The Echo Collective

In this special episode, I share the unexpected story of how a conversation in a tattoo shop became the inspiration for the new Echo Collective logo. Along the way, we explore why a rooster standing over a skull has become a powerful reminder that the Christian story is not about perfect people, but bent and broken humans who have been redeemed, and that because of Christ, grace has the final word...

Jane Register has spent her life saying "yes" to the places and people that many people avoid. From working in the inner city to relationships with ex-convicts, refugees, and Christians who have been persecuted, her life is a reminder that following Jesus has always meant moving toward others. This conversation is about discovering that some of the deepest work God does in us happens as...

What if Sabbath is about far more than taking a day off? In this second conversation with Benji Horning, we explore the ancient practice of Sabbath as a way of resisting hurry, rediscovering trust, and creating space to hear the voice of God even in the midst of the noise of modern life. Along the way, we discuss the wisdom of the Desert Fathers, the radical vision of Jubilee, and why spiritual fo...

Jill Pole and Eustace Scrubb (and let's not forget Puddleglum the Marshwiggle) are cold, hungry, and exhausted. But their real danger begins when they hear about a place called Harfang. Drawing from The Silver Chair and Philippians 4, this reflection explores what happens when the promise of something better makes our present circumstances harder to endure, and why true contentment is found no...

In this Father's Day episode, Pastor Morgan "Moe" Smith reflects on growing up in Oildale, California (not Bakersfield), being raised by a praying single mom, and a rock climbing experience that left him crazy thirsty. Together, we look at Jesus' words, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness," and why that blessing may take place when we hunger and t...

The Parable of the Ten Virgins is one of Jesus' weirdest stories, and it leaves us with a bunch of questions: Why is the groom delayed? Why don't the wise women share their oil? And what do we do with the unsettling words, “I don't know you”? In this episode, we explore the cultural world behind the parable and consider the possibility that Jesus is less interested in end-times specula...

Most of us have been taught that the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast are about small things becoming big things. That's true but that isn't the whole story. In this episode, we explore why Jesus doesn't compare God's Kingdom to a glorious cedar or a mighty oak tree, but to a plant that spreads like it has never heard of boundaries and yeast that quietly and almost sneakily transforms ev...

When most people hear the word theology, they might think of books, doctrines, debates. They might even think of a theologian in a sweater vest, smoking a pipe while pondering deep questions. But what if theology is ultimately about learning to see, speak, and live in the world the way God does? What if theology is also a child wanting to pray when something hard happens? In this conversation, Dr....

In The Silver Chair (Book 6 of Narnia), Aslan warns Jill to remember the signs because once she returns to Narnia, distraction and confusion will make remembering really hard. This short reflection discusses why forgetfulness is one of the central struggles of the human experience and how practices of remembering help us stay rooted when life gets crazy.

In Luke 18, Jesus tells a weird story about a corrupt judge, a pesky widow, and a persistence that refuses to go down without a fight. In this episode, we explore why the parable is not about annoying God into answering our prayers, but about trusting the just and compassionate character of God while continuing to pursue mercy, justice, and hope in a weary world.

In this episode of Echo Collective, I sit down with Benji Horning for a thoughtful conversation about spiritual formation, not as a cultural buzzword, but as an ancient way of life. Together, we explore humility, the voice of the Spirit, the wisdom of the early church (among other things), and the ways we are all being formed by the world around us. At the center of it all is the invitation to bec...

This episode is quite simply a brief meditation from a book that I have been re-reading: The Silver Chair by C.S.Lewis. I thought it would make a great mini-episode. Thanks for tuning in.

Jesus tells a haunting story about a rich man who insulates himself from the suffering outside of his privileged life. In this episode of Echo Collective, we explore the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the danger of separation, and what happens when wealth, comfort, and convenience keep us from truly seeing the suffering of people right next to us.

In this episode, Jesus tells a story about a dishonest manager who gets praised by his master and it feels completely wrong. This parable, in my humble opinion is the most difficult parable to understand. But, when we have a good seat and the right prescription in our lenses, we can see the beauty that is revealed in this story; God is merciful beyond our comfortability. It is not a surprise that...

Matthew 25 gives us the Parable of the Talents. We’ve been given an idea that this parable is about using our gifts for God but what if it’s really about something way more risky? In a world that is pretty unsure about the Master (Jesus), I think this story is asking a very direct question: are you willing to risk by association? Enjoy!

In this episode, Jesus tells a story where the hero is a hated outsider. The parable of the Good Samaritan forces us to confront our own boundaries and is most certainly calling us to the kind of life that crosses them even when it costs us something.

In this episode, I sit down with my friend and pastor Dr. Mark Foreman to talk about prayer and what it looks like to move beyond a transactional faith experience. Through our conversation, we explore the beautiful invitation into something deeper, a relationship with God that actually looks like friendship.

In this episode, we sit with one of Jesus’ most unsettling parables: a story where radical forgiveness and grace is met with cruelty and violence. This episode will ask us to consider what it means to truly receive grace and why it's meant to move through us, not just stop with us. This is the Parablw of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18.

Easter is not just about what happens after we die; it’s about what God does in places that already feel dead. This short reflection explores resurrection as both a future hope and a present reality, reminding us that because Christ is risen, everything is gonna be okay.

Why do Christians call the darkest day in the story “good”? This Good Friday episode explores the meaning of Good Friday , the significance of Holy Week, and the mystery of the Christ, who entered fully into human violence and refused to perpetuate the cycle.

In this episode, Jesus tells a short story about two men who go pray, but only one of them leaves right with God. In this episode, we explore tax-collectors and pharisees as categories, thew disease of self-righteousness, the necessity of humility, and the reality that desperation gets us closer to God than spiritual performance ever will.

Matthew 20 gives us the the parable of the workers in the vineyard where Jesus tells a story that completely obliterates our sense of fairness. God's generosity doesn't fit inside our paradigms of fairness...and that's a good thing.

The story doesn't end when the younger son comes home... Jesus isn’t finished yet. In the second half of the parable, we meet the older brother. He's loyal, faithful, responsible, and downright crusty. He's absolutely furious that grace has been given so freely. This part of the story is aimed at those of us who think we’ve been doing everything right all along. Watch out. These parabl...

Sometimes stories from the Bible become so familiar that they start to lose their impact. In Luke 15, Jesus tells three stories about things that are lost. The third one is about two sons who are both, in their own ways, lost. We may think we know this story well, but maybe its familiarity has dulled its power. Let’s see if we can rediscover the grandeur of God’s grace.

In Matthew 21, Jesus tells a story about two sons. One son says the right thing but never does what is asked, and the other son says 'No' but eventually changes his mind and does it. This parable reminds us that in God's economy, transformation matters more than appearances and empty words. This is the parable of the 2 sons.