Light + Life Podcast

A raw conversation on faith, lament, and God’s presence in life’s hardest seasons

What do you do when life feels like it’s falling apart, and God feels a million miles away?

In this powerful episode of the Light + Life Podcast, Liza Cunningham sits down with Pastor Matt Holtzman from the Caring Ministry team to talk honestly about what it’s like to feel “ghosted by God.” From seasons of marriage tension to ministry fatigue, grief, and walking alongside friends in the valley of the shadow of death, Matt opens up about the fog that can settle over our faith and how to find our way back to God’s presence.

Together, Liza and Matt explore:

• Why lament is a biblical and essential form of prayer
• How honesty with God can draw you closer to Him
• The difference between what we know is true and what we feel in the moment
• How Psalm 139 and Romans 8 remind us that God never lets go
• What to do if you feel abandoned by God right now

If you’re in a season of loss, disappointment, or unanswered questions, or if you’re walking with someone who is.  This conversation will remind you that God’s love shows up in the mess, and you are never alone.

✅ Tell God exactly how you feel—anger, doubt, grief, all of it
 ✅ Lean into the support of people who will hold you up
 ✅ Remember: Nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus

How Faith, Entrepreneurship, and Partnership are Changing Lives
What happens when hope and practical help collide? In this episode of the Light + Life Podcast, Liza Cunningham sits down with Missions Pastor Ellen Dawson to unpack her recent trip to Guatemala, walking the streets of San Pablo and Patzún, partnering with ministries.
From motorcycle repair shops and crepe cafés to clean water projects and scholarships, Ellen shares how God is using local leaders to transform their communities and why short-term missions are about being before doing. You’ll hear:
•Vivid stories of young entrepreneurs building hope where they live
•How healthy mission partnerships grow through presence, not projects
•The joy and resilience of Guatemalan communities
•Why generosity isn’t just about money—it’s about time, prayer, and skills
•How returning home changes how we see migration, news, and our neighbors
Whether you’ve been on a mission trip or are curious about what real partnership looks like, this conversation will challenge your perspective and invite you to pray, give, or go in a way that honors God and others.
✅ Pray for one mission partner by name this week
✅ Look for a way to give—time, skill, or finances—to Kingdom work
✅ Learn the stories of the people behind the headlines

One Woman’s Creative Way to Break Down the Generational Divide and Build Gospel-Centered Relationships

What if a simple dinner and a movie could change the culture of a church?

In this episode of the Light + Life Podcast, Liza Cunningham sits down with Junior McGarrahan, teacher, mentor, and host of one of the most joy-filled gatherings you’ve never heard of. What started with a screening of Frozen for a few moms and daughters has become a vibrant tradition where cadets, teens, parents, and grandparents share a meal, watch a film, and spark meaningful faith conversations.

Junior shares:

• How themed dinners open the door to deeper connection
• Why intergenerational friendships are essential for the Body of Christ
• Creative ways to use your home for Kingdom impact
• What teens are teaching her about faith, feelings, and courage
• How movies have led to gospel conversations about listening to God, living boldly, and what happens after death

This episode is a call to step across age divides, invite someone to the table, and watch God work in relationships that might never have formed otherwise.

✅ Invite someone outside your generation for a meal or coffee
 ✅ Watch a movie together and use it as a conversation starter
 ✅ Look for opportunities to “call in” others with grace instead of staying in your comfort zone

Because the Kingdom grows when we sit down, share stories, and live the gospel together.

We’ve made it to Episode 60! And what better way to mark the moment than to talk about something everybody faces—failure. Whether it’s a missed deadline, broken relationship, or spiritual faceplant, failure can feel like the end. But in the hands of God, it’s never final.

In this milestone episode of the Light + Life Podcast, Liza and Pastor Tim reflect on what it means to fail, how to bounce back with faith, and why grace—not perfection—is the foundation of the Christian life.

In this episode:

• Why resilience is more about softness than strength
• How failure and faith form our spiritual muscles
• Why “God won’t give you more than you can handle” is a myth
• The power of community to hold you up when you can’t stand
• How Jesus’ apparent “failure” on the cross was actually the world’s greatest triumph
• How spiritual practices like church attendance, confession, and prayer anchor us in crisis
• Why the question isn’t “Why me?” but “What is this for, God?”

You’ll also hear about rubber bands, arrow tattoos, Incredibles villains, and Winston Churchill’s kite metaphor—plus a powerful reminder: Jesus has already been lower than your lowest point, and He’s with you now.

📍 This week’s invitation:
✅ Redefine what success means in your life
✅ Share one failure with someone you trust
✅ Let your community carry you through
✅ Ask God not “why,” but “what for?”

You’re not disqualified. You’re not alone. And God’s not finished with you yet.

What does it mean to love someone you disagree with? In a world of cancel culture, judgment, and digital takedowns, how do we follow Jesus into grace—not silence, not outrage, but grace?

In this timely episode of the Light + Life Podcast, Liza and Pastor Tim talk about cancel culture, healthy conflict, spiritual maturity, and how the church can become a community where hard conversations lead to growth—not division.

You’ll hear honest reflections on:

• Why grace feels risky but is always worth it
• How to speak the truth in love (without weaponizing it)
• The danger of confusing comfort with safety
• Why disagreement can be raw material for discipleship
• How Jesus called people in, not just out
• What Christian conflict done well actually looks like

From attachment styles to self-defense spirals, from pastoral leadership to personal transformation, this conversation holds nothing back—and calls us to do the same.

📍 This week’s invitation:
✅ Pray about one person you’re tempted to “cancel”
✅ Ask God to help you love them with both grace and truth
✅ Reflect on what it’s like to be on the other side of you
✅ Show up with an open posture and leave room for growth

Because Jesus meets us in our mess—and calls us to do the same for others.

Are you tired of performing? Exhausted from curating the “best version” of yourself—whether online or at church? In this honest and grace-filled episode of the Light + Life Podcast, Liza and Pastor Tim explore the pressure to perform, the pull to present a filtered life, and the freedom of following Jesus without hiding your mess.

This conversation pulls back the curtain on:

• The difference between the person and the persona
• Why social media feeds false expectations
• The mental and spiritual toll of living a lie
• The truth that Jesus meets you in your unfiltered, imperfect, and hurting self
• How churches can make room for real people with real struggles
• The grace that covers the parts of you you’re tempted to hide

You’ll hear stories of brokenness, leadership, therapy, and how spiritual maturity means collapsing the gap between who you appear to be and who you really are. Because Jesus already knows—and loves—you as you are.

📍 This week’s invitation:
✅ Stop editing.
✅ Show up honestly.
✅ Invite Jesus into the part of your story you’ve kept hidden.
✅ Make space for grace in your life and for others.

This isn’t about looking the part—it’s about living loved.

Do you have people in your life who really see you—who speak truth, show up, and call out the best in you? In this episode of the Light + Life Podcast, Liza and Pastor Tim explore the importance of Christ-centered friendship, spiritual community, and the courage it takes to share your needs.

We weren’t made to go it alone. Whether you're new in town, feeling disconnected, or just longing for deeper relationships, this conversation will inspire you to seek out the kind of friends who will walk with you, pray with you, and help you grow in faith.

Together they explore:

• The difference between solitude and loneliness
• What to look for in spiritually supportive friends
• How to deepen friendships with vulnerability
• Why sharing needs is one of the most life-changing practices
• How God forms us through community and accountability
• Why iron really does sharpen iron—and how to live that out
• The power of a borrowed rake and a backyard cat funeral

You’ll also hear stories of trust, healing, neighborly love, and the kind of spiritual friendships that last through every season of life.

📍This week’s invitation:
✅ Borrow something from a neighbor
✅ Share a real need with someone close to you
✅ Pursue one relationship more intentionally
✅ Pray for God to grow your community and show you who to encourage

🧡 You were made to be known, loved, and supported. And there’s Light + Life in the friendships God gives.

Is your phone running your life—or is your life running away from you? In this episode of the Light + Life Podcast, hosts Liza and Pastor Tim dig deep into the growing tension between digital dependence and spiritual health. From doomscrolling at 2 a.m. to the brain-numbing effects of constant content, this candid conversation confronts the chaos of modern tech addiction and invites you into a more grounded, Christ-centered way to live.

You’ll explore:

• Why digital burnout feels like emotional and spiritual emptiness
• How phones and social platforms quietly disciple us away from Jesus
• Why physical connection, handwritten Scripture, and analog practices matter
• How to reset your rhythm, rebuild focus, and restore peace
• How to stomp out “ANTs” (automatic negative thoughts)
• How small digital boundaries can lead to lasting spiritual change

Tim and Liza share personal struggles, practical boundaries, and the hope of reconnecting with God and others through intentional presence. Whether it’s leaving your phone in the kitchen, rediscovering your paper Bible, or setting a timer on your Instagram app, this episode is full of real-life advice for reclaiming your mental, emotional, and spiritual clarity in a screen-saturated world.

📵 What would it look like to pause, pray, and power down—so Jesus can speak more clearly in your life?

🎧 Listen now. Reclaim your time. Restore your peace. Remember who you are in Christ.

Can Christians live more sustainably without getting caught in cultural confusion or guilt? In this episode of the Light + Life Podcast, Liza and Pastor Tim explore how faith intersects with environmental stewardship—unpacking personal habits, biblical truth, and surprising stories about our responsibility to care for God's creation.

You'll hear raw reflections on hustle culture, convenience, and how easy it is to fall into the trap of thinking “it’s too far gone.” But instead of shame, this conversation invites you into a Christ-centered view of sustainability: not political, not performative—just deeply rooted in love for the One who made the world.

Topics include:

• Why Christians should care about the Earth
• Sustainable habits that fit real life
• The theology of stewardship and dominion
• Microplastics, food sourcing, and practical tips
• How rest and rhythm reflect God’s design
• Why creation care is discipleship—not politics

Whether you’re just starting to “go green” or wrestling with how to align your lifestyle with your faith, this episode offers encouragement, humor, and practical direction. You’ll leave inspired to make small changes with eternal meaning.

💡 What you can do today:
✅ Choose one sustainable habit to start this week
✅ Reflect on your impact as a steward of God's creation
✅ Reframe how you talk about sustainability through your faith lens
✅ Share this episode with someone curious about creation care

🪴 Jesus calls us to love what He loves—including the world He created. You don’t have to do it all. Just start somewhere.

🎧 Listen now. Live intentionally. Care faithfully. Find Light + Life in Him.

Are you tired of measuring your worth by your work? You’re not alone. In this powerful episode of the Light + Life Podcast, hosts Liza and Pastor Tim dive deep into the struggles of burnout, hustle culture, and losing your identity to endless productivity. They share honest stories about overachievement, disillusionment, and the pressure to always do more—and how Jesus offers a radically different way to live: one rooted in rest, community, and grace.

Discover why burnout is more than exhaustion—it's a sign that you're living disconnected from who God made you to be. Learn how to slow down, re-center your identity in Christ, and build rhythms of health that truly satisfy. Hear practical, life-giving advice for reclaiming joy, building healthy boundaries, nurturing relationships, and restoring a sustainable, purpose-filled life.

This episode will encourage you to step off the hamster wheel, reconnect with your true worth in Christ, and live a life of whole, integrated faith. Whether you're a young professional, ministry leader, or just feeling the weight of hustle culture—there is hope, healing, and a better way forward.

👉 Tune in to discover how you can start living healthier today.
 👉 Take a real inventory of your life rhythms.
 👉 Learn the difference between a drained soul and a restored soul.
 👉 Experience the freedom of being loved for who you are, not what you produce.
 👉 Rebuild your life on the solid foundation of Christ’s love and community.

You are not alone. Jesus offers you a life of rest, restoration, and joyful purpose. Lean in. Slow down. Find Light + Life in Him.

🎧 Listen now and take your next step toward a life of true freedom.