Mighty People Garden

This week, Darrell and Eva pivot from our regularly scheduled discussion on Genesis, Chapter 46 (which we will resume next week) to address recent developments within the Southern Baptist Convention regarding its decision to divert from allowing female leaders and pastors. Both of us have followed the conversation across social media, and what we’re witnessing is a wave of moral injury fallout — not only from the SBC’s announcement but also from the Department of Defense’s reported move to remove women from combat and senior leadership roles. For many women, this news feels deeply troubling. We have watched decades of progress in the military, ministry, and across our culture, and now we find ourselves questioning what the future holds. The moral injury here is profound — it challenges our sense of equality and the belief that we have moved forward as women standing shoulder‑to‑shoulder with men. We grew up watching films like G.I. Jane and series like MASH*, stories that reflected women stepping into hard, demanding roles and embracing the full weight of those responsibilities. Today, that progress feels uncertain, and the emotional and spiritual dissonance is difficult to reconcile. Now what? How does that make us feel?  How do you feel about these changes? Are there moral injury aspects that you are feeling right now? If so, please share.  #moralinjury #moralhealing #moralrecovery #veterans #veteranhealing #veteranpodcast

This week Paula Kemp author and founder of Unjustly Served joins us to discuss military sexual trauma (MST). MST is on the forefront of military and veteran news because there are many aspects of MST which are still being discussed in the veteran claim arena, veteran and military culture and beyond. Paula, a MST victim herself, is turning her physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual pain into a mission that is focused on putting a policy and public administration focus on MST accountability, structured reform, and survivor-centered support. Through the Behavioral Accountability, Reporting & Exposure System -B.A.R.E.S. Act initiative and our A.C.C.E.S.S. program that will track the offenders of MST activities similar to sexual predators in the civilian world.  In light of celebrating the historical signing of women veterans recognition on June 12, we also discussed some aspects of how this parallels with what is happening in the military and the reduction of women serving in combat roles. However, this also paralleled into recent changes in the news with the Southern Baptist Convention and removing women out of pastoral and leadership roles.  This was quite the conversation, you won't want to miss this one.  #veterans #veteranmoralinjury #veteranmoralhealing #veteranmoralrecovery #veteranMST 

This week Eva starts out solo until Darrell joins later in the show. In full transparency, I was not feeling well due to my chronic migraine headaches. Somehow, in prayer and pushing through, the headache gradually fades. This is military injury in action - that the Revivalists mission must continue no matter how we feel.  Joseph and his story with his family is no different. As much as I wanted to cry in pain, Joseph finally is able to break through his own moral injury and announce who he is to his brothers - and cry. He offers words of comfort instead of belittling them for what they did to him. He shares that it was for God's good that these things happened. He cried so loud the Egyptians could hear and ran to Pharaoh's staff and told them. Knowing the dire situation of the ensuing famine, Joseph prepares to relocate his family to Egypt where they could live in comfort rather than destitute and hungry. Pharaoh ups the ante and sends carts as well as nourishment to get them to come to Egypt. Jacob at first is in disbelief but then relents and acknowledges the opportunity.  In the moral injury healing and recovery realm of things, how many of us want to remain that ever vigilant victim rather than seeing the good that comes from our pain. If we instead use our empathetic hearts and find forgiveness and then that is when we start find healing in what could otherwise be a lifelong injury. There are harms even in our own systems where we often find ourselves educating others that women served in the military. Eva shared her recent experience where she had to educate a medical provider about women in the military. We also covered a renewed issue  in the news today about the Southern Baptist Convention that led to a discussion about women serving in pastoral or leadership roles. 

Scott Roessler joins us this week to share his journey with operator syndrome and blast toxicity (think shaking baby syndrome) and how becoming a participant in Stanford's ibogaine study became a lifeline with a new life. Prior to the study, Scott was stuck on some self-destructive behavior that was also affecting his marriage and his relationship with his children. A buddy of his shared the opportunity about the study and the impact it had on him that finally allowed him to cry - to feel again. The emotions that he had held inside were allowed to release through a thoroughly medically supported ibogaine journey in Mexico. This has truly become Scott's pain to purpose that is also intended to help others. He also briefly spoke about his upcoming book The Operator's Guide to the Universe UG2O. Follow him on social media and watch for the release around July 4th!   #paintopurpose.  #veteranpodcast #veterans #veteransupport 

This week we skipped our normal Chapter reading and discussed the impact of moral injury on Joseph thus far. Remember, DSM 5 focuses on moral injury and the application for veterans is that moral injury can come from many traumatic events in our lives. In thinking about the readings in the context of Joseph as a Sergeant Major and how he rose to that position next to Pharaoh despite his traumatic events of being sold by his brothers into slavery and even serving time in prison.  But Joseph chose to turn the moral injury situation around by giving out orders to his staff who then provided the bags of grain with gifts of small bags of silver to his brothers. Joseph did not do these acts out of vengeance, he did it out of love and wanting to know his family. Had they changed? Had the trauma that happened to him hardened his heart? Joseph leaned into his love of God and was living in the world, not of the world. So he chose to give grace to his brothers to alleviate the moral injury and find his own healing and recovery.  Join us next week for Chapter 45. 

While it is Memorial Day 2026 - join Darrell and Eva this week as we cover Genesis Chapter 44. Now that Joseph's brothers return for more grain, Joseph devises a plan to deal with his brothers to determine where their hearts are. The major words in this chapter reflect those of guilt, shame, remorse, survivors guilt and sacrifice. One critical thing for Joseph in implementing this plan however, is that at no time does he take the lower road that his brothers did when they were younger.  The larger picture lies more with the moral injury context of this chapter. Judah, the prime instigator of Joseph's demise rises to the occasion and puts himself as the one who will take action to protect his brothers and father.  This is a tough climax to the story. Interestingly enough, Eva has been following the Dusty Turner story - a Navy Seal https://www.freedusty.com/dustys-story who has been wrongly convicted and imprisoned for a murder that he did not commit. Someone else did. Another Navy Seal finally recanted his testimony to take responsibility for his actions. Dusty has spent 30 years in prison and will never get that time back with his family, living a free life. His story reminds us of Joseph's story. These two Navy Seals have been dealing with moral injury from a different perspective.  #veterans #veteranpodcast #moralinjury #moralhealing #moralrecovery #wrongfulconviction #revivalists

This week Leroy Pinckney Jr joins me in a real conversation. This weekend as we are honoring our fallen - I open with a real conversation and discussion about people in my life (in my people garden) - the names that we shall not forget. This show is dedicated to Kiara Williams of the Smiles Show who we lost this week. I started out as her co-host for several months a couple of years ago at like 430am or some crazy time like that. We laughed, she snorted, we prayed, we had fun and I drank coffee. Kiara, you were an incredible person and I will definitely miss you!  I then told the story about my Uncle Bethel, a Vietnam Veteran, who came back and became homeless. Lost on the streets of the US with periodic visits to our home where after a much needed shower, Momma would cut his hair and beard while the laundry got done. He carried his duffel bag with his stuff in it. That's all he had. He'd stay a little while and off he'd go.  Leroy announced the loss of his job in March on LinkedIn. I started following him. I watched how he did not lean into being a victim. Instead, he found the lion inside - "Lead Like a Lion" and pivoting with consulting for leaders. Leroy definitely has a story to tell and this is just the beginning. Follow him on LinkedIn and lean into his leadership message.  Finishing out the episode I shared my study link for Female Combat Veterans in North Texas and San Antonio areas to participate in. I need your help please! We need to share our voices and this is how we do it via a study!  Oh, and I'm returning to Texas!!! See ya'll soon!   

Join Eva and Darrell this week as we cover Genesis Chapter 43. In this segment we find that Joseph's brothers return to Egypt for more grain. Understanding the dire situation for his sons and the need to also send Benjamin (Rachel's other son), he sends his sons for grain bearing gifts and silver. They are greeted at Joseph's home and dine with him - all brothers in a row by birth.  The moral context of this episode is Joseph showing his personal way of dealing with the moral injury of what his brothers done. He goes into his room and wept. Only after he calms down and washes his face does he return to converse with them and find out how his father is doing.  Another moral context of this episode is Eva sharing some news about her "trailer story". After a weekend of camping and counseling, both Eva and her guest encounter a woman on the side of the road with her own dilemma - the trailer detached from her truck! But we helped her get on her way and it was the perfect ending to a great weekend!    #veterans #veteranpodcast #moralinjury #moralhealing #moralrecovery #trauma #revivalists

In reading Genesis chapter 42, we continue the story of Joseph and his first encounter with his brothers when they come to Egypt for grain during the famine. Their father Jacob sent them to seek grain to feed their families. Although Joseph recognized his brothers and understood what they what saying, he had to pretend that he was Egyptian and they spies. Knowing the full story however, he negotiated with them that they must bring their other brother back to Egypt or else they would not receive any grain. He imprisoned them for three days so they could get a taste of their own medicine. Taking the high road, Joseph not only gave them bags of grain, he placed silver coins in each bag too. This was a test of honesty that his father understood but he also saw what his sons were made of and he was not happy with them, except for Reuben but he let his father know that he must return with Benjamin the next time.  The moral injury context here is one of taking the high road and not resorting to retaliatory moves. Reuben however also stressed that there were consequences for their earlier actions against Joseph when he said "Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn't listen!" How often to we fail to listen to the counsel we receive no matter who it comes from? 

This week Darrell Hartley joins me, not in the context of Revivalists Show but rather spiritual pain. We had a very informative conversation how spiritual pain goes both ways from physical, mental, and emotional pain towards spiritual pain. But then it also can start with your relationships with others that ultimately causes pain with you and your relationship with God. Spiritual pain spans the context of pain caused by trauma, illness, loss, awakening, and struggle with inner core beliefs. Over time, we have built barriers that we have learned over time to protect more than what we allow in. We protect the wall that guards the heart more than we protect the heart itself. The problem then is that we lose the relationship with God and with others.  #spiritualpain #spiritualloss #peoplegarden #paintopurpose #trauma #awakening 

Join Darrell and Eva as we continue the story of Joseph who is brought up to Pharaoh to interpret his dreams. This is the pivotal chapter where the dreams that Joseph had and shared with his family brings Joseph into fulfilling his teenage dream. But first, the cupbearer and Pharaoh's court are unable to interpret the King's dreams about cows and grain. The cupbearer remembers the dreams that Joseph interpreted which were keenly accurate. Joseph provided the interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams from God as 7 years of feast and 7 years of famine. Pharaoh hires Joseph as his second in command to manage all of the resources in Egypt which ultimately, kept Egypt from great calamity.  From the moral injury healing perspective, Eva shared a graphic from Psychologist Kenneth Logan of George Fox University. The graphic provides a visual aspect to understand the difference between depression and moral injury and the questions that they ask which leads towards healing. Joseph could have become greatly depressed in his situation of slavery and imprisonment, however he chose to ask how to overcome and rise? What Joseph also understood was that this was more importantly how to walk with God and serve others and not doing things for himself.    #veteranmoralinjury #veteranmoralhealing #veteranmoralrecovery #veteranpodcast #veteranvoices

Military Spouse Karly Gadell joins us this week to share her mission and purpose behind starting the Plus One Heroes nonprofit. While Plus One Heroes is a relatively new organization, it has been growing and helping many people facing crisis when they needed it the most. Mission Statement:  Plus One Heroes is a 501(c)(3) organization, founded a fellow military spouse, Karly Gadell. Plus One Heroes provides immediate financial assistance to military spouses and families facing crisis, ensuring they receive the support they need, when they need it most. They are dedicated to bridging the gaps in emergency aid, advocating for the spouses and children behind the uniform, and strengthening the military community through swift, compassionate action. One of their newest Plus One initiatives are MilSpouse Survival boxes. The hope is that these boxes will provide some joy during extended TDYs, Rotations and deployments.    Plus One Heroes Highlights:  In just under a year, Plus One Heroes has secured nearly $85,000 to support military families in moments of real need. During the government shutdown, our partnership with the Rate Foundation helped us distribute $50,000 in commissary gift cards to more than 500 families across all branches. For the holidays, we received an additional $10,000 through Rate’s Reindeer Ruck program, supporting Fort Leavenworth families facing especially difficult circumstances and recognizing three outstanding military families for their service and volunteerism. One of the most meaningful parts of this year has been launching our Plus One Wish Program. Our first wish, “Claire’s Wish,” was for a military child battling terminal brain cancer to return to Hawaii and make one more memory with her family. We raised over $10,000 to make that happen and she’ll be traveling in May. After sharing her story, the Army Golden Knights even stepped in to fulfill her dream of skydiving. We just wrapped up another campaign for the CW2 Berton and his family. CW2 Berton  is facing a terminal cancer diagnosis. Wr raised $8,500 to help his spouse and their  three young children navigate relocating to DC from Germany in a matter of days for her husband to start treatment at Walter Reed. We are currently raising funds for a Gold Star child, who lost her Army dad this past February. We are giving this preteen a special room makeover during the month of April, in honor of month of the military child.    #militarychild #veteranvoices #veterans #militaryspouses #veterannonprofits #veteranorgs   

Join Darrell and Eva this week as we return to the story of Joseph and his life of slavery. After many attempts by his Master's (Potiphar) wife trying to seduce Joseph and his repeated rejection of her moves, he said his last "No" and fled leaving his coat behind. Joseph knew his work was to run his masters household but that did not include taking advantage of his master's wife. Joseph knew that kind of wicked behavior would dishonor God. Since she didn't get her way, she made a big deal of it to her husband and got Joseph thrown into jail.  In prison, Joseph made an impression on the prison warden and took over managerial activities. This brought a unique opportunity for Joseph to meet two new prisoners, Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker. Both woke up with dreams and Joseph volunteered to interpret their dreams from God's perspective. Both dreams included a three day delay but the cupbearer was going to make good with the Pharaoh and the baker meet his demise. In reality, that is exactly what happened when they returned to the King's service.  From a moral injury side of things, there are some similarities to consider about relationships. Why was the master's wife so quick to want to seduce Joseph? Was her husband away? Perhaps he could not perform his husbandly duties or perhaps he has an STD? She clearly was not committed to her relationship with her husband. But in many marriages from the military or veterans communities, do we take our relationships with marriages seriously? Is there some moral injury that what happens TDY stays TDY? or perhaps even during conventions? Who pays the price and can the marriage survive the infidelity?  Or, perhaps the signs of a toxic person starts showing its colors and you realize who you are dealing with - that the ones that bark the loudest are the most guilty, they always make someone else look bad to make themselves look good, they always tell on themselves.  Let us remember that in this episode, Joseph is a victim yet he remains strong in his faith to God to keep him moving forward.   

This week my guest is Robert Odom., Chapter President and Steward with National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) to discuss the benefits and ways to navigate federal employment for veterans. I had some of my own challenges after leaving the military and becoming a federal employee was a lifeline for me and my family to have income and keep a roof over our heads. As a vocational rehabilitation success story as a catalyst that helped me get a job with the federal government. There are lots of benefits for us such as childcare assistance program (govt pays part of the childcare expenses as a percentage of your income), public transportation assistance, tuition assistance, annual leave based upon time in service, military buyback, and so much more. Robert gives a lot of great information with resume tips and how to compare your military MOS skills to civilian skills via www.opm.gov. #vagoldengames. #veteranpodcast #veteran #vocrehab. #veteranemployment #veteranbenefits #peoplegarden

This week we covered the interesting and yet personal story of Judah and Tamar. Judah's wicked sons Er and Onan both were consecutively married to Tamar however, they were both put to death (for unknown reasons). As was the custom, Judah was to promise his youngest son Shelah but Judah, fearing death of his son, kept him from Tamar. Judah's wife passed away and when word reached Tamar that he was on his way to town, she took off her widow flock and dressed as a prostitute and positioned herself where Judah could find her. Tamar shrewdly negotiated with Judah with his offer of a goat, and she got him to offer his seal, cord, and staff. He bedded her (without revealing her face). Three months later, it was discovered that Tamar was pregnant with Judah's seed (twins) and Judah's first response was to burn her to death.  Tamar sent word to Judah of his possessions she held - the seal, cord, and staff. It was then that he recanted because he recognized his own evidence. By attempting to convict her as judge and jury, he knew that he was actually hiding his own sin - taking her - one who was not his wife. Thus he then further recognized that she was the righteous one. He put his fear of his sons death before family obligations.  By the way, Tamar is important because she is in Jesus' ancestry.  The moral injury discussion this week revolves around the double standard of these types of events even in the Military Sexual Trauma (MST) world of things that we know happens both in service and beyond. That the "response" was to vilify the woman but yet nothing happen to the man. These are things that have not evolved or changed over time. But if we do not discuss these sensitive topics then how do we evolve? How do we learn the discernment (as did Tamar) that she knew she needed to be shrewd and look out for herself or else perish. We are righteous when we search and conduct ourselves in a manner that pleases God.  Much as our military service requires family obligations, it is tough when we recognize that we have served over self, over family obligations. We are revivalists and our goal is to help veterans find that same righteousness we had as warriors and bridge that back over to our civilian lives. That we have been doing the right things for the right reasons now we need to adjust the mirror, if you will, that the things we do are for God and with the right intention. 

This week I dove into several topics that while may at first sound like they have nothing to do with each other, they actually do. Remember how good we got in the military about adapting and overcoming? My new work commute has been just that. My figuring out how to adapt and overcome while also not getting frustrated and burned out. While my head was saying that I had the weekend to go hiking and camping out on the trail, my word for the year is intention and intentional I must be. So, I skipped the trail and went golfing instead. But before talking about golfing, I dove into my story on why education has been the foundation of keeping me and my family housed and moving forward despite my physical, financial, and family challenges over the years. It is my education that has been the one "thing" that has kept me from staying "in my head" and kept my idle mind out of trouble. Though in many aspects, my education has been my "boyfriend" that has kept me occupied and not wondering about in life, flailing like a fish out of water. As for my golf game today, first two holes today were great! The second two holes....well...not so much.... But, I remembered to get back out of my head and focus on using my tools. Focus on my breathing, focus on where I was aiming, focus on the game I was playing not the frustration of not hitting where I wasn't intending. Because after all, as veterans we know how to get in our heads great! It's the getting out of our heads that stumps us. Just remember, there is always another hole to play and I already have my game set for Monday so I can get my official handicap to play in the VA Golden Games this summer. I also mentioned a great summer class that is offering scholarships for veterans. www.commongroundonthehill.org. Please make sure email [email protected] to see if you qualify for a scholarship. Join me and Jose as we teach the Women Veterans class called Where's My Mic! We're gonna have a lot of fun and we hope you join us! #veterans #veteranfun #veteranmusic #veteranpodcast #veteranhealing #veteranmoralinjury #peoplegarden

This week on The Revivalists we begin the story of Joseph. A young naive 17-year old Joseph told his brothers and his father, Israel (Jacob), a dream he had. This dream sounded just too wild and cray cray for their comfort. For his brothers, it was the last line. Brothers went out to tend the sheep in another area. Joseph is then sent on an errand for his father to convey a message to his brothers. Seeing the opportunity, the brothers plotted Joseph's demise before he walked up to them with the message. Though Reuben tried to intervene to save Joseph and have him thrown into a cistern without water. The brothers plotted to then pluck him out of the cistern and sell Joseph as a slave to a band of "ites" traveling through. Brothers make up this wild story about how Joseph was torn to pieces all while handing the animal blood stained but untorn robe to their father.  Now we have a serious case of moral injury. Not just for Joseph who has been sold but for his father too.  His father goes into serious mourning for losing his favorite son. Rachel's son.  Think of the moral injury...becoming essential a prisoner of strangers, sold by your own brothers for nothing else but having a dream and telling them about it.  The moral injury of family and loyalty of that family, gone in a moment.  The moral injury of being physical injured. Of losing your father and everything that you knew to be true about life. Gone.  Innocence of life. Gone.  There's more to the story on Joseph...let's see where his faith takes him in his journey. 

This week Jacob returns to Bethel under the directions of God. He finally sees that the direction of life he is to lead is to do what God says. In return, God renames Jacob as Israel. He gives further direction to get rid of their foreign gods. During birth, Rachel starts encountering some birthing issues, she gives birth to a son (Ben-Oni/Benjamin) and then she passes. Reuben dishonor his father Jacob when he decides to sleep with Jacob concubine Bilhah. Then Isaac passes at age 180 years old with both of his sons there - Esau and Jacob. Chapter 36 primarily focuses on the genealogy of both Jacob and Esau's lineages.   The moral injury impact from these readings is that unless you turn to God (not foreign gods), then there is a price to pay. It is a choice to follow God and receive his mercy and grace. What happens when you are TDY doesn't stay TDY. There are consequences for our actions and being our own god does not benefit us. 

Rejoining me this week is attorney and clinical mental health counselor, fierce advocate for children in the medical health arena, and  author of Tumbleweeds. Paula is the former spouse of an Army veteran and along the way has found the need to specialize in this very narrow balance of health versus advocacy. There are three things in the legal arena that can be done to help someone in a medical/mental need but they have some different meanings. 1. have access to medical information (in person/records) 2. medical power of attorney 3. guardianship (court ordered). Just remember, love is not burdensome to help someone else. Two ears hear better than one set of ears! 

Jacob finally gets to greet his brother Esau after plenty of offerings that he brings good tidings. However, those tidings quickly change when Jacob's only daughter Dinah is raped and he then declares he wants to marry her now that she is defiled. Jacob negotiates a certain payment for the act if all the males (who are 'ites) in the community get circumcised who then counterdemand that all of Jacob's animals now belong to them too. Jacob's sons are not having it and in the throws of recovery, the sons go through the whole town and kill all the males and pillage the town.  There are some threads of moral injury that many of our military and veterans may have dealt with though. What happened to Dinah is an example of MST. There is also the lack of command and discipline when Jacob's sons did what they wanted instead of listening to their father. Though they were doing their best to support her and keep her honor, they failed to let Jacob lead. Or how about Jacob's own dealings with his brother to "bribe" his favor instead of having Esau's men crash their camps. Instead, Jacob sought to become servant to Esau. Plenty of lessons here and more to follow. #veterans #veteransvoices #veteran podcast #moralinjury #moralhealing 

Joining me this week is attorney and author Paula Yost. Paula and I began the conversation about becoming an advocate for our loved ones. For me, I had to become an advocate for my daughter during a health condition that she developed. Not being a helicopter parent, was a challenge for me to use my voice more for her, not because she didn't have her own voice but because the medical professionals were not listening to her use her own voice.  We experienced some technical difficulties during this show but we started a very important discussion on how we need to open up that space to let others in these very personal spaces to go to doctor appointments with us. Why? Because two sets of ears hear better than one. Because it is easy to go down a tangent on a topic during a doctor visit and get off track with the rest of the list of issues that we need to discuss. More to follow on this topic as we surely understand that time is precious with the doctor visit and it can be difficult to manage numerous issues during short visits.  Join us next week as Paula joins us again so that we can have a more robust discussion. Please feel free to engage with us and bring your questions about how to either ask for someone to go with you, perhaps understand why it is important to find an advocate to go to your doctor appointment with you but how do we navigate the importance of those roles and the decisions that we may ultimately face too.    #selfcare #veteranvoices #veteranpodcast #veterancare #veteranhealth #veteranadvocacy

This week we follow Jacob as he decides to return home after 20 years being gone, serving his uncle and accumulating some wealth. Will this be the homecoming he hopes for? There are some moral injury nuggets in this chapter though. Esau has a grudge - how many of us have grudges that we carry and refuse to let it go? Jacob finally turns to praying to God now that he has accumulated his wealth. Strategically speaking, Jacob makes a somewhat military oriented move and splits his camp. But in stead of going with his family, he sends them on their way with a message and he stays behind. Before he can return home, he needs to wrestle with God and is left with a permanent limp of a reminder. In many ways, our "physical pain" is a reminder to not stray from the purpose that God has for each of us. Next week join us for Genesis Chapters 33 and 34! Got a question, feel free to pop in and ask! #VeteranVoices #veteran #VeteranMentalHealth #veteransupport #veteranpodcast #veterans #moralhealing #MoralRecovery #moralinjury

This episode Eva traveled to Fort Bragg NC and attended the 2026 Military Women's Symposium. Representing The Valkyrie Project (VP) are coaches Dr. Alyssa Newman and Anna Vaillancourt. Both agree that research on women in the military and afterwards is lacking and unfortunately, there are not no funds to support research for the population. While more can be done, it is important to keep educating and sharing information. 

This week on Chapter 31 Jacob decides it is time to break away from Laban. After 20 years of serving his uncle and marrying his two daughters and growing his flock, he's finally ready to depart and head back home. Despite God telling Laban to hold his tongue and not say anything good or bad, Laban doesn't listen. But Rachel, steals her fathers gods from his home and hides them in her horse bag.   #veteranvoices #veterans #moralinjury #moralrecovery #moralhealing

This week my guest is Army veteran John Davis. John is traveling this week visiting veterans abroad but he joins us to share his story on how he became interested in living abroad as an expat. John was searching for options that helped him manage his mental and healthcare. What John discovered is that there are many resources available for veterans in other areas like the Dominican Republic. If you are looking at stretching your disability or retirement dollar more....then being an expat just might be a great answer for you. He recommends spending a month or so trial run in a destination to see if the location, culture, and language is a challenge or if it is something you can learn to deal with. Take a listen to this podcast and feel free to reach out to John if you have questions or want a copy of his e-book.    https://linktr.ee/johnhdaviswriter   #veteranvoices #veteranpodcast #veteranrevival #peoplegarden #veteran #veteransabroad

Join Darrell and Eva as we discuss the drama unfolding around Jacob and his two wives, make that four wives. The children count continues to add up. Rachel and Leah are jealous of each other and instead of trusting patiently in God, they take matters into their own hands (similarly to Sarah) and start negotiating mandrakes for intimacy with Jacob. Tricky Jacob decides that it is about time to move back home. He comes up with a scheme to ensure that he will not go back empty handed.  Eva and Darrell further discuss the implications of moral injury and how it relates to military service. Just like with Jacob and his family, there are consequences to our decisions. What happens TDY or deployment, doesn't always stay relegated to that part of our lives. We will have to reconcile with God. Much like with Jacob, Leah, and Rachel, we can turn God anytime we want. However, it is free will to do so and God is waiting for us.  #veteranrevival #veteransupport #veteranvoices #moralinjury #moralhealing #moralrecovery 

I found Elaine through social media several years ago. In fact, I was a contractor working for Elaine during some of my darkest times and trying to put Christmas presents under the tree for my children. Elaine has been a long time supporter of veterans and this was my opportunity on behalf of the many veterans that she has helped over the years to say thank you. Elaine joins the show this week to share how she needed to lean into her team when she was faced with a crisis of domestic violence. The pivotal point in her journey was also having to navigate a hard pivot during Covid and an outsider threat from another company in another state. While she is still recovering in many ways, she has also found her pain to purpose story in sharing her story that it is never to late to ask for help. That others are in our people garden praying for us and are there to support us when the going gets tough. When the going gets tough then the tough get going.  #domesticviolence #veteransupport #gethelp #veteranvoices #veteranpodcast 

This week we cover Genesis Chapter 29. Jacob finds himself in a new land and kisses a lovely Rachel at the well. Since Jacob has no dowry, he offers to serve his uncle for 7 year to marry Rachel. Though he thinks he is marrying Rachel, his uncle tricks Jacob and he wakes up in the morning and realizes that he married to the older daughter Leah, not Rachel. Leah however get the laugh by bearing four sons to Jacob and Rachel has none. Eva also introduces the topic of Operator Syndrome to the moral injury healing and recovery conversation (DSM 5). In light of recent news that could be triggering, Eva offers giving your trials to God. Go to him in prayer and ask for forgiveness. Ask for help in getting through these trying times. It's okay to turn the news off too. #moralinjury #moralstories #moralrecovery #revivalist #veteranrevival #veteranpodcast #veteranshistory #veteranvoices #veteransupport

In this episode I dare to share my vulnerable stories about exposures to domestic violence. With the recent news of Epstein and sex trafficking, being a victim of events like rape or sex trafficking or even domestic violence is not restricted to women alone - it happens to men too.  Unfortunately, all to often, we remain silent. We are silent to file complaints. The stigma is there. At some point as a society we need to remove the shame and stigma.  Domestic violence happens in the military and it happens before or after we get out. Certainly these events can affect us, but it remains a choice to keep carrying the rocks. Love is what heals us. God wants us to be healed, He wants us to know that we do not have to carry that burden alone. Yes, there is vulnerability in sharing my story, but it is my pain to purpose story. I have endured the years of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual pain because of these events. But God is how I have endured, how I have healed, how I have continued my faith and continued to grow, to thrive, to live the best life I can. 

Join Eva and Chaplain Darrell this week as we cover Genesis Chapter 28. Isaac warned Jacob to not marry a Canaanite woman. There were a number of directions that were given along with the beautiful sentiment that God will bless him, "make him fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples." Jacob then has an incredible dream with a clear vision from God with another covenant for all of us. "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will to leave you until I have done what I have promised you - Genesis 28:15.  For us a Revivalists who are focused on moral healing and recovery, this is a beautiful message to share with everyone that no matter what trials we endure, God is always with us and will not leave us. 

This week Eva and Darrell cover Genesis Chapters 26 & 27. The Cycle repeats. One would think that Abraham would have told his son Isaac the errors of his ways and telling lies. Perhaps that's where Isaac heard the lie and decided to convey the same lie to Abimelech about his wife being his sister. But Abimelech knew better and sent Isaac on his merry way with blessings. Isaac's blessings grow in abundance which make the locals mad and they start filling in his water wells. Abimelech proposes a contract with Isaac, they agree the next day. The third well that Isaac's servants dig is full of water and they are back in business.  Born as twins, Esau and Jacob race to bring dinner to dear Dad who is blind and near death. However, this happens but not without some deceitful acts of Mommy dearest Rebekah who prods Jacob to act like Esau and get the blessings first. Esau's first response was to Isaac and where were his blessings? Life is not fair! Esau vows to kill Jacob. (Isn't this a familiar story between Cain and Abel?)  Our moral injury takeaway is that when we tell lies and facilitate lies, there will be consequences. It does not help with disability claims when we embellish stories to inflate our injuries. What sets us free is the truth of whatever it is that happened. It may take us awhile (could be twenty years) to get our disabilities just tell the truth. 

In this episode, Stephanie Ford joins us as a guest speaking about some of her experience as a former military spouse. She discusses the loss of her identity to support her husband and family during service and not finding or managing her own identity at the time due to her need for being a perfectionist supporting the military family and her own family.  That's all until she discovered her new born again spiritual date and a new relationship with God and leaning into her faith. By leaning into her life by praying to God before she walks, she has found that her her once prayer for Jesus and peace was really just one ask - Jesus in her life. Her other pains have turned into her purpose in life and a newfound reason for her season. 

This song is dedicated to the women who served during the Gulf War during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. 

This week Revivalists see a shift in Abraham's obedience because God is testing him. Now that he understand that there are consequences to following God's directions after what happened with Lot and that town, Abraham tunes into listening and obeying God even when it comes to sacrificing his only son Isaac. Though we still see Abraham telling lies to his servants and Isaac about the sacrifice itself. In many ways, both the sacrificial lamb, and returning we fully understand are a bit of prophecy. At 127, Sarah passes away and Abraham makes arrangements to bury her after he negotiates and land deal with the Hittites. Abraham then makes arrangements with his senior servant to go find a bride out of the local area back with Abraham's brother's descendants. Intro Rebekah into the scene with Isaac.  From a moral injury into healing side of things, we focus on understanding that the lies that have been told over time have had some consequences. God deals with though and it might not be easy, the trail may be a bit rocky to deal with but God is going to keep testing us until we get right with God. He gives us time to deal with things, make choices, in the end, He is going to make us account for whether we follow His directions (since He is God after all) or he will let us be our own "god" (little g) and let's see how those results go, or not. 

I met George W. Alexander on a Deep Sea Valkyries dive trip in 2018. George is a Marine who served 18 months in Vietnam and spent 4 years on active duty. He was working on his second PhD at the time. He has published over 13 books on his life long passion of Karate. He has beyond excelling at karate and even becoming a master. He is now working on his juris doctorate. He attributes being active both physically and mental is what has helped him in many areas of his life. His three go to things in life post military is to have a Mentor, a good support system, and establish goals. He says that those three things are important to help anyone transitioning out of the military and keep moving forward. He also has a dive company in Florida so look him up https://www.silentoceanscuba.com/

This week we work more on reading about Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael, and the birth of Isaac. What's interesting is that Abraham is trying to pull the same trick that he did with Pharaoh. Abraham was only lying to himself!He apparently has not learned his lesson yet! Neither did Sarah.  Abimelech saw through things though and sent Sarah on her way. Apparently Abimelech had some relationship with God himself and was able to discern the truth on what Abraham was doing. Alas, Abimelech gave plenty of reward to Abraham and let Sarah leave without taking her to bed.  Sarah laughed about getting pregnant at her age with Abraham at 100 years old!  Hegar and Ishmael got the boot from Abraham and Sarah's fold and were forced to wander out in the desert with but one bottle of water. They both cried to God and God promised a nation for Ishmael.  From the moral injury and healing side of things, do we learn our lessons? Do we keep telling ourselves lies from our service that are not conducive to our healing? Do we cry to manipulate our way through things or at some point do we realize that we have to bring the problem to God for his grace and mercy?  The choice is ours. 

One of the toughest jobs we ever have in life is not as being a member of the military and the challenges of being in the service, but rather, our job as a parent. When one of our children gets sick, we try to “fix” the issue. What happens though when the “illness” relates to mental health for our children? The how and what we do to help things are not quite so easy to navigate. Sara and Kira Schaffer join the From Pain to Purpose Radio Show today to share their journey in mental health. Sara (mom) and Kira (teenager) share some insights in Kira’s mental health challenges since she was a young child. She had some challenges in middle school with peer bullying especially which led to self harm. Changing schools from public to private helped some because private school saw her as an individual but it didn’t solve the “problem”. The years of struggle had taken a toll. Sara and her husband found a treatment home in East Texas that provided a welcoming long term place where Kira could get the residential help that she needed to help her grow to where she is today. Alas, both Sara and Kira are positive and hopeful that Kira is in a much better state of mind than where she was. The realization is that the problem was the problem and that neither Sara or Kira own that they “caused” anything but what they have is a journey to heal and can do it in a supportive manner. Kira’s parents remain engaged in guiding Kira as she moves into adulthood and find her way and her purpose in life. Thank you both for sharing your story, being vulnerable, removing the mental health stigma, and helping the veteran family with some parallels in moral injury, healing, and recovery. #veteranpodcast #VeteranVoices #VeteranAuthor #mentalhealth #teenmentalhealth #Veterans

This week Eva and Darrell cover Genesis Chapters 18 & 19. Once again we see another human (Abraham) attempting to negotiate with God. Sarah had her own laugh in thinking that God was joking and now that she's of old age, she was going to have a baby within the year. She laughed. Abraham had a visit with the Lord and three men. These men were heading to Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham asked if 50, no 40, no 30, no 20, no 10, could be spared if they were righteous? These three men came to Sodom to visit Lot. The entire town wanted carnally to take these men. However, Lot was trying to protect them. The three men made the townsmen blind so that they could not find the door. Alas, Lot tried to get his family including his sons-in-law and daughters (presumably at least 4 people or more who chose not to leave) along with his wife and two virgin daughters (which would have made 4 more people) that could spare the town. His sons-in-law actually laughed at Lot and wanted to participate in assaulting the three men. But Lot only escaped with his two virgin daughters and his wife who turned into salt when she looked back at the town. In the mountains near the town of Zoar, Lot's two daughters got their father drunk on wine and took to bed their father on two nights, each ended up pregnant. 

Coming to us from Canada is David Morrow an Army Reserve Infantry soldier who served with American forces in Afghanistan.    Returning from Afghanistan injured and without a clear sense of direction he fell back on his education and launched into a teaching career he hated. His back injury left him with some physical ailments that required his wife's help.  He also had to figure out that he was also suffering from PTSD and his life was spinning out of control. He had to make a change. He leaned into figuring out that he had to get back to the basics of his physical health which helped his mental health.    Canada has approximately 500k veterans but there is no clear statistical data to support how many veterans there are in Canada nor how many are actually using veteran services  or care since medical care in Canada is socialized. Unfortunately, Canada does not do well to support military veterans and their care or with their benefits. Canadian veterans do not have a veteran service organization that advocates for them like we do in America. In essence, Canadian veterans do not have a voice. But more than that, there is a new initiative by some mental health therapists across several provinces who are helping with Medically Assistance in Dying (MAID).    What he learned is that together, we can make a difference. We in American can help give Canadian Veterans a voice!    Check 1#

Join Eva and Darrell as we discuss Genesis Chapters 15, 16 & 17. If you want an example of how to have a discussion with God, then this is the episode for you. Sarai (Sarah), Abram (Abraham) and Hagar all have conversation with God. They talk about having a family and what is to come for their households. Big changes on their new names, having sons and kings to be for generations to come. But first, all the males must be circumcised. The covenant is now with God and Abraham. Ishmael and Isaac are Abrahams sons. 

Living with intention is not about perfection; it's about making thoughtful choices that lead to a more meaningful and fulfilling life. By embracing this mindset, you can create a life that not only meets your needs but also brings joy and purpose. Remember, every small step you take towards intentional living is a step towards a brighter, more focused future. My prior year words have varied, but they usually were kept manageable based upon the things that I was going through at the time. Having a word for the year has always help me stay focused on where God wanted me to go in life and not stay stuck. One thing though through sickness and such, we should not allow ourselves to shrink back or into ourselves. That serves no one. So, be intentional folks! Let's grow! 

This week's episode, Eva and Darrell follow the path of Abram and Lot in Genesis Chapters 13 & 14. But they soon realize that between their camps, are too large for the area to sustain them. So they make the decision to separate, though in doing so, Lot ends up near Sodom and falls prey to temptations in the area. Abram catches wind of Lot's situation and gathers some troops and rescues him. We see Abram has growth as he deals with King Melchizedek. 

Joining Co-Hosts Eva and Darrell is a special guest J Kent "Red" Skelton. the first episode covers Genesis chapters 11 & 12. An interesting twist of things where Abram let his wife Serai, become a member of Pharaoh's household. the problem is that Abram told Pharaoh that Serai was his sister, not his wife. Abram did this to gain some of his own financial rewards and save his life. However, when Pharaoh found out that Sarai was not who he thought she was, he told Abram to take Serai and all the rewards with him and get out of country. What we discover is that humanity is once again at finding dysfunctional faults by building the tower of Babel (confusion) and God isn't having it. He scatters people into their own lands and cultures. This episode of The Revivalists includes a special second hour to cover the moral injury, healing, and recovery. We had quite the discussion and a new question that Eva asked to stimulate our brains. How did Satan survive the flood?

In this episode of From Pain to Purpose - Samantha Epperson joins me to talk about her start---stop journey in obtaining her education. Being a first generation college student, it has been a journey and goal of hers to embark on reaching higher education goals but also embody her spiritual growth.

As we finish out the year 2025 Darrell and Eva talked about two chapters - Genesis Chapters 9 & 10. After the Great Flood, Noah and his family were tasked with going forth and multiplying. Though we know that Noah still walked with God, his descendants, not so much. Canaan had an issue with how he found drunken Noah on the floor. Instead of honoring him as he was and covering him up, he made sure others knew. We also saw the growth of the family tree along with the nations of "ites". Most importantly, God signaled the forever covenant with people on the earth that he would never destroy the entire population again. The reminder of that covenant is the rainbows in the clouds. Though there will be storms in life, the reminder is the promise of the rainbow and the everlasting covenant of God's love for mankind. 

This week Brian Sims, current National Director of Project Rebirth joins us to share his pain to purpose journey and how the peer support network is shaping our veteran community. From the issue with the recent moral injury DSM designation and why PTS therapies are not working, how trauma informed care has its own issues with substance abuse compared to substance misuse, to veteran problem with mask wearing versus addressing the core issues. Brian shares a BIG announcement at the end of the show so make sure you listen to the very end!  Funny how the delay in Brian coming on the show was delayed but it was meant to be in God's time!  Thanks for joining us Brian and I'm sure our paths will cross in the future! 

Great discussion on Genesis Chapter 8 today! Noah and his entire family learned to play a bit of "hurry up and wait" after the flood. Took sending out ravens and then the doves several times before Noah could remove the cover off the ark and the ground to dry before everyone and the animals could depart the ark. Wonder what it was like waiting for God to say when? How to have that kind of patience to follow instructions diligently for all those years? how to trust God that everything is in HIS time, not ours. We cover the aspects of moral injury into moral healing and recovery. Perhaps the season of discovering new surroundings after getting out of the military is like the season of Noah and his family. Shedding the old self and discovering our new selves, our new purpose. #veteranrevival #veteranpodcast #VeteranVoices #moralhealing #MoralRecovery #moralinjury People Garden The Revivalists Radio Show darrellhartley.com Darrell Hartley

No guest this week, it is just me telling my Christmas stories of past and present. Some good, some not so good. This year feels a little different but I'm not going to live life any differently. I will keep putting one foot in front of the other and trusting God to direct my path. Merry Christmas all! Check 1! 

Join Chaplain Darrell Hartley and Eva Fulton as we cover Genesis Chapter 7 and the Great Flood. The Revivalist intent is to bring forth the gospel into our lives in such a way that we bridge the gap between moral injury into moral recovery and healing. We do this by discussing the biblical word and its context in human nature. Consider this, that Noah, his wife, sons and daughters in law followed God's direction to build an ark (Genesis Chapter 6) and now the rains come - 40 days and 150 more days for the waters to recede. That was surely traumatic! If you know us by now, we have questions for God too. What did they do on the ark all that time? Is that really the first time it rained? Come join the conversation! 

Thank you for listening to the Mighty People Garden Podcast. This series is the E-Effect which is a series of words that I found interesting to discuss on how we can live our lives better as people gardeners to navigate towards fulfilling God's purpose in us. Prior words have been Emmanuel, Evaluate, Elevate (my word for 2025), Evangelize. This episode focuses on the word Entrust from 1 Timothy 6:11-21. Entrust means to commit to another with confidence. God has entrusted us to share His news and be good stewards of his commandments. As we go about our lives and growing our confidence in God then let us go forward and be entrusted to share with others.