Simply Stories Podcast

Today I get to share with you a really fun and powerful conversation with my friends Chris and Stephanie Teague. In our conversation you'll get to hear the story of how Chris and Stephanie met, their marriage when they were in college, pursuing the quintessential Christian couple life, and then the secrets, addictions, and doubts that led to their divorce in 2010. Then, during a season where they each in their own way were desperate for answers to what they didn't understand, God met them and showed them He was trustworthy with their lives individually, freeing them both from the pressure of living a put-together know-it-all Christian life and receiving the invitation to be alive with Christ and live in hope. And then, in His grace, He also redeemed their marriage. Over a decade later, here we are hanging out unpacking this story today! Praise God.

This time with them was a special experience of hearing them unpack how God met them then, how He continues to reveal Himself to them now, and the heart of the calling on their lives now as the band Out of the Dust. Through their music, and sharing their story, Chris and Stephanie now travel the country speaking and singing hope over people who wonder if all hope is lost. As you'll hear, it's not about trying to fix broken marriages or bootstrapping your way to a better life, it's issuing an invitation to encounter the heart of God. This is such a powerful conversation annnnnd for those of us who grow up in the 90's/early 2000's Christian world, I think there's going to be a lot you can probably relate to, for better or for worse as well. It's a good time and I can't wait to share it with you.

I hope above all things you hear in this episode, you hear that the Lord specializes at making beautiful things out of the dust. Dust of things that have yet to know life, or dust of ashes where things have all burned down. He is the God of redemption and resurrection and He cares about your heart encountering healing with Him. If you have any questions about any of that, please don't ever hesitate to reach out to me, or to someone like Stephanie and Chris, we are imperfect people who have seen a perfect God in our story, but we also know what it means to shake our fists and wonder why and have Him love us there too. Wherever you are today, friend, I hope that you can hear me say, you matter, and your story matters.

Connecting with Stephanie & Chris

Facebook

Instagram

Patreon

Spotify

SUMMER TOUR DATES!

Website

Sponsor for this Episode: Hopefuel

Use the code 'SIMPLY15' for 15% off

Instagram

Website

References:

-Episodes Chris and Stephanie have helped me out on before! Our readings of Esther and Ruth

-MTSU

-Passion Conference

-Chris Tomlin

-Matt Redman

-Christy and Nathan Nockels and Watermark

-Jesus movement (70's)

-Louie Giglio

-Some of Louie's teaching based on science and faith (and devotionals for kids too! Our family loves these)

-Podcast episode where we talk about suicidal ideation with Jennifer Greenberg, her book I mention is Not Forsaken: A Story of Life After Abuse. How faith brought one woman from victim to survivor

-Enneagram 1

-We got it wrong, Jehovah-Raah is the Lord is my Shepherd

-Divorce Care

-"Redemption Skies"- their song with the lyric "Let the valley teach you what the mountain can't"

- "Beautiful Things" by Gungor

-Ellie Holcomb spotify

-For the record the church we attend together is Fellowship Bible Church Murfreesboro ;)

-GMA Immerse

-Topher Teague

-Gungor "You Have Me"

-Brooke Fraser "Who Are We Fooling"

-Belmont University

-Tanya Godsey

-Our Daily Bread

-Family Life

-Another episode about working through doubts, questions and truly finding Jesus (Taylor Turkington author of Trembling Faith)

-spiritual disciplines

-the attributes of God (I REALLY loved this study about this from Daily Grace Co. It was a huge help to me)

-Searching For Enough- Tyler Staton, our conversation

-John Mark Comer (not Michael lol)

Scripture References:

Mark 2:15-22-, Mark 5:1-20,Luke 8:26-39, Luke 19:1-10, Luke 17:11-19, John 4-Jesus went to the raw and real places

Psalm 23

Deuteronomy 7:9, Psalm 25:10, Luke 6:36-37, Ephesians 2:4-5-God's mercy

Luke 15:11-32 (esp 17-21)-Prodigal pacing (earning your way back home)

Psalm 34:4-God is with you in the valley

Psalm 34:18-He is close to the brokenhearted

Exodus 3-A Moses, nope God you got the wrong guy

Exodus 34:6, Nehemiah 9:16-17, Psalm 103:8, 2 Peter 3:8-9-God is so patient

Lamentations 3:22-23, 1 Corinthians 1:9 -He is faithful (among many verses and stories!)

Judges 6, Habakkuk 1-He is OK with us working through questions and doubts

James 4:8-Draw near to Him

Isaiah 46:9-10, Psalm 139, 1 John 3:20, Ephesians 1-He is all-knowing, but we get to know Him

2 Timothy 3:16-17-scripture is God breathed

John 16:33 -This world is broken, and in this world we will have trouble

Psalm 147:5, James 3:17-God has infinite wisdom

Matthew 14:13-21, Luke 8:26-56-Jesus welcomed interuptions and weren't on the plan

Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:39-46, John 17-18 and John 11 -Jesus grieved in the garden and at the tomb of His friend

Job 10:3, Job 19:5-7, Job 27, -Job indicting God

John 20:24-31-"doubting" Thomas

Psalm 27:13-What would have become of me if I had not believed I would see the goodness of the Lord

John 9, 2 Corinthians 12:6-7 -Using suffering for our good (example)

Daniel 3:18-If not He is still good

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog

Today, I have Dennis Allen on the podcast. Dennis followed his heart to the Air Force as fighter pilot, and suddenly was hit with a life altering diagnosis that ended his military career. Propelled into the business world, he would ultimately become a consultant to guide businesses how to better address internal issues, shore up where they might be struggling, and reevaluate leadership. In his work, he began to see the similarities in the issues he was unpacking within businesses and modern Western discipleship, and the Church. Thus his book The Discipleship Dilemma: Rethinking and Reforming How the Church Does Discipleship was born.

In our conversation he shares with us his personal story of God quite literally giving him a new heart and growing his heart to help leaders in churches as well as every member of the Body of Christ refresh and recapture their vision for Jesus' call to go and make disciples of all nations. We unpack what discipleship is and isn't, and how to address some of the issues going unaddressed in churches and hurting hearts who are questioning God because of their encounters with His people. Its a challenging message and conversation, but its a really really good one. I hope you'll circle up for this family meeting of sorts and dive deep with us.

There are all kinds of ways this conversation could land on you and wherever you are in life as a whole and your relationship with God or with His church. I want you to know that no matter what, there is room for the wrestling and questions, and that is part of being a disciple in fact. There is hope for redemption, friends. Above all else, there is a God who loves you dearly and made you on purpose. Seek Him, and you WILL find him. I hope this podcast can be a tool to point you to places in scripture where you can learn to know Him more, but also to resources, tools and people that could perhaps aid you in your journey. Just know that you're not alone. We're all learning. Praise God He's not finished with us. Just remember. You matter to the Lord. Your story matters.

Connecting with Dennis:

Book

Facebook

Instagram

Website

Episode Sponsor: Tony Crabtree of Crabtree Homes with Exit Realty

Facebook

Instagram

Tik Tok

Website

YouTube

References:

Pistol Pete Maravich

Jim Fixx The Running Book

Definition of orthodoxy

Definition of orthopraxy

Definition of heterodoxy

Young LIfe

Simeon the Styllite Elder

Billy Graham

Theodoret (wrote about Simeon)

The Bedouin world

To follow a rabbi as a Jewish student

Constantine's impact on Christianity (we have great episodes on this part 1 and 2)

Clericalism

The word for "take heart" - Tharseo

CRU

Christ is the cornerstone

You have never met a mere mortal - C.S. Lewis

The Jesus Storybook Bible - Sally Lloyd Jones

Billy Graham's Interview at the end of his life

William Wilberforce "You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say you did not know."

Scripture References:

Matthew 28:19- Go and make disciples

John 6:66- From that time on many stopped following Jesus

John 14:6- Jesus is the way, the truth and the life

Psalm 143:3, 1 Peter 5:8- We have an enemy of our soul

James 3:1-5 Responsibility and accountability for leaders

Micah 6:8- do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God

Acts 15- Early Church arguments

The Church is the Bride of Christ

Matthew 16:18, Romans 8:36-39- Nothing can stop the church

Matthew 16:24-26-If you are my follow Me you must take up the cross and follow Me

Ephesians 4:11-16 (not GAlatians) - some are called to be evangelists

1 Peter 4:12-19 - we have the reason for the hope

1 Corinthians 12-We all have spiritual gifts

Jeremiah 29:11- plans for hope and a future

Romans 11:11-31-You are grafted into the family of God

John 15-without Christ we can do nothing

2 Pter 1:3-we have all been given what we need for life and godliness

John 21:22- do you understand what it means to be a disciple?

John 16:33- Take heart I have overcome the world

Exodus 14:13-14-Don't be afraid (before Red Sea crossing)

Psalm 91:4-6- We live under the shelter of His wings

Luke 15:11-32- Prodigal sons and daughters

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog

Sopha Rush is an author, online influencer and encourager, and professional promise proclaimer. Her book 100 Days of Living Deeply Rooted is such an encouraging word for life in the trenches of trying to unpack past narratives about yourself, believing what God says is true about you, and learning to trust Him more wherever you are walking in life.

In our conversation today, Sopha shares a little bit of her family's powerful story of fleeing the Cambodian genocide and starting their family in Chicago. Her Mom became a single parent after a tragedy at a very young age, and she and her siblings grew up under the umbrella of incredible strength, and resilience, but also so much grief. There is much to unpack growing up as the helper when you become a parent, isn't there? Learning to find value in yourself and just being who you are, not what you have to offer, seeing the value in taking care of and holding space for yourself to just be but also to heal. Sopha shares about how God has met her in all of these places, showing her what a good and trustworthy Father He truly is, and how He heals and redeems, and when we are deeply rooted in Him, we can come to know Him and find life.

I felt like this was a message for those who need to know the heart of God is for them. The wrestling of standards of the world, and feeling like you are never enough, and those who struggle to understand who God is and who He is not. Our deep fears that came from how we grow up, and how we misunderstood Him, can hold us back from seeing who He has always been. Take the risk, friends. There is so much life, goodness, and hope for you in Him. If that's you today, I hope you know that you matter, and your story matters.

Connecting with Sopha:

Book: 100 Days of Living Deeply Rooted

Facebook

Instagram (Living Deeply Rooted) Instagram 2 (Sopha's!)

Podcast

TikTok

Twitter

Website

Sponsor for this Episode: Hopefuel

Use the code 'SIMPLY15' for 15% off

Instagram

Website

References:

-Cambodian genocide and the killing fields (also super interesting

-Cambodian refugees in Thailand

-"First They Killed My Father" - film on Cambodian genocide

-"Magic School Bus" -the OG

-"Magic School Bus Rides Again" - the new one, the tree episode I mentioned

-bi-polar disorder

-The refiner's fire

-"Moms' Actually" podcast episode I mentioned

-How trauma sits in the brain

-Trauma in the body

-Ancestoral (or intergenerational) trauma

-The Body Keeps the Score Bessel van der Kolk M.D.

-If Our Bodies Could Talk - James Hamblin

-Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself - Nedra Glover Tawwab

-Articles by Sopha for (in)courage

Scripture References:

1 Corinthians 1-3-We have a heavenly Father

Job 38-41, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Corinthians 9:8, Matthew 6:25-34God provides for you

Psalm 36 , John 3:16,John 15:13 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Ephesians 3:17-19, Romans 8:35-39-God loves you

Proverbs 9:10, 1 John 4:17-19-Yes, we're called to fear God but not from shame

Romans 12:2-Be transformed by the renewal of your mind

2 Corinthians 10:5-Take every thought captive

John 1:12-13, 1 John 3:1We are children of God

Acts 1:8,1 Corinthians 3:16 -We have the power of the holy spirit in us

2 Timothy 1:7-We are not given a spirit of fear

Psalm 23:4-He walks with us through the valley of suffering

Romans 11:11-24, John 15:1-6-Without Him we can do nothing, the need for being grafted into the Vine

Jeremiah 17:8 -Being deeply rooted

1 Corinthians 12:12-27-The Body of Christ

Colossians 3:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:11-Encourage one another, lifting one another up

John 14:3, Revelation 22:12-13-Jesus is coming back for us

Matthew 25:6, Revelation 19:7-The Bridegroom is coming back for the Bride (the church!)

Titus 2:1-5- older women share with the younger women

Jeremiah 29:11-There is hope for you

Psalm 27:13-There is good for you in the land of the living

Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Matthew 22:37-We're called to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog

Dr. Jeremiah Johnston is an author, pastor of apologetics, and what he refers to as a Christian thinker. He knew that he loved God and loved His word, but he had a burning desire to want to not only understand it better, and to be able to know and see for Himself that the Christian faith could stand up to questioning. Ultimately, what he found is "Jesus and the faith and the scriptures are the answers to the questions you have today, not just the questions of yesterday."

Now he is the pastor of apologetics at Prestonwood Baptist Church, and his ministry Christian Thinkers Society is designed to speak to seekers and skeptics and those who have big and very real questions about the historical Jesus, the church, and scripture, but also to encourage followers of Christ to own their faith. In his latest book Body of Proof: The 7 Best Reasons to Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus- and Why It Matters Today Dr. Johnston shares some of the fascinating details that prove the resurrection as a historical event, and why focusing on the resurrection and not just the cross deeply matters. In his work and in our conversation today, he unpacks a little bit of the context of the world Jesus revealed Himself to in His resurrected form, and we discuss details that perhaps have been overlooked due to the familiarity of the narrative of the resurrection to many of us in the church.

I don't know where you are or where this conversation finds you, but I hope that you can walk away with a little more hope and encouragement in your soul. The bedrock of Christianity stands firm. It is based on facts, and it can take questions and research, archeology, and history. Our resurrected Savior can take our big feelings, our questions, and the cries of our weary souls. The God of the universe that took on flesh, died, and rose again, cares about you, and He gave it all to show you. I hope you can believe that today. You matter, and your story matters.

Connecting with Dr. Johnston

Book: Body of Proof: The 7 Best Reasons to Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus- and Why It Matters Today

Facebook

Instagram

Sponsor for this Episode: Hopefuel

Use the code 'SIMPLY15' for 15% off

Instagram

Website

References:

Oxford University

Craig Evans

Bodleian Library

Papyrology

Codicology

Paleography

Christian Thinkers Society

Prestonwood Baptist Church

Pastor of Apologetics

Unanswered by Dr. Johnston

The head of Christ painting

Road to Emmaus painting by Robert Zund, 1877

James the brother of Jesus

The Messiah would be another David or Samson or would cleanse the priesthood and the Temple

Dead Sea Scrolls

The New Testament: Its Background, Growth and Content- Bruce Metzger

Jospehus

Saducee- Progressives bought out by the Romans

Pharisee- Tradition of keeping the Torah

Zealots- Extremists who trained to take power from Rome back by force

Sanhedrin- The governing body of the Jewish community

The diaspora

Remember- celebrate with festival example

Mishnah

Verisamilitude

Bone boxes on the Mount of Olives

Unimaginable book by Dr. Johnston

Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ

Scripture References:

Hebrews 4:12- The word of God is alive and active

Luke 24, John 20- The resurrection of Jesus

Revelation 2:28-The morning star of our faith

1 Corinthians 15 - the death AND resurrection of Jesus Luke 23, John 18:28-19:42- The judiciary procedure that led to the crucifixion

John 20:1-18-Appears to women/Mary doesn't recognize Jesus

John 20:24-29-Thomas

Luke 24:13-35-The two with Jesus on the road to Emmaus

Matthew 5-7- The sermon on the mount

Luke 4:14-30- the sermon in Nazareth

Exodus 11-19- The Passover

Deuteronomy 6:6-9,Deuteronomy 11:18-20,Isaiah 57:8- Put this on your doorpost

Luke 22:17-38- Jesus called them to remember through the last supper

Luke 22- Judas betrayed Jesus

Matthew 10:4,Mark 3:18,Luke 6:15,Acts 1:13- Simon the Zealot

John 19:38-40-Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus bury Jesus

Genesis 50:25- Joseph asked to have his bones carried back to the land of his father

Matthew 27:55-56-The women stayed with Jesus, and are at the cross

Matthew 26:56, Mark 14:50- They didn't run like the disciples

1 Corinthians 12:12-31-The body of Christ needs all its parts for it to work

Romans 8- the message of the Gospl and of Jesus' love that there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus

1 Corinthians 15:58-Be strong, steadfast and immovable, always abound in the work of the Lord

1 Corinthians 16- people are suffering, let's care for people

Matthew 9:36- He had compassion on them because He saw them as sheep without a shepherd

Hebrews 12:2- keep your eyes on the author and perfector of our faith

1 Peter 2:4-8- Christ is the cornerstone

Hebrews 13:8-Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever

Hebrews 13:5–6; Deuteronomy 31:6–8- He never leaves us or forsakes us

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog

As we walk into the days that follow Easter, we have such a unique opportunity to engage the truly incredible work Jesus not only did on the cross and walking out of the empty tomb, and how the world was literally turned upside down in the remaining days He was on Earth and after His ascension to Heaven and the coming of the Holy Spirit and the call to take the Gospel to the ends of the Earth.

This is Dr. Bryan Litfin's area of expertise. We've had a chance to talk about Dr. Litfin's works of fiction on the podcast before, where he shares a story of an early Christian woman and a young warrior in Constantine's army and how the trials of the time and their faiths are tested and proved, but today, we're going to put all his various degrees to work as he shares with us about his newest non-fiction book Wisdom of the Ancients: 30 Timeless Lessons from the Early Church. Dr. Litfin is a Professor at Liberty University teaching theology and New Testament classes, and a former professor at Moody Bible Institute, and as we walk into this season that celebrates the birth of the early church, this conversation with Dr. Litfin is the perfect place to spend time.

Dr. Litfin walks us through the context of what he means by "the ancient period," which his latest book focuses on and he defines it as within the time of Christ on earth in the 1st century through the 500 years or so that would follow leading up to the Middle Ages. For a lot of western Christians in particular, we sometimes grapple with the context of the early church and get confused about what happened when, how decisions were made, and we tend to skip from the end of Revelation to the Reformation or something like that. Dr. Litfin gives us a picture of what the world looked like as the Gospel spread. Then, he shares from his latest book some specific and perhaps surprising lessons we can consider and adapt to our modern faith walks and churches, and it is truly fascinating.

Jesus is alive, He came that we would have life to the full, not always easy, but full and never alone. His passion for His family has not changed, and I pray that ministers to you today.

Connecting with Dr. Litfin:

Books

Facebook

Website

Sponsor for this Episode: Hopefuel

Use the code 'SIMPLY15' for 15% off

Instagram

Website

References:

-Episode 69 and Episode 116 The other episodes featuring Dr. Litfin on the podcast

-Dr. Litfin's fiction trilogy: Constantine's Empire

-His latest work: Wisdom of the Ancients: 30 Timeless Lessons from the Early Church

-Liberty University

-(Just being honest) the yuck from the top, but isn't the heart of the university

-A glimpse into Paul's missionary journeys

-The Protestant Reformation

-Constantine's rise

-Plato

-Middle Ages

-Paul's missionary journeys (geographically and timeline)

-Saint Patrick and the spreading of the Gospel to Ireland

-Early church in Ethiopia

-Soteriology

-Jupiter

-"Death Was Arrested"

-The God of gods

-Over the powers and principalities

-Dr. Michael Heiser's documentary about spiritual dominion and a deep dive into this

-Also see his book Supernatural, and Unseen Realm and he has since passed away, but our conversation on the podcast was mindblowing.

-witness means martyr in Greek

-Catacombs

-Necropolis —> a cemetery (this was interesting, pardon the language)

-Temple prostitutes of Rome

- "The Chosen"

-Christocentric and Christotelic

-Life of Moses study from BSF

-Sally Lloyd Jones

-Episode of "The Chosen" showing the raised up snake on a pole (Season 1, episode 7)

-Nicodemus' struggle on "The Chosen (Season 1, episode 7 also lol)

-Gnostic gospels

-Passover / Seder

-Getting to Know the Church Fathers

-Early Christian Martyr Stories

-After Acts

Scripture References:

Mark 16:15- Go and share the Gospel with all the world

Acts 1:6-11- Jesus' ascension

Book of Acts (a lot of Paul's missionary journeys)

Acts 1:8-The outermost parts of the Earth

Hebrews 13:8-Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever

Deuteronomy 10:17, 1 Chronicles 16:26, Psalm 97:7, Psalm 96:5- God is the god of gods

John 14:6-Jesus is the way the truth and the life

Ephesians 3:1-6-Paul calls the Gospel a mystery

1 Peter 1:12-even the angels marveled at the mystery

John 12:24-Jesus said unless a seed falls and dies it cannot grow

1 Corinthians 15:52-a trumpet will sound Matthew 27:55-61,Mark 15:40,Mark 15:47,Mark 16:1,Luke 24:10,Luke 23:49-56, Luke 8:43-48, Luke 8:1-3, John 8:1-11-Jesus mingled with women (those who followed Him and provided for Him), touched them (Bleeding Woman), and gave love to them (Mary Magdelene, woman caught in adultery)

Luke 1:39-45-Jesus revealed Himself first to Mary and Elizabeth

John 20:11-18-Jesus revealed Himself as a risen Savior first to a woman

2 Corinthians 3:4–6-The letter kills, the Spirit gives life

Luke 24:13-35-Jesus and His followers on the road to Emmaus

Genesis 22-Isaac and Abraham

Hebrews 11:17-19-the book of Hebrews points out Isaac is a type of Christ

Numbers 21:4-9-Moses and Aaron put snake on a pole to save Israel

John 3-Nicodemus coming to Jesus by night

Hebrews 4:12-The Bible is alive and active

Exodus 12-Passover

Matthew 26:17-30,Mark 14:12-26,Luke 22:7-23,John 13:1-35-Jesus' last supper

Ecclesiastes 2:25-A time for fasting and a time feasting

John 15:5-Apart from Jesus we can do nothing

John 14:18-He will not leave us as orphans

Hebrews 12:2-We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog

I'm excited to start this holy week off with this sweet and encouraging episode with Will and Courtney Kassner. Will and Courtney are the writers and creators behind Crew & Co. which is their ministry and shop full of products to invite beauty into the lives of families and make Scripture a practical part of their daily lives. Recently, they released their first children's book called When the World Wakes Up, and my daughter Nora Beth hopped on this interview to share her thoughts and ask her questions about the beautiful book! They shared with us how God inspired the story from a moment with Will and his kids, and the beauty of God sharing that moment with them. It is a visually stunning book and a sweet story that invites kids to add their voice to the Kingdom of God.

In that same vein, we'll talk in this conversation about how God takes the dreams and gifts we have and think they'll become one thing, and He has a good plan and a purpose for all of it that we can't even imagine because ministry comes in so many shapes and forms. We all have unique gifts to offer the world. Satan tries his hardest to shut us up but calls us to use our voice and gifts in the way He made us to.

During a week where Jesus went into Jerusalem with a much bigger plan for the world and the Kingdom of God than we could ever dream of, it feels right to start with that word of encouragement, to us big kids, but especially to young hearts in a big scary world. I hope after hearing this conversation that you feel encouraged to use your voice, whatever that looks like. Create the art. Write the story. Encourage the neighbor. Have the conversation you've been putting off. Who knows what the Lord will do with it? No matter where you are today, I hope that you know that you matter, and your story matters.

Connecting with Will & Courtney + Crew & Co.

Book: When the World Wakes Up

Crew & Co.

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

TikTok

Episode Sponsor: Tony Crabtree of Crabtree Homes with Exit Realty

Facebook

Instagram

Tik Tok

Website

YouTube

References:

-The animals on "Bambi" were twitterpated lol

-Young Life

-His Kids Company - Placemats

-Example of devotions Will writes on the Crew & Co. Instagram

-Their intern singing on Instagram (Emma & Annabeth!)

-" The Chosen" - Episode "Two by Two"

-Ellie Holcolmb's "Sing: Creation Songs" album – this is a great resource to compliment the Kassner's book!

-Crew & Co. encouragement boxes

Scripture References:

Psalm 118:24-This is the day the Lord has made

Romans 12-Ministry comes in so many shapes and forms

Proverbs 3:5-7, Joel 2:13, James 4:10-Submitting our heart to the Lord to see what He'll do with it

Hebrews 10:24-25-Spur one another one in good deeds

Matthew 10:1; Luke 6:12–13; Mark 6:7–13; Luke 9:1–2- Jesus sends out the disciples two by two

Colossians 3:17,23, Romans 11:33-36-Worship is all of what we do

1 Peter 4:10-We are recipients and stewards of God's grace

Lamentations 3:22-23-New mercies every morning

Genesis 1-2, John 1:1-5, Colossians 1:16-God is the one who created us all

Romans 8:22-The whole world longs for God and to be made right

Psalm 19:1-The heavens declare the glory of God

1 Corinthians 12:1-11-Using our gifts for God

Exodus 31-37-Creating the Tabernacle in the wilderness

Psalm 27:13-The good is not over

Psalm 16:11, Psalm 30:5-There is still joy

Genesis 50:20-What the enemy meant for evil God can use for good

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog

Taylor Turkington is an author, Bible teacher, teacher of Bible teachers. She is is passionate about training women to interpret and teach the Bible informally or formally through her ministry Bible Equipping. She has a love for the word of God that is so life giving and it pours out onto the pages of her book Trembling Faith: How a Distressed Prophet Equips Us to Trust God in a Chaotic World. Its a book that unpacks the book of Habakkuk in the Bible and offers an invitation to investigate what it means to lament.

For those of us who have ever even considered lament, we sometimes get hung up on doing it "the right way." Whether that be in regards to formality, worrying about the right kinds of prayers or various Biblical application tools to use, or what have you. Taylor would offer however, that "lament is informal and natural and its expressing our great need because of the people that we are. Its saying this world is not right, but God, you are right and good. And there is a discrepancy here, and I need You to do something." We unpack the gift of what lament offers in deepening our relationship with God, and coming to God with our emotions is a healthy practice.

Taylor also shares the historical context of the prophet Habakkuk, the uniqueness of the book in the midst of the minor prophets, and Habakkuk's raw sharing with God, and his belief in God's goodness despite how messed up the world still is and how real his heartbreak continues to be.

This episode I think is such a powerful gift as many of us are approaching the last lap of Lent and are following Jesus straight into a week ripe with lament, for the joy set before the Messiah, in the days leading up to the His death, burial and resurrection.

Connecting with Taylor:

Book Trembling Faith: How a Distressed Prophet Equips Us to Trust God in a Chaotic World

Facebook

Instagram

Ministry

Twitter

Sponsor for this Episode: Hopefuel

Use the code 'SIMPLY15' for 15% off

Instagram

Website

References:

-Bible Equipping

-The book of Habakkuk

-Learn It + Give It

-Learn It +Give It Intensives

-Missiology

-There are spiritual gifts of teaching

-The book of Lamentations

-Sons of Josiah, staring with Jehoahaz… not good

-King Jehoiakim… REALLY not good, hello Babylonian invasion

-Concrete beaches of Croatia

-"Katrina Babies" Documentary (and a picture of the power of community in cultures of color)

-Dr. Jemar Tisby - (our episode, his podcast, his substack, his books The Color of Compromise, and How To Fight Racism he is such a powerful teacher)

**Quick note- the audiobook release has been delayed! But forthcoming :)

-Resources for Trembling Faith

Scripture References:

Hebrews 4:12- The word of God speaks

Habakkuk

Isaiah 7:14, 52:13-15, 53:1-12- Isaiah talks about Jesus

Jeremiah 29:11

Matthew 28:19-20-All believers are called to learn God's word and share it with others

Ephesians 4:25, 1 Thessalonians 5:11- Using the Word to encourage

Acts 2- Church is a group of people who are called to minister to each other and to the world

1 Corinthians 12- You have a spiritual gift, go use it!

Job 42:1-3, Proverbs 20:5, Romans 8:28- You were made on purpose for a purpose

Luke 10:27-Love the Lord your God with all your heart mind soul and strength

Luke 1:39-56- Mary and Elizabeth proclaim the King

John 4- The woman at the well goes and evangelizes Samaria

John 20:18- Mary Magdelene gets to go and tell the Disciples Jesus is risen

Habakkuk 3- Habakkuk points to the choice we have in how to respond and what we choose to believe

Lamentations

2 Kings 2-23- The revival under King Josiah

Psalm 102:1- Lord, please help

Ephesians 5:14, Isaiah 51:17, 52:1, 60:1, Malachi 4:2, Romans 13:11- Awake, oh sleeper

Psalm 130:6- More than watchmen wait for the morning

Habakkuk 1:2, Psalm 13;1-6, Psalm 27:14, Isaiah 40:31- Examples of "God act, wait on the Lord, how long oh Lord"

Matthew 4:17, Luke 12:35-40, Luke 4:14-30,Isaiah 61, Matthew 5:43-48 -God has come in Christ and He is working now, be ready, love your enemies

Habakkuk 1:1-4-Why do you make me look at violence and do nothing

Job 38:4-42:6- God doesn't explain everything to Job

Habakkuk 2:4- the arrogant won't live, but the righteous live by their faith

Habakkuk 1:3- My friends are surrounded! Help them!

Exodus 22:22-23, Psalm 82:3, Romans 13:8-10, Matthew 25:40- You are breaking the Law of God when not caring for others in scripture

Matthew 19:26, Romans 8:32- We are sought after by a limitless God

Psalm 147:5-God is all knowing and all seeing.

Habakkuk 3:18-19-But they decide "I will rejoice in the Lord because He gives me strength"

Psalm 42:7- Deep calls unto deep

Psalm 10

Psalm 13

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog

Dr. Jessica Peck is a professor, nurse practitioner, author, and mama who has written a book called Behind Closed Doors: A Guide to Help Parents and Teens Navigate Through Life's Toughest Issues, and it is precisely that. It's an incredible resource that talks about what Jessica sees in her office with parents and kids and teens of varying ages as well as in her own home. We are going to talk about A LOT of things today and some of them may feel kind of scary, or uncomfortable. Still, the goal of this conversation is to learn how to engage in very uncomfortable things in a "quasi-comfortable" or at the very least approachable way. Things like the mental health crisis in this country among young people, the effects of social media, living at the speed of a smartphone, conversations surrounding suicide, the drive to be perfect, and more.

The goal is not for those of us who love young people as parents, ministers, doctors, nurses, teachers, coaches, aunts, uncles, or whoever you are to be scared of the world that young people are facing but to remember the hope we have in Jesus no matter what happens in this world. AND through people like Dr. Peck, we can be empowered with knowledge and equip us for what may lay ahead.

I am so hopeful that you find something in this conversation for you and your relationship with the young people in your life. We cannot protect them from everything. We will not do this perfectly. But we can build healthy, honest, relationships with the young people and teenagers in our life. Remember: it is never too late to redeem a relationship, ask for forgiveness, or to change the trajectory of our decisions. I hope you find hope in that today. The Lord is not finished with your story. He has plans for a hopeful future for you, and He will carry them out until the very end. You matter, and your story matters.

*Connecting with Dr. Jessica Peck:

Audiobook

Book

Facebook

Instagram

Podcast

Website

References:

-"Jumani"- THE OG!!

-Simone Biles' mental health decision at the Olympics

-University of Tennessee of the 90's

-Eye contact secretes oxcytocin

-My instagram live with Dr. Peck about Sex Trafficiking

-Human trafficking resource

-Signs of sex trafficking

-Lunchbox questions for kids/teens

-Lunchbox jokes Harry Potter and Star Wars (Pinterest is a gold mine!)

-Cece Winans' "Goodness of God"

-Pediatric Clinic in India through Baylor

Scripture References:

Ephesians 6:10-18-put on the full of armor of God

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8- -there is a time to reap and a time to sow

Lamentations 3:22–33; Psalm 30; 2 Corinthians 8:1–9-God's mercies are new every single morning

Ezekiel 37:1-14-God's power can raise bones from the desert

2 Corinthians 12:9-God's power is made known in our weakness

John 16:33-In this world we will have trouble, but God

Psalm 84:11- No good thing will God withhold from me

Jeremiah 29:11 The Lord has plans for a hopeful future for you

Philippians 1:6- He will complete the work He began in you

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog

Irene Rollins is the author of the book Reframe Your Shame: Experience Freedom from What Holds You Back. In her book and in our conversation today, Irene shares her story of adolescent addiction to alcohol that consumed her life and rewired her brain chemistry until she found herself in college, tired and desperate for life, which she found in a relationship with Jesus, and the love of a wonderful man. As they grew their family and begin to pastor churches together, the old coping strategies, shame narratives, and lure of alcohol's offer of escape began to pull on Irene's weary heart until she found herself steeped in functional alcoholism. Perfect wife, mother and pastor by day, passed out in the bathroom by night, Irene's life was falling apart. In 2017, she went to rehab. After incredible amounts of recovery work, thousands of prayers and redemptive reconciliation, Irene is celebrating 7 years of sobriety. She now, alongside her husband Jimmy Rollins, lives with a renewed purpose for ministering to people struggling with addictions, how to spot unhealthy habits that we use to help us cope with pain, brain hijacking, trying to work through crises in marriage, and speaking truth to the lies of the enemy that are keeping people in the crippling cycle of toxic shame, codependency, and powerlessness, and the difference Jesus brings with a life of pursuing healing, reconciliation, repentance, and freedom in Him.

We covered so much ground in this episode. Everything from types of addictions, mental health struggles, sexual abuse, toxic shame, the narratives we tell ourselves, the difference between conviction and shame, and normalizing discomfort as we learn and grow, and use our feelings as teachers and not masters. Recovery is not exclusive to alcoholism. We are called to throw off everything that hinders us. What an opportunity to examine how we can reframe the narratives in our lives and pursue God's heart for how He sees us, allowing Him to transform our hearts and mind.

Wherever you are in your story, what hinders your growth, or keeps you captive from healing, you are worth the work. Yes, we are weak. Yes, we have believed lies that have allowed people to hurt us, or we've hurt ourselves. But in our weakness God is strong. He has good for you in the land of the living and a future of hope. Take heart, friend. This isn't how the story ends. You matter, and your story matters.

Connecting with Irene:

Book: Reframe Your Shame: Experience Freedom from What Holds You Back

Facebook

Instagram

Their ministry: Two Equals One // Their instagram:

Website

Scripture References:

1 Corinthians 6:12- I can do anything, but I must not become a slave to anything

Romans 3:23-24, James 4:17- Sin keeps us from being who we were made to be (we all have sin)

2 Corinthians 3:18, 5:17, 2 Peter 1:2-4- Jesus can transform our lives

2 Corinthians 12:9- Seeing His power be made known in our weaknesses

Psalm 51:10- Create in me a clean heart

Luke 10:38-42-Martha syndrome

John 10:10- The enemy comes to seek, kill and destroy

Romans 8:1- Therefore there is now no condemnation

John 3:16-17-Jesus died on the cross for our sins

Hebrews 12:2-Focus on the joy that is set before us

Luke 22:42- Jesus asked the Father to take this cup from Him, but He surrendered to His will

2 Corinthians 7:10, Romans 2:4- Conviction leads to repentance

Jeremiah 6:14-16- You can't heal a wound you don't see

Psalm 139:13-14-God created me in my Mother's wombs

Deuteronomy 31:6, Matthew 28:20, John 14:16-17 God is ALWAYS with us

Psalm 23- His rod and staff lead and comfort me

1 Corinthians 15:58- Nothing is wasted

Psalm 27

References:

Find a therapist near you

Codependcy

Reframing Your Shame Prayer Prompts (scroll to the bottom to sign up for them for free!)

Alateen

Alanon

The Language of Letting Go App

Episode Sponsor: Tony Crabtree of Crabtree Homes with Exit Realty

Facebook

Instagram

Tik Tok

Website

YouTube

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog

*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com

On the podcast today, I have the absolutely amazing Sara Billups. Our show's format is very conversational and I love it that way. Truthfully I was so impressed, curious and moved by Sara's book Orphaned Believers: How a Generation of Christian Exiles Can Find the Way Home that this episode is a little more like a conversations with friends over dinner. It ebbs and weaves and then starts one way and moves another with the feverent pace of "oh man, you too?!" and also, "holy smokes I've never thought about that before." Sara shares pieces of her story of growing up in the environment of end times prophecies being commonplace over her plate of macaroni and cheese as a child, or a booth at a milkshake shop with a friend. She unpacks huge terms like premillenial dispensationalism, how heavily focused rapture narratives held her family captive from engaging life on this side of heaven, and asking big questions like how does tradition become theology in the middle of a genuine love for Jesus and then how do things get lost in fear or just being human?

Sara would define an orphaned believer as someone who looks around the American church or just general broad strokes Christian culture and doesn't know where they belong. Or they are people like myself and Sara who sometimes struggle with what they're experiencing with many beloved brothers and sisters in Christ who are not acting like the Jesus we have experienced or of the Gospel. In that tension, how do put our eyes back on who God has always been and who He always will be? How do we pursue and embrace what role or gifts God has for us in this journey of healing? How do we allow God to use suffering, doubt, and confusion to draw us closer to Him no matter how much we desire to escape the pain? Its a lot, but its SO good.

Even though I was a bit of a poor conversation steward today, (my over excitement can get the best of me sometimes!) I hope and pray somewhere along the way you found a space for you in this conversation. You get to bring all of you and your questions and your broken experiences to the Jesus who knows people better than we know ourselves. He's aware of what comes against His church, distracts His people and distorts His name. But He's not finished. There is so much more hope to be found here on earth, and together with Him in Heaven, no matter when we get to see Him, He is coming back for us. BUT He has SO MUCH for us before He comes. That's just one of the many gifts of the Gospel is the promise, and assurance that He will be with us no matter what happens next. You are so loved, friend. You matter, and your story matters.

PS: Guess what y'all, the podcast book club is actually going to be reading this book together, AND Sara is (hopefully!) going to come talk with us about it as well because there's just so much more to unpack. So be sure and check out how to join us for the book club in our show notes, website or link in social media bios!

Connecting with Sara:

Book: Orphaned Believers: How a Generation of Christian Exiles Can Find Their Way Home

Instagram

The Bitter Scroll Substack

Website

Episode Sponsor: Tony Crabtree of Crabtree Homes with Exit Realty

Facebook

Instagram

Tik Tok

Website

YouTube

References:

The Late Great Planet Earth- Hal Lindsey

"The Late Great Planet Earth" movie

The rapture

Pre-millienial dispensationalism

The Cold War

Cessationism

Mars Hill Church

John Mark Comer

This Cultural Moment podcast

Rise and Fall of Mars Hill story (via podcast)

Mark Driscoll (Proceed with caution on this website…)

Real time article of Mars Hill Church disbanding

TO Fuller State Park in Memphis

Schools of thought on when the rapture will take place

John Nelson Darby

Social Gospel Period

Left Behind Series- authors Tim LaHaye, and Jerry Jenkins

L. Ron Hubbard books

Scientology beliefs (-- proceed with caution on any Scientology websites, y'all. My personal favorite resources for learning about Scientology are either "Going Clear" or "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath")

The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis

"All My Favorite People" - Over the Rhine

Christian Nationalism

"Wedding Dress"- Derek Webb

Caedmon's Call

Redeeming Love -Francine Rivers

Lectio Divina

Religious Icons

Taylor University

Jay Kesler

"As Good As It Gets" (the tuna salad scene)

Eschatology

Black eschatology

Black Coffee with White Friends

Dr. Amy-Jill Levine and our episode

Jacob from the Insurrection and his response later in retrospect

Scripture References:

Daniel 7:9-10-, Matthew 24:36-44, Acts 2:37-39, 2 Peter 3:3-4, 2 Timothy 3:1-5 The End Times" -These are taken straight from scripture. The end of days is spoken about a ton in various locations in scripture, but they need A LOT of context. Here is a continued list, but I encourage you to proceed with Holy Spirit-led discernment. There is much to be studied, but the general point is: Jesus is coming back, we don't know when, we're called to live for Him like every day is our last, but to walk with trust and hope in the abundant life Jesus came, died and rose again to give us, and it'll get real messy, but God is a purely holy, good God and righteous Judge. The Ancient of Days is trustworthy with our futures. - xo, Em

Revelation 13:15-18- The mark of the beast

Revelation 6:1-16:21- The 7 year tribulation

Ezekiel 38-39- The battle of Gog and Magog

The book of Revelation- A brief teaching on it part 1 and part 2 from the Bible Project

John 14:18-"I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you."

1 John 1:8-9, Hebrews 13:8- Jesus' mercy never runs out

Matthew 28:19- Jesus left us with the church

The book of Hosea

Romans 8:15, Ephesians 1:6, 1 John 3:1-I am beloved because the Lord says so

Lamentations 3:22-23- God's mercies are new every morning

Ephesians 5:22-23, Revelation 18-22- The church is called the Bride of Christ

Matthew 16:17-19- The gates of hell cannot stand against it

Matthew 5-7- Sermon on the Mount

Genesis 3:8-24- When Adam and Eve left the garden

Psalm 23

Luke 4:14-21, John 3:16- Jesus came for all people

Revelation 21:4- Every tear dried

Acts 15, see also Galatians 5:2-6- The book of Acts and whether or not you had to be Jewish

Luke 15- The Lost Sheep

John 1:5- The Light of the world has come and darkness has not overcome it

Psalm 107:2-The redeemed of the Lord tell their story

Acts 6:1–1- (and John 14:18) Jesus is coming back for us

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog

*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com