The Extra Mile Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Discipline is important when pursuing your athletic best. The World Cup represents the contest where the entire world competes for a single trophy. The whole world, save one country, will be disappointed at the end of the competition.  Our salvation in Jesus makes it clear that we are already lost, but we are plucked out of that state through him. The community based on salvation...

Send us Fan Mail Ever read the book of Zephaniah? It’s only three chapters and provides great insight into who God is. God’s promise of destruction is counteracted with his promise of hope and salvation. Why would God destroy everything? Doesn’t that make God evil? As one who has the power to make everything right again, God will bring justice to the world. That means that everyone who has done a...

Send us Fan Mail Jesus’s description of integrity among all followers of His is evident in all our walks of life. Every job will question and test your integrity. Take no more than required. Have balanced scales and honest dealings. These are central to the Bible’s message.  Our politicians are no different. Are our leaders people of integrity? Are we only voting for policies and not people. Somet...

Send us Fan Mail Ecclesiastes is a book of joy. The tone may not be entirely happy, but the wisdom from the book identifies things in this life that are designed to bring joy.  Are you seeking joy? Love? Fulfillment? Nostalgia? Wealth? What brings you joy may not ultimately be fulfilled. Is this joy vain? Seek the things above, where treasures can be stored that cannot be stolen.  ===== Searching...

Send us Fan Mail The overwhelming sensation we feel to be like others causes us to do things we don’t want to do. When that becomes our identity, crisis inevitably follows.  A lesson can be taken from King Saul of Israel. His decision to disobey God’s command lost him the kingdom. His excuse was he feared the people. His sin was not justified, and the consequence of his sin plagued him the rest of...

Send us Fan Mail The Artemis II is returning from their trip to the moon, and some amazing perspectives are evident in our discussion.  Shout out to pilot Victor Glover who spoke the good confession of our need for Jesus. Before their trip around the moon, his message of the Christ who spoke love for God, and love for one another. Let us do to others as we would have them do to us.  Space flight f...

Send us Fan Mail Morality without Jesus is a primary topic of discussion among those thinking about Christ. Good things that people do make the world a better place. But is doing enough good enough to get you into heaven? We can look at this question by dividing it into Biblical concepts.  Who is good? What is good? Is there something you can do on your own merit to purchase your eternal life? Can...

Send us Fan Mail Minister at the University Church of Christ in Tampa, Florida, Josh is a guest for our weekend Young Adult weekend at Milwaukee Ave church. The power of the gospel and its ability to change your life for the better is inspirational. Being a Christian isn’t about having all the answers. It means you can’t continue or make it without help from God. Life with God is better than life...

Send us Fan Mail There are those who receive persecution, trials and hardships for their beliefs. Some even are subject to pain, physical attacks, imprisonment and death. Perhaps you were subject to a culture of preparation for these inevitable events. Were they destructive to your psyche in your upbringing? Do you associate faith with that trauma? Though the Bible does not sugar coat we will be p...

Send us Fan Mail The recent Knives Out movie brings a welcome encouragement for Christians, showing what a positive interaction for Christ would look like. What things matter to you that would cause you to ignore someone in need? To be prepared for good works means being there for others when they need help.  Have you been able to help someone today? If you need inspiration to close the door on so...

Send us Fan Mail Leviticus 23 is a chapter that illustrates all the Holy Days of the Jews. These days had cultural and religious significance to those people. Jesus fulfilled these festivals by honoring them and fulfilling them with righteous purpose.  Jesus’s activity on the Holy Days during the narrative of the New Testament is of note. The miracles and teachings carried out around these festiva...

Send us Fan Mail Have you searched your own heart? Are you right with God? Have you been made a new creation? Why would that matter?  Is your conscious bothering you from something you’ve done in the past? That feeling isn’t something to ignore. It is important to give heed to that internal feeling. This is a sign that a mistake you have made, and something needs to change in your life.  The new y...

Send us Fan Mail The moral argument is a core apologetic to both Christians and Atheists. While the world was at war, C.S. Lewis brought to a radio presentation a presentation of Christianity without the use of direct scripture reference. A fascinating story on how an argument can be created using secular means is presented in Mere Christianity.  Considering morality, Lewis presents an argument th...

Send us Fan Mail It’s been an outstanding year with great guests and excellent perspectives on what it means to go the extra mile for others.  Matthew 5:41 describes instruction from Jesus about this principle. If any would force you to go with them a mile, go with them two. Not begrudgingly, but with the mindset that you were placed in that situation to make a change. It takes perspective of heav...

Send us Fan Mail Audio Note: One of our microphones has a slight echo in this episode. Thanks for bearing with us—despite the technical hiccup, the conversation is strong and we believe it’s worth sharing. Christian and Biblically inspired media is on the rise, offering new ways to share faith and spark spiritual conversations. But is it actually helping people grow, or becoming a substitute for r...

Send us Fan Mail There’s a difference between consequence and karma. What does the Bible say about karma, and did Jesus believe in this concept? Looking at Job there is a concept that is explored about judgement, consequence, karma, and punishment in our experience. There is correction that God offers to the friends of Job and their opinion of how God operates. There is little cut and dry understa...

Send us Fan Mail Do you ever have times where you forget to be thankful for what you have? That mindset that is fleeting is the grumbling that leads to destruction.  The New Testament guides the Christian to attribute all blessings to God, and carry that thankful heart throughout your days.  Is there something that is hindering your thankfulness? Perspective can be panted with the troubles of this...

Send us Fan Mail An encouraging passage is when Saul of Tarsus, the great persecutor of the early church, was praying continually to God. Guilty of doing wrong to Jesus, Saul is not in a good state with his salvation. Ananias is told that God is listening to the continuous prayer of Saul.  What does that mean for those who are searching and trying to understand Jesus and God? If you are inspired t...

Send us Fan Mail God answers our “what if” questions with a reminder of humility. Who are you to tell the powerful creator what He is to do? The divine response to these questions is to worry about yourself. Are you in a saved state with the creator? Who is the clay to say to the potter why did you make me this way? Why would we work to disprove God’s power and authority? We don’t like the things...

Send us Fan Mail How does this question help us discover the limits of what is real? What have you said is impossible? Is there something in your life that is beyond you, that you are powerless to complete?  How can Jesus help you to make that thing that’s impossible in your life come to fruition. To be clear, there are things that Jesus will help you conquer when it comes to sin, temptation, or s...

Send us Fan Mail This question wracks many with doubt. It is one that has been attempted to be answered for millennia. The long answer attempts to dissect this complex question into smaller and more congruent pieces.  Is God good? Many life philosophies attempt to prove God isn’t good, or simply isn’t there at all. The Bible has a vast amount of writing on this subject. There is a God, and He is g...

Send us Fan Mail We are pleased to welcome author and researcher Christopher Baidoo-Essien discussing his book Examining the Great Commission. Writing about scripture takes time, thought, perspective, and patience. One of the unique things about the Bible is the text can be understood deeper the longer you live with it.  Maturing in faith has its roots based in thinking. The Bible instructs to med...

Send us Fan Mail The Ancient Faith - Caleb Speer I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that...

Send us Fan Mail We welcome to the podcast our brother James Cook, who is a wise and encouraging storyteller. His struggle with addiction and recovery as a secular person expresses his search for meaning and completeness in his life. Through his life, there are milestones that bring his life decisions into a decision to follow after Jesus. His story is one that is relatable and encouraging.  Searc...

Send us Fan Mail Unity Through the Generations - Noah Diestelkamp Noah Is a minister at Cedar Park Church of Christ in Cedar Park, TX. He is a co-host of the STANDSTRONG with Paul White is a podcast for the members at Cedar Park Church of Christ in Cedar Park, TX. He is visiting Lubbock as guest lecturer for our Iron Sharpens Iron men’s conference.    Who is responsible for extending an arm and re...