Podcasts about Second Baptist Church

In today's news: Police investigate fatal head-on crash in Benton Township St. Joseph rental inspections contracted out and fees increase Benton Harbor's Second Baptist Church celebrates 150 years and more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's news: Police investigate fatal head-on crash in Benton Township St. Joseph rental inspections contracted out and fees increase Benton Harbor's Second Baptist Church celebrates 150 years and more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's news: Police investigate fatal head-on crash in Benton Township St. Joseph rental inspections contracted out and fees increase Benton Harbor's Second Baptist Church celebrates 150 years and more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's news: Police investigate fatal head-on crash in Benton Township St. Joseph rental inspections contracted out and fees increase Benton Harbor's Second Baptist Church celebrates 150 years and more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senior Pastor at Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, Dr. Ben Young discusses theological prophesies about Jesus's birth story and resurrection. He explains the significance of Mary, Jesus's unwed mother, and Joseph, who is scarcely mentioned despite his essential role.  Later, Trey and Ben examine new beginnings and opportunities for spiritual growth.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this edition of Spotlight, Monte is joined be Reverend Elmer Harris, pastor emeritus of Second Baptist Church in Joliet, serves as a chaplain for the Bolingbrook police department, and ministers to hundreds of people in his community through the Blessing Table, a food pantry to aid people in need.… Continue Reading

Vernon Spears was born in Louisiana, but his family moved to the Kalamazoo, Michigan area when he was four years old. There they attended the Second Baptist Church until, when Vernon was in 9th grade, they switched to a First Assembly of God church. Two years later, his family moved to Wyoming, MI, which is a suburb of Grand Rapids.  After relocating to Wyoming, Vernon's family attended The First Assembly of God Church in that town.  After graduating from Wyoming Park High School in 1990, Vernon went on to Michigan State University, graduating from there in1994 with a degree in Psychology.  Since 1996, Vernon has been making a positive difference in people's lives by working as a Probation Officer for the 61st District Court.  Vernon is married to his dear wife Angie, and together they have 2 daughters, ages 18 and 21. He and his family began to attend Calvary Church in the year 2000.  For “fun,” Vernon loves to exercise. In fact, he has successfully run 4 marathons and 20 River Bank Runs! He also enjoys memorizing Scripture, which he finds useful when running. On a part-time basis, Vernon coaches a middle school girls' basketball team. Finally, he also enjoys acting, and has actually been part of two commercials and even had a small speaking role in a movie a few years ago.  In this podcast, Vernon shares about his role as a Probation Officer for the 61st District Court here in Grand Rapids. He talks how he does his best to help those he is working with to make better life choices in the future. We also chatted about the “defund the police” movement that is growing in America. We agree that this trend only tends to increase crime rates because all we humans are born as self-seeking sinners who need the “certainty of punishment” to deter us from crime.  We also discussed the contrast between two newer trends in American culture today: (1) The gender identity movement, which emphasizes how gender is fluid; and (2) The racial issue, which insists that people of different races can never truly be united.  REALITY: God created two genders, male and female that is decided at our birth. Having said that, we do need to love all people, even those who struggle with this reality. And, regarding the race issue, the reality is that we are all members of the human race regardless of the color of our skin. And those who have accepted Christ as Savior and Lord have been lovingly adopted into God's family, which makes us all forever brothers and sisters of each other. Bottom line: truth sets us free, while lies enslave us.

In today's episode of Building Texas Business, fashion entrepreneur Elaine Turner is joining us to talk about her journey of launching Edit by Elaine Turner, her luxury boutique that emphasizes mindful consumption. She shares her experiences navigating the challenging retail industry and lessons from her previous ventures. Elaine gives advice on balancing your brand identity and adapting to changing customer expectations. Her stories highlight the difficulties of expanding business plans and finding community resonance. She also shares her views on building teams that align with the brand spirit, which can be valuable for entrepreneurs. Toward the end of the discussion, Elaine reflects on her personal experiences of living in Houston and Santa Fe. Elaine's gratitude for the hard-won lessons makes her a role model for navigating the industry's turbulence with empathy, vision, and agility. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Elaine shares her experience with Edit by Elaine Turner, a Houston boutique offering curated European luxury brands, emphasizing mindful consumption and the art of editing in fashion. We discuss Elaine's background in entrepreneurship within her family, her early interest in fashion, and the influence of her parents and mentors on her career. Elaine describes the lessons learned from launching a luxury line that failed, the importance of understanding brand identity, and the value of knowing your core customer base. Chris touches on the challenge of balancing novelty with accessibility in fashion and the pitfalls of expanding too quickly. We explore the importance of community focus in retail and the critical role of hiring team members who align with the brand's culture. Elaine recounts the transition from brick-and-mortar to digital commerce, noting the surprising speed of change and the recent shift back to a balance between digital and physical storefronts. Chris and Elaine discuss agile leadership, the importance of empathy, and the necessity of adapting to the needs of the workforce in the retail industry. Elaine reflects on personal transformation, the process of starting a second business, and the evolution of relationships during life's challenging phases. We chat about Elaine's personal side, including her preference for Tex-Mex over barbecue and her dream retreat to Santa Fe. Elaine shares her gratitude and excitement for her new venture, Edit by Elaine Turner, and the journey of crafting a life filled with purpose and passion. LINKSShow Notes Previous Episodes About BoyarMiller About Edit by Elaine Turner GUESTS Elaine TurnerAbout Elaine TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Chris: In this episode, you will meet Elaine Turner, founder of Edit by Elaine Turner and Elaine Turner Designs. Elaine's entrepreneurial passion centers around fashion and lifestyle brands, but her true passions are serving her community and empowering and supporting women through education, connection and philanthropy. Alright, let's get going. I cannot wait for this episode. I'm so excited to have Elaine Turner here. Elaine, thanks for joining me today. Elaine: I love being here. Thanks for having me. Chris: One of the things I love about you is that you are a serial entrepreneur, and I think those are my favorite people to talk to. Let's talk about what you're doing today with Edit by Elaine Turner. Tell us what that is. Elaine: I just opened a new store concept here in Houston, in Tanglewood, and the store is called Edit by Elaine Turner. Really, the whole idea of the store was concepted from a place of renewal and redemption, because we can talk about my story beforehand. But it was all about this idea of curating hard to find European luxury, upscale brands for the Houston clientele who I felt like the art of discovery, like what else? She goes to Tutsis and she goes to Neemans and Saks and Nordstroms and we're lucky we live in this incredible cosmopolitan city full of all the options. But I wanted to offer her something that maybe wasn't so out there and so ubiquitous. Edit was really born from the art of creation. I will be your editor and I will go out and find these really unique pieces for you to engage in and add to your wardrobe. Chris: That's great. Elaine: There's actually some real meaning behind the word edit, then right, yes, so edit is about not only let me edit for you and find those unique, hard to find pieces, but it's also about, for me personally, sort of leaning into this idea of, as women and as consumers, we only ultimately need what's essential. And I think, as we age and we become more mindful about what we put on our bodies, what we put in our bodies, that it's not always about quantity, right, we don't have to buy, like you know, every trend that's ever offered to us. Like we can be more thoughtful about what we choose. And so it's about letting go of the unnecessary and really retaining what's of value to you, and so edit is supposed to be all about that. Like I'm saying, this is what's of quality to you. Chris: I love that. I love the thought behind it. Thank you, because you're right, you can go into any store and get stuff, so this is one. This is an episode where I'm like there's so many different directions to go with you, but I think you're right. You talked about renewal and redemption. You have an amazing story because this is your second go at it. Elaine: And the first was successful. Chris: Sometimes people second goes coming out of failure. Let's talk about your passion and what got you into the kind of the fashion industry. Talk a little bit about that first venture. I think in doing that I encourage you to start what was called a Lane Turner or Lane Turner designs back in what, 1999 to 2000. Yeah, exactly 20, almost 24 years ago. A while ago, chris, you must have been an infant. Elaine: I was 29 or 30 when I started a Lane Turner designs and really my story really comes from an origin story of entrepreneurship. That's the number one thing. I was born in a family of entrepreneurs and I'm kind of a believer that entrepreneurship is sort of passed on through DNA. I think you've got to be a little left of center to engage in being an entrepreneur, because it's high risk, you kind of, it's lonely. You know you're the one kind of putting yourself out there thinking of these ideas and visions and you're usually entrepreneurs are trying to solve problems, so they're thinking, hey, what's not out there that could be out there? And I watched both of my parents start companies and both of my siblings also at one time had their own companies, and so I feel like for me it was sort of osmosis. You know, I was very much inspired by my parents. They were my mentors growing up and so I always knew when I went to school, went to UT and I majored in advertising, marketing, but I always knew I wanted to do something in fashion because my mother always encouraged. You know, this is how you express yourself. And it was always done from a more thoughtful, deep way and I was like I'm not saying, not just fashion, you know, because of materialism. But she would literally watch me walk downstairs and say, oh, you have a gift. Like you should really think about something in fashion, Like this is the art of communication. Chris: She wasn't one of those moms that looked at you and goes you're not wearing that. Elaine: Yeah Well, maybe a couple of times. You know it's an evolution, Chris. I'm not saying that I came out of the gate putting all the outfits together, right, but she always encouraged me on a much deeper level that I think this is something that you should offer the world. You know, Even in my teens and my twenties I knew I wanted to do something in fashion, and so I went to UT and then I immediately called a mentor of mine. Joanne Burnett and said I really want to do something in the fashion industry. And she said, hey, there's this company out of Dallas you should talk to and they might give you kind of an assistant job in the design area or whatever. And so it just was a super, you know, very organic growth for me. Back when I was at UT there was no fashion merchandising program, so that was in it. So I had to learn everything in the job, you know, on the job, and have like mentors train me Right, but always knowing I wanted to start my own thing. Okay, and that was always there. It didn't really happen Like some people say. That sort of happened by happenstance. For me it was pretty intentional that I knew in my twenties I wanted to learn everything and then I wanted to start my own business. Chris: So I hear that story a lot, but you also hear the ones where, like you said, there's a problem to solve and someone says, okay, I'll do this. Let's talk about taking you back to that 28 to 29 year old self when you said, okay, now it's time. Some people are scared to take that step. Let's talk about and educate the audience. What was it like for you to get to the point where you're ready to take this risk? What was that like? What did you learn from that experience? Elaine: Yeah, I mean it's a great question. I think I knew when I was 29, I had learned a lot in New York. I went from Dallas to New York and worked for several companies in New York and I started recognizing in the market that accessories were really taking a much bigger, I would say, segment of the market. So, like the big designers at the time, like Donna Karen and Ralph Lauren and all that they were starting to do these handbag collections or accessory collections right when they were really starting to kind of form a look and a name for themselves in that area. And Kate Spade was just coming on the scene and I thought, oh, there's something there that I think that there was a void that I could fill like an accessible price point, and I really focused on novelty applications. So I was really known for this resort wear look where I did Raffia rat bags and tortoise shell handles and I did a lot of specialty leathers like Python leather leathers with multi-colored. So a lot of novelty right. Chris: From. Elaine: Texas, of color and bold, and so I started thinking to myself well, what if I did a small handbag collection and put it out in the market? And I really thought about my price point because I wanted it to be accessible luxury price point and started to see if I could sell my wares. You know, and I had just moved back from New York to Houston and my first literally I have this memory my first account was walking into Titsies and Mickey Rosemary and meeting with me in private and saying I'll carry all your collection on consignment for the first six months and if it does well, then I'll start buying it. Wow. So I said it's a deal and that was how I started. And the bags were made in Brooklyn and he really mentored me on price and segmentation of the market and who you're catering to and the look and feel of the bags, and he was a huge part of why the company grew, because he really helped me understand, I think, from a little bit more of a mass perspective, how to grow the business and not keep it so boutique, right, Right. Chris: How to be able to scale to it. Elaine: Exactly, and then I was able to get into Neiman Sax and Nordstrom and started growing a really large business from there. Chris: So okay, as you got this fashion mind and creative mind, I mean, what were some of the things that you had to learn to grow that business to scale? Let's talk about that. I mean, and if you think about something like a failure man that went horrible, it went horribly wrong but by gosh, I'm glad it did because I learned so much. Elaine: Many failures and challenges and opportunities along the way. But I mean, I think that what I learned is the idea was really about offering sort of this accessible lady like elegant accessory line to women who I felt like that wasn't really happening like. As much as I loved Kate's bag, it was very basic at the time. It was like nylon little shopper bags, right. Chris: No offense Kate. Elaine: We love Kate, but now it's very novelty. So we all evolved, but at that time, yeah at that time it was just this really simple kind of utilitarian shopper bag. So I felt like I had a niche and like let's add novelty into the handbag space and the handbags were really becoming this sort of individualistic part of fashion. It's like, you know, wear a dark suit but what's the special handbag that just pops off? You Like what makes it almost that final touch. And so, for me, the challenges. I think what I learned is okay how do I retain the novelty and the specialty part, retain the price, keep the price where it needs to be, but also have a product that is appealing to a lot of women? Because I was growing scale, I mean I was like I want to open stores, I want to be in wholesale. I mean I had my own New York showroom and so some of the challenges, like an example was I decided to spin off and do a real high end more I don't know coutures, not the right line, but a real high end luxury line in Italy, but to keep my more accessible. So, like the bags were in from like 195 to 500. Chris: That was kind of where I saw it. Elaine: Well then I thought let me go off and try these $1,000 bags. Well, it ended up being a huge flop, which is okay. But I realized that by doing that I grew too fast and I was trying to appeal to a different customer too quickly before the brand had really penetrated and distributed distribution enough in those places. So it was like I jumped the gun and then I don't think I had exhausted the price point that I was in. So that was one failure or challenge that I kind of pulled back on and thought well, I think I did that too soon because you know it's a big investment, you're investing in real Python lovers and you're doing it in Italy and these little family and factories. But you learn from it. You know. You learn like no, go back to your core, don't get away from it so quickly. But you know. Chris: That's to me, what's so fascinating is getting back, you know, staying and knowing your core, because the story you just told I've heard told in many different industries, right, so it is applicable across industries. So, you kind of confused the identity of the company. Elaine: Yes, yes, that's exactly right. Chris: And you have to be careful as an entrepreneur. Be careful not to do that and if you're going to make sure you know. I think it's a delicate thing to do and it's interesting that it can happen in any industry. So right in the handbag and fashion, you can dilute that core customer who's so loyal to you. Elaine: And I think what happens with entrepreneurs that we all fall a little bit victim to and I think speaking someone might relate to this is that you're constantly thinking of the next thing because that's just you're always feeling that void will like that. I don't see enough of that. At that price point let's make it ourselves, and sometimes those ideas and that vision can get ahead of you, and then you have to be able to pivot and save yourself. Wait a minute, I think I jumped too quickly because entrepreneurism is really about creation or vision and filling the void and solving the. But sometimes you can almost go so far that you go too fast. Chris: How did you regulate yourself in? That was it? Was it surrounding yourself with, with the team? Was it just learning from trial and error? You go and I need to learn what I need to pump the brakes. Elaine: I mean it's a combination. I was lucky. I've been very blessed. My husband's always been a deep, strong partner to me and he helped me with. At first he didn't really get involved. He ended up full-time working with me in the business about after seven years of me being in business and then he started really helping me. But he was always a more cautious one to be like let's just, let's really exhaust what we're doing right now, but then seemed to have a really deep understanding of timing, of like. For example, I got into the shoe business and I was really nervous about that after what happened with the high-end collection and the shoe business did incredible for me and in fact I think if you talk to women today, that was really the category that they were the most wedded to so it, but it was the timing. I had enough, you know. I had enough brand awareness. I had multiple stores at the time. She was the loyalty and also the trust was built up at that time, whereas when I jumped to the real high-end bags I don't think I was quite there yet. So a lot of things are timing. You know when to be. You know you have to be really thoughtful about when you do big expansion moves, and I think the shoes happened at just the right time that she was ready for that. Chris: Yeah, a lot of it is timing right. Let's go back kind of the high-end handbag. So another thing that's hard for people, especially entrepreneurs, to do is to kind of admit that failure. How hard and what and what good advice would you give to say you got to know when, and it's okay, cut it and say this just wasn't, this didn't work, whatever it may be. Elaine: I think it's some one of the most important things you can do being a business owner and I mean honestly just being in business at a certain level is to know when to look in the mirror, be accountable and look at it not as a failure but as a huge opportunity for growth. And also, when that stuff happens and it's happened to me multiple times it also models for the people before you that it's okay. It's okay to go. You know this worked, this didn't, so how do we get out of this in the most thoughtful way? Also, the less you know the way, economically that doesn't hurt us as badly, but it having that courage to know when to sell, when to get out of a lease, when to liquidate a product that didn't sell. You know, those are all just parts of being in business, and I think what happens with people who end up really struggling as their egos become so involved and the pride takes over that they aren't willing to take a step back and say this doesn't mean I failed. This means that I have an opportunity to change something that didn't go as expected. Yeah, and that's also personal, like forget business how about marriages and friendships and relationships and how we navigate the earth. I mean, sometimes we just gotta look in the mirror and say we gotta redefine this yeah and that's actually a beautiful thing, and it's to me like winning in life. It's not failure. Chris: I agree. I mean, I think it's a mindset, and so I say all the time no bad experiences, just learning experiences that's it. Elaine: I'm inspired. Yes, that's it. I think we you could have answered the question okay so you have this going. Chris: You expand the shoes, you have stores that took people. So how did you build a team and how would you, when you look back, how? How would you verbalize and describe the culture that you built at a length turn? That's such a nice. Elaine: I love. Well, I loved all of that and I especially loved the culture and the brick and mortar aspect. I think that we spent so much time and energy focusing on the community and we had we're I like to say we were one of the first retailers in Texas to build a charity platform within our brick and mortar where we had an event-based charity platform. So each month we would hold several events and team up with charities and sort of have a win situation where we donate a certain amount of proceeds and then they get to experience Elaine Turner and what we're making and creating. And you know and today you see it across the board, with Tori Burch as a women's foundation and Kendra Scott has a huge event platform. But it was something that the brick and mortar stores were really an integrated, intimate experience with the community and it meant that's probably one of the biggest things that I take away that I'm the most proud of, is what I created within those stores. I really created a place for women to connect one with one another, to educate one another, to inspire one another and to give back to the community. Chris: Yeah, so it's beautiful, but it takes more than you if it's going to transcend right into the different brick and mortar locations because you can't be everywhere all the same time and I didn't know so what were some of the? Things that you did as you hired, whether it was store managers or you know, whatever your involvement was, to make sure that the people you were hiring connected with that vision and that passion. Elaine: It's. You know, hiring your team is the most foundational, essential part of how you win as an entrepreneur and it's not easy and sometimes even within that you make mistakes and vice-over I'm talking like that person might make a mistake that they even chose to come work for me. And then I realize that when the right fit on our side, it's very reciprocal. There's no one that's above anybody else, it's just sometimes the fit's not there. But we had become so well versed in who we were culturally that we were all about you know intimate experience. Giving back fun. Luxury was one of our big. We're all about having fun, it's not. We don't take ourselves too seriously. You don't have to wait in some line where there's a you know bouncer. You don't have to act like we're not too exclusive for you. We are an enveloping culture. And so it became where we actually and I'm saying at the beginning there were some probably bumpy roads, especially as we started getting into retail, but as we really started building this store footprint across Texas, we got pretty good at those managers and had really low turnover. You know where we really built and we had a store director who had come from Michael Kors who really understood how to build that team culture. But I mean, some of my most prized employees at the time were the people who are running those stores. They just got it, you know, and then sometimes it didn't, and that's okay too. Chris: It is. I mean, you're hiring is an imperfect process, right, and I think, but if you have a core identity that you know and you'll know when there's a fit and when there's not, exactly. And then the key is if it's not a fit to move fast. Elaine: Yeah, and they've all gone on. I mean it's just interesting you've asked me this question because we're going pretty personal. But you know, as I was launching edit, I started looking for some of my older leaders that I loved and they, I mean I look at my head and I'm like, oh, they're running. One's running Carolina Herrera here in Houston. Another one's store, director of Kate Spade, another that Jim's like well, we, you know, help to give them that foundation and that's awesome. But I mean nothing makes me feel better about myself to see some of those women soar in the retail space like a proud parent right yeah, and beautiful people. Chris: So that's good, that's so good. So as you ran the company, I know you got to a point where you decided it was kind of time to put things down. Yes, and you the original a late turn. You closed over a period of time. That had to be a pretty difficult decision, an emotional decision, because it was born out of passion right, it was very people come to those, you know, face those roadblocks or those forks in the road. You know how did you go about kind of handling that and then coming to grips that it was okay. Elaine: I mean, I think, just like anything, it's been a journey to get to the acceptance, or for me to find that acceptance, around that initial a lane turner designs journey. But there was a lot of things it wasn't an overnight thing that were leading up to me realizing that I needed to hit button in my life. And just like anything else, chris, it's never just usually one thing, it's usually a series of things. You know, I mean it's kind of morbid, but they always say, like a plane crash doesn't just happen with one wheel falling off, it's usually a series of things and at the time you know that's been almost six years retail had really shifted dramatically from more of a brick and mortar clientele experience to kind of the Amazon age being very real, which is all about ease and convenience, right and so, and then I'm always very transparent and vulnerable about my business. The capital was really put into the brick and mortar experience and I was behind on the digital aspects. I was, and that you know. That's just. I can totally admit that today. It wasn't that I didn't have it, but I didn't have it near like some of my competitors had it right and so I had to really come to grips with that reality that the store traffic had started to dwindle and women were really calling for the digital experience and saying, look, I don't want to find parking at your store, I don't want to do that anymore. I'm really moving into this idea that the package has dropped, I can return it and put a sticker on it, and so my husband and I were just sort of playing catch up. And then, alongside that challenge, which was immense, I personally have an autistic daughter who was also reaching teen tween age and starting to really have a deep awareness of her differences and struggling mental health wise, so I needed to find out how I could intervene and get her in a better place. And then both of my parents were diagnosed with terminal illnesses at the same time oh, wow and that's when I said okay, god, like I hear you, I get you and I'm not a failure. I need to change my life and I have, and I took those years to caretake and get people what they needed, because, even though I'm a passionate business person, I am a very driven, very ambitious. I am also just as passionate and just as I mean it's my whole life or my is my family, yeah, and so I knew that at that time I couldn't just be everything I I couldn't do it all at the same time. I realized I couldn't be and do it all at the same time, but that was okay that you know it's a beautiful story. Chris: I know there those things aren't fun to go through. I'm so sorry here, but they're seasons in life, right, and I think you know one of the. There's always lessons in every story and there's a lesson in what you just said to me and that is as passionate as you are about your business keep your priorities straight yeah, family always comes first, yeah and you're right, it didn't define who you were to shut the store down right. So that's you know it's a beautiful thing and I'm sure it was hard to go through yeah, I want to take you back to something you said because I think there is some learning in and I always have a question for you because you said look, I realized I was behind in the digital right. I was in the brick and mortar. When you look back at that, was that a function of you just truly believed brick and mortar was the way to go and this digital was a flash in the pan? Or do you think you miscalculated the digital presence and how it was really going to affect the industry and change the industry? Elaine: It was not at all discounting digital. I had a very built up website, three full-time employees who worked on my end, so it was honoring that digital was real. I had no idea how quickly the digital consumer you know landscape would shift. It was one of the most massive market shifts, I think if you've studied it. Chris: Yeah. Elaine: That's ever happened. It happened so fast. I mean, the Amazon age is real. It just took over business. It was just all of a sudden you're buying on this interface and you're not walking into stores as much and it was happened so fast. I remember my husband was like we've got to hire more digital people when we started hiring him. But as quickly as we'd hire him, it was just like our competitors were starting to offer, you know, free returns, all this stuff, like you will just come pick it up for you. Like it was, just became like. It was literally the way people were doing business and I just had no idea how quickly. I thought it would just seamlessly fit into the brick and mortar footprint. Yeah, it took over. I mean, women were like, well, just ship it to me, even just living. Like you live right here, I live over in Tanglewood, like you're you know you're saying no, you need to ship it to me, like even today I saw. Chris: Sitting at your yeah, you know, in your kitchen. I'm not coming, right, I'm not coming yet. I don't think you're dressed up, I'm not. So In hour two you're returning. Elaine: Yeah, so even our Houston base, which is our Houston Dallas our largest they were ordering on my website online and not coming in anymore, but I still wasn't able to provide the type of service that I think they were used to, even online. I was struggling to keep up with that, but what's interesting is how things come around in life, is I think there's been a real balance now? I think that's a little bit over. I think digital is still a value and I know you ordered lots of Christmas presents online. Chris: Almost all. Elaine: Right, but I still think brick and mortar now has eased back into people wanting more human interaction and tangible experience of product, especially luxury product. Yeah, I think people still want that. Chris: That's. What is funny is that I tell people the story. They've seen it in Holly's, my two girls. They create, like these, powerpoint presentations with pictures of their Christmas list with hyperlinks to the website. So yes, I did a lot of all of them. Elaine: I love hyperlinks to the website, but the higher end things. Chris: I didn't have to go to the store for a few things. So there you go. I'm a living example of what you just said. Elaine: Okay, Good, because there is a place for brick and mortar and for human interaction and human connection and educating them on product and servicing them. Tell me where you're going, tell me about you know what you need, and I think that's all finding much more of a balance now than it was six years ago. Chris: Yeah, yeah so let's talk a little bit about you as a leader. How would you define your leadership style and how did you try to show up? You know, in that 20-something year you were running a line Turner as a leader. Elaine: I think my biggest gift as a leader is I think I'm a very empathic person. I so I'm very committed to putting myself in somebody else's shoes and I think that's helped me especially lead women, because my 99% of my employees were women, and women hold a very complex position in society because of the roles and responsibilities that we have and the opportunities that we now have and the dual income families that we're creating, and so women are holding a lot of hats and are trying to be in due for a lot of people in their life. I like to call it the impossible paradigm Right. So I think that I held space for that and I think that when I look back as a leader, I hopefully felt like most of the people who work for me knew that they could pretty much come in and be vulnerable with me about what they could and could not do within the role that they had at my company. I also think that I'm a. I think I have vision. I don't want to like be arrogant, so I'm a visionary, but I think I have a lot of vision so I can look at things really high level and not get so in the weeds where we forget what we're doing as a company and what we're providing. So I'm very passionate about looking at things very philosophically and like well, what is it we're ultimately trying to provide? What's our cut through line here? What are we trying to do? I think that's another attribute that I am proud of. I think there's also challenges and opportunities and things where I've had to grow. I kind of lack structure. I've had to really lean in and and to how do I build more structure? I think a lot of entrepreneurs are sort of impulsive and are like out there trying to fill the void, and I think I've had to really understand guardrails and understand how people need structure. If they're going to work for me, so that's a big opportunity for me it's like okay, how do I provide them what they need to feel like they're doing their job the best that they can, and that's something I've had to work on. So I mean, you know, as a leader, it's just like you may just being human. You know there's some things that come really naturally to you and to me, but then there's other things. I'm like oh yeah, she really wants to have an understanding of her roles and responsibilities. Let me write that down. Chris: Write that down. Elaine: So I think it's just an evolution, it's a growth, you know very good. Chris: So we kind of started with edit and we've gone. I love what's going on, so I want to bring you back to that. You know you take a hiatus. Elaine: Obviously there was a pandemic in there and you're raising, as you said, you know teenage daughter and. What was? Chris: it that told you it was time to get back in the game. Elaine: Yeah, it's such a profound question I had. No, I was really tunnel visioned for probably three and a half years there, where I was just in this mode of caretaking and frontline decision making for my parents and my daughter and just in my husband had just recreated his whole deal and he was sort of out there sustaining us, you know which we had never in our whole marriage, had never not both worked. So that was a real interesting how we were going to figure each other out with our roles changing so much. Like I went through a deep identity crisis of like well, who am I now If I'm not this owner and this fashion person. I'm like you know who am I. I had a big grief process over kind of unraveling that, and he did too with me, you know. So it was an interesting watching us try to figure each other out. But we actually made this decision to once our daughter transitioned to this therapeutic boarding school that we found for her that she's done beautifully well at. But it was really hard for my husband and I. We went and lived in Santa Fe for six months and sort of decided that we needed a healing opportunity. You know of her kind of letting leaving the home and edit was kind of born in that sacred space and I think it's because, chris, I had a moment that I could actually create space within myself for something new for me, because for so many years it was all about somebody else. Sure, I was trying to kind of save these people that I love so dearly. And so I started talking to my husband saying you know, I have some ideas of something that maybe we could think about, and he's hugely entrepreneurial too, which is a whole other conversation we can have. Chris: But he was. Maybe we'll have him on. Elaine: He is huge and he was like let's talk about it. And so we started brainstorming over you know, burritos and we sit in town and I started telling him kind of my thoughts about you know, tanglewood needs this new idea and we need to serve women and brick and mortar. You know things are coming back. So I read all the time about consumer, you know the product sector and retail, and he was like I'm in, I think we could do it, I think we need to bring that to the customer, and so it just slowly started seeping into me and then I started going to market and he would come with me and finding all these unique lines, esoteric lines that nobody had heard of, like a lady from Copenhagen was the first person to bring her to the US and doing all these things where I was like I'm going to take a risk, and she did great. I mean, we just had three months of selling with her, but anyway. So just really leaning into this idea of finding these really unique lines, and it took us about a year. I mean we did a year of like negotiating the lease and meeting the contractors and coming up with the store idea, the space, and I'd love for you to come by and see it. Chris: I've got to come by, so you know, tell where is the store now. Elaine: So it's on Woodway and Voss, right across from Second Baptist Church, so literally kind of in the heart of Tanglewood residential area right by that Krabah's over there. Chris: Oh, perfect. Yeah, Everyone knows what that is, I know so. So you second go around. You opened just recently, like a couple months ago. Elaine: Yeah, open October 9th. So, yeah, what's today's? Chris: January 10th. So yeah, you've just been a few months Going. Well, I take it. Elaine: It's great. I mean it was just a total whirlwind because it's funny, I opened the store of course holiday time period it's like you know I'm trying to get press, I'm opening up during the busiest season of the you know the year and retail, and so it went great and I we beat all the goals that we had. But it's been also kind of a internal reset for me to kind of what is that balance for me, being an owner again but not losing kind of my sense of equanimity, if you will. Like I can go real strong, real singular into my career. And I've had to kind of really do a lot of self-awareness work about in Kaling this was a lot, so don't lose yourself in it and because you don't want to lose the joy in it. And so there's been, you know, even in the three months, there's been some setbacks that have happened already. There's been some huge wins that have happened already. I've had to hire a new team, and so you know I'm not going to lie and say, oh, it's just all like, oh, this perfect law, I mean it's been where. I'm like, oh shit, I got to fix that, I got to do that. But you know I'm doing it and I wouldn't be doing anything else. Chris: So how would you compare kind of starting the first one to starting the second one? Elaine: I'll tell you what you know. I want you to answer that, but I'll tell you you know. Chris: I remember when we were about to have a second child and I looked at someone and they're like oh, people think, oh, you got this, you know what you're doing. And I said you told me something you've done for the second time in your life and you felt like an expert, right? Oh, my God, it's so true, I mean it's been so. Elaine: It's so funny because the first time I was so young and you know, with youth comes a nice amount of ignorance, and so you have no idea what you're about to do or the consequences of what you're about to do, and you're like, yeah, I got this. You know, I'm going to put some little money in, we're going to start this thing. And I started getting handbags shipped to me from Brooklyn in my living room and I had a baby at the time and I just thought, oh, I'm going to figure this out. But when you're young, you know, you feel good, your body works, you're like I've got it. And then, as you age and you understand what really the consequences are of choices that you make, you become much more thoughtful and mindful and cautious about what you're going to actually do and the choices that you make in your life. And so edit was very mindfully thought out before I did it, before I signed that lease. But with that said, it's been a whirlwind, you know, and so, and I'm older and so I don't have the reserves. I'd really believe that I don't have the reserves that I had. So it's funny that you asked me that, because my new year goal for edit was simplification. I need to kind of pull back a little bit, simplify some of these. You know, I get real ahead of myself, you know, and kind of look at it through a clearer eyes. And how do I build a sustainable business with a digital footprint and a brick and mortar footprint and how do those seamlessly go together? And so it's really been about how do I make this something that is balanced and joyful. And even in the hard stuff I can see the joy and it doesn't get away from me, it doesn't go off the rails, you know, but it's hard, I mean. The second one isn't necessarily easier. Chris: No, it's just different. That makes sense to me, right? That's probably the best way to put it. And what a wonderful story, and you're just a joy to be with. Elaine: So we're going to go a little personal to wrap this thing up what was your first job. My first job was working at Sugar Creek Country Clubs tennis shop, but are you selling tennis clothes? Well, I was streaming rackets as a big tennis player. Chris: And. Elaine: I was a teenager, but I guess, if you're saying my first kind, of real job. Chris: that was the job. That's what I was looking for, Like what you did when you had your first job to make a paycheck. Elaine: The tennis. I worked at the tennis shop. Chris: And so my favorite question, especially for the lifelong Texans, is what do you? Prefer Tex-Mex or barbecue. Elaine: Tex-Mex. Chris: Okay, no hesitation. Finally, we'll wrap this sort of on this question. If you could take a 30 day sabbatical, where would you go and what would you do? Elaine: I go to Santa Fe, I love Santa Fe, okay, and I would do grounding, healing nature Kind of. I feel like that place kind of resets your soul and so I'd engage in being outside and being in the food, the food there is so wonderful, but yeah, I do Santa Fe. Chris: Perfect, Elaine. Thank you so much for taking the time. Congratulations on the second go round with edit. Elaine: There we go, it's going to be successful right. Chris: So thank you, and we look forward to coming to the store and maybe we'll do it in there. Elaine: Oh, I'd love it, and thank you, I'm grateful. Special Guest: Elaine Turner.

Ahmad Muqtasid is the Lead Pastor at Mosaic Church Conway in Conway, Arkansas. Mosaic Conway is a church of unity pursuing to be a multi-ethnic church in Central Arkansas. Ahmad also serves as the Coaching Champion for Arkansas Baptist churches. He served as full-time Associate Pastor of Second Baptist Church in the Greater Little Rock Metro-Area for 5 ½ years. Ahmad is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and a graduate of Liberty University's School of Ministry, and he's currently in the process of completing a Doctor of Ministry in Expository Preaching and Teaching. Ahmad is married to his college sweetheart, Tagel Muqtasid, and she has served alongside Ahmad throughout their ministry. They have two beautiful children, one daughter, Abigail, and one son, James. To reach out to Ahmad or to find out more about Mosaic Church Conway, email him at Ahmad@mosaicconway.net --------------------------  If you want to help us transform the lives of even MORE MEN for God's glory, please take a minute to leave us a helpful REVIEW on iTunes: http://www.rmcpodcast.com and SHARE this podcast with any young man (or men) you're mentoring or discipling. And make sure you don't miss an interview episode by signing up for our Man-to-Man eNewsletter at http://www.RealMenConnect.com, and grab your FREE copy of the Real Men Victory Tracker.    Are you stuck? Want to go to the next level in your marriage, career, business, or ministry?  Then maybe it's time you got a coach. ALL CHAMPIONS have one. Let me coach you to help you strengthen your faith, improve your marriage, spiritually lead your family, achieve more, balance your time, grow your ministry, or even stop an addiction. Click here for details: http://www.RMCfree.com    Talk with Dr. Joe 1-on-1: Want to talk to the host? Time slots are limited, but Dr. Joe takes on a few Breakthrough Calls a week to personally help you with your personal life, work, and family challenges.  The call is FREE, but slots are limited to ONE call only.  NO RESCHEDULES.  Just click on the link below and select the BREAKTHROUGH CALL option to set up an appointment: https://TalkwithDrJoe.com   Also join us on: Join the Real Men 300: http://www.RealMen300.com Facebook Group: http://www.realmenuniversity.com/ YouTube: http://www.RealMenTraining.com Facebook: @realdrjoemartin Instagram: @realdrjoemartin Twitter: @professormartin

Welcome to the Instant Trivia podcast episode 1027, where we ask the best trivia on the Internet. Round 1. Category: Finish The Terrible Rhyme 1: "Diplomacy in action", which really does sound great / Is on the website of the cabinet department that we call.... State. 2: Killing a dragon named python at Delphi, is that too much to swallow? / It wasn't odd for this Greek god, the one known as.... Apollo. 3: To gather, rouse or summon / You better believe it, buster / It's this word that will be heard / This is the word you'll.... muster. 4: "Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel" was not writ just to shame us / It is, however, right here now, from the Bible's book of.... Amos. 5: "The best is the enemy of the good"--no dolt, there / It must be the enlightened author, Monsieur.... Voltaire. Round 2. Category: Detroit: News Clues 1: (I'm Kimberly Gill.) Detroit was often the last stop before freedom on this network, and the Second Baptist Church, still a vibrant house of worship, was an important station. the Underground Railroad. 2: (I'm Rhonda Walker.) Speaking in Tiger Stadium in 1990, four months after his release from prison, this man quoted Marvin Gaye, "Brother, brother, there's far too many of you dying". Nelson Mandela. 3: (I'm Devin Scillian.) On October 3, 1997, the International Hockey League's Detroit Vipers welcomed a new teammate playing in his sixth decade; this 69-year-old ex-Red Wing, Alex Trebek's hero, took a 46-second shift in his very last pro game. Gordie Howe. 4: (I'm Evrod Cassimy.) After GM's president told Detroit car executives, "We must outbuild Hitler", Ford's Willow Run plant churned out the B-24 Liberator, a 4-engine this type of warplane at an unbelievable rate of one per hour. a bomber. 5: (I'm Kimberly Gill.) December 10, 2014 was a bright day in a long saga as Detroit officially exited the largest municipal one of these in the history of the United States, and emergency manager Kevyn Orr's resignation took effect. a bankruptcy. Round 3. Category: You Can'T 1: ...buy more of the golden Kellogg's cereal named for this "Star Wars" droid; it was discontinued years ago. C-3PO. 2: ...move this kind of big rock if it's on public property in the Colorado city of the same name; the municipal code says no. a boulder. 3: ...change gears in a manual transmission auto without first disengaging and then re-engaging this. the clutch. 4: ...go boating in Owens Lake near the California-Nevada border; it dried up in the 1920s after its water was sent to this city. Los Angeles. 5: ...visit Swaziland any more; in 2018 it changed its name to this. Eswatini. Round 4. Category: Friend Like Me 1: Mary Lincoln said her "best living friend" was her dressmaker Lizzie Keckley, who'd bought her own way out of this. slavery. 2: This physicist wrote a foreword to the bio of his German pal Emanuel Lasker, world chess champ from 1896 to 1921. Einstein. 3: Marilyn Monroe adored this jazz great and helped her get a booking at a Hollywood hot spot. Ella Fitzgerald. 4: George Vancouver named the highest point in Washington state for his friend Pete, this British admiral. (Peter) Rainier. 5: Elizabeth Cady Stanton wrote a celebratory poem for the 80th birthday of this "life-long friend" and fellow crusader. Susan B. Anthony. Round 5. Category: Flag 'Em Down 1: The Alamo is located in this city and is depicted on its flag. San Antonio. 2: This descriptive nickname of the U.S. flag was coined by Francis Scott Key. the Star-Spangled Banner. 3: The

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Thursday, Nov. 23  The WV Folklife Apprenticeship Program helps carry on the soul food tradition. Our nation's capital gets a second Christmas tree from the mighty Mon Forest. And California native settles in Hinton and opens Lucky Rivers Cafe…on today's daily304.  #1 – From WV PUBCAST – It's a warm spring afternoon at Manna House Ministries, a Second Baptist Church in Beckley, West Virginia. Xavier Oglesby is singing his favorite hymn as he prepares a macaroni salad in the church's kitchen.  From macaroni salad to biscuits to chitlins, soul food is a cooking style that is intrinsic to Black culture both in the South and Appalachia. More so than the food itself, it's the way a meal comes together that makes soul food, soul food. “When you think of soul food, that's the first thing you think of is Black folks. Because we were able to take nothing and make something out of it for a meal, and that's the way it is even today,” Oglesby said.  Oglesby has been cooking since he was a teenager, having learned from four generations of his family. Now, he is teaching his niece, Brooklyn Oglesby, how to cook soul food and family recipes. He's doing this through the West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program. Folklife apprenticeship pairs are carrying on community-based traditional art forms and cultural practices — from fiddle instrument repair to mushroom foraging — all with the goal of passing on stories, skill sets and traditional knowledge.  “I'm hoping I can raise two sons that know how to cook,” Brooklynn said. “I'm hoping I can keep that going and teach my kids, and hopefully they'll be better cooks than me one day.” Read more: https://wvpublic.org/w-va-folklife-apprenticeship-pair-passing-on-family-soul-food-traditions/   #2 – From WV PUBCAST – It's going to be a wild and wonderful Christmas in Washington D.C. as West Virginia sends a second Christmas tree to the nation's capital this year. A 40-foot Norway spruce from the Monongahela National Forest is being placed on the Ellipse at the White House. It replaces the previous White House Christmas tree, which had to be removed after developing a fungal disease. The tree joins a 63-foot Norway spruce that will be displayed on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Both trees came from the Monongahela National Natonal Forest.  Read more: https://wvpublic.org/2nd-tree-headed-to-nations-capital-from-mon-national-forest/   #3 – From WV LIVING – After moving to West Virginia for college and deciding she wanted to stay here, California-born Sarah Gleason spent several years working as a volunteer and teacher.  Inspired by Anthony Bourdain's iconic book “No Reservations,” she decided to quit her teaching job and start cooking for a living. She started out working in a small restaurant in Hinton, until it closed during COVID-19, then bounced around a few restaurants in Lewisburg and Beckley—and even did a little catering out of her home. Now she's opened her own restaurant in Hinton, the Lucky Rivers Cafe. The menu features mouth-watering sandwiches like the Prime Rib Gyro and Gail's Pimiento Cheese, as well as the restaurant's signature Buddha Belly Bowl. We'd tell you the ingredients but the list is long and it will make you hungry, so you'll have to see for yourself at www.luckyriverscafe.com. Read more: https://wvliving.com/a-lucky-coincidence/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

Act One Podcast - Episode 38 - Interview with Producers, Aaron Benward and Cliff Young.Aaron Benward comes to Watershed Motion Pictures by way of the music business where he started his career as one half of the award-winning father/son duo Aaron Jeoffrey. He followed that up as the founding member of the 3 time CMA and ACM nominated duo Blue County. Aaron's creative skills continue into his acting career where he can be seen recently in the Netflix Original series “The Ranch”, Sony's “The Song” and City on a Hill's “Acts of God.” He joined the Watershed team by packaging and negotiating a worldwide distribution deal for The Watershed Short Films Collection.Cliff Young began his career as a founding member of Caedmon's Call. The band made 16 albums, sold over two million records and toured 48 states over 15 years. Cliff also served on the board of the Dalit Freedom Network, which helps the “untouchables” of India. Cliff began working full time for Second Baptist Church in 2006 as the Media Director. Cliff oversees the worldwide broadcast The Winning Walk and also has produced commercials, documentaries, and short films for the past 11 years.GOD. FAMILY. FOOTBALL. features the rich, diverse personal stories of Evangel's players, coaching staff, and the broader Shreveport community, set against the dramatic backdrop of the 2022 Louisiana high school football season. With the perennial high school football powerhouse—14 state championships in the last 20 years—coming off their worst season in school history, redemption is everyone's goal. Pastor Denny Duron has returned to the head coaching position to lead this talented group of kids, with dreams of playing in college and the NFL, into prominence on the field, while molding them into future leaders off of it.  As the team faces struggle and triumph on and off the field, they are united by coach Duron's formula for success: “God first, family second, and football third.”GOD. FAMILY. FOOTBALL. hails from Propagate and is executive produced by Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, and Drew Buckley. The series was created and executive produced by Aaron Benward of Watershed. Jared Goetz of Ascending Media Group, NFL quarterback Russell Wilson in association with Why Not You Productions and Rob Gehring serve as executive producers. Cliff Young, Cody Bess, Scott Brignac, Chelsea Friedland and Matt Woolsey serve as co-executive producers.GOD. FAMILY. FOOTBALL. is available to stream beginning September 1st on Amazon's Freevee channel.Trailer: https://youtu.be/dqUkf2DikBA?si=uOHPX4bGr-2NlWZcThe Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective.Support the show

A weekly podcast exploring stories at the intersection of faith and culture through an inclusive Christian lens. This week: Mitch and Missy talk about Baylor's behavior toward the LGBTQIA+ community. Guests: Rev. Preston Clegg and GFM media producer Cliff Vaughn talk about GFM's new narrative podcast on Second Baptist Church in downtown Little Rock, "A Second Language." "Good Faith Weekly" is produced out of Norman, Oklahoma. Music is by Pond5. Learn more at www.GoodFaithMedia.org and @GFMediaOrg Links: "A Second Language" Podcast ~ https://goodfaithmedia.org/a-second-language/ Second Baptist Church ~ https://2bclr.com/ Good Faith Media on socials ~ @GFMediaOrg

In episode 6 of "A Second Language," Second Baptist Church in downtown Little Rock faces a new challenge. Release date: August 23, 2023. About the podcast: How does a church live out its mission amid a changing culture? "A Second Language" from Good Faith Media is a six-part narrative podcast about Second Baptist Church in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas, and how its location and leadership have shaped its witness. Founded in 1884, the church grew as a hub for powerful religious and political personalities on local, state and national levels. Its influence touched on major issues of the day, including alcohol and race. A turning point for the church occurred in 1957 during the city's integration crisis, when the church's Rev. Dale Cowling and Congressman Brooks Hays were seen as too soft on the race issue. The church continued to evolve, leading on some critical issues while avoiding others, all in the context of rapid cultural change. The podcast is a story about a mostly white Baptist church in the South and what its experience can teach us about life and death, hypocrisy and honesty, faith and fear – the risk and reward -- of talking about hard things. "A Second Language" includes interviews with church leaders and members, historians, interfaith friends and community leaders, as well as archival material. “A Second Language” was written, produced and narrated by Cliff Vaughn of Good Faith Media. The executive producer was Mitch Randall. Please like, rate and share the podcast. Learn more at GoodFaithMedia.org. Thanks to our interviewees: Kwami Abdul-Bey, Lani Allenbaugh, Rebecca Cowling, Preston Clegg, Chris Ellis, Wendell Griffen, Stephanie Harp, Eric Higgins, Ray Higgins, John Kirk, Gene Levy, Jim and Gayle Maloch, Jenna Sullivan and Sara Tariq. Special thanks to Starlette Thomas, who hosts “The Raceless Gospel” podcast from Good Faith Media – and to Cally Chisholm for the artwork. And huge thanks to Kevin and Angie Heifner. Thanks to Lisa Speer and Taylor Lawson at the Ouachita Baptist University Archives, Taffey Hall at the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives, Carolyn Wilson in the Special Collections Research Center at the William & Mary Libraries, and Casiday Long in Special Collections at the University of Arkansas. Other material comes from the archives at NASA, the Library of Congress, and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. Thanks to Jim Pfeifer and Sandra Hubbard, as well as Billie and Marc Heflin. Thanks to Patrick Fleming and Debbie Huff, Marquis Hunt, Joe and Charlotte Jeffers, Connie New, David Rice and everyone at the Bramble Market. Thanks also to the Community Bakery in downtown Little Rock. The music comes from Pond5. If you're interested in learning more history about Little Rock and Arkansas, visit the fabulous EncyclopediaOfArkansas.net, a project of the Central Arkansas Library System. See the podcast's website for more helpful resources. Check out other podcasts from Good Faith Media, including the first narrative podcast, “Brother Molly,” about the life and work of theologian Molly T. Marshall. Links: A Second Language: https://goodfaithmedia.org/a-second-language Explore more Good Faith Media podcasts: https://goodfaithmedia.org/podcasts/ Good Faith Media: https://goodfaithmedia.org/ Social: @GFMediaOrg

In episode 1 of "A Second Language," Second Baptist Church in downtown Little Rock finds itself at the crossroads of politics. Release date: August 23, 2023. About the podcast: How does a church live out its mission amid a changing culture? "A Second Language" from Good Faith Media is a six-part narrative podcast about Second Baptist Church in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas, and how its location and leadership have shaped its witness. Founded in 1884, the church grew as a hub for powerful religious and political personalities on local, state and national levels. Its influence touched on major issues of the day, including alcohol and race. A turning point for the church occurred in 1957 during the city's integration crisis, when the church's Rev. Dale Cowling and Congressman Brooks Hays were seen as too soft on the race issue. The church continued to evolve, leading on some critical issues while avoiding others, all in the context of rapid cultural change. The podcast is a story about a mostly white Baptist church in the South and what its experience can teach us about life and death, hypocrisy and honesty, faith and fear – the risk and reward -- of talking about hard things. "A Second Language" includes interviews with church leaders and members, historians, interfaith friends and community leaders, as well as archival material. “A Second Language” was written, produced and narrated by Cliff Vaughn of Good Faith Media. The executive producer was Mitch Randall. Please like, rate and share the podcast. Learn more at GoodFaithMedia.org. Thanks to our interviewees: Kwami Abdul-Bey, Lani Allenbaugh, Rebecca Cowling, Preston Clegg, Chris Ellis, Wendell Griffen, Stephanie Harp, Eric Higgins, Ray Higgins, John Kirk, Gene Levy, Jim and Gayle Maloch, Jenna Sullivan and Sara Tariq. Special thanks to Starlette Thomas, who hosts “The Raceless Gospel” podcast from Good Faith Media – and to Cally Chisholm for the artwork. And huge thanks to Kevin and Angie Heifner. Thanks to Lisa Speer and Taylor Lawson at the Ouachita Baptist University Archives, Taffey Hall at the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives, Carolyn Wilson in the Special Collections Research Center at the William & Mary Libraries, and Casiday Long in Special Collections at the University of Arkansas. Other material comes from the archives at NASA, the Library of Congress, and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. Thanks to Jim Pfeifer and Sandra Hubbard, as well as Billie and Marc Heflin. Thanks to Patrick Fleming and Debbie Huff, Marquis Hunt, Joe and Charlotte Jeffers, Connie New, David Rice and everyone at the Bramble Market. Thanks also to the Community Bakery in downtown Little Rock. The music comes from Pond5. If you're interested in learning more history about Little Rock and Arkansas, visit the fabulous EncyclopediaOfArkansas.net, a project of the Central Arkansas Library System. See the podcast's website for more helpful resources. Check out other podcasts from Good Faith Media, including the first narrative podcast, “Brother Molly,” about the life and work of theologian Molly T. Marshall. Links: A Second Language: https://goodfaithmedia.org/a-second-language Explore more Good Faith Media podcasts: https://goodfaithmedia.org/podcasts/ Good Faith Media: https://goodfaithmedia.org/ Social: @GFMediaOrg

In episode 5 of "A Second Language," Second Baptist Church in downtown Little Rock sees its neighborhood changing. Release date: August 23, 2023. About the podcast: How does a church live out its mission amid a changing culture? "A Second Language" from Good Faith Media is a six-part narrative podcast about Second Baptist Church in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas, and how its location and leadership have shaped its witness. Founded in 1884, the church grew as a hub for powerful religious and political personalities on local, state and national levels. Its influence touched on major issues of the day, including alcohol and race. A turning point for the church occurred in 1957 during the city's integration crisis, when the church's Rev. Dale Cowling and Congressman Brooks Hays were seen as too soft on the race issue. The church continued to evolve, leading on some critical issues while avoiding others, all in the context of rapid cultural change. The podcast is a story about a mostly white Baptist church in the South and what its experience can teach us about life and death, hypocrisy and honesty, faith and fear – the risk and reward -- of talking about hard things. "A Second Language" includes interviews with church leaders and members, historians, interfaith friends and community leaders, as well as archival material. “A Second Language” was written, produced and narrated by Cliff Vaughn of Good Faith Media. The executive producer was Mitch Randall. Please like, rate and share the podcast. Learn more at GoodFaithMedia.org. Thanks to our interviewees: Kwami Abdul-Bey, Lani Allenbaugh, Rebecca Cowling, Preston Clegg, Chris Ellis, Wendell Griffen, Stephanie Harp, Eric Higgins, Ray Higgins, John Kirk, Gene Levy, Jim and Gayle Maloch, Jenna Sullivan and Sara Tariq. Special thanks to Starlette Thomas, who hosts “The Raceless Gospel” podcast from Good Faith Media – and to Cally Chisholm for the artwork. And huge thanks to Kevin and Angie Heifner. Thanks to Lisa Speer and Taylor Lawson at the Ouachita Baptist University Archives, Taffey Hall at the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives, Carolyn Wilson in the Special Collections Research Center at the William & Mary Libraries, and Casiday Long in Special Collections at the University of Arkansas. Other material comes from the archives at NASA, the Library of Congress, and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. Thanks to Jim Pfeifer and Sandra Hubbard, as well as Billie and Marc Heflin. Thanks to Patrick Fleming and Debbie Huff, Marquis Hunt, Joe and Charlotte Jeffers, Connie New, David Rice and everyone at the Bramble Market. Thanks also to the Community Bakery in downtown Little Rock. The music comes from Pond5. If you're interested in learning more history about Little Rock and Arkansas, visit the fabulous EncyclopediaOfArkansas.net, a project of the Central Arkansas Library System. See the podcast's website for more helpful resources. Check out other podcasts from Good Faith Media, including the first narrative podcast, “Brother Molly,” about the life and work of theologian Molly T. Marshall. Links: A Second Language: https://goodfaithmedia.org/a-second-language Explore more Good Faith Media podcasts: https://goodfaithmedia.org/podcasts/ Good Faith Media: https://goodfaithmedia.org/ Social: @GFMediaOrg

In episode 4 of "A Second Language," Second Baptist Church in downtown Little Rock deals with fallout over the integration crisis. Release date: August 23, 2023. About the podcast: How does a church live out its mission amid a changing culture? "A Second Language" from Good Faith Media is a six-part narrative podcast about Second Baptist Church in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas, and how its location and leadership have shaped its witness. Founded in 1884, the church grew as a hub for powerful religious and political personalities on local, state and national levels. Its influence touched on major issues of the day, including alcohol and race. A turning point for the church occurred in 1957 during the city's integration crisis, when the church's Rev. Dale Cowling and Congressman Brooks Hays were seen as too soft on the race issue. The church continued to evolve, leading on some critical issues while avoiding others, all in the context of rapid cultural change. The podcast is a story about a mostly white Baptist church in the South and what its experience can teach us about life and death, hypocrisy and honesty, faith and fear – the risk and reward -- of talking about hard things. "A Second Language" includes interviews with church leaders and members, historians, interfaith friends and community leaders, as well as archival material. “A Second Language” was written, produced and narrated by Cliff Vaughn of Good Faith Media. The executive producer was Mitch Randall. Please like, rate and share the podcast. Learn more at GoodFaithMedia.org. Thanks to our interviewees: Kwami Abdul-Bey, Lani Allenbaugh, Rebecca Cowling, Preston Clegg, Chris Ellis, Wendell Griffen, Stephanie Harp, Eric Higgins, Ray Higgins, John Kirk, Gene Levy, Jim and Gayle Maloch, Jenna Sullivan and Sara Tariq. Special thanks to Starlette Thomas, who hosts “The Raceless Gospel” podcast from Good Faith Media – and to Cally Chisholm for the artwork. And huge thanks to Kevin and Angie Heifner. Thanks to Lisa Speer and Taylor Lawson at the Ouachita Baptist University Archives, Taffey Hall at the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives, Carolyn Wilson in the Special Collections Research Center at the William & Mary Libraries, and Casiday Long in Special Collections at the University of Arkansas. Other material comes from the archives at NASA, the Library of Congress, and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. Thanks to Jim Pfeifer and Sandra Hubbard, as well as Billie and Marc Heflin. Thanks to Patrick Fleming and Debbie Huff, Marquis Hunt, Joe and Charlotte Jeffers, Connie New, David Rice and everyone at the Bramble Market. Thanks also to the Community Bakery in downtown Little Rock. The music comes from Pond5. If you're interested in learning more history about Little Rock and Arkansas, visit the fabulous EncyclopediaOfArkansas.net, a project of the Central Arkansas Library System. See the podcast's website for more helpful resources. Check out other podcasts from Good Faith Media, including the first narrative podcast, “Brother Molly,” about the life and work of theologian Molly T. Marshall. Links: A Second Language: https://goodfaithmedia.org/a-second-language Explore more Good Faith Media podcasts: https://goodfaithmedia.org/podcasts/ Good Faith Media: https://goodfaithmedia.org/ Social: @GFMediaOrg

In episode 3 of "A Second Language," Second Baptist Church in downtown Little Rock struggles with conformity on race. Release date: August 23, 2023. About the podcast: How does a church live out its mission amid a changing culture? "A Second Language" from Good Faith Media is a six-part narrative podcast about Second Baptist Church in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas, and how its location and leadership have shaped its witness. Founded in 1884, the church grew as a hub for powerful religious and political personalities on local, state and national levels. Its influence touched on major issues of the day, including alcohol and race. A turning point for the church occurred in 1957 during the city's integration crisis, when the church's Rev. Dale Cowling and Congressman Brooks Hays were seen as too soft on the race issue. The church continued to evolve, leading on some critical issues while avoiding others, all in the context of rapid cultural change. The podcast is a story about a mostly white Baptist church in the South and what its experience can teach us about life and death, hypocrisy and honesty, faith and fear – the risk and reward -- of talking about hard things. "A Second Language" includes interviews with church leaders and members, historians, interfaith friends and community leaders, as well as archival material. “A Second Language” was written, produced and narrated by Cliff Vaughn of Good Faith Media. The executive producer was Mitch Randall. Please like, rate and share the podcast. Learn more at GoodFaithMedia.org. Thanks to our interviewees: Kwami Abdul-Bey, Lani Allenbaugh, Rebecca Cowling, Preston Clegg, Chris Ellis, Wendell Griffen, Stephanie Harp, Eric Higgins, Ray Higgins, John Kirk, Gene Levy, Jim and Gayle Maloch, Jenna Sullivan and Sara Tariq. Special thanks to Starlette Thomas, who hosts “The Raceless Gospel” podcast from Good Faith Media – and to Cally Chisholm for the artwork. And huge thanks to Kevin and Angie Heifner. Thanks to Lisa Speer and Taylor Lawson at the Ouachita Baptist University Archives, Taffey Hall at the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives, Carolyn Wilson in the Special Collections Research Center at the William & Mary Libraries, and Casiday Long in Special Collections at the University of Arkansas. Other material comes from the archives at NASA, the Library of Congress, and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. Thanks to Jim Pfeifer and Sandra Hubbard, as well as Billie and Marc Heflin. Thanks to Patrick Fleming and Debbie Huff, Marquis Hunt, Joe and Charlotte Jeffers, Connie New, David Rice and everyone at the Bramble Market. Thanks also to the Community Bakery in downtown Little Rock. The music comes from Pond5. If you're interested in learning more history about Little Rock and Arkansas, visit the fabulous EncyclopediaOfArkansas.net, a project of the Central Arkansas Library System. See the podcast's website for more helpful resources. Check out other podcasts from Good Faith Media, including the first narrative podcast, “Brother Molly,” about the life and work of theologian Molly T. Marshall. Links: A Second Language: https://goodfaithmedia.org/a-second-language Explore more Good Faith Media podcasts: https://goodfaithmedia.org/podcasts/ Good Faith Media: https://goodfaithmedia.org/ Social: @GFMediaOrg

In episode 2 of "A Second Language," Second Baptist Church in downtown Little Rock boots the governor -- but ignores a bigger problem. Release date: August 23, 2023. About the podcast: How does a church live out its mission amid a changing culture? "A Second Language" from Good Faith Media is a six-part narrative podcast about Second Baptist Church in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas, and how its location and leadership have shaped its witness. Founded in 1884, the church grew as a hub for powerful religious and political personalities on local, state and national levels. Its influence touched on major issues of the day, including alcohol and race. A turning point for the church occurred in 1957 during the city's integration crisis, when the church's Rev. Dale Cowling and Congressman Brooks Hays were seen as too soft on the race issue. The church continued to evolve, leading on some critical issues while avoiding others, all in the context of rapid cultural change. The podcast is a story about a mostly white Baptist church in the South and what its experience can teach us about life and death, hypocrisy and honesty, faith and fear – the risk and reward -- of talking about hard things. "A Second Language" includes interviews with church leaders and members, historians, interfaith friends and community leaders, as well as archival material. “A Second Language” was written, produced and narrated by Cliff Vaughn of Good Faith Media. The executive producer was Mitch Randall. Please like, rate and share the podcast. Learn more at GoodFaithMedia.org. Thanks to our interviewees: Kwami Abdul-Bey, Lani Allenbaugh, Rebecca Cowling, Preston Clegg, Chris Ellis, Wendell Griffen, Stephanie Harp, Eric Higgins, Ray Higgins, John Kirk, Gene Levy, Jim and Gayle Maloch, Jenna Sullivan and Sara Tariq. Special thanks to Starlette Thomas, who hosts “The Raceless Gospel” podcast from Good Faith Media – and to Cally Chisholm for the artwork. And huge thanks to Kevin and Angie Heifner. Thanks to Lisa Speer and Taylor Lawson at the Ouachita Baptist University Archives, Taffey Hall at the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives, Carolyn Wilson in the Special Collections Research Center at the William & Mary Libraries, and Casiday Long in Special Collections at the University of Arkansas. Other material comes from the archives at NASA, the Library of Congress, and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. Thanks to Jim Pfeifer and Sandra Hubbard, as well as Billie and Marc Heflin. Thanks to Patrick Fleming and Debbie Huff, Marquis Hunt, Joe and Charlotte Jeffers, Connie New, David Rice and everyone at the Bramble Market. Thanks also to the Community Bakery in downtown Little Rock. The music comes from Pond5. If you're interested in learning more history about Little Rock and Arkansas, visit the fabulous EncyclopediaOfArkansas.net, a project of the Central Arkansas Library System. See the podcast's website for more helpful resources. Check out other podcasts from Good Faith Media, including the first narrative podcast, “Brother Molly,” about the life and work of theologian Molly T. Marshall. Links: A Second Language: https://goodfaithmedia.org/a-second-language Explore more Good Faith Media podcasts: https://goodfaithmedia.org/podcasts/ Good Faith Media: https://goodfaithmedia.org/ Social: @GFMediaOrg

On this episode we are joined by Rev. Dr. Michael Nabors, Senior Pastor of the Historic Second Baptist Church of Evanston, IL. Recently, Second Baptist Church has become a leading faith center in America in facilitating Race Talk Solidarity Circles in local communities. Since 2019, Dr. Nabors has been part of the Steering Committee for Evanston Reparations, the first municipal reparations program in the United States, allocating 10 million dollars to Black Evanstonians to repair historical damages due to racism. We invited Rev. Dr. Nabors to speak with us because the bulk of truth-telling and reparations work happening in the U.S. today is taking place on a local level. Dr. Nabors is doing that work. We need to know how his community is doing it, so that we can begin to engage the process in our own communities. We'd love to hear your thoughts. Thread or Insta Lisa @lisasharper or to Freedom Road @freedomroad.us. We're also on Substack! So be sure to subscribe to freedomroad.substack.com. And, keep sharing the podcast with your friends and networks and letting us know what you think! www.threads.net/@lisasharper www.threads.net/@freedomroad.us freedomroad.substack.com/ www.secondbaptistevanston.org/pastor www.cityofevanston.org/government/city-council/reparations

How does a church live out its mission amid a changing culture? "A Second Language" from Good Faith Media is a six-part narrative podcast about Second Baptist Church in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas, and how its location and leadership have shaped its witness. Founded in 1884, the church grew as a hub for powerful religious and political personalities on local, state and national levels. Its influence touched on major issues of the day, including alcohol and race. A turning point for the church occurred in 1957 during the city's integration crisis, when the church's Rev. Dale Cowling and Congressman Brooks Hays were seen as too soft on the race issue. The church continued to evolve, leading on some critical issues while avoiding others, all in the context of rapid cultural change. The podcast is a story about a mostly white Baptist church in the South and what its experience can teach us about life and death, hypocrisy and honesty, faith and fear – the risk and reward -- of talking about hard things. "A Second Language" includes interviews with church leaders and members, historians, interfaith friends and community leaders, as well as archival material. Written and produced by Cliff Vaughn of Good Faith Media. Learn more at https://goodfaithmedia.org/a-second-language/

Ken Braddy is the Director of Sunday School & Network Partnerships for Lifeway Christian Resources.  He's been the managing director of adult ongoing Bible studies such as Bible Studies For Life, Explore The Bible, MasterWork, The Gospel Project, YOU, and more. Through his team's work at Lifeway, they served the Bible study needs of approximately 3 million adults each week.Matthew Gibbs has been the discipleship and evangelism pastor at Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins, Georgia for the past 15 years and has served in ministry over 25 years. He is a core piece of our discipleship team serving as discipleship consultant in our east central region and one of my close trusted friends.In this episode: The general purpose of Sunday morning bible study and how this can be communicated. How curriculum can help us achieve the purpose of bible study groups. Curriculum is important because our behavior grows out of what we believe. The pros and cons for giving your bible study leaders an option on approved curriculum vs a unified curriculum. Practical ideas on how to choose what curriculum to use. Why leaders must choose and communicate whether you have an open group vs a closed group when choosing what curriculum to use. Trends and cautions when choosing curriculum based bible study or sermon based studies and the benefits. One way to get a golf trip with Ken Braddy in the Swiss Alps!

The transition from high school ministries to college and young adult ministries can be jarring for students. As student pastors and leaders, it's important to ask the question of how can your ministry lay the foundation for students to grow into mature, healthy college and young adult disciples.  Austin Gentry is the Young Adults Pastor at Second Baptist Church of Houston, Texas. He's originally from North Carolina, a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of “10 Things Every Christian Should Know For College”. Listen to a breakout session recording from the 2023 Disciple-Making Conference where Austin shares strategies to prepare your students — and their parents — well.

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, questions@townsquaretalk.org or @townsquaretalk. It's time for another “Talk of the Town!” For the full hour, our panel of guests share their perspectives on trending headlines and topics recently covered on Town Square with Ernie Manouse. Today's panel consists of Second Baptist Church pastor Dr. Ben Young, First Assistant County Attorney for Harris County Jay Aiyer, and The Ensemble Theatre's Artistic Director Eileen Morris. Our guests share their thoughts on topics including how to deal with grief when losing a loved one, the SAG-AFTRA strike and what effects it will have on the film industry, the uses of ChatGPT, and the excitement around the deals of Amazon Prime Day earlier this week.   Plus, the panel weighs in on recently covered show discussions, including the “American Dream”, the books they're reading, show's they're streaming, and the Emmy nominations. Guests: Dr. Ben Young Pastor, Second Baptist Church Author, “Survive the Day: Thriving in the Midst of Life's Storms” Jay Aiyer First Assistant County Attorney, Harris County Former Co-host, Party Politics Eileen Morris Artistic Director, The Ensemble Theatre Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day's most important and pressing issues. We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps

To close out our season, Mike is on the hot seat and answers questions from two of YPT's regular contributors, Nick Hartman and Joseph Bradley. The conversation included the following questions: What do you look back at as your biggest failure in student ministry, and what's something you're really proud of?  How have you navigated relationships with other youth workers who aren't theologically-minded and don't share that value for student ministry?  How have you advocated for theologically-deep youth ministry in the churches where you've served? How would you encouraged younger youth workers to pursue longevity in youth ministry?   If you're trying to recruit someone to serve in vocational youth ministry, what's your pitch?  Joseph Bradley is the student pastor at Second Baptist Church of Arkadelphia in Arkadelphia, Arkansas  Nick Hartman is the associate pastor of students and discipleship at Mt Carmel Baptist Church in Cross Plains, TN Nick & Joseph's two recommended YPT resources:   Robin Barfield, The Posture of the Youth Pastor Episode 28: Discipleship as Catechesis (Dustin Messer)  Visit Youth Pastor Theologian's website Join YPT's Facebook group: @youththeologian (make sure you answer the membership questions) Follow YPT on Twitter: @youththeologian Follow YPT on Instagram: @youththeologian Please consider sharing YPT's podcast and our articles with your friends, and leave a rating/review on your podcast subscriber. 

Guest preacher Rev. Dr. Noel Schoonmaker comes from Second Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia to bring a message on church unity.

 On June 24, 2018, Aniya Mack, 24, left her home for a meeting regarding an upcoming performance at her church—Second Baptist Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Her boyfriend, Donnovan Lewis, was adamant that this was Aniya's last known location. It had been days since he and Aniya's family heard from Aniya. Now, detectives are working quickly to piece together what really happened to her, as clues start to unravel a secret life. Could this be the missing piece to finding Aniya?   For a list of sources from today's episode and pictures, please visit www.itsthemysteryforme.com/episodes/aniya-mackAttorney Benjamin Crump's Instagram post highlighting our podcast:https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp88TlNOD3F/?igshid=Mzc1MmZhNjY=Good Morning America article regarding ITMFM: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/amp/news/story/meet-sister-podcasters-shedding-light-black-true-crime-97827749Our Social Media: www.itsthemysteryforme.com/links

Pastor Bob Roberts with Second Baptist Church in Springfield, MO joins us on the show to talk about the greatest gift ever. The gift of eternal salvation found only in the blood of Jesus Christ. This leads us to ask two very important questions:  1) Do you have this gift?  2) If so, are you sharing this gift with others? ✝️2 Corinthians 4:16✝️ #bestfriend #Jesus #salvation #GodsPlan   

Micah Gold-Markel and special co-host Jackson Kusiak interview Larry Moyer, a Solar States customer, who speaks about his experience navigating the legal system with regard to Virtual Net Metering. Since Pennsylvania does't have what's known as community solar, solar advocates like Larry have to jump through hoops in order to reap the financial benefits of solar. Larry explains the PUC's regulation on non generational load, the challenges this regulation brought, and the process its repeal. Larry represented himself in court, wrote his own briefs, and is still fighting for his right to virtual net metering. Larry also discusses his involvement working with Family Promise to get a solar array installed on Second Baptist Church of Germantown and utilize virtual net metering policies.

The Showdown at Mt. Carmel | Yahweh vs. the Prophets of BaalElijah, the prophet, urged God's people to choose: to worship the pagan idol Baal or Yahweh, the Lord God Almighty. As Christians today, we are facing the same choice. We live in a day where Christians are under pressure: Will we bow down to the gods of our culture, or will we stand for truth and worship Jesus?The battle for our minds and affections is intense but not new. Today's episode of This Redeemed Life is a powerful message that Marian Jordan Ellis shared at the Redeemed and Relatable Conference held at Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. Tune in as Marian teaches through the Apostle Paul's warning to the church in Colossians 2:8 and walks through the showdown between Yahweh and the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18. This teaching is a must-listen for those who desire to stand firm in this present age.This Redeemed Life seeks to help you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ and to equip you to live for God's glory. Books and Bible Studies by Marian Jordan Ellis are available at https://store.thisredeemedlife.org

Every youth leader knows how challenging it can be to facilitate meaningful and deep conversations. It can be so discouraging to prepare for meaningful ministry only to receive one-word answers and silence. In this episode, we're joined by two of our regular blog writers to discuss how we can learn to ask better questions that prompt meaningful conversations.  What makes for a good question?  What are some lessons you've learned the hard way about asking good questions?  After you've prepared your message or small group lesson and it's time to develop questions, how do you go about crafting those?  What's your favorite go-to question to ask students when you're trying to strike up a conversation?  What advice do you have for youth workers who are either socially awkward or just not good at question-asking?  Joseph Bradley is the student pastor at Second Baptist Church of Arkadelphia in Arkadelphia, Arkansas  Nick Hartman is the associate pastor of students and discipleship at Mt Carmel Baptist Church in Cross Plains, TN Visit Youth Pastor Theologian's website Join YPT's Facebook group: @youththeologian (make sure you answer the membership questions) Follow YPT on Twitter: @youththeologian Follow YPT on Instagram: @youththeologian Please consider sharing YPT's podcast and our articles with your friends, and leave a rating/review on your podcast subscriber. You can contact us with any questions and recommend both topics and guests on our website's Submissions Page.   

The Showdown at Mt. Carmel | Yahweh vs. the Prophets of BaalElijah, the prophet, urged God's people to choose: to worship the pagan idol Baal or Yahweh, the Lord God Almighty. As Christians today, we are facing the same choice. We live in a day where Christians are under pressure: Will we bow down to the gods of our culture, or will we stand for truth and worship Jesus?The battle for our minds and affections is intense but not new. Today's episode of This Redeemed Life is a powerful message that Marian Jordan Ellis shared at the Redeemed and Relatable Conference held at Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. Tune in as Marian teaches through the Apostle Paul's warning to the church in Colossians 2:8 and walks through the showdown between Yahweh and the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18. This teaching is a must-listen for those who desire to stand firm in this present age.This Redeemed Life seeks to help you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ and to equip you to live for God's glory. Books and Bible Studies by Marian Jordan Ellis are available at https://store.thisredeemedlife.org

In this episode, Jeff, Alan, and David discuss: How God's providence has shown up in his life and career. Modeling generous giving and encouraging your family. Deciding how to give. Being intentional in your busy life.   Key Takeaways: Find somebody that you can mentor under, regardless of what you do. Learn from them, learn what work is about, learn how to do things with excellence and integrity. You can minister wherever you are at, whatever your business, and whatever your circumstances. Lift where you stand. God gives us a lot of experiences. He will put things in our path that are for us to support tht matter to us. Step out in faith. If it is for a good cause, step out, even if you are uncomfortable, because that is where the impact will be found.   "The most impactful things that I've been a part of, were some of the most uncomfortable things I've ever done." —  David Oelfke About David Oelfke: David K. Oelfke is a co-founder and managing principal of Marble Capital, LP. In this role, he helps manage all aspects of investment activities for Marble, including capital raising, deal sourcing, and investment management for the company's various funds. David has been in the multifamily investment business since 1986, receiving nationwide recognition for his performance in the apartment market throughout the United States. David has been integrally involved in over $15B in multifamily advisory assignments, working on behalf of the world's leading owners. After growing ARA (now Newmark) to over 25 offices nationally, he executed the sale of ARA to BGC Partners (ticker: BGC) in December 2014. David is also a founding principal and owner in PinPoint Commercial, L.P., a Houston-based commercial real estate investor. At PinPoint, David has been involved in the ownership of over 6,000 multifamily units, the development of 13 assisted living facilities, 850 acres of land and over 500,000 sf of industrial space with a total value of over $1B. David was a co-founder of Apartment Life (www.apartmentlife.org), a 501(c)(3) corporation committed to enhancing the lives of residents in over 400 apartment communities across the nation by connecting residents to one another through the CARES program. He is also active in other non-profit organizations such as The College of Biblical Studies, Stoney Creek Ranch, On Every Word, The Toolbox Lunches, The UT System Chancellor's Council and Second Baptist Church. David holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from The University Texas at Austin.  Connect with David Oelfke:   Website: https://marblecapitallp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-oelfke-40230b19a/ Connect with Jeff Thomas: Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-upEmail: jeff.thomas@arkosglobal.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkosglobal/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkosglobaladvisorsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkosglobaladvisors/

Bob Byrne joined us to discuss the work of Family Promise and Second Baptist Church's experience going solar with Solar States. The Inquirer recently published an article featuring Second Baptist and their decision to go solar.  Free quotes at solar-states.com/start

BEHOLD:An Obscure Old Testament Prophecy(Numbers 24:17; Matthew 2:1-12)Message SlidesAdvent 2022 Goals • Behold: Pay attention to the centrality of Christ's coming in Scripture.• Behold: Prioritize Christ's coming during the season.• Behold: Pursue a deeper intimacy with Christ through personal engagement with Him and His story. • Behold: Put "advent" into your year-round vocabulary.Herod and the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12)The Prophecy of the Star (Numbers 24:17)A History of the "Shikinah Glory" • Exodus 40:34-35 • 1 Kings 8:10-11 • Ezekiel 10:1-2 • Ezekiel 10:3-4 • Ezekiel 10:18-19 • Ezekiel 11:22-24 • Isaiah 60:1-6 • Matthew 2:1-2 (?) • Matthew 2:9 (?) Jesus is the light of the world. Celebrate the light He brings. Next Steps • This Christmas celebrate that Jesus is the light of the world. Perhaps you might want to go see Christmas lights and talk about it. • Make plans now to read the Christmas story with your family. • Use the Christmas devotional, at the Connction Center, this year. It is not too late to start.Home ChurchOur Home Churches meet weekly to facilitate quicker relational depth, study the same passage taught Sunday to help apply Scripture in the context of community, and pray with one another. Home Church helps our body seek God's best for one another. Home Church Questions • What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?• What are some of the Christmas traditions that drive you crazy?• Read Matthew 2:1-12• What have you always heard about the Magi?• Why do you think God has revealed Himself as "light" so frequently in Scripture? How does this culminate in Jesus being the "light of the world"?• Why would God use a pagan prophet and "scholars" from far away to be a part of the Christmas story?• What difference does Christmas make?• How can we make Christmas different this year?FinancesWeekly Budget 31,390Giving For 11/20 25,721Giving For 11/27 22,680 YTD Budget 690,574YTD Giving 621,307 OVER/(UNDER) (69,267) Generations CampaignTotal Pledge 1,535,065Received-to-date. 1,663,635 Christmas Eve and Christmas Candlelight ServicesFellowship Christmas Eve services will be Saturday, December 24, 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. Christmas Day, 10:45 a.m. the service will be the same as the Christmas Eve Service. These will both be candlelight services, a Christmas message, a special time for kids, and worship.New to Fellowship? We are so glad that you joined the Fellowship Family to worship this morning. If you are joining us for the first time or have been checking us out for a few weeks, we are excited you are here and would love to meet you. Please fill out the “Connect Card” and bring it to the Connection Center in the Atrium, we would love to say “hi” and give you a gift. Get Connected in a Home ChurchFellowship's desire is for everyone to be relationally connected. The primary way we do this is in Home Churches – small groups that meet in living rooms to apply God's Word, pray, and to serve together. Go to fellowshipconway.org/home church for more information. Fellowship women's Christmas Party with Cookie DecoratingStill time to register for the party December 15, 6:00 p.m. Bring some appetizers to share, come get comfy. Cost is $10 per person. Register fellowshipconway.org/register. Child care by RSVP to Shanna at 501-336-0332.PerspectivesGod has a “world-sized” role for every Christian in His global purpose. Perspectives has equipped thousands of everyday believers with greater vision, hope, and passion. Spring 2023 starts January 16, 6-9:00 p.m., Mondays at Second Baptist Church. Check out the first night for FREE! Visit perspectives.org/conway for more information. Stop by the Missions Table in the Atrium with any questions and meet Anna Darnell. Advent GuideTo help us prepare our hearts to celebrate well, we are providing a daily Advent devotional for you and your household to enjoy together. Stop by the Connection Center today and get a copy for your family. Christmas OfferingThis year's Christmas offering will go towards a master plan to refresh our main areas of welcome and fellowship not touched in the building addition and remodel of 2019, beginning with a refresh of the atrium, bathrooms, and kitchen. The updates will foster a warm and inviting space that is welcoming to all who come to Fellowship. We will take an offering on December 18 during both services. You can also give online fellowshiponegiving.com New Years DayOn Sunday, January 1, we will have one worship service at 10:45 a.m. Children of all ages will be joining their families so everyone has a chance to worship during the one service.

#tbs MDiv #student Gabriel Orr share on #GivingTuesday The Bible Seminary goal for #GivingTuesday is $250,000 in support of #TBS educational ministries in accordance with 2 Corinthians 9:8 and 11Support TBS at TheBibleSeminary.edu/support#GivingTuesday #GivingTuesdayNow #thebibleseminary #TBS #students #support #katytx #houston #vision #HoustonPD #HoustonPoliceDepartment #hpd Houston Police Department Second Baptist Church, Houston, TXSupport the show

Youth pastor theologians know that persuasion is an important element of their ministry. Students are faced with so many opposing worldviews and doubts, it's important for us to take an apologetic approach when teaching the Bible and theology. But what's that mean and how do we do it? In this episode, we're joined by two of YPT's regular contributors to discuss the intersection of theology and apologetics. Why is it important to lead ministries that prioritize theology and apologetics? What's the difference between teaching theology and teaching theologically? What's that really look like in your own ministries? Does youth ministry focus too much on apologetics?  How do the affections shape the way we teach the Bible, and how can apologetics help us with that?  What are some recommendations for someone who wants to read or study more? Joseph Bradley is the student pastor at Second Baptist Church of Arkadelphia in Arkadelphia, Arkansas  Nick Hartman is the associate pastor of students and discipleship at Mt Carmel Baptist Church in Cross Plains, TN Visit Youth Pastor Theologian's website Join YPT's Facebook group: @youththeologian (make sure you answer the membership questions) Follow YPT on Twitter: @youththeologian Follow YPT on Instagram: @youththeologian Please consider sharing YPT's podcast and our articles with your friends, and leave a rating/review on your podcast subscriber. You can contact us with any questions and recommend both topics and guests on our website's Submissions Page.         

Gary Thomas is a writer-in-residence at Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, and an adjunct faculty member teaching on spiritual formation at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon, and Houston Theological Seminary in Houston, Texas. He is the author of twenty books including the highly popular Sacred Marriage, also Sacred Pathways, Cherish, Sacred Parenting, and the Gold Medallion Award-winning Authentic Faith.  Gary has a master's degree from Regent College, where he studied under Dr. J.I. Packer, and was awarded an honorary doctorate in divinity from Western Seminary. Gary has spoken in forty-nine states and ten different countries. He has appeared numerous times on various national radio and television programs, including CBN, Focus on the family. and Family Life Today.  To contact Gary or to get a copy of his new book (Making Your Marriage a Fortress), just go to his website: http://www.GaryThomas.com 

  On Thursday's show: Ed Young, the longtime pastor of Houston's Second Baptist Church, is under fire for making political statements during a sermon last Sunday. Some have even called for the removal of the church's tax-exempt status. But is that likely? And what role does religion play in modern-day politics -- and what role should it? Also this hour: Mary Beth Rogers, the former campaign manager and chief of staff for the late Texas Gov. Ann Richards, reflects on her life in politics and shares stories from her new memoir, Hope and Hard Truth: A Life in Texas Politics. She'll be in Houston Sept. 20 for an event at Brazos Bookstore. Then we discuss efforts to seek transportation equity for people with disabilities with Gabe Cazares, the new executive director of LINK Houston. Plus: We meet Bao Ong, the Houston Chronicle's new food columnist.

The Pastor of The Second Baptist Church, Dr. Ed Young, gave the sermon that every pastor should be giving every Sunday. Progressive politics is a danger to our community. We are seeing it play out right here in Harris County.

Dr. Steve Parr is the Executive Director of the Gwinnett Metro Baptist Network and former Vice President of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. Dr. Parr is a nationally known author: The Coffee Shop that Changed a Church, Why They Stay: Helping Parents and Church Leaders Make Investments That Keep Children and Teens Connected to the Church for a Lifetime, and more. Steve is a leading voice in leadership development, Sunday School, and Groups Ministry. Fun Fact: Steve has been in a Fantasy Football league for 32 years which is older than 99% of the 100 million people who will play Fantasy Football this Fall! Matthew Gibbs is the Adult Discipleship and Evangelism Pastor at Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins and one of our Georgia Baptist Discipleship Consultants. He is one of the most high-capacity leaders in Georgia. Matthew has implemented and maintained a highly effective discipleship strategy at Second Baptist Church. Fun Fact: Matthew is a professional level model airplane builder. In this episode you'll learn: • Why it is important to surround yourself with people who “know” Learning Communities • Recruiting volunteers is getting more difficult and learn keys to recruit effective volunteers that stay • Giving lay leaders a vision worth giving their life to is critical • Unmet expectations are one of the great barriers to retaining volunteers • Sully shares a key leadership principle: it's ok to fail but it is NOT ok to be mediocre • Dr. Parr shares why church hopping is at an all-time high • Matthew talks about keys to understanding a consumer mentality in church members and how to shift that mindset • Consider an “exit interview” for church members who leave the church if you genuinely want to know why people leave • Sully shares a Jesus style model that moves people away from consumerism and toward Christ-likeness from a book he recently read • The SPARK Conference is HERE—August! 5 in person locations in Georgia and a nation-wide digital premiere on August 25. www.thesparkconference.com, register today for an in-person event and/or the digital premiere!! • Training is biblical and necessary for growing churches: train in drips, schedule gatherings of leaders 3-4 times a year, train the trainable, and more • We must move people from being recipients of the church's mission to being responsible for the church's mission • Current trends or future trends that will greatly impact our Sunday School and Small Group ministries

In this episode, Wade and Harold are joined by their long-time friend and fellow pastor, Allen Nelson IV. Allen is the pastor of Second Baptist Church in Perryville, AR. Allen has a great love for Christ and Christ's church. We trust this episode will be an encouragement to you and your ministry. (We apologize for the inconsistency in the audio in this episode.) 

In this episode, Wade and Harold are joined by their long-time friend and fellow pastor, Allen Nelson IV. Allen is the pastor of Second Baptist Church in Perryville, AR. Allen has a great love for Christ and Christ's church. We trust this episode will be...

I first saw Mrs. Rhonda Williams on stage powerfully and beautifully singing at Second Baptist Church. Years later she became the Director of Women's Ministry. I met with her a few times while my son attended pre-school there and she poured into me. I loved getting to know her more. In this episode she shared how she married her husband at 18 and the struggles they faced. She talked about having a “truth teller” in your life and what that did for her. Rhonda shared walking through hard times and walking by faith and not sight. She shares that real faith sometimes is moving out in-spite of fear. It's not always being fearless but learning to step out when God has called you so you can accomplish what He has called you to do. The Lord has been so good and faithful to Mrs. Rhonda and she is such a bright light for King Jesus. ✨God Stories with Cassie Instagram: @godstorieswithcassie ✨God Stories with Cassie Email: godstorieswithcassie@gmail.com ✨Rhonda's Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kSYMVhdeoUiscpzaRMtejjnqg4WwemeJE&feature=share

Top Ten from 2021: #3 Mutually Pleasing Sex in Marriage: An Interview with Gary Thomas   Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride; milk and honey are under your tongue. Song of Songs 4:11 (NIV)   Questions We Discuss: Will you tell me more about a few of your take aways from studying Song of Songs What wisdom can you offer to couples who are asking "is this ok?" Will you share ways to get the most out of involving all five senses in married sex?   Gary Thomas' writing and speaking focuses on bringing people closer to Christ and closer to others.   He is the author of 20 books that together have sold over two million copies and have been translated into more than a dozen languages. These books include When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People;  Sacred Marriage: What if God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy?, The Sacred Search: What If It's Not About Who You Marry, but Why?, and the Gold Medallion award winner Authentic Faith.   Gary holds a B.A. in English Literature from Western Washington University, an MA degree in systematic theology from Regent College (Vancouver, BC), and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Western Seminary (Portland, OR).   He serves on the teaching team (and as Writer in Residence) at Second Baptist Church, Houston—a congregation with six campuses and 70,000 members—and is an adjunct faculty member at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon and Houston Theological Seminary in Houston, Texas.   Gary's speaking ministry has led him to speak in 49 states and nine different countries, and on numerous national television and radio programs, including multiple appearances on Focus on the Family and Family Life Today. Gary's interviews on Focus on the Family have been chosen among the “Best of 2013,” “Best of 2014” and “Best of 2017.”   Gary enjoys running in his spare time and has completed 14 marathons, including the Boston Marathon three times. He and his wife Lisa have been married for 35 years and they have three adult children and the smartest, cutest, most adorable granddaughter on the planet.   Gary is active online through his website (www.garythomas.com), twitter (@garyLthomas) Facebook (www.facebook.com/authorgarythomas) and Instagram (garythomasbooks)   At The Savvy Sauce, we will only recommend resources we believe in! We also want you to be aware: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.    Married Sex   Thank You to Our Sponsor: WinShape Marriage   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.”

Top Ten from 2021: #5 Nine Ways to Connect with God with Gary Thomas   “So then, let us pursue [with enthusiasm] the things which make for peace and the building up of one another [things which lead to spiritual growth].” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭14:19‬ ‭(AMP‬‬)   Questions We Discuss: 1. Will you teach us what each of these nine spiritual temperaments are? 2. How can each of us identify our primary pathway? 3. What benefits come from identifying our own pathway and the pathway of others?   Gary Thomas' writing and speaking focuses on bringing people closer to Christ and closer to others.   He is the author of 20 books that together have sold over two million copies and have been translated into more than a dozen languages. These books include When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People;  Sacred Marriage: What if God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy?, The Sacred Search: What If It's Not About Who You Marry, but Why?, and the Gold Medallion award winner Authentic Faith.   Gary holds a B.A. in English Literature from Western Washington University, an MA degree in systematic theology from Regent College (Vancouver, BC), and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Western Seminary (Portland, OR).   He serves on the teaching team (and as Writer in Residence) at Second Baptist Church, Houston—a congregation with six campuses and 70,000 members—and is an adjunct faculty member at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon and Houston Theological Seminary in Houston, Texas.   Gary's speaking ministry has led him to speak in 49 states and nine different countries, and on numerous national television and radio programs, including multiple appearances on Focus on the Family and Family Life Today. Gary's interviews on Focus on the Family have been chosen among the “Best of 2013,” “Best of 2014” and “Best of 2017.”   Gary enjoys running in his spare time and has completed 14 marathons, including the Boston Marathon three times. He and his wife Lisa have been married for 35 years and they have three adult children and the smartest, cutest, most adorable granddaughter on the planet.   Gary is active online through his website (www.garythomas.com), twitter (@garyLthomas) Facebook (www.facebook.com/authorgarythomas) and Instagram (garythomasbooks)   At The Savvy Sauce, we will only recommend resources we believe in! We also want you to be aware: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.    Sacred Pathways: Nine Ways to Connect with God   Thank You to Our Sponsor: WinShape Marriage   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.”

On this week's episode of Melody and Friends, Melody travels to Texas to speak with best selling author and international speaker Gary Thomas to discuss something that can be very difficult for spouses, when to walk away. Gary talks about how as Christians, we often feel the guilt and responsibility of meeting the needs of unhealthy people in our lives. Gary says that instead of attempting the impossible task of mollifying toxic people, it's time we dedicate our energy to a more worthwhile effort: completing the work God has given us by investing in reliable people. He shares his experience on how to identify truly toxic people, how to deal with them in difficult situations, and the most important aspect for many, when and how to walk away from a toxic relationship. Our listeners can learn more about Gary Thomas, his books and more by visiting the links below: https://garythomas.com/ , and can check out When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People by clicking the link here:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0310346762/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0310346762&linkCode=as2&tag=garythomas0e-20&linkId=4e994c710a924b11a90d60ab148d43e2 Who is Gary Thomas? Gary Thomas is a bestselling author and international speaker whose ministry brings people closer to Christ and closer to others. He unites the study of Scripture, church history, and the Christian classics to foster spiritual growth and deeper relationships within the Christian community.  Gary is the author of 20 books that together have sold over two million copies, have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and won numerous awards . His writings have established him as a thought-leader in the areas of marriage, parenting, and spiritual formation.  Gary holds a B.A. in English Literature from Western Washington University, an MA degree in systematic theology from Regent College (Vancouver, BC), and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Western Seminary (Portland, OR). He has served on the teaching team at Second Baptist Church, Houston and as an adjunct faculty member at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon and Houston Theological Seminary in Houston Texas. Things We Talk About in this Episode The difference between labeling and name calling and why labeling can be important for victims in relationships with toxic individuals. What truly defines a toxic person in a relationship and how their behavior will differ from the “normal” spouse or partner. How someone can actually experience a rebirth when they learn to remove themself from that toxic relationship and how to know “when to walk away.” How to decipher when someone is exhibiting toxic behavior versus being a toxic person and what to do when a spouse begins acting toxic towards their partner. How to deal with toxicity when it's overt, but also covert where the partner may look great to those looking outside the home, but inside they are continually abusive in passive aggressive ways. How to reveal to your wife that you are dealing with sexual addictions without creating greater trauma and chaos in her life by doing so.

If you only listen to one thing from us this week, let it be this.

As a result of fires in Ranger, Texas, the 103-year-old Second Baptist Church was destroyed. Four US soldiers were killed in a plane crash during a NATO exercise. Russia may be planning cyberattacks. And a more transmissible omicron variant may be on its way to the US. In The Daily Article for March 22, 2022, Dr. Jim Denison considers the news of the day from a biblical perspective, describing its reality while offering the hope we need, which is only found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Author: Dr. Jim Denison Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe