Ben and Nikki Lee rejoin us this week to recount Ben's scary story of cardiac health. We consider how loss of health often makes us prioritize the things of God. We touch on the Scriptural use of "heart" to mean the inner person, and how we must watch for the health of our hearts. Ben also shares with us his new book, Life Beyond the Scale, and how we must understand our value as humans outside simple numbers.

Our theme music is "Honey Bee" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com).
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

In this final part of our conversation with Jason Hardin, we consider the difficulty of finding rest in in the midst of chaos. Jesus was able to sleep while the disciples around him panicked. How do we access rest when all around is change or noise? Jason also points out the importance of offering others rest, and the value of quietness as rest. We close our discussion of rest by tracing the thread of rest for creation throughout the story of Scripture. 

Our theme music is "Honey Bee" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com).
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Continuing our conversation on rest with Jason Hardin, this week, we look at the psalmist's contrast between the anxious toil of the idle laborer and the blessed rest given to the Lord's beloved. What are the differences between effective labor and idle labor, and effective rest and idle rest? We can mindfully avoid the fruitlessness of anxious work or of sluggishness by understanding God as one who both works and rests. Jason also helps us to see that work and rest have their rightful places within God's good creation.

Our theme music is "Honey Bee" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com).
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

We often emphasize our work and our accomplishments in all manner of contexts. In this week's episode, Jason Hardin joins the Devotional Doctors to look at the issue of rest. Are we a restful people, or do we allow our focus on labors to drive us into anxiety? Jason also instructs us to look to Christ Jesus as a frequent exemplar of rest. If we follow Jesus' example of periodically pausing, we may find that the rhythm of rest will bring us the peace we long for.

Our theme music is "Honey Bee" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com).
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

The Lord created man and woman to be whole and well. But how do we handle the situation when health changes? In this episode, Nikki Lee shares her story of total molar pregnancy, including the agonies of urgent surgery and chemotherapy. She describes the questions that accompany physical illness, and how trusting God can heal both spirit and body. Nikki and Ben also share some insights on helping other Christians through the difficulty of illness, and allowing ourselves to be helped by others.

Our theme music is "Honey Bee" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com).
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

 On this week's episode of Devotional Doctors, Thailer Jimerson joins us to talk about healthy spirituality in other parts of the world. The cultural lenses that we wear often shape the way that we practice Christianity. So should we be imparting those lenses to others, or can we learn from putting on other's lenses? How might a Southeast Asian community view the Trinity or the giving nature of the early church? Thailer discusses how we can be mindful of the contextual perspectives that we impose on the scriptures, and how the message of God transcends all cultures.

Our theme music is "Honey Bee" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com).
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

We continue our conversation on communication this week with Ryan Cummings. In our last episode, we established the importance of understanding a person as whole and connected. In this week's episode, we look at how the connected whole individual relates with others in both speaking and hearing. Ryan focuses on two character traits from Scriptures which should shape both sides of our communication: wisdom and humility. With these skills at the forefront, we can authentically connect with others in Christlike communication.

Our theme music is "Honey Bee" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com).
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Ryan Cummings joins us this week to discuss some fundamental ideas in the area of healthy communication. We see in the Shema of Deuteronomy 6 that God is one; if people are created in God's image, then we are intended to be one as well, in mind, body, and spirit. Ryan explains some of the ways that our oneness has been shattered in both true divisions and artificial divisions. And we close in looking at Christ's work in reconciling our oneness.

Our theme music is "Honey Bee" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com).
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

In this week's episode, we look at the idea of communication in the Scriptures. Effective and beneficial discourse is best viewed as an interaction between people. So for Christians to be uplifting to others, we must understand the attitude and character we must demonstrate when we are speaking and when we are listening. We see the tradition of applying wise skill to communication in the wisdom literature of Proverbs and James. And finally we discuss how our communication derives from God's communicative nature, and how our relationship to the Lord is built upon communication.

Our theme music is "Honey Bee" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com).
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

The idea of adoption is not alien to the scriptures, but we must not impose modern or American lenses on the context of the Biblical world. In today's episode, Amber Jimerson joins us to discuss healthy adoption practices. She points out the importance of respect and dignity for all parties as images of God, and how that should shape our interactions. Amber also shares with us some ways in which Christians can make a difference for unexpected mothers, birth families, adoptees, and adoptive families.

Our theme music is "Honey Bee" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com).
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)