SheFindsTruth

Still hammering out how to get my podcasts recorded while working full time and doing all the family things. This episode didn't turn out too bad as far as sound. I do apologize for a few background noises!  Also I'm trying out a new format and I think it's going to work well. Episodes that follow this format will include 1-3 parts that reflect on 1) Vocation Thoughts 2) Learning Something 3) Clinging to Scripture  I say 1-3 because sometimes I might do an entire episode on just one of those ideas. But generally I think this approach will help me get focused and streamline things a bit (if I'm capable of such a thing). This week... Vocation  What is TOO MUCH for one's schedule? What is best for my kids' schedules? Does anyone agree on this? lol I reflect.  Learning Reminder: You can put down some of the plates! I ran into this video the other day - LINK HERE - and she points out it's better to not try to balance all the plates but just to put some down. Smart woman! We should be encouraging each other to do this. also Being Lutheran podcast is my current favorite and they said something super profound the other day that I unpack in this episode. "The Christian life is assurance of salvation and the doctrine of vocation..." I love it. Find out why.  Scripture  Psalm 145:4-5 One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works. Wonderous works! You know like when your teenager talks to you! It's a miracle! ;)    *** To continue the conversation: find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer

*This is definitely a gender-neutral episode!* (also, I'm back to my prior graphic; which do you like better?) Recording a podcast in my car! You do what you have to do. The more I do this the better it will get, I promise! #soundquality  This episode was born when I was speaking at a MOPS group recently. We started talking about how hard it is to ask for help and I realized how much this has been my experience. Then I had a lightbulb moment where I realized God made us that way on purpose. Which is not what I would have done if I were him. Actual thought: "Wouldn't it be great if things were the way I wanted and I could do it all alone?" Of course this is not a great idea, and so I had to do a podcast where we break this down some and look at the various aspects of asking for help and how/why it is so hard: Accepting help Prayer Processing aloud Allowing others to serve us Complimentary talents mean we need each other ***** To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Also if you or someone you know is a Lutheran Mom, you might be interested in finding out more about my Lutheran Moms Facebook Group! Do a search on Facebook or find out more at She Finds Truth!  Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer

First podcast episode back after way too long of a break! It takes me a few minutes to get back into the swing of things (and I have to apologize for the pops and sub-par sound quality!), but eventually I find my groove.  Catching you up to speed on why I've been gone so long and then I start in on all this grace I've found. It's been such a pleasant surprise and it really has me thinking a lot about how grace functions in this world and why.  Links include: My blog post by the title "A Whole Lotta Grace." The content overlaps a little, but the podcast is a different take on things. Interview with author Trillia Newbell about her book God's Very Good Idea the magazine Fathom Thanks so much for checking out the podcast. I am excited to be back!    To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer

This week I get to share my interview with Pastor Jordan Cooper about his book Baptized Into Christ! He shares insight on a number of things including intimacy with Christ, Jesus as the example, and being holy and sinful at the same time! It's a great chat that is sure to be encouraging.  Click here for the complete show notes at SheFindsTruth.com including where you can find the book and more details about the show.    Thanks for listening!  *** To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com!  

Is theology relevant to everyday life? Of course! That's why I'm here. She Finds Truth is all about finding the truth of how Scripture applies to our lives.  The Bible is a story about who God is and about how He created man and then man abused the order of things God had set up, but God was merciful and full of compassion and love THE ENTIRE JOURNEY. From the very beginning, He had a plan in mind for how man would be able to experience His gifts including the reason they were created which was for fellowship with GOD. The best scenario for our lives is to have fellowship with God. And even though we are not worthy and we have repeatedly messed up this relationship from the beginning, God has pursued us through it all. He has time and time again created ways and opportunities for us to have fellowship with Him despite our sinful selves …. And that all culminates in the death and resurrection of His son who is sent to crush the head of Satan and fulfill the intentions God had from the very beginning for us. Today when I was stressing about life, I knew I needed to rest in His Word. So I flipped through the Psalms and I landed at Psalm 61... Psalm 61 Psalm 63 What is it I'm seeking refuge from? What is it God is offering refuge from?  Scripture does not reveal a God who swoops in and takes away all the bad things. It shows us a God who swoops in and offers rest and protection in the midst of the battle. It shows us a God who empowers us to love and forgive others. It reveals a God whose mercy never runs out.  What does the Christian life look like when we realize we are putting our trust in something other than God? Is this normal? Yep. I contend none of us are doing it right all the time. Most of us are doing it wrong most of the time. So we need to repent. We need to go to Scripture, prayer, and find Godly counsel. He provides us with the resources we need. Plus He just keeps on forgiving us.  The Gospel includes all sorts of things that we don't expect. And it makes way more sense than all the things we thought we wanted.    ***   To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer

You don't have to listen to 46: My Christ and My Chaos episode before you listen to this one, but this show technically is a response to that episode. Seriously it's won't ruin the experience, but I thought I should mention it.  The Mess In that show, I talk about "the mess" and how it seems like a popular topic. That we are all "a mess." There's like a hot-mess spectrum now. Are you on it? I think we probably all feel like we are on it at least some of the time. But after talking about that in episode 46, I got a lot of responses and so it seemed worth re-visiting. As a listener pointed out, God isn't all about leaving messes in the world. He's about restoration and healing!  So I talk through questions that have arisen about authenticity, problem-solving, and the specifics of what it means to be "a mess." Personally,  I find it helpful to get into the weeds and the details. I need perspective and help processing so I do benefit from talking through things.  Even so, we have to guard against getting stuck wallowing around in the mess. What ABOUT the restoration? Is that even a part of God's promises? The Solutions It IS important for us to talk solutions. How are people working through their messes? What does that look like? I suspect one reason this doesn't get as much attention is because the healing process can be long and gradual and there are fewer fireworks usually.  And how are Lutherans approaching all this? Are they looking for healing? What does Scripture say about healing and solutions in this lifetime? Romans 6:23 Romans 6:4 Romans 12 Colossians (the whole book!) I think there is lots of Scriptural proof that God is here all along the way - changing us on the ground in the trenches. We should be looking for restoration and healing around us. It's there. It's happening. It's real.  The Gospel is multifaceted. But the bottom line is that the Gospel isn't dependent on our own faithfulness. It's a gift from God.  ***   To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer

Welcome to the fall 2017 season of She Finds Truth! Calling this a "season" plus I'm giving it a theme! I know. It's so much excitement. ;) I'm going with the theme Here I Stand, which I know is kindof cliche but I can't resist. It's too appropriate for life right now.  For those of you who don't know, 2017 is the 500 year anniversary of Luther's 99 Theses. In the show I give a brief and amateur summary of the start of the Reformation and Luther supposedly saying "Here I Stand." (He might not have actually said those words!)  Anyway, after gushing over Luther, I bring it back to current day. It's fair to say that our world is in a time of uncertainty. Plus lots of us are carrying heavy burdens, and we need to keep grounded in the coming weeks and months.  It’s so good to be back but honestly I have found myself putting this off. I’m not sure why but I think it’s because I wasn’t feeling like I had a good theme or something really powerful to come back with. As I say at the start of my newsletter - this is just me trying to figure things out. I don’t have many crazy awesome epiphanies. I don’t have the newest latest stunning idea that’s going to change the way Christians think about their daily lives. I don’t have all the answers. If anything I’m more aware every day of what I do not know. But I am here. Here I stand. Because I’ve been convinced by my friends and my God and the voices in my head and my longing to connect with you, that I have a role to play. A small role, maybe just barely a role, but a role nonetheless. We all have people in our lives we are here to serve. That’s why God put us here. To serve one another. So I'll do what I can.  In the show I share some of the shows I'm planning for this season, including an interview with Pastor Cooper about his book "Baptized Into Christ," and an in-depth look at our liturgy and why church is the way it is. I'm going to do a show about imperfect marriage, life after abuse, and then a few shows that just look at my usual struggle to stay focused on the finished work of Christ instead of myself and my failure to be faithful.  The second half of the show is reflecting on something a friend said a while back. A few years back someone posted something about how so many people seem surprised when things in life goes wrong. But really, if we were rational and realistic, we would expect life to be hard. Scripture says life will be hard. Do you ever find yourself caught in a pattern of thinking like this one?: "Things are going way too good these days… what is going to fall apart next?" I don't think that's a healthy or accurate view of how the universe works. I don't believe there is a formula dolling out tragedy to all of us equally. The rain falls and the sun shines on good and evil alike. We don't understand why or when.  But we do know that God is going to work in our lives, in the midst of rain or sunshine. That He will be there in our uncertainty and our crisis. And through it all, He will hold us up.  Here I Stand.  *** To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer

Things are going good!  It's weird! lol  I talk about a blog post I published this week where I process why things are going good. There's less chaos in my head and it's somewhat confusing! Is it imposter syndrome? Is it denial? Hey! Maybe it's my antidepressants! I have a new job and some details are shared and then I launch into the main topic which is why bloggers so often talk about how messy their lives are. What is the deal with this? Is it necessary?  I have some theories.  After exploring my theory, I talk about how realizing our differences and similarities is super helpful in having a healthy self-concept. Talking about the mess is part of the process.  Also it's part of having a better understanding of our neighbors which I think is an important element to our lives.  The HOT-MESS SPECTRUM. Does this have anything to do with personality types? I don't know but there is definitely a spectrum. What about culture? Tell me if you are more open about your life in your culture, or less open!  The issue of sin is a part of this too, at least it is for me.  I'm pretty sinful. We should be taking note of the sin in our lives.  For me this means identifying my mess.  The thing is, we are not enough (podcast link to related show on that topic), and God DID come to help the helpless (blog post link to related post). So when I talk about the chaos, I talk about my Christ.  What about Luther's ""sin boldly" quote? Yeah he said that but the point was (I believe) how much we should be boldly trusting in Christ for the salvation of ourselves from our sin. Our God is bigger than our sin!  See what you think and get back to me. Email, twitter, Facebook - the links are below. I'll probably keep talking about messy lives. :)  *** To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer

Turns out the world does not revolve around me. I am not at the center of the universe.  This is just one of the many realizations I have in this episode as I process my thoughts on potential employment and God's involvement in this realm of our lives. I went looking for some peace of mind in Colossians and I found it when I started sifting through all the promises and gifts that reflect "the reward of your inheritance."  In this episode I answer all of the following questions: Will I be able to maintain employment after 10 years of not having a "real" job?! What am I "supposed" to be doing? What does God allow fabulous opportunities to cross our path and but stay out of reach? Is it ok to take a job outside of one's field of education? What if I get the job? What if I don't?! What the heck does "the reward of our inheritance" mean? Listen now to find out the answers to this and more. You may think you can answer all these questions, but they won't all be the same answers I come up with! Leave a comment and tell me what you think and maybe even head to itunes to leave a review to make it easier for other listeners to find our show!  Thanks so much!  *** To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer    

Things I'm thinking about this week... Mother's Day can be hard.  Some parents are toxic. So I talk about both of these things. Why we should consider being sensitive about Mother's Day, in case you are oblivious that reality exists for some. It would be easy for me to be clueless about it as a mom and someone who still has her mom. But I have friends who really struggle! Also something that has been on my radar lately is adults who are really struggling with their own parents. Why is this such a place of contention for so many people?! I guess it shouldn't be a mystery, but I break down some of the reasons it's a tough issue and also talk about what we can possibly do about it.  Links include: https://www.bustle.com/articles/109435-9-signs-you-have-a-toxic-parent https://psychcentral.com/lib/how-to-create-a-healthy-adult-relationship-with-mom-and-dad/  and Bonus Link I didn't talk about, but that made me really think, as a parent myself -  6 things you shouldn't say to your kids - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/28/adult-children-parenting_n_1916536.html    God is a God of comfort and refers to himself as a Father frequently in Scripture. A few verses that I note can be helpful as we wrestle with all this: Isaiah 64:8 Psalm 68:5 James 1:17   *** To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer

In today's episode I ponder the richness and complicated-ness (is that a word?) of life. Between feeling vulnerable, having to push through the drudgery of a tough weekend... to the joy of watching people fulfill their vocations effectively. And then I start talking about the richness and nuances of Scripture and how I'm learning so much about that in class right now.  The second part is mostly about that and how there are various ways we can approach Scripture looking for meaning. What we bring with us to the table - our questions and life experiences and ideas - all factor into how we understand the meaning we get out of Bible passages. The theory behind how you interpret Scripture is called hermeneutics - that's the class I'm taking this semester. It's pretty great.  Anyway, the hermeneutic we use to approach Scripture needs to be *the finished work of Christ on the cross.* When it is, then we can better see all of Scripture fit together to make sense concerning God and us and how all this rich, complicated stuff runs together.    Thanks for listening!   To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer

In which I take a few minutes to welcome the new listeners, and talk about why the church needs to be talking more about mental health. Then I tackle the concept of GRACE in our parenting and in our dealings with other humans (not God).  Here's the post from Intentional Moms that includes me on a list of best podcasts for Moms!  Here are the links to a few shows where I talk at length about how great the doctrine of vocation is.  04: Knowing God's Will for Your Life 25: God's Plan vs. My Reality 30: Now What?  Last week's blog post about depression got a decent amount of traffic and seemed to resonate with many people.  Then I did a podcast about it where I focus more on the role of God's promises in my valley.  Bottom line: Don't tell depressed people they just need to pray more. We all need to pray more. GRACE When the Bible uses the word 'grace' it tends to be talking about the Grace of God. So I define grace a few different ways and then mention how dead we were in our sin.  link to movie scene on youtube Ephesians 2:4-10 comes into play and so does Hebrews 4:16 Bottom line on grace and parenting: We can show mercy and grace to our kids while still having them face the consequences of their behavior.  Bottom line on grace and the rest of our relationships: Our challenge as Christians is to model healthy relationships where we aren't acting as if there are no consequences for anything, but still live lives that reflect forgiveness, compassion, and love. That we recognize what a good thing 'boundaries' can be, but also when we make those boundaries we do not build them out of anger and resentment. And that we are willing to move boundaries as our relationships grow, heal, and develop.    Reminder: I am not a professional. :) I just have a lot of opinions and I spend a decent amount of time in Scripture trying to figure out how all this fits together.   To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer  

This week I ignored the alarms going off in my head and I posted on the blog about how crappy I've been feeling and what kind of anxiety and maybe even depression I've been toying with. It's nothing like some people have to face, which is one reason I'm hesitant to even bring it up. Nevertheless, a few things talked me into it including getting to explain the silver lining - the promises of God that were in clear view pretty much the whole time I was feeling super lame.  So here's the blog post and I talk more in depth about it on today's podcast, but the really great part of the podcast is what comes after when I get to talk about all the promises of God that come to light as we observe and celebrate Holy Week. (Admit it; it's hard not to celebrate the Lord's Supper on Maundy Thursday even though a few minutes later we are hearing about his arrest.) Anyway, so many good things Jesus' resurrection confirms for us!   I mention a blog post I wrote about the Saturday of Easter weekend. Here is that link if you want to check it out.  The last several minutes of the show I talk about a survey I recently created and I've had over 100 people take, asking about Devotionals. I'm curious what people are looking for especially because I have a burning desire to create some! I'd love it if you took the survey. You can find it on the blog post called About Devotionals.  Thanks for listening!    To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer

Today's episode attempts to look at John 15:1-11. I used to cringe when I heard the word "abide." Why? Because it scared me. Take a listen to find out what my messed up deal was.  I mention some writing stuff at the start of the show including Joanna Penn's website www.thecreativepenn.com and her book The Successful Author Mindset which I'm recommending even though I'm not all the way through it yet. But so far so good.  Then I dive into the passage and begin to scratch the surface (these verses are packed with layers!) including: define abide If "the Word was God" then that means staying close to Him has everything to do with Scripture in our lives. unpacking "the Father is the gardener" Let me know what you think! *** To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer

Lent has me reflecting on Jesus and His life here on earth. His humanity.  There's a lot to being human, isn't there?! So I share some very real life stories you might be able to relate to.  Then look at how the real life story of Jesus is so relevant in light of our humanity.  He knows how it is to be human, because He was human too.  The two natures of Christ are mind blowing. But still true.      To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer

This is episode #2 in my series about sexual assault where we dive into the spiritual implications of it. Episode #1 can be found here! This is a deep, complicated topic, so I brought in someone with experience in the trenches, Heidi Goehmann (pronounced gae-man! which I got wrong) author, social worker, and deaconess. Heidi has written and produced so much great material for all of us and you should definitely check her out at www.ilovemyshepherd.com, and on Facebook, and on Twitter! Also during the show we make reference to her Bible study Think on These, so here’s the link and you should check that out too. We invite you to contact either of us or leave comments on the blog with more questions you have about this topic. We want to start a conversation for the benefit of all and would love to have your input as to what this should look like going further. More importantly, if you are hurting and looking for answers, please let us know and we can offer up what resources we can. Also if you have found good resources concerning this topic, share those in the comments or on social media for the benefit of the audience! I’m going to offer more detailed shownotes than usual, because there is so much great information here I’d love for you to snag a little if you don’t get the chance to listen. I’m going with bullet point format. Here comes. Get ready. Overarching question we are sorting through: How do these dark experiences impact us and intersect with/reflect the hope of Christ? The struggle of shame. We all suffer in some way. The brokenness of sin seems to infiltrate our womanhood especially and create an unhealthy internal dialogue. Wouldn’t it be great if we could see ourselves and our brokenness the way Christ does? Why aren’t we talking about this stuff? How do we get painful topics to the table? It’s not just sexual assault: marriage struggles, parenting, disabilities, mental health We need to share our own experiences and Recognize the discomfort/pain of sin Healing starts with addressing the topic Putting light on the pain and sin because LIGHT OVERCOMES DARKNESS One of Satan’s goals is to keep this stuff in the dark Having conversations: “Here are my struggles, what are yours?” - bookends Treatment is important but community can be equally important Our natural reaction is to hide just like Adam and Eve did God doesn’t love us any less when our sin is revealed We are all asking God why he allows sin and brokenness, but especially when we’ve been violated we wonder: Why does God allow this? Why wasn’t I protected? Give people a space to voice that question: what happened here? We have to recognize sin is allowed here, we hate that, and often admit “I don’t know.” Sit in the pain together Christ has the victory. He does save. God is so much bigger than us and he sees everything differently than we do. Sin sometimes happens TO us not by us. Still CONFESSION is powerful Confession can mean “vocalizing” something He CAN heal. It is mysterious. Confession helps get it out in the open. Harder for Satan to use against me. Relationship is powerful Psalm 56:8 You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. Physical Sexual sin is really hard for us to deal with. Satan is attacking us PHYSICALLY Our bodies are our temples where the Holy Spirit resides That’s how much he values us! When our bodies are invaded it complicates our relationships with ourselves and our God Sin ripples Impacts are exponential in many areas of our lives This is why continual conversation is necessary Shame Triggers are real Share the struggle. Voice your response. Natalie Greenfield - Twitter link. She is engaging in conversation about how sexual assault in one's past impacts marriage. Healing God brings healing DAILY and ETERNALLY Romans 12:1 - We offer him a living sacrifice, knowing we are not enough, but here is what we DO have. He showers down joy and comfort in response Isaiah 61:3 - beauty from ashes Attention everyone: Hold tight to each other. Relationships can be so complicated. Don’t give up on them and those relationships. Pursue each other as God has pursued you. If you have suggestions for resources, questions, or something to contribute to the conversation, please share in the comments, find us on social media, or send an email! (links are at the top and bottom of this post)     To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer  

I saw a very nice happy meme that said YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH and was supposed to make me feel better and encourage me after I had a rough time with something.  But it just makes me feel squirmy.  Because I know I'm NOT good enough.  In this episode I explore this question of being good enough and of course that leads us to dip into the 2 kinds of righteousness and also I go on a rant about how women's Bible studies should not be created in a hole but should have some church oversight. (I know you would have thought after last week I'd be done talking about this, but it's like the flood gates were opened...) But mostly I explore the concept of "good enough" and what it means and we have a good enough time doing it. (I'm sorry I'm such a nerd I can't help it!) Scripture references: Mark 10:18 Matthew 25:34-40 Ephesians 2:10 2 Corinthians 5:21 You should definitely listen to last week's podcast on women's Bible studies in case you missed what all the fuss was about Also, if you don't know what I mean by "decision theology," you should look into that and find out where you land on it. Read this great piece by Brian Wolfmueller and find out why Lutheran's aren't big fans. So much Scripture. I love it!   Thanks for listening!!   To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer    

Women's Bible studies are a surprisingly controversial topic in Christian conversations. You'd think they would be a no-brainer, but instead it can be divisive and complicated.  In today's episode I address the elephant in the room when it comes to popular authors like Beth Moore and Sara Young and what place they should and shouldn't have in Bible based churches. I explain the problematic theology that pops up in women's groups around the country and also why it IS so attractive. We look at a list of suggested criteria for vetting a Bible study you might use and I have some tips for leaders too.  Suggested guidelines: Ask your pastor for suggestions and/or to vet the resource you are considering. Does the material frame the conversation around a theology of the cross? Or a theology of glory? What role does Scripture play? Is the Bible a book of rules or the story of our rescue? There should be law AND Gospel both. So something about sin and also something about Jesus saving us from that sin. What is the suggested answer to the sin problem? [red flags] Does author distinguish between passive righteousness and active righteousness? Does the study see Jesus as a coach? A magic helper? Or a Savior? What is the author’s view of the Means of Grace? Is the author anti-sacramental? The links: Lisa Cooper's paper - "An Evaluation of Beth Moore's The Patriarchs study in View of the Two Kinds of Righteousness" Lisa's List  - Evaluating Christian Women's Bible Studies Katie Schuermann Heidi Goehmann Donna Pyle Oh I forgot to mention on the show that the CPH LifeLight studies are a good solid study of Scripture. Not gender-specific, just for all believers!  Thanks for listening! Share with a friend and be sure to subscribe to the show! To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer  

  How is God WITH me? Recently when I was trying to clarify what my podcast and blog are all about, I ended up with a chart.  It's been pretty helpful in reminding me of all that God offers me and how I have access to those things in the incredible physical world he has created.  This episode focuses in on those 5 means of grace in the middle. Listen to the show and decide whether I'm a heretic or not. Also, I go on a rant about all the crazy things people are saying on the internet that we kindof like the sound of - "claiming my marriage for God!" but that don't really make that much sense and can lead us down a dangerous path of looking inward instead of to God. I agree being conscious of our sins and issues is helpful, but just because I write it down on a notecard doesn't mean God is going to "fix" it the way I want Him to. Just sayin.  During the show I said I'd have more links in the show notes to other shows/blogposts about these topics. Here they are: For more on Baptism, check out this podcast episode... and this blog post... For more on Confession, check out this podcast episode... and this blog post... For more on the Lord's Supper and the means of grace, here's a podcast... For more on Fellowship, here's a podcast..and a blog post.. For more on my obsession with Scripture..here's a podcast.. and a blog post..   Thanks for listening!  To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer    

I'm back from holidaytime and I'm so glad to get things going for 2017! Today's show is me checking in and talking us through some things about reflecting on 2016 - in good ways - and looking ahead at the coming year. I share some of my resolutions and how I'm afraid of failure. At the end I throw in a bit about sanctification. It's great! Check it out.  Oh and here's the book I mention - it's great too! Galatians: Selections from Martin Luther     To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer

When I opened Donna Pyle's book Without This Ring: Surviving Divorce to prepare for our interview, I was not prepared for how powerful her story and guidance would be. Silly of me since I'm a big fan of Donna's and I know she brings authenticity and practicality to the pages of her writing! But her raw story struck a chord with me thinking back to broken moments in my own marriage. I'm not divorced - by the grace of God - and God has brought much healing to my own relationship. Evenso, Donna's story and the things she learned resonated so much with me. All of this made interviewing her even more powerful for me. Donna's book seeks to present various perspectives and issues for divorcees and help the reader see Christ centered steps towards hope and healing. She does a great job. I highly recommend the book and I have no doubt if you listen to this show - whether you are going through a divorce or not - you will glean much from our talk. I tried to touch on points that will be helpful for those facing divorce as well as the community of people who love them. Our conversation included the following topics: God hates divorce; does he hate me? Divorce is traumatic. Give grace to hurting people.  The case for counseling.  Obedience is necessary and incredibly useful.  FORGIVENESS! It's possible and not what you think.  Find Donna here at Artesian Ministries and find the book here on Amazon and here at CPH. Pick it up today for yourself or a friend.  Also in this show I reference 2 podcast episodes that were inspired by Donna: Messy Circumstances, Messy Conversations Part I Messy Circumstances, Messy Conversations Part II As well as my first episode on sexual assault, with a series of episodes to follow in the coming months.  Thanks for listening! I hope this interview was a blessing to you. Share with your friends!     To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer

It is my position that the church needs to be having a louder and more productive and useful conversation about sexual assault and what we can do to serve our neighbors who have faced such experiences. This is part I in a series I'm doing where I interview experts and helpers who can assist us in maneuvering this topic for the good of our friends and communities.  We will start with a basic conversation of what sexual assault is, how prevalent it is, and the perspective of someone who is on the front lines of this subject matter. Kami Garrison is a local expert I asked to chat with me. She is Prevention and Education Coordinator at KC-CASA and ISAS. These offices are part of a broader coalition in Illinois called ICASA, Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault. These offices work to improve the quality of services for survivors of sexual assault, assist in their recovery, and work towards the elimination of sexual violence.  Among other things we talked about teaching our kids about consent, what rape culture is and the damage it does, shame and why women don't report the majority of incidents, and how people can help.  Future episodes on this topic will include how the church is successfully and unsuccessfully serving members who are survivors, why church leaders need to be held to a higher standard than other people in positions of authority, and more about rape culture and why we need to take it seriously.  I'm pretty passionate about this topic, but I'm also very motivated to have civil and patient conversations about the various aspects which can sometimes be charged and complicated. Please don't hesitate to contact me or engage in a conversation about sexual assault because this abuse is rampant and needs to be brought out into the open so we can better serve one another.  Here are the links to resources Kami talked about as well as some tips that may be of use to you.          

Am the only one who feels a lot of pressure that I'm supposed to "be the light"? Maybe I should just quit whining and do what needs done, but I'd also like to know what it means for sure to be the light. Today I hash through this after having had a conversation with a friend who felt like she had failed to be the light. Is it just about doing the right thing? What if I fail?  Links from the show include: This is the blog post I wrote about where God is while we are electing a president.  Here's a simple and to the point article about Moral Therapeutic Deism written by Karen Jones titled What Is Moralistic Therapeutic Deism? Here's the article by Mark Roberts called What Are the Good Works God has Prepared for Us? Scripture references included  Matthew 5:14-16 (Scroll down after the Beatitudes) Ephesians 2:10   One more about listening to podcasts - How Does One Listen to A Podcast?   To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer    

As a young adult Christian I was constantly wondering what my life was supposed to look like as a follower of Christ. My everyday life. How does one "serve Christ," really, with all these distractions? What careers count? I definitely wanted to please God, but I wasn't sure how. Plus there was still sin in my life and I was super frustrated about that too.  There was so much I didn't understand about how all this works.  Of course the answers aren't as cut and dry as we'd like.  So I've talked before about Gene Edward Veith's books and how they address this stuff. This weekend I got to meet him and hear him speak about my favorite topic Vocation! Today's show talks about how as Christians we ask the question "Now What?" and what the answers look like.  Links and references include: Lecture on Passive Righteousness by Jordan Cooper Ephesians 2:1-10 Podcast Episode on Vocation - Episode #4 Gene Veith's -God at Work               -Family Vocation     To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer

Most of us have had a series of friendships that can bring up a whole host of emotions when we think about them. It occurred to me recently that some of us (me included!) might not be approaching our friendships intentionally as grownups. I think I took it for granted that friendships when I'm in my 30's would be easy and fulfilling.  LOL What is up with me and my unrealistic expectations of the world?!  So here are a few of my observations: Friendships are potentially complicated at any age: 9,13, and 37. At the same time, every friendship is different.  Don't try to fix people.  People are complicated. (I say this way too many times during the show.) I over-analyze things. My friends know this which is helpful.  Being intentional about our friendships will be best in the longrun. Do it!  Find some wise women if you're struggling with this.  I cited scripture during the show, but I'm only going to mention my favorites here.  Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 Sara Groves song I love. In the show I think it's called "A Multitude of Sins" but actually it's "When It's Over" Go check it out here. Meme Discussed: Brene Brown on TED.  Side tangents include the concept of "awake to your feelings." Some books about friendship that could be useful: Women are Scary Friendship for Grownups Better Together     To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer    

We are layered people. Not one-dimensional like the people on sitcoms.  Me. My husband. The grocery store clerk. Everyone.  Jesus too.    There's way more to Him than I tend to think.  He's layered like an onion - just like us.  One way for us to unpeel the layers is to look at how Christ fulfills the 3 offices of prophet, priest, and king. This is called the threefold office of Jesus Christ and enlightens us on WHO God is, WHAT Jesus does, and HOW the Old Testament is totally tied into the New Testament.  Defining prophet, priest, and king is important since the meanings now are different than the way the Bible uses them. I did this with the help of Google, a book by Henry Jacobs called Elements of Religion, and Scripture. Here are some of my links: Elements of Religion About prophets About priests  Deuteronomy 18:18 Isaiah 53:5 John 1:49 story of the woman at the well I hope this episode was useful to you! Drop me a line and let me know what you think. I'm looking for feedback on whether this was too basic or actually useful or boring or condescending etc. Thanks so much for listening!   To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer  

Theology is interesting to me because I like to get to the crux of things. Analyze the snot out of them. (It's a gift. Sortof.) Hence I like critical thinking. Asking questions, finding answers. Good stuff. Which is why I'm digging deeper in this episode and asking some questions that I think probably a lot of people have but we don't talk much about. Like "Why is a sacrifice necessary to redeem us from sin?", "Is sin really that big of a deal?", and "Won't we all just go to heaven in the end?" All of this leads me to say controversial things in this episode like: The Bible is not centrally about love.  I need a religion that is not at its core about me.  Why did Jesus have to die? Is sin inconsequential? Let's talk about the concept of the 2 kingdoms... A perfect holy God means any blemish separates us from Him.  Any sin we commit is a reflection of our rebellion against God.  We cannot sin against God and expect to be at peace with Him for eternity. I'd love to hear what you think. The next episode will dive into the threefold office of Christ so check that one out next!     To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer

It's pretty self-explanatory. Lol Whether it's summer or not, if you feel like there's been a disconnect lately between you and your maker just because your head is filled up with other things.. then you'll probably feel right at home in this episode!   I discuss what's been going on a little and what it looks like when I do finally sit down with some quiet time. Plus I share what I've been learning about FASTING and how it might have more of a place in my life than I previously thought!    It all comes together in this episode that will inspire you to carve out some time and rest in the faithful arms of your maker. No need to start over. You can just pick up where you left off.  *** To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer  

Don't you hate it when you record a podcast one week but don't get it posted till the next? Well hate might be a strong word. I'm just glad I have one to post!  This episode starts out me talking about how we got 4 inches of rain in these parts the night before. Interesting since a week later we got 6 inches and that's the state of things while I edited. Anyway, I wasn't treading water too much to get this thing ready, thank gooodness.  Basically this is me re-thinking Episode 24 about God's plan and talking through some of the not-so-black-and-white aspects. This podcast and our language and our conversations have to be on-going so we can further explore this stuff and that's what today is about. Because this really is a complicated topic and we aren't God. So I think poetry helps the conversation.  I reference the following:  The Unwanted Necessity - My Hope for the Journey.co Andrew Peterson's music that I want you to listen to: You Never Let Go The Rain Kept Falling Dancing in the Minefields   To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer  

The topic of God's Plan for our lives is a complicated one. It opens up all sorts of roads of discussion about fate, destiny, happiness, grief, and intention. The reason I'm doing a show (shows actually) about it is because I think there is soo much mis-information about it and the way we casually talk about it doesn't take into consideration what God's word actually says. On the other hand, let me be clear that I am not God and I don’t know anything! If I’ve learned anything about the Bible it’s all the times God says, guess what, I don’t do things like you and you can’t understand my ways and you need to get over it. Honestly I think topics like this can be covered better in poetry and music. All the nuances, the paradoxes, the truths and realities.. it feels less like theology and more like poetry. And in this case, I say in the show, that I know I won't be answering many questions. In fact, I probably raise more than I explain. This show is like a big dining room table with a bunch of papers and items and newspaper clippings and Bible passages and some mementos on it. And we are sorting through them to see what we like and we what we don’t like. What we want to keep and what we need to throw away because it’s just taking up space in our brains and on our facebook feeds and it needs to be weeded out. And after it's over we will probably have to do it again in a few other shows bc this topic is that huge.  Links include: All I Ever Have To Be on youtube All I Ever Have to Be lyrics Meme in question: What Does the Bible Say about Joy? - at openbible.info ( I said it wrong on the podcast!) Vocation Episode - Knowing God's Will for Your Life: Vocation Thanks for listening! Tell your friends! To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer  

Lately my brain has been swamped with emotional life stuff and I was feeling really annoyed until I remembered that everyone is dealing with something and it's just how it goes. The thing is, when we are in the thick of it it's hard to remember.  Does God expect me to be handling this better than I am? Looks to me like the Bible tells us about all sorts of resources God has built into our lives for times such as this...  Check out the episode and these links related to the content: Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale Issues Etc podcast episodes I decided today I'm not going to link all the Bible verses. Look them up for a great way to spend some time in the Word! Proverbs 12:15, 11:14, 15:22 2 Timothy 3:16 Hebrews 4:12 Galatians 6:12 James 1:5 Psalm 139 I Samuel 16:7 Psalm 8:4-5   To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer

Today's long awaited episode is an interview with L.L. Martin author of Positively Powerless: How a Forgotten Movement Undermined Christianity. I read this book and loved it and think it has a really important message we all need to pay attention to. Satan is very sneaky and this is definitely one of his angles.  She isn't suggesting there is evil in a "positive attitude," but that the movement of New Thought has been watered down into Positive Thinking which looks and sounds good but is not consistent with God's Word. We touch on the role of this thinking in the prosperity gospel, success, self-concept, confession, sanctification, and community. The book is filled with great doctrine and practical application of Martin's ideas. Go buy it! Link to book.  During the show I reference this Issues Etc. episode.  Martin's website.    To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer  

Last episode I interviewed counselor Amanda Hofbauer from Chicago, IL for advice about how to comfort our friends who are struggling with something. We talked about the not-helpful thing people say and what might be more useful to our neighbors.    Today I look at the book of Job for direction on how to be a friend to someone who is going through something really terrible. There's a lot of what-not-to-do in this book, but help is revealed as well.    Check out the first episode if you haven't already and let me know what you think about both of them!   To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer  

"Some things in life cannot be fixed. They can only be carried." -Megan Divine   Today's show is about those uncomfortable conversations where we cannot fix the problems people are struggling with. I am honored to have Amanda Hofbauer, MA, AMFT as a guest on the show discussing the difficulties of these conversations. She is a licensed Couples and Family Therapist in Chicago who specializes in helping those who are dealing with grief, infertility, and trauma. You can find her online at Facebook.com/renewtogether and also on Psychology Today. Check out her links! This whole conversation started when I saw a tweet from Donna Pyle (and here's her website) ..... Oh hello this is so true!! Such a problem. Maybe this week's podcast should just be about not having easy answers. https://t.co/mjtRWSrvkj— Angie Wagner (@shefindstruth) April 4, 2016 So this got us talking and that's what this podcast is about. How DO we respond without being insincere and generic? This Buzzfeed link that Amanda found helps as well as our conversation which you should totally listen to right now. :)   To continue the conversation, find me on TWITTER, go to the facebook page, or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer  

First of all, there are some glitches in the technology here and there. I know about them and apologize. I think I was talking too fast for my computer. ;)   Been thinking about parenting and what it really is and how to prioritize parenting stuff with the rest of the world. I realized that sometimes I might be wishing away this time in which I'm parenting children and I really don't want to do that. But it's easy to slip into.  So I looked up some verses on parenting and did some reflecting. Here's the links to the show.  Psalm 127:3 - Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Jonathan Fisk Boars in the Vineyard Episode Ephesians 6:4- Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Deut 6:6-9 - And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Titus 2:7 - Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity.. Watch Me Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. But this at least all married people should know. They can do no better work and do nothing more valuable either for God, for Christendom, for all the world, for themselves, and for their children than to bring up their children well. In comparison with this one work, that married people should bring up their children properly, there is nothing at all in pilgrimages to Rome, Jerusalem, or Compostella [the home of a famous shrine in Spain], nothing at all in building churches, endowing masses, or whatever good works could be named. For bringing up their children properly is their shortest road to heaven. In fact, heaven itself could not be made nearer or achieved more easily than by doing this work. It is also their appointed work. Where parents are not conscientious about this, it is as if everything were the wrong way around, like fire that will not burn or water that is not wet. -From Martin Luther’s, “A Sermon on the Estate of Marriage” Now observe that when that clever harlot, our natural reason… , takes a look at married life, she turns up her nose and says, “Alas, must I rock the baby, wash its diapers, make its bed, smell its stench, stay up nights with it, take care of it when it cries, heal its rashes and sores… ? What then does Christian faith say to this? It opens its eyes, looks upon all these insignificant, distasteful, and despised duties in the Spirit, and is aware that they are all adorned with divine approval as with the costliest gold and jewels. It says, O God, because I am certain that thou hast created me as a man and hast from my body begotten this child, I also know for a certainty that it meets with thy perfect pleasure. I confess to thee that I am not worthy to rock the little babe or wash its diapers, or to be entrusted with the care of the child and its mother. How is it that I, without any merit, have come to this distinction of being certain that I am serving thy creature and thy most precious will? O how gladly will I do so, though the duties should be even more insignificant and despised. Neither frost nor heat, neither drudgery nor labor, will distress or dissuade me, for I am certain that it is thus pleasing in thy sight… God, with all his angels and creatures is smiling-–not because the father is washing diapers, but because he is doing so in Christian faith. - Martin Luther   By Wisdom a House Is Built    

Some thoughts on Lent, Easter, and suffering. Discovering holes in theology when you put limits on God's faithfulness. And my goals for the podcast and my women's ministry.  What is prosperity theology?  Why Lutheran? The Lutheran Knuckleheads article I wrote called Coming Up Short.  Pastor Shields - follow him on Twitter! Blog posts about suffering   Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me - heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:12-14   Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6   We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4   Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1   To continue the conversation, go to the facebook page or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com. Check out blog posts on www.shefindstruth.com! Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer  

In today's episode I answer questions I've been pondering since Episode 15 concerning fear and what the Bible says about it.  Does it really say "Do not fear" in the Bible 365 times? What does the world think "perfect love" means? Why does Joseph Prince seem to have cornered the market on this? Do I really have to dissect I John to figure this out?    These questions and more sorted through in episode 17.  And here are the links: Episode 15 9 Sins the Church Is Okay With Psalm 56 NPR's story on close friends being close to us in times of trial Psalm 54 Definitions of sustain I John 4 Joseph Prince butchers Scripture   To continue the conversation, go to the facebook page or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer  

You want to EXPERIENCE God? FEEL His presence? FIND Him?   It's less about you or me finding Him.  It's more about how He comes to us.    The Means of Grace can be defined as "how the Holy Spirit works both faith and good works in our lives." (from Spirituality of the Cross by Gene Veith p44) The Means of Grace are the vehicle God uses to come to us in a very real, very physical way so we can experience Him - undoubtedly and without question.  Baptism Galatians 3:27 Galatians 2:20 Colossians 1:27 Lord's Supper John 6:52-58 John 6:41-51 The Word Romans 10:17 I Thesalonians 2:13 John 15:3 1 Peter 1:23   Article from Pastor Cooper on Christ IN us called Christ Dwells Within Us and We Should Be Talking About It To continue the conversation, go to the facebook page or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer  

I'm so glad to be back! Had to skip last week because my brain was overloaded, but now things have improved. Praise the Lord.  In today's podcast I explain how I think there is an internet culture directed at women that promotes a lot of false sin and (therefore) false guilt. Telling us we have these problems and offering up a bunch of solutions, the entire time the "problem" isn't really a problem and in the process we are overlooking actual sin that needs to be addressed.  Take a listen and see if you can relate. Also, if you are of the male gender and you listen, I would love to know if you see a similar thing that happens among men. Or not. Anyway, this is outside of the Christian culture but it's also totally thriving within it. There are all sorts of Christians telling me how I need to have more faith so I can _____ (fill in the blank).    All of this leads to the thing that actually started me on this rant in the first place which is this blog post called 9 Sins the Church is Okay With. Besides ending the title with a preposition, 

Awhile back I listed out some things I can do when I am feeling like a loser and just can't get it together. (I've decided I need to post these in my office. Or on my forehead.) But meanwhile, I did a podcast on them. The first part was episode 13 and I basically got through 1-2.5. This episode completes the list and I think it's a decent list. Among other things I discuss the idea that some things the world thinks ARE sins, possibly aren't.. as well as what some Bible verses DON'T mean.  Includes: God has a reason for you. We don't need a 5 year plan, we need to look around and see what needs to be done. Romans 8:28-30 Freedom from sin means we can freely serve.    Habakkuk 1:1-4 Lord Help me make this happen.  Philippians 4:10-13 Isaiah 41:10 Bonus Step - Tell Satan to shove it.  Philippians 4:4-8 - Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplicationwith thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   To continue the conversation, go to the facebook page or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer

In an effort to be uplifting today instead of super heavy (it IS February after all; in the Midwest that means we are all struggling to go on with our lives because the sun hasn't shined in 3 months), I ran across this post I did awhile back called 10 Steps When You Feel Like a Loser.  Turns out talking about these in detail only brought us through steps 1-3 and then I had to stop and start another episode. (I'm attempting to be consistent with the length of the episodes and keep them around 30 minutes or less.) Anyway, this episode covered thankfulness and confession. It also includes discussion about how "gratitude journals" are all the rage and they worry me.  Solid Scripture in here. This episode includes the following: I Thessalonians 5:18 Colossians 3:15-17 James 1:17 Philippians 4:6 In the segment on Confession I get far enough to reference Bo Giertz' book To Live with Christ which I can recommend enough. Also this bit from the LCMS and also Luther's Small Catechism. Check those out.  Also I have a smidge of intermission music from Monty Python. :) The next show will finish up our list. More Scripture, more of my rants and encouragement. See you then!    To continue the conversation, go to the facebook page or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com Production Notes · music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine · Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark ·  Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer

Recently I got an email asking what I thought about the IF:Gathering. This conference and the discussions I've had about it have prompted the resurfacing of all sorts of emotions and fears I have had in the past. I didn't actually go to the conference. I know that would have been great because then I would have a more educated opinion, but my husband and I had plans to go away that weekend and I was not going to get in the way of that annual event.  Anyway, I'm worried about the IF:Gathering's emphasis on US and what WE can do FOR GOD. Here is a link to a blog post written by Aimee Byrd that I think identifies some of the bigger issues with the event.  As for me, events like this remind me of a time when I was trying to prove myself to God. Which prompts me to encourage all of us to do the following whenever we are listening to a speaker, attending a conference, or a reading a book that reflects Christian ideas...   1) Consider the source.  2) Consider the message.  3) Consider the Scripture.  Tamar's story Popular Commentary by Kretzmann Augsburg Theology Scripture that says USE YOUR BRAIN! I John 4:1-3 Philippians 1:9-11 Hebrews 5:14 Acts 17:10-12 Proverbs 3:1-8 I Thessalonians 5:12-22    

I've been thinking a lot lately about the right way to approach Scripture. I'm becoming more and more aware of how we make everything about US - including the Bible. Yes, the Bible delivers the message of our salvation. But the Bible is about God. He is the main character and the plot twists and main ideas are all centered around Him. Not us. In this podcast I make profound statements like:  Let's make Bible studies that teach us about God. Not about us.  The world does not revolve around us.  The world revolves around our Lord and Savior.  The Lutheran church doesn't require you say a magic phrase to be saved. Most of the people in the Old Testament are a mess.  Christians are sinners.    I know can you believe how cutting edge this stuff is?  Other cutting edge things you might want the links to since I included them in my shockingly truthful podcast.... Just and Sinner podcast How to Change the Culture When it gets posted I'll put Pastor Meyer's sermon on here where he talks about God's Facebook Timeline.  1 Corinthians 12:3 -No one can say Jesus is Lord except in the Holy Spirit.  A brief overview of Arminianism on Got Questions.org.  Books I recommend for straightening out what is Biblical and what is Lutheran (those are the same thing btw ;) -  The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church by G.H. Gerberding Spirituality of the Cross by Gene Veith I talk about moralism on today's show and I guess I'm really thinking more specifically of legalism. Either way, here's a link that talks more about how that looks.  Story of Abigail - with actually accurate details. Sorry I butchered it in the show.  Some of the people I can blame for finding out how me-centered women's studies are - Lisa Cooper, Lewis Polzin Me-centered approach vs. God-centered approach might look like this: Why is this happening to me?! (complete with whiny voice) vs. Is God using this to point to Him? (complete with mature thoughtful voice) To continue the conversation, go to the facebook page or email me! - angiejean.99@gmail.com

How do you make decisions? Recent conversations have revealed the usefulness of having litmus tests and standards for filtering decisions and priority-making.  It reminded me of an illustration Kendra Smiley shares in her books High-Wire Mom and Do Yourself a Favor, Love Your Spouse. I love sharing her idea and keeping it in mind when I'm trying to figure out what's best for my family. Marriage and parenting are hard and figuring out that magic "balance" seems nearly impossible. It's weird that this got especially challenging when I decided to leave full-time work and stay home with the kids more.  I think understanding priorities and decision making and what works and what doesn't is a life long process. But I know all of it has made way more sense since I've figured out the Truth of the Gospel. When I understood that I wasn't earning my salvation - that God wasn't keeping a record of my wrongs - my perspective totally changed. It was like the veil was removed. The Gospel - Jesus has fulfilled the law and died for my sins - gives me liberty to love and forgive and serve in ways that didn't make sense before. Life isn't about needing to cross all my t's and dot my i's anymore. Now it's about seeing how God is working in my marriage and parenting and friendships.  [caption id="attachment_1222" align="aligncenter" width="720"] What are you looking at to make decisions and set priorities?[/caption] Because of this Matthew 6:21 doesn't make me squirmy anymore. My treasure is in Jesus.  "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."    

I keep running into things online about self-esteem and of course while one is in a funk, one's self-worth isn't real healthy... So I've been thinking about all this. Today's podcast is me sorting through how we measure ourselves and figuring out better ways to do it. I utilize the following resources: Juli Slattery's article in Today's Christian Woman titled I Don't Believe in Self-Esteem An excellent book for parents (or adults who need to grow up) called Raising Great Kids by Doctors Henry Cloud and John Townsend.  Issues, Etc. Episode Responding to Evangelical Cliches: "The Bible Doesn't Say You Shouldn't Love Yourself."  Philippians 4:4-7: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Special thanks to Rev. Rich Shields whose notes on Law and Gospel will continue to be a useful resource in daily life as well as this ministry.  My bottom line on today's podcast is this:  I am putting my hope in the perfect, compassionate loving God, my faithful even to death Savior, who took care of all the fixing and rescuing when He died on the cross for me. The truth is that I am helpless and He is the Helper. I needed saved and He did the saving. And just in case I get ansy and think there is more I need to do, He said (right there on the cross!) IT IS FINISHED.  I live rescued, renewed, and remade because of Him and He will complete this good work in me. Because JESUS is the author and perfecter of my life. Not me. 

  I've been in and out of this lousy place for a while and it's gotten old. Today's podcast is about what my funk looks like, what solutions I've attempted or considered, and a few Scriptural things that have really helped. I've found myself clinging to a remembrance of my baptism at least once a day, and more when my self-esteem is completely in the pits.  Lots of resources referenced in this one, so here's the list: I make reference to the last episode, so if this is your first time, here's an easy way to get to that. Psalm 51 is a new fav of mine. I've been starting my day with it as a prayer and meditation. I quote the NASB version on the podcast, but I actually like the ESV better so that's the one I link to. Luther's Morning Prayer - another good one for starting off the day. Check out the evening prayer while you're there.  In case you aren't Lutheran or you just aren't so sure how we are defining Baptism in this episode, here are two links. This one is video and this one is text.  Have mercy on me a sinner! also concerning the sign of the cross. After I discuss how I've been clinging to my baptism, I talk about the intentions of my ministry. As I've tried to understand Lutheran theology, I've been pleasantly surprised at how satisfying it is. It really is accessible to those of us living in the real world who like to hold on to real things. God is one of those things and He makes His means of grace a real, physical thing for us too. This ties in nicely with baptism of course.  We end with the hymn God's Own Child I Gladly Say It, a recording I got here, from When Suffering Doesn't Stop (a blog by Megan Smith).  Production Notes music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer  

  First podcast of 2016! Woohoo! [caption id="attachment_1145" align="aligncenter" width="500"] photo credit: impression detail via photopin (license)[/caption] Here's my stab at new year talk.... I talk about my hate/love relationship with "resolutions," and how I like to label my new-year plans for the coming year. Since everyone is talking about it, I have to mention a perspective on weight/fitness goals. But what I'm really interested in are goals surrounding how we approach our Bible reading. Which leads me to skim the surface on the topic of the two kinds of righteousness.  Referenced and Discussed: My follow through problem - here's the blog post.  GotQuestions.org talks about a Christian perspective on weight loss and fitness. I'm not in love with their response, but there is some usefulness here.  Lamentations 3:1-24 Luke 15, parable of the lost sheep Final thought, partially stolen from church liturgy this past Sunday -  Lord, help us be centered in your mercy and grace by way of your Word and Sacraments. Keep us there, Lord. Renew us in Word and Sacrament so we can continue to embrace your mercy and grace and can share that with the world around us through our vocations. 

 This week I get nitty gritty into what makes us so stressed out this time of year and what makes Jesus the perfect answer for our messy Christmases. This is based on a message I shared last year at our Advent by Candlelight event that was titled Jesus Makes All Things Bright and Beautiful. If you aren't feeling like there's much brightness in your holiday, this might help a little.  During the episode I share a handful of stories I found online last year about Christmas disasters. I'm sorry to say I didn't mark where I got those stories - they were from all over the place and actually were hard to find. If I come across links I will definitely post them here.  This episode dives deep into John 1:1-14.  I also specifically quote Deuteronomy 5:24, John 11:40, Zephaniah 3, Romans 8:1, and Philippians 4:5-7. Have any ridiculous holiday mishaps you want to share? We'd love to hear them. Any advice on how to keep Christ front and center in your Christmas season? I should really talk more about that next week. We will see if we end up with a recording next week. Christmas is coming!!! Have a fabulous week. 

 Anyone else?  So much to think about this month. So many expectations and loads of anticipation and plenty of pressure. Especially if you're the household manager.  It's hard to get focused. It's hard to even figure out, some days, what exactly this time of year IS anticipating. Here in the first week of Advent, lets do exactly that. I realized in the midst of my distractions, how perfectly Advent speaks to my issues. (Yes, I have issues. So do you!)  We launch the Advent season at our church with an Advent By Candlelight women's gathering. It's incredible. All these women come together as hostesses, decorators, bakers, performers, singers, guests... creating a sisterhood that most of us relish. This year part of the program was a skit called The Advent Wreath (which can be found here). The skit included the following Scripture:  Malachi 3:1 Isaiah 60:1-3, 19 Luke 2:8-11 John 3:19-21 John 8:12 After the skit I wrapped it up with a short devotion. This podcast episode includes that recording.  Lots of distractions this month and lots of stress and anxiety too. Lots of humanity.  Which is exactly why we need Christ.  A good friend recently said, "I don't really have to worry because Jesus already beat Satan and that's the coolest thing." Jesus' journey on earth to do exactly that starts here in Advent. Let that comfort be one of the things that keeps you grounded this month! Please contact me via email angiejean.99@gmail.com or twitter @shefindstruth or on the Facebook page, facebook.com/shefindstruth, to get deeper into this topic, or to suggest other topics, or to straighten me out on something I’ve overlooked. Also, if you are interested in having me come speak at your women’s event about this topic, or another topic, get in touch with me. You can check out my ready-to-go speaking presentations at http://www.shefindstruth.com/speakinginfo. Production Notes: music – Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine, Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark, Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer

In today's podcast I tell some stories about how I figured out that friends aren't just good for a laugh, but are really useful to have around when life gets bumpy. I realized that the greatest commandments (Matthew 22:37-40) are ALL about relationship. In fact pretty much everything about God's law and Word has to do with relationship. Nothing says 'feel free to go in the corner and hide from the world; it's better that way.' So I'm sharing some things I've learned about that and some ideas about how we can keep our close friendships Christ-centered. I touch on introverts and extroverts and about how Satan is real. Basically I'm all over the place. There's a ton of things I didn't touch on - this topic is huge - so I'll probably do a few more about community in the future. I'd love to hear your suggestions and thoughts on this topic.  Production Notes music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer  

It seems like the first 30 years of my life, I spent a lot of time asking what God's plan was for us, discussing it with friends, or analyzing what He might be trying to tell me.  When I discovered the Doctrine of Vocation, most of the pieces fell together and I started to understand God is less concerned about a 5 year plan and more concerned about the greatest commandment.  In this episode, I make lots of references to Gene Veith - an expert and author on the doctrine of vocation. Also I pronounce his name about 3 different ways. Sorry about that. I quote him a couple times especially when I'm discussing what exactly the doctrine of vocation is. After listening I think I could have done a better job of referencing exactly which words are his. You should check out his books and articles and then you will know.  Spirituality of the Cross by Gene Veith God at Work by Gene Veith Here are few links to blog posts that talk more about some of the stories/ideas I explore here in the podcast. When I decided to quit my job Understanding your calling I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic or your own journey to understanding where God wants you. Does this topic resonate with you? Leave a comment on the blog or on the Facebook Page!   Production Notes music - Spoke in the Wheel by Electric Tangerine Audio at http://audiojungle.net/user/ElectricTangerine Vocal Introduction by Kena Clark Intro/Outro Production by Bradley Hofbauer