Podcasts about relevant magazine

Brian defends a well-known pastor criticized for using AI as a research tool in sermon preparation, arguing it's no different than consulting commentaries as long as it stays in its proper place in the process. He shares a powerful Christianity Today testimony from David Washington, a former Chicago gang member who found faith after a Baptist church moved into his violent neighborhood, and who now pastors a church in that same community. Brian digs into Gavin Ortlund's Gospel Coalition piece on Old Testament messianic prophecy as an underappreciated argument for the truth of Christianity, and shares a feel-good story of a Wyoming pizzeria turning a costly prank order into a donation for hospital emergency room staff. He warns against trusting algorithm-curated news as much as professional editors, encourages listeners to read across the political spectrum, and shares a Relevant Magazine piece reassuring anyone who feels "behind in life" that comparison-driven timelines are largely a myth. Drawing from Nehemiah's heartbreak-fueled calling, Brian challenges listeners to identify both what breaks their heart and where they have unique access to do something about it, and closes with Ray Ortlund's case from Ecclesiastes for "bold enjoyment" as a legitimate, even wise, Christian way of life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian opens frustrated by what he sees as performative culture at every level — from politicians renaming Lake Ontario "Lake America" to grandstanding pastors — contrasting it with Jesus's call for authentic inner transformation over outward appearance. He shares a study linking over 150 minutes of daily social media use to rising rates of self-reported depression, and digs into a Christianity Today piece arguing that worship isn't meant to be primarily about how it makes us feel, but about giving God the glory He's due regardless of our emotions. Brian plays a clip from pastor Eric Reed making the case that saving faith isn't mere mental belief in Jesus but genuine submission to Him as Lord and King. He also shares a Relevant Magazine piece on shifting from a transactional relationship with God to a relational one, a wild follow-up story about a former Chick-fil-A employee's $80,000 mac-and-cheese fraud scheme, and closes with sobering research on the poor mental health of worship leaders and a broader reflection on the need for greater character and integrity among church leaders.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How to Improve EVERY Aspect of Your Life: An Interview with J.R. Briggs (Episode 297)   Proverbs 11:24 (MSG) The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.   *Transcription Below*   J.R. Briggs (DMin) possesses four passions: following Jesus, equipping and investing in hungry kingdom leaders, growing fruit on other people's trees, and creating good kingdom mischief. In short, his calling is to partner with people who are called to follow Jesus while they lead others.   In 2011 he started Kairos Partnerships, an organization committed to help leaders overcome their unique leadership challenges through leadership coaching, consulting, speaking, and writing.   For more than 15 years, J.R. served in pastoral roles in mega-churches, church plants and house church networks. Since starting Kairos Partnerships, he has served and invested in ministry leaders in over 40 denominations throughout North America. In addition to ministry leaders, he has invested in a wide variety of leaders, including business owners, college presidents, military leaders, Division 1 basketball coaches, and non-profit directors.   He serves as a guest instructor in the Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation program at Friends University and the Master of Arts in Leadership program at Taylor University. He has lectured, taught and spoken at over a dozen colleges, universities, and seminaries around the U.S.   He also serves as the Director of Leadership & Congregational Formation for The Ecclesia Network and as a National Trainer & Strategist for Fresh Expressions U.S.   In addition to writing several books on a wide variety of topics, he has also published articles in Christianity Today, Huffington Post, Preaching Today, American Bible Society, N.T. Wright Online, Missio Alliance, and Relevant Magazine.   He hosts the Resilient Leaders podcast.   J.R. and his wife Megan have two sons and live in the greater Philadelphia area. J.R.'s Website J.R.'s Book   Thank You to Our Sponsor: Leman Property Management   Questions and Topics We Cover: Can you contrast Jesus' teaching with field trips to the way we structure a typical Sunday morning in America?  Will you also share how you arrived at asking yourself two questions that have opened numerous doors for you? Once we put this into practice for ourselves, how can we begin to cultivate it in our children as well?   Other Savvy Sauce Episode Mentioned: 219. Training Our Children in Biblical Financial Stewardship with Matt Bell   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:09)   Laura Dugger: (0:12 - 1:44) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   Leman Property Management Company has the apartment you will be able to call home, with over 1,700 apartment units available in Central Illinois. Visit them today at lemanproperties.com or connect with them on Facebook.   J.R. Briggs is one of the most intriguing humans I've encountered, and it's hard to sum up his bio, as he's had so many experiences in his past through various pastoral roles, and then he became the founder of Kairos Partnerships, where he invests in leaders. He's also a podcast host, in addition to his work as an author. His most recent book is The Art of Asking Better Questions, and it's summed up in the intro, where he writes, "I have a bone-deep conviction that all of us need to ask more questions and better questions. Doing so can change your life and the lives of those around you." So now we get to actually learn how to make this happen with my guest, Reverend Dr. J.R. Briggs.   Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, J.R.   J.R. Briggs: (1:44 - 1:45) Thanks for having me. I'm looking forward to this, Laura.   Laura Dugger: (1:46 - 2:00) Well, I'd love to go back and first hear a little bit more of your origin story. So, do you attribute your love of questions and your skill for asking great questions more to nature or nurture?   J.R. Briggs: (2:01 - 5:04) That's a fantastic question. No one has ever asked me that, Laura. So, right off the bat, well done. I love good questions like this. I think it's a little bit of both, and I'm not just wimping out on that answer. Here's what I mean.   I grew up in a wonderful home, still great friends with both my parents, and my parents, especially my dad, they were great question askers, and I saw them model this really well in the home. And I think in previous generations, it was, you know, kids are to be seen but not heard. That was not how my parents operated. They very much said, "You know what, we want to know what you think." And so, dinner times were great. Even hearing the way, especially my father would ask questions of people in the lobby at church or our neighbors, or we'd be at some party, and the way he would ask questions, I would just listen and say, "Wow, this is fascinating, the kind of conversations that are happening because of this."   So, modeled really well, but also observed a lot, and more is caught than taught. And I observed my parents doing this really well. And I thought, these are really fun conversations to just eavesdrop in on as a kid. And then also, I began to notice that there were people that were really fun and lived inspiring lives, and they asked great questions. And I noticed the people that had, that lived really small, uninspiring lives, I realized they weren't asking very many questions. And I began to say, "Well, which kind of person do I want to be? I kind of want to be in the first group. Well, what's the difference? These people are asking questions, regular questions, quality questions." And I thought, "Ooh, I need to pay attention to this and actually lean in to do this more."   So, I often learned how to do it too. So, there was the nature piece, the nurture piece, or the nurture, the nature piece there, the nurture piece, I did study. I'm kind of a nerd. And so, I would watch people who ask great questions and say, "Why was that a good question? What did they do? Why did they ask it that way? How did they know to ask that question as opposed to something else?" And so that was really helpful.   But then I began to notice as I read my Bible, I got a red-letter edition of my Bible and began to notice how many red question marks there were. And I began to take a pen and circle all of the red questions, question marks that Jesus asked. And I thought, "Wow, the way the truth and the life, who had all the answers, yet he asked a ton of questions." So that sent me on a deep dive that eventually I studied. And my doctorate, my dissertation for my doctorate was on learning to equip leaders to ask better questions in the way of Jesus. And so, using him as that model. So, there's a very long answer, Laura, to a very short question, is it nature or nurture? I really believe it's both. And I hope I can continue to learn in my own life until my last breath to how to be a better question asker, because it's that powerful.   Laura Dugger: (5:04 - 5:57) Mm-hmm. I agree with that. And I love the humility in that response. Also, as you share it, it reminds me of a scripture from Proverbs 11:24, the Message version, which I believe previous guest Matt Bell had shared this as it relates to finances. But J.R., I hear it through your lifestyle of generosity with questions. And the verse says, "The world of the generous gets larger and larger. The world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller." So, I love how you illustrated that. But you're also the first person that I heard articulate this beauty of asking questions for connection rather than just for information. So, can you explain more of why questions are such a generous gift and an offering of hospitality?   J.R. Briggs: (5:58 - 8:36) Mm-hmm. Yeah. Well, one of the things that really hit me, I touched on this earlier, that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, the second member of the Trinity, who knows everything. Why would he ask so many questions? Well, he also said, "I only do what I see my Father doing." What did he see his Father doing? If you look in the Old Testament, God asks a ton of questions too. So, I said, "Wait a second. Okay. The all-knowing, all-powerful God of the universe, why does God ask so many questions when he already knows the answer?" And that drove me to say, maybe it wasn't just for information.   And I began to think about Adam and Eve in the garden and say, when he says, "Where are you?" It wasn't because God didn't know. And it wasn't a geographical question as much as I think it's a relational and theological question that he wants Adam and Eve to answer. And so, as a result of that, I said, "Why then would God do that?" Well, God already knows, but he desires connection with us. And then I thought, "Ooh, yeah, that isn't just God to us. There are times where I ask questions of my kids when they were younger, or of other little kids at church, where I know the answer already, but I'm asking it as a way of building trust and shared story and connection with them."   And I thought, yeah, there's real connection when it comes to questions. And when we do that, when we offer our full selves, the French philosopher, Simone Weil, she said, "Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity." And as a result of that, that's the hospitality piece. And I think, let's not forget that the word hospital is in the word hospitality, that our questions and our attention can actually be a form of healing that we offer to other people. When we think of hospitality, we often think of, I don't know, making a fresh pie or laying out doilies and sweeping the house before someone comes over. That can be part of it. But the real definition of hospitality is making new people feel comfortable in new situations. And so, what do good questions do? They help people who might feel new or an outsider feel like they're an insider. And I believe that's one of the beautiful benefits of questions where people say, "Man, thank you. No one has ever asked me that." Or "I feel seen. Wow, you really want to care. You care enough to know what I'm thinking." That is an unbelievable gift that we can give to others as a form of hospitality.   Laura Dugger: (8:36 - 8:55) And I think that illuminates what you even say up front in your book, that you do believe that these questions can change our life and the lives of those around us, and especially through this powerful book that you've written. So, can you elaborate on that claim?   J.R. Briggs: (8:56 - 10:33) Yeah, the dimensions of your life expand or contract depending upon the questions that you ask. So, when we refrain from asking good questions, our world gets smaller. And when we start to ask better questions, and more frequently, our worlds begin to expand. And so, what I tell people is we don't have a shortage of information. We have a shortage of wisdom and curiosity and wonder. And so, what we need to kindle in that is that desire for and that ability to ask the right questions at the right time for the right reason to the right people.   And if we want more information, we should just Google it. But if what we're after is wisdom and connection and engagement, we need questions. And questions are, I think we all would admit, Laura, questions are important. I don't think that we would realize just how powerful they actually are. And so, the goal of the book was to unleash and wake up the sleeping giants that exist and say, this can be used for good. There's so many, again, we don't have a shortage of information. But asking good questions is a lost art. And the goal is to try to help people realize its power, that it's more accessible. They're free. They can be used at any time. They don't have a shelf life. But we just need to cultivate the desire for it and then have some skills to lean in, because it really can be such an unbelievable gift. The questions that we ask often reveal the values that we hold. And so that's another way that we can press into that as well.   Laura Dugger: (10:34 - 10:49) Okay, so let's say that the desire is there. Maybe for all of us, probably the skill is a little lacking. How can we begin to get a little bit better at this or just get started with asking better questions today?   J.R. Briggs: (10:49 - 14:18) Yeah, well, we got to start, Laura, by admitting that there are a lot of obstacles that exist that our culture puts in front of us to make it hard to do that. One is we're in an attention-seeking age, right? I mean, the joke says enough about me, what do you think about me? And so, because we live in the social media, look at me, look at me reality that we're in, it's really hard because questions are the opposite. I'm putting the spotlight on you rather than on my own life. But we also are in a culture of great efficiency, and so questions feel inefficient. They feel really inefficient, like it slows things down. How many of us have been in a meeting and we're about to get up and someone says, "Any questions?" And someone, "Oh," and we just say, "No, no, no, we were just about to leave, you're slowing us down." And so that in the business world and in sales, that's the number one thing is questions. We got stuff to do and things to sell. But if we can just slow down, it's better.   But those are some of the obstacles that exist. So, if we're assuming we have curiosity, we have wisdom, we have humility, and we have courage, which are the four components. If those are there, then there are some things that we can engage in that can help us and several practices, like the simplest practice we can do when we hear a good question, write it down. A lot of people feel like two things. They have to come up with all the questions themselves. You don't. I love questions. I'm pretty good at questions, but I don't generate all my questions. I've read them on billboards or heard them on a podcast or overheard somebody in line at Starbucks behind me. And you go, "Man, that's a really good question. Write it down." We think we're going to remember later, Laura, and that's the second thing. We won't. We have to write it down. And I just encourage people, open up the notes section of your phone and just have something on there that says great questions. When you hear of one, think of one, read of one in a good novel, write it on the list. You can always return to it later. So, just awareness, number one, that my radar is up, listening for good questions, can be a great start.   And then also just to reflect later to say, "What was the best question I asked today or in that conversation or in that meeting or over dinner with my family? What was the best question I asked?" So, that's a little bit of reflection, but also preparation. Anytime we go into a meeting, anytime we go into any sort of connection, even if it's coffee with a friend, to always see if I can come with two questions ahead of time. Now, sometimes I write them down, sometimes I don't. I may not even get a chance to ask them, but just coming prepared where I say, "Oh, I'm meeting with my friend, Sam. Oh, Sam's dad just had significant surgery. So, here's an important question. Sam, how's your dad doing? And how are you doing as you care for your dad?" It's a little bit of preparation. It's not an hour. I'm just spending five minutes on my drive to the coffee shop to say, "My first question is going to be, Sam, how's your dad? And how are you doing caring for your dad?" So, just a little bit more thought. It doesn't require three times the amount of effort. Sometimes it's just five or 10% more effort and intentionality that can improve our question asking.   Laura Dugger: (14:19 - 16:29) So much thoughtfulness there. Appreciate that.   And now a brief message from our sponsor.   With over 1,700 apartment units available throughout Pekin, Peoria, Peoria Heights, Morton, and Washington, and with every price range covered, you will have plenty of options when you rent through Leman Property Management Company. They have townhomes, duplexes, studios, and garden style options located in many areas throughout Pekin. And make sure you check out their newest offering; the McKinley located in Pekin is a new construction addition to their platinum collection. Featuring nine-foot ceilings, large spacious layouts, beautiful finishes such as quartz countertops and garages, you won't want to miss this outstanding new property.   In Peoria, a historic downtown location and apartments adjacent to OSF Medical Center provide excellent choices. Check out their brand-new luxury property in Peoria Heights, overlooking the boutique shops and fine dining on Prospect. And in Morton, they offer a variety of apartment homes with garages, a hot downtown location, and now a brand-new high-end complex near Idlewood Park. If you want to become part of their team, contact them about open office positions. They're also hiring in their maintenance department. So, we invite you to find out why so many people have chosen to make a career with them. Check them out on Facebook today or email their friendly staff at leasing@lemanprops.com. You can also stop by their website at lemanproperties.com. Check them out and find your place to call home today.   Clearly J.R., Jesus has been a role model for asking questions. So, can you contrast what you describe as Jesus's field trips that he takes his disciples on versus the way that you view Sunday mornings in a lot of churches in America? Can you kind of contrast those two?   J.R. Briggs: (16:29 - 18:42) Yeah, oftentimes when I'm talking to pastors or leaders, faith leaders, I remind them of this. But yeah, Jesus loved to take his listeners on three field trips, three kinds. First one, he took them on physical field trips. We see that where Jesus says, "You know, look at the birds of the air, look at the lilies of the field," or "Look at the woman putting in two mites in the temple treasury." Life is a classroom. And so, he loved taking people on literal field trips.   Number two, he took them on emotional field trips by telling them stories, not in abstract ways of thinking, but the kingdom of God is like a woman kneading dough. It's like a fisherman who caught fish. It's like a father with two sons. And I think we're wrapped up in that when we watch a good movie, and we cry and laugh and we're scared. Those are all because a beautiful story did something to us. It took us on some sort of emotional field trip.   And then third is a mental field trip, which we're talking about here by asking questions. Jesus asked a ton of questions. And as a result of that, got people thinking in new ways. Now, if the way, the truth and the life, if anyone had the right to just give answers, it would be Jesus. But instead, he chose to ask a lot of questions. And so those three field trips, literal by going on walks, getting outside of a classroom, the mental field trip of asking questions and the emotional field trips of telling stories. Jesus did that all the time. Once you know that and you read the gospels, you'll see it everywhere.   The problem is, as you were referring to, Laura, on Sunday mornings, what do we do? We sit people in a church in pews. Almost all of the teaching or formation happens in the same room. Instead of telling stories, we give abstract information. And instead of asking questions, we just give answers. And then we sit around and wonder, "Why is no one changing?" And my gentle encouragement is, what would it look like if we actually learned to teach others the way Jesus actually taught? Imagine that. So, it's a bit of a stretch because culturally we're kind of drawn in to the way we've always done it in church. And yet oftentimes Jesus did almost the opposite of the way in which we teach today.   Laura Dugger: (18:44 - 18:55) And so, if you see that as an opposite, do you have any practical ideas of just a small tweak that we could make on Sunday mornings to be more like Jesus?   J.R. Briggs: (18:56 - 20:32) Sure. I always try to say, is there any way I can get people's bodies or their hearts up out of the seat? So, "Hey, I want you to stand up and turn to the person next to you." Or, "Hey, we're going to move around the room." Some of you say, "What? We would never do that at our church." And I would say, take a risk. Jesus did all sorts of things that surprise people. So, how can I get their hearts and their bodies up out of their seat? Number one.   Number two, can I tell a few more stories than I have in the past in my teaching or preaching or Sunday morning? And then also, can I engage with questions by asking them questions at the beginning? Can I leave them with some reflection questions in the bulletin or on the website the next week? Or can I actually have them asking questions of each other or of the text itself? And so oftentimes, why do I feel like I'm the one that has to speak the whole time when I'm preaching? What if instead I allow them to ask questions of each other, of God, and even of myself? And sometimes when I preach, I allow the last five or 10 minutes for people to ask questions about the text to myself and everyone else. Now, is that a change? Yeah. Would that freak out some churches? Maybe. But it can be a way that people walk away and say, "Wow, I learned, I was engaged, I was formed, and I encountered God in a new way that I haven't in the past." Which is the whole goal, that we don't just learn more about the Bible, is that we know the God of the Bible. That's the whole point of why we gather together as a church.   Laura Dugger: (20:33 - 20:46) And that would be so memorable. But also, as you're speaking about stories, are you willing to share the story of one of the times that you asked a question, and it turned out better than you could have ever asked or hoped for?   J.R. Briggs: (20:47 - 22:27) Yeah. I could think of several, but sometimes just asking people, "Why is that?" Just as a follow-up. It's amazing what can spill out. And I go, "Oh, that confronted my biases. That confronted my assumptions and what I thought about them." And so sometimes just asking some of that has been incredibly helpful to just ask that follow-up question.   I won't tell the whole story that I recounted in the book, but oftentimes when there are tears, it was Charles Spurgeon that said that tears are like liquid prayers. And so, when people are showing some emotion, I sometimes will say to them, even if they're not a follower of Jesus, even if they're not religious, "I'm curious. It's been said that tears are liquid prayers. Can you put words to the prayers that your face is praying right now?" And I've had some of the most unbelievable conversations where people can identify the prayers that their face is praying. And even in my own life, where I just step back and go, "Why am I, why was I so moved by that novel? Why was I so moved by that movie? Or what just happened in front of me? Or why, where are these tears coming from?" As Frederick Buechner said, we'd be best to pay attention to our tears. And so that question of what are the liquid prayers, can I put words to the prayer that my face is praying has been an unbelievably meaningful and eye-opening thing for me and also with people that I've been with.   Laura Dugger: (22:29 - 22:37) Will you also share about how you arrived at asking two questions that have opened numerous doors for you?   J.R. Briggs: (22:38 - 25:21) Yeah. Yeah. When I was in college, I had the privilege of studying in Israel for the semester. This is fall of my junior year. Absolutely loved it. And our class was on a four-day field trip up around the Sea of Galilee. One night I was down by the lake and happened to notice as the sun was about to set that there was a big fishing vessel that had just come in. And I had always wanted to go fishing on the Sea of Galilee, not just take a boat, not just see fishermen, but like be on the boat and fish with fishermen. I don't even love fishing myself, but I just wanted to experience what Jesus and his disciples experienced on the lake.   And there was a big industrial ship that came in. They brought in their day's catch. And I thought, "Oh, I should ask them if I can go fishing with them." And Laura, and then, you know, the realistic brain in me said, "Why would they ever allow a college, American college student and a study abroad program to go fishing with them tomorrow?" And I had these two questions that hit me, Laura. "Well, what's the worst they could say? No, or heck no, or get out of here. You're crazy." And number two, "Can I handle that? If they were to say that." Those two questions, I thought, "You know, I can handle it now. Let me ask what's the worst he could say. Let me ask."   So, I went up and I said, "Excuse me, can I talk to your captain?" And they said, "Menachem is over here." So, I introduced myself to him and I said, "Menachem, I've always wanted to go fishing on the Sea of Galilee. I'll pay you $50. If I can go fishing for the day, use me as, as I mean, any work me to death. If you want, like I'm here, I just want to." And he looked at me, he said, "I don't want your money." He said, "Join me tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. And you can come fishing with us." And I walked away and went, "Unbelievable. My dream is coming true." And I had an unbelievable day, but I realized I can't say no for someone else. What's the worst they could say? No. Can I just ask and handle it if they said no? Yep, I can handle it. Those two questions, Laura, have shaped me immensely throughout my lifetime. I've really, I've done that in a lot of different ways. And a lot of times people say no, and I can handle that. But a lot of times people said yes. And some doors have opened simply because I asked. And I actually think of that verse often, Laura, where it says you do not have because you do not ask. It's not name it and claim it prosperity gospel. But we just have to realize that sometimes we just need to ask to put ourselves out there and see what people say.   Laura Dugger: (25:23 - 25:55) That is so good. And I have applied those questions since reading that in your book, even as I reach out to ask you if you would do two recordings. So, I'm so grateful that that you said yes, I'm delighted that today's not our only conversation. But I'm curious also, J.R., when you had that experience, a lot of us may not ever get to go fish on the Sea of Galilee. So, did you learn anything that brought the Bible to life or anything about Jesus or anything that you can share with us from that incredible experience?   J.R. Briggs: (25:55 - 27:37) Oh, there's so many, but I'll limit it to one. When we started out that morning, the sea was so calm. I mean, it was like glass. It was beautiful. The sun was rising, not a cloud in the sky. And it was great. But I've always wondered these like storms. You know, the Sea of Galilee is not a sea. It's a lake. It's 10 miles by six miles. It looks like a harp. And that's why it's called Lake Kinneret. In Hebrew, that means harp. So, it's harp lake is the way that we could call it. But I thought it's still a lake. How can there be storms that would have professional fishermen that would be screaming, thinking they were going to die? How is that possible?   Well, wouldn't you know it, Laura? As beautiful as it was, the clouds rolled in. And then later that afternoon, there was a squall of a storm. I have never been in more intense in my life. And it happened right there. Now we're in a maybe two-ton, three-ton fishing vessel. But even that, we had to go below deck because it was so brutal. The waves, the wind, we couldn't see more than 10 feet in front of us. And I thought, "Ah, now I get it. If I'm just in a wooden boat with my fellow, you know, disciples here, I can see why this could get a little panicky." And that was, I think, a little God wink for me to be able to experience both the peace and calm, but also this treacherous storm and go, "Ah, now I won't read my Bible the same again when I hear about the, you know, the disciples freaking out with the storm or seeing Jesus walk on the water approaching them." So, that's one of many, but that sticks out to me a great deal that I got to experience a very intense storm.   Laura Dugger: (27:38 - 28:27) That is so incredible. Even just going back, so those two questions that you were willing to ask led to this incredible experience. And now people from around the world get to benefit from the lessons that you learned at that time. So, I think you're giving us so much encouragement for asking questions.   Guess what? We are no longer an audio only podcast. We now have video included as well. If you want to view the conversation each week, make sure you watch our videos. We're on YouTube and you can access videos or find answers to any of your other questions about the podcast when you visit thesavvysauce.com.   What happens to our brain or within our brain when we're asking or being asked a question?   J.R. Briggs: (28:28 - 30:19) Yeah, this was an incredibly fun part of the research for me was what does this do neurobiologically to us? And so, what neurologists have found is when they put nodes all over your brain to kind of see how the brain activity happens, when you're given information, your brain lights up. But what they found is when someone is asked a question, your brain explodes like fireworks, the synapses that are firing, and it just lights up like crazy, like fireworks in the night. And one of the things they said, as much as we think we can multitask, we can't. We do a lot of switching, task switching, but not multitasking. But they said what happens is they use the word hijack. You can hijack someone's brain when you actually are asking a question of someone, even if it's for two seconds.   And so, if I were to ask your listeners, Laura, "What are the color of the shoes you're wearing right now?" Whether your listeners liked it or not, I just hijacked their brain for a split second there, and they went, "What are the color of my shoes?" And so that's immense amount of power to, quote unquote, hijack someone's brain. So, we need to use that power wisely. But it's an immense amount of power that we can have when we ask someone a question, not just give them an answer, which I love when current neurobiological research matches up with scripture and with the way Jesus taught. How did Jesus teach? A ton of questions. What happened? He engaged with people. They participated with him. They were forced to learn and be participants, not just talking theoretically about faith. And I thought, isn't that just like Jesus? He knew how our brains are wired. And so, he uses questions as a way of maximum connection, challenge, engagement, and formation.   Laura Dugger: (30:20 - 30:43) Wow. And you've cultivated, like you say, this holy curiosity. So, I am curious for you, J.R., when you're in a conversation and you find yourself asking question after question, have you been in a situation like this where they don't reciprocate, they don't ask any questions back? And how do you handle that internally and externally?   J.R. Briggs: (30:44 - 32:41) Yeah, it's hard because we live in a culture that hasn't modeled that well to ask good questions. And sometimes it's been hard. And I admit that sometimes there's a sense of loneliness. When I have a lunch meeting and my wife will say, "How was your lunch meeting today?" We have a code word where I say either waiter or waitress. And it means the waiter or waitress came and took my plate away because I was done with my meal before they had taken one or two bites of their food. And oftentimes that happens where we leave a meal and we realize, "I don't think I was asked a single question this whole lunch." Or we go to a dinner party, no one asked me a single question. And that can be really hard.   And I love asking people questions. And it's not like I'm just ramming it down their throats to ask question after question like Elf with his brother walking through Central Park where he's just rattling off question after question. I was giving pause, I was taking a bite of my food, allowing them to ask a question or two, and they never did. And sometimes people say, "Well, I don't really know, I'm not good at questions." And I say, one of the simplest things you can do is what I call the way question, W-A-Y. It's just to say, "What about you?" I've been talking. What about you? To just hit the ball back over the net and to allow us to engage in some conversational pickleball. It's been on my side, let me hit it. Now it's on your side and you hit it back. That's how all healthy relationships exist. And so, it's been a little disappointing at times to realize you can go, and I'm sure you and others have experienced that. That's really hard. And to have people that can just say, "What about you? What do you think? Have you ever experienced that?" Or "I have another question for you." That's how healthy relationships are cultivated when there's that back and forth in conversation.   Laura Dugger: (32:42 - 32:51) Okay. And so, if we want to cultivate that back-and-forth conversation, can you just share a few more tips for ways that we can level up our questions?   J.R. Briggs: (32:52 - 34:24) Sure. Yeah. There's a unique, almost universal principle when it comes to question asking. If you ask a generic unthoughtful question, you will almost always get a generic unthoughtful answer. "How are you?" "Fine." "How's your weekend?" "Good." But if you ask a thoughtful, specific, engaging question, you almost always get a thoughtful, specific, engaging answer. It's as predictable as a communist election. It's amazing how that works, where we can just, if we can just level up.   So, if a lazy question would be, "How was your weekend?" I encourage people to say, what would 10 or 15 percent of a more thoughtful, specific, or focused question be? So, you could say, "Of your whole weekend, how would you describe your weekend in two or three adjectives?" That's a little bit different than just, "How was your weekend?" Or, "Hey, how are you doing?" That's good. You might say, "What has been the most interesting thing about your day so far?" It just takes a little bit more intentionality. When you ask it that way, you won't get the fine, good. You'll get the, you know, "I had a really interesting sales meeting today at 10 a.m. You know, I bumped into my neighbor, and we had the best conversation at the mailbox." Those are the kinds of answers you get because we ask the more specific, thoughtful question. We'll get more specific and thoughtful answers. So, that's what I encourage people to do. Just level up to be just a little bit more pointed by 10 or 15 percent and see what happens.   Laura Dugger: (34:26 - 34:40) Okay. So, hopefully we're all going to put this into practice. But then also, if we have children in our home, what can we do to be teaching them this same goal of reciprocity and asking great questions?   J.R. Briggs: (34:40 - 37:02) Yes. I'm so glad you brought this up, Laura. There's so much that we can do. I try to do this. We try to do this with our kids when they were younger. Our kids are 19 and 16 now and we still engage in good questions with them. But when they were little, we would do things. I would crawl into bed with each of them at bedtime and we would do question of the night. And so, I would say, "You get to ask dad any question you want and then I get to ask you any question that you want." And so, age appropriate, you know, what's your favorite ice cream color or ice cream flavor or your favorite color? But sometimes they would pull out some really fascinating ones. Like one time, my youngest son said, "Dad, what does God smell like?" And it just made me laugh. I just thought, what a great question from a five- or six-year-old about that. And so just being intentional there at bedtime has been really good.   Car time is really important. And I really try to see if I can ask some questions that I can't ask in other places because now I've got their full attention. We're in the car together. And even as my sons are now older, when they're in the car together, something about staring out the windshield together to be able to talk through some things has been really good. It could be about school, could be about life, could be something trivial, but to know that this is a place where we can talk. And so, car time, bedtime, and the last one I'll give is dinner time. We have a big chalk wall next to our dining room table. And we'll just randomly put up questions, thoughtful questions. And then we'll sometimes say after prayer, "Okay, boys, when they were little, you know, you each get to pick one question off the wall that we talk about tonight." And it just became a real easy way. And you can make up one if you want, or there are questions here. We also found a deck of cards that actually had questions on each one. It was like a questions deck. And so, we'll say, "Great, like you can pick off the wall, you can make up your own, or just pick a question that's in the deck." And just doing that where everybody got a chance to share around the table became such a way, such a rich conversation but a way to remind them questions are okay, encouraged, and a wonderful part of being a part of a family.   Laura Dugger: (37:03 - 37:32) Those are such great ideas. I love that and that we can implement some of that right away. But as we're starting to wind our time down together, I would love to hear one more story about a time that a question dramatically changed the outcome of a friendly gathering that you write about on the back patio of a Capitol Hill home in Washington, D.C. Yeah, I remember reading this story, Laura, and I was so moved.   J.R. Briggs: (37:32 - 39:52) I was moved to tears that I ran over to my wife and I said, "Listen to this story." And we both just sat there crying. Yeah, these families were on the back porch on a wonderful summer evening enjoying some stuff on the grill. And all of a sudden a gunman came up behind one of the teenage girls and held a gun to her head and said, "Nobody move, give me your money or I'm going to shoot." Everyone froze, rightfully so, the terror that they experienced. And one woman just blurted out the first thing that came to her mind. She said, "Why don't you sit down and have some wine with us?" Which is not something that has ever come to my mind if someone were to walk in and rob me. And sure enough, he put his gun in his belt and sat down and had some wine. And he said, "Boy, this is really good wine." And I said, "Why don't you enjoy some more to eat?" And then afterwards, she said, "Can I give you a hug?" And the guy was totally startled. Yeah. And then afterwards, everyone else decided to give him a hug. And as they enjoyed food, you know, they're all tense and not sure what to do or what's going on. At the end, he said, "Can I have a group hug together?" And then he slipped out the back and even the glass, the wine glass that he had, it wasn't even broken. He just set it up right behind the back gate.   And I just was so moved by that. Like, "Do you want a glass of wine? Do you want a hug?" Not things that would come to my mind, but it was so jolting and surprising. I think it humanized him. And before he left, the robber said, "I think I've come to rob the wrong house tonight." It's amazing what a question can do. That was a question of immense hospitality. You're welcome here. That's the last thing that this robber ever expected. So, I just love that story. I love that story because it reminds us once again how powerful questions actually are.   Laura Dugger: (39:53 - 40:09) And I think it illustrates at the heart of questions is love. And that motivates so much of the work that you get to do, J.R. So, can you just share a little bit more about the work you do get to do and share how we can be connected after this conversation?   J.R. Briggs: (40:10 - 41:07) Sure. Yeah. I've been a pastor for 15 years, but in 2011, I started what's called Kairos Partnerships. And it was passionate about leaders because leadership can be lonely, overwhelming, and sometimes leaders feel ill-equipped. And so actually our organization was started based on three questions. Who pastors the pastor? Who leads the leader? Who shepherds the shepherd? So, we work with some pastors, but we work with all sorts of entrepreneurs and businesspeople and Chick-fil-A operators and college presidents and division one men's basketball coaches, anyone who's following Jesus, but leading others. And so, we do that through coaching, through consulting, through writing, speaking, spiritual direction. And so, our team, I have a wonderful team, and the team really walks alongside of leaders who are wanting to be equipped so they can lead with clarity and confidence moving forward.   Laura Dugger: (41:08 - 41:27) I love that. Well, we will put a link to your website and the show notes for today's episode, but J.R., you may be familiar. We are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for you today, what is your savvy sauce?   J.R. Briggs: (41:28 - 42:03) One of the prayers that I pray regularly is, "Lord, would you grant me wisdom, courage, and compassion?" And all three of those are important because if I have wisdom and courage, but no compassion, I'm careless. If I have wisdom and compassion, but no courage, I'm riskless. And if I have compassion and courage, but no wisdom, that can be reckless. But if I have wisdom, courage, and compassion together, that's priceless. And so, I just try to pray that regularly because I say, "Lord, I want to be a wise, compassionate, courageous person for you." And I would encourage your listeners to pray that prayer for wisdom, courage, and compassion as well.   Laura Dugger: (42:05 - 42:20) Those are great words that I would use to describe you, J.R. And you are humble and warm and engaging. And I have greatly appreciated your book. I've already told people it's my favorite book that I've read in recent history.   J.R. Briggs: (42:20 - 42:22) So, thank you.   Laura Dugger: (42:22 - 42:31) Well, thank you. That's very kind of you. Yes, very easy to compliment it. But thank you for being my guest, and I look forward to hosting you again next time.   J.R. Briggs: (42:31 - 42:33) Sounds great. Looking forward to that as well.   Laura Dugger: (42:35 - 45:49) One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin.   This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you.   Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray.   Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him.   And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started.   First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it.   You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you.   We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

Brian dives into a wild Little League World Series scandal out of Oklahoma, where a dominant regional program appears to have committed years of eligibility fraud, prompting reflection on how adults ruin youth sports for kids. He shares Michael W. Smith's caution about celebrity culture and lost reverence in modern worship music, and a study showing couples who simply walk together report stronger marriages and better conflict resolution. Brian reflects on Seth Rogan's joking fear of "dying with too much money" as a window into deeper questions of legacy and significance rooted in identity in Christ rather than accomplishment. He digs into a Relevant Magazine piece on the growing gambling epidemic among young men fueled by prediction markets like Kalshi, shares a viral clip of a Little League coach reminding a struggling pitcher that "Jesus is still Lord" whether he strikes batters out or walks them, and closes with a Gospel Coalition piece making the case for reading the book of Revelation symbolically rather than strictly literally.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian opens reflecting on what to do when life doesn't unfold the way we hoped — leaning on God's unchanging faithfulness even amid disappointment and regret. He wades into WNBA guard Sophie Cunningham's comments on biological males in women's sports and the swift cultural backlash she received, lamenting the loss of civil disagreement in public discourse. A study claiming "true love" requires a six-figure salary gets pushback from Brian, who shares his own experience marrying young and broke. He shares a moving Gospel Coalition piece on the recently uncovered story of Charles Spurgeon's father's imprisonment for debt, and how God used that family failure to shape one of history's greatest preachers. Brian also digs into a fascinating trend piece on young adults ditching smartphones for "dumb phones" to reclaim their mental health and attention, a Relevant Magazine interview with Louis Giglio on how our earthly fathers shape our view of God, a simple "Bible before phone" spiritual discipline from Tyndale House, Tim Chalis on tasting heaven, and closes with a Charles Stanley devotional on the power of praise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk about healing as though it's inevitable. As though proximity to Scripture, therapy language, or Christian community automatically produces transformation. But God does not force anyone into wholeness. He invites. He confronts. He calls. And too many believers confuse awareness with growth. This week on Win Today, Debra Fileta joins me for a sober conversation about emotional health and spiritual maturity. We examine why so many Christians remain emotionally immature while sounding spiritually fluent, how "trauma-informed" has in some circles become trauma-defined identity, and why you cannot become spiritually mature if your mental and emotional life is neglected. Healing is not passive. It is participatory. If your faith is sincere but your reactions are volatile… if you know the right language but keep repeating the same patterns… or if you've mistaken self-protection for self-awareness, this episode will clarify what real growth actually requires. Guest Bio Debra Fileta is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in relationship, marital, mental, and emotional health. She is the author of five books, host of the Love + Relationships Podcast, and founder of TrueLoveDates.com, a widely read relationship advice platform reaching millions worldwide. Known for her candid yet compassionate voice, Debra integrates clinical insight with Christian faith to help individuals and couples pursue emotional health and stronger relationships. Her work has been featured in outlets including Christianity Today, Focus on the Family, Relevant Magazine, Crosswalk.com, Charisma Magazine, and more. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Canadian wildfire smoke is still blanketing the Midwest, and Brian From opens with the theological thread underneath the inconvenience: control and comfort are the two great idols of American culture, and weather has a way of stripping both bare at once. On a happier note, his daughter is home from five weeks of intensive Arabic study in Washington DC, all three kids are under one roof for the next month, and Brian takes a moment to speak directly to parents of young children: the days are long, but the years go fast — don't take it for granted. Relevant Magazine ranks the top ten fictional pastors on television, and the winner is Reverend Timothy Lovejoy from The Simpsons — a punchline who is also, the piece argues, the most honest portrait of ministry burnout television has ever managed. A nostalgic look back at Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life campaign of 2002, when twelve thousand American churches read the same book and preached the same sermons simultaneously — and what it says about our capacity for unity then and now. And then the unexpected closer: a viral clip of Shaquille O'Neal reflecting on his divorce from inside a 76,000 square foot house where no one else was home. No kids in the gym, no one in the rooms. Brian holds it up as a modern reading of Ecclesiastes — the man who had everything, admits he was greedy, and was left with nothing that mattered. What are you building your life around? Only one thing fills the house.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senator Lindsey Graham died over the weekend from what appears to be a tear in his aorta — and Brian From opens not with politics but with perspective. Graham was on the phone with President Trump Saturday night, had just returned from NATO and a meeting with Zelensky, and was at the very center of world events right up until his final moments. Brian uses that as a launching point into the book of Ecclesiastes: meaningless, meaningless, all of it meaningless. Not as a cynical verdict on life, but as a wake-up call to invest in what actually lasts. Then a surprising and personal segment — Brian shares that he's been serving as campus pastor of the Hinsdale location of Compass Church for the past nine months, working through a series on scripture memory and the importance of the local church. A Gospel Coalition piece on Nashville as one of America's hardest mission fields not because of hostility but because of comfort and consumer Christianity. A call to make evangelism a natural part of everyday life rather than a program. And a closing piece from Relevant Magazine that lands like a gut punch for anyone in a waiting season: what if you're missing your life while you're waiting for it? Life doesn't begin when you get married, land the dream job, or reach the next milestone. As Elizabeth Elliot said, the secret is Christ in me — not me in a different set of circumstances.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Cup visitors have discovered something unexpected about American culture: ranch dressing. Brian From opens with that lighthearted detail before diving into heavier territory — a record 25 million adults under 35 are now living with their parents, driven primarily by housing affordability rather than unemployment, and what that means for a generation's sense of independence and identity. A Twitter debate erupts after a pastor suggests young children are too distracting in worship services and should stay in kids' ministry, sparking pushback from those citing research on family worship and faith retention — Brian lands in the middle, advocating for excellent kids' ministry without mandating it. A deep dive into Barnabas, arguably the most underrated figure in the book of Acts — trustworthy with people and resources, an advocate for the overlooked like Paul and John Mark, and a leader who knew exactly when to step back and let others surpass him. Former President Obama's reflections on George Washington's contradictions spark a broader conversation about how to hold both admiration and honest critique of flawed people, including ourselves. A local church's closing after losing its theological grounding prompts sober reflection on what happens when churches drift from scripture and mission. Relevant Magazine examines how social media is quietly terrorizing Christians' prayer lives by making true silence nearly impossible to access. And the Buffalo Bills' decision not to honor OJ Simpson in their new stadium becomes a pointed challenge to the church: do we honor character, or just platform and results?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Judge not, lest ye be judged" might be the most misapplied verse in scripture. Brian From walks through Rachel Gilson's piece at the Gospel Coalition unpacking what Jesus actually meant in Matthew 7 — it's not a prohibition on moral discernment, but a call to humble self-examination before correcting others, with love as the motive, not arrogance. Then a sobering reflection on the consequences of sin, prompted by reports that a sports journalist lost an $800,000 job after an affair with a married NFL coach came to light — a reminder that sin entangles even when it's never publicly exposed. Four years after the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade, Brian clarifies a common misunderstanding: abortion wasn't eliminated, it was returned to the states, and the pro-life cause remains fundamentally grassroots. A genuinely helpful piece from Relevant Magazine on feeling spiritually stuck even when you're doing everything "right" — and why dryness isn't a sign of failure but often where real growth quietly happens. A new study links anxiety and depression in young people to difficulty recalling positive memories, with real implications for parents about prioritizing shared experiences. And a closing reflection from Randy Alcorn on choosing daily to trust God's sovereignty — even when life is genuinely hard.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it actually mean to worship? Brian From makes the case from Romans 11 and 12 that worship is far bigger than singing or a Sunday gathering — it's offering your entire body and life as a living sacrifice, every day, in every decision. From there, a genuinely fun detour into Relevant Magazine's piece on the "gospel according to Pixar," tracing surprisingly biblical themes through Toy Story, The Incredibles, WALL-E, and Inside Out — including the case that real leadership looks less like a throne and more like a foot washing. Then Randy Alcorn tackles one of the hardest questions in the Christian life: why does God permit evil and suffering, and why do so many churches fail to prepare people for it before it hits? A viral story about a lawn-mowing YouTuber whose followers raised $685,000 for a grieving widow becomes a picture of internet generosity done right. A frustrating New York Times piece on rising "gray divorce" rates among couples married 25+ years gets a pointed response: marriages don't have to drift into apathy, but it takes ongoing work at every stage. Christian ministries are using the World Cup's massive audience as an unprecedented evangelism opportunity, prompting the question of what opportunities exist in your own life. And a closing reflection on play as a spiritual discipline — and why a Christian's inability to play might reveal a view of God that's too small.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tornadoes hit southern Illinois and Wisconsin, flooding threatened the South and East Coast, and Brian From uses the chaos to name something most of us don't admit: control is one of the great idols of our day, and weather has a way of stripping it bare. From there, a candid look at a Relevant Magazine piece showing the gap between Black and white American Christians isn't closing — it's widening, both politically and in church attendance patterns — and why Jesus's prayer for unity in John 17 makes this an issue the church cannot shrug off as just "politics." A new study on what married couples actually have in common reveals it's narrower than people think — mostly shared values and moral foundations, not personality — and why that's exactly what makes marriage both fun and hard. JD Vance gets pressed on The View about what Christians are willing to excuse in their politicians, and Brian argues the question deserves an honest answer regardless of which side it's aimed at. The Knicks' championship parade becomes a meditation on celebration as a core posture of the church. McDonald's brings back fried apple pie for America's 250th birthday. And a closing reflection on prayer — not just praying ourselves, but modeling and teaching others how to pray, because the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

******Support the channel******Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thedissenterPayPal: paypal.me/thedissenterPayPal Subscription 1 Dollar: https://tinyurl.com/yb3acuuyPayPal Subscription 3 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/ybn6bg9lPayPal Subscription 5 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/ycmr9gpzPayPal Subscription 10 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/y9r3fc9mPayPal Subscription 20 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/y95uvkao ******Follow me on******Website: https://www.thedissenter.net/The Dissenter Goodreads list: https://shorturl.at/7BMoBFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedissenteryt/Twitter: https://x.com/TheDissenterYT This show is sponsored by Enlites, Learning & Development done differently. Check the website here: http://enlites.com/ Dr. Christian B. Miller is the A. C. Reid Professor of Philosophy at Wake Forest University. His research is primarily in contemporary ethics and philosophy of religion. He has written for the Wall Street Journal, Dallas Morning News, Slate, Prospect Magazine, Relevant Magazine, Michael Hyatt Magazine, The Conversation, Newsweek, Aeon, Greater Good Magazine, Nautilus Magazine, Fathom Magazine, Institute of Art and Ideas, and Christianity Today. He's the author of several books, the most recent one being The Honesty Crisis: Preserving Our Most Treasured Virtue in an Increasingly Dishonest World. In this episode, we focus on The Honesty Crisis. We talk about what honesty is, and what constitutes an honest person. We discuss whether there is ever permissible to lie, and whether omission is always a form of dishonesty. We talk about how honest people are, based on psychological studies. We discuss whether we are living through a dishonesty crisis, and explore online dishonesty, with a focus on deepfakes and social media. We talk about how people can become more honest. Finally, we discuss whether inconsistency can be a form of dishonesty.--A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS/SUPPORTERS: PER HELGE LARSEN, BERNARDO SEIXAS, ADAM KESSEL, MATTHEW WHITINGBIRD, ARNAUD WOLFF, TIM HOLLOSY, HENRIK AHLENIUS, ROBERT WINDHAGER, RUI INACIO, ZOOP, MARCO NEVES, COLIN HOLBROOK, PHIL KAVANAGH, SAMUEL ANDREEFF, FRANCIS FORDE, TIAGO NUNES, FERGAL CUSSEN, HAL HERZOG, NUNO MACHADO, JONATHAN LEIBRANT, JOÃO LINHARES, STANTON T, SAMUEL CORREA, ERIK HAINES, MARK SMITH, JOÃO EIRA, TOM HUMMEL, SARDUS FRANCE, DAVID SLOAN WILSON, YACILA DEZA-ARAUJO, ROMAIN ROCH, YANICK PUNTER, CHARLOTTE BLEASE, NICOLE BARBARO, PAWEL OSTASZEWSKI, NELLEKE BAK, GUY MADISON, GARY G HELLMANN, SAIMA AFZAL, ADRIAN JAEGGI, JOÃO BARBOSA, JULIAN PRICE, HEDIN BRØNNER, FRANCA BORTOLOTTI, GABRIEL PONS CORTÈS, URSULA LITZCKE, SCOTT, ZACHARY FISH, TIM DUFFY, SUNNY SMITH, JON WISMAN, WILLIAM BUCKNER, LUKE GLOWACKI, GEORGIOS THEOPHANOUS, CHRIS WILLIAMSON, PETER WOLOSZYN, DAVID WILLIAMS, DIOGO COSTA, ALEX CHAU, CORALIE CHEVALLIER, BANGALORE ATHEISTS, LARRY D. LEE JR., OLD HERRINGBONE, DAN SPERBER, ROBERT GRESSIS, JEFF MCMAHAN, JAKE ZUEHL, MARK CAMPBELL, TOMAS DAUBNER, LUKE NISSEN, KIMBERLY JOHNSON, JESSICA NOWICKI, LINDA BRANDIN, VALENTIN STEINMANN, ALEXANDER HUBBARD, BR, JONAS HERTNER, URSULA GOODENOUGH, DAVID PINSOF, SEAN NELSON, MIKE LAVIGNE, JOS KNECHT, LUCY, MANVIR SINGH, PETRA WEIMANN, CAROLA FEEST, MAURO JÚNIOR, TONY BARRETT, NIKOLAI VISHNEVSKY, STEVEN GANGESTAD, TED FARRIS, HUGO B., JORDAN MANSFIELD, CHARLOTTE ALLEN, PETER STOYKO, DAVID TONNER, LEE BECK, PATRICK DALTON-HOLMES, NICK KRASNEY, RACHEL ZAK, DENNIS XAVIER, CHINMAYA BHAT, RHYS, ALEX MACLEOD, HAIDAR, JULIEN PORCHER, ROBERT SUNDSTRÖM, JON STEWART, AND JENNY M!A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY PRODUCERS, YZAR WEHBE, JIM FRANK, ŁUKASZ STAFINIAK, TOM VANEGDOM, BERNARD HUGUENEY, CURTIS DIXON, THOMAS TRUMBLE, KATHRINE AND PATRICK TOBIN, JONCARLO MONTENEGRO, NICK GOLDEN, CHRISTINE GLASS, IGOR NIKIFOROVSKI, PER KRAULIS, ADAM HUNT, AND JOÃO BARBOSA!AND TO MY EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS, MATTHEW LAVENDER,SERGIU CODREANU, AND GREGORY HASTINGS!

The Knicks came back from 29 down in the NBA Finals, and Brian From turns it into the question of the hour: how do you keep going when every circumstance is telling you to quit? That thread runs all the way to the close, where Relevant Magazine asks what to do when God feels like He's ignoring you — when the pregnancy announcement belongs to someone else, the promotion went to the person you're training, and the calling you've been waiting for landed on someone you discipled. God doesn't ignore His children. Delay isn't neglect. But that's easier to say than to hold. Then: Gen Z doesn't want to be called Protestant — they want to be called just Christian, and there's something worth affirming and something worth being cautious about in that shift. The Southern Baptist Convention's Truth and Unity Amendment passes with 74% of the vote, and what it says about the direction the denomination is heading. JD Greear weighs in on spontaneous baptisms — and makes the case that every single baptism in the New Testament was spontaneous. Does character still matter in our politicians? Brian says yes, and makes the uncomfortable point that it only counts if you apply the standard to your own party too. The historical evidence for Jesus outside the Bible is stronger than most Christians realize. And a word for anyone who's been quietly treating unanswered prayer as evidence of insufficient faith: that's not what the Bible teaches.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most Christians would never fall for the health-and-wealth gospel. But what about the version that promises comfort instead of cash? Or the one that trades a fat bank account for a platform and an audience? Brian From digs into what Relevant Magazine is calling the new prosperity gospel — and it hits closer to home than a TV preacher ever could. Then: Philippians 4 and the peace that doesn't just reduce anxiety but surpasses understanding entirely — what that actually means and how to access it. Russell Moore on teaching the book of Hebrews 20 years apart and discovering the Bible hadn't changed, but he had — and why that's exactly how a living, active Word is supposed to work. Randy Alcorn on learning to hear God's still small voice, and why abiding matters more than straining. And JD Greear on why generosity isn't a financial test at all — it's a trust test. Three motivations from 2 Corinthians 8 that reframe giving entirely: grace, joy, and follow through.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever feel ordinary? Like you're just not the kind of person God uses for big things? In this episode, Brian From digs into one of the most overlooked verses in the New Testament — James's reminder that Elijah was "just a human being, like us" — and unpacks what it means that God chooses to do extraordinary things through completely ordinary people. From there, Brian turns to one of Scripture's most sobering passages: Jesus's letter to the church in Laodicea. Wealthy, self-sufficient, and spiritually lukewarm — sound familiar? Brian draws a pointed parallel to the American church today and asks the uncomfortable question: are we the church in Laodicea? Along the way, Brian also explores Russell Moore's provocative idea of the "casinofication" of the church, a striking new study on the rise of "no contact" relationships in America, a genuinely murky ethical question about a family using an AI clone to shield an elderly mother from the death of her son, and why a Relevant Magazine piece about new Christians and microphones might be the most important thing the church needs to hear right now. And he closes with a surprising strategy for finishing well as a Christian — one you probably won't see coming.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk about healing as though it's inevitable. As though proximity to Scripture, therapy language, or Christian community automatically produces transformation. But God does not force anyone into wholeness. He invites. He confronts. He calls. And too many believers confuse awareness with growth. This week on Win Today, Debra Fileta joins me for a sober conversation about emotional health and spiritual maturity. We examine why so many Christians remain emotionally immature while sounding spiritually fluent, how "trauma-informed" has in some circles become trauma-defined identity, and why you cannot become spiritually mature if your mental and emotional life is neglected. Healing is not passive. It is participatory. If your faith is sincere but your reactions are volatile… if you know the right language but keep repeating the same patterns… or if you've mistaken self-protection for self-awareness, this episode will clarify what real growth actually requires. Guest Bio Debra Fileta is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in relationship, marital, mental, and emotional health. She is the author of five books, host of the Love + Relationships Podcast, and founder of TrueLoveDates.com, a widely read relationship advice platform reaching millions worldwide. Known for her candid yet compassionate voice, Debra integrates clinical insight with Christian faith to help individuals and couples pursue emotional health and stronger relationships. Her work has been featured in outlets including Christianity Today, Focus on the Family, Relevant Magazine, Crosswalk.com, Charisma Magazine, and more. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

This conversation dives into a fascinating — and uncomfortable — cultural moment: the announcement of a conservative, “all-American” halftime-style concert positioned as a response to the NFL's Super Bowl halftime show featuring Bad Bunny.The discussion was sparked by a strong article from Relevant Magazine, which examines how this event — backed by Turning Point USA and broadcast in part by Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) — isn't really a Christian alternative at all. Instead, it feels like a political counterprogramming effort, drawing a cultural line around who and what is considered “American enough.”The announced lineup raises real questions. Kid Rock is the headliner, with country artists like Lee Brice, Gabby Barrett, and Brantley Gilbert also on the bill. Whatever your feelings about the music, the bigger issue isn't genre — it's purpose. Kid Rock isn't a Christian artist, and his recent work and performances are openly political, profane, and divisive. That makes his presence on a long-standing Christian television network like TBN especially confusing.The Relevant article points out the contradiction clearly: this isn't about promoting faith-based art. It's about promoting conservative identity. The concert exists not to offer an alternative rooted in Christianity, but to respond directly — and defensively — to the choice of a Latin American artist headlining the NFL halftime show.That's where the discomfort sets in. When the reaction centers on nationality, identity, or political alignment rather than values, it starts to feel exclusionary instead of uplifting. The implication isn't subtle: some art is framed as un-American, and other art is elevated not because of its message, but because of who performs it.We also talk about how money inevitably plays a role. Controversy drives attention. Attention drives viewers. And viewers drive revenue. When faith, politics, and entertainment collide, financial incentives often shape decisions more than theology or mission.At the heart of this discussion is a simple question: is this really about Christianity — or is it about power, politics, and cultural signaling? And if the gospel gets sidelined in favor of partisan messaging, what's actually being promoted?Check out my work at https://www.cleveland.com/staff/cpugh/Support the podcast at https://linktr.ee/ChrisPughEdits#RelevantMagazine, #TurningPointUSA, #HalftimeShow, #CulturalCommentary, #FaithAndPolitics, #ChristianMedia, #KidRock, #MediaCriticism, #PopCultureTalk, #PoliticalCulture, #PodcastClip, #ReligionAndCulture, #AmericanIdentity, #ConservativeMedia, #EntertainmentNews, #FaithDiscussion, #CulturalDebate, #MediaAnalysis, #CurrentEvents, #PodcastConversation

Chris and Joe kick things off with a Groundhog Day reality check, questioning just how “real” Punxsutawney Phil's famous weather predictions actually are. The two compare Phil's annual forecast to professional wrestling and even the NFL — highly produced, heavily scripted, and more about tradition and spectacle than truth.They dig into Phil's actual track record, noting that over the past 10 years, the famous groundhog has been wrong about 70% of the time. That leads to a broader conversation about why people still cling to rituals they know aren't accurate, and how entertainment often matters more than facts.From there, the tone shifts as Chris and Joe express frustration over the ongoing release of Epstein-related files. They talk about how numerous high-profile names continue to surface, yet meaningful prosecutions remain scarce. The discussion centers on accountability, public trust, and why so many Americans feel burned out by headline after headline with little visible consequence.The conversation then turns to Turning Point USA's counter-programmed halftime show, which the hosts criticize for being more politically driven than genuinely Christian-focused. They question who the event is really for and whether mixing partisan messaging with faith-based branding ultimately hurts both.As part of that discussion, Chris and Joe reference a Relevant Magazine op-ed criticizing the use of Kid Rock as a featured act on a Christian network. You can read that piece here:https://relevantmagazine.com/current/oped19/a-kid-rock-concert-is-airing-on-tbn-this-sunday-how-is-this-okay/The episode wraps with a lighter but thoughtful reflection on aging, shifting entertainment tastes, and how what once felt exciting or rebellious can feel exhausting or hollow over time. From groundhogs to halftime shows, the guys ask a simple question: when did everything start feeling so fake?For more of my writing and reporting, check out my work athttps://www.cleveland.com/staff/cpugh/And if you'd like to support the podcast, you can do that here:https://linktr.ee/ChrisPughEdits #GroundhogDay, #PunxsutawneyPhil, #PodcastDiscussion, #PopCultureTalk, #MediaCriticism, #WrestlingComparison, #NFLTalk, #EpsteinFiles, #Accountability, #PoliticalCulture, #FaithAndPolitics, #TurningPointUSA, #RelevantMagazine, #KidRock, #CulturalCommentary, #AgingThoughts, #EntertainmentTrends, #PodcastLife, #CurrentEvents, #MediaTalk-----Subscribe to my YouTube page https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHUrqzAFKz0t786NojlhN4Q

In this episode, I sit down with Nathan Clarkson, author of I'm the Worst, for an honest conversation about brokenness, shame, confession, and freedom. Nathan shares what it was like growing up in a well-known Christian family, learning how to perform moral goodness while hiding the parts of himself he didn't know how to face, and how confronting that reality became the beginning of healing rather than the end of the story. We talk about moral superiority, cancel culture, and the ways fear turns both politics and church life into tribes instead of communities. We also dig into the difference between shame and conviction, why confession and forgiveness matter so much for spiritual formation, and how dehumanization always leads to harm. This conversation is for anyone who is tired of polarized Christianity and is looking for a more honest, freeing, and love-shaped way forward.Nathan Clarkson is the author of I'm the Worst, and an award-winning actor, a Netflix-trending filmmaker, and best-selling author of several books, including Different and Uniquely You. He is a podcast philosopher on the award-winning show The Overthinkers. Nathan writes regularly on the intersection of faith and culture for the Patheos column Cross Cultural and has been featured in outlets such as the Today Show, LA Times, Variety, and Relevant Magazine. Find out more at nathanclarkson.me.Nathan's Book:I'm the WorstNathan's Recommendation:The Hidden Habits of GeniusConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link belowGet Your Sidekick Support the show

Today on Christian Music Guys, we're switching things up and welcoming comedian Shama to the show! African-born, American-raised, homeschool graduate, middle child, and former pastor's kid, Shama has a gift for making people laugh while keeping it real. He first took the internet by storm in 2018 with his viral “VeggieTales Remix,” and he hasn't slowed down since.With over 500 million combined views on his comedy sketches and music videos, Shama has become known for his top-notch production, hilarious characters, and sharp observational humor. Featured in outlets like Hope Nation, Relevant Magazine, and Rapzilla, Shama shares his journey, creativity, and faith-filled perspective on this episode. Get ready to laugh, relate, and enjoy a fun, refreshing conversation you won't want to miss.

Justin Bieber BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Justin Bieber has dominated headlines this week with a raw Instagram series calling for a safer more honest music industry after his child stardom scars. According to The National Desk Bieber the 31 year old pop icon reflected on feeling used and rushed as a teen star writing I grew up in a system that rewarded my gift but didnt always protect my soul. He credited Jesus with healing his anger and identity declaring Im not a product Im a son per Relevant Magazine dated December 29. This poignant pre Christmas reflection carries huge biographical weight signaling Biebers pivot to faith driven advocacy over revenge aiming to transform not burn down the industry.No fresh public appearances or business deals popped in the past few days but his 2025 triumphs linger large. E News reported he and wife Hailey enjoyed a rare holiday date night December 18 in West Hollywood admiring a festive tree installation both casual as new parents to 15 month old son Jack Blues born August 2024. Musically Swag and Swag II surprise albums dropped earlier this year dominating charts with over 40 R&B laced tracks like Yukon and Devotion as noted by The Honey POP via Spreaker. A Candlelight tribute concert honored his hits in Miami December 21 per Listeso Music Group.Looking ahead Bieber confirmed headlining Coachella 2026 but prefers spot dates over grueling tours to stay close to family echoing his Halloween Twitch reservations. Older buzz like April rumors of cutting ties with Drew House for new SKYLRK fashion remains unconfirmed and distant per AOL. All verified no speculation here.Thanks for tuning in come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production and for me check out Quiet Please Dot A I.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Justin Bieber BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Justin Bieber has dominated headlines this week with a raw Instagram series calling for a safer, more honest music industry, reflecting on his child stardom scars from The National Desk and CBS Austin reports. The 31-year-old pop icon detailed feeling used and unprotected as a teen sensation, crediting Jesus for healing his anger and restoring his identity as a son, not a product, per Relevant Magazine on December 29. He insists hes not bitter or seeking revenge, but redemption, urging transformation over destruction without burning it all down. This poignant pivot, timed ahead of Christmas, underscores his biographical shift to faith-guided maturity amid family life with wife Hailey and 15-month-old son Jack Blues.Harpers Bazaar captured their cozy holiday vibes, with Justin posting family snaps of movie nights by the fire, twinkling trees, and Jack in festive Santa gear toddling onto a private jet, matching Haileys checkered pajamas. Echoing a rare December 18 West Hollywood date night at a Christmas tree installation, per E News via Spreaker, the Biebers savored low-key parenting joys.No fresh public appearances or social media mentions surface in the past few days, though his 2025 surprise albums Swag and Swag II, dropping over 40 R&B tracks like Yukon and Devotion, still buzz as career highs, The Honey POP notes. Hes confirmed for Coachella 2026 headlining but wary of grueling tours separating him from family, favoring spot dates after a Halloween Twitch confession. Older drama lingers unconfirmed, like April rumors of ditching Drew House for SKYLRK, but nothing verified recently. A Candlelight tribute to his hits lit up Miami on December 21, Listeso Music Group lists. Biebers quiet command keeps fans hooked on his evolved swagger.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

It is the most wonderful time of the year - the release of our Christmas episode! We break down some Christmas traditions, celebrate with some Christmas Tinner, and ask how much did Bob Cratchit make when adjusted for inflation? The original piece from Relevant Magazine can be found here: https://relevantmagazine.com/current/the-real-story-behind-8-weird-christmas-traditions/ Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast and to share it with your friends, families, neighbors, and strangers! Music by: Inspiration by MIxaund - https://mixaund.bandcamp.com Music promoted by: https://www.free-stock-music.com

In this raw, powerful episode, I sit down with Tabitha Yates, author of the newly released audiobook Jesus and Therapy, to unpack her courageous journey through mental illness, spiritual abuse, and rediscovering the kindness of God.Tabitha opens up about surviving intense childhood trauma, narcissistic abuse cloaked in spiritual authority, and being told her depression was a sign of rebellion. Her story is one of survival—but even more, one of redemption. From being disowned by her father to enduring psychological and physical abuse within the church, Tabitha vulnerably shares what it looked like to walk through the valley of the shadow with God, even when the church felt like the enemy.We talk about: • What it's like to be spiritually gaslit when you're already struggling mentally • How EMDR, therapy, and the Word helped Tabitha untangle lies from truth • Why she almost didn't publish this book—and the wrestle of sharing your pain for the sake of someone else's healing • How motherhood became the turning point in her healing journey • What it looks like to walk alongside others who are hurting without doing more harm • The verses that finally broke through the pain and helped Tabitha see God's true heartThis isn't just a conversation about mental health. It's about the bravery it takes to heal, the lies we need to unlearn, and the freedom that comes when we realize Jesus never asked us to fake it till we make it—He meets us in our pain and brings us home.

Welcome to another episode of Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. Today we're diving into a meaningful conversation on spiritual formation, brokenness, and divine love with our dear friend and ally, James Bryan Smith. In this episode, Michael shares deeply from his own journey of overcoming personal brokenness, including abuse, addiction, deception, and betrayal, to find wholeness through a closer walk with God. He opens up about the stark contrast between his troubled home life and the nurturing he found in visits to a cloistered Carmelite nunnery during his childhood—moments that profoundly shaped his spiritual outlook.Join us as we explore attachment theory, the impact of early emotional bonds, and how our image of God is shaped by our life experiences. Michael & Jim shed light on how recognizing and addressing our deepest wounds can lead to a secure and loving relationship with God, free from the cycle of striving and spiritual exhaustion. Moreover, they discuss the critical role of being seen, soothed, safe, and secure in our spiritual development.They also delve into the false narratives that sustain evil: the lies that we can't trust God and that it's up to us because God won't come through. Michael and Jim's insights provide a refreshing perspective on recognizing our wretchedness not as a condemnation but as an opportunity to receive God's grace and love more fully.ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:- Follow us on YouTube - Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS- Like us on Facebook- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter- Follow Michael on Twitter- Email us at info@restoringthesoul.com Thanks for listening!

Shama Mrema is an African-born, American-raised comedian, actor, host, and musician who has captivated audiences with his unique blend of humor and music. In 2018, he gained widespread recognition with his viral hit, "Veggie Tales Remix," which led to a spin-off show on Yippee TV, produced by TBN, where he starred and co-wrote the music alongside his producer drû. Beyond his viral success, Shama has amassed over 400,000 followers and more than 50 million views across various platforms, thanks to his engaging comedy sketches and music videos. His work has been featured in publications such as Eater, Waynation, Relevant Magazine, and Rapzilla. Balancing his professional achievements, Shama is a dedicated husband to his wife, Grace, and a father to their three children: Ezra, Zoey, and Lucy. His journey exemplifies how personal experiences can be transformed into relatable and entertaining content, resonating with audiences worldwide. Follow Shama everywhere at: @shama4realz ___________________________________________________ The Barndo Co builds custom Barndos all around the Southeast US. If you are considering building a barndominium, schedule a call with us today - https://thebarndominiumco.com/contact/ Connect with us at: https://www.facebook.com/thebarndominiumco/ https://www.instagram.com/barndoco/ https://soundcloud.com/thebarndoco https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/barndo-co https://maps.apple.com/place?auid=15697825905394762793 https://www.inc.com/profile/the-barndo-co https://www.pinterest.com/barndoco/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/barndominium/ #barndominiums #barndo #podcast

In this episode of the "But I Tell You" podcast, join us for a compelling conversation with Jay Kim, lead pastor of Westgate Church in Silicon Valley and acclaimed author of books like "Analog Christian," "Analog Church," and "Listen, Listen, Speak." Recorded live from the Practicing the Way conference in Portland, Jay opens up about his personal journey of faith and formation, challenging the conventional idea that discipleship is merely about getting better and doing more.Discover how Jay's experiences in therapy, spiritual direction, and authentic friendships have led him to a deeper awareness and a more meaningful life focused on wholeness rather than endless self-improvement. He shares profound insights into living fully present with God, countering the cultural pressures of perfectionism and performance that pervade our lives.Tune in to explore the transformative power of desiring what is already yours—God's love and presence—and learn how this perspective can free you to live more genuinely and joyfully in the here and now. Don't miss out on this inspiring dialogue that encourages us all to embrace our true selves and find real meaning in life's journey.If you enjoy the episode, remember to like, subscribe, and share with friends. Follow us on social media at @ButITellYouPod for more content and updates! Likewise via subscribing to Tyler's NewsletterFinally, This episode is produced with generous care by Sami MititeluMore about Pastor Jay Kim: Jay serves as lead pastor at WestGate Church in the Silicon Valley of California. He is the author of Listen Listen Speak, Analog Christian, Analog Church, and Colossians: One Jesus, One People. He is also a contributing author to Faithful Exiles, Before You Lose Your Faith, and Red Skies. He has been featured in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Missio Alliance, Outreach, and Relevant Magazine. He is the host of IVP's Digital Examen Podcast and Barna's Making Space Podcast. You can email him at jay@jaykimthinks.com about just about anything. You can also connect with him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. He'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of the "But I Tell You" podcast, join us for a compelling conversation with Jay Kim, lead pastor of Westgate Church in Silicon Valley and acclaimed author of books like "Analog Christian," "Analog Church," and "Listen, Listen, Speak." Recorded live from the Practicing the Way conference in Portland, Jay opens up about his personal journey of faith and formation, challenging the conventional idea that discipleship is merely about getting better and doing more.Discover how Jay's experiences in therapy, spiritual direction, and authentic friendships have led him to a deeper awareness and a more meaningful life focused on wholeness rather than endless self-improvement. He shares profound insights into living fully present with God, countering the cultural pressures of perfectionism and performance that pervade our lives.Tune in to explore the transformative power of desiring what is already yours—God's love and presence—and learn how this perspective can free you to live more genuinely and joyfully in the here and now. Don't miss out on this inspiring dialogue that encourages us all to embrace our true selves and find real meaning in life's journey.If you enjoy the episode, remember to like, subscribe, and share with friends. Follow us on social media at @ButITellYouPod for more content and updates! Likewise via subscribing to Tyler's NewsletterFinally, This episode is produced with generous care by Sami MititeluMore about Pastor Jay Kim: Jay serves as lead pastor at WestGate Church in the Silicon Valley of California. He is the author of Listen Listen Speak, Analog Christian, Analog Church, and Colossians: One Jesus, One People. He is also a contributing author to Faithful Exiles, Before You Lose Your Faith, and Red Skies. He has been featured in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Missio Alliance, Outreach, and Relevant Magazine. He is the host of IVP's Digital Examen Podcast and Barna's Making Space Podcast. You can email him at jay@jaykimthinks.com about just about anything. You can also connect with him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. He'd love to hear from you!

In an election season marked by chaos and division, Interfaith America's Faith in Elections podcast cuts through the noise and deepens the conversation, highlighting the remarkable stories of everyday faith leaders who are working to build bridges and uphold democracy.Join hosts Jenan Mohajir and Adam Phillips as they speak with Interfaith America Faith in Elections grantees about how faith convictions motivate their civic engagement and service. The Faith in Elections Podcast is part of the Voices of Interfaith America Podcast network. Episodes will be released each Thursday leading up to the 2024 presidential election. Host Bios: Jenan Mohajir is the Vice President of External Affairs at Interfaith America. Inspired by faith and family to work for change at the intersections of gender, sexuality, race, and religion, Jenan has served in leadership at IA for 15 years where she as has trained hundreds of interfaith leaders from diverse backgrounds to foster a vision and practice of civically engaged interfaith leadership. Jenan completed undergraduate work at DePaul University and is pursuing her MA in religious studies at Chicago Theological Seminary. As a natural storyteller, she performs with 2nd Story, Chicago's premier storytelling company. Jenan proudly lives on the south side of Chicago with her children and loves to collect vintage children's books.Adam Phillips is the Chief Strategy Officer & Chief of Staff at Interfaith America. Adam serves as the senior lead in the Executive Office by managing internal and external inquiries from the President's office and leads the organization's narrative strategy, ensuring the advancement of Interfaith America's mission and vision. Having spent two decades at the intersection of faith and public life, Adam most recently served as a Biden Administration appointee leading Localization and Faith-based efforts at the United States Agency for International Development. Working closely with the White House and Department of State, in his role at USAID Adam oversaw development policy, new and non-traditional partnerships, as well as democracy and diplomacy initiatives in nearly 100 countries. Adam has been a TEDx speaker, his work has also been featured in The Atlantic, CNN, Washington Post, NPR, Huffington Post, Relevant Magazine and the Christian Broadcasting Network's 700 Club.Visit Interfaith America to learn more about the organization and our podcast. Learn more about how you can support your community this election season with Interfaith America's Faith in Elections Playbook. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with new episodes, interfaith stories, and our programs.

Today, we invite you to join us as Sandra McCracken and Stephanie explore the interplay of faith, cultural insights, and the essence of beauty in worship music. Stephanie sits down with renowned musician Sandra McCracken to dive into the multifaceted ways God uses to connect us to Him, including beauty, language, and culture. Their conversation touches on various facets—from the linguistic richness of French expressions of delight and light, to the role of the local church and the importance of worship. Join us as we explore how experiencing God's beauty through nature, music, and community can deepen our spiritual journey. Sandra McCracken's songwriting serves as a rich medium to convey scriptural truths and draw us deep in worship through music. Her goal is to help people delight in God's presence through her music, creating songs that resonate with the heart's deepest longings. She shares how singing these truths repeatedly helps align her heart with them, even amid doubts or fears. Her work embodies the connection between light and delight, encouraging us to find joy and hope in God's presence. Let's talk about beauty for a minute. In today's fast-paced, technology-driven world, the perception of beauty can often become obscured. Sandra and Stephanie discuss the necessity of slowing down to truly appreciate and experience deeper, non-disposable beauty. Pausing to engage with our surroundings and community, allows us to witness God's presence in the ordinary moments of life. By embracing this slower pace, we open ourselves up to deeper intimacy with God, finding beauty and inspiration in the everyday and the extraordinary alike. Beauty serves as a 'homing device,' drawing us toward God. Whether through the breathtaking landscapes of Yellowstone and Tetons or through the creative brilliance of European architecture, beauty reveals the hand of the divine in our world. Stephanie echoes this sentiment by highlighting how the unique expressions of beauty in different cultures enrich our spiritual experience, offering a fuller understanding of God's nature. During her visit to a botanical garden in Colorado, Sandra was struck by the diverse beauty of the garden, from the tall milkweeds to the fluttering butterflies. The process of pruning in gardening parallels life's trials. Just as a gardener prunes to encourage growth and beauty, God, the "master gardener," prunes us through life's challenges. Although this process can be uncomfortable, it is essential for our spiritual growth and transformation. Embracing this divine pruning allows us to develop into the people God intends us to be. The conversation takes a deeper turn as Sandra explores the concept of true beauty through the lens of the cross. The cross represents the epitome of humility, sacrifice, and power, embodying the ultimate beauty in the biblical narrative. Facing our brokenness within a community helps us understand and experience God's beauty in a transformative way. This vulnerability and honesty before God and one another reflect the beauty that comes from embracing our imperfections and relying on divine grace. Sandra invites us to consider how beauty, language, and community play pivotal roles in our faith journey. From the linguistic richness of French to Jesus' teaching on pruning, Sandra encourages us to slow down, appreciate beauty, and engage deeply with our faith communities. Through her music and reflections, Sandra McCracken helps us find delight in God's light, inviting us into a richer, more authentic experience of God in Christ. MEET SANDRA MCCRACKEN Sandra McCracken is a GRAMMY-nominated and Dove Award-winning singer-songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. The daughter of a biology teacher and a seminary secretary, Sandra was born the youngest of five children in a house with music continually streaming from the record player. A prolific recording artist, McCracken has produced 18 solo albums. She has also produced 4 albums of children's music through the project Rain for Roots. Her best-selling release, Psalms (2015), received critical acclaim, followed by God's Highway (2017) which made the top 50 on the Billboard charts without a major label. Her album, Light in the Canyon, won the 2023 GMA Dove Award for Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the year. She has had songs featured in TV, including on ABC's Grey's Anatomy. Blending the old and new, Sandra has also shown a unique ability to recast sacred scripture texts into theologically rich yet accessible songs. Her thoughtful lyrics and gospel melodies in songs like “We Will Feast In The House Of Zion” and “Steadfast" have become staple anthems in churches across the U.S. Sandra regularly partners with International Justice Mission, Blood:Water Mission, and ARocha, and her writing has been published by The Gospel Coalition, She Read Truth, and Relevant Magazine, in addition to her regular column with Christianity Today.  Sandra released her first book, Send Out Your Light, in September 2021 with B&H. She lives in Nashville with her husband, three children, and two dogs. https://www.sandramccracken.com/  MORE ABOUT “SEND OUT YOUR LIGHT” In the middle of Psalm 43, God offers us a dynamic invitation: Send out your light.Prolific singer-songwriter Sandra McCracken believes we each have the opportunity to hear and answer this invitation.  This book is written in three parts: part one is the becoming, the creation, how God makes us and gives us an identity. Part two is the disorientation of loss, displacement, and the dark night of the soul. Part three is reorientation, how God brings us through the darkness and illuminates our path with Scripture, sending us out to take his light to others. This has been the shape of Sandra McCracken's life. Through it all, songs and Scripture have been there to light the way, helping her respond to God's call. How will you respond to God's call to send out his light? We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with. Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog Identity in the battle | Ephesians https://www.podcastics.com/episode/74762/link/ Centering on Christ | The Tabernacle experience https://www.podcastics.com/episode/94182/link/ Shades of Red | Against human oppression https://www.podcastics.com/episode/115017/link/ God's glory, our delight  https://www.podcastics.com/episode/126051/link/   Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Youthful enthusiasm.  Passion for Christ and students.  Inexperience.  A recipe for disaster?Maybe.  Maybe not.  Today, in a memorable Kingdom Culture Conversation, the inimitable Jayse Meyer joins Geoff and G as they recount their youthful forays into youth ministry:  the wins, the losses, and the lessons learned.Jayse serves as the youth pastor at Desert Breeze Community Church and, if you're not already plugged into a youth ministry and anywhere near Phoenix, AZ, you need to connect with Desert Breeze!  For more information on Anomaly Youth, please follow this link.To visit the article from Relevant Magazine that served as the inspiration for today's conversation, please follow this link. "Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.For more information on Frameworks, please visit: https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit: https://www.ncsaz.org/To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email gbrown@ncsaz.org or you can reach him by cell phone: (623)225-5573.

In this episode of The Brave Enough Show, Dr. Sasha Shillcutt and Stephanie May Wilson discuss:  How to work through life's biggest decisions and transitions Customizing your life's choices to fit your purpose How to control what you can when life seems to be out of control  Stephanie May Wilson is an author, a podcaster, a speaker, and the go-to guide for 20- and 30-something women as they navigate their most important relationships. Through her books, her courses, and her chart-topping podcast, Girls Night with Stephanie May Wilson, she has mentored more than a million women as they cultivate healthy, thriving relationships with God, their friends, their significant others, and with themselves.   Stephanie got her start as a writer when she packed up her backpack and traveled around the world for a year, keeping a blog of all her adventures. Stephanie's writing has been featured on NBC, the Anthropologie blog, and in Relevant Magazine. She has also been along-time blog contributor for CNBC's Nightly Business Report, Darling magazine, and Christian Mingle.  When she's not writing, speaking, or recording a podcast episode, you can find Stephanie laughing with her husband Carl and their twin toddlers, eating pizza with her close tribe of girlfriends, or planning her family's big move to Spain.  Stephanie's new book, released April 30th -- "Create a Life You Love: How to Quiet Outside Voices So You Can Finally Hear Your Own" https://stephaniemaywilson.com/create  Quote: “You get to decide.” - Stephanie May Wilson, on giving yourself space to decide what is best for you in life's transitions  “There are things we believe are fixed, but often they are not. We can't control everything that happens to us, but we almost always have more of a choice to react than we realize.” - Stephanie May Wilson Episode Links:  BE24 Conference The Table RISE Mastermind Follow Brave Enough:   WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN Join The Table, Brave Enough's community. The ONLY professional membership group that meets both the professional and personal needs of high-achieving women.

Relevant Magazine published an article called What Christians Can Learn From Non-Believers. That's an attention getter...and while the intentions are good, Sean would like to add a couple more...including speaking the truth in love after listening, and respecting that non-believer.

Relevant Magazine published an article called What Christians Can Learn From Non-Believers. That's an attention getter...and while the intentions are good, Sean would like to add a couple more...including speaking the truth in love after listening, and respecting that non-believer.

Meredith Boggs is the author of The Journey Home. Her writing has been featured by LifeWay, YouVersion, Relevant Magazine, Proverbs 31 and Grit & Virtue. She is a critical care transport nurse & sexual assault forensic nurse examiner. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Justin, they have 2 wild and sweet boys and live in their hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.   https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1993470/1765292/ https://www.instagram.com/meredithwboggs/ https://www.meredithwboggs.com/links https://www.facebook.com/meredithwboggs

In episode 262 of The Super Human Life, host Frank Rich interviews Jake Hamilton. They discuss the crisis of masculinity within the church and the root of the problem. Jake explains that the lack of rites of passage and initiation rituals in our culture and the church leads to a confusion of responsibilities between boyhood and manhood. This confusion results in an ego-driven pursuit of masculinity, where men seek to be heroes rather than warriors and prioritize their own desires above all else. Hamilton emphasizes the importance of honoring God, protecting women, and preparing children as the main responsibilities of a man. He also discusses the feminization of the church and the need for men to embrace suffering, sacrifice, and a bigger vision for their lives.    In this conversation, Jake Hamilton and Frank Rich discuss the importance of healing and integration in order to break cycles and live a whole and authentic life. They explore the concept of departing from business as usual and embarking on a journey of self-discovery and growth. They emphasize the need for men to engage with their emotions, particularly grief, in order to experience true transformation. The conversation also touches on the crisis of masculinity in the church and the importance of initiation and role models for young boys. Overall, the conversation highlights the path to biblical masculinity and the power of living a life aligned with one's values and purpose.   Takeaways The crisis of masculinity within the church is rooted in the lack of rites of passage and initiation rituals in our culture and the church.   Men need to clearly understand the responsibilities of manhood, which include honoring God, protecting women, and preparing children.   The ego-driven pursuit of masculinity leads to a self-centered approach to life and a disconnection from God and others.   The church has become feminized and focused on emotional experiences rather than the sacrificial nature of masculinity.   Men need to embrace suffering, sacrifice, and a bigger vision for their lives in order to fulfill their true purpose. Healing and integration are essential for breaking cycles and living a whole and authentic life.   Engaging with emotions, particularly grief, is necessary for true transformation.   The crisis of masculinity in the church can be addressed through initiation and the presence of positive role models.   Living a life aligned with one's values and purpose leads to fulfillment and impact.   Jake Hamilton has been in full-time active ministry for over two decades. He has been a church planter in Southern California, a creative entrepreneur since he started his first business painting murals at the age of 15, as well as a worship leader on a local level and globally as a part of Jesus Culture Music for several years. His radical style of music has been described by Relevant Magazine as “a cross between Led Zeppelin and the Foo Fighters.” He is also a dynamic preacher and communicator speaking in schools and stadiums across the globe, he has been an evangelist both on the streets and in global church movements, spent time as a local youth pastor in a thriving creative community, launched a 24-hour a house of prayer in his home city of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, and has been a songwriter whose songs have been sung and recorded around the world. He and his wife, Nicci, have also fueled a movement called OneFlesh, which has focused specifically on marriages and family—proclaiming the coming reformation in the Church and seeing hundreds of marriages restored and redeemed even years after divorce. He is currently heading a men's movement called THE FIGHT, gathering men to make agreement with their story and get acquainted with death as they learn what it means to walk in biblical manhood as modeled by Jesus Christ. As an artist he desires to push the limits of creativity, and as a father and a husband he is committed to his family first. But above any of his endorsements and accomplishments, he is a lover of Jesus Christ with the ability to lead others into the same encounter that transformed his life over 25 years ago. He has always said his goal was simple, “I want to spend my life throwing keys into prison cells.”

When we think about someone becoming a disciple that means that the person accepts Jesus' sacrifice. Jesus did not say, rely on your pastor or the evangelist to share the gospel, He called you and me to go and make disciples of Jesus. A large reason why  church is not growing is because the enemy has caused the church as a whole to sit back and believe that the gospel is true but it is not our job to share. SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Full Transcript Below: One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan is Telling the ChurchWritten By: Emma Danzey Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Have you wondered why the church is not growing as rapidly as you hoped? Is it as shocking to you as it is to me that the church in America is not growing from conversion, but from church transfer? In 2015 Bonnie Kristian shared from Relevant Magazine, “So while the statistics about the American church are troubling, American Christianity is far from the only thing going. Consider: In 1900, Europe and North America housed 82 percent of Christians worldwide.• By 2010, just 38 percent of professed Christians lived on these two continents.• By 2050, that projected figure is a mere 27 percent.” She goes on to share how although the church is dying here, it is exploding in Africa, Asia and Latin America. This was almost 10 years ago, and today Emma Davis from Reach Right Studios shares, “Only 16% of churches in the US are experiencing growth or hyper expansion.” One of the sneakiest lies that Satan is telling the church is, “It is not my job to share the gospel.” Jesus' last words to His disciples on earth was for them to go and make disciples of all nations and that He would be with them. This is still a command for every believer in Jesus today.  “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” When we think about someone becoming a disciple that means that the person accepts Jesus' sacrifice. Jesus did not say, rely on your pastor or the evangelist to share the gospel, He called you and me to go and make disciples of Jesus. A large reason why  church is not growing is because the enemy has caused the church as a whole to sit back and believe that the gospel is true but it is not our job to share. We do not want to “step on toes,” we fear what others will think about us, we like staying in our Christian circles, or we just simply do not know how to share our faith because no one has ever taught us.    We are all coming from different backgrounds and experiences, but the Lord wants to use us as His vessels to share the hope of heaven with others. He has invited us into building His kingdom. The response of another person is not on us, but we are called to offer the gospel and trust the Holy Spirit to move. We leave the results up to Him. I was recently speaking with a 60-year-old friend and he shared that if he heard that the results were left to the Holy Spirit, he would have felt freer sharing his faith growing up. Unfortunately, he was taught that if a person did not accept Christ, then it was his fault. This caused him to feel defeated at ever even trying to share the gospel. He had a defeated mentality. The enemy so often uses this lie and redirects our eyes to the wrong thing, instead of resting in the work of the Spirit and relying on the living and active Word of God. Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, We do not just share the good news of the gospel with others, we disciple them. Just like Jesus taught and walked alongside the disciples, we too are invited to walk alongside others on their faith journeys. We celebrate when they are baptized, we help them when trials come up, we pray with and for them, we study the Bible with them, we are in genuine relationship with them. No, we cannot do this with everyone we meet. However, this is why it is not just the pastor's job, this is the role of the church. We are the body of Christ, we function best when everyone is involved and connected. We know that we serve the Triune God who is still working and still baptizing people. And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. We disciple and we teach others to grow in God's Word and relationship with Him. We also model to them how to share their faith with others. Spiritual multiplication happens when believers in Jesus begin to disciple others and send them out to share the gospel. It is the great commission. It is our calling as believers in Christ to share Him with the world. This starts right in our communities, thinking about who is around us who needs Him. Intersecting Faith and Life: Have you ever been tempted to believe that sharing your faith was a pastor or evangelist's job and not yours? Who is someone specific that you believe God has placed in your life who needs the gospel? Begin praying for this person and spend some time asking into their faith, then share the gospel with them in the power of the Holy Spirit. There are many wonderful resources out there to guide your conversation, such as God Tools.   Further Reading: Mark 16:15 Psalm 96:3 Ephesians 2:8-9 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today's episode with Drew Dyck encapsulates why we started this show. Heather had never met Drew in person, but his writing and Twitter have impacted her real life. It is incredible how our online presence can bring about real-life friendships and foster spiritual growth.  Heather and Drew discuss Drew's latest book Just Show Up. Drew wants to remind you that God isn't expecting you to do everything, or to change overnight. The gospel is an invitation to Just Show Up and engage with people and our own lives right where we are.  Heather also breaks down the latest Instagram algorithm update and explains why bait engagement is different from calls to action.  Guest Bio Drew Dyck (M.A. Theology) is the author of multiple books, including Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets To Self Control From The Bible And Brain Science (2019), and Just Show Up: How Small Acts of Faithfulness Change Everything (2023). Drew is an editor at Moody Publishers and the former managing editor of Leadership Journal. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including Christianity Today, Relevant Magazine, The Gospel Coalition, and CNN.com. Drew grew up in Canada and now lives in the Portland area with his wife, Grace, and their three children. They attend The Well Church Church in Portland. Connect with Drew at DrewDyck.com or follow him on Twitter @drewdyck. Host Bio Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I'll See You Tomorrow and It's Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on X, the app formerly known as Twitter at @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Receive Heather's weekly inspirational email every Friday at 7pm EST; sign up at www.heatherthompsonday.com/links. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Savage, pastor, husband of a judge and father of 3, realized one day in a church meeting that he was in the wilderness of burnout. What followed was 9 months of finding and knowing God on a deeper level and he's here today to share with us part of what he learned. You may not be in a wilderness yourself right now, but you may know someone who could use Scott's encouragement. He's offering a free resource which you can access here: Don't Give Up When It's Time To Change: 10 Things You Need to Hear When You're Ready to Quit. Scott and his wife, Danalyn often say, "Everyone has a story if we stop long enough to listen." Perhaps that's the main thing you need today: someone to listen to your story. You can connect with Scott here.  Some gems from today:   What if you started looking for God's kindness in your wilderness where He leads you tenderly closer to Himself. We can wake up and discover that we are somewhere where we never intended to be and find we are in a wilderness.  Friendships forged in the hard places can be our deepest and most life-giving relationships.  I knew I was burned out from focusing on my public life more than tending to my private life with God. Burnout is something we have more control over; wilderness can often be the result of outside circumstances.  My prayer is that people will connect to me in my stories so that they will connect with God.  When feeling burned out we can claim the promise we are not alone: God hasn't left and He can provide others to accompany us in the hardest of times.  Scott Savage is a pastor, author, and speaker with the best last name ever! As a seasoned Millennial pastor, Scott has served churches for nearly 20 years. He currently leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona. His writing has been read by over a million people in places like Our Daily Bread, RELEVANT Magazine, Air1 Radio, and the YouVersion Bible App: here's a sample. Through his writing and speaking, Scott loves helping people who are navigating difficult situations to find hope and healing. He is married to Danalyn, aka Judge Savage, and they're raising three brilliant children. You can learn more about Scott at ScottSavageLive.com or follow him on social media (@scottsavagelive).    

Have you recently had a change of heart in your big life plan? Or maybe you're facing a big decision or a life transition?  Statistically speaking, 80% of our life's most defining moments happen between our 25th and 35th birthdays, and Stephanie May Wilson is here to chat all about it! Stephanie is an author, a podcaster, a speaker, and the go-to guide for 20 & 30-something women as they navigate their most important relationships. Through her books, courses, and her chart-topping podcast, Girls Night with Stephanie May Wilson, Stephanie has mentored more than a million women as they cultivate healthy, thriving relationships with God, their friends, their significant others, and with themselves. In this episode, we're chatting through things like: What happens when you change courses in life, and how to navigate those big changes. What is the ‘Everything Era' and how to intentionally, confidently, and authentically build the life you actually want to live. Why you should see your life as less of a puzzle, and more like a collage. Stephanie's journey to creating HER Brand of Beautiful is one that will inspire you to create YOURS! And we're so thankful that she's here to share all about it. Follow Stephanie: https://www.instagram.com/smaywilson/ Buy Stephanie's New Book, Create A Life You Love: https://stephaniemaywilson.com/create Stephanie's FREE Online Resources: https://stephaniemaywilson.com/about About Stephanie: Stephanie is an author, a podcaster, and a speaker. Stephanie's writing has been featured on NBC, the Anthropologie blog, and Relevant Magazine, and she's been a long-time blog contributor for CNBC's Nightly Business Report, Darling Magazine, and the Christian Mingle blog. When she's not writing, speaking, or recording a podcast episode, you can find Stephanie packing for a global adventure with her husband Carl, laughing with her close tribe of girlfriends, or snuggled up in yoga pants in her Nashville home.

Kristen Hallinan knew she needed to make some changes. How she responded to situations was threatening the peace in her family and costing her precious relationships. Once she figured out that much of her over-reactions were based in deep-seated early life trauma, she was able to begin to move forward: for her sake and for the sake of the next generation.  As a result of what Kristen learned, she's put together a resource that is her legacy and will be of help for many who feel stuck in the pain of their past. That may not be you but you may know someone who needs to hear her story and how to get beyond small-t trauma and live in the freedom and wholeness that Christ provides. A copy of her newly-released book will be part of a giveaway all week long. Be sure to comment to be entered: Legacy Changer: Heal the Hurt, Redeem Your Story, Create Hope for Your Family Some gems from our conversation: It took me many years to resource all the tools to help me heal.  We are forgiven completely when we come to faith in Christ, but not always fully healed. I love seeing women walk in freedom when God redeems their past pain. As a child, I felt unwanted, unseen, and that I was simply annoying to others.  It took courage to speak up about my needs and face the fact that many were not met as a child. To quiet the lies in my head, I list them out and contrast them with the truths of who God says I am.  I am teaching our children that it's okay not to be enough because God is enough. I've learned that I am in charge of my emotions—they are not in charge of me. Kristen Hallinan is a sought-after writer and speaker, passionate about helping women redeem the pain of their past and move towards a healthier and more hopeful future. On mission to equip women and support families, Kristen previously worked as Director of Development for MOPS International. She enjoys working with teen moms, crisis pregnancy centers, and serving as a pre-marital mentor with her husband Shawn in Dallas, TX. Legacy Changer is Kristen's debut book, and you can find her other writings in publications like Relevant Magazine and The Joyful Life. Laughing with and chasing after her four children helps burn off the calories she consumes of her favorite treat—homemade gluten free churros.     

SummaryIn this episode, Alan Briggs and J.R. Briggs discuss the topic of cynicism and its impact on leaders. They explore the cultural prevalence of cynicism and how it can erode trust and hope. J.R. shares his personal experience with cynicism and the pernicious effect it had on his life. The difference between cynicism and skepticism is also discussed. The conversation delves into the challenges leaders face during election season and offers practices for guarding against cynicism. The history of cynicism is explored, highlighting its relevance in today's society. The episode concludes with a reflection on personal cynicism and the importance of self-awareness.   About J.R. Briggs   Dr. J.R. Briggs lives with a clear and focused calling: to serve, guide, and equip hungry leaders who want to grow healthier and thrive. In 2011, he started Kairos Partnerships, an organization committed to serving hungry kingdom leaders through leadership coaching, consulting, speaking, and teaching. He loves investing in the KP team of equippers so Kairos Partnerships can invest in all leaders who desire care and equipping. For more than 15 years, J.R. served in pastoral roles in mega-churches, church plants, and house church networks. Since starting Kairos Partnerships, he has served and invested in a wide variety of leaders, including business owners, pastors, university administrators, non-profit directors, entrepreneurs, attorneys, Blackhawk army helicopter operators, U.S. Olympic athletes, and Division I college coaches. In addition to coaching leaders and consulting with businesses, organizations, universities, and non-profits, he also speaks and teaches. He has taught in higher education since 2017. Currently, he serves as a faculty mentor for Kairos University and as a guest instructor at Friends University in the Masters of Arts in Spiritual Formation and Leadership program. He has guest lectured, taught, and spoken at over a dozen colleges, universities, and seminaries around the U.S. He also serves as the Director of Leadership & Congregational Formation for The Ecclesia Network and as a National Trainer and Strategist for Fresh Expressions U.S. He has written or co-written thirteen books on a wide variety of topics and served as one of the contributors to the Abide Bible. He has written over 50 published articles, both online and in print, with Christianity Today, Huffington Post, Preaching Today, American Bible Society, N.T. Wright Online, Missio Alliance, Boundless.org and Relevant Magazine, and several others. He hosts the Resilient Leaders podcast, a weekly podcast equipping leaders in a wide variety of backgrounds to grow in their resilience and health. He serves on the Board of Directors for Jerusalem University College and the Board of Advisors for the Institute for Bible Reading. J.R. loves swimming, kayaking, hiking, reading, traveling to new places, eating fish tacos, and watching the Philadelphia Phillies. He and his wife Megan have been married for over 21 years and have two teenage sons, Carter and Bennett. They live in Lansdale, PA in the greater Philadelphia area.   Takeaways Cynicism is a prevalent issue in our culture and can erode trust and hope. Leaders are particularly susceptible to cynicism and must guard against it. Cynicism is different from skepticism, as it assumes a closed-minded posture. During election season, leaders need to be mindful of cynicism and strive to bring hope. Practices such as gratitude, giving others the benefit of the doubt, and surrounding oneself with hopeful people can help guard against cynicism.

Join us for a heartfelt conversation with Kristen Hallinan, author of "Legacy Changer," as she shares her powerful journey of healing from childhood chaos and dysfunction. Kristen's story is a testament to the transformative power of healing and the faithfulness of God through every season of life. Growing up in an environment marked by chaos and dysfunction, Kristen entered into a healing process that taught her the profound truth that only healing heals. She candidly reflects on her hyper-vigilant childhood, characterized by a lack of connection with peers and adults alike. Kristen shares her journey of encountering the love of Jesus, a pivotal moment that led her to become a Christian during college. However, it took her time to understand that God desired her completely, despite her past struggles and insecurities. Throughout her journey, Kristen experienced challenges such as a miscarriage and the need for counseling, which helped her realize the importance of finding her voice and acknowledging the faithful presence of God in her life. With vulnerability and grace, Kristen emphasizes the importance of waking up to the reality that managing emotions is our responsibility. She encourages listeners to recognize that feelings are transient and not permanent, urging them to embark on the journey of healing and self-discovery. Kristen's story serves as a beacon of hope for anyone navigating their own healing journey. Tune in as she shares valuable insights into the process of healing and the significance of embracing every inch of growth along the way. Bio: Kristen Hallinan is a sought-after writer and speaker, passionate about helping women redeem the pain of their past and move towards a healthier and more hopeful future. On mission to equip women and support families, she enjoys working with teen moms, crisis pregnancy centers, and serving as a pre-marital mentor with her husband Shawn in Dallas, TX. Legacy Changer is Kristen's debut book, and you can find her other writings in publications like Relevant Magazine, The Truly Co., and The Joyful Life. Tune in every Tuesday to hear an episode of her new Podcast, Up Until Now. Laughing with and chasing after her four children helps burn off the calories she consumes of her favorite treat—homemade gluten free churros.  Anchor Verse: James 1:12 John 1:12 Connect with Kristen: Website: www.KristenHallinan.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/kristen.hallinan Order Legacy Changer: https://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Changer-Redeem-Create-Family/dp/1684262976/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3K6671U68KXDK&keywords=legacy+changer&qid=1700498725&sprefix=legacy+changer%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-4 ***We love hearing from our listeners! Sharing your thoughts through reviews is a fantastic way to be a part of our podcast family and contribute to the conversation. If you've enjoyed our podcast, leaving a review is quick and easy! Just head to Apple podcasts or wherever you are tuning in and share your thoughts. Your feedback makes a big difference!***

"Potential is great, but it's never meant to be the end-all, be-all. It's meant to be turned into action and into the next stage, which I believe it is calling, it's faithfulness, it's an assignment" ~Scott SavageGuest BioScott Savage is a pastor, writer, and speaker with the best last name ever! As a seasoned Millennial pastor, Scott has served churches in a variety of roles over the past 17 years. He currently leads a church in Prescott, Arizona. His writing has been read by over a million people in places like Our Daily Bread, RELEVANT Magazine, Air1 Radio, and the YouVersion Bible App. He graduated from Grand Canyon University with a B.A. in Christian Studies and he holds a Masters of Divinity from Gateway Seminary.Want to learn more about how to courageously take leaps?You can gain FREE FULL ACCESS to the LEAPING LAUNCHPAD SUMMIT+other bonuses when you ORDER your copy of the Taking The 5 Leaps during  launch week, March 5, 2024, through March 8, 2024.Grab your copy and follow the steps below!STEPS 1: Order you book at one of the retailers on the websiteSTEP 2: Provide your order confirmation email on takingthe5leaps.comSTEP 3: Check your email for1. IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO CHAPTER ONE2. INSTANT ACCESS TO TAKING THE LEAPS QUICK GUIDE3. INSTANT ACCESS TO THE 5 LEAPS POWERPACK4. FULL ACCESS TO THE UPCOMING LEAPING LAUNCHPAD AUDIO & VIDEO SUMMITFollowing launch week, you may purchase the Summit and other bonuses at (link).Rachel's BioRachel G. Scott is a devoted wife, mother, and Ohio native. She is also the author of the upcoming book, Taking the 5 Leaps, which releases March 2024. As founder of the I Can't Come Down Movement, Bible teacher, and podcast host, she desires to inspire believers to walk in their purpose and assignment as they boldly take leaps of faith. Discover more at rachelgscott.comStay Connected:Rachel's| WebsiteRachel's | YouVersionRachel's | Youtube***If you enjoyed this episode, do us a favor and kindly leave a review. This helps more people to see the podcast in their explorer feed. 

Josh is a ministry leader, communicator, and creative who has helped train over 600 pastors to start new churches through his role at the Association of Related Churches. He is also a contributor to many online ministry publications, including Relevant Magazine. I loved our conversation & am so thankful to be learning from someone a few steps ahead of me when it comes to raising a confident daughter!   Let's hang! ainsleybritain.com https://www.instagram.com/ainsleyb/ https://www.ainsleybritain.com/podcast Free Don't Date a BooBoo Dude Quiz: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/604a4475cb35da395f6932ba Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/ainsleyb

Drew Dyck is the author of multiple books, including Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets To Self Control From The Bible And Brain Science (2019), and the book he joins me to talk about today, Just Show Up: How Small Acts of Faithfulness Change Everything (2023).Drew is an editor at Moody Publishers and the former managing editor of Leadership Journal. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including Christianity Today, Relevant Magazine, The Gospel Coalition, and CNN.com.Drew grew up in Canada and now lives in the Portland area with his wife, Grace, and their three children.

What's the difference between those who are defeated by struggle and those who are sharpened by it? Between those who are broken by pain and those who are made wiser by it? Resilience. Bianca Olthoff is the Co-Lead Pastor of The Father's House Orange County and was named one of Christians top 30 leaders under 30 by Relevant Magazine. She's convinced that true power is getting back up, and that success isn't only for the smart, talented, or well-connected. Her brand new book, Grit Don't Quit is out NOW and today she's going to share some of the leading principles in the book including how to cultivate perseverance in all that we do, how to train the brain to become more resilient, as well as how to increase emotional, mental, and spiritual strength. Listen closely for the five questions to answer if you're thinking about quitting – because let's be honest, sometimes quitting IS the right thing. This isn't an episode filled with toxic positivity, it's an honest look at what grit, resilience, and discernment can bring into your life as you navigate when to push and when to throw in the towel. GOAL DIGGER FB COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/goaldiggerpodcast/ GOAL DIGGER INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/goaldiggerpodcast/ GOAL DIGGER SHOW NOTES: https://www.jennakutcherblog.com/biancaolthoff   

Lecrae joins us to discuss his new album and how you can unlock your creativity. Plus, Prop is back on the show to talk about his newest project, as well, and we discuss Hobby Lobby's latest controversy. Don't miss the sneak peak of the new issue of RELEVANT Magazine. And be sure to stick around for a hilarious summer edition of "Would You Rather?" at the end!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Prepare for an exhilarating conversation with Levi Lusko!   Levi Lusko is the lead pastor, and founder of Fresh Life Church. A multisite church located in Montana, Utah, Oregon, and Wyoming that started with just 14 people in 2007 and now impacts tens of thousands of people every single week.   Levi is a highly sought-after international speaker, having ministered at dozens of conferences with more than 20,000 people in attendance. Levi has also been featured all throughout the media, including globalleadership.org, focused on the family, daystar.com, PBN, Relevant Magazine, Outreach Magazine, and Collide Magazine just to name a few.   Additionally, he's the bestselling author of multiple books, including Through the Eyes of a Lion, Swipe Right, I Declare War, Take Back Your Life, Roar Like a Lion, and most recently The Last Supper on the Moon.   But most importantly, Levi is a family man, loyal husband, and loving father of five children who is living out the Born to Impact lifestyle firsthand.   In this 2-part episode, we discuss:   -The transformative power of faith   -Why everyone, even those raised Christian, need to discover god for themselves   -How to overcome fear by running towards difficulty rather than away from it   -How to navigate grief, loss, and anger with God   -Why you should have faith in God's plan   And so much more.   Levi's story will inspire you, encourage you, and pull you even closer to living the life you were born to live ... don't miss it.   Even more, be sure to subscribe to the Born to Impact podcast to ensure you get notified as new episodes release each week!   After listening, please check out Levi's most recent book, the Last Supper on the Moon, and visit his website at www.levilusko.com