Growing Together

Organic Church

Step into a virtual garden of spiritual growth and community connection with the "Growing Together" podcast. This podcast is a nurturing space for individuals seeking to deepen their faith, cultivate relationships, and explore the boundless beauty of a shared spiritual journey. Each episode of "Growing Together" is a breath of fresh air, where Pastor Michael, Syd, Nic, Pastor Holly, and Pastor Roger try to navigate the twists and turns of life while staying rooted in faith. Their warm and inviting presence makes you feel like you're sitting in a cozy living room, engaged in a heartfelt conversation with old friends. Diving into topics ranging from personal growth and self-care to building resilient relationships and fostering a sense of community, the podcast aims to equip listeners with the tools to nurture their faith in all aspects of life. Through scripture readings, open discussions, and interviews with experts in various fields, "Growing Together" provides a holistic approach to spiritual development. Whether you're a lifelong believer, a seeker on the spiritual path, or simply someone curious about how faith can shape lives, "Growing Together" offers a welcoming haven for everyone. Tune in during your morning routine, while taking a leisurely stroll, or even during a quiet moment of reflection – the podcast fits seamlessly into your daily life. Join the "Growing Together" community and embark on a journey of discovery, growth, and genuine connection. In a world that can sometimes feel disconnected, this podcast reminds us that nurturing our faith and cultivating meaningful relationships can lead to a life that's deeply fulfilling and spiritually abundant. Subscribe now to start your journey of growing together in faith and fellowship.

  1. 5d ago

    God’s Promises, Our Response

    Send us Fan Mail If you have ever tried faith like a quick experiment and walked away disappointed, we get it, and we challenge it. Dale brings a topic that rarely gets the attention it deserves: God’s promises in the Bible, not as a cherry-picked list, but as a real way of living. We talk about why it’s hard to even catalog biblical promises, why many of them include a response from us, and why God’s promises are far more personal than a “do this, get that” deal. We unpack examples that cut straight to the point: seek and you will find, believe and you will be saved, come to Christ and you will find rest. Along the way we hit the tension a lot of people feel, especially skeptics, when God isn’t tangible. Why can we trust all kinds of things we cannot fully verify, yet struggle to trust the One who claims to be closer than family? We also talk about how easy it is to read Scripture like a wish book, build expectations instead of relationship, and miss the daily blessings we overlook when we only measure life by what hurts. The conversation stays grounded in real life: being a light in small places, choosing patience with difficult people, and learning what “rest” can mean when your day is a storm you still have to finish. We close with two promises that bring steady hope: God supplying our needs according to His riches and glory, and Jesus’ promise to return. If this brought you comfort or conviction, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review. Which promise are you standing on right now?

  2. Aug 7

    The Seeker

    Send us Fan Mail Your phone can track you everywhere, but that doesn’t mean you feel seen. We start with a laugh about landlines, untied shoes, and summer slipping toward back-to-school, then we stumble into a bigger question that hits right in the chest: what if you’re not the one chasing God at all? What if God is the seeker, and He’s been looking for you the whole time?  We talk through the moment that sparked it all, flipping through childhood photos and noticing how a parent naturally stands close, watches, guards, and guides. That becomes a lens for Scripture: God calling “Where are you?” in Genesis, Jesus’ mission in Luke 19:10, the hope inside exile in Jeremiah 29:11, the Shepherd who searches in Ezekiel 34, and the reminder in John 15:16 that we don’t choose God first. We also wrestle with the stuff we try to use as substitutes for God, the habits and distractions that never quite fill the hole in the heart.  Along the way we share a personal story of God’s timing in marriage, unpack why struggle can actually form us instead of crush us, and use analogies like getting lost at the county fair and Rocky finally trusting Mickey to see the point. We end with Revelation 3:19-20 and the idea that discipline can be love, not rejection, plus a closing prayer for gratitude and strength in hard seasons. If this conversation helps you rethink what it means to be found, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can hear it.

  3. Jul 23

    True Rebellion In Our Modern World

    Send us Fan Mail Often times when we think of the word rebel, our minds immediately conjure up images of men on motorcycles in black leather jackets, smoking cigarettes, skulls and cross bones on their arms, the song "Born To be Wild" blaring through the speakers.  We might think of the actors James Dean, Marlon Brando and Elvis Presley.  Rock stars like Jim Morrison, Judas Priest, and George Thorogood defined what it meant to be defiant in the face of what is considered moral and decent, making parents everywhere just a bit more nervous about what their children were up to.  The typical stereotype is easily recognized.  One would never look at a young man dressed in his Sunday best with bible in hand as a threat to society.  Would you? On this week's episode of Growing Together, Nic & Dale have a really thought provoking discussion about the true rebellion in our modern world.  It is all inspired by another rock icon that fits the bill for shock value antics and rebellious ideas like "School's Out" and "Poison".  Alice Cooper is one of rock n roll's most identifiable acts.  Yet, few are aware that his relationship with Christ changed his life and is now at the center of his mission.  Cooper never holds back when it comes to speaking about the goodness of Christ and how it can change people's lives.  Cooper declares that his old life style was the trademark for rebellious living.  Drinking, destroying hotel rooms, and promoting darkness frightened parents to death, but in his opinion, that was a cakewalk compared to his walk with Christ.   In our modern world, Christians are the true rebels. Just as in the time of Jesus, speaking up for Christian faith can get you a lot of dirty looks and plenty of defiant sneers.  Our world has flipped the script back to biblical times.  In our grandparents and parents age, being a Christian meant you were most likely in the majority of those that believed the church was the place to be; you were an insider, not an outsider.  As Christ said, if the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.  Dale reminds us that those words are just as relevant today as they were the day he said it.  If you never thought, as a Christian, you had what it takes to be rebellious, think again!   This is an episode you will not want to skip over.  Don't be a rebel without a cause, give this episode a chance and find out what it really means to live dangerously.  Okay, this might be a little tongue in cheek, but you get what we are after here.  Our mission is to bring as many people to Christ as we can.  Don't be cruel.  Join us each and every week on the Growing Together Podcast!

  4. Jul 16

    Faith In The Squared Circle

    Send us Fan Mail Nic & Dale are back in the studio this week after taking a short breath.  The Growing Together Podcast has covered a lot of ground this year and we look forward to finishing the year strong.  If there are any topics you would like Nic & Dale to cover, send us fan mail or leave it in the comments!   On this weeks episode we will be taking a look inward, asking a simple question we all can relate to:  What are you wrestling with?  Everyone has something they wrestle with on the daily.  For many of us, there is that one opponent we square up with time and time again.  It can be addiction, jealousy, personal abuse, our tongue, unforgiveness, etc.  Self-pity and shame can be two daunting opponents, like two 500 pound wrestlers seething and chomping at the bit to keep you in the middle of the squared circle with no way of escape.  Many times, we think we can grapple with these opponents on our own, never looking to our own corner.  Jesus is always there with his hand stretched out, waiting for that tag, ready to relieve us of our burden and finish the enemy off with his signature move.   Christians know better than anyone that personal battles do not have to be fought alone.  Nic has a deep and personal empathy for those that are facing the prospect of suicide without the proper Christian guidance and support; without a true relationship with Christ to lean on.  The world is a scary place to be left alone and without Jesus it can be hard to find hope and assurance in life situations that can be overcome without giving in to fear and defeat.  Jesus is the only one who will not abandon us in the middle of the match, he is always steadfast in his desire to help us achieve victory.  We have to choose to be in relationship with him.  It really is that simple. Take a look at at your struggles.  Are you holding your own, or do you need something greater to hulk up and put your enemy on its back for the three count?  Ask yourself, am I achieving victory over my adversary or just waiting to be counted out so I can breathe again?  There is a very fine line between victory and defeat in this world, but there doesn't have to be.  Lock hands with the one that will walk down that aisle with you every time, no matter the dangers ahead.  Put that gold around your waist, raise that crown to your head,  but do it with Jesus at your side.  Diamonds are forever, and so is Jesus Christ!

  5. Jul 9

    ALL STAR BREAK EDITION: Our Top 5 Worship Songs/Hymnals

    Send us Fan Mail Hey everyone!  Life has its little bumps in the road and something extraordinary is always happening in God's world.  Dale is celebrating his wedding anniversary and Nic is getting ready to say goodbye to one home and move into another.  The last thing we want to do is leave our audience hanging, so here is a fond memory to tide you over until we return.  Consider this our All-Star break!  The following episode is our most popular, so we thought it was worth re-visiting for anyone who might have missed it.  See you soon! Meanwhile, we change lanes to untangle the web of worship music versus contemporary Christian tunes. What's the real difference, and does it matter if Montel Williams or Montel Jordan makes a surprise cameo in our memories? By dissecting songs like "Shake Heaven," we reflect on how music that stirs the spirit may not always suit a traditional Sunday service. Personal anecdotes and humorous mix-ups guide our exploration, all while we appreciate how platforms like Buzzsprout help us keep our podcast episodes neatly organized. As we journey through our favorite worship and gospel music, we savor the profound emotional connections forged by songs from "Oceans" to "Spirit in the Sky." A blend of nostalgia and humor paints our musical memories, celebrating artists like Elvis and Johnny Cash. The unexpected inclusion of "Good, Good Father" in a church service becomes a symbol of worship's spontaneous essence. Join us in this episode, where music's storytelling power brings shared cultural moments to life, and we share tips on remembering life's important dates with creative associations.

  6. Jul 2

    God Bless America 250

    Send us Fan Mail Happy 250th Birthday America!  This week, we pull out all the stops.  We roll out the big guns.  We unfurl the flags.  Pastor Michael and Syd return for this special edition of the Growing Together Podcast!  Pastor Michael and Syd show no signs of rust, their conversation with Nic & Dale is immediate and right to the point.  Well, that's not entirely true.  Loyal fans of the show are well aware of the good humor and tangents that abound when we get the band back together.  It's like old times here in the studio, therefore we can guarantee you will laugh out loud in the process of getting your fill of spiritual enlightenment. Nic is our history buff, and his excitement for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence guides the conversation this week.  Historian Timothy Snyder and Katie Couric support the idea that Christianity was not a founding principle of the United States.  Snyder claims that history is wrong, and there is nothing to support this misguided notion that the American people have relied on their Christian faith to grow and prosper as a nation.  Well, that will get Nic's dander up real quick.  Couric & Snyder find this idea alarming, but Nic is prepared to ring the bell (the Liberty Bell if you please) of truth to set the record straight. Pastor Michael proposes an interesting question.  At what point in America's history did we turn from being proud of our Christian values?  Was it the 1950's?  Was it the breakdown of the American family?  Has politics and social ideals become so divided over the issue that we feel like we have to leave God out of the equation in order to get along?  There are many symptoms, but the remedy seems illusive in our present world.  It's true, America was founded with the principle of freedom OF religion, but as Pastor Michael points out, people are becoming more concerned with the freedom FROM religion.    One final question puts it all in perspective.  Can American society survive without Christianity in place at the center of its guiding principles?  History perhaps provides the necessary answer.  If Abraham Lincoln fails to see the hand of God in the outcome of our great Civil War, does it last more than four years?  Does it ever come to an end?  Does slavery meet its rightful demise?  If FDR does not feel the conviction of God, that there is nothing to fear but fear itself, how much farther would Hitler's systematic means of world wide oppression and terror reach?  Might the outcome of the Cuban Missile Crisis been different had not President Kennedy considered God's council in making a decision that affected the fate of all humanity?  As a nation, could we have survived and found redemption in the wake of the terrorist attacks on 9/11? We here at the Growing Together Podcast wish you a Happy Fourth Of July.  Have fun, be safe, and stay cool.  God Bless America!

  7. Jun 25

    Surrender-In The Waiting

    Send us Fan Mail Episode 25 is here!  The Growing Together Podcast has covered a lot of ground this year, but we still have a long way to go in 2026.  Not to worry, Nic & Dale have your back, and will see to it that the rest of your year is filled with plenty of encouragement, guidance, and good laughs.  The America 250 celebrations are in full swing as we head into July, and we hope to have some exciting shows planned to put our own personal stamp on it.  Stay tuned, keep listening, and keep on sharing! This week, Nic & Dale discuss a topic that all of us can relate to.  If there is anything in life we can all agree on, it's that we do not like to be told we have to wait.  Whether it's on the phone with a sales representative, in line at the grocery store, or waiting for that raise you have been promised, waiting is not something we can find a lot of joy in doing.  Our society continues to grow on the very idea that everything we do must be done faster, information must be received the second it happens, and those that wait are way behind schedule.  We expect God to move when we say go, and like little children, we have a hard time accepting a different circumstance. To surrender to God's will, and be patient in the waiting, is a crucial part of our spiritual growth.  Surrender sounds like a bad word in our society, but when taken in the context of God's control in our lives, we can find strength and poise in giving it all up to Him.  There is inner peace when we allow God to work out the plan he has for our lives, which is a big deal, but also allowing him to tackle the small things gives us even more clarity to ensure we leave nothing untouched by his hand.  As Tom Petty once said, the waiting is the hardest part, but it doesn't have to be.  Learn to let it go, just this once, and you may be surprised just how much God can do if you get out of the way!

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About

Step into a virtual garden of spiritual growth and community connection with the "Growing Together" podcast. This podcast is a nurturing space for individuals seeking to deepen their faith, cultivate relationships, and explore the boundless beauty of a shared spiritual journey. Each episode of "Growing Together" is a breath of fresh air, where Pastor Michael, Syd, Nic, Pastor Holly, and Pastor Roger try to navigate the twists and turns of life while staying rooted in faith. Their warm and inviting presence makes you feel like you're sitting in a cozy living room, engaged in a heartfelt conversation with old friends. Diving into topics ranging from personal growth and self-care to building resilient relationships and fostering a sense of community, the podcast aims to equip listeners with the tools to nurture their faith in all aspects of life. Through scripture readings, open discussions, and interviews with experts in various fields, "Growing Together" provides a holistic approach to spiritual development. Whether you're a lifelong believer, a seeker on the spiritual path, or simply someone curious about how faith can shape lives, "Growing Together" offers a welcoming haven for everyone. Tune in during your morning routine, while taking a leisurely stroll, or even during a quiet moment of reflection – the podcast fits seamlessly into your daily life. Join the "Growing Together" community and embark on a journey of discovery, growth, and genuine connection. In a world that can sometimes feel disconnected, this podcast reminds us that nurturing our faith and cultivating meaningful relationships can lead to a life that's deeply fulfilling and spiritually abundant. Subscribe now to start your journey of growing together in faith and fellowship.