RETREATING WITH GOD

Rising Above Circumstances: Knowing the Power of the Resurrection [Check out the FRESH FAITH 24/7 Free Trial ] There are many benefits of knowing Christ. One of them is knowing the power of his resurrection. This is key for rising above circumstances—like the ones you might be going through right now. Paul was yearning for it. “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection.” (Ph...

[Start your  FRESH FAITH 24/7   Free Trial ] Sheltering at home during Coronavirus caused some strained relationships to completely break down. Irritations became unbearable. People we thought we loved (family) were almost unlovable after a month locked up together. On the other hand, there are other people we would long to be quarantined with. (We’d probably get annoyed by them, too). I...

NOTE FROM JON:   "I’ve got something I’d like you to try, if you haven’t already.  It’s my Spiritual Self-Assessment . You’ll get an honest picture of how healthy your relationship is with God. The Assessment is free. Access it HERE ." “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives...

The Christ OF the Cross When I tell friends I want to help people know the Christ of the cross, they picture Jesus hanging there on the cross. Indeed, the cross is central to coming to know Jesus, but it is not the whole story of who he is. Jesus is eternal. I want to know him in all his everlasting existence. What do I mean by that? John says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with...

In this episode...   We’re going to look at a very simple principle that’s a step in the right direction—away from performance and into relationship. Get the Spiritual Self-Assessment :   How are you doing in your relationship with God? Is it healthy? How healthy? I’ve developed a Spiritual Self-Assessment   that will give you some answers. This self-assessment will take just 3 minu...

This episode is about hunger. Not hunger for cookies or a nice pastry. Hunger for Jesus. And I want to state that without hunger, you’ll get caught up in performance again. You won’t be pursuing the relationship from your heart, but out of duty. And that’s bad. That’s the hamster wheel again. You don’t want that.  Spiritual dryness, ups and downs, distance from God, lack of purpose, frustrati...

You might be a long-time Christian like I am. And you might have a problem that goes like this: We know we’re saved by grace, but we struggle to live by grace. We know it but we don’t live it. I don’t want to speak for everyone, but if you’re someone who is doing a bunch of stuff for God and you feel that it makes your relationship healthy, you know what I mean. We may not come out and say that we...

You are in prison if you’re living performance-based Christianity. You’ll dry up, hate your life with God, seek after worldly passions to satisfy, and end up broken and brokenhearted. Are my words too strong? Take it from someone who has been there, my words are not too strong. You might be there right now, or on the edge. You’ve been giving Jesus your best for years. You’ve faithfully obeyed and...

New season, new name, same purpose.  Many believers struggle with performing for God, while suffering in their relationship with Christ. Jon Fugler addresses this problem as Season 2 of the podcast begins. In fact, you'll notice the podcast has a new name as we refine our focus on the issue of performance Christianity.  FRESH FAITH in Real Life  is now  Overcoming Performa...

Click here to get the FRESH BREAD Devotionals This episode will stun you. My guest has a story that will cause you to gasp. It did for me. If forgiveness is an issue for you, our guest will probably melt your heart. And his family’s story—well, there’s so much we can all learn from it. So get ready. This episode is the season finale. We’ll be taking the summer off and coming back for season t...

Freedom is our topic this week. What are the pain points that stop you from having freedom in your relationship with Jesus? Stress, fatigue, hurry, loneliness, lack of purpose, health issues, private sins, burnout and weak faith hinder our pathway to freedom. As believers, it's not supposed to be that way, but it often is. These things affect and enslave us, preventing us from...

Now I can say I've done a show with Covid. Quarantined in a hotel room on an island, I borrowed a professional microphone, had access to Zoom, and way we went. More details inside. This week, meet Steve Hodgson , a man who has experienced a major shift in his relationship with Christ in the past two years. I’ve known our guest for over a decade, developing a deep friendship during that time....

Some of the best quotes I’ve heard about God’s will come from Chuck Swindoll: “When the Lord makes it clear you're to follow Him in this new direction, focus fully on Him and refuse to be distracted by comparisons with others.” “God doesn't work on our timetable. He has a plan that He will execute perfectly and for the highest, greatest good of all, and for His ultimate glory.” “Your call will bec...

What’s the best book you’ve ever read that has changed your life with God? That book might be right at the front of your mind.  I am assuming it’s after the Bible.  Here are my top 5, as of today. #5 Adrenaline and Stress, Archibald Hart #4 Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less #3 Just As I Am: The Autobiography of Billy Graham #2 Radical, David Platt #1 With: Reimagining the Wa...

How do you handle things when your plans are dashed? When a health issue puts life on hold? When tragedy hits and you have to come up with a Plan B? Or even hope to survive? That’s David Hess’ story. He was having a great career until something life-threatening happened that brought it to a sudden halt. He walks us through the details in this episode. When I first heard David tell his story,...

What are the six Nobel Prizes? They are widely regarded as the most prestigious awards given for intellectual achievement in the world and are conferred in six categories: physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, peace, and economics .  We all like prizes, awards and rewards.  The Bible has a lot to say about rewards. God will repay each person according to what they have...

One of the biggest bouts with distractions happens when we spend one on one time with God. Maybe this episode will help you with that. Imagine spending a whole day with God—talk about distractions! Our guest will give us some pointers. Here’s a resource I have found to be real helpful in my time with the Lord. It’s called Face to Face with Kenneth Boa. A friend gave everyone at her husba...

There’s no doubt about it, our world seems dominated by fear. The war in the Ukraine has us on edge, wondering where this is leading. We see the destruction of entire cities and devastation of human lives. And our hearts go out to those people on the other side of the world. We thought that when this year began, we might put fear behind us. Covid was on a downturn and life seemed to be coming back...

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."  -- 2 Cor 1:3-4 (NIV) This week, we’re talking about the delicate issue of when we lose a loved one, and how God fits into...

Corrie ten Boom once said, “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” Ooooh, that might hit home for many of us. We know prayer isn’t just for emergencies, but we can treat it that way. I think we all wish we could have a better prayer life. I know that I do! On this episode, you’ll meet a guest who will open up the world of prayer to us. I could have talked with him for two hours, but I...

Our guest this week has become an evangelist for a cause I think every believer needs to consider: Friendship with God . In fact, it’s so close to his hear that he wrote a book by that title. I gabbed the book after I heard him speak and I finished it in a week. Then, I said, I need to get this guy on the podcast. My listeners need to hear his message . In the book, writes about how to experience...

Dave and Jan Dravecky return for part two of an interview on cancer and our relationship with God . In this episode, they discuss one of the biggest things cancer victims face—and that’s fear. Our guests are no different. They went through some of the darkest times and the Lord met them in an amazing way to help them face their fears. Dave Dravecky was a successful Major League Base...

Cancer is devastating. Our guests in this episode know it well. Dave Dravecky was a star major league pitcher. His career was suddenly cut short by cancer at the pinnacle. He and his wife, Jan , went through the valley as they battled the physical, emotional and spiritual pain. Listen as they share how God met them there and led them on a journey to intimacy with Christ. It was a lo...

From a food survey to forgiveness, this episode is full of variety. But the main focus is on a topic most of us struggle with -- fasting. Our guest, Tim Epling , gives us hope. He shares how he has developed this habit in his life and how it has made a big difference in his relationship with Christ. According to Tim, if you want intimacy with Jesus, fasting is a must. Don't worry, Tim doesn't over...

God is writing a story in your life, one chapter at a time.  Our guest on this episode shows us how God can use even the most painful life journeys to influence others for the Savior. Mark Kordic has lived in pain for the past two decades, yet he has learned how to cling to Jesus and gain strength from the Lord every day. He has learned the secret of knowing Christ. Be inspired as Mark o...