Speaker: Jeff Jarvis Join us this Sunday for week three of our Relation$hit series. We’re exploring the inner world of those who Anxiously attach to others. These are the ones who have highly sensitive threat centres. For anxious attachers, one particular look, text, delayed response, or piece of negative feedback can set off internal alarms – fearing that someone is upset or worse.  The result is often an emotional meltdown of sorts: excessive texting, calling, clinging, catastrophizing…or as Vince put it in week one, “flipping their lid”. Whether this can look a lot like ..read more

Speaker: Vince Klassen Jesus once said, “Love your neighbor.” It’s a simple yet profound teaching, but it’s not always easy to put into practice. Loving others—no matter who they are—requires both skill and the capacity to do that skill – the willingness, the motivation and the energy. This week, we’re going to focus on building our capacity for love. We’ll work on the skills that enable us to love better and explore ways to develop these skills over the coming weeks. This week the goal is to be able to use those skills when we need them. Join us this week as we embark on this journey. Invite ..read more

Speaker: Jeff Jarvis Throughout history, religious beliefs have been a double-edged sword, offering solace and guidance while also igniting conflicts and division. They’ve inspired acts of compassion, charity, and unity, yet have also fueled wars, persecution, and discrimination. In this final week of our current series, “What Ends Wars”, we’re going to explore two ways of approaching one’s faith/beliefs.  The difference seems so subtle but the outcomes are often radically different. Invite a friend or two and join us this Sunday in the Spiritual Gym. To donate to this podcast and suppor ..read more

Speaker: Vince Klassen In recent weeks, we’ve delved into various scenarios shedding light on the What Ends Wars. From realizing that peace seldom emerges solely from victory to grappling with the internal battles we face. This week, we’re steering toward a slightly unconventional path. We’re set to scrutinize a deeply ingrained belief prevalent in our culture today, one that likely ignited more conflicts than we can fathom – be it in personal relationships, among colleagues and neighbours, or even on the grand stage of national wars. Join us as we explore a specific facet of humility that app ..read more

Speaker: Jeff Jarvis Watching the innocent casualties of war is hard. People being forced to flee with very few belongings, often grieving the loss of loved ones. The suffering is hard to imagine. It’s always comforting to see countries and organizations willing to help step in and offer support in times of crisis. There’s something that feels so right about those initiatives. The same applies to our everyday lives. We can see people who are struggling and then notice someone who stops and helps in a practical and caring way. It’s heart-warming, isn’t it, to see humans caring for others in nee ..read more

Speaker: Jeff Jarvis & Vince Klassen If you think about the foes you’ll wage war against in your lifetime, none of them will likely be as powerful and potentially as immobilizing as the voice(s) within you. You’re likely well acquainted with this voice. Sometimes we refer to it as our “Dark Passenger”. It can remind you of the ways you’ve screwed up, of your shortcomings, it can make you second-guess your next steps and keep you locked in a holding pattern. This is likely why our spiritual ancestors engaged in an annual ritual to set them free of their past and, specifically, the voice of ..read more

Speaker: Vince Klassen After our discussion last week about how victory doesn’t necessarily lead to peace, we’ve been feeling somewhat disheartened. So, how do we actually foster peace? Our current cultural mindset heavily emphasizes victory – whether it’s a particular group, ideology, or even ourselves prevailing – as the path to peace. So, it’s clear that culture isn’t providing a satisfactory answer to that question. This week, we’re delving into the wisdom of one of our spiritual ancestors who offered an alternative to the failure of victory in bringing about peace. It’s an insight applica ..read more

Speaker: Jeff Jarvis Cathy and I have been married for over 33 years. You would think by now that we would never argue. Lol. There seems to be this subconscious moment, in the midst of our arguments, when I begin to imagine what it will feel like when I “win” the argument. When I hit that sweet spot and prove my point. Do you do this? I think to myself, “Maybe, Cathy will admit that she was wrong and I was right all along – perhaps she’ll thank me for pointing out what she did and ask me to forgive her”. This kind of hopeful thinking seems almost instinctual it’s so common. Not only is history ..read more

Speaker: Trevor Dreher Recently, I heard a tale of an affluent elderly couple with a longstanding desire to witness the vibrant colors of autumn out east. Despite having the financial means to indulge in this dream without any repercussions, they consistently postponed the trip over the years, citing its potential cost. In truth, they could have undertaken the journey in first-class style without a dent in their finances. The desire for this experience was ingrained in their values, yet they never actualized it. Why do we often neglect the activities we genuinely enjoy? What compels us ..read more

Speaker: Jeff Jarvis We’ve spent the last two weeks explaining where much of the toxic messaging around pleasure has come from – at least within the Christian tradition. Hint: we don’t think it comes from the bible. We’ve also made the case that pleasure needs to be accessed and celebrated in our lives. However, this raises questions, and likely it should… Mostly because, like anything, the pleasures we pursue almost always have price tags (either literally or metaphorically). How much pleasure is enough at any given time? And at what cost? What if your spouse/partner/parent/child/bank accoun ..read more