The Getting Better Podcast

Sixty-Two Years at Stanfield: Pastor Delmus Bruce on Faith, Marriage, and Staying ConsistentPastor Delmus Bruce, 89, has pastored the Stanfield Church of God for 62 years, about 64 counting a stint in Washington state. He tells how he was saved in 1958, started preaching in 1959, and stayed faithful through decades of change. Hosts Gage and Gate (speaker labels in the recording are unclear) ask about his early ministry, his late wife Rose, and what keeps a pastor steady.In this episode:Beginnings: Bruce attended Stanfield as a child, taught in Sunday school by Lydia Gibson. God spoke to him at age 7 or 8, and he came to understand it 14 years later at the altar.First convert: While the pastor was away, Bruce preached and a woman with a pew full of children came to the altar and was saved.Washington years: He moved there in 1955, stayed eight years, and was saved, married, and had his first child there. He witnessed to churchgoers who had been baptized but never had a born-again experience.Rose: They married April 19, 1958, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, with $135 to his name. He calls her his best cheerleader, a gifted singer, and a prayer warrior. She died about 15 months before the recording.Pray before you move: After agreeing to a West Tennessee church, he spent an all-night prayer meeting and withdrew. He tells preachers to quit looking for a U-Haul and pray.Advice to his younger self: Prepare better. He took Lee College classes for a couple of years after returning to Tennessee.First sermon: About seven minutes, in a sawdust-floored basement, on "God loves you." A girl of about ten told him it was the best sermon she had heard.Consistency: Prayer first, then the Word, using Samuel and Hannah as examples. He has read his current Bible through 17 times.Legacy: He wants his family and congregation to carry the gospel and know God is the answer to every problem.Where he wants to grow: A deeper understanding of Scripture.

Getting Better Podcast with Kenny “Booger” AllenPastor, husband, father, and HVAC worker Kenny “Booger” Allen joins the Getting Better Podcast to share how faith has shaped his life—from being adopted and finding a sense of belonging to answering a call to preach and pastor.Kenny talks about living out faith beyond Sunday services, treating everyday work as a mission field, and looking for ways to serve people wherever life places you. He also reflects on fatherhood, how God prepares people over time, and the connection between physical and spiritual health.Faith can be lived out throughout the day, not only during church or devotional time.Ordinary work can become an opportunity to encourage and serve others.Kenny’s experiences with family, ministry, and waiting shaped how he understands his calling.He sees leading his children toward Christ as a parent’s responsibility.He is working on his physical health alongside his spiritual growth.

Finding Your Purpose in Why, Not WhatIn this episode of the Getting Better Podcast, We talk about purpose, fulfillment, and why people can mistake what they do for why they do it. We discuss five ways Christians are designed to find purpose: worship, family, becoming more like Christ, serving, and mission.Key topicsPurpose is not your job title, role, or hobby—it’s the reason behind what you do.Gage shares how he once thought being a teacher was his purpose, but came to see teaching as one way to live out a deeper purpose.The hosts discuss how tying fulfillment to a career or achievement can leave you feeling empty.Worship can be a way of life: doing everyday things in a way that honors God.Spiritual family and community help people find belonging, and each person has something meaningful to contribute.Becoming more like Christ is an active, ongoing process of growth.Serving others can bring fulfillment, especially when it shifts your focus beyond yourself.Mission means making Christ known through both your words and the way you live.The conversation closes with a reminder to live for something greater than yourself.Have you been treating a job or role as your purpose?How could you live out your deeper “why” in your everyday routine?What is one practical way you could serve someone this week?How could your life help make Christ known to the people around you?

Chris Norman’s Story of Faith, Freedom, and Family RestorationIn this episode of the Getting Better Podcast, Chris Norman shares how prayer, faith, and community helped him move toward a new life. He reflects on growing up around drugs and alcohol, the impact of his wife Brandy’s persistent prayers, and the turning points that helped him come home and leave drinking behind.Chris also talks about the role of church, small groups, Bible reading, and serving others in staying grounded. His message for anyone seeking change is simple: ask for help, surround yourself with godly people, and trust that a way forward can be made.

This episode of the Getting Better Podcast tackles a question everyone wrestles with: what actually counts as success? The conversation reframes success away from money, status, and achievement as moving targets, and toward two biblical markers that do not shift—faithfulness and fruitfulness. We discuss why external wins never fully satisfy, how to stay loyal to Jesus in ordinary daily life, and why fruit is the visible outcome of an unseen root system. The world’s version of success: money, status, achievement, appearance, freedom, and approvalWhy those goals become moving targets and cannot ultimately satisfyWhy motivation matters more than outward successA biblical definition of success: being faithful and fruitfulFaithfulness as daily loyalty to JesusFruitfulness as the long-term result of abiding in ChristJohn 15 and the call to remain in JesusThe parable of the talents and faithful stewardshipRobert Robinson’s story and the hymn “Come Thou Fount”Why small, faithful steps matterPaul’s goal of finishing the race and testifying to God’s grace

SummaryThis episode is about living with the kind of character that holds up in close relationships, not just from a distance. The hosts talk through the tension between image and integrity, especially in social media, family life, and church life, and why the people closest to you should know the real you best.

SummaryGarrett Reese joins the Getting Better Podcast for a faith-centered conversation about how calling develops over time, what ministry leadership really looks like, and why unity matters in churches, workplaces, and families. He shares how his faith became real in seasons of loss, how he moved from children’s ministry into vocational pastoring, and what he’s learning about leadership, preparation, and emotional steadiness.We discuss Garrett’s journey from a ministry family into pastoral work at Central Church of God, plus the practical realities of preaching, pastoring, and serving people through both celebration and grief.

Title: Embracing Growth: Key Choices for a Better Life and FaithHook:In this episode, we explore essential decisions that foster personal, spiritual, and relational growth. If you're looking to live intentionally, deepen your faith, and develop better habits, these insights can guide your journey toward a more fulfilled life.Main Topics:The power of consistency in spiritual and personal growthGuarding your content and influence for a healthier mind and spiritThe importance of accountability and community in making lasting changeServing others as a pathway to purpose and fulfillmentThe significance of being consistent, like training for a marathon or gym routines, backed by scripture from 1 Corinthians 9 and Galatians 6How the content we consume impacts our heart, mind, and spirit, referencing Matthew 12 and Proverbs 4The necessity of accountability, including the role of godly friends, mentors, and marriage in our growth journeyServing others as both modeling Christ’s example and enhancing mental health, supported by studies from Texas and AlabamaPractical steps for choosing to fix content, increase consistency, and live with intentionality1 Corinthians 9 - Bible GatewayGalatians 6 - Bible GatewayPhilippians 4:8 - Bible GatewayMatthew 12:34 - Bible GatewayThe University of Texas Study on Service & Cognitive Function/University of Alabama Birmingham Study on Giving & HappinessThe Getting Better Podcast - Instagram | SpotifyLiving intentionally involves deliberate choices—not just in what we do, but in what we consume, who we surround ourselves with, and how we serve others. Embark on this journey of transformation today, choosing growth step by step for a life of purpose and fulfillment.

In this episode, we explore the practicalities of listening to God's voice, emphasizing that it's often in the small, quiet moments that He speaks most clearly. Whether through Scripture, prompts, or the still small voice, learn how to cultivate a closer relationship with God by attuning your ear to His gentle whispers.Key TopicsThe misconception that God only speaks in grand ways and how He whispers in small momentsPersonal stories of sensing God's prompts in everyday life, including random acts of kindness and obedienceHow to ask God to speak and create space to hear Him throughout the dayThe importance of proximity and relationship in hearing God's whisperBiblical examples: Samuel, Elijah, and God’s whisper in the stormPractical steps: daily listening routines, memorizing Scripture, and obeying the small nudgesThe significance of obedience in the small things as preparation for bigger acts of faithThe role of Scripture as a light guiding one step at a timeRecognizing that God's voice aligns with His Word and discerning false prophets or influencesThe balance between seeking audible communication and trusting the small, steady prompts

Explore the inspiring journey of a Grammy-winning and Dove award-winning producer as he shares how faith, creativity, and community shape his life and work. This episode dives into how music can be a spiritual practice, a tool for ministry, and a source of purpose.Main Topics Covered:The origins of Christian hip hop and early musical influencesThe spiritual significance and purpose behind music productionThe role of community and mentorship in creative growthThe connection between faith, creativity, and stewardshipReal-life stories of providence and God's orchestrating hand in their careersPractical advice for nurturing creativity through self-care and spiritual disciplineThe importance of collaboration and community in maximizing gifts