Gleaning and Gathering

Eric interviews 5 of the NDP leadership participants to talk about their favorite parts of NDP and how it has helped them to become better leaders.

Eric Himelick and Martin Barnard explore their evolution from dispensationalism to a more Christ-centered understanding of Scripture, emphasizing the importance of love, conversation, and biblical literacy. They discuss their efforts at rethinking their views on Israel and Jewish people without going to extremes. Main topics:The shift from support for Israel rooted in dispensationalism and the reasons for itThe dangers of social media and sound bites in shaping polarized, oversimplified viewsThe importance of real relationships, love, and dialogue over polarization and superficial engagementBiblical grounding for understanding Israel’s role in God's redemptive planPractical steps for Christians to foster understanding and love across dividesLinks:The Hope of the Gospel by Vic ReisnerIdentifying the Seed by Robert McKenzieMutually Insured Engagement articleThe Internet Is Not What You Think It Is by Justin SmithNeil Postman's "Amusing Ourselves to Death"Eric Himelick - Twitter | LinkedInMartin Barnard - Twitter | LinkedInClosing note: Please send all hate mail to Martin. (Afterall, he started this conversation.) I hope that our conversation here highlights the importance of Biblical and loving engagement. We hope that you will seek to foster friendships like this, and to root your views in Scripture rather than the changing cultural or political trends of our day.

Mentoring today is more crucial than ever, especially in a time when father figures and positive male role models are diminishing. In this episode, Eric Himelick explores how mentorship can fill vital gaps in young men’s lives, revealing the emotional and social impact of guiding the next generation.Key Topics:The increasing absence of positive male role models and its social consequencesHow mentorship provides a roadmap, not just adviceThe importance of visible life models to teach conflict resolution, integrity, and humilityThe mental health and engagement benefits for mentored youth, including higher graduation and employment ratesPersonal stories illustrating the transformative power of even small investments of timeThe cultural erosion of apprenticeship and guild-style mentorshipPractical ways for men of all ages to mentor within their communityThe biblical foundation for mentoring, emphasizing passing down faith and values (2 Timothy 2:2)Big Brothers Big SistersTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction: The significance of mentorship in today's society00:28 - The crisis of father absence and its effects on young men0:58 - The lack of clear rites of passage and identity for modern men1:27 - How mentorship offers guidance and models manhood1:57 - The importance of real-world example in navigating conflict and maintaining integrity2:20 - Vulnerability and the silence of struggling young men2:38 - Mentorship as a map for life, not just advice2:58 - Benefits proven by organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters3:28 - Personal reflections: You don’t need to be perfect to mentor3:56 - Rebuilding mentorship through community and shared experience4:24 - The personal and societal Return on Investment from mentoring4:30 - Overcoming doubts about what one can give as a mentor4:59 - The historical context of apprenticeship and passing down values5:28 - Practical ways to mentor at any stage of life5:59 - The vulnerability involved in reaching out and offering help6:16 - Identifying those in your sphere who need mentoring6:46 - A story of personal engagement at Victory Village Shop7:16 - The ripple effect of small acts of kindness in mentoring7:44 - The starfish story: Every small effort counts8:53 - Encouragement to begin sharing your lessons and experiences9:04 - Reflecting on personal worth and the importance of passing on what you've learned9:32 - Biblical encouragement: 2 Timothy 2:2 and generational faith sharing10:36 - Call to action: Find someone to mentor, and walk alongside them in faith and life.

In this episode I'm reflecting on my personal journey and the book A Resilient Life by Gordon MacDonald. As the theme for NDP 2026, I'm thinking a lot about this right now.I hope you'll benefit from my journey and my thoughts.

This episode explores the Nehemiah Discipleship Program (NDP), its impact, and how it develops young leaders through hands-on experience, spiritual growth, and community building. It emphasizes the importance of discipleship, hard work, and intentionality in faith-based leadership development. Key topics:The origins and purpose of NDPExperiences and impact of participantsCore values: hard work, spiritual growth, communityMentorship and skill developmentThe theme of resilience and biblical foundations Links and Resources:Victory Acres - https://victoryacres.orgNehemiah Discipleship Program Application - https://victoryacres.org/disciple610 Coffee Company - https://610coffee.com

What are some of your core childhood memories?What was it like to grow up in our home? (And what did we get right?)What will you do differently with your family because of your experiences?What do you know at 23 that you wish you had known at 13?These are just a few of the questions that I asked Rebecca, my daughter, on her 23rd birthday in a delightful, meandering podcast conversation.Parents: the days are long, and the years are short. Enjoy every moment.

There are some things that you don't understand about leadership until you've dealt with challenges and faced problems. I found this list on LinkedIn, and it spoke to me. The picture for this podcast is me at 18... There are a few things that I wish I would have known then.9 Things Leaders Learn Too LateBy  Fraol MussaHere are the lessons most people only understand once they’ve carried real responsibility:1. Clarity matters more than speedYou stop rushing to look capable.You slow down to make the right call.2. Calm is something you practiceIt’s not natural.It’s learned in the moments that test your patience the most.3. People remember how you made them feelYour presence shapes the room more than your advice ever will.4. You won’t always be understoodAnd that can sting.But understanding comes later, long after the results speak.5. Respect grows from consistencyNot charisma.Not charm.Just showing up the same way on the days that feel heavy.6. Pressure reveals your habitsGood or bad.You can’t hide the work you did on yourself.7. Your character shows in private momentsEspecially in how you treat people who have nothing to offer you.8. Silence teaches more than reactionsNot every misunderstanding needs your energy.Sometimes restraint is the real answer.9. Strength grows when you stop proving yourselfYou shift from trying to look like a leaderto becoming the kind of person people trust without convincing.

Thank you, Dan Murry, for the post that prompted this episode. (You can check it out here.)While it may seem that people who get opportunities are just "lucky," when you look closer you can see a pattern of actions and skills. Those are skills that anyone can work towards developing.My purpose in sharing this is to encourage you to move forward with the opportunities God is giving you.

During the season of Epiphany we are focusing on God's mission in the world. This is another message to The Gathering at Victory Acres shared live on Sunday, January 18 from Isaiah 44 and 45. While it is not my normal Gleaning content focus, I wanted to share it with you.

I wanted to share the message that I am sharing with The Gathering, our congregation at Victory Acres. It is a message from Luke 11.

Have you ever noticed that some people seem to get all of the opportunities while other people are consistently passed over? Here are some skills behind what may cause some people to attract those opportunities. Know the skill, and you can work on it.I really enjoyed recording this episode with my daughters while they were home for Christmas vacation!

The biggest key? Do the hard thing first.(There's more, but you should probably just start with that.)

In this conversation, we explore the significance of the daddy-daughter connection, the importance of creating lasting memories, and the investment required to maintain strong relationships. We reflect on personal experiences emphasizing the need for confidence and support as a daughter navigates life.Takeaways:The daddy-daughter connection is vital for emotional health.Trust and safety in the relationship fosters confidence.Investing time is crucial for the relationship to grow.Creating traditions helps strengthen the bond.Daughters internalize how their fathers treat them.It's important to prepare daughters for independence.The relationship evolves but should remain strong through life changes.

What makes moments memorable, and why do they seem so elusive? SummaryIn this conversation, Eric and Rebecca discuss the importance of cultivating memorable moments in life, exploring how social media and the pressure to create perfect memories can detract from genuine experiences. They emphasize the value of being present, the balance between structure and spontaneity in planning family activities, and the role of gratitude in recognizing and enhancing ordinary moments. The discussion encourages listeners to reflect on their own experiences and the significance of intentionality in memory-making.TakeawaysMemorable moments are often defined by being fully present.Social media can create unrealistic expectations for experiences.The pressure to capture perfect memories can detract from enjoyment.Creating positive memories requires intentionality and planning.Ordinary moments can become extraordinary with mindfulness.Balance between structure and spontaneity enhances family experiences.Gratitude helps in recognizing what truly matters in life.Planning allows for spontaneity and reduces stress during events.Reflecting on past experiences can help shape future memories.Daily actions can lead to fulfilling long-term dreams.

If you're a leader of a struggling ministry or non-profit who has wrestled with why it seems so hard to get or keep donors? You're not alone! In this episode, I unpack this topic and discuss a clear pathway forward.

Sharing from my family's experiences and recent activities, I reflect on the need to adjust as we move forward.Speaking of adjustment, we are "pressing pause" on Gleaning and Gathering for a season. We hope to be back in time, but for now, I am not able to give it the time and attention that it deserves.Thanks for listening!

How intentional and focused are you in the use of your time? Could you use help or improvement?HFM Coaching is helping leaders from all backgrounds to distill their dreams into DAILY ACTIONS and helping them to move towards transformative ACTION.himelickfamilyconsulting.com- Sign up for our group coaching.- Attend a FREE workshop.- Move towards transformative action.

This is a message that I shared with The Gathering at Victory Acres, and I wanted to share it with you as well.

Living prepared for the inevitable storms of life is the lesson that I am gleaning this week. Sharing some stories from my own experience and some principles from Scripture.

In this episode I share about our time as a family at Serenity Cabin in Galax, Virginia. We are deeply grateful!I also share about the need for connection. In a world awash in content, many are lacking genuine connection. What about you? Who is your Paul, your Barnabas, and your Timothy?

Avoid the habit of doing too much by taking these four steps:Evaluate, Eliminate, Delegate, and AutomateDo you have a habit of avoiding conflict?Practice Matthew 18. Avoiding conflict will rarely make a bad situation better.

Virtues are specific habits of excellence, and the four Cardinal Virtues are:1 - Temperance2 - Courage3 - Justice, and 4 - PrudenceThere are many "sub-disciplines" of these virtues that will make our lives better. You can listen to the Double Win Podcast for more.

Here are three essential leadership lessons that I gleaned this week:Lesson 1 came from Jesse DeYoungOrganizational doubt is real, and if we are going to lead effectively, we have to address it.Lesson 2: Your mess is your message. Great quote: "John doesn't have a drinking problem; he has a drinking SOLUTION." People are looking for "The Fix" in their lives, and they turn to all kinds of things to "solve" the underlying problem. https://ianmorgancron.com/thefixLesson 3: You have a working genius, and you will work best when you are focusing on those areas of strength. Great book and concept developed by Patrick Lencioni.

Thanks to Sean Morgan and "Leaders in Living Rooms" for the wisdom gleaned this past week. In this episode entitled "Need a Sabbatical? You're doing it wrong," he shared some points that were super helpful to me.I gleaned a lot from another podcast by Carey Nieuwhoff and Jenni Catron entitled, "How to Tell whether your culture is healthy" It was really helpful in thinking about organizational culture both in my past and present.I'd love to hear your story!

Coaching can challenge our thinking. "The problem with success is that you rise to a level that people stop challenging your thinking." - Charles Duhigg (author of How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection.)In this episode, I talk coaching, conversations, and self-awareness as leaders. (Yes, it's just me rambling again.)

For the 100th episode, Kaylynn is back! We review the top 10 episodes from the first 100 published. A good time was had by all.

Here is a report on the time that Samuel and I spent recently in South Africa and Lesotho. It was an adventure, and we are grateful for the opportunity that we had to travel and to share. Here are some highlights and lessons...

While in South Africa, we had the opportunity to interview missionaries Matt Smith and Ben Peters. While my equipment malfunctioned on the interview with Ben and I only captured the first question, I wanted to share it with you. These are great young leaders, and it was a honor to serve with them.

Sam and I share from South Africa about our trip and the lessons God is teaching us along the way.

This is a message that I delivered to The Gathering at Victory Acres in 2022 and I'm sharing again today on this last Sunday of Advent 2024. I hope that it will be a blessing to you.

I wanted to share some things that help make my days more happy and productive. I know that for some this might be a TMI episode, but since this podcast is really just me talking about whatever I jolly-well please, here you go. Here are links: - Uni-ball Vision Elite Pen - Energy Body Cream - Motivate Essential Oil - Chamomile Tea: - Full Focus Planner

"Curious people are rarely cynical, and cynical people are very rarely curious." - Carey Nieuwhof While one are you? Are you actively inviting other trusted people to take the "red pen" to your life? Are you interested or interesting? As a leader, humility and curiosity are essential. Are you a leader who is growing in relationship and building trust?

Sharing from some of my experiences in third-world contexts and statistics from A Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns, I make the case for seeking the Shalom of God for the world in which we live. We cannot dismiss it, and to whom much is given, much is required. May God help us to seek the peace of the places where He has led us.

Here are some thoughts on the future of the church and what it will include. While these are trends that I am seeing, I hope that it will provide encouragement to that "Dollar General" pastor who is currently trying to evaluate next steps. Sure, you may be a car mechanic, but God may be calling you to lead a local group of believer as a pastor-shepherd. Don't dismiss that call, and don't quit your job either! May God help us "to serve this present age our calling to fulfill."

This episode of Gleaning is a message that I shared with 500+ men in Seymour, IN in mid-September at Men Arise. Sharing on the edge of this lake in a huge amphitheater at dawn is an experience I hope I'll never forget. If you'd like a copy of the handout that includes source material and references, please message us at: [email protected]

All of my celebrating these past few days has caused me to glean and reflect on what makes for a good celebration. An important element are the PEOPLE with whom we are celebrating. Who's in your "band of the happy few?" There are some questions for you to reflect on from one of my favorite authors, Gordon MacDonald (A Resilient Life.)

My reflections on starting Victory Inner-city Ministries along with thoughts from The Founders Evolution by Scott Ritzheimer. Not everyone is an entrepreneur, but there are problems to be solved that will require new structures. You might be one of the people to do that!

When you're young it may seem like passion is enough to power through, but through the years, I have learned the importance of systems. In this episode I share what I am working on with regards to group coaching and Two Months Towards Transformative Action - our program to help leaders start the new year with a new system. I'm super excited about it.

I am grateful for the influence of Wayne Ostrander and David Odell. They have spent over 60 years with Calvary Life Fellowship currently located in Kasilof, AK. At a recent Prayer Convocation at Fellowship Farm, I caught up with them. In this episode, they share some of the stories and history from their time in ministry and being led by God's Spirit.

Are you living with purpose, or do you feel like your life is happening to you? Here are some thoughts on designing our days.

These are a few more of the conversations that I had with my friends from Mode Camp, reflecting on their collective memories of this place and the people that have shaped it.

Are you leading with "everything in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom?" Maybe it's time to do something about that. We are offering a FREE Schedule Optimization Workshop - October 15 @ 7:00am ET October 22 @ 7:00am ET October 29 @ 7:00am ET. For a limited time, you can sign up at himelickfamilyconsulting.com and receive a resource that has helped me as a leader be able to move towards health. I'm happy to share it with you.

It all began with a prayer retreat in October 2005. God has done a lot in these past 19 years, and we believe that He has great things in store for the days ahead. Do you need a place to reflect and to reconnect with God? How long has it been since you took time to seek God in extended prayer? Maybe you need to think about a time of your own.

"Work expands to the time allotted to it." Prioritizing and then defining a "box" for your project before you begin (and become emotionally involved) is important to maintaining balance in life. This is something that I have been gleaning, especially lately. This is a good, old-fashioned episode of me behind the microphone blathering away. If you're having problems with insomnia, I have been told that it may be helpful to listen. It may help put you to sleep. You're welcome...

Mode Camp has been a place that has shaped our family over the past decade. What are the places and people that are shaping the soul of your family? Are you being intentional about the influences that will form your children's philosophy and worldview? It matters more than you may think, and it all goes by very fast. I challenge you to think about it!

Our time as a family at Mode Camp is one of the highlights of our year as a family over the past nine years. Ten days in late July and early August to slow down, to hear from God, and to spend time with dear friends has been deeply enriching to us. Here are a few conversations from our time together this past month...

This conversation with my friend, Martin Barnard, on the value of enduring friendship was such a joy to prep and record. NOTE: It was recorded in a narrow window of time over zoom, which explains why things are seemingly cut short at the end. However, it is a window into our busy worlds and our friendship. As someone who has listened and given feedback on GNG since it began, thank you, Martin, for taking time. It is a privilege to call you my friend.

I'm reading the book, The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Pete Scazzero right now, and I was also reflecting on a podcast episode that I listened to last week talking about some of the same topics. I want to be a leader who is giving my family and team "the gift of an emotionally healthy me." What about you? How are you showing up for your family and team, and what are you doing to make it better?

Sharing the details of our trip to AK and life lessons that we have been gleaning along the trail. We celebrated our 25th anniversary with an ice cream cone and a boatload of hard work. While it may not have been most people's idea of a great time, it was perfect for our family, and we are thankful for the opportunity. If you'd like to learn more about the work of Chena Camp, I encourage you to check out this link: https://www.alaskalizzie.com/chenacamp

Some reflections from Ecclesiastes 3 on life and living one day at a time.