Better Than Not

BTN #153 – Pastor Ezra Okoti – The Battle Is Not Flesh and Blood

In this episode of Better Than Not, I again had the pleasure and privilege to speak with Pastor Ezra Okoti, Pastor of Multiplication at Northview Community Church in Abbotsford BC. In Ezra’s last visit, he talked about planting a new church in Chilliwack. In this episode, not only has Northview opened the church with Pastor Luke Etelamaki (Ep #84) but Ezra had spoken at the new church. Ezra talked about the experience. This time he also shared insights into spiritual warfare and the profound impact of the Gospel in various cultural contexts. Discover how faith transforms communities and the unseen spiritual battles that influence our lives. For more on Paster Ezra, you can find him at www.northview.org.

BTN #152 – Kira Shishkin – Wading Thru the News Deluge

Do you have challenges getting the news you want? Then this episode may be for you. Even seemed appropriate to be the first episode done both on rooftop and in the rain. I had the pleasure and privilege to speak with serial entrepreneur Kira Shishkin, founder and president of informed.now and recognized on Forbes 30 Under 30. Kira shared his journey from a traumatic car accident to founding four companies, the fourth of which—informed.now—is a revolutionary news platform, designed to cut through the deluge of available news to get us the news we need. Kira talked about the company, how he founded it and the machinations behind how it works. Learn how Kira and informed.now aims to restore trust in media, simplify news consumption, and empower individuals to think critically in a world overwhelmed by disinformation and advertising. Sign up for informed.now. For more on Kira, you can find him at www.kirashishkin.com.

BTN #151 – Bill Bell – From Sudbury To Big League

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the pleasure to speak with musician Bill Bell about his musical life--and what a journey! From his early days in Sudbury playing in garage bands and working in music stores to performing with legends like Alex Lifeson, Jason Mraz and Tom Cochran. Discover Bill’s insights into the music industry, song writing, and the importance of perseverance and “being real” in a career spanning over 45 years and still rocking. Bill shared some of the highs and lows of a life in music including aspects of mental health. He talked about his current projects as the newest member of The Lightfoot Band. You also can see him perform with his trio regularly at Shore Grill & Grotto in Port Credit. For more on Bill, his music and causes, you can find him at www.billbellmusic.com.

BTN #150 – Iain Provan – Cuckoos In Our Nest

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the pleasure and privilege to speak with historian and author Iain Provan, a retired professor from Regent College who now consults and lectures through his company The Cuckoos Consultancy. I met Iain at his lecture series on the History of Christianity, a course timed perfectly with my journey of faith. Iain shared insights into the importance of understanding history and how entrenched Christianity is in world history that extends into modern day. He explained how historical perspectives shape our current worldview and faith while exploring the profound implications of artificial intelligence and the importance of Christian reflection on big questions. He also spoke on the need for improved education in understanding history and our current technological challenges. Pick up his book Cuckoos In Our Nest. You can find Iain at www.iainprovan.ca.

BTN #149 – Jon Balzer – An Astounding Miracle of Life

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had occasion to again speak with Jon Balzer, father, entrepreneur and mover. Our first conversation was in audio format, Episode #10 of the podcast. In that episode, Jon told the story of how he and his wife adopted two boys, but he could only go so far with what he could say. In this heartfelt conversation, Jon shared the full story of his and his wife’s extraordinary journey in adopting twin boys after a decade-long wait, highlighting the events, emotional challenges, and profound lessons learned along the way. Discover how perseverance, faith, and an unexpected miracle transformed a family and redefined what it means to be a parent. To know more about Jon, or if you’re looking to move, you can find him at www.fraservalleymovers.ca.