Shows
Welcoming GodThe Benefits of Accepting Reality and Facing DenialWhat happens when we finally stop fighting reality and simply accept what is? Not resignation to circumstances, but a profound spiritual opening that transforms our relationship with life itself.Most of us carry some form of denial—parts of reality we refuse to acknowledge or accept because they feel too painful, too threatening, or too disruptive to our sense of safety and happiness. This episode explores the fascinating dynamics of acceptance and denial, revealing how our resistance to what is actually attempts to protect us, yet ultimately holds us back from experiencing the fullness of divine grace an...2025-07-2909 min
Welcoming GodFinding Your Way Through A Spiritual Crisis: A Journey of Questioning and GrowthWhat happens when you begin to question the spiritual path you've been walking? When the God you thought you knew becomes a question mark rather than an exclamation point? This deeply personal episode explores the disorienting yet ultimately transformative experience of going through a spiritual crisis.After an unexpected ending to a five-year relationship with my spiritual coach, I found myself adrift in questions about God's benevolence and the nature of spiritual truth. This crisis prompted me to examine how we navigate periods of profound uncertainty about our most fundamental beliefs. Rather than viewing these questioning periods...2025-07-2214 min
Welcoming GodSecond Half of Life: Growing Up Personally and SpirituallyWe're back after a two-month hiatus with the start of our four-week summer season. Recent unexpected changes and life experiences have felt challenging and prompted reflections on personal growth, trauma integration, and the journey towards personal and spiritual maturation.In the first episode of season two, I'll discuss: • Moving from the first half of life (focused on success and achievement) to the second half (internal journey and becoming a wise elder)• Exploring Richard Rohr's concept from his book Falling Upwards and the call to grow into elders both spiritually and in the world•...2025-07-1510 min
Welcoming GodTailer Season 2: What topics would you like me to talk about on Welcoming God?Hi!Season 2 will start Tuesday, July 15th and will be a four week season. I want to know what you'd like to hear about on Welcoming God. Please go to WelcomingGod.com and scroll to the bottom of the page to the "Get In Touch" section and send me an email answering the question, "What would you like to hear me talk about on Welcoming God?"See you July 15th on your favorite podcast listening platform! Please share the podcast with someone you know would benefit from it!With Sin...2025-05-2701 min
Welcoming GodS1E8: Mindfulness Meditation Practice for Beginners on a Spiritual JourneyWhat happens when we pause to notice what's happening within us? Freedom emerges in that space between stimulus and response. This guided mindfulness meditation introduces a simple yet profound practice of noticing—bringing awareness to breath, physical sensations, thoughts, and emotions without judgment. Unlike many meditation practices that feel disconnected from everyday life, this approach is designed to be integrated into your daily activities, creating more choice in how you respond to challenging situations.We explore the fascinating concept of confirmation bias—how our existing beliefs create filters through which we interpret all experiences. When someo...2025-05-0628 min
Welcoming GodS1E7: Let's Pray!: How to Pray and WhyPrayer transforms our spiritual journey from transactional requests to authentic divine communion. Whether you've prayed your entire life or struggle to understand what prayer means, this episode offers fresh perspectives on connecting with the God through prayer.The foundation of meaningful prayer isn't found in perfect words or formulas but in genuine intention. We explore various approaches—from traditional petitionary prayer to contemplative sitting with God—and examine what makes each practice powerful. Many of us unconsciously default to treating prayer as a spiritual to-do list or desperate bargaining tool when life gets difficult. But what happens when...2025-04-2931 min
Welcoming GodS1E6: The First (Easy) Step to Living A More Spiritual LifeHave you ever struggled to maintain a consistent spiritual practice amid life's constant distractions and seeming demands? Creating space for authentic connection with God doesn't require hours of meditation or elaborate rituals—it simply needs our heartfelt desire and commitment.We live in a world where everything competes for our attention. Responsibilities, relationships, work, entertainment—all pull us in different directions, making it challenging to prioritize our spiritual wellbeing. Yet the foundation of living spiritually begins with carving out intentional moments to nurture our relationship with the divine. This episode explores how to create a sustainable daily prac...2025-04-2222 min
Welcoming GodS1E5.5 BONUS: Mercy and Forgiveness on Good Friday: An Excerpt from Savannah Guthrie's book, Mostly What God DoesHave you ever felt weighed down by shame so heavy it seems impossible to escape? The burden of our past mistakes can weigh on us, yet the most transformative power in the universe awaits: forgiveness.This Good Friday episode takes us deep into a scene from the film "The Mission," beautifully described in Savannah Guthrie's book "Mostly What God Does." We witness the journey of Rodrigo Mendoza, a slave trader who murders his own brother and carries a massive physical burden up a mountain as penance. When he finally faces the indigenous people he once terrorized, something...2025-04-1809 min