Faith, Work & Rest

Teena Dare

Now headed into its fifth season, The Faith, Work & Rest Podcast highlights stories of ordinary people of faith doing ordinary work for the glory of God and good of their communities.

  1. Jim Mullins- The Goodness of Curveballs and Clean Kitchens

    09/30/2025

    Jim Mullins- The Goodness of Curveballs and Clean Kitchens

    In this special episode, co-hosts Teena and Jim kick off the new season with a unique twist: instead of interviewing a guest, they dive into a reflective exercise designed to help them—and listeners—learn to delight in the often-overlooked aspects of life. Drawing from Jim’s creative practice, they each choose something they typically resist or undervalue (for Teena, restoring order at home; for Jim, baseball) and walk through a six-step process to cultivate appreciation and gratitude. The conversation is rich with personal stories, honest struggles, and thoughtful insights about attention, creativity, and the hidden gifts in everyday routines. Along the way, Teena and Jim explore how their perspectives have been shaped by past experiences, how they see echoes of the divine in mundane tasks, and how embracing new disciplines can lead to deeper joy and connection. Watch this episode on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U19mMC9jwE&t=36s Here is the exercise for you to try out! Let us know what you choose and how it goes. Learning to Delight in God’s World (Especially the Overlooked Parts) There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world, that is not intended to make us rejoice. - John Calvin There are many aspects of God’s world that we often overlook or even resist delighting in. But with intentionality and attentiveness, we can cultivate a deep appreciation and gratitude toward God, even for the things we typically ignore or don’t typically value. Here are six practices to help you cultivate delight in God’s gifts and see the overlooked goodness in God’s world: 1. See it through the eyes of someone who loves it. Borrow someone else’s affection for and let their appreciation awaken your own curiosity. 2. Learn its context. Explore its history, purpose, or ecosystem. Understanding often unlocks awe. 3. Truly experience it. Don’t just observe it from afar. Step into it. Try it. Engage your senses. 4. Prayerfully Contemplate. Pay attention to the intricacies of it, who is impacted by it, and hidden brilliance within your things. Let that detail lead you into worship and thanksgiving. 5. Examine your story about it. What’s your personal narrative around this thing? Identify the ways your personal narratives prevent you from seeing the hidden goodness. Even if there are some truly broken aspects of your “thing,” God’s grace is always at work and there are likely stories of people who are resisting that evil. Or it’s merely a good aspect of God’s world that has been twisted and is not being used the way God wants it. 6. Look for the echoes of God. What does this thing reflect about God? Where is His beauty, order, or creativity, or providence hidden inside?

    55 min
  2. We Belong to a Family: Gary Freeman

    05/27/2025

    We Belong to a Family: Gary Freeman

    Gary is a believer, husband, father, and the founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization Major League Dad. Gary has worked with fathers and families in many capacities for almost two decades. His story with his father has helped build and support the fathers he serves through Major League Dad. His focus is on fathers in low-socioeconomic areas to strengthen the family unit and propel those fathers to lead in the home and community. Website: https://www.majorleaguedad.org/ Watch this conversation on our youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvM2tIUtv0o Learn more about the Surge Network: https://www.surgenetwork.com/ Discover the work of the Global Faith and Work Initiative: https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/ Episode Summary: In this conversation, Gary Freeman wades into deep waters, starting with an honest reflection on the terrifying reality of becoming a father. Teena and Gary continue into greater depths as they navigate conversations around what is truly required to champion the fullness of life for families- with special attention to fathers on the margins of society. This conversation does not shy away from tensions, but leans into the gray spaces that our polarized conversations often refuse to touch. This episode is an invitation for us all to consider what belonging to the family of God means for how we can create and embrace belonging- through our everyday work and rest- for those often left out of the conversation. 00:00 Introduction to the Series 02:10 Brokenness and Redemption in Becoming a Father 07:24 The Beautiful Gift and Terrifying Responsibility of Children 12:58 Major League Dads 18:33 Supporting Men to Become Phenomenal Fathers 24:21 How Jesus Supported the Twelve 27:25 Growth in Ministry 32:41 From Local Pregnancy Centers to a National Organization 41:16 How Distance Breeds Self-Righteousness 46:09 How Different Industries Can Connect to This Topic 55:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    56 min
5
out of 5
64 Ratings

About

Now headed into its fifth season, The Faith, Work & Rest Podcast highlights stories of ordinary people of faith doing ordinary work for the glory of God and good of their communities.