Finish Last

Being the Positive Change with special guest Rick Ornelas

Being negative comes easy as a human.  Whether it be the cost of gas or a bad at work, we tend to dwell on that and it can cause to bring others down without us even knowing it.  However, it is that what Jesus wants us to do?  Are there ways to find the positive in a world full of negativity? Well our guest today believes there is!  Our guest, Rick Ornellas is the creator of "I Spark Change", which is an organization focused on highlighting people who create positive changes in the world.  ...

”Deeply Defined” with special guest Janey Pitts

School has taught us a lot, but maybe one thing it has taught us poorly is to define words quickly for an exam and then forget about them after the test.  I feel as if we read the Bible the same way.  We look at what Jesus taught and try to get a quick definition so we don't have to think or worry about what the deeper meaning may be.  However, what if we did go deeper?  What if going deeper meant that we could obtain closer connection to God and how He wants us to live our lives? Today, we...

Dreaming Bravely with the Father with special guest Kate Berkey

Often, we think being a missionary means you have called overseas to another land, but what if God has called you to serve him at home?  Well our next guest does exactly that! In our conversation, Kate shares her journey of faith and how using courage and bravery are a big part of her journey. Kate also shares how to get out of your comfort zone more frequently in your every day life in order to grow your faith.  In our challenge, be encouraged by the promise Psalm 27:14 holds and how it ...

Christians and Robots with special guest Joshua Smith

Most often when we think of robots we think of sci-fi movies, comic books, or video games.  Something trying to take over the world or something that is larger than life.  However, robots are becoming more common in our times and are a reality.  As Christians, we don't often think of that but what should we think about robots and A.I.?  Is it something we should concern ourselves with and how should we as Christians deal with robots and A.I.?   Our guest, Joshua Smith, actually has a lot to...

”When Wishes Change” with special guest Tricia Roos

We all have plans of how life should go.  We also have wishes and dreams that fit what we think leads to a perfect life.  However, what if something happened that forced you to change those wishes?  Would you be okay or would you be angry with God? Join us as our guest, Tricia Roos, shares her amazing journey of faith and how God used something the world would think would be terrible and turned it something so good!  Be Challenged by Romans 8:28 and realized that in all things God works it ...

How to lead in your community with special guest Dea Irby

Do you feel as if you cannot be a leader for God in your community?  Does it seems overwhelming or do you feel like it's not for you?  Well our guest might have something to say about that.  Our guest, Dea Irby, considers herself a connector, communicator and cultivator! She shares her amazing story of owning her own tea shop and have that helped cultivate an amazing community.  She also shares moving all over the USA and what her source of strength was to get through that!  Lastly, she sha...

Following God’s Will in Your Life with special guest Mike Moffitt

Following God's will is easier said than the done.  The world often puts ideas in our head that our way is better than God's way, but what if ignored what we wanted and focused on what God wanted.  Would our life change that much and would we even like that?   Well our guest is living proof that following God's will is not only possible but is worth it!  Our guest, Mike Moffitt shares his journey of faith and how God led him to be a pastor when he thought he was going to be an actor. Join ...

The Power of Prayer with special guest Veronica Sutherland

Prayer is essential to our daily walk with Christ, but do you feel stuck in your prayer life?  How do we unlock the true power of prayer and not go through the motions in our prayer life?  Well, our guest shows the way how we can truly unlock the power of prayer to discover a deeper relationship with Jesus! Veronica V. Sutherland, is passionate about serving God through service to others. She has helped Christians transform from a feeling of defeat, disconnect and spiritual lack to a lifest...

”Is the Bible Historically Reliable?” with special guest JC Schroeder

The Bible is a book that is over 2000 years old and is what we Christians rely on in order to follow Jesus.  However, how do we know that the Bible hasn't been corrupted over the years?  Has it been changed to fit an agenda?  Can we truly confirm that the Bible is historically accurate?  We answer those questions in our discussion with JC Schroeder! JC Schroeder is an Instructor at The Ezekiel Project School of Evangelism, a discipleship and ministry training ministry in the metro Detroit, ...

Staying on the Narrow Path with special guest Scott LaPierre

We know as Christians, that we need to avoid the broad and wide path and stay on the narrow path to stay aligned with the way of Jesus.  However, the world makes that hard and it makes it so easy to follow the broad path as it seems better at first.  How do we stay focused on the narrow path even when the world tries to pull us off of it? Join us with our conversation with Pastor Scott LaPierre.  Scott shares his personal journey of faith and how God led him to be a pastor.  In addition, Sc...

A ”ReNewed” You with special guest Elizabeth Louis Creecy

Mental and Emotional Disease can affect anyone at anytime. What happens if it affects us or someone we love? How do we defeat mental health matters though from a spiritual and not worldly perspective?   Our guest, Elizabeth Louis Creecy, is the creator of Renew Ministries that specializes in helping you learn the spiritual components of mental health issues, emotional wellness, and how to create a deep and meaningful relationship with Christ! Elizabeth shares also why it is important to re...

How to be ”Youier” with special guest El Edwards

Learn how to be Youier on this week's episode with special guest El Edwards!  Get motivated by the passion El has for you to be connected and desire a close relationship with Jesus Christ!    Be encouraged by not living "normal" and instead rely on the love of Jesus to become truly happy!  El Edwards is an irrepressible silver-lining spotter with a compulsion to say the stuff most other people only say in their heads. She is your cheerleader & image bearer, helping you see who God created y...

”Not So By Myself” with guest Peyton Garland

Peyton Garland is a writer, wanna-be rapper, and coffee shop hopper who loves connecting people to a grace much bigger than expected. Her debut book, Not So by Myself, was promoted by Former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino and endorsed by TED Talk speaker and creator of the More Love Letters movement, Hannah Brencher. We will discuss about her book, "Not So By Myself" and how God helped her out of her loneliness. Also, learn about the different types of OCD and how Peyton manages on...

How to Overcome Hardship with special guest Kelli Calabrese

Kelli Calabrese is 34 year wellness coach, speaker, best selling author and entrepreneur.  With 3 science degrees and 27 certifications she is an expert on all wellness topics including fitness, weight loss, energy, youthful aging and sleep.  She is also a mindset pro focusing on renewing your thoughts, setting boundaries, visualizing, meditating and goal setting. Please be encouraged as Kelli shares here journey of faith and how God led her to become a divorce coach.  She also goes through...

Keeping the Faith

Finishing the Race

In the 2nd part of our mini-series on 2 Timothy 4:7, we will discuss what it means to finish the race God has for us.  This also relates to Acts 20:24 and how Paul found his life worth nothing unless he could complete the task of the race of sharing the grace of God!   See how this can relate to a person studying in college and how sacrificing some things in your life can help you find God's plan for your life! Our challenge focuses on trying to find the things in our life that are prevent...

Why fight the good fight?

We often hear the phrase "Fight the good fight", but what does it mean?   Today we focus on a mini-series on 2 Timothy 4:7 and find out why we should fight the good fight!   Thank you and God bless!

The Process of God’s Promises

Life can be difficult, but I have learned that life is all about process.  It's about being consistent as well as focusing on what is important. Today, Dan shares on why the word for the year he will focus on is "Process".   We will compare the process of things in life and how it help us grow closer to Jesus.  For our challenge, please focus on the promises of God to help you through the process of life. Let's have an amazing 2022! Please share and leave a review so that others may kno...

The Beatitudes part 8: Looking forward to being Persecuted

No one likes to be made fun of especially in these modern times, but what if that is what Jesus wants us to go through to bring others closer to him.  Today, we look at the final verse of the beatitudes and see how we can apply them to our lives!  If you need encouragement, please reach out to me in any matter discussed at the end of this episode!

The Beatitudes part 7: Keeping the peace

Today, we focus on ways to be a true peacekeeper in our modern world and how we can achieve this despite what the world may tell us!

The Beatitudes part 6: How to see God

Matthew 5:8 is clear in that to see God we need to be pure in heart.  We will explore ways for that to be possible and how we can see God in things that we never thought possible!  Be encouraged by the fact that we have the blueprint to do this and all we need to do is focus on the things of God!

The Beatitudes part 5: Being one of the merciful

Today, we focus on ways to show others mercy.  Most people think it needs to be extravagant, but sometimes the best ways to show Mercy and glorify God is in the small ways!  Be encouraged to be merciful and experience the greatest life that God has for you!

Update from my Hiatus!

A quick update of the delay of episodes as well as a new podcast being started with some friends in the podcast community!

The Beatitudes pt.4: Truly Going After Righteousness

Matthew 5:6 shows us how to be truly satisfied, but we truly thirst and hunger after righteousness?  I know I have fallen short of that or just do the bare minimum to do what God wants me to do.  So what can we do to fix that? Today, we focus on ways to strive after the mindset of being "all in" in going after righteousness!  Please be inspired and remember to keep your eyes on Jesus!

The Beatitudes pt. 3: The Spirit of Being Meek

The word meek is often seen as a weak trait yet we see it in Matthew 5 as one of the beatitudes in the sermon on the mount.  We dive into the trait of being meek and how being meek can actually grow your faith in Christ!

The Beatitudes pt. 2: The need to mourn over the right things

Do we mourn over the right things?  Do we mourn over things that are finite or things that last for eternity?  We dive into Matthew 5:4 and see what that verse entails for our journey of faith.    For our challenge, we focus on looking at our lives and what we should mourn over to get closer to Jesus in our faith!

The Beatitudes pt. 1: Our Desperate need for Jesus

The sermon on the mount has been known as on of the most influential sermons of all time, but have you really dove into what Jesus was trying to preach to us.  Today, we focus on Matthew 5:4 and go through what it means to be "poor in spirit".  Afterwards, we focus in how to challenge us to give ourselves to God no matter what circumstance we may be in.   Article from the show: https://irememberthepoor.org/3-2/

s2ep5: Accepting Christ at Your Lowest with special guest Erik Allen

We are dealt different cards when we are born.  Some are born well off with others growing up in bad situations.  What is great is that Christ can find you no matter if you are at your highest or at your lowest.  Our guest today (Erik Allen) describes has amazing story of how Jesus found Him and how he accepted Christ into his life!   For our challenge, we focus on Romans 12:6-8 and how we all have a purpose for God in our journey if we give  control to Jesus!

S2ep4: "Engaging. Challenging. Practical." with special guest Ryan Sweat

In order to glean anything from the Bible, we can't just read it, but we have to act on it.  Our episode title is a very important motto to our guest, Ryan Sweat.  Listen to why we need to go through being engaging, challenging, and practical in order to grow our faith.  In addition, learn how Ryan applies this to his passion of helping young adults and teens grow in their faith in Jesus.  For our challenge, we focus on John 15:12-13 as well as 1 Cor. 13 and how these verses can show us how...

The Power of the Christian Fiction Genre with special guest Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

Many people believe that the Bible can only be used in a non-fiction manner to lead others to Christ.  However, what if we could write amazing stories with the Bible as a foundation to lead others to Jesus!  Well, our guest today has accomplished that!  Kristen Hogrefe Parnell is an award author who has written fiction in order to bring others towards the truth of Jesus!  Be inspired at her journey and learn about how the Rogues Trilogy can be relevant to our modern times. For our challenge...

S2ep3: The Power of the Christian Fiction Genre with special guest Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

Many people believe that the Bible can only be used in a non-fiction manner to lead others to Christ.  However, what if we could write amazing stories with the Bible as a foundation to lead others to Jesus!  Well, our guest today has accomplished that!  Kristen Hogrefe Parnell is an award author who has written fiction in order to bring others towards the truth of Jesus!  Be inspired at her journey and learn about how the Rogues Trilogy can be relevant to our modern times. For our challenge...

S2ep2: "Finding my Story in their Stories" with special guest David Waddell

Join us as we bring special guest David Waddell on the show to discuss how beneficial it is to find your story in the stories of the Bible.  Be amazed at how David finds ways to intermingle sports and Christ to help people grow in their faith.  In our challenge, we find out why finding your story and comparing that to a story in the Bible will grow your faith in leaps and bounds!   

S2ep1: The Persistent Widow with Dr. Marcia Ledford

Welcome to season two of Finish Last!  This week we talk to Dr. Marcia Ledford.  Listen as we discuss how she incorporates being an episcopal priest and a civil rights attorney.  Be challenged by the parable of the Persistent Widow from Luke 18 and how that story is relevant today!  God bless you my friends!

Finish Last Rant 1: "Biblical Correctness"

We often hear of the phrase "political correctness" and how it can create a divide among people.  In Christianity, there is a term that creates that same division called "Biblical Correctness" or people that use the Bible against others for the wrong reasons.  I share in my life what has happened recently with the above term and how we need to find ways to create conversations and not generate divides. 

Ways to Personally Grow in Community

Finding a community of faith that works for you can be frustrating.  There are many factors that can cause it to be easy or very hard.  Today, we focus on what we can control to be an intricate part in a community of faith!  Our foundation is 1 Peter 4:7-11 on what we should target to help foster that community.  I also will share my personal experiences with community and what I found to work and not work.  

50th Episode Retrospective

We made it to episode 50!  So thankful for each and every one of you that has supported the show!  In this retrospective, I will focus on the pros and cons that podcasting has brought to my life as well as discuss the future of Finish Last!

The Heart of the Underdog

There have been times in my life where being an underdog is hard but has had many rewards!  Today we focus on David and his underdog story vs Goliath and how it relates to our modern world. In our challenge, the focus will be on how we can be diligent, prepared, and confident in Christ to grow in our faith and reach others for Christ on our journey!

Who are you named after?

Have you ever thought who you were named after and how that could give you insight on how to live your life?  Today, our focus will be on why being named after the Daniel in the Bible is so important to me and is an amazing standard to live up to.  Be challenged by the journey of faith that Daniel lived and how we can apply that journey to our lives today!

The Art of Discipleship with special guest Cris Rogers

Discipleship is a process where we learn to grow closer in Christ, but have we thought how God can use us to disciple others?  Please join our conversation with special guest, Cris Rogers.  Cris, a church leader in England shares his experiences as well as how he believes that discipleship is essential to our Christian walk!  Be encouraged and be blessed!

The Importance of the Process of Renewal with special guest Tyler Green

As Christians, it is very easy to fall into the trap that we can be unaffected by sin.  In reality, though we constantly need to be in a state of mind of renewal in Christ not only to grow in Christ, but to walk that straight and narrow path!  Join us as our special guest, Tyler Green, shares his story of the importance of having that renewal mindset and how it has helped him overcome many things in his journey!  In addition, we will learn about Tyler and his passion of helping people get ou...

Prayers for Texas: The Power of Prayer

A special episode where we focus on the power of prayer and how God can use your prayers to strengthen others no matter where they are on their journey of faith.  Come and be a part of the prayers we are sending to Texas!   Special guest appearances by: Sherry Jones of the We Are the Church with Sherry Jones Podcast Kim Lengling of the Let Fear Bounce Podcast   Take care and God bless!

Investing Your Money Biblically with special guest Jared Williams

Investing money into things is something that we have all considered, but have you ever wondered where that money is put to use.  What if it is to something that we don't agree with or is morally wrong.  Well in today's discussion we bring Jared Williams to go over that topic!  Jared, host of the Biblical Wealth Podcast, goes into detail into how we can invest Biblically and how we can be good stewards of our money.    Jared also is giving you a free e-book for listening to this podcast!  ...

Trusting in God to Carry You "Beyond the Rut" with special guest Jerry Dugan

Have you ever had that moment where you felt lost and reached out to God for help?  If you ever have, how did you respond when God answered.  In today's conversation, please be encouraged by the story of Jerry Dugan.  Jerry, host of "Beyond the Rut" podcast, shares his journey of faith and how God is still a huge part of his life today.  Our challenge will focus on Galatians 2:20 in which if let ourselves "Crucify with Christ" we can let Christ live within us!  

Getting out of Spiritual Neutral with special guest Brian Steele

When I was younger, I always heard the term in church, "Stuck in Neutral."  In other words, not feeling like your faith in God was progressing.  I always wondered how to get out that spiritual rut and so did today's guest, Brain Steele.  Brian, author of "The Kingdom Field Guide" explains what it is like to live daily for Jesus and to get out of that spiritual rut.  In our challenge, Brian motivates us to take The Parable of the Hidden Treasure to heart and apply that mindset to our life to ...

Finding Your Samaria with special guest Randy Schmor

Acts 1:8 states that will be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth.  In the Bible, Samaria was the place that the Jews despised yet the Bible wanted Christians to minister to them.  It is a reminder that Jesus is not just for us, but for all people.     Today, we welcome Randy Schmor on the show.  Randy, Gateway Director of the North American Bible Conference, shares his stories of how God has used him to create relationships and communities of faith overseas....

Searching for the Real Truth with special guest Chris Staron

Have you ever wondered if what you actually believe is really true?  Do you ask yourself the tough questions that might make you question your faith in Jesus?  On today's episode, we have Chris Staron, who shares his journey of asking those tough questions.  Chris, the host of the Truce Podcast,  challenges us that not only should we ask those tough questions, but we need to in order to grow in our faith!   Then stick around for our challenge, where we focus on the promise God has for us in...

Overcoming your Battles with special guest Elizabeth Meyers

We all have our own battles to overcome, but are we doing it the right way.   Are we using our own power or trusting in God to help us overcome that battle?  Please join as we talk with Elizabeth Meyers.  Elizabeth shares her story of overcoming depression and how she fights battles the right way with God as her guide!  Elizabeth is also the author of "Undefeated: From Trial to Triumph" and discusses how this book can help change your mindset to overcome the negativity in your life with help...

2020 from a Different Perspective

2020 was a crazy year, yet God had many lessons for me that I can apply to this upcoming year!  Please join me for a recap of 2020 and  how we can learn that God can make His glory shown in any situation if we let Him!  God bless and Happy New Year!

The Lessons of "A Christmas Carol" (1500 download special)

Most of us have seen a play or a movie rendition of "A Christmas Carol", but have we ever looked at the play from a Christian perspective.  In today's episode, we focus on the lessons that we can apply to our journey with Christ and how we can be transformed through Jesus!     Merry Christmas to all of you!

Dissecting the Gift of the Magi

Most people know that the Magi gave Jesus gold, frankincense, and myrhh, but have you ever thought why?  Was there any significance in those gifts?   In today's episode, we focus on how gifts can have significance and how we can apply that concept to our gift giving and gift receiving even in today's world!  May God bless you all and Merry Christmas!