People Who See

Trigger Warning: abuse, spiritual abuse

In part two of our conversation with Regina Brunz, MA - a counselor specializing in spiritual abuse - we move from “What is spiritual abuse?” to “What can we do about it?” and tackle questions like: 

What is the role of intent in spiritual harm? 

What do I do if I think I’ve been spiritually abused? 

How can we be good companions to someone who has been spiritually abused? 

Why is community so important in calling out spiritual abuse? 

Does intent matter with spiritual abuse? 

What do I do if I think I have spiritually harmed someone? 

Why is spiritual abuse so rampant right now? 

Here are some resources to learn more! 

A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing 

When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community from Emotional and Spiritual Abuse

If you’re interested in connecting with Regina as a counselor, visit her website https://www.reginabrunzcounseling.com/ to learn more about her practice and schedule a consult. 

Music citation

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/your-own-world

License code: 1WX6GFMRRZEGMYVC

Trigger Warning: abuse, spiritual abuse

Today is part one of our conversation with Regina Brunz, MA - a counselor specializing in spiritual abuse. She helps us answer questions like: 
What is spiritual abuse? 
What are the markers that can help us identify spiritual abuse? 

How does spiritual abuse differ from emotional or psychological abuse? 

What are the symptoms of spiritual abuse? 

Here are some resources to learn more! 

A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing 

When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community from Emotional and Spiritual Abuse

If you’re interested in connecting with Regina as a counselor, visit her website https://www.reginabrunzcounseling.com/ to learn more about her practice and schedule a consult. 

Music citation

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/your-own-world

License code: 1WX6GFMRRZEGMYVC

In part two of our conversation with Melissa Cran, we hear more of Melissa’s story and dig into questions like: 
Where do we see God in the stories of gay Christians? 
How do Side A and Side B Christians interact with each other? 
Do we really believe it’s ok to disagree on this topic? 
How can we hold space for those we disagree with? 
How do we create a church culture that is more inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community?
How can we change the definition of family within the church? 

Melissa’s resources! 

Families at the Crossroads: Beyond Tradition & Modern Options by Rodney R. Clapp 

Redeeming Singleness: How the Storyline of Scripture Affirms the Single Life by Barry Danylak

Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality by Wesley Hill

Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate by Justin Lee

Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde

Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation by Henri Nouwen 

Heavy Burdens: Seven Ways LGTBQ Christians Experience Harm in the Church by Bridget Eileeen Rivera 

Outlove: A Queer Christian Survival Story by Julie Rodgers

Music citation
Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/your-own-world
License code: 1WX6GFMRRZEGMYVC

Today we continue listening to the stories of LGBTQ+ Christians with our interview with the amazing Melissa Cran! In part one of this interview, Melissa shares her story of her relationship with the church and we dive into questions like: 
What are Side A and Side B as they relate to the LGBTQ+ community? 
What does it look like to move from Side B to Side A? 
What does deconstruction look like for a gay Christian? 
What does it feel like to be asked to choose celibacy? 
How can the church support celibate gay Christians? 

Melissa’s resources!
Families at the Crossroads: Beyond Tradition & Modern Options by Rodney R. Clapp
Redeeming Singleness: How the Storyline of Scripture Affirms the Single Life by Barry Danylak
Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality by Wesley Hill
Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate by Justin Lee
Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde
Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation by Henri Nouwen
Heavy Burdens: Seven Ways LGTBQ Christians Experience Harm in the Church by Bridget Eileeen Rivera
Outlove: A Queer Christian Survival Story by Julie Rodgers

Music citation
Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/your-own-world
License code: 1WX6GFMRRZEGMYVC

In part two of our interview with podcaster and pastor Josh Proctor, we explore questions like: 

What does community look like for Side B Christians? 

Is “homosexual” an acceptable word to use? And how can we learn to use our language more thoughtfully? 

How can the church become a relevant voice in the LGBTQ+ conversation? 

How can the church better care for LGBTQ+ Christians? 

What resources are available for Christians to educate themselves? 

How can we be a safe space for someone to come out to? 

Here are some resources to learn more about Side A and Side B! 

Life on Side B Podcast

Life on Side B Booklist

Posture Shift

Guiding Families

Reformation Project

Revoice

Changing Our Mind by David P. Gushee

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/your-own-world

License code: 1WX6GFMRRZEGMYVC

Today’s episode is part one of our four-part series listening to the stories of LGBTQ+ Christians! Check out part one of our interview with podcaster and pastor Josh Proctor to hear his story and dig into questions like: 

What is it like to be a gay Christian? 

Do all gay Christians believe the same things about sexuality and Christianity? 

What are Side A and Side B as they relate to the LGBTQ+ community? 

How can the church find a theology of sexuality and community that works for everyone? 

What is a biblical vision of community? 

What should community look like within the Kingdom of God? 

Here are some resources to learn more about Side A and Side B! 

Life on Side B Podcast

Posture Shift

Reformation Project

Revoice

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/your-own-world

License code: 1WX6GFMRRZEGMYVC

Trigger warning: Today’s episode is about suffering, and as much as we try to approach it from a place of gentleness and care, if you’re feeling especially tender, make sure you’re listening in a safe place with safe people.

Practically, what do I do when someone I love is suffering? 

What is my natural reaction to the suffering of others? 

How do we move into a place of balance and health when we walk with people in suffering? 

What is spiritual listening and how can it change the way we walk with others in suffering?  

Do I have to be a super-Christian to be a good spiritual listener? 

What is spiritual direction and how can I get a spiritual director?

Spiritual Directors International

Transforming Center

Grafted Life Ministries

Dawn Dishman - our spiritual director! 

Here are some resources to learn more about spiritual listening! 

Books: 

Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction by Margaret Guenther
Walking with Grief by Andy Raine

Podcasts:

The Environmental Listening Podcast: Holy Listening interview with Whitney Simpson

Youtube: 

Holy Listening Part 1: Prepare and Pray

Holy Listening Part 2: Engage and Listen

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/your-own-world

License code: 1WX6GFMRRZEGMYVC

Trigger warning: Today’s episode is about suffering, and as much as we try to approach it from a place of gentleness and care, if you’re feeling especially tender, make sure you’re listening in a safe place with safe people. There is also a mention of suicide, so if that is not a safe topic for you, maybe skip this one. 

Why do good people suffer? Does suffering mean you’re not a good Christian? 

What does it mean that God is with us in our suffering? 

How were you taught about suffering? And what does it say about who you think God is? 

What is the role of community in suffering? How do we walk with people who are suffering? 

How do we learn the lessons that pain has to teach us? 

What does the Bible say about suffering? What do we do with Jesus’s suffering? 

Here are the books we reference in the episode! 

Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved by Kate Bowler

What Does the Bible Say About Suffering? By Brian Han Gregg

Not the God I Know: How Divorce Taught Me What it Means to be Saved by Esther Nissen

The Holy Longing: The Search for a Christian Spirituality by Ronald Rolheiser

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/your-own-world

License code: 1WX6GFMRRZEGMYVC

In part two of our conversation around the question, “Is Quitting Weakness?” we dig into questions like: 

What do we do about quitting relationships? 

What qualifies as “toxic”? 

What do boundaries actually look like in everyday life? 

What has Christianity taught us about quitting? 

How do you reconcile being faithful or being called and quitting? 

How do we decide what is most sacred in a given situation, and is it ok if what is most sacred for you is not what is most sacred for someone else? 

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/your-own-world

License code: 1WX6GFMRRZEGMYVC

In today’s episode, we share our stories of quitting, and we dig into questions like: 

How do we learn to listen to ourselves and trust when it’s right to quit and when we need to stick it out? 

How does brain science affect our decisions to walk away or to stick it out?

What do you do with the shame of quitting if you quit something and you don’t have something else lined up? 

What happens when others do not and cannot understand why you’re walking away from something? 

Here’s the book we reference throughout the episode! 

Burnout by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski

https://www.amazon.com/Burnout-Secret-Unlocking-Stress-Cycle/dp/1984818325/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=burnout&qid=1639320437&sr=8-1 

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/your-own-world

License code: 1WX6GFMRRZEGMYVC