Hole in My Heart Podcast

We are so excited about this: Today, we are launching a mini-series interviewing three pastors from the South, the West Coast, and the East Coast on how they went from conceptualization of a sermon series on human sexuality to actualization. Why? In 2019, Barna shared the results of a study that said three of the top four things pastors feel both pressured and limited to speak on are related to human sexuality. If pastors feel so limited and yet pressured to speak on this, how in the world do they do it? Instead of hypothesizing, we put the microphone in front of three pastors who did it. First up: A pastor from the U.S. South, Dr. Josh Laxton. We ask him: What is unique about his culture (he is from the South but currently preaches in central Florida)? What was the conversation like within his church to prompt the sermon series? How did he prepare his leadership team? What elements were critical to have within the sermon? Why? How did it go?   //Highlights: “One of the reasons why people inside the church or outside the church have a difficult time digesting what pastors say is how they approach saying it: They don’t approach [challenging topics] with tears.” —Josh Laxton “Through the 2000-year history of the church marriage, family, gender and sexuality has always been primary [doctrine] but because of the cultural context was what it was you didn’t even think about it. But now that we are living in this post-Christian, post-Christendom type of culture now we have to clarify: This is what we’ve always believed.” —Josh Laxton “I know that the call to pastoral ministry is not only the call to know the power of Jesus’ resurrection, but to participate in his suffering... Part of that suffering is leading through very tough and messy issues and situations.” —Josh Laxton   //Question of the Week: What is your nickname and how did you get it?   //Do the Next Thing: Hear the sermon Josh preached here That Barna study? Find it here Hear Laurie and Josh’s conversation about his sermon on *his* podcast here Find more about Josh here: www.Joshlaxton.com or on his IG: Joshlaxton1 Join the episode conversation on FB here Watch the episode on YouTube here  

“I think there are reasons we deny our pain including that we can are overwhelmed (‘Where do I start?’), the fear of ‘This will make things worse”… Or, we don’t have he community around us to help us process.” --Steve O'Dell Today, as only the Holy Spirit can do, these first three Shorts episodes link together. So today, we continue our accidental theme of "Spiritual practices that help us to become real" with Steve talking about why we avoid pain. Additionally, we talk about: How can we become people who can walk with others in challenging places? What is the cost of not engaging these painful places? What is the first step toward feeling these hard parts of our hearts? We also talk about these lament episodes here And talk about Healing Care Join us?

“One thing I have learned about Jesus is that He wants to sit in uncomfortable emotions with me [Heb. 4:15]. If I am not willing to sit in these emotions, then how is He supposed to sit in them--with me?” --Matt Krieg Oh, dear, wise Matt. Today on HIMH Shorts (where we toss around the host table, “How has the gospel been good news for you lately?), Matt brings up his topic of emotional resilience… What is it? How can we know when it’s time to move on from a negative emotion? How can we know if we need to stay in the suffering longer? We’d love for you to join the conversation. And after? Feel free to tell us what you think on the FB group here On IG here Or email us! podcast@lauriekrieg.com

Heyyyyy!!! We may be in-between seasons, but we missed you all so much we wanted to drop three, surprise mini-episodes for the next three Fridays!! In HIMH Shorts, Matt, Laurie, and Steve will host brief (heh heh, we will try!), one-topic conversations answering, "How has the gospel been good news for you lately?" This week, Laurie is up! She heard YOUR requests for a walk-through of her Episode 202 practice of The Bookshelves. What is that practice? Why does she do it? How has it impacted her? (And does Matt do it, too? lol) Kick back, lay back (if you want to do the practice with us), and join the crew as Laurie shares her nightly practice that has been deepening her identity in the love of Jesus. P.S. Do you like these mini-episodes? Should we keep them up? Let us know by messaging Laurie on IG (laurie_krieg) or emailing us at podcast@lauriekrieg.com

Today, we wrap up season six by asking Matt, Laurie, and Steve if we have met our goal for the season: “Do you feel like you can walk into any room confidently because your identity is more rooted in Christ?” So, have we? :D We truthfully answer this question as well as: What we do when we feel tempted toward sexual sin or with wanting to buy everything in Pottery Barn? How is Laurie’s health? Has it changed? How do we engage with believers who are clearly “producing fruit,” but are choosing to walk outside of God’s design for marriage? //Highlights: “When it comes to relational conflict, the message I often tell myself is, ‘Resolution is the goal.’ I am learning that transformation is the goal. The issue may not be resolved (or easily resolved), but I am called to stay present in it when all I want to do is make it go away.” —Steve O’Dell “To have someone who is my friend love me in the midst of wrestling with sexual temptation removes a layer of shame, and makes me feel like, ‘Okay. I’m actually normal. I just want idols instead of God like everyone else.’”—Laurie Krieg “As much as we look at other people’s hearts, we have to first look at our own.” —Matt Krieg //Question of the Week: We want to hear from you all! Drop a review or let us know what you think of the podcast this season by emailing podcast@lauriekrieg.com or joining the HIMH Podcast FB group! (Search it, answer a couple of questions, and you will be in!) //Do the Next Thing: We mention this episode with Branson Parler We mention this episode with Alison Cook And this episode with Toni Collier We also talk about our episode with David Bennett here To join the podcast conversation, find us here Watch the episode on Youtube here Thanks for a great season!

The lines are open, friends, and we are taking your questions today! What questions? How do you recommend talking with young kids about LGBTQ things/the definition of marriage? Should marriage make us happy or holy? (Or is that the wrong question to ask?) What qualifies as abuse in a relationship? (How does it compare to misuse of a person?) How should we engage with libraries where they prominently display books that are LGBTQIA-affirming (of transitioning or same-sex relationships)? What are the pros and cons of coming out/sharing your story? Pull up a chair, and join the dialogue! //Highlights: “Matt and my philosophy of parenting is: Here is reality. How can we dole that out in gentle, slow, repetitive conversations at varying levels of age-appropriateness so that when they encounter [same-sex relationships or wrestling with gender] in their schools, churches, or in themselves they are not caught off guard and hide, nor are they caught off guard and jump to Love is Love.” —Laurie Krieg “My definition of abuse is that it is a systemic maltreatment or dismissal of the dignity of another person verbally, physically, or emotionally.”—Matt Krieg “You know and I know that everywhere you go there are people … who still make gay jokes a decent amount. If it’s not gay jokes, then it’s ‘*Gasp*! Oh, it’s June! The flag, and the Pride!’ And you’re sitting there, and even though you have zero rainbow flags, you’re not going to Pride, and you’re wrestling with your own heart, you don’t feel safe sharing with them now because they are so exasperated about people like you.”—Laurie Krieg //Question of the Week: Where would you like to visit that you have not been? (Thanks for joining the conversation!) //Do the Next Thing: A blog Laurie wrote about how to come out/share your story here Want to share feedback about the season with the hosts? Email us: podcast@lauriekrieg.com Or, find Laurie on Instagram here Watch the podcast here

Oh, man…from start to finish this conversation sings…! Author and ministry leader, Toni Collier, helps us to finish the final “I am” in our identity series by exploring “I am healing for…” What we mean by this is when you’re going through a dark time, have you ever considered the people you will impact if you keep going through the darkness to the light? What if you gave up? Whom would that affect? Although we never want to have the core of our healing work be for other people (ideally, that motivation is for God and for ourselves), others are valuable to consider as they can energize our healing journey. What else do we talk about? How did a performance-driven heart drive Toni when she wasn’t following the Lord and when she was? What might Toni say to someone really wrestling with depression today? How did Toni start caring more about what Jesus thinks than others? //Highlights: “The thing that brought me out of my depression and suicidal ideation was people who said, ‘We will be with you in the valleys, but we won’t leave you there.’” —Toni Collier “Ya know? I just don’t think I care what anyone else thinks but God. I don’t know what happened, something clicked… If I just solely care what He thinks, then through that lens I should treat others with kindness and respect and honor and show up.” —Toni Collier “When I was able to start saying ‘No’ to people that’s when my ‘Yes’ to Jesus became bigger, more consistent, and more clear.”—Toni Collier //Question of the Week: Are you a hot box or a cold box or just right? (Do you run hot, cold, or just right? You guys had a lot of opinions about menopause on this one lol) //Do the Next Thing: Find all of Toni’s work here Snag the video here Catch all of WCSG’s work here Hear our last episode with Toni and her husband, Sam here

Today, we talk codependence (over-reliance on people for our sense of stability), counter-dependence (under-reliance on people), and interdependence (healthy dependence on people) on the podcast, and the conversation does not disappoint. Psychologist and author, Dr. Alison Cook, leads us biblically through questions about codependence as well as: Is it right or wrong to put others first? How can we be both worthy of care yet also “conceived in sin” (Ps. 51:5) How can we trust again after being burned by others? How does all of this relate to our identity? Pull up an earbud, friends. This is a great one. //Highlights “If I had a word for pastors, I would say: Don’t assume that folks are coming in with a healthy relationship with the self before we ask them to die to it.” —Alison Cook “We change in the context of care and compassion verses in the context of condemnation and judgement and criticism. That’s just what’s true psychologically… ‘God’s kindness is what leads us to repentance.’ (Rom. 2:4).” —Alison Cook “In a healthy home there is that balance of, ‘You are so important, you matter, you are worthy, I am here for you, my dear child. And, as a part of that, I want to equip you to go out among other people and from that place of knowing how valuable you are, shine that light of value onto others.’ That’s a very different thing than, ‘Put others first! You don’t matter. It’s more about them!’ That’s not actually true. It’s because I know I matter, and I have experienced what it feels like to matter to God I can come into your life and shine some of that onto you—that you matter just like I matter.”—Alison Cook “Learning how to trust again after one has been wounded? … ‘I was hurt in the past, I don’t ever want to depend on somebody again.’ To me that’s a cue that we need to repair something in the self. ‘What cues did I ignore? It’s not my fault and there his no shame in that, but I did ignore some cues…How will I do that differently next time?’ … Oh, that’s hard when you have been burned.”—Alison Cook //Question of the Week: What healthy food makes you feel sad when you eat it? (Ya'll are funny.) //Do the Next Thing: Watch the podcast here Hear Alison with us the last time she was on the podcast talking about how to deal with overwhelming thoughts and emotions here   Find Alison’s latest book along with all of her work here

What is it about adult friendships that can make them so hard to cultivate? People move, change, or we simply lose touch. What is the secret of friendship making (and keeping)? (Is there one?) Author and founder of The Friendship Lab, Sheridan Voysey, is back on the podcast today to help us unpack these questions as well as: Why is friendship often overlooked? Is it true that 1 out of 4 adults in the Western world has no close friends? —What are the four characteristics of a true friend? How does knowing we are befriended relate to our identity in Christ? You’re welcome to pull up a seat at the friendly podcast table! //Highlights: “We have a huge friendship crisis going on in the Western world right now. Here in the United Kingdom, somewhere between 20 to 25 percent of all British adults…have no close friends. And, 1 in 10 people…have no friends at all. That’s roughly echoed in America…with 30 to 40 percent of [American] people over the age of 35 being chronically lonely… Around 1 in 4 people in Australia have no close friends. So, we have this 25 percent rate floating around the Western world, and 10 percent have no friends at all. I really felt God saying, ‘What if you were to focus on that figure, and bringing it down? What would that take?’ And I thought, ‘My goodness, a book would not scratch that itch.’” —Sheridan Voysey “This whole stigma around loneliness, stigma around friendlessness—everybody in the world (even if they simply go and move houses) will find themselves lonely for a time and need to make new friends. So, we all go through this, and we need to de-stigmatize it.” —Sheridan Voysey //Question of the Week: In what outfit would artist draw your cartoon character? (Because you wear it so often?) //Do the Next Thing: Watch the video here Listen to Sheridan’s last episode with us about wrestling through infertility and other life disappointments here Learn more about Sheridan’s Friendship Lab Read Sheridan’s work here Sheridan mentions the book, 'Theology of Play' by Jurgen Moltmann

Humanity’s desire to “be known” starts somewhere deep in the soul. However, when some of us experience being known, it can be such a jarring experience that we move toward a couple of options: Stoicism (“I’m good without that deep knowing…that’s too uncomfortable…”) or addiction/consumption (“I need that feeling more!”). What’s the proper response to being known by God and others? With friend of the podcast, Joan Rozeboom, we cover this topic as well as: How does Joan, a single foster mom, feel known by God and others? What parts of us need to be known and what need to be “put to death” as Paul says in Colossians 3:3-10)? How can single people and married people truly know each other like Jesus prays for us to know one another in John 17:21)? Join us? //Highlights: “God, I don’t understand how this can be your best for me but you promised you will withhold no good thing from me. So, I am going to reject the lie that God is withholding something good, and I am going to believe that God has a great purpose in this. And I am going to rest in Him even if I never see the good or the purpose this side of eternity.’” —Joan Rozeboom “The reality is you are left out as a single person a lot--I don’t want to downplay that at all. But when my perspective changed to: How can I serve? Who can I invite in? How can I go up to someone who is new and invite them instead of standing there and saying, ‘Why is no one welcoming me?’ When that perspective changed, that changed everything for me in my interactions in the church.” —Joan Rozeboom “When we understand how truly known and fully loved by God we really are? We don’t *need* to find these things in other places. It’s nice if someone else knows me, but I don’t *need it* from them because I *have it* from God.” —Joan Rozeboom //Question of the Week: Are you a finder or a loser? (Your listener stories are hilarious!) //Do the Next Thing: Watch this episode here  Hit us up with your questions/comments at podcast@lauriekrieg.com Here are some sample Identity Statements you’re welcome to steal and adapt for yourself! I am loved by God (Jer. 31:3, Mark 5:41) I am made on purpose (Eph. 2:10) I am healing for _________  (Matt. 28:19) I am learning to love all of the parts of me (1 Jn. 4:19-20) I am made perfect because of the cross alone (Heb. 10:14) I am valuable, and proof of my value is in my existence (Ps. 139:16-17) I am about the process not perfection (John 21:15-17) I am redeemed (1 Cor. 6:17) I am safe in God’s hands (Matt. 10:28) I am known by God; He knows my health, my mind, my emotions everything— when no one else does, not even me (Ps. 139:13-18) I am learning to do all to the glory of God (Col. 3:17) I am forgiven (Rom. 5:8) I am nurtured by God; he cares for my every need (Luke 12:6-7) I am loved by a God who is for me (Romans 8:31-34) I am learning to reparent myself with God (1 John 3:1) I am worthy of care because I am imago Dei (Gen. 1:27) I am capable because of His strength in me (Galatians 2:20, 2 Cor. 12:8-9) I am running my own race therefore I never need to envy (Psalm 23, 37, Matthew 6) I am chosen. (Eph. 1:4) I am loved by a God who is in control of all things (Eph. 1:21) I am foolish to put any confidence in my human effort. All I can do is boast about what Christ Jesus has done for me. (Phil. 3:3, 7-11)

Today, we continue our identity series by exploring our deep-rooted need to know we are redeemed. Why? How? We ask these questions and more of our guest, theologian and author, Branson Parler. We also explore… What if we feel we are too far gone to be redeemed? How does suffering play into this conversation? How does all of this help us walk with friends who wrestle with gender? //Highlights: “In last couple of years, God said to me, ‘Are you anchored in who I am or in who you are? Will you walk away from your job as a tenured professor of theology at a college to do this new thing I am calling you to that is going to serve the church? … Will you let go of this and walk into any room confident because you are a child of God?’” —Dr. Branson Parler “A key myth in our world is that we can resolve suffering. ‘There are ways we can *now* get rid of all that.’ Unfortunately, a lot of churches perpetuated this notion: ‘If you just prayed this way you wouldn’t have dysphoria or have this sense that there is no alignment!’ … When I look at the body of Jesus, it is a suffering body. It is a body that goes through cross and resurrection. … [However] I can’t say that to somebody who is wrestling with questions of gender identity if I have not myself asked, ‘How is Jesus calling me to take up my cross?’” —Dr. Branson Parler //Question of the Week: What is one joke you don’t forget? (Branson has some real cringe ones for us!) //Do the Next Thing: Find Branson’s ministry here Read Branson's book here We reference Branson’s other episodes with us. Find “How to Talk with the Kids” here Find “The Problems with Polyamory” here We reference the conversation with Pete Scazerro, too. Find “How to Be Emotionally Healthy” here We reference Embodied by Preston Sprinkle. Find it here Watch the episode here

If you take away how people perceive you and how you perform tasks, what is left of you? Today on the podcast, we are launching a series on identity with the goal to help us know who we are “in Christ” so deeply that we can walk into any room with confidence. Join us today as we talk about the origin of this series as well as: What comes to mind when you think of yourself? Why did engaging the sexuality conversation attack Laurie’s identity so deeply? What are some of our “templates” or defaults of how we perceive ourselves, and how can we shift them if they are unhealthy and/or sinful? //Highlights: “I’ve been doing this conversation for nearly a decade now, and I’m going to be one to push the brakes and not the gas when it comes to anxiety over this thing…. [But] I sense the enemy is trying to attack who we are—our identity. He’s been doing that since Adam and Eve, but there is something extra right now. And instead of roll over and say, ‘Whatever!’  Let’s engage it with grace and truth and courage.” —Laurie Krieg “I was driving down the Beltline and I was weeping. ‘Okay, try to stay together, I’m driving! I need to be able to see the road.’ I was weeping the whole time, because it was like God saying ‘Don’t you worry my child, I will hold you.’” —Matt Krieg
 “If you guys use Microsoft Word [you may know] you can do File—>New—>From Template….  ‘Oh, there is my old template.’ Seeing myself as a shell as a person who is only good for giving to others and doesn’t have worth in and of herself… I can wake up every day and say, “File—>New—>From Template: Worthless. File—>New—>From Template: You have to perform your to get value (or be perfect). What are your templates?” —Laurie Krieg //Question of the Week: What do you always say in your "about me" after "I am a child of God, etc..." Or what WOULD you say if you were brave enough. “I am…” //Do the Next Thing: Watch this episode here Let us know what you think of the episode or ask us anything by emailing: podcast@lauriekrieg.com Continue the conversation by joining the HIMH Podcast Facebook group here

Whenever we hear people talking about some of the topics we engage in (sexuality, marriage, addiction, sin, repentance, trauma, etc.), we hyper-tune our ears for what they believe and how they hold to what they believe. If you’re curious about our views, this is the episode for you! Today, we answer: What is our philosophy of approaching the LGBTQIA conversation? Why do we start the sexuality conversation with talking about the purpose of our lives? Why do we usually use “LGBTQIA” and not “same-sex attracted”? (But we are willing to use either?) How do we view inborn sin vs. internal, created-order goodness? How might we encourage you to respond when someone tells you “I am gay?” //Highlights: “We need to submit all of these identities to Christ. Whether that is our sexual identity (heterosexual, not straight, LGBTQIA, etc.), or being a mom, or being a white evangelical in America. Am I submitting all of my identities to Christ and letting him sift out the garbage because there is garbage in all of it?” —Laurie Krieg “If you go into a hyper-conservative situation and you say, ‘I am gay,’ they might be picturing the most extreme stereotype they have that might be very inaccurate to the way you live your life. Vice versa, if you go into a more liberal community or within the LGBTQIA community and you say, ‘I’m same sex attracted,’ that might be a trigger for them to think, ‘Oh, this is an ex-gay narrative, and they think I need to be straight in order to be saved’ (and that’s not what you mean). Therefore, changing the words that you use based on the context helps you to be more understood.” —Matt Krieg //Question of the Week: What is your favorite or least favorite word? //Do the Next Thing: To watch this episode visit here We mention this episode with Michael Card:  We talk about this episode on shame Request to join us at the HIMH FB page here Email us your questions or thoughts at podcast@lauriekrieg.com We mention Core Needs. Here is that list: Affirmed: Overwhelmingly approved of (Ps. 118:6, 2 Cor. 1:21-22) Desired: Specially chosen—no pretense necessary (Is. 41:0, John 15:16) Included: Wanted in this group, team, or partnership; I belong (Is. 43:1, Eph. 2:19) Loved: Unconditionally accepted (Jer. 31:3, Rom. 8:39) Nurtured: Cared for; held (Is. 40:28, Matt. 23:37) Purposed: Filled with a sense of profoundly mattering (Ps. 57:2, Rom. 8:28) Rested: Re-centered and reset in mind, body, spirit; includes having fun (Ex. 23:12, Ps. 127:2) Delighted In: Seen as unique and special (Ps. 139:14, 1 Cor. 12:27) Protected: Unafraid; trusting everything is under control (Prov. 18:10, Matt. 10:28) Noticed: Seen inside and out (Gen. 16:13, Ps. 139:7-8)  

We do! Who is Steve? Who is Laurie? Who is Matt?  Today, we are going to get to know the people behind the microphones.  Steve shares his story of depression, feeling inauthentic, and finding hope in Jesus in the midst of addiction. Matt offers his journey of depression and subsequent porn addiction in marriage. Laurie shares how she learned to trust Matt again after his deception and addiction, as well as shares her own story of wrestling with attractions to the same sex throughout her entire life. As always, the team shows the gritty reality and beautiful glory of following Jesus in real life. **Content/Trigger Warning:  Laurie shares a brief and not graphic reference to her sexual molestation when she was 11. //Question of the Week: How would you finish the following… “Nothing gets geriatric [insert your generation] going like… [insert something your generation loves like Coldplay, Polly Pockets, hair bands, or something else that your generation loves!]” //Highlights: “God did answer the prayer, but … I was like, ‘It needs to look like this. It needs to happen like this… where I don’t get in trouble. Where I don’t get exposed--and I can maintain my image.’” —Steve O’Dell “Because of what we have been going through with Laurie’s health stuff, I am completely powerless. That is is hard for me. I want to escape… [but] God is helping me not to disconnect. “ —Matt Krieg “Steve, I so relate (and to Matt, you too!) to that double life. We so want our churches to be these authentic places, but we are not great at knowing how to work with mess.”—Laurie Krieg //Do the Next Thing: Watch a video version of the episode here For all of the podcast episodes, visit www.Lauriekrieg.com/podcast We reference the Broken/Beloved Pastors series, and you can find the first episode in that series here

You guysssss!!!!! After over a year off of the air, the Hole in My Heart Podcast is back!!! We are back and we got a shiny new studio and some awesome new friends who are producing this thing. Through a new partnership with West Michigan’s 91.3 WCSG, the Hole in My Heart Podcast has the opportunity to reach more people with the truth that the gospel is good news for *everyone* every day. (!!) Today, Laurie, Matt, and Steve get behind the microphones (and cameras!) to re-acclimate long time listeners and welcome new ones. We do this by: Playing Two Truths and a Lie with each other (Can you guess the right answer?) Talk about how the gospel has *still* been good news for us in the last year  Offer how the podcast began, how we connected to WCSG, and why we named it “Hole in My Heart” anyway…? Engage a conversation about sin, neediness, and why we run to things we don’t truly want or need Share what we are looking forward to in the new season of HIMH!! (Eek!) //Highlights: “Whether or not I get healed (I don’t know), I do know eternal [victory] is guaranteed.” —Laurie Krieg “Often times, we can look at our needs and think they are character flaws or deficiencies when in actuality they are created order.”—Matt Krieg “I am excited about integrating. I think God has been working on me a lot on integrating—on becoming a real, whole person.”—Steve O’Dell //Do the Next Thing: Watch the episode here We mention: Episode 24: Is There Hope for Us? We mention The Marriage Series Want to connect? Email us at podcast@lauriekrieg.com or find a community with other listeners on the HIMH Facebook group here

Well, dear family, we have an announcement. What is it? First, let's hang out for a while, and talk about... How did that "word for the year" go for you? In light of that reality, how has the gospel been uniquely good news for you this year? What is coming next for the podcast and our ministry in 2022? We'd love for you to sit at the podcast table one more time with us. :)   //Highlights: "If you are listening and you feel this frenetic burden to go and save the world, Jesus already did that. Abide in Him, walk in Him, and He will show you how to have your doing come from your being." -Laurie Krieg “[Let’s] not just be like, ‘Well, that’s just Christianity, isn’t it? It’s suffering.’ …No, that’s not why Jesus came, so that we have to suffer and hate everything. There’s this good desire in us for this shalom and this peace. And if you want that, that’s a good desire.” -Laurie Krieg //Do the Next Thing: Want to send a note about how this podcast has affected you? Rate and review it, or email us at podcast@lauriekrieg.com. We also mention these episodes—check ‘em out! Practically Living Life in the Presence of God with Ken Boa here How to Not Give Up with Christine Caine here The First Episode of Season 5 here Join our Facebook group here! If you need a fresh look at Scripture, the CSB translation is a sponsor of the HIMH podcast! Learn more here

The ugly truth has just come out: One spouse has just confessed to unfaithfulness and the other is reeling in shock. Where do we go from here? Is there hope for a marriage in crisis? Does Jesus have something to say to this place? We are thrilled to bring back our friends Johnny and Amanda McKenna, who have been in this place and walked through—with Jesus’ help—to the other side. Give it a listen? // Highlights: “Pray the prayer that was prayed over me, which is a super scary prayer to pray…but that prayer of ‘Whatever needs to come into the light, come into the light.’ Days before my confession, I was told that that prayer was being prayed over me.” --Johnny McKenna “I ... have to trust that God’s gonna be there … when everything does come out and the pieces are ready to be put back together and God can begin His restoration work.” --Johnny McKenna // Do the Next Thing: Missed our first conversation with Johnny and Amanda? Check it out here! Looking for community with other podcast listeners? Join our Facebook group! If you need a new look at Scripture, the CSB translation is a sponsor of the HIMH podcast! Learn more about our new favorite Bible at csbible.com. We would love it if you would rate the podcast for us, on any of your favorite listening platforms!

Did you know that CS Lewis’ lifelong best friend was gay? Did you know that Francis Schaeffer was against orientation-change pursuit for gay people? Did you know that Billy Graham was a compassionate defender of gay people who fell into sexual sin? Did you know that John Stott encouraged the church to “repent of the crippling ‘homophobia’… which has coloured the attitudes toward homosexual people of too many of us, and call our fellow Christians to similar repentance”? You guys…the church wasn’t always so terrible at the LGBTQ conversation, praise God. Pastor and author Greg Johnson helped us understand this truth as he unpacked the church’s history, but he also shined light on some of the more dark shadows of our past and current state as he shared his own journey as a celibate pastor who experiences attractions to the same sex. This is not an episode to miss… // Highlight: “[John] Stott said, ‘If the Church can’t be family for gay people, if they can’t be known and loved and understood within the Church, then the Church needs to quit calling itself the family of God.’” -Greg Johnson // Do the Next Thing: Want to hear more from Greg? Go get his book! You can also check him out on Christianity Today! Looking for community with other podcast listeners? Join our Facebook group! If you need a new look at Scripture, the CSB translation is a sponsor of the HIMH podcast! Learn more about our new favorite Bible at csbible.com.  

In a world of pain, identity can be hard to find. With a diagnosis of PTSD, it can be even harder. How do we navigate knowing who we are—and equally important, who God is, in a world that assaults us with lies day in and day out? How do we do that with trauma? With cheerfulness and grace, Bonnie Gray tells her story and helps to answer these questions. Listen with us? // Highlights: “If you go through trauma and you don’t have Jesus, you’re gonna have to be a better version than what you were before…. But if we have Jesus, we say, ‘You know what, I can’t do it. And the beauty is that I don’t have to do it all. Life can be beautiful, even if it’s not perfect.’” -Bonnie Gray // Do the next thing: Want more of Bonnie? Check out her website! We love her book! Go grab it here! Enjoyed listening today? You can find Bonnie’s podcast here. Looking for community with other podcast listeners? Join our Facebook group! If you need a new look at Scripture, the CSB translation is a sponsor of the HIMH podcast! Learn more about our new favorite Bible at csbible.com.  

Emotional health is something that can feel elusive and impossible. But is it? And even if "attaining" total emotional health on this side of eternity is unlikely, what steps can we take to at least walk toward it? And why do we need to? With the wisdom and tenderness of a kind father figure, pastor and author, Pete Scazerro, helps us answer some of our questions about the pursuit of emotional health. Together we explore the above questions as well as: Why is the usual church-discipling paradigm to live burned out and overextended?  What if we say "no" to people and they get mad at us. How do we process that? Are there really two types of people in the world: the helpers and the helped? We'd love to have you join the conversation. // Highlight: “Say the United States is gonna cease to be a world power, and fall, and become this dominated country by another country. We may live through that. I mean, who knows what’s gonna happen? The point is: COVID, all the pressures, are putting pressure on our inner life. But, you see, if you can develop an inner life with God that’s robust, the Roman Empire can fall, but you’re okay. Because your happiness is not dependent on your circumstances.” -Pete Scazerro // Do the Next Thing: For resources on building a Rule of Life, click here!  And here is the logic behind it Want more of Pete? Check out his website here. You can also see his books here. Looking for community with other podcast listeners? Join our Facebook group! If you need a new look at Scripture, the CSB translation is a sponsor of the HIMH podcast! Learn more about our new favorite Bible at csbible.com. Watch this Conversation!