Theodyssey Podcast

We are wrapping up our exploration of Sabbath Rhythm through the Spring Trellis series—a three-month journey where we discovered together the gift and blessing of Sabbath, and how creating margin in our lives helps us be more present with God and more attentive to His invitations. In this conversation, Eric and Rachael discuss the practical aspects of creating a Rule of Life. They explore starting small, trying practices on for size, making adjustments as needed, and doing it in community. There’s so much to consider in this episode!

We're glad you're continuing to explore Sabbath Rhythm with us through this Spring Trellis series. The three-month journey invites us to explore together the gift and blessing of Sabbath, and how creating margin in our lives helps us be more present with God and more attentive to His invitations. In this conversation, Eric and Rachael discuss how we can meet God in our rhythms, why Sabbath is a commandment, and that we need to unwrap this precious gift in order to enjoy it. Together, they continue reflecting on God’s invitation to us through His gift of Sabbath. We are so glad you're continuing to engage in this conversation!

Thank you for joining us as we continue our Spring Trellis series on living a Sabbath rhythm. This three-month journey invites us to explore together the gift and blessing of Sabbath, and how creating margin in our lives helps us be more present with God and more attentive to His invitations. In this conversation, Eric and Rachael discuss the blessings they are beginning to see and questions that continue to arise as they practice Sabbath. Together, they continue reflecting on God’s invitation to us through His gift of Sabbath. We are so glad you're continuing to engage in this conversation!

Thank you for joining us as we continue our Spring Trellis series on living a Sabbath rhythm. This three-month journey invites us to explore together the gift and blessing of Sabbath, and how creating margin in our lives helps us be more present with God and more attentive to His invitations. In this conversation, Eric and Rachael discuss some of the things that can distract us from Sabbath—particularly technology and the pace of hurry. Together, they continue reflecting on God’s invitation through the Sabbath commandment and consider how removing distractions can help us better hear His voice. We're glad you're here for the next step in this ongoing conversation!

Thanks for joining us as we continue our Spring Trellis series on Living a Sabbath Rhythm. This three-month journey invites us to explore together the gift and blessing of Sabbath, and how creating margin in our lives helps us be more present with God and attentive to His invitations. In this conversation, Eric and Rachael share some of the key themes that emerge when establishing and keeping a sabbath rhythm. Together, they continue reflecting on God’s invitations to us through the Sabbath commandment. We hope you enjoy the next installment in the larger conversation!

Welcome to our Spring Trellis series on Living a Sabbath Rhythm. This three-month journey invites us to explore together the gift and blessing of Sabbath, and how creating margin in our lives helps us be more present with God and attentive to His invitations. In this conversation, Eric and Rachael share some of their past misconceptions about what Sabbath is — and what it is not — along with the barriers they’ve encountered in trying to incorporate Sabbath into the rhythm of their lives. Together, they reflect on God’s invitations to us through the Sabbath commandment. We hope you enjoy the conversation!

Welcome to our Fall Study: When We Pray. This is the final episode of an 8-week journey through the Lord's Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13. After a few weeks of context to set up our exploration, we went through the prayer phrase by phrase. We have discussed our view of God, what it means to live surrendered and dependent, how to approach forgiveness, and how God meets us amid the trials of life. As we wrap up this study, we examine the doxology that was added to the prayer in the 1st century, returning our attention to God. "For Yours is the kingdom and power and glory forever. Amen." In this episode, Eric and Rachael not only explore this final burst of praise, but also next steps in taking this Lord's Prayer with you into community. Thanks for joining us!

Welcome to our Fall Study: When We Pray. It is an 8-week journey through the Lord's Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13. After exploring the invitations for daily dependence on God for both provision and forgiveness, we turn to the last line of the prayer: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. We will inevitably face trials and challenges in life, testing our character and tempting us to put our hope in ourselves or the world. This battle for our identity and our will is a reality as we participate in the Kingdom. In this episode, Eric and Rachael talk through these tensions, share from their own journeys, and discuss how to meet God amid the wandering and eventful journey we call life. Thanks for joining us!

Welcome to our Fall Study: When We Pray. It is an 8-week journey through the Lord's Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13. Last week, we discussed the request for Daily Bread, learning the posture of dependence on a loving Father. This week, explore the connected phrase, "and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. Forgiveness is a huge and challenging topic, yet so essential to live in freedom and to participate in God's Kingdom. Eric and Rachael talk through what forgiveness looks like, what it is NOT, and share some inspiring stories of forgiveness. Thanks for joining us!

Welcome to our Fall Study: When We Pray. It is an 8-week journey through the Lord's Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13. We spent the last two weeks learning about the heart of God, as well as the reality of His Kingdom. How do we surrender to a loving Father? This week, we transition to the second half of the prayer, focused on "our" response. It starts with a request for daily bread, which is much more than a dinner staple. Eric and Rachael wrestle through what it means to be dependent on God, even within a culture of comfort. Profound gifts are awaiting us when we respond to God's invitation to trust and depend on Him. Hope you enjoy!

Welcome to our Fall Study: When We Pray. It is an 8-week journey through the Lord's Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13. This week, we dive into the second phrase of the prayer: "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." After grasping who God is, as a loving Father, the question becomes whether we will surrender our own agenda and story. Do we desire for God to be King? Do we want His will to be done in our lives? Eric and Rachael wrestle through the concept of God's will, and share their own journeys of learning how to trust God's desires for them. Hope you enjoy!

When Alan grasped that his Heavenly Father loves him, it freed him to forgive and reconcile with his earthly father. As we grapple with these topics within the Lord's Prayer, we hope this story serves as an inspiration for what is possible. Enjoy!

Welcome to our Fall Study: When We Pray. It is an 8-week journey through the Lord's Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13. This week, we dive into the first phrase: "Our Father, who is in heaven. Hallowed be Your Name." This is more than a greeting, as it reveals the relationship we are invited into. Can we embrace God as a loving Father? Eric and Rachael share their journeys of dismantling their distorted views of God to truly embrace who God says He is. Hope you enjoy!

Welcome to our Fall Study: When We Pray. It is an 8-week journey through the Lord's Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13. Before we dive into the actual prayer, we wanted to explore the larger context. The Lord's Prayer is nestled right in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, which is the most incredible collection of Jesus' teaching on the Kingdom. What exactly is the Kingdom? How do we participate? How does the Lord's Prayer play a role in all of this? Eric and Rachael wrestle through the realities of the Kingdom, our false expectations, and how it tangibly looks in our daily lives. Enjoy!

Welcome to our Fall Study: When We Pray. It is a 8-week journey through the Lord's Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13. Prayer can feel mysterious! What should we expect? What is the purpose? Before we dive into the Lord's Prayer, we wanted to spend a week examining our own experiences with prayer. If we want to have a fresh perspective and experience of prayer, we have to acknowledge where we are starting. Eric and Rachael describe their own journeys and question related to prayer, giving language for the road ahead. Enjoy!

Welcome to our Fall Study: When We Pray. It is a 8-week journey through the Lord's Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13. Before we dive into the passage, we wanted to spend a week highlighting our approach to reading the Bible for the sake of formation. We call the process Alive to God in Scripture, and it involves four distinct movements. Through personal stories, historical insights, and honest dialogue, Eric and Rachael describe what it looks like to read Scripture for encounter, which is the goal of this Fall Study. How do we approach the Bible with a posture of surrender, an expectation to be met, and a goal of formation? This is a vital conversation before we dive into the passage.

This is a bonus episode of our Fall Study: God and me, Actually, which was a 10-week expedition through Zechariah 3:1-7. Our journey barely scratched the surface of some big themes, vital to us living out an authentic relationship with God. In this short episode, Eric shares some next steps coming up in 2025, offerings to help you dive deeper into these spiritual formation concepts. We encourage you to continue having transformative conversations within community! Reach out with any questions!

This is Session 9 of our Fall Study: God and me, Actually, which is a 10-week expedition through Zechariah 3:1-7. In this final episode, Eric, Rachael, and David continue to explore the last two verses of our passage. The vision ends with an If-Then statement, showing us what it looks like to step into this new reality anchored in God as a "Rule-Breaker" and us as "chosen. In this episode, we focus on the “then” statement. If we walk in fidelity with God, privileges, empowerment and accessibility are offered to us. God invites us into the partnership and intimacy found in a transforming friendship. Hope you enjoy the conversation!

This is Session 8 of our Fall Study: God and me, Actually, which is a 10-week expedition through Zechariah 3:1-7. After spending the last two weeks exploring what God is really like, as well as how He views us, Eric, Rachael, and David turn the last two verses of our passage. The vision ends with an If-Then statement, showing us what it looks like to step into this new reality. What does obedience look like when we grasp that God is a "Rule-Breaker" and we are "chosen"? What are the dreams and possibilities awaiting us when learn how to authentically follow Jesus? Hope you enjoy the conversation!

This is Session 7 of our Fall Study: God and me, Actually, which is a 10-week expedition through Zechariah 3:1-7. After spending a week exploring Our True Identity, Eric, Rachael, and David turn to the question of, "What is God really like?" To truly experience an authentic relationship with God, we not only need to grasp how God views us, but also embrace the truth of who God is. We all have views of God rooted in our upbringing, experience, and life circumstances, which are often distorted. We need to let God speak for Himself and for most of us, it will surprise us. What if God is different than what we expected? Our view of God is arguably the most important thing about us. Hope you enjoy the conversation!

This is Session 6 of our Fall Study: God and me, Actually, which is a 10-week expedition through Zechariah 3:1-7. Eric, Rachael, and David start the second half of our Fall Study exploring the the them of Our True Identity. The questions of "Who is God?" and "What does God think about us?" have been percolating in the background throughout all of the conversations and now we start collecting our thoughts. Our true identity is not found in our own experiences or preferences, but in who God says we are. We return to the wardrobe change and discover what these priestly garments say about who we are. Can we embrace it and live it out? Hope you enjoy!

This is Session 5 of our Fall Study: God and me, Actually, which is a 10-week expedition through Zechariah 3:1-7. In this episode, Eric, Rachael, and David explore the concepts of Sin and Forgiveness. Further study of the wardrobe change, and the reason behind it, sheds light on the amazing invitations in front of us. What do filthy garments mean? How do we get to the end of ourselves? What do festive robes say about God, about us, and about forgiveness? A lot to unpack here. Hope you enjoy!

This is Session 4 of our Fall Study: God and me, Actually, which is a 10-week expedition through Zechariah 3:1-7. In this episode, Eric, Rachael, and David explore the idea of themes of accusation and vulnerability. Who is the Accuser and what are his tactics? How do we understand our unique vulnerabilities and invite God into those? Choosing the truth of who God is and who we are is the pathway to greater freedom and joy. Hope you enjoy!

This is Session 3 of our Fall Study: God and me, Actually, which is a 10-week expedition through Zechariah 3:1-7. In this episode, Eric, Rachael, and David explore the idea of worldview. When we live in a naturalistic, high-tech world with the allusion of control, how do we enter into an ancient text with a firm belief in the supernatural? What do we have let go of in order to be open to what God has for us? Do we believe that encounter is even possible today? Hope you enjoy!

This is Session 2 of our Fall Study: God and me, Actually, which is a 10-week expedition through Zechariah 3:1-7. In this episode, Eric, Rachael, and David explore the context surrounding this passage. Why this vision to these people at this time? Knowing the context of Israel, the reality of coming back from exile, and Joshua the high priest allows us to understand the unique questions and assumption they may have. Which then allows us to see the invitations in front of us. How does our own context impact our view of God? Hope you enjoy!

This is Session 1 of our Fall Study: God and me, Actually. It is a 10-week expedition through Zechariah 3:1-7. In this episode, Eric, Rachael, and David wrestle through how we are meant to interact with the Bible. Through personal stories, historical insights, and honest dialogue, they bring to light what it looks like to read Scripture for encounter, which is the goal of this Fall Study. How do we approach the Bible with a posture of surrender, an expectation to be met, and a goal of formation? This is a vital conversation before we dive into the passage.

We are launching our new Fall Study: God and me, Actually. It is a 10-week expedition through Zechariah 3:1-7. In this episode, Eric shares the profound themes within this passage as well as an overview of how the Fall Study is structured. Hope you will join us!

One of the primary goals of the "Five Misadventures in the Christian Life" study is Awareness. First, awareness of why we may feel stuck or stagnant. Second, awareness of what is possible through Christ. But even if we grasp the concepts, this new way of being can still feel quite elusive. Join as as we conclude this series within an invitation to hope and courage.This Fall Study podcast series complements a new 6-week study, designed for those looking for a spiritual refresh. It provides both hope and a roadmap for reimagining a transforming friendship with Christ. A chance to explore possibilities, spark desire, and get a taste of what ‘can be’.* To purchase a book, go to www.theodyssey.org and click on "Store" in the main menu. * For more resources related to the topics, visit www.theodyssey.org/misadventuresIf you have any questions, or are looking for a group, email us at [email protected]

We are inundated with countless information, pressuring us to digest it as efficiently as possible. That approach to reading seeps into our interaction with Scripture. Instead of analysis, what if our goal when reading the Bible is encounter? How do we not just master Scripture, but allow Scripture to master us? Join us as we discuss a posture that opens up possibilities for God to meet us and transform us. This Fall Study podcast series complements a new 6-week study, designed for those looking for a spiritual refresh. It provides both hope and a roadmap for reimagining a transforming friendship with Christ. A chance to explore possibilities, spark desire, and get a taste of what ‘can be’.* To purchase a book, go to www.theodyssey.org and click on "Store" in the main menu. * For more resources related to the topics, visit www.theodyssey.org/misadventuresIf you have any questions, or are looking for a group, email us at [email protected]

Once we grasp the purpose of the Christian life, the next question that emerges is: How do we do that? What does it look like to grow spiritually? We all have a default map that has been engrained in us from day one. Join us as we explore how to embrace a new map, a new way of being, in order to be conformed to the image of Jesus for the sake of others. This Fall Study podcast series complements a new 6-week study, designed for those looking for a spiritual refresh. It provides both hope and a roadmap for reimagining a transforming friendship with Christ. A chance to explore possibilities, spark desire, and get a taste of what ‘can be’.* To purchase a book, go to www.theodyssey.org and click on "Store" in the main menu. * For more resources related to the topics, visit www.theodyssey.org/misadventuresIf you have any questions, or are looking for a group, email us at [email protected]

What is the purpose of the Christian Life? We would not approach a vacation, a career, etc without an end goal in mind, and yet many Christians are caught up in a flurry of activity without knowing the why behind it. Join us as we discuss the purpose of the Christian Life and how it can help us move forward. This Fall Study podcast series complements a new 6-week study, designed for those looking for a spiritual refresh. It provides both hope and a roadmap for reimagining a transforming friendship with Christ. A chance to explore possibilities, spark desire, and get a taste of what ‘can be’.* To purchase a book, go to www.theodyssey.org and click on "Store" in the main menu. * For more resources related to the topics, visit www.theodyssey.org/misadventuresIf you have any questions, or are looking for a group, email us at [email protected]

Where do our distorted views of God come from? In this episode, we explore the second of the five misadventures: Ignoring Our Grid. We all have a unique lens through which we view the world, based on our past experiences. Join us as we discuss how this relates to our faith journey, potentially causing us to feel stuck. This Fall Study podcast series complements a new 6-week study, designed for those looking for a spiritual refresh. It provides both hope and a roadmap for reimagining a transforming friendship with Christ. A chance to explore possibilities, spark desire, and get a taste of what ‘can be’.* To purchase a book, go to www.theodyssey.org and click on "Store" in the main menu. * For more resources related to the topics, visit www.theodyssey.org/misadventures* If you have any questions, or are looking for a group, email us at [email protected]

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us" - A.W. Tozer. In this episode, we explore the first of the five misadventures: Having a Distorted View of God. Our view of God has far-reaching implications. Join us as we dive into the Old Testament to encounter a God vastly different than what many of us may expect. This Fall Study podcast series complements a new 6-week study, designed for those looking for a spiritual refresh. It provides both hope and a roadmap for reimagining a transforming friendship with Christ. A chance to explore possibilities, spark desire, and get a taste of what ‘can be’.* To purchase a book, go to www.theodyssey.org and click on "Store" in the main menu. * For more resources related to the topics, visit www.theodyssey.org/misadventures* If you have any questions, or are looking for a group, email us at [email protected]

Do you long for something more in your relationship with God? While our journey with Christ starts out well intentioned, many get lost in spiritual misadventure – beliefs and practices that sound good, but instead lead into a cul-de-sac, leaving us spiritually apathetic, tired, cynical, or even burned out. Is that you? This Fall Study podcast series complements a new 6-week study, designed for those looking for a spiritual refresh. It provides both hope and a roadmap for reimagining a transforming friendship with Christ. A chance to explore possibilities, spark desire, and get a taste of what ‘can be’.This episode shares the need we see around us, as well as the opportunity in front of us. We share our passion to reach back and invite people off the sidelines and into the story. We hope you join us!* To purchase a book, go to www.theodyssey.org and click on "Store" in the main menu. * For more resources related to the topics, visit www.theodyssey.org/misadventures* If you have any questions, or are looking for a group, email us at [email protected]

SNAPSHOTS: Capturing the moments when God intersects our lives in a powerful way. Tamara had a moment on the beach where she heard a clear invitation from God to join Him on an adventure. Sounds fun, right? But often the things that are best for us are not easy. Hear how Tamara has encountered God in the midst of saying "yes".

We are hosting some guided Zoom conversations this summer around spiritual formation topics related to this current season. We call this platform the "Farmer's Cafe". In this session, David guides us through Phil. 4:6-9, seeing it through the lens of a spiritual director. What questions and invitations emerge? How do we guide others through a passage like this?

This season with a global pandemic has caused many of us to pivot in our plans. We are constantly readjusting to a new reality. As a ministry, we are doing the same thing; continually understanding this new reality. With that, we wanted to share a quick update on how that impacts this podcast.

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted us all. Regardless of circumstances, we are all experiencing some level of grief. We continued our Zoom workshop offerings with Dr. Dean Smith, who has innumerable years of experience as a Marriage and Family Therapist and has played a vital role in training leaders through our Certificate Track. Dr. Dean guided us through a conversation on how to recognize and navigate grief in this season. We pulled out the content of the workshop to offer another special episode here on the Podcast. Enjoy!

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted us all. Regardless of circumstances, we are all experiencing fear and anxiety. Mari Harrower, who has over 30 years experience as a Marriage and Family Therapist, offered to guide a Zoom discussion on navigating this unique season. We had such a great response, we decided to pull out the content of the workshop and turn it into special episode here on the Podcast. Enjoy!

A global pandemic overwhelms us with uncertainty. In the midst of the fear, anxiety, and grief, what opportunities arise? How do we reframe our expectations? How do somehow find joy in the midst of our circumstances? After a quick ministry update, we dive into these questions to navigate this season together.

SNAPSHOTS: Capturing the moments when God intersects our lives in a powerful way. There was a moment when Shawn finally grasped what it meant to be loved by God. And that moment changed his approach as a pastor, sparking a movement that has spread throughout Daybreak Church and pushed beyond their community.

As we reflected on the Fall Study, we realized one more episode would be beneficial. Through personal conversations, email, and Zoom discussions, some common questions emerged around this process of being Alive to God in Scripture. What does encounter look like? What type of rhythm should we have? Can you provide more tangible steps? Hopefully our responses are helpful in creating hope and traction in moving forward in this approach. Have an amazing Christmas, and we will be back in 2020!

Every Fall, we sit in a passage of Scripture for two months as an extended community. Our desire is to practice how to be Alive to God in Scripture, where we encounter God and be transformed by Him. This year, we journey through Psalm 1. Our website and phone app have all the resources and details. Hope you join us on the Fall Study!In this episode, we discuss the final stage of the journey: Respond. This is where we make choices and engage our will. If we skip this step, we have just wasted our time in the first three stages.

Every Fall, we sit in a passage of Scripture for two months as an extended community. Our desire is to practice how to be Alive to God in Scripture, where we encounter God and be transformed by Him. This year, we journey through Psalm 1. Our website and phone app have all the resources and details. Hope you join us on the Fall Study!SPECIAL EDITION: The first conversation with Kuimeuy was so valuable, we invited her back for a second episode. Kuimeuy joins us again to share more insight about the "Pray" stage, as well as how it interacts with "Respond." The two stages blend together as we encounter God in a personal and tangible way.

Every Fall, we sit in a passage of Scripture for two months as an extended community. Our desire is to practice how to be Alive to God in Scripture, where we encounter God and be transformed by Him. This year, we journey through Psalm 1. Our website and phone app have all the resources and details. Hope you join us on the Fall Study!SPECIAL EDITION: Since the "Pray" stage is not easy to grasp for many, we asked Kuimeuy Wang to join us on the podcast to share her journey through Psalm 1. What does it mean for her? She shares the struggles, breakthroughs, and everything in between, offering a tangible example of how encounter God in Scripture.

Every Fall, we sit in a passage of Scripture for two months as an extended community. Our desire is to practice how to be Alive to God in Scripture, where we encounter God and be transformed by Him. This year, we journey through Psalm 1. Our website and phone app have all the resources and details. Hope you join us on the Fall Study!In this episode, we discuss the third stage of the journey: Pray. This is where we are receptive to God's invitations in response to the question, "What does this mean FOR me?" Not easy, but vital in allowing the passage to change us.

Every Fall, we sit in a passage of Scripture for two months as an extended community. Our desire is to practice how to be Alive to God in Scripture, where we encounter God and be transformed by Him. This year, we journey through Psalm 1. Our website and phone app have all the resources and details. Hope you join us on the Fall Study!In this episode, we continue our discussion around the question, "What does this passage mean?" Using the guardrails, we unearth the main ideas of Psalm 1, which have profound invitations for us moving forward.* Reading of Psalm 1 in Hebrew: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pSe4xLNMmI

Every Fall, we sit in a passage of Scripture for two months as an extended community. Our desire is to practice how to be Alive to God in Scripture, where we encounter God and be transformed by Him. This year, we journey through Psalm 1. Our website and phone app have all the resources and details. Hope you join us on the Fall Study!In this episode, we transition to the second step in the process: Think. We discuss four guardrails that are vital as we pursue the question: "What does this passage mean?" This stage can be intimidating, but we hope to show you how accessible it actually is.

Every Fall, we sit in a passage of Scripture for two months as an extended community. Our desire is to practice how to be Alive to God in Scripture, where we encounter God and be transformed by Him. This year, we journey through Psalm 1. Our website and phone app have all the resources and details. Hope you join us on the Fall Study!In this episode, we explore the first step in the process: Read. Seems straightforward, but might be the most challenging step of the whole journey. What do you desire out of Scripture? Are you ready to release control?

How do we respond to what we sense God is doing in our midst? What do we do as a ministry? As we learn a new map, which is actually the ancient map of the Bible, we need a context to partner with God. In this episode, we describe the opportunities we have created to come alongside of people and connect them to a loving God.