Faithfully Creative

Episode 22 features an interview with Steve Brown. Steve is the president of Arrow Leadership , which is an organization focussed on developing Christian leaders. We talk about how we often want a "balanced life," but that this might be quite different from a Christ-centered life. Steve is passionate about helping people develop sustainable rhythms that support a life centered on Jesus.   Some of...

Episode 21 features an interview with Steve Weins . Steve is the author of Whole and Beginnings. He is the pastor of Genesis Covenant Church and had a podcast called This Good Word . This interview is packed with great stuff - what an amazing conversation! We spend most of the time speaking about Steve’s latest book, but it is a pretty free wheeling conversation. So much fun! Get Steve's latest bo...

Episode 20 of the Spirituality for Normal People Podcast features an interview with Michael Priebe . Michael is the author of The Lovely Grind: Spiritual Inspiration for Workdays, a collection of 90 devotions for stress relief and personal growth.   Some of What We Talk About: What do people need in their working life? What is spiritual health and its relation to physical health? Staying in a job...

Episode 19 features an interview with Erica Barthalow . Erica has been in various forms of ministry in her life, including three years as a missionary in India. She wrote a not so typical book about her experience there. It’s called  Holy Doubt: Finding Hope When Faith is a Struggle .  She admits that three months into her time in India she felt abandoned by God.   Some of what we talk about in th...

Episode 18 of the Spirituality for Normal People Podcast features an interview with Jann Martin . Jann is a children’s author and has previously served as a youth leader at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Westland, Michigan and as the Director of Family Ministry at Faith Community Presbyterian Church of Novi, Michigan. Jann has an interesting story of falling into the calling of writing, after...

Episode 17 of the Spirituality for Normal People Podcast features an interview with Kelly Edmiston . Kelly is the student minister at First Colony Church of Christ. We pack a ton of amazing stuff in this episode, as you can see from the notes below. Such a great conversation! Some of What We Talk About What happens when we don’t “feel it” in our spiritual life? Making feelings and experiences into...

Episode 16 of the Spirituality for Normal People Podcast features an interview with author and podcaster James Prescott . We talk a bunch about James' book, Mosaic of Grace , and also touch on themes related to his podcast called Poema on the intersection of faith and spirituality. From the Intro to the Episode - I mention: That I happened to be on the Poema Podcast as a guest last week (beginning...

Episode 15 of the podcast features and interview with Scott Perkins . He is a discipleship coach and the author of the book Tree of Lies: Transforming Decisions, Behaviors, and Relationships By Gaining Perspective On Your Identity in Christ. We have a fantastic conversation about what identity in Christ really means, and the dangers of basing our identity and value in other things. Visit Scott’s w...

Episode 14 of Spirituality for Normal People features a fantastic interview with Stephanie Jones. Stephanie is known as the Giving Gal, having given a gift every day for over 500 days. She is the author of The Giving Challenge. What we talk about: What does it means to give a gift? Recognizing opportunities to give a gift How gift giving moves us away from being judgmental Listening to that “nudge...

Listen in as Matthew Brough talks about Psalm 4, which moves from our cry to God out of distress to God addressing our propensity to seek for peace in all the wrong places, to dealing with resentment at others' prosperity, to God granting us peaceful rest. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.c...

Episode 13 features an incredible interview with Glen Soderholm . Glen is the pastor of T wo Rivers Church in Guelph, Ontario . Two Rivers began as a single house church of what he calls “a collection of strays, orphans, and exiles,”  born from the idea of actually being neighbours with the people you live close to. He had so much to share about the Spiritual life, including his theology of Spirit...

Listen in as Matthew Brough talks about Psalm 3 with its powerful images of God being a shield and the lifter of your head. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com

Episode 12 of Spirituality for Normal People features an interview with Lisa Whittle . Lisa is a speaker and the author of six books. From her official bio: "Her love runs deep to see people pursue Jesus for life, grow deep roots of faith, and walk strong in the midst of a world that so often seems to have gone crazy." Lisa's latest book:  Put Your Warrior Boots On: Walking Jesus Strong, Once and...

Episode 11 of the Spirituality for Normal People Podcast features and interview with Jennifer DeCombe. Jen is the associate secretary for Canadian Ministries, working at the National Office of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. At the end of the interview, there is a really interesting conversation about inviting non-Christian friends to learn about faith. SOME OF THE TOPICS IN THIS INTERVIEW: Wha...

Episode 10 of the podcast features an interview with Rev. Dr. Margaret Mullin. Margaret is the executive director of Winnipeg Inner City Missions and the pastor of Place of Hope Presbyterian Church.  I had the opportunity to do this interview in person at Anishanabe Place of Hope in Winnipeg and Margaret was so gracious and generous in her honest conversation with me. Margaret recently received a...

Episode 9 of the podcast is with Juno-award winning musician, Steve Bell . This interview was such an amazing experience, recorded in Steve's own studio in Winnipeg. Steve was incredibly gracious and generous with his time and his honest sharing. Steve shared a ton in this episode, and you can find all kinds of links on the Spirituality for Normal People Website  that reference just some of what S...

Listen in as Matthew Brough talks about Psalm 2 and the struggle we sometimes find between love and justice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com

Episode 8 of the Spirituality for Normal People Podcast features an interview with United Church minister Robin McGauley. Robin is a metalsmith, makes amazing art and jewelry, and is also a Certified Labyrinth Facilitator, a faculty member of the Expressive Arts program at the Haliburton School of Art and Design, and a graduate of the Jubilee program in spiritual direction. We discuss a quote on R...

Episode 7 of the Spirituality for Normal People Podcast features an interview with Rev. Germaine Lovelace, minister of First Presbyterian Church in Kenora, Ontario, Canada. Prior to serving in this small town, Germaine ministered in his home country of Jamaica.  Here are some of the topics discussed in the interview: The struggle of Church membership in small town, increasingly secular, contexts M...

Listen in as Matthew Brough talks about Psalm 1 and the wonderful image of being like a tree planted by streams of water. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com

In this 6th episode, Shannon Kiser, speaks about finding God in the midst of a sometimes chaotic and busy life. Shannon is the Director of Training for Fresh Expressions US . She also works supporting the Coaching Network for New Churches in The Presbyterian Church USA and it on on staff at Riverside Presbyterian Church, in Sterling, Virginia. Some of the things we talk about in this episode: stay...

Rev. Dr. Ross Lockhart is Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Missional Leadership at St. Andrew’s Hall.  Ross serves as the Presbyterian Director of Denominational Formation at Vancouver School of Theology as well as an Adjunct Professor of Homiletics at St. Mark’s College, UBC. He also teaches regularly at Regent College.   In this interview we discuss: What ministry students need...

This week's episode is a great practical interview with Author, Speaker, Retreat Leader, and Spiritual Director, Jean Wise. Jean blogs regularly at healthyspirituality.org . You should really check out the tons of posts and resources on her page! In the course of the interview we discuss: What it is like to go on a personal spiritual retreat, including how to prepare for and reflect after a silent...

What a fantastic interview! The guest on episode three was Matthew Ruttan . He is the minister of Westminister Presbyterian Church in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. He also writes a regular devotional called Up. We had a wide ranging and super-practical conversation. Some of what we discussed: How it can be work to tend to spirituality. What to do when you “don’t feel like it.” The Psalms as being an an...

I was thrilled to have Theresa McDonald-Lee on this second episode of the Spirituality for Normal People Podcast. Theresa is the co-executive Director of Camp Kintail, a camp of the Presbyterian Church in Canada located on the shores of Lake Huron. Over the course of the conversation, we talked about her spiritual practice of memorizing Psalms and reciting them to her children. She also shared abo...