Together in Portland

The episode opens with an announcement encouraging listeners to register for the upcoming Holy Spirit conference, scheduled for February 26-27, 2027, in Portland. The theme centers around the wedding at Cana, specifically Jesus' first miracle of turning water into wine, and invites attendees to explore its rich themes. The host shares his anticipation and encouragement to register via the provided website. Following the conference announcement, the episode transitions into a biblical reflection on John 15:9-14, where Jesus commands love as a demonstration of remaining in his love. The host states the importance of obeying Jesus' commands, emphasizing love and sacrifice as the core of following Jesus, and underscores that such obedience leads to joy and closeness to Christ.

The host recounts his weekly routine of hosting a community dinner every Tuesday night with a group of 25 people, including children, highlighting the chaos and joy it brings. Despite a busy schedule and occasional stress, he reflects on the deep connection and community formed through these gatherings, which serve as practice in practicing the way of Jesus. He discusses the importance of community in spiritual formation, emphasizing that practicing the way of Jesus involves more than individual effort; it is rooted in relationships. The host references Dallas Willard’s concept of spiritual formation—including vision, attention, and means—as a map for becoming more like Jesus and stresses the importance of engaging with stories, habits, and relationships that shape us.

The episode explores how stories shape our hearts and minds at a deep level, with the host sharing a personal story about his grandfather Teddy and how family stories influenced his perception of work and sacrifice. Jesus is described as a master storyteller who reveals divine truth through parables, aiming to inspire longing for God's kingdom. The narrative emphasizes that stories are foundational to human culture and individual identity. The host elaborates that spiritual transformation involves more than knowing the right biblical truths; it requires experiential and relational knowledge, which is influenced by the stories we believe, the habits we form, and the relationships we maintain. The importance of aligning these stories with Jesus' truth is underscored.

The discussion shifts to the difficulty of forming new habits, especially when existing habits are deeply ingrained and have physically altered neural pathways in the brain. The host shares a story from his military days about how an inaccurate map highlights how changing habits involves changing our mental ‘map’ of life. He notes that habits are reinforced through relationships, especially early attachment experiences. Secure attachment, characterized by trust and feeling loved and valued, profoundly influences one's relationship with God. The host points out that relational trauma or wounds from childhood can distort how one perceives God's love. The possibility for healing and transformation through community and relational repair is emphasized, highlighting that relationships are central to spiritual growth.

The episode examines Jesus' command to love one another as he has loved us, emphasizing sacrificial and forgiving love as central to remaining in Jesus’ love. The host suggests that loving like Jesus involves selfless giving and paying love forward without expecting repayment. He shares a deeply personal story about his young son's heart surgery, describing the vulnerable attachment process that took place in the neonatal intensive care unit. Amid the medical crisis, he narrates how community support, trust, and relational connection revealed God's presence and healing power. The story illustrates how relationships and community are not just peripheral but integral to spiritual formation—God often heals us most profoundly through others, especially in moments of pain.

The host emphasizes that ongoing community involvement—like the Tuesday dinners—is vital for spiritual growth. He describes how these relationships shape his life through shared joys, struggles, and service, illustrating that consistent devotion to community is a key factor in becoming more like Jesus. He advocates for participation in local church life, including the