Rachel Welcher is an editor at Fathom Magazine, a poet, and an author whose book Talking Back to Purity Culture: Rediscovering Faithful Christian Sexuality is about to be released. Today, Rachel shares how she followed all the purity culture rules before marriage, how she felt when her marriage ended in divorce, and developing a more holistic sexual ethic. Rachel’s story reminds us that God wants our hearts no matter what our circumstances are.

Listen to Rachel’s story now!

Stories Rachel shared:

• Growing up in Northern California as a pastor’s kid

Great quotes from Rachel:

Doing the right things does not guarantee a good inner life.

God can allow great suffering for his children and still love us.

The calling to honor God with our sexuality doesn’t end at the alter.

What if we talk to teenagers about the spiritual growth through periods of unmet longing?

Resources we mentioned:

• Rachel’s website

Related episodes:

• Thomas Umstattd and Untwisting the Gospel

The post Rachel Joy Welcher and the Spirituality of Unmet Longings appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Os Guinness is an English author and social critic and a previous guest on Halfway There. His work is largely responsible for this podcast and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to speak with him. Today, Os shares what it was like being at L’Abri with the Schaeffers, why we need to understand the cultural shifts of the 1960s, and the scandal of discipleship in the American church today. Os is a gifted writer and thinker who helped me understand our historical context. This conversation is sure to encourage you to engage differently.

Listen to Os now!

Stories Os shared:

• Visiting and working at L’Abri with Francis and Edith Schaeffer

Great quotes from Os:

You can’t understand today’s crisis without understanding the 60s.

The challenge today is not just to say “injustice” but to say “Whose view of justice are you using to redress the problem?”

We who are called to be salt and light are clearly neither salty nor light-bearing if we’re the majority and uninfluential.

Resources we mentioned:

• Os Guinness’s website

Related episodes:

• Os Guinness and Carpe Diem Redeemed

The post Os Guinness and Understanding Our Moment appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Kaitlyn Schiess is an author and minister. Her new book is The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor. Today, Kaitlyn shares what she learned growing up in a Christian family, choosing to go into ministry instead of law, and how churches can engage the spiritual formation of politics. Kaitlyn shares some key ways churches can engage their neighbors and why they must talk about politics. Kaitlyn’s story reminds us everything is spiritual and forming even if we neglect it.

Listen to Kaitlyn’s story today!

Stories Kaitlyn shared:

• Growing up as a military kid moving around

Great quotes from Kaitlyn:

You think people in your churches know things but they don’t and it blows their minds.

The political participation that people are involved in is forming them spiritually.

If you’re not talking about politics, you’re not being apolitical. You’re actually just reinforcing whatever bad theology people have.

Start with taking care of your soul.

Resources we mentioned:

• Kaitlyn’s website

Related episodes:

• Os Guinness and Carpe Diem Redeemed

The post Kaitlyn Schiess and Why Everything is Spiritual (Even Politics) appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Skye Jethani is an author, speaker, consultant, and ordained minister. He also serves as the co-host of the popular Holy Post Podcast, a weekly show that blends astute cultural and theological insights with comical conversation. Today, Skye shares how growing up in a religiously mixed home shaped him, deciding to follow Christ against his father’s wishes, and why it’s surprising he has written so many books. Skye also discusses his works including his book With, and his latest What if Jesus was Serious? Skye’s story proves that no matter what our plans are, the Lord will lead us where he will for our good.

Listen to Skye’s story today!

Stories Skye shared:

• Living in the shadow of Wheaton College

Great quotes from Skye:

I did not like the subculture I thought I had to buy into in order to follow Jesus.

I benefited from a broad exposure to Christian traditions.

Anybody who has benefited from anything I’ve done in ministry or book I’ve written or anything else you can thank an atheist.

Resources we mentioned:

• Skye’s website where you can sign up for With God Daily

Related episodes:

• Os Guinness and Carpe Diem Redeemed

The post Skye Jethani and Living Life with God appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Erin Davis is a speaker, author, and blogger. Her latest book is 7 Feasts: Finding Christ in the Sacred Celebrations of the Old Testament. Today, Erin shares how Scripture began to make sense after her conversion, how her husband encouraged her to teach, and the season of grief that refined her. We also talk about why the Old Testament is valuable to reveal God to us. Erin’s story reminds us that God reveals himself in Scripture and we can find him wherever we read.

Listen to Erin’s story now!

Stories Erin shared:

• Growing up in a mixed religious house in Missouri

Great quotes from Erin:

Anywhere I could teach the Bible, I’d go.

There are two anchors in my life: God is sovereign and God is good.

If you don’t have the sovereignty of God when you’re suffering, you don’t have anything.

Resources we mentioned:

• Erin’s website

Related episodes:

• Aimee Byrd and Recovering from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

The post Erin Davis and the Twin Anchors of Life in God appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Stephanie Rousselle is a wife, mom, podcaster, public speaker, writer, and former women's ministry director. Today, Stephanie shares what it was like growing up in France as an atheist, what happened when she let God in for a week, and learning to love Scripture. Stephanie has traveled and lived around the world which gives her an insight into how culture affects our reading of Scripture that few can claim. She also has a podcast and shares why her show is called Gospel Spice. Her story reminds us that God is always seeking us out even when we are not seeking him.

Listen to Stephanie’s story on your favorite podcast app!

Stories Stephanie shared:

• Growing up in France as an atheist

Great quotes from Stephanie:

On occasion, God shows such grace as to reveal himself to those not seeking him.

If you do not see Jesus as the most beautiful lover of your soul, just ask the Holy Spirit to do that work to make you fall in love with him again.

I had tasted the chocolate and there was no going back.

Seasons of relative darkness highlight the light.

If something else besides Christ could have saved us, God would have given it.

Resources we mentioned:

• Stephanie’s website

Related episodes:

• Carol Wilson and Following the Lord’s Leading

The post Stephanie Rousselle and Tasting All the Spices appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Neil Matthews is a husband, father, and the producer of the podcast Other People’s Shoes where he creates space to hear one another’s perspectives. Today, Neil shares how he got swept into youth ministry, lost it all after a startling confession, and found a new ministry in podcasting. Neil relates his struggle with pride as a cover for his deeper woundings. He learned to depend on grace in humility while listening to what others are going through. Neil’s story reminds us that God is shaping us for the good through even the hardest experiences.

Listen to Neil’s story now!

Stories Neil shared:

• Growing up in Southern California

Great quotes from Neil:

Pain is something all of us walk in. How are we going to use it?

God sees me as who I am more than I do.

I am so important to him that I don’t need to get importance from anyone else.

Resources we mentioned:

• Neil’s podcast website, Other People’s Shoes

Related episodes:

• Rob Burns and Crossing Cultures

The post Neil Matthews and Accepting God’s Acceptance appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Aimee Byrd is an author and podcaster. Her latest book is Recovering from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood  and it has caused quite the controversy. Today, Aimee shares how she longed for discipleship in college, met people of various theological stripes when she opened her own coffee shop, and learned to write in order to answer the questions others are asking. She is deeply concerned about the discipleship of women. Aimee has a knack for creating a conversation around important topics for disciples everywhere. Her story reminds us that what we believe about God shapes who we become in him.

Listen to Aimee’s story today!

Stories Aimee shared:

• How Aimee became passionate about theology

Great quotes from Aimee:

You need discernment in a Christian bookstore.

I think my writing articulates questions regular people already have.

Just because put the word “biblical” in front of something doesn’t make it so.

Resources we mentioned:

• Aimee’s website

Related episodes:

• Coleen Sharp and Building a Firm Foundation

The post Aimee Byrd and Recovering from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Bobby Jackson is a man of many hats: pastor, licensed therapist, and leader in the field of student care. Today, Bobby how he found stability in church as a kid, how deployment as an Army medic changed his life, and the car crash that led him to surrender to the Lord once and for all. Bobby has spent years developing programs to help students in pain and shares how his program can be used in churches around the country. Bobby’s story reminds us that no matter how far we think we’ve run, God will never let us go.

Listen to Bobby’s story now!

Stories Bobby shared:

• Changing jobs and starting Rally Point Ministry

Great quotes from Bobby:

Kids don’t inform Santa that they don’t believe he exists. But that’s the letter I wrote to God.

Community was a big part of my healing experience.

Every break in a relationship is two ways.

Resources we mentioned:

• Rally Point Ministry

Related episodes:

• Terry Wardle and the Healing Journey

The post Bobby Jackson and Community that Heals appeared first on Eric Nevins.