I used to be certain about most of the aspects of my faith. But, over time, some questions arose and I started to examine my faith that is rooted mostly in Western Evangelicalism. Today, some of the things I encounter in that brand of spirituality don’t make any sense to me any more. It’s not…
We were blessed to be able to talk again with Seth Price, host of the popular podcast “Can I Say This at Church?” Seth has become a friend to me over the past year. Laura and I enjoyed our talk and I think you will too! You can find Seth online at: https://www.canisaythisatchurch.com/ Check out…
Laura and I took some time to just talk out loud and revisit somethings we talked about on our date last night. Some of the topics are: God is omipresent (thanks HHH) Deconstruction – don’t become what you are leaving Should we go to church? Updates on Jackson Hitting 2 deer in one month I…
If you have read my book, Apparent Faith, and you have read Wm. Paul Young’s book, Lies We Believer about God, you can probably see how it inspired me to tell my story through that lens of raising my children. It was a great privilege to be able to have this conversation with the Author…
Join me as I speak with my good friend, and shame expert, Dr. Paul Fizgerald. Dr. Paul and Susanna have been faithful guides and fellow sojourners on our journey. He is the co-founder, teacher and spiritual director for Heart Connection Ministries which regularly conduct Breakthrough Seminars (a safe place to explore the impact of your…
Check out this book on Goodreads: Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46722140-apparent-faith
Recently, I was able to talk to Mark Karris about prayer and other interesting things. He is the author of the book, “Divine Echoes: Reconciling Prayer with the Uncontrolling Love of God.” I think you will enjoy this conversation. Mark is a licensed marriage and family therapist, ordained pastor, theologian, husband, recording artist, and worship…
Beau Hoffman and I keep running into each other on various social media sites. He is an attorney and recently has gone through some transformations in his faith. The result is a deep concern for expressing the love of God to others. I think you will enjoy our conversation — and I think I have…
It’s finally here! My new book, Apparent Faith, releases today!!!! Please consider securing your copy today! This is the sacred story of my journey out of fundamentalism toward a more beautiful gospel. It’s a story that involves some pain, but has a beautiful ending. Come along in the journey with me!! Check out the video:…
Laura took over the mic!! Laura took over the mic and interviewed me about my book and other things. I think you’ll enjoy this! This is just one of the reasons I love her! Check it out! Message me at any time if you have questions: karl@karlscoaching.com Find me on Twitter Subscribe to Karl’s Coaching Podcasts…
2 more days! Can you believe it! We’re in the home stretch. The book will officially released on Amazon, Monday July 1st. It will be available in other places, but we’re hoping the initial push comes through there and then fans out all over the world. Follow this link to order or put in on…
Had the privilege of having a conversation with Matthew Distefano and Michael Machuga, co-hosts of the Bonfire Sessions (a new podcast hosted by Quoir). We didn’t really talk about anything specific, but listen for Matt’s golden answer toward the end about cussing — it’s worth the price of admission. Find them on Facebook or…
Check out the landing page for my book. http://www.quoir.com/apparent-faith.html Put it on your Amazon wish list. Order July 1st.
As the Water to Wine Gathering approaches, it was good discuss a plethora of topics with Jonathan Martin. He talks about the “boy on the bike,” Water to Wine, and how he would change the world. I appreciate his vulnerability. I finally asked him, “What’s the deal with Brian Zahnd” and I think you’ll like…
Talked to Thomas Jay Oord (call me Tom) this morning about his book “God Can’t.” Listen in as we discuss God’s love and his nature. The subtitle of the book is “How to Believe in God after tragedy, abuse and other evils”. I think you will like this one… Find Tom here: http://thomasjayoord.com/ Message me…
With my book releasing July 1st about Fatherhood and what it taught me about God, I thought it would be fun to talk to my son. He has a podcast called “Free China Pod.” We kind of joint-interviewed each other for our retrospective podcasts. Find him here: http://freechinapost.com/ Message me at any time if…
Who would have thought that I would interview these two beautiful, intelligent women on the day that Rachel Held Evans was memorialized. But, that’s how it worked out and we ended up talking about her, among other things. I didn’t know Meg or Miranda very well before this conversation, but I’m now glad we got…
I paused a few days ago to contemplate the universe. I know, I know and I hear you saying, “that is either going to irritate your tummy or make your head hurt.” It’s certainly no small endeavor, but like all things I tend to gather in some information — whatever I can endure at the…
New Landing Page: http://www.quoir.com/apparent-faith.html Several years ago I began to question whether I could be certain any longer about some of the things I was sure of. By reflecting on being a father, I was able to re-evaluate Father God and what I believed. It resulted in a more loving, less retributive view of God…
Joe Beach is the pastor of Amazing Grace Church in Denver, Colorado. He is also a close personal friend of Brian and Peri Zahnd. Listen to his story about “Oridnary Church” which is also the title of his new book available around the time of the Water to Wine Gathering. I hope you enjoy Joe…
Often, I wonder why people underestimate me. Once, at the annual meeting of a denomination, I presented a report about our church. One of the larger church pastors was truly amazed that I could speak well in public. He actually said, “Wow Karl, you speak pretty well. You used humor and had an organized talk…” …
I was fortunate to be able to talk to my friend Keith Giles and ask him the questions I wanted to ask him. So, this is not your typical interview, it’s just the questions that were burning in my mind. We did Talk about his new book, Jesus Unveiled, that will be out June 9th. To find…
Got to sit down with my pastor Brian Zahnd. We talked about Bob Dylan, the church and the upcoming Water to Wine Gathering. I feel satisfied that we barely mentioned penal substitutionary atonement or any complex theological topics. I got to ask what I wanted and he answered how he wanted. Hope you enjoy our…
Now, this is interesting! Laura said if none of my friends would talk to me that she would talk to me on the podcast. So, we got the chance and we had a pretty good conversation. Winston the Wonder Dog was busy making noise, but we got through it. Hope you enjoy this. Message…
Men cannot say, “Look, here it is,” or “there it is,” for the kingdom of God is inside you Luke 17:21 (PHILLIPS) We like to grow our own sprouts. Sprouts are know to be anti-inflamatory, anti-aging and possibly, anti-cancer. They are relatively easy to grow in a mason jar in…
Laura and I talked with Rude Sade Lipscom. We met her at Water to Wine and had some interesting conversations. This is her first time to speak about matters of justice, religion and privilege. But trust me, she has a lot to say! We talked about racism, Water to Wine, Jonathan Martin. This raised my…
Cyd Notter has written a book that clearly explains the benefits of a whole food, plant-based diet. It is called “The Plan A Diet.” In it, she also deals with Scripture and other issues people face. She does it in a way that is very informative, clear and concise. Hope you enjoy our conversation. You…
Laura and I had the privilege of talking to Ralph and Teighlor Polendo who spearhead Quoir Publishing. They direct several podcasts including: Heretic Happy Hour, Book’Ish and several others just beginning or in the works. Quoir has about 20 authors, in various stages of production, with the purpose “Many Voices, One Message.” Check them out…
Recently, I had the privilege of sharing a conversation with Sister Marcia Ziska, OSB and Janice Brandon-Falcone to discuss the program I am enrolled in called Souljourners. This program is supervised by the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, KS. Join us as we talk about spiritual companions, direction and holy listening. We…
I sat down with my friend and pastor, Derek Vreeland, to discuss his new book “By the Way” and other things. I invite you to join in on our conversation at his office this past week. His book will be available June 18th everywhere books are sold. Contact Pastor Derek online: https://derekvreeland.com/books/ My discipleship book…
Laura and I finally got a chance to update you on what is been going on in our life and talk a little about “delight” and what we think that means. Come along for the discussion. Blessings, Karl ** Please feel free to like, forward or comment on this blog. Part of this is for…
I grew up in a large family where it was never quiet. Nothing was ever totally still and there was never complete darkness. There always seemed to be a light on somewhere and, when I was young, I could fall asleep anywhere except in the dark. My children, too, could never sleep in total darkness.…
My new boss got me interested in the television show, The Curse of Oak Island. It is a “reality” show that combines myth, legend, some history and quite a bit of mystery. It centers around finding a treasure that seems to always be just out of the reach of the treasure seekers. Like most reality…
I just got in from taking the dog out. Honestly, it seems like we play a lot of games with things like this. I try to do my fair share with the little things around the house, but to be honest, Laura always comes out to be the champ in that area. Over time, little…
Occasionally, when I am walking, I see something that catches my attention. There are not any specific things that I look for—it’s usually just something out of the ordinary than causes me to want to investigate further. If I am walking, I make mental note of it and circle back to it later to discover…
““I used to be afraid of failing at something that really mattered to me, but now I’m more afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.” ― Bob Goff, Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World For most of my adult life, I have aspired to be a good time manager. I am…
“Paradoxically, the challenges of our day-to-day existence are substantial reminders that our life of faith simply must have its center somewhere other than in our ability to hold it together in our minds.”[1] Peter Enns Today, I find myself in an interesting place. For the first time in 25 years, I find myself transitioning between…
About three years ago, I started eating a vegan diet. The reasons weren’t really ethical. The main reason was that, at age 50, I was beginning to have some worrisome health issues just like my father and grandfather. To make it more relevant, my brother-in-law dropped dead of heart condition while at the gym working…
There is something of a drive in all of us. When we believe something, we want everyone to believe it. I imagine part of the reason is because it has “saved” us in some way. I feel that way about my plant-based lifestyle. I feel like eating differently has literally saved my life and restored…
The events in the Tea Shop were hard to put in chronological order, but I think it happened just after we began to share tea and before his wife brought out the food. He just stood up and began demonstrating what Tanya described as part of his “practice.” To be clear, he wasn’t describing his…
I’ve noticed when most people talk about their spouses or their children, they talk a lot about them being the “best.” I may have even done that in this series of essays. If I did, please scold me later. It’s most evident when people say, “my wife (or husband) is my best friend!” Personally, I…
Occasionally, my dog Winston reminds me of who he is and most of the time it irritates me. Just a few minutes ago, he nudged me when he wanted me to go in a different direction. I yell at him because I surmise that “one day you are going knock me down.” He just looks…
I have always been able to relate to the “one and only son” reference in the Bible. Although my daughters have a most special place in my heart, I only have one son and that makes it special in a different way. He is also my firstborn, so there is that different dynamic. But, the…
I can’t imagine what a trip to Taiwan would be like without a host. Many of the people there speak English, but it would still be much more difficult without a host that was interested in making our trip better. My son met Tanya and Phil through the Taiwanese family that ran the restaurant where…
“It’s no what I did, It’s what I didn’t do” George Jones (I realize that I just took “No Show Jones” out of context, but hopefully it sticks in your mind, like it did for me.) So far, most of the things I have discussed were the things that happened leading up to…
On the hit animated series, King of the Hill, Hank can regularly be known to exclaim concerning his slightly abnormal son, Bobby, “That boy ain’t right!” It’s usually after Bobby displays some unusual behavior. Because Hank has a very ordered view of the world and how it should be, when Bobby displays his unusual behavior…
If I speak with the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal[1] The Apostle Paul Several years ago, I was officially categorized as a missionary. When I replanted a church in Nebraska it was considered mission work, even though I…
This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.[1] God In the Tea Shop, I experienced a wave of emotions. Many of them took me a long time to decipher. There was satisfaction, a little bit of fear, some good old fashioned joy and even some sadness…
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Buddha Don’t worry about tomorrow…each day has enough trouble of its own. Jesus Recently, a friend of mine said, “All my thought experiments involve a time machine.” That makes a lot of…
(This post is part of a larger story I experienced in Taiwan called The Tea Shop. If you haven’t seen this story, you might check it out or read it later.) One of the communities I am involved with is called Breakthrough. It is an immersive seminar that helps people address unresolved issues in their…
“This is My Son, My Chosen One, listen to Him!” ― God “Whatever He says to you, do it.” — Mary Often our theology can be tangled up in a lot of stuff. For twenty-first century Americans, I think it is a dual problem. Most evangelical faiths tend to lean…
“In the days ahead, you will either be a mystic or nothing at all.” ― Karl Rahner Recently, I have discovered the music of Van Morrison. It’s one of those things where you say, “Where have you been all my life?” Most people my age that like Morrison probably discovered him decades ago, but I like…
It goes without saying that I have loved my children since they were born. I would go so far as to say that I loved them even before they were born. I would categorize this love as close to unconditional. There were times that I was frustrated with them. There were times when I doubted…
In his book, A Spiritual Evolution[1], John McMurray describes the time when he and his wife taught their son how to ride a bicycle. This beautiful description of what happens when the child finds the “sweet spot” and experiences the joy and freedom that most of us know. Reading this depiction brought back all kinds…
All the women in my house suddenly gathered around our grandson, Jackson. We were celebrating Christmas a couple of days late and were opening gifts. My mother-in-law was holding this child that was born eight weeks premature. Because of this and some other complications, his parents keep a close eye on developmental milestones. One of…
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Martin Luther King Jr. “God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice…” Jesus One of my daughters is a lot like my wife, Laura. She always wants things to be fair. I grew up with the assumption that…
One of my son’s childhood friends hated Canada. I can’t remember him stating valid reasons for this ideology I didn’t join him in his disdain for our Northern neighbor. It was almost a joke for my son and I to talk about this kid’s distaste for the Canucks. My son’s friend generally mixed humor with…
Everyone has probably had that feeling at least once or twice while listening to a lecture. I was quite impressed with the speaker, Sister Judith Sutera, but I can’t say that she had my total attention. I tend to get distracted by something I see or maybe something the speaker said earlier. I’m not very…
Rejection has been a recurring theme in my life. I have had thick glasses since I was about five years old. When you have glasses like I wear, it’s easy to get to be classified as really smart or a little crazy. I was also relatively short. I’m not sure why most societies honor the…
Peace in quiet waters, Peace in troubled seas, Peace is hope, Peace is truth, The truth that sets us free. Peace in lonely places, Peace in noisy crowds, Peace is quiet, Peace is voice, It speaks my name aloud. Peace in busy schedules, Peace in tranquil rest, Peace is comfort, Peace is power,…
I remember at various times saying, as I was walking up to preach in my Fundamentalist church, “I have nothing of value to say that is not written in this book” (pointing to the Bible). It’s really kind of a sad statement when you think about it. Even though Jesus quoted Scripture, he never held…
The old wisdom used to be, “Don’t ever talk about religion and politics.” That’s still probably good advice for me and my mother. It only leads to trouble. But, my children are different. For whatever reason, they have quite a bit to say about religion and politics. Since I was a pastor, we tried to…
My boss used to tell people I was his spiritual adviser. I always reminded him that if I was his spiritual adviser, he should probably listen to me every once in a while. We had a pretty good relationship but he probably didn’t like it when I went to work somewhere else. In the area…
Not a cause Not applause Not performing Not reforming Not success Not finesse Not tripping Not skipping Simply present, no matter where Simply loving, no matter who’s here Simply conscious, of all that is there Simply thankful, for all that I bear. Karl Forehand _________________________________________________________________________________________ Message me at any time if you have questions: karl@karlscoaching.com…
As I write this, my youngest child will be twenty-two tomorrow. It’s hard to believe, I remember when she was three years old and for the first time used a big girl word in a sentence. A couple of months ago, she gave birth to her son Jackson. He was born 8 weeks premature by c-section…
Several years ago, I began a whole food, plant-based lifestyle. It is one of the best decisions of my life. The vegan / plant based community is growing every day. It’s exciting to watch it happen and feel that I’m on the right side of history. But, when you start out, it’s a little confusing.…
If you have ever been to an evangelical church, you have probably heard the following phrase belted out at some random time. Usually, it happens when the pastor is strolling up to the stage. On those occasions, you might hear this little back-and-forth exchange in churches all over the world. Pastor: “God…
This morning I got inspired. I’m blessed that it lasted throughout my busy day and I still have some left to, hopefully, finish this blog. Being inspired always makes me think of a word in the New Testament, theopneustos, which is sometimes translated “inspired,” but more often translated “God-breathed.” Since theo relates to God and…
In the previous blog, I started to talk about the fact that taking the Bible too literally could lead to problems in our interpretation. I explained that examining how I feel about my children helps me understand how God must feel about His children. I am certainly not God and I don’t tell Him how…
As a young adult, I dreamed about all the things I would teach my children. I vaguely remember preparing so that I could answer their questions and tell them that thing would make them look at me with wonder and amazement. I thought, “all they have to say is ‘thanks dad, you’re the smartest dad…
by Laura Forehand The 4th of July. America’s birthday. All my life I have been taught to respect this country in which I live. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that… necessarily. Yesterday, as I was perusing through my Facebook feed, I happened upon the above saying. My heart immediately sank. It sank…
by Laura Forehand I think we can all agree that if you believe in God, you also believe He is a pretty big deal. Truly. I mean all you really have to do is go to church on any given Sunday or open a bible to one of the many stories of the miraculous things…
If I wouldn’t have wrecked my scooter, we might have still been down in the Southern part of Taiwan. My unfortunate accident had caused us to have a couple of extra days to venture around in the more populated Northern region. Our host Tanya was dropping us off at the hotel after supper. That’s when…
Laura and I both have different histories and came from churches that felt differently about liturgy — hers was for it, mine was against it. Regardless, both of us agreed that our prayer life had become almost non-existent (or, at the least, ineffective). We mostly only prayed when we were desperate or emotional. Even though…
When I was a kid, I used to burn ants with a magnifying glass. Actually, it was my glasses, but the effect was the same. Later, as a teenager, I would shoot sparrows out of the tree next to the church with my friend Jeff and his pellet gun. It was fun to me and…
I have seen some pretty amazing fights break out during the time shortly after the death of a loved one–many times it involves who gets the stuff left behind. It’s too bad, really! I don’t know whether there will be much inheritance from my mother if she ever passes away. At this point, I sometimes…
Vision has always been an issue for me. For as long as I can remember, I have had strong glasses and issues with my physical sight. My parents first had me tested when I was sitting inches away from the television. I remember wearing prisms on my glasses because I had a “lazy” eye; but…
In 2015, I began a journey that I never thought I would be on. This is a recording of my telling of that story. It is the tale of two different parts of my life. I hope you can benefit from an in some way. My Plant Based Journey Help Getting Started EASY TO…
I wonder if you have ever heard the expression, “You made your bed, now you have to lie in it.” I think we use this message because we don’t want to have to deal with difficult situations. In a way, it’s our twisted sense of justice. If we thought about it, we could see ourselves…
U2’s classic song repeats, “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.” We can relate to the rhythmic chorus because many of us often feel that way. Not only do we have a sense that we are not there yet, but often we are unsure of where we are going or even what we hope…
by Laura Forehand I must admit, since seeing the trailer for “A Wrinkle in Time”, I have wanted to go see it. I really don’t know why. I never read the book. Maybe it was all the special effects and beautiful lights I saw in the trailer. Maybe it had something to do with time…
I teach the safety classes at my place of business. One class gets more “smirks” than the other classes and I can understand why. It’s called Active Shooter – it’s where we prepare for the unlikely event of a mass shooter invading our company. We use the Department of Homeland Security model of “Run, Hide,…
I always had a suspicion that the order of things mattered. It seems significant that the first beatitude is about being poor in spirit. I find great comfort that the Kingdom is for normal people and maybe the first step is realizing that we are accepted. I’m glad that Jesus put that one first. However,…
Brad Hill is the Executive Director of HeartConnexion Seminars and also a former pastor. Join us as we discuss issues of the soul and purpose. Parts of this story will hopefully inspire and help strengthen your journey. One of his favorite phrases, “leading you home,” is what I hope you will be inspired to pursue by…
I only remember certain events from my childhood. I remember my fifth birthday when I got a hot wheel’s gas station. I remember our first dogs, Dutchess and Duke. I remember defending my sister once when someone stole her glasses. The same week, I remember seeing a dog die after being hit by a car. …
Laura and I sit down to talk about finding acceptance. Understanding that we are poor in spirit helps us understand our acceptance. Acceptance is necessary input to our lives. Join us for the discussion. Message me at any time if you have questions: karl@karlscoaching.com Find me on Twitter Subscribe to Karl’s Coaching Podcasts Podcasts on…
I have always loved the Sermon on the Mount. At the urging of a friend, I slowed down and bit…this is what I found in the first Beatitude….
We invite you to share a visit with our son, J.D. (Jordan) from Taiwan. He’s there–we’re not. We’ll begin the discussion by talking about what Taiwan is and what it is like to live there. Message me at any time if you have questions: karl@karlscoaching.com Find me on Twitter Subscribe to Karl’s Coaching Podcasts…
I have a love / hate relationship with WalMart. But, something Sam Walton said has always stuck with me. He said “Swim Upstream.” Message me at any time if you have questions: karl@karlscoaching.com Find me on Twitter Subscribe to Karl’s Coaching Podcasts Podcasts on YouTube
I have a love/hate relationship with Walmart. I love the fact that I can buy almost everything at a reasonable price. Their mission is, “Saving people money so they can live better.” That might be a stretch, but they certainly have most everything I need at the very good prices. I can buy things in…
Message me at any time if you have questions: karl@karlscoaching.com Find me on Twitter Subscribe to Karl’s Coaching Podcasts
Where I grew up there were lots of guns. Most of us guys even had a gun rack in the back window of our trucks — this usually carried a shotgun and some type of rabbit gun or deer rifle. I never had a lot of money for a gun and I was probably more…
Message me at any time if you have questions: karl@karlscoaching.com Find me on Twitter Subscribe to Karl’s Coaching Podcasts
Message me at any time if you have questions: karl@karlscoaching.com Find me on Twitter Subscribe to Karl’s Coaching Podcasts
Message me at any time if you have questions: karl@karlscoaching.com Find me on Twitter Subscribe to Karl’s Coaching Podcasts Listen to the Podcasts on Google
Most of the religious traditions I have been exposed to promote a literal view of Scripture. Most people in these traditions are quick to point out that a literal view is not a wooden view. Jesus doesn’t literally believe he is a door – it’s a metaphor. I agree, we certainly must account for figures…
Several years ago, I began a whole food, plant based lifestyle. It is one of the best decisions of my life. The vegan / plant based community is growing every day. It’s exciting to watch it happen and feel that I’m on the right side of history. But, when you start out, it’s a little…
When I started raising my children, I first hoped they would be like me. We all go through that — we are delighted when they look like us or talk like us. As they start to develop, it thrills us when they start to do the things we do and even do them like we…
by Laura Forehand Isn’t it great when you wake up at 3:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning? Being a school teacher means I covet those Saturday no-alarm kind of mornings. Today my normal alarm clock didn’t go off. Instead, I woke up with a vice-gripping headache. You know… the kind that actually feels like you…
My image of God has probably changed over the years. They say, our image of God is shaped by the conception we have of our father. We project his face onto the face of what we perceive about God. Often our misconception is also rooted in our understanding and interpretation of Scripture. Depending on our…
The Desert Sanctuary 