Restless Hearts

What if I am not passionate about my job? How can I find a career that is meaningful? Does God care about what I do for work? If you ever find yourself asking these questions, this episode is for you. We are joined by special guest Jono Warren to talk all about vocation, pursuing a career that feels meaningful, and what to do if you have no idea what you are passionate about. Check it out! 

Do you ever feel like your faith asks you to sacrifice scientific reasoning - or the other way around? This episode features special guest, pastor Brian Steele, everyone's favorite geologist-turned-pastor. We talk about how to integrate a material and spiritual worldview in order to embrace a more holistic perspective on faith and science. This episode is all about the perceived dichotomy between science and God, and we hit things like evolution, Biblical interpretation, and wonder. We hope you enjoy listening and that this episode is helpful for you.John Walton - The Lost World Series

There are many valid reasons that you might find yourself wondering whether or not it's worth it to continue following Jesus and investing in the Church. In this episode, we talk through these feelings and experiences and how you might be able to process and move forward in the midst of them. We talk about what it actually means to follow Jesus, which may be different from how you've always understood Christianity. We hope this episode is genuinely helpful for navigating what can be a painful question and that you feel seen and loved by the encouragements we share.

In today's episode we have special guest Aubrey Shelsta with us to about what it may look like to raise kids as someone who follows Jesus. Kenna and Molly essentially get to interview Garret and Aubrey about their experiences with parenting, their anxieties and how they deal with them, and how they practically foster a life of beauty and alignment with the way of Jesus.We do want to acknowledge that everyone's families look different, and we got to interview one very specific type of family about their experience of parenting. The church can sometimes elevate having kids as the ultimate end to strive for and we want to make clear our intention to uplift many diverse experiences as beautiful, knowing there are many ways to live out God's call on your life.We hope this episode is helpful for you if you do want to have kids someday and are interested in discussions around what it might look like to raise kids as a person of faith.

In this episode, the team talks about what it looks like to cultivate a healthy mindset around consuming alcohol and marijuana. We talk about escapism, celebratory drinking, whether or not inebriation is a sin, and so much more. A bit of a trigger warning - this is an episode about substance use, so if that is a sensitive subject for you, you may want to listen with caution or skip this one all together. We hope this is helpful for you in your journey of following Jesus in all things!

In this episode, we are joined by special guest Willow Weston, who is the Founder and Director of a nonprofit called Collide, which is an amazing organization that helps women collide with Jesus through conferences, Bible studies, counseling, and more. Willow shares some of her story of growing up and discovering who Jesus is and all of the ups and downs in between. She even shares the shocking story of how she got her first Bible! We hope today's conversation recontextualizes sin in a way that's helpful, nuanced, and gives you freedom. We talk about what the big deal is with sin, how to balance pursuing righteousness with embracing the freedom of grace, and so much more. Enjoy the show!

In this episode, we talk about being #blessed. Is there a direct correlation between God's blessing and the access we have to money, food, and shelter? We consider questions of what blessing truly is, how to differentiate blessing from privilege, and how our Western context affects the way we understand what it means to be blessed.

How do we recognize when a spiritual environment or relationship is doing more harm than good? In this episode, we have special guest Pastor Brian Steele join us as he shares some of his own story with spiritual trauma. A bit of a heads up, we do talk quite a bit about spiritual abuse, which can be a traumatic topic. We hope this episode helps direct you toward healing and hope in the midst of any church pain you or anyone you love has experienced.

Intolerance seems to be the worst possible posture you can have towards another. How can we believe something strongly without being a jerk? This episode is a practical conversation about whether or not there can be only one truth and if so, how do we live that out with integrity and kindness.

In this episode, we explore the topic of Christian Nonviolence. We talk about the reality of violence in the Old Testament and whether or not pacifism is practical in our current reality. We hope this episode is helpful to you!

If you have ever said: "I know God loves me, but...", this episode is for you. In this episode, we talk about how we can actually live out of God's love and grace. We share the ways we feel like God's love is contingent upon other people and circumstances and it does get a little vulnerable. We hope this episode is helpful for you.

A lot of us wonder if it is even possible to have deep friendships with people that we disagree with on central, important, high-stakes issues. How do you have dialogue with those you love who have changed over time, or when you've changed and you no longer feel aligned with what the other person believes? And is it even worth it? We hope this episode is helpful for you as you navigate relationships in a highly polarized cultural climate. 

Do you ever wonder where God is when disasters happen? Did God cause the pandemic as a punishment for evil in the world? In this episode, we explore the difference between human evil and natural evil, whether God intervenes when we pray, and how to find rest in the face of inevitable suffering.

Influential Christians have undoubtedly had some pretty public moral failings and it can be extremely restless because it brings up questions and doubts about our own faith. In this episode, we talk through questions like "What even is a pastor?" and "Are pastors allowed to make mistakes?". We hope it is helpful, especially if you find yourself navigating the pain of church wounds or being hurt by someone in a position of spiritual leadership.

In this episode, the team talks about unhealthy thought patterns and what it looks like to discipline your mind to find freedom from the ways we hold ourselves back and keep ourselves stuck in painful stories and untrue narratives about ourselves and others. We hope this episode is helpful for you.

In this episode, the team talks about the big H-E-double hockey sticks. Amongst others, we answer the question: “How can a good God send people to a place of torture?” and we walk through some new ways of thinking about what hell is. We hope this episode is interesting, helpful, and provides some new ways to find rest in an age old restless topic.

The existential question we have all asked at some point: What really happens after I die? The team dives headfirst into talking about death, the afterlife, and heaven and explore what Jesus reveals to us about these things. Disclaimer... we don't quite tackle the big idea of hell, but we are saving that for the next episode. "Suprised By Hope" By N.T. Wright"What happens after We Die?" from the Bible Project. "Compelled: Speaking and Living the Gospel" a lecture from biblical scholar Tim Mackie

We are bombarded with many different opinions about what gender roles are supposed to look like in marriage and in church. The team shares their heart and a glimpse at how they interpret Scripture around gender roles, at least as much as they can in one episode... 

One theme that has run through this season of Restless Hearts is finding resources to help us process the seemingly endless barrage of "stuff" that can happen in our world more broadly and in our particular lives. So... Garret called up a few old friends of his to have a conversation about how art and music open up space to process everything life can throw at you. Today he talks with Latifah Alattas (Page CXVI, Moda Spira, Porters Gate, Common Hymnal) and David Wilton (Loud Harp, A Boy and His Kite) as they encourage us to create practices and spaces that allow our emotions to catch up with our reality, intentionally fail in the security of a loving friendship, and make space for the Holy Spirit to help metabolize grief. Latifah Alattas:Page CXVI: Web, Instagram, Spotify, Apple MusicModa Spira: Web, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Music, PodcastCommon Hymnal: Spotify, Apple Music Porter Gate: Spotify, Apple MusicDavid Wilton:Loud Harp: Web, Instagram, Spotify, Apple MusicA Boy and His Kite: Web, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Music

People are experiencing a tension of being all-in on the vision of Jesus, but having reservations about the Church. In this episode, the team addresses this head on by talking through questions like what the church is, the purpose of the church and how we can be a part of an institution that is harmful to marginalized groups. 

For our summer season, the team is going to bring you a few interviews with people who help us process the restlessness of our present moment. Today we talk to Phil Lewis and if you don't know Phil, you need to! He is an avid outdoor enthusiast, High School Director at University Presbyterian Church in Seattle, WA, Writer for the Brem Center (a non-profit out Full Seminary seeking to integrate worship, theology and the arts in the Church) and an activist. You will not want to miss this conversation. Garret and Phil talk about what it means for people of color to redeem their relationship with creation as a source of spiritual vitality, how critical theories are helpful for Jesus followers, where critical theories can hinder more than help and how contemplative spiritual practices help him attune to what the Holy Spirit is doing in the present moment. Next time you are in Seattle feel free to DM him and let him show you his favorite food spot, but here is the thing you need to pay for his meal

The team hashes out the different experiences that can be a catalyst for deconstruction, how you can be productive with your questions and doubts, and the essential question you need to answer as you're determining the truth you want to live out of.

This week's episode turns into a bit of a therapy session as the team talks about the lies we believe about God and ourselves and how to combat them.  Life of the Beloved by: Henri Nouwen

How do we navigate the tension between cancel culture and accountability? How much should we judge people for their past mistakes? Is there a way we can learn from the life of Jesus?  

If Purity Culture shows us a false vision of who God is, what does it mean to begin to discover our sexuality by looking at Jesus? The team talks through questions like: What does it mean that Jesus was sexual? How can you express sexuality in singleness? What does this show us for how we can live in the modern world, far removed from Jesus's time? 

In addition to creating unhealthy and toxic visions of gender roles and sexuality, purity culture created a vision of God that doesn't align with the God revealed in Jesus. The conversation ranges everywhere from the history of purity culture and how it's been reinforced to the ways it does not align with the Scriptures. The team talks through how to process deconstructing purity culture while still pursuing God's vision of sexual integrity.

Guest hosts Anh, Kua, and Fred talk with Garret about the recent Atlanta shootings, the relevance of "comfort women," what is helpful in supporting AAPI friends and what is not. In addition, they talk about what it means to hear and hold people's stories with honor, the meaning of family, and a helpful definition of "White Supremacy" from an AAPI perspective. If you are listening to this and notice a difference in the quality, we are all wearing masks because if you haven't heard, there is a pandemic and this is the first time all of us have seen each other in person in almost a year. 

What am I supposed to do next God? This question is one that any Christian, in any stage of life asks often. This is due to the reality that our lives are full of decisions. Where should I go to school? Should I move in with this group of people? Should I marry this person? Is God calling me to singleness? The Restless Hearts team helps us see that God's plan for each and every one of us is not a mystery. In today's episode we talk about how you can know that and discern how to make important life decisions. Enjoy!

How do I handle conflict well? How do I overcome my fear of conflict? When is it time to put up boundaries in our friendships? These are just some of the questions we all confront when addressing conflict. In this episode, the team discusses all things related to conflict within interpersonal relationships. If you need help figuring out how to have productive conflict or if you're wondering how we as Christians are instructed to interact with conflict, this is the episode for you. This is a difficult topic, but in talking about it, we found that healthy conflict can be one of the most refining experiences we have in our lives & friendships. Enjoy!

The Trinity, it just makes sense right? We didn't think so either. The team decided to do some work and wrestle with this idea. Obviously we don't do justice to one of the most beautiful mysteries of the Christian faith, but as we wrestled with the revelation that the God of the scripture is revealed as "Father, Son and Spirit", we realize it is foundational to our faith. If you have ever wanted to know why God is "Love", why we as humans crave community or why we can talk about having a relationship with God, this is the episode for you.Helpful Resources:"God" by the Bible Project. This has perhaps the most helpful analogy of the trinity. Go Check it out. "Delighting in the Trinity" by Michael Reeves. An invaluable resource and introduction on the trinity. Biblical Scholar N.T. Wright answers questions on the Trinity. Thanks for tuning into this week's podcast. Find us on instagram @ourrestlesshearts or head to our website ourrestlesshearts.com for videos, blog posts, and more!

We all saw the events that took place at the U.S. Capitol and it was a lot to process. So we wanted to take some time to think about the religious components that we saw unfold on January 6th. Today's conversation is full of questions and dialog around processing the events that happened at the capitol a few weeks ago. This is the first time the Restless Hearts team has been able to get all together since then and so we wanted to capture for you all just what it is we're thinking and working through in this cultural moment.In addition, we had a few technical difficulties that you may notice, so apologies for that, but nonetheless, we hope you enjoy this episode.Helpful Resources:"To Change the World" by James Davidson Hunter"Christian Nationalism is Worse than you think" from Christianity Today"The Dangerous Heresy of Christian Nationalism" from Brian Zahnd"Is America a Christian Nation" from Scott McKnightThanks for tuning into this week's podcast. Find us on instagram @ourrestlesshearts or head to our website ourrestlesshearts.com for videos, blog posts, and more!

Welcome to the Restless Hearts Podcast where we believe all of creation, especially people like you and me, are reverberating with questions and longing for a place to feel at home. Our hope for you is that you would begin to discover that your restlessness can find peace in Jesus. You can also find us on instagram @ourrestlesshearts and head to our website ourrestlesshearts.com for videos, blog posts, and more! 

Welcome to the Restless Hearts Podcast. Where we believe all of creation, especially people like you and me, are reverberating with questions and longing for a place to feel at home. Our hope for you is that you would begin to discover that your restlessness can find peace in Jesus.In this episode, we get into practical tools, practices, and habits you can employ to make real strides toward becoming the person you want to be. We did have some construction going on while recording, so you may hear a little bit of background noise in this episode.Thanks for tuning in to this week's episode. To get all of the episodes delivered straight to your phone, subscribe to this podcast. You can also find us on instagram @ourrestlesshearts, and head to our website ourrestlesshearts.com for videos, blog posts, and more! Keep your eyes peeled on our instagram @ourrestlesshearts for our video on this topic that launches next week on our youtube channel. 

Welcome to the Restless Hearts Podcast. Where we believe all of creation, especially people like you and me, are reverberating with questions and longing for a place to feel at home. Our hope for you is that you would begin to discover that your restlessness can find peace in Jesus.In this episode, we're chatting about becoming the person you want to be. Molly, Josh, Garret and Kenna talk about new year's resolutions, the relationship between our own effort and God's transformational power, and what some of the barriers are to actually changing.We did have some construction going on while recording, so you may hear a little bit of background noise in this episode.Thanks for tuning in to this week's episode. Coming up on Thursday we're going to give some practical ideas for how you can make sustainable, inside out change in your life, so be sure to tune in to that. While you're at it, subscribe to this podcast, find us on instagram @ourrestlesshearts, and head to our website ourrestlesshearts.com for videos, blog posts, and more!

Welcome to the Restless Hearts Podcast. Where we believe all of creation, especially people like you and me, are reverberating with questions and longing for a place to feel at home. Our hope for you is that you would begin to discover that your restlessness can find peace in Jesus.In this episode, we get into sharing some practical ideas about what you could do and new ways to think about Christmas that will be relatable and authentically meaningful.We have a few mic drop moments that we can't wait for you to hear, so let's get in to today's episode.Thanks for tuning in to this week's episode. To get all of the episodes delivered straight to your phone, subscribe to this podcast. You can also find us on instagram @ourrestlesshearts, and head to our website ourrestlesshearts.com for videos, blog posts, and more! Keep your eyes peeled on our instagram for our video on this topic that launches next week on our youtube channel. (Josh) Analyze where & how you find meaning. Put aside routines, to focus & dwell on the incarnation. (ends 55:20)(Kenna) Advent Study from the perspective of each person in the story (Ends 1:01:19)Helpful resources referenced in this episode:Liz Bohanon quote: https://www.instagram.com/p/B6e5N-9hZVY/?igshid=1qv43g1wuoaehThe humanity of God by Karl Barth: https://www.amazon.com/Humanity-God-Karl-Barth/dp/0804206120Advent Conspirancy: https://adventconspiracy.org/Socially Responsible Shopping: https://www.livefashionable.com/https://ssekodesigns.com/https://www.miir.com/https://www.thegoodtrade.com/https://apse.us/

Welcome to the Restless Hearts Podcast. Where we believe all of creation, especially people like you and me, are reverberating with questions and longing for a place to feel at home. Our hope for you is that you would begin to discover that your restlessness can find peace in Jesus.In this episode, we're chatting about how Christmas can sometimes feel meaningless, especially as we get older. Molly, Josh, Garret and Kenna talk about our personal experiences and associations with Christmas, as well as the way our culture has interpreted and celebrated the season. Thanks for tuning in to this week's episode. Coming up on Thursday we're going to give some practical ideas for how you can infuse meaning back into Christmas, so be sure to tune in to that. While you're at it, subscribe to this podcast, find us on instagram @ourrestlesshearts, and head to our website ourrestlesshearts.com for videos, blog posts, and more!Questions behind the questions:Josh - Why do those things feel meaningful? What is failing us about where we're looking for meaning? What does our western Christmas ideal look like? (approx 19:00)Garret - What am I missing (incarnation)? (approx 32:00)Why does the “story” feel more meaningful than the truthful history? Why do we sanitize the Christmas story? Why are we so uncomfortable with the painful or unpicturesque parts of the story?(ends 51:00)Helpful resources referenced in this episode:Liz Bohanon quote: https://www.instagram.com/p/B6e5N-9hZVY/?igshid=1qv43g1wuoaehThe humanity of God by Karl Barth: https://www.amazon.com/Humanity-God-Karl-Barth/dp/0804206120Advent Conspirancy: https://adventconspiracy.org/Socially Responsible Shopping: https://www.livefashionable.com/https://ssekodesigns.com/https://www.miir.com/https://www.thegoodtrade.com/https://apse.us/

Welcome to the Restless Hearts Podcast. Where we believe all of creation, especially people like you and me, are reverberating with questions and longing for a place to feel at home. Our hope for you is that you would begin to discover that your restlessness can find peace in Jesus.In this episode, we finally get to answering the question “What is the gospel?” We get pretty clear about the definition of the gospel and we talk about why this is a restless question and how to find rest in the truth of what the gospel is. Can't wait for you to hear!Thanks for tuning in to this week's episode. To get all of the episodes delivered straight to your phone, subscribe to this podcast. You can also find us on instagram @ourrestlesshearts or head to our website ourrestlesshearts.com for videos, blog posts, and more! Keep your eyes peeled on our social media account for our video on this topic that launches next week on our youtube channel. 

Welcome to the Restless Hearts Podcast. Where we believe all of creation, especially people like you and me, are reverberating with questions and longing for a place to feel at home. Our hope for you is that you would begin to discover that your restlessness can find peace in Jesus.In this episode, we're exploring the big question: What is the gospel? Molly, Josh, Garret and Kenna talk all about what the gospel is/isn't, how Jewish readers may have heard the gospel, and what the cross accomplished. We're exploring a bunch of facets of the gospel and it's a really expansive, good conversation, so let's get to it.Thanks for tuning in to this week's episode. Coming up on Thursday we're going to officially answer the question, what is the gospel? So be sure to tune in for that. To get all of the episodes delivered straight to your phone, subscribe to this podcast. You can also find us on instagram @ourrestlesshearts or head to our website ourrestlesshearts.com for videos, blog posts, and more! 

Welcome to the Restless Hearts Podcast, where we believe all of creation, especially people like you and me, are reverberating with questions and longing for a place to feel at home. Our hope for you is that you would begin to discover that your restlessness can find peace in Jesus.In this episode, you finally get to hear each of our answers on whether or not God picks the president. We also talk about how to find rest in a topic that is so fraught with anxiety. Also, just a note, we recorded this on November 5th 2020, so we were still awaiting the results of the presidential election.Thanks for tuning in to this week's episode. To get all of the episodes delivered straight to your phone, subscribe to this podcast. You can also find us on instagram @ourrestlesshearts or head to our website ourrestlesshearts.com for videos, blog posts, and more! Keep your eyes peeled on our social media account for our video on this topic that launches next week on our youtube channel. The answer to the big question (52:00)How do we find rest in the context of this topic? (1:08:00) Helpful resources that were mentioned in this episode:https://bibleproject.com/blog/pharaohs-heart-grew-harder/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSw3tL-VkuI 

In this episode, we're exploring the big question: Does God pick the president? Molly, Josh, Garret and Kenna talk all about the implications of both the answers yes and no, as well as what scripture says, and what role worldly authorities have to play in the kingdom of God.On our next episode we're going to actually, officially answer the question, Does God pick the president? So be sure to tune in for that. Subscribe to this podcast, find us on instagram @ourrestlesshearts, and head to our website ourrestlesshearts.com for videos, blog posts, and more!Also, just a note, we're recording this on November 5th 2020, so we're still awaiting the results of the presidential election.IntroWhat if the answer is No?  (3:30)What if the answer is yes? (17:45)How does the scripture say God has interacted with the authorities? (30:00)How big a role do the rulers and authorities play in bringing about God's kingdom? (46:00)Here are the references that we make in this episode:https://bibleproject.com/blog/pharaohs-heart-grew-harder/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSw3tL-VkuI 

This week we dive into a topic that will divide dinner tables all across the country. Faith and Politics. It gets a bit spicy. Hang out and let us know what you think.  Here are some of the things we reference in these two episodes:The AND CampaignHow Do Christians Fit Into the Two-Party System? They Don't. by Tim Keller

This week we dive into a topic that will divide dinner tables all across the country. Faith and Politics. It gets a bit spicy hang out and let us know what you think.  Here are some of the things we reference in these two episodes:The AND CampaignHow Do Christians Fit Into the Two-Party System? They Don't.

We are a group of friends from the Pacific Northwest who were asking questions about the intersection of culture, politics, relationships, faith and church. We talk about the origin of why this is podcast you should listen to in the myriad of podcasts you could listen to. In addition, we talk the origin of why we call our selves the Restless Hearts. Feel free to follow any of us on instagram:Molly, Kenna, Josh or Garret