Run With Horses

Special Guest - Brad Hoff -Ep.270

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Today I interview special guest Brad Hoff of of Continental Baptist Missions
Brad and his wife Joanne have served with CBM since 1985, first as church planters in Iron River, Michigan and Sioux City, Iowa, then as Field Director (now Director of Church Planting) since 2010. In recent years, Brad has had increasing administrative responsibilities within the CBM home office. As Administrative Director, Brad provides general leadership and manages administrative affairs, being responsible for the executive direction of day-to-day activities in the home office.
 
Find out more at https://www.gocbm.org/

Special Guest - Missionary Jonathan Boyd

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Blueprint for a Spiritual Life -Ep.268

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Making those needed changes to your life is hard. It’s even harder when you don’t have a clear picture of what changes you should be making! Thankfully God gives us a blueprint for what He is doing in our lives.
 
Welcome to Run With Horses. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as a follower of Jesus. You may see a need to make some changes and not be sure what steps to take. God hasn’t hidden the work He is doing in your life though, He is working to make you more like Jesus and the bible gives us a pretty good picture of what a life following Jesus should look like. Today we are looking at a quick overview of the blueprint He gives us,. . . in the life of Christ.
 
We will come back to that in a minute. First some housekeeping. If you are listening to Run With Horses on Revelation Radio, you need to know that Beginning November 4th we have a new time and day along with some format changes. We go to the new ONE hour format on Saturday, Nov. 4 at our new time, 6:30-7:30 PM. So starting in Nov. look for us at revelationradio.net every Saturday night at 6:30 pm for an hour-long show!
For those who listen to Run With Horses on your favorite podcast player, new episodes will coincide with the radio broadcast and will be available every Saturday night beginning Nov. 4th.
 
Back to our regularly scheduled programing!
 
I mentioned in the last show that. like it or hate it, change is necessary. Without changing I will never be like Jesus! But random change, unrelated to what God is doing isn’t helpful. We are invited to join in the work that God is doing and be intentional about pursuing godliness and righteousness.
 
In the last show I mentioned Lack of motivation, lack of a plan, and poor priorities as reasons we struggle to change. Today we address the idea of having a clear goal of what we are changing into...the image of Jesus.
 
The Mind of Jesus.
Phil.2:1-9
 
The Purpose of Jesus.
Lived out in His relationships
 
The Relationships of Jesus.
With God - John 6:38 -
To carry out God’s Plan of Redemption.
With His followers – John 15:12-17 –
With the World – Matt. 9:36-38 –
Luke 19:1-10 –
 
So we look for these things in our lives.
The Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-25 –
Love for God and Man
Matthew 22:37-39 –
Obedience and Good Works
Titus 2:11-14 –
Engagement in Disciple Making
Matthew 28:18-20 –
 
Thanks for joining me today. If you have thoughts or questions about your spiritual life, write me at norman@runwithhorses.net I would love to hear from you. Keep looking for the change that God is working in your life. God is working to prepare you for eternity and close fellowship with Himself.
Find a friend today and encourage them to keep on the journey with you.
Keep running!

Remodeling a Life -Ep.267

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Do you ever get the feeling that things need to change if you are to make any progress in your life? Remodeling is tough whether it is a house or a life.
 
Welcome to Run With Horses. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as a follower of Jesus. You may see a need to make some changes and not be sure what steps to take. You can rest assured that God not only does know, He is working to make you more like Jesus and He always finishes what He starts. . . unlike the rest of us . . .
 
Got any unfinished projects sitting around?
 
We will come back to that in a minute. But first. If you are listening to Run With Horses on Revelation Radio, I have news for you! Beginning November 4th we have a new time and day along with some format changes. We go to the new ONE hour format on Saturday, Nov. 4 at our new time, 6:30-7:30 PM. So starting in Nov. look for us at revelationradio.net every Saturday night at 6:30 pm for an hour-long show!
The longer format will make it easier to fit in guest interviews and a few other things we have been wanting to do but find difficult in the shorter format. The longer format will also make it easier for us to find syndication options so contact norman@runwithhorses.net if you are interested in having Run With Horses on your station.
 
So where were we? Ah, yes, unfinished projects. . .
How appropriate that I am sitting in a half-finished room as I record this!
 
Some people like change and thrive in chaos. Other hate change and fight it with every breathe. But like it or hate it, change is necessary. Without changing I will never be like Jesus!
 
So why is it so hard for us to accept the need for change?
1. We get comfortable. Distracted.
2. We are basically lazy.
3. Unknown is scary.
4. Unsure about where to begin.
5. Not sure where we will end up
6. It seems too hard.
7. We can’t be perfect so why bother.
8. Busy with other things. Maybe less important but in our face.
 
So to summarize. Why don’t we change? Lack of motivation, lack of a plan, poor priorities. I think that about covers it! Did I miss anything important?
 
Why is it important to resist the urge to “go with the flow” and never apply efforts to intentional change?
1. The call of Jesus demands an intentional response.
Matt.4:18-22
 
2. No one knows how long they have before their life is over.
Matt. 24:35-36
 
3. We will all answer for how we lived our lives.
2 Corinthians 5:9
 
Change is hard. Got it. But Change is necessary.
Do you find yourself fighting change or embracing it? Sometimes a bit of both?
 
Thanks for joining me today. If you have thoughts or questions about your spiritual life, write me at norman@runwithhorses.net I would love to hear from you. Keep looking for the change that God is working in your life. Don’t run from it but embrace it and make firm choices to welcome the change that He is doing.
Find a friend today and encourage them to keep on the journey with you.
Keep running!

Special Guest Interview -Joshua

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Intentional Friendships - Ep265

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The “How To” of Friendship – Ep264

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Many of us are struggling to have enough healthy relationships in our life. Today we are looking at what it takes to make new friends. The “How to’ of Friendship.
 
Welcome to Run With Horses. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as a follower of Jesus. You are not in this alone. God intends for you to make the journey with others. How are you doing at building and developing lasting friendships? If you need to work at it, then today’s show is for you.
 
1.Take Initiative.
Make the first step.
Be Friendly!
Smile!
2. Be Patient.
Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither are strong friendships.
 
3. Invite people into your life.
Look for opportunities to include people. What you are already doing, do with others.
Supper, lunch, coffee – make intentional plans with others.
 
4. Join people where they are.
Find clubs.
Start a new hobby that is supported by a local club. Photography, etc
 
5. Learn a skill that requires others.
Music, band, sports
 
6. Listen, Learn, Show interest in others.
The other person is new to you, get to know them!
 
7. Don’t expect perfection from others or yourself! Leave room for growth and change. Part of friendship is helping the other person be better.
 
8. Allow space to disagree. We learn about our self as we have difficult conversations.
 
9. Be flexible. Everyone around you has a life and their own interests and goals. Be open to including others interests in your life.
 
10. Be a good friend. Be Dependable, Honest, Loyal, Considerate, and Supportive.
That means remembering to call, show up on time, listen more than talk, help when needed. Be the hands and feet of Jesus in your friends life.
 
 
Thanks for joining me today. If you have thoughts or questions about your spiritual life, write me at norman@runwithhorses.net I would love to hear from you.
Find a friend today and encourage them to keep on the journey with you.
Keep running!

Need a Friend? - Ep. 263

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Today we are looking at friends. Do you have enough good ones?
 
Welcome to Run With Horses. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as a follower of Jesus. You are not in this alone. God intends for you to make the journey with others. How are you doing at building and developing lasting friendships?
 
Hopefully better than the average!
 
Reference - https://www.americansurveycenter.org/research/the-state-of-american-friendship-change-challenges-and-loss/
 
Number of close friendships has declined over the past few decades. - SM influence? Contact does not equal close relationship!
More friends equals more satisfied with the number of friends you have. No surprise there!
 
Why is it so important to have and maintain friendships?
Prov. 27:6 - Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Prov. 27:17 – 17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 – 9 Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
1 Cor. 15:33-34 – 33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God.
John 15:12-15 - 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
 
1. Friendships give you hope. A good friend will talk you down when you are crazy.
2. Friendships encourage you to take time away from stress to recharge and refocus on what is really important.
3. Friendships encourage you to try new things and meet new people. Exercise is better with a friend, so is Thai curry.
4. Friendships encourage thankfulness.
 
Thanks for joining me today. If you have thoughts or questions about your spiritual life, write me at norman@runwithhorses.net I would love to hear from you.
Find a friend today and encourage them to keep on the journey with you.
Keep running!

Interview - Pastor Chris O’Reilly

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An interview with Pastor Chris O'Reilly from Immanuel Baptist Church in Wausaukee, WI

Stop Going To Church! -Ep.261 -Run With Horses Podcast

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Today we are looking at some reasons why people don’t go to church. And can I start by saying that this is part of the problem. We “go” to church, something that was impossible in the NT.
 
Welcome to Run With Horses. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as a disciple of Jesus. God is working to grow you into the image of Christ and HE will complete that work. What a joy to know that it all doesn’t depend on us!
 
Let’s go to church! Ok, we already have a problem. . .
Church is not a place. The church is a group of people called out by God, gloriously saved by His Son and united through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. You cannot GO to church.
If you are genuinely saved by Faith through Grace you can choose not to use your Spirit given gifts to strengthen and build up the Family of God, the Bride of Jesus, His glorious Church. Avoiding time with God’s family will keep you from serving His Church. Let’s call that what it is, disobedience. But you cannot GO to church.
 
The church is not a building that can be taken away or a service that can be scheduled. The church can meet in a building or under a tree. The church can meet in a large group with thousands or in a coffee shop with three. But you cannot GO to church. And if that is what you have been doing, you are part of the problem. Because if you can go to church, you can NOT GO to church.
 
If your life, your family, your community and yes, even your church, are to change, we have to stop going to church and start BEING the church. Every day in every house, on every street, in every town, in every nation. We ARE the Church of the True and Living God.
 
So why don’t people go to church?
 
Reference - https://churchhelper.net/why-people-dont-go-to-church/
 
1. They deem the church irrelevant.
The church is a group of people who are bought and paid for with the blood of Jesus. As such, He has placed us into His family. The church is instantly relevant if you understand the mission of Jesus in the world.
Sermons that are theology without application. Although some can take a sermon and run with it, most people need or at least will benefit from discussions about the passage/ topic that allows them to see how it works out in their life.
2. They cite the hypocrisy and moral failures of church leaders.
This is straight up bad news. It points to the need to emphasize character as we train and prepare leaders in the church.
Dealing with sin in the lives of leaders. Confession, repentance, humility.
Side rant. We cannot allow the training and preparation of pastors and church leaders to be left to bible colleges and seminaries. They are great supplements to churches discipling and preparing leaders but they cannot replace the churches role.
3. They feel God is missing in the church.
Spectator churches can easily be focused on the audience and felt needs, not God. God IS and that matters. He is Holy and that matters. The church has to be focused on God. When we are, it changes us.
Biblical doctrine matters. We need to see God in His Word. Hearts prepared to follow Him are hearts prepared to worship Him. If God is missing in your life the rest of the week, God will likely be missing in your time with His Family or at least, you won’t see Him.
4. They feel that legitimate doubt is prohibited.
God is big enough to handle our questions. The pastors pride might not be.
Spurgeon - “Suppose a number of persons were to take it into their heads that they had to defend a lion, full-grown king of beasts! There he is in the cage, and here come all the soldiers of the army to fight for him. Well, I should suggest to them, if they would not object, and feel that it was humbling to them, that they should kindly stand back, and open the door, and let the lion out! I believe that would be the best way of defending him, for he would take care of himself; and the best 'apology' for the gospel is to let the gospel out.”
As the church we need to be inviting people to ask questions. God can handle it. You don’t need to answer everyone’s questions, point them to the Word and encourage them to ask God for answers to their doubts. He is amazingly good at it.
5. They don’t learn about God or Jesus.
I don’t know what church this is true in but it is shameful if it is true!
6. They don’t gain any significant or new insights about faith.
There is a need to be growing and making efforts yourself. Pursue Christ.
1 Timothy 6:11-12 - 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Practical obedience is part of our growth. Without it we will stop learning. Our spiritual life is more than head knowledge, we have to live it or we will struggle in our faith.
7. They have trouble finding a community.
If you don’t find community, you build it.
There are others who want that unity that the NT talks about and are willing to fihgt for it. Look for them and build a small community.
 
Thanks for joining me today. If you have thoughts or questions about your spiritual life, write me at norman@runwithhorses.net I would love to hear from you.