Vertical Pursuit

The three young men who stood their ground against King Nebuchadnezzar are legends. Why? Because their faith wasn’t based on an outcome. They believed, even if their prayers weren’t answered. They understood that this isn’t a transactional adventure, and God isn’t a genie in a bottle. 

Do you have idols in your life, or things that are becoming idols? Where do your thoughts go by default? What outcomes or dreams are always on your mind? Purging idols is not easy, but anything that consumes too much of your thinking is taking the place of the Lord. Changing these habits is possible.

Matt is a leader of men, and as a high school basketball coach, a leader of young men. He walked away from the corporate world about a decade ago to become a pastor, and his obedience to that calling is worth celebrating. He is now on the front lines in helping men find their purpose and improve their faith lives. 

How did we get where we are? Did we obediently follow God’s plan for our life? And, how do we know if we’ve arrived at our predetermined destination? Perhaps we’re overthinking this. The plan isn’t prefect because we’re perfect; the plan is perfect because God is perfect. 

Why do negative, and even self-destructive thoughts, come to us so much easier than positive thoughts? Giving ourselves grace can be a massive challenge, but if we don’t learn to do it, it’s possible that it’ll not only take us down, but everyone close to us. 

Anytime a group of two or more people get together, there are natural roles for each individual. It’s easily explained when talking about a sports team, or a business, but is no less important when talking about a family, or a church, or even a group of friends. What is the role of a man, husband or father? Role acceptance leads to chemistry, which leads to culture. As the world works harder to de...

Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace. That sure sounds good, but it’s not quite that easy, as we all know. In this episode we discuss the differences between mercy and forgiveness, and how it can truly be a gift to yourself. Also, how the freedom to forgive, or not, was a gift to us. 

Artificial Intelligence is a hot topic these days, and it’s advancing at warp speed. It’s exciting, but also very concerning, because of the trans humanist movement that seems to be coming along with it. Is this human evolution, or is this a planned rebellion against God? Buckle up.

Moral decay is on the rise, and it’s argued that traditional values are oppressive. And, the quest to desensitize the culture to wicked behavior has picked up steam. Lines that were never crossed, like exposing children to debauchery, are now regularly stepped on and over. Christians are called to love, but logic and Biblical values, also deserve a seat at the table. 

No matter the circumstance or subject matter of conversations these days, things usually circle back to the importance of knowing the truth. There are not different versions of the truth, there is just THE truth. While that was never a debate in the past, for some reason it is today. In this episode, we get to the heart of many matters of the day, with the goal of circling back to the one truth we...

Healthy expectations can be a good thing. But, expectations can also destroy things in many ways. And, what’s the difference between hope and expectation? What are the ways we can guard against disappointment, frustration, and resentment, which can come as a result of unrealistic expectations- of others, of ourselves, of out circumstances? 

“Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like MEN, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13. This could turn out to be the mission verse for Vertical Pursuit, and in this episode we go through some of the most pressing issues we are hearing from men as of late. It’s not getting easier, for sure, but we also know the adventure in your life will be found in responsibility and sacrifice, and not in comf...

Of course, we want to always be grace-filled and loving, but at what point do our beliefs strengthen our confidence to the point that we’re ready to fight for them? In a shaken world, standing firm and being bold is one way we can walk in obedience.

There are many in this world who use fear to control us, and there is a lot to be fearful of right now. But, don’t let fear call all the shots. This takes discipline and great faith. A healthy fear of God is how we defend against fear in the world. 

We are bombarded every day with lies from the enemy. You are not good enough, strong enough, wise enough, are undeserving, and don’t have what it takes, are examples. Have the strength to fight back with your own truths, and don’t get caught in the crazy cycle. For every lie, God arms us with the power to rebuke them.

How many examples do we have to see of people we once held in high esteem crashing to the ground because they compromised? We always think of these as being major forks in the road, and they can be. But, they can also be the smallest of decisions that face us every day. Where is your line in the sand? How slippery is the slope?

Pastor Tatlock recently returned from his 4th trip to Rwanda, and was a guest speaker at a big conference put on by Africa New Life. He discusses his experience, and we go into all that is right with that country, and what the United States can learn from the great people who have completely turned that country around following a bloody genocide.

We hear all the time how men chase rest, peace, and refreshment. There is a shortage of all three, in a big way, right now. Yet, the Bible doesn’t just suggest it, it commands that we practice it. How do we put aside our need for constant achievement, practice resistance and reclamation, and reach the rarified air of true rest?  

We have discussed in past episodes the opportunity Pastor Tatlock has had as the team chaplain for the Portland Trail Blazers. But, we’ve never really gotten into details about what it’s all about, and how so many athletes seem to gain their strength from their faith. Why is this? And, why are some so bold in sharing, while others opt for a more private approach?

He may have played 456 NBA regular season games, along with 30 playoff games, but it took a public fall for Meyers Leonard to find his true identity, joy, and peace. We are so drawn to stories of redemption, and this much is clear - through the fire, Meyers, a devoted husband and father, is now living his best life. 

We’ve all know that the value of something is determined by what someone will pay for it. Are you spending time reminding your soul of its worth, by reminding yourself of the high price that was paid to redeem you? Sounds simple, but how do we do that?

Surely we’re not expected to simply fake it when we’re hard times. But, how exactly do we practice thanksgiving in the face of tragedy or anxiety? How can we turn our eyes from our situation to our Saviour? 

Milo Curtis is a chaplain in the United States Navy, and is currently stationed in Virginia. He joined us to discuss the moment he realized he was being called, and what he’s learned since. The job of a chaplain entails more than just one sit down discussion could hold, but the adventures, stories, and duties, are fascinating and inspiring.

These are crazy times, indeed. The politics of 2024 will be front and center, and will likely cause a massive amount of worry and anxiety for our country. So, how should we be approaching this in prayer? And, what are some ways we can put what is happening in America in the proper perspective? It’s a complex issue, and we take a swing at it in this episode. 

What are prophetic words, and why does it seem everyone is getting a message exactly like this right now? We know that 2024 will likely be a little crazy, and time seems to be moving faster recently. So, rather than let chalk this up to ‘coincidence’ we thought we’d take a deeper dive into what it could mean.