Resilient Fire Podcast

🔥 Episode Summary: In SERE training, the Rule of Threes helps you determine what matters most when everything falls apart: 3 minutes without air 3 hours without shelter 3 days without water 3 weeks without food In this episode, Dave explores how these survival priorities mirror spiritual survival . Just like in the wilderness, your soul needs the right priorities in the right order. This episode...

The Berlin Wall fell 36 years ago - November 9, 1989. In this episode, I look back at one of history’s defining moments—the fall of the Berlin Wall—and draw spiritual parallels to the walls Christians build in their hearts and communities. Just as the wall in Berlin once separated families and nations, unseen spiritual walls still divide us from others and keep the Gospel from spreading freely. In...

🔥 Episode Summary: Fear is one of the most dangerous forces in both the wilderness and the soul. In this debut episode, we explore how biblical faith equips people to overcome fear — on deployment, in leadership, in family life, and in spiritual warfare. Drawing from USAF SERE principles (Survive, Evade, Resist, Escape), this episode challenges people to build a “spiritual survival mindset” roote...

When it comes to having faith as a Christian, there are times when we will face the "wilderness." It's a place where the enemy wants us to feel alone, isolated, and without any sort of help. But that's not necessarily the truth of the matter. Listen in as Dave talks through having faith in the wilderness as he kicks off this 10-part series on faith and survival! Music: Campfire...

In this episode, Dave talks about tents - the places that we live in temporarily. Interestingly enough, the bible talks about tents too but in a different form. Listen in and see if there is anything you need to do to get the focus off of your tent and onto something that is eternally more important!

Christians are promised persecution, but that doesn't mean we can't prepare ourselves to be better-equipped to handle even the most extreme forms of persecution. In this episode, I talk through some training that I was involved with to help equip missionaries who are called to dark and distant places. Listen in to hear about the reality of Christian persecution, and click the link below...

Poon Lim wasn't trained or prepared for what he experienced. But throughout his ordeal, he had hope that he would be rescued. In this episode, I talk through Poon's story, and then dive into where we can find living hope. Here's the answer: by believing in the truth of the resurrection of Jesus and having faith in him. Listen in to hear about the power of living hope, and feel free...

"The Lord God said "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'" (Genesis 2:18, NIV). In this episode we build upon our kingdom identity so that we can live in true Christian community. When God created man, He knew that we were never meant to be without community. And when communities have a mission or a task to pursue, that is when kingdom-...

Happy new year! Are you making a resolution? Not to be a downer, but statistics show that most resolutions don't last beyond a few weeks. We lose the motivation and focus, and the resolution falls off our scope. In this episode, I talk about one reason why: because we are living in a false identity. If our identity is based off of anything other than what God has given us, then anything we ar...

Knowing how to build a shelter when you're out in the wilderness is a critical skill to survival. Everything around you is trying to take you away from your 98.6 degree optimum operating temperature. Whether it's the terrain, or animals, or weather making an impact, a shelter serves the function of protecting you from the hostile environment around you. God is often called the "refu...

Hebrews 12:1-2a says "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." When we are in our race, we've got to cut the dead weight that holds us back and trust th...

Have you ever jumped into nearly frozen water? Have you ever felt that need to get immediately warmed up? In this episode, Dave talks about the infamous "MITC" fire where everything is dropped to build a life-saving, sustainable fire. When we face crisis or on-going problems, there are resources available. But in the last three verses of Psalm 91, God provides eight promises that can hel...

Who would have thought the canteen cup could be an inspiring item for a podcast? In this episode, Dave discusses some of Jesus' teachings to the Pharisees, and relates it to the use of the humble canteen cup. If the outside is clean, but the inside is dirty, the standard is not met. Listen in to find out how to get the inside cleaned up in a way that lasts! Music courtesy of: Campfire by Scan...

In this episode, Dave talks about the start of the holiday season - Thanksgiving. But as a Christian, where should our gratitude be focused? Once we get that in line, then it is easy to follow the science and see why an attitude of gratitude should be part of the foundation of our daily lives! Happy Thanksgiving! Articles referenced: https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/ https:...

When we look at our lives today, we have so many things that are working to pull us into darkness. One look at the 24 hour news cycle gives you enough information to know that the world can be a dark place. And when we zoom into our personal lives, all of us have struggles, trials, and situations that get us to a point of not knowing how we will make it through. In this episode, Dave talks about h...

To kick off season two, we briefly talk through the Ten Commandments and how they apply to a Christian's life. Then we look at the military Code of Conduct, which is what guides behavior of service members in combat and in captivity. In both examples, there will be failures to do everything perfectly right...there will be mistakes. And in both examples, there is room for forgiveness, grace, a...

When you're navigating, it's important to have the tools and skills to go to where you intend to go...to stay on your path. In this episode, Dave talks about the importance of basic land- and maritime-navigation skills and knowledge, and ties them into the multiple trips and "journey" that he has been on recently. Links referenced: One Life: https://www.onelifepath.org Unusual...

It's Monday morning. You have 168 hours ahead of you until next Monday morning. How busy are you going to be this week? Constantly on the go? Under seemingly constant tension? If any of this sounds like you, you probably need some margin space in your life. Even thousands of years ago Moses dealt with the same thing.  In a world of competing demands, and the "glorification of busyness,&q...

What are the categories of needs that survivor must satisfy in order to go from surviving to thriving? What are the categories of needs that a Christian must meet in order to experience spiritual thriving? Dave gives an overview of the five basic needs of survivors and how to prioritize them. Then he gets into the needs of Christians and how to prioritize those as well.  Resources used: Autumn Vea...