Dr. Mitsch takes the time to look at the very nature of our journey through life and the subtext that goes with it - sorrow. Being true to ourselves and how we feel may actually free us to connect with people who want to do so the same! The Critical Journey Find out more about SGI community: Learn more about Seasons of our Grief here All Night by A…

Dr. Mitsch reports on one more silent retreat. There were significant insights and metaphors discovered to convey the contours of each retreatants spiritual journey. Listen in to find out how much the discoveries of this small group of people relate to your own experiences. --------------------------------- The Critical Journey Find out more about …

Sometimes our greatest fear is that we will be perceived as selfish as we walk the journey of grief. There is little discussion to be found about the difference between being selfish, and healthy self-care. Listen in to find out the difference, and the importance of self-care as we grieve. The Critical Journey Find out more about SGI community: Lea…

As we come in for a landing about the spiritual journey, Dr. Mitsch examines what "settling in" for our lifelong journey looks like. --------------------------------- The Critical Journey Find out more about SGI community: Learn more about Seasons of our Grief hereBy Dr. Ray Mitsch

What's grace have to do with our journey through sorrow, or even living life? Listen in to see the connection between grace, grief, and expectations. The Critical Journey Find out more about SGI community: Learn more about Seasons of our Grief here All Night by AudioCoffee | https://www.audiocoffee.net/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free…

Find out what happens during the final day of the silent retreat.By Dr. Ray Mitsch

During the journey we are always looking for some sign that we are back to "normal." Of course, we never define what "normal" is. Dr. Mitsch takes the time to explore our desire for "normal" and what we can do to find ways to be gentle with ourselves through our journey through grief. The Critical Journey Find out more about SGI community: Learn mo…

Find out what happens between day 1 and day 2 on a silent retreat. Now that students have detoxified from all the noise and sound of their lives, what happens. Listen in to find out!By Dr. Ray Mitsch

When we are walking our journey of grief, we are often at a loss for what is the “right” way to do it. We are searching for a way to figure out whether we are engaging the journey through grief in a way that will allow us to get through it as fast as possible. Unfortunately, speed isn’t the issue. It is our full engagement with the journey that is …

Ever wonder what happens at a silent retreat? Join Dr. Ray Mitsch with his first on-location report about day 1 of the Spring 2024 Silent Retreat.By Dr. Ray Mitsch

During these early days and weeks of sorrow, we often feel like we are caught in a time warp, and then we are jerked back to a reality that we really didn't want to return to. That's where Dr. Mitsch is. He takes the time to reflect on the recent reactions, feelings, and struggle to accept a reality that he really doesn't want to accept. Life may g…

In the aftermath of the funeral service, there is a natural time of reflection and a disconcerting level of numbness that settles in. How do we navigate the reflections from all the conversations and stories that are shared? ------------------------- The Critical Journey Find out more about SGI community: Learn more about Seasons of our Grief here …

At this stage of our spiritual journey, we move into "the wild." In other words, we move from the inward journey exploring the landscape of our hearts, to the outward journey focused on serving others not as an escape from our hearts, but as an outpouring of what we have been developing in our hearts. Check it out, and see how it relates to you! --…

"I appreciate the condolences from people, but it just prompts more pain for me." That's a quote from someone as he tried to navigate his journey through grief. The compassion offered by those for our grief journey ends up hurting as much as it helps. Why is that? What can we do in response? All Night by AudioCoffee | https://www.audiocoffee.net/ M…

Now that we are managing the challenges of "the wall," what's next? What does it look like to deepen our relationship with God and not depend on all that we can "do for Him?" ------------------------- The Critical Journey Find out more about SGI community: Learn more about Seasons of our Grief hereBy Dr. Ray Mitsch

Join Dr. Mitsch as he reflects on his own journey through grief, and examines the role that comparisons play in interrupting and disrupting the important work there is to do with our grief. Our comparisons will often rob us of the opportunity to honor the relationship we had with the person we loved. Check out Dr. Mitsch's newest book! Looking for …

What do you do when everything you thought was true about your spiritual walk with God gets shaken by life experiences, or a traumatic event in your life, or a crisis? We have some very important choices to make, but how do we make them when we have never visited this "place" in our spiritual journey? No one seems to be able to help us and our usua…

Have you ever heard the word, "lament?" It evokes images of weeping, wailing, and profound grief doesn't it? We don't often use the word anymore, but it is very fitting for what we feel when we lose someone we loved. Join Dr. Mitsch on this personal journey of lament in everyday life and see what you can learn about your own journey through grief.…

Join Dr. Mitsch as he navigates the waters of his own seasons of grief He will be reflecting and commenting on the journey through grief as he experiences it. The Critical Journey Find out more about SGI community: Learn more about Seasons of our Grief hereBy Dr. Ray Mitsch

As we continue your spiritual journey, we find ourselves at "stage" 3. The choice we have to make is our relationship with God or being productive FOR God. Listen in find out how to deepen your intimacy with God rather than your usefulness. The Critical Journey Find out more about SGI community: Learn more about Seasons of our Grief here…

As the spiritual journey gets underway, there are some key elements that are important to keep in mind. These include choosing your mentor carefully, and avoiding just collecting information about God rather than having a relationship WITH Him. Find out how to avoid the pitfalls, and take advantage the opportunities that are an important part of ph…

The first stage of the spiritual journey is the converted life. What does it look like, what are the challenges, and how do we make progress? Listen in to find out! Podcast links: The Critical JourneyBy Dr. Ray Mitsch

The spiritual journey? What is it, and why is it so important? Dr. Mitsch explores the key issues of your spiritual journey, and what things to anticipate as you continue your journey.By Dr. Ray Mitsch

In the last installment of the Seasons of our Grief series, Dr. Mitsch explains what the season of fall looks like in terms of the task, traits, and tools necessary to navigate the last part of the active healing journey through grief. Find out more about what this looks like, and what next steps there are in the journey through grief! Find out mor…

Just when we think we are "out of the woods" of our grief, we are ambushed by unexpectedly strong emotions. What's up with that? It's called the summer of our grief. Listen in as Dr. Mitsch explains the important role that the summer of our grief plays in our journey of grief. Find out more about SGI community: Reserve a spot at the upcoming Book L…

Dr. Mitsch continues our series on the seasons of our grief. Spring presents another unique challenge as we walk the journey of grief. Listen to find out what the task, traits, and tools that are part of the spring of our grief. Find out more about SGI community: Reserve a spot at the upcoming Book Launch Party…

Continuing our three part series allowing listeners to hear the thoughts and conclusions from those who have experienced a silent retreat. Listen to two of our "veterans" who have attended 5 or more retreats and the impact it has had on them.By Dr. Ray Mitsch

Dr. Mitsch continues his series about the seasonal approach to thinking and healing from our grief. In this episode, he talks about the first season of our grief - winter. With each season there are characteristics to understand, and tools to use to embrace the journey of our grief. Seasons of our Grief: https://a.co/d/5u1UXmC Find it on SGI: www.s…

Dr. Mitsch starts a four part series on grief and loss as a preview for his upcoming book, "The Seasons of our Grief." In this episode, he looks at the importance of the discussion about grief and loss, and the misconceptions we hold about this vital aspect of our lives. Seasons of our Grief: https://a.co/d/5u1UXmC Find it on SGI: www.sgi-net.org…

Listen to another installment of voices from the silence! In today's episode you'll hear from two young women, one a veteran, and the other who did a silent retreat for the first time. Their observations and reactions are powerful... Check out Dr. Mitsch's new book!By Dr. Ray Mitsch

Ever wondered what a silent retreat is like? Listen to two interviews from participants from a recent silent retreat. You will get to hear from a leader, and from a long-time participant in our retreats. Check out Dr. Mitsch's new book!By Dr. Ray Mitsch

Are New Year's resolutions all that effective? Tonight, millions of people are going to make resolutions that will all go the way of the dinosaurs by the end of January. Why bother? That is what this final episode of The Outpost podcast is about, and what we can consider doing instead that will actually change us for the long term. At the end of th…

We often play god more than we realize, and one of those ways is punishing ourselves when things aren't going well. The reality is that because we have such troubles with grace, we play god when we "correct" ourselves with shame. Different strategies for controlling our behavior are examined, and what impact it has on our spiritual journey and rela…

We love freedom. We love to talk about freedom. But what does it really mean for our relationships and trying to make the changes we desire in our lives. Are you living the old code in a new way, or a new code in an old way? Dr. Mitsch explores the three options we have for embracing the freedom that is ours, and how we are hesitant to live it.…

Comfortably enslaved? Are you kidding? Who wants to be enslaved? Yet, as Dr. Mitsch shows us we are comfortable in our enslavement to such a degree that we resist the change that would actually free us. Listen in to be provoked and challenged!By Dr. Ray Mitsch

Dr. Mitsch continues his exploration of grace, and what makes it so difficult for us to accept it. An interesting parallel is drawn between two Biblical men and how they responded to the grace that was given them when they had both betrayed or denied Jesus. In many ways, we are just like those men. Dr. Mitsch talks about the the power of the voice …

Dr. Mitsch explores the distortions and conclusions that so many people make about grace. What is it? What difference does it make ? How do we experience it? These are a few questions he considers as he tackles a subject that many people think they know, but don't live.By Dr. Ray Mitsch

Which do you prefer to change? Your motivation? Or, just emphasize your self-discipline? Often we forget that motivation matters. Because it matters so much, and it takes too much time we simply impose self-discipline and hope that it changes our motivation. Unfortunately, it never works. Listen in to find out more!…

The end of the retreat certainly didn't go as Dr. Mitsch had anticipated. Tune in to find out what happened, and how significant it was for the retreatants involved.By Dr. Ray Mitsch

Dr. Mitsch shares some observations from day three of the silent retreat for 2023. There were many similarities between what students confronted in their second night of debrief and how that relates to our everyday spiritual journey.By Dr. Ray Mitsch

Dr. Mitsch reports again from the fall silent retreat day two. Listen to see the unique place he is reporting from, and the observations he has to make that is every bit as applicable to our everyday lives as what has happened in the silent retreat. Check out the video podcast at www.bit.ly/outpost_media To donate to support continued participation…

Ever wondered what a silent retreat is like? Listen to this and the next two episodes to find out more and get an inside look at a silent retreat and the observations and insights offered by Dr. Mitsch To find out more about our next silent retreat and get more information about them visit: www.sgi-net.org.…

Dr. Mitsch brings his focus on toxic vs. non-toxic Christians to a close with the question, what kind of Christ-follower are you? He closes with the last two characteristics of these Christ-followers who are driven by connection rather than correction. Listen in to figure out what kind of Christ-follower you are!…

Continuing from our last podcast, Dr. Mitsch continues to explore the characteristics of connecting Christ-followers rather than correcting ones. He will look at depth at how these people handle boundaries, and how they understand and handle forgiveness. For more information about "Digital Setting New Boundaries" For more information about silent r…

Continuing from the last episode about toxic Christians, Dr. Mitsch shares a "matrix" that we can use to detect and discern the connection-motivated Christ-followers who provide a context in their relationships with us for our growth and acceptance.By Dr. Ray Mitsch

In this inaugural episode of The Outpost Podcast with Dr. Ray Mitsch, Dr. Mitsch gives a broad vision of the change from the Psych Monologues to The Outpost Podcast as well as Stained Glass International. The main focus of this podcast is examining the issue of toxic Christians, and why they have all the power that they do. What can we do to respon…

In this episode, Dr. Mitsch recounts the history of The Psych Monologues, and tells the development of SGI, and the vision for the future that is unfolding. Listen to this episode to hear some momentous news for the future of SGI and the Psych Monologues. It will be well worth 33 minutes of your time!…

Dr. Mitsch explores the next stage of the spiritual journey which is referred to as the "Discipled/Mentored Life." Listen in as he discusses the key characteristics, how to make progress in this stage of development, and the importance of choosing your mentor wisely since he/she will help you set the foundation of the rest of your journey.…

Dr. Mitsch explores the internal landscape of depression, and how it impacts our spiritual journey. Listen in and find insight and encouragement for those who are struggling with depression (and those are who are not).By Dr. Ray Mitsch

Continuing our series on the spiritual journey, Dr. Mitsch explores the characteristics and the issues that interfere with our growth during this part of our journey. Recognizing God as part of our lives or reintroducing ourselves to God is an important first step of the journey. What issues do we bring with us that interfere with the continuing jo…