Podcasts about asking for a friend

Asking for a Friend Is sin really that big of a deal? What even is sin? And how does it affect my life today? In Part 1 of our new series Asking for a Friend, Lead Pastor Steve Garcia tackles one of the most pressing questions Christians (and skeptics) wrestle with: What do I believe about sin? From the Garden of Eden to the cross of Jesus, this message unpacks where sin came from, how it impacts every part of our lives, and why Jesus is the only hope we have for freedom.  

This week in Asking For A Friend, we tackle the question: Why does the church talk about money? Jesus says we can't serve both God and Mammon—and nothing competes for our hearts like money. Discover two biblical strategies to break free from money's grip and learn how generosity transforms our lives for eternity.

John 9:1-12As [Jesus] walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.' Then I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” [I chose this morning's Gospel, not because I'm going to spend a lot of time unpacking it, directly, in response to today's question. I chose it – with the notion of Science and Scripture in mind – to simply show the gulf that exists between the life and times of Jesus in the First Century, and our own day and age. And how differently we are invited to understand Scripture because of that.The short of the long – and the obvious expression of this – is to see how the people around Jesus believed that that man's blindness was the result of divine judgment for his sins – or for the sins of his parents – and how he was cast-out and ostracized because of it. We know so much more than that now – and so did Jesus, it seems. Which is why his healing – and the point of the story – wasn't about a health problem or a physical defect.Just like those First Century onlookers, we want to pretend this story is about sickness or science, when really it's all about the forgiveness of sins and showing how wide and merciful God's love and forgiveness was, is, and can be, when we share it.]Anyway, shifting gears somewhat to today's question, which came through in a variety of ways from a variety of sources: Grace Notes, some conversations, the Men's Bible Study crew, and even a second-hand text from one of our college kids by way of his mother.I had tried to address it when we kicked off our last sermon series – the one from July, about Genesis, and the primeval mythology of its first 12 chapters. I threw out the phrase “LITERAL v. LITERATE,” and throughout that series Pastor Cogan and I tried to unpack the way those stories in Genesis (Creation, The Flood, The Fall, The Tower of Babel) speak to larger, universal, cosmic Truths, even if we aren't required to receive them as historically or scientifically accurate accounts.So, here is a list of the several questions we tried to summarize and roll up into today's single query:One was a series of non-sequiturs, asking about Creation in 7 days versus Evolution and the Big Bang Theory, dinosaurs, and how people add up the life-lengths and say that is the age of the earth, …etc.There was a reference to “Talking snakes,” the Nephilim, and the plural use of God in Genesis 3:22 – where God was apparently concerned that Adam and Eve would become like “one of us.”Did God actually walk in The Garden with Adam and Eve?How do you reconcile “time” in the Bible, including the ages of people? (Like how did Abraham live to be 175 years? Or Moses 120? Or Adam 930? Or Methuselah 969?)I don't want to be too simplistic, or to dismiss the thoughtfulness and concern over these kinds of questions. But I have to say that faithful people – especially rationally-thinking, scientifically-minded faithful people – have been making more of this than is necessary for far too long. It can be fun to do, don't get me wrong. And there may even be meaning to be found in some of it.But all of the math, numerology, guess-work and mental gymnastics it takes to “make sense of” what are often nothing more than literary devices or culturally particular context clues or plain-old hyperbole reminds me of the way Swifties dissect Taylor Swift's liner notes, album covers, wardrobe changes, or even the tchotchkes on the wall behind her during that interview with the Kelce brothers a couple of weeks ago. Again, it can be fun. And every once in a while you might find an Easter egg. But you don't have to go into those weeds in order to enjoy or find meaning in the music's big picture.The short of the long – where the Bible is concerned, is – we don't need to get into those weeds, do all of that math, or believe that Moses lived to be 120. Or that Methusela died at the ripe old age of 969. Or that Noah built a boat big enough to hold two of every creature on the planet, including the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Or that God jumped off of a cloud to walk with Adam and Eve.(For the record, even though I don't believe God left actual footprints in Eden, I did have a moment once at the cemetery in Lindsay, Ohio, where my maternal grandparents are buried, to the degree that I think I know what Genesis means when it says they heard the sound of God “walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze.”)Nonetheless, we don't always have to connect all of those confusing, confounding impossible dots, either.To put it plainly, the Bible is not a science book – and it doesn't pretend or need to be. Every part of it isn't a history book, either – and it doesn't pretend or need to be. The Bible is a book of books – oral history, letters, poems, songs, stories, prophecies, and more, that never intended to be collected, assembled, and bound into a single tome. Humans did that. Male humans – with power and privilege – did that. And we should be wary of what male humans with power and privilege can do with things like science, history, and the stories of people. (That may be another sermon or another day.)But in spite of that … still … by the grace of God, the Bible is beautiful and points us toward God's love and plan for creation at every turn – or it should. And that is how I hope we are inclined and inspired to read, receive, and report what we find in God's word through the pages of Scripture.Now, bear with me, but another way I have explained this, is to tell the story of my dad's Caesar Salad. My dad makes a mean Caesar Salad. It's been a while since I've had it, but growing up it was a staple, whenever we had family or friends over for a nice dinner. The dressing is made with, among other things, a raw egg, Worcestershire sauce, a ton of garlic, lemon juice, and anchovy paste. And even though I can picture him whipping up this concoction a million times while I was growing up, I never really realized or thought about what I was eating, until I asked for the recipe, the first time I tried to impress Christa for a Valentine's Day dinner when we were just dating, 500 years ago, back in the 1900's.(See what I did there? That's the kind of hyperbole that makes a point, without needing to be historically accurate. Bible writers did that too.)Anyway, the problem was, my dad never used a recipe when he made his Caesar Salad, so his instructions, delivered by e-mail and then over the phone, were more than a little vague. There were no measuring cups or Table spoons involved. It was, “Use one egg or two depending how much lettuce you have.” It was, “Use a lot of garlic. You can't really use too much garlic.” It was, “Throw in a couple of splashes of Worcestershire sauce.” And it was, “Squeeze a line of anchovy paste into it, about the length of a couple of knuckles.”Actually, the clearest – and most meaningful – instruction I received that first time around, after giving him grief for how impossibly unclear he was, was when he said, “Mark, you know what it's supposed to look and taste like when it's finished. Just make it like that.”All of this is to say – again – in answer to the question about if and how we are able to square Science with Scripture – is that we don't have to.Martin Luther described the Bible as a cradle that merely, but meaningfully, bears the Christ child. And it is a liberating relief for me to say that we don't worship the words in a book, we worship the Word made flesh, in Jesus.We worship Jesus – and the unmitigated, radical, counter-cultural, uncomfortable love and grace he shares. The love of God in Jesus is to be the heart and soul and goal of whatever we're reading into and pulling out of Holy Scripture. We are reading the Bible faithfully – we square science and scripture (or we liberate ourselves from checking our brains at the door or from trying to cram square pegs into round holes) – when and only when, the crucified and risen Jesus, the loving and living God, is what we receive and share through our best interpretations and our most humble understandings of what we find in its pages.My dad suggested that I'd know it when I saw it, tasted it, presented it, and shared his version of a Caesar Salad with Christa. Throughout Holy Scripture we are invited to see a whole picture of God's love and grace, in Jesus. Some stories seem harsh and unforgiving. Some are packed with immeasurable grace. So many ancient tales just can't be reconciled with our modern understanding of how the world works.But when we toss them all together and when we turn them over in our minds with hearts set on God's larger story and finished product of love, mercy, forgiveness, and hope, these stories tell a story of grace for the whole wide world that can't be measured or made sense of, no matter how hard we try to do the math or crunch the numbers. It all only makes sense and measures up by grace, through faith – not because of the words in a book, but because of in the Word of love, made flesh, in Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

Contemporary Worship 

Classic Worship

What were some of our favorite segments from this past week? Join Hoody as he goes through some of the best things from the past five days of the show, including:Second Date Update, Bad Date Poker, Asking For A Friend and more!Make sure to also keep up to date with ALL of our podcasts we do below that have new episodes every week:The Thought ShowerLet's Get WeirdCrisis on Infinite Podcasts

Promises get broken all the time. Maybe by a parent, a friend, or someone who said “forever” but didn't mean it. No wonder so many people question whether God is any different. But here's the good news: God always keeps His promises. And one of His greatest promises is this—when you cry out for help, He hears your voice. In this week's message, Pastor Shannon shows us from Psalm 18 why prayer matters and gives us five reasons we can trust God when we pray: God hears. God responds. God rescues. God strengthens. God turns our cries into praise. As we continue through 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting, let this message encourage you to lean into God's promise that prayer makes a difference.

When we fall short, many of us expect divine punishment—judgment, distance, even disaster. But is that really how God responds when we sin?In this final installment of the Asking for a Friend series, we unpack one of the most personal and misunderstood questions in the Christian life. Far from condemnation or withdrawal, God's response is rooted in love, correction, and restoration.Explore the difference between punishment and correction, the true role of the Holy Spirit, and the surprising ways God actually responds when we stumble. If you've ever felt shame, fear, or confusion about your standing with God after sin—this message will change the way you see Him.Key Takeaways:- God doesn't smite, shame, or separate.- Correction isn't condemnation—it's a call back to who you really are.- The Holy Spirit points you to Christ, not your failures.- God runs toward you when you fall—not away.

Luke 23:39-43One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” We don't talk much about heaven. And when we do, it's not with much substance — like that old Norman Greenbaum song: the place we go when we die, the place that's “the best.” as if heaven were some never-ending worship service in the sky. Some ask the question why talk about heaven at all?The argument goes: “Why waste time on heaven when there's so much work to do here on earth? Doesn't talk of heaven distract us from fixing what's broken now?” And that feels like a fair point. Why talk about heaven today when two children were killed this week while praying in pews at a church in Minnesota? Shouldn't we be advocating for gun reform and better access to mental health care? Of course we should.But thinking about heaven doesn't have to be an escape hatch from the world's pain. It isn't wishful thinking or some bribe for good behavior. Rather, how are we to make things on earth as they are in heaven if we don't have the slightest idea what heaven is like?C.S. Lewis once wrote: “Aim at heaven and you'll get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you'll get neither.”So it is worth our time, especially today, to ask what really happens in heaven — to have a picture vivid enough to stir us. Because maybe, just maybe, with a stronger and more compelling image of heaven, we can make this earth resemble it more, and less the kind of place where parents are afraid to send their children to school.But first, let me free us of two things.First, heaven is not a never-ending worship service. Could you imagine showing up only to find yourself stuck in an endless 1st or 2nd service — refrains on repeat, blaring organ music, the same prayers over and over? That's not what I want to do for eternity! Surely there are better ways to be with God.Second, much of Christian tradition describes our final fulfillment as the beatific vision—seeing God face to face, fully and directly, instead of through the symbols and metaphors we cling to now. But until then, all we really have are symbols, theological concepts, and imagery: the golden streets, the white robes, the river of life, the crowns of glory. They're not literal blueprints of the place; they're faithful attempts to describe the indescribable, whether they come from the Bible or the best theologians.Which means we're free. Free to use Scripture, tradition, and our own lives to imagine heaven faithfully. We should take our own reverent best guess at what it might be like. And that's what I want to do with you today, my reverent best guess at what happens in heaven through four images. Josh Noem, a Catholic writer and baseball lover deserves credit for the inspiration of this idea. He made a post that went viral with the caption “I collect images of walk-off home run hitters rounding third because they are an image of heaven.” On a Sunday in August seven years ago, a rookie named David Bote stepped into the batter's box for the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs were down by three. Bases loaded. Two outs. Two strikes. And then — on the fifth pitch — Bote crushed a ball to center field. A walk-off grand slam.That night, the Cubs released a photo of Bote rounding third and heading home. You can see the ecstasy on his teammates' faces, the sheer joy of his coach, the wild cheering of fans — even Bill Murray was crying in the stands.I think heaven begins like that. The saints who have gone before us surround you, waiting to embrace you. You will be one of the saints waiting to embrace others! The multitude too great to count, like Revelation describes, erupts in cheers. And at the end of it all, God — like that third-base coach — looks you in the eye and says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”It's Jesus who hit the home run. But we get to round the bases and go home. And when we do, there will be celebration.If the first thing in heaven is celebration, then the second is healing. Bandaids are a big deal in my house right now. Every time someone gets a boo-boo, my son Clive thinks we need a bandaid — the dog included. Stubbed toe, scraped knee, headache, doesn't matter: everything and everyone gets a bandaid.But there are no bandaids in heaven. From the prophet Isaiah to the vision in Revelation, one of Scripture's clearest promises about heaven is that God will wipe away every tear, that there will be no more pain, no more suffering. Paul says in 1 Corinthians that our bodies will be raised — the same bodies, but transformed. The hurts, the failures, the agony we carry will be changed into glory.And if Jesus' resurrection is any sign, we will still bear our scars in heaven — they'll still mark our story — but they will no longer hurt us. And the same is true, not only for us, but for all living things, in fact all of creation. Isn't that what we all hope for? Healing for ourselves, for our loved ones, for all creation.In heaven, there will be no bandaids. And because there will be no wounds left to cover and healing will be complete, there will be no need for hope either. After we celebrate and heal, we feast! yes – there will be eating in heaven… I was concerned. But not just any meal, a feast. One of the most beautiful pictures of this comes from the story Babette's Feast. Babette, a refugee from Paris, lands in a nowhere Norwegian town where she is taken in by two devout Lutheran sisters. Their father had been the pastor of the village's only church, but since his death, the congregation had withered, burdened by grudges and old conflicts. For what would have been his 100th birthday, Babette offers to prepare a great feast. What begins as a stiff, awkward gathering soon becomes something altogether different. As the wine is poured and the rich food is savored, something more than good cooking is at work: hearts begin to soften, laughter replaces suspicion, and forgiveness flows as freely as the wine. What seemed impossible at the beginning of the meal—reconciliation— happened, all by the time dessert was served.There will be feasting in heaven and I think it will be like this feast. As Isaiah envisions, we will sit at the table with those with whom we've been estranged, even those we never imagined we could forgive—or be forgiven by. It will not happen in an instant. But as the feast unfolds, course by course, grace will work on us. Understanding will deepen. Forgiveness will be given and received. And by the time the great banquet reaches its end, all will be reconciled—fully, finally, and joyfully.I know I haven't answered all the questions: When do we go to heaven? Is it right away, or do we sleep first? What about our relationships — will they change? Will I still have to… you know poop!… since there will be all this feasting? There are more questions than I can count. But here's the promise I hold onto when the questions overwhelm me: fishing in paradise.Of all the images, metaphors, and concepts we have, the clearest promise comes from Jesus' words to the thief on the cross: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” That promise isn't just for one person, or one moment. It's for you, for me, for every sinner who has been crucified by their sin and raised to new life in Christ.I believe, then, what happens in heaven is this: it's you, and you, and you, and me, and Jesus will be there too. We'll learn, we'll grow, and grace will continue to work on us, until, like that John Prine song says, we forgive each other — over and over, until we both turn blue. And then, maybe, we'll whistle and go fishing in heaven. We will live together in harmony, all of us, all creation, with Jesus in paradise.You see, when it comes to paradise (heaven) it's not the questions that really matter, but the promises. And the perfect promise is “today you will be with me in paradise”. And that promise is better than any reverent best guess we can come up with.If only we celebrated each other now, if we worked toward healing now — for our neighbors, for our world, for ourselves — if we sought reconciliation today rather than waiting, then perhaps what we hope happens in heaven could happen right here on earth. Maybe then we wouldn't be so afraid to send our children to school because earth would be like those images, those promises we have of heaven.As you leave today, these images are laid out in the welcome area. Take the one you need for the week ahead — the one that encourages you, challenges you, or comforts you. Let it be the image that inspires you to make earth a little more like heaven.Amen.

This Isn't Therapy... it's the episode about the four F's: fight, flight, freeze, and fawn. In this episode, Jake and Simon discuss the four threat responses and how to move through tough situations and face what's in front of us. This episode is for anyone who feels trapped by their reactions or is left feeling overwhelmed by stressful situations. These responses are what make us human; it is better to embrace them and face them rather than become ruled by them.Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi!Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Follow us on TikTok: @notatherapypodcastJake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

Co-Hosts Evan Semanco and Josh Mitchell are here to answer even more questions with the return of Bryan Reed, Care Pastor at the Simple Church and Masters of Divinity holder. The Simple Church is going through a series called "Asking for a Friend", and we've had more questions submitted then we could get to in a year, so we are answering more of your questions today.   We need your feedback! We're working on changes for the podcast, CLICK HERE to fill out our survey to hear from you what you'd like to hear more of going forward and we'll pick one entry to win a Do Good Prize Box! LINKS FROM THE EPISODE PODCAST SURVEY Bryan's Previous Podcast If you have feedback for the podcast, have a guest suggestion, or just want to talk to Evan, e-mail Evan@thesimplechurch.tv. You can also find out more about the Simple Church at www.theSimpleChurch.tv.

In this episode of Asking For A Friend with TalkDoc, co-hosts Dr. Pamela Kreiser, Meredith Edwards Nagel, and Teighlor Polendo dive deep into the complexities of adult sibling relationships. This episode responds to previous discussions about relationships with aging parents and transitions into exploring the significance of sibling relationships in adulthood. Topics include the causes of strain, communication patterns, and the importance of these non-voluntary relationships. The hosts also share personal stories and research insights, setting the stage for the next episode, which will provide practical tools for managing and improving sibling dynamics. Tune in for real, honest, and practical advice to better your relationships!  Music by epidemic sound. SHOW NOTES: Experts :  Dr. Karl Pillemer, Stockner et al., Dr. John Gottman, Jeffrey Kluger Resources :  Journal of Family Psychology Article by Stockner, et al.  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7012710/ Dr. Karl Pillemer's Book - Fault Lines https://www.karlpillemer.com/ Dr. John Gottman https://www.gottman.com/ Jeffrey Kluger from his TED Talk on the Sibling Bond “Our parents leave us too early, our spouses and children come along too late. Our siblings are the only ones who are with us for the entire ride". (Kluger)

Asking for a Friend – Week 3 How do I grow as a follower of Christ? This week, Pastor Shannon tackles one of the most common questions Christians ask: What does it really mean to grow as a disciple? Through John 16, Acts 2, and Galatians 5, we see that growth doesn't happen by trying harder—it happens by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual growth comes when we prayerfully expect the Spirit to move in every part of our lives. We also introduce 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting, an opportunity for our church family to create space for God to work in powerful ways.

Why did Jesus shed His blood—and what does that mean for us today? In this powerful message, Pastor Jamie Wright unpacks the deep spiritual truth behind the blood of Jesus. Far from being a symbol of wrath or appeasement, the blood is a declaration of victory, reconciliation, and relentless love. You'll learn that Jesus didn't shed His blood to change God's mind about us—but to change our hearts, cleanse our conscience, and bridge the gap we could never cross on our own.

Mark 15:33-39When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o'clock, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sebacthani!" Which means, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" When some bystanders heard it, they said, "Listen, he is calling for Elijah." And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Wait, let us see if Elijah will come and take him down." Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain in the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now, when the centurion who stood facing him saw that in this way he had breathed his last he said, "Truly this man was God's son." When I was a kid, we had a giant pit of sand and dirt in our back yard – about the size of our fire pit, over there next to the labyrinth. We cleverly called it the "Sand Pile" and it was a cheap, tasteless, makeshift version of what more sophisticated people would call a sand box, and we used it for sand castles, mud pies, dirt-track races for Matchbox cars, and whatever else kids who play in the sand, do in the dirt. (I think the Sand Pile started out as some sort of home improvement project at the church parsonage where we lived, but never amounted to anything, so my brother and I, along with our friends next door, co-opted it as a great place for little kids to play.)What made the Sand Pile cooler than your average sandbox, though, was that it wasn't self-contained. There were no sides, no cover, and no barrier underneath. One day, our neighbor friend had the brilliant idea that we should dig and just keep digging until we couldn't dig anymore. We knew this was going to take some time and I think the four of us decided to make it a summer project. Sometime after we started, I remember my dad coming home from work and noticing that we were up to something more ambitious than usual. When he asked what we were doing, we told him our plans and my friend declared that we were going to dig "all the way to Kingdom Come." We weren't very sophisticated, but we were ambitious.And so we dug a little bit each day, for days. We found worms and bugs and rocks of all kinds. We hit water one day, which meant we were really getting somewhere, so that was cool. And then one of us had the realization that if we kept digging long enough, we'd dig our way right into Hell and we wondered if maybe that wasn't such a great idea. We did keep digging, but the expedition ended shortly after that, either because we were scared or skeptical or just plain tired of shoveling. But that was the first time I ever remember considering something like the question someone offered up for this morning:"Do we have to believe in Hell in order to believe in Heaven?”When I was older, in High School, and learned about World War II and the Holocaust, I wondered if that might be Hell: the injustice and horror of concentration camps; the gas chambers, the torture, the attempted genocide. Elie Wiesel, likely the most famous survivor of the Holocaust asked once, "How [do you] explain or even describe the agony, the terror, the prayers, the tears, the tenderness, the sadness of the scientifically prepared death of six million human beings? … Six million human beings sentenced to death by an evil dictatorship not because of their faith or their circumstances but because of their very being." It sounded – and sounds, still – like Hell to me, even if it wasn't someplace you could dig your way into.When I visited all kinds of jails and prisons in college, I wondered if the smell and the heat and the sounds and the danger and the circumstances that led and keep a person there might be Hell.When I worked as a hospital chaplain for a summer during seminary, I remember a guy who had been burned on over 80% of his body. That looked like Hell, and I wondered if Hell was the sickness, disease, and disasters that consume and kill men, women, and children every minute of every hour of every day in the world. When I traveled with my family and then with our high school kids a couple of summers ago to the Whitney Plantation, in Edgard, Louisiana, where enslaved human beings were used and abused and tortured and killed, like worthless animals, for generations – Hell seemed very nearby.Is Hell the war in Ukraine? Is it the famine, starvation, and destruction in Gaza? Is Hell a cancer diagnosis or is the rigors of chemotherapy or radiation – even if they work, but especially when they don't? Is Hell a broken or breaking marriage; the death of a child; any kind of unbearable physical pain or emotional suffering? Is it paralyzing fear; hopeless loneliness; utter despair?With all of my questions, I guess you can tell that I don't think about Hell in the same way I did when I was digging around in the dirt as a child. But, from what I can tell, too many people – preachers, theologians, artists, and politicians – haven't moved beyond the sandbox. We hear too often, in my opinion, detailed images of Hell. You know them as well as I do: pictures of fire, deep dark places, chains and shackles perhaps, weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, for sure, and the little guy in the red suit with a pointy tail and a pitch fork with the capacity to inflict pain and suffering on his victims for all of eternity.And these same people will tell you how to get there faster than any shovel can dig. Instructions usually include breaking the rules or not having enough of the right kind of faith or 'doing faith' differently than what's expected or accepted or, generally, behaving in ways that make God angry enough to send you ‘there' instead of calling you home to the right side of eternity.But I don't think any of this is what Hell is like or where it's at. Which is why I picked the readings I did for this morning. There are plenty of references in the Bible to Sheol and the Pit, to Hades and the Abyss. There's lots of talk about fire and punishment and the outer darkness – much of it from the very lips of Jesus himself.But nowadays, when I think of Hell, I think about the crucifixion and death of Jesus on that Good Friday afternoon. And it's not because of the abuse or the spitting or the whips or the thorns. It's not because of the darkness or the nails or the cross itself, even. It's because of the way all of these things added up to leave him hanging there alone, crying at the top of his voice, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" (Theologians call it Jesus' “cry of dereliction,” and it's why we say, as we do in our Apostles' Creed, that Jesus indeed “descended into Hell.”)It's at that moment when Hell becomes more real and more scary than any pitchfork or fire pit, if you ask me. It's at that moment when Jesus experiences what many of us have known – or what we fear – more than anything else: being utterly alone, utterly afraid, utterly out of control, cosmically lost, and entirely without hope or faith or comfort – even from God.It's at that moment when Jesus himself knows fully the hell of every concentration camp victim, every prisoner, every enslaved person, every frightened soldier, every starving stomach, every struggling addict, every dying patient, grieving spouse, scared child, broken heart, and sin-sick soul that ever was or ever will be. "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"So back to the question at hand. I was asked pointedly, if “we” believe in Hell, which seems to include the questioner, myself, and other leaders and pastors and theologians of the ELCA. I won't speak for others, because I can't – that's part of the beauty of what it means to be an ELCA-flavored Lutheran, in my opinion. But I will tell you that, I don't very much think about Hell anymore these days.If it does exist, it's not a concern of mine, because I believe it's been conquered and undone, dismissed and destroyed by the work of God's love in Jesus Christ – for me, and for you, and for all of creation. You can cite for me every Scripture and verse there is about Hades and Sheol, about the outer darkness and The Pit. But I believe there is a Hell the way I believe there are K Pop concerts, hot dog eating contests, and white pride parades. They may very well exist, but I don't – and won't – ever have to show my face there, thanks be to God.We can find plenty of pictures in the Bible and elsewhere to scare each other into believing that Hell is as likely an option as Heaven or that damnation is as likely as grace. And there are lots of pastors and churches who will fan that fire with gusto and glee, but that's not what the Gospel promises. To suggest that we can faithfully choose Heaven… To suggest that we can faith-LESS-ly opt for Hell… To suggest that we can reject God's willingness to love us all the way through Hell and back and remain in our sin and death, despite God's clear desire to win us back… is to suggest that God is powerless over evil, that God is powerless over death, that God is powerless over Sin, that God isn't all God is cracked up to be and that the very death and resurrection of Jesus was a cosmic waste of God's time. And I don't buy it.I don't buy it because when Jesus cried, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me,” he was quoting the first line of Psalm 22, which he knew well. So he must have known how Psalm 22 ends, just the same – with the hope of God's promised dominion, deliverance, power and provision. Verse 24 promises, “He did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him.” By invoking Psalm 22, what if Jesus wasn't just announcing his despair and descent into Hell's separation? What if he was declaring his hope for the Heaven that was to come, just the same?My adventure in the Sand Pile as a kid that summer didn't end just because we were scared of what we might find. I think it ended because, even as kids, we realized our digging wasn't leading us anywhere but down – and that's exhausting. It didn't take us long to learn that there was more life and fun and good news in the other direction – and that's where we chose to spend our days.Which is why and how and what we believe about Hell matters for our lives in this world.When our faith is motivated more by fear than it is by hope, we're heading in the wrong direction. When it comes to our journey of faith, I hope we'll remember and share as often as we can that the Gospel is about life conquering death. The story of Jesus is about God conquering Satan. The promise of our faith is that Heaven conquers Hell – whether we like it, would choose it, or not. And the call of our faith is to live and to love our way into Heaven, not to run away from a Hell that isn't ours to fear any longer, thanks to the God we know in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen for the sake of the world.Amen

What were some of our favorite segments from this past week? Join Hoody as he goes through some of the best things from the past five days of the show, including: Second Date Update, Bad Dating App Poker, Asking For A Friend and more!Make sure to also keep up to date with ALL of our podcasts we do below that have new episodes every week:The Thought ShowerLet's Get WeirdCrisis on Infinite Podcasts

This Isn't Therapy... it's a long overdue convo about the two most essential skills in relationships. In this episode, Jake and Simon discuss a statistic about emotional availability: on average, we are only emotionally available for our partners about 9% of the time. With that in mind, they discuss how to get closer to the 9% using the two essential skills of attunement and repair. Throughout the episode, they discuss how to implement these skills through the development of micro-skills.Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi!Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Follow us on TikTok: @notatherapypodcastJake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

In this powerful sermon titled "Stony Heart," Dr. Lynn Hiles explores the transformative promise of God to replace hearts of stone with hearts of flesh, drawing from Ezekiel 36:26 and Ezekiel 11:19. With depth and clarity, Dr. Hiles connects this Old Testament prophecy to New Testament realities, addressing the dangers of a hardened conscience (1 Timothy 4:1–3), the invitation to draw near with a true heart (Hebrews 10:22), and the redemptive embrace of the Father in Luke 15. This message challenges religious rigidity and emphasizes God's desire for tender, responsive hearts—alive to grace, restored by love, and led by the Spirit. Whether you're weighed down by guilt or stuck in lifeless routine, "Stony Heart"calls you back to a living relationship with God rooted in mercy and transformation.

John 1:1-4, 14-18In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' ”) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is the only Son, himself God, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known. We're in week three of this series: Asking for a Friend. Real Questions. Honest Faith. We gathered your questions and promised to answer them faithfully. This week: “Do churches or denominations change the meaning of the Bible to fit what they want it to say?”It's a timely question. Just this week, I saw too many stories and news clips about a pastor in Idaho saying things like: women shouldn't vote, “godly women are designed to make sandwiches,” and that Southern slave owners weren't sinning because their relationships with enslaved people were based on “mutual affection and confidence.” Doug Wilson, the pastor who said those awful things, believes they are gospel truth because he thinks he has Scripture to back it up.Like Titus 2:5 which says: young women should be “good managers of the household, kind, and submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited.” Or Ephesians 6:5: “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.”If we don't agree with him, he'd probably say we've changed the meaning of the Bible to fit what we want it to say. Anyone who believes there's only one correct meaning of a text would say the same. Disagree, and you're wrong. But here's the thing: there isn't just one correct meaning.For too long, we've treated the Bible like a locked box, hunting for the interpretive key to the writer's original intent. But words are more complicated than that. They carry layers of meaning, history and emotion. Most communication holds more than one meaning.So No, we don't change the meaning of the Bible—because there isn't just one. We interpret it. We ask: what does this mean for us here, now, in our lives? Sure, some twist Scripture for personal gain. Paula White, for instance, claimed John 11:44 meant people should give her $1,144 to receive a prayer cloth that could possibly bring them miracles. Others accuse us of twisting Scripture to justify our welcome of LGBTQ+ siblings, as a way of attracting more people. Truthfully, if that were our aim, we wouldn't offer such a bold, hospitable welcome. We are the only church in this county to do it—and we do it because the Word of God calls us to, not as a marketing ploy.If we are following the 8th commandment (of not bearing false witness) and interpreting our neighbors' actions in the best light, we'd say most people interpret Scripture in search of the Truth with a capital T. The real question we want answered is: whose interpretation is right? Whose is wrong? And why?Seminary students spend three years wrestling with this. Some pastors and theologians spend their whole lives. And you want me to answer it in 10 or 12 minutes? Sure.A small caveat, I am answering from a Lutheran perspective because it is what I know. That is not to say it's the most right, though I do think it's pretty useful. There are surely other ways to interpret Scripture that are insightful and faithful. But as Pastor Mark said last week, you asked me, sorta, so this is what you get. And so much more could be said, so this is not exhaustive by any means, but it's a start.As Lutherans, we can't talk about interpretation without first talking about what the Word of God is. And you might think, well it's just the Bible, that's the Word of God. Well not exactly. First and foremost, the Word of God is Jesus. John says, “The Word became flesh and lived among us.” It's not a book that became flesh—it's God in Christ. Jesus is the Word. What this means is that we see and understand God most through and because of Jesus.Second, the Word is proclaimed. After the Word became flesh, lived among us, died, and rose, the story could not be contained. People shared it, again and again—witnessing, preaching, proclaiming Christ. Through that proclamation, we encounter Jesus. We hope that's what happens here on Sundays…That you encounter Jesus through this preaching and that it confronts us, transforms us, and pushes out into the world holding onto the promises God makes to us. And then Third, the Word is the written Word—the Bible—because and insofar as it points us to Jesus. The whole Bible, as one story, reveals Christ. Some parts though point more clearly: the gospels, Jesus' teachings, his death and resurrection, and for Luther, the book of Romans. These show most vividly what Christ's life and death mean for us. Other passages, like Titus 2:5 urging women to be submissive, reflect cultural norms more than the gospel's promise of oneness and equality, proclaimed most boldly in Galatians 3:28. How can we say this? Jesus lifted up the role of women. He taught unity, servitude, placing others before ourselves—but never that women must submit. These messages echo far more deeply than cultural instructions ever could.But someone might ask, how can one Scripture matter more than another if all Scripture is inspired by God, as that passage from 2 Timothy says plainly: “All scripture is inspired by God”? I'm not disagreeing with that. But Scripture points us to Jesus. We don't worship the Bible. We worship Christ. Sometimes I fear we get that confused. The Bible is a tool, a means by which the Holy Spirit shows us God's love revealed in Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. And when we see that, it changes us. It transforms us. It shapes how we live. What matters most in interpreting Scripture isn't only what it means. Yes, understanding the original intent matters. But what matters most isn't just what the Bible means, but what the Bible does. The Word of God does something to you, to us. When we hear it, when we read it together, when we listen to it proclaimed, the Holy Spirit is at work through that Word. After all it is a living and active Word, not just ink on a page. it calls us, moves us, and shapes us, so much so that we live differently because of it.Take for example that passage from Exodus: You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien. If you are an immigrant or refugee, that word is certainly good news because it shows how God longs for their care and well-being in every time and place. It must give comfort and hope to the desperate migrants in search of safety for themselves and their families. But it also confronts those who see no problem with the rhetoric and policies that harm them. And it should move those of us—like me—who have done nothing, who have simply shaken our heads and said, “How terrible,” without stepping forward to help our immigrant siblings. The Word meets us here, calling us to act, to love, to bear witness to God's justice.You've heard it said that people can make the Bible say whatever they want it to say. And that's true. But I am more interested in what the Bible, what the Word of God makes one do. So if the meaning you find in the text doesn't make you afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted, if it doesn't widen the bounds of your love, if it doesn't encourage unity, or extend forgiveness, or move you toward repentance, and offer grace with no strings attached, then find a different, more Christ like meaning. Because the way we interpret scripture is by reading all of it through the lens of Jesus Christ, through whom we all have received grace upon grace. And that's the gospel truth. Amen.

This Isn't Therapy... it's the episode about one of the things that robs kids of a care-free childhood: being parentified. When kids are forced to grow up too soon and become adults in childhood, kids can take on adult-like responsibilities and burdens. In this episode, we talk about the difference between healthy responsibility for kids and parentification and talk about the impact of having childhood stolen from us and being burdened before we're developmentally ready.Article: Were you a ‘parentified child'? What happens when children have to behave like adults By Nivida ChandraGot a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi! Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Jake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

Is Jesus The Only Way Asking For a Friend Week 1 by The Porch Community Church

Co-Hosts Evan Semanco and Josh Mitchell are here to answer your questions, while producer Jordan Phillips is just asking his own. The Simple Church is going through a series called "Asking for a Friend", and we've had more questions submitted then we could get to in a year, so for the next few weeks we're tackling some on the podcast. Today's topics include giants in the Bible, dinosaurs, and pondering the meaning of life.    We need your feedback! We're working on changes for the podcast, CLICK HERE to fill out our survey to hear from you what you'd like to hear more of going forward and we'll pick one entry to win a Do Good Prize Box!   LINKS FROM THE EPISODE PODCAST SURVEY Dinosaurs: Exploring God's World by Michael and Caroline Carroll BioLogos Answers in Genesis Nephilim Blurry Creatures Podcast   If you have feedback for the podcast, have a guest suggestion, or just want to talk to Evan, e-mail Evan@thesimplechurch.tv.   You can also find out more about the Simple Church at www.theSimpleChurch.tv.

閑歳孝子さんをゲストに迎えて、Claude Code, GPT-5、LLMエージェント、藤井風などについて話しました。 スポンサー: 株式会社フィックスターズ Show Notes Anthropic tightens usage limits for Claude Code — without telling users Subagents - Anthropic GitHub CEO: Future devs will not code, they will manage AI Introducing GPT-5 | OpenAI Introducing gpt-oss | OpenAI Groq Tasker Limitless Pixel Screenshots We request to keep 4o forever. : r/ChatGPT Rebuild Supporter Outside Lands Music Festival フィックスターズ *

In this episode of Asking For A Friend with TalkDoc, co-hosts Dr. Pamela Kreiser, Meredith Edwards Nagel, and Teighlor Polendo are joined by Jason Harper, a professional mediator specializing in employment and special education. Jason shares his journey into mediation, the challenges of being a special education mediator, and the strategies he employs to manage difficult conversations involving parents and schools. The discussion also delves into how parents can model healthy conflict resolution for their children, manage their own emotions during conflicts, and foster better communication skills in their kids through role-playing and guided interventions. Dr. Pamela Kreiser and her co-hosts provide additional insights on remaining a safe space for children to discuss conflicts and emphasize the importance of staying engaged in conversations about their interests. Music by epidemic sound. SHOW NOTES: Resources :  Mediator Jason Harper https://www.hcrservices.com Links to Episode #30: AFAF with Jason Harper on How to Resolve Conflict https://pod.link/afafwithtalkdoc/episode/YWZhZnBvZGNhc3QucG9kYmVhbi5jb20vOTYxMWNiZDQtNzJiNC0zODYwLWEzNjQtNGUxMjczOWZmZTAw

Are we living in the last days? With every global crisis or cultural shake-up, this question resurfaces—often fueled by fear, end-time charts, and doomsday headlines. But what if the Bible paints a different picture? In today's message, Pastor Jamie Wright challenges the pop-culture obsession with apocalyptic doom and invites us into a hopeful, victorious view rooted in Scripture. Discover how the “last days” in the Bible refer not to our future but to their past—the end of the Old Covenant age, not the end of the world. You'll walk away with a clearer understanding of fulfilled prophecy, Christ's New Covenant, and why this isn't bad news—it's very good news. It's time to stop fearing the end and start living as agents of God's renewal in the world.

Luke 10:25-37Just then, a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered him, “You should love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said to him, “You have given the right answer. Do this and you shall live.”But wanting to justify himself, the man asked him, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered him, “A man was going down the road from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers who beat him, stripped him, leaving him half dead. Now, by chance a priest was walking along the same road and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So likewise, a Levite, when he came to the place, saw the man and passed by on the other side.But a Samaritan, while traveling saw the man and was moved with pity. He came near to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. He put him onto his own animal and took him to an inn to take care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the inn keeper and said, ‘Take care of him and when I come back I will repay you whatever more you spend.'”Jesus said to the lawyer, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers.” He answered him, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” Our questioner for this morning wasn't specific, so I'm taking some guesses and some liberty at choosing what they could have meant by “When the system falls short…” – and how a Christian might respond. By that I mean, “SYSTEM” could mean lots of things. When I think “SYSTEM,” I think POLITICAL system, JUSTICE system, HEALTHCARE system, EDUCATION system, the ECONOMY, and so on.So, maybe our question refers to the ECONOMY that allows corporate CEOs to make 300 times as much as their average employees who then have to worry about the price of eggs or milk or gas or rent. (The economic system is falling short for a lot of people these days. How does a Christian respond?)Maybe our IMMIGRATION system was on the mind of whoever asked today's question. Its shortcomings are something both sides of the political aisle actually agree about, after all. (That system and the current methods of remedy are a profound failure of human decency, respect, integrity, and moral character, if you ask me. What does a faithful Christian response look like there?)I contend that our JUSTICE system falls short every time a Black, brown, or poor person receives a harsher, longer punishment than a white or wealthy person for the same – or lesser – crime. (The justice system is shamefully, painfully failing a whole lot of people. What's a believer to do?)And the SYSTEM, writ large, falls short when it chooses to fund the resulting prison industrial complex and a raging war machine rather than provide food, healthcare, and housing for its people. (For people who worship the “Prince of Peace,” the “Healer of Every Ill,” the One who calls us to feed the sick, clothe the naked, turn the other cheek, and forgive our enemy – we have to wonder “What would Jesus do?”)The SYSTEM is falling short when hospitals, major corporations, private schools, and public schools are bullied into denying, dismantling, or defunding their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. (For generations of Christians who grew up singing “Red and Yellow, Black and White, they are precious in his sight” how does our faith call us to respond?)So, again … the question of the day … What do we do when the system – or any of the systems within the system – fall short? When they don't live up to our expectations or needs? When they downright fail? What's a Christian to do? What does a faithful response look like, indeed? Good question.Before you ask me, though, I'd ask Shane Claiborne. He's a faithful Christian activist who does crazy, beautiful things like turns guns into gardening tools – you've heard me talk of him before. Shane Claiborne once broke a very particular law, several years ago, in Philadelphia, which had made it illegal to feed homeless people, outdoors, in public spaces. So, in addition to pizza, he served them Holy Communion – all of which got him arrested calling attention to the broken, inhumane, unloving, mean-spirited law the courts ultimately declared unjust and unfair, thanks to his clever act of civil, faithful disobedience.And before you ask me this question, I'd look to Pastor Martin Luther King, Jr., who protested and broke the racist Jim Crow laws of the South to march, boycott, host sit-ins and to teach, preach, and promote God's Gospel of diversity, equity and inclusion – showing the world that those are not dirty words and worthless endeavors.Before you ask me this question, I'd look to Lutheran pastor and theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who preached and taught and wrote about The Cost of Discipleship and was executed for fighting against the moral, ethical, evil failures of the Nazis, during World War II. I'd wonder about Cesar Chavez who fought for fair wages, safe working conditions, and decent standards of living for migrant and agricultural workers in our country. I'd remember Mother Teresa who gave up everything to care for the poorest of the poor that every system of healthcare, education, and human compassion had failed.Each of these faithful Christian people responded to the broken, failing systems they witnessed in ways that were informed and inspired by the teachings of Jesus. And each of them, surely, was informed and inspired the Good Samaritan – this outsider who saw the suffering of a stranger, recognized him as a neighbor, crossed the road, broke some rules, risked his own safety, and gave up a full measure of his time and money to help, as nothing more and nothing less than an act of compassion and mercy.In some ways, the answer to today's question is as simple as that – When the system falls short, faithful action looks like seeing everyone as your neighbor and showing them mercy, as a result.But the truth is, we like to pretend – you and I – that we don't have courage or occasion enough of the time to encounter the suffering, dying, needs of our neighbor in as dramatic a fashion as Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez, Mother Theresa, or that Good Samaritan in Jesus' story. And maybe that's true. Maybe we don't have courage or occasion enough to respond like that.But since you asked, I'll tell you what I've done, what I try to do, and what I hope for around here – as your pastor; as your Partner in Mission; and as a wannabe follower of Jesus. Because I believe my response – and ours together in this place – to the short-falls of the systems that surround us show up in lots of ways. We have a unique calling in this community, in this political climate, at this particular time – as fellow wannabe followers of Jesus – to do something about the systemic shortfalls that threaten us and that harm our neighbors.The easiest thing I do is that I say a lot of words. I do my best to preach and teach about a God who loves all people and hope that moves us all to defend, protect, support, welcome, affirm, and love all people, too – on this side of heaven, not just the next, which is key. God's love and grace are meant to be shared with all people on this side of heaven, not just the next.Our Groceries of Grace food pantry matters because it helps mitigate the systemic shortfalls of a broken economic system by simply feeding people kindly, compassionately, generously, with dignity – and without a lot of questions or pre-requisites. And hopefully that allows them to spend the grocery money they save on other needs.Our Racial Justice Team matters because churches are one of the few institutions who haven't been bullied by the system – yet – into decrying or dropping Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts, and withholding the truth about the ongoing impact of racism on our neighbors. We aren't perfect, but from what I know, Cross of Grace does that more deliberately and more faithfully than any congregation in Hancock County.I'm leading that Unclobber book study again (starting this Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.) because no other congregation in our community will do that either; and because not enough churches in our country have evolved to embrace the TRUTH about what the Bible actually says and does not say about homosexuality among God's people.I chair the board for Project Rouj, too, because Jesus tells me that my neighbor isn't just someone who lives next door or who looks and believes and behaves like I do. So I like building houses for my friends and strangers in Fondwa, Haiti.And, lastly – and not for nothing – when it comes to mitigating the impact of the broken, failing systems that surround us – my family gives our money away, because Jesus tells us to. The Havels give regular, if not monthly, financial contributions to places like Project Rouj, WFYI and NPR, and Susan G. Komen. And all of that is secondary to the more than 10% of our income that we give to the ministry at Cross of Grace, every year too.(I don't say this to brag or guilt-trip anyone. I'm just answering the question. And I admit, it's impressive and tempting to wonder about the swimming pools, nicer cars, college tuition, and second home we could have paid and saved for over the years with that money. And I pray for and dream about the day when more of you believe me when I tell you what a difference that kind of giving could make for you, your family, for the ministry we share, and for this broken world we're trying to mend.)All of this is to say that – in the face of the failing systems that surround us – Jesus calls us to follow the Good Samaritan's lead.Because let's remember – without too much despair – that whatever system you think is failing you, or someone you love, or your proverbial neighbor in some way … this is nothing new. Jesus showed up in the world precisely because the systems of this world are insufficient and unequal to the task of loving God's people in ways that God desires and asks of God's people.So God calls us to be here precisely because the system fails, is failing, and will fail again and again and again. We are called to cross the proverbial street to see and hear about the suffering of our neighbor. We are called to look long and hard and deeply at what hurts and harms them, most. We're called, too, to wonder if we have participated in that somehow.And then we are called to do something about it, as much as we are able. We find them help. We provide them resources. We take some risks. We give some money. We show mercy.And when we do, Jesus promises, we get a glimpse of eternal life, right where we live.Amen

This Isn't Therapy... it's the episode about parasocial relationships; the one-sided emotional connections we have with casual acquaintances, people we "know" online, characters we watch in television and movies, and people we admire from afar. In this episode, Jake and Simon talk about some examples from pop culture, such as Chappell Roan's desire to set boundaries as a celebrity and Sabrina Carpenter's previous relationship. In addition, they pull examples from two articles to answer one curious question: Have we reached Peak Parasocial?Article 1: In a Celebrity-Obsessed World, Have We Reached Peak Parasocial? By Anna CafollaArticle 2: What are parasocial relationships doing to our brains? By Allegra RosenbergGot a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi!Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Follow us on TikTok: @notatherapypodcastJake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

On today's show, we realized being an early bird has it's perks! Join Intern John, Sos, Rose, Hoody, Erick, and Savera as we help Sos secure tickets to one of her favorite events of the year, we do an all-NEW batch of Anyone Listening Who, Asking For A Friend, plus we find out how a listener has a roster of sugar daddies?! All that and more with Intern John & Your Morning Show!   Make sure to also keep up to date with ALL of our podcasts we do below that have new episodes every week:  The Thought Shower Let's Get Weird Crisis on Infinite Podcasts 

In this opening message of our new series, Asking for a Friend?, Pastor Jamie Wright tackles one of the most essential—but often misunderstood—questions of the Christian faith: What is the Gospel, really? We've been taught that the gospel is a set of rules, steps, or behaviors to avoid punishment. But what if the gospel is better than you thought—and better than what you've been taught? Pastor Jamie invites us into a deeper understanding of the Good News—not as a life jacket we must cling to in exhaustion, but as a rescue mission carried out by Jesus Himself. The gospel is not about what Adam did wrong, but what God did right. It reveals our restored identity, not just salvation from hell, but union, joy, and righteousness with the Trinity through Christ's finished work. You'll hear how the true gospel: Demolishes cultural lies and religious performance Dismantles legalistic strongholds Destroys warped philosophies of self-salvation Decimates barriers between us and the truth of God's love This message re-centers us on Jesus—the lifeguard who jumps in, rescues us, and walks with us always. Because the gospel isn't about earning; it's about receiving. And the price? Already paid. “The gospel isn't necessarily an invitation to accept Jesus—it's the stunning announcement that He has always accepted you.”

Matthew 6:7-13“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.“Pray, then, in this way:Our Father in heaven, may your name be revered as holy. May your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,We begin a new series today called “Asking for a Friend: Real Questions. Honest Faith.” Usually we say Asking for a friend jokingly, when we want to know something for ourselves but might be too shy or embarrassed to ask. Yet, over the past several weeks we have gathered questions that you want answered. We've taken those questions, grouped a few, and over the next eight weeks we will answer each of them. In a literal sense, these people have asked their question, not just for themselves but for you too. Because I am certain with each question someone else sitting here or watching will say, I had the same question. You are the “friend” in this series. And what a gift it is to have thoughtful, honest questions raised about all sorts of faith things: from prayer to evolution, biblical interpretation to politics, heaven and hell, and more. We will do our best not to provide simple, sure answers, but to wrestle openly, honestly, faithfully with the questions raised. A favorite quip in our household comes from a college professor Katelyn and I both had who said, one's faith is only as strong as their willingness to question it. Hopefully this series will do exactly that; strengthen our faith through the questions we engage. So to our first question, “what exactly do we mean when we say, ‘thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.'” I love this question for lots of reasons. It is concise and clear, as are all the best questions. It's one of the rare occurrences when Jesus gives exact words to say. We often get things to do, fewer things to say, and even fewer to pray. So I'd say that it's worth our study. And lastly, it is about something so familiar that rarely, if ever, do we stop to ask, what am I, what are we, actually saying? We pray this prayer aloud, together, every Sunday. You probably say it throughout the week. But when was the last time you wondered “ what am I praying for with this prayer?” But beware, “thy kingdom come, thy will be done” is a dangerous prayer. Dangerous for the world as we know it, and for us.It's dangerous for the world because it is, in part, a political prayer. I'm guessing you never thought you were bringing politics into your prayer life every time you said the Lord's Prayer—but indeed we are. And we can blame Jesus for that. Because in those three little words—thy kingdom come—Jesus is saying an awful lot. The kingdom on earth in Jesus' time was Rome. A few wealthy men ruled, including Herod. Those who served the empire or its military were well off. There was no middle class. Everyone else—local businesspeople, artisans, and especially fishermen and farmers—were peasants, including Jesus. Herod was the ruler of Galilee, where Jesus grew up and began his ministry. But Galilee was under Roman rule, which meant Herod answered to Rome, not to his people. Like all earthly empires, this one hurt people, kept power in the hands of a few, and disregarded the lives of many, especially the people Jesus spent most of his time with.So when Jesus says thy kingdom come, he's saying: “things are not as they should be. This empire of violence, oppression, and greed must be undone—stopped, even replaced. And in its place, give us your kingdom, Lord.” Which, if we pay attention to how Jesus describes it, is a rather radical thing to pray for. A kingdom where the last are first and the first last? A kingdom like a wedding party where the invited guests refuse to come, so people off the street—good and bad alike—are welcomed instead? A kingdom described as seeds and weeds and small, insignificant things? That's what Jesus wants us to pray for? A kingdom that couldn't be more at odds with the world as it is? Yes. Exactly.Jesus praying that prayer—and telling others to pray it too—was a threat to Herod and to Rome. Which shouldn't surprise us. After all, Jesus had been a threat to the kingdoms of the world since his birth.What that means for us is that we too are asking for God's kingdom to come, reforming all the violent, oppressive, greedy kingdoms of this world. It means we recognize that things are not as they should be in this world: hungry children dying in Gaza, a week ago today 5 kids were shot not 10 miles from here, the wealthy growing wealthier while others are crushed by scarcity. And because of all that and more, we long to be part of God's kingdom—a kingdom of grace and mercy, of debts forgiven and cheeks turned, of self-sacrifice and love. When we pray thy kingdom come, we are praying not only for us to be in the kingdom, but for the kingdom to be in us. That we might be God's kingdom at work in the world. Sounds pretty dangerous to me. But perhaps no more dangerous than the next part: thy will be done.And for this I need to share a story about my son, Clive. He is a wonderful, joyous, and downright defiant little creature. I have never known someone so uncooperative in all my life! Last week we were trying to get breakfast together. I asked him, "Do you want some oatmeal?" and he said, "No! I want candy!""No buddy, we don't eat candy for breakfast.""But that's what I want.""Clive, you can't eat candy for breakfast.""I want blue candy for breakfast!"I thought, I can't even think of what candy that might be… So I said again, "Clive, we can't have candy for breakfast, it's not good for us."To which he responded, "But it's yummy and I want it!" and then proceeded to sprawl on the floor and cry. All I could do was laugh.But it made me think: this is how God must see us. Wonderful, joyous, but downright defiant little creatures who do what they will, regardless of whether it's what God wills for us.When we say, “thy will be done”, we're recognizing that the things we want are not always what they should be; like blue candy for breakfast, or whatever the newest, greatest product is. We live in a culture that says the perfect life is always one more purchase away—one more pill, one more upgrade, one more new thing. But the life we want is always just out of reach.So we pray thy will be done.We beg God to take away our heart's desires and replace them with God's desires.That's dangerous.Because God's will might not look like what we want.It might hurt. It might be uncomfortable. It might change us entirely. That was the case for Jesus, after all.When we say those four little words, we're really saying: Have mercy on us, Lord.Don't let things happen just because we want them to.Give us patience.Give us grace.Give us strength.To bear whatever you ask of us—crucifying our will,And raising up your divine will in its place.That's a dangerous prayer indeed.We're not just confessing that the world is marked by sin and sorrow—we're admitting that we are too. So we ask God to change us so that we might go and change the world, little by little, bit by bit, until this world and those on it feel like we are in heaven, which is the goal, isn't it? And by this, I don't mean heaven, as a place, but as a condition - because to be in heaven is nothing other than being with God. So when God's way of doing things takes over the world and our hearts, we will be with God and God will be with us in the best, fullest way possible. In that way, earth will be as it is in heaven. And that sounds even better than blue candy for breakfast. Amen.

Pastor Josh Rothschild preaches from Hebrews 10:24-25 on August 3, 2025.

This isn't therapy… it's part three in our series about the war on human connection. In this episode, we talk about how overwhelming people with tragic and distressing information about the world leads to a decline in empathy. Jake and Simon discuss how a decline in rates of empathy affect our ability to practice perspective taking and experience empathic concern.Article: Empathy Is Dying And So Are We by Rita JabbourGot a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi!Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Follow us on TikTok: @notatherapypodcastJake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

In this episode of Asking For A Friend with TalkDoc, co-hosts Dr. Pamela Kreiser, Meredith Edwards Nagel, and Teighlor Polendo explore the challenges of adulting as both you and your parents age. The hosts explore practical strategies for setting boundaries, handling unsolicited advice, and maintaining healthy communication with older parents. Through humor and insightful discussions, they address common scenarios like unannounced visits and over-involvement, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect and evolving relationships. Tune in for a light-hearted yet informative quiz, expert advice, and real-life examples to improve your relationship dynamics as an adult child. Music by epidemic sound. SHOW NOTES: Experts :  Dr. John Gottman Resource :  Gottman Institute   https://www.gottman.com/ Links : #020: Myths of Boundaries https://pod.link/afafwithtalkdoc/episode/c6b431c4b18335a1759db7588986fd0d #021: Boundaries 101 - How to Say No! https://pod.link/afafwithtalkdoc/episode/8dc8625be3a918b62f8c9d16a1f888f9 #022: Managing Boundaries: How to Manage Difficult People https://pod.link/afafwithtalkdoc/episode/04a05256443fa4baabf2b3dcbfcc32d9

Erich Erdman leads us as we wrap up our series "Asking for a Friend".What do you do when something in your life presses against your belief in the Bible as God's Word? What do you do when you read an article that claims to have “proven the Bible wrong”? How do you respond to your friends' doubts about the trustworthiness of the Bible? Where do you turn when YOU have questions about the Bible? --WebsiteFacebookInstagramSunday SetlistConnect with us!How can we prayer for you? Let us know. 

Pastor Nathan Sloan preaches from John 3:14-21, 36 on July 27, 2025.

Welcome to Redemption Church of Plano Tx.My name is Chris Fluitt. We are excited to be a Church where you can ask […]

This Isn't Therapy... it's a follow up to last week's episode about the attention wars. In this episode, we explore the concept of "agree to disagree" and how there seems to be a war of opinions playing out in our culture. Is it really possible to find common ground when opinions clash? We discuss strategies for navigating disagreements and the key differences between opinion-based and values-based conflicts. Can we respectfully acknowledge opposing views, or does disagreement signal a deeper divide?Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi!Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Follow us on TikTok: @notatherapypodcastJake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

Ever had anyone come up to you and say, “It doesn't really matter what you believe as long as you are sincere”?  Or, “What's the big deal… Buddha, Allah, Jesus... it doesn't really matter. All roads lead to God anyway.”  But shouldn't what a person believes matter?  Do all roads really lead to God?  This week we are going to be dealing with that question as we continue with part four of our series “Asking for a Friend.” This episode, Pastor Jeff Moes asnwers questions like “Don't all roads lead to God?” and “Isn't one religion just as good as another?”  We will look at the differences in beliefs among the major religions in the world.  We will ask the question, “Is sincerity enough?”  Then, we will deal with the hard-hitting questions, “Is Jesus really the only way to God?” and “What happens to people who have never heard of Jesus?” Join us this Sunday for what will surely be an informative message as we walk as Christians in this pluralistic world.  --WebsiteFacebookInstagramSunday SetlistConnect with us!How can we prayer for you? Let us know.

What were some of our favorite segments from this past week? Join Hoody as he goes through some of the best things from the past five days of the show, including: War Of The Roses, Asking For A Friend, the petty reasons you called it off, and more!Make sure to also keep up to date with ALL of our podcasts we do below that have new episodes every week:The Thought ShowerLet's Get WeirdCrisis on Infinite Podcasts

This Isn't Therapy... it's a frank discussion about the "attention economy"—where companies compete to capture our focus to sell us products. We break down the difference between attention, focus, and concentration, and examine how the constant battle for our attention impacts our mental health, productivity, and relationships. We discuss the hidden costs of a world where attention is monetized, and how we can reclaim control in this distraction-driven landscape.Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi!Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Follow us on TikTok: @notatherapypodcastJake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

In this episode of Asking For A Friend with TalkDoc, co-hosts Dr. Pamela Kreiser, Meredith Edwards Nagel, and Teighlor Polendo discuss the impact of assumptions on relationships and provide practical tools to replace these assumptions with clarity. Through real-life examples, they explore how silent assumptions can fuel misunderstandings and share strategies for fostering open communication and trust. Learn how to avoid common pitfalls like judging intentions, predicting behavior based on past actions, and failing to communicate expectations. Discover the importance of asking clarifying questions and using Brene Brown's technique,”the story I'm telling myself,” to improve your relationships.  Music by epidemic sound. SHOW NOTES: Experts :  Dr. Brene Brown, Esther Perel Resources :  Dare to Lead by Dr. Brene Brown https://brenebrown.com/hubs/dare-to-lead/ Esther Perel https://www.estherperel.com 

Have you ever found yourself doubting the goodness of God? Maybe it was personal—a loss of a job, a diagnosis that came out of nowhere, or a loved one that lost their life. Maybe it's the bigger picture for you—the wars we've seen around the world, the devastating floods of this last week, or the children starving on the streets. It's understandable to wonder how a good and powerful God could allow things like this to happen. And this is exactly what a prophet by the name of Asaph struggled with. On this episode, Pastor Lydia Miller leads us as we dive into Asaph's honest lament, joining him in wrestling with God as we face our own questions. We will be answering the often-asked question: Why does God allow suffering? --WebsiteFacebookInstagramSunday SetlistConnect with us!How can we prayer for you? Let us know.

Have you ever wondered about the Big Bang, evolution, or even the age of fossils? What does our faith have to say about these things? And what do we do when we have questions or doubts about them? The topics of science and faith are often pitted against one another. It can feel like we have to choose one or the other. But what if there were a way for science and faith to coexist? Join us this week as Amanda Brophy leads us through this question in our series Asking for a Friend.--WebsiteFacebookInstagramSunday SetlistConnect with us!

In this episode of Asking For A Friend with TalkDoc, co-hosts Dr. Pamela Kreiser, Meredith Edwards Nagel, and Teighlor Polendo explore the art of giving feedback. Reflecting on the discomfort of receiving harsh feedback, they present two effective strategies for providing constructive criticism without triggering defensive reactions— the Positive Feedback Sandwich and the Situation-Behavior-Impact (SBI) technique. Alongside discussing research insights from Gottman and the Harvard Business Review, the hosts offer practical examples and scenarios to illustrate these strategies in action, aiming to improve communication and relationships.  Music by epidemic sound. SHOW NOTES: Experts :  Dr. John Gottman Resources : Harvard Business Review Tools :  Positive Feedback Sandwich (Mary Kay Ash) 3-part formula: Positive comment Constructive feedback Positive/supportive closing SBI Tool - Situation, Behavior, Impact (Center for Creative Leadership) Situation – When/where the behavior happened. Behavior – What the person did (specific & observable). Impact – How it affected you or others.

Let's be honest—sometimes we have questions that feel too awkward or embarrassing to ask out loud. So, we hide behind the phrase, “just asking for a friend.” Most people know it's really our question, but saying it that way gives us a little cover in case it sounds silly or uncomfortable. The same thing often happens in church. We hesitate to ask tough questions about faith because we don't want to seem foolish or unspiritual. In this next series, we want to put an end to that, and for the next five weeks we are going to be in a series called Asking for a Friend.  We will be looking at some of the tough questions of the Christian faith and trying to answer them from Scripture. This week Pastor Jeff Moes leads the discussion from a question we've all had at one time: “Why would a loving God send people to Hell?”  We will dive into why God would create a place such as Hell and what the purpose behind it was.  Even more importantly, we'll talk about how you and I can have confidence that we'll never end up there.--WebsiteFacebookInstagramSunday SetlistConnect with us!

This Isn't Therapy... it's a thought-provoking *encore* episode about the growing influence of artificial intelligence in our personal lives. We ask the big question: Can AI truly replace human relationships? From AI companions and virtual therapists to chatbots that promise emotional support, technology is reshaping the way we connect. But what happens when machines become more accessible, predictable, and even more “reliable” than people?Are we building a world where technology enhances relationships—or one where it erodes the need for them altogether?Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...Creators & Guests Simon Paluck - Host Jake Ernst - Host Hello, hi! Follow us on Instagram: @notatherapypodcast⁣Jake Ernst: @mswjakeSimon Paluck: @directedbysimonOriginal music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.