way good life with Eli Shackelford

Started this little poem on a walk with my dog Patch. I was overwhelmed by the goodness and grace of life. Enjoy.

Music by Taylor Lacey of Salt Lake City. Support him wherever music is found.

So...This one sat in my computer for a bit. Didn't feel finished. Not even close. Not even close to close. Just a couple of thoughts about some of the best people I've known. Not finished. The title might be the best part. This is about my friends in the disability community, but I don't do them justice and I can't possibly communicate how much they've changed my life. But. It's been the block to my podcast- so time to unblock. Here we go. Blessings.

I used to have a yellow canoe. It was a rehabbed canoe, like some of you. This episode is the beginning of some thoughts on broken systems and messed up processes. Cause life is way good, but sometimes we miss it, mess it up, and lose our way. This is the beginning of some thoughts on restructuring, reclaiming, and reimagining how life could go even better.

Here's a new track from my buddy Tayler Lacey.

Blessings.

My family plays hard. Whether we're wrestling on the living room floor or exploring through the mountains...but this big snow? Enough is enough. We've had at least a foot more since I recorded this. I was shoveling this morning! The snow's not really the point though. It's how much each of us can handle and why we need each other to carry some of the load. We're about healthy over here at Way Good Life. It will be a constant effort to let things go and pursue the good. Tunes by my buddy Tayler Lacey. Blessings.    

Ahhh. 

My friend Markie. She was one of the special ones. Unique. Rare. Good. 

This is a little tribute to her and also to the beauty of regular old humanity. Scars. Blemishes. Shortcomings. Imperfections. And. Complexities. The whole package. 

May you have a Markie and may you be a Markie to someone else. 

Music by my buddy Tayler Lacey of the one and only Salt Lake City. 

I've got some changes coming up. Stay tuned to hear more. 

Be blessed. 

Took a little break from 'The Bible Sessions' episodes. You'll see those continued here and there. But this little break happened cause I sold my minivan last night, and it was a strange experience. I met these super sweet dudes from Chilli and Peru. A dad, an uncle, and a son. I don't know anyone that I would rather have sold my minivan to, but it did bring up some strange emotions, which seemed to call for a podcast episode. So I sat down and wrote a quick one. About minivans and soccer camps; about road trips, and first cars. Hopefully, my thoughts will cause some even deeper thoughts of your own. 

Still rocking tunes from the one and only, pretty great, Tayler Lacey. This song is called, "Family Dinner" and communicates deep truths from a modern folk artist. 

Blessings good people. 

WGL: The Bible Sessions is all about working thru some misconceptions around the best-selling book of all time. We're hoping to clarify what it is and what it isn't and most of all...why it matters. The Bible ya'll. Here we go. Send questions, comments, or snarky remarks and I'll try to respond with grace and love. 

Still trying to figure out mics, recordings, and mixing---apologies for the echo. 

Music by Taylor and Daniel. My friends. 

I'm tired of the Bible being weaponized. I'm tired of it being used to manipulate, wound, kill, and abuse. So I'm doing a short series that will be fairly different in hopes of stirring up hope for the potential in the pages of this ancient document.

My hope is that this series will help renew your hope in what the Bible is and what it is not.

"When the Bible is used to curse humanity. You should reject it. Because the Bible would reject itself at that point."- Eli

I know. Trust me, I know there are mixed feelings about this book and its history...  Stick with me, I think you'll be blessed.

Book reference: The Bible Unwrapped by Meghan Larissa Good

Podcast reference: The Bible Project bibleproject.com

Intro music by Taylor Lacey

Outro song by Daniel Pimentel

Please support our local artists.

Blessings my friends.

More questions ya'll... Cause why not? 

I eventually land on a question from some 1st-century writings that changed my life. Quite literally. I discovered this question from the pen of Dr. Luke over 20 years ago and I ask it to myself at least weekly. It's a good one. And if you start asking it...It will change your life too. Enjoy. 

Tunes from my buddy Daniel Pimentel.

Dryer beeps from my daughter, who was doing laundry while I recorded. lol.   

Blessings. 

This is about trust as one of the currencies that builds life. Trust as a way of giving away power. Trust as a way of leadership and growth. You've been trusted, now exercise your trust in others as a way of investing in our world. 

Music once again by my friends Taylor Lacey and Daniel Pimentel.

Be blessed.

Naming is a sacred task. A God-gifted identity. Don't miss out on your potential, but also handle your people with care. 

Poetry blurb by Eli.

Music intro by Taylor Lacey.

Ending song by Daniel Pimentel. 

Support local artists and name your people well. It matters.  

It's Been Way Too Long. But we're back at it. Because seasons season us, don't they? Some musing on the seasons of life and how we get to navigate them. 

Thanks for following. Thanks for sharing. As always, Sunday sermon style messages can be found on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CornerstoneEvangelicalFreeChurch

Look me up anytime. I'll gladly make time for a conversation. 

Intro track by Taylor Lacey https://open.spotify.com/artist/6yOxgeXOvrvNJo7FrV2KVm?si=soFs8IUQQUK6hBkMpEnmMA&dl_branch=1

Ending song by Daniel Pimentel https://open.spotify.com/artist/4spIggVfYbznaA8dpxVxKA?si=ncVcS0U_RWOtWudyDqY-sg&dl_branch=1 

I have been writing poems since I was about 11. I publish, release, share, or whatever, about 1 in a 1,000. Seriously. I write a lot of dang poems and there's no telling which ones will make it out. My all time favorite: "The day I stabbed Jesus with a fork over coffee", only got shared with 3-4 people. My 3rd or 4th favorite, "When Jesus looked death in the eyeball", got shared with 1000's. There's just no telling.    

Anyway, here's a little bonus episode about letting go of sacred things to embrace more sacreder things. Praying that this lil' snapshot is your journey too.

Cause you gotta know, if you want more space, somethings gotta go. That thing you believed when you were 5, doesn't need to die, but it should evolve to survive. That's just the way of life. Growth is good. Hope you enjoy.

Taylor Lacey gets credit for his sweet tunes and willingness to let me pepper the cast with them. Gracias amigo.

And blessings to each one of you.

Relational debt is the worst. That's letting people from your past control your future. This episode is all about releasing that debt. Let it go. Just do it. You will be healthier and your life will be fuller. 

Music comes from an old pal Garrett Thorn. Please find his band (The Northern Lights) on Spotify and support him: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1hGRxQQhEkAcXnAf7qUGKe 

As always Sunday message type talks go out every week and can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/CornerstoneEvangelicalFreeChurch

Please support the show by liking, rating, reviewing, or committing to a monthly donation. Any funds that come in only go out to help WGL work. 

Blessings! 

I'm tired of black lives being taken. Please do something. This didn't get the time I wanted, because I really just needed to get it out.   Music intro by Daniel Pimentel. Song, 'Hold on' by Tim Drisdom. Some resources:  https://bethebridge.com. Drew Hart's book 'Trouble I've Seen'. Brian Stevenson. Ibram X. Kendi. Propaganda's work... 

Phil Vischer (The veggie tales guy )https://youtu.be/AGUwcs9qJXY

Some Films:

13th: Netflix

Just Mercy (the film version) 

When They See Us: Netflix

Birth of a Nation: Amazon Prime, YouTube TV, iTunes, Apple TV

Time: The Kalief Browder Story: Netflix

That should get you started. Now. Please. Do the work.    

Some proverbs for your enjoyment. But also a reminder: "Things spoken to you are only of value if they take up residence within you ."- Eli- WGL

Music from Tayler: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6yOxgeXOvrvNJo7FrV2KVm?si=McHi-NnuRsyhNNPF8XWlJg

More Bibley stuff from Eli every Sunday: https://www.facebook.com/CornerstoneEvangelicalFreeChurch/

Also, look up the Bible Project guys...These dudes are great! https://bibleproject.com/explore/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAv6yCBhCLARIsABqJTjbPlOOleqJTZ9M3QHGxysA3DcDZq7gNojP28eqStVQZvUefXcZxHCQaAjbHEALw_wcB

And I mentioned a Rend Collective song...also great: https://youtu.be/qd7R1H79Vok

Blessings to you and on your endeavors. 

What do you do when what you're doing isn't working? Change what you're doing of course.

This episode is just a reminder that growth matters. That moving forward is good. That God is always calling. And. That chasing horses is not fun. Blessings my friends. 

Another tune from Tayler Lacey. 

For Sunday-style messages hop on my Facebook page. 

And thank you for your support. I couldn't do this without you. 

Blessings on top of blessings. 

Friends. This one may be the most personal yet. I met a guy (Gabe) who got me thinking about all the people I've been blessed to know. Now, I could only include a tiny sample. There are so many more! Here's a shout out to a few, but also a hope that you would remember yours and that you would engage in those that God is still bringing to your door. Here's to the hope that you would say "YES" to the people around you. 

Music is from my new friends (what up Gabe!) at Kingdom Muzic. Their tunes can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36mpmb80iVo&feature=youtu.be        And everywhere. 

Blessings. 

The question is... Everything. So ask, enjoy, pursue, and then ask again! This is just scratching the surface of a better way to be alive. 

Music by Tayler Lacey. Look him up and support his art. 

Thank you all who support this podcast and the work that fills my life with meaning. 

I am humbled by you and grateful for the opportunity to speak life to life.

Be blessed. Be blessed. 

Happy New Years! This is a bit of a repeat, but also one of my life themes so...Born from an ongoing conversation with my favorite human, written in a car full of my other favorite humans, recorded in a closet in St George...Finally out for your ears. Cause...Tadpoles. Legs. Raspberries. And Life.   

Music by Tayler Lacey.

If a Sunday message is more your thing head over to my FB page.

Please share, rate, review, and share!

Blessings my friends.   

Christmas eve ya'll so I'm pulling out some Bible. But have no fear, this little passage is full of fire, in the best of ways. Here's to you seeing the prophetess Mary in a new way and also letting your inner prophet out.  Merry Christmas. 

Music by good buddy Tayler Lacey.  Support him where ever homegrown music is found. 

Support this Podcast through Anchor FM. I have my first financial supporter and am so beyond excited. Thank you Leanne Hebling!

As always, if you're looking for a Sunday message thing, they can be found on my FB page for a few more weeks.

Oh, and I'm pretty stinking available if you ever just want to chat.  

Merry Christmas.

This one got sadder than I intended...but there's some sadness out there and I barely scratched the surface. So. Let's call it what it is and move on. The new is always calling and the good is always discoverable. Let's go in that direction. Eyes open. Ears tuned. Where is the DIVINE breathing new life in your world right now?

Music for this show was provided by an old buddy Ross Thorn! How fun is that? 

As always, if a Sunday message is more your thing, I am still doing FB live every Sunday on my FB page. 

Cheers.   

Floods. Buckets. Turkeys. Birthdays. Deaths. Roadtrips. And conversations. 

WGL today is all about being present. Being present until it just becomes being. Because present, tuned in, awake, eyes open, and hearts full, really is the best way to be. You're there anyway, so make the moments count. 

Music by Tayler Lacey of Salt Lake City. 

Look up Eli Shackelford on Facebook for Sunday Church style messages. 

And keep going after the good life, my friends!  

We humans spend so much time and management on what's coming out. What's being produced. Controlling and regulating behavior. But there's a far better. Simpler. Truer way to get to goodness. Enjoy this one and ask yourself some questions! 

Music by Tayler Lacey.

Hit me up with your questions.

This life is good. Don't settle for less. 

There's always more to the story. More going on. So much more. 

So stop trying to know, guess, or control and just understand that you don't understand. Grace upon grace upon grace. I share a couple of quick stories in this one. But you have your own. You know these things are true. So, let's add grace to every situation. Love well. Be generous. Those things always come back to you anyway. Let's go! 

Music By Tayer Lacey: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6yOxgeXOvrvNJo7FrV2KVm?si=9_M0aERcSd6WhX6FcZM3ow

Follow Sunday messages here:  https://www.facebook.com/eliupnorth/

Uncle Drew reference...Literally, Google: "Uncle Drew". 

This episode comes near the end of 2020. The year of revealing some things that have been here all along. Just some thoughts on uncovering truth. Easy when looking at other's lives. Often very hard when looking at our own. Welcome to uncovering. The end times. The apocalypse.  

Music today is provided by one of my favorite local artists. Daniel Pimentel is from Salt Lake, but now lives in Honduras. This guy gives his life well and embodies Way Good Life values in so many ways. Please support him here: https://danielpimentel.bandcamp.com/music 

Please share these podcasts with your buddies.

Who is pulling you? What is pushing you? What are these invisible forces that are driving you or holding you back? The point of this episode is that you can control those...at least somewhat. So who are you becoming and where are you going? It depends. Who is pushing and who is helping hold you back? And my son now has a six-wheeler.

Music by Tayler Lacey. 

Follow Eli Shackelford if you're into Sunday messages as well. https://www.facebook.com/eliupnort

Pizza. Cigarettes. Cool Tee-Shirts and so much more. I'm kicking off with a fun little story that led to some interesting thoughts on being with people.

Music by Taylor Lacey; a Salt Lake City local folk artist and good friend.