POP GOD POPcast: Episode 13 – Mitch Schultz

February 3, 2014February 2, 2014 / Alex Doriot / Leave a comment

Welcome to Episode 13 of the POP GOD POPcast – an exploration into the lives of people seeking God in the present tense.

This week’s guest is Mitch Schultz. Mitch is a pastor who’s served for nearly 30 years with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. He’s also the author of the new novel The Whisper. The Whisper tells the story of a pastor caught up in a vicious church scandal who tries to run from God. Mitch talks about the creative journey behind the book and shares his incredible testimony as well. From being born to missionaries in Papua New Guinea to pastoring in England to facing down personal tragedy, Mitch has a truly unique story and he opens up about the way God uses our personal pain to bring us back to Him. Enjoy this deeper look inside the life of a pastor and author truly seeking God in the present tense.

Listen to the podcast here:

[audio http://adoriot.podbean.com/mf/web/zhch8s/Popcast13.m4a]

Or Subscribe and Download on iTunes Or Listen on Podbean

Pick up your copy of The Whisper on Amazon

Find out more about The Whisper and get updates from Mitch on Facebook

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, rate it, leave a comment, listen to all the other episodes, share it on Twitter and Facebook and anywhere else. I’d really appreciate it. Thanks.

I’m so excited to open up POP GOD and share more stories of people seeking God in the present tense. I’d love to hear your feedback. Leave me a comment and let me know how to improve things, what you’d like to hear discussed, and give me your ideas as to who you’d like to see on the next episode of the POPcast.

Why God Wants To Burst Your Bubble

November 19, 2013November 25, 2013 / Alex Doriot / 2 Comments

“They probably don’t even know they’re in captivity.”

My girlfriend and I were visiting the Georgia Aquarium a few weekends ago when we heard these words. We were standing in awe of the magnitude of the attraction, blown away by the wonders inside one of the largest aquariums in the world.

One guide was telling us about fish who have been born inside the aquarium. He said those words to us, and that the water is so big these fish don’t even realize they’re not in the ocean.

Of course they don’t. How could they? They’ve never experienced anything other than the aquarium. They don’t realize there’s a whole other world out there beyond the bubble they are in.

Do we? Do we realize there’s more to our life than the bubble we were born into? Continue reading →

POP GOD POPcast: Episode 9 – Enrique Romero

September 19, 2013October 16, 2013 / Alex Doriot / Leave a comment

Welcome to Episode 9 of the POP GOD POPcast – an exploration into the lives of people seeking God in the present tense.

This week’s guest is Enrique Romero. Enrique is the owner and creator of The Brown Bag Food Truck and Cafe. Enrique stepped out in faith 2 years ago by buying his first food truck and the journey has completely changed his life. We talk about how the food truck came to be, the transition into The Brown Bag Cafe, and the struggles and victories along the way. Plus Enrique shares the story behind The Brown Bag’s logo, gives some great relationship advice, and talks about the joy of serving God by serving others. Enjoy this look inside the life of a man truly seeking God in the present tense.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, rate it, leave a comment, listen to all the other episodes, share it on Twitter and Facebook and anywhere else. I’d really appreciate it. Thanks.

Listen Here:

Subscribe and download on iTunes

Listen on Podbean

POP GOD POPcast: Episode 7 – Rick McKee

August 27, 2013August 27, 2013 / Alex Doriot / Leave a comment

Welcome to Episode 7 of the POP GOD POPcast – an exploration into the lives of people seeking God in the present tense.

This week’s guest is Rick McKee. Rick is the political cartoonist at The Augusta Chronicle, one of the longest running newspapers in the south. Rick’s story is all about faith and perseverance in the pursuit of a dream. We talk about his journey from a 12-year-old drawing pictures in the back of a classroom to a cartoonist published in the Washington Post and USA Today. Plus we chat about the creative process of a daily political cartoon, the current state of the newspaper business, and some “insider” Augusta history. Enjoy this look at a creative avenue you’ve probably never learned about before.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, share it on Twitter and Facebook and anywhere else. I’d really appreciate it. Thanks. Enjoy.

Listen here:

[audio http://adoriot.podbean.com/mf/web/nqf93u/Popcast7.mp3]

Subscribe and download on iTunes.

Listen on Podbean.

POP GOD POPcast: Episode 6 – Greg DeLoach

July 23, 2013 / Alex Doriot / Leave a comment

Welcome to Episode 6 of the POP GOD POPcast – an exploration into the lives of people seeking God in the present tense.

This week’s guest is Greg DeLoach. Greg is the Pastor of First Baptist Church of Augusta, GA. Greg shares stories from his 8 years on the job at FBC Augusta as well as his journey into the ministry through dairy farms and balloon animals. We talk about the importance of interruptions as well as the equal importance of knowing when to say no. First Baptist Augusta is on the forefront of some big changes to their worship schedule and we chat about what it means for a traditional church to stay relevant. Plus Greg takes the Pop Quiz and much more! Enjoy this look behind the ministerial curtain and get to know one of Augusta’s leading pastors a little better.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, share it on Twitter and Facebook and anywhere else. I’d really appreciate it. Thanks. Enjoy.

Listen here:

[audio http://adoriot.podbean.com/mf/web/wq38xz/Popcast6.mp3]

It’s Going To Rain

July 11, 2013 / Alex Doriot / Leave a comment

It’s going to rain.

If you live in the southeast, especially Augusta, you know this by now. The sun may be shining down right now. It may seem like the perfect day for driving around with the windows down blaring the song of the summer and sipping a Caramel Crunch Frappuccino. But at some point today it is going to pour.

Every day for the past 3 weeks we’ve seen the rain come. Flash floods are happening. It’s raining cats and dogs.

It’s going to get worse though. In fact, all of the cats and dogs are going to be washed away in the water. That’s how bad it’s going to get. You don’t see it yet on the forecast, but the hardest rain is yet to fall.

You may think I’m crazy for forecasting this weather. I’m no meteorologist, that’s true. Neither was Noah. He was just a guy who heard the voice of God.

God told Noah to be prepared, for a storm was coming. A storm like the world had never seen before. God told Noah to build an ark to protect his family and the creatures roaming the earth.

People thought Noah was crazy, building an behemoth ship in broad daylight. But he had faith in God’s voice. He knew that the sun never shines forever.

Noah obeyed God’s instructions. He was prepared when the storm hit. He protected his family because of his faith. Together, along with the world’s first zoo and aquarium, Noah and his family rode out the storm because they listened to God’s voice.

God still speaks to us, if we will listen. He wants us to be prepared for the storms. Not with raincoats and umbrellas – with prayer and community.

When we pray, study His word, and fellowship with the church, we are preparing for the storms in life. We are building the arks that will carry us through the hard rains.

Even when life is full of sunshine, we must still guard ourselves in God. We must still prepare the ark. The rain will fall. Don’t let it catch you off guard.

Wear God’s word as your raincoat. Wear it even when there isn’t a cloud in the sky. It won’t stop the storm from happening. But when the world tries to drench you with rain, it will keep you from getting wet.

How can you stay prepared for the storms of life?

The Declaration Of Dependence

May 29, 2013July 9, 2015 / Alex Doriot / 1 Comment

Do you remember your first summer job?

Cashing that paycheck from a first job is a rite of passage for most teenagers. Whether it’s out of necessity to help support the family or just to earn a little extra spending money, securing a summer job is a gateway to the first taste of independence.

My first summer job came when I was 16 years old. I worked at a movie rental store (remember those?) called Video Warehouse. I wore a red polo shirt and khaki shorts to work four days a week that summer as I checked out the latest DVDs and videotapes (remember those?) to Augusta families.

I made minimum wage, and I didn’t mind. Adding any amount to my bank account was an exhilarating feeling.

My parents were always generous with granting me spending money when I didn’t have a job. But there was something different about being able to provide for myself.

I might have been taking home only a couple of hundred dollars each month, but to me the possibilities of earning my own paycheck were endless. With a little bit of money came a greater sense of independence.

The longing of every teenage heart is to be independent. After you’ve tasted a little freedom from your parents, it’s hard to forget how sweet it is.

The older you get, the more embarrassing it becomes to have to depend on someone else to provide the things you need. There’s a stigma of shame attached to not being able to provide for yourself.

Why, then, does God want us to depend on him so much? Continue reading →

POP GOD POPcast: Episode 1 – Clay Bagby

May 7, 2013 / Alex Doriot / 2 Comments

Welcome to the latest addition to POP GOD – the POP GOD POPcast. Throughout the next few weeks I’ll be interviewing different people in the Augusta community and beyond who are seeking God and sharing his message in unique ways.

This week’s guest is Clay Bagby, Young Life Augusta Area Director. Clay talks about growing up in Augusta and coming back to his home town and alma mater to lead Young Life. He shares one of the best pranks he ever committed, his views on pop culture’s effect on today’s teens, how he got involved with Young Life, and more. Plus Clay takes our first ever POP Quiz! You’ll really enjoy this look into one of Augusta’s leaders in youth ministry. It’s a great listen for anyone in Augusta or anyone not in Augusta who wants to hear a unique perspective on ministry.

I’m so excited to open up POP GOD into a new area and share with you other’s stories of seeking God in the present tense. I’d love to hear your feedback. Leave me a comment and let me know how to improve things, what you’d like to hear discussed, and give me your ideas as to who you’d like to see on the POPcast.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, share it on Twitter and Facebook and anywhere else. I’d really appreciate it. Thanks. Enjoy.

Listen here:

Listen and Subscribe on iTunes.

Or download here on Podbean.

What Do You Doubt?

April 18, 2013April 22, 2013 / Alex Doriot / Leave a comment

Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother. – Khalil Gibran, poet

What do you doubt about God? If you have any faith in God, you surely wrestle with doubt as well.

In a world where innocent Marathon runners and spectators become terrorist victims one day and innocent plant workers become victims of an explosion the next, doubt creeps in about a loving God.

What kind of God does this to His people? What hope is there in this world? What do we have to cling to?

The doubt in our heart is nothing new. The stains of doubt are never fully washed from our cup no matter how powerful our faith is. For as long as people have had faith they have wrestled against doubt.

Take Thomas for instance – the doubting disciple. For the past few weeks I’ve been rehearsing for a play called “Eight Days After”. The play is an exploration into the mysterious appearances of Jesus after His resurrection and how they affected the people He once knew. Continue reading →

The Trick To Ignoring The Masters

April 11, 2013April 15, 2013 / Alex Doriot / 2 Comments

The Augusta National Golf Tournament, better known as The Masters, begins today. My hometown of Augusta, GA has been overtaken by golf fans from across the world.

But there are some who don’t care about the Green Jacket at all. If you’re one of them, you know it will be hard to get away from Masters chatter. You won’t be able to ignore the coverage on ESPN and CBS all weekend. Talk of Tiger Woods will surely take over your Twitter feed.

If however you simply can’t stand golf and need to know the trick to ignoring The Masters, I have the answer for you:

Live in Augusta.

Really. Continue reading →