Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick

On this program, Michael concludes his conversation Dr. C. Baxter Kruger. Kruger is a theologian and author who is part of a quiet revolution helping Christians to reclaim a dynamic and life-giving understanding of the Trinity, including a Jesus-shaped understanding of the very heart of God. They will dicsuss the global great awakening that Baxter sees as he travels and teaches around the world. T...

Michael's guest on this episode and the next is Dr. C. Baxter Kruger. Baxter is a theologian and author who is part of a quiet revolution helping Christians to reclaim a dynamic and life-giving understanding of the Trinity, including a Jesus-shaped understanding of the very heart of God. C. Baxter Kruger is the Director of Perichoresis Ministries , he teaches around the world, and earned his...

Tony Anderson is Michael’s guest on this edition of Restoring the Soul. This is part 2 of their discussion. Tony, who describes himself as a “sonic architect”, creates and composes music for film, television and beyond. His work has been featured in promotions for National Geographic, GoPro, Delta Airlines, ESPN, Ford Motor Company, and many more. Tony is also the Executive Producer of the soon-to...

For the next two episodes, Tony Anderson is Michael’s guest. Tony, who describes himself as a “sonic architect”, creates and composes music for film, television and beyond. His work has been featured in promotions for National Geographic, GoPro, Delta Airlines, ESPN, Ford Motor Company, and many more. Tony is also the Executive Producer of the soon-to-be-released film, The Heart of Man , which wil...

Sean Seay is who for several years, along with his wife Bonnie, dreamed of planting a church. While on staff for five years at Northpoint Community Church, where he was mentored by Andy Stanley, the church began to sense God leading them to extend their influence to communities beyond Atlanta. In one of Northpoint’s earliest strategic partnerships, Sean began to pray and scout out Athens, GA, the...

Heather King is a writer, speaker, retreat leader, and former commentator on NPR’s All Things Considered ( listen to Heather's commentaries here ). Her books include Parched: A Memoir ; Redeemed: Stumbling Toward God, Marginal Sanity, and the Peace That Passes All Understanding , and Shirt of Flame: A year with St. Therese of Lisieux . In part 2 of Michael's conversation with Heather, th...

Heather King is a writer, speaker, retreat leader, and former commentator on NPR’s All Things Considered ( listen to Heather's commentaries here ). Her books include Parched: A Memoir ; Redeemed: Stumbling Toward God, Marginal Sanity, and the Peace That Passes All Understanding , and Shirt of Flame: A year with St. Therese of Lisieux . Support the show ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST: -...

In Part 2 of my conversation with Deb Hirsch we discuss shame, why it’s so hard to talk about sexuality in the church, and what it means to bring grace into sexual shame. Deb Hirsch is the author of Redeeming Sex: Naked Conversations About Sexuality and Spirituality . As a speaker, church leader, and writer she has led churches in both Australia and Los Angeles and is one of the founders of Forge...

Deb Hirsch is the author of Redeeming Sex: Naked Conversations About Sexuality and Spirituality.  As a speaker, church leader, and writer she has led churches in both Australia and Los Angeles and is one of the founders of Forge Mission Training Network. She is the co-author (with Alan Hirsch) of Untamed: Reactivating a Missional Form of Discipleship , and her book Redeeming Sex reflects her own j...

Chaim Potok (1929-2002) was a legendary novelist, rabbi, Judaic scholar, and philosopher. This interview--Part 2 of a two-part interview-- is a dramatization of the written text originally published in The Mars Hill Review. Special thanks to Rabbi Brian Newman for reading the part of Chaim Potok.   Support the show ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST: - Follow us on YouTube - Tweet us at @michae...

Chaim Potok, who passed away in 2002, was a legendary novelist, rabbi, Judaic scholar, and philosopher. His many books include, The Chosen, My Name Is Asher Lev, and Wanderings: Chaim Potok's History of the Jews. This interview is a dramatization of the written text originally published in The Mars Hill Review. Special thanks to Rabbi Brian Newman for reading the part of Chaim Potok.   Suppor...

Joy Sawyer is a Denver-based writer and poet. In addition to several nonfiction books, Joy is the author of a poetry collection, Tongues of Men and Angels (White Violet Press, 2016), Her poetry, essays, and fiction have appeared in such diverse publications as Books & Culture, Christianity & Literature, Inklings, Lilliput Review, Mars Hill Review, New York Quarterly, and others. Since 2009...

Joy Sawyer is a Denver-based writer and poet. In addition to several nonfiction books, Joy is the author of a poetry collection, Tongues of Men and Angels (White Violet Press, 2016), Her poetry, essays, and fiction have appeared in such diverse publications as Books & Culture, Christianity & Literature, Inklings, Lilliput Review, Mars Hill Review, New York Quarterly, and others. Since 2009...

In this episode Michael continues his conversation with saint and sage Dr. David Donaldson, 85 year old clinical psychologist who continues to practice psychotherapy after more than sixty years. In this part of the conversation, David shares the wisdom gained from living 8 1/2 decades, specifically—what he has learned about grace, the journey to wholeness, and what he’s thinking about heaven. Supp...

In the 19th chapter of the book of Leviticus, God speaks through Moses saying, “‘Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God.” Another translation reads, “You shall rise up before the gray-headed and honor them.” On this episode and the next, Michael will be honoring the “gray-headed” man who has taught him more than ANYONE about the heart of God and the...

Steve Siler is a prolific song writer; the winner of four GMA Dove Awards and numerous CCM # 1 singles to his credit. He is also the founder and Executive Director of Music for the Soul , a Christian ministry that exists to creatively use the power of songs and stories as a bridge to hope and healing for those facing life’s most difficult issues. A few of the issues and topics discussed include: T...

Steve Siler is a prolific songwriter who has to his credit 4 GMA Dove Awards and 9# singles. He is the founder and director of Music for the Soul in Nashville, TN, and is the author of Music for the Soul, Healing for the Heart .  In Part I of our 2-part interview, a few of the vtopics we discuss include: Steve's embarrasment over accepting an assignment to write a song for Chippendales male s...

Welcome to the Season 2, Episode 3. Today you’ll be listening to Part 2 of a 2 part conversation with composer, arranger, producer, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and keyboardist, Rob Mathes. Rob is a Grammy-nominated, Tony-nominated artist who won an Emmy award for his musical direction of the Kennedy Center Honors. In Part 2, a few of the topics Rob and I discuss include: How Rob’s song, “Althou...

Rob Mathes is Emmy award-winning, Grammy nominated, Tony nominated music producer, composer, arranger, singer, songwriter, keyboardist, and guitarist. The list of names that Rob has worked with is extraordinary--including production and songwriting collaborations with Sting on his last three albums, and serving as musical director on Sting's “The Last Ship: World Tour with the Royal Philharom...

Jill Phillips is a Nashville based singer/songwriter whose guitar based folk-rock sound blends deep and penetrating lyrics with an ever fresh take on the joys and sorrows of life. Jill’s debut album, self titled “Jill Phillips” was released in 1999 and produced by Grammy-winning songwriter, Wayne Kirkpatrick. Jill currently performs and records as an independent artist who just released her tenth...

As we come to the end of our first podcast season, I am so thankful for the opportunity to share the Restoring the Soul podcast with you--our listeners. As a way of saying thank you, I’m sharing this podcast which includes a special Christmas song from my friends Andy Gullahorn and Jill Phillips . I’m also sharing a message I recently gave at Denver Seminary  student chapel called, “Less Is More”...

Gordon MacDonald served for over forty years as a pastor and was President of World Relief, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and now serves as Chancellor at Denver Seminary. He is an author, speaker, and teacher whose books include Ordering Your Private World , Rebuilding Your Broken World ; Renewing your Spiritual Passion , Mid Course Correction , and A Resilient Life, Going Deep, Shoring Up th...

Gordon MacDonald served for over forty years as a pastor and was President of World Relief, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and now serves as Chancellor at Denver Seminary. He is an author, speaker, and teacher whose books include Ordering Your Private World , Rebuilding Your Broken World ; Renewing your Spiritual Passion , Mid Course Correction , and A Resilient Life, Going Deep, Shoring Up th...

  On Episode 19 Michael’s guest is Crystal Renaud, author, speaker, and pioneer in the growing movement to address pornography addiction in women and girls. Crystal is the Founder and Executive Director of  Dirty Girls Ministries  (DGM) as well as an author, speaker, and professional life coach from the Kansas City area. DGM exists to provide help, hope, and healing to women struggling with pornog...

  On Episode 18 Michael’s guest is Crystal Renaud, author, speaker, and pioneer in the growing movement to address pornography addiction in women and girls. Crystal is the Founder and Executive Director of  Dirty Girls Ministries  (DGM) as well as an author, speaker, and professional life coach from the Kansas City area. DGM exists to provide help, hope, and healing to women struggling with pornog...