Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer have written a powerful book that addresses abuse of power in churches.  The book is titled, A Church Called Tov, and the purpose is to help churches nurture cultures of goodness (the meaning of the Hebrew word tov).In this episode, we discuss why some churches develop toxic cultures of abuse and how to work against that by nurturing cultures of goodness.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Laura Barringer is a second grade teacher and this is her second book co-authored with her father, Scot McKnight.Scot McKnight is the Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary.  He is also a prolific author and an ordained Anglican deacon.Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer were attending Willow Creek Community Church when allegations against Bill Hybels began to emerge.Scot and Laura were led to write about the need for a goodness culture in churches.  This is why they wrote A Church Called Tov.Willow Creek was misusing Scripture as it defended itself.Scot McKnight explains why they felt it was important to name the pastors who abused women in their churches when writing A Church Called Tov.In the Bible, people’s stories are told “warts and all.”Tov is the Hebrew word for “good.”  Tov describes the fullness of total moral behavior.A tov church/pastor/elder/person does not abuse power, women, or children.Scot McKnight is not comfortable with “leadership culture” in churches.  The word “leader” is not a significant word in the New Testament.Pastors should not be promoted as superstars.We won’t develop a culture of tov if we are only counting how many people show up on Sundays.Scot McKnight is interested in seminaries becoming institutes of tov formation.You can reach Scot and Laura on Twitter at @scotmcknight and @laurambarringer.You can follow Scot McKnight's work at his Jesus Creed blog.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Books mentioned:A Church Called Tov, by Scot McKnight and Laura BarringerThe Blue Parakeet, by Scot McKnightA Fellowship of Differents, by Scot McKnightJunia is Not Alone, by Scot McKnightTwitter:Scot Mcknight, @scotmcknightLaura Barringer, @laurabarringerScot McKnight's Blog:Jesus Creed blogOnline course:Leading Your Church Through Change— Links to Amazon are affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through any of these links, I’ll receive a small commission–which will help pay for the Spiritual Life and Leadership podcast!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!The events of this past week, and especially January 6, 2021, have been astonishing.  Never did I imagine that American citizens would attack and infiltrate the United States Capitol building.  But it happened.And at the center of this is Donald Trump, the President of the United States.  As problematic as Donald Trump's presidency has been, he is a beloved child of God who is in deep pain right now.  And I feel compelled to pray for him with compassion.In this episode, I share some of my thoughts on the events of January 6, Donald Trump's character, and the pain he must be feeling right now.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:The insurrection and storming of the U.S. Capitol was an unbelievable and horrifying event.Donald Trump's character and leadership led to this insurrection because Donald Trump established an  "us vs. them" mentality.Donald Trump's presidency has proven to be a failure in these final weeks.Now, Donald Trump is in considerable pain.We need to pray with compassion for Donald Trump.Markus prays for Donald Trump.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Pray as You GoEpisode 79: The Loss of Evangelical Identity, with Michael CooperInstructions to leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership:Click HERE.Click on the link that says, "Listen on Apple Podcasts."In the window that opens, click the button that says, "Open Link."  This will open iTunes.To the right of the Spiritual Life and Leadership logo, click "Ratings and Reviews."Under the heading, "Customer Reviews," click on the button that says, "Write a Review."Select the number of stars and write your review.Click submit.I'd be so grateful if you did this.  Thank you!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Kevin White, author of Audacious Generosity, shares his story of being terminated from the church he had planted just a few years earlier.  That experience could have crushed him.  But gave him deeper clarity about what really matters—and it led to a whole new ministry that blesses hundred of people every month.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Kevin White is the Executive Director of Global Hope India and author of Audacious Generosity.Kevin White shares how his organization, Global Hope India, had to pivot during the pandemic.Kevin’s primary purpose in life is to pursue God’s presence.The church that Kevin had planted voted to let him go after several years.  This was an incredibly painful moment in Kevin’s life.  It was this experience that showed him that God’s presence is the most important thing.This led to a time of extreme financial insecurity.Because of the financial insecurity, Kevin White and his family started a ministry that provided food both for his family and eventually for five hundred families every month.The experience of loss and suffering makes us more compassionate.Kevin White’s experience of loss and suffering led him to start his organization, Global Hope India.God’s plan has always been audacious generosity.Audacious generosity is a means toward the end of experiencing God’s presence.When people experience suffering and loss they can become cynical and bitter or they can become healthy and compassionate.  Kevin White says that it was the practice of forgiveness that helped him become healthy and compassionate.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Kevin White:Website – kevinwhite.usInstagram - @kevinwhiteusFacebook - @kevinwhite.usaTwitter - @kevinwhiteusLinkedIn - @kevinwhiteusE-mail – kevin@kevinwhite.usBooks mentioned:Audacious Generosity, by Kevin WhiteBeyond Thingification, by Markus WatsonOther Resources:Beyond Thingification Study GuideInstructions to leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership:Click HERE.Click on the link that says, "Listen on Apple Podcasts."In the window that opens, click the button that says, "Open Link."  This will open iTunes.To the right of the Spiritual Life and Leadership logo, click "Ratings and Reviews."Under the heading, "Customer Reviews," click on the button that says, "Write a Review."Select the number of stars and write your review.Click submit.I'd be so grateful if you did this.  Thank you!— Links to Amazon are affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through any of these links, I’ll receive a small commission–which will helClick HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!God is a God who sets things right.  And that's what we see in Mary's Song--The Magnificat--in Luke 1:46-55.As we approach the end of 2020, for many of us it is clearer than ever just how broken our world is.  Disease.  Racism.  Poverty and lost financial security.  Violence.  Division.  Injustice.  These are the kinds of headlines that dominated the news this past year.But as broken as our world clearly is, it’s actually not more broken than the world into which Jesus was born.  Jesus’ world, too, was filled with disease, racism, poverty, violence, division, and injustice.   And in Mary's Song, in Luke 1:46-55, Mary praises the God who is sending his Son to set these things right.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:In January 2020, Oxfam International reported that the 2153 billionaires in the world have more wealth than the 4.6 billion poorest people who make up 60% of the world’s population.The combined wealth of the 26 richest people in the world is the same as the combined wealth of the world's poorest 3.8 billion people.Mary’s song in Luke 1:46-55 addresses God’s perspective on such inequity.Mary’s song is divided into four parts:Mary’s blessingTransitionThe Great ReversalGod’s faithfulness to IsraelWhy is God interested in bringing low the powerful and raising up the weak and poor?  Because God is a God of justice.We can see God’s desire to set things right throughout the Old Testament.Jesus came to set things right.Jesus' first ministry words in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 4:16-21) address Jesus’ desire to set things right.We’re invited to join Jesus in setting things right.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Scriptures:Luke 1:46-55Luke 4:16-21Six Practices of a Flourishing Church (downloadable PDF)Oxfam International statisticsInstructions to leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership:Click HERE.Click on the link that says, "Listen on Apple Podcasts."In the window that opens, click the button that says, "Open Link."  This will open iTunes.To the right of the Spiritual Life and Leadership logo, click "Ratings and Reviews."Under the heading, "Customer Reviews," click on the button that says, "Write a Review."Select the number of stars and write your review.Click submit.I'd be so grateful if you did this.  Thank you!— Links to Amazon are affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through any of these links, I’ll receive a small commission–which will help pay for the Spiritual Life and Leadership podcast!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!The Border Church is a beautiful and prophetic expression of border resistance as followers of Jesus in San Diego, California, join together at the border with Jesus-followers in Tijuana, Mexico--even sharing Communion through the border fence.In this episode, I’m speaking with Seth Clark, Director of the Pastoral Team forThe Border Church.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Seth Clark is the Lead Pastor at First Baptist Church of National City (in San Diego) and Director of the Pastoral Team on the U.S. side of The Border Church.Seth shares his faith journey.  He grew up in the Plymouth Brethren tradition.Numerous experiences helped Seth recognize that his view of the world was shaped by his particular lens.Seth has been involved in The Border Church for about three years.Friendship Park was instituted at the San Diego/Tijuana border by Pat Nixon (Richard Nixon’s wife).Friendship Park was meant to be a place of connection.  But over the years, it has become more and more difficult to connect.Seth Clark describes what it’s like to worship at The Border Church, which meets at Friendship Park.Seth Clark did his doctoral dissertation on The Border Church.  The title of his dissertation is Open Wound, Open Table.Seth shares how he has been formed spiritually since getting involved at The Border Church.To find out more about The Border Church, visit www.borderchurch.org.  You can also connect on Facebook at www.facebook.com/borderchurch.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:The Border ChurchWebsite:  www.borderchurch.orgFacebook:  www.facebook.com/borderchurchSpiritual Life and Leadership Facebook Groupwww.markuswatson.com/sllgroupInstructions to leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership:Click HERE.Click on the link that says, "Listen on Apple Podcasts."In the window that opens, click the button that says, "Open Link."  This will open iTunes.To the right of the Spiritual Life and Leadership logo, click "Ratings and Reviews."Under the heading, "Customer Reviews," click on the button that says, "Write a Review."Select the number of stars and write your review.Click submit.I'd be so grateful if you did this.  Thank you!— Links to Amazon are affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through any of these links, I’ll receive a small commission–which will help pay for the Spiritual Life and Leadership podcast!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Dr. Jerome Butler, host of the Moments of Grace podcast and author of numerous books, shares about his experiences with racism and likens the African American experience to the trials of Hercules in Greek mythology—a fascinating comparison!THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Dr. Jerome Butler is the host of the Moments of Grace podcast.  Books he has authored include Managing the Miracle, Power of Your Destiny, and Transformation of the Mind.Dr. Butler’s daughter wrote a children’s book titled The Krystal Kingdom, which is a parable about foster care.The first time Dr. Butler really became aware of racism was when the Central Park Five were falsely accused.For nine years, Dr. Butler was a Muslim while in the military.  He shares how came back to faith in Jesus.Dr. Jerome Butler began to experience racism personally in his places of work.Dr. Butler compares the African American experience to the trials of Hercules in Greek mythology.  Every time he met the demands of the gods, the gods would move the goal posts.“We have done everything that has been asked of us….  When do we get an opportunity to enjoy ‘Olympus’ with the rest of society?”Is there such a thing as systemic racism?  Dr. Butler explains why there is.Find out more about Dr. Jerome Butler at www.drajrbutler.com.  You can also e-mail Dr. Butler at ajrbutler@gmail.com. You can even call Dr. Butler, if you’d like, at 864-324-4886.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Dr. Jerome ButlerWebsite:  www.drajrbutler.comE-mail:  ajrbutler@gmail.comPhone:  864-324-4886Podcast:  Moments of GraceBooks mentioned:Managing the Miracle, by Dr. Jerome ButlerPower of Your Destiny, by Dr. Jerome ButlerTransformation of the Mind, by Dr. Jerome ButlerThe Krystal Kingdom, by Audreuna ButlerClick HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Leading like Jesus means healthy leadership. Ken Blanchard has been writing and teaching about healthy leadership for a long time.  In this interview, Ken shares about his youth, how he came to faith, what it was like when The One-Minute Manager became a massive success (including how it impacted his faith journey), and what it means to lead like Jesus.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Ken Blanchard is the Co-founder and Chief Spiritual Officer of the Ken Banchard Companies, as well as the author of Lead Like Jesus, Leading at a Higher Level, and The One-Minute Manager.“Great leaders are great because people trust and respect them, not because they have power.” Ken Blanchard wrote Management of Organizational Behavior: Leading Human Resources with Paul Hersey.Ken Blanchard wrote The One Minute Manager as a parable with Spencer Johnson, who had written children’s books.Ken Blanchard’s mission statement is: “To be a loving teacher and an example of simple truths that help myself and others to awaken to the presence of God in their lives, and to help us realize we’re here to serve, not to be served.”Ken shares how he came to faith in Jesus.Ken Blanchard explains the concept of situational leadership (SL2) and how it relates to leading like Jesus.If you use only one leadership style all the time, it will be effective sometimes and very ineffective most of the time. Leading like Jesus requires us to vary our leadership style.Our ego can get in the way of healthy leadership and in the way of leading like Jesus.Ken defines EGO as “Edging God Out.” When we surrender to God we can turn our EGO into “Exalting God Only.”To find out more about Ken Blanchard, go to www.kenblanchard.com and www.leadlikejesus.com.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Ken Blanchard:www.kenblanchard.comwww.leadlikejesus.comBooks mentioned:Lead Like Jesus, by Ken BlanchardLeading at a Higher Level, by Ken BlanchardThe One-Minute Manager, by Ken BlanchardManagement of Organizational Behavior, by Ken BlanchardEpisodes mentioned:Episode 65: Why Don't People Go to Church Anymore?Episode 66: The Improbably Growth of the Early ChurchEpisode 67:  How the Church Lost Its Missionary Identity— Links to Amazon are affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through any of these links, I’ll receive a small commission–which will help pay for the Spiritual Life and Leadership podcast!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Pledge and consent are crucial in the experience of knowing.  In this episode, Esther Lightcap Meek and I talk about chapter 2 of her book, A Little Manual for Knowing.  In that chapter—and in this episode—Esther shows us that if we are to truly know someone or something, then we need to pledge ourselves to that which is yet-to-be-known.  We need to pledge ourselves to the “knowing venture” and we need to pledge to be open to—to consent to—the reality of that which we are coming to know.THIS  EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Esther Lightcap Meek is the Professor of Philosophy at Geneva College and the author of A Little Manual for Knowing.To truly know something or someone, one must “pledge” oneself to that thing or person.  Pledge to live life on the terms of the yet-to-be-known.  Pledge to do what it takes to know it.  Pledge to be ok with it once it reveals itself.In Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Annie Dillard describes what it takes to stalk a muskrat.  One must hold still, give up one’s dignity, and wait.  Esther says this is covenantal language.Knowing something or someone requires consent.  We have to say yes to what or who it truly is. Knowing requires pledge and consent.“All of reality is the consent of God.  Everywhere your eye lands, your eye is landing on God’s ‘Yes!’”The opposite of pledge and consent is acedia, commonly known at sloth.Dallas Willard says that if we’re going to love God, we have to consent and say “yes” to ourselves.  Saying “yes” to who you are as you are.In the movie, Avatar, one of the characters says to the other, “I see you.” It was an act of ultimate consent.Markus refers to a poem by Madeleine L’Engle, cited in Visions of Vocation by Steve Garber.  The poem shows that in marriage we must pledge and consent to who our spouse truly is if we are to truly know them.Esther discusses confirmation bias.In the story of the Road to Emmaus, the disciples were able to let go of a preconception that allowed them then to know Jesus.“Reality, by definition, is God and His stuff.”“All knowing is transformative.”Esther connects the knowing venture to the experience of worship.Esther is beginning a book series called Doorways, in which each volume will connect the knowing venture to a different discipline.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Books:A Little Manual for Knowing, by Esther Lightcap MeekPilgrim at Tinker Creek, by Annie DillardVisions of Vocation, by Steve GarberThe Hobbit, by J.R.R. TolkienThe Gospel in a Pluralist Society, Lesslie NewbiginThe Fabric of Faithfulness, by Steve GarberRelated episodes:Episode 46: Inviting the Real, with Esther Lightcap MeekClick HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Aaron Schafer has written an excellent book titled, The Politically Homeless Christian, in which he explores the current state of politics and how we as followers of Jesus are called to engage politically.And that's what we talk about in this episode.  If you, too, find yourself politically homeless, you will find this conversation incredibly valuable.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Aaron Schafer is a blogger, podcaster, and author of The Politically Homeless Christian, as well as the Director of Sales for a company called Self-Publishing School.Aaron feels a deep sadness around the divisiveness in the United States.“The earth is not our home—and a political party certainly shouldn’t be.”In Episode 79, Markus spoke with Michael Cooper about the “the loss of evangelical identity,” and how hard it is to talk about Jesus in other parts of the world because Jesus has come to be identified with certain political positions, rather than with the good news of God’s love.Neither political party has a monopoly on good ideas.Grace-filled politics begins by embracing humility.“I wonder how much of what I believe politically I believe simply because I’ve always believed it.”Facebook feeds us content that merely confirms our worldview.Aaron Schafer shares his thoughts on the Second Amendment.We often listen in order to win an argument more than we listen to understand.Aaron shares his thoughts on the effectiveness of stimulus checks during the 2020 pandemic.It’s important for us to be able to change our minds when we get new information.“I hope as Christians we would err on the side of generosity.”You can find The Politically Homeless Christian on Amazon.  The e-book will be available for .99 until Nov. 3, 2020 (election day).Aaron Schafer’s blog is www.aaronschaferblog.com.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Aaron Schafer:Website: www.aaronschaferblog.comBooks:The Politically Homeless Christian, by Aaron SchaferRelated episodes:Episode 79: The Loss of Evangelical Identity, with Michael CooperEpisode 55:  Healing Our Polarized World, with Dan White, Jr.Instructions to leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership:Click HERE.Click on the link that says, "Listen on Apple Podcasts."In the window that opens, click the button that says, "Open Link."  This will open iTunes.To the right of the Spiritual Life and Leadership logo, click "Ratings and Reviews."Under the heading, "Customer Reviews," click on the button that says, "Write a Review."Select the number of stars and write your review.Click submit.I'd be so gClick HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Tod Bolsinger, author of Leadership for a Time of Pandemic, knows about leadership in times of disorientation.  And 2020 is certainly a time of disorientation!  A global pandemic.  A worldwide economic recession.  Social unrest and an outcry for racial justice.But it’s not the first time we’ve experienced disorientation.  Perhaps what makes 2020 unique is the global nature of what is happening and the fact that the challenges won’t seem to go away.In this episode, Tod Bolsinger helps us explore what is required of spiritual leaders in times of disorientation.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Tod Bolsinger is the author of Leadership for a Time of Pandemic.Tod explains what it means to not “waste a crisis.”There are two stages in a crisis:  the acute stage and the adaptive stage.Vulnerable self-reflection is needed to develop the strength to be a resilient leader.“The vulnerability of leadership needs the security of many relationships.” According to Tod Bolsinger, the hardest thing in times of adaptive change is the internal resistance of one’s own people.In this time of pandemic, we need resilient leadership.People don’t resist change.  They resist loss.Rationalization is about coming up with reasons for avoiding necessary pain.“You need an identity that is grounded in something other than your success as a leader.”Text “uncharted” to 66866 to find out more about Tod Bolsinger and his work.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Tod Bolsinger:Text “uncharted” to 66866Books mentioned:Leadership for a Time of Pandemic, by Tod BolsingerCanoeing the Mountains, by Tod BolsingerTempered Resilience, by Tod BolsingerRelated episodes:Episode 16: Canoeing the Mountains, with Tod BolsingerSpiritual Life and Leadership Facebook Group:www.markuswatson.com/sllgroupInstructions to leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership:Click HERE.Click on the link that says, "Listen on Apple Podcasts."In the window that opens, click the button that says, "Open Link."  This will open iTunes.To the right of the Spiritual Life and Leadership logo, click "Ratings and Reviews."Under the heading, "Customer Reviews," click on the button that says, "Write a Review."Select the number of stars and write your review.Click submit.I'd be so grateful if you did this.  Thank you!— Links to Amazon are affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through any of these links, I’ll receive a small commission–which will help pay for the Spiritual Life and Leadership podcast!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.