Ride of A Lifetime

There is an aspect of parenting we discuss which might not be agreed on by everyone. We believe you have to be willing to let your kids fail. It's time for perfectionism parenting to be replaced by truth. Pull down the facade. Your children don't exist to be a trophy to make you look good in front of other people. Kids are individuals who will have their own journey and story.We talk about walking with our kids through their failures and how it starts with us being transparent about our own.We can't control our kids away from making mistakes and have to let them experience the good, the bad and the ugly.We talk about how rules provide no power or ability for your child to do what is right. Rather, they create a box-checker.How to build a life irrespective of what others think about you.You have to be willing to offend the right people in order for your kids to be mature.Your kids need to never live in fear of men.How to speak belief into your children.If you're afraid to mess up or fail, you will never succeed.We close by discussing our ultimate goal as parents, which is to see our children be able to function in the world independent of us.  

After a few months hiatus, we are back! In this episode we discuss the following: The importance of getting to know your spouse. Who are they, outside of the mayhem of day to day life?How do we tap into their individuality?How do we cultivate being a safe place where our spouse can put real words to their thoughts and dreams?What does it mean to help your spouse understand how you think, so they can hear what you're saying? How do we read the emotional cues in our spouse? Sometimes the simplest actions are the hardest things to actually do.Creating space for each other to be themselves and expand their creativity.Sometimes we don't quite know how to end an episode… so stay til the end to hear a little bit of real life we decided to keep in the final edit. As always, please share with a friend, on your socials, and let us know how we can serve you in future episodes!

This week we are diving into our top tips for traveling. We also share some of our funniest experiences and come to the conclusion that sometimes the worst travel memories end up becoming the best stories. Hopefully this gives you some inspiration on communicating with your spouse and figuring out a way to make your dreams happen!As always, please share this with a friend and leave a review so others can find us. We appreciate you!

In this episode, we talk about the importance of bearing each other's burdens. We both share two recent heavy loads we have had to allow the other to help us carry. What is the line between walking our own personal journey, and letting others help us? Amy talks about her struggle with body image and some of the ways Matthew has helped her navigate and shoulder it with her. We hope it encourages you to create a safe space in which the other can share vulnerably.

We are so excited to be back from our six-or so-month hiatus and to be sharing our time with you again. This week we share all about what has been happening since our last recording. From almost losing Matthew, to the complete flipside of him running in one of the most difficult ultramarathons in the world... we hope something in this episode speaks to you where you need it most. As always, we appreciate it when you share these episodes and leave a review! Thanks for listening!

This week we had the privilege of speaking with Demond & Juanita Logan. Demond is a mindset development specialist who lives out his motto of: "Change your mind, change your life". They share the struggles and hurdles they have overcome over the last two years and how every obstacle has actually been preparing them for another opportunity. They share some key stories which highlight how important it is to trust your spouse and their intuition. It's truly inspiring to peek into this conversation and hear how powerful it is when your spouse has and lives in extreme faith.You can learn more about Demond and his services at https://www.demondlogan.com/

Navigating parenting in a social media world is new territory for many of us. No other generation has raised their children amidst the temptations accompanying the distraction and pull of social media. For the first time ever, we are learning on the fly, how to parent children in this generation of cell phones and having anything and everything at their fingertips.How do we manage this in our home? This week we're excited to have our four oldest kids on the podcast, sharing their input and wisdom on this topic. We were really blown away by their take on this subject.We discussed if they are glad to have a phone and if they find it a valuable part of their life. They share some of the struggles they've had with self-regulating and we chat through the transitions of having more and more freedom as they get older. We dive into the topic of boundaries and friendships, and we hear their take on what they think is happening to their generation because of the pressures to have social media, the latest phone, and forgetting to look up. Has it been detrimental or beneficial to their friendships?We're super proud of their vulnerability in sharing some experiences in hoping it will help someone else, and they drop some serious words of wisdom!Make sure to drop them a note of encouragement in the comments and share it with your friends! Thanks for listening!@rideofalifetimepodcast

This week we dive into a topic which is unfortunately becoming too common: infidelity. None of us are immune to it, so how can we safeguard our marriages from it?We discuss our thought life and how this plays a huge role in the temperature of our marriages. So many simple things lay the foundation of growth and intimacy and protection. Is it possible to have safety and protection while simultaneously experiencing excitement and adventure? How does this reflect our relationship with God?As always, follow along over on the ‘gram @rideofalifetimepodcastWe love your comments and messages!

This week we talk about a recent competition we had. Could Amy get Matt lost within 30 miles of our house? What if she blindfolded him, disoriented him, and dropped him off in the middle of nowhere, somewhere within a 30-mile radius? What if he only had 12 hours to get back home? We share what happened in the first part of this episode.This led to our discussion about how we can encourage personal growth in our spouses by allowing them to step into areas of growth. What does it mean to have a spouse who wants to facilitate that? Sometimes we look at areas of growth and deep down inside it intimidates or scares us, which is a good sign. There is an excellent potential for significant growth if we're willing to step into it… even if it seems overwhelming. If something costs time and money to improve, is the excuse “it's selfish” just a cop-out because you know you'll have to put actual hard work into changing? We talk about how important it is to develop a vision of where you want to be… even if that scares you a little bit, because you are capable of a whole lot more than you think you are.  Ask yourself: what is possible? The more you get out and do things that seem scary, the less things seem scary. Be sure to check out our Instagram page where we have weekly new content to encourage, challenge, and hopefully make you laugh. https://www.instagram.com/rideofalifetimepodcast

This week we're discussing how to cultivate and nurture intimacy within marriage. Does it really only revolve around the bedroom? We share ways that have helped us grow in intimacy.  There are some laughs and some true stories. We hope you're encouraged! 

This week's episode is all about the hard stuff. This past week was really hard, with the passing of a friend and the completion of Amy's first ultra-marathon and Matthew's not first one. We share some lessons we picked up along the journey of preparing for this week and also what God spoke to us while we went through the lonely and difficult experience of the ultra itself. We also discuss the importance of healing and asking for help, and how that has looked for Amy this year. Even though this is all about leaning into and not away from the hard stuff, we hope you are encouraged as well. Because  joy inevitably coincides with the difficult times, if you keep your eyes on Jesus.Find us over on IG @rideofalifetimepodcastBe sure to leave us a comment and review so others can find this podcast! Thank you so much!

 This week we had the immense pleasure of chatting with friends, Michael & Shellie Elrod. There are so many bites of wisdom in here- you have to listen! Michael shares why he decided to join the Man of War Crucible, and the impact it made on him and his family. He also shares an incredibly personal story with us. We were blessed, encouraged, challenged and inspired and we know you will be too! 

This week we discuss the different areas of growth we've experienced in the last two years since Matthew went through the Man of War Crucible. What is the crucible? How does it apply to our lives today?Our conversation morphs into the characteristics of a needy and controlling wife and the importance of not manipulating your man out of what he is doing, for your own comfort and relief. We need to encourage our men to pursue excellence but not pull them back when they actually do that thing. Exodus 15:3- The Lord is my strength and my defense. He has become my salvation The Lord is a warrior. The Lord is His name.https://www.instagram.com/menofwarcrucible/https://www.menofwarcrucible.com/optin1652290948006

This week we go down memory lane a bit as we discuss the topic of adventure! Sadly, it is very easy to insulate ourselves from the adventures of life when we fall back into comfort, familiarity, and ease. We encourage you not to forget that it's okay to be uncomfortable for a little while if you're involved in something with tremendous purpose. We hope you enjoy the stories and share some of your own. Leave a review, or message us on IG @rideofalifetimepodcast with your favorite adventure! 

This week we had the immense honor of chatting with Patrick & Mary June Miller. We've known each other for almost  15 years, and the hilarious way we met was definitely a God thing! Their story is full of difficulty, hope, anguish and healing, as they both share how they had to walk  through the doors of their worst fears. If you or someone you love is struggling with feeling feeling stuck in destructive behavior, this episode is for you.Through the story of both Patrick's awakening and confession we see a glimpse at the overwhelming love of Christ. Grab some tissues… and share this episode!We know you will love getting to know Patrick and MJ. Be sure to check out their YouTube channel for more glimpses into their life! https://youtube.com/c/PatrickMiller1

We're excited to be back to recording after a small summer hiatus. We are diving into a subject that may be controversial to some. Purity culture. What is it? Has it helped our marriage? What is attached to it? This episode is packed with some conversations we've been having recently together, so we thought we'd chat about it here.Every once in a while Amy says something she doesn't know has a double meaning. We decided to keep this particular faux pas in the recording. We genuinely don't know what will come up sometimes! Hope you're able to laugh along with us. We also approach the controversial topic of modesty and unpack the story in Luke 7.  As always, our hope and prayer is that you are encouraged or challenged and pass along some of what you receive to others. Thanks for listening! Be sure to share this episode on social media or with a friend!

This week's episode explores the fun to be had in marriage and how to recapture it. There are a few silly moments we didn't edit out, so we hope you're able to chuckle along with us. 

This week we had the honor of speaking with our friends Patrick and Lori Foster. Patrick is an airline pilot and they live in Texas with their son, John. They open up about their very difficult journey through alcoholism, and how they came out the other side with a new lease on life. Theirs is a powerful story of redemption and what happens when you truly surrender to God. Bottom line: God works really well with broken people. “Strength lies in the ability to surrender and ask for help when something is greater than you.”“The storm is the forging process for something that's better on the other side.”Resources mentioned:https://www.menofwarcrucible.comHuman Intervention Motivational Studyhttps://himsprogram.com/Lori mentioned how this group helped her so much during the process of Patrick's recovery, and how she wishes she had joined it sooner: https://al-anon.org/Matt tells this story, but here's a super short video capturing the moment when a bunch of the guys surprised Patrick at his race: https://www.facebook.com/therealmanofwar/videos/1358899194550027Here is the song Lori shares:  https://www.YouTube.com/results?search_query=hillsong+my+surrender

Today's episode was a lot of fun to record. We recently got back from another ultramarathon, and we tell the story of how Matthew got into ultras in the first place, why he does them, and some of the things we've learned because of them.Lessons like:*Your greatest growth is in the most uncomfortable environment.*When you have to figure things out, that's when you grow.*The greatest opportunities of life are on the other side of your fear.*You will never realize your fullest potential unless you jump headlong into your greatest fears.*Don't be someone who is ruled by emotions or governed by comfort.*Be able to mentally transcend how you feel.Matt shares the biggest reason why he challenges himself in this way, and it's pretty touching. He says it best: "Once you accomplish something that you previously thought was impossible, it changes your thought process.  Other things don't seem impossible.  You're redefining that word in your own mind. "After listening to this, we hope you are challenged to go after something you never thought you could do. Set ridiculous goals. It's okay to fail, just keep going at it.Please leave a comment or write to us about what you decided to do... a challenge you accepted... an impossibility you overcame. We are so excited to hear from you! You can find us over on IG @rideofalifetimepodcast

In this episode, we navigate the difficult topic of grief and loss. As we discuss our most recent miscarriage, this might be sensitive to some, but we hope it is also encouraging.  I shared the steps I took to go through the process of healing, and how the feelings of loss never really go away, but how it is possible to grow from that experience.Going through a loss can either break a relationship or strengthen it. How do we make a safe space for healing to take place?How do we infuse mourning with gratitude?Grief doesn't just happen when someone dies. Maybe there is the loss of a relationship or an expectation... how can we navigate healing?How do we deepen our marriage through difficult situations like a loss?Fun note: this episode's artwork is the moment our photographer captured the moment we told our kids we were having a baby. We cherish this photo!You can find us over on IG @rideofalifetimepodcastDrop us a note any time! 

In today's episode, we are talking all about faith. What is it? How can we make it grow? What is an abundant mindset?How does money fit into this topic? We end with a challenge that we hope propels you forward from wherever you are on your journey. 

This week we are discussing contentment, complacency, vision, purpose and gratitude. Complacency is the enemy of growth.  How do we live with contentment and yet not with complacency?How does gratitude fit in with your value and worth?How do you know what your purpose is?We touch on the story of Corrie ten Boom. If you are not familiar with her story, check it out here: https://www.corrietenboom.com

In this episode we begin with some candid, unscripted conversation about hospitality. We both share some of our favorite memories about how we felt the most connected with our families growing up, and how those memories have played a part in how we parent today.Maybe you have a job which doesn't allow you to come home every day. How can you still maintain communication and connection with your spouse and family? We hope you have a good laugh with us, as we share a few funnies. We also hope the ideas presented inspire and challenge you to pursue an even deeper connection with those in your life.Make sure to check out and follow our Instagram page: @rideofalifetimepodcast

This week we continue with part 2 of our discussion with Naghmeh Panahi. Last week we opened the uncomfortable topic of abuse in the church as Naghmeh shared her own experience of abuse and working with women in the same situation. We picked up our conversation this week with the question of why do we need to keep talking about this? Listen as she shares why this is so important.The principles we discuss can apply to your personal life, your marriage, or your church. Whether you're a dad, mother, husband, wife, pastor, or missionary, this message is for you! We can not be world changers without being willing to walk in the mundane. We can not evangelize without identifying sin.  “I don't want to hear about your Christianity if you don't treat your family well.”Living one way and preaching another way is just a show.We chat about how it's also possible to abuse ourselves and offer solutions on how to change this kind of behavior.What if you don't even realize you're being abusive? Or being abused? How can the church respond?How can people in leadership guard against becoming an idol in someone else's life? Make sure you listen to the end, because there is a powerful encouragement delivered, which is applicable to every single person, and we pray leads many to freedom!For more background to Naghmeh's story, listen to the two-part series with Julie Roys, here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ex-wife-tells-of-abuse-betrayal-behind-savesaeed/id1470242499?i=1000536450369 

If you haven't heard Naghmeh's story, it is important to get the background before listening to today's episode. You can find and listen to it here:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ex-wife-tells-of-abuse-betrayal-behind-savesaeed/id1470242499?i=1000536450369This week we are diving deep into an uncomfortable topic and shining a light on the very disturbing issue of abuse. Why is it important to expose abusers? Whenever sin is hidden, its stranglehold grows and the inevitable result is decay. How far has the church fallen from God? What is the nature of abuse and what has contributed to the abuse of power to such a large scale in the evangelical church?We talk about idolatry and how we have made an idol of our marriages and church, striving to protect these institutions over the individual.We discuss these things not to embarrass the church, but to bring to light something which is festering. We believe God is allowing stories of abuse, like Naghmeh's, to come out for the healing of the individuals who are being abused. From her own experience and also working with abused women, she shares why someone can take so long to realize they are in an abusive relationship and why it is so difficult to share their struggles with anyone. She offers some excellent advice to anyone who may be the sounding board to someone who is being abused, and shines a light on what to look for to anyone who may be in such a situation and not even realize it.God really cares about oppression and is calling us to repentance.Stay tuned for next week's conclusion of this riveting conversation.

We are so excited to have some special guests on today's show: our three oldest kiddos! We ask them about their favorite memories growing up, a valuable lesson they've learned, and discuss what it is like to cultivate an environment of repentance and forgiveness in our home. As we chat with each one, you get a glimpse into their personalities and maybe a few chuckles too. Parenting teens is amazing, and we hope to convey this truth. If that stage feels like it's still miles away, be encouraged: you can look forward to some incredible years! We also want to dispel the overworked notion that strong wills are something to wish away or quench in a child.  Finally, we discuss how the aim of parenting is to let them go, and have an amazing influence on the world. If this was a video version, it would be impossible to hide a few moments some of us are holding back tears. We loved chatting with Nadine, Elijah & Jack, and look forward to introducing them and listening to their thoughts. 

In this episode we discuss a few questions:Is it worth the bother or expense to get married? What are the foundational ideas of marriage and how do they play out in real life?What is marriage?We talk about soul mates- do they exist? Whether you're a teenager, been around the block for awhile, or somewhere in between, if you've ever thought about marriage, then this episode is for you. Culture tells us it's restrictive, but we have found it to be the complete opposite. How is this possible? In whichever camp you find yourself, married or not, we hope to convey this encouragement: marriage is both worth the wait… and worth the commitment. 

In this podcast we share about a really difficult time in our life and the powerful lessons God taught us because of it.Matthew reads Psalm 46 which was such an encouragement during this time.Amy shares her first “walking on water” experience when Matthew almost died.Saying the words “have faith” are meaningless if they are not demonstrated in your life.It's good to go through hard things.To the extent that we suffer trouble, we experience God's help. And we can't experience God's help without experiencing trouble. There is tremendous freedom found when there is no fear!We discuss how the strength of a man and a woman can actually liberate and lift the other instead of intimidate or shame them.How can we women encourage our men to grow?How God gives us more than we can handle and why this is a good thing!One of the greatest tributes to our faith in Jesus Christ is that we can rejoice in suffering. That's why He leads us into it, because He wants the world to see what this faith really looks like. 

In this episode we talk about the storms we experienced during our first year of marriage and how this laid the foundation for other difficulties we would later face. We chat about how the way you view adversity is going to have a direct impact on how you respond to adversity. Marriage is a relationship of celebration, not obligation. We discuss the importance of your thought life outside of the bedroom and learning how to enjoy each other.Storms come- that's a given. The key is figuring out how to weather the storm together.

In this episode, we are introducing ourselves. Grab a cup of coffee (Matt's favorite) or tea (Amy's favorite) and get to know us!How did one boy from Philadelphia and one girl from the middle of Africa meet and fall in love? It's impossible to condense twenty+ years into thirty minutes, so stay tuned in upcoming episodes as we fill in the blanks, interview other amazing couples, and share the highs and lows of this incredible ride called marriage!