The Boundless Show

Reviewing the last two years of “The Boundless Show,” plus Dr. Greg Smalley with new concerns about cohabitation, and when a family member goes MIA.   

Featured musical artist: JJ Heller

Roundtable: What’s New Since Episode 800?

What have been some of your favorite moments from the past two years of “The Boundless Show”? We take a look back at what’s happened with the show since episode 800 and recall what we learned, what surprised us, the moments we loved most — and what made them so great.      

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Culture: The Cohabitation Conundrum (Part 1)

The Institute for Family Studies reports that almost 70 percent of Christian couples live together before getting married. According to psychologist Dr. Greg Smalley, both biblical and practical arguments against cohabitation seem to be “white noise.” Why so, and is there a better way to have this conversation? Greg, Focus on the Family’s Vice President of Marriage, joins us for a two-part discussion on cohabitation, including new insights and research to debunk the “it’s no big deal” arguments made by many young adults. In part one, Greg shares some of the most common (and maybe uncommon) reasons for living together, plus its impact on your future marriage.  

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Ready to Wed: 12 Ways to Start a Marriage You’ll Love 

Inbox: They’ve Cut Off Family Communication

What can you do if a family member has cut off communication and shows no signs of wanting to be contacted? Counselor Glenn Lutjens weighs in. 

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When people transition out of your life, plus Annie F. Downs on being single and not-so-serious, and how to set boundaries with your parents.   

Featured musical artist: About a Mile 

Roundtable: When People Leave

Your best friend moves to a new city. Or a sibling leaves home. Or you change churches. All of these have one thing in common: They reset your social circle, plus they bring a sense of grief and loss. When people exit your life, how do you learn to adjust? Our guests talk about departures that have forced them to move on and make new friends, plus how they persevered and saw God’s hand in the transitions despite the struggle to say goodbye.     

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Culture: Annie F. Downs From the Inside Out

If you’ve ever listened to the podcast “That Sounds Fun” with host Annie F. Downs, you’re certainly familiar with her spunk, energy, and wide array of guests and topics. This week she’s on “The Boundless Show” chatting with Lisa about singleness, accountability in everything, how to navigate a career change, how she plans her show, and where she’s trusting God right now.  

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Chase the Fun: 100 Days to Discover Fun Right Where You Are   

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Single Purpose League

Inbox: Boundaries With My Parents

Are you an adult whose parents still want to know every bit of your business? You’re not alone. How can you maintain a good relationship with your mom and dad while still setting appropriate boundaries and building independence? Counselor Kari A weighs in. 

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Our favorite Easter takeaways and traditions, plus crafting your testimony to share, and keeping up with a Gen Zer who wants to do it all.   

Featured musical artist: John Waller

Roundtable: The Impact of Easter

We share our favorite Easter holiday activities and traditions — what we’ve kept (church, brunch, maybe a chocolate egg or two) and what we’ve tossed (Easter bunny photos, ugh) —  and how we craft a meaningful celebration. We also discuss why Easter gives us hope, and what that actually means.      

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Culture: How to Tell Your Story

Are you good at sharing your testimony? For many of us it can feel awkward or downright intimidating. Maybe you’re not even sure what parts to leave in and what to cut out. And you certainly haven’t practiced it. Dani Crews joins us to explain the power of our own stories in sharing the gospel with others, and gives us great tips for crafting our story so others want to hear it.   

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Rhythms of Rest: A Devotional to Move You Towards the Life You Were Always Created For   

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Inbox: That Gen-Z Lifestyle

If someone you know is more of a free spirit who wants to work a flexible schedule, is forever traveling to new places, has a lot of friends but doesn’t want to make time for family or those closest to them, how do you find common ground? Lisa Anderson weighs in. 

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Roles and rhythms while dating, plus strategies to combat loneliness, and when he feels attraction in a relationship but she doesn’t.   

Featured musical artist:  Tauren Wells

Roundtable: Who Does What When Dating?

A listener recently asked what roles, if any, men and women should play in a dating relationship. The question raises many more questions: Should the guy make the first move? Does biblical submission apply in dating? Who should pay for dates? What does leadership of the relationship look like? We tackle these questions and more with our panel of newly-married and engaged individuals.    

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Culture: Overcoming Loneliness

Loneliness is a worldwide epidemic. A recent U.S. Surgeon General report states that one in two adults feels isolated. The need for connection is greater than ever, and Christians should be the first to prioritize it. Becky Harling has fought hard for real relationships in her life, and is here to show us how to do the same.   

Cultivating Deeper Connections in a Lonely World   

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Inbox: One-Sided Attraction

A listener has been dating her boyfriend for three months. He’s excited about the relationship, but she’s just not feeling it. Is there reason to stick it out and hope for attraction to grow? Counselor Kari A weighs in. 

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Choosing Attraction   

Obeying God’s commands about sex (part two), plus Ben Stuart on breakups, engagement and marriage, and how do you prepare to be a stay-at-home mom? 

Featured musical artist:  Zach Williams 

Roundtable: A Sexual Purity Reset (Part 2)

Do you sometimes feel you’re the last Christian on earth who hasn’t had sex? Or you think God has bigger things to worry about than your sex life, so a little compromise here or there is no big deal. Maybe you’ve caved to sexual sin and are wondering if you’re a Christian at all. If any of these scenarios describe you, you’re not alone. God is pretty clear about His sexual standards and design, so why is it so hard to obey them? And in today’s culture, why should we? In part two of this no-holds-barred conversation, our guests discuss why church can be a difficult place to talk about sexual struggles, how sex in marriage is a big deal, and finding a future beyond sexual sin.    

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Culture: Moving From a Breakup to Marriage

Most of us go through at least one breakup while dating, but is there a way to navigate a relationship’s demise without getting caught in a bad cycle of them? Pastor Ben Stuart broke up with a girlfriend in college and learned a few valuable lessons in the process. Breakups may be part of your journey through the relational seasons of being single, dating, getting engaged and getting married. But as Ben explains, it’s possible to survive a breakup (or several) and move toward marriage with confidence.   

 Single, Dating, Engaged, Married: Navigating Life and Love in the Modern Age   

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Inbox: Prep to Be a Stay-at-Home Mom

Our listener dreams of being a stay-at-home mom and is asking how she should prepare. Counselor Joannie DeBrito weighs in. 

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Obeying God’s commands about sex, plus Ben Stuart on battling adversity and temptation, and how to maximize your final year of college.   

Featured musical artist:  Covenant Worship 

Roundtable: A Sexual Purity Reset (Part 1)

Do you sometimes feel you’re the last Christian on earth who hasn’t had sex? Or you think God has bigger things to worry about than your sex life, so a little compromise here or there is no big deal. Maybe you’ve caved to sexual sin and are wondering if you’re a Christian at all. If any of these scenarios describe you, you’re not alone. God is pretty clear about His sexual standards and design, so why is it so hard to obey them? And in today’s culture, why should we? In part one of this no-holds-barred conversation, our guests open up about their sexual histories, grapple with the truths of God’s Word (even the tough parts), look forward with renewed hope, and cast a vision for finding both strength and grace in God’s forward-focused and for-our-good design for sex.   

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Culture: Fighting Temptation and Finding Rest

We’re in a spiritual war against the world, our own sinful desires, and even Satan himself. We need to fight temptation, worthless pursuits, discouragement and adversity on every side. As fighters, our need for rest can be just as important as how we handle the battle — but where and when do we find this rest? Pastor Ben Stuart is passionate about helping young adults find intimacy with God through ancient rhythms and practices. He knows we can reject the enemy’s lies and embrace our true identity in Christ. Pushing through the struggle we are then afforded rest at the often unexpected pastures and streams that God provides. This discussion will help you start the journey.    

 Rest and War: Rhythms of a Well-Fought Life

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Inbox: Making Your Last Year of College Count

What should you do to maximize your last year of college? How can you enjoy this season while preparing for what comes next? Counselor Linda Miller weighs in. 

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How we budget and save for stuff, plus what to do when you feel behind in life, and conversations with someone who has doubts about God.   

Featured musical artist: Hollyn

Roundtable: Are You Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

A bucket-list trip. A new house. A different car. The latest smartphone. All great things, but they require money. Many of us have gotten used to living paycheck to paycheck and putting things on credit cards. Is there a better way to spend and save without going into debt or eating mac and cheese until we’re 40? Our guests reveal what they’re saving money for, how they’re doing it, and why delayed gratification and planning for the future can be rewarding. If you’re needing clarity on how to better save towards a long-term goal, you’ll be inspired by our discussion.  

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Culture: Am I Behind in Life? 

Your friend gets a promotion. Another friend starts dating. A couple in your small group is expecting their first child. Meanwhile, you’re underemployed and staring at another apartment’s popcorn ceiling. This was Meghan Asbury’s life. Every milestone her friends hit left her feeling more and more behind. She moved to a new city for a fresh start, but that didn’t help. The months and years following led to a fair amount of grieving, soul-searching, and reevaluating her situation. In the process she learned a lot about herself, God, His plans for us, and what it means to be “on track.”  

You Are Not Behind: Building a Life You Love Without Having Everything You Want 

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Inbox: When a Loved One Doubts God

A friend or family member admits they’re having doubts about God. How can you respond without freaking out or sounding preachy? Counselor Glenn Lutjens weighs in. 

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Make your Bible reading more meaningful, plus identifying and addressing trauma in your life, and what did Paul mean by his “thorn in the flesh”?    

Featured musical artist: Phil Wickham

Roundtable: Beyond Bible 101

You grew up in church, but is the Bible still a bunch of stories and moral lessons to you? Do you want to go deeper and not just know facts, but really get to know God himself? The possibilities for personal study and devotion are endless and sometimes overwhelming. Our guests share their favorite ways to study God’s Word, how they’ve experienced transformation through it, and what has helped them dig deeper along the way. 

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Culture: Understanding the Effects of Trauma

Trauma has many forms, and many of us have experienced it on some level. Whether neglect, violence, abuse, injury or tragedy, trauma can be difficult to identify and even harder to process and heal. Licensed professional counselor Eliza Huie joins us to define trauma, demonstrate how to name it, and explain how Christians can respond appropriately to ensure we or others get the help we need.  

Trauma Aware: A Christian’s Guide to Providing Help and Care

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Inbox: A Thorn in the Flesh

In 2 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul describes his metaphorical “thorn in the flesh.” What exactly did he mean by that and subsequent phrases like, “When I am weak, then I am strong”? Counselor Jerry Jones weighs in. 

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A challenge to ditch your screens, plus a conversation on sexuality and the church, and when your friend says she’s bisexual and a Christian.    

Featured musical artist: Je’kob

Roundtable: Join Our Screen Fast

In anticipation of Lent, our friends at Plugged In have teed up a screen fast. Wanna join? If taking a break from digital devices including your smartphone, tablet, TV and gaming console sounds challenging (work exceptions are OK), then this fast may be for you. Two Plugged In team members plus our friend Georgia join us for an honest assessment of our own screen usage and what it might look like to pause for a week and prioritize the real world. 

Take The Technology Addiction Assessment 

Link to Bring Your Bible’s Instagram Page 

Link to Plugged In Website 

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Culture: Discussing Sex in Church

Sex is a difficult topic to talk about — especially at church. But the Bible has a lot to say about it, and sadly, sexual sin doesn’t stay outside the church walls. Ellen Dykas is single and part of a ministry dedicated to conversations and restoration around sex, including addiction. She talks with us about how the church can champion a healthy and biblical framework for sexuality and how it can offer healing to the sexually broken.  

Rethinking Sexuality: God’s Design and Why It Matters   

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Harvest USA’s Online Courses

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Inbox: When a Christian Friend Says She’s Bisexual

If your friend is dating the same gender but still claims to be a Christian, how do you respond? Jeff Johnston weighs in. 

 Rethinking Sexuality: God’s Design and Why It Matters  

Find us on YouTube 

Link to Counseling Services 

Plan your wedding like a boss, plus Ellen Dykas on navigating lifelong singleness, and how to see God at work in a culture of negativity.    

Featured musical artist: Darlene Zschech 

Roundtable: How to Plan a Wedding

Weddings are big business, and the pressure to have a “perfect” day is real. To make it all happen, many couples invest thousands of dollars and months of preparation. Is the effort worth it? According to experts, what deserves your time and money, and what doesn’t? What are some things to have in mind as you sort out the details? What parts of the planning should the groom-to-be have a say in or take over altogether? How can you make the day meaningful and God-honoring? Our panel of two professional wedding planners plus one engaged (and overwhelmed) guy shares first-hand experience in making your day memorable and manageable on all fronts. 

Ready to Wed: 12 Ways to Start a Marriage You’ll Love 

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Culture: Fruitful Singleness

Ellen Dykas has been in ministry most of her life, first in international missions and now in leadership for an organization devoted to sexual wholeness. Oh, and she’s in her late 50s and single. She details her journey in singleness, including the pressure to be married, how she finds purpose every day, what’s tough and what’s great about being single, what it’s like to be a leader alongside men in ministry — and much more. Next week she’ll be back to talk about sexuality and the church!  

Visit Ellen’s Website

Inbox: Fighting Negativity

When you’re surrounded by negativity and darkness in today’s world, where can you look to see God at work? Counselor Jerry Jones weighs in. 

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Link to Counseling Services