Episode 75 Brian Russell on How God Uses Silent Meditative Prayer to Transform Us

In this week's episode I talk about how God uses centering prayer, i.e., silent meditative prayer, to transform us. I take you on a deep dive into how to respond to the thoughts you encounter when you sit in silence. In particular, I discuss the "evil" or "distracting" thoughts that will most trouble you if you practice consistently. I hope that it serves you powerfully. My latest book Centering Prayer: Sitting Quietly in God's Presence Can Change Your Life (Paraclete Press) is now available in paperback and ebook formats. Buy from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AroGYf or directly from Paraclete Press: www.paracletepress.com Connect with Brian Russell: Sign up for Brian's email updates: www.centeringprayerbook.com Twitter: @briandrussell Instagram: @yourprofessorforlife Coaching for Pastors: www.deepdivespirituality.com Business and Life Coaching: www.drbrianrussellcoaching.com Brian Russell’s Book on the Missional Interpretation of Scripture: (Re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World https://amzn.to/3qln258 Links to Amazon are affiliate links. Dr. Russell receives a small payment if you order resources through these links. There is no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast through your purchases. Please tell your friends about the Deep Dive Spirituality Videocast. It's also available on Spotify, Podbean, and iTunes as a podcast.

Episode 74 Marnie Swedberg on Dynamic Speaking, Growth, and Goal Achieving

Marnie Swedberg takes us on a deep dive into leadership, growth, and achieving dynamic goals. Bio: Marnie Swedberg embodies faith-in-action while generating "aha" moments of perspective transformation through her keynotes, media appearances, 13 books and online programs. As the leadership mentor to over 15,000 leaders from 35 counties, she provides coaching, practical help and clear, God-centric focus.  Tune in to her #1 ranked and featured Blog Talk Radio Show and check out www.WomenSpeakers.com, the largest directory of its kind in the world. Invite Marnie to  share with your audience. Connect with Marnie: Marnie.com Womenspeakers.com Books by Marnie: https://amzn.to/2Vxt4G7 Books Recommended by Marnie: Jan Johnson, Enjoying the Presence of God https://amzn.to/3jUpCi8 Guyon, Experiencing God Through Prayer https://amzn.to/3lmHfqr Guyon, Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ https://amzn.to/3A7HwmU Bro. Lawrence, Practicing the Presence of God https://amzn.to/2YIi5ed Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest https://amzn.to/3z12dzW Connect with Brian Russell: Information about Brian’s Fall 2021 book Centering Prayer: Sitting Quietly in God’s Presence Can Change Your Life www.centeringprayerbook.com or preorder: https://amzn.to/3pDpN2E Twitter: @briandrussell Instagram: @yourprofessorforlife Coaching for Pastors: www.deepdivespirituality.com Business and Life Coaching: www.brianrussellphd.com Brian Russell’s Book on the Missional Interpretation of Scripture: (Re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World https://amzn.to/3qln258 Links to Amazon are affiliate links. Dr. Russell receives a small payment if you order resources through these links. There is no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast through your purchases. Please tell your friends about the Deep Dive Spirituality Videocast. It's also available on Spotify, Podbean, and iTunes as a podcast.

Episode 73: Gena Thomas on Missions, Justice, Immigration, and Loving Our Neighbor

Gena Thomas takes us on a deep dive into issues of short term missions, justice, immigration and loving our neighbor. Bio: Gena Thomas is a writer, a faith wrestler, a wife, and a mom. She and her husband, Andrew, have been married for 12 years and they have two elementary-aged children. Gena works as a program coordinator for World Relief. She has been featured on NPR's Morning Edition, in USA Today and Christianity Today among other publications. She published her first book, A Smoldering Wick: Igniting Missions Work with Sustainable Practices in 2016 which merges international development practices with short-term missions. Published in 2019, Gena's second book, Separated by the Border: A Birth Mother, a Foster Mother, and a Migrant Child's 3,000-Mile Journey unpacks the story of reuniting her Honduran foster daughter with her family after separation at the US border. Alisa & The Coronavirus is Gena's first children's book, self-published in April 2020. She is working on an upcoming book about God's abundance. Purchase Gena's Books Separated by the Border: A Birth Mother, a Foster Mother, and a Migrant Child's 3,000-Mile Journey (2019) https://amzn.to/2UYKvij A Smoldering Wick: Igniting Missions Work with Sustainable Practices (2016) https://amzn.to/2Y1WJrA Books Recommended by Gena Soon-Chan Rah, Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times https://amzn.to/3jsv8rO Brueggemann, Journey to the Common Good https://amzn.to/3Dy5Oc8 Connect with Gena: www.genathomas.com Connect with Brian Russell: Information about Brian’s Fall 2021 book Centering Prayer: Sitting Quietly in God’s Presence Can Change Your Life www.centeringprayerbook.com or preorder: https://amzn.to/3pDpN2E Twitter: @briandrussell Instagram: @yourprofessorforlife Coaching for Pastors: www.deepdivespirituality.com Business and Life Coaching: www.drbrianrussellcoaching.com Brian Russell’s Book on the Missional Interpretation of Scripture: (Re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World https://amzn.to/3qln258 Links to Amazon are affiliate links. Dr. Russell receives a small payment if you order resources through these links. There is no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast through your purchases. Please tell your friends about the Deep Dive Spirituality Videocast. It's also available on Spotify, Podbean, and iTunes as a podcast.