In this episode, we delve into the question of why do you follow Jesus. Robby breaks down the idea of what happens when God seems far away and encourages you to think about the reason they first came to Jesus. He emphasizes that we often do things because they benefit us and that relationships, jobs, and material possessions can all provide some sort of benefit. However, the Robby challenges the idea that we should follow Jesus just to get something or to avoid going to hell, as this misses the point of what eternity with God truly means. He suggests that, at the end of the day, all we should want is Jesus and a relationship with Him. Robby also shares his personal journey of struggling with sin and falling away from the faith before rediscovering the beauty of Jesus through reading Scripture. Hopefully you'll will be encouraged to think about what it means to align your life with Jesus' teachings and to continually make small adjustments to stay on track with Him.

Are You Reading the Bible Wrong? Who Determines the Meaning of the Bible? Join host Robby and co-host Stu as they welcome special guest Mike Whittymore to episode 18 of the Rebuilt Life podcast. Mike hosts the Simplify Church Podcast, where they provide practical solutions and steps for everyday pastors and church leaders. In this episode, they'll dive into the topic of where meaning comes from when reading the Bible, exploring two schools of thought. Does the author create the meaning or does the reader? Join in for a thought-provoking conversation on a timeless issue.

Many Christians believe God calls them to a particular vocation or fate—often the ministry. This episode, Robby and Stuart discuss the concept of calling, what is God calling us to do, what if I miss it? What you can expect during it, and how to respond once you have received your calling.

We are a people of a call but what if we get “God’s calling” wrong. What if God doesn’t care so much about what we do for a living, who we marry, or where we live. What if God’s far more concerned about us being obedient wherever we find ourselves. In this episode of the Rebuilt Life Podcast Robby and Stuart discuss misconceptions about God’s calling and what we are actually called to, regardless of if we can hear God or not. This beings with understanding that God is far more relational than rational.

Prayer of recollection: Episode 12

In this Episode Stuart and Robby discuss how we pray. Can you get “smoted” by God if you pray wrong? Often we try hard to be good in prayer rather than being honest. The great thing is the Psalms give us a playbook of what is in the bounds of prayer. Walter Brueggaman almost 40 years ago introduced the idea of different types of psalms; psalms of Orientation, Re-orientation, Dis-orientation. 

 In this episode of The Rebuilt Life Podcast, Stu and Robby discuss the Dark Night of the Soul. Where is God in times of dryness and what does that mean to you as a Christian. They discuss dry spells with God, the difference between a dark night and depression, and they address some key things you can do when it feels like your dark night will never end. 

Are you struggling with God's presence? Does He feel absent? Does it feel like God is stuck on mute and the remote is lost in the couch cushions of your life?  In this episode, Stuart and Robby explore 3 common myths about God's absence from your life and how God’s absence may be the sign of something great is coming just around the corner. 

Books Mentioned:

The Gifts of the Jews: How a Tribe of Desert Nomads Changed the Way Everyone Thinks and Feels by Thomas Cahill

Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper

Surrender to Love: Discovering the Heart of Christian Spirituality by David Benner

While Jesus modeled other disciplines for us, he commands us to pray. But how does prayer change us? How can prayer change our mind, our will, and our soul? In this episode Robby and Stuart wrap up their conversation on prayer by talking about how Christianity is really a holistic approach to life, what the whole self, the Soul, the Heart, and the Will have to do with prayer, and how we can bring ourselves to God in prayer. Fundamentally Prayer is about reconnecting with who we really are in Christ, not who we think we are.

Diagram of the Whole Person

Spirit or Will - is what we know to be good

Mind - Thoughts and Feelings. Close but not connected to each other

Body - Actions or interactions

Social - How I relate to others

Soul - Ties everything together

Prays like these are not words to repeat but concepts to eat. Prayer in spiritual formation is about bringing our whole self before God.