Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick

“ The question for our lives is not whether we will surrender, but to whom or what we will surrender. ” - Gordon Dalbey In this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael and Brian discuss the move from the Soul Snare pattern to the path of Soul Care. As we consider our brokenness, when negative feelings arise, our reflex is to avoid or control them. Carl Jung was referring to this idea when he wrote...

“ Shame is like a raincoat over the soul that repels the living water of Jesus that would establish us as His beloved. ” - Andy Kamiski All of us have hiding places where we stow away our shame. Where do you hide yours? What memories or triggers send you scurrying for cover? If the voice of shame could be silenced, what do you think the voice of Love might say to you? What do you long to hear? Und...

“ It’s important to understand our brokenness because it’s what drives our sinful patterns, our addictions, and our compulsions. ” - Michael John Cusick The following is an excerpt from Michael John Cusick’s book, “Surfing for God”. “ King David was a man intimately acquainted with his brokenness. Aware of his divided heart, he wrote in the Psalms, “Train me, God, to walk straight; then I’ll follo...

“ I’ve always been most passionate about trying to help people connect the broken reality of their life to the reality of God’s heart. ” - Michael John Cusick Hope is life-giving, but to deeply and intensely desire something and not receive it can be virtually unbearable. On the other hand, the consequences of losing our spiritual thirst can be as dramatic as losing our physical thirst. How can we...

“ All sin promises us something but it never delivers on the promise. ” - Michael John Cusick On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael and Brian present the second episode in a seven part series of podcasts on Michael’s book, Surfing for God. Today’s discussion reveals the broken promises of pornography. Pornography promises: Validation of our manhood but without requiring strength. Sexual f...

“ There was something deeper, something more real that I was drawn to in what he said. ” - Jim Cress On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael and Jim Cress remember Dr. Larry Crabb who recently passed away. The following is the post written by The Larger Story: It is with great sadness and astonishing joy that we tell you of Dr. Larry Crabb’s arrival in Heaven early Sunday morning. Heartache...

“ Every man who knocks on the door of a brothel is looking for God. ” - G.K. Chesterton On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael and Brian launch into the first of a seven part series of podcasts on Michael’s book, Surfing for God . In a world where there are 68 million searches for pornography every day and where 70 percent  of Christian men report viewing porn in the last year, it’s no sur...

“ The solution to lust is to see women. It isn’t to avoid them. It’s to see women as whole people made in the image of God. ” - Sheila Wray Gregoire On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes speaker, blogger, award-winning author Sheila Wray Gregoire. About 800,000 people read her blog every month, “ To Love, Honor and Vacuum ” and her book, “The Good Girl’s Guide to Great Sex” won t...

“ Certain kinds of care for betrayal trauma actually makes people stuck or worse in their recovery. ” - Julianne Cusick On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael concludes his conversation with Julianne Cusick about Betrayal Trauma. Today they will focus on Treatment Barriers to Healing from Betrayal Trauma. This follows up from our previous episode on Barriers to Overcoming Betrayal Trauma....

“It’s impossible to recover from betrayal trauma when you’re still a victim of betrayal trauma.” - Julianne Cusick On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes back Julianne Cusick for the next two episodes as they discuss Betrayal Trauma. Today they will focus on Barriers to Overcoming Betrayal Trauma. Did you know that you can follow Michael and Restoring the Soul on social media? Sim...

“I want to become the person that naturally is like Jesus because I have been with Him for so long.”  - Dr. James Bryan Smith Dr. James Bryan Smith is the founder and Executive Director of the Apprentice Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation, as well as a founding member of Richard J. Foster’s spiritual renewal ministry, Renovaré. He is an ordained United Methodist Church minister and speaks...

“ Wholeness and holiness are inseparable. ” - Dallas Willard On this edition of Restoring the Soul, we dig deep into our archives for one of the most important discussions Michael has taken part in. In his words, it was one of the highlights of his life. Together, let’s go to Los Angeles. The year is 2008 and we’ll be privileged to listen to Michael’s discussion with Dr. Dallas Willard, who for se...

“ We eroticize our pain to make sense of it. We sexualize our brokenness. ” - Andrew Bauman On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes Andrew Bauman, author of The Sexually Healthy Man. Now, you may have grown up in the 90's during the height of the True Love Waits movement, accompanied by Joshua Harris’ bestseller, I Kissed Dating Goodbye. Many of the ideas perpetuated by this c...

“Our soul is not something that we have, it is more something that we are. It is the very life pulse within us that which names us alive.” - Ronald Rolheiser Happy New Year! We hope that 2021 is off to a great start for you. Thankful that you have chosen to start the year off with us and hope that Restoring the Soul can become a regular part of your weekly podcast diet. Don’t forget that we have 1...

“ The most beautiful place in all of creation is the center of the soul. ” - St. Teresa of Avila On this Christmas weekend edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael has invited his good friend Peter Zaremba into the studio to discuss one of the most perplexing topics known to man. They’re hoping to unpack what it means to understand the soul. The human soul is central to the personhood of a human bei...

“Happiness is a sense of looking back on our life and knowing it’s been well-lived.” - Rabbi Evan Moffic On this edition of Restoring the Soul, we’re taking a trip in the way back machine to feature a conversation with Michael and Rabbi Evan Moffic. In light of the Coronavirus pandemic and how difficult this year has been for so many, we thought it would be nice to offer a look at the ancient Jewi...

“ What happens in our souls happens in ourselves .” - Susie Larson On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes back Susie Larson to the podcast to complete their discussion they started last week. Be sure to download and listen to Episode 157 that will complement today’s conversation. Susie is a talk radio host, national speaker, and bestselling author. She hosts the daily talk show, S...

“ The storms reveal the lies we believe and the truths we need. ” - Susie Larson On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes Susie Larson to the podcast. Susie is a talk radio host, national speaker, and bestselling author. She hosts the daily talk show, Susie Larson Live , which airs on the Faith Radio Network and reaches a half million people weekly through her daily posts on Faceboo...

“ I never wanted this story told because I never wanted this to be my story. ” - Lysa TerKeurst Regardless of whether we’re in a pandemic or not, the holidays bring families together - and with these gatherings, painful memories oftentimes surface and difficult conversations happen - or are avoided… At the center of these conflicts are the need for forgiveness and healing. Come to think of it, it’...

“ In order for me to understand the journey of the slave, I had to be on the ship. ”  - Dr. Barbara Peacock Michael’s guest on today’s podcast is Dr. Barbara Peacock. An experienced preacher, teacher and minister of discipleship and prayer, Dr. Peacock trains in spiritual direction and soul care for ministry leaders and has a God-given call and desire to serve as spiritual coach for individuals an...

“ I went on a journey of seeking an entry point for the beginning of African American soul care. ” - Dr. Barbara Peacock Michael’s guest on today’s podcast is Dr. Barbara Peacock, an experienced preacher, teacher and minister of discipleship and prayer. Dr. Peacock trains in spiritual direction and soul care for ministry leaders and has a God-given call and desire to serve as spiritual coach for i...

“ What does it look like to follow Jesus faithfully when you’re depressed? ” - Diana Gruver James Chapter 1 verses 2 through 4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” These words...

“ The brain seems to be designed for something. And then theology says, “This is what you’re supposed to do with it. ” - Dr. Jim Wilder Our guest on today’s podcast is Dr. Jim Wilder. For decades, he has been delving into biblical scripture, spiritual formation, and brain science. These studies led to development of a unique model of spiritual and psychological maturation. Dr. Wilder has been trai...

“ Salvation is liberation. ” - Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards Our guest on today’s podcast is Reverend Doctor Dennis Edwards. His name might sound familiar to you as he was a recent guest of Michael’s on an episode titled, “ Turning the Tables on Injustice .” Today, he and Michael will be discussing his most recent book, “ Might from the Margins ”. To summarize the conversation, here is the concluding pa...

“ Your ego would like you to think you’re more in control than you actually are. ” - Ian Morgan Cron Ian Morgan Cron is Michael’s special guest for this episode of Restoring the Soul. Of our 149 episodes, Ian has joined us more times than any other guest. He is a master teacher of the Enneagram, a powerful tool for understanding why we behave the way we do, and how our personalities are powerfully...