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159 | A Better Diagnosis

We often settle for a simple physical explanation when we're feeling down or off. So when a throbbing headache keeps you from an event of great joy, you assume it must be because you recently cut down on caffeine. Yet these simplistic diagnoses fail to account for the fact that we are beings of body, soul, and spirit - and every move in the direction of greater life will be opposed. Here are tools to better diagnose what's really going on when you sense things aren't right.

What Is the Most Important Thing?

Morgan spent two decades on a quest, looking for the path that could restore the heart of a man. During this launch week of his new book, Becoming a King, Morgan and his friends share what this journey has looked like for each of them. To discover more, visit www.BecomingAKing.com.

158 | Less Zoom. More Dirt.

The immaterial practices that fill our days (like those endless Zoom meetings) may be productive but they don't anchor us. Numerous studies show we need regular contact with the real. When we disconnect from the physical, we do our bodies and souls great harm. Something powerful happens when we go out for a run, walk barefoot in the grass, or spend time tending our garden. It turns out, we need dirt...literally. Sam and Blaine explore why our body, mind, and soul thrives on tactile connection to the physical world.

Inviting Others into Your Story

In the conclusion of this four-part series, the team discusses how to prepare and share your story - as well as some landmines to avoid.

157 | You Need a Therapist

Why is the decision to see a therapist the last resort for most of us? Sam and Blaine demystify the process by interviewing therapist Stacia Littlefield. She helps people navigate the terrain of their hearts to care for their inner places. In this conversation, Stacia sheds light on how the process works and why it leads to breakthrough. Because it's true - we all need a good therapist every now and then.

How to Tell Your Story

The first half of this series offered ways to actively listen to another's story. Now in Part 3, we shift to how you can tell your story to others well.

156 | Blessing and Cursing

Our words hold immense power. We understand that on a relational level. But spiritually, far more is at play. Throughout scripture, God reveals how your words, thoughts, and actions can either bless or curse your health, home, and work. And it's not just what you speak or think. We receive the blessing and cursing of others, too. This conversation shines light on why words matter even more than we realize.

Becoming a King

Discover the path to restoring the heart of a man in this powerful conversation with John and Morgan. To pre-order Morgan's book, Becoming a King, and receive free bonus content, visit www.BecomingAKing.com.

155 | Annie Grace: The Alcohol Experiment

Our experience with alcohol varies wildly from person to person. For some, it's an occasional beer or celebratory toast. For others, it ranges from a source of relief to a secret addiction they can't break. Annie Grace, author of The Alcohol Experiment and This Naked Mind, reveals why we reach for what we reach for. She's helped countless people rethink their relationship with alcohol by replacing feelings of shame and guilt with motives of curiosity and joy.

A Needed Shaking

In the second half of this series on the pandemic, John reveals how to interpret and pray about what's shaking our world today.

154 | Share Jesus by Sharing Your Life

These strange times provide countless opportunities to talk with others about the Kingdom, but religious language gets in the way. Here's a simple way forward: rather than talking about Jesus from some memorized script, just talk about your heart. Why? Because Jesus isn't abstract; he's revealed in the concrete territory of your daily life. Then, ask what these times are stirring in the person you're talking with. To hear what this sounds like, listen in on six conversations with friends sharing how this season is affecting their hearts and hopes.

Don't Miss This Moment

John offers wisdom for how we, as friends of Jesus, can tune out the fears and distractions around us in order to hear more clearly what God is saying during this pandemic.

153 | Compete for the Outcome

We're good at doing, but we tend to question the value of pausing. This intentionally brief podcast is about a shift - from saying more to praying more. The world downplays prayer as a legitimate response to global events. But prayer is a mighty power we've been given to co-determine the future with God, and to compete for the many uncertain outcomes of this global moment. So now more than ever, let's pause. And pray.

Responding to Someone's Story

In part two of our four-part series on how to tell your story and listen to another's story, we discuss how to respond to a person's story in ways that honor their history and their heart.

152 | Celebration Is Essential

The celebration of key events happens regularly in childhood. But then we get older and they stop. We hit a milestone dead zone where important things go unacknowledged - whether the start of a job, the birth of a child, or the loss of a dream. In fact, right now, COVID-19 has caused a full-on celebration moratorium. And the cost is real. Without celebrations, we quit trying. We feel unseen or alone as new chapters come and go with no recognition. Luke Eldredge joins Sam and Blaine for this conversation on the appeal of rituals and need for shared experiences.

How to Listen to Someone's Story

We can't love people well or experience true community until we know each other's story. The first of this four-part series reveals how to be a good listener.