Deep Spirituality

Latest Episodes:

Changing How We See God Jul 10, 2019

Show notes

When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, [22] I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
Psalm 73:21-22 NIV
When we feel guilty, we end up angry and and embittered, and develop a negative view of God. The guilt may be true (we did something wrong), false (we did nothing wrong but feel like we did), or residual (we have already resolved what we did wrong but still feel guilty about it). Regardless of where the guilt is rooted, we will end up having a skewed view of God until we are honest and deal with our hearts with him. Join Russ Ewell and friends as they discuss the need for ongoing honest conversations with God that help us see him for who he really is.
Episode References:

The Last Samurai
Jim Crow Museum
Great conversations with God in the Bible:

How To Have A Spiritual Conversation Jun 19, 2019

Show notes

While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul was coming to kill him. [16] But Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and strengthened his faith in God. [17] Jonathan told him, “Don’t be afraid, because my father won’t touch you. You will be king of Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” [18] The two of them made an agreement before the LORD. Then Jonathan went home, but David stayed at Horesh.
1 Samuel 23:15-18 NCV

Our conversations are what change us. When we can understand the art of having a conversation we can then address one another's faith and deal with the fear inside that keeps us from growing. Russ Ewell sits down with Ray Kim and Nathan Schaffernoth to talk about the 5 steps to having spiritual conversations.

Listening is having the curiosity to learn from every conversation. Set aside the Time, put in the time to have a relationship that has great conversations is important. Once you've heard, you want to Reflect, to know what you don't know and think deeply about what was said. Then you can ask Questions, but you want to Understand yourself enough to know what questions to ask. Finally, Respond to share your life and continue deepening your conversations.

Episode References:

Summer of Freedom: How To Make A Decision To Change Jun 07, 2019

Show notes

Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [5] One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. [6] When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” [7] “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” [8] Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”
John 5:3,5-8 NIV

Like the paralyzed man in this scripture, many of us have felt stuck. Whether it is a circumstance, an emotion, or a sin, it is frustrating and discouraging to get stuck, and it can be hard to know how to get out of it. Just as the man needed Jesus' help to get unstuck, we can't get unstuck alone. We need help from both friends and God to move forward in our lives, and this starts with asking what Jesus asked - "Do you want to get well?" By answering this question, we can begin to make the following decisions:

Tell the truth
Stop resisting
Make a change

For any of us, but especially for teenagers, simplicity is key. By making the simple choice to either tell the truth, stop resisting help, or make a change in our lives, we make steps toward getting unstuck and becoming free. Join Russ Ewell and friends as they talk about what decisions we can make to have a summer of freedom.

The Heart To Lead May 29, 2019

Show notes

David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”
I Samuel 17:32 NIV

Do you have the heart to lead? A leader is someone who inspires people to keep pushing and not lose heart. In this scripture, David was able to lead the Israelites to defeat the Philistines because of his ability to stir and inspire the hearts of the people. Leaders have hearts that inspire, are focused, and are resolved to reach their purpose. The moment we let God parent and lead us is the moment we become the leaders he is calling us to be. Join Russ Ewell and friends as they discuss the heart to lead.

Sign up for our newsletter for quiet times, info, articles, and more! If you have topic ideas, movies, music, documentaries, articles, or books for the show email us at podcast@deepspirituality.net

Episode References:

Chasing God May 23, 2019

Show notes

But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.
Ecclesiastes 2:11 NLT

All of us are chasing something. When we feel worthless, inadequate, or insignificant, we will look anywhere and everywhere to make ourselves feel worthy. The insecurities about who we are fuel our chase for more, but if we don't go to God the insecurities will only be silenced temporarily. Join Russ Ewell and friends as they discuss the things we chase that don't really satisfy us, and how God is the only thing worth chasing.

Episode References:

Bob Dylan - Gotta Serve Somebody
Jackson Browne - Running on Empty

Somewhere I Belong May 15, 2019

Show notes

For You shaped me, inside and out. You knitted me together in my mother’s womb long before I took my first breath. [14] I will offer You my grateful heart, for I am Your unique creation, filled with wonder and awe. You have approached even the smallest details with excellence; Your works are wonderful; I carry this knowledge deep within my soul.
Psalm 139:13-14 Voice

Depending on how we grew up, we may each have different experiences and perspectives on parents. Whether these experiences were good or bad, not even the best parents can or should fill our needs. This is where God comes in. Like this psalmist writes, God knows us and cares about us for who we are. As a parent, God nurtures us, challenges us, and guides us in the way we should go. Join Russ Ewell as he discusses with Sean and Mike how God gives us a place where we belong, and is the ultimate parent we all want and need.

To read the article this podcast is based on, click here.

Why You Should Become a Leader May 08, 2019

Show notes

Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked. [7] They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.” [8] But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. [9] He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?” [10] The young men who had grown up with him replied, “These people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. [11] My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’ ”
1 Kings 12:6-11 NIV

In this scripture, King Rebohoam took bad advice, which later costs him the entire nation when they refused follow him. Though we may look to this story and see all of the king's mistakes and flaws, what this story really teaches us is that if we are to move forward, we have to be willing to let young leaders make mistakes. This fear of failure is one of many reasons why young people don't go into spiritual leadership. Join Russ Ewell and friends as they discuss what can hold people back from leading, and find how, despite our mistakes, God believes we can be great leaders.

Sign up for our newsletter for quiet times, info, articles, and more! If you have topic ideas, movies, music, documentaries, articles, or books for the show email us at podcast@deepspirituality.net

Now's The Time Apr 17, 2019

Show notes

But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.” [15] My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.
Psalm 31:14-15 NIV
Trusting God means believing that everything in our lives is happening for a reason. Do you have this attitude toward God influencing you and your decisions in your life? When we don't have a personal and emotional connection to how God is moving, the Christian life can feel monotonous or burdensome, leading us to settle for religiosity as a coping mechanism. No religious behaviorism or rules will make us feel complete. Only a real and personally inspired relationship with God will give us the wholeness we are looking for. It’s our time to be close to God.
Join Russ Ewell and friends as they discuss the launching of the new email newsletter, "Kickstart Your Quiet Time." They walk through the thought process behind the first article of the series, "What Time is It?," helping all of us answer the question, "How do I get personally inspired in my walk with God?"
Sign up for our newsletter for quiet times, info, articles, and more! If you have topic ideas, movies, music, documentaries, articles, or books for the show email us at podcast@deepspirituality.net

What Speaks to Your Soul? Apr 10, 2019

Show notes

Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.
Proverbs 14:10 NIV

Our insecurities often come from a place of feeling misunderstood. There are things we experience that no one but God can understand. When we feel misunderstood emotionally, intellectually, socially, and spiritually, we need God to help us understand and express ourselves through writing, drawing, music, or anything that will help us make our hearts and souls known to ourselves, God, and others.

Join Russ Ewell and friends as they discuss the need to seek God with all of our insecurities, and how he is the only one who can understand the depths of who we are.

If you have topic ideas, movies, music, documentaries, articles, or books for the show email us at podcast@deepspirituality.net

Episode References:

"I'm Feeling" Spotify Playlist
Read Book of Psalms to better understand emotions
"Rescue" by Lauren Daigle
"All Along" by Kid Cudi

Why Am I Insecure? Apr 03, 2019

Show notes

What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar.
Proverbs 19:22 NIV

The Bible teaches that, ultimately, what we each desire most is to be loved unconditionally. But when we let our fear of rejection prevent us from being honest about our thoughts, emotions, and insecurities, we end up feeling alone and never truly feel loved. Whether it is our appearance, intelligence, ability, or likability, there are areas of each of our lives that make us feel insecure and unhappy. It is only once we choose to be honest about these things that we will feel the unfailing love that God wants to give us. Join Russ Ewell and friends as they discuss the crippling effect fear of rejection and loneliness can have on us and our relationships. and how being honest with God and people can be what frees us up to feel loved.

If you have topic ideas, movies, music, documentaries, articles, or books for the show email us at podcast@deepspirituality.net

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