A More Beautiful Question Podcast

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This week, we’re going to hit a couple of different topics. We’re going to start with the concept of what life coaching is, how Christian coaching differs from other secular coaching methods, and then we’re going to transition to the topic of POTENTIAL. That might seem like a weird shift, but what I’ve seen over and over is that people often pursue coaching as a client because they feel like for some reason, in some area of their life, they’re not living up to their potential. 

So let’s start with — what is life coaching, and how is Christian coaching different than other types of coaching? 

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It’s interesting to think about sacrifice, especially when it comes to our walk as Christians. 

There are what I see as two extremes when it comes to sacrifice. On one side, We think, “What do I have to give up to follow Jesus?” And on the other extreme, there’s another side which can start to sound really appealing. It’s the Jesus who doesn’t really want us to give up anything because he just wants us to be happy. 

Which extreme is what God wants from us? Or is there another approach to Biblical sacrifice we need to investigate? 

Let’s talk about it together.

Listen here. 

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In the cyclical nature of our world, fall is harvest time. This is the proof time for the farmer. Did they do what they needed to do to ensure a good harvest? Did they plant the right kinds of seeds? Did they care for their crops properly? What do they need to adjust for the future? Are they worried about the winter to come, or do they feel confident in what they’ve stored for the months ahead?

I think it’s a great idea for us to use this time to think about these same things. We’re likely not depending on the fall harvest to literally feed our families. But

we definitely should be evaluating the fruits in our lives to see if we’re reaping what we anticipated. Where do we need to make changes? What branches need to be pruned? 

The question I’d like us to start with today is, “How is my harvest?” I want us to take a look at what we’re growing in our lives — our fruits — and see where we need to make adjustments.

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This week is my 50th episode, and I thought I’d celebrate by sharing one of the great loves of my life with you — books and reading. 

When I was young and the world was too scary and just didn’t make sense, I’d retreat into my books. My happy place was on my bed, in my room, reading book after book. Little Women, Harriet the Spy, the Little House on the Prairie series, the Great Brain series, Judy Blume books — I could disappear for hours and just shut out the world. 

As I got older, books have continued to be a big love of mine. If I’m confused about something, my first step is often to find a book on the topic — including THE BOOK. 

Today, I want to tackle the question of is it important to read, and then look at some ways to get more books into your life. And then we’re going to wrap up with five book recommendations I really think you’re going to enjoy. I’ll do a little more than 30-second book reviews. :) 

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For as long as I can remember, I’ve considered myself competent and strong, and I have refused to ask for help, even when I really need it. 

If you’re like me, it’s way easier to give help than to ask for it, though. And that inability to ask for or even to accept help can damage our relationships and our self-worth. Today, I want to start with the question, “Why is it so hard for me to ask for help?”

Listen here. 

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Lately, I’ve allowed myself to fall into spats on Facebook, particularly around the issue of the school district and some things going on there that I’m very concerned about. And it doesn’t feel good. 

Or, rather, it feels good in the moment, but I soon find myself questioning not only what I said, but the way I said it — and if it was even making a difference. Just like an addict regretting the morning after, I was disgusted with myself and my behavior. The momentary rush from unleashing my tongue soon gave way to regret. 

So when I feel convicted by the Holy Spirit, I start with the question I’ve been asking myself that led me to a place where my actions don’t line up with God’s plan. Then I want to see where I can change up that question to a better, more beautiful one. 

In this case, when I’ve found myself going into these “discussions,” I’ve been asking myself, “How can I prove them wrong and convince them I’m right?”

If you also are wondering how we can handle disagreements with friends, loved ones, and even strangers on the internet… this episode is for you! Listen in... http://beautifulquestionshow.com

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One topic I’ve been thinking a lot about is the concept of responsibility — in particular, personal responsibility. What are we as Christians responsible for? What will God call us to account for when we meet him face to face? 

This topic came up because, as usual, when I look at culture, we seem to be running amok. In the world’s eyes, there seems to be one of two approaches. 

On one hand, NOTHING is our fault. We’re all just products of an unequal system that spits out humans predestined to act a certain way, and we shouldn’t be held responsible for anything. And on the other extreme, EVERYTHING is our fault — including things that happened centuries before we were born. Even our silence can be considered “violence.” Are you confused? I sure am!

Let’s take a look at these extremes and the fruit they generate, and then we’ll dive into what God says about personal responsibility.

Listen here: 

http://beautifulquestionshow.com. 

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We've got a real problem in front of us: the cancel culture. Every place we turn, we deal with the threat of being canceled. There seems to be no room for discussion and no room for people to change their opinions or to grow over time. There's no room for understanding. We feel judged, everywhere we turn. 

This hits our younger generation as much or more than anyone. Here's just one example: according to a 2019 poll from Echelon Insights, nearly half of students aged 13 to 22 say they've stopped themselves from sharing that their ideas or opinions in class discussions for fear of being judged or suffering negative results from other students or instructors.

That's in school, so imagine how kids feel about pressure from friends or on social media. 

So what do we do about cancel culture and judging others, or being judged ourselves? After all, we're told to judge in the Bible; we're instructed to make calls about what's good and what's bad. But at the same time is it loving to call others out, what are we risking when we judge others, and what should be our ultimate goal. 

Tune in for a roundtable discussion with Callie Ehmann and friend on judging others, being judged, and how to handle cancel culture. 

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I’ve had seasons of my life when it was a struggle to simply get out of bed. The pressures I was facing — how to care for a sick child, how to pay the bills, how to process the death of a close friend, how to keep my eyes on God when everything seemed so bleak — threatened to pull me under the cold waves in a sea of struggle. 

During that time, I made a decision — to fight back. To loudly proclaim that no matter what might come my way, I refused to give in to despair. It was my do or die moment, when I had to choose what I stood for, and I chose joy. In this week’s episode, I’ll be sharing one powerful, yet very simple, technique you can use to break the BIG stuff down into manageable chunks so you can choose joy regardless of what’s going on inside or outside of you. It’s called the one-inch frame. We’ll talk about how to LIVE BIG by going small. 

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