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I'm a "failed" church planter.

We've spoken about many things over the last 26 episodes, but I feel like it is time to really be open about our journey with church planting and where it led us. 11 years of waiting for 6 months of services? That doesn't exactly track, does it?

Maybe it does.

This episode is designed to encourage you that obedience doesn't mean a direct path, and that disappointment does not mean the journey is over. For every person feeling lost post- "failure", I pray that you will find courage and strength to keep trusting in the goodness of God, no matter what the "success" looks like.

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Learn more about me at www.justindbelt.com

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Can you forgive someone and still block their number? Can you pray for your ex while keeping the locks changed? Can you wish someone well from 50 miles away?

If you've ever been told that "real forgiveness" means letting toxic people back into your life, this episode will set you free.

In this extended episode of Faithformed, we tackle the most dangerous lie in Christian culture: that blessing equals trust and forgiveness equals reconciliation. The truth? You can bless your enemy without being a doormat. You can practice the spiritual discipline of blessing while maintaining healthy boundaries that protect your peace.

We live in the Age of the Arsonist—a culture addicted to criticism, contempt, and cancel culture. From social media outrage to family feuds, we've weaponized our words and turned our tongues into weapons of mass destruction. But James warned us: the tongue is "a restless evil, full of deadly poison" that can set entire forests ablaze.

What if your words could build instead of burn?

Drawing on Genesis 1 (where God speaks worlds into existence), the story of Jacob and Esau (the irrevocable power of blessing), neuroscience (why your brain screams "danger!" when you try to forgive), and the Japanese art of Kintsugi (filling broken things with gold), this episode gives you a biblical framework for breaking free from toxic relationships without becoming toxic yourself.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Blessing vs. Trust: Why blessing is a spiritual posture (happens in a moment) and trust is a track record (takes years to build)
• Forgiveness vs. Reconciliation: How to release bitterness without re-opening the door to abuse
• The Neuroscience of Anger: Why cursing feels like safety but actually keeps you trapped and tethered to your enemy
• The Culture of Contempt: How social media rewards the "dunk" and why cynicism is spiritual laziness (Arthur Brooks)
• Boundaries as Blessing: Why sometimes the most loving thing you can do is stop someone from sinning against you
• The Theology of Speech: How your words create reality—are you building a world of anxiety or a Kingdom?
• The Ministry of Prophetic Encouragement: How to "call out the gold" in people instead of defining them by their failures

Perfect For:

• Anyone struggling with toxic family members, narcissistic exes, or emotionally abusive relationships
• Christians who feel guilty for setting boundaries
• Parents who want to break generational cycles of cursing and create a culture of blessing in their homes
• Anyone battling criticism addiction, outrage fatigue, or social media toxicity

Theologians, Sources & Concepts Mentioned:

• Dallas Willard (The power of blessing)
• Arthur Brooks (Love Your Enemies, The Culture of Contempt)
• James 3 (The tongue as fire)
• Genesis 1 & 27 (Creation by speech, Jacob steals Esau's blessing)
• Japanese Kintsugi (The art of repairing with gold)

Featured Free Resource: Download the 7-Day Fast from Criticism guide, a simple PDF to help you track your speech,

Your pause has purpose! It is never pointless! Get your copy on Amazon by clicking the link!

Connect with us via our Instagram: @faithformed_pod

Email us any questions or comments to yourpursuitpodcast@gmail.com

Order your copy of my latest book, "The Purpose in the Pause", here

We can't wait to build momentum and create a movement of pursuit with you!

Send us a text

How do Christians use hospitality to create change?

The U.S. Surgeon General recently declared "Loneliness" a public health epidemic, stating that isolation is as lethal as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. But political philosopher Hannah Arendt warned us decades ago that isolation isn't just a health crisis—it is the primary preparation for tyranny.

In a world that wants us to build bunkers and fear our neighbors, the most radical act of rebellion is to unlock the front door.

In this extended episode of Faithformed, we explore why the dinner table is the ultimate weapon of spiritual warfare. We move beyond the "Pinterest" view of entertaining and dive into the gritty, subversive history of Radical Hospitality. We travel from the tables of First Century Judea to the secret kitchen of Georgia Gilmore during the Civil Rights Movement, discovering how movements are fueled by food.

We also confront the "Gentile Problem"—the arrogance of the "Benevolent Host"—and look to Indigenous wisdom to defeat the spirit of Scarcity (the Windigo) that keeps our doors locked.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• The Lethality of Loneliness: Why isolation is the soil where fear and hatred grow (Hannah Arendt).
• The Politics of the Snack: Why Jesus was killed for his table manners, not just his theology (N.T. Wright).
• The Kitchen of the Revolution: The untold story of Georgia Gilmore and the "Club from Nowhere" that funded the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
• The Theology of the Guest: Why we must stop hosting like "Colonizers" and start hosting like "Cousins" (Dr. Willie James Jennings).
• Exorcising the Windigo: How to overcome the fear of inflation and scarcity by practicing the "Harmony Way" (Randy Woodley).

Theologians & Sources Mentioned:

• Dr. Vivek Murthy: Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation (U.S. Surgeon General Advisory)
• Hannah Arendt: The Origins of Totalitarianism
• Georgia Gilmore: The Club from Nowhere
• Dr. Willie James Jennings: The Christian Imagination
• Randy Woodley: Shalom and the Community of Creation
• Robin Wall Kimmerer: Braiding Sweetgrass (The Windigo Spirit)

Featured Resource: The Resistance Dinner Kit Don't let the fear of awkward silence keep you from the fight. Download this free, double-sided field guide. It includes:

• Side A: The "Liturgy of the Open Door" (to consecrate your home).
• Side B: The "Resistance Conversation Menu" (questions to deepen the connection). https://payhip.com/b/fzbAC

Memorable Quote: "When you invite an immigrant family over, or a neighbor who is struggling, you aren't the 'Master of the House' granting them a favor. You are just one beggar telling another beggar where you found bread."

Your pause has purpose! It is never pointless! Get your copy on Amazon by clicking the link!

Connect with us via our Instagram: @faithformed_pod

Email us any questions or comments to yourpursuitpodcast@gmail.com

Order your copy of my latest book, "The Purpose in the Pause", here

We can't wait to build momentum and create a movement of pursuit with you!

Send us a text

When the world is on fire- when we see injustice in the headlines or face tragedy in our own homes- the modern church often tells us to "look on the bright side." We are handed a theological band-aid and told that "faith" looks like a permanent smile.

But what if your grief isn't a lack of faith? What if it’s actually the proof of it?

In Episode 24 of Faithformed, we explore the lost spiritual discipline of Lament. Drawing on the work of Walter Brueggemann, Soong-Chan Rah, and Jürgen Moltmann, we dismantle the "Theology of Glory" that demands we pretend everything is okay. We dive into the "Psalms of Disorientation," discuss why unprocessed pain turns into cynicism, and discover why God Himself screams from the Cross.

Key Takeaways:

• The Theology of Glory vs. The Cross: Why American Christianity is addicted to "winning" and terrified of the tomb (Martin Luther).
• The Ban on Sadness: How "Toxic Positivity" gaslights us into thinking our grief is a sin.
• Optimism vs. Hope: Why optimism is fragile, but biblical hope is a prisoner of the truth (Cornel West).
• The Danger of Silence: Why "pain that is not transformed is transmitted" (Richard Rohr).
• The God Who Sits in the Dark: Understanding that Jesus didn't come to fix your feelings; He came to share them.

Theologians & Sources Mentioned:

• Walter Brueggemann: The Message of the Psalms (Orientation vs. Disorientation)
• Nicholas Wolterstorff: Lament for a Son
• Soong-Chan Rah: Prophetic Lament (The Idol of Exceptionalism)
• Jürgen Moltmann: The Crucified God
• Martin Luther: The Heidelberg Disputation

Memorable Quote: "If your theology cannot handle your grief, your theology is too small. God doesn't need your PR. He doesn't need your fake smile. He needs your honesty."

Your pause has purpose! It is never pointless! Get your copy on Amazon by clicking the link!

Connect with us via our Instagram: @faithformed_pod

Email us any questions or comments to yourpursuitpodcast@gmail.com

Order your copy of my latest book, "The Purpose in the Pause", here

We can't wait to build momentum and create a movement of pursuit with you!

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It’s 11:30 PM. The house is quiet, but the blue light of your phone is illuminating your face. You are reading terrible news—about raids, about separated families, about a world that feels like it’s catching fire. You know you should sleep, but you can’t look away. You feel like if you stop watching, you are abandoning your post.

In this episode of Faithformed, we argue that our addiction to the news cycle isn't just a bad habit—it is a spiritual crisis the early Church called Acedia (The Noonday Demon).

We travel back to 410 AD to see how St. Augustine handled the "Sack of Rome," and we look to the Desert Fathers for the discipline of Nepsis (Watchfulness) to guard our minds. We wrestle with the tension of being faithful witnesses to suffering (like the recent ICE raids) without being consumed by the abyss.

Key Takeaways:

• The "Glance vs. Gaze" Framework: Why we must glance at the news to witness pain, but gaze at God to find the remedy.
• Acedia (The Noonday Demon): Understanding that doomscrolling is often a spiritual refusal to sit in the "cell" of our own lives.
• Augustine’s Two Cities: How to remember you are a citizen of the Kingdom even when the "City of Man" is shaking.
• The Discipline of the Bouncer: Practical ways to practice "Custody of the Eyes" this week.

Scripture & Theologians Mentioned:

• 2 Corinthians 3:18 (Beholding and Becoming)
• St. Augustine (The City of God)
• Evagrius Ponticus (The Eight Evil Thoughts/Acedia)
• Simone Weil (The Theology of Attention)
• Karl Barth ("The Bible and the Newspaper")

Memorable Quote: "We gaze at the world, and we glance at God. And we wonder why we are anxious? If you gaze at the chaos, you become chaotic. If you gaze at the King, you become steady."

Your pause has purpose! It is never pointless! Get your copy on Amazon by clicking the link!

Connect with us via our Instagram: @faithformed_pod

Email us any questions or comments to yourpursuitpodcast@gmail.com

Order your copy of my latest book, "The Purpose in the Pause", here

We can't wait to build momentum and create a movement of pursuit with you!

Send us a text

If Saul of Tarsus lived in 2026, he wouldn’t be a theologian—he would be a federal enforcer with a warrant in his pocket. In a world where power is unchecked and "breathing threats" has become a political strategy, how should the Church respond?

In this episode of Faithformed, we thoughtfully explore the "Third Way" of Jesus through the lens of Acts 9. We move past the Sunday School version of Paul’s conversion to focus on the unsung hero of the story: Ananias.

We discover that true spiritual formation isn't just for quiet mornings; it is the survival gear we need to face the dragon. Join us as we learn how to break the "protocol of survival," overcome the spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7), and perform the most dangerous miracle of all: calling your enemy "Brother."

Key Takeaways:

• The "Ice Agent" Analogy: Understanding the legal, terrifying power Saul held before his conversion.
• The Disciple's Reflex: How Ananias used 2 Timothy 1:7 to override his biological panic.
• The Theology of "Brother": Why welcoming the enemy is the only way to heal their blindness.
• Resistance vs. Rebellion: How to stand in the gap for the vulnerable without becoming hateful toward the powerful.

Scripture References:

• Acts 9:1-17 (The Conversion of Saul)
• 2 Timothy 1:7 (Spirit of Fear vs. Power, Love, and Sound Mind)
• Romans 12:2 (Conformed vs. Transformed)
• Matthew 26:52 (Put away the sword)

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Dietrich Bonhoeffer (The Cost of Discipleship)
• Miroslav Volf (Exclusion and Embrace)
• Walter Brueggemann (The Prophetic Imagination)

Connect with us via our Instagram: @faithformed_pod

Email us any questions or comments to yourpursuitpodcast@gmail.com

Order your copy of my latest book, "The Purpose in the Pause", here

We can't wait to build momentum and create a movement of pursuit with you!

Send us a text

Are you exhausted from trying to be the General Manager of the Universe?

Most of us walk through life with a "clenched fist" spirit, trying to micromanage our children, manipulate our careers, and force our own outcomes. We call it "responsibility" or "leadership," but God calls it Idolatry.

In this heavy-hitting finale of the No More Idols series, we confront The Idol of Control, or the root cause of our anxiety and the oldest sin in the book ("You will be like God").

If you struggle with chronic worry, micromanagement, or the inability to "switch off," this episode explains why. We dig into the psychology of the "Orphan Spirit" and why trying to control the uncontrollable is a fast track to burnout.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Anxiety Equation: Why anxiety is simply the gap between what you are trying to control and what you can actually control.
• Stewardship vs. Control: Understanding the critical difference between managing the Input (our job) and trusting God with the Output (His job).
• The Orphan Spirit: Why control is often a trauma response to feeling unprotected, and how to learn to trust the Father again.
• The "Palms Down, Palms Up" Practice: A practical tool to physically practice surrender every morning.

You make a terrible god. But He makes a wonderful Father. It’s time to unclench your fist and let Him drive.

Scripture References: Genesis 3, James 4:13-15, Psalm 127:2, Ecclesiastes 9:11, Isaiah 9:6.

Your pause has purpose! It is never pointless! Get your copy on Amazon by clicking the link!

Connect with us via our Instagram: @faithformed_pod

Email us any questions or comments to yourpursuitpodcast@gmail.com

Order your copy of my latest book, "The Purpose in the Pause", here

We can't wait to build momentum and create a movement of pursuit with you!

Send us a text

We define "The Good Life" as a life where nothing hurts. We pray for peace, but we often define peace as the absence of conflict. We think that if things are easy, God is blessing us. But what if comfort isn't a blessing? What if it's a cage?

In this first episode of 2026, we confront The Idol of Comfort—the belief that safety is the goal of the Christian life.

If you find yourself retreating from hard conversations, avoiding risks, or feeling "stuck" in your spiritual walk, this episode explains why. Comfort creates atrophy. Just like a muscle that never lifts weight, a soul that never faces resistance grows weak.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Grave of Egypt: Why we, like the Israelites, often prefer "predictable slavery" over "unpredictable freedom."
• The Theology of Resistance: How God answers our prayers for patience by sending us trials (James 1:2).
• The Gethsemane Principle: Moving from "Self-Discipline" to "Christ-Likeness" by learning to say, "Not my will, but Yours."
• Hunting the Lion: Why you cannot coast into a legacy, and why the hard thing you are avoiding is actually the door to your next season.

Stop asking God to remove the weight. Start asking Him to strengthen your back.

Your pause has purpose! It is never pointless! Get your copy on Amazon by clicking the link!

Connect with us via our Instagram: @faithformed_pod

Email us any questions or comments to yourpursuitpodcast@gmail.com

Order your copy of my latest book, "The Purpose in the Pause", here

We can't wait to build momentum and create a movement of pursuit with you!