Balancing the Christian Life

Send us Fan Mail So what is digital literacy and why is it important for Christians to understand? This week I asked my buddy Mark McCrary to interview me for the podcast about digital literacy. This topic has been both a passion and professional pursuit for several years and I wanted someone to help me explore the idea from a different perspective. Mark is usually a willing participant in these c...

Send us Fan Mail This week I wanted to talk to three people from an online group of Bible students. The argument I hear a lot is social media is largely dangerous. However, this group is doing something many thought impossible. I talk to Logan Dawson, Donna DeHoog and Katie Philippi about what they've learned and how they've gotten to know other Christians in a Chapter a Day Group (Excel...

Send us Fan Mail You'll have to indulge me this week. I'm talking to four podcasters I know ONLY as voices on earbuds and faces on a screen, but they have all become important to me. This week, I talk to Kris Emerson from Excel Still More, Hal Hammons of Citizen of Heaven and Jeff O'Rear and Emerson Brown of Working with the Word. We talk about why podcasting as a platform is powerf...

Send us Fan Mail Collaboration means doing something together to achieve something you couldn't do individually. In this episode I talk about how digital tools allow us to collaborate on things which are impossible otherwise. This is the seventh and final part of digital literacy, and in many ways the culmination of the other six. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Being a Christian woman isn't easy, but Nikki and Julie give you an example of how to do it with a good sense of humor and an eye to joy. In this conversation, we talk about abuse in the church, being part of a preacher family, and how to be a serious Christian that doesn't take yourself too seriously. There's also a lot of laughter here. You can find the Nikki and...

Send us Fan Mail Some people forever change your life by showing you better choices and giving you an example worth following.  Having mentors and being a mentor is a blessing to many of us. Keith Stonehart is a friend whose Christian story has several incredible turns. He told his conversion story in episode 53. In this episode, he introduces us to a man who became an important friend and father...

Send us Fan Mail Learning to lead takes experience and wisdom. Even then, leadership in local churches can be tricky. Especially in the age of Coronavirus, we've all been learning about the limits of leadership. Max Dawson is one of the leaders of the Dowlen Road church of Christ in Beaumont, Texas, I've heard lots of good things about that group and found out some of their secrets to bo...

Send us Fan Mail How do you build a group of people who are helpful, don't bicker, and make each other better? You might think that's impossible. I mean, have you seen what's going on in Facebook land? Well, it's more than possible. While social media is both an easy target and the butt of almost every joke about online relationships gone awry, it's also a powerful tool to...

Send us Fan Mail How do you make sense of the Bible? This week I talk with Wes McAdams about his reading plan that makes a case for reading entire books in one sitting. We also talk about how he uses digital tools to help spread Christiainity. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail So how do you choose to be joyful when the world around you is crumbling? Jeremy Dehut is a new but good friend. He's helped me see both from his example and in his family's choice to let God help him choose joy in the face of tragedy. I'm grateful for people like Jeremy and Anna and how they share their struggles and show us how to allow God to let us become better...

Send us Fan Mail One of the big differences in online communication is the ability to talk back to the people who make the stuff you consume. In other words, we're all consumers and producers of online content, and I think that's incredibly beneficial. But how do you do it well? We'll talk about how to participate intentionally and thoughtfully. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail If your'e anything like me, you get intimidated when you think about evangelism and teaching others about Christ. Andy Cantrell can help you with this. He has helped distill the problems we have with evangelism into four tools which can help us be better at spreading God's word.  Andy also has an amazing story about why Christianity means so much to him, and who he admir...

Send us Fan Mail This is the fourth part of digital literacy and it's how we recreate context for what we're finding online. Christians should already "get this" because we have to do it all the time with the Bible. But for some reason, we don't use these same skills when it comes to online communication. See how to create context in the conversations you're finding o...

Send us Fan Mail I wasn't sure what to expect from someone who came from a life of rock and roll. I mean, I know all the stereotypes. Were they right? Evangelist Keith Stonehart sets the record straight, and shows how Christianity helps fix our brokenness.  Keith is the evangelist for the Fultondale church of Christ , and co-host for the podcast The Real Deal . Support the show

Send us Fan Mail So what is your influence like? Influence isn't particular to just online communication, but it sure can go bad quickly. We talk about how to manage both your identity and image online, and at the same time keep yourself grounded. I also celebrate one of the most meaningful events in my life. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Ginger Hubbard is one of those people who inspire me. She is an amazing mother, and someone who puts Christ in the center of her life. She is the author of several books on parenting and even hosts her own podcast, Parenting with Ginger Hubbard.   She is impressive in so many ways. But what impresses me most about Ginger is her vulnerability and honesty about coming to Christ.  In...

Send us Fan Mail Fake news. Internet scams. People impersonating other people. It seems like the Internet is just a cesspool of trust issues, so why should this medium be something anyone takes seriously?  Shouldn't we just stop using the Internet altogether? How about no?  In this episode we talk about how to cut back on the noise in the Internet to find the value. This is the second episode...

Send us Fan Mail How's your joy? If you're like me, finding joy in dailiy life isn't easy. Paul Gavin is a musician, private music teacher and a dedicated Christian who has a lot to teach you about joy. He also has a two word recipe to solve your relationship problems. See if Paul doesn't challenge you as well in your walk with God. If you're interested in finding Paul, hi...

Send us Fan Mail In some ways, this is one of the simplest episodes I've pulled together. In this episode, I start the first part of digital literacy which is taking control of your attention. Hopefully this reminds you about the fundamentals of Christianity. I think this concept is simple and profound in the life of Christians who often see themselves as victims of circumstances. I hope you...

Send us Fan Mail This week I've got a lot on my plate with the end of the semester, so I'm doing an introduction to the idea of digital literacy. I've been meaning to put this episode together for a long time and now is the perfect time. I'm making an argument about why we need to pull the curtain back on what digital tools do to us and for us. God bless you this week! Support...

Send us Fan Mail Do you feel like the world is changing all around you while you're trying to hold onto your Christianity? Do you wonder if the things changing around us should worry us or not? Gardner is a guy with a great perspective on the culture surrounding us, the hope we have in God and why today's Christian should inspire us with confidence. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail For the past few weeks I've been drawn again and again to Philippians. There's a lot of hope and exhortation in this short book. I thought seriously about giving a reflection on Philippians for this episode. I seem to always be drawn to 4:8 where Paul tells us what to think about. But that's in a larger discussion where he talks about where to focus and what to do i...

Send us Fan Mail Covid is starting to become a memory...so what should we learn from the experience? And what questions should we be asking now? Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Hal is a new friend and someone who hosts his own podcast, The Citizen of Heaven. In this episode, we discuss the importance of perspective.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This week I'm talking to a colleague and friend, Dr. Stephen Okey. Okey (as I call him) is an excellent educator and has a good understanding of the relationship of Christ, Christians and culture. He discusses the different ways Christians often try to see Christ in regards to culture, and proposes a better way we might be able to be "in the world but not of the world.&q...