Soul Talks With Bill & Kristi Gaultiere

“How are you?” Whatever our work, or even if we’re retired, often we answer, “Busy!” But CS Lewis taught, “Only lazy people are busy!” How can this be? The most effective and fruitful leadership is born out of rest, prayer, and discernment — it’s not just working hard, it’s working SMART!

God is always present loving us and inviting us to join the wonderful things he’s doing. C.S. Lewis calls this “Narnia.” But if we’re “checked out” emotionally we miss out. To help you experience the in-breaking of Christ and his Kingdom of the Heavens Bill tells the story of an alcoholic pastor he helped into recovery.

You’ll enjoy Bill and Kristi’s spiritual friendship as they share their experience of visiting C. S. Lewis’ home, “The Kilns” in Oxford, England. They share fascinating stories from this great Christian thinker. You’ll be inspired to have your own soul talk with a friend and to shine the light of Christ in your world.

The most important thing about our life, relationships, work, and ministry is having our heart warm with God’s love. Without this we become tired, discouraged, and see little fruit. Drawing on inspiration from John Wesley is a great way to get a heart-warming soul talk started!

What do you do when you feel discouraged, inadequate, guilty, or ashamed? We may deny our emotions or escape into compulsive behavior. St Francis shows us that following the footprints of Christ is the path of great joy. Like Francis, we do this through prayer and soul friendship.

Bill shares about his relationship with his dad: blessings he appreciates, wounds he’s forgiven, and his journey of emotional healing. He and Kristi also talk about Saint Francis’ father wound and how he overcame this to become a wounded healer in the service of Christ.

When we read about a great saint’s experiences with God it’s tempting to compare ourselves negatively. Feeling bad about yourself or overwhelmed, you may avoid a book that could really bless you. Here’s the help you need to stay out of shame and glean all the good that can come from a classic of Christian devotion.

There is so much profit in meditating on a Bible passage! But it’s a challenge for us to slow down and really open our hearts to God. Ignatius’ ancient approach of visualizing ourselves in a Gospel story helps us to actually experience and feel God’s grace — and then to live it out in our work and ministry.

Bill and Kristi had an emotionally upsetting conversation. Each was tempted to “cut off” and avoid working through the mess, but they stayed with it. God helped them put into practice the Bible’s teaching to “be patient, bearing with one another in love.” It’s raw. It’s real. It’s grace. It works. This is the last of 6 in the series “Repairing Torn Hearts & Relationships”

When we hurt the people we love it’s important to seek repair. Saying, “I’m sorry” is just a start. In real time Bill and Kristi process a conflict and demonstrate the power of empathy for emotional healing, reconciliation, and learning to amend problem behavior. This is the 5 of 6 in the series “Repairing Torn Hearts & Relationships”

When your spouse or another loved one hurts you hurt. Pastor’s wife Susan Baugh shares her story of feeling alone, confused, and afraid when her lead pastor husband was opposed by church leaders and lost his pulpit. Here’s how to “carry each other’s burdens” to make it through a dark valley to see the sunrise. This is the last of the 4-week series, “Repairing Torn Hearts and Relationships.”

“We couldn’t have made it through the church conflict, pain, and fear without our friends who supported us.” That’s what Pastor Ken and Susan Baugh share with Bill and Kristi as we continue our series on “Repairing Torn Hearts and Relationships.” Here’s what it looks like to heal, forgive, bless, and love those who hurt us in our church or family. This is the third of the 4-week series.

“Excuse me, Lord, why should I go the elders and apologize? They wronged me!” That’s how Ken Baugh felt after being terminated as lead pastor. But having receiving empathy and emotional healing, now he took ownership of his part of the leadership conflict, humbled himself, and said, “I want to listen and understand how I hurt you.” This is the second of a 4-week series on “Repairing Torn Hearts and Relationships.”

“I was burned out and didn’t even know it,” Ken Baugh says to Bill, reflecting on being a lead pastor. He shares his story of stress overload, church conflict, fear, shame, anger, and how God used this to call him into a new and deeper ministry of being a wounded healer to disciple people to Jesus. This is the first of a 4-week series on “Repairing Torn Hearts and Relationships.” Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

Joy! Joy! Joy! Christ is risen! This is history and it’s the great opportunity of each day to appreciate that the Spirit of Jesus is resurrected, alive in our midst. He’s unseen, but we can greatly benefit from his presence and power in whatever we do. Stations 15 in “Unforsaken: With Jesus on the Stations of the Cross”

Grace comes to nourish and empower us as we pray Jesus’ cross prayer of abandonment, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” It’s “letting go” and resting in God’s provision. We need this prayer each day and when we or a loved one die. We can hold Jesus in our heart — even as Mary cradles Jesus when he dies. Stations 13 and 14 in "Unforsaken: With Jesus on the Stations of the Cross"

It’s in times of pain and distress that we’re most likely to feel alone. Yet, that’s when we most need care and help! On the cross Jesus shows us how to trust God when we feel abandoned. He gives himself to us and connects us with a soul friend. Stations 11 and 12 in “Unforsaken: With Jesus on the Stations of the Cross”

We all fall down — physically or emotionally. Jesus fell under the weight of the cross and rose again. Looking to Jesus together, heart to heart, we can recover from discouragement, even depression and abuse. We can forgive. We can learn to love our enemies. Stations of the Cross 9 and 10 of "Unforsaken"

The two times we tend to feel depressed or ashamed are when we fall down and when we suffer loss. On his crosswalk Jesus helps us carry these burdens and shows us the better way of reaching up to take hold of God's hand of grace. Stations 7 and 8 in "Unforsaken"

In pain it’s tempting to isolate and feel sorry for ourselves, but on his crosswalk Jesus shows us the way into the graces of companionship and kindness. This week’s Scriptures and stories in the “Unforsaken” (Lent) journey are precious and powerful! Stations 5 and 6 of “Unforsaken”