Lisa Harper's Back Porch Theology

During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology, the very last stop in our topsy-turvy tour through Judges, we’re going to hang out with a hot mess of a man who was my favorite character in biblical narrative – apart from Jesus, of course – when I was a little girl. His name was Samson and I’m not sure why I was so captivated by him when I was a kid because for most of his life, he was a rebel without a clue. Although Sam’s birth announcement was engraved by an angel, and he was doted on by good and godly parents who suffered through decades of infertility before they got pregnant with him, he rejected their morality and devotion to God and went careening in the opposite direction. I’m not going to spoil the audacious end of his story in this preview, but if you’ve been on the porch for the last few episodes, you know that divine redemption is always lurking in the darkest alleys of humanity. Dr. Tim Keller explained it beautifully, “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” We’re serving up extra portions of hope on the porch today, so we’re delighted you’ve chosen to pull up a chair to chow down with us. Please grab your favorite beverage, and a Bible and let’s dive into this divine love story and remind our prone-to-wander selves of the miraculous redemption available to us because God’s faithfulness has always been weightier than our flaws! Watch the Ark in the Darkness HERE. Find out more from Hope For The Heart Here.  Learn more about The Chosen HERE.

During today’s podcast on Back Porch Theology we’re exploring one of the greatest leaders in the history of God’s people who just so happens to be a chick named Deb! She was both a judge and a prophetess. Which means she was kind of like a president and pastor rolled into one - the entire prone-to-wander nation of Israel turned to her for leadership, wisdom, and spiritual guidance. And another unlikely heroine makes her debut during Deborah’s timeline, too. Her name was Jael and let me tell you, that woman was LEGIT - she could have held her own against a burly, tatted MMA fighter twice her size! Even though these women’s stories take place long before David’s in redemptive history, they illustrate what God said to Samuel about Davey when he was anointed to be the future king of Israel before he even started shaving, “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” In other words, God delights in using misfits in miraculous ways. Don’t forget, the book of Judges was a bleak chapter in the history of God’s people – there was no king on the throne, the Word of God was not being taught in the land, and most people were doing whatever crooked little hearts desired. It looked as if their toes were hanging over the edge of obscurity. And based on their rebellion and idolatry, they deserved to be fried into greased spots of oblivion by some divine lightning bolt. Instead, our Heavenly Father inserts a couple of unlikely heroes into their drama, which results in an epic military victory as well as a national revival. The brightest mornings often follow the darkest nights when we give God the sole authorship of our story. It a great day to hang out on the porch, so please grab your favorite beverage, your Bible, and a snack and come prop your feet up with us. We love getting to spend this time with you. Watch the Ark in the Darkness HERE. Find out more from Hope For The Heart Here.  Learn more about The Chosen HERE.

During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology we’re diving into our second in a series called The Theology of ROAR that explores the cyclical, increasingly damaging nature of unconfessed sin. Unbridled rebellion is like a hoard of hungry termites on a piece of damp wood, it eats away at our emotional and relational integrity until there’s nothing left but dust and regret. But here’s the great news, throughout human history God has consistently interrupted the chaos of our rebellion with His compassionate spirit. And when Holy Spirit permeates our conscious, we become not simply cognizant that we’re unwell, we become aware that our Creator is also our Healer. Contrary to the flawed reasoning of many in modern culture, a heightened awareness of our own sin nature doesn’t lead to depression, instead it shifts our fallenness into the realm of real hope! It’s what Jesus was talking about in Mark chapter two when He said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Today we’re going to get up close and personal with a dude who did just that. He started out as a weenie but ended up an epic warrior in God’s kingdom, once again proving that you can start bad and end up awesome when grace invades your story. We’re so grateful you’ve carved out this time to hang out on the porch with us; getting to lean into the unconditional love of God with y’all has become a habit we hope we don’t ever have to break! Which reminds me, if you haven’t already, will you please subscribe to BPT on whatever app you use to listen to podcasts? Your subscriptions ensure that Alli, Dr. Howard and I get to keep doing this podcast, so thank you very, very much. Watch the Ark in the Darkness HERE. Find out more from Hope For The Heart Here.  Learn more about The Chosen HERE.

During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology we’re diving into a new series called The Theology of ROAR – that’s an acronym for Rebellion, Oppression, Asking for God’s Forgiveness, and Restoration. And you’re going to need to buckle your seat belts for this one because we’re taking an exegetical tour through a really tumultuous time in redemptive history when there was no king on the throne, the Word of God was not being taught in the land, and people were doing whatever their crooked little hearts desired. It was essentially the Wild West of idolatry and rebellion, which quickly led to bondage and oppression, and finally – when God’s image bearers were sick of being flat on their face in the stinky muck of their consequences – they looked up and asked Him to forgive them. And He did…over and over again. Fortunately for humanity, the Bible is riddled with true stories that illustrate how a thimbleful of sincere repentance has the power to unleash an avalanche of divine restoration. Sin is anything but innocuous, y’all – it robs us of peace, shoplifts our joy, fertilizes addictive and narcissistic behavioral patterns, which erode trust and intimacy with our friends and families, and worst still sin creates heartbreaking distance between us and the God who loves us more than we can ask or imagine. And yet His grace is greater still. There is no confessed sin so grievous that it has the power to permanently catapult outside of our Savior’s ability to redeem the ruins of our lives into something truly beautiful. Where there’s real repentance, there is always restoration. Remember how Holy Spirit often manifests as wind in both the Old and New Testament canons? Well, I think some saints are going to get a fresh gust of it in their sagging sails today; no matter what lies the enemy has been whispering to you in the dark when you feel completely alone and like the last drop of hope is draining out of the colander of your heart, I promise, this doesn’t have to be the end of your story. Today’s going to be a good day on the porch and we’re very grateful we get to spend it with you. So please grab a cup of coffee and your Bible and come lean into some fresh grace with us. Watch the Ark in the Darkness HERE. Find out more from Hope For The Heart Here.  Learn more about The Chosen HERE.

During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology we’re going to dive deep into a miraculous, modern story that highlights how God can take what seem to be the absolute ruins of a life and restore them into a spiritual leader. Sometimes we forget that Abraham was a lunar worshipper before God tapped him to be the father of a theocracy; that Moses was guilty of homicide before God tapped him to lead His people out of captivity; that Elijah had a massive meltdown under a broom tree after witnessing God’s powerful presence on Mt. Carmel; or that John the Baptist – the forerunner of our Messiah – literally doubted the divinity of Jesus when he was languishing in prison. Biblical narrative is riddled with stories about saints who lost their way, only to run headlong into divine mercy in the middle of literal and proverbial deserts. Playwright Oscar Wilde – whose reputation was much more playboy than choirboy – sure spoke the truth when he wrote,“Every Saint Has a Past and Every Sinner Has a Future.” The testimony you’re about to hear is a poignant antidote for shame and loneliness…it will expose ugly, insidious lies like, “I’m too dirty or too damaged to deserve true love” to the light of the Gospel where they’ll shrivel up and die. Frankly, some of the most radiant believers I’ve ever met – certainly the most authentic and grateful Christ-followers – are the ones with the most brokenness in their backstory. In light of John’s proclamation in Revelation 12 – that the enemy is defeated by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony – I believe the next forty minutes has enough tangible hope to help more than a few begin to break free from heavy emotional bondage. However, some of the subject matter we’re going to cover isn’t suited for little ears so if you normally listen in the car with your kiddos in the backseat, please wait until those precious punkins’ aren’t within earshot to pull your chair up to the porch. And when you do so, please bring a large cup of coffee, a few of your favorite snacks, and your Bible - then feel free to exhale and prop your feet up because this is a safe place to relax and lean further into the unconditional love of Jesus, no matter what your backstory is. Watch the Ark in the Darkness HERE. Find out more from Hope For The Heart Here.  Learn more about The Chosen HERE.

We can hardly believe we’ve come to the end of this series called the Theology of Worship! I hope it’s encouraged you as much as it’s encouraged us. Sometimes I found myself white-knuckling it in order to hang onto love, joy, peace and hope during all the public discord and rancor of 2024, so it’s been really lovely to start out 2025 with this deep dive into worship. It’s been like an oasis, where much like the woman at the well I’ve encountered Living Water and have experienced renewal that I wasn’t even aware my heart was yearning for until it found me. Modern theologian John Ortberg wisely said, “I need to worship because without it I lose a sense of wonder and gratitude and plod through life with blinders on.” We’re wrapping up this series with a super special bow because Jeremy and Adie Camp let Alli and me twist their arms and they’ve come back to help us seal that sense of wonder and gratitude that comes with being a fully devoted worshipper of Jesus Christ. So please grab a cup of coffee, your Bible, a journal and make sure you’re wearing your comfy pants because today’s going to be like a spiritual spa day for your heart. Thanks so much for pulling a chair up to the porch with us, we’re glad you’re here. Watch the Ark in the Darkness HERE. Find out more from Hope For The Heart Here.  Learn more about The Chosen HERE.

Today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology is the second to last in our series The Theology of Worship, and it’s a really special moment for Alli and me because we get to share two dear friends with y’all for the first time here on BPT, Jeremy and Adie Camp. Of course, many of you are probably already familiar with Jeremy because while he’s only 46, he’s already a legend in Christian music with over 6 million albums sold, 44 #1 singles, and more than 2 billion streams. And many of you probably watched the 2020 movie, I Still Believe, which tells the unforgettable story of how Jeremy’s first wife, Melissa, died of cancer when she was very young, and how that tragic loss tested his faith, taught him how to hang onto the goodness of God when life is anything but good, and ultimately led him to Adie. The most believable believers I’ve ever met are those who’ve waded honestly through woundedness without letting go of God’s hand. Those who’ve trudged through dark nights of the soul only to come out on the other side trusting Him more fully, despite still having questions that will never be answered this side of Glory. Jeremy and Adie are those kind of people. Alli and I love them and can unequivocally say that we see Jesus more clearly as a result of their friendship. I can almost guarantee that you will too after hanging out with them today so please grab your favorite beverage, a couple snacks, and your Bible and come camp out on the porch with the Camps and us!  Watch the Ark in the Darkness HERE. Find out more from Hope For The Heart Here.  Learn more about The Chosen HERE.

Today's conversation on Back Porch Theology is the fourth in our series on worship and is part two of last week's episode with Darlene Zschech, who many consider to be the mother of modern day worship music. Brooke Ligertwood ~ who's one of the most anointed people I've ever had the pure joy of being led to the throne room of Jesus by and whose songs are also beloved by millions of Christ followers around the world ~ was mentored by Darlene in Australia and Brooke not only refers to her as a mother of worship music, she explains that her longevity of service to the church and devotion to God and His people make her accolades pale in comparison. Because while Darlene paved the way for how so many of us now praise our Creator Redeemer in public sanctuaries, as well as the privacy of our cars and kitchens, she carries her calling with tangible humility. But don't mistake her humility for weakness because she continues to tutor the body of Christ in how worship is a weapon through which we can push back the darkness and hang on to the goodness of God when our circumstances are anything but. Y'all better strap yourself into your rockers on the porch today, because our Aussie "Aunty" is about to take us to church! So please grab an extra large cup of coffee, as well as your Bible and get ready to have your spiritual sword sharpened because you're going to be inspired to plunge it into the scaly heart of that evil dragon, satan, in short order. I truly believe today's going to be a turning point for some of you who've almost given up hope that you'll survive ~ much less win ~ the battle that's currently raging in your heart and mind. We're so glad and so grateful you're here on the porch with us today ~ hang on, I promise fresh hope is right around the corner. He's got you...He has NOT abandoned you and He never will.  Watch the Ark in the Darkness HERE. Find out more from Hope For The Heart Here.  Learn more about The Chosen HERE.

Okay I really need your help during today's conversation on BPT ~ which is part of a new series we started this year called "The Theology of Worship." And I'm playing my phone-a-friend card with all of you amazing backporchers because I have the wildly undeserved privilege of hanging out with one of my heroines of the faith and while I'm going to do my very best not to fan-girl since that's tacky and biblically indefensible, I can assure you I'm about to be discombobulated. Plus, when I'm around a saint with as much integrity and wisdom as Darlene Zschech, I tend to babble even more than usual so please pray for me and you might want to hover your finger above the fast forward icon so you can leapfrog over my wind-baggyness! Darlene Zschech is an Australian singer-songwriter, worship leader, author, and speaker. She and her husband Mark are the Senior Pastors of Hope Unlimited Church (HopeUC) on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, which now has churches in the US and India. She's won more awards than you could fit in the back of a Ford F150 ~ including the Gospel Music Association's International Award for influence in praise and worship ~ and has recorded a slew of gold and platinum projects over the past three decades. She's probably the most well-known for writing and singing “Shout to the Lord,” a worship anthem that's been sung by millions and translated into multiple languages. However, when you meet Darlene it becomes immediately apparent that her kindness and humility actually dwarf her extraordinary musical gifts. Today is a really special, red-letter sort of day on the porch so please grab your favorite drink, some yummy snacks, your Bible, and a journal and come prop your feet up with me and "Darls." And don't forget to pray y'all, because I'm already feeling light headed!  Watch the Ark in the Darkness HERE. Find out more from Hope For The Heart Here.  Learn more about The Chosen HERE.

Today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology in our on-going series on the theology of worship is a continuation of last week because we had such an awesome time leaning into all that Scripture reveals Jesus to be, learning from each other’s stories – especially the difficult chapters - and laughing that we simply had to have a part two of this conversation! Aren’t you grateful that being serious about our faith and being serious about ourselves aren’t synonymous? I thoroughly enjoy getting to spend time with people who are fully devoted to Jesus Christ but aren’t full of themselves! And saints who feel free enough to laugh at themselves are my absolute favorite kind of people. Which aptly describes the girl gang we’re hanging out with again today. Hope Darst, Tasha Layton, Hillary Scott and Rita Springer are too young to be called legends, but they have written and sung a multitude of songs that have shaped the musical landscape of worship. Between them they’ve won multiple Grammys and CMA’s and Doves and KLove Fan Awards, and yet this foursome reeks humility. They are much like the Skinhorse in the story of the Velveteen Rabbit…life has worn them thin enough to recognize that whether they have a number one song or fall completely off the charts, Jesus is the only Hero of humanity’s story and commercial success apart from intimacy with our Creator Redeemer is devoid of any real meaning. Mind you, as we continue to emphasize in this series, music is only one facet of how we worship as Christ followers – in fact, the Bible describes worship more as the posture of our hearts than the melody that falls out of our mouths. Which is why the theme of today’s conversation is less about melodic tunes than it is about biblical truths. What does worship look like when we aren’t singing or listening to Christian music? How do we maintain the posture of worshipping God when we’re dealing with deep disappointment, disillusionment, or debilitating depression. Is it possible to have a broken heart and hands raised in praise at the same time? It’s going to get raw and real today y’all, so please grab your Bible, a notebook, and some yummy snacks – I always find chocolate to be an excellent companion when taking raw and real adventures – and come give that great big, beautiful heart God placed in your chest some time and space to exhale on the porch with us. We’re really, really glad you’re here.  Watch the Ark in the Darkness HERE. Find out more from Hope For The Heart Here.  Learn more about The Chosen HERE.

During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology, Alli and I are both bouncing with enthusiastic expectancy because we’ve gathered a phenomenal foursome of wise women whose hearts, minds, and ministries have been shaped by worship. Hope Darst has been leading worship – both in her home church and on stages around the world for decades, although unlike most artists she signed her first record deal at the age of 39 in 2019. Since then, she’s penned several singles that have blessed millions of believers including Peace Be Still, Come Alive, and If the Lord Builds the House. Tasha Layton’s vocational and life experience is crazy colorful – before coming to faith in Jesus Christ, she studied Buddhism and spent four years touring all over the world as a back-up vocalist for pop superstar Katy Perry. She’s now a Christian music favorite and her latest single – Worship Through It – which is especially pertinent for today’s conversation – was number one on the charts recently. Our third worship tutor today is Hillary Scott. If you’re a country music fan, you’re familiar with my dear friend Hillary because she’s part of the platinum selling, multiple Grammy and CMA award-winning band, Lady A. What you might not know is that Hillary began her storied musical career as a worship leader and has never stopped using her pipes to point people to Jesus. Rounding out this fabulous foursome of guests on the porch today is Rita Springer. If you mention the name Rita Springer in the company of young worship leaders, it’s likely one or two will involuntarily gasp because she’s sort of like the Michael Jordan of worship leading. In addition to writing and recording songs for the church at large for the past 30+ years, Rita has also mentored hundreds of Christian artists and worship leaders around the world. Having Hope, Tasha, Hillary and Rita here together to dive into the theology of worship is the equivalent of having Muttiah Muralitharan and Richard Hadlee here to dive into the subject of bowling because they are two of the greatest professional bowlers the world has ever seen. Okay, maybe that wasn’t the best analogy since bowling does seem to be more of a niche sport, but the bottom line is we’ve got a few of the most experienced and humble worship leaders of this generation gathered on the porch today to help us lean more fully into the embrace of Jesus, which is what shapes how we live and lead as Christ followers. I’m so excited about how God is going to reveal Himself to us today so please grab your Bible and your favorite beverage and your most comfortable chair and pull it up close to ours on the porch because believe me, you’re going to want to hear every single word these saints share today. Watch the Ark in the Darkness HERE. Find out more from Hope For The Heart Here.  Learn more about The Chosen HERE.

Today's Happy New Year conversation is akin to dancing with a 500-pound gorilla with balance issues because most of us are going to get our proverbial toes pinched! The reason why is we're going to get real about how our daily digital gluttony ~ from scrolling through social media, Googling down one rabbit trail after another, perusing the pretend aisles of Amazon Prime, and reconnecting with old high school flames who slid into our DMs ~ is making us heartsick. Multiple highly regarded scientific studies over the past few years have revealed that the excessive time most of us spend staring at our phone screens has a negative impact on our neuro-pathways, as well as our primary relationships. Plus, there's irrefutable proof now that adolescents’ brains ~ which are still developing ~ become more sensitive when anticipating social rewards and punishments over time with increased social media usage. In other words, the measurable result of all those hours our kids are spending on TikTok and viewing reels, is a heightened sense of insecurity and self-doubt. Not installing boundaries on the amount of digital data we're consuming every day is the neurological and emotional equivalent of giving a hungry fox the key code to our chicken coup, y'all! So here's the deal ~ after hanging out with my pastor today, Dr. Darren Whitehead ~ who's an expert when it comes to the corrosive consequences of the constant digital barrage of modern culture ~ we're going to invite you to join us for a relatively brief digital detox here at the beginning of 2025 and learn how making our smart phones a little dumber will make our relationships with God and each other a whole lot richer! For some of you saints this single conversation has the potential to change the trajectory of '2025 and not only redeem huge chunks of time locusts have devoured in your life but quite possibly begin the closing the intimacy gap you've unwittingly allowed your phone to create between you and the people you love. So please grab a cup of coffee, your Bible, and a notebook or journal and pull your chair up on the porch with us for this caboose of 2024 conversation. Happy New Year ~ we're really happy you're here.  Watch the Ark in the Darkness HERE. Find out more from Hope For The Heart Here.  Learn more about The Chosen HERE.

During today’s Christmas-is-here-y’all conversation on Back Porch Theology we’re talking about the unlikely gift of waiting. Now if you’re anything like me and you got the gift of waiting this season, your first reaction would be to hope it came with a receipt so you could return it! It’s taken me a really long time – no pun intended – but I’m finally learning that when God authors a pause in my story, there’s redemptive purpose in it. Ancient theologian and beloved pastor, Charles Spurgeon explained it much better than I can: If the Lord Jehovah makes us wait, let us do so with our whole hearts; for blessed are all they that wait for Him. He is worth waiting for. The waiting itself is beneficial to us: it tries faith, exercises patience, trains submission, and endears the blessing when it comes. The Lord’s people have always been a waiting people. It may initially seem like wishful thinking, if not downright rude and intrusive, to emphasize slowness during the week of Christmas ~ which all too often is filled with more frenzy than figgy pudding, especially when those gifts we ordered on Amazon Prime still haven’t shown up yet the relatives we didn’t order do show up ~ but to quote a dear friend and beloved pastor from this modern era, Steven Furtick: “The only thing harder than waiting on God, is wishing that you had!” So please step away from the scissors and Scotch tape and wrapping paper, put the pot on simmer, dial the pace of the elliptical down to meander, and come exhale on the porch with Alli, Dr. Howard and me. We’re grateful that hanging out with y’all has become part of our holiday tradition. Watch the Ark in the Darkness HERE. Find out more from Hope For The Heart Here.  Learn more about The Chosen HERE.

During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology Alli, Dr. Howard and I will exploring a few of the awesome ~ albeit often overlooked ~ theological truisms in the Christmas story. Because while Jesus is of course the main point and the unmistakable Hero of Luke’s heartwarming birth narrative, if you read between the lines, you’ll find a distinctive trinitarian motif as well. And the Incarnation ~ that is when divine grace was embodied in a baby boy born to an unmarried teenage mom in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago ~ was always intended to be the first of two Advents. Because the infant those ancient shepherds marveled over is the very same Messiah John refers to as the Ancient of Days in the book of Revelation who will return triumphantly to redeem those of us who’ve put our hope in His unconditional love. In other words, there’s an eschatological component to the Christmas story too, y’all! Despite our familiarity with the nativity scene, there’s still some gorgeous facets to discover in that proverbial crown jewel of Holy Writ. So please take a break in your “elving” errands and grab a non-fat, no-foam mocha latte with one pump of peppermint, or a hot spiced apple cider with a hint of caramel, or a nutmeg-laced eggnog with extra heavy yak cream, or whatever overpriced, holiday-themed concoction you prefer, and your Bible, then come prop your feet up on the porch with us. We’re really happy we get to hang out with y’all today! Watch the Ark in the Darkness HERE. Find out more from Hope For The Heart Here.  Learn more about The Chosen HERE.

During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology we’re talking about how to cultivate a more relaxed, trusting, and intimate relationship with Jesus. My first time, guest co-conspirator on the porch is Megan Fate Marshman, a Bible teacher and theological scholar who spews joy with the same effervesce that a shaken bottle of Coke spurts soda when you unscrew the cap. And her joy is especially compelling when you find out it coexists with heartbreaking loss. I’ve wanted to meet Megan since a mutual friend sent me a clip of her teaching last year and I was undone by her honest grappling regarding how to cling to the goodness of God after she became a young widow with two little boys. Just listen to this wisdom bomb she dropped recently: Do we want a relationship where we strive independently, sidelining our awareness of His sovereignty or are we yearning for a relationship where we engage in heartfelt conversations with God, forsaking the need to figure everything out on our own? Dependence requires our humility – acknowledging our need for help, voicing our worries and hopes, and opening our plans for His guidance. Megan goes on to explain how her grief has given her the gift of perspective. How the math of God is abundance – how under the canopy of His sovereign mercy even pain has the potential to multiply love, joy, and peace. And how the opposite of joy isn’t sadness, it’s hopelessness. If you’ve ever wondered if gut-wrenching loss and deep faith in the kindness of God can truly coexist, you’re going to meet the honest affirmation to that seeming juxtaposition today. So please grab a peppermint mocha or a gingerbread latte and your Bible - unless of course you’re up to your elbows in sticky fake snow because you’re trying to recreate one of those gorgeous, flocked garlands you saw on Pinterest - and come hang out on the porch with Megan and me. We’re really glad to get to spend this time with you! Watch the Ark in the Darkness HERE. Find out more from Hope For The Heart Here.  Learn more about The Chosen HERE.

During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology we’re diving into a rich, nuanced and deeply encouraging theme that Dr. Howard recently preached on at his church, Dillon Community in CO, called, The Joy of Being Human. The fact that Ally and I are getting to dialogue with Doc H about the joy of being human here at DCC, which is located high in the Rocky Mountains seems especially fitting because there’s just something about looking at the grandeur of that mountain range, the peaks of which are already flocked with early season snow, heralded by a brilliant blue sky and groves of Aspen trees waving their golden leaves like pom poms that amplifies the joy of belonging to a God who created this kind of exquisite beauty. Speaking of beauty, today’s conversation is going to take us on a super scenic tour comparing how the beginning of this divine love story we call the Bible – the genesis, if you will, of our relationship with God - unfolds much like a wedding: we find a metaphorical betrothal in Exodus, when the only true God - who breathed this glorious universe into existence – effectively gets down on one knee and asks us to spend the rest of our lives with Him. Then if you really lean in and listen, you’ll hear the echoes of wedding vows in Leviticus – I promise that book isn’t just about Mosaic law and communicable diseases, y’all! And when we get to the redemptive history recorded in the book of Numbers, we discover the relational rubber hits the road hard because the Israelites have moved past their honeymoon stage with God and are learning how to live day-after-day with Him in a desert where they’re often disappointed and uncomfortably dependent upon their heavenly husband for provision and protection. The Bible isn’t a rule book, or a textbook, or a collection of benign morality tales. It is the true story of what it means to be human – created by a perfectly loving God, in the very image of His trinitarian personhood. Genesis 1:26-27 clarifies that He created us in the image of the divine US - of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. Saint Augustine expounded on that mysterious truism when he declared that, “Only the Christian God exists in perfect community among Himself,” which also means that to be created in God’s image is to be hardwired for real relationship. The trinitarian God of the Bible is self-sustaining. He didn’t create us because He needed a bunch of mindless minions to do His bidding or who were somehow obligated to Him in blind allegiance. God created us on purpose for a purpose, as Jeremiah exults, His plans for us include a hope and a future and Paul adds that His plans for us will ultimately lead to our good and His glory. Our Creator is not some uni-browed bully, waiting to smack us over the head with a big Bible if we step out of line, y’all. He is instead a compassionate Redeemer, who loves us more than we can possibly ask or imagine. The joy of being human must be inextricably married to the experiential truth that God lovingly planned us into existence or it’s simply theoretical and the joy implied is unsustainable. If you’ve been feeling tired, overwhelmed, lonely, or just a little bit off this season, we believe today’s conversation will help blow fresh joy, hope, and peace into the sails of your heart and mind. So please grab a cup of coffee, or maybe some hot tea with honey, or better yet an oat-milk-chai-latte with a generous dollop of whipped cream which is one of my favorite beverages this season. Then pick up your Bible and come pull up a chair on the porch with us – we’re really glad you’re here. Watch the Ark in the Darkness HERE. Find out more from Hope For The Heart Here. 

Today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology is going to be a huge helping of gratitude. Whether or not you practice the traditional American holiday called “Thanksgiving” which takes place this week – it’s always celebrated on the last Thursday in November - I believe image bearers the world over can benefit from a generous serving of gratitude on a regular basis. In fact, there are multiple secular, scientific studies proving that gratitude – that is when we are intentionally thankful for something or someone – has physiological benefits like improved sleep, digestion, and cardiovascular wellness, as well as psychological benefits like decreased stress and an increased sense of overall well-being. Case in point, my road manager, Sharon, and I have come up with a simple game when we’re traveling and one of us notices that the other one is being especially grumpy or negative. We call it the “Stop and Give Me Ten” game - and I assure you that in spite of the title, it has nothing to do with push-ups. Frankly, if I attempted ten push-ups in a row right now it’s quite possible I’d break my nose after collapsing to the floor. The “ten” in the title of our game refers to all the fingers on two hands worth of things we’re grateful for. Recently, after a long day of delayed flights we got to our destination airport only to discover that the car rental company had given away the SUV we’d confirmed and they only had compact cars left. So, after breaking a nail trying to cram all our luggage and several boxes of books into a two-door designed for petite people, I climbed into the passenger’s seat with a huff. Then I began to complain about all the inconveniences we’d endured thus far that day - the unappetizing yet overpriced airport food, how particularly rude our gate agent had been, how both men I’d sat next to on our flights were armrest hogs.After listening to my whiney chorus for a few minutes, Sharon turned to face me and said: STOP AND GIVE ME TEN! I stopped - partly because she was driving in Dallas traffic and I was afraid she was going to rear-end the car in front of us - but then Holy Spirit poked my fault-finding heart into a real pause and after a moment I held up both hands and counted off all ten fingers in quick succession:• I’m thankful our flights were only delayed instead of cancelled• I’m thankful we’re in a car instead of on foot• I’m thankful I make enough money on the road to pay my mortgage• I’m thankful I get to see women launch themselves into the arms of Jesus for the first time almost every weekend• I’m thankful I got to make it home in time to be with Dad before he passed away• I’m thankful for Missy’s physical health• I’m thankful I have family and friends who’ve experienced my plethora of shortcomings and yet still love me• I’m thankful our God’s faithfulness doesn’t wane when I’m being such a weenie baby• I’m thankful I wore stretchy pants today instead of stiff jeans• I’m thankful we’re staying at a decent hotel tonightAnd it’s amazing how just 36 seconds of practicing gratitude totally changed my mood. I went from Eeyore to Tigger in less than a minute!I know it’s a much more serious thing to practice gratitude when your husband walks away, your loved one dies, your cancer returns, or your company’s downsized. But I promise – more importantly – God promises in His Word that extending past the trouble of life to reach for the truth of His abiding peace, unconditional love, and transformative joy is worth the stretch. Thanksgiving is a facet of the Fruit of the Spirit God that I like to imagine like a big, four-wheel-drive truck with a winch because it has the power to pull us out of whatever ditch we find ourselves stuck in. Today’s going to be a good one y’all because those nasty emotional termites that try to reduce our hope to rot like pessimism,...

During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology, we’re going to honestly explore how Christians can do better caring about and caring for the precious people who are leaving mainstream churches. It’s a given that some are walking away from communities of faith for sinful reasons but what about the saints who are leaving our sanctuaries because they’ve been deeply betrayed by a spiritual leader or they simply can’t reconcile the Jesus of Scripture – who hugged lepers, welcomed outliers, and compassionately advocated for the poor - with the sociology of the affluent, seemingly inwardly focused congregation they were raised in. Pastor and modern theologian, Dr. A.J. Swoboda made this wise and gracious observation about some who are leaving the church: they have tasted Jesus, and rigid religion has proven to be a poor substitute. Before we go any further, I want to state what I hope is blatantly obvious here at Back Porch Theology and that is: we are passionately, unashamedly, enthusiastically PRO-CHURCH. Dr. Howard pastors a local church in Dillon, CO and Allison and I are life-long church girls. All three of us have spent a good chunk of our lives serving on church staffs or parachurch ministries. We wholeheartedly believe the Christian church is one of the main means of grace our Creator Redeemer uses to accomplish His kingdom purposes. We also believe the Bible is crystal clear regarding how important it is for God’s people to gather on a regular basis as a community of faith for centralized worship, corporate prayer, biblical instruction, water baptism, relational encouragement, and to celebrate the sacrament of communion. But, and this is a big but, we also think Christ-followers can do a much better job of caring for and listening to the men, women and teenagers who are leaving our churches for reasons that should give us pause – mainly, that sometimes our corporate gatherings of faith no longer resemble the Savior we’re singing about or the wholistically redemptive message of the Bible we profess to base our belief system on. Not everyone who walks away from a local church is an angry rebel or a selfish prodigal or a divisive opponent, much less a dangerous heretic. Some sheep are hurt and scared and lonely and they thought they’d get closer to the Good Shepherd if they joined our herd, but unfortunately their wounds have gotten worse, as a result of hanging out with us and they don’t feel like they have any other option except to limp away to a less painful pasture. If someone you love has walked away from church disappointed, disillusioned, and is quite possibly in a season of deconstruction we believe today’s conversation can help you maintain a genuine relationship with them as they sort out what they believe to be true about God, even if they pull away from church for the time being. And based on the some of the excruciatingly honest emails we’ve received here at BPT, we understand that some of you - who purely by the grace of God trust our motley crew enough to hang out on the proverbial porch with us - are nursing fresh wounds from a bad church experience. Please know that you’re especially weighty on our hearts today. We’ve prayed that Holy Spirit will use this conversation to bring you a tangible sense of His comfort. That it will serve to remind you that while Christ followers are notably flawed, Jesus – our incarnate Savior - was without sin, not a man that He could lie or change His mind, according to the Old Testament book of Numbers. Yes, human love is conditional, but God’s love is unconditional and immutable – it doesn’t change. He is not fickle He is perfectly faithful. Although some of you might feel cruelly judged or completely forsaken by a particular church or cadre of Christians, our Creator Redeemer will never leave or forsake His Beloved. According to the Psalms, the God who breathed our universe...

During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology I’m basically peeling off my emotional Spanx and revealing my proverbial cellulite, stretch marks, and wobbly bits because we’re diving deep into the subject of rest, which doesn’t come naturally to me because more often than I’d like to admit, my default setting gets stuck on go. I know cognitively that God modeled rest when He crashed out on a celestial couch after creating the world and that since He gave us the gift of rest before the Fall, it’s a perfect gift, not an accommodation for human weakness, however my worth and my word tend to be unhealthily intertwined and all too often I live at a frenetic pace that robs me and those I love of peace, isn’t sustainable, and isn’t what God calls us to as His beloved. Busyness really isn’t a spiritual gift, y’all. I often find myself pondering how Jesus lived His life at a pace of 3 mph because He walked everywhere He went. He was fully present with people. He even took the time to welcome interruptions. If possible, I encourage you to actually sit down while you listen to this episode – don’t try to listen while you’re making dinner or working out because, well because that’d be like funneling chips and queso straight down your throat without savoring the crisp of the tortilla chips and the velvety tang of the cheese! So please pour yourself a cup of coffee or hot tea with honey and grab your Bible and prop your feet up on the porch with us. We’re really glad you’re here.Watch the Ark in the Darkness HERE. Find out more from Hope For The Heart Here.  Learn more about The Chosen HERE.

Today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology was actually recorded in Montana with my dear, dear friends, who are actually more like siblings now, Pastor Levi and Jennie Lusko. We’ve been friends for a while now, but after doing a Christmas tour on a bus last year with our kiddos, we morphed into kind of a blended family and began calling ourselves the Huskos! When you spend weeks together in the equivalent of an extended RV and have to make restroom stops at rural gas stations in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere, you bond for life, baby! I laughed so hard while we were on the road together, I kept getting stomach cramps. Which of course I hoped would give me a six-pack, alas all our late-night snacks at Buccee’s had a greater effect on my abdomen. Of course, interwoven with all our fun and laughter, Jennie and Levi and I shared some tears, too. Because we’ve all suffered some devastating losses. Real life – and real relationships – include joy and pain. Heartwarming moments and heartbreaking seasons. I know authenticity and Christianity aren’t always synergistic in modern culture, but they sure should be. I think today’s conversation is going to feel like an old pair of Uggs, warm and comfortable. So please grab a cup of coffee or hot chocolate or hot tea, and your Bible, and come hang out on the porch with us. I promise, you’ll fit right in with our slightly whacked, very messy, ride or die family of faith.Watch the Ark in the Darkness HERE. Find out more from Hope For The Heart Here.  Learn more about The Chosen HERE.