In this episode of the Going Deeper podcast, I sit down with Jonathan Carl—an old pastor and friend—to talk through the aftermath of Charlie Kirk's assassination. We explore what this moment means for Christians trying to navigate the tricky intersection of faith and politics. We reflect on the nature of evil, the importance of holding fast to scripture, and the role of forgiveness—even in the midst of political conflict. This conversation highlights why it’s so important for Christians to engage thoughtfully and biblically in public discussions while staying rooted in the truth of the gospel.

More resources from Jonathan Carl: https://www.trustworthyword.com/ 

12 Rules of Political Engagement for Christians:
https://www.trustworthyword.com/rules-of-political-engagement

Next Steps When Your Nation Is Suffering—Be An Elihu!:
https://www.trustworthyword.com/next-steps-when-your-nation-is-suffering

How To Vote Biblically When Neither Candidate Looks Anything Like Jesus:
https://www.trustworthyword.com/how-to-vote-when-neither-candidate-looks-like-jesus 

How to Respond to the Most Common Arguments for Abortion:
https://www.trustworthyword.com/response-to-the-most-common-arguments-for-abortion

Timestamps: 
00:00 – Introduction and Background
01:25 – The Trump Tweet Incident
04:16 – Processing Tragedy: Charlie Kirk's Assassination
11:32 – The Gospel's Influence in Public Discourse
19:15 – Political Idolization and Its Subtlety
21:56 – Forgiveness and the Memorial Service
28:36 – Navigating Political and Biblical Issues
32:23 – Final Thoughts and Encouragement

In this episode, I’m exploring the complex world of cultural beauty standards and self-perception through a biblical lens. I address the tension we experience regarding personal choices about our appearance, what it means to bear God’s image, and how cultural expectations can shape—or sometimes distort—our self-perception. I’m also sharing a bit of my writing journey and what I’m learning about humility as I grow older in a world that is often obsessed with youth and perfection. I hope that this conversation will help us approach beauty with wisdom, discernment, and hearts anchored in truth and grace.

Subscribe to my NEW Newsletter: https://justinecheri.kit.com/ab6b561afa 

Read the Essay On Facelifts, Fillers, and Faith: https://www.justinecheri.com/articles/on-facelifts-fillers-and-faith

Chapters
00:00 Season Two Reflections and Future Plans
12:32 The Journey to Authorship
22:48 Beauty Standards and Cultural Reflections

Tags: Should Christians get Botox? Should Christians get fillers? What does the Bible say about Botox and beauty? Kris Jenner's Deep Plane Facelift

In this episode of the Going Deeper podcast, host Justine Ordway interviews Tilly Dillehay, author of 'My Dear Hemlock'. They discuss the inspiration behind the book, which is a fictional exploration of feminine virtues and vices, inspired by C.S. Lewis's 'Screwtape Letters'. Tilly shares insights on the struggles women face, including the role of empathy, the importance of confession, and the impact of social media. The conversation also touches on the power of prayer and the spiritual warfare that comes with writing about such topics. Tilly emphasizes the unique power women have in spiritual battles and the importance of pursuing holiness for the right reasons.

Buy Tilly's book, My Dear Hemlock: https://amzn.to/3HP0SWQ

Chapters:

00:00
Introduction to Tilly Dillehay

03:01
The Inspiration Behind 'My Dear Hemlock'

05:52
Exploring Feminine Vices and Virtues

08:53
The Role of Empathy in Women's Lives

11:35
Confession and Its Importance

14:34
Unique Temptations Faced by Women

22:13
The Writing Process and Personal Reflection

24:48
Exploring Temptations and Struggles for Women

27:51
The Impact of Social Media on Spiritual Life

31:13
The Challenge of Writing from a Unique Perspective

33:11
The Power of Prayer in Spiritual Warfare

38:04
The Pursuit of Holiness vs. Self-Image

39:58
Facing Mortality and the Hope of Eternity

42:48
Empowering Women in Spiritual Warfare

Tags: Tilly Dillehay, My Dear Hemlock, feminine virtues, empathy, confession, social media, spiritual warfare, prayer, women's struggles, C.S. Lewis

In this episode of the Going Deeper podcast, I’m joined by my friend Bethany for a heartfelt conversation about prayer—especially in the thick of motherhood. Bethany shares her journey to faith and how her prayer life has grown and changed over the years. We talk honestly about the struggle to stay connected to God when life feels loud and overwhelming, and how prayer doesn’t have to be formal or perfect—it can simply be a real, ongoing conversation with the Lord. We also reflect on the power of praying in community, the legacy our prayers leave for our children, and how vulnerability with God is where intimacy begins. Whether you feel confident in your prayer life or completely scattered, I hope this episode reminds you that God just wants your heart—and He’s always ready to listen.

Timestamps: 

00:00 - Introduction and Icebreakers
05:39 - Bethany's Journey of Faith and Prayer
11:19 - The Impact of Motherhood on Prayer Life
16:47 - The Power of Prayer and Generational Impact
21:07 - Overcoming Technical Challenges in Prayer Conversations
21:11 - The Importance of Prayer in Times of Need
22:05 - Maturity in Prayer: Developing a Habit
23:25 - The Modern Church's Struggle with Prayer
24:43 - Recognizing Spiritual Warfare in Daily Life
24:59 - Finding Rhythms of Prayer in Chaos
28:22 - The Simplicity of Prayer: A Relationship, Not a Ritual
30:56 - Making Space for Prayer Amid Distractions
34:39 - The Power of Prayer: Personal Testimonies
41:59 - Encouragement for Developing a Prayer Life
44:19 - The Transformative Power of Prayer in Our Lives

Tags:

prayer, motherhood, faith, spiritual growth, community, intimacy with God, overcoming shame, prayer life, personal testimony, encouragement

In this episode, I’m diving into the often-quoted verse, “The joy of the Lord is your strength,” from Nehemiah 8:10. We’ll take a closer look at the context of this verse—what was happening with the Israelites after their return from exile, and what it actually means that the joy of the Lord is our strength.

Here’s what we’ll explore together:

- The story behind Nehemiah and the rebuilding of both walls and hearts
- What it really means to find joy in the Lord
- How that joy becomes a source of strength in our daily lives

I wrap up by reflecting on how joy helps us keep going, especially when things get hard. It reminds us that we’re not alone and that God’s joy is both our anchor and our fuel.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
02:53 Context of Ezra-Nehemiah 
06:12 Understanding Strength
09:06 Understanding Joy
11:59 The Connection Between Joy and Strength
14:56 How The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength

Episode Tags: 

Joy of the Lord, Nehemiah, biblical joy, joy in suffering, God's faithfulness,  Christian encouragement, the joy of the lord is our strength, how is the joy of the lord our strength, book of nehemiah, ezra-nehemiah , studying nehemiah, nehemiah bible study

In this episode, I’m joined by Lauren Bowerman to talk about the pull of digital distractions and what led her to make the switch to a dumb phone. We dive into the heart behind her decision, how it’s impacted her daily life and relationships, and what it looks like to pursue a quieter, more intentional life in a noisy world.

In today’s episode, I’m coming to you straight from my living room with a smorgasbord of updates and reflections. I share a little life update (new job, sickness, and the decision to almost quit the podcast), along with a heartfelt thank you for your graciousness along the way.

We dive into Deuteronomy 6, exploring Moses’ final words to a new generation of Israelites standing on the edge of the Promised Land — and how his call to remember God still speaks to us today. In a culture where Jesus can easily become just another accessory, we’re called to live set apart and stay rooted in who he is. 

Recommendations: 

Praying the Bible - https://amzn.to/4d9P39v

How to Memorize Scripture for Life - https://amzn.to/44KjksZ

The Call to Scripture Memory - https://amzn.to/3EF3LZ7

Steffany G's Message - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I_0Y91FYeQ

Francis Chan - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crazy-love-podcast/id1007053996

Lisa Harper - https://www.lisaharper.org/backporchtheology

WATCH ON YOUTUBE!!! - https://youtu.be/kPUPNh35pF4?si=-1e0BviQnpbQOQ5v

Today, we're diving into the topic of anxiety and aiming to leave you feeling hopeful and equipped to starve out the worry in your life. I’ll share my experiences with anxiety, including postpartum struggles and my first panic attack. We'll distinguish between true anxiety and anxious thinking. 

For those feeling anxious, I’ll offer some hope through scripture, prayer, and ways to help you renew your mind and redeem your thought patterns. Remember, God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-control. To manage anxiety, I suggest things like cutting out caffeine, improving sleep habits, staying hydrated, and avoiding social media or true crime shows. It’s crucial to address any underlying triggers and lean on the support of friends, family, and scripture. Together, we can pursue peace and find comfort in Christ!

Recommendations 

Book: Get Out of Your Head - Jennie Allen

Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPcD77cjrpk 

Song: Still Waters (Psalm 23) 

Join my email list: https://justinecheri.ck.page/3837c183df

Follow Along
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinecheri/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/justinecordway
Website: https://www.justinecheri.com/

In today's episode, we're diving into the issue of having a critical spirit, especially as it's been absorbed into our culture and personal relationships through social media. There’s a lot of negativity out there, especially from some Christian commentators who thrive on judgment and condescension. This creates a culture where conflict and critique get the most attention, which unfortunately seeps into the Church. If we truly reflect on our own sin in light of Christ’s righteousness, we’ll stop fixating on others’ flaws. Our words should radiate grace instead of pride. 

The true enemy is Satan. He thrives on a divided church and loves to see us distracted by pointless arguments and disagreements. When our hearts are hardened, we fall right into his trap. But when we embrace God’s love and recognize our own faults, we’re much less likely to disparage others. The struggle is real, and whether we see it or not, our culture’s fixation on conflict is hardening our hearts toward each other, and creating a culture of critical spirits. 

Recommendations
Tim Mackie - Paradise Now sermon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQlH-WfmZms
Lisa Harper - Back Porch Theology, Kicking Critical Spirits to the Curb:
https://www.accessmore.com/episode/Kicking-Critical-Spirits-to-the-Curb

Join my email list: https://justinecheri.ck.page/3837c183df

Follow Along
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinecheri/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/justinecordway
Website: https://www.justinecheri.com/

Welcome to season two of the Going Deeper podcast! Fittingly, today, we will talk about how to 'go deeper' with God in 2025. Essentially, we're going to answer the question of how we actually grow spiritually and do so in a way that contrasts the ways of culture and the world.

After taking some time off, I feel recharged and ready to tackle the topic of moving beyond a superficial Sunday morning faith. In a world where it’s easy to be a lukewarm Christian, I know many of us want more. I’ll be sharing my journey of surrendering fully to God and letting go of half-hearted beliefs. 

Going deeper isn’t about doing more; it’s about our closeness and conformity to Christ. The closer we get to Him, the more we become like Him. 

Follow me on Instagram: @justinecheri
Join my email list: https://justinecheri.ck.page/3837c183df

Today's Recommendations
Books - Deeper by Dane Ortlund and Domestic Monastery by Ronald Rolheiser
Podcast - Back Porch Theology with Lisa Harper
Episodes I enjoyed with Kristi McClelland:
Unlearning Inherited But Unbiblical Theology
What God Says About Women
How Jesus Amens What God Says About Women
Song - Deep Dive by SEU Worship

Access the show notes here: 

Download the Go Deeper Guide:
https://justinecheri.ck.page/goingdeeperresourceguide