Hole in My Heart Podcast

You guysssss!!!!! After over a year off of the air, the Hole in My Heart Podcast is back!!! We are back and we got a shiny new studio and some awesome new friends who are producing this thing. Through a new partnership with West Michigan's 91.3 WCSG, the Hole in My Heart Podcast has the opportunity to reach more people with the truth that the gospel is good news for *everyone* every day. (!!) Today, Laurie, Matt, and Steve get behind the microphones (and cameras!) to re-acclimate long time listeners and welcome new ones. We do this by: --Playing Two Truths and a Lie with each other (Can you guess the right answer?) --Talk about how the gospel has *still* been good news for us in the last year  --Offer how the podcast began, how we connected to WCSG, and why we named it “Hole in My Heart” anyway…? --Engage a conversation about sin, neediness, and why we run to things we don't truly want or need --Share what we are looking forward to in the new season of HIMH!! (Eek!) //Highlights// “Whether or not I get healed (I don't know), I do know eternal [victory] is guaranteed.” —Laurie Krieg “Often times, we can look at our needs and think they are character flaws or deficiencies when in actuality they are created order.”—Matt Krieg “I am excited about integrating. I think God has been working on me a lot on integrating—on becoming a real, whole person.”—Steve O'Dell //Do the Next Thing// Want to watch this episode? Visit www.wcsg.org/all-podcasts We mention these episodes: --Episode 24: Is There Hope for Us?: https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/you-and-me-forever-%E2%80%8Bchapter-5-is-there-hope-for-us/ --The Marriage Series: https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/you-and-me-forever-chapter-1-marriage-is-not-that-great/ Want to answer the Question of the Week for Next Week? How would you answer this... "Nothing gets geriatric [insert your generation name] going like... [Coldplay, Polly Pockets, Atari, the weather forecast...etc."] Email us at podcast@lauriekrieg.com or find a community with other listeners on the HIMH Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/himhpodcast

Well, dear family, we have an announcement. What is it? First, let's hang out for a while, and talk about... 1. How did that "word for the year" go for you? 2. In light of that reality, how has the gospel been uniquely good news for you this year? 3. What is coming next for the podcast and our ministry in 2022? We'd love for you to sit at the podcast table one more time with us. :) | Highlights | "If you are listening and you feel this frenetic burden to go and save the world, Jesus already did that. Abide in Him, walk in Him, and He will show you how to have your doing come from your being." -Laurie Krieg “[Let's] not just be like, ‘Well, that's just Christianity, isn't it? It's suffering.' …No, that's not why Jesus came, so that we have to suffer and hate everything. There's this good desire in us for this shalom and this peace. And if you want that, that's a good desire.” -Laurie Krieg | Do the Next Thing | Interested in coaching or consulting with yourself or your ministry? Visit lauriekrieg.com/contact and select "Coaching/Consulting" in the drop down menu. Want to send a note about how this podcast has affected you? Rate and review it, or email us at podcast@lauriekrieg.com. We also mention these episodes—check ‘em out! * Practically Living Life in the Presence of God with Ken Boa: https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/practically-living-life-in-the-presence-of-god/ * How to Not Give Up with Christine Caine: https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/the-world-is-throwing-discouragement-at-us-how-can-we-not-give-up/ * First Episode of Season 5! https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/take-two-is-there-hope-for-us-with-matt-and-laurie-krieg/ Looking for community with other podcast listeners? Join our Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/himhpodcast If you need a fresh look at Scripture, the CSB translation is a sponsor of the HIMH podcast! Learn more about our new favorite Bible at csbible.com.

The ugly truth has just come out. One spouse has just confessed to unfaithfulness and the other is reeling in shock. Where do we go from here? Is there hope for a marriage in crisis? Does Jesus have something to say to this place? We are thrilled to bring back our friends Johnny and Amanda McKenna, who have been in this place and walked through—with Jesus' help—to the other side. Give us a listen? | Highlights | “Pray the prayer that was prayed over me, which is a super scary prayer to pray…but that prayer of ‘Whatever needs to come into the light, come into the light.' Days before my confession, I was told that that prayer was being prayed over me.” -Johnny McKenna “I…have to trust that God's gonna be there…when everything does come out and the pieces are ready to be put back together and God can begin His restoration work.” -Johnny McKenna | Do the Next Thing | Missed our first conversation with Johnny and Amanda? Check it out here! https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/take-two-broken-beloved-pastors-with-johnny-and-amanda-mckenna/ Looking for community with other podcast listeners? Join our Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/himhpodcast If you need a new look at Scripture, the CSB translation is a sponsor of the HIMH podcast! Learn more about our new favorite Bible at csbible.com.  We would love it if you would rate the podcast for us, on any of your favorite listening platforms!

Did you know that CS Lewis' lifelong best friend was gay? Did you know that Francis Schaeffer was against orientation-change pursuit for gay people? Did you know that Billy Graham was a compassionate defender of gay people who fell into sexual sin? Did you know that John Stott encouraged the church to "repent of the crippling 'homophobia'... which has coloured the attitudes toward homosexual people of too many of us, and call our fellow Christians to similar repentance”? You guys...the church wasn't always so terrible at the LGBTQ conversation, praise God. Pastor and author Greg Johnson helped us understand this truth as he unpacked the church's history, but he also shined light on some of the more dark shadows of our past and current state as he shared his own journey as a celibate pastor who experiences attractions to the same sex. This is not an episode to miss... | Highlights | “[John] Stott said, 'If the Church can't be family for gay people, if they can't be known and loved and understood within the Church, then the Church needs to quit calling itself the family of God.'” -Greg Johnson | Do the Next Thing | Want to hear more from Greg? Go get his book! https://www.amazon.com/Still-Time-Care-Churchs-Homosexuality/dp/B08TTLFX4T You can also check him out on Christianity Today! https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/may-web-only/greg-johnson-hide-shame-shelter-gospel-gay-teenager.html Looking for community with other podcast listeners? Join our Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/himhpodcast If you need a new look at Scripture, the CSB translation is a sponsor of the HIMH podcast! Learn more about our new favorite Bible at csbible.com. Watch this conversation! https://vimeo.com/653114160

In a world of pain, identity can be hard to find. With a diagnosis of PTSD, it can be even harder. How do we navigate knowing who we are—and equally important, who God is, in a world that assaults us with lies day in and day out? How do we do that with trauma? With cheerfulness and grace, Bonnie Gray tells her story and helps to answer these questions. Listen with us? | Highlights | “If you go through trauma and you don't have Jesus, you're gonna have to be a better version than what you were before…. But if we have Jesus, we say, ‘You know what, I can't do it. And the beauty is that I don't have to do it all. Life can be beautiful, even if it's not perfect.'” -Bonnie Gray | Do the Next Thing | Want more of Bonnie? Check out her website! thebonniegray.com We love her book! Go grab it here. Sweetlikejasmine.com Enjoyed listening today? You can find Bonnie's podcast here. https://www.lifeaudio.com/breathe-the-stress-less-podcast/ Looking for community with other podcast listeners? Join our Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/himhpodcast If you need a new look at Scripture, the CSB translation is a sponsor of the HIMH podcast! Learn more about our new favorite Bible at csbible.com.  Watch this conversation! https://vimeo.com/645462589

Emotional health is something that can feel elusive and impossible. But is it? And even if "attaining" total emotional health on this side of eternity is unlikely, what steps can we take to at least walk toward it? And why do we need to? With the wisdom and tenderness of a kind father figure, pastor and author, Pete Scazerro, helps us answer some of our questions about the pursuit of emotional health. Together we explore the above questions as well as: Why is the usual church-discipling paradigm to live burned out and overextended?  What if we say "no" to people and they get mad at us. How do we process that? Are there really two types of people in the world: the helpers and the helped? We'd love to have you join the conversation. | Highlights | “Say the United States is gonna cease to be a world power, and fall, and become this dominated country by another country. We may live through that. I mean, who knows what's gonna happen? The point is: COVID, all the pressures, are putting pressure on our inner life. But, you see, if you can develop an inner life with God that's robust, the Roman Empire can fall, but you're okay. Because your happiness is not dependent on your circumstances.” -Pete Scazerro | Do the Next Thing | For resources on building a Rule of Life, click here! https://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/RULE-OF-LIFE-WORKBOOK.pdf And here is the logic behind it! https://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/tag/rule-of-life/?campaignid={campaigned}&adgroupid=74638576022&feeditemid=&loc_interest_ms=&loc_physical_ms=9029029&network=g&device=c&devicemodel=&keyword=&matchtype=b&placement=&adposition=&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrJOMBhCZARIsAGEd4VEiiWRrnhR3U2-Zp7wVh5xEI-Db6f6iQp2buZv5FztkcysYf0W0p_YaArueEALw_wcB Want more of Pete? Check out his website here: https://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/about/about-pete/ You can also see his books here: https://www.amazon.com/Peter-Scazzero/e/B001H6MMFW%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share Looking for community with other podcast listeners? Join our Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/himhpodcast If you need a new look at Scripture, the CSB translation is a sponsor of the HIMH podcast! Learn more about our new favorite Bible at csbible.com. Watch this Conversation! https://vimeo.com/642906570

Sometimes, God wants to use counseling to help us heal. Sometimes, it's the Bible. Sometimes, it's the powerful word from a dear friend. Sometimes, it's prayer. Sometimes (oftentimes?), it's all of the above. When Michelle Kyle and I (Laurie) met together for coaching, she said she felt “stuck.” I didn't know if I could help her get unstuck, but using a prayer technique I have been engaging for 15 years, I thought I would give it a try.  What did we do?  Did she get unstuck? What was the process, and how can I engage something like that today? What cautions do Matt and I have when engaging this process? Join us for this powerful and practical conversation on listening prayer and we will dive into these answers and more. | Highlights | “I just remember praying, ‘God, you're gonna have to do something, because I literally close my eyes and I usually see nothing.' And so I did….And all of a sudden, I did, it happened, and I could see myself on the edge of the pier.” -Michelle Kyle “You [Laurie] had asked me, ‘Do you want to invite Jesus into that space?' And I said, ‘Well, He's actually already there.'” -Michelle Kyle | Do the Next Thing | Want to learn more about listening prayer? Check out Matt's episode about it here: https://soundcloud.com/laurie-krieg/bonus-safe-place-prayer-with-matt?si=e53b760ef7ea4517aa73337b9b1e6ac7 We talk about it in this episode, too! https://soundcloud.com/laurie-krieg/himh-pod-ep86-mixdown?si=e5fe719f42be4e2ea72ca71b37320c51 Looking for more resources? We're big fans of HealingCare.org. If you need a new look at Scripture, the CSB translation is a sponsor of the HIMH podcast! Learn more about our new favorite Bible at csbible.com.

This is another episode we would pay you to listen to if we could.  Do you approach your friendships, your work, or the pain in your life more as the orphan, the stranger, or the widow?  Don't know what that means? We didn't either until we read “Redeeming Heartache” and then talked with the brilliant psychologist, Dr. Dan Allender, and to our new wise friend, author and therapist Cathy Loerzel. Dan and Cathy helped us understand each of these approaches to the world, and invited us to live redeemed as a priest, prophet, or king and queen.   Together we explore: What if I don't think I've ever had trauma? Do I still need to do heart work? Why do I need to look back at my past? My present is hard enough. Why do I act this way in challenging situations? Join us? | Highlights | “To be able to rest and receive delight and have gratitude, you need to be able to be open to what other people can offer you.... So if you're never in that place of being able to receive that with an open, trusting heart, then you're always…coiled up and ready for the place that you're gonna be harmed next. So it keeps you from being able to receive surprise and delight and play because you're always, always, always looking around the corner.” -Cathy Loerzel “The reality is we all bear some of the effects of the Fall, and that's what we're calling trauma.” -Dan Allender “You can't heal the present without going back to the past.” --Cathy Loerzel | Do the Next Thing | Want more of these two? Go read their book, Redeeming Heartache! https://www.amazon.com/Redeeming-Heartache-Suffering-Reveals-Calling/dp/0310362016 Check out the Allender Center, which both Dan and Cathy are a part of founding and leading! https://theallendercenter.org Dan is a veteran on the podcast! Here's our first episode with him. https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/sexuality-and-shame-with-dan-allender/ Looking for a fresh way to read Scripture? The CSB translation is a sponsor of the HIMH podcast! Learn more about our new favorite Bible at csbible.com.  Want something deeper than just the podcast? Join our Facebook group and discuss with us! https://www.facebook.com/groups/434827357279517 Watch this conversation! (COMING SOON)

Without unnecessary clutching of our metaphorical pearls, when we look around, it does seem like there is something going on spiritually when it comes to an attack on the human body. What's going on? Pastor and author Sam Allberry, a friend of the show and author of the new book “What God Has to Say about Our Bodies: How the Gospel Is Good News for Our Physical Selves” helps us answer this question and more. Together, we explore:  Why is our body an integral part of our true selves? How can we walk with our friends who experience gender dysphoria? Why does it seem like so many people are giving up right now when it comes to making potentially harmful choices with their bodies?  How can we address gender without using a list of “This is what it is NOT,” but “This is what it is?” Why is shame so often related to our bodies? We'd love to have you sit your embodied self down at the podcast table and join us for this needed conversation. | Highlights | “The very yearning itself is a reflection that we're made in God's Image…. We sense there should be more than there is, that there should be a sense of wholeness and of satisfaction and completion that seems to elude us…. But the fact that we're foreign means that our understanding of that is incomplete and our ways forward with that feeling are very twisted and skewed as well.” -Sam Allberry | Do the Next Thing | Want more of Sam Allberry? Start here, with his book! https://www.amazon.com/What-God-Has-about-Bodies/dp/1433570157/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=sam+allberry&qid=1634328428&sr=8-3 Don't have time for the whole book? He also has a blog! You can check it out here. https://samallberry.com/blog He can also be found as a contributor on the Gospel Coalition! Here's this article he wrote on the significance of the rainbow (yes, that rainbow) for all of us. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/safety-rainbow/ Looking for a fresh way to read Scripture? The CSB translation is a sponsor of the HIMH podcast. Learn more about our new favorite Bible at csbible.com! Follow Laurie on Instagram for updates! https://www.instagram.com/laurie_krieg/?hl=en

Desires: We all have ‘em. And sometimes they really get in our way. What are we supposed to do about this? Does Jesus care about our desires? Does He value them? As our good friend Curt Thompson points out, Jesus first question in the gospel of John is, “What do you want?” Clearly, our desires matter to God. How and why? Listen with us to find out. | Highlights | “Jesus' assumption is that what I want is a really, really big deal.” -Curt Thompson “[When I am wounded] I don't desire, I devour.” -Curt Thompson “…[S]till Jesus says, ‘What is it that you want?' And I'm like, ‘What else is there to want? I've run out of all the options that I've made, that I've created.' And this is when He comes with Himself and undoes us. Because—what I really want? I wanna be loved, I wanna be seen, I wanna be known, I wanna be wanted. And even though it terrifies me, I even want to be wanted by [Jesus], including the parts of me that I hate the most. And Jesus is saying, ‘I'm all in. And the parts of you that you hate the most? I'm not afraid of that, and you can't make me leave the room.'” -Curt Thompson | Do the Next Thing | Want more of Curt? We have loads! (We're big fans of him around here.) For the basics, check out his website, including his NEW BOOK, The Soul of Desire! https://curtthompsonmd.com/books/ To hear more from Curt on our podcast, check out these other episodes! * Episode 64: Exploring Our Souls of Shame, pt. 1 - https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/exploring-our-souls-of-shame-part-1/ * Episode 65: Exploring Our Souls of Shame, pt. 2 - https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/exploring-our-souls-of-shame-part-2/ * Episode 138: Shredding Shame in a Pandemic - https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/shredding-shame-in-a-pandemic-with-dr-curt-thompson/ Are you looking for a community with whom to explore more of the issues discussed on the podcast? Join the Heart of the Matter on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/434827357279517 Looking for a great translation of the Bible? The CSB translation is a sponsor of the HIMH podcast! Learn more about our new favorite Bible at csbible.com.  Watch this conversation! https://vimeo.com/627110494

How many people do you know who currently feel slightly-to-very discouraged about their faith? Do you have a sense that the Bible could be a great help, but you don't want to come across as legalistic or dismissive of their struggles? How do you walk alongside your friends? (Or, how do you walk alongside yourself if you're struggling with cracking the Bible?) Author, podcaster, and Bible teacher Tara Leigh Cobble is here to help. Together, we explore: How does the Bible relate to our identity? What reading program can I start today without being overwhelmed by starting today? How important is it to have someone who can walk with you? How did Tara go from, “I can't do this any more,” to caring about the Scriptures and Jesus more than ever before? Join us? | Highlights | “I was reading Scripture with the lens to understand how do I get what I want from God, first of all?…And I was also looking [for] how can I please Him? Because, frankly, if I please Him, if I do what He wants, then He's gonna do what I want….And my pastor friend said, ‘You're reading it backwards. You're reading it as thought it's a mirror, and it's not. It's a lens to behold the living God.'” -Tara Leigh Cobble | Do the Next Thing | Are you looking for Bible study resources? Head over to BibleRecap.com. Want more of Tara Leigh? Check out her website here! https://www.taraleighcobble.com Also—we are in love with this study from Tara Leigh! https://www.amazon.com/Hes-Where-Joy-Getting-Captivating/dp/1087739845 In this episode, We mention the coaching options with Laurie, but her schedule is currently full. If you are interested in learning more, email info@lauriekrieg.com. The CSB translation is a sponsor of the HIMH podcast. Learn more about our new favorite Bible at csbible.com! Watch this conversation! https://vimeo.com/620323779

“I've thought, ‘I don't know if I can do this, I don't know if I'm good enough or talented enough or whatever,' but never had I thought [before that moment], ‘I don't know if I want to,' because I really knew the price of going forward.”—Christine Caine The first time we had this conversation with anti-human trafficking activist and internationally sought-after speaker and author Christine Caine, it was life-giving to all of us. The second time we listened, it felt doubly hope-infusing because of where we are at in our journeys now… Anyone else feeling the global slump of discouragement and despair? Has anyone else wondered, “Why am I doing this?” Or “How did I get here?” Christine came and did not cheerlead us out of it, rather she empathized and encouraged from her own two-year journey with a dark night of the soul… We'd love to have you join this powerful conversation. | Highlight | “I've thought, ‘I don't know if I can do this, I don't know if I'm good enough or talented enough or whatever,' but never have I thought, ‘I don't know if I want to,' because I really knew the price of going forward … But then I turn to [my husband] and I said, ‘But Jesus would know. Jesus know that I didn't press on … Jesus would know that I coasted my way into eternity—if I didn't press on and keep running my race.”—Christine Caine | Do the Next Thing | Find Christine's book and all the things: christinecaine.com Learn more about the Propel-Wheaton Cohort: https://www.wheaton.edu/academics/school-of-mission-ministry-and-leadership/partnerships/propel/ Learn more about our new favorite Bible: https://csbible.com

Real talk: When we think about raising our little kids in a porn-saturated world, we want to raze the whole broken system to the ground. That we even have to have this conversation plain ol' stinks. (Darn you, Fall of Man!)  Then, we start to brainstorm: How long can I keep porn away from our kids? (Forever?) What if they have already discovered it? (Am I the worst parent?) How early are we supposed to talk about the “goodness of God's design” for sex (the mechanics of it), and how early is too early? As first-generation parents, youth leaders, and aunts and uncles of kids with cell phones (ie. porn in our kids' pockets), we can feel overwhelmed by how to engage the porn conversation. But … annoyingly … we have to.  Can someone please help us? Ministry leaders and researchers Josh Glaser and Daniel Weiss are here with the assist, and the conversation we had was helpful and hopeful. Join us? I Highlights I “In one study, 75 percent of parents felt their kids hadn't seen pornography, but 50 percent of those kids in that group admitted they had looked at it. So, that means half of those parents were unaware that their kids were looking at pornography.” —Daniel Weiss “It's a natural human response…that when we're found out in our sin, we like to run and we like to hide. It's a protective mechanism. And so, instead of inviting our kids to lie to us or to evade the truth, we just let them know what we know.” -Josh Glaser “It's not whether or not my kid would look at pornography—that's the wrong question. The right question is: 'Is pornography the content or kind or material that will respect my family's boundaries or my family's values?' It's not. Pornography is seeking to be found. You can be frustrated … angry … but, that's why it's so important to be intentional and proactive [to not only] talk about the dangers out there, but more importantly, [to talk about] the beauty of what this was all made for—God's design. Give them the positive, the beautiful first so that everything else seems to be the counterfeit, not the other way around.” —Daniel Weiss I Do the Next Thing I For more on this topic, check out Jay Stringer's book *Unwanted.* https://jay-stringer.com/book/ You can also listen to this interview we did with Dan Allender, who addresses the connection between shame and sexual addiction. https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/episode-83-take-two-sexuality-and-shame-with-dan-allender/ Join our Facebook group to connect with other listeners! (Currently featured: Impossible Marriage Discussion Group!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/himhpodcast

So...shame. It's talked about quite frequently and often with rightful animosity, but have you ever considered there might be some good types of shame? Buckle your seatbelt as we engage the three types of shame and why they are so important--not just when engaging the LGBT+ conversation, but anyone's life. Matt, Laurie, and Steve also dive into how the rest of SEASON FIVE will look, and why they are choosing to follow Jesus--even now in often-brutal 2021. Toxic Shame: Whole body self-hate "Who I am is worthless." From the enemy (Satan) Happens before, during, or after we sin (or even if we didn't) Guilt: "What I did was not worth it." From the Holy Spirit Happens only after we sin Godly Shame:  Helps us to feel the weight of our sin so we don't repeat it From the Holy Spirit Happens after we sin (or if we didn't) See: 1 Cor. 6:5 (“I say this to shame you”), 2 Cor. 7:10 (“godly sorrow that leads to repentance”) | Highlight | “The antidote to shame is being seen in our mess and loved in our mess….[Confession] can be this joyful thing, it doesn't have to be this—it shouldn't be—this ‘You're worthless' thing!….We don't have to—just because we've been tempted toward something or even if we've sinned—we don't have to hate ourselves, guys! We can confess and be free!” -Laurie Krieg | Do the Next Thing | Our book, *An Impossible Marriage*, talks often about these three types of shame and how they manifest. Check it out here! https://www.ivpress.com/an-impossible-marriage And for more on shame, check out this resource by the expert, Curt Thompson: *The Soul of Desire.* https://www.ivpress.com/the-soul-of-desire For those of you who are married and maybe feeling stuck, here's an extra resource as well! 14 Days to Unstick Your Marriage. https://lauriekrieg.com/product/14-days-to-unstick-your-marriage/ Want to be more involved with the podcast? Check out our Facebook group! (Discussion of *An Impossible Marriage* starting September 12!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/434827357279517

Engaging conversations on race or sexuality is a hard, holy task. As Christians, we don't always do it well, even if our hearts are in the right place. Are these conversations the same? How are they different? Can we advocate justice and unity without endorsing what is not God's best? And how do we do this with our friends? Stephanie Thole entered into this conversation with extraordinary grace and kindness, and we are thrilled to listen in again. I Highlights I “We were one of the few black families. I remember always being so attracted to all of these white boys. In my mind, I was like, ‘I gotta get rid of this…' I understood at a very early age that that was not allowed.” —Stephanie Thole “I was very much aware at how different I was. That I was ‘other.'” —Stephanie Thole “A lot of us have made mistakes, have had hard conversations, have offended the wrong person, and it's been a painful, awkward experience. Don't let that stop you. Keep walking.” —Stephanie Thole I Do the Next Thing I For more on this conversation, check out our friends Daniel Hill and Rebecca McLaughlin! They lend their voices well to these issues. - *The Secular Creed* by Rebecca McLaughlin: https://www.amazon.com/Secular-Creed-Engaging-Contemporary-Claims/dp/0999284304 - *White Lies* by Daniel Hill: https://www.amazon.com/White-Lies-Expose-Resist-Systems/dp/0310358515 You can also listen to our interview with Rebecca McLaughlin here! https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/3619/ Have you seen our new favorite Bible yet? Check it out here! https://csbholylandillustratedbible.com Follow Laurie on Instagram for more ministry updates! https://www.instagram.com/laurie_krieg/?hl=en

Sometimes, we need the cold water bucket of siblinghood thrown over our heads and our questions. What happens when we feel attraction toward our friends? What if we become enmeshed with other people? How do we guard against turning inward rather than outward, and encourage one another to continue on mission with Jesus? Rachel Gilson shares her story and the beauty of being family in Christ in really helpful ways. We're thrilled to revisit this conversation with her. Listen in with us. I Highlights I “We kind of intuitively sense that a sibling relationship is a special kind of relationship: It has both really deep intimacy but is absolutely not erotic.” –Rachel Gilson “A lot of time what temptation does is it wants to pull away our focus from, ‘God has given me gifts and opportunity to—with His Body—build His kingdom.' Temptation ends up being this big gospel waste.” –Rachel Gilson “Occasionally, you get this best friend situation where you turn inward like an ingrown toenail … you end up pairing up in a way that shuts out the broader body. There is something about sibling-hood that reminds us we are a part of a family.” –Rachel Gilson I Do the Next Thing I For more from Rachel Gilson, check out her book, Born Again This Way. https://www.amazon.com/Born-Again-This-Rachel-Gilson/dp/178498390X Also, check out her article “I Never Became Straight” on Christianity Today, which one of the most read of its time. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2017/october/i-never-became-straight-perhaps-that-was-never-gods-goal.html You can also listen to our first episode with Rachel Gilson here. https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/the-thing-about-temptation/ Also! Check out Kelly Needham on codependency here. https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/the-codependency-complication/ Have you seen our new favorite Bible yet? Check it out here! https://csbholylandillustratedbible.com Join our Facebook group for more updates! https://www.facebook.com/groups/himhpodcast

After witnessing three excommunications of leaders in the church, Brad Klaver vowed that he would never share his same-sex attractions with anyone. The Holy Spirit had other plans. After over a decade of pastoring and marriage, God brought Brad face to face with himself—and it changed his life forever. Will join us as we listen again to this beautiful story of gospel transformation? I Highlight I “I remember exactly where I was watching [the excommunications] unfold. In me there was this internal wrestle of fear of: ‘I don't know where this came from. I don't know why I have this. I don't know where this all began or what was done to me to make me like this, but all I know based on what I am seeing now is … this is what happens if people find out. You admit it, and you are shown the door.' … I said to myself… ‘I will never tell anyone. Ever.' That commitment was kept for 25 years.” –Brad Klaver “If there's one piece of encouragement that I could give listeners—invite the person you don't understand to your table. There's power in the fellowship around the table….There's a reason that there's power in communion, in the breaking of bread and of prayer. And the fact of the matter is that, for Michelle and I, the thing that we longed for most when we stepped down….We were never invited over for dinner…” -Brad Klaver I Do the Next Thing I Want more stories of Christians surrendering their sexuality? Check these out: Greg Coles' beautiful autobiography Single, Gay, Christian. https://www.amazon.com/Single-Gay-Christian-Personal-Identity/dp/0830845127 Rachel Gilson's incredible story Born Again This Way. https://www.amazon.com/Born-Again-This-Rachel-Gilson/dp/178498390X And for more resources on sexuality, visit the CenterForFaith.com. Have you seen our new favorite Bible yet? Check it out here! https://csbholylandillustratedbible.com Follow Laurie on Instagram for more ministry updates! https://www.instagram.com/laurie_krieg/?hl=en

Guys! We're back with this highly requested conversation with our REAL LIFE FRIENDS Johnny and Amanda. What happens when a pastor suffers addiction in silence? What happens when he has an affair? What happens when health problems keep a couple from having sex? Is there hope for marriages that go through these things? Johnny and Amanda are here to say YES! God is a God of redemption and their story is beautiful proof. It's worth the listen. I Highlights I “I constantly felt like I didn't measure up. Pornography was an escape from that feeling for me. ‘Finally, I don't have to feel that just for that moment.' But after that moment is over . . . now I'm right where I started, and in an even worse spot.” –Johnny McKenna “We could not have sex for two years of our marriage. I was so ashamed. I didn't know what was wrong with me, what was wrong with my body. I didn't understand it. It's so hard and embarrassing to talk about with people . . . I felt so helpless.” –Amanda McKenna “All this is going on and I'm saying to myself … ‘You're such a scumbag … It's time to take my life … I'll be gone, but my legacy will be in tact. I won't be this pastor that is another Hall of Shame member. I won't have to tell my boys that I failed them–that I cheated on their mom. I won't have to tell my youth group kids and leaders. I can at least provide for them financially. They'll be in a better place because I have life insurance.' I thought that was the best case scenario. Those were the lies Satan was whispering in my ear.”
–Johnny Mckenna ”One of the things [my friend] said was, ‘Amanda, God is saving your husband right now.' It shocked me. ‘What do you mean He's saving us? It feels like He's killing us.' But then that meaning sunk in: Johnny was living bound and held captive by his sin. But now, God was in the process of saving him. …That's really beautiful if you think about it: God steps into the mess and he fights for you.” –Amanda McKenna I Do the Next Thing I Have you seen our new favorite Bible yet? Check it out here! https://csbholylandillustratedbible.com Join our Facebook group for more updates! https://www.facebook.com/groups/himhpodcast

We are thrilled to be revisiting the Broken and Beloved Pastors series! In the next three episodes, we'll hear the stories of three pastors who are, like all of us, “more loved than we can imagine and more sinful than we believe.” What happens when a pastor wrestles with gender dysphoria? What happens when the same pastor is called to bring that wrestling into the light, in his marriage and with his community? What happens to his ministry? To his marriage? To his identity? Ben and Lauren Schulke answer these questions and more as they recount their story with us. We are honored to share it with you. I Highlights I “I very much tried to control the image of how people saw me. But . . . when people know me they can choose to love me and not some facsimile.” –Ben Schulke “I got to this place where I said, ‘I would rather be obedient to God than preserve something temporary–like my job.'”–Ben Schulke “Ben's identity is not gender dysphoria. His identity is not whatever other sin or brokenness he is dealing with. That's not who he is. He is a son of God, and he is loved by Him.” –Lauren Schulke I Do the Next Thing I For more on this conversation, check out Mark Yarhouse's book Emerging Gender Identities! It's exciting stuff. :D https://www.amazon.com/Emerging-Gender-Identities-Understanding-Experiences/dp/1587434342 You can also check out Preston Sprinkle's book on trans* issues, Embodied. https://www.amazon.com/Embodied-Transgender-Identities-Church-Bible/dp/0830781226 Have you seen our new favorite Bible yet? Check it out here! https://csbholylandillustratedbible.com Follow Laurie on Instagram for more ministry updates! https://www.instagram.com/laurie_krieg/?hl=en

The gender conversation today is swirling with confusion and hurt for everyone involved. How do we as Christians enter into this conversation? Today, we revisit a conversation with Heather Skriba, who, having wrestled with gender dysphoria her whole life, has a compassionate and truthful perspective on this issue. We're thrilled to share this episode once again! Join us! I Highlights I “God never just settles for salvation. He is truly redeeming everything.” -Heather Skriba “There are people in my life that didn't call me by name for two years, and by extension, didn't use a pronoun when referring to me … How can you expect to have any trust or relational equity built if you are not even willing to refer to someone in a way that distinguishes them as human?”
–Heather Skriba “I didn't know how to let God into the painful, hurting, and dark places of my heart–not just gender– but anxiety, codependency, insecurity, and self hatred. I didn't know how to access the heart of God in those places … I think that is something that is really missing from a lot of relationships when people try to walk with LGBT people and LGBT Christians.” –Heather Skriba I Do the Next Thing I For more on this conversation, check out Mark Yarhouse's book Emerging Gender Identities! It's exciting stuff. :D https://www.amazon.com/Emerging-Gender-Identities-Understanding-Experiences/dp/1587434342 Have you seen our new favorite Bible yet? Check it out here! https://csbholylandillustratedbible.com Join our Facebook group for more updates! https://www.facebook.com/groups/himhpodcast

So often, sexuality brings shame right on its heels. How can we banish it? How can we heal? Join us today as we revisit this conversation with Dr. Dan Allender to learn how stepping into the light and grace of Jesus can heal our shame when it comes to sexuality. ***Heads up: We do address sexual trauma in this episode, though not graphically. If this is part of your story or that of someone close to you, please take care of yourself and listen with caution.*** I Highlights I “The return on investment for the kingdom of darkness is profound in regard to abuse. [It] disintegrates some level of our faith, our ability to trust, our ability to dream and hope, and certainly our ability to give delight and pleasure to one another.” –Dan Allender “I think contempt is our way to manage shame with a level of control that annihilates ourselves so we don't feel, so we don't want, so we don't risk. Contempt is really just another form of self-hatred that allows us to lessen the experience of shame.” –Dan Allender “I've seen it literally thousands of times: People who enter the truth and allow their hearts to receive kindness … that's the context for the Spirit of God to bring about remarkable change.” –Dan Allender I Do the Next Thing I Check out Dan's books! * *Healing the Wounded Heart*: https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Wounded-Heart-Heartache-Transformation/dp/0801015685/ref=sr_1_1?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuKW167mj4gIVr__jBx1WqA6aEAAYAiAAEgKOSPD_BwE&hvadid=174217451664&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9017520&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t2&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15049734708914584592&hvtargid=kwd-2871614828&hydadcr=24629_9648897&keywords=healing+the+wounded+heart&qid=1558126587&s=gateway&sr=8-1 * *God Loves Sex*: https://www.amazon.com/God-Loves-Sex-Conversation-Holiness/dp/0801015669/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=god+loves+sex&qid=1558126633&s=gateway&sr=8-1 While you're at it, head over to the Allender Center for more resources and information! https://theallendercenter.org/ Looking for more podcasts? The Allender Center has a good one. https://theallendercenter.org/category/podcast/ For ministries updates from Laurie and the Crew, join our Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/himhpodcast Have you seen our new favorite Bible yet? Check it out here! https://csbholylandillustratedbible.com

As Laurie says, “We're kind of lament-obsessed around here.” It's true. And it made running this episode a second time an easy choice for this series. Since the first time this episode ran, there is still pain and brokenness in our lives, and we need a place to take it. Cue Mark Vroegop, ushering us to the feet of Jesus with this spiritual practice that truly has revolutionized our lives. Will you lament with us today? I Highlights I “People who know how to lament are comfortable with saying less or nothing. They intuitively have a heart that is oriented toward empathy. They don't panic when their friend says something that is edgy or a little scary.” –Mark Vroegop “Lament is not just crying. Lament is talking to God about what causes the crying.” –Mark Vroegop “One out of every three songs in the official songbook of God's people–songs that had music and were sung–reflect this sort of minor key [lament] tune. We are not only unfamiliar with lament, but our churches are generally lament-light.” –Mark Vroegop I Do the Next Thing I Check out Mark's book, *Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament* here: http://markvroegop.com/books/ Want more of Mark Vroegop? Read some of his articles here! * “Strong Churches Speak the Language of Lament” on Gospel Coalition: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/strong-churches-lanuage-lament/ * “Dare to Hope in God: How to Lament Well” on Desiring God: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/dare-to-hope-in-god For more on lament, listen to Laurie's “How to Lament in the Face of Pushback” talk here: https://soundcloud.com/laurie-krieg/bonus-facing-the-unthinkable-talk Also, to learn about Safe Place Prayer, find Matt's thoughts here: https://soundcloud.com/laurie-krieg/bonus-safe-place-prayer-with-matt Have you seen our new favorite Bible yet? Check it out here! https://csbholylandillustratedbible.com Join our Facebook group for more updates! https://www.facebook.com/groups/himhpodcast

Welcome to TAKE TWO of Exploring Our Souls of Shame! Rerunning this episode was an obvious choice because we *all* deal with shame. Curt Thompson beautifully describes not only the experience of shame, but also its antidote: Jesus. Join us as we learn resilience and joy in this brilliant conversation! I Highlights I “The gospel–if it is good news–does not begin with ‘I am more sinful than I believe.' It begins, in fact, with ‘I am more loved than I can imagine.' It is in that space of being loved incessantly, relentlessly, that we become aware just how sinful we are.” –Dr. Curt Thompson, M.D. “God–even in His pursuit–He is not going to shame us. He is not going to twist my arm. He is not going to shame me for not having my shame cleaned up well enough. He is going to relentlessly pursue me.” –Dr. Curt Thompson, M.D. “The healing of shame is not just a way for us to not longer feel bad about ourselves. It's a way to re-commission us to do the work of goodness and beauty that God has had for us since before the creation of the world.” –Dr. Curt Thompson, M.D. I Do the Next Thing I Check out Curt's book, the *Soul of Shame.* https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Shame-Retelling-Stories-Ourselves/dp/0830844333 Want to learn more about shame? Listen to our other episodes on it here! - Episode 155: Getting to the Root of Porn in a Time of Turmoil with Michael John Cusick - https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/getting-to-the-root-of-porn-in-a-time-of-turmoil-with-michael-john-cusick/ - Episode 164: The Spiritual Garden with Carolyn Schroeder - https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/the-spiritual-garden-with-carolyn-schroeder/ - Episode 166: The Emotional Garden with Peace Amadi - https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/the-spiritual-garden-with-carolyn-schroeder/ - Episode 173: Marriage and Mental Health with Aaron and Jamie Ivey - https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/marriage-and-mental-health-with-aaron-jamie-ivey/ - Episode 83: Sexuality and Shame with Dan Allender - https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/sexuality-and-shame-with-dan-allender/ - Episode 82: How to Lament with Mark Vroegop - https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/how-to-lament-with-mark-vroegop/ Are you liking this series? Have thoughts about this episode? Email us at lk@lauriekrieg.com. Have you seen our new favorite Bible yet? Check it out here! https://csbholylandillustratedbible.com Follow Laurie on Instagram for more ministry updates! https://www.instagram.com/laurie_krieg/?hl=en

Welcome to the first episode of our Take Two series! It was so hard to choose episodes to highlight over the past four (FOUR?!) seasons, but we've narrowed it down to a few that we'll show you over the next several weeks. This episode discusses Chapter 5 of Francis and Lisa Chan's book, *You and Me Forever*, as well as some of the good and hard of Matt and Laurie's own story! Get ready for a good one guys, we're excited to revisit this! I Do the Next Thing I You can check out *You and Me Forever* by Francis and Lisa Chan at this link! https://www.youandmeforever.org Hear more of Laurie and Matt's story in *An Impossible Marriage*. Find the book at this link! https://lauriekrieg.com/product/an-impossible-marriage-what-our-mixed-orientation-marriage-has-taught-us-about-love-and-the-gospel/ You can also check out Laurie's story on Remnant Radio and the Happy Hour podcasts! * The Remnant Radio: https://luminarypodcasts.com/listen/the-remnant-radio/the-remnant-radios-podcast/christian-discuss-lgbtq-subjects-with-laurie-krieg/41bf747e-2cec-4218-acd6-860419d9e3b5 * The Happy Hour: https://jamieivey.com/hh363/ Here are a few of the episodes that were “Runner's Up” for our favorites! * Episode 111: Can't We All Just Get Along with David Bennet - https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/cant-we-all-just-get-along/ * Episode 167: The Social Garden with Greg Coles - https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/the-social-garden-with-greg-coles/ * Episode 107: Why Male Friendships are Challenging with Sam and Blaine Eldredge - https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/why-male-friendships-are-challenging/ * Episode 152: Are Women Responsible for Male Lust? with Rachel Joy Welcher - https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/are-women-responsible-for-male-lust-with-rachel-joy-welcher/ * Episode 96: Healthy Community (& Touch) As a Single Person with Meg Baatz - https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/healthy-community-and-touch-as-a-single-person/ * Episode 157: Gen Z's Sex, Marriage, and Singleness Questions with Sean McDowell - https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/gen-zs-sex-marriage-and-singleness-questions-with-sean-mcdowell/ Do you need “a friend in the trenches”? Sign up for a coaching session with Laurie here! https://lauriekrieg.com/product/one-coaching-session-with-laurie/ Also, have you seen our new favorite Bible yet? Check it out here! https://csbholylandillustratedbible.com

Even though picking favorite episodes from this season is like choosing a favorite child, we snagged your top listened-to ones from this season (and some of our most memorable conversations), and reflected on clips from them.  Here are the episodes we cover: “Caring for People Wrestling with Gender” with Mark Yarhouse https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/caring-for-people-wrestling-with-gender-with-dr-mark-yarhouse/ Shredding Shame in a Pandemic” with Dr. Curt Thompson https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/shredding-shame-in-a-pandemic-with-dr-curt-thompson/ “Defining Stress and Success” with John Mark Comer https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/defining-stress-success-with-john-mark-comer/ “Start Where You Are” with Rashawn Copeland https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/start-where-you-are-with-rashawn-copeland/ “Intro to the Gardens' Series Part 2” with Matt and Laurie https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/an-introduction-to-the-gardens-series-part-1-with-laurie-matt-and-steve/ “Marriage and Mental Health” with Aaron and Jamie Ivey https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/marriage-and-mental-health-with-aaron-jamie-ivey/ We also get honest about how we feel about how this season went, and we look ahead to the summer and fall (SEASON FIVE!) Thanks for being a part of what made this season really sweet. There is no reason to do this thing without you. I Highlights I “We're trying to be proactive, to make the Church a place where it's safe to wrestle with things, and one of the primary ways we can do that is to really stop worshipping at the feet of marriage and start worshipping at the feet of Jesus.” -Laurie Krieg I Do the Next Thing I Please take our survey to help us do next season even better!  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DK62VGV Are you interested in any LGBT+/sexuality/Church oneness trainings we do? Email Michele at events@lauriekrieg.com  Are you interested in that Impossible Marriage Intensive Retreat? Contact Michele at events@lauriekrieg.com ! Watch this conversation! https://vimeo.com/564911383

We think this episode might be worth listening to more than once. It's that good and that important…especially this month (Pride Month). Author and teacher, Rebecca McLaughlin, takes some of the real-life theological conversations many of us are having right now and helps us to respond with grace and truth. She explores these questions and more: -How can we respond kindly and truthfully when people say to us, “Love is love! Why can't you just love people!”? -What can we say when people tell us that holding to a historical biblical view of marriage is intrinsically harmful (ie. It encourages suicidal behavior)? -What if people point at slavery being acceptable in the Bible, “And it was wrong about that, so it must be wrong about ‘homosexuality'”? -What if friends also say, “How can you prevent people from loving who they want to love?” We're going to go there, friends. We need to—with grace, love, and truth. | Do the Next Thing: | Find all of Rebecca's book here: https://www.rebeccamclaughlin.org Follow us and what we are up to here: https://www.instagram.com/laurie_krieg/

“I used to think I was the only one who was lonely. After all, when you look around, other people don’t look lonely. They just look like they are drinking a latte.” —Dr. Kelly Flanagan Goodness, this quote from Dr. Kelly Flanagan’s new book, "True Companions: A Book for Everyone About the Relationships That See Us Through," gripped us. If loneliness is that deep-seated reality that you have corners of your heart that only you and Jesus understand, aren’t we all lonely? And isn’t it time we admit it?  Dr. Kelly Flanagan thinks it’s not only time to admit our lonely realities but to befriend loneliness. After talking with him and reading his book, we are convinced we should do the same. Okay…but as we/before we do this, we have a few questions: What is the difference between loneliness and isolation? How much are our friends/family/the Church responsible for alleviating isolation and how much is on us to process with Jesus? Why is befriending this loneliness journey better than avoiding with Netflix and wine? Pull up your own loneliness to the table and listen in to what we found to be a beautiful, de-isolating, honest conversation I Highlights I “A lot of us think of lonely as a feeling that goes along with a certain set of conditions. But when I’m talking about loneliness, I’m talking about it as a fact, like a fact of our humanness.” -Dr. Kelly Flanagan “[T]o love companionably, to love with the love that we call phileo...is to come alongside, to enter into the life, to say, ‘I’m gonna walk along with you in this.’” -Dr. Kelly Flanagan “We have to cultivate the capacity to create spaces of non-doing.” -Dr. Kelly Flanagan “A thousand hearts [on Instagram] leaves us feeling isolated....We need to be attentive to populating our lives with people who we are working together [with] to see each other and understand each other as well as we can.” -Dr. Kelly Flanagan I Do the Next Thing I Go get Dr. Kelly’s books, "True Companions" and "Lovable"! https://drkellyflanagan.com/ Looking for someone to walk through it with you? Check out coaching with Laurie! https://lauriekrieg.com/product/one-coaching-session-with-laurie/ Follow Laurie on Instagram for updates on what’s going on next! https://www.instagram.com/laurie_krieg/?hl=en Watch this conversation! https://vimeo.com/559153307

If you disciple children in any capacity, how’s it going for you? I mean, we have all gone through a lot in the last year, and so have young people. Today, author and teacher, Dr. Michele Anthony, comes alongside us to help us care for kids’ hurting hearts. Together, we explore: How can we teach kids to hear God’s voice? (Is it even possible?) How can we lead kids as a “spiritual parent” instead of a “fear-based” one? (And what does it even mean to parent spiritually?) How can we help children to have a gospel-centered identity? Only the easy questions today. ;) Join us? I Highlights I “First, God is in charge.” -Dr. Michelle Anthony (quoting her daughter) “[Spiritual parenting] means I have an audience of One. It means I’m not parenting for the whole world to say I’m a good parent; I’m parenting before God to say, ‘I’m really taking seriously that you entrusted this child to me.’” -Dr. Michelle Anthony “[Spiritual parenting is] done in concert with the Holy Spirit.” -Dr. Michelle Anthony I Do the Next Thing I Check out more of Michelle at her website! http://michelleanthony.org/about/ For updates on our ministry and connection to other listeners, join our Facebook group! https://m.facebook.com/groups/434827357279517

When we look at churches and ministries today, we often don’t see Jesus. Instead, we see scandal. Abuse. Toxicity. What do we do with this? How do we change and prevent it? Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer have an answer: tov. Tov is the Hebrew word for “good,” and it’s who God is and who He calls us to be. As Scot says it, tov is “the redemptive dimension of churches that can prevent them from toxicity.” We need more of this. Let’s listen in. I Highlights I “This [book] was really a work of faith for me, realizing that God is in the wounded. That He’s with the wounded, He’s with the resisters. And I’ve found that, sadly, churches silencing victims was so discouraging and so disorienting. But what I found through the journey was that, that is not God, that God is truth and that God, like I said, is with the wounded.” -Laura Barringer “The gospel is about the goodness of God—God is tov—because He is Himself tov, and therefore, we get incorporated into that kind of gospel and it just fills us with tov and goodness! And we want to be that kind of person in the world, because that’s the way Jesus was.” -Scot McKnight “Who are we talking about when we leave the church? Are we talking about God? Are we talking about Jesus? Are we talking about the Spirit? Are we talking about the fellowship of the saints and the worship? Or are we talking about how great the pastor was [and] how great the church was?…When that’s the commentary in the car on the way home, we’re on the verge of trouble.” -Scot McKnight I Do the Next Thing I Check out Scot and Laura’s book, A Church Called Tov, here. https://www.amazon.com/Church-Called-Tov-Goodness-Promotes/dp/1496446003 Here’s Scot’s blog! https://www.christianitytoday.com/scot-mcknight/ Looking for someone to be in the trenches with you? Laurie’s super down! Check it out here. https://lauriekrieg.com/product/one-coaching-session-with-laurie/ Also, guys! We are looking for partners in our ministry! If you’re interested, join us over here: https://lauriekrieg.com/partner/ For updates on our ministry, check out Laurie’s Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/laurie_krieg/?hl=en

Oh, you guys. This conversation… It’s not often Matt and I (Laurie) are surprised by our guests, but we were surprised in the best way today. Podcaster, author, and boss-mom, Jamie Ivey, and pastor, author, and tender-hearted dad, Aaron Ivey, got real—like really real. Matt and I were going along, simply enjoying the conversation with these incredibly humble and kind people, and then Therapist Matt asks a question about how childhood wounding relates to marriage pain. (Way to go, counselor!) We suddenly took a left turn, and found ourselves talking about Aaron’s recent clinical depression diagnosis.  What contributed to it?  How did Jamie respond?  What if we have been feeling similarly this last year, but are sick of people saying, “Oh yes, everyone is depressed. It’s 2020/21.” Ooo, friends. This is a rich one.  I Highlights I “Oneness takes work.” -Laurie Krieg “[Our] friendship turned into deep abiding love, and that’s what’s kept us through the whole [marriage].” -Aaron Ivey “My advice would be….to pray. [It] would really, really be to pray. And no pray, ‘Oh that they come around,’ or whatever, but pray that they fall in love with Jesus. Because I honestly think that [in] falling in love with Jesus, a lot of the pieces that we’re wanting to get fixed, they fall into place that way.” -Jamie Ivey “Single people need to hear and understand: You have value and purpose and there’s something that God has for you to do right now in your singleness. Because if you can wrap your mind around that, then you can then marriage won’t be this thing that you feel like you can finally get to and THEN do something awesome with your life.” -Aaron Ivey “There is no shame with mental health. None.” -Aaron Ivey I Do the Next Thing I Check out the Ivey’s book! https://www.amazon.com/Complement-Surprising-Choosing-Together-Separate/dp/1535996692/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=complement&qid=1621016120&sr=8-1 Jamie mentioned interviewing Aaron on her podcast. Find that episode here! https://jamieivey.com/hh369/ Also—here’s that one time Jamie interviewed us! https://jamieivey.com/hh363/ Watch this conversation! https://vimeo.com/549424824 And while you’re checking out books, here’s ours! https://www.amazon.com/Impossible-Marriage-Mixed-Orientation-Taught-Gospel/dp/0830847936/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=impossible+marriage&qid=1621016099&sr=8-1 Check out our free resources here. lauriekrieg.com/resources Learn more about what we offer—including coaching with Laurie—here. lauriekrieg.com/shop Stay up-to-date with the ministry by following Laurie on IG here. https://www.instagram.com/laurie_krieg/

This is another conversation we cannot engage too frequently: Friendship. How in the world can we do it well? Real-life friends, authors, and founders of The Ruth Experience, Julie Fisk and Kendra Roehl, wisely and winsomely engaged Laurie’s latest habit of tossing quite challenging questions at guests. Together, the group explored:  How do we confront our friends? What about friend-shame? (If I feel that I have too few friends or not enough time for the ones I have?) Should we wait for friends to come to us or do we go to them? How do you know if you are asking too much of your friendships? Do guys do friendship differently? What if we are attracted to our friends? I Highlights I “If the girls of Jesus linked arms and did healthy community with one another, I think we would be an unstoppable force.” -Julie Fisk “We can trust the Holy Spirit more than we think we can when it comes to relationships.” -Kendra Roehl “God asks us to move, and He will meet us when we move, but He often pushes us out of our comfort zones. And as the girls who believe in Jesus, we are to be the inviters…I understand the desire…to be invited, but I have found more often than not, I have to be the inviter….Jesus frequently makes me take the step.” -Julie Fisk I Do the Next Thing I Want to hear more from Julie, Kendra, and the Ruth Experience? Head over to their website here. http://www.theruthexperience.com Guys! The Journey Well Study is ON SALE this week! Check it out here. https://lauriekrieg.com/product/journey-well-study-explore-your-deepest-needs-and-how-to-meet-them/ Want to join a monthly, live Q and A conversation with Matt and Laurie and others who listen? Support the ministry and $15 or more a month and you’ll get exclusive access to this as well as other ministry exclusives and updates! https://lauriekrieg.com/partner/ Watch this Conversation! https://vimeo.com/546704517

Why engage only one challenging topic concerning women when you can engage more? Such as… What is biblical feminism (and should we call ourselves biblical feminists if we are pro-woman)? What does it mean to be feminine? Is there a right and wrong when it comes to marriage: complementarian or egalitarian?  Bible teacher and author, Phylicia Masonheimer, handles all of these questions and more with aplomb. (Yes, aplomb.) Pull up an earbud, friends, and join this really enjoyable conversation. I Highlights I “What I found in Scripture was that the heart of the person and their desire to walk with the Lord and evidence the fruit of the Spirit is God’s top priority. And some of those extra personality traits? They’re just the freedom that He gives us to express that personality, as long as we’re surrendering it to the Lord.” -Phylicia Masonheimer I Do the Next Thing I Check out more of Phylicia’s work at her website! https://phyliciamasonheimer.com Watch this conversation! (COMING SOON) ALSO—here’s our new favorite Bible. Check it out! https://csbholylandillustratedbible.com

We are not sure there is a bigger, more delicate, more divisive, or more misunderstood conversation in Christendom right now than how to approach the trans* conversation. So, we’re bringing in the best expert on the conversation right now: our dear friend of the podcast (and in real life!), Dr. Preston Sprinkle. Together, we explore: If we hold to a historically Christian view of marriage (believing it is between one man and one woman) how does that affect our beliefs on gender? Does it? Should Christians transition? Is this whole thing just a big trend? How can we love beloved, trans* image bearers like Jesus? No longer can we offer pat answers or avoid the whole thing, dear family. Let’s dive in together. I Highlights I “Think deeply and love widely.” -Preston Sprinkle “We need to look through these identities to the person. And really have the kindness and patience of Christ to get to know this human being in front of you.” -Preston Sprinkle I Do the Next Thing I Explore more of Preston’s work, especially his book, Embodied, here! https://www.prestonsprinkle.com Check out our new favorite Bible! https://csbholylandillustratedbible.com

When you think of the word “rejection,” what comes to mind? When you were a kid and were the last one chosen for kickball?  Junior high lunch room not knowing where to sit?  Maybe you think of last week when that person didn’t text you back?  No matter what comes to mind, most of us wouldn’t put rejection in the “gift” file of our minds.  However, author and dating coach, Kait Warman, has a different view: After processing the deep pain of rejection with Jesus, she has learned to be grateful for it.  How, Kait? Seriously, how do you do that?! Let’s go, friends.  I Highlights I “In the wake of a rejection, we wanna see six months ahead. We wanna know next week, next month, and we wanna see the future….So my prayer usually to God in the wake of a rejection is, ‘God, would you give me the grace just to handle today?’” -Kait Warman I Do the Next Thing I Head over to Kait’s website for more resources! https://kaitness.com/about-kaitness/ Watch this conversation! (COMING SOON) Check out our new favorite Bible! https://csbholylandillustratedbible.com

We’re asking the question again: How do we engage racial divides well? The topic of race has faded from the trends the last few months—but for Christ-followers, the work is just beginning. We have a lot of ground to cover and many questions along the way. Never fear, though; our Savior is walking with us! Pastor Daniel Hill is here to walk with us as well, taking us with him on his own journey. Friends? Will you join us as we explore this topic even more deeply than before? I Highlights I “For me, the most important aspect of repentance is this acknowledgment that Jesus Christ has a perspective on the problem of race that I don’t currently share. He sees it in a way that I don’t currently see it. So to repent is to say that I don’t have the mind of Christ in this arena and I want to have the mind of Christ.” -Daniel Hill “Racism is built on this lie about human value. It says that some people are superior—white—and some people are inferior—black—and then it measures—Asian, Middle Eastern, Latino—it measures based on the proximity to those two poles….We just have to see that those lies have very real impact. They don’t just mess up souls. They mess up neighborhoods, they mess up communities. They mess up all kinds of other things.” -Daniel Hill “It’s not a political issue at all; it’s an Imago Dei issue.” -Daniel Hill I Do the Next Thing I Check out David’s writing at his website! https://www.rivercitychicago.com/daniel-hill Watch this conversation! https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/535045004 Here’s our new favorite Bible—check it out! https://csbholylandillustratedbible.com

Goodness, we loved this conversation. Two-time author and one of our favorite friends of the podcast, Greg Coles, is back to mentor us. On what? Well, our friendships. Questions we explore include: How did you know you were called to singleness + celibacy (and not marriage)? What does belonging mean if we are feeling lonely? Can we have a social life with Jesus? What does it mean to say (and believe) "God is enough"? How can married + single people build each other up? How should the Church interact with our social lives? We'd love for you to join us. I Highlights I “It’s actually in the reckless pursuit of Jesus that you find yourself being given a much better belonging than you thought you could possibly earn.” -Greg Coles “There’s...this broader claim that...with human beings, they’re actually intended to share life with one another to see the face of God reflected in the image of God around them in these Image-Bearers.” -Greg Coles “Jesus is not a God who interacts with us at a distance.” -Greg Coles “It actually matters so little what I can do, or what I can recognize, or what I can wrap my head around, or what I can cling to—because all the most important clinging is the clinging that Jesus is doing...to me.” -Greg Coles I Do the Next Thing I Check out Greg’s new book, along with his other content, on his website! https://www.gregorycoles.com Want to hear more of Greg on the podcast? Check it out here! https://lauriekrieg.com/category/lgbt/ Watch this conversation! https://vimeo.com/532687421 And check out our new favorite Bible! https://csbholylandillustratedbible.com

In 2019, between 6-11% of US adults had symptoms of an anxiety or depressive disorder (CDC). By the end of 2020? Between 39 and 42% of US adults experienced anxiety or depression (Journal of Public Health). We need help, and psychology professor and author Dr. Peace Amadi  is here to offer it.  When should we call a therapist? Why should we? How can we walk with each other through this (if the therapist’s waiting list is 6-months long)?  Let’s go, friends. No shame, no judgment, let’s just care for each other like Jesus cares for us. I Highlights I “The absolute first step is just to pause and listen and name the pain….Whatever it is, it’s so important to name it. That can’t be overstated. Because when you name the pain, you basically tell yourself that it’s real and it deserves attention and that there’s something that your body, your mind, your psyche is trying to tell you.” -Dr. Peace Amadi I Do the Next Thing I Check out Peace’s work and latest book! http://peaceamadi.com If you’re looking for a “friend in the trenches,” check out our coaching resources! lauriekrieg.com/shop Also, check out our new favorite Bible! https://csbholylandillustratedbible.com Watch this conversation! (COMING SOON) And for more on the stats posted above, visit the following sites: https://academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pubmed/fdaa250/6078709 https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/covid19/pulse/mental-health.htm

If you are a parent or discipler of students, have you ever gone to bed kicking yourself for all of the ways you missed your child or student's heart?  "Why didn't I say this? Why did I say that? How can I do better next time?" If so, we can relate, and so can bestselling author Crystal Paine. Crystal never thought she would write a parenting book, and when her child was getting kicked out of school for poor choices, she especially couldn't picture it.  But sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom of something to really experience God's grace in it. That is what happened to Crystal, and now she approaches parenting and discipling young people totally differently: She sees she can't fail. What? How is that possible? Please, teach us how? Crystal will in today's conversation as we continue our gardens' series. Join us? I Highlights I “I was constantly just correcting, but I was spending so little time connecting.” -Crystal Paine “There’s just this beautiful rest and freedom as a mom, because it’s not about my kids’ choices—it’s about being able to walk with them.” -Crystal Paine I Do the Next Thing I To learn more about Crystal, head over to her website, MoneySavingMom.com! Also, check out Crystal’s book, Love-Centered Parenting: The No-Fail Guide to Launching Your Kids, here! https://www.amazon.com/Love-Centered-Parenting-No-Fail-Guide-Launching/dp/0764237225 BONUS: Check out one of our new favorite Bibles at: https://csbholylandillustratedbible.com Will you consider partnering us? Learn more here! https://lauriekrieg.com/partner/ Watch this conversation! https://vimeo.com/526352867

Episode 164: The Spiritual Garden with Carolyn Schroeder Guys? Anybody out there struggle with experiencing Jesus? Us, too, some days. Personal, intimate experiences with Christ are hard to find in our chaotic world. Today, Carolyn Schroeder (Laurie’s real life mentor!!!) is here to invite us into Jesus’ presence and teach us how to have those experiences wherever we are! Join us as we dive into deeper relationship with our Savior and Healer today. I Highlights I “God had to get me to the place of being powerless and desperate for Him so that I could be a receiver.” -Carolyn Schroeder “My sins cannot condemn me, because there’s a solution to sin. And everyday, I take that solution.” -Carolyn Schroeder “Only a life lived in anticipation of [God’s] goodness can live in the chaos we live in.” -Carolyn Schroeder I Do the Next Thing I Would you consider partnering with us in our mission? Click here to learn more! https://lauriekrieg.com/partner/ Check out Carolyn’s recommendations for time with Jesus: - Lectio 365: https://www.24-7prayer.com/dailydevotional - 1010 Thrive Podcast: https://www.audible.com/pd/1010-Thrive-Podcast/B08JJM4X8Z And here’s Carolyn’s prayer featured at the end of the episode! (COMING SOON) Watch this conversation! https://vimeo.com/522938791

Okay, friends, let’s play “would you rather”... Would you rather have an all-expenses paid, two week vacation in a tropical oasis—but there is one catch: You have to be discontent every second of the trip. Or, would you rather be locked up in jail, and you are cold, hungry, have few clothes, but you know God called you there, and so all you want to do is joyfully, contentedly worship God—so you do. Likely, most of us would pick the second option. But what does that choice tell us? We think it says contentment is critical and our circumstances don’t matter as much as we might think they do. But how in the world can we become content? How does contentment relate to our time, money, and talents that we are called to steward? Do we need to still give if we are achingly tired and legit feel like we have nothing inside to offer another? Let’s get after it, friends. Let’s dive into the stewardship garden with pastor and author (and all-around awesome dude) Dr. Andrew Davis. I Highlights I “Christian contentment is that sense in the heart--based on the fatherly love of God—of trusting in Him, the decisions He makes for our lives. So a lot of it has to do with submission, a faith-filled submission to our Heavenly Father and what He chooses to do with our lives, and that sense that we have of peace and joy as we trust our Heavenly Father.” -Dr. Andrew Davis “I think you can actually go through your whole Christian life and never learn [contentment]. I think you can be a complaining…murmuring, frustrated person and still be fruitful—but you won’t be as fruitful.” -Dr. Andrew Davis “You need to be evidently hope-filled.” -Dr. Andrew Davis “Jesus said no one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; he puts it up on a stand. Could it be the stand is suffering? He’s gonna put you on a stand and make you shine in a dark place…[C]ontentment enables you to be a steward of that situation.” -Dr. Andrew Davis I Do the Next Thing I Check out TwoJourneys.org to learn more about Andy! https://twojourneys.org/more/andy-davis/ Watch this conversation! (COMING SOON)

How do we cultivate our minds? Today, we'll tackle this question with the always-joyful Dr. Kathy Koch, a child development expert, long-time minister, and (new!) partner with Impossible Ministries! We'll especially be taking a look at "the eight smarts," which are: Word-smart: They think in words. When they're excited, they usually talk or write. They often thrive in school. Logic-smart: They think with questions. They ask more questions when they're excited. Usually, they like math and science, and they love things to make sense. Picture-smart: They think with their eyes, in pictures. Pay attention to color, design, where things are placed on a page. Art and creativity, fiction, history, and Bible are strengths of theirs. Music-smart: They think with rhythm and melodies. When they're excited, they hum or tap or dance. They go after the musical disciplines. Body-smart: They think with movement and touch. Love to experience life through movement. They may be athletic or artistic, culinary or theatrical. They are hands on, no matter what. Nature-smart: They think with patterns. They would rather be outside than inside. Their strengths are often in biology, meteorology, or earth science. People-smart: They think with other people. They brainstorm, collaborate, coordinate. When they are excited, they talk to others and get feedback. Self-smart: They think on their own. They reflect inside of themselves. When they're excited, they engage in more self-reflection. They are quiet but have a lot to say. Often counselors, teachers, salespeople. All of us have them at different levels, and everyone has a few that they excel in. These are connected with Dr. Kathy's take on the core needs (she has five): Security: Who can I trust? Identity: Who am I? Belonging: Who wants me? Purpose: Why am I alive? Competence: What do I do well? Give it a listen to see how you fit into all of this! I Highlights I “For me, it was wisdom that started [my relationship with Jesus], love that completed it—other people might have that in the opposite direction.” -Dr. Kathy Koch “We can pursue righteousness, and we should—but we don’t have to be perfect. And we have a loving, full-of-grace-mercy-and-hope-and-truth God who receives us when we mess up and acknowledge it.” -Dr. Kathy Koch “One of the questions is “Am I smart?” And I like to tell children the answer is always yes because God doesn’t make stupid people!” -Dr. Kathy Koch “Jesus did not die that you would have an abundant school experience. No! It’s abundant life! And life is abundant when ALL of life is abundant!” -Dr. Kathy Koch I Do the Next Thing I Check out Kathy Koch’s website to see her book, Eight Great Smarts, and more! https://celebratekids.com/books/ Watch this conversation! (COMING SOON) For more about the Garden’s Series, listen to Episodes 159 and 160! https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/an-introduction-to-the-gardens-series-part-1-with-laurie-matt-and-steve/

Anyone else feeling a bit down about your physical self these days? Why don't we have Sarah Young offer her thoughts? Sarah is a marriage and sex therapist who has wrestled with her body image. Together, we cover: What should single people do with their sexuality? How do we stop hating ourselves into liking ourselves? What if we never talk about sex in our marriage? What is the ultimate form of intimacy--for real? How can the Church help? We'd love for you to join the conversation. I Highlights I "[H]ow do I care for my heart and validate the struggle in the midst of the noise? How do I take on my own battle, my own journey, my own questions, frustrations, hesitancies? I have to have a safe place to do that. And hopefully that's how we show up as the church for everyone: our friends who are single, our friends who are married--wherever our community finds themselves." -Sarah Young I Do the Next Thing I Read A Celebration of Sex by Dr. Doug Rosnau. https://www.amazon.com/Celebration-Sex-Enjoying-Sexual-Intimacy/dp/0785264671 Check out this article by Phylicia Masonheimer. https://phyliciamasonheimer.com/how-to-celebrate-your-sexuality-as-a-single-woman/ Join an event of ours--here's one in early March! https://www.ignitewomen.org Reach us with your questions at lk@lauriekrieg.com ! Thanks, as always, for rating and reviewing the podcast!

It's time to bring even more color and clarity to the Oneness Mountain in this second part of our introduction to the Gardens Series! Today, Matt and Laurie bring examples and Core Needs so we can better see that life is more than a timeline. It is more like a group of gardens to cultivate with each other and Gardener God. After you listen, will you let us know the answer to the question: "How is your church community doing at cultivating oneness (unity, intimacy) right now? What's one way they/you are doing it well?" Let us know so we can encourage each other with practical care! (Email: podcast@lauriekrieg.com) This week we cover: I CORE NEEDS I Affirmed: Overwhelmingly approved of Desired: Specially chosen—no pretense necessary Included: Wanted in this group, team, or partnership; I belong Loved: Unconditionally accepted Nurtured: Cared for; held Purposed: Filled with a sense of profoundly mattering Rested: Re-centered and reset in mind, body, spirit; includes having fun Delighted In: Seen as unique and special Protected: Unafraid; trusting everything is under control Noticed: Seen inside and out I GARDEN BARRIERS I Rocks: Sin done to us, or the effects of the Fall on us (unchosen) Weeds: Sin tendencies within us (These are still unchosen defaults (temptations), but we have a choice of whether we will engage the sinful tendencies.) Broken Fence: Covenant break of any variety (affairs, porn, "what if" questions such as "What if I left?" or "What if I married that person?") Mold: Aggravation of our circumstances (lies, bitterness, the enemy influence) To see the Seven Gardens, see Episode 159. https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/an-introduction-to-the-gardens-series-part-1-with-laurie-matt-and-steve/ I Do the Next Thing I Watch this conversation! https://vimeo.com/511829878 Email us with your answer to the above question! (podcast@lauriekrieg.com)

We at HIMH often about how “marriage and singleness are equally valuable modes we fulfill the mission to make disciples.” But how can we to-our-core believe this if we view life only as a timeline? … You are born, you go to school, you get married, you make Christian babies, you tithe, and you die. “Single people?” Married people say with this timeline in mind. “Uh, yeah, you’re valuable. You don’t fit the script, but you’re great!!!!!!” We married folk are well-meaning, but a tad insincere. However, if we do not view life simply as a timeline, rather a group of gardens to cultivate with Gardener God? Suddenly, life gets interesting. It’s 4D. We truly view each other as equally valuable, and as necessary to thriving as the Body of Christ. Throw on some overalls and grab a trowel; it's time to join Matt and Laurie as they unpack Intro Part 1 to the Gardens Series. I The Gardens: I Intellectual: Engaging topics of the mind about things that are traditionally non-emotional like concepts, ideas, facts Physical: Connecting and caring physically such as hugs, hand-holding, sensual touch, sex, hugs, anything that cares for the physical/tactile body (physical exercise, eating healthy) Emotional: Talking, crying, laughing, connecting to feelings, hopes, etc. Spiritual: Church attendance, Bible study, worship, prayer Social: Relational with each other and/or others Stewardship: The way that we prioritize and direct the resources God has given us such as our skills, time, money, spiritual gifts, and votes Family: Relationships to family including children, in-laws, and extended family I Do the Next Thing: I Watch this conversation! https://vimeo.com/509052687 To see pictures of the Gardens, visit https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/an-introduction-to-the-gardens-series-part-1-with-laurie-matt-and-steve/ Get our book! (Chapter 5 is where you can read more!) https://lauriekrieg.com/shop/ We mentioned a test you can take to learn more? You can purchase the Impossible Marriage workshop here [https://lauriekrieg.com/product/ultimate-impossible-marriage-workshop-package/] or invite us to come to do a teaching or marriage workshop on this! Reach out to Michele at events@lauriekrieg.com.

Author and speaker Hannah Brencher talks real life: She's wrestled with life-threatening depression, has been a viral TED speaker, and is here today to help us to get some soul stability if our mental health has taken a hit. Together, we explore: How can we put practices in place without feeling like legalists? How can we face the inner critic if he/she doesn't stop berating us? If we show up and fail, how can we recover? 2021 requires real life conversations, and Hannah the right one for the job. I Highlights I “I knew in my soul, ‘You’re not gonna hide. You’re gonna show up anyway. You’re gonna do exactly what you would have done if you were the most confident person in the world.’ And with each decision to just move forward anyway, I that…inner critic loses some of its power.” -Hannah Brencher “No one wins if you don’t show up in the world how you need to show up….You’ll live this half-hearted life if you let fear have that amount of power over you.” -Hannah Brencher I Do the Next Thing I Check out Hannah’s website to find her book, Fighting Forward, as well as so much more! https://www.hannahbrenchercreative.com Watch this conversation! (COMING SOON) Follow Laurie on Instgram for updates! https://www.instagram.com/laurie_krieg/?hl=en

This is a needed conversation, and author and apologist Sean McDowell is the right one to have it. As parents and ministry leaders, we don't always know how to answer Gen Z's toughest questions. Praise the Lord that Sean does, and that he's willing to help us to unpack ones like: “Why would God keep me from loving whomever I want to love?" “Why do you call your attractions to the same sex brokenness? You are not broken.” “I just need to be free. Why are you stopping me from freedom?” “If I am attracted to the same sex, why would God call me to loneliness (ie. singleness)?” “Who cares about sex before marriage?” Thanks, Sean, for being a helpful friend today on the podcast! (And for being a real friend to Laurie at the surprise ending that made her cry happy tears. Listen all the way to the end to hear it. :) ) I Highlights I “If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to have conversations with your kids.” -Sean McDowell “The point in this is that sex means something. So the final question...is if we communicate with our bodies and sex means something, then how do we love God and love other people with our bodies? What does that mean? And what does that look like?” -Sean McDowell I Do the Next Thing I Check out Sean’s book, Chasing Love, as well as other resources, here! https://seanmcdowell.org/ Watch this conversation! (COMING SOON) Join our Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/himhpodcast

Buckle your seatbelts, friends. This episode gets a bit bumpy. Maybe your family—like ours—has people with different political beliefs in it. When I (Laurie) chose to co-host this episode with my dad, I didn’t realize a major theme would be loving each other through differing political beliefs. The major gift of this surprise theme was that by the end, we were all nodding in agreement with each other—unified in the gospel. And oh yeah… the matchless Os Guinness may have been our guest, but he acted like a brilliant mediator guiding my dad and I (and our divided world?) toward grace for each other and a reliance on “true truth.” Maybe you can relate to this conversation? P.S. This was recorded before the mob at the capital, but the heart of it is still very much applicable. I Highlights I “People don’t realize the wonder of the gospel! So I give you the little phrase, 'Contrast is the mother of clarity.’ Every time you see what the alternatives [to the gospel] lead to, you come back with wonder, love, and praise at the difference the good news of Jesus makes.” -Os Guinness “Remember how Elijah made people convinced that Jehovah was the real God was the miracle of the fire coming down. We can show miracles today, too….For…followers of Christ to love each other, despite their differences, is a powerful message to our very split world.” -Randy Heckman “Hopelessness and despaire are always pagan. The gospel always ends in a sense of hope.” -Os Guinness “Have faith in God. Have no fear.” -Os Guinness I Do the Next Thing I Check out more of Dr. Guinness on his website! http://www.osguinness.com Watch this Conversation! (COMING SOON) Join our Facebook group to find the Question of the Week and more! https://www.facebook.com/groups/himhpodcast

The world feels like it’s on fire, and if we are honest? Many of us have started or increased unhealthy habits to cope. Some have turned to porn, the use of which increased globally by 11% (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32663384/) at the start of the pandemic. But wait! If this is you or a friend? Before you turn away in shame or self-hatred, we pray and believe that this conversation with John Michael Cusick, licensed professional counselor, teacher, and author of Surfing for God will truly encourage you. Discover the heart behind porn addiction and how you can overcome it—yes, even now while the world is on fire—on today’s episode. I Highlights I “I don’t see that the story of God presumes that we are more sinful than we believe. I would say that we’re more loved than we know and believe, but that we’re more *broken* than we understand. And that our sinful behaviors flow and overflow out of our brokenness.” -Michael John Cusick “We all experience ongoing conversions of our heart where the love of God and the Holy Spirit gets down into the nooks and crannies of who we are. Or, more accurately, Christ already dwells in us, and the Spirit is there, and the Spirit comes up and out of those nooks and crannies as the layers of shame and the layers of lies and the rubble of trauma begin to fall away.” -Michael John Cusick “Whenever there’s any kind of suffering, it becomes an opportunity and it’s a bridge to becoming who we are and living in our union with Christ, as opposed to a barrier.” -Michael John Cusick “[O]ur biggest sin becomes that we settle for good enough as opposed to for the abundant life.” -Michael John Cusick I Do the Next Thing I Check out Michael John Cusick’s website for more updates on what he’s doing! https://michaeljohncusick.com Watch this Conversation! https://vimeo.com/498439957 Join our Facebook group for updates! https://www.facebook.com/groups/himhpodcast

What’s your word for the year? On this episode, Matt, Laurie, and Steve talk about what God has taught them in 2020 (yes—even in 2020!). Leaps of faith, major life changes, and—how could we forget?—Rona! Through it all, God has been faithful. Heading into 2021, then, the crew also addresses what God is pointing to for the future—thus, our words. With that—Happy New Year, and happy listening! I Highlights I “He is holding onto me when I’m not grabbing onto Him, when I grab for other things.” -Steve O’Dell “[Transactional interaction] is not the Father’s heart. He gives generously ‘cause He is so kind, but He wants a relationship!” -Laurie Krieg “And I remember feeling like, ‘God, did you bring us here to die?’ and He was just like, ‘Where were you? Have you not been watching what I’ve been doing?’” -Matt Krieg I Do the Next Thing I SUPPORT OUR NEW MINISTRY INITIATIVE! https://celebratekids.networkforgood.com/projects/119777-ignite-the-family-marriage-initiative Join our Facebook group to get updates and join the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/himhpodcast OR find Laurie on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/laurie_krieg/?hl=en Also—shameless plug—check out the Bible App and get started on a reading plan if you’re looking for deeper intimacy with God! https://www.bible.com/app

These days, it's so easy to fall into a "what-have-you-done-for-me-lately" mindset. We like following that person, we enjoy that podcast, we appreciate that channel--but serve them? Partner with them? Nah. Unless we do. We are so grateful for listeners who have stepped up to support and volunteer with our ministry--including the two we are highlighting today: Jon Leach and Amanda Mclaurin. These two were more than hearers of the Word, they were doers...and we are forever grateful. Hear their story, their "why" for saying yes to the Spirit's prompting, and how we can lean in where God is calling each of us on today's episode. Merry Christmas, guys! I Highlights I “I decided that if Jesus really meant that it was better that His Spirit was with me, then I could trust Him.” -Jon Leach “If the only thing stopping me is fear, then it’s time to dig in and start praying for faith and courage to move forward.” -Amanda McLaurin “As I was purposefully getting closer to Jesus, that proximity to Him, enabled me to to be passionate about His people and the people of the world that He cares about.” -Jon Leach “I don’t wanna kick down a door that God has closed, but I also don’t wanna stop knocking just because there’s initial resistance.” -Amanda McLaurin I Do the Next Thing I See how you too can partner with us here! http://lauriekrieg.com/partner/ Watch this conversation! https://vimeo.com/494470217 Join our Facebook group to get plugged into the Heart of the Matter with Jon and Amanda! https://www.facebook.com/groups/himhpodcast

Purity culture—yep, we’re going there. Ladies and gents—if you’ve ever felt that your worth, dignity, or purity were wrapped up in your sexuality, this is for you. On this episode, Rachel Joy Welcher, author of new book *Talking Back to Purity Culture*, helps us debunk the myths of sexuality that have come from purity culture. Join us as we celebrate the gospel and all the gifts Christ gives—even in our sexuality. I Highlights I “You can’t stop your spouse from sinning if they want to sin—but you can sure love them!” -Rachel Joy Welcher “You don’t fight sexual sin with sex. You fight sexual sin with self-control and love for the Lord and love for your neighbor.” -Rachel Joy Welcher “Our dignity cannot be changed and our purity cannot be changed, if we are in Christ.” -Rachel Joy Welcher I Do the Next Thing I Pre-order Rachel Joy Welcher’s book, *Talking Back to Purity Culture.* https://www.racheljwelcher.com Watch this Conversation! https://vimeo.com/492536473 Join our Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/himhpodcast