The Intentional Dad

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.” — Matthew 5:11–12In this final episode of The Way Through the Sacred Gap, Aric and Tyler reach the crescendo of Jesus’ Kingdom vision in the Beatitudes — a vision utterly different from anything the world has to offer and an invitation so profound it compels us to grasp a glimpse of a freedom so complete that we can become the kind of person that can truly rejoice in the face of persecution and rejection.Looking back over the journey from inner healing to Kingdom calling, they explore how every movement of transformation leads here: to the freedom of living free of the never ending hustle for worth. When the “second story” of striving, control, and fear finally breaks, what emerges is a new kind of human — one who lives entirely from the first, true story God has been telling all along. The story that you are loved, you belong, you are chosen, and you have nothing to prove.Through conversation and reflection, they trace how this freedom allows us to stand unshaken in the face of hatred, to love in a world that resists love, and to live as those who have expelled the serpent’s lie from their own story. This is the reward of full Kingdom participation — a return home to our original purpose, to rule and reign with God in love.About the Series: The Way Through the Sacred GapOver these twelve episodes, Aric and Tyler have followed Jesus’ opening vision from the Sermon on the Mount — the Beatitudes — as a roadmap for transformation. From poverty of spirit to persecution, the Way through the Sacred Gap has revealed the process of healing, mercy, and restored purpose that leads us out of our shadow stories and into the true story of the Kingdom.Now, as this journey concludes, the invitation remains: to live as those who are deeply loved, who belong, who are chosen — and who have nothing to prove. This is the way of freedom. This is the way of the Kingdom.To connect with Aric and learn more about The Intentional Dad, visit www.theintentionaldad.org.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew‬ ‭5:10‬ ‭NIV‬In this penultimate episode of The Way Through the Sacred Gap, Aric and Tyler explore the startling conclusion to Jesus’ vision in the Beatitudes: persecution. Why would Jesus end his list of blessings with suffering, rejection, and slander?This deeply personal and theological conversation unpacks how the final Beatitudes (vv. 10–11) reveal the cost of true Kingdom calling. Through stories of military service, cultural reflection, and the backdrop of spiritual warfare, the episode explores Jesus’ surprising turn to persecution—not as a burden, but as the most compelling invitation he could offer. When we truly catch the vision of the Kingdom, we awaken to the one thing every heart is longing for—the one thing for which no price is too high.This episode challenges listeners to examine the unspoken “shadow stories” of comfort, control, and individualism, and invites them to embrace the larger mission of carrying wholeness into a fractured world. The Way through the sacred gap ends here—with a commissioning to carry the Kingdom project forward as people of mercy, loving fearlessly in the face of a fierce and ruthless enemy.About the Series:The more we understand Jesus' invitation into the Kingdom life, the more compelling it becomes. In The Way Through the Sacred Gap, Tyler and Aric explore Jesus’ opening words from the Sermon on the Mount, where he offers a vision of healing and transformation—one that frees us from our “shadow stories” into lives fully lived in the true story of the Kingdom: you are loved, you belong, you are chosen, and you have nothing to prove.The distance between these two realities—our shadow stories and the true Kingdom—is what we’ve called the sacred gap. And once we see the gap, the obvious question follows: “How do I cross it?” It turns out Jesus gave an answer. The early Kingdom communities called themselves followers of The Way—the very way Jesus lays out in his most compelling sermon.To contact Aric or learn more about The Intentional Dad, visit: www.theintentionaldad.org

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:9‬In this episode, Aric and Tyler begin diving into the final triad of the Beatitudes, exploring the call to be a peacemaker as a pinnacle expression of spiritual maturity and Kingdom calling.Framing the Beatitudes as a progression from inner healing to outward mission, they revisit the arc from brokenness and grief to forgiveness, mercy, and ultimately, fearless love.With deep theological insight and practical reflection, the conversation unpacks what it means to be restored to our original purpose—to reign and rule in partnership with God. Drawing from Genesis, the teachings of Jesus, and personal journey, Aric and Tyler present peacemaking not as passive harmony but as courageous, redemptive work rooted in healed hearts.This episode challenges listeners to embrace the full vision of apprenticeship with Jesus, where healing isn’t the end—but the beginning of a life poured out for others.About the series:The more we understand Jesus' invitation for the Kingdom life, the more compelling it is. Listen in as Tyler and Aric continue to explore Jesus' compelling vision for Kingdom life through his opening words of his Sermon on the Mount. As we discussed in our previous series, he offers a promise of healing and transformation that frees us from our shadow stories into lives lived more and more fully in the true story and the Kingdom realities that you are loved, you belong, you are chosen, and you have nothing to prove. The difference between those two realities is what we have called The Sacred Gap and once that gap becomes clear, so does an obvious question: "How do I get through that gap?" Well, it turns out there is an answer. The early Kingdom communities of Jesus' apprentices, not coincidentally, referred to themselves as practitioners of "The Way." What "Way" is that? It is "The Way" that Jesus himself taught in the greatest and most compelling sermon ever given.To contact Aric and to learn more about The Intentional Dad go to www.theintentionaldad.org.

The more we understand Jesus' invitation for the Kingdom life, the more compelling it is. In this episode, we continue our discussion of mercy as the central ethic of Kingdom living by sharing a story of apprenticeship. It is very good to learn from Jesus and catch his breathtaking vision for Kingdom life. Where it really matters and where his vision is realized, though, is not in knowing about it but in living it. Which is why story is so important. It is in our stories that we experience for ourselves and with each other just how beautiful and hopeful Kingdom life actually is. And it is through our stories that we find inspiration spurring one another on to love, kindness, and good works. Listen in as Aric invites his sister-in-law, Elizabeth, to share her story of how God prepared her heart for an adventure through a very simple act of kindness to the overlooked and ignored homeless population in her community. It is an inspiring story of a mother faithfully following God's lead and bringing her family into the adventure. And it is a story that is inspiring others to live out mercy as well.To contact Aric and to learn more about The Intentional Dad go to www.theintentionaldad.org.

The more we understand Jesus' invitation for the Kingdom life, the more compelling it is. Listen in as Tyler and Aric continue to explore Jesus' compelling vision for Kingdom life through his opening words of his Sermon on the Mount. As we discussed in our previous series, he offers a promise of healing and transformation that frees us from our shadow stories into lives lived more and more fully in the true story and the Kingdom realities that you are loved, you belong, you are chosen, and you have nothing to prove. The difference between those two realities is what we have called The Sacred Gap and once that gap becomes clear, so does an obvious question: "How do I get through that gap?" Well, it turns out there is an answer. The early Kingdom communities of Jesus' apprentices, not coincidentally, referred to themselves as practitioners of "The Way." What "Way" is that? It is "The Way" that Jesus himself taught in the greatest and most compelling sermon ever given.In this podcast, we pick up where we left off last time as we follow Jesus into what is now a decidedly outward expression of what, to this point, has been a very internal journey. Yes, the healing Jesus has for us is for us, but it is not only for us. Jesus' breathtaking vision for what he calls the Kingdom is a vision that takes us all the way back to the very beginning and invites us to reexamine our understanding of our assumptions about what that Kingdom is. It is no accident that here, right in the middle of these "Blessed are" statements is the word mercy. Listen in as Tyler and Aric discuss the significance of mercy as the central ethic of the Kingdom and how it points us to a recovery of our human destiny.To contact Aric and to learn more about The Intentional Dad go to www.theintentionaldad.org.

The more we understand Jesus' invitation for the Kingdom life, the more compelling it is. Listen in as Tyler and Aric continue to explore Jesus' compelling vision for Kingdom life through his opening words of his Sermon on the Mount. As we discussed in our previous series, he offers a promise of healing and transformation that frees us from our shadow stories into lives lived more and more fully in the true story and the Kingdom realities that you are loved, you belong, you are chosen, and you have nothing to prove. The difference between those two realities is what we have called The Sacred Gap and once that gap becomes clear, so does an obvious question: "How do I get through that gap?" Well, it turns out there is an answer. The early Kingdom communities of Jesus' apprentices, not coincidentally, referred to themselves as practitioners of "The Way." What "Way" is that? It is "The Way" that Jesus himself taught in the greatest and most compelling sermon ever given.In this podcast, we pick up where we left off last time with our discussion about Jesus' promise of satisfaction for all who crave right relationships (Matthew 5:6). It is a compelling promise but, not surprisingly, as the promises become more compelling, so too the road forward gets more difficult. This is a teaching that takes us to the inescapable need for forgiveness as "The Way" to restoring right relationships. Forgiveness may not be so difficult when the offenses are minor. But, as we began to explore in our last discussion, the deeper the offense or injustice, the more difficult forgiveness becomes. Which brings us toe to toe with the elephant in the room. What do we do when at the deepest levels of our strained relationships with each other is a strained and broken relationship with God himself? What do we do with those experiences that call into question and undermine our ability to trust God? What do we do with the things we aren't "supposed" to think and feel about him?Might it be that all we have discussed to try and recover a healthy understanding of forgiveness applies to "The Way" forward with God himself?Listen in as Tyler and Aric call out the elephant in the room and explore a really provocative thought that just might unlock a way forward in our need for healing our relationship with God himself:Forgiving God.Disclaimer: For those with small children, in this episode, Tyler and Aric discuss some really weighty topics like mortality and trauma...something you may want to take into consideration before listening.To contact Aric at The Intentional Dad go to www.theintentionaldad.org.

The more we understand Jesus' invitation for the Kingdom life, the more compelling it is. Listen in as Tyler and Aric continue to explore Jesus' compelling vision for Kingdom life through his opening words of his Sermon on the Mount. As we discussed in our previous series, he offers a promise of healing and transformation that frees us from our shadow stories into lives lived more and more fully in the true story and the Kingdom realities that you are loved, you belong, you are chosen, and you have nothing to prove. The difference between those two realities is what we have called The Sacred Gap and once that gap becomes clear, so does an obvious question: "How do I get through that gap?" Well, it turns out there is an answer. The early Kingdom communities of Jesus' apprentices, not coincidentally, referred to themselves as practitioners of "The Way." What "Way" is that? It is "The Way" that Jesus himself taught in the greatest and most compelling sermon ever given.In this podcast, we look at Jesus' next surprising revelation of "The Way." In the first three "blessed are" statements, Jesus has taken us on a journey within. As apprentices of Jesus, we learn with him the art and skill of paying attention to our inner worlds. We learn to listen to our hearts and discern God's invitations for growth and healing that our hearts reveal...healing our perception and relationship with God as well as healing our perception of ourselves. Now Jesus turns outward. He speaks to our deep desires for meaningful and fulfilling relationships and for our longings for life to be good...for things to be made right. He speaks to the desire and offers an amazing promise: satisfaction. It is an incredibly lofty and hopeful promise. So we shouldn't be surprised, then, that with such a promise, it is also hard. The road is getting more narrow but the promises are also getting more profound. "Right relationship" is something we can experience. But we cannot get around the need for forgiveness as "The Way" to that promise. Forgiveness is hard. And it is made even more difficult because there is so much misunderstanding and confusion around it.Listen in as Tyler and Aric explore this difficult and often misunderstood topic, Jesus' sobering teachings about it, and why it is so important...and essential to the Kingdom promise of satisfaction.To learn more about The Intentional Dad or to contact us, go to www.theintentionaldad.org.

The more we understand Jesus' invitation for the Kingdom life, the more compelling it is. Listen in as Tyler and Aric continue to explore Jesus' compelling vision for Kingdom life through his opening words of his Sermon on the Mount. As we discussed in our previous series, he offers a promise of healing and transformation that frees us from our shadow stories into lives lived more and more fully in the true story and the Kingdom realities that you are loved, you belong, you are chosen, and you have nothing to prove. The difference between those two realities is what we have called The Sacred Gap and once that gap becomes clear, so does an obvious question: "How do I get through that gap?" Well, it turns out there is an answer. The early Kingdom communities of Jesus' apprentices, not coincidentally, referred to themselves as practitioners of "The Way." What "Way" is that? It is "The Way" that Jesus himself taught in the greatest and most compelling sermon ever given.In this podcast, we look at Jesus' next surprising revelation of "The Way." In Jesus' invitation to grieve with him, he offers a promise of comfort...comfort that is a first taste of the healing we all need. It is the start of a lifelong process of healing that takes us into the "training circle" with Jesus to unlearn the life of self-rescue and re-learn life as a fathered son or fathered daughter. It is in that training circle that we learn to live as Jesus did and to learn what he taught and modeled...a strength that is very difficult to describe. A power that flies in the face of our conventional wisdom and understanding of power and authority. It is a strength that can only come from deep within...a strength that, as Jesus teaches, is found only in those who have learned what it is to be unimportant and, at the same time, be more than okay. It is a teaching that is surprising, difficult, and takes us into our deepest fears and worries. Listen in as Tyler and Aric share their stories with this healing process and explore the relevance of this teaching in our sacred responsibilities of parenthood.To learn more about The Intentional Dad or to contact us, go to www.theintentionaldad.org.