Hole in My Heart Podcast

Episode 158: Soul Stability in 2021 with Hannah Brencher

Author and speaker Hannah Brencher talks real life:
She's wrestled with life-threatening depression, has been a viral TED speaker, and is here today to help us to get some soul stability if our mental health has taken a hit.
Together, we explore:
How can we put practices in place without feeling like legalists?
How can we face the inner critic if he/she doesn't stop berating us?
If we show up and fail, how can we recover?
2021 requires real life conversations, and Hannah's the right one for the job.
//: Highlights
“I knew in my soul, ‘You’re not gonna hide. You’re gonna show up anyway. You’re gonna do exactly what you would have done if you were the most confident person in the world.’ And with each decision to just move forward anyway, that …inner critic loses some of its power.” -Hannah Brencher
“No one wins if you don’t show up in the world how you need to show up.... You’ll live this half-hearted life if you let fear have that amount of power over you.” -Hannah Brencher
//:Do the Next Thing
Check out Hannah’s website to find her book, Fighting Forward, as well as so much more! 

Episode 157: Gen Z’s Sex, Marriage, and Singleness Questions with Sean McDowell

This is a needed conversation, and author and apologist Sean McDowell is the right one to have it.
As parents and ministry leaders, we don't always know how to answer Gen Z's toughest questions. Praise the Lord that Sean does, and that he's willing to help us to unpack ones like:
“Why would God keep me from loving whomever I want to love?"
“Why do you call your attractions to the same sex brokenness? You are not broken.”
“I just need to be free. Why are you stopping me from freedom?”
“If I am attracted to the same sex, why would God call me to loneliness (ie. singleness)?”
“Who cares about sex before marriage?”
Thanks, Sean, for being a helpful friend today on the podcast! (And for being a real friend to Laurie at the surprise ending that made her cry happy tears. Listen all the way to the end to hear it. :) )
//: Highlights
“If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to have conversations with your kids.” -Sean McDowell
“The point in this is that sex means something. So the final question...is if we communicate with our bodies and sex means something, then how do we love God and love other people with our bodies? What does that mean? And what does that look like?” -Sean McDowell
//: Do the Next Thing
Check out Sean’s book, Chasing Love, as well as other resources, here!  

How Did We Get Here? with Os Guinness

Buckle your seatbelts, friends. This episode gets a bit bumpy.
Maybe your family—like ours—has people with different political beliefs in it. When I (Laurie) chose to co-host this episode with my dad, I didn’t realize a major theme would be loving each other through differing political beliefs.
The major gift of this surprise theme was that by the end, we were all nodding in agreement with each other—unified in the gospel.
And oh yeah… the matchless Os Guinness may have been our guest, but he acted like a brilliant mediator guiding my dad and I (and our divided world?) toward grace for each other and a reliance on “true truth.”
Maybe you can relate to this conversation?
P.S. This was recorded before the mob at the capital, but the heart of it is still very much applicable.
//: Highlights
“People don’t realize the wonder of the gospel! So I give you the little phrase, 'Contrast is the mother of clarity.’ Every time you see what the alternatives [to the gospel] lead to, you come back with wonder, love, and praise at the difference the good news of Jesus makes.” -Os Guinness
“Remember how Elijah made people convinced that Jehovah was the real God was the miracle of the fire coming down. We can show miracles today, too….For…followers of Christ to love each other, despite their differences, is a powerful message to our very split world.” -Randy Heckman
“Hopelessness and despair are always pagan. The gospel always ends in a sense of hope.” -Os Guinness
“Have faith in God. Have no fear.” -Os Guinness
//: Do the Next Thing
Check out more of Dr. Guinness on his website! 

Episode 155: Getting to the Root of Porn in a Time of Turmoil with Michael John Cusick

The world feels like it’s on fire, and if we are honest? Many of us have started or increased unhealthy habits to cope.
Some have turned to porn, the use of which increased globally by 11% at the start of the pandemic.
But wait! If this is you or a friend? Before you turn away in shame or self-hatred, we pray and believe that this conversation with John Michael Cusick, licensed professional counselor, teacher, and author of Surfing for God will truly encourage you.
Discover the heart behind porn addiction and how you can overcome it—yes, even now while the world is on fire—on today’s episode.
//: Highlights
“I don’t see that the story of God presumes that we are more sinful than we believe. I would say that we’re more loved than we know and believe, but that we’re more *broken* than we understand. And that our sinful behaviors flow and overflow out of our brokenness.” -Michael John Cusick
“We all experience ongoing conversions of our heart where the love of God and the Holy Spirit gets down into the nooks and crannies of who we are. Or, more accurately, Christ already dwells in us, and the Spirit is there, and the Spirit comes up and out of those nooks and crannies as the layers of shame and the layers of lies and the rubble of trauma begin to fall away.” -Michael John Cusick
“Whenever there’s any kind of suffering, it becomes an opportunity and it’s a bridge to becoming who we are and living in our union with Christ, as opposed to a barrier.” -Michael John Cusick “[O]ur biggest sin becomes that we settle for good enough as opposed to for the abundant life.” -Michael John Cusick
//: Do the Next Thing
Check out Michael John Cusick’s website for more updates on what he’s doing! 

Episode 154: What’s Your Word for the Year? with Matt, Laurie, and Steve

What’s your word for the year?
On this episode, Matt, Laurie, and Steve talk about what God has taught them in 2020 (yes—even in 2020!). Leaps of faith, major life changes, and—how could we forget?—Rona! Through it all, God has been faithful.
Heading into 2021, then, the crew also addresses what God is pointing to for the future—thus, our words.
With that—Happy New Year, and happy listening!
//: Highlights
“He is holding onto me when I’m not grabbing onto Him, when I grab for other things.” -Steve O’Dell
“[Transactional interaction] is not the Father’s heart. He gives generously ‘cause He is so kind, but He wants a relationship!” -Laurie Krieg
“And I remember feeling like, ‘God, did you bring us here to die?’ and He was just like, ‘Where were you? Have you not been watching what I’ve been doing?’” -Matt Krieg
//: Do the Next Thing
SUPPORT our new initiative-thank you. Just-thank you. 
Join our Facebook group to get updates and join the conversation! 
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Also—shameless plug—check out the Bible App and get started on a reading plan if you’re looking for deeper intimacy with God! 

Episode 153: Not Just Listeners with Jon Leach and Amanda McLaurin

These days, it's so easy to fall into a "what-have-you-done-for-me-lately" mindset.
We like following that person, we enjoy that podcast, we appreciate that channel--but serve them? Partner with them? Nah.
Unless we do. We are so grateful for listeners who have stepped up to support and volunteer with our ministry--including the two we are highlighting today: Jon Leach and Amanda Mclaurin.
These two were more than hearers of the Word, they were doers...and we are forever grateful. Hear their story, their "why" for saying yes to the Spirit's prompting, and how we can lean in where God is calling each of us on today's episode.
Merry Christmas, guys!
//: Highlights
“I decided that if Jesus really meant that it was better that His Spirit was with me, then I could trust Him.” -Jon Leach
“If the only thing stopping me is fear, then it’s time to dig in and start praying for faith and courage to move forward.” -Amanda McLaurin
“As I was purposefully getting closer to Jesus, that proximity to Him, enabled me to to be passionate about His people and the people of the world that He cares about.” -Jon Leach
“I don’t wanna kick down a door that God has closed, but I also don’t wanna stop knocking just because there’s initial resistance.” -Amanda McLaurin
//: Do the Next Thing
See how you too can partner with us here! 
Join our Facebook group!

Episode 152: Are Woman Responsible For Male Lust? with Rachel Joy Welcher

Purity culture—yep, we’re going there.
Ladies and gents—if you’ve ever felt that your worth, dignity, or purity were wrapped up in your sexuality, this is for you.
On this episode, Rachel Joy Welcher, author of new book *Talking Back to Purity Culture*, helps us debunk the myths of sexuality that have come from purity culture.
Join us as we celebrate the gospel and all the gifts Christ gives—even in our sexuality.
//: Highlights
“You can’t stop your spouse from sinning if they want to sin—but you can sure love them!” -Rachel Joy Welcher
“You don’t fight sexual sin with sex. You fight sexual sin with self-control and love for the Lord and love for your neighbor.” -Rachel Joy Welcher
“Our dignity cannot be changed and our purity cannot be changed, if we are in Christ.” -Rachel Joy Welcher
//: Do the Next Thing
Pre-order Rachel Joy Welcher’s book, Talking Back to Purity Culture.   
Join our Facebook group! 

Episode 151: How to Have Joy in Your 2020 Life with Shaunti Feldhahn

2020 has been a year of uncertainty and suffering for all of us.
Joy might be the farthest thing from our minds as we look back on this season of loss and chaos.
But guys? Joy is still God’s heart for us.
Today, we hear from Shaunti Feldhahn about how we can cultivate a habit of joy—even in the midst of the deepest loss and confusion. Join us as we hear from her on this delightful gift that God has given and called us to.
//: Highlights
“[Joy] is something that you actually have to pursue, because it is there. It’s like the Kingdom—You know, Jesus talked so much about “My kingdom” being here, and the reality is it’s there, it's all around us. The reality is God’s presence with us is as close as our heartbeat, right? It’s Jesus in us….And yet because of [our] sinfulness, it’s so easy for us to focus on everything else that is going to steal that joy from us.” -Shaunti Feldhahn
“[Joy] is there—but it is to be attended to.” -Shaunti Feldhahn
“How do you [rejoice?]...You think on whatever is excellent. You think on whatever is lovely. You think on whatever is worthy of praise, rather than whatever is worthy of driving you nuts!” -Shaunti Felhahn
//: Do the Next Thing
Check out Shaunti’s latest book, Find Joy: A Devotional Journey to Unshakable Wonder in an Uncertain World. 

Episode 150: How to Respond to Your 2020 Enemies with Scott Sauls

Do you remember even two or four years ago when you could remind stirred-up Christians, "Hey, guys? We got to love our enemies!" and they would often say, "Oh, yeah!"
Nowadays, when you say the same thing, it would not be unusual to hear something like, "Nah. I'm good."
Pastor and author Scott Sauls is here to wake us up with how to address our enemies in this sometimes-hostile 2020 world.
This is another conversation we will not soon forget.
//: Highlights
“Righteous anger attacks problems; raging anger attacks people….We’re supposed to love our enemies, not put them in their place.” -Scott Sauls
“Jesus didn’t flip tables on the woman caught in adultery.” -Matt Krieg
“I am so bad that I needed what Christ [did]—I needed the bloodbath on the cross in order to justly take care of what a trainwreck I am. And yet I was and am so loved by Him that He was not only willing but eager to go through the bloodbath in order to have me as His own. And if that’s what I’m operating out of, I just don’t know how you’re gonna offend me after that.” -Scott Sauls
//: Do the Next Thing
Check out Scott’s book, A Gentle Answer!  

Episode 149: How to be Thankful in this 2020 World with Matt, Laurie, and Steve

It’s Thanksgiving in the States!
Today, from our respective shelter-in-place spots (again!), we are sharing what we are grateful for and hearing from you. Not only that, however, but we are sharing what we have learned in this very hard year, and how we can take that good, suffering-produced fruit into 2021. We are thankful for YOU guys, today!
//: Highlights
"I’m thankful for how much it’s had to scrape away false identities that I didn’t even know that I was holding onto. Because I am so ambitious and I have so much drive, that it could kill me—and us [Matt and Laurie]. I’m not saying I’m on the brink of breaking apart but I just was like, 'Jesus, I need your help.' Because I can make that my identity. And I’m so thankful for His surgeon-like precision of being like, 'Laurie, I’m your identity. It’s only me. Whether you "succeed" or fail—whatever. None of that matters. Just be in Me and you’ll produce much fruit—whatever that fruit is.' I am learning deeper intimacy as He strips away more of my false identities." -Laurie Krieg