Pursuing God with Gene Appel

“Failure is to succeed at something that really doesn’t matter.” Many times we are so busy trying to find significance that we miss the most important thing in life. In today’s episode, Gene challenges us to think about where we are putting our time and energy Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped...

 “God, turn my someday into now. Teach me the power of a moment.  Remind me how brief my time on earth will be.  Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is.” In today’s episode, Gene encourages us to think about what would happen if we prayed this prayer every day. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in...

We don’t know how much time we will have on earth. The Bible is clear about the truth that our days are numbered. In today’s episode, Gene shares the life-defining moment that led him to find the purpose and passion of his life. 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 Go...

 God intended for us to live life to the full! But it’s so easy to get caught in a rut or find ourselves bored with life. In this week’s podcast series, Gene offers encouragement and practical steps to truly live every day with passion   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 convictio...

 Has God been speaking to you about something that you’ve been reluctant to respond to? Maybe it was unexpected or doesn’t make sense. In today’s podcast episode,  Gene gives a sobering reminder about hearing from God and encourages us to obey His leading in our lives.  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture a...

 Do you have the courage to listen to and obey God even when it doesn’t make sense? From a human perspective, it seemed incomprehensible when God told Noah to build a giant boat in the middle of the desert. Yet Hebrews 11:7 says, “It was by faith that Noah built an ark to save his family from the flood.” Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash...

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 everyone, each episode invites you to discover God’s presence and activity in your life.

Who do you turn to when facing a major life decision? Isaiah 58:11 says, “The Lord will guide you continually” yet we often try to figure it out on our own. In today’s episode, Gene encourages us to evaluate when we turn to God for the guidance He promises to provide. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and...

How often do you hear from God? Over and over again the Bible makes this incredible claim that God is capable of speaking into and guiding our lives. In this week’s podcast series, Gene shares that, when we learn to live with an awareness of His presence, we can hear “little whispers” from God everyday. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash c...

As the week comes to an end, Gene reviews a few simple ways we can release our grief to God so that we can fully experience His power and presence in our lives. No matter the challenge, as a follower of Jesus, God is with you and His power is available to you to fight your battles. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in...

God’s power is only fully experienced in community with His people. Jesus said in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them .” In today’s episode, Gene shares his personal story of how he decided to take the risk and find community when he needed it most. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleas...

No matter the challenge, God’s power is available to bring hope to your heavy heart. Gene teaches in today’s episode that, as followers of Jesus, we can be strong and courageous because there is a greater power within us. 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 gra...

Many of us grew up being taught that to act as if something doesn’t hurt is a sign of strength. When people ask you how you’re doing you just tell them, “Fine...Everything’s fine.” In today’s episode, Gene reminds us that we have a God who we can release our heavy hearts to. He is ready to come alongside you with His power and presence. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue G...

After the challenges of this past year and a half, many of us would use the word heavy to describe the condition of our souls right now. Join Gene this week as he unpacks Biblical truths to help us cope with difficult feelings and fully release them to God. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by...

Today, 20 years after the 9/11 attacks on our country, we remember the fallen and we honor our first responders then and now. Just as the firefighters rushed up the World Trade Center stairways to rescue as many people as they could on that tragic day, may we remember how high the stakes really are for those who desperately need the light of Jesus. Each changed life becomes a testimony that reache...

Too many followers of Jesus approach non-believers as though they are the enemy. Jesus saw them not as enemies, but as victims of the enemy. Pray against the deception and pray that we may see others with Christ-like compassion. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood...but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12 Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designe...

You can expect to feel resistance from the enemy when looking for opportunities to share your faith. In today’s devotional, Gene reminds us of two strategies that Jesus provides in Luke 10 to fight against the darkness. There are so many who are longing for hope from their despair. And God wants to use YOU to be a light. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build commun...

Who do you know in your life that needs the light of Jesus? By building into these relationships, over time you may begin to witness God at work in their lives. Ask God to help you to be attuned to when the Spirit is moving in the hearts of those around you.  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped b...

It’s freeing to remember that we don’t have to be something we’re not to be a light. And we don’t have to do it alone. In Luke 10, Jesus sent out His followers in pairs to share the good news. God has already empowered you with the gifts you need to play your part in reaching people far from Him. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassi...

One of the great ploys that the enemy uses is to shame us into thinking that we don't have what it takes to be a light. The Bible says that we are Christ’s ambassadors. You can find the confidence you need to share your faith by remembering that you have already been chosen and empowered by Him to be a light in the darkness. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, bui...

What style of being a light best describes you? You don’t have to be someone you’re not to be a light that shines bright for Jesus.  You just need to be who God made you to be. “God, thank you for making me the way I am so that I could shine the light on people who could only be reached by someone like me.” Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unlea...

Some people may only respond when they are courageously confronted with the message of Jesus. Others feel that they need their intellectual questions processed first. In today’s devotional, Gene shares examples from the Bible when followers of Jesus used a more direct approach to being a light. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion...

You may not feel like you have all the answers to explain the intellectual reasons to follow Jesus but no one can argue with your story. In today’s devotional, Gene reminds us that we can be a light by telling our personal story of transformation. Once you’ve experienced the power of Jesus in your life, let your light shine bright. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, b...

There are many different ways to be a light. Gene has shared this week that, even when we don’t have the words, God can use us to be a light by serving others or inviting them to church. What are some creative ways you can be a light in your existing relationships? Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and sh...

Many of us feel inarticulate when trying to share our faith with others. In today’s devotional, Gene shares a story from John 4 of a city-wide revival started simply through an invitation. Even when we don’t have the words, God can still use us to be a light. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped b...