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On this week’s episode of the Connected Kingdom Podcast we have Brian Croft as our guest. Brian blogs at Practical Shepherding, a blog every pastor or church leader should be reading. And it’s not just for pastors, either. There is a lot of wisdom there for anyone who cares to read it. For example, any dad can benefit from this post: How can I make sure I am individually shepherding my children?

In this podcast we talk to Brian about his testimony, how he got started in blogging, some particular challenges for pastors in their shepherding and the most urgent message he would share with a young pastor.

If you want to give us feedback on the podcast or join in the discussion, go ahead and look up our Facebook Group or leave a comment right here. You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or another program. As always, feedback and suggestions for future topics are much appreciated.

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Today we’ve got another episode of the Connected Kingdom Podcast for your listening pleasure. Our topic today is the subject of David’s new book (which is also his first book, as it happens): depression. This is a topic that is very important to David as he seeks to correct wrong teaching within the church and encourage those who suffer from it.

Here are the kinds of questions he answers through our discussion: What is depression and what are its causes? Do Christians really suffer from depression and, if they do, what does this say about their spiritual state? What is the role of medication in treating depression? Should Christians make sure that they visit a Christian family doctor or psychologist if wrestling with depression? We’ve tried to make the show valuable not just for people who suffer from depression, but also for those who do not.

If you want to give us feedback on the podcast or join in the discussion, go ahead and look up our Facebook Group or leave a comment right here. You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or another program. As always, feedback and suggestions for future topics are much appreciated.

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I know that there are far more who read this web site than listen to the podcasts. Well and good. But today I want to encourage you to listen in to this one; it’s just 20 minutes or so but along the way our guest shares some things that I’m convinced will be a blessing to you.

In this week’s podcast we speak to a man who helped begin an amazing ministry. Jeff Anderson, working through International Bible Conference, helps train pastors from around the world. From very humble beginnings this organization has grown to the point where they are now leading conferences in Africa with 5,000 pastors attending, many of whom have no training and no Bible. Each of these pastors is exposed to sound doctrine, learns the value of expositional preaching and walks away with a Bible. In this interview Jeff shares some of the ways God has worked through this small organization, drawing people to himself (saving hundreds of pastors in one of the conferences!) and grounding thousands of pastors in the truth of the Word. I was encouraged to hear about it and I know you will be too.

You can learn more about International Bible Conference at internationalbibleconference.org. Here is just a short snippet from one of their reports:

The Pastor's Conference emphasized "family," teaching mostly from Ephesians 5. Again, hundreds professed faith in Christ and thousands were encouraged and strengthened by sound doctrine and expository preaching. Over 8000 copies of the MacArthur Study Bible were received with indescribable joy and commitment. Two pictures describe it best: after running to receive the Bible, pastors lifted both hands toward heaven and knelt in an open field giving thanks!

Imagine 8000 voices resounding with upraised Bible in hand, "I will study the Word. I will obey the Word. I will preach the Word!" Alleluia! The shout of praise shook the earth!

Much of what encourages me about this ministry is simply its humble beginnings and low profile. This is not an effort brought about by a major international ministry, but one carried on by a single local church that simply seeks to obey God. It’s a beautiful thing!

If you want to give us feedback on the podcast or join in the discussion, go ahead and look up our Facebook Group or leave a comment right here. You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or another program. As always, feedback and suggestions for future topics are much appreciated.

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Here is this week’s episode of the Connected Kingdom podcast. This week we have a guest on the show—Daniel Hyde, author of Welcome to a Reformed Church. We talk to Danny about how he came to know the Lord, about the church he planted in California, about what it means to be Reformed and about sitting uncomfortably close to David. I was particularly glad to discuss what it used to mean to be Reformed and what it means today.

If you want to give us feedback on the podcast or join in the discussion, go ahead and look up our Facebook Group or leave a comment right here. You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or another program. As always, feedback and suggestions for future topics are much appreciated.

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Here is episode 15 of The Connected Kingdom Podcast. We have a guest on the show this week, none other than Tony Reinke who blogs at Miscellanies and who serves as assistant to C.J. Mahaney. Tony talks about a book he is currently writing (a book on the subject of reading), about what it’s like to work with C.J. Mahaney (it requires a lot of energy) and about the next book we’ll see from C.J.(something to do with sports, perhaps?).

If you want to give us feedback on the podcast or join in the discussion, go ahead and look up our Facebook Group or leave a comment right here. You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or another program. As always, feedback and suggestions for future topics are much appreciated.

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This morning I’ve got episode 14 of the Connected Kingdom Podcast for you. This week David and I spend our time discussing a question posed by one of our listeners, a dad who asked how he can get his kids reading and how he can get them to read good books. So we discuss that and also talk about strategies for getting our kids to begin the habit of daily personal devotions. The program is a little bit niche, of course, but we trust parents will benefit from the discussion. Oh, and you’ll learn which one of us wears a tie while doing the podcast.

In the podcast we mention Journibles so here, as promised, is the link. Journibles are quite a unique resource. “Each book is organized so that you can write out your very own copy of Scripture. You will be writing the Bible text only on the right hand page of the book. This should make for easier writing and also allows ample space on the left page to write your own notes and comments. From time to time a question or word will be lightly printed on the left page; these questions are to aid in further study, but should not interfere with your own notes and comments.”

If you want to give us feedback on the podcast or join in the discussion, go ahead and look up our Facebook Group or leave a comment right here. You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or another program. As always, feedback and suggestions for future topics are much appreciated.

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Here we are with episode number 13 of the Connected Kingdom Podcast. This week we have a guest on the show, none other than Justin Taylor of Between Two Worlds fame. We talk to Justin about his life and family, about blogging, about publishing and about other things I’m sure I’ve already forgotten. Justin always has lots of interesting things to say, at least in my experience. Give the show a listen and I think you’ll agree.

If you want to give us feedback or join in the discussion, go ahead and look up our Facebook Group or leave a comment right here. You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or another program. As always, feedback and suggestions for future topics are much appreciated.

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And here at last is episode 12 of The Connected Kingdom podcast. I was on vacation last week, of course, but this week we’re back with a show that deals primarily with technology. I reflected a little bit on what it was like to go off the grid for a week and what it means to my life while David spent a bit of time discussing his new film God’s Technology. If you use technology (which you do—you’re using it to read this) there should be something in this show for you!

If you want to give us feedback or join in the discussion, go ahead and look up our Facebook Group or leave a comment right here. You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or another program. As always, feedback and suggestions for future topics are much appreciated.

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Here, for your listening pleasure, is episode 11 of The Connected Kingdom. This week David and I have Mike Pohlman as a guest on the show. You may know Mike from his work with The Gospel Coalition. Mike has just accepted a call to pastor a church in Washington and we talk to him about that new opportunity. But we also talk to him about his family. Mike’s wife Julia has been diagnosed with cancer and David and I have both been blessed to see how the Pohlman’s have dealt with this difficult situation. So as you listen, be sure to listen to the end (or at least to skip forward to around the 16-minute mark where we begin to talk about that).

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After a one-week hiatus (hey, we’re doing pretty well—10 episodes in 12 weeks) David and I are back with episode 10 of the Connected Kingdom Podcast. This week we discuss vacations and how Christians can do vacations well. We interact with a popular article written by C.J. Mahaney and we also discuss some issues related to Christian character and vacations. All-in-all, I think you’ll find it a helpful listen as you consider going away this summer. I hope you enjoy it!

If you want to give us feedback or join in the discussion, go ahead and look up our Facebook Group or leave a comment right here. You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or another program. As always, feedback and suggestions for future topics are much appreciated.