PODCAST · religion
An Almost Perfect Podcast
by Almost Perfect
Holy is as holy does. We're a weekly podcast meant to help Christians keep our focus on Christ.
Episodes
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God’s Church Will Never Close.
What happens when keeping a church building open becomes harder than carrying out the ministry it was built to support? This week, Tom and John discuss a CNN article about church closures and ask what lies beneath the headlines. Buildings hold memories of weddings, baptisms, friendships, and...
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Let Go, Let God, and Look Again
What are we really saying when we tell someone to “let go and let God”? John and Tom talk about control, worry, Jesus’ invitation to lose our lives, and why learning to pay attention may change what we see. E182
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The Most Awkward Season at Church
In this episode, John and Tom have an honest, and occasionally uncomfortable, conversation about money, generosity, tithing, and the language churches use when they talk about giving. Why does money make congregations nervous? Is generosity possible when finances are tight? Should every tithe go…
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Birds, Dreams, and the Future of the Church
We say young people are important to the church. But do we trust them? Do we listen to them? And are we willing to let their voices change something? Bonnie Bevers joins John for a conversation about listening to young people, creating ministry with them rather than only for them, and giving them…
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I Just Want People to Want to Be Here
Young people are becoming less happy—and the trend isn't limited to the United States. Research suggests that community, relationships, spiritual practice, meaning, and purpose can all contribute to human flourishing. That sounds like good news for the church. But there's a catch: people aren't...
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The Habits That Keep Us Close to God
John and Tom talk about the spiritual practices that have shaped their lives—from prayer, Scripture, journaling, worship, silence, and community to the routines that don't always feel particularly spiritual in the moment. Sometimes, spiritual disciplines are inspiring. Sometimes they're a grind....
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When the Church Shows Up for You
What does it mean when we say, “The church was there for me”? Too often, we mean the pastor called, the pastor visited, or the pastor prayed. But what about the church member who brings a meal? The person who mows your lawn? The people who make a prayer shawl, pick up your groceries, help you…
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Things Pastors Think Are Helping
What if some of the things pastors do to help their churches are actually hurting them?This week, John, Tom Lizzie, and Todd talk about pastors doing too much, trying to be the expert, hiding behind a “pastor” persona, playing it safe in the pulpit, and unintentionally teaching congregations to...
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You Might Be Overthinking God's Will
Does God have a specific plan for every detail of your life? The person you marry, the job you take, the house you buy, and every decision along the way? And if so…what happens when you make the wrong choice? Tom and John wrestle with what we really mean when we talk about “God’s plan.” Plus, we...
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If Church Feels Meaningless, Listen to This
Why do so many people say church is boring? Maybe it's the same reason soccer seems boring to someone who's never really played, cheered, or understood the game.Whether we're talking about sports, worship, communion, or Christian community, everything changes when we understand what we're…
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Faith, Friends, and Fresh Starts
Starting over is exciting... until you realize you don't know where anything is. This week, we talk about transitions, ministry, friendship, and why the mission never changes even when everything else does. E173
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C Stands for Clergy (And Other Seminary Lessons)
What is the difference between learning about faith and actually living it? This week, Tom and John discuss "practical divinity." Whether you've been to seminary, Sunday school, or neither, this episode is about turning faith from information into transformation.
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What Salamanders Know About Church Growth
What do salamanders, church growth conferences, and small-town congregations have in common? More than you'd think. This conversation starts with the challenges facing small churches and ends with a fascinating discussion about scientists helping mammals regenerate tissue. Along the way, we ask...
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A Moving-Season Theology
This week, Tom and John talk about onboarding into new spaces of life and leadership, what it means to step into a church’s hopes and questions, and how presence matters more than pace. Along the way, we wander through weddings, retirement jokes, Amazon habits, and a growing awareness that life…
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Can a Church Keep Its Identity During Change?
Tom and John talk about pastoral transition, church identity, interim ministry, and what happens when a longtime pastor moves on. What parts of ministry truly last? What belongs to one leader, and what becomes part of the life of a church? It’s a thoughtful conversation about leadership…
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Faith, Blisters, and Walking it Out
We talk a lot in church about “the journey.” Wade decided to actually take one. This week, we sit down with Jeana Martin—counselor, spiritual director, and pilgrimage guide—to talk about what happens when faith gets out of your head and into your body. Along the way, we talk about: – Why people…
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Say It Better, Not Louder
Why doesn’t anyone remember church announcements?In this episode, we sit down with Amanda Banda to talk about the real problem with church communication, and it’s not what you think. From bulletins to social media, we explore why information alone doesn’t stick, and how storytelling can…
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Can you dig it?
Hundreds of people showed up to a beach… just to dig holes...and then fill them back in. It sounds pointless. But what if it’s not? In this episode, we wrestle with why something so simple can feel so meaningful. Along the way, we ask some deeper questions: Are we too obsessed with productivity,...
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A Holy Week Wake-Up Call
Jesus asked the question. We’re still living it. What do you do when your spirit is willing… but your body and soul are completely drained?
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Would you trust a chatbot with your soul?
Millions of people are turning to AI for prayer, guidance, and even spiritual direction. But what does that mean for real faith?This week, we wrestle with a growing trend highlighted in a Relevant Magazine article: Christians using chatbots as spiritual companions. Because here’s the deeper…
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Beginning, Ending, and Letting Ministries Go
After a long pause, John and Tom return to talk honestly about why the podcast went quiet, and why they’re still here. From there, the conversation turns toward one of the hardest realities of church leadership: knowing when to begin a ministry and when it’s time to let one end. Let's explore…
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This counts as an episode
Guess who’s back? Okay, almost back. John takes the mic solo for this “resurrection episode.” He updates listeners on Tom’s vacation life, Joseph’s two-church life, and his own pastor projects, while joking about coffee, fried chicken, and introvert pastors. Come laugh, reflect, and get ready for...
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Monday matters to God
John, Tom, and Joseph talk about why Monday matters to God and how we can find God’s purpose in our everyday work. They remind us that faith is not limited to Sundays—God shows up in cubicles, classrooms, construction sites and everywhere else we work. If you’ve ever wondered how your daily grind...
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Myth happens
Tom and John talk about whether their city is boring or underrated. Then they discuss an article that helps dispel a few myths about the Christian faith. E160
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Ministry with a side of criticism
Ever gotten a “helpful” comment that didn’t feel very helpful?Joseph and John dive into the difference between critique and criticism, and how to not lose your mind (or your calling) when people come for your sermons, your songs or your leadership style.#159
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Stories still work
Reading retreats are trending, but are we still reading in the church? We explore how fiction, Bible stories, and real-life testimonies help form our spiritual lives. E158
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Married to a Pastor
They’ve seen the late nights, the awkward encounters and the church drama—and they’re still standing with us. In this special episode, our wives take the mic to share what it’s really like to be married to a pastor. From funny stories to the real emotional cost of ministry, this is the…
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Prayer pressure
Prayer isn't just a performance or a to-do list—it's a way of being. This week, the pastors reflect on how they learned to pray (or didn't), how Scripture and prayer intertwine, and how private conversations with God shape our public faith. E156
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Ministry isn't misery
This week, Joseph, John and Tom reflect on the joy of ministry. Featuring stories of transition, church life, a hydrogen-powered robo-horse and the reminder that ministry is always more than misery. Whether you’re in the pulpit, pew, or just trying to reset your Google password, this one’s for…
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Double-dipping Disciples?
We all know someone who “goes to that church... and this one too.” Maybe it’s even you. Is that healthy exploration—or shallow commitment? Let’s talk about double-dipping discipleship and whether church-hopping is helping or hurting your faith.
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Methodists Be Like: How's Your Soul?
In this episode, we dive into the sacred (and slightly uncomfortable) practice of holy conferencing. We talk about what it is, why it matters, and how it makes you holy.
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The Hollow Holy Hustle
This week, Tom and John talk about putting on a religious show. Why do we do it and what's at stake? E152
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Not Qualified, Still Called
Think you're not cut out for ministry? Perfect, because neither were we. In this week's episode, we talk about our personal call stories. Spoiler alert: none of us felt qualified, and yet here we are.
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When it's time to go
This week, we're talking about a recent article that offers a glimpse into the church transfer portal. Some people leave a church for good reasons--and some for not so good reasons. How should we respond? E150
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Talking to y'all
This week, Tom and John talk about the importance of learning how to connect. We need more conversation and our churches can help facilitate that. E149
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Iron cage church
Some churches throw fireworks at each other and some don't even let their members free. This week, we're talking about what the good and bad of organized religion.E148
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Holy Shifts
Someone brought an unusual gift to those people we're supposed to stay away from. And let this be your reminder to change your communion wafers. Plus, Tom and John talk about 5 takeaways from Barna's most recent State of the Church Report. E146
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One-Stop Church
This week we’re talking about the “One-Stop Church” mentality—when churches try to be everything for everyone. Balancing ministry, expectations, and reality isn’t easy, and churches can’t do it all. How much is too much to expect from your church? Oh, and it's our 145th episode.
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Worts and all
This week, the guys dive into why everyone needs a place to be real—shouldn’t the church be that place? What keeps us from true authenticity? Plus, if you're a fan of Botox, one comedy club might show you the door!
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Hope has a history
Is hope hard to hold onto? Don't forget hope has a history. This week, we explore why real hope isn’t just wishful thinking — it’s rooted in what we know and believe about who God is and what God has done. #143
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Running on Empty
We let Wade back in, and all is right with the world. But, still, that spiritual exhaustion can still set in. Have you had that experience? Do you know how if feels? This week, we talk about exhaustion, how we might end up there and what to do next if we do.E142
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Pastors Gone Mild
Think pastors have it all figured out? Think again. In this episode, we dive into the real (and sometimes ridiculous) expectations of church leadership—what churches expect from pastors, what pastors expect from churches, and why neither side is always right. E141
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The Control Trap
There's a report that says the end of civilization will happen in 2040. That's got John wondering how much of our life is really in our control. E140
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God said what?
Wouldn't it be weird if our ears moved when we listened to something? Maybe that'd help us listen better. This week, we talk about what it means to listen to God (and maybe even to others). E139
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Joy in a Holy Life
This week, we wonder what some Christians have against being joyful. Is there a real connection between holiness and joy? We sure hope so! E138
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Having an AI pastor
It's our first episode of 2025! This week, we talk how to be happy in the new year. HINT: It doesn't include having an AI version of your pastor.
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One more for Christmas
John says he didn't steal the leg lamp from A Christmas Story, but that sounds like something someone who stole the leg lamp from a Christmas Story would say. Merry Christmas! #136
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Tree-t yourself
Is there something missing or are we missing the point when it comes to Christmas trees and baby Jesus? E135
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Cash for Christmas?
It's the gift-giving season! Tom and John wonder if it's okay to give cash as a Christmas gift? E134
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Octopi and Jesus AI
John has a newfound respect for the octopus. Tom could be diving with them and we're all wondering if confessing to AI Jesus is an okay thing to do. E133
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Holy is as holy does. We're a weekly podcast meant to help Christians keep our focus on Christ.
HOSTED BY
Almost Perfect
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does An Almost Perfect Podcast have?
An Almost Perfect Podcast currently has 84 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is An Almost Perfect Podcast about?
Holy is as holy does. We're a weekly podcast meant to help Christians keep our focus on Christ.
How often does An Almost Perfect Podcast release new episodes?
An Almost Perfect Podcast has 84 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to An Almost Perfect Podcast?
You can listen to An Almost Perfect Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts An Almost Perfect Podcast?
An Almost Perfect Podcast is created and hosted by Almost Perfect.
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