Pursuing God with Gene Appel

When you do something God calls you to do, you will have criticism from others. Noah’s detractors criticized him for 125 years while he built the ark. Today Gene challenges us to persevere with God when others don’t understand. He encourages us to ignore the detractors, trust God, and do what you know He is calling you to do. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build c...

By faith, Noah obeyed God and built a huge boat, even though he was over 500 miles from the nearest body of water. But he believed God even though it didn’t make sense. Gene encourages us to believe God when it seems like a positive outcome seems impossible. Sometimes we must wait for God’s timing when we’re on a faith adventure. We must trust, even when we don’t understand. Pursuing God with Gene...

Statistics show that people who are bored are more likely to die young. In today’s episode Gene challenges us to stop going through the motions of Christianity and to experience the exhilaration of stepping out in faith. Noah accepted God’s command to build an ark when people had never experienced rain. How can we walk by faith like Noah? Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue...

As we look around us and see all the needs, we can feel overwhelmed. We may wonder if our little bit will make a difference. It is less about what we can give or do, and more about opening up our hearts and hands and seeing what God can do with our little bit. In today’s episode, Gene encourages those who are hurting to seek the One who won’t leave us lying by the side of the road, broken and beat...

We are surrounded by hurting people who need us to provide a trauma center. Trauma centers are built with open hearts and open hands. In today’s episode, Gene encourages us to open our hearts and break down our prejudices to care for people we haven’t met and sacrifice for people who can never pay us back. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleas...

Today Gene encourages us to genuinely love our neighbors. In this self-absorbed world, we may be too worried about our own needs to care for the needs of others. But those in spiritual darkness need us to provide a trauma center. It is said that kindness is the language the blind can see and the deaf can hear. We can unleash compassion to those around us, providing a trauma center for the hurting....

Our world is a brutal place and most people have needs, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. Our enemy, the devil, wants to steal, kill, and destroy us. Gene asks us to see others the way Jesus sees them; seeing the hurt below the surface. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’s c...

What if this story was told today? In today’s podcast, Gene challenges us to look for ways we can show kindness to those in need, even though they may be different from us in background, beliefs, and status.  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’s conviction that God’s grace is for eve...

Many of our friends and relatives and we ourselves are suffering in what should be a time of joy. Distance, divorce, death, and disappointment bring sorrow into our lives. We struggle to make sense of things, and ask for advice from others. Today Gene challenges each of us to make a personal decision to listen to Jesus from now on about how we will respond to life’s circumstances. We can trust Jes...

The month of December and Christmas in particular can magnify both the good and the bad in our lives. We see pictures of Mary and Joseph serenely watching over their baby, but in reality they were under severe emotional and physical distress, much like we are today. In this episode, Gene challenges us to draw close to God and He will draw close to us. Especially now, we need the promise of Jesus:...

When the wise men approached the baby Jesus, they bowed down and worshiped; then they joyfully opened their gifts and presented them. Their gifts expressed their joy, gratitude, and love. Gene challenges us not to miss the message that worship is love expressed. Come in awe before the One who holds our lives in the palm of His hands. Take time this Christmas season to worship God. Pursuing God wit...

Jesus came for those far from God. That’s why he appeared to Gentile magi, wise men from the East. God wants us to know that Jesus came for all people. In today’s episode, Gene challenges us to go on a global mission trip with the church to spread the good news of Jesus to many lost and dying people. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash comp...

The gifts the wise men brought were quite extravagant. By contrast, Joseph and Mary gave only two pigeons to celebrate the birth of their son. The wise men gave out of their abundance, Joseph and Mary gave out of their poverty. Yet both were equally honoring to God. Gifts that honor Jesus represent both planning and proportion. In today’s episode, Gene encourages us that God is not impressed by la...

Scholars believe Jesus may have been a toddler by the time the three wise men arrived to present their gifts. They had plenty of time to determine what would be appropriate to bring to a King. Gold, which was for royalty; frankincense, for Jesus as high priest; and myrrh, a burial spice. This brings new meaning to the significance of the wise men’s gifts. Today Gene challenges us to take time to p...

In today’s episode, Gene asks the question, “What can you give to the person who literally has everything?” Like the magi, or wise men did when they first saw the baby, Jesus desires our worship as the ultimate gift. Between now and Christmas Day, take time to express your worship and gratitude to God. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash co...

Christmas reminds us that we are all lost. Gene’s challenge today is to think about the five people in our lives who mean the most to us who don’t know Jesus. Those are the ones to invite to a Christmas service. “Changed lives change lives.” Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’s convi...

After their initial fear, the shepherds went to Bethlehem to see what the angel had told them. Today Gene addresses the skeptics who have not taken the time to seek God or to listen to his voice. His challenge is to listen for God’s voice and to experience all that Christmas means. There are two words that change everything - I believe. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue G...

The good news of Christmas is for everyone. It is not exclusive. Jesus came for everyone. There is no distance he won’t travel, no pain he won’t endure, and no sacrifice he won’t make because of his love for you. Today Gene emphasizes that everyone deserves to hear the good news. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in S...

Humility and surrender opens our hearts to be directed by God. Gene says, “The greatness of a person is in direct proportion to their surrender.” Mary and Joseph submitted to God by traveling to Bethlehem for the required census, even though the birth of their baby was imminent. Can we allow God to interrupt our plans? We can choose to put God aside, or like Mary and Joseph humble ourselves and ac...

Many of us know what it’s like to be betrayed by someone we love. Joseph felt betrayed by Mary until God appeared to him in a dream and told him to go ahead and marry Mary even though she was pregnant and he wasn’t the father. In today’s episode Gene shows how God blessed Joseph and Mary because of their obedience and trust in God’s plan. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue...

Holidays are not always easy when we struggle with anxiety. We often think that today is just another day, but Gene challenges us to look at ‘today’ as a day to be grateful. He reminds us  that grace is what we receive, joy is what we experience, and gratitude is what we give. Each day  should be the day you express thanks to the God who gave you life. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to h...

Llists can help us fight anxiety. Making a list can help with increased productivity, increased personal time, and a sense of accomplishment. In today’s episode Gene encourages us to make a list of things we’re thankful for - food you eat, friends and family, answered prayer, anything. Whatever you have in Christ is better than anything you don’t have in this life. You have new life in Christ, you...

As Thanksgiving goes up, anxiety goes down. Today Gene reminds us that gratitude and anxiety can’t coexist. Anxiety is a future fear that may or may not happen. Gratitude is about present blessings and you can’t live in both worlds at the same time. God doesn’t want us to live in anxiety, he wants us to live life to the fullness. Happiness doesn’t make you grateful; gratefulness makes you happy. P...

As Gene closes this week on dealing with anxiety, he challenges us to find a promise in Scripture that fits our problem, and to make it our prayer. This can be one of the most powerful things you can do to fight through anxiety. If you’ve given up on prayer for anxiety, Gene challenges us to pray differently using specific scriptures and getting to the root of our issue. Pursuing God with Gene App...

In today’s episode, Gene encourages us to be specific when we ask for prayer regarding our anxiety. The more we pray specifically, the more God can ease our anxiety personally. It will help you get to the root of your anxiety, whether it’s shame, guilt, or something else. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture...