We Can Talk About This

Hang on . . . Don’t go to church on Sunday?

OK, admittedly it’s a clickbaity title, but hopefully it will help reinforce the overall point of this episode: church is not just something you attend; it’s a family you are part of.

Clearly, the main gathering on Sunday morning should be a non-negotiable for every believer. But simply showing up is insufficient to operate as an integral part of a local church.

In this episode, Jonathan and Christa discuss dangers of simply “showing up” without being vitally connected to the body as a whole.

They say that opposites attract. For Jonathan and Christa, this is true in terms of how they view life. One tends to see the cup half full; the other sees the cup half empty. In this episode, Jonathan presents his case for optimism, Christa presents her case for her outlook, and they both identify ways in which the other's perspective has helped their marriage.

Getting a PhD isn't the usual route to preparing for the pastorate, but several years ago, Jonathan embarked on this academic journey. Actually, it was a team effort, requiring a tremendous amount of commitment and help from Christa and many others. In this episode, Jonathan and Christa talk about why Jonathan decided to pursue a PhD, and the specific course of study he chose.

Let’s face it. As wonderful as it is to have children, being a parent can be overwhelming. It exposes our flaws and frailties, and often leaves us bewildered and exhausted. Often our problem is not merely a lack of time or technique, but our overall mindset about parenting. In this episode, Jonathan and Christa discuss five Biblically-informed mindsets that help sustain good parenting practices.

In this episode, we tackle more ways to ruin a marriage, including—

1. Surround yourself with friends who hate their marriages.

2. Fail to prepare for life’s changing seasons.

3. View marriage as a one-time decision instead of a daily one.

4. Get overly close with others of the opposite sex.

5. Threaten divorce.

6. Notice only the flaws in your spouse.

7. Make fun of your spouse in public. 

8. Make your job everything.  

9. Take everything personally. 

10. Attend church only when it’s convenient. 

Some people worry that they have “missed God’s will.” Maybe they made a bad decision seven years ago, and now their life seems out of whack. Is the only solution to travel back in time? Is that how “God’s will” works?

In this episode, Jonathan and Christa discuss what the Bible means when it talks about God’s will, faulty beliefs about it, and how you can find out what God wants you to do with your life.

In this episode, Jonathan & Christa delve into the essential skill of engaging with individuals who have differing opinions—a crucial ability in our modern, diverse world. Key takeaway? Active listening is key.

They also discuss the importance of engaging in conversations with those who hold opposing viewpoints. The hint? You might just gain valuable insights from them.

You can find out a lot of things from good old Google. Need an expert on something? Just search YouTube or hit up your local bookstore for an authority on the subject. In this episode, Jonathan and Christa tell stories about people you'll never meet. They've never written books, you can't find them on the internet with their own marketed brand, and you definitely won't catch them starting a YouTube channel. But they've greatly impacted our lives. Encouragement from People You'll Never Meet is an episode all about celebrating God's work through "small" and mostly hidden things that have had a huge impact on our lives. Find more at: https://wecantalkaboutthispodcast.com/people-youll-never-meet/

Jonathan and Christa recently attended a Jordan Peterson lecture, part of his "We Who Wrestle with God" tour. In this episode, they talk about who Peterson is, why he's important in our cultural moment, what they appreciate about him, and how to think carefully and critically about the words he shares.

Jonathan reminds Christa that they're discussing Jordan (not Andrew) Peterson (of Wingfeather Saga fame). A small hiccup.

Christa continues to ponder the question of whether attending the late-night event was indeed better than being home and in her pajamas.

Listen below to hear how Jordan Peterson's messages, while drawing upon Biblical concepts and narratives, should be carefully distinguished from the gospel of the Bible.

In honor of Valentine's Day—and really, just because they wanted to—Jonathan and Christa recount the moment they met, the story of how they started dating, why they broke up, and what made them eventually seal the deal with marriage vows. They also have a lot of laughs recounting awkward stories and Jonathan's most embarrassing moment of his life.

They talk about how God led them during confusing times and how God has continued to lead them through their years of marriage.

The reality is that their relationship is all a product of God's grace. He gets the glory for all of it!

Let's face it: everyone get's discouraged. But what do you do when it comes?

In this episode, Jonathan and Christa discuss one of their favorite books of the Bible—the book of Ecclesiastes. With its strikingly blunt statements about the apparent pointlessness of life "under the sun," Ecclesiastes is the perfect book to read in a cemetery, which is what Christa has done. Jonathan and Christa explain how this book has given them hope through dark times, and why it is worth returning to again and again.

Why study the Bible? And how do you do it? In this episode, Jonathan and Christa talk about how they started studying the Bible and why they continue to do so. What do you do when your time is limited? How did Christa fit in Bible study when she didn't sleep through the night for months on end? Listen for helpful tips and methods that have helped them develop the habit of Bible study over the years.

Additional resources here:

https://wecantalkaboutthispodcast.com/bible-study/

Introducing the "We Can Talk About This" podcast! In this episode, we'll tell you who we are, outline the five categories of topics we aim to explore, and share our podcast goals with you. Stay tuned thought-provoking discussions and engaging conversations.