“Betrayal leaves a trail of devastation.”  - Julianne Cusick

Today we begin a 2-part series on the topic of betrayal. In particular, betrayal trauma - when defined refers to the damage that is caused when you experience a betrayal in your relationship that damages the trust, safety, and security of the bond you have with your partner. This type of betrayal is extremely traumatic, where you can experience devastating mental, physical, and emotional consequences.

On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael and Julianne Cusick discuss the devastating effects of betrayal trauma but Julianne will bring hope by providing 5 Facts That Wives Need to Know About How to Heal and Recover from Betrayal Trauma. 

In this podcast, we hope you will discover:

• What it means to suffer betrayal trauma.
• How you recover from betrayal trauma.
• Why betrayal trauma hurts so much.

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“We need to exchange the currency by which we do life for the currency of heaven.”  - Michael John Cusick

You’re in for a treat as we’re featuring a talk given by our host, Michael John Cusick, to Denver Community Church titled, “The Currency of Heaven”. The text he will be speaking from is Matthew Chapter 5 verse 3. It is the opening verse of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and the section of the sermon known as the Beatitudes. It reads, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” A favorite translation of ours is from The Message by Eugene Peterson which says, “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.”

In this podcast, we hope you will discover:

• What it means to be blessed.
• What is the idea of the Kingdom of Heaven.
• What does it mean to be poor in spirit.

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ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:
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Thanks for listening!

“A job of a songwriter is to not sleepwalk through the world.”  - Andy Gullahorn

Our good friend Andy Gullahorn joins Michael on this edition of Restoring the Soul. Andy was born and raised in the rich musical climate of Austin, TX and then went to College at Belmont University in Nashville to join the legions of songwriters in the country music scene. After graduation, he spent a number of years as a staff writer for publishing companies while playing guitar on the road for singer/songwriter Jill Phillips (who he happened to be married to).

In 2004, after realizing that his second child was on the way and that his wife would need to come off of the road, Andy released “Room to Breathe” and began performing his own shows again for the first time in 5 years.

He now spends his time playing concerts and house shows across the country, accompanying other artists on the road, and providing his three kids with plenty of stories to tell their counselors in 20 years. Andy was a Kerrville New Folk Winner in 2010 and was a runner-up at the 2009 Rocky Mountain Folks Festival.

To discover more about Andy, visit his website.

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ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:
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Thanks for listening!

“It’s my prayer that people will engage and learn how to be kind and gentle with themselves in the same way that God is kind to us.”  - Aundi Kolber

On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael and Julianne conclude their conversation with returning guest, Aundi Kolber.

Aundi is a licensed professional counselor (MA, LPC), an author, and a speaker living in Castle Rock, Colorado. She has received additional training in her specialization of trauma- and body-centered therapies and is passionate about the integration of faith and psychology. She has written for Relevant, CT Women, and (in)courage. As a survivor of trauma, Aundi brings hard-won knowledge about the work of change, the power of redemption, and the beauty of experiencing God with us in our pain. Aundi is happily married to her best friend, Brendan, and is the proud mom of Matia and Jude. She has also just published her first book, Try Softer, which has just achieved "Best Seller" status on Amazon.

In this podcast, we hope you will discover that:

• Wholeness and healing can be achieved when you also consider treating physiological issues found in the body.
• You can’t heal trauma until your fully present.
• We need to be safe and secure in order to grow emotionally.

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ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:
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Thanks for listening!

“We are to be a compassionate witness for ourselves so our body can do
what God created it to do.”  - Aundi Kolber

On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael and Julianne welcome returning guest, Aundi Kolber, for the first of a 2-part conversation.

Aundi is a licensed professional counselor (MA, LPC), an author, and a speaker living in Castle Rock, Colorado. She has received additional training in her specialization of trauma- and body-centered therapies and is passionate about the integration of faith and psychology. She has written for Relevant, CT Women, and (in)courage. As a survivor of trauma, Aundi brings hard-won knowledge about the work of change, the power of redemption, and the beauty of experiencing God with us in our pain. Aundi is happily married to her best friend, Brendan, and is the proud mom of Matia and Jude. She has also just published her first book, Try Softer. It just might be the only book you need to read this year. Congratulations, Aundi!

In this podcast, we hope you will discover how to:

• Move through emotions rather than get stuck by them
• Grow in self-compassion and talk back to your inner critic
• Pay compassionate attention to your life experience.

Support the show

ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:
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Thanks for listening!

“If you’re my disciples you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”  - Jesus

Today, we conclude our 2-part conversation with Lisa TerKeurst.

Lisa is President of Proverbs 31 Ministries and New York Times’ best-selling author of It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a non-denominational, non-profit Christian ministry that seeks to lead women into a personal relationship with Christ, with Proverbs 31:10-31 as a guide.

In their conversation, Lysa and Michael (along with Meredith Brock) introduce us to a new perspective on pornography, a subject that’s often avoided in the Christian world but is affecting us all. No matter your stage of life, we recommend listening with an open mind and open heart to gain a better understanding on how to support a spouse, friend or loved one who may be facing this challenge.

In this podcast, we hope you will discover:

• Replace the stigma associated with pornography with a new understanding that the addiction to pornography comes from a genuine desire to be seen, known and loved.
• Let go of your own fear and guilt because of a spouse or loved one’s pornography addiction and discover the role spiritual fullness and emptiness play in the battle with pornography.
• Overcome your hesitation to have “the talk” with a loved one about pornography by learning healthy, biblically based conversation starters.

Support the show

ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:
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- Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS
- Like us on Facebook
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- Follow Michael on Twitter
- Email us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening!

“The essence of purity is not the suppression of lust, but the total orientation of one's life towards a goal.”  - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

What if the real struggle behind pornography was actually a deep longing for fullness in Christ? 

Welcome to Restoring the Soul where for the next 2 podcasts we bring you encore editions of a conversation Michael has with Lysa TerKeurst titled, “Therapy & Theology” on the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast. Lisa is President of Proverbs 31 Ministries and New York Times’ best-selling author of It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a non-denominational, non-profit Christian ministry that seeks to lead women into a personal relationship with Christ, with Proverbs 31:10-31 as a guide.

In these episodes, Lysa and Michael (along with Meredith Brock) introduce us to a new perspective on pornography, a subject that’s often avoided in the Christian world but is affecting us all. No matter your stage of life, we recommend listening with an open mind and open heart to gain a better understanding on how to support a spouse, friend or loved one who may be facing this challenge.

In this podcast, we hope you will learn how to:

• Replace the stigma associated with pornography with a new understanding that the addiction to pornography comes from a genuine desire to be seen, known and loved.
• Let go of your own fear and guilt because of a spouse or loved one’s pornography addiction and discover the role spiritual fullness and emptiness play in the battle with pornography.
• Overcome your hesitation to have “the talk” with a loved one about pornography by learning healthy, biblically based conversation starters.

Support the show

ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:
- Follow us on YouTube
- Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter
- Follow Michael on Twitter
- Email us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening!

“God never called you to a life of panting feverishness. We impose that upon ourselves.”  - James Bryan Smith

Today, we conclude our 2-part conversation with James Bryan Smith.

James is the author of The Good and Beautiful God and the Apprentice series. He earned his MDiv at Yale and his DMin at Fuller and is a theology professor at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. He also serves as the director of the Apprentice Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation at Friends University.

A founding member of Richard J. Foster's spiritual renewal ministry, Renovaré, Smith serves as a teaching pastor at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church. He is the editor of A Spiritual Formation Workbook and Devotional Classics (with Richard Foster), and the author of Embracing the Love of God, Rich Mullins: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven, and Room of Marvels. His most recent books are The Magnificent Story and The Magnificent Journey.

In this podcast, we hope you will discover:

• Why he refers to himself as the “Forrest Gump of Christianity”
• The importance of sleep as a soul training exercise
• The remaining 2 sides of the Triangle of Transformation

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ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:
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Thanks for listening!

“I want to become the person that naturally is like Jesus because I have been with Him for so long.”  - James Bryan Smith

Today, we begin a 2-part conversation with James Bryan Smith.

James is the author of The Good and Beautiful God and the Apprentice series. He earned his MDiv at Yale and his DMin at Fuller and is a theology professor at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. He also serves as the director of the Apprentice Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation at Friends University.

A founding member of Richard J. Foster's spiritual renewal ministry, Renovaré, Smith serves as a teaching pastor at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church. He is the editor of A Spiritual Formation Workbook and Devotional Classics (with Richard Foster), and the author of Embracing the Love of God, Rich Mullins: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven, and Room of Marvels. His most recent books are The Magnificent Story and The Magnificent Journey.

In this podcast, we hope you will discover:

• The difference between spiritual formation and discipleship.
• What happens when God is the subject of active verbs.
• The devastating result of teaching people only the spiritual disciplines.

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ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:
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- Email us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening!

“You lead by serving, That’s what we’re to do. It’s not to impress people. It’s not to be perfect. It’s not to be right. It’s to serve.”  - Philip Yancey

Today, we present the conclusion of one of our most popular interviews with Philip Yancey.

Philip Yancey is one of Christianity’s best thinkers and writers. He’s an award-winning journalist and best-selling author whose books have sold over 14 million copies. His work has also been celebrated by Billy Graham and Bono - which is no wonder because of the universal themes of suffering and grace that he so often writes about. A few of his books include, “What’s So Amazing About Grace”, “The Jesus I Never Knew”, “Where is God When It Hurts?”, and “Disappointment With God”. 

Michael first met Philip in 1994 when he interviewed him for the Mars Hill Review. Since that time, the men have grown to know and enjoy each other, and have become significant sources of encouragement for their respective journeys.

Support the show

ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:
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Thanks for listening!