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I started my journey of blogging in 2003 — mostly to capture what I called “transitioning life’s journey”.
In 2023 I took a 3 year break from blogging, but have decided to return to it. I hope you enjoy.
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Rhett Smith 122: Kelly Haer Discusses the Issue of Singleness, and How Restoration Therapy Can Help One Navigate It
In this episode I discuss the topic of singleness with my colleague Kelly Haer. Kelly is on staff at Pepperdine University in the Boone Center for the Family where she is the Relationship IQ Director. Kelly is a part of the teaching group that I am a part of that meets with and trains ministry […]
Rhett Smith 120: Conversation with Terry and Sharon Hargrave on the Beginnings and Future of Restoration Therapy and Relate Strong
In this episode I spend some time in conversation with Terry and Sharon Hargrave. Terry is the founder of Restoration Therapy and is the Evelyn and Frank Freed Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy at Fuller Theological Seminary and Sharon is the Executive Director of the Boone Center for the Family at Pepperdine University, as […]
Rhett Smith 119: Dust and Identity
“for dust you are and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:19) In this episode I reflect on the passage found in Genesis 3:19 that is repeated every Ash Wednesday. It’s a beautiful, but harrowing passage that reminds us of just how fragile and short our lives are. But this reminder, rather than being tragic, […]
Rhett Smith 113: Letting the Silence Unfold Between You and Others
“Love consists in this, that two solitudes, protect and border and salute each other.” — Rainer Maria Rilke A couple of weeks ago my wife and I returned from a “marriage adventure” on the Inca Trail in Peru. This adventure (through WinShape and Intrepid), led us for four days and 3 nights hiking along […]
Rhett Smith 112: God “Intermingles” All Things Together for Good
As many of you know from listening to my podcasts, or reading my blog over the years, is I’m pretty obsessed with the novels of Susan Howatch. Particularly her Starbridge Series of which I’m about to finish my 9th reading of the series in the last 15 years. It’s that impactful and transforming in my […]
Restoration Therapy: Depression and the Bible
Often, when someone expresses anxiety in the context of the Church or Christian community, more than likely they will hear somebody, at some point, recite the famous words of the apostle Paul in Philippians 4:6. “Do not be anxious….” is the beginning of that verse, and it’s also the beginning for many people with anxiety […]
Restoration Therapy: Anxiety and the Bible
Reframing The Meaning of Anxiety in the Bible “I am here, in your office to see you because I didn’t feel like there was anyone else I could talk to about my anxiety.” I hear some form of this statement quite often in my office. And it most frequently comes from someone who is a […]
Rhett Smith 95: Pepperdine Bible Lectures — Reframing Anxiety as God at Work in Our Lives
This past May I had the opportunity to speak at Pepperdine University for the annual Bible Lecture’s series. It’s primarily a gathering of a combo of lay and professional ministry leaders, and as this event I was able to talk to them about one of my favorite topics…anxiety. Anxiety is a huge issue both in […]
Rhett Smith 94: Three Postures on the Forgiveness Journey
Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to share with the ReEngage Ministry at Hope Fellowship the topic of forgiveness. It’s such an important topic not only in all of our lives, but especially in the context of marriage where one’s ability to forgive becomes an essential practice. In fact, forgiveness is the only topic […]
Rhett Smith 92: What Are You Holding Onto, That Is Holding You Back?
I have shared in previous episodes that the journey through Lent has been one of the most helpful things I have done for my faith. And as we finished Lent this last week, culminating in Easter yesterday, I wanted to take a few moments to reflect on the next steps. As we work on embracing […]
Rhett Smith 91: Creating Space for Silence During Lent
We live in a culture that continually inundates us with noise. That noise comes in all kinds of forms. Advertising, entertainment, technology, etc. Sometimes we are passive observers of it as we have little control over what billboards are placed in front of us as we drive down the road. Other times we are active […]
Rhett Smith 90: Creating Space During Lent to Reflect on Pain and Suffering
This week’s episode is somewhat of a continuation of Episode 89 where I reflected on the role of Lent in helping us process pain and suffering, and as a time to work through trauma. That is, Lent is a period of remembering that is important for us if we are to work through our suffering. […]
Rhett Smith 89: Lent, Trauma, and Remembering
I have been thinking a lot about the Lent season, which is appropriate since Ash Wednesday was yesterday. Here is what I posted on Facebook last night: Over the next 40+ days I am going to take some time to reflect on some of the things I am exploring around Lent, trauma and remembering. I […]
Rhett Smith 76: What Exactly is Anxiety? Exploring the Different Understandings of Anxiety
“Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom.” Soren Kierkegaard That quote by Soren Kierkegaard in his work The Concept of Anxiety, has always been one of my favorite quotes. I think it truly captures the hear of anxiety for many…In that being free, creative beings who are responsible for our lives and the choices and directions […]
Rhett Smith Podcast 70: The Priority of Relationship and Embracing the ‘Other’
This has been an incredibly difficult political season, in that it highlights the deep divisions among one another along racial, sexual, economical, and political lines….just to name a few. And one thing I have been struggling with the most is to try and remind myself of how I talk about people that believe different than […]
Reframing Your Anxiety and Depression
A couple of months ago I had the opportunity to give a talk about my own journey with anxiety and depression at a local church, Chase Oaks Church. The video was shot for their ReNew Ministry which helps people deal with the “messiness of life.” I love the work that ReNew Ministry is doing to […]
Rhett Smith Podcast 53: Families at the Intersection of Faith, Technology and Busy Schedules — with Associate Director of Fuller Youth Institute, Brad Griffin
Fuller Theological Seminary changed my life, so it’s probably not a surprise that you see me talking about the seminary so much. Fuller was and is an amazing community of people who provide a safe place for someone to wrestle with the big questions of faith. Fuller challenged me to think about my faith, rather […]
Rhett Smith Podcast 51: The Power of Listening to Transform You and Your Relationships — with Author and Spiritual Director, Adam McHugh
I have been looking forward to having this conversation for a long time with my good friend Adam McHugh. Interestingly enough, Adam and I have known each other online for approximately 10 years, but have only met each other one time in person. But talking with Adam is pretty easy (not only because he’s a […]
Rhett Smith Podcast 36: 3 Messages Life-Giving Men Communicate to Others (especially their sons)
Imagine you are in a room and two different type of men walk in. One is encouraging, inspiring and vulnerable. He’s not just there physically, but he has shown up emotionally as well. He’s connected to those around him. And because he shows up this way, others will feed off that and grow. He’s what […]
Rhett Smith Podcast 34: Nine Practices and Disciplines That Will Help You Transform Your Morning Routine
It seems to me that how I start my day off…especially the first 1-2 hours, often dictates how the rest of my day goes, or to what degree I will navigate the ups and downs of it successfully. And I’m not alone in thinking this. It’s not surprising that many of the podcasts I listen […]