In today's episode, we are talking all about faith. What is it? How can we make it grow? What is an abundant mindset?
How does money fit into this topic? 
We end with a challenge that we hope propels you forward from wherever you are on your journey. 

This week we are discussing contentment, complacency, vision, purpose and gratitude. Complacency is the enemy of growth.  

How do we live with contentment and yet not with complacency?

How does gratitude fit in with your value and worth?

How do you know what your purpose is?

We touch on the story of Corrie ten Boom. If you are not familiar with her story, check it out here: https://www.corrietenboom.com

In this episode we begin with some candid, unscripted conversation about hospitality. We both share some of our favorite memories about how we felt the most connected with our families growing up, and how those memories have played a part in how we parent today.

Maybe you have a job which doesn't allow you to come home every day. How can you still maintain communication and connection with your spouse and family? 

We hope you have a good laugh with us, as we share a few funnies. We also hope the ideas presented inspire and challenge you to pursue an even deeper connection with those in your life.

Make sure to check out and follow our Instagram page: @rideofalifetimepodcast

This week we continue with part 2 of our discussion with Naghmeh Panahi. Last week we opened the uncomfortable topic of abuse in the church as Naghmeh shared her own experience of abuse and working with women in the same situation. We picked up our conversation this week with the question of why do we need to keep talking about this? Listen as she shares why this is so important.

The principles we discuss can apply to your personal life, your marriage, or your church. Whether you’re a dad, mother, husband, wife, pastor, or missionary, this message is for you! We can not be world changers without being willing to walk in the mundane. We can not evangelize without identifying sin. 

 “I don’t want to hear about your Christianity if you don’t treat your family well.”

Living one way and preaching another way is just a show.

We chat about how it’s also possible to abuse ourselves and offer solutions on how to change this kind of behavior.

What if you don’t even realize you’re being abusive? Or being abused? 

How can the church respond?

How can people in leadership guard against becoming an idol in someone else’s life? 

Make sure you listen to the end, because there is a powerful encouragement delivered, which is applicable to every single person, and we pray leads many to freedom!

For more background to Naghmeh's story, listen to the two-part series with Julie Roys, here: 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ex-wife-tells-of-abuse-betrayal-behind-savesaeed/id1470242499?i=1000536450369 

If you haven’t heard Naghmeh’s story, it is important to get the background before listening to today’s episode. You can find and listen to it here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ex-wife-tells-of-abuse-betrayal-behind-savesaeed/id1470242499?i=1000536450369

This week we are diving deep into an uncomfortable topic and shining a light on the very disturbing issue of abuse. 

Why is it important to expose abusers? Whenever sin is hidden, its stranglehold grows and the inevitable result is decay. How far has the church fallen from God? 

What is the nature of abuse and what has contributed to the abuse of power to such a large scale in the evangelical church?

We talk about idolatry and how we have made an idol of our marriages and church, striving to protect these institutions over the individual.

We discuss these things not to embarrass the church, but to bring to light something which is festering. We believe God is allowing stories of abuse, like Naghmeh’s, to come out for the healing of the individuals who are being abused. 

From her own experience and also working with abused women, she shares why someone can take so long to realize they are in an abusive relationship and why it is so difficult to share their struggles with anyone. 

She offers some excellent advice to anyone who may be the sounding board to someone who is being abused, and shines a light on what to look for to anyone who may be in such a situation and not even realize it.

God really cares about oppression and is calling us to repentance.

Stay tuned for next week’s conclusion of this riveting conversation.

We are so excited to have some special guests on today’s show: our three oldest kiddos! We ask them about their favorite memories growing up, a valuable lesson they’ve learned, and discuss what it is like to cultivate an environment of repentance and forgiveness in our home. 

As we chat with each one, you get a glimpse into their personalities and maybe a few chuckles too. 

Parenting teens is amazing, and we hope to convey this truth. If that stage feels like it’s still miles away, be encouraged: you can look forward to some incredible years! We also want to dispel the overworked notion that strong wills are something to wish away or quench in a child.  

Finally, we discuss how the aim of parenting is to let them go, and have an amazing influence on the world. 

If this was a video version, it would be impossible to hide a few moments some of us are holding back tears. We loved chatting with Nadine, Elijah & Jack, and look forward to introducing them and listening to their thoughts. 

In this episode we discuss a few questions:

Is it worth the bother or expense to get married? 

What are the foundational ideas of marriage and how do they play out in real life?

What is marriage?

We talk about soul mates- do they exist? 

Whether you’re a teenager, been around the block for awhile, or somewhere in between, if you’ve ever thought about marriage, then this episode is for you. 

Culture tells us it’s restrictive, but we have found it to be the complete opposite. How is this possible? 

In whichever camp you find yourself, married or not, we hope to convey this encouragement: marriage is both worth the wait… and worth the commitment. 

In this podcast we share about a really difficult time in our life and the powerful lessons God taught us because of it.

• Matthew reads Psalm 46 which was such an encouragement during this time.
• Amy shares her first “walking on water” experience when Matthew almost died.
• Saying the words “have faith” are meaningless if they are not demonstrated in your life.
• It’s good to go through hard things.
• To the extent that we suffer trouble, we experience God’s help. And we can’t experience God’s help without experiencing trouble. 
• There is tremendous freedom found when there is no fear!
• We discuss how the strength of a man and a woman can actually liberate and lift the other instead of intimidate or shame them.
• How can we women encourage our men to grow?
• How God gives us more than we can handle and why this is a good thing!

One of the greatest tributes to our faith in Jesus Christ is that we can rejoice in suffering. That’s why He leads us into it, because He wants the world to see what this faith really looks like. 

In this episode we talk about the storms we experienced during our first year of marriage and how this laid the foundation for other difficulties we would later face. We chat about how the way you view adversity is going to have a direct impact on how you respond to adversity. 

Marriage is a relationship of celebration, not obligation. 

We discuss the importance of your thought life outside of the bedroom and learning how to enjoy each other.

Storms come- that's a given. The key is figuring out how to weather the storm together.

In this episode, we are introducing ourselves. Grab a cup of coffee (Matt's favorite) or tea (Amy's favorite) and get to know us!
How did one boy from Philadelphia and one girl from the middle of Africa meet and fall in love? 
It's impossible to condense twenty+ years into thirty minutes, so stay tuned in upcoming episodes as we fill in the blanks, interview other amazing couples, and share the highs and lows of this incredible ride called marriage!