Transformational Living Connection

Want to enjoy a healthy and joyful life? Allow Cal Samra, former Associate Press Reporter, current editor of the Joyful Noiseletter and an octogenarian to share with you nuggets of wisdom for aging healthily in body, mind and spirit. 

Never Alone addresses a major health issue we seldom speak of—loneliness and social isolation, which are often overlooked despite being vital public health concerns. Negative health outcomes linked to loneliness include high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, disability, cognitive decline, and depression. Tiffany Bluhm shares her amazing journey of life--her struggle of loneliness and how she encounters the presence of God in the many isolated spaces of her life. Her story--her book, is courageous and inspirational. Enjoy this short interview with Tiffany Bluhm.

What's in a name? Why is naming important? Does the ability to name something or someone impact our life? Can we have an experience of God through the use of His various names? In this interview with Sheryl Geisbrecht, author of Experiencing God through His Names, we learn about Sheryl's intimate experiences with God and His names. She shares how we, too, can access God in ways that can deepen our exprience of Him and enrich our faith.

What is it to "do you"? What if you were to be your true self? What if you spent your whole life being someone else other than your true self? Steve Brown, radio host and author of Hidden Agendas: Dropping the Masks that Keep Us Apart, gives us a taste of his book on removing the masks that prevent us from developing authenticity and true relationships with each other.

There are two things that will draw us closer to God: His incredible love or our brokenness. Suffering is a part of life, and, for the believer, suffering has meaning. The cross is where we meet our true selves in God and where we die to our false selves. It is where we forgive, where we surrender and where we learn totally to love. As Kara Tippetts battled cancer, she touched the lives of thousands of people as she continued to trust in the goodness and love of God unto death. Jill Lynn Buteyn, a friend and co-writer of the book Just Show Up along with other members of their community become the “Aaron's and Hur's” to support Kara during her struggle. Their love for Kara is profound. Listen to the interview. It is an incredible story of friendship and love in the midst of suffering.    

Life is really simple, but it can seem hard and complex because you have to put into practice a new way of thinking and this is not always easy. However, with the help of understanding how your brain works including your emotions, says Dr. Curt Thompson, a psychiatrist and author, you can learn how to do things to renew the mind and become transforming agents on the earth. Listen to the interview and learn how you can renew your mind to look like Christ’s. 

One of the most powerful medium of change is the social media. This medium is redefining our relationships and the way we interact with one another. Is the body of Christ prepared to deal with this powerful change agent. I believe it is if we take heed to individuals, such as Pamela Havey Lau, who is not only warning us of the social media deleterious effects but also sharing with us how we can remain true to one another and thus true in our relationship with God.Listen in as Pamela Havey discusses her new book: A Friend in Me.

Depression is more than feeling sad. It is a medical illness that involves intense feelings of sadness and other symptoms that manifest themselves in a myriad of different ways. Depression has physiological, psychological and spiritual elements. As a result, the topic of depression tends to be a touchy subject for the church. Ask Danen Kane, a worship leader, song writer and singer who suffers from depression. While on tour for his second album, “Flesh and Soul,” LiveLiving interviews Danen about his struggle with depression and how it has drawn him closer to God more than anything else.

Can we experience a spiritually enriched life in body and mind?What does a renewed mind look like? What is neuroscience revealing about our faith?Learn why the health of our minds is dependent on our relationship with each other and find out the answers to these questions in this interview with Dr. Curt Thompson, a psychiatrist and founder of founder of Being Known, a non-profit organization which develops teaching programs, seminars and resource materials to help people explore the connection between neuroscience and Christian spirituality which lead to genuine change and transformation.