You Were Made for This

The last place on earth I ever thought I'd catch a glimpse of heaven would be at a graduation ceremony. But that is exactly what I experienced recently. Once you hear my story I'm hoping you'll be on the lookout for your own glimpse of heaven. They're more common than we realize. But before I begin, I'm John Certalic, and you are listening to episode 231 of You Were Made for This , the podcast abo...

It's counterintuitive, I know, but delightful conversations are often fueled by the magic of silence interjected at strategic moments. I've got an example of this in today's episode. I'm pretty sure you're going to like this one. It involves a delightful conversation I recently had with a charming four-year -old child. But first, I'm John Certalic, and you are listening to episode 230 of You Were...

With Thanksgiving Day just around the corner here in the US, I've been thinking about how grateful I am for the encouraging people I see all around me. People who encourage me by their thoughtfulness towards   me, and also towards others. I've got some examples for you in today's show that I think will encourage you.   But first, I'm John Certalic, and you are listening to episode 229 of You Were...

Beauty is more than scenery My wife and I recently returned from a vacation trip to Ireland. We saw the same things people typically see when they visit the Emerald Isle. The museums, the pubs, the walking tours led by local guides. And those sheep; all those sheep. Then, of course, there was the rich beauty of the green rolling hills, and the breathtaking rugged cliffs that border the Atlantic Oc...

In last week's blog post ( click here if you missed it) I wrote about taking a break from the news media because of how unsettling and agitated it was making me feel. All the violence and discord were making me anxious. I needed to withdraw myself from the news and turn to something more positive. It led me to a passage in the Bible from Philippians 4:8, which reads,   "And now, dear brothers and...

Labor Day here in the U.S. on the first Monday in September is near the top of my list of favorite holidays. There's a freshness and energy about this time of year I find appealing. But before we launch into fall, there are some end-of-summer conversations I've recently had that I don't want to forget because they add to the richness and energy of autumn. So I'm going to give you only a brief snap...

Today's episode Some people are a joy to be around. I have a story for you today about one of them, and what I learned about being more like him.   But first, I'm John Certalic, and you are listening to episode 225 of You Were Made for This , the podcast about finding joy in being the person God created each of us to be. Namely, someone who reflects the character, image, and likeness of God in all...

I've been reflecting more and more lately about how much God cares about us.   When we hurt he hurts. Today's episode is about how God responds to the dark times we go through, and what he models for us in relating to the hurting people in our lives. But before we begin, I'm John Certalic, and you're listening to episode 224 of You Were Made for This , the podcast about the joy of relationships we...

As I'm recording this, Christmas is almost six months away. I recall last Christmas, when I heard a few people say they wished we could have the Christmas spirit all year long. We can if we reflect the image and character of God. And I have a Christmas in July story for you today that shows us how. Welcome to episode 223 of You Were Made for This , the podcast about finding joy in being the person...

I've come to learn that r elating with people through the lens of "I want to hear your story" is a great way to live. It enriches our lives in more ways than you can imagine. I started thinking more deeply about this principle when Janet and I visited William Shakespeare's hometown of Stratford-on-Avon in England. Several years later, during a trip to Savannah, Georgia, I witnessed "I want to hear...

You never know how an act of kindness will be remembered with fondness many decades later. It reminds us that when we are kind, it's because God made us that way. Today's episode is an example of how this works. Welcome to You Were Made for This But first   - I'm John Certalic and you are listening to episode 221 of You Were Made for This , the podcast about reflecting the character, image, and li...

Have you noticed how everyone seems to have a podcast these days? Most of them just don't appeal to me. So, in 2018, I created one that does— a podcast I want to listen to and one you'll want to listen to as well. I'm going to give you an example of what I mean shortly. Welcome to Season Nine and episode 220 But first, I'm John Certalic and you are listening to episode 220 of You Were Made for Thi...

On that first Christmas Day, Mary treasured all its details and thought about them often. May we do the same with the Christmas story in 2024. So here's the original story told in Luke's Gospel, just as it happened: At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All...

Today's episode, #218, brings to a close   Season 8 of our You Were Made for This podcast. If you've been listening for any length of time, I hope you've come to appreciate the high value we place on the skill of listening as a way to enrich our lives. As we wrap up Season 8 today, I'm going to share a story that illustrates why it's better to listen than to talk. But before we get into today's ep...

In the past dew episodes I've been talking about how I tracked down my birth father and met him for the first… and last time in my life. You'll find links to those episodes at the bottom of the show notes. Today's show concludes this painful chapter in my life by focusing on a larger relational and spiritual principle that applies to all of us. Namely, sometimes in our difficulties God will surpri...

Hello everyone. If you haven't listened to episode 215, "Searching for my Birth Father," I suggest listening to   that episode before continuing with this one. Just go to johncertalic.com/215 . Today's episode, #216, continues with the theme of how understanding our past helps us understand our present when we see how God began shaping us early on to find joy in being the person he created us to b...

One of the more popular topics from past episodes has been the story of Gail Rohde who was adopted as an infant, and her search as an adult for her birth mother. Then several years after finding her, she searched for her birth father - and found him, too. I'll have links to those episodes at the bottom of the show notes.   It can be a relational minefield in dealing with the dynamics of adoptees w...

A listener once suggested that for a podcast episode I should read from the book I wrote in 2016, THEM- The Richer Life Found in Caring for Others. It's about relationships, which of course, is what this podcast is about. But I don't know if reading from it would interest many of you. Maybe the first chapter might, I don't know. It's about how people are like houses when it comes to deepening our...

One thing on my mind lately is a question about the meaningful conversations we sometimes have with friends, and what makes them different from other conversations. I started thinking about this while reading news articles about the Super Bowl played earlier this month. Meaningful conversations and the Super Bowl don't quite seem to fit together, but they do in my mind.   Keep listening and I'll e...

The older I get the more I've come to appreciate how it's the little things we do for people that matter most to them. Little things that come naturally for us because of how God uniquely made us, I've got a few stories for you today to illustrate this point. Stories that I hope will inspire you to bless others in ways that are easy and natural for you. But before we get into today's episode, here...

A men's breakfast can be fun and still have a greater purpose than eating and conversation. When organized with a larger objective in mind it can be a great way to bless people and a means to live out the Gospel. Today's episode is about my Men with Waffles breakfast and the impact it had on others not even in the room. Especially women. Breakfast with a friend   A few weeks ago my friend Randy wa...

CURIOUS. It's my pick for the 2024 Word of the Year. Curious. It's an important relational skill we need to help us deepen our relationships with others.   Today's episode is about what happens when we're not curious about people, and what we can do about it to strengthen our relational curiosity muscles that will enrich our relationships. But before we get into today's episode, here's what this p...

When you get right down to it, the only thing that really matters in the Christmas story in 2023 is Jesus. No Santa, gifts, or Bing Crosby. Just Jesus. Here's the original story as recorded in Luke's Gospel, just as it happened. I am reading from The Message, by Eugene Peterson. Luke 2: 1-20 The Birth of Jesus   About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. Th...

There are many cultural dimensions to all that is Christmas. Pick your favorite. I have a few that I look forward to every year. But as I get older, I'm seeing Christmas more as a great time to reflect on my relationship with Jesus. In Luke's gospel, for example, I'm especially drawn to the mother of Jesus, Mary, and how she reflects upon the birth of her son and all that it means to her, both in...

In the 1947 classic Christmas film It's a Wonderful Life!, George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, goes through a tough time during Christmas in dealing with two serious financial problems caused by someone else. This most beloved and joyful man in all of Bedford Falls is overcome with depression, anger, hopelessness, and despair. In the midst of all this, George's wife, Mary, steps in and shows u...