The Boundless Show

Giving others authority in our lives, plus former Newsboys front man Peter Furler, and a question about revealing your sexual past. Featured musical artist: Peter Furler

Giving others authority in our lives, plus former Newsboys front man Peter Furler, and a question about revealing your sexual past.

Helping thinkers and feelers understand one another, plus Lysa TerKeurst on handling difficult emotions, and a question about responding to a girl’s rejection. Featured musical artist: Hearts of Saints

Helping thinkers and feelers understand one another, plus Lysa TerKeurst on handling difficult emotions, and a question about responding to a girl's rejection.

An African-American couple beats the odds, plus Gary Thomas with strategies for finding a mate, and a question about entering marriage with a "roommate" mentality. Featured musical artist: Jason Castro

An African-American couple beats the odds, plus Gary Thomas with strategies for finding a mate, and a question about entering marriage with a "roommate" mentality.

Happy New Year, Boundless family! Whether 2012 was amazing in your book, or something you'd rather shake off and forget, it's time to move on and look ahead to 2013.

What are you anticipating this year? How do you plan to live the year (yes, I'm gonna say it) intentionally?

Before we look ahead, let's take one more look back at some of the best podcast content of 2012. Here's our second and final installment in our "best of" series to finish out the year. Maybe one of these segments will inspire you as you plan for the coming months.

In the meantime, what were your favorite topics or interviews from the past year?

Church for Men -- 00:00

When Martha first handed me David Murrow's "Where Have the Men Gone?" I said, "Good grief." There were several things I disagreed with and a few more I knew would be misunderstood by readers. But I'm no expert on men, nor am I a man attempting to navigate today's church culture. I decided we'd let Murrow make his case. I told Martha to (after a few edits — we're not masochists) run the article; then I prayed. You may have read the piece and formed your opinion already — or maybe not. Either way, listen in as several of us react to the article and its particulars. Then tell us what you think about this thorny "men and the church" business.

The Power of a Minute--28:13

Long before Wess Stafford was president of Compassion International, he was a small boy growing up in a West African village. Several powerful encounters influenced him — for good and for bad — during that season of life. And he's never forgotten them. Join me and the author of Too Small to Ignore and Just a Minute as we discuss the power we have to influence others forever, even in small, seemingly insignificant moments.

Christian Nice Guys--1:00:22

We hear from a lot of ladies who feel overlooked by the single men in their spheres, but we've learned that the feeling cuts both ways. Guys complain of being passed by, too, and this listener wants to know why he's dubbed the "Christian nice guy" who apparently isn't dateable. Fortunately John Thomas is here to offer some encouragement and advice.

Music this week is by Disciple. Learn more at www.disciplerocks.com.

Challenges men face in church today, plus Wess Stafford on our responsibility to add value to other human beings, and a question on "Christian nice guys."

This week and next we have compiled some of our favorite podcast segments from 2012.

Happy New Year!

Shame on You!-- 00:00

A listener question prompted this week's roundtable. She struggles with shame around her singleness, brought on not only by the lies she tells herself, but by the comments she receives from her friends and family. It got our panel to thinking about how a struggle with the "shame" of singleness has affected us. Join us for a heartfelt (and hard!) discussion about finding joy in a sometimes dark place.

Marriage Is Messy-- 31:11

Mark and Grace Driscoll's marriage should be a bad statistic, but by the grace of God, it's not. They're still together and doing better than ever as they take life and love one day at a time. They're also not afraid to share their journey in hopes of helping other couples avoid the mistakes they made, and their new book Real Marriage reflects much of their story. We talk about some of it here as Mark and Grace unpack themes like friendship, men in marriage, respect, the effects of abuse and other important lessons.

Lonely People-- 1:03:03

Most of us realize that with singleness comes loneliness. But did we ever expect it to be this hard? Our listener asks for help in navigating her feelings on this issue, and I draw from my own experience and the wisdom of others (including Jesus!) to help her out.

Music this week comes from Eddie Kirkland.

Dealing with feelings of shame around singleness, plus Mark and Grace Driscoll on marriage, and a question about coping with loneliness.