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Vertical Pursuit exists to help you gain the elevation between where you are and where God destined you to be. We want to inspire you to create the space to live your best life every day.
In today's culture, men are defeated, isolated, beat down, and stereotyped. We also live in a time where men are hunting and hungry for the blueprint of what it means to be a man.
Imagine not living a life of shame or failure. A life of defeat, regret, or insignificance. A life of isolation, fear, and loneliness. Instead, we can live a life of power and purpose that will clarify our outlook, overcome our struggles, forge our relationships, and impact our world.
Vertical Pursuit podcast is about helping men find a place to be known, belong, and unlock their God-given potential. A place to move from the ordinary to the extraordinary!
As we focus on manhood primarily in this podcast, we believe we can empower men to embrace Jesus-formed masculinity in a way that inspires them to be the best husbands, fathers, friends, and leaders to those around them.
Mike Barrett, also known as "MB", is a former television play-by-play announcer for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association, the Portland Thunder of the Arena Football League, and the Portland Fire of the WNBA.
Mike Tatlock, also known as “Tats”, is an author, NBA chaplain for the Portland Trail Blazers, and Lead Pastor of Grace Chapel in Wilsonville, Oregon.
In today's culture, men are defeated, isolated, beat down, and stereotyped. We also live in a time where men are hunting and hungry for the blueprint of what it means to be a man.
Imagine not living a life of shame or failure. A life of defeat, regret, or insignificance. A life of isolation, fear, and loneliness. Instead, we can live a life of power and purpose that will clarify our outlook, overcome our struggles, forge our relationships, and impact our world.
Vertical Pursuit podcast is about helping men find a place to be known, belong, and unlock their God-given potential. A place to move from the ordinary to the extraordinary!
As we focus on manhood primarily in this podcast, we believe we can empower men to embrace Jesus-formed masculinity in a way that inspires them to be the best husbands, fathers, friends, and leaders to those around them.
Mike Barrett, also known as "MB", is a former television play-by-play announcer for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association, the Portland Thunder of the Arena Football League, and the Portland Fire of the WNBA.
Mike Tatlock, also known as “Tats”, is an author, NBA chaplain for the Portland Trail Blazers, and Lead Pastor of Grace Chapel in Wilsonville, Oregon.
104 Episodes
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There is power in gratitude, as we know. But, most powerful than that is the perspective shift that must occur to get through difficult times. The problem isn’t that we don’t have enough, the problem is that we forget what enough used to look like.
Danny is sports talkshow host in the Northwest, and recently came through a crushing period of life. His health, his marriage, and family challenges were overwhelming to the point where he almost took his own life. Men’s community, through the church, and his relationship with the Lord, have given him new perspective and a new life.
How do divine sovereignty and human responsibility interact? Do my choices really matter if my destiny is set? We know living faithfully aligns with God’s will, so are we overthinking this. Is it time to be still?
Okay then. Yes, we’re going there. The Bible speaks positively and openly about sex and intimacy within marriage, viewing it as a gift from God and to delight in your spouse. It's brokenness, culture and technology that sometimes get in the way.
In this episode, Pastor Tatlock answers some seemingly simple questions, but, as usual, there was much more here than expected. Joy, and the lack of joy, and where to find joy, ended up being the primary topic.
We’ve heard that God does his best work in the wilderness, and we believe that. But, that doesn’t mean it’s easy. And perhaps that’s the point? You can’t get the crown without the prison. It’s not punishment, it’s preparation.
Would any of the champions of the Bible say that God won’t give you more than you can handle? Then why do we say it?In this episode, we talk about how temptation and testing are part of everyone’s story. God doesn’t test to break you, He proves what’s already in you, reminding you that His strength always makes a way through.
What is the ultimate prescription to dealing with sin? How do we eradicate this disease? If we agree that is flesh versus the spirit, then we should also be able agree that we cannot go about this alone.
What does it look like to live out your faith in a culture where mentioning Jesus might raise eyebrows or even risk your reputation? In this episode, we sit down for a powerful and honest conversation about navigating faith in secular spaces, from corporate events to locker rooms, and everything in between.We explore what it means to be a "priest first" in whatever role you hold, how to represent Jesus without preaching, and why boldness doesn't always mean being loud. From subtle moments at work to revival happening in unexpected places, this conversation will challenge and encourage you to step into your calling, right where you are.
What does it mean? What does the Bible say about it? When will it happen? Perhaps we should focus on readiness through faith, rather than specific dates. This episode takes a deep dive into the imminent return of Jesus.
We’re all prone to having our opinions, leanings, and even lives changed by the “hot take” of the day. These days, we only need to reach for the super computer in our pocket. There are also risks, especially when it comes to how view people, tragedy, and politics. We’ve just come through a major example of all of the above.
The assignation of Charlie Kirk has rocked the world, and in particular, the Christian world. He was an evangelist, who had a mission of leading young people to Jesus, and believed in open debate and discussion. As he often said, when dialogue ceases to exist, that’s when trouble comes. His murder has millions looking for comfort, answers, and seeking the Lord. What is the spirit of murder in our nation and how do we make sense of the spiritual battle we are in today?
We all struggle with negative thoughts, voices in our head and even poor self-talk. How do we sort it all out and recognize Gods voice in the noise. The guilt/shame crazy cycle can be so damaging. Remember this- no one talks to you more than you do, so start understanding how your thoughts toward yourself are a reflection of how you regard God.
This episode starts lightly, with a continued conversation about how men handle emotion, and then breaks into a discussion about yet another shooting targeting Christians, and the surprising response from some national leaders. What’s truly driving that? Is there a spiritual conspiracy behind evil violience?
Identity, inheritance, relationship, and understanding that you are a child of God, adopted into His family through faith in Christ, should be the lens by which we view our lives. We are co-heirs with Christ, even if that can be difficult to digest at times. How do we get that through our heads?
What did the recently-deceased Hulk Hogan have in common with Solomon in the Bible? They both had it all, and tested all of life’s offerings. Both figured out they were merely chasing the wind, and realized building a relationship with Jesus is how you become a true champion.
Whether we want to admit it or not, the Holy Spirit is mysterious to a lot of us. He is not a vague force, power, or energy, but is a distinct person, with attributes. Do you know that we have access to Him? And, yes, He is a valid recipient of prayer. We take a deep dive into the Holy Spirit in this episode.
When talking about challenging verses, especially in our culture, Psalm 46:10 takes the gold medal. “Be still, and know that I am God,” can even sound like an unachievable goal for many of us, especially in our culture. What does it truly mean to be still?
Ben is a leader, speaker, pastor to pastors, and hosts the podcast Rise and Lead, which is in the top 1% of podcasts in the world. To call him simply a “life coach” is an understatement. He has spoken to large corporations, and trained faith leaders, business heads, communities, groups, and couples, in over 20 countries.
In this episode we share the story of our brother Isaac, who has been illuminated in a way he couldn’t have predicted. It’s been painful, and miraculous at the same time. An accident has him feeling anointed and promoted, and we can all profit from his example and story.
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