An Almost Perfect Podcast

What happens when keeping a church building open becomes harder than carrying out the ministry it was built to support? This week, Tom and John discuss a CNN article about church closures and ask what lies beneath the headlines. Buildings hold memories of weddings, baptisms, friendships, and encounters with God. They also house food pantries, community gatherings, and places of welcome. Losing them matters. But so does asking what we’re trying to preserve, and why. E183

What are we really saying when we tell someone to “let go and let God”? John and Tom talk about control, worry, Jesus’ invitation to lose our lives, and why learning to pay attention may change what we see. E182

In this episode, John and Tom have an honest, and occasionally uncomfortable, conversation about money, generosity, tithing, and the language churches use when they talk about giving. Why does money make congregations nervous? Is generosity possible when finances are tight? Should every tithe go to the local church? And has the church done enough to earn people’s financial trust? E181

We say young people are important to the church. But do we trust them? Do we listen to them? And are we willing to let their voices change something? Bonnie Bevers joins John for a conversation about listening to young people, creating ministry with them rather than only for them, and giving them a real voice in the life of the church. They discuss safe spaces, honest questions, intergenerational relationships, adult control, and the dreams young people carry that the church may not yet have language to understand. E180

John and Tom talk about the spiritual practices that have shaped their lives—from prayer, Scripture, journaling, worship, silence, and community to the routines that don't always feel particularly spiritual in the moment. Sometimes, spiritual disciplines are inspiring. Sometimes they're a grind. Plus: CDs are apparently cool again, the perfect hang is exactly ?? minutes, and John may or may not have a 1,200-CD problem. E178

Young people are becoming less happy—and the trend isn't limited to the United States. Research suggests that community, relationships, spiritual practice, meaning, and purpose can all contribute to human flourishing. That sounds like good news for the church. But there's a catch: people aren't necessarily coming through our doors looking for it. E179

What does it mean when we say, “The church was there for me”? Too often, we mean the pastor called, the pastor visited, or the pastor prayed. But what about the church member who brings a meal? The person who mows your lawn? The people who make a prayer shawl, pick up your groceries, help you move, sit beside you, or simply pray with the words they have? John, Tom, and returning guest Lizzie talk about the difference between pastoral care and congregational care, and whether churches have made pastors so central to ministry that we've forgotten the gifts God has given everyone else. E177

What if some of the things pastors do to help their churches are actually hurting them?This week, John, Tom Lizzie, and Todd talk about pastors doing too much, trying to be the expert, hiding behind a “pastor” persona, playing it safe in the pulpit, and unintentionally teaching congregations to depend on them. It's a candid conversation about what pastors get wrong and what healthier ministry could look like. E176

Does God have a specific plan for every detail of your life? The person you marry, the job you take, the house you buy, and every decision along the way? And if so…what happens when you make the wrong choice? Tom and John wrestle with what we really mean when we talk about “God’s plan.” Plus, we celebrate 175 episodes of whatever it is we've been doing here. E175

Starting over is exciting... until you realize you don't know where anything is. This week, we talk about transitions, ministry, friendship, and why the mission never changes even when everything else does. E173

Why do so many people say church is boring? Maybe it's the same reason soccer seems boring to someone who's never really played, cheered, or understood the game.Whether we're talking about sports, worship, communion, or Christian community, everything changes when we understand what we're actually experiencing. If you've ever wondered why church feels meaningful to some people but empty to others, this conversation is for you.E174

What is the difference between learning about faith and actually living it? This week, Tom and John discuss "practical divinity." Whether you've been to seminary, Sunday school, or neither, this episode is about turning faith from information into transformation.

What do salamanders, church growth conferences, and small-town congregations have in common? More than you'd think. This conversation starts with the challenges facing small churches and ends with a fascinating discussion about scientists helping mammals regenerate tissue. Along the way, we ask whether churches spend too much time focusing on what they've lost and not enough time recognizing the gifts they already possess. #171

This week, Tom and John talk about onboarding into new spaces of life and leadership, what it means to step into a church’s hopes and questions, and how presence matters more than pace. Along the way, we wander through weddings, retirement jokes, Amazon habits, and a growing awareness that life is happening right in front of us. How do we stay awake to our own lives? Not just physically, but spiritually, awake to people, to conversations, to creation, and to God in the ordinary. E170

Tom and John talk about pastoral transition, church identity, interim ministry, and what happens when a longtime pastor moves on. What parts of ministry truly last? What belongs to one leader, and what becomes part of the life of a church? It’s a thoughtful conversation about leadership, influence, community, and trusting God through change. E169

We talk a lot in church about “the journey.” Wade decided to actually take one. This week, we sit down with Jeana Martin—counselor, spiritual director, and pilgrimage guide—to talk about what happens when faith gets out of your head and into your body. Along the way, we talk about: – Why people go on pilgrimage – What walking does to your soul – The difference between talking about growth and actually living it – How trauma, faith, and the body are more connected than we think #E168

Why doesn’t anyone remember church announcements?In this episode, we sit down with Amanda Banda to talk about the real problem with church communication, and it’s not what you think. From bulletins to social media, we explore why information alone doesn’t stick, and how storytelling can completely change the way people engage with your church.We also talk about:+Why authenticity matters more than production quality+How to tell stories in everyday moments+What people actually remember (and why)E167

Hundreds of people showed up to a beach… just to dig holes...and then fill them back in. It sounds pointless. But what if it’s not? In this episode, we wrestle with why something so simple can feel so meaningful. Along the way, we ask some deeper questions: Are we too obsessed with productivity, even in the church? What if people don’t need better programs… just better connection? And why do we feel so alone… even when we’re surrounded by people? Because maybe the hole isn’t the point. Maybe the hunger underneath it is. E166

Jesus asked the question. We’re still living it. What do you do when your spirit is willing… but your body and soul are completely drained?

Millions of people are turning to AI for prayer, guidance, and even spiritual direction. But what does that mean for real faith?This week, we wrestle with a growing trend highlighted in a Relevant Magazine article: Christians using chatbots as spiritual companions. Because here’s the deeper issue: spiritual growth has always been formed in community, not isolation. And while a chatbot might respond instantly, it can’t bear your burdens, challenge your blind spots, or walk with you through real life.So what do we do with a technology that feels personal, helpful… and maybe a little too convincing?#164