When Plans Fall Apart… On Purpose

I recently joined Brad Minus on the Life-Changing Challengers podcast, and we had a rich conversation about life’s unexpected turns—those moments when doors close, plans unravel, and you’re left wondering what just happened. I shared how my journey began in a small Colorado town, raised as a pastor’s kid, and how a passion for the theater led to a personal crossroads during college.

I thought I’d be directing plays on Broadway. Instead, God directed me into ministry, leadership, and stewardship—real-life stories far more meaningful than anything I could’ve scripted on stage. That redirection happened not because I had everything figured out, but because I finally stopped performing and started paying attention.

Permission to Try, Even If You Miss

One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is the freedom to fail. That phrase stuck with me early in my ministry years when I was suddenly reassigned without warning. What looked like a demotion ended up being my launchpad. With no roadmap and zero experience, I was handed 29 boxes of forgotten pledge cards and told, “Figure it out.”

So I did. Not because I knew how, but because I believed God would meet me in the trying. And He did. Over time, I discovered that failure isn’t final—it’s often formative. Giving ourselves the grace to try, adjust, and try again isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom. It’s faith in action.

From Managing Chaos to Stewarding Purpose

Much of our conversation also touched on what it means to steward your life intentionally—not just your money, but your time, your challenges, and even your disappointments. Whether it was dealing with a rare eye condition for 57 years or navigating the grief of losing my wife, I’ve learned this: stewardship doesn’t mean having control. It means being faithful with what you’ve been given—especially in seasons that don’t make sense.

When we live like stewards instead of owners, we begin to see our setbacks as setups. And we start asking better questions: What does God want me to do with this? Who can be blessed because of what I’ve been through?