Podcasts about finding hope

In “The American Revolution,” a new six-part docuseries airing on PBS this week, filmmakers Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein take a deep look at the American Revolutionary War and the years before and after. They debunk many of the idealized myths we tell ourselves about the country's founding and the complex motivations of the men who championed independence. At once critical and patriotic, it examines America's history in ways the Trump administration would rather paper over. Kara, Ken and Sarah talk about the ways George Washington was both a deeply flawed man and integral to American victory in the war, how enslaved African Americans looked to the British for hope of freedom, and why it's unfair to paint all Loyalists to the British Crown as traitors. They also talk about why there's still a lot of reasons to find hope in America's origin story today.  Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on the podcast, host Duane Osterlind welcomes Brenda Zane, the founder of Hope Stream Community. Brenda is a former high-level advertising executive who completely shifted her career after her son struggled with severe substance use disorder, including multiple fentanyl overdoses. Her experience led her to realize the lack of effective, compassionate, and actionable resources for parents dealing with a child's addiction—so she built them.Brenda shares her powerful, deeply personal journey, discussing the profound shift in perspective that occurred after her son's near-fatal experiences. She realized her demanding corporate life was "meaningless" compared to the urgency of her family's struggle. This episode is a must-listen for any parent, caregiver, or family member grappling with a loved one's addiction, offering a powerful message of hope, empowerment, and practical advice.Key Topics The Power of Perspective Shift: Brenda discusses how a crisis can force a re-evaluation of what is truly meaningful in life, leading her to leave her high-powered career to focus on supporting other families.Challenging the "Rock Bottom" Myth: The conversation directly addresses the harmful, disempowering message that parents are helpless and must simply "let them hit rock bottom." Brenda emphasizes that parents can take action to change their family system and build connection.The Importance of Parental "Internal Work": Brenda highlights that showing up effectively for a child struggling with substance use requires the parent to do their own deep internal work. This includes letting go of the ego, dismantling the need to rescue, and distinguishing between blame and responsibility in the family dynamic.The Backpack Analogy: A key concept discussed is allowing your child to struggle and face natural consequences (filling their "backpack" with life lessons), rather than constantly rescuing them (leaving them with an "empty backpack").Setting Boundaries with Compassion: Learn how to create a plan with your therapist to set boundaries that protect your sanity while still maintaining a loving relationship with your child. Brenda stresses the importance of understanding that your child's substance use is a symptom, not an action against you.The Value of Non-Judgmental Connection: Brenda shares practical examples, like meeting her son for breakfast with the rule of no talk about substance use, just to connect on a human, person-to-person level.Focusing on Support: Support anything that moves your loved one toward healthy relationships and healthy behavior, whether that's treatment, a mentor, or simple connection. Don't fall for "imaginary haircuts" (e.g., giving money for things you know will be used for substances).Healing in Community: The segment on Hope Stream emphasizes the need for a non-judgmental community where caregivers can find support, share experiences, and receive education on communication tools and the complexities of addiction, trauma, and ambiguous grief.The Mandatory Self-Care Message: Brenda's final advice to a struggling mom is concise and crucial: Take care of yourself. It is mandatory, not selfish.ResourcesWebsite: hopestreamcommunity.orgPodcast: hopestreamcommunity.org/playlistsE-books: hopestreamcommunity.org/resourcesNovusMindfulLife.comhttps://www.theaddictedmind.com/community If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery CenterNovusMindfulLife.comWe want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmindDisclaimerSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Colby Haggard with Hope is Alive! This is another amazing opportunity to give back. Fortunate to meet with him when he found our OKC OCF - Oilfield Christian Fellowship Oklahoma City Chapter gathering, helping grow his network of support. hopeisalive.net - #HopeIsAlive A holistic, wrap-around approach for addicts and their families. Hope is Alive is dedicated to transforming lives impacted by addiction through a holistic approach that includes recovery homes in six states, an innovative Healing Center for personalized recovery support, and compassionate support groups for families and loved ones through Finding Hope. HIA's Hope After Loss program helps individuals process grief from losing loved ones to addiction, while Retreads Thrift offers a way for the community to give back, with all proceeds supporting our mission. Through HIA's School Support Program, we educate students and serve alongside teachers, parents, and staff to help address the issues with alcohol and drugs head-on. #charity #networking #fundraising #oilgas #energy

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, we welcome back friend of the show and #1 New York Times bestselling author Richard Paul Evans. Best known for The Christmas Box, Richard has written an incredible 41 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, with more than 35 million copies in print and translations in over 22 languages. His newest novel, The Christmas Stranger, reminds us that sometimes the universe sends us exactly who we need. After losing his family on Christmas Eve, Paul Wanlass has given up on life—until an unexpected visitor appears at his door, setting off a series of events that rekindle hope, healing, and the true meaning of Christmas. Join us as Richard shares the inspiration behind his latest story, the themes of redemption that run through his work, and how faith and connection continue to shape his writing. Find all of Richard's books at richardpaulevans.com/books

Guest Linkshttps://x.com/pastorcoinhttps://thebibleandbitcoin.com/Chapters00:00 The Nature of Value and Worship02:56 Fiat Currency and Its Implications05:41 Divine Fiat vs. Carnal Fiat08:43 The Role of Gold and Money in Creation11:44 Stewardship and Ownership of Value14:39 The Impact of Money on Human Life17:33 Debt and Gratitude in Society27:10 The Debt of Gratitude to Veterans30:27 The Spiritual Realm of Debt and Trauma32:23 Finding Hope in a Broken System36:05 Bitcoin: A Peaceful Solution to Monetary Issues39:30 Just Weights and Balances in Economics46:16 Bitcoin as a Manifestation of Biblical Principles49:36 Practical Steps to Understanding Bitcoin  To learn more about Mission 22's impact and programs, visit www.mission22.org or find us on social media. IG: @mission_22. Tiktok: @_mission22

Have an idea or comment for North Boros Beat? Click here and let us know.Cassie and Judy discuss the many upcoming activities at CPCBA.  The theme for this season is Finding Hope.Annual Congregational Thanksgiving dinner will be held after the service on Sunday, November 16.Craft Show and Cookie Walk - Sat. December 6 (10-4), Sun. December 7 (11:30-2, Craft Fair only)Tim Heavener and Tarra Layne will present an evening of Christmas Songs, Saturday, December 6, at 7.  Tickets $15 benefiting UndueMedicalDebt.org athttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-classic-christmas-by-candlelight-with-tarra-layne-tickets-1778687114039?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPMTczODQ3NjQyNjcwMzcwAAEeAI4F_C7bvpr99PgVCY91LebYvUR8RC_BwVHSnQ941tAdAC9v9ECCfm-MOYM_aem_jX6Y30ek7y0WE5BWqDkysQQuestions - email Cassie @ cassie@cpcba.orgWebsite:  www.cpcba.orgchurch office:  office@cpcba.orgFull Christmas season schedule will be on the website soon!

Pain is something we all experience — but what if hope can still be found right in the middle of it? In this episode of Simple Faith, Rusty George sits down with Brooke Martin, author, speaker, and storyteller, to talk about how faith can anchor us through life's hardest seasons.Brooke opens up about her personal journey through loss, healing, and rediscovering joy — and how God met her in the midst of heartbreak. Together, she and Rusty explore how simple faith can bring extraordinary peace when life doesn't go as planned.

In this episode, Prof Chapman discusses the often-overlooked topic of male infertility — a challenge that affects many couples but is rarely addressed with the sensitivity it deserves. He explores the psychological impact on men, debunks common myths about sperm count and masculinity, and explains what sperm quality really means. From understanding sperm concentration, motility, and morphology to the chances of natural conception, Prof Chapman offers a grounded, compassionate look at what men can do — and why there's still reason for optimism. Explore the 'Prof. Michael Chapman - The IVF Journey' Facebook Page, your reliable destination for cutting-edge insights and guidance within the realm of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Don't miss out on the IVF Journey podcast; stay informed with the latest episode updates. Tune in for expert discussions and valuable information on navigating the intricate path of IVF.

After achieving everything he thought he wanted, business success, travel, recognition, Christian Schnepf found himself suicidal, realising that ticking all the boxes didn't mean living a meaningful life.His story is one of awakening and rebuilding, from chasing external success to cultivating inner fulfilment. Through years of self-reflection, research, and a PhD project, Christian developed the Good Time Ratio (GTR), a metric that measures how much of your life feels aligned, energised, and meaningful.In this episode, Christian and Stretch explore:The emptiness of “success” when it's out of alignmentHow breakdowns can spark deeper transformationThe five key areas that determine life satisfactionWhy flow and self-care are essential for men in midlifeHow to use data to identify what truly gives, or drains, your energyThe future of the Good Time Ratio app and how it's helping people optimise their livesWebsite: https://chrisw.co/App:  goodtime.app Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisw.gtFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrisw.gt Midlife Mavericks Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/midlife-maverick/aboutKey TakeawaysFulfilment ≠ achievement: You can have everything on paper and still feel empty.Energy is the compass: What feels attractive and energising points you toward flow.Measure what matters: The Good Time Ratio helps visualise where energy flows or gets blocked.Self-care is leadership: Taking care of yourself first enables you to serve others better.Solitude brings clarity: Periods of isolation help quiet external noise and reconnect you to your inner voice.Men need “good times” too: Joy, movement, challenge, and freedom are essential forms of masculine self-care.Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Purpose of Life03:11 Reflections on Youth and the Standard Script06:07 The Downward Spiral and Realisation of Emptiness10:11 Finding Hope and the Decision to Change12:48 Steps Towards a New Life16:25 The Journey of Self-Discovery20:14 Embracing Minimalism and New Opportunities24:06 Crafting a Vision and Mission Statement28:24 The Importance of Joy and Fulfillment32:47 Inquiring into Identity and Choices33:29 The Good Time Ratio and Insights on Success34:29 The Pursuit of Good Times36:53 Measuring Good Times: The Good Time Ratio41:19 The GoodTime App: Navigating Life with Data47:25 Five Areas of Life: Understanding Energy Flow55:10 Self-Care: The Key to Sustainable Happiness01:01:45 Embracing Discomfort for Growth01:08:25 Accessing the Good Time Ratio App01:14:02 The Essence of Christian's Journey

Scarlet Hiltibidal is the author of “Afraid ofAll the Things,” “You're the Worst Person in the World,” “He Numbered the Pores on My Face,” and the “Anxious and Ashamed” Bible studies. She writes regularly for ParentLife Magazine, HomeLife Magazine, and She Reads Truth. Scarlet enjoys speaking to women around the country about the freedom and rest available in Jesus. She loves hanging out with her husband and four kids, eating nachos by herself, writing for her friends, and studying stand-up comedy with a passion that should be reserved for more important pursuits. Her new book “Hopeful-ish” is available now. Key Topics: - Background to her book title, “Hopeful-ish” - How the gospel speaks to sadness - Hope found in the concept of Jesus being “fully God and fully man” - Scarlet's pillow nest and need for comfort during difficult seasons - How to practice spiritual disciplines and keep showing up when you don't want to - The role of community in finding hope - Where to start reading your Bible when you're not feeling hopeful - Navigating grief during the holiday season Learn more about Scarlet at her website https://www.scarlethiltibidal.com/ and on Instagram @scarlethiltibidal. You can grab all four of her books for only $30 here: https://www.lifeway.com/en/contributors/scarlet-hiltibidal Join Erin's monthly mailing list to get health tips and fresh meal plans and recipes every month: https://mailchi.mp/adde1b3a4af3/monthlysparksignup Order Erin's new book, Live Beyond Your Label, at erinbkerry.com/upcomingbook/ Buy Erin's recipe book, co-written by pediatrician Dr. Alina Olteanu here: https://a.co/d/ateoVxx

In this episode, I speak with Husband, former Military Service Member, Advocate to reduce veteran's suicide rate and for those suffering with PTSD, Kevin Macomber, on Finding Hope in Healing From Trauma and PTSD. Listen as Kevin shares a story of healing and purpose from past traumatic experiences. He reveals how we can see God at work in the midst of mental breakdown as God uses people and events to plant seeds of healing. As we heal, God gives the grace to stand alongside others who travel similar journeys. Find Kevin :   Grab your copy of Walking From the Shadows Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms   Matthew 20:28  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."   1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.   Psalm 107:13-16 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.   1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.   Habakkuk 2:2 Then the Lord replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.   Additional Scripture: Galatians 5:13-14, Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 34:4, Psalm 136:1 REGISTER @ CFLEX Academy Arts Enrichment   Listen to our sister podcast:  Abundantly Rooted   Other Resourses: Grab your Artza Subscription Box and bring home a bit of Israel.  use promo code: ARTZAKRISTINARISINGER for 25% off   Check out our Linktree   Get the Books:  Life After Losing A Loved One: How to Turn Grief Into Hope Strength and Purpose Adventures of LiLy and Izzy Bee: The Imagination Journey 

What do you do when the child you raised no longer wants a relationship with you? In this deeply moving episode of the Let's Get Real Podcast, we sit down with Sally Harris, a coach and mentor to moms navigating the pain of estrangement from their adult children. Sally shares her powerful story of losing connection with her daughter for nearly a decade, hitting her own rock bottom through alcohol dependence, and finding freedom the moment she surrendered fully to God. She opens up about the shame, guilt, and isolation many moms feel, and how healing begins with one courageous choice to focus on personal health, community, and faith. This conversation is raw and real. Whether you're a parent experiencing estrangement, an adult child navigating brokenness with a parent, or a friend walking alongside someone in pain, Sally's wisdom will give you hope and practical steps forward. If you've ever felt stuck in relational pain, this episode will remind you: change doesn't start with fixing someone else; it starts with one choice to surrender your own heart to God's healing. Links & Resources Connect with Sally Harris: YouTube Channel | Website Justin & Trisha's new book: One Choice Away from Change → Order Here Follow us on Instagram: @justindavis33 | @trishdavis_

Today I'm joined by journalist Anna Wolfe - who's funny, frank and gloriously unfiltered and we go deep on eating disorders and addiction. We talk about the binge–restrict cycle, the shame that keeps you stuck, sobriety, and the messy, non-linear reality of recovery. So much of what Anna shared resonated with me personally, which is why I found this conversation so interesting - and, honestly, hopeful.Anna's also just launched her brilliantly titled podcast, How to Get Wet When You're Dry, and you'll hear exactly why her voice cuts through. Quick heads-up: we discuss eating disorders, addiction and related struggles. Please listen in whatever way feels safe for you, and please contact Shout if you're in need of support.Find Anna:Website: https://www.annawolfewriting.com/Podcast: https://www.howtogetwetwhenyouredry.com/Stay Connected with Hurt to Healing:Instagram: instagram.com/hurttohealingpodTikTok: tiktok.com/@hurttohealingpodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hurt-to-healingSubstack: substack.com/@hurttohealingWebsite: hurttohealing.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Will and Gabe as they navigate the challenges and blessings of finding hope in hopeless situations. 

Heart failure is often misunderstood—but knowledge is power. Join us as we clear away the myths, uncover the facts and show how the right care and support can help patients not just survive, but thrive. Featuring Norma Velasco Flores, DNP, CRNP, from the Heart Failure Clinic at UM St. Joseph Medical Center.  For more information about Dr. Flores For more information about Heart Care at UM St. Joseph Medical CenterTo learn about Heart Care at one of our other locations

In this episode, Rita Miceli shares her powerful journey as a mom raising her autistic son, Giaci. From early diagnosis to navigating therapies and fostering independence, Rita opens up about the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned along the way. She talks about the importance of family support, resilience, and celebrating small victories, offering encouragement and real advice for parents at every stage of the autism journey. Follow Giaci and Rita's story on TikTok and Instagram. Email us at: hello@momstalkautism.com Want to watch us on video with extra content and no ads? Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MomsTalkAutism Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Happy Sunday! In today's episode, Dr. Mo further discusses societal emotional process and the regression that is found in today's society. This episode discusses the last two consequences, rupturing relationships and scapegoating, of breaching the limitations God gives us. We focus on what's happening in society in Genesis 3:7-13.Tune into this episode as we discuss how rupturing and blaming contribute to regression in societal emotional processes.  Instead of trusting in the grace of God, we find ourselves blaming others as a way to avoid personal responsibility when we have been found guilty of rupturing relationships. How might we deny ourselves and practice the discipline of self-denial as a way of healing society of its regressive condition?Information for Dr. Gadson https://www.drmoniquesmithgadson.com/Link to order “Finding Hope in A Dark Place”:https://lexhampress.com/search?query=Finding%20Hope%20in%20a%20Dark%20Place%3A%20Facing%20Loneliness%2C%20Depression%2C%20and%20Anxiety%20with%20the%20Power%20of%20Grace&sortBy=Relevance&limit=30&page=1&ownership=all&geographicAvailability=allhttps://www.amazon.com/Finding-Hope-Dark-Place-Loneliness/dp/1683596358/ref=rvi_sccl_7/138-1785751-1148333?pd_rd_w=decCb&content-id=amzn1.sym.f5690a4d-f2bb-45d9-9d1b-736fee412437&pf_rd_p=f5690a4d-f2bb-45d9-9d1b-736fee412437&pf_rd_r=GMEBCA5ZB54MM98HHN5F&pd_rd_wg=pwctW&pd_rd_r=0cf054c6-aedd-427d-ac2a-563757407228&pd_rd_i=1683596358&psc=1Follow us on social media: https://www.facebook.com/And-The-Church-Said-Podcast-106848090932637https://instagram.com/drmoniquesmithgadson?igshid=1bmt2hei1j6i8Support And The Church Said:Cash App:  https://cash.app/$andthechurchsaidPayPal:  https://paypal.me/andthechurchsaid?locale.x=en_US. 

Finding Growth in Discomfort: Strategies for Transition and CopingIn this episode of the Leadership Tea Podcast, hosts discuss the challenges and growth opportunities during a shutdown. Shelby shares her experiences transitioning out of government work, dealing with introversion through networking, and finding new ways to communicate and cope during uncomfortable times. Belinda talks about the importance of focus for entrepreneurs, challenges in self-promotion, and breaking down larger goals to avoid feeling overwhelmed. They both highlight the importance of family communication and maintaining relationships during financial strains. The episode emphasizes finding hope and possibilities even in challenging circumstances, offering practical advice and personal anecdotes.00:00 Introduction to the Leadership Tea Podcast00:16 Embracing Discomfort for Growth00:56 Shelby's Networking Strategies03:32 Belinda's Entrepreneurial Focus05:49 The Challenge of Self-Promotion10:52 Communicating Through Crisis18:24 Finding Hope and Possibilities19:56 Conclusion and Community SupportJOIN THE LEADERSHIP LOUNGEIf you're a leader who wants more than surface-level advice, join Shelby & Belinda for exclusive content, practical tools, and a supportive community that fuels your growth. Learn more at https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiploungeSend us a comment!Find more information about the Leadership Lounge here.For leaders who want more than surface-level advice. What do you get?A virtual monthly group coaching session led by the Leadership Tea Podcast hosts.A monthly Community Connection virtual meet-up.Leadership resources and articles.We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.

When you focus on becoming better, not busier, everything changes.In this inspiring episode, host Brigitte Cutshall talks with Bishop Kevin Forman, known as The People's Bishop. He delivers an energizing message about competing with yourself and embracing your own evolution.From building one of Denver's largest faith communities to leading with authenticity and compassion, Bishop Forman shares how staying curious, embracing change, and focusing on personal growth can transform your life. ✨ 3 Takeaways:(1) Hope is a universal language. No matter your background, believing in a better future keeps you moving forward.(2) Compete with yesterday's you. True success comes from staying focused on your own growth and evolution.(3) Stay curious and resilient. Life's challenges are opportunities to learn, adapt, and become who you're meant to be. Discover how faith, focus, and curiosity can help you thrive in any season.Connect with Bishop Kevin Foreman on social media at @BishopForeman or visit https://bishopforeman.com to learn more.

In this illuminating episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse and Tony explore Jesus' parables of the mustard seed and leaven found in Matthew 13. These seemingly simple parables reveal profound truths about God's kingdom—how it begins imperceptibly, grows irresistibly, and transforms completely. The hosts delve into what these parables teach us about God's sovereign work in both our individual spiritual lives and the broader advance of His kingdom in the world. Believers can find hope in understanding that God intentionally works through what appears weak and insignificant to accomplish His purposes. This episode offers practical encouragement for Christians who may feel discouraged by the apparent smallness of their faith or ministry impact. Key Takeaways The kingdom of heaven begins in small, hidden, or seemingly insignificant ways, but grows powerfully through God's sovereign work. The mustard seed illustrates the kingdom's visible expansion (extensive growth), while the leaven highlights its internal transformative influence (intensive growth). Both parables emphasize that God's kingdom often appears to "disappear" initially but produces outsized results through His work, not our own. These parables provide encouragement for times when the church feels weak or our personal faith feels insufficient—God's power is made perfect in weakness. God's kingdom transforms both outwardly (extensive growth illustrated by the mustard seed) and inwardly (intensive growth shown by the leaven). Cultural transformation happens most effectively through ordinary Christian faithfulness rather than flashy or provocative engagement. Christians should not despise small beginnings, recognizing that faithfulness rather than visibility is the true measure of fruitfulness. Understanding Kingdom Growth: From Imperceptible to Unstoppable The parables of the mustard seed and leaven powerfully illustrate the paradoxical nature of God's kingdom. In both cases, something tiny and seemingly insignificant produces results far beyond what anyone would expect. As Tony noted in the discussion, what's critical is understanding the full comparison Jesus makes—the kingdom isn't simply like a seed or leaven in isolation, but like the entire process of planting and growth. Both parables involve something that initially "disappears" from sight (the seed buried in soil, the leaven mixed into dough) before producing its effect. This reflects the upside-down nature of God's kingdom work, where what appears weak becomes the channel of divine power. For first-century Jewish listeners expecting a triumphant, militaristic Messiah, Jesus' description of the kingdom as beginning small would have seemed offensive or disappointing. Yet this is precisely God's pattern—beginning with what appears weak to demonstrate His sovereign power. This same pattern is evident in the incarnation itself, where God's kingdom arrived not through military conquest but through a humble birth and ultimately through the cross. Finding Hope When Faith Feels Small One of the most practical applications from these parables is the encouragement they offer when we feel our faith is insufficient or when the church appears weak. As Jesse noted, "God is always working. Even when we don't feel or see that He is, He's always working." The kingdom of God advances not through human strength or visibility but through God's sovereign work. These parables remind us that spiritual growth often happens imperceptibly—like bread rising or a seed growing. We may go through seasons where our spiritual life feels dry or stagnant, yet God continues His sanctifying work. Just as a baker must be patient while bread rises, we must trust the invisible work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the church. When we feel discouraged by apparent lack of progress, these parables assure us that God's kingdom—both in our hearts and in the world—is advancing according to His perfect timing and plan. As Tony explained, "The fact that it feels and looks and may actually be very small does not rob it of its power...in actuality that smallness is its power." God deliberately works through weakness to display His glory, making these parables powerful reminders for believers in any era who may feel their impact is too small to matter. Memorable Quotes "We shouldn't despise small beginnings. Let's not despise whatever it is that you're doing in service to God, to your family, to your churches, especially in the proclamation of the gospel... Faithfulness and not visibility—that's the measure of fruitfulness." — Jesse Schwamb "The Kingdom of Heaven is at work not only in our midst as a corporate body, but in each of us as well. God's grace and His special providence and His spirit of sanctification, the Holy Spirit is the spirit of holiness and the one who makes us holy. He is doing that whether it feels like it or not, whether we see outward progress or not." — Tony Arsenal "What cultural transformation looks like is a man who gets married and loves his wife well, serves her and sacrifices for her, and makes a bunch of babies and brings them to church... We transform culture by being honest, having integrity, by working hard... without a lot of fanfare, without seeking a lot of accolades." — Tony Arsenal Full Transcript Jesse Schwamb: Welcome to episode 468 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse. Tony Arsenal: And I'm Tony. And this is the podcast with ears to hear. Hey brother. Jesse Schwamb: Hey, brother, you and I have said it over and over again. One of the incredible truths that the Bible conveys about the kingdom of God is that it's inaugurated in weakness. It's hidden. It advances irresistibly by the sovereign work of God through the Word and the Spirit. It transforms both individuals and nations until Christ's reign is fully revealed in glory. And so as we're about to talk about parables today, I can't help but think if that's one of the central positions of the Bible, and I think we both say it is how would you communicate that? And here we find Jesus, the son of God, our great savior, you know where he goes. He goes, mustard seeds and yeast. So that's what we're gonna talk about today. And if you're just joining us maybe for the first time or you're jumping into this little series, which is to say, we do know tiny series, this long series on parables, you, I go back to the last episode, which is kind of a two-parter because Tony and I tried this experiment where we basically each separately recorded our own thoughts and conversation, almost an inner monologue as we digested each of those parables, both the one of the mustard seed and then the leaven sequentially and separately. And now we're coming together in this episode to kind of talk about it together and to see what we thought of the individual work and to bring it all together in this grand conversation about the kingdom of God that's inaugurated and weakness and hiddenness. [00:02:31] Affirmations and Denials Explained Jesse Schwamb: So that's this episode, but it wouldn't be a episode without a little affirming. And a little denying it seems, 22, we should this, every now and again we pause to say why we do the affirmations and denials. Why, why do we do this? What, what is this whole thing? Why are we bringing it into our little conversation every time? Tony Arsenal: Yeah. I mean, it, it, at its core, it's kind of like a recommendation or an anti recommendation segment. We take something that we like or we don't like and we spend a little bit of time talking about it. Usually it ends up taking a little bit of a theological bent just 'cause that's who we are and that's what we do. And we use the language of affirmations and denials, uh, because that's classic, like reformed confessional language. Right? If you look at something like the, um. I dunno, like the Chicago statement on Biblical and Errancy, which was primarily written by RC sprawl, um, it usually has a, a statement, uh, of doctrine in the form of things that we affirm and things that we deny. Um, or you look at someone like Turin, a lot of times in his, uh, institutes of elected theology. He'll have something like, we affirm this with the Lutherans, or we affirm that or de deny that against the papus or something like that. So it's just a, a little bit of a fun gimmick that we've added on top of this to sort of give it a little bit of its own reformed flavor, uh, onto something that's otherwise somewhat, um, Baal or, or I don't know, sort of vanilla. So we like it. It's a good chance for us to chat, kind of timestamps the episode with where we are in time. And usually, usually, like I said, we end up with something sort of theological out of it. 'cause that's, that's just the nature of us and that's, that's the way it goes. That's, and that's what happens, like when we're talking about stuff we. Like when we're together at Christmas or at the beach, like things take that theological shift because that's just who, who we are, and that's what we're thinking about. Jesse Schwamb: By the way, that sounds like a new CBS drama coming this fall. The nature of us. Tony Arsenal: The nature of us? Yeah. Or like a, like a hallmark channel. Jesse Schwamb: It does, uh, Tony Arsenal: it's like a a, I'm picturing like the, the big city girl who moves out to take a job as a journalist in like Yosemite and falls in love with the park ranger and it's called The Nature of Us. Jesse Schwamb: The nature of us Yes. Coming this fall to CBS 9:00 PM on Thursdays. Yeah. I love it. Well, this is our homage to that great theological tradition of the affirming with, or the denying against. So what do you got this week? Are you affirming with something or you denying against something? [00:04:55] No Quarters November Tony Arsenal: I'm affirming. This is a little cheeky. I'm not gonna throw too much, much, uh, too much explanation. Uh, along with it. I'm affirming something. I'm calling no quarters, November. So, you know, normally I'm very careful to use quarters. I'm very careful to make sure that I'm, I'm saving them and using them appropriately. And for the month of November, I'm just not gonna use any quarters. So there'll be no 25 cent pieces in my banking inventory for the month. Oh. So I'm, I'm making a little bit of fun. Of course. Obviously no, quarter November is a tradition that Doug Wilson does, where he just is even more of a jerk than he usually is. Um, and he, he paints it in language that, like, normally I'm very careful and I qualify everything and I have all sorts of nuance. But in November, I'm just gonna be a bull in a China shop, um, as though he's not already just a bull in a China shop 95% of the time. So I'm affirming no corridors. November maybe. No corners November. Everything should be rounded. Jesse Schwamb: That's good too. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. No, no. Quatro November. Like we don't do anything in Spanish. No fours in Spanish. I don't know. Okay. I'm just making fun of that. I'm just making fun of the whole thing. It's such a silly, dumb enterprise. There's nothing I can do except to make fun of it. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, I think that's fair. That's basically the response it deserves. This time, we, we brought it up for several years going, it's such a strange thing. [00:06:13] Critique of Doug Wilson's Approach Jesse Schwamb: It's hard not to see this thing as complete liberty to be sinful and then to acknowledge that. Yeah. As if somehow that gives you, reinforces that liberty that you're taking it, it's so strange. It's as if like, this is what is necessary and probably we'll get to this actually, but this is what is necessary for like the gospel or the kingdom of God to go forward is that kind of attitude at times. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And I will say this, I do always look forward every year to seeing what he sets on fire. 'cause the, the videos are pretty great. I'm not gonna lie. Like the video quality is, is certainly compelling. Um, and you could say it's lit is another little punny way to get at it. Uh, I, I haven't seen it this year. I mean, that's, we're recording this on November 1st, so I'm sure that it's out. Uh, I just haven't seen it yet. But yeah, I mean, it's kind of, kind of ridiculous, uh, that anyone believes that Doug Wilson is restraining himself or engaging in lots of fine distinctions and nuance. You know, like the rest of the year and November is the time that he really like holds back, uh, or really doesn't hold back. That's, that's just a silly, it's just a silly gimmick. It's a silly, like, I dunno, it's a gimmick and it's dumb and so I'm gonna make fun of it 'cause that's what it deserves. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, I think that's right. You know, I was thinking recently because as you said, the counter just rolled over. And generally this time of year I end up always watching that documentary that Ligonier put together on Martin Luther, which is quite good. And I think it does, has a fair treatment of him, including the fact that he was so bombastic and that he was very caustic with his language. And I think they treat that fairly by saying, oh, that some of the same things that we admire in somebody can be some of the very same things which pull them into sinful behavior. And there's no excuse for that. And, and, and if that's true for him, then it's true for all of us, of course. And it's definitely true for Luther. So I think this idea, we need to be guarding our tongues all the time and to just make up some excuse to say, I'm not gonna do that. And in some way implying that there's some kind of hidden. Piety in that is what I think is just so disturbing. And I think most of us see through that for what exactly it is. It's clickbaits. It's this idea of trying to draw attention by being bombastic and literally setting things on fire. Like the video where he sets the boat on fire is crazy because all I can think of is like, so if you judge me, one more thing on this, Tony, 'cause I, I, when you said that, I thought about this video, the boat video implicitly, and I've thought about this a lot since then. There's a clip of him, he sets the boat on fire and it's kind of like him sitting on the boat that is engulfed in flames looking out into the sea, so, so calmly as if it's like an embodiment of that mean this is fine, everything is fine, this is fine. Right? Yeah. And all I can think of is that was great for probably like the two seconds that somebody filmed that, but guess what happened immediately after that? Somebody rescued you by putting out the fire on the boat. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Jesse Schwamb: It's just like insanity to presume that, encapsulating that single moment and somehow conveying that he is a great champion, pioneer advocate of things of the gospel by essentially coming in and disrupting and being caustic and that him setting thing on fire makes everything better is a mockery, because that's not even exactly how that shoot took place. Yeah. So I, I just really struggle with that, with the perspective he is trying to bring forward. Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I mean, I'm dubious whether or not there was actually any fire involved. Well, that's, I think 95% of it is probably camera magic, which is fine. Like, I don't know. That's fine. Like, I don't want Doug Wilson to burn up. That's, that wouldn't be cool either. But, um, yeah, I mean, like the fruit of the spirit is love, joy piece patience, kindness, good as gentleness, setting things on fire and being a jerk in November, apparently. And I, I just don't, I, I've never fully understood the argument. Um, and this is coming from someone who can be sarcastic and can go over the top and go too far. And, and I recognize that about myself. I've just never understood the argument that like, it's okay to be a jerk sometimes. Or, or not even just, okay. It's necessary to be a jerk sometimes. Exactly. Um, there's a difference between boldness and being a jerk. And, you know, I think, um, the people who, who know me well are gonna like fall off their chairs. I say this like, Michael Foster is actually someone who I think. Does the boldness with a little bit of an edge. I think he actually does it really well. And just like all of us, I, you know, he, he probably goes over the line, uh, on occasion. Um, and, and, but I think he does the, I'm just going to be direct and straightforward and bold. And sometimes that might offend you because sometimes the truth is offensive. Um, I think he does that well. I think where we go sideways is when we try to couch everything in sort of this offensive posture, right? Where, where even the things that shouldn't be offensive, uh, somehow need to be made offensive. It, it's just, it's dumb. It's just, um, and I'm, I'm not saying we should be nice just for the sake of being nice. I think sometimes being nice is. When I say nice, I mean like saccharin sweet, like, like overly uh, I don't know, like sappy sweets. Like we don't have to be that. And uh, there are times where it's not even appropriate to be that. Um, but that's different than just, you know, it's almost like the same error in the wrong direction, right? To be, just to be a jerk all the time. Sometimes our words and our behavior and our actions have to have a hard edge. And sometimes that's going to offend people because sometimes the truth, especially the gospel truth is offensive. Um, but when what you're known for is being a jerk and being rude and just being offensive for the sake of being offensive. Um, right. And, and I'll even say this, and this will be the last thing I say. 'cause I didn't, I, I really intend this just to be like a, a jokey joke. No quarters, November. I'm not gonna spend any quarters. Um, I don't know why I was foolish enough to think we weren't gonna get into it, but, um. When your reputation is that you are a jerk just to be a jerk. Even if that isn't true, it tells you that something is wrong with the way you're doing things. Right. Because I think there are times where, and I'll say this to be charitable, there are times where Doug Wilson says something with a little bit of an edge, and people make way too big of a deal out of it. Like they, they go over the top and try to condemn it, and they, they make everything like the worst possible offense. And sometimes, sometimes it's, it's just not. Um, and there are even times where Doug says things that are winsome and they're helpful and, um, but, but when your reputation is that you are a jerk just to be a jerk, or that you are inflammatory just to get a reaction, um, there's something wrong with your approach. And then to top it off, when you claim that for November, like you explicitly claim that identity as though that's not already kind of your shtick the rest of the year. Um, and just, it's just. Frustrating and dumb and you know, this is the guy that like, is like planting a church in DC and is like going on cnn. It's just really frustrating to see that sort of the worst that the reformed world has to offer in terms of the way we interact with people sometimes is getting the most attention. So, right. Anyway, don't, don't be a pirate. N November is still my way. I celebrate and, uh, yeah, that's, that's that. Jesse Schwamb: That's well said. Again, all things we're thinking about because we all have tendency to be that person from time to time. So I think it's important for us to be reminded that the gospel doesn't belong to us. So that means like that sharp edge, that conviction belongs to Christ, not to our personalities. So if it's tilted toward our personalities, even toward our communication style, then it means that we are acting in sin. And so it's hard for us to see that sometimes. So it does take somebody to say, whoa. Back it down a little bit there and you may need to process. Well, I'm trying to communicate and convey this particular truth. Well, again, the objective that we had before us is always to do so in love and salt and light. So I agree with you that there is a way to be forthright and direct in a way that still communicates like loving compassion and concern for somebody. And so if really what you're trying to do is the equivalent of some kinda spiritual CPR, we'll know that you, you don't have to be a jerk while you're doing it. You don't have to cause the kind of destruction that's unnecessary in the process. Even though CPR is a traumatic and you know, can be a painful event by it's necessary nature, we administer it in such a way that makes sure that we are, we have fidelity to the essential process itself, to the essential truths that's worth standing up for. Yeah, it's not a worth being a jerk. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. [00:14:37] Practical Application of Parables Tony Arsenal: Jesse, let's, let's move along. What are you affirming or denying tonight Jesse Schwamb: and now for something much lighter? So, my, my affirmation I share at the risk of it being like so narrow that maybe nobody will actually want to use this, but I actually had you in mind. Tony, I've been sitting on this one for a little while 'cause I've been testing it. And so we're, we're just gonna run like an actual quick experiment 'cause I. I'm guessing you will find this affirmation useful and will come along with me and it and might even use it, but you and I are not always like representative of all the people in the world. I say that definitely tongue in cheek. So we're a little bit nerdy. We love our podcasts and so occasionally, I don't know if this happens to you, I'm guessing it does, but I want to capture like a moment that I heard while podcast is playing on my phone. Maybe somebody says something really interesting, it's great quotes, or it's mathematical nature and I wanna go back and process it. And so generally what I do is I, I don't know, I stop it. I try to go back and listen to it real quick if I can, or maybe I can't because running, driving, all that stuff. So. When I hear something now that I want to keep, I just cry out to my phone. I have an, I have an iPhone, so I say, Siri, you could do this with Google. Take a screenshot. What happens is the phone captures an image of my podcast app with a timestamp showing of course what's being played. Then I forward this image, this is the crazy affirmation part. When it's time to be alive, I forward this image to a certain email address and I get back the text transcript of the previous 90 seconds, which I can then either look at or file into my notes. What is this email address sent it to you. Well, here's the website so you can go check it out for yourself though. Website is actually called Podcast Magic App, and there's just three easy steps there, and this will explain to you how you actually get that image back to you in the format of a transcript. And the weird thing about this is it's, it's basically free, although if you use it a lot, they ask for like a one-time donation of $20, which you know me, I love. A one time fee. So I've been using this a lot recently, which is why I've been sitting on it, but it is super helpful for those of you who are out there listening to stuff. They're like, oh, I like that. I need to get that back. And of course, like you'll never get it back. So if you can create this method that I've done where you can train your phone to take a snapshot picture of what's on the screen, then you can send it to Podcast Magic at Sublime app, and they will literally send you a transcript of the previous 90 seconds no matter what it is. Tony Arsenal: That is pretty sweet. I'll have to check that out. Um, I don't listen to as many podcasts as I used to. How dare you? I just, the I know. It's, it's crazy. Where do we even do it Feels like heresy to say that on a podcast that I'm recording. Yes. Um, Jesse Schwamb: we've lost half the audience. Yeah. Tony Arsenal: Well, yeah. Well, the other half will come next. Um, no, I, I, I just don't have as much time as I used to. I, I live closer to work than I used to and um, I'm down to, we're down to one car now, so, um, your mother is graciously giving me a ride to work. Um, 'cause she, she drives right past our house on the, the way and right past my work on the way to her work. Um, but yeah, so I guess I say that to say like, the podcast that I do listen to are the ones that I really wanna make sure I'm, I am, uh, processing and consuming and, uh, making sure that I'm kinda like locking into the content. Jesse Schwamb: Right. Tony Arsenal: So this might be helpful for that when I do hear something and I do think, like, it's hard because I use matter, which is great, and you can forward a podcast to matter and it generates a whole transcript of the entire episode, which is great. Um, but I don't often go back and, you know, a lot of times, like I'll go through my matter, uh, queue and it'll be like three weeks after I listened to a podcast episode, I be like, why did I put this in here? Right? I get that. I don't wanna listen to the entire 60 minute episode again to try to remember what that special thing was. So I just end up archiving it. So this might be a good middle ground to kind of say like, I might set, I might still send it to matter to get the whole transcript, but then I can use this service to just capture where in the transcript actually was I looking for? Um. It's interesting. I'll have to look at it too, because you can, you can send, uh, through Apple Podcast, the Apple Podcast app and through most podcast apps, I think. Right? You can send the episode with the timestamp attached to it. Yes. So I wonder if you could just send that, that link. Okay. Instead of the screenshot. Um, you know, usually I'm, I'm not. Uh, I don't usually, I'm not driving anymore, so usually when I'm listening to a podcast I have, my hands are on my phone so I could actually send it. So yeah, I'll have to check that out. That's a good recommendation. Jesse Schwamb: Again, it's kind of nuanced, but listen, loved ones, you know what you get with us, you're gonna get some, it could be equally affirmation, denial that Doug involves Doug Wilson, and then some random little thing that's gonna help you transcribe podcasts you listen to, because life is so hard that we need to be able to instantly get the last 90 seconds of something we listen to so that we can put it into our note taping at note taking app and put it into our common notebook and keep it. Yeah, there you go. Tony Arsenal: There's a lot of apps. There was actually a, a fair number of apps that came out a while ago that were, they were trying to accomplish this. Where you could, as you were listening to the podcast, in that app, you could basically say, highlight that and it would, it would highlight whatever sentence you were on. But the problem is like by the time you say highlight that you're already onto the next sentence, you now you're going back trying to do it again. And I didn't find any of that worked really seamlessly. It was a lot of extra friction. So this might be kind of a good frictionless or less friction way to do it. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, I'm totally with you. [00:20:08] The Kingdom of Heaven Parables Jesse Schwamb: I mean, speaking of like things that cause friction, there's no doubt that sometimes in Jesus' teaching on the parables that he himself brings the heat, he brings a little friction in his communication. And since you and I basically did go through each of these parables, we don't have do that again on this conversation. In fact, what I'm looking forward to is kind of us coming together and coalescing our conversation about these things, the themes that we both felt that we heard and uncovered in the course of talking through them. But I think as well ending with so what? So what is some real good shoe leather style, practical application of these ideas of understanding the kingdom of God to be like this mustard seed and like this lemon. So why don't I start by just reading. Again, these couple of verses, which we're gonna take right out of Matthew chapter 13. Of course, there are parallel passages in the other gospels as well, and I'd point you to those if you wanna be well-rounded, which you should be. And so we're gonna start in verse 31 of chapter 13. It's just a handful of verse verses. Here's what Matthew writes. Jesus puts another parable before them saying The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It's the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown, it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches. He told them another parable. The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flower till it was all leavened. Alright? Yeah. So Tony, what do you think? Tony Arsenal: Uh, I mean, these are so like, straightforward. It was almost, it, it felt almost silly trying to like explain them. Yeah. One of the things that, that did strike me, that I think is worth commenting too, um, just as a, a general reminder for parables, we have to be careful to remember what the parable is saying, right? So I, I often hear, um. The smallness of the mustard seed emphasized. Mm-hmm. And I think your, your commentary, you did a good job of kind of pointing out that like there's a development in this parable like it, right? It's a progression and there's an eschatology to it, both in terms of the, the parable itself, but also it comments on the eschatology of the kingdom of heaven. But it's not just that the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. It's the kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sewed in his field. Right? It's that whole clause that is the, the kingdom of heaven is like likewise, the kingdom of heaven is not just like leave, it's like leave that a woman took in hidden in three measures of flour till all was leavened. So when we're looking at these parables. Or when we're looking at really any parable, it's important to make sure that we get the second half of the, the comparison, right? What are we comparing the kingdom of heaven to? You know, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a sower who sowed seeds among, you know, in three types of four types of soil. This kingdom of Heaven is like, this is like that. We don't wanna miss part of the parable because we latch on to just like the first noun, and that follows the word like, um, but I think these are great, these are great little, um, parables that in some ways are almost like, uh, compliments or ex explanations of the other parables that we're looking at too. They, they explain to us something more about what the Kingdom of Heaven is using similar kinds of analogies that help us flesh out the parables that are surrounding them. So the Kingdom of Heaven. You know, again, we always want to caution against kind of like overinterpreting, the parables, but the, the parable of the sower is talking about the seed that is sewn into the field, right? And then there's the parable of the wheat and the tears, and there's seed again. And we, we might have a tendency to sort of miss the nature of the kingdom in a certain sort of dynamic. This fleshes this out. So we might think of like the parable of the sowers, like we don't know what, what proportion is of good soil, you know, good soil versus bad. We know that there's three types of soils that are bad soils or unproductive soils and one type, but we don't know like how much of the soil is, um, like what percentage of the field is that. Similarly, like we don't know what percentage of the field was wheat and what was weeds. This is kind of reminding us that the, the kingdom of heaven is not found primarily in the, um, the expansiveness of it. Right. It's not, it's not initially going to look like much. It's going to initially start out very small. Right. And in some ways, like in both of these, it appears to disappear entirely. Right? You sow a grain of mustard seed. I don't, I've never seen a mustard seed, so, but it's very small. Obviously you sow that into the ground. You're not gonna find it again, you're not gonna come back a week later and dig up that seed and figure out where you sewed it. Um, similarly, like you put a, you put a very small amount of yeast or lemon into a three measures of flour. You're not gonna be able to go in even probably, even with a microscope. You know, I suppose if you had infinite amount of time, you could pick a every single grain of flour, but you're not gonna be able to like go find that lemon. It's not gonna be obvious to the eye anymore, or even obvious to the careful searcher anymore. So that's what the kingdom of heaven is like in both of these. It's this very small, unassuming thing that is hidden away. Uh, it is not outwardly visible. It is not outwardly magnificent. It is not outwardly even effective. It disappears for all intents and purposes. And then it does this amazing thing. And that's where I really think these, these two parables kind of find their unity is this small, unassuming thing. That seems ineffectual actually is like abundantly effectual in ways that we don't even think about and can't even comprehend. Jesse Schwamb: Right? Yeah. I would say almost it's as if it's like, well, it's certainly intentionally, but almost like offensively imperceptible. And I think that's the friction that Jesus brings with him to the original audience when he explains it this way. So again, from the top, when we said this idea that the kingdom of God is imperceptible, it's hidden, it grows, it conquers, it brings eschatological resolution. And I'm just thinking again, in the minds of the hearers, what they would've been processing. I think you're spot on. I liked your treatment of that by focusing us to the fact that there is verb and noun and they go together. We often get stuck on the nouns, but this, that verb content means that all of this, of course, is by the superintendent will of God. It's volitional. His choice is to do it this way. It is again, where the curse becomes the blessing, where it's the theology of the cross or theology of glory, where it is what is small and imp, perceptible and normal by extraordinary means becomes that which conquers all things. And so I can. Picture, at least in my mind, because I'm a person and would, would wanna understand something of the kingdom of God. And if I were in a place, a place of oppression physically and spiritually living in darkness, to have this one who claims to be Messiah come and talk about the inauguration of this kingdom. My mind, of course, would immediately go to, well, God's kingdom must be greater than any other kingdom I could see on this earth. And I see it on the earth that the sun rises. And cast light across provinces and countries and territories in a grand way. And then we have this kingdom of God, which, you know, theory, the, the sun should never set on it and the sun should never be able to shine, but on a corner of it. And it doesn't have provinces or countries, it doesn't even have continence, but it has, it encapsulates worlds. And it doesn't stretch from like shore to shore or sea to shining sea, but from sun to sun or star to star from the heavens to the earth, its extent couldn't be surveyed. Its inhabitants couldn't be numbered. Its beginning, could never be calculated because from Tard past, it had no bounds. And so I'm just thinking of all these things and then like you said, Jesus says, let me tell you what it's really like. It's like somebody throwing a tiny seed into a garden. Or it's like a woman just making bread and she puts yeast into it. These seem like not just opposites, but almost offensive, I think, in the way that they portray this kingdom that's supposed to be of great power and sovereign growth, but it comes in perceptibly and how perfect, because the one who's delivering this message is the one who comes imperceptibly, the person of Christ preaching the gospel and the hearts of believers. But that grows into a vast and global proportion, and that of course, that aligns exactly with so many things you and I have talked about in process before. These doctrines are providence and sovereign grace, that God ordains the means that is the seed and ensures the outcome, which is the tree. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And I think too, um, you know, I don't, I don't know of any affinity with mustard seed in like the Old Testament law, but there's, there's a sort of a reversal of expectation here too, because although Levin is not always associated with like impurity, um, I think most Jewish listeners would immediately have a negative connotation with Levin for sure. Right? So when, when all of a sudden he's comparing the Kingdom of Heaven to leaven it, it becomes sort of this, um, the reason Levin is so pernicious and the reason that in the Old Testament law, you know, they're, they're, they're not just not making their bread with leave for the, for the Passover. They have to like sweep out their whole house. They have to empty all their stores out. They have to clear everything out. And that's not just because like. In, in, in Old Testament, sort of like metaphors, leaven does get associated with sin, right? Uh, and that gets carried on into the New Testament, but just the actual physical properties of leaven is like, if there's any little bit of it left on the shelf or even in the air, like even on your hands, it's can spoil the whole batch. It can cause the entire batch to go a different direction than you want it to. And in a certain way, like the Kingdom of Heaven is like that, right? Um. [00:30:21] The Resilience of God's Kingdom Tony Arsenal: You hear about, um, you hear about situations where it seems like the presence of God's people and the, the kingdom of God is just, it's just eradicated. And then you find out that there's actually like a small group of believers who somehow survived and then like Christianity is thriving again like 50 years later. Um, you can't just wipe out the kingdom of heaven because it is like leaven and any small remaining remnant of it is going to work its way back through the entire batch in a way that is, uh, mysterious and is somewhat unpredictable and is certainly going to surprise people who are not expecting it to be there. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. [00:31:04] Understanding Theological Concepts Jesse Schwamb: One of the things I really picked up in your treatment of that, that kind of drew me in in a special way was, you know, we think of some theological terms. We have really, I think, strong. Rubric for processing them, and especially like their multifaceted nature. So for instance, when we think about sanctification, we often talk about positional and progressive. And those are really helpful ways to understand a concept that brings us into modeling where it's finite and precise to a degree that allows us to understand it and comprehend it with a greater degree of confidence. And knowing it's many parts, because it is many parted. [00:31:36] The Parable of the Leaven Jesse Schwamb: And I was thinking as you were talking about the leaven, how the kingdom of heaven here that is inaugurated by Christ, that comes by the power of the Holy Spirit is growth and always deny that. But what you drew out for me was I think we're definitely seeing in that this idea of the intensive growth and then of course in the. Parable of the mustard seed. It's more extensive growth and they're both important. So they're in consummate harmony. It's not just like one recapitulating the other. And what that made me think about was even as you were speaking now, this really interesting difference, you know, the woman is taking this, again, talking about the verb, there's two nouns here actually. There's like the, the proper pronoun of the woman there is the act which she's doing, which she's taking the leaven and working it as it were like into the flower. I just did like a weird motion here on the camera if you're watching on uh, YouTube. Sorry about that. [00:32:28] Practical Lessons from Bread Making Jesse Schwamb: Almost like I was giving CPR, but she's working it into this meal or this flower and the working it from within outwards and that working itself like changes the whole substance from the center to the surface of this meal. Now I was thinking about this 'cause you noted something about bed bread. Bread baking in yours. And I did actually just a couple weeks ago, make some bread and the recipe I was using came with this like huge warning. Some of the recipes are like this, where when you're using some kinda lemon, most of the time we're using yeast. You have to not only be careful, of course, about how much yeast you put in because you put in too much, it's gonna blow the whole thing up. You're gonna have serious problems. You're not gonna make the bread anymore, you're gonna make a bomb, so to speak, and it's gonna be horrible. You're not gonna want to eat it. But the second thing is the order in which you add the ingredients, or in this recipe in particular, had very explicit instructions for when you're creating the dry ingredients. When you have the flour, make a little well with your finger and delicately place. All of the yeast in there so that when you bring the dough together, when you start to shape it, you do it in a particular way that from the inside out changes the whole thing so that there's a thorough mixing. Because the beauty of this intensive change is that. As you know Tony, like there's so many things right now in my kitchen that are fermenting and I talked about before, fermenting the process of leavening something is a process of complete change. It's taking something that was before and making it something very different. But of course it retains some of the essential characteristics, but at the same time is a completely different thing. And so it's through a corresponding change that man goes to whom the spirit of God communicates His grace. It's hidden in the heart and chain begin, change begins there. You know, the outward reformation is not preparing a way for inward regeneration. It's the other way around that regeneration, that reformation on the outside springs from a regeneration that's on the inside, growing out of it as a tree grows from a seed as a stream flows from the spring or as leave, comes and takes over the entire lump of dough. [00:34:26] The Power of Small Beginnings Jesse Schwamb: It's amazing. This is how God works it. We again, on the one side we see the kingdom of heaven. That is like the manifestations of his rule in rain coming, like that seed being sown and growing into this mighty tree. It brings shade. The birds come nest in it. And that may be a reference Allah to like Ezekiel or Daniel, the Gentiles themselves. There's that inclusion. And then to be paired with this lovely sense that, you know what else, anywhere else, the power of the kingdom of heaven is made. Manifest is in every heart in life of the believer. And so the Christian has way more in religion in their outer expression than they do anybody else. Because the inner person, the identity has been changed. Now you and I, you and I harp all the time on this idea that we, we don't need some kind of, you know, restoration. We need regeneration. We don't need to be reformed merely on the outside by way of behaviors or clever life hacks. We need desperately to be changed from the inside out because otherwise we. Where it's just, I don't know, draping a dead cold statue with clothing, or all we're doing is trying to create for ourselves a pew in the house of God. What we really need is to be like this bread that is fully loving, that grows and rises into this delicious offering before the world and before God. Because if you were to cut into this outwardly looking freshly baked bread and find that as soon as you got through that delicious, hard, crispy crust on the outside, that in the inside all it was, was filled with like unprocessed, raw flour, you would of course say, that's not bread. I don't know what that is. But that's not bred. What a great blessing that the promise that God gives to us is that the kingdom of God is not like that. It lies in the heart by the power of God. And if it's not there, it's not anywhere. And that though the Christian May at times exhibit, as we've talked about before, some kinda hypocrisy, they are not essentially hypocrites. Why? Because the Kingdom of God is leavening us by the power of the Holy Spirit. That gospel message is constantly per permeating that yeast through all of who we are, so that it continues to change us. So that while the natural man still remains, we are in fact a new creation in Christ. So to start with, you know, bread and or not bread to end with bread, but to start with flour and water and yeast and salts, and to be transformed and changed is the intensive power of the growth of the gospel, which is with us all our lives, until we have that beautific vision. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And I think, um, you know, to kind of take a, a pivot maybe to the practical, I think this is, this is not the point of the parable necessarily 'cause the parable. I think there's a lot that these parables have to say to us about like, personal, individual growth, but they really are about the growth of the kingdom or the, the, maybe necessarily the growth of the kingdom. I think that's there too. But really like the nature of the kingdom as this sort of like, hidden, hidden thing that then grows and creates big results. [00:37:34] Encouragement in Times of Darkness Tony Arsenal: I, I think this is a, this is a parable that should encourage us. Like absolutely for sure we should look to this and, and be encouraged because. It is not the case. Um, I know there are lots of people who wanna act as though like this is the worst time anyone has ever lived in, and everything is the worst as it's ever been. It's, this is not even close to the worst time that the church has ever existed in, um, there are, it's funny, um, we'll give a little plug. Some of our listeners have started their own new show called Over Theologizing, and, um, it, it was, it was funny listening to the second episode they had, um. Pete Smith was on there and they were saying, like, they were talking about like, how do you feel about the nature of the church? And Pete was like, it's fine. Like it's great out here. Like there's lots of churches, lots good. Like I, I think that there are pockets in our, in our world, um, particularly, you know, my, my former reference is Western World and in the United States and in some senses in, in Europe, um, there are certainly pockets of places where it's very dark and very difficult to be a Christian, but by and large it's not all that challenging. Like, we're not being actively persecuted. They're not feeding us to the lions. They're not stealing our businesses. They're not, um, murdering us. You know, like I said, there are exceptions. And even in the United States, there are places where things are moving that direction. But there are also times when the church is going to feel dark and small and, and like it's failing and, and like it's, it's weak. And we can look at these parables and say, the fact that it feels and looks and may actually be very small does not rob it of its power that does not rob the kingdom of heaven of its power. It in, in actuality that smallness is its power, right? Leave is so powerful of an ingredient in bread because you need so little of it, right? Because that it, you can use such a small quantity of lemon to create such a, a huge result in bread. That's the very nature of it. And it, its efficacy is in that smallness. And you know, I think the mustard seed is probably similar in that you, you don't need to have, um. Huge reaping of, of mustard seed in order to produce the, the crop that is necessary, the trees that are necessary to, to grow that. So when we look around us and we see the kingdom of heaven feeling and maybe actually even being very small in our midst, we should still be encouraged because it doesn't take a lot of leave to make the bread rise, so to speak. And it doesn't take a lot. And, and again, like of course it's not our power that's doing it, that's where maybe sort of like the second takeaway, the baker doesn't make the bread rise by his own like force of will, right? He does it by putting in this, this agent, you know, this ingredient that works in a sort of miraculous, mysterious way. It's obviously not actually miraculous. It's a very natural process. But I think for most of history. So that was a process that probably was not well understood, right? We, we, people didn't fully understand why Bread did what it did when you used lemon. They just knew that it did. And I think that's a good takeaway for us as well, is we can't always predict how the kingdom of heaven is gonna develop or is gonna operate in our midst. Um, sometimes it's gonna work in ways that seem to make a lot of sense, otherwise it's gonna seem like it's not doing anything. Um, and then all of a sudden it does. And that's, that's kind of where we're at. Jesse Schwamb: I like that. That's what a great reminder. Again, we all often come under this theme that God is always working. Even when we don't feel or see that he is, he's always working and even we've just come again on the calendar at least to celebrate something of the Reformation and its anniversary. Uh. What again, proof positive that God's kingdom will not fail. That even in the places where I thought the gospel was lost or was darkens, even in Israel's past in history, God always brings it forward. It cannot, it will not die. [00:41:26] Faithfulness Over Visibility Jesse Schwamb: So I wanna tack onto that by way of, I think some practical encouragement for ministry or for all believers. And that is, let's not despise small beginnings. Like let's not despise whatever it is that you're doing in service to God, to your family, to your churches, especially in the proclamation of the gospel. This is from um, Zacharia chapter four, beginning of verse eight. Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, the hands of the rebel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zabel. So I love this encouragement that is for all Christians. That's one. Again, God is doing all the verbs like just. For one last time for everybody in the back. God does all the verbs. Yeah, and in so doing, because he is doing all the verbs, he may, but he chooses to start with small things because again, he is always showing and exemplifying his glory and he does this in these normative ways. It's a beautiful expression of how majestic and powerful he is. So let's embrace those things with be encouraged by them. The gospel may appear weak or slow in bearing fruit, yet God guarantees its eventual triumph. God guarantees that he's already stamped it. It's faithfulness and not visibility. That's the measure of fruitfulness. So if you're feeling encouraged in whatever it is that you're doing in ministry, the formal or otherwise, I would say to you. Look to that faithfulness, continue to get up and do it, continue to labor at it, continue to seek strength through the Holy Spirit, and know that the measure of his fruitfulness will come, but maybe in a future time, but it will come because this is what God does. It's God doing all the work. He's the one, he's essentially the characters needs of these parables, sowing the seed, working in lemon. Yeah. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. And I think, you know, like I said, the, the parables are not necessarily about individual personal growth. Um, but I, I think the principle that is here applies to that as well is I think oftentimes we feel like, um. I'll speak for myself. There are have been many times in my walk as a Christian, um, where it just feels like nothing's happening. Right? Right. Like, you just feel like it's dry and like you, you're, you know, you're, you're not like you're falling into some great sin or like you've walking away from the faith, but it just feels sort of dry and stale and like God isn't doing anything. And, um, I've only ever tried to bake bread once and it was a, it was just a terrible, terrible failure. But, um, I think one of the things that I've. I've read about people who bake bread is that there is a level of patience that has to come with it, right? Because oftentimes it seems like the bread isn't rising. It seems like the, the lemon is not doing what it's supposed to do until it does. Right? And like, if you take the bread out of the oven every couple of minutes to check and see if it's rising, it's never going to rise. It's never going to do what it's supposed to do. And, um, you know, I think that is kind of like the Christian life in microcosm too, is we, we have these spiritual disciplines that we do. We pray, we read the scriptures, we attend faithfully to the Lord's Day service. And oftentimes it doesn't feel like that's doing anything right. But it is. The Kingdom of Heaven is at work in not only in our midst as a corporate body, but the kingdom of heaven is at work in each of us as well. That's right. God's, God's grace and his, uh, special providence and his spirit of, of sanctification, the Holy Spirit is the spirit of holiness and the one who makes us holy. Um, he is doing that whether it feels like it or not, whether we see, um, outward progress or not. If the spirit dwells within us, he is necessarily making us holy and necessarily sanctifying us. Um, and and so I want us to all think about that as we, we kind of wrap up a little bit here, is we shouldn't be. I, I don't wanna say we shouldn't be discouraged, um, because it's easy to get discouraged and I don't want people to feel like I'm like, you should never be discouraged. Like sometimes the world is discouraging and it's frustrating, and it's okay to feel that, but we should be able to be encouraged by this parable. When we look at it and we remember like, this is just. This is just the parable form of Paul saying like, God glories by using the weak to demonstrate his strength. Exactly right. He, he is, his power is shown in, in using the weak and frail things of this life and this world to accomplish his purposes. And so when we are weak, when we are feeling as though we are failing as Christians, we should be able to look at this and say, well, this is what the kingdom of heaven is like. It's like a tiny mustard seed, a tiny mustard seed of faith that grows into a large tree. It's, it's like this little little spark of leave that God puts in us and it's hidden in us and it leavens the whole loaf. And that's us, right? And that's the church, that's the kingdom. It's the world. Um, God is at work and he is doing it in ways that we would not ordinarily see. Even the person who has this sort of like explosive Christian growth. That's not usually sustained. I think most people when they first come to faith, especially if they come to faith, you know, as a teenager or a young adult, um, they come to faith and they have this like explosive period of growth where they're like really passionate about it and on fire. And then that, that passion just kind of like Peters out and you kind of get into like the, the day in, day out of Christianity, um, which is not, it's not flashy. It's not sexy, it's not super exciting. It's very boring in a lot of ways, like right, it's, it's basic bread, it's basic water. It's hearing a, a person speak and it's, it's reading words on a page. But when the Holy Spirit uses those things, he uses them faithfully to finish the work that he started. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, I think that's exactly right. The spirit's work of leavening, it continues quietly, but it powerfully, yeah. And we shouldn't despise that quietness or that smallness that I think is altogether a gift of God. And again, we're talking about the one who embodies the perfect will of God, who came and condescended to his creation was like us in every eight, where every way without sin. This is the one who became, I think as Paul writes in Galatians, a curse for us. And so again, this blessedness arises out of, again, what I think is this offensive means. And if that is the model that Christ gives to us, we ourselves shouldn't despise that kinda small beginning or even despise the sacrifices we're often called to make. Or those again, I would say like offensively and auspicious kinds of beginnings. All of that is peace wise, what it means to be a follower of Jesus. And there's a beauty in that. And I would say, I want to add to what you said, Tony, 'cause I think it was right on, is this idea that's easy to be discouraged is. It doesn't require any explanation. I, I, I'm totally with you. If you were to pick up any, or go to any kind of website and just look at the headlines for their news reporting, you're going to find plenty of reasons to be discouraged and to feel melancholy. And yet at the same time when I think we, you and I talk about these things, what I'm prone to consider is what Paul writes elsewhere to the church in Corinth, where he says in two Corinthians chapter 10, we destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. Being ready to punish every disobedience when you're disobey, when you're obedience is complete. And so what I think that applies to us in this particular case is understanding that this is the promise of God. Like you're saying, you and I are saying. Discouragement happens. And yet the truth is that small inauspicious beginnings in the kingdom of heaven always result in outsized gains that God never ceases to work. That he's always with us, that he's always for us. Then we do have to take captive those thoughts that lead us into kind of a disproportionate melancholy that pull us away or distract us from this truth of God, the knowledge of God, which is that he is super intending, his sovereign will completely over every molecule in the universe because this is what the Kingdom of Heaven does. And so that gives us, I think as I said last week, hope and evangelism we're storming those gates of hell we're coming for you like because there is a triumphalism in Christ that will be manifested in the final day. It's the reformed understanding of the here but not quite yet. [00:49:57] Cultural Engagement as Christians Jesse Schwamb: And like the last place that Le that leads me to like some practical, I think application is, and I wanna be careful with this, so I'm curious for your opinion. It's cultural engagement. You know, if we're thinking about this, leave permeating this dough, this tiny seed growing to overtake the garden, then I think believers should labor to continue to bring biblical truth into every sphere. So your family, your vocation, arts, politics, everything under Christ's lordship. I think sometimes that doesn't necessarily mean that you have to be. As we've talked about the top of the show, really outspoken in a provocative kind of way. I think sometimes, again, that same quiet though, consistent work that the Holy Spirit does that's powerful in leavening us is the same thing that we can do with just our attitudes at work or our attitudes in our family, or our willingness to serve or our kind words. Of course, it does require us to preach the gospel using words. It also means that the power of the leaven is that quiet power. It doesn't jump outta the bread. It doesn't boast, but it is present. So maybe I'm saying Christians, let's be present, and leavening means to be present with the attitude and the mind of Christ. What? What do you think? Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I think that's, um, I think that's right on, you know, um, it, it's not quite a parable, but Christ, Christ commands his people to be like salt and light and true. Um, and, and by saying that the kingdom of heaven is like leaven, you know, like a, a measure of leaven that was hidden away in three measures. Um, he's also commanding us to be like leaven, right? And he is commanding us to be like the, the mustard seed because that is what we are. And I think, um, we shouldn't think that we can cloister off or sequester off the kingdom of heaven from the rest of culture and create like, um, I'm not quite, uh, I'm not quite to the point where I'm, I'm a transformational in the sort of like Tim Keller sense, but I do think that. We, and I don't like this word, but I'm not sure of a better, a better way to say it, but like, we like to set up these little Christian ghettos where like we, we isolate ourselves culturally into these little subcultures and these little sort of cordoned off areas of culture. Um, where we, we actually then strive to look just like the culture that's around us, right? Right. We subsection off Christian music and although it's, you know, typically it's like a decade behind the curve in terms of what music is good, we're really just doing the same music as the rest of the world. We just baptize it with Christian language. Like, I remember my, my youth pastor in high school rewrote the song closing time to Be Quiet Time. And like that was like, that was like the most Christian thing he could do at the time, was rewrite the lyrics to a song. But like, that's, that's absolutely not what cultural transformation looks like. Right. Well, cultural transformation, and maybe I'm channeling a little bit of, of Michael Foster here, what cultural transformation looks like. Is is a man who gets married and loves his wife, well, serves her and sacrifices for her, and makes a bunch of babies and brings them to church, right? Like that's, that's cultural transformation. And in our culture, like that is a very counter-cultural way to do things. It's actually very counter-cultural. There have been times when that's not particularly countercultural and there probably will be times again where it is. And actually it seems like our broader American culture is moving away from the sort of like two kids, two kids and a dog is a, is a bygone era fantasy. And now it's like two single people living in a house together with a dog. Um, you know, and, and that's not to say that that's the only way to be, to transform culture, right? That's just one example of sort of the most mundane, natural thing is actually the way that we do it. Um. We transform culture by, um, by being honest, having integrity, yes. By, um, working hard, right? Yes. Going to work, doing your job well, uh, without a lot of fanfare, without seeking a lot of accolades, um, and just doing a good job because that's what God commands us to do when he tells us to honor our employers and to be good, faithful bond servants in the Lord. Um, that is also very, uh, that also will transform culture. Um, you know, I think we think of cultural transformation and we, I think we immediately go to, for better or worse, we go to like the Doug Wilsons of the world and we go like, that guy's engaging the culture. Well, yeah, I guess in a certain sense he is. Um, or we, or we go to. The Tim Keller's of the world where they are, they're engaging culture in a different way. But I think for most of us, for most Christians, our cultural engagement is very nor like very normal and very boring. It's living a very ordinary, quiet life. Um, you know, what does Paul say? Work quiet life. Mind your own business. Work with your hands, right? Like, don't be a busy body. Um, like that's, that's actually the way that culture is transformed. And that makes perfect sense. We will have to come back and do another episode on this sometimes, but like, that makes perfect sense. When you think about how God created Adam and what he was supposed to do to transform and cult, cultivate, right? The word cultivate and culture come from the same roots to transform and cultivate the entire world. What was he supposed to do? Plant a garden, tame the animals, right? You know, bake babies. Like, it's, it's not, um, it's not. Rocket science, it's not that difficult. And again, we are all called to different elements of that. And God providentially places us in situations and in, in life, you know, life circumstances, we're not all gonna be able to fulfill every element of that. But that's where this, that's where this becomes sort of the domain of the church, right? The church does all of these things in the culture, and I don't mean the church as institution. I mean like the people who are the church. They do all of these things in very ordinary, normal ways, and that will, that will transform the culture. Um, right. You, you show me a. And this is not, you know, by God's common grace, there are lots of really nice people out there who are more or less honest and have integrity and work hard at their jobs. So it's not as that, that's a uniquely Christian thing. But you show me a, a, a person who is known to be a Christian and works hard as honest is straightforward, is kind, is charitable, is self-sacrificial in, in all arenas of their life. Um, people will notice that and they will see it as different and they will associate it with Christianity. They will as

In this episode of the Finding Hope Podcast, host Amy LaRue sits down with Darcie Stephens to unpack the Serenity Prayer—discovering what's in our control, what's not, and how to surrender it all to God.We'll explore its history, biblical roots, and three key truths: • Serenity to accept what we can't change • Courage to change what we can • Wisdom to know the differenceWhether you're loving someone struggling with addiction or simply navigating life's chaos, this episode offers peace, courage, and clarity.FindingHope.Today HopeAfterLoss.TodayYou are NOT alone. It's NOT your fault. There is HOPE!

If your child is struggling with anxiety, depression, or hopelessness, you're not alone—and there is hope. In this deeply compassionate episode of Faith Fueled Living, host Kristin Fitch sits down with Jenn Robb, nurse practitioner and author of Warrior Mom Rising, to talk openly about the growing mental health crisis among children and teens—and how faith, awareness, and community can make a difference.Together, Kristin and Jenn discuss practical ways parents can identify warning signs, advocate for their kids, and create emotionally safe spaces for them to share openly. They also talk about the spiritual and emotional toll caregiving can take on mothers—and why prioritizing your own mental and spiritual well-being is not selfish, but essential.Whether you're in the midst of a hard season with your child or simply want to be better prepared, this conversation offers empathy, encouragement, and practical tools to help your family find hope, healing, and strength through faith. Key TakeawaysYou're not alone. The youth mental health crisis is real—but community, prayer, and openness can bring light to dark places.Pay attention to small shifts. Subtle changes in mood or behavior can be early signs that your child needs support.Faith and mental health go hand in hand. Trusting God doesn't mean ignoring medical or emotional care—it means inviting Him into it.Moms need care too. Your well-being directly affects your family; prioritizing rest, faith, and self-care is vital.Open conversations save lives. Talking honestly about emotions removes shame and strengthens family bonds.Connect with Jenn Robb at warriormomcoach.netRewire Your Mind: From Negativity to Joy - https://kristinfitch.com/mindset/Download My Free Joyful Living Devotional: https://kristinfitch.com/devotionalReady to take your first step towards a more joyful, faith-filled life? Download our Reignite Your Passion Workbook and start living with purpose today!Ready to work with Kristin to make a shift in your life? Click here to get started.Christian parenting podcast • children's mental health • faith and mental health • supporting kids with anxiety • depression in teens • mental health awareness for moms • parenting through mental health crisis • faith-based encouragement for moms • mom burnout recovery • anxiety and faith • hope for struggling parents • Christian family podcast • mental wellness for families • raising resilient kids • practical parenting advice • faith over fear parenting • mom encouragement podcast • overcoming anxiety in kids • community for Christian moms • warrior mom rising

The Sacred Duty of Healthcare: A Conversation with Theresa BrownIn this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine interviews Theresa Brown, PhD, RN, a registered nurse, New York Times bestselling author, and cancer survivor. The discussion delves into Brown's experiences as both a clinician and a patient, highlighting the emotional challenges and the need for compassion in healthcare. Brown shares insights from her books, 'The Shift' and 'Healing,' and talks about her upcoming book, 'A Nurse Finds Hope in Healthcare.' The conversation explores the significance of listening to patients, the emotional toll of illness, and the struggles healthcare professionals face within a corporatized system. Both agree on the importance of empathy, self-care, and the need to improve the patient-caregiver relationship.00:00 Introduction to Theresa Brown, PhD, RN00:52 Theresa's Journey from Academia to Nursing01:09 Insights from 'Healing': A Nurse's Perspective as a Patient01:56 The Emotional and Physical Challenges of Cancer Treatment04:06 The Importance of Compassion and Communication in Healthcare05:20 Balancing Information and Emotional Support for Patients06:16 Personal Stories and Reflections on Patient Care07:14 The Impact of Personal Illness on Healthcare Professionals17:23 Finding Hope and Purpose in Healthcare20:28 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Life doesn't always feel fair. From injustice in the courts to pain in our personal lives, we often wonder why God allows wrongs to go unpunished. In this message from Ecclesiastes 3–4, Pastor Dave reminds us that while Solomon wrestled with the same questions, ultimate justice belongs to God alone. One day, the Righteous Judge will make every wrong right—and that truth can free us from bitterness, revenge, and despair today.

This week on the Anchored by the Sword Podcast, I'm joined by Brittany Tinsley, author of Stories Our Scars Tell: Hope, Healing, and Honesty About the Wounds We Carry.Brittany opens up about her journey through pain, faith, and healing — and how God transformed her deepest wounds into a message of redemption. From navigating mental health challenges to finding her identity in Christ, this conversation is real, raw, and full of hope.

As the nation faces the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, Robby and Dwayne Carson ask how should Christians respond? From compassion for families in need to accountability and prayer for leaders, callers share biblical insight, personal stories, and practical ways the church can step up when government stalls. A timely and thought-provoking conversation about faith, service, and hope in uncertain times.

I recently attending 2 conferences that didn't feel like conferences at all. The Contextual Safeguarding Conference in Durham and the Trauma Informed Consultancy Services Conference in Manchester (mini celebration for events that take place outside of London!).I wanted to share all my reflections with you, messy, unedited, reading from my notes and very clearly still on a high from being with likeminded people, learning and very much seeing hope in action. If you wanted to go to the conferences and couldn't, listen to hear the highlights, and if you are feeling dejected or disillusioned, listen and borrow some hope from me. I talk about this book: Doing Real-Life Change in Children's Social Care: Embedded Research in PracticeLloyd, J., & Owens, R. (2025). Doing Real-Life Change in Children's Social Care: Embedded Research in Practice. Policy Press. https://doi.org/10.51952/9781447372400I referenced Dr Ron Dodzo: https://www.instagram.com/theaccessiblepsychologist/?hl=enContextual Safeguarding:https://www.contextualsafeguarding.org.uk/Ciara McCelland: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciara-mcclelland-0a211b250/?originalSubdomain=ukLets connect!To book in a free 15 minute chat with me, to talk about training, development, courses or membership email vicki@socialworksorted.com Sign up to my free newsletter Join The Collective Ebook Guides Email: vicki@socialworksorted.comLinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin Instagram.com/@vickishevlin_Youtube.com/@socialworksortedFacebook.com/socialworksortedDisclaimer Thank you so much for listening. Please rate, review and share with one other person - it makes such a difference and I really appreciate your support.

Does your faith feel fragile, distant, or broken? You're not alone. In this episode, Jason Hague and Catherine McNiel share how a mid-faith crisis can actually be the doorway to a deeper, more resilient walk with God. Doubt isn't the end of your faith—it may be the beginning of something new. In this powerful conversation, my guests share their personal stories of grief, unmet expectations, and doubt—and how God met them in the middle of the mess. Together, we'll explore why seasons of crisis can be fertile ground for deeper growth, how to let go of false certainties, and how to embrace a faith that is more resilient, honest, and rooted in God's goodness.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Jason on Instagram and Facebook Connect with Catherine on Instagram and Facebook Mid-Faith Crisis Book Visit Catherine's Website Visit Jason's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Catherine McNiel is a chaplain, author, editor, and speaker searching for the creative, redemptive work of God in our ordinary lives. She lives in the Chicagoland area with her husband, three children, and one enormous garden. Catherine holds an MA in human service counseling and is finishing a Master of Divinity at North Park Theological Seminary. Her previous books include Fearing Bravely, All Shall Be Well, and Long Days of Small Things, which was an ECPA finalist for New Author.   Jason Hague is the associate pastor of Christ's Center Church near Eugene, Oregon, and the author of Aching Joy: Following God Through the Land of Unanswered Prayer. Jason has written extensively on the subject of the Christian faith and autism, special needs families, and his own spiritual journey toward hope for his own nonspeaking autistic son. His writing has appeared in Christianity Today, Focus on the Family, and Fathom. He and his wife have five children.

Tammy Trent shares how God's presence became her lifeline as she grieved an unthinkable loss. (J2727)

Holidays can be beautiful. They can also break your heart.In this episode of the Purpose Beyond Motherhood podcast, Nicole and Holly sit down with special guest Shana-Lee Scott, author of “Mommy and Waiting,” for an honest conversation about what it's like to walk into the holidays with empty arms, delayed dreams, or a story that doesn't look anything like what you pictured.Shana-Lee shares her journey of longing to become a mother, being told to get a hysterectomy, traveling out of state for surgery, and having 33 fibroids removed. She talks about hope, disappointment, and what it feels like to hear “this might never happen” while you're still believing God for a miracle.This is not a polished, “it all worked out” story. This is what it looks like to cling to Jesus in the middle of not-yet.Inside this episode: • The quiet grief of waiting to be a mom when everyone else is posting family photos • Holidays with unmet longing — and how to prepare your heart • “Crazy faith” and the tiny ways God sends reminders that He hasn't forgotten you • Why you don't have to fake being “okay” for God to love you • Practical ways to hold on to hope: worship, prayer, voice-your-heart honesty, and real community • A powerful live prayer from Shana-Lee over the woman who feels hopeless right nowIf you're walking through infertility, loss, miscarriage, childlessness not by choice, or just a story you didn't ask for — this one was recorded for you.Resources mentioned: • “Mommy In Waiting” by Shana-Lee Scott • Instagram: @mommyandwaiting1124 • Twelve 12 Ministries Instagram • Twelve 12 Ministries Website Scripture anchors in this episode: Mark 11:24 Psalm 112:7 1 Corinthians 15:58 Psalm 16:5–6 Hebrews 3:5–6Prayer begins around 17:59 — save that part and play it back when you need it.You are not alone. You are seen. Your tears matter to God.

Happy Sunday! In today's episode, Dr. Mo further discusses societal emotional process and the regression that is found in today's society. This episode discusses hiding and what could be happening in Genesis 3:7-10 between Adam and Eve. And also, between God and them. We still hold in our minds Leviticus 23:26-29 concerning the Day of Atonement, how it is to be observed, and how it includes self-denial. We consider how self indulging versus self-denial contributes to the regressive state of society. Tune into this episode as we discuss how hiding contribute to regression in societal emotional processes.  We fear condemnation due to our differences and poor decision making instead of being met with grace. Maybe if we can practice self-denial and choose grace toward ourselves and others when we recognize our differences and realize we have done things we knew we were not supposed to do, perhaps we can push back on some of the regression in society. Information for Dr. Gadson https://www.drmoniquesmithgadson.com/Link to order “Finding Hope in A Dark Place”:https://lexhampress.com/search?query=Finding%20Hope%20in%20a%20Dark%20Place%3A%20Facing%20Loneliness%2C%20Depression%2C%20and%20Anxiety%20with%20the%20Power%20of%20Grace&sortBy=Relevance&limit=30&page=1&ownership=all&geographicAvailability=allhttps://www.amazon.com/Finding-Hope-Dark-Place-Loneliness/dp/1683596358/ref=rvi_sccl_7/138-1785751-1148333?pd_rd_w=decCb&content-id=amzn1.sym.f5690a4d-f2bb-45d9-9d1b-736fee412437&pf_rd_p=f5690a4d-f2bb-45d9-9d1b-736fee412437&pf_rd_r=GMEBCA5ZB54MM98HHN5F&pd_rd_wg=pwctW&pd_rd_r=0cf054c6-aedd-427d-ac2a-563757407228&pd_rd_i=1683596358&psc=1Follow us on social media: https://www.facebook.com/And-The-Church-Said-Podcast-106848090932637https://instagram.com/drmoniquesmithgadson?igshid=1bmt2hei1j6i8Support And The Church Said:Cash App:  https://cash.app/$andthechurchsaidPayPal:  https://paypal.me/andthechurchsaid?locale.x=en_US. 

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Finding Hope at the Polls: An Unexpected Encounter Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-11-01-07-38-20-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 秋の冷たい風が頬を撫でた。En: The cold autumn wind brushed against Kenta's cheeks.Ja: 建太（けんた）は投票所に向かって歩いていた。En: He was walking towards the polling station.Ja: 投票日はいつも特別な日だったが、なぜか今年はやる気を感じられなかった。En: Voting day was always a special day, but for some reason, he didn't feel motivated this year.Ja: 政治に失望してしまったからだ。En: He had become disillusioned with politics.Ja: 「投票しても何も変わらないだろう」と考えていた。En: He thought, "Nothing will change even if I vote."Ja: 建太は長い行列に並んだ。En: Kenta stood in the long line.Ja: 投票所は多くの人で賑わい、ザワザワとした足音と静かな話し声が響いていた。En: The polling station was bustling with people, filled with the sound of murmuring footsteps and quiet voices.Ja: 外には秋の葉が落ちており、色とりどりの美しさを見せていた。En: Outside, autumn leaves had fallen, displaying a beautiful array of colors.Ja: 建太はそんな風景を少し眺めて、ため息をついた。En: Kenta took a moment to gaze at the scene and sighed.Ja: 前に立っていたのは由美（ゆみ）だった。En: In front of him stood Yumi.Ja: 彼女は社会活動に情熱を注ぐボランティアだった。En: She was a volunteer passionate about social activism.Ja: 行列に並びながら、彼女は誰かと話す機会を探していた。En: While waiting in line, she looked for a chance to talk to someone.Ja: そして、後ろを振り返り、建太に笑顔で話しかけた。En: Then she turned around and smiled at Kenta, engaging him in conversation.Ja: 「こんにちは。投票日、大事ですよね？」と由美は言った。En: "Hello. Voting day is important, isn't it?" said Yumi.Ja: 建太は少したじろぎながら答えた。「そうですね。でも、正直言って、あまり期待してないんです。」En: Feeling a bit sheepish, Kenta replied, "Yes, it is. But to be honest, I don't have much hope."Ja: 由美は驚いた表情を見せた。「どうしてですか？」En: Yumi showed a look of surprise. "Why is that?"Ja: 「投票しても変わらないと思うんです。政治はもう十分に疲れた」と建太は素直に言った。En: "I just don't think voting will change anything. I'm exhausted by politics," Kenta admitted frankly.Ja: 由美は微笑んで言った。「私は変わると思いますよ。誰かが声を上げれば、少しずつでも変わるんです。」En: With a smile, Yumi said, "I believe it can change. If someone raises their voice, even a little can change."Ja: 建太は興味を持ち始めた。「そんなに強く信じる理由があるんですか？」En: Kenta began to take interest. "Do you have a reason to believe that so strongly?"Ja: 由美は頷いた。「はい。私も最初はそう思っていました。でも、実際に変わっているところを見たら、希望が湧きました。」En: Yumi nodded. "Yes. I used to think the same way. But when I actually saw things change, it gave me hope."Ja: 彼らはしばらくの間、政治や社会問題について話し合った。En: They discussed politics and social issues for a while.Ja: 由美の情熱に触れ、建太の心に少しずつ希望が芽生えてきた。En: Inspired by Yumi's passion, hope slowly began to grow in Kenta's heart.Ja: 最終的に投票を終えたとき、建太は由美に尋ねた。「あなたのような考え方ができるのは素敵ですね。もっと話したいです。」En: When they finally finished voting, Kenta asked Yumi, "It's wonderful to have a perspective like yours. I'd like to talk more."Ja: 由美は笑顔で答えた。「ぜひ。これがきっかけで、もっと多くのことを知ってほしいです。」En: Yumi replied with a smile, "I'd love that. I hope this will be an opportunity for you to learn more."Ja: 彼らは連絡先を交換した。En: They exchanged contact information.Ja: 建太は投票所を出たとき、心が軽くなったように感じた。En: As Kenta left the polling station, he felt as if a weight had been lifted from his heart.Ja: 秋の葉が風に舞う中、自分自身も少し変わった気がした。En: As the autumn leaves danced in the wind, he felt like he had changed a little too.Ja: 「誰かが声を上げれば、少しずつでも変わるんだ」と、建太は小さく呟いた。En: "If someone raises their voice, even a little can change," Kenta muttered quietly.Ja: 彼は希望とともに帰路に着いた。En: He headed home, carrying a sense of hope with him. Vocabulary Words:disillusioned: 失望してmurmuring: ザワザワarray: 色とりどりgaze: 眺めてsheepish: たじろぎながらexhausted: 疲れたfrankly: 素直にperspective: 考え方bustling: 賑わいactivism: 活動engaging: 話しかけたopportunity: 機会volunteer: ボランティアpassion: 情熱inspired: 触れexchanged: 交換したlifted: 軽くなったdanced: 舞うmuttered: 呟いたautumn: 秋activist: 社会活動voices: 話し声line: 行列footsteps: 足音sigh: ため息change: 変わるhope: 希望raise: 上げればstem: 芽生えてdiscussed: 話し合った

In this episode of LAB the Podcast, we sit down with Pastor and Author Courtney Ellis to talk about grief, hope, and the sacred art of paying attention. Courtney's latest book, Looking Up: A Birder's Guide to Hope Through Grief weaves together family, faith, and the natural world—inviting us to see that grief and hope are not opposites, but companions on the same road.If you've ever faced loss, felt stuck in grief, or longed for beauty in the midst of brokenness, this conversation will remind you that hope is a long story—and that the Spirit still moves through it all.Thank you for joining the conversation and embodying the life and beauty of the gospel. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow LAB the Podcast. Support / SponsorFor More Videos, Subscribe: @VUVIVOV3 | YouTubeFollow: @labthepodcast | @vuvivo_v3 | @zachjelliott | @wayfarerpodcastCourtney ElliottLooking UpSubstackSupport the show

For decades, Dean Sikes has been sharing a radical message of hope: God loves you, has a plan for your life, and because you're breathing, you matter.The conversation dives deep into the urgent teen mental health crisis. Dean shares shocking statistics—including that 22% of high schoolers have considered suicide—and discusses his mission to eradicate hopelessness and prevent teenage suicide.Dean explains that a person who is "broken until healed becomes a broken adult". He shares insights from his new book, You Matter: Finding Hope and Meaning in Everyday Life, and how to:1. Find a firm foundation of self-worth and confidence.2. Break free from a spirit of hopelessness.3. Connect with God's love and purpose, no matter your past.This episode is a vital resource for parents, youth leaders, educators, and anyone who feels they are struggling or want to help a young person find their God-given value.Need Help? If you are having thoughts of suicide, please call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US, or visit https://988lifeline.org.Links & Resources:Get Dean Sikes' Book: You Matter: Finding Hope and Meaning in Everyday Life:https://www.amazon.com/You-Matter-Finding-Meaning-Everyday/dp/1964508428Learn More about Covenant Eyes: https://cvnteyes.co/4gb6xmeTimestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Dean Sikes and the You Matter Ministry 01:44 - New Book: You Matter: Finding Hope and Meaning in Everyday Life 02:36 - Why You Matter: The Answer to the Billion-Dollar Question03:33 - The Connection Between Hopelessness and Suicide 04:29 - Troubling Teenage Suicide Statistics (22% have considered it)05:34 - Is the Book Just for Teens? Broken Teens become Broken Adults 06:26 - Talking With Students, Not To ThemSend us your feedback!Try Covenant Eyes for FREE today!Use Promo Code: FreePodcast © 2024 Covenant Eyes, All Rights Reserved

SummaryIn this episode of REYL Talk, John Busch IV and Danny Lesslie delve into the profound impact of trauma passed through generations, the importance of vulnerability in fatherhood, and the journey of personal growth through life's challenges. They discuss the role of faith, the significance of intentional living, and the transformative power of love and loss. Danny shares his personal experiences of losing his wife, the lessons learned from his father, and the importance of being present for his children. The conversation is a heartfelt exploration of resilience, faith, and the enduring strength found in family and community.Link to Danny's Book "Thank You Cancer" He Talks About At the End: https://bluehatpublishing.com/products/thank-you-cancer-by-raffaella-dobles-and-danny-lesslieHighlightsTrauma can be passed down through generations, affecting family dynamics.Vulnerability is a powerful tool in fatherhood, fostering deeper connections.Intentional living leads to personal growth and fulfillment.Faith plays a crucial role in navigating life's challenges.Love and loss are transformative experiences that shape our lives.Being present for your children is essential for their development.Resilience is built through overcoming life's adversities.Community support is vital in times of personal struggle.Personal growth often follows periods of intense hardship.The journey of healing involves embracing vulnerability and faith.Quotes of the Episode"Vulnerability is a tool." "Intentional living matters." "Faith guides us." "Love transforms us."Chapters00:00 The Legacy of Trauma and Epigenetics13:05 Navigating Fatherhood: Vulnerability and Growth15:30 The Trouble Tree: Managing Daily Struggles18:10 The Power of Vulnerability in Parenting20:33 Coping with Loss: A Father's Journey22:52 Faith and Fatherhood: A Higher Calling27:33 The Weight of Wisdom and Loss30:08 Brotherhood and Vulnerability32:31 Surrendering Control and Seeking Help34:48 The Journey of Self-Discovery37:03 Chiseling Away to Reveal True Self39:22 Finding Hope in Darkness

In this episode, Sathiya Sam addresses the complex relationship between faith and pornography addiction. He explores common questions regarding God's forgiveness, the nature of blessings, and the consequences of sexual sin. Through personal anecdotes and biblical references, Sathiya emphasizes the importance of character development and the assurance of God's grace, encouraging listeners to seek freedom from addiction and maintain a strong relationship with God.   Watch This Content In Video Format Coach Sathiya Sam Youtube Chanel    Know more about Sathiya's work: Deep Clean Inner Circle – Join The Brotherhood (and get coached by Sathiya) For Less Than $2/day Submit Your Questions (Anonymously) To Be Answered On The Podcast Get A Free Copy of The Last Relapse, Your Blueprint For Recovery Watch Sathiya on Youtube For More Content Like This   Chapters: (00:00) Introduction to the Podcast and Topic (01:24) Understanding Pornography and Its Impact (05:20) The Nature of God's Blessings and Character (06:47) The Question of Forgiveness (09:06) The Consequences of Sexual Sin (11:19) Finding Hope and Freedom from Addiction

"My hope is that anyone listening knows that it's never too late to return to something that lights you up, even if you have to start small." -Ali Hall Ali Hall is a contemporary fine artist and wellness advocate whose body of work creatively merges the realms of emotional healing and mindful living. Inspired by the California coast, her artwork is distinguished by calming abstract realism designed to introduce serenity and beauty into everyday environments. Ali is known not only for her engaging artwork but also for her expressive workshops that help individuals reconnect with themselves. In addition, she plays an influential role in community engagement, contributing to several nonprofit organizations and events. Episode Summary: In this enriching episode of "Oh My Health... There is Hope," host Jana Short interviews the talented and community-oriented artist, Ali Hall. Ali discusses her journey in rediscovering creativity and how painting has become a source of emotional healing and joy for her. She invites listeners to reflect on the power of creativity, emphasizing that it's never too late to return to passions that inspire personal growth and transformation. Ali's compelling narrative is amplified by her involvement in wellness advocacy and her commitment to fostering connections through art. Continuing on her creative narrative, Ali Hall explores the layers of meaning her art can impart, particularly through her series like "Affirmations" and "Bloomscape." Her work is not only a personal catharsis but also a visual manifestation of hope and beauty designed to resonate with viewers on a personal level. Ali and Jana engage in meaningful discussions on the role of art in life, meditation, and personal spaces, making this episode a must-listen for art enthusiasts and those looking for creative inspirations in their wellness journey. Key Takeaways: Ali Hall emphasizes the importance of creativity in emotional healing, encouraging listeners to reconnect with passions that light them up, even starting with small commitments. Her art, inspired by the California coast, aims to bring peace and serenity into everyday spaces through calming abstract realism. Ali shares how she intentionally integrates emotions into each piece, seeing art as a profound tool for personal reflection and healing. She recommends attending local art fairs to explore art that resonates personally and offers insight into choosing art that brings joy and intention to living spaces. Her contributions to various nonprofit organizations underscore her commitment to community, illustrating the powerful impact art can have in broader societal contexts. Resources: Website: www.alihall.art Instagram: @‌AliHall.art Upcoming Reno Tahoe International Art Show: Event Details – Promo Code: WHOKNEW25 for 20% off tickets. Sept. 11–14 Boston Affordable Art Fair. My work will be featured via SAB gallery: Oct. 23–25th Get in touch with Jana and listen to more Podcasts: https://www.janashort.com/ Show Music 'Hold On' by Amy Gerhartz https://www.amygerhartz.com/music. Get the Best Holistic Life Magazine Subscription! One of the fastest-growing independent magazines centered around holistic living. https://bestholisticlife.info/Subscription Grab your gift today: https://www.janashort.com/becoming-the-next-influencers-download-offer/ Connect with Jana Short: https://www.janashort.com/contact/

In this heartfelt episode of PD & P-Dubs Unscripted, hosts PD and P-Dubs open up about one of the most personal parts of ministry—walking with families through loss, funerals, and the hope of eternal life. With honesty, compassion, and a touch of humor, they share real stories from life at Immanuel, reflections on grief, and the comforting truth that we grieve with hope through Christ. Whether you've recently lost a loved one or simply want to understand how faith meets real-life pain, this conversation reminds us that death never has the final word.Listen now for real talk, pastoral insights, and encouragement for anyone navigating life, loss, and the promise of resurrection.

Every marriage goes through seasons—some filled with laughter and connection, and others that feel dry, distant, or lonely. Maybe you've found yourself wondering, "What happened to us? Why can't we enjoy doing things together like we used to?" The feelings you once had faded, and no matter how hard you try, it feels like you're just going through the motions. If that sounds familiar, you are not alone. Dan and Danielle Macaulay, founders of MarriedUp.net and authors of The Triangle Effect, talk about what to do when love feels more like effort than emotion—and how inviting God into the center of your relationship can renew your faith, your hope, and your heart for each other. If your marriage feels stuck, strained, or spiritually disconnected, this honest and encouraging conversation will remind you: your story isn't over, and God can still bring beauty out of what feels broken. But before we get started, I just wanted to warn you that we do talk about intimacy some in this episode so you may not want little ears around. Check out my new website, CarolRoper.org, where you can find a bonus episode when you click on "Open Your Blueprint" Watch on YouTube When Feelings Fade: Finding Hope for Your Marriage Through Everyday Moments with Dan and Danielle Macaulay

Happy Sunday! In today's episode, Dr. Mo further discusses societal emotional process and the regression that is found in today's society. This episode investigates how fear and hiding are consequences to breaching the limitations God put into place.We still hold in our minds Leviticus 23:26-29 concerning the Day of Atonement, how it is to be observed, and how it includes self-denial. We consider how self indulging versus self-denial contributes to the regressive state of society. Tune into this episode as we also look at Genesis 3:7-10 to focus on and to understand how fear and hiding contribute to regression in societal emotional processes.  We contemplate on how fear causes us to see others and how we might hide from that perceived or actual threat of others. Information for Dr. Gadson https://www.drmoniquesmithgadson.com/Link to order “Finding Hope in A Dark Place”:https://lexhampress.com/search?query=Finding%20Hope%20in%20a%20Dark%20Place%3A%20Facing%20Loneliness%2C%20Depression%2C%20and%20Anxiety%20with%20the%20Power%20of%20Grace&sortBy=Relevance&limit=30&page=1&ownership=all&geographicAvailability=allhttps://www.amazon.com/Finding-Hope-Dark-Place-Loneliness/dp/1683596358/ref=rvi_sccl_7/138-1785751-1148333?pd_rd_w=decCb&content-id=amzn1.sym.f5690a4d-f2bb-45d9-9d1b-736fee412437&pf_rd_p=f5690a4d-f2bb-45d9-9d1b-736fee412437&pf_rd_r=GMEBCA5ZB54MM98HHN5F&pd_rd_wg=pwctW&pd_rd_r=0cf054c6-aedd-427d-ac2a-563757407228&pd_rd_i=1683596358&psc=1Follow us on social media: https://www.facebook.com/And-The-Church-Said-Podcast-106848090932637https://instagram.com/drmoniquesmithgadson?igshid=1bmt2hei1j6i8Support And The Church Said:Cash App:  https://cash.app/$andthechurchsaidPayPal:  https://paypal.me/andthechurchsaid?locale.x=en_US. 

Doubt isn't the enemy of faith; it's often the doorway to deeper trust. Forgiveness always carries a cost, and the good news is that God in Christ absorbs the debt to set the world right. That reframes justice as restoration, not payback, and casts the cross as God for us, not against us.If your heart is heavy, bring your doubts to Jesus and let hope grow where honesty begins.Support the showMade a decision to follow Jesus? We want to know about it! Fill out our connect card here: https://local.churchcenter.com/people/forms/115766Thank you for your generosity. For information on how to give, visit https://localvineyard.church/give.

Send us a textIn the latest episode of the Stories to Create Podcast, host Cornell Bunting sits down with Hiedi Paulec — coach, consultant, and published author — for an inspiring conversation about finding hope through loss.Hiedi, who earned her B.S. in Pre-Law and History (1997) from John Brown University, holds an RZIM Academy Certification in Apologetics (2019) and is currently completing the Theodicy Module. She joined the show to discuss her book, “Abiding Light: Discovering Hope After Sudden Death,” which offers comfort and guidance to those navigating the grief of losing a loved one and provides insight for communities supporting them.Throughout the conversation, Hiedi shared her passion for bridging the past, present, and future, and helping families and students do the same. A devoted mother to Micah, Isaiah, and Mia Ruth, she proudly shared that two of her three homeschooled children are Presidential Scholars — one at The King's College in New York City and another at Southeastern University in Florida — while she continues to teach her youngest, who is currently in high school.Hiedi spoke about intentionally investing in her children through meaningful experiences and extended travels abroad, nurturing their education with her keen eye for excellent learning resources.When she's not teaching or writing, Hiedi enjoys making memories with family, staying active, savoring good food with good friends, reading the Great Books, and discussing exceptional films. Whether walking along the beach or crunching snow underfoot, she finds joy and peace in life's simple moments. Support the showThank you for tuning in with EHAS CLUB - Stories to Create Podcast

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Job 13-14; Acts 17-18 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible, your daily companion on a journey through the Scriptures. In today's episode, host Hunter invites listeners from around the world to gather by the “fires of God's love” on this 23rd day of October. Together, we dive into Job chapters 13 and 14, where Job passionately argues his case before God, wrestling with suffering, justice, and hope. Next, we move into Acts chapters 17 and 18, following Paul and Silas as they face opposition and share the message of Jesus throughout Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth. Along the way, we encounter inspiring figures like Priscilla and Aquila, who gently guide Apollos into a deeper understanding of faith in Christ. Through thoughtful reflection, heartfelt prayer, and words of encouragement, Hunter reminds us that our true rest and identity is found in Jesus. So grab your Bible, settle in, and let's explore these powerful stories together—trusting that through it all, we are deeply loved and never alone. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Aquila and Priscilla and the Invitation to Rest Aquila and Priscilla went to help Apollos. And they want to help us too. They want to point us to our baptism into Christ. Apollos, we're told, only knew about the baptism of John, but Priscilla and Aquila point us beyond that—to our baptism into Christ, an even greater hope and assurance. This is the amazing, liberating news: that God has reconciled us to himself and drawn us into his life. Our identity is not wrapped up in our striving, our performance, or our attempts at holiness. Our identity is in Christ—deeply rooted in what He has done, not what we can do. Baptism, Priscilla and Aquila would remind us, signifies this new reality. Ours is not to strive after some unattainable perfection, but to rest in who Jesus says we are—trusting in His perfection, His holiness, and His love. In Christ, God assumed all of humanity into Himself, so that we might participate in the loving life that Jesus shares with the Father and the Spirit. This is what Priscilla and Aquila invited Apollos to discover: not just a message about repentance, but the ongoing, participatory life in Christ, where we rest, and our joy and strength is found. And that is the invitation laid before us today—to rest in what Jesus has done, to find our strength and joy there. Let us not be anxious or strive in our own strength, but remember that Jesus has included us, adopted us, and called us His own. That's a prayer I hold for my own soul. That's a prayer I have for my family—for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's a prayer I have for you: may we rest in our true identity in Christ, and live each day from that grace-filled place. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Send us a textJoin us on a thrilling spooky adventure as we sit down with J.A. Dauber, the creative force behind the new middle grade novel Press One for Invasion. Discover the intriguing world where a mysterious cell phone unlocks unexpected alien encounters and a mad adventure to save the world from destruction!In this spooky season episode, we dive into Jeremy Dauber's Press One for Invasion, a middle-grade novel that brings spooky (and relatable) adventures roaring to life. We discuss the pairing of Matt, a young boy who discovers a cell phone revealing aliens in disguise, with dynamic female characters, such as Marcella and Mrs. McGillicuddy. Jeremy shares insights on relatable heroes, diversity, and the joy of reading, drawing inspiration from timeless series like Ramona. Jeremy is also the author of American Scary: A History of Horror from Salem to Stephen King and Beyond -- and we dive into a little haunting history as well.Timestamps:(0:00:03) - Meet J.A. Dauber (Jeremy) and his latest book, Press One for Invasion(0:07:41) - Creating relatable protagonists without superpowers(0:10:00) - What do Ramona Quimby and Stephen King have in common?(0:19:01) - Finding Hope in Children's EnthusiasmLinks:Purchase Press One for Invasion, Mayhem and Madness: Chronicles of a Teenaged Supervillain, and American Scary: A History of Horror from Salem to Stephen King and BeyondFollow J.A. Dauber on BlueskySupport the showSubscribe & Follow: Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! *Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

Escaping The Hamster Wheel of Drinking | Alcohol Freedom Coaching | E847 Why can't I quit drinking after so many tries? It's a question so many of us have asked, and in this episode, Leslie and Phillipa open up about their long journeys of stopping, starting, and struggling with alcohol. Joined by Coach Zoe, they pull back the curtain on the ups, downs, and lessons they've faced along the way. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at the powerful coaching and support available inside The Path and how curiosity, compassion, and courage create lasting change. In Leslie's session: Starting The Path three times and learning from each attempt Using the mantra “burn the boats” to stop self-sabotage Managing urges during writing groups and evening routines Facing fear of relapse and suddenly finding a bottle in her hand Building awareness of patterns that lead to survival brain drinking How Path coaching gave her new tools to stay free And more topics… In Phillipa's session: Coming from a scarcity mindset and always finishing what's in front of her Struggling with cravings that feel like a “hamster wheel” of misery and relief Why moderation isn't an option and how she learned that the hard way Feeling like a “fraud” because her life looks good on the outside Discovering joy, contentment, and peace after months alcohol-free Asking herself: why can't I quit drinking after so many tries — and finally finding support that works inside The Path And much more… Zoe Ewart is a Certified Naked Mind Senior Coach who brings her experience and understanding to help with the tricky parts of life's big changes. Her coaching gives you an enjoyable, light-hearted, and safe environment to effortlessly take back control of alcohol so you can feel better physically, mentally, and spiritually. Zoe taught Pilates for 15 years. She has four adult children and more animals than the Ark ever had. Learn more about Coach Zoe: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/zoe-ewart/ Episode links: nakedmindpath.com Related Episodes: I see no benefit to alcohol, why can't I just quit? - Reader Question - E60 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-60-reader-question-see-no-benefit-alcohol-cant-just-quit/ Finding Hope for Long-time Drinkers - Reader Question - E600 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-600-reader-question-finding-hope-for-long-time-drinkers/ End Self-Sabotage with Self-Love - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - E742 - https://thisnakedmind.com/end-self-sabotage-with-self-love-alcohol-freedom-coaching-e742/ Ready to take the next step on your journey? Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious! Quince- Find your fall staples at Quince. Go to Quince.com/naked for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. Hungryroot- Get 40% off your first box + a free item for life at Hungryroot.com/ nakedmind with code nakedmind Shopify- Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/mind BetterHelp- Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/nakedmind

Kingdoms will come and go. Empires will rise and fall. But God is sovereign over all. In the end, there is nothing that can stop the Kingdom of God from crushing and dominating all earthly kingdoms. And that is good news for God’s people in exile - both in Daniel’s day, and today. In this episode of How to Study the Bible, Nicole Unice dives into the visually stunning and deeply theological chapter of Daniel 7, where Daniel’s dream of the four beasts reveals the rise and fall of earthly empires—and the unshakable rule of the Ancient of Days. Nicole explains how this vision parallels Nebuchadnezzar’s statue in Daniel 2 and points ahead to Jesus as the Son of Man, whose eternal kingdom will never be destroyed. Listeners will learn how to approach prophetic literature, understand historical context, and anchor their faith in the sovereignty of God—even when the world feels chaotic. Nicole also highlights what it means to live faithfully “in exile,” seeking the good of our communities while keeping hope fixed on Christ’s everlasting reign. Main Takeaways / Learning Points God’s sovereignty is the story behind every story. Empires rise and fall, but God’s kingdom endures forever. Prophetic visions are meant to encourage, not confuse. Daniel’s dream reassured exiles that God was still on the throne. Be faithful in exile. Like Daniel’s people, Christians today live as “foreigners and exiles” (1 Peter 2:11), called to pray for and bless their cities (Jeremiah 29). Jesus is the Son of Man. The vision in Daniel 7:13–14 directly foreshadows Christ’s eternal authority and glory. Hope wins. However dark the times or powerful the empires, evil does not get the last word—God’s justice and peace prevail. Next Steps: Get the free Daniel Study Guide: Daily 15-minute readings, reflection prompts, and prayer to help you engage Scripture all week. (Find it at NicoleUnice.com/daniel.) Subscribe & Review: If this helped you, follow the show and leave a quick review so others can find the podcast. Share the episode with a friend or small group studying Daniel. Study Bible Recommendation: Use trusted commentaries and study notes to help unpack prophetic imagery (Daniel 7 parallels Ezekiel 1, Revelation 4–5). Watch the bonus segment on YouTube ("What Is Dispensationalism?"): Join the conversation and get the extra content! https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Natasha Crain helps parents strengthen their children's Christian beliefs in a discussion based on her book Keeping Your Kids on God's Side: 40 Conversations to Help Them Build a Lasting Faith. Receive a copy of Hope for Healing from Domestic Abuse and an audio download of "Finding Hope in the Aftermath of Domestic Violence" for your donation of any amount! Get More Episode Resources If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

Karen DeArmond Gardner experienced a 30-year abusive marriage — living with a man who charmed everyone but soon became a nightmare to live with. She described different tactics abusers use: insults, threats, control, manipulation, and other forms of emotional intimidation. Eventually, Karen recognized her traumatic situation and escaped. Today she counsels other women who’ve experienced abuse. Receive a copy of Hope for Healing from Domestic Abuse and an audio download of "Finding Hope in the Aftermath of Domestic Violence" for your donation of any amount! Get More Episode Resources If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.