This episode is called "Falling Into God".

What do I mean by that? There used to be a series of tv commercials for an iced tea company. I think it was Lipton. The end of these commercials always showed someone taking a drink of the tea, smiling broadly, and then falling backward into a sparkling blue swimming pool. Remember those commercials?

The other day I was thinking about following Jesus, doing the will of God, and how so many of us have a hard time completely surrendering to Him. I think it's a trust issue.

(Listen to the show for more...)

Music:

Kerri Crocker..."Time"

Talkshoe Information for the live New Media Expo Feed:

I'll be doing the show on Friday and Sunday, both days the time will be 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Why I didn't put out a Lifespring! last week and why there won't be one today.

Why I didn't put out a Lifespring! last week and why there won't be one today.

On today's show:

What's your calling? What were you made to do? What is your purpose?

There seem to be lots of books on the subject. That tells me that a lot of people are searching for the answer to the question: What is your calling?

I'm going to take a leap here, okay? Are you willing to go with me? Just humor me, okay?

Antidepressant drugs are selling like candy. People are unhappy. Depressed. I found a list online of the most popular antidepressants. There were 24 names on the list!

Good grief! What did we do before these drugs existed? Now Listen, I am not one who is against drugs when they are truly, medically needed. So you don't need to send email beating me up over what I'm saying here. I'm not against drugs when medically called for. I think they are a Godsend. They can be good. But I think that in our culture today, too often we want the quick fix, the instant answer. It's easier to pop a pill than to get to the cause. Again, I am not a doctor, but in my opinion, the reason so many people are feeling depressed is because we are too centered on our own problems! We are spending so much time examining our own navels that there is no way that we can effectively do what God has called each of us to do, no matter what that calling happens to be.

(Listen to the show for the rest of this important discussion...)

Today's Music:

Karmyn Tyler..."The Long Haul" (A David Patillo Song)

Background music during my Depression/Calling discussion:

Michael Mucklow..."Joy"

Pictures of Labor Day at my house:

Karmyn Tyler and Steve

Left to Right: Karmyn's mom, Sue, Steve, Karmyn, LeeAnn

On today's show:

What's your calling? What were you made to do? What is your purpose?

There seem to be lots of books on the subject. That tells me that a lot of people are searching for the answer to the question: What is your calling?

I'm going to take a leap here, okay? Are you willing to go with me? Just humor me, okay?

Antidepressant drugs are selling like candy. People are unhappy. Depressed. I found a list online of the most popular antidepressants. There were 24 names on the list!

Good grief! What did we do before these drugs existed? Now Listen, I am not one who is against drugs when they are truly, medically needed. So you don't need to send email beating me up over what I'm saying here. I'm not against drugs when medically called for. I think they are a Godsend. They can be good. But I think that in our culture today, too often we want the quick fix, the instant answer. It's easier to pop a pill than to get to the cause. Again, I am not a doctor, but in my opinion, the reason so many people are feeling depressed is because we are too centered on our own problems! We are spending so much time examining our own navels that there is no way that we can effectively do what God has called each of us to do, no matter what that calling happens to be.

(Listen to the show for the rest of this important discussion...)

Today's Music:

Karmyn Tyler..."The Long Haul" (A David Patillo Song)

Background music during my Depression/Calling discussion:

Michael Mucklow..."Joy"

Pictures of Labor Day at my house:

Karmyn Tyler and Steve

Left to Right: Karmyn's mom, Sue, Steve, Karmyn, LeeAnn

A really jam-packed show today! It's been a couple of weeks since the last show, and we've got some catching up to do.

On today's show I announced the details for HOW TO WIN A VERY COOL MEDIA CENTER COMPUTER! Click HERE for all the details and rules.

Interview

There's a great conversation with Brad Rhoads, a Lifespring! listener who has recently made a big life change, partly because of something he heard on the Lifespring! HymnStories show.

Here are the links Brad mentioned:

Brad's website: http://www.maf.org/rhoads

God's Story: http://www.gods-story.org

Missionary Aviation Fellowship Learning Technologies: http://www.maflt.org

God-pod solar powered MP3 players: http://megavoice.com/products/ambassador/

Podcasts Mentioned

Summerhill Gang: http://www.summerhillgang.com

The Shameless Plugcast: http://shamelessplugcast.podshow.com/

Michael Moss: http://michaelwmoss.podshow.com

Music

Josh Woodward..."Learn To Fly"

Jason Harrod..."When I Fly Away"

Jim Fidler..."Lillian A Portrait In Sound"

Douglas Spotted Eagle..."Summer Morn"

Josh Woodward..."Frannie"

A really jam-packed show today! It's been a couple of weeks since the last show, and we've got some catching up to do.

On today's show I announced the details for HOW TO WIN A VERY COOL MEDIA CENTER COMPUTER! Click HERE for all the details and rules.

Interview

There's a great conversation with Brad Rhoads, a Lifespring! listener who has recently made a big life change, partly because of something he heard on the Lifespring! HymnStories show.

Here are the links Brad mentioned:

Brad's website: http://www.maf.org/rhoads

God's Story: http://www.gods-story.org

Missionary Aviation Fellowship Learning Technologies: http://www.maflt.org

God-pod solar powered MP3 players: http://megavoice.com/products/ambassador/

Podcasts Mentioned

Summerhill Gang: http://www.summerhillgang.com

The Shameless Plugcast: http://shamelessplugcast.podshow.com/

Michael Moss: http://michaelwmoss.podshow.com

Music

Josh Woodward..."Learn To Fly"

Jason Harrod..."When I Fly Away"

Jim Fidler..."Lillian A Portrait In Sound"

Douglas Spotted Eagle..."Summer Morn"

Josh Woodward..."Frannie"

Domestic abuse is a huge problem. The statistics I read recently said that somewhere between nearly 1 million and 3 million women in the United States are victims of some kind of abuse each year. Chances are good that you know someone who has been abused by a spouse or partner.

One way to help is to be educated. Knowing the signs of abuse might just make the difference in a loved one's life. It just might mean that you are moved into action...to encourage the victim to make the appropriate changes.

You're going to learn another way that you might help on today's show. I'm going to be talking to Claudia Harsh, spokes person for the 4th Annual One Voice Domestic Violence Community Awareness Walk, which will take place on Sunday, September 9th, in Cincinnati. It doesn't matter if you are not in Ohio. You can still help. Listen to find out how.

Links:

The Fourth Annual One Voice Domestic Violence Community Awareness Walk

Heart To Heart

Daniel Johnson, Jr.'s podcast Journey Inside My Mind

Scripture:

Ephesians 5:25 - 28 (TMSG) 25Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church--a love marked by giving, not getting. 26Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, 27dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. 28And that is how husbands ought to love their wives.

Music:

April Start..."Desperately Seeking You"

Darrell Smith..."Love Like You"

Domestic abuse is a huge problem. The statistics I read recently said that somewhere between nearly 1 million and 3 million women in the United States are victims of some kind of abuse each year. Chances are good that you know someone who has been abused by a spouse or partner.

One way to help is to be educated. Knowing the signs of abuse might just make the difference in a loved one's life. It just might mean that you are moved into action...to encourage the victim to make the appropriate changes.

You're going to learn another way that you might help on today's show. I'm going to be talking to Claudia Harsh, spokes person for the 4th Annual One Voice Domestic Violence Community Awareness Walk, which will take place on Sunday, September 9th, in Cincinnati. It doesn't matter if you are not in Ohio. You can still help. Listen to find out how.

Links:

The Fourth Annual One Voice Domestic Violence Community Awareness Walk

Heart To Heart

Daniel Johnson, Jr.'s podcast Journey Inside My Mind

Scripture:

Ephesians 5:25 - 28 (TMSG) 25Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church--a love marked by giving, not getting. 26Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, 27dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. 28And that is how husbands ought to love their wives.

Music:

April Start..."Desperately Seeking You"

Darrell Smith..."Love Like You"

I read something recently during the Lifespring! Family Bible that hit me like a ton of bricks. Every time I read it silently to myself, somehow I sort of skimmed over it. Here's the passage:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luke 4:1 - 13 (TMSG)

1Now Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wild. 2For forty wilderness days and nights he was tested by the Devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when the time was up he was hungry.

3The Devil, playing on his hunger, gave the first test: "Since you're God's Son, command this stone to turn into a loaf of bread."

4Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: "It takes more than bread to really live."

5For the second test he led him up and spread out all the kingdoms of the earth on display at once. 6Then the Devil said, "They're yours in all their splendor to serve your pleasure. I'm in charge of them all and can turn them over to whomever I wish. 7Worship me and they're yours, the whole works."

8Jesus refused, again backing his refusal with Deuteronomy: "Worship the Lord your God and only the Lord your God. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness."

9For the third test the Devil took him to Jerusalem and put him on top of the Temple. He said, "If you are God's Son, jump. 10It's written, isn't it, that 'he has placed you in the care of angels to protect you; 11they will catch you; you won't so much as stub your toe on a stone'?"

12"Yes," said Jesus, "and it's also written, 'Don't you dare tempt the Lord your God.'"

13That completed the testing. The Devil retreated temporarily, lying in wait for another opportunity."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think you know what it was that caught my attention? Listen to the show to find out.

Music

Kole..."The Weakness"

Kerri Crocker..."Time"

Show's Mentioned

Joe's Podcast

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