Ponder As You Wander

Does God Have A Plan For My Life?

Ozark Leadership Institute — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:02:37 -0400

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander, Patrick and Morgan talk about God's will for our lives. We can often overcomplicate God's will, yet it's outlined out for us clearly in Scripture. Whether day to day decisions or big ones, this episode will be a great resource for making decisions and living out God's plan for our lives!

Ephesians 2:10 / Psalm 32:8 / Micah 6:8

Love God and love your neighbors. Enter into relationship with God that we are so committed to that we are loving God with all of our heart, soul and mind. And as an outcome, we love others well.

Matthew 28:18-20

God has a person that God wants you to become. Romans 8:29

- People we become then make the every day, daily decisions

- Can't discern? Ask God for wisdom. James 1:5.

- If God not pointing one direction and have sought his wisdom, it's an opportunity to choose. And trust God.

- Seek wise counsel.

Context of Jeremiah 29:11

"Good theology always starts and ends with God."

When sharing the gospel with others, it's not just a tell. It's time for show and tell! Need to show through our words, actions and priorities. We are each an embodied argument for what's most important.

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/.

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email olipodcast@campozarkfoundation.org.

Do Dogs Go To Heaven?

Ozark Leadership Institute — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander, Patrick and Morgan talk about Heaven, starting with the question we have all asked at some point in our lives: do dogs go to Heaven?

God loves animals! Scripture References:

Psalm 36:6 / Psalm 50:10-11 / Psalm 147:9 / Matthew 6:26 / Genesis 2 + 3 / Hosea 2:18 / Isaiah 11:6-9 / Romans 8:19

What does Scripture say about Heaven? Top 7:

1. You will have a place to live. (John 14:1-3)

2. No more hunger, thirst, affliction or tears. (Revelation 7:15-17)

3. Will be able to recognize the people we love. (2 Samuel 12:23 / 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20)

4. Will be like a city - things to do. (Revelation 21)

5. We will discover new things. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

6. Rewarded in Heaven for what we do on earth. (Matthew 5:12 / Colossians 3:24 / Revelation 22:12)

7. Heaven is filled with God's unfiletered presence.

Book Recommendations:

Heaven by Randy Alcorn

Imagine Heaven by John Burke

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/.

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email olipodcast@campozarkfoundation.org.

Can I Learn From Ezra's Leadership?

Ozark Leadership Institute — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander, Patrick and Morgan talk about another leader we see in Scripture, Ezra, from the Old Testament. As leaders, we are always striving to grow and we are thankful for examples in the Bible to gain insight from.

Ezra 7 - stepped up as leader to help lead the exiles in Jerusalem.

Ezra's leadership:

High moral character

Great trust in God

Inspired people to prioritize their spiritual life

How to be like Ezra as a leader:

1. Know that other people are watching the life you live. Where are we leading them? Towards God?

Matthew 5:16

2. Every life is an embodied argument about what's most important. What you choose to do with your time and how you treat people.

Uncommon leadership excellence:

1. Excellent leaders have a different standard of effort.

2. Aim with excellence.(Galatians 6:9)

3. Listen with excellence. (Proverbs 19:20 / Proverbs 13:10)

4. Be worthy of imitation.

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/.

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email olipodcast@campozarkfoundation.org.

Leadership Lessons with Scott Torn

Ozark Leadership Institute — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander, Morgan speaks with Scott Torn, the Executive Managing Director of Camp Ozark, about all things leadership - from characteristics of leaders, developing as a leader, mindset, to being bold, there's a lot to learn from this episode!

"Everyone can be a leader. Not everyone will have the same platform, but you're going to have a platform. And all platforms matter."

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/.

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email olipodcast@campozarkfoundation.org.

Is Easter Really That Big of a Deal?

Ozark Leadership Institute — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander released during Holy Week, Patrick and Morgan talk about Easter. As we get ready to celebrate Easter Sunday, take a moment to listen to this to learn more about the other days of Holy Week and why Easter is so important!

Easter - celebration of the resurrection of Jesus - most important miracle of God.

Lent - Holy Week - Easter

Lent - 40 day time leading up to Easter (technically 46 days if Sundays included). Begins with Ash Wednesday - reminder of Genesis 3:19.

Ash Wednesday - beginning of Lent

Holy Week: Palm Sunday - Maundy Thursday - Good Friday - Easter Sunday

Date of Easter - determined by the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox (anywhere from March 22 - April 25)

Good Friday - Good meant holy. Good for us. Paradox - extraordinarily tragic and terrible what Jesus endured. But absolutely necessary for us to be able to go to Heaven.

Easter Sunday - Jesus's resurrection - important to believe. Signature miracle. What led to our salvation - gives us the opportunity to spend forever with God.

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/.

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email olipodcast@campozarkfoundation.org.

Does God Care About Me?

Ozark Leadership Institute — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander, Patrick and Morgan discuss whether or not God really does care about us, as an individual! How could a God SO big, with SO many things to worry about and take care of, care about ME? Listen to find out!

Scripture References:

Nahum 1:7 / 1 Peter 5:7 - God cares about us.

Luke 12:7 / Matthew 10:30 - knows how many hairs on our head.

Psalm 139 - God knows everything about us.

2 Peter 3:9 / 1 John 2:2 / 1 Timothy 2 - cares about EVERYONE.

God is not confinded by the rules of the universe. He exists beyond it as its Creator.

Ephesians 3:20 - God can do immesurably more.

3 O's of God:

Omnipotent - all powerful

Omniscient - all knowing

Omnipresent - all present

Acts 17:27 - God is not far from any person.

What is the gospel? Ephesians 2:8-10 / Titus 3:4-8

Faith = salvation --> works

Why should we care that God cares?

1. Your life matters! You were created on purpose with purpose!

2. You are not alone - God is with you!

3. You have hope!

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/.

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email olipodcast@campozarkfoundation.org.

How Do I Deal With Doubt?

Ozark Leadership Institute — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander, Patrick and Morgan talk about doubt. We all experience different seasons and types of doubts in our faith. In this episode, we answer questions such as, is doubt bad? How do I overcome it?

Four Variations of Doubt:

1. Skepticism

2. Uncertainty

3. Imperfect Faith

4. Defiant Disbelief

Is doubt bad? Doubt itself is inherently neutral. It's about how you respond to your doubt! Motivating or corrosive.

Skepticism: Fact finder vs. Conspiracy Theorist.

Proverbs 1:7 / Proverbs 18:15

Uncertainty: Productive vs. Lazy

Proverbs 3:7 / Acts 8:30-31

biologos.org / reasonablefaith.org / reasons.org / carm.org / bibleproject.com

Imperfect Faith

Mark 9:21-25

"Imperfect faith is still real faith."

Defiant Disbelief

- Target immediately!!

Hebrews 11:6 / James 1:5-8

Proverbs 3:5-7

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/.

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email olipodcast@campozarkfoundation.org.

Was Moses a Leader?

Ozark Leadership Institute — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander, Patrick and Morgan talk about Moses and the different ways we can learn from his leadership.

Things we can learn from Moses's leadership:

Persistence.

Patience.

Grit.

Delegation.

Cared about people he was leading.

Exodus 32:11-14

"None of us are the leader of the whole story."

Numbers 20:1-13

Practical takeaways:

1. Trust God above anything else

2. Stick up for other people

3. Be honest with God

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/.

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email olipodcast@campozarkfoundation.org.

Is God Three in One?

Ozark Leadership Institute — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander, Patrick and Morgan talk about the trinity - is God really three in one? What does that mean? And how should it impact our own personal relationship with God?

"If we could truly understand all of God, then he wouldn't really be much of a God."

Helpful analogy: H2O - different forms (liquid, ice, vapor) but same chemical substance.

Ephesians 2:10 - We are God's creation/masterpiece/workmanship.

"The better we get to know God, the better we are able to execute the will of God, which is our created purpose."

God the Father - our Lord, Creator, Sustainer, and purpose giver.

God the Son - came to serve us (Mark 10).

God the Spirit - God's presence with us now. Helps us to interpret Scripture, convicts us in what's wrong, and pushes us towards God.

We are trying to be in relationship with God.

John 10:30

John 14:10-11

Recommendations:

1. The Bible Project video on Trinity.

2. reasonablefaith.org Trinity videos - The Defenders Podcast

3. Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/.

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email olipodcast@campozarkfoundation.org.

Who are the Ozone Leaders?

Ozark Leadership Institute — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander, Morgan is joined by the Houston and Dallas Ozone Area Directors. They cover different topics throughout the conversation, such as beginning of personal faith journey, mentors, community, and spiritual disciplines.

To learn more about Ozone Ministries, please visit their website https://ozoneministries.com/.

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/.

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email olipodcast@campozarkfoundation.org.

How Do I Hear From God?

Ozark Leadership Institute — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Ponder As You Wander, Patrick and Morgan discuss how we hear from God. If I don't hear a direct word from God, is something wrong? Does God actually hear my prayers? Listen to hear what we believe about these questions we all ask!

How we hear from God:

1. Through Scripture

2. Creation (Psalm 46:10)

3. Seek wisdom from people further along in the journey

4. God resonates things with our soul when He needs to

Scripture References

Acts 17:27

Luke 12:7

1 Chronicles 18:9

Encouragement from Dory: "Just keep swimming!"

Keep praying! Keep seeking God!

"There are times it may feel stale, but we just keep going!"

Luke 11:5-8 Persistent friend

Luke 18:1-8 Persistent widow

Book recommendation: Prayer - Does it Make Any Difference? By Philip Yancey

"God is never truly silent. It's just our perception of it."

What is Christian Leadership?

Ozark Leadership Institute — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander, Patrick and Morgan talk about leadership. Whether on a team, in a club at school, in the classroom, or working in an organization, there is always a structure of leadership. In this conversation, Patrick and Morgan talk more specifically about what it means to be a Christian leader and exemplify uncommon leadership excellence.

Christian leadership: God-centered, rather than self-centered.

Scripture references: Mark 10:45, Luke 9, Mark 9, Matthew 18, Luke 22.

Called to be "Humble Influencers."

John 13:12-15 - Jesus washing His disciples' feet. Ultimate example of leadership.

Book Recommendations:

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Grit by Angela Duckworth

Mindset by Carol Dweck

Is God Really Real? Part 2

Ozark Leadership Institute — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 09:10:00 -0500

PART 2 - In this two part episode of Ponder as You Wander, Patrick and Morgan answer the question, "Is God Really Real?" Patrick explains the different types of evidence that support God's existence. In Part 2, Patrick dives deeper into scientific evidence.

Recommendations:

Book recommendation: Language of God by Francis S Collins

biologos.org

Reasonablefaith.org

gotquestions.org

Pieces of Advice:

Be grateful! Establish thankfulness rituals.
Be in constant awe of God! Learn new things!

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/ .

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email olipodcast@campozarkfoundation.org.

Is God Really Real? Part 1

Ozark Leadership Institute — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0500

PART 1- In this two part episode of Ponder as You Wander, Patrick and Morgan answer the question, "Is God Really Real?" Patrick explains the different types of evidence that support God's existence, including Scripture as evidence, ontological evidence, moral evidence, and scientific evidence.

"Wherever the evidence leads, that's where we should follow."

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/ .

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email olipodcast@campozarkfoundation.org.

Where Do I Start?

Ozark Leadership Institute — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Ponder as You Wander, Patrick and Morgan are kicking off the Podcast with answering the question “Where do I Start?” There are times when Christianity may feel daunting, but in this conversation, Patrick and Morgan break down where to start when it comes to faith, reading your Bible, praying, and plugging into community.

Scripture references:

About trusting God - Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 3:4-8

About praying - Psalm 139, 1 Chronicles 16:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, Colossians 4:2, Matthew 6:5-9, Luke 11:2, Luke 6:12-13, Mark 1:35, Matthew 18:19-20

Bible Project Companion for reading the Bible: https://bibleproject.com/

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/.

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email olipodcast@campozarkfoundation.org.

Welcome to Ponder As You Wander

Ozark Leadership Institute — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Ponder as You Wander, produced by the Ozark Leadership Institute, is a podcast that exists to answer questions about Christianity, personal faith, and leadership throughout the year. This Podcast is inspired by the hundreds of questions we receive from our campers each summer. Whether you’re new to your faith or have grown up in the church your whole life, we are excited you are here!

To learn more about the Ozark Leadership Institute, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/.

To learn more about the Podcast or submit a contact request, please visit our website https://ozarkleadershipinstitute.com/podcast/ or email olipodcast@campozarkfoundation.org.