Faith in Practice: Episode 33: God Has A Long Nose w/ Bekah Strangairty

Faith in Practice: Episode 33: God Has A Long Nose w/ Bekah Strangairty

In this episode of Faith in Practice, Kurt Kessler sits down with Bekah Strangarity, Next Steps Director at Manheim BIC, to wrestle with a question many Christians have asked: Is the God of the Old Testament angry and wrathful, while the God of the New Testament is loving and merciful? Together, Kurt and Bekah unpack Exodus 34, where God reveals His own name and character: merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and faithful. Bekah explains how the Hebrew language gives deeper meaning to these descriptions, including the image of God’s mercy being like a mother’s compassion for her child and His patience being described as “long of nose.” The conversation also explores God’s justice, the consequences of sin, generational effects, Jesus’ teaching in the New Testament, and how our identity as beloved children of God changes the way we deal with shame, failure, and recurring sin. If you’ve ever struggled to reconcile God’s wrath with His mercy, or wondered whether God is disappointed in you, this episode offers a hopeful and deeply biblical reminder: God’s heart has always been merciful, compassionate, patient, and pursuing relationship with His people. CONNECT: Kurt: hpsportspt@gmail.com [hpsportspt@gmail.com]    IG: https://www.instagram.com/higherpowersportspt/ [https://www.instagram.com/higherpowersportspt/] Bekah: RebekahS@manheimbic.org [RebekahS@manheimbic.org]

Episode 33: Can You Prevent Injury?

Can you actually prevent injury… or is that a myth? In this episode, Kurt tackles one of the biggest debates in sports medicine: injury prevention vs unpredictability. On one side, everything can be trained, measured, and managed. On the other, there are simply too many variables to control. So what’s the truth? Breaking down factors like strength, endurance, intensity, stress, nutrition, hydration, workload, and external forces, Kurt walks through both sides of the argument—and lands in the middle. Chapters: 00:00 – Can You Actually Prevent Injury? 03:00 – What Leads to Injury (Strength, Fatigue, Intensity) 08:30 – Lifestyle Factors: Stress, Nutrition, Hydration 13:30 – Workload, Training & Unpredictable Injuries 17:10 – The Truth: Injury Prevention vs Risk Reduction Connect with Kurt: Instagram: @higherpowersportspt

Faith in Practice: Episode 32: Jesus' Dream Team

Everybody loves a dream team… until it’s your rival building it. In this episode, Kurt uses sports—from LeBron’s superteams to personal basketball stories—to explore a deeper question: why do we chase talent, security, and proven success… while Jesus chose the exact opposite? When Jesus builds His team in the Gospels, He doesn’t recruit the most qualified, polished, or influential people. He chooses fishermen, a tax collector, a zealot—ordinary, unproven individuals with messy backgrounds and conflicting perspectives. So why them? This episode breaks down the contrast between how the world builds teams and how Jesus builds people—and what that means for how we see others and ourselves. Chapters: 00:00 – Why We Build “Dream Teams” 03:30 – My Personal Dream Team Story 09:00 – How Jesus Built His Team 13:30 – Why Jesus Chose the Unqualified 17:30 – What This Means for How You See People If you’ve ever felt unqualified, overlooked, or unsure of your place, this episode offers a different perspective: Jesus isn’t building a team of the best—He’s building people who are willing. Connect with Kurt: Instagram: @higherpowersportspt

Episode 32: Data Driven Return to Sport

When is an athlete actually ready to return to sport? In this episode, Kurt breaks down what data-driven return to play really means—and why timelines alone aren’t enough. Being pain-free or hitting a certain number of weeks post-injury doesn’t equal readiness. Using real-world examples (including ACL rehab), Kurt walks through the key metrics he uses to make return-to-play decisions: * Strength and limb symmetry (and why 90% may not be enough) * Peak force and rate of force development * Plyometric readiness and workload progression * Sport-specific demands and performance standards The goal isn’t just getting back on the field—it’s staying there. This episode explains how proper testing and progression can significantly reduce re-injury risk and set athletes up for long-term success. If you’re an athlete, parent, or coach trying to understand when it’s truly safe to return, this episode provides a clear framework for making better decisions. Chapters: 00:00 – What Is Data-Driven Return to Play? 02:00 – Strength, Symmetry & Why 90% Matters 07:30 – Power, Reaction Time & Neurological Recovery 11:30 – Plyometrics, Workload & Building Capacity 15:30 – Meeting the Demands of Sport (Not Just Rehab) Connect with Kurt: Instagram: @higherpowersportspt

Faith in Practice: Episode 31: The Upside Down Kingdom

What does success actually look like? We’re taught to chase comfort, money, influence, and control. But when you slow down and really study the Gospels, Jesus points in a completely different direction. In this episode, Kurt breaks down the idea of the “upside down kingdom”—a kingdom where strength starts with need, where the overlooked are seen, and where the people we avoid are often the ones Jesus moves toward. Walking through real examples from Scripture—the leper, the woman at the well, Matthew the tax collector, the sinful woman, and more—this episode highlights a consistent pattern: what we naturally pursue, Jesus often rejects… and what we naturally avoid, He pursues. This isn’t just theology—it’s a direct challenge to how we define success, build our lives, and interact with others. If you’ve ever felt the tension between ambition and faith, comfort and obedience, or success and surrender, this episode will make you take a hard look at what you’re actually chasing. Chapters: 00:00 – What Does Success Actually Look Like? 02:30 – The Upside Down Kingdom Explained 07:30 – Who Jesus Moves Toward (Real Gospel Examples) 18:30 – Wealth, Comfort, and Dependence on God 23:30 – Rethinking Your Values & What You’re Chasing Connect with Kurt: Instagram: @higherpowersportspt