Paralyzed at seventeen and a quadriplegic for nearly sixty years, Joni Eareckson Tada talks with John Ortberg about despair, anger at God, and pain. What emerges is a hard-won hope: that Jesus is "the treasure, not the consolation prize," a word for anyone whose circumstances may never be okay.
Why the transformation of the soul matters more than the miles (Footnotes by John Ortberg)
These three ministries encourage and facilitate pilgrimages of body and of soul (Footnotes by John Ortberg).
In this episode of Formation, John Ortberg sits down with a Silicon Valley pastor whose pursuit of attention, rest, and spiritual formation was interrupted by a panic attack — and reshaped by an ancient prayer practice, the problem with multitasking, and the rise of AI.
Christian ministries confront a long-ignored reality: spiritual growth stalls when emotions stay buried. From emotional honesty to trauma healing to mental-health-safe churches, transformation requires more than belief—it demands facing the soul’s hidden wounds. (Footnotes by John Ortberg.)
These ministries share a conviction: spiritual formation begins by learning to see differently. Through Scripture, contemplative practice, and renewed visions of the church, they help Christians resist cynicism and recover a Kingdom-shaped imagination. (Footnotes by John Ortberg)
Transformation begins where emotional avoidance finally collapses. Persecuted believers prove courage under unimaginable pressure. Courage is rebuilt daily in lives marked by trauma.
AI can assist Scripture—but cannot discern truth or Spirit. When innovation outruns wisdom, formation becomes collateral damage. Simulated souls force a haunting question: what is real spirituality?
Pastors face a choice: leverage AI or be shaped by it. Faster ministry tools risk slower, deeper pastoral presence. The future church hinges on who forms whom—pastors or machines.
Get biweekly emails with insights, research, and practices for becoming more like Jesus.
You're in.
Welcome to Formation. Check your inbox — something good is coming.