Your Last Decade #28: Barnabas Piper

As we enter this new decade, I thought it would be fun to talk to a few friends and reflect back on what life was like 10 years ago. In these conversations, you’ll hear guests speak about what God has done in their life, their dreams and goals, things they would have done differently, and things they’re most proud of. And, looking back always causes me to look forward, so we’ll also chat about dreams for the next ten years! My guest today is Barnabas Piper. Barnabas is an author, a podcaster, and serves on staff at Immanuel Church in Nashville, TN. He currently lives in the Nashville suburbs with his two daughters and their dog, and is getting married this month! Friends, today’s conversation was so refreshing. In this episode, Barnabas and I talk all about life growing up in the church, what faith has looked like for him over the past decade, and some really exciting things for him on the horizon. Barnabas talks about starting this past decade by losing his job and the eventual collapse of his first marriage. He shares openly about what it was like to navigate divorce in the context of the church and the ways in which God has been working through his story. We chat about the tendency to be both judge and jury when dealing with painful things because, like Barnabas says, “It’s much easier to be emotionally and relationally disengaged, dealing only with the facts of the matter rather than sitting in the pain [of the other person].” You guys, I love the way he talks about the friends who wouldn’t let him go over the past decade -- the way God holds on to us is so dear. I am also so grateful for the vulnerability Barnabas offers us in this conversation and I think you’ll really be blessed by this conversation.