FOLLOW

Plum Creek Church

What does rearrangement sound like? The FOLLOW podcast offers steady companionship in the long, quiet work of discipleship, creating space for honest, unhurried conversation where faith moves from the margins to the center of everyday rhythms and relationships. Spiritual formation is approached as life architecture—through the intentional rearrangement of all of life around the way of Jesus—so that belief becomes embodied, practiced, and lived. This is what rearrangement sounds like: honest voices and steady steps—following Jesus fully. Meet your hosts, Eric Parks and Steve Carter Eric Parks  Eric is an Executive Pastor at Plum Creek Church in Castle Rock, Colorado, who cares deeply about helping people rehearse the way of Jesus in everyday life—and holds firm as a Denver Broncos fan, no matter how often Steve brings up the Bears. Steve Carter  Steve is the Lead Pastor at Christ Church in Oak Brook, Illinois, offering a thoughtful and honest voice to the deeper work of formation and calling—and remains a devoted Chicago Bears fan, even with Eric representing Broncos country. Explore all of FOLLOW We’re all following something—habits, expectations, ambition—but Jesus offers a different way. A way marked by love, presence, trust, and a life that actually leads somewhere good. Not perfectly, but increasingly, we begin to shape our lives around his. We believe that if Jesus is right—about God, about life, about the soul—then is only makes sense to rearrange your life around what he says is true. Follow isn’t a program to complete or a path to master, but a way of life centered on Jesus. A way of living that takes shape over time through a steady rearrangement of our lives—our priorities, our rhythms, and the things we trust most.

  1. 5d ago

    What if the problem isn't the pain, but the picture? /// FOLLOW with Nirup Alphonse

    Episode 023: What if the problem isn't the pain, but the picture? What if the hardest parts of life aren't just obstacles to overcome, but invitations to see something bigger? Suffering has a way of shrinking our world. When life doesn't go according to plan, it's easy to wonder what went wrong, why God feels distant, or how everyone else seems to be getting ahead. But what if the problem isn't always what we're going through, but the story we're using to make sense of it? In this episode of the FOLLOW podcast, Eric Parks and Steve Carter sit down with pastor and author Nirup Alphonse for an honest conversation about suffering, spiritual formation, and the kind of vision that helps us keep going when life gets hard. Together, they explore: Why learning to wait, endure, and embrace the process matters in following Jesus.How a bigger vision for life with God can reshape the way we experience suffering.What hospitality, imagination, and opening our lives to others can teach us about living beyond ourselves. From the grit of spiritual formation to the unexpected power of an open table, this conversation is a reminder that following Jesus isn't about avoiding the hard parts of life. It's about allowing his way to reshape how we move through them. Because maybe the goal isn't simply to get through life with as little suffering as possible, but to live a life that's worth giving away. Resources mentioned in this episode: Defiant Lights by Nirup Alphonse (Amazon)Where the Wind Leads by Vinh Chung (Amazon)The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom (Amazon)The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard (Amazon)On Fairy-Stories by J.R.R. TolkienLIFEGATE Denver — Listen to Nirup's teachingLIFEGATE Denver websiteMeet your hosts, Eric Parks and Steve Carter Eric Parks Eric is an Executive Pastor at Plum Creek Church in Castle Rock, Colorado, who cares deeply about helping people rehearse the way of Jesus in everyday life—and holds firm as a Denver Broncos fan, no matter how often Steve brings up the Bears. Steve Carter Steve is the Lead Pastor at Christ Church in Oak Brook, Illinois, offering a thoughtful and honest voice to the deeper work of formation and calling—and remains a devoted Chicago Bears fan, even with Eric representing Broncos country. Explore all of FOLLOW We’re all following something—habits, expectations, ambition—but Jesus offers a different way. A way marked by love, presence, trust, and a life that actually leads somewhere good. Not perfectly, but increasingly, we begin to shape our lives around his. We believe that if Jesus is right—about God, about life, about the soul—then is only makes sense to rearrange your life around what he says is true. Follow isn’t a program to complete or a path to master, but a way of life centered on Jesus. A way of living that takes shape over time through a steady rearrangement of our lives—our priorities, our rhythms, and the things we trust most. Links FOLLOW: https://followtheway.church/ ...

  2. Oct 22

    What if your story isn't over? /// FOLLOW with Gregg Giamlava

    Episode 022: What if your story isn't over? What happens when the life you thought you were building falls apart? When disappointment turns into shame, and the future you imagined suddenly feels out of reach? In this episode of the FOLLOW podcast, Eric Parks and Steve Carter sit down with Gregg Giamlava, Lead Pastor from Stateline Church, to explore what it looks like to keep following Jesus when life doesn't go according to plan. Gregg shares the story of a failed marriage, a painful departure from ministry, and a season when he genuinely believed his calling was over. But through honest reflection, faithful friendships, and the courage to take one more step, he began discovering that his failures didn't have to define his future. Together, they explore: -Why disappointment can shake our faith, and what happens when we bring our questions honestly to God.How shame and fear can convince us we're disqualified, even when our story is still unfolding.Why spiritual formation is less about getting everything right and more about staying with Jesus, one ordinary step at a time. Maybe you're in a season where everything feels uncertain. Maybe you're afraid to try again. Or maybe you've been so focused on how far you have to go that you've forgotten how far you've already come. Wherever you find yourself, this conversation is an invitation to recognize the work God is already doing, celebrate the small steps, and remember that you don't have to figure out the entire journey today. You just have to keep following. Meet your hosts, Eric Parks and Steve Carter Eric Parks Eric is an Executive Pastor at Plum Creek Church in Castle Rock, Colorado, who cares deeply about helping people rehearse the way of Jesus in everyday life—and holds firm as a Denver Broncos fan, no matter how often Steve brings up the Bears. Steve Carter Steve is the Lead Pastor at Christ Church in Oak Brook, Illinois, offering a thoughtful and honest voice to the deeper work of formation and calling—and remains a devoted Chicago Bears fan, even with Eric representing Broncos country. Explore all of FOLLOW We’re all following something—habits, expectations, ambition—but Jesus offers a different way. A way marked by love, presence, trust, and a life that actually leads somewhere good. Not perfectly, but increasingly, we begin to shape our lives around his. We believe that if Jesus is right—about God, about life, about the soul—then is only makes sense to rearrange your life around what he says is true. Follow isn’t a program to complete or a path to master, but a way of life centered on Jesus. A way of living that takes shape over time through a steady rearrangement of our lives—our priorities, our rhythms, and the things we trust most. Links FOLLOW: https://followtheway.church/ ...

  3. Oct 15

    Can you get better at having a hard time? /// FOLLOW with Doug Miller

    Episode 021: Can you get better at having a hard time? /// FOLLOW with Doug Miller Hard times have a way of showing up whether we're ready or not. But what if struggling well is something we can actually learn to do? In this episode of the FOLLOW podcast, Eric Parks and Steve Carter welcome back Doug Miller, Lead Pastor of Plum Creek Church, for an honest conversation about faith, hardship, and the kind of person we're becoming along the way. Doug shares his experience of being diagnosed with cancer at just 27 years old, with a newborn son, a young marriage, and more questions than answers. His story opens up a bigger conversation about what happens when life doesn't go according to plan, why we sometimes confuse God's blessing with a life free of difficulty, and how the practices of following Jesus can prepare us for the challenges we never see coming. Together, they explore: Why struggling well doesn't mean pretending everything is okay.How spiritual practices and everyday decisions train us to respond when life gets difficult.Why honest relationships, vulnerability, and God's presence matter more than having all the answers.Because following Jesus doesn't mean life will always be easy. But it does mean we don't have to walk through the hard things alone. Maybe the question isn't how to avoid the struggle, but who we're becoming as we walk through it. Links Jack Canfield — E + R = O (Events + Responses = Outcome)The FOLLOW Guide — A 30-day guided journeyMeet your hosts, Eric Parks and Steve Carter Eric Parks Eric is an Executive Pastor at Plum Creek Church in Castle Rock, Colorado, who cares deeply about helping people rehearse the way of Jesus in everyday life—and holds firm as a Denver Broncos fan, no matter how often Steve brings up the Bears. Steve Carter Steve is the Lead Pastor at Christ Church in Oak Brook, Illinois, offering a thoughtful and honest voice to the deeper work of formation and calling—and remains a devoted Chicago Bears fan, even with Eric representing Broncos country. Explore all of FOLLOW We’re all following something—habits, expectations, ambition—but Jesus offers a different way. A way marked by love, presence, trust, and a life that actually leads somewhere good. Not perfectly, but increasingly, we begin to shape our lives around his. We believe that if Jesus is right—about God, about life, about the soul—then is only makes sense to rearrange your life around what he says is true. Follow isn’t a program to complete or a path to master, but a way of life centered on Jesus. A way of living that takes shape over time through a steady rearrangement of our lives—our priorities, our rhythms, and the things we trust most. Links FOLLOW: https://followtheway.church/ ...

  4. Oct 8

    How do you keep going when you can’t control the outcome? /// FOLLOW with Jeremy Lewis

    Episode 020: How do you keep going when you can’t control the outcome? Some moments in life make it painfully obvious how little control we actually have. When Jeremy Lewis and his wife, Amanda, learned halfway through their pregnancy that their daughter Elsie would be born with a serious heart condition, the future they imagined suddenly looked completely different. Surgeries, hospital stays, unanswered questions, and long days of waiting became part of their story. So how do you keep going when you can’t fix what’s happening? In this episode of the FOLLOW podcast, Eric Parks and Steve Carter sit down with Jeremy to talk about what it means to remain faithful when you have no control over the outcome. Together, they explore how prayer, Scripture, worship, community, and the simple decision to keep showing up can become more than spiritual habits—they can become the things that carry us. Along the way, they unpack the difference between controlling an outcome and faithfully entering what’s in front of you, why God’s provision often arrives one day at a time, and how some of the most unexpected gifts can emerge from circumstances we never would have chosen. What changes when the truths you’ve believed about God are tested by something you can’t control?How can everyday spiritual practices prepare us for seasons we never saw coming?What would it look like to stop trying to find enough grace for the whole journey and receive enough for today? Following Jesus doesn’t mean we always know how the story ends. Sometimes faithfulness simply looks like showing up today, trusting that God will meet us there, and taking the next step. Show Links: Faithful to the End — Bethel Music, Paul McClure & Hannah McClure https://bethelmusic.com/resources/have-it-all-live/faithful-to-the-end 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) — Matt Redman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo--H_yx2vg Meet your hosts, Eric Parks and Steve Carter Eric Parks Eric is an Executive Pastor at Plum Creek Church in Castle Rock, Colorado, who cares deeply about helping people rehearse the way of Jesus in everyday life—and holds firm as a Denver Broncos fan, no matter how often Steve brings up the Bears. Steve Carter Steve is the Lead Pastor at Christ Church in Oak Brook, Illinois, offering a thoughtful and honest voice to the deeper work of formation and calling—and remains a devoted Chicago Bears fan, even with Eric representing Broncos country. Explore all of FOLLOW We’re all following something—habits, expectations, ambition—but Jesus offers a different way. A way marked by love, presence, trust, and a life that actually leads somewhere good. Not perfectly, but increasingly, we begin to shape our lives around his. We believe that if Jesus is right—about God, about life, about the soul—then is only makes sense to rearrange your life around what he says is true. Follow isn’t a program to complete or a path to master, but a way of life centered on Jesus. A way of living that takes shape over time through a steady rearrangement of our lives—our priorities, our rhythms, and the things we trust most. Links FOLLOW: https://followtheway.church/ ...

  5. Sep 24

    Who did God think up when he thought of you? /// FOLLOW

    Episode 019: Who did God think up when he thought of you? How many decisions have we made while a quiet loop plays underneath everything: “You’re not enough. You’re not enough. You’re not enough.” In this episode of the FOLLOW podcast, Eric Parks and Steve Carter continue their conversation around “The Thing Beneath the Thing” and the false stories that shape the way we see ourselves, other people, and God. They explore the difference between insecurity and narrative, why the thoughts we’ve rehearsed for years can become so difficult to recognize, and what it looks like to become more intentional about which voices we allow to “land.” Because following Jesus isn’t simply about knowing that we’ve been made new—it’s learning, over time, to actually live like it. Together, they unpack: How to recognize the insecurities and false stories shaping your decisions.Why becoming who God made you to be takes both grace and intentional practice.How renewing your mind can slowly move you from old patterns toward the “truest true” of who you are. Formation takes time. But the more often we choose grace over the old stories, the more those stories begin to lose their grip—and the more we begin to recognize the person God had in mind all along. Show Links: The Thing Beneath the Thing: What Hidden Insecurities Are Really Driving Your Life — Steve Carter Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Thing+Beneath+the+Thing+Steve+Carter Dallas Willard — Vision, Intention and Means (VIM) https://dwillard.org/resources/audio/v-i-m-renovation-of-the-heart Meet your hosts, Eric Parks and Steve Carter Eric Parks Eric is an Executive Pastor at Plum Creek Church in Castle Rock, Colorado, who cares deeply about helping people rehearse the way of Jesus in everyday life—and holds firm as a Denver Broncos fan, no matter how often Steve brings up the Bears. Steve Carter Steve is the Lead Pastor at Christ Church in Oak Brook, Illinois, offering a thoughtful and honest voice to the deeper work of formation and calling—and remains a devoted Chicago Bears fan, even with Eric representing Broncos country. Explore all of FOLLOW We’re all following something—habits, expectations, ambition—but Jesus offers a different way. A way marked by love, presence, trust, and a life that actually leads somewhere good. Not perfectly, but increasingly, we begin to shape our lives around his. We believe that if Jesus is right—about God, about life, about the soul—then is only makes sense to rearrange your life around what he says is true. Follow isn’t a program to complete or a path to master, but a way of life centered on Jesus. A way of living that takes shape over time through a steady rearrangement of our lives—our priorities, our rhythms, and the things we trust most. Links FOLLOW: https://followtheway.church/ ...

  6. Sep 17

    What is your reaction trying to protect? /// FOLLOW

    Episode 018: What is your reaction trying to protect? Why do we sometimes react in ways that feel completely out of proportion to what just happened? A comment, a conflict, a change of plans—even getting cut off in traffic—can suddenly stir something much deeper. And before we know it, we’re angry, shutting down, spending money, escaping, or reaching for whatever helps us feel better fast. In this episode of the FOLLOW podcast, Eric Parks and Steve Carter begin a deeper conversation around Steve’s book *The Thing Beneath the Thing* and the connection between emotional health and spiritual formation. Using the image of potholes and sinkholes, they explore what can happen when old wounds go unaddressed, why our brains develop “firefighter” responses to protect us, and how our favorite hideouts can become socially acceptable ways of avoiding what hurts. Together, they unpack: Why a trigger may be pointing toward something deeper than the moment itselfHow our reactions and coping mechanisms can reveal wounds we’ve learned to protectWhy healing begins with awareness, safety, vulnerability, and inviting God into the thing beneath the thing Maybe the goal isn’t simply to become better at controlling our reactions. Maybe the invitation is to become curious about what those reactions are protecting—and allow God to meet us there. Because becoming holy might have more to do with becoming whole than we ever realized. Show Links: The Thing Beneath the Thing by Steve Carter https://www.amazon.com/dp/0785235590 No Bad Parts by Richard C. Schwartz https://www.amazon.com/dp/1683646681 The Welcoming Prayer — Contemplative Outreach https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/welcoming-prayer-method/ The Me I Want to Be by John Ortberg https://www.amazon.com/dp/031034056X Meet your hosts, Eric Parks and Steve Carter Eric Parks Eric is an Executive Pastor at Plum Creek Church in Castle Rock, Colorado, who cares deeply about helping people rehearse the way of Jesus in everyday life—and holds firm as a Denver Broncos fan, no matter how often Steve brings up the Bears. Steve Carter Steve is the Lead Pastor at Christ Church in Oak Brook, Illinois, offering a thoughtful and honest voice to the deeper work of formation and calling—and remains a devoted Chicago Bears fan, even with Eric representing Broncos country. Explore all of FOLLOW We’re all following something—habits, expectations, ambition—but Jesus offers a different way. A way marked by love, presence, trust, and a life that actually leads somewhere good. Not perfectly, but increasingly, we begin to shape our lives around his. We believe that if Jesus is right—about God, about life, about the soul—then is only makes sense to rearrange your life around what he says is true. Follow isn’t a program to complete or a path to master, but a way of life centered on Jesus. A way of living that takes shape over time through a steady rearrangement of our lives—our priorities, our rhythms, and the things we trust most. Links FOLLOW: https://followtheway.church/ ...

  7. Sep 10

    What do you need to unlearn about Jesus? /// FOLLOW with Tommy Nixon

    Episode 017: What do you need to unlearn about Jesus? Following Jesus can get complicated—especially when what Jesus actually said starts challenging what we’ve always believed about him. In this episode of the FOLLOW podcast, Eric Parks and Steve Carter are joined by Tommy Nixon, CEO of Urban Youth Workers Institute and author of Embracing the Tension, for a conversation about what it means to follow Jesus in a complex world. Together, they explore why spiritual formation requires more than gathering information or having powerful experiences with God. It requires wrestling—with Scripture, with our assumptions, with our hypocrisy, with other people, and sometimes with God himself. They also talk about: Why people who have been around church the longest can sometimes have the hardest time seeing Jesus clearlyWhy discipleship involves learning, relearning, and unlearningHow tension, honesty, and self-reflection can become pathways toward healing and wholeness Following Jesus isn’t about arriving at certainty or avoiding tension. It’s about continuing to let Jesus reshape what we believe, how we see other people, and the way we actually live. Because sometimes the place we most want to escape is exactly where God wants to form us. Show Links:  Embrace the Tension: Choosing the Radical Middle Instead of Picking a Side — Tommy Nixon Tommy’s new book and the central resource behind the conversation. Embrace the Tension — Official Book Site Tommy Nixon Learn more about Tommy, his work, speaking, podcasts, and resources. Tommy Nixon — Official Website Urban Youth Workers Institute (UYWI) Tommy serves as CEO of UYWI, which equips and develops urban ministry leaders. Urban Youth Workers Institute The Radical Middle Podcast Tommy’s podcast exploring faith, leadership, justice, complexity, and what it means to live in the “radical middle.” The Radical Middle Podcast Meet your hosts, Eric Parks and Steve Carter Eric Parks Eric is an Executive Pastor at Plum Creek Church in Castle Rock, Colorado, who cares deeply about helping people rehearse the way of Jesus in everyday life—and holds firm as a Denver Broncos fan, no matter how often Steve brings up the Bears. Steve Carter Steve is the Lead Pastor at Christ Church in Oak Brook, Illinois, offering a thoughtful and honest voice to the deeper work of formation and calling—and remains a devoted Chicago Bears fan, even with Eric representing Broncos country. Explore all of FOLLOW We’re all following something—habits, expectations, ambition—but Jesus offers a different way. A way marked by love, presence, trust, and a life that actually leads somewhere good. Not perfectly, but increasingly, we begin to shape our lives around his. We believe that if Jesus is right—about God, about life, about the soul—then is only makes sense to rearrange your life around what he says is true. Follow isn’t a program to complete or a path to master, but a way of life centered on Jesus. A way of living that takes shape over time through a steady rearrangement of our lives—our priorities, our rhythms, and the things we trust most. Links FOLLOW: https://followtheway.church/ ...

  8. Sep 3

    What happens when the mask stops working? /// FOLLOW with Dr. Harvey Powers

    Episode 016: What happens when the mask stops working? What if some of the hardest moments in our lives aren’t interruptions to transformation—but the very places where transformation begins? In this episode of the FOLLOW podcast, Eric Parks and Steve Carter sit down with Dr. Harvey Powers for a conversation about what actually changes a person at the deepest level. Harvey has spent decades exploring the intersection of spiritual formation, psychology, leadership, and the transformational process. Together, they unpack why knowing the right things and doing the right things can only take us so far—and why real transformation often involves something much deeper. Harvey offers a different way of looking at the moments when life feels like it’s coming apart: not by minimizing the pain or pretending everything happens for a reason, but by asking what God might be forming in us through it. Because sometimes the thing we most want to escape may be the very place where something new is beginning. Meet your hosts, Eric Parks and Steve Carter Eric Parks Eric is an Executive Pastor at Plum Creek Church in Castle Rock, Colorado, who cares deeply about helping people rehearse the way of Jesus in everyday life—and holds firm as a Denver Broncos fan, no matter how often Steve brings up the Bears. Steve Carter Steve is the Lead Pastor at Christ Church in Oak Brook, Illinois, offering a thoughtful and honest voice to the deeper work of formation and calling—and remains a devoted Chicago Bears fan, even with Eric representing Broncos country. Explore all of FOLLOW We’re all following something—habits, expectations, ambition—but Jesus offers a different way. A way marked by love, presence, trust, and a life that actually leads somewhere good. Not perfectly, but increasingly, we begin to shape our lives around his. We believe that if Jesus is right—about God, about life, about the soul—then is only makes sense to rearrange your life around what he says is true. Follow isn’t a program to complete or a path to master, but a way of life centered on Jesus. A way of living that takes shape over time through a steady rearrangement of our lives—our priorities, our rhythms, and the things we trust most. Links FOLLOW: https://followtheway.church/ ...

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

What does rearrangement sound like? The FOLLOW podcast offers steady companionship in the long, quiet work of discipleship, creating space for honest, unhurried conversation where faith moves from the margins to the center of everyday rhythms and relationships. Spiritual formation is approached as life architecture—through the intentional rearrangement of all of life around the way of Jesus—so that belief becomes embodied, practiced, and lived. This is what rearrangement sounds like: honest voices and steady steps—following Jesus fully. Meet your hosts, Eric Parks and Steve Carter Eric Parks  Eric is an Executive Pastor at Plum Creek Church in Castle Rock, Colorado, who cares deeply about helping people rehearse the way of Jesus in everyday life—and holds firm as a Denver Broncos fan, no matter how often Steve brings up the Bears. Steve Carter  Steve is the Lead Pastor at Christ Church in Oak Brook, Illinois, offering a thoughtful and honest voice to the deeper work of formation and calling—and remains a devoted Chicago Bears fan, even with Eric representing Broncos country. Explore all of FOLLOW We’re all following something—habits, expectations, ambition—but Jesus offers a different way. A way marked by love, presence, trust, and a life that actually leads somewhere good. Not perfectly, but increasingly, we begin to shape our lives around his. We believe that if Jesus is right—about God, about life, about the soul—then is only makes sense to rearrange your life around what he says is true. Follow isn’t a program to complete or a path to master, but a way of life centered on Jesus. A way of living that takes shape over time through a steady rearrangement of our lives—our priorities, our rhythms, and the things we trust most.

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