Closer Than You Think

Note: This episode is AUDIO ONLY. Join the conversation between Marc, Kaitlyn, and Justine as we ask the question, What are the characteristics of parents that foster healthy spiritual development for children and teenagers? Get ready to walk away with many practical, effective questions to use with children, teenagers, and even some adults. We are seeking to foster genuine curiosity and safe conv...

You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel. Join the conversation between Marc, Kaitlyn, and Justine as we ask the question, Who should we go to for important guidance? We would love to hear your feedback. Please leave us your comments. We want your feedback. No, I mean it! We REALLY want your feedback and input! Please share your thoughts with us. The two best ways to support my work a...

Note: Due to technical problems, there is no video of this episode. Join the conversation between Marc, Kaitlyn, and Justine as we dig into the concept and practice of prayer. We would love to hear your feedback. Please leave us your comments. Here are additional resources: * Core Practice of Praying (about 2 minutes) - YouTube video * CTYT “Marc’s Minutes” Archives: “Sentence Prayers” post (plus...

You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel. Join the conversation between Marc, Kaitlyn, and Justine as we ask the question, Is everything spiritual? This one is a doozie. We bet you have strong opinions about this topic. We would love to hear your feedback. Please leave us your comments. We want your feedback. No, I mean it! We REALLY want your feedback and input! Please share your tho...

You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel. Join the conversation between Marc, Kaitlyn, and Justine, as we talk about relationships. What is the most important question to ask a potential partner? What is most important to learn about them early on? We would love to hear your feedback. Please leave us your comments. Here are the resources mentioned in this episode: * The Dating Guide W...

You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel. Join the conversation between Marc, Kaitlyn, and Justine, as we unpack our answers to the questions, Who IS Jesus to you?, and, Who WAS Jesus to you? We hope you find someone to share your answers to these questions with, and/or share them with us. Subscribe to the Community and don’t miss anything. Here are the resources mentioned in this epi...

You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel. Join the conversation between Marc, Kaitlyn, and Justine, as we introduce the purpose of this new podcast. Subscribe to the Community We want your feedback. No,like I mean we REALLY want your feedback and input! Please share your thoughts with us. The two best ways to support my work are to subscribe to (and share) my Substack, and go to Amazo...

This is the first of the LIVE teaching sessions, and we are going to explain a very simple distinction between Bible Study and Theology, which could be a game-changer for your faith journey. If you grew up in the church, you may have been told to read your Bible, and God will speak to you through the text. Maybe you went to Bible Studies only to leave confused or disappointed. Oftentimes, churchgo...

Feature Focus How we define the commonly used word “church” affects so much about our approach to faith and God. It’s worth seeing if we are defining it in ways that help or hurt us. In this issue, we feature a short article I posted in July 2022: “The Dictionary Got One Wrong” If you do a quick online search for the definition of church, you will immediately find phrases like “a building for Chri...

Feature Focus I am so excited to share this interview with you all! Educators, parents, community members, pastors, youth pastors, and students should all tune in to this one. Before you return to work after Thanksgiving break, give a quick listen to this conversation with Lorie Goggin, Executive Director of Reset Mentoring in Williamson County , Texas, and take in some knowledge, inspiration, and...

Feature Focus In issue #6 of this Marc’s Minutes newsletter, I featured part 1 of the article entitled, It Is Good to Question. I encourage you to go back and read or listen to that if you haven’t already. Today, I share Part 2 . As I have said before, “ Unquestioned answers are often more dangerous than unanswered questions.” Curiosity. Questioning. Reflection. These are essentials to spiritual a...

Feature Focus Here is PART TWO of my conversation with Lindsay. She helps me understand another perspective on how young adults are finding their voice, how they have been affected by the school system and church along their journey, and what they believe about God’s voice. Please send me your feedback on Substack or any of our media platforms and let me know what you think of these interviews. If...

Feature Focus My special guest, Lindsay, joins me to continue our podcast series on Voice . How are young adults finding their voice, how has the school system and church affected that journey, and does God have a voice? We get another perspective on these questions from Lindsay. Lindsay’s interview is divided into two parts on the podcast. However, the entire interview can be viewed on YouTube as...

Feature Focus Unquestioned answers are often more dangerous than unanswered questions. This is something I truly believe, especially when it comes to faith and religion. Closer Than You Think is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. The key to great learning and spiritual development can be found in our questions. Che...

Feature Focus My special guest, Simon, joins me to continue our podcast series on Voice . How are young adults finding their voice, how has the school system and church affected that journey, and does God have a voice? We get another perspective on these questions in this episode . Listen to the whole episode ! Keep It Simple Strategy If you are meeting with friends, in small groups, or just worki...

Feature Focus How do we figure out God’s will? The focus of this issue is a post I wrote one year ago that helps us answer this question, but probably not in the way you have usually heard it answered. I hope you take a few minutes to read or listen to the article and let me know your thoughts. This is a topic near and dear to my heart because I think we have inadvertently led many young people as...

Feature Focus My special guest, Hannah, joins me to continue our podcast series on Voice . How are young adults finding their voice, how has the school system and church affected that journey, and does God have a voice? We get another perspective on these questions in this episode . Listen to the whole episode ! Keep It Simple Strategy If you are meeting with friends, in small groups, or just work...

Feature Focus Is a chaplain coming to a school near you? What are your thoughts about chaplains being in schools? To put my cards on the table, I gladly support having chaplains in schools, but I also understand why many people have reservations about this idea. If a school or district is going to have chaplains serving staff and students, then it is necessary to proceed with caution. Go here to f...

Feature Focus My special guest, Kaitlyn, helps us kick off our podcast series on Voice. How are young adults finding their voice, how has the school system and church affected that journey, and does God have a voice? These are some of the questions we tackle in this episode . Here is a quick preview . Watch or listen to the whole episode! Keep It Simple Strategy If you are meeting with friends, in...

Originally published March 2023 When I was in college I had to take a few Religion courses to meet the requirements of my university. In one course I wrote a paper about the teachings in the New Testament related to the rapture, which is the idea that Christ-followers (believers) are going to suddenly be transferred from earth to heaven at the Second Coming of Jesus. As a young Christian, the rapt...

Originally published June 2023 The Rule of Life podcast team with Practicing the Way has done it again. They released another series on a spiritual practice, fasting, that has challenged me. The episodes are filled with a good combination of information and inspiration. Here is my reflection and summary of my learning. First of all, simply put, fasting is not eating . It is going without food. Man...

Originally published April 2023 Quick question: Which of the following well-known 5-letter names means the most to the church? Trump? Biden? Jesus? I think we all agree on what the answer should be , but how do we determine what the answer actually is? How about this? Pastors, do your congregations seem to talk and post more about either of the first two names on social media, especially regarding...

Originally published March 2023 I am leery of pulling random Scriptures out of context and seeing how they can be applied to our situation today, something I used to do ALL THE TIME! However, I also believe there are exceptional verses in the Bible that apply almost perfectly in any context at any time in any place. In my mind, the first part of Hebrews 12 is one such passage. I still approach it...

Originally published March 2023 From the About section of the Rule of Life podcast, “The Rule of Life podcast is designed to guide you in arranging your everyday life around being with and becoming like Jesus.” It is hosted by John Mark Comer and produced by Practicing the Way . Thank you for reading Closer Than You Think. This post is public so feel free to share it. What I want to do here is pro...

This recording is an open letter to church leaders about three particularly bad yet subtle and widely held beliefs that can lead our ministry astray as we put ourselves in the place of God. The three beliefs discussed in this episode are as follows. Bad Belief #1: “I have been called to shepherd the flock.” Bad Belief #2: “I have been called to build the church.” Bad Belief #3: “I have been called...