be focused on the audience and felt needs, not God. God IS and that matters. He is Holy and that matters. The church has to be focused on God. When we are, it changes us. Biblical doctrine matters. We need to see God in His Word. Hearts prepared to follow Him are hearts prepared to worship Him. If God is missing in your life the rest of the week, God will likely be missing in your time with His Family or at least, you won’t see Him. 4. They feel that legitimate doubt is prohibited. God is big enough to handle our questions. The pastors pride might not be. Spurgeon - “Suppose a number of persons were to take it into their heads that they had to defend a lion, full-grown king of beasts! There he is in the cage, and here come all the soldiers of the army to fight for him. Well, I should suggest to them, if they would not object, and feel that it was humbling to them, that they should kindly stand back, and open the door, and let the lion out! I believe that would be the best way of defending him, for he would take care of himself; and the best 'apology' for the gospel is to let the gospel out.” As the church we need to be inviting people to ask questions. God can handle it. You don’t need to answer everyone’s questions, point them to the Word and encourage them to ask God for answers to their doubts. He is amazingly good at it. 5. They don’t learn about God or Jesus. I don’t know what church this is true in but it is shameful if it is true! 6. They don’t gain any significant or new insights about faith. There is a need to be growing and making efforts yourself. Pursue Christ. 1 Timothy 6:11-12 - 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Practical obedience is part of our growth. Without it we will stop learning. Our spiritual life is more than head knowledge, we have to live it or we will struggle in our faith. 7. They have trouble finding a community. If you don’t find community, you build it. There are others who want that unity that the NT talks about and are willing to fihgt for it. Look for them and build a small community. Thanks for joining me today. If you have thoughts or questions about your spiritual life, write me at norman@runwithhorses.net I would love to hear from you.

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Today we are talking about the size of the local church and the impact of the local church. Two things that are not always related. Welcome to Run With Horses. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as a disciple of Jesus. The road often seems long but we are in this together. The Church. God’s amazing, wonderful, frustrating, beautiful, distracted Family. Hard to live with at times, impossible to live without at others. Reference - https://outreachmagazine.com/resources/small-church-america/74242-god-can-use-a-church-of-any-size.html Reference - https://research.lifeway.com/2021/10/20/small-churches-continue-growing-but-in-number-not-size If the goal is getting every member involved int eh mission of Jesus it would seem that smaller churches have an advantage. But small churches have a challenge as well. Large churches have a place. My thought is that disciple making is difficult in any size church. It takes intentional effort not to be distracted by the challenges of being small, or big. Disciple making is intentionally investing in the life of another person. The size of your church doesn’t matter. Your focus and your clarity of purpose do. Thanks for joining me today. If you have thoughts or questions about your spiritual life, write me at norman@runwithhorses.net I would love to hear from you.

Today we finish our overview of the spiritual life and the five areas we need to focus on if we want to see consistent progress in Christlikeness. Welcome to Run With Horses. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as as follower of Jesus. The spiritual battles we face are real. The battles of the future will require you to be growing and trusting God even more than you do today. Your spiritual life, Is your life. We may try to break it into different parts to better understand it and to apply intentional efforts to grow and change, but our life is unified in Christ. Everything matters. Mental Life - Mental life includes emotional, psychological, and social aspects. It is how we think, feel, and act, and determines how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Includes education. Physical Life – From conception to our last breathe we are physical beings. We don’t have control over much of our physical life but our choices do influence our health and ability. Exercise and diet are key. Relational Life - Humans are interconnected. The family and community play an important role in our lives. Humans are meant to connect with others on a personal and emotional level and strong, fulfilling relationships help people build and maintain emotional health. We need people. Mentors, coworkers, friends. Emotional Life - There are many types of emotional skills (aka emotional intelligence). These skills: like emotion regulation, gratitude, empathy, and kindness — help you relate better to others and yourself. Feelings don’t lead us but they do impact us greatly. Physical Health - Humans are interconnected. The family and community play an important role in our lives. Humans are meant to connect with others on a personal and emotional level and strong, fulfilling relationships help people build and maintain emotional health. We need people. Mentors, coworkers, friends. Spiritual Life – The life lived in Jesus, in communion with God. Basics – prayer, spiritual community, bible knowledge. Or three areas of spirituality – doctrine, affection (love) and experience. 1. 1 Peter 2:2-5 – Our desire is to know Him and His Word. - Mental Health We know Who we are. We believe what He says about us. Our Identity is settled. --Mental and Emotional Health We are growing, maturing and our life glorifies God. - All areas affected as we grow and mature, becoming more like Jesus. We are part of His family, a priesthood that serves Him. - Relational Health Our actions are in line with our faith. - Whole life 2. Col. 2:6-10 - Our actions matter every day. Our faith is settled and we build on it. Faith is vibrant, alive and leads us to Thanksgiving! We lack nothing we need for Spiritual Health in Jesus. Ephe. 4:11-16 – All areas of life, working well, result in the body of Christ growing, serving, and building up itself as we all become more like Jesus. Matthew 28:18-20 – A Healthy Spiritual life is one that is engaged in the mission of Jesus to take the message of reconciliation to the world, inviting others to join us as Ambassadors for Christ. The question we all must ask ourselves is not “Where will I be when I face the most difficult challenge in my life?”, but “Who will I be? Thanks for joining me today. If you have thoughts or questions about your spiritual life, write me at norman@runwithhorses.net I would love to hear from you.

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Today we are looking at our relationships and considering how they impact our spiritual life. Welcome to Run With Horses. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as as follower of Jesus. The spiritual battles we face are real. The battles of the future will require you to be growing and trusting God even more than you do today. How can you be the person that you need to be to face the challenges of the future? Your relationships play a big part in your spiritual life and growth. Who you hang out with affects your thought life and your choices. True Spiritual Health requires us to pay attention to our relationships. We are getting closer to completing our look at the five areas of life that influence our overall Spiritual Health and potential for growth. Spiritual Life – The life lived in Jesus, in communion with God. Basics – prayer, spiritual community, bible knowledge. Or three areas of spirituality – doctrine, affection (love) and experience. Mental Life - Mental life includes emotional, psychological, and social aspects. It is how we think, feel, and act, and determines how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Includes education. Physical Life – From conception to our last breathe we are physical beings. We don’t have control over much of our physical life but our choices do influence our health and ability. Exercise and diet are key. Emotional Life - There are many types of emotional skills (aka emotional intelligence). These skills: like emotion regulation, gratitude, empathy, and kindness — help you relate better to others and yourself. Feelings don’t lead us but they do impact us greatly. Today we are looking at our Relationships- Humans are interconnected. The family and community play an important role in our lives. Humans are meant to connect with others on a personal and emotional level and strong, fulfilling relationships help people build and maintain emotional health. We need people. “We are relational beings, but the sin that destroyed our relationship with God also ruined our relationship with others. This is why life’s greatest hurts, as well as life’s greatest joys, come through relationships with people.” So how do you deal with the fact that people are a pain and yet we need people on so many levels? I mean, sinners abound! But comfort comes through people. Encouragement comes through people. Jesus gave the call to love and serve . . .people. And then again, our greatest hurts come from people. So what do you do? There are options. You can be a hermit. You can avoid as many people as possible. You can live near people without any real connection to them. It is not uncommon for people to attend a church for years and not really get to know anyone. It is possible to live near others and never meet. But Jesus calls us to relationships with others. Why? 1. We are God’s ‘A plan’ to reach the world with the good news of His Son. There is no plan B. We are Ambassadors for Christ and have the message of Reconciliation that the world needs to hear. Mark 12:29-31 Not easy. But not complicated. Love and serve others for the sake of the Gospel. 2. Our loving service and use of our gifts builds up the church towards maturity. Maturity builds unity. Unity glorifies God. 1 Cor. 12:12- 26 - The fact that Jesus is returning should motivate us to love each other, comfort each other and use our gifts to build each other up. 1 Thess. 5: 1-11 But Relationships are Hard! You might say. And you would be right. No getting around it. Sin is a real thing, even in the life of a believer and we are easily swayed by our hearts to choose our own way rather than Jesus. That usually doesn’t work out well for our relationships! A good question to ask yourslef, if you are a follower of Jesus and consider yourself His disciple, is : Do my relationships look like the relationships that Jesus had with people? Phil 2:1-11 - Jesus humbled Himself for the glory of God. He wasn’t a doormat. He ran people out of the temple with a whip, also for the glory of God. Jesus lived a life that lifted up God. That desired showed itself in every action and in every relationship. As a follower of Jesus we have the same calling. To live a live that is pleasing to God. One that glorifies Him in every relationship as we put Him first and help others see how great that He is. It really isn’t an option to avoid people. Our choice is how will we relate to them? Will our interactions with others make the message of the cross clear and allow the Hope of the Gospel to shine bright? I certainly pray that they do. Life is all about our relationships. How are you doing in yours this week? References - https://www.globaldisciples.ca/blog/christian-relationships-relating-with-others/ The question we all must ask ourselves is not “Where will I be when I face the most difficult challenge in my life?”, but “Who will I be? Thanks for joining me today. If you have thoughts or questions about your spiritual life, write me at norman@runwithhorses.net I would love to hear from you.

We have been looking at five areas that all impact our ability to grow and have a healthy spiritual life. Spiritual Life – The life lived in Jesus, in communion with God. Basics – prayer, spiritual community, bible knowledge. Or three areas of spirituality – doctrine, affection (love) and experience. Mental Life - Mental life includes emotional, psychological, and social aspects. It is how we think, feel, and act, and determines how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Includes education. Physical Life – From conception to our last breathe we are physical beings. We don’t have control over much of our physical life but our choices do influence our health and ability. Exercise and diet are key. Relational Life - Humans are interconnected. The family and community play an important role in our lives. Humans are meant to connect with others on a personal and emotional level and strong, fulfilling relationships help people build and maintain emotional health. We need people. Mentors, coworkers, friends. Today we are looking at our Emotional Life - As beings created in the image of God, we have many emotions that we use to express ourselves and that reveal our inner character. The challenge is to allow the Holy Spirit to rule not only our actions and thoughts, but our emotions as well. As the challenges of the summer intensify, each of us will reveal our “true self,” as fatigue and the mental exhaustion of living and working in another culture take their toll. Self control is the result of a Spirit-controlled life! Following the Way means balance in Life. From Two Steps to Improve your Emotional life – 1. “You want to be able to choose what you become emotional about and when you become emotional.” Proverbs 29:11 - A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back. Prov. 16:32 - He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. 2. “Be able to choose how you act when you are emotional. “ 1 Tim. 1:7 - For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Gal. 5:22-25 – 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Self control is the result of a Spirit-controlled life! Reference - https://bigthink.com/articles/two-steps-to-improve-your-emotional-life/ There are many types of emotional skills (aka emotional intelligence). These skills: like emotion regulation, gratitude, empathy, and kindness — help you relate better to others and yourself. Feelings don’t lead us but they do impact us greatly. Reference: https://www.berkeleywellbeing.com/emotional-skills.html As beings created in the image of God, we have many emotions that we use to express ourselves and that reveal our inner character. The challenge is to allow the Holy Spirit to rule not only our actions and thoughts, but our emotions as well. As the challenges of the Christian life intensify, each of us will reveal our “true self,” as fatigue and the mental exhaustion of living and working in another culture take their toll. Following Jesus means seeking His control of our life. How are you doing at keeping your emotions in their proper place? They definitely have value. We were created as emotional beings. But our emotions shouldn’t be running the show. The question we all must ask ourselves is not “Where will I be when I face the most difficult challenge in my life?”, but “Who will I be? Thanks for joining me today. If you have thoughts or questions about your spiritual life, write me at norman@runwithhorses.net I would love to hear from you.

We are looking at all of our spiritual life and have divided it into 5 key area to help us consider how we are made and where to apply effort and energy for change. Let’s review. Spiritual Life – The life lived in Jesus, in communion with God. Basics – prayer, spiritual community, bible knowledge. Or three areas of spirituality – doctrine, affection (love) and experience. Mental Life - Mental life includes emotional, psychological, and social aspects. It is how we think, feel, and act, and determines how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Includes education. Physical Life – From conception to our last breathe we are physical beings. We don’t have control over much of our physical life but our choices do influence our health and ability. Exercise and diet are key. Relational Life - Humans are interconnected. The family and community play an important role in our lives. Humans are meant to connect with others on a personal and emotional level and strong, fulfilling relationships help people build and maintain emotional health. We need people. Mentors, coworkers, friends. Emotional Life - There are many types of emotional skills (aka emotional intelligence). These skills: like emotion regulation, gratitude, empathy, and kindness — help you relate better to others and yourself. Feelings don’t lead us but they do impact us greatly. Mental Growth - Proverbs 23:7, 1 Corinthians 13:11 The Christian life is an incredible challenge and adventure that requires us to commit everything we are and have to the task. As Christians, we are leaders wherever God takes us, leading the way among lost sheep looking for direction. Through the study of God's Word, we will examine the life of a spiritual leader; through the activities of the summer we will have opportunities to practice what we learn. Everyone will receive training to prepare devotionals as well as practical ministry training, like how to lead a meeting or plan a strategy for ministry. Teamwork initiatives, Japanese language study, reading assignments, and times of discussion will all help us to challenge our thinking and stimulate mental growth. Weekly challenges in the form of rock climbing, rappelling, airsoft scenarios, and team competitions are designed to take each of us to our personal limits, facing our fears and overcoming them as a team. Following the Way requires new thinking. Tips for mental well-being. Notice how much overlap there is with the other 5 area we are considering. We are not divided beings but unified. All areas of life impact all other areas. 1. Learn to understand and manage your emotions. Name the emotion you feel and identify the root cause if you can. Journaling can help. Don’t let your emotions control your thoughts. 2. Stay connected to others and regularly talk through things with a friend. Strengthens relationship and steadies emotions. Allow you to learn from your mistakes as well as others. 3. Get enough sleep. 4. Exercise! Reduces stress, improves sleep, gets your blood moving and can make you sharper mentally. Great for problem solving. 5. Eat healthy. Impacts your mood, ability to think clearly, tiredness, irritability, etc. 6. Plan things to do that are positive and move you forward. Projects, personal and with family/ friends. Things to try help you grow spiritually, spiritual disciplines,etc. 7. Pray. 1 Thess 5:18 – 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Keep your eyes on Jesus in the midst of every trial. Be thankful and learn to express gratitude daily as a natural response to God daily mercies. Psalm 118:24 - This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Choose Joy! 8. Be a Life-Long Learner. Learn to ask questions. When you meet new people – be curious. Explore the Bible as a traveler to another country, look for the differences and ask WHY? Research – deeper bible study, practical applications – the “How To” Make a list of potential skills that would be useful to you or that you would like to know. Pick one and begin! 9. Choose to give your thoughts direction. Phil. 4:8-9 - 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Don’t let your thought lead you down paths you don’t want to follow. Make choices about what you allow into your mind and be proactive about giving yourself positive things to think about. Choices – books, music, movies, even friendships, will fill your mind with potential avenues your mind will explore. Choose wisely. Exert self-control and discipline. Reference; https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications/our-best-mental-health-tips The question we all must ask ourselves is not “Where will I be when I face the most difficult challenge in my life?”, but “Who will I be? Thanks for joining me today. If you have thoughts or questions about your spiritual life, write me at norman@runwithhorses.net I would love to hear from you.

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Today we are continuing to look at our spiritual life and the five areas we need to focus on if we want to see consistent progress in our spiritual life. Today’s area? Our Physical Health. Welcome to Run With Horses. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as as follower of Jesus. The spiritual battles we face are real. The battles of the future will require you to be growing and trusting God even more than you do today. An important piece in your overall spiritual health is your physical well-being. From handling stress to having the energy to push through a difficult situation, your physical health greatly impacts your spiritual ability to respond well tot the trials that will come. Quick review to get us started today. Five area of life that are critical for our overall spiritual growth and maturity. Spiritual Life – The life lived in Jesus, in communion with God. Basics – prayer, spiritual community, bible knowledge. Or three areas of spirituality – doctrine, affection (love) and experience. Mental Life - Mental life includes emotional, psychological, and social aspects. It is how we think, feel, and act, and determines how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Includes education. Physical Life – From conception to our last breathe we are physical beings. We don’t have control over much of our physical life but our choices do influence our health and ability. Exercise and diet are key. Relational Life - Humans are interconnected. The family and community play an important role in our lives. Humans are meant to connect with others on a personal and emotional level and strong, fulfilling relationships help people build and maintain emotional health. We need people. Mentors, coworkers, friends. Emotional Life - There are many types of emotional skills (aka emotional intelligence). These skills: like emotion regulation, gratitude, empathy, and kindness — help you relate better to others and yourself. Feelings don’t lead us but they do impact us greatly. Physical Health - 1 Corinthians 3:16 – 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. 1 Corinthians 3:16 tells us that our bodies are the temple of the true and living God. We are stewards of His dwelling place here on earth. What an awesome responsibility! To maintain a fitting vessel prepared for His service, we will exercise daily and be ready for every opportunity that He gives us to serve. 1 Cor. 6:19-20 – 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. “Physical training is good…” (1 Timothy 4:8 - 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.) So why focus on our physical health? 1. We are to Glorify God in our Body. 1 Cor. 6:20 2. Being healthy means being physically able to serve others. Increase energy levels. Can reduce pain. Improve sleep quality. 3. Regular exercise can be a spiritual discipline. Builds humility, self-control, endurance. 4. Stress relief <https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/exercise-and-stress/art-20044469> Virtually any form of exercise, from aerobics to yoga, can act as a stress reliever. It’s meditation in motion. It improves your mood. 5. Taking care of your body is stewardship of God’s gift to you. Stewardship : the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care (Merriam-Webster) “Stewardship defines our practical obedience in the administration of everything under our control, everything entrusted to us. It is the consecration of one’s self and possessions to God’s service. Stewardship acknowledges in practice that we do not have the right of control over ourselves or our property—God has that control. It means as stewards of God we are managers of that which belongs to God, and we are under His constant authority as we administer His affairs. Faithful stewardship means that we fully acknowledge we are not our own but belong to Christ, the Lord, who gave Himself for us.” - https://www.gotquestions.org/biblical-stewardship.html A focus on physical fitness will allow us to see the results of consistent training and challenge us to apply the same concept to our spiritual lives. Progress is the result of developing new habits. New habits are the result of hard work. Ministry is often tiring and stressful but by maintaining a high level of fitness, we recover faster from hard days and are better able to handle the stress of ministry, preventing burnout and extending our years of productive ministry. Following the Jesus is not easy. The question we all must ask ourselves is not “Where will I be when I face the most difficult challenge in my life?”, but “Who will I be? Thanks for joining me today. If you have thoughts or questions about your spiritual life, write me at norman@runwithhorses.net I would love to hear from you. Our lives are complicated with all five of these areas interacting in many ways. The good thing to remember is that God is using all of them in the process of sanctification, preparing us for the day we meet Him face to face. Until that great day, keep running!

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Today we are looking at our spiritual life and introducing five areas where we should be focusing if we want to see consistent progress in our spiritual life. Welcome to Run With Horses. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as as follower of Jesus. The spiritual battles we face are real. The battles of the future will require you to be growing and trusting God even more than you do today. How can you be the person that you need to be to face the challenges of the future? One way is to apply consistent attention to your Spiritual Health. But your overall spiritual health is affected by more than just your prayer and bible reading. Let’s look at a few areas that need attention for us to be all that God intends for us to be. God brings life to those who were once dead. That life has many aspects. Spiritual Life, Mental Life, Physical Life, Relational Life, and Emotional Life are five important parts of the person God has made you. All of those parts can use attention from us as we follow Jesus. We will be looking at each one separately in the next few shows but today I want us to get an overview and consider the whole person. Let’s look at a few definitions to get started. Spiritual Life – The life lived in Jesus, in communion with God. Basics – prayer, spiritual community, bible knowledge. Or three areas of spirituality – doctrine, affection (love) and experience. Mental Life - Mental life includes emotional, psychological, and social aspects. It is how we think, feel, and act, and determines how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Includes education. Physical Life – From conception to our last breathe we are physical beings. We don’t have control over much of our physical life but our choices do influence our health and ability. Exercise and diet are key. Relational Life - Humans are interconnected. The family and community play an important role in our lives. Humans are meant to connect with others on a personal and emotional level and strong, fulfilling relationships help people build and maintain emotional health. We need people. Mentors, coworkers, friends. Emotional Life - There are many types of emotional skills (aka emotional intelligence). These skills: like emotion regulation, gratitude, empathy, and kindness — help you relate better to others and yourself. Feelings don’t lead us but they do impact us greatly. Thanks for joining me today. If you have thoughts or questions about your spiritual life, write me at norman@runwithhorses.net I would love to hear from you. Our lives are complicated with all five of these areas interacting in many ways. The good thing to remember is that God is using all of them in the process of sanctification, preparing us for the day we meet Him face to face. Until that great day, keep running!

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast What is my part in building community? -Ep.252 – Run With Horses Podcast Take responsibility for your community. 1. Know your Purpose. Build your community by keeping your purpose in mind and reminding yourself of how your contribution matters. As a leader, provide people with vision and line of sight so they are crystal clear about the broader purpose of the organization and how their work fits into the whole. 2. Help others know that they Belong. Plato said, “The part cannot be well unless the whole is well.” Communities take care of their members and vice versa. Stay in touch with people. Invest time and energy in maintaining your relationships. As a leader, Have frequent meetings with your team so you can coordinate tasks and ensure people are making meaningful connections. Encourage relational ties. 3. Face Challenges well. Strong communities adapt and become stronger as they cope together. Embrace conflict and diversity—working through differences of opinion and making space for civil discourse and the learning that occurs from appreciating multiple points of view. As a leader, support people if they try something new and fail. Don’t let perfection get in the way of progress. If you’re not seeing some mistakes or missteps, your team may not be reaching high enough. *Reference Tracy Brower, PhD https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2020/10/25/how-to-build-community-and-why-it-matters-so-much/?sh=57cd6675751b How to build community in your church. 1. Cultivate and support small groups. The key is to build a time of prayer, a devotion and fellowship into each meeting. 2. Train small group leaders to do the work of pastoral ministry. No pastor, no matter how caring, can provide personal attention to more than a dozen or so people at a time. 3. Be willing to give up expediency. Take time. If we want to build authentic community, sometimes the labor-intensive choice is the best choice. 4. Preach and teach regularly on the importance of caring. Caring means reaching out to new people in meaningful ways, like sharing a meal with them or inviting them on an activity. 5. Set a good example. Be the first to show up at events and the last to leave. It takes time to build community. It takes hard work, vigilance and a commitment to training laypeople to do the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16) *Reference Lisa Price https://influencemagazine.com/Practice/Five-Ways-to-Build-Community-in-Your-Church

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Today we explore community and why the church community in particular is so important in the life of a disciple of Jesus. Welcome to Run With Horses, My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as a follower of Jesus. It is difficult enough to go through this life without attempting it on your own. We were created to live in community with others. It may not always be pretty and sometimes it gets downright ugly. But God created us to live in fellowship with Him at the center. And it is beautiful when the bride of Christ is in harmony. We talk a lot about communities. But often, we struggle to live in them. What is Community? “A community is a social unit wherein its members share a common network. Common networks that unite communities include networks of values, interests, goals, and kinship. It is common to classify communities into the following categories: Communities of place Communities of interest Identity-based communities Communities of need Communities of practice” *Reference Chris Drew - https://helpfulprofessor.com/types-of-communities/ Why is Community Important? 1. Support and safety -fight feelings of hopelessness, supporting others also gives us a boost. 2. Connection and belonging - feeling we are part of something bigger can help give meaning to our lives 3. Influence - stop us from falling into unhealthy habits or thoughts 4. Sharing - Sharing activities, ideas and feelings reinforces not only our sense of self, but also adds worth and value to the community 5. Learning - can help us reach insights that we may not have reached on our own 6. Acceptance - acceptance doesn’t necessarily imply agreement 7. More connections, more chances of success *Reference https://www.happiness.com/magazine/relationships/the-importance-of-community/#:~:text=Finding%20others%20with%20the%20same,with%20negative%20experiences%20and%20feelings. Why we need the Church community Reason #1: It meets our basic need for belonging Reason #2: A strong church community is a place for discipleship Reason #3: We are held accountable Reason #4: We need to be fed a diet that will allow us to mature in our relationship with the LORD Reason #5: We are commanded by God to be part of a strong church community *From the Faith Island Blog https://faithisland.org/faith/5-reasons-you-need-a-strong-church-community/ Thanks for joining me today! If you have questions or comments, feel free to contact me on the Run With Horses FB page or write me at norman@runwithhorses.net . How is your church community doing at keeping Jesus at the center? The struggle is real but keep running.. .

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Today we look at the question, “What is “the ministry” of Eph. 4?” Welcome to Run With Horses. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as a disciple of Jesus. Following Jesus means serving others and Ephesians Chapter 4 gives us some imporant insight into what that means and why it is so important. Eph. 4:11 First, who is doing the work of the ministry? Answer – The Saints – Christians! Pastors and teachers are equipping the believers for ministry. Second, What is the purpose of ministry according to Eph. 4? Answer – Edifying the body of Christ Edify – Defined as: a: BUILD; b: ESTABLISH Ministry is helping the church grow to maturity and unity. There is an expectation of growth for the follower of Jesus. Jesus really values unity in His family! 1 Cor. 1:10 John 17:20 Eph. 4:1 A Royal Priesthood 1 Peter 2:9 “In sum, the priests played the significant role of standing guard in God’s house, making sacrifices for God’s people, and instructing the people so that they could enjoy God’s blessings.” David S. Schrock. https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-things-you-should-know-about-priesthood-in-the-bible/ Third, How do we edify each other? Live out the one anothers. Serve Galatians 5:13 Teach Col. 3:16 Bear Burdens/ Care for Galatians 6:2 Fourth, Ministry outside the church. Gospel Paul – Gospel ministry to Gentiles Romans 15:15

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Today we look at a few more questions that people sometimes have about the church. I am sure we aren’t going to cover every question you have so write norman@runwithhorses.net if you have a question! Welcome to Run With Horses. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you thrive as a follower of Jesus. Life is often a crazy mess but in the middle of the chaos, Jesus offers to meet us with peace that isn’t tied to our circumstances. How great to know that there is more, and better, in store for us in the future! All of us have questions at times. I have more than my share, believe me! The church is one of those groups of people who have drawn a lot of attention through the years, and rightly so. Often for good reasons, and just as often for bad ones. Either way the church has been a big part of history. I am not a historian and tend to look more at today than the past. Preparing for tomorrow always seems like a better use of my time than complaining about the past. If you are looking for a deep dive into church history, you are in the wrong place, at least for today. If you are thinking about the church and your place in it, maybe, just maybe, you are in the right place. Who is the church for, just Christians? Church membership is limited to those who have placed their faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Attendance is open to all in most churches for most meetings. Is church attendance required if I am a Christian? The answer is No! We have freedom in Christ and there are few requirements for Christians, we are not under the law. However, while no one will hunt you down for not attending church, Jesus is building His church and does want you to be part of it. We are told not to avoid getting together but to use our gifts to build up His church. Are politics important in church life? They should not be! Politics only are of value in the here and now. If we really believe that we should be working for eternity, politics have a very minor place. Not to say completely irrelevant, just minor. Should I go back if I have been hurt by church? Yes, but . . . Why is it so hard to find a healthy church? Good question! Real answer. Sin. Teaches Bible, Promotes loving relationships, is focused on being and making disciples, The Gospel is celebrated, etc

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Today we are answering a few commonly asked questions about the church. Welcome to Run with Horses. My name in Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as a follower of Jesus. None of us live life perfectly, but if Jesus is at the center of our relationships, we definitely live life better. One thing that is certain in life is that changes are coming! We have had a few changes this week that will cause a few other changes! Susan's mom fell! What is the purpose of the church? evangelism, discipleship, ministry, worship and community What is the churches mission? What specific objective is the church devoted to accomplishing through those purposes? In other words, what is the church trying to do through evangelism, discipleship, ministry, worship and community? Fulfill the Great Commission Matt 28:18-20 - Ministry of Reconciliation, Ambassadors for Christ

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast It has been said that christianity can be summed up in one word – relationships. Today we look at the relationships that make up the church. Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as a disciple of Jesus. You have a lot of choices to make every day. Thanks for including me in your journey of following Jesus. Recently I have been thinking about the church and particularly the relationships that make it up. Regularly I have seen news and info about church relationships that are broken on an almost weekly basis. From pastors and leaders in the church to ,members who are behaving badly, we seem to be struggling to get along and to act like Jesus with each other. It is really a matter of spiritual growth and maturity at it’s core. Our sin nature aggressively drives us from God and unfortunately wins many of the daily battles. The result is that the church, instead of being the beautiful bride of Christ, is a soiled mess that looks almost identical to the world. The world expects the church to be different and is either surprised and disappointed or overjoyed when it is not. Our relationships don’t look like God intends for them to look. And the problem begins with the primary relationship that we have, our relationship with God Himself. Our relationship with God is possible because of the blood of Jesus, applied to our lives, removing our sin, providing us with the righteousness of Jesus Himself. The result of receiving such an underserved gift should be a heart overflowing with Thanksgiving. That thankful heart lifts up the name of Jesus and praises the God from whom all blessings flow. Worship is a natural outflow of the Thankful heart. A heart turned to God glorifies Him through heartfelt obedience and pursuit of holiness. We long to be like Him when we see Him as He is! This heart, in tune with God, pursuing His righteousness and holiness, is filled with a peace and joy that cannot be explained outside of the work of Jesus. It is incredibly calming to know that God is in control. To know Him is to know His love, His grace, as well as His patience and long-suffering. A true relationship with God requires for us to KNOW Him, not just know ABOUT Him. Paul challenges Timothy to pursue godliness and righteousness. We are invited to pursue God in all His glory. He invites us into His presence. A genuine relationship with God changes us in many ways but one of the most important is the way in which it changes our relationship with other people. Our relationship with the church, like our relationship with God Himself, is only healthy or even possible in Christ. The church is a special group of people who are united by a special bond through the power of the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately this bond doesn’t prevent us from sinning against each other time and time again! A relationship that should be marked by a deep and abiding love, is severely tested by our selfishness and focus on our own desires. The world looks at the church expecting to see a kindness and grace that is missing in their own lives but instead see a mess that looks a lot like the one they are in. Why is it this way? In part, many in the church struggle to really know God personally. While weekly sermons give information in abundance, a genuine relationship with the True and Living God is more difficult to find. So we struggle. And we take that struggle to the world. Our relationship with the world, rather than being marked by grace and loving truth, is always tainted by our own sin and make more difficult because we struggle to see God as He is and see His hand at work in the world. And we really struggle to BE His hands at work in the world. Rather than bringing grace and truth to the world and seeing Him change people into His image, we go into the world and take on the characteristics of the world rather than our Savior. How do we change that? 1. Release control of your life to God. He bought you with a price! What does it mean to live His life? If you aren’t wrestling with that question, you might not be living the life God intends. It’s not easy though. God isn’t making cookies so there is no cookie cutter approach to following Jesus. My guess is Peter and Matthew were vastly different in their personalities, gifts and ministry. You and I will be different too. 2. Pursue Jesus. Really seek to get to know Him. This is the path to righteousness, godliness and holiness. To really KNOW Jesus. Not just about Him. Are you wrestling with how to know Him better? You should be, it is one of life’s greatest joys and journeys! 3. The humility of Jesus asks us to consider others better than ourselves. We are asked to submit to one another. Are you wrestling with how to do that in your home, in your church, and in your community? You should be. It does not come naturally for sinful hearts. I will stop at these three for today. They are all huge if you take them seriously and really attempt to live them out. Jesus didn’t call us to an easy life. He called us to a meaningful one. You choose every day how you will live. Choose real value that lasts. Choose to follow Jesus and learn from Him. Choose to help His family be what it can be. Thanks for joining me today. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net with your questions or comments or just to say hi. I would love to hear from you. My prayer is that you reflect the glory of God into the world around you every day. The journey is worth the effort, keep running!

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Today we are thinking about the church and who is responsible for it. Welcome to Run With Horses! My Name is Norman and m goal is to help you grow as a disciple of Jesus. He invites you to follow Him and there is no choice you can make that is more worthwhile. After a summer of travel and never ending upheaval in our lives, we may have the end of this stage in sight. Part of that transition is working on an office for me to use as a home base for the next year or so. I am in the space I will be using today and it is mostly empty and very large so if you hear an echo, it si the natural reverb of a large space, much like an empty warehouse. But it is a blessing to have access to it so I am not complaining. A room is in the planning stages and a generous supporter is working to make it happen as soon as the next few weeks. More info to come! The church is something we talk often about and today I wanted to cover a few of the basics. What is the church? A group of believers. Saved by grace through Faith. Romans 15: 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Colossians 4: 15Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house. Ephesians 1:22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. - NKJV Jesus Builds His Church. - Matthew 16:18 - On this Rock I will build MY church. Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus said, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.” Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples,“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. The church, as the hands and feet of Jesus in the world today, has an important role to play. Gospel witness, Equipping of more workers ( the process of disciple making), bring worship of the True and Living God to every corner of the globe and every street in every village. What is your part? Not always easy but always worth it! Thanks for joining me today! Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net with your questions, comments or just to let me know you are listening. Keep your eyes on the prize and keep running after Jesus.

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast When we were kids and went to mom to complain, she would sometimes say, "Into each life a little rain must fall." Although it is true it wasn't usually what we wanted to hear. What we wanted was an instant solution to our very immediate problem. We don't really grow out of that temptation to run to someone bigger, God in our case as adults, and complain about our situation hoping for an instant fix. And God often responds just like mom. Sorry, you have to go through this one. But unlike mom, God is working in the trial to accomplish something that can't be done without the trial. Check this out. "Without the right kind of fire regimes, some trees simply can’t reproduce, and overall forest health can be negatively affected." https://www.nationalforests.org/our-forests/your-national-forests-magazine/how-trees-survive-and-thrive-after-a-fire#:~:text=As%20opposed%20to%20serotinous%20cones,a%20fire%2C%20for%20several%20years. Some seeds have a hard outer shell that needs to go through the heat in order to germinate. Others require severe cold. On the other side of the trial is new life. I personally believe that some of the gifts that God gives us require fire to be release to us. That fiery trial is a spiritual proving ground. How does that work? In the same way that a seed covering is changed by the heat or cold. The trial in our life changes us in fundamental ways that make us more sensitive to God's work in our life. The fire helps us orient toward God in a new way. The heat softens the seed covering so that it knows it is time to grow. The trial breaks through spiritual hardness and God's Spirit lets us know that it is time to grow! The trial is never fun but it is always profitable. Our problem is that we don't see what God is doing so we don't always see the growth until years later when we have had time to process the expierience through the more mature eyes of our future self. When we look back at our struggles, we often see how much we have grown because of the struggle. Many people have a new ministry because of their struggle. 2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. vs.6 If we are afflicted, it is for you! There is a purpose to all of our trials. Fire in your life leads to growth in yourself and others! So don't give up. You may not see the purpose today. You may not know who will benefit from your trials down the road, but God does. I know we don't process the struggles in our life this way as we are going through them. But when you come out the other side; and you will come out the other side. You will think about it, process it and begin to deal with the ashes and burnt material in your life. That is the time to remember that new growth comes from the fire. Seeds are now prepared to germinate and bring new growth and eventually fruit. It won't be easy and probably won't be soon, but one day, just maybe, you will be in a position to thank God for the fire. Thanks for joining me today! If you have come through a fire and recognized God's hand at work once you looked back, I would love to hear your story. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net and let me rejoice with you! If you are in the fire now, feel free to write and I will pray for God's gracious hand to guide you though the trial. May God bless you as you seek Him during this time. But whatever you do, don't stop pursuing Him!

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Today we are going over some questions that unbelievers sometimes have about religion in general and Christianity specifically. Welcome to Run With Horses. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as a follower of Jesus. The choices you make every day define you as a person and help you make spiritual progress or make it more difficult. Thanks for making the choice to include me on your spiritual journey. If you are a follower of Jesus, you are probably at least occasionally asked a question or two about your faith. Sometimes by well intentioned friends who just want to know more about what you believe, other times by people who just want to tear you down. Today we will look at a few questions that you might have already been asked or might want to think about for the future. 1. What religion do you believe in? 2. Do you believe in God or another deity? 3. When did you choose your faith? 4. What is your idea of whatGod looks like? 5. Is there a heaven? 6. Is there a hell? 7. What doesheaven look like? 8. What does hell look like? 9. Why should someone start believing in God? 10. What should a believerdo before they die? 11. Does your past play a role when joining a religion? 12. Does someone need to attend church to be spiritual? 13. What’s the difference between being spiritual and being religious? 14. Did you have to change your life before you started following a religion? 15. How often does someoneneed to say “amen?” 16. Should someone start attending a church if he or she doesn't believe in God? 17. Can someone believe in God but not attend church? 18. Should someone read a Bible before he or she starts believing in a religion? 19. What’s the best part of going to church? 20. What benefits can someone get from going to church? Thanks for joining me today! If you have questions or would like to make a suggestion for future shows, send me an email atnorman@runwithhorses.netor look for the Run With Horses podcast on facebook and leave a message. We all have questions. Keep asking and keep looking to God for answers. And keep running!

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Today I am challenging you to evaluate your life and do one thing to defeat inertia and get your spiritual life moving. Welcome to Run With Horses. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as a disciple of Jesus. It is not always easy to follow Him in this life, but it is always worth it. Thanks for including me on your journey. Most people at least occasionally get stuck. Maybe it is a rut that you can't get out of or maybe it feels more like a wall that you can't seem to get around, over or through! Either way, for some reason you can't seem to move forward. It can be a problem in your career but it is an even more critical problem when it is in your spiritual life. A stagnant spiritual life will affect your career, your relationships at work and your relationships at home not to mention your relationships with God and His family! When you are stuck, it is a sign that something needs to change. There is an expectation in Scripture that we will be growing. We have talked about it before many times. We begin our spiritual life as infants and children but we shouldn't expect to stay that way! God intends for us to move from the milk of the Word to the Meat, doing the Will of the Father. I have mentioned the definition of insanity before, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. IF you are stuck in your spiritual life, I say it again, something needs to change! God intends for you to be making progress along the path. He provides the resources needed, the power for change through the Holy Spirit and the promise the He will be with you every step of the way. But HE has also chosen to give us a certain responsibility in this life to put in some effort. Where are you applying effort to your spiritual life now? How is it going? Feeling stuck? Ready to change? IF that is you today. I want to encourage you to take one step. Be willing to make ONE change in ONE area of life. Often taking the first step is key to unlocking the door to further growth. I know I often find it hard to get moving but once I am doing better in one area, the success seems to pull me to put in more efforts in other areas. What is ONE thing you can work on today? If you are genuinely stuck and aren't even sure where to begin thinking about making any changes, maybe this list will help. It is not exhaustive and you certainly can't jump in and make changes in every area at once but I truly believe that if you take one or two things and make prayerful efforts to move the needle in your spiritual life, God will meet you there and you will see fruit. A little caveat. I am making some assumptions with this list. I am assuming that you are already having a meaningful time in the Bible daily and that your prayer life is in order. I am also assuming that you are part of a group of Christ-followers who are regularly meeting for fellowship, encouragement, and time together in God's Word. If any of these are NOT true of you. Start there! Exercise Read a book Do that thing you have been dreading Take a break from social media Take a break from TV, Internet, Radio, MP3's, etc. Call a friend you haven't talked to in awhile, be intentional about Spiritual conversation Start a journal of your spiritual life Start a prayer journal Get up 15 minutes early and spend the time with God Do a spiritual evaluation, what areas are in good shape and what areas need some attention? Evaluate your prayer life, Bible reading, church relationships, service to others, opportunities for the Gospel, Disciple making relationships, etc Take one of the spiritual disciplines and add it to your life over the next month. Need a refresher list? Here are a few to consider! Solitude, Silence, Journaling, Meditation, Memorization, Fasting, Service -The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast It seems to me that the discussion of entitlements and rights is very much wrapped up in the discussion of pride and humility. Our pride causes us to believe that we deserve something because of who we are. Humility helps us to give up our rights for the sake of someone else. All of us have an ongoing struggle in our hearts between pride and humility. It also seems to me that it's wrapped up in the idea of loss. We are afraid that we will lose something if we don't get what we believe we deserve. If we aren't treated as we think we deserve we will lose honor or respect. If we aren't taking care of as we believe we deserve we may not have the comfort or safety that we desire. The problem is, God never promised us comfort, or safety, or honor, or recognition for anything that we can do or have done. What is your heart answer when you think about the question, "What do you really want?" For most of us and probably all of us the answer is not God. What we want is focused on our creature comforts, our human desires , and mostly on this life, here and now. We want to have a comfortable house, a nice car, a tasty meal and a lifestyle that we feel we deserve. It seems a far cry from following Jesus, who said that the Son of Man has no place to lay his head, and asks us to deny ourself, take up our cross, and follow him. I'm not sure where we get the idea of safety, comfort and all of these material goods as part of that package. Maybe it was in the fine print? Why is there such a disconnect between what the Bible teaches and what we say we believe and how we think and live? I think it's the whispering of the serpent in the garden in our ear, telling us that we deserve more. The idea of sacrifice and service to others requires too much. Too much effort, too much sacrifice. We shouldn't have to give up our rights, our comforts, our safety, just because Jesus ask us to follow him. Spiritual warfare is for others, sacrifice is for others, service is for others. Certainly we understand that the cause of Christ is important, that the world needs to hear the message of the gospel, but that's something that someone else is responsible for, not me. Because thinking of others is so foreign to us, we can only only see what we want. Our hearts desires control us and drive us. Life is about us. And is life is about us, obviously we deserve a certain kind of treatment. We feel that we deserve certain things just because we exist, but that's not true. What we deserve is to be eternally separated from God. Fortunately God has reached out and given us so much that we don't deserve. Everything we have is a gift from him. If we understand that we can live a life of Thanksgiving. Humility takes the place of pride, service and sacrifice seem reasonable in light of all we have received. We will have the ability to joyfully approach each day. To fully follow Jesus means to give up our rights (not hard since we don't have any), accept his gifts, and join Him on a journey of Faith. You have to give up the right to your time. It is important to understand that you have been given time and energy and a certain degree of health and now you are a steward of all you have received. You were an ignorant steward without Christ, but in Christ, you know what a gift you have. A weight of responsibility is lifted, you no longer have to "succeed", whatever that means. You only have to follow Jesus and use His resources to accomplish His purposes. He will succeed. You have to give up the right to your relationships. Your relationships are given to you by God although we don't often think if them that way. Your ability to have a relationship is given to you by God. It is part of being made in the image of God. God is relational. He communicates. He desires fellowship. You don't have the right to have enough, whatever that means. Instead of relying on enough, whether that's time, health or money, we learn to trust God to supply our needs. We don't have a right to have our needs met. But we often have the joy of having our needs met by an awesome God. Along the way He fulfills needs that we didn't know we had. Needs for worship. Needs to know our Creator. We live in a society that doesn't value humility or self-sacrifice. But we serve a God who not only values it but modeled it for us in the life of Jesus. While most people search for significance and temporary fame in this life. Jesus leads to a path of eternal significance and true value that doesn't fade like the newest Youtube sensation. Youtube fame may be measured in the approval of millions of people. Real value is found in the approval of ONE. It is found following a path that few take. A path of humility and service. A path of sacrifice. But on this path we meet others who travel with us. Family, united by a bond stronger than DNA, national pride, or culture. We are united by blood. The blood that was shed to remove the barrier of sin and give us access to our heavenly Father. We are united in a family that will be together for eternity. Each member loved and appreciated. We live is a world that values rights. But I relinquish my rights and claim a promise. The promise of Jesus to never leave me nor forsake me. The promise that His completed work on the cross is sufficient. The promise that His resurrection will be my resurrection one day. The promise that He who started a good work in me will complete it. I have chosen the ancient path. I want to live with my focus on the footprints of Jesus, leading me home. And I accept the challenge to deny myself, give up whatever rights I have and follow Him. Will you go with me? Thanks for joining me today. You can always write to norman@runwithhorses.net with questions or comments or suggestions for future topics. All past shows are available at www.runwithhorses.net or rwh.podbean.com and on most platforms where you listen to podcasts. Keep your eyes on Jesus and never stop running!

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Today we continue our discussion on How to Invest in someone by exploring some of the options for both one to one and small group meetings. Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as a follower of Jesus. There are a lot of ways you could spend your time so thanks for including me on your journey. We have covered, lightly, Why you should be investing in people as you make disciples. And we covered Who you should invest in, answering the question about how to select a person to disciple. And finally we covered How you should invest in someone, considering the big picture of Character Development, General Spiritual Growth and Ministry Skills. Today I want to give some examples of a format for meeting someone as well as some thoughts on materials you might want to use. First, there are three big categories to consider. 1. Using Book - study guide, book for men, etc Shepherding a Child's Heart, Running Scared, etc 2. Going through a Book of the Bible - Mark, Nehemiah, etc 3. Studying a Topic - parenting, fear, etc There is no wrong answer for which one should I choose! Over time you will likely use all of these depending on the people involved and the needs that arise. So pick one to get started and feel free to change midstream if it is not working for your group right now. For a format, I recommend keeping it simple. Here is an example for a 1 hour meeting. 15 minutes - Start with fellowship. Catch up on the week and how things are going. Often a prayer request is first revealed or at least hinted at here. 15 minutes - Prayer. I like to put prayer early because it is too easy to leave it out if we keep it till the end. Sharing a prayer request and a praise or one thing God has taught you recently or even the One Verse One Thought One Minute from Simple Journaling are all great ways to give this time a little structure as well as put some sor fo limit on it. 30 minutes - Bible and Book discussion - It helps if everyone has read the passage or chapter ahead of time. Other than referring to key verses or sections in the book, there is no need to read the passage again during the meeting if time is an issue. This is a super simple format. It can be expanded to fit longer time by adding things like sharing memory verses, reading the Bible passage together, etc. For another possible format consider doing a Discovery Bible Study. This is an example modeled on www.dbsguide.org. 1. Get Real - Community/ Fellowship To begin the study, each person answers these questions: What are you thankful for? What is causing you stress? Who needs our help? How can this group help them? 2. Look Back - A review (on session 2 and following) Retell story from the previous meeting. What did you do differently because of this story? Who did you tell and what was the reaction? 3. Read & Re-tell - Focus on understanding what the bible says. One person reads the Bible passage out loud, and the rest follow along. Someone else retells the passage by memory, if possible. Others can fill in what is missing. 4. Look - A deeper look at what the passage is teaching. Read the passage again. Discuss what this passage says about God, Jesus or his plan. 5. Look again - A more specific look at the implications of the passage for us. Read the passage once more Discuss what this passage says about humans. 6. Personal Application -Stop and consider what the passage says to me. According to this study, what am I doing well? What do I need to change? 7. Who else? Who needs to hear this story? How can I tell them? Who can I invite to study the Bible? What do I like about this format? No teacher required! If you don't feel comfortable teaching you can still lead a bible study that aims to look at Scripture and simple explore what it says. No stress required. What do I not like about this format? No teacher required! There is the potential for one person derailing the whole discussion and trying to teach their opinion about a passage rather than letting the bible speak for itself. The larger the group and the more likely this is to be a probably with a less than forceful leader. But you can use this one on one or in a small group with 3-4 friends and it has the potential to be very profitable for everyone. I think the risks are worth it! There is no wrong format for a bible study or discipleship meeting. The only failure is the failure to try. Pick a format and try it, if it doesn't work, modify it until it does work. This is something you can do! Thanks for joining me today! Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net and let me know how your bible study goes. Keep investing in others and keep pursuing Jesus yourself. It is often difficult but it is always worth it! Keep running!