In this challenging and candid episode, Brian and Kersha flip the script—literally swapping seats in the studio—to tackle the messy, necessary work of growth through community. After debating the "thermostat wars" of fall in Kansas City, the couple dives into the concept of "Iron Sharpening Iron." Brian shares stories from his recent elk hunting trip (where he tried, and mostly failed, to stay unplugged), while Kersha opens up about the unexpected loneliness she felt while he was gone. This isn't just a chat about friendship; it’s a deep dive into breaking out of the self-absorbed "bubbles" we live in—like the "head down" mentality at the grocery store. They discuss why true growth requires friction, why "sweeping things under the rug" destroys relationships, and the modern definition of illiteracy: the inability to unlearn and relearn. From the "compliment sandwich" to the danger of churches that only affirm you, this episode is a blueprint for stepping out of your comfort zone. It’s a must-listen for anyone tired of surface-level interactions and ready to embrace the "sparks" that refine us.

🔥 What You’ll Learn

• The "Bubble" Breaker: How to stop living a self-absorbed life in public spaces (like the grocery store) and start seeing the people around you.
• The Friction Factor: Why "Iron Sharpening Iron" isn't soft—it involves sparks, friction, and necessary conflict to produce growth.
• The Modern Illiteracy Trap: Understanding why the ability to "unlearn and relearn" is the most critical skill for the 21st century.
• The "Sweep it Under the Rug" Danger: Why avoiding conflict leads to tripping over mountains of resentment later, and how to handle confrontation with love.
• The "Hub" Mentality: How to become a connector of people rather than just a consumer of relationships.
• The Narrow Road Check: How to tell if your community (or church) is helping you grow or just keeping you comfortable on the "wide road."
• The Failure Reframe: Why failure isn't a dead end, but a necessary step in learning (using the "cheer stunt" analogy).

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Brian: "Illiteracy today is not the inability to read. It's the inability to learn, unlearn, and relearn something."
• Kersha: "I experienced a loneliness I hadn't experienced in a really long time... it's like half of my soul was missing."
• Brian: "When iron sharpens iron, there are sparks, there is friction, there is conflict."
• Kersha: "If you are attending a church where your ideology is just being confirmed... you are on the road to the very wide where everybody is going."
• Kersha: "Failure is the ability to pick up and learn... if you miss the ball, you try again."
• Brian: "You don't know whose life you impact through a 'Hi, how are you?' or just a smile."
• Kersha: "By making that bridge, taking your eyes off of yourself... you are sharpening that other person."

🛑 Reflect + Apply: Questions to Ask Yourself

• When you run errands (grocery store, bank), are you in a "bubble"? What is one way you can acknowledge someone's existence today?
• Who are the 5 people of influence in your life? Are they sharpening you, or just agreeing with you?
• How do you handle conflict? do you "sweep it under the rug" to keep the peace, or do you address it to clear the air?
• What is something you have had to "unlearn" recently in order to grow?
• Are you acting as a "Hub"? Who is someone you know that needs to be connected to someone else you know?
• When was the last time you received criticism? Did you view it as an attack, or as a tool for sharpening?
• Are you walking the "wide road" of comfort, or the "narrow road" of growth and challenge?

📖 Biblical Principles Focus

This episode is a practical application of key biblical principles, including:

• Principle of Growth (Proverbs 27:17): The central theme of the episode: "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." Growth requires contact, friction, and the presence of others.
• Principle of The Narrow Path (Matthew 7:13-14): Kersha’s challenge regarding church and community reminds us that the easy, comfortable road (affirmation only) is wide, but the road to life (growth and challenge) is narrow.
• Principle of Speaking Truth (Ephesians 4:15): The discussion on conflict resolution points to the biblical mandate of "speaking the truth in love," rather than letting resentment build up.
• Principle of Transformation (Romans 12:2): The concept of "unlearning and relearning" aligns with the call to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind," rather than conforming to the patterns of the world.

🙌 Join the Movement

If you have ever felt stuck in a routine, afraid of conflict, or just isolated in a crowd, this episode is for you. Brian and Kersha’s honest conversation is a timely challenge to audit your circle and your habits. This is a call to stop avoiding the friction and start embracing the relationships that make you better. Your journey of faith isn't about being comfortable; it's about being sharpened, refined, and used by God to impact others.

💻 Visit crazyunbelievablefaith.com to sign up for behind-the-scenes content, submit a prayer request, and find links to the resources mentioned in today's show.

📩 Got questions or want to connect? Brian and Kersha would love to hear from you.

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