Sometimes, overcoming inertia, whether that be starting a new book or taking a first step towards a goal, can be so difficult. With 2024 fading into the sunset, 2025 is a new year and a new opportunity to take that step out in faith. Our guest today, Calvin "Gilla" Miller, knows a thing or two about stepping out in faith! Joe, Beth Ann, and Calvin are so excited to start the New Year off with some encouragement; God is going before you, so let's step out in faith and follow His footsteps!

Before the tree was decorated in our living rooms, before the frantic Christmas shopping on December 24th, before Santa was known for his jolly red hat and reindeer, there was a little baby born in a manger. And this baby, Jesus, would grow up to be the most influential person in human history. The God-Man. The Savior of the world. We hope you'll enjoy today's conversation as Joe and Beth Ann talk about how Jesus permeates our lives, especially during Christmas. With the mistletoe overhead and the stockings by the fire, we celebrate the ultimate gift of Jesus coming to earth and changing the world forever.

In our last episode, Joe and Beth Ann were joined by Melissa Pardeck, Emily Sizelove, and Corey Cozart to talk about having hope in God in the midst of losing a child. In our follow-up episode, they discuss how the body of Christ comes along side those who are grieving. Sometimes, words are too much. And other times words are not enough. Meeting someone who is grieving in their darkness can look like offering a home-cooked meal when they have no desire to eat. Mowing their lawn when getting out of bed is an impossible ordeal. And just as God is present with us when joy seems to have taken a permanent hiatus, so should we just BE with those who are grieving. No words. Just be there. And when the time is right, the words will come. We hope you are encouraged by today's episode and remember that no one who has God is ever alone.

For those who are parents that have lost a child, the depths of the pain seem unfathomable. A part of your heart has been ripped from your chest, and the crushing despair caves in on your emotions, your faith, and your soul. Questions creep out of the shadows and doubts encircle your head. Where is God in death that is so poignant and personal? We may find that where we imagined an empty room in our heart, God is there, gazing at us with open arms and the heart of a Father who knows what it is like to lose his only Son. Therefore, as Joe and Beth Ann are joined by Melissa Pardeck, Emily Sizelove, and Corey Cozart, we can be encouraged and reminded of how God gives us a hope "[that] does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 3:5).

College. There are a lot of connotations that come with that word. College can be a place of growth and exploring new things, but it can also be a dark place for young adults. As we discussed in our part one episode, we see God working in the hearts of this generation. Joe and Beth Ann are joined by Delaney O'Shea, Shorey Nguyen, Libby Featherston, Tommy Harper, Mason Collett, and Bennett Ulm as they share how God meets them in the light and dark places on their college campuses. We hope you are encouraged!

It seems like every other day, the news is publishing some article that says doom and gloom is coming for the next generation. More and more it seems we hear how the kids and young adults are leaving the church in droves. It seems pretty bleak! But while our culture seems demoralized, we see a glimmer of hope through what God is doing in this next generation. Here at Kanakuk, we get a front row seat to how God is still changing lives from kindergarten to college. Today, Joe and Beth Ann are joined by summer staffers, Jenna Beasley, Carson Wasemiller, Clara Boydstun, Davis Lee, Easton Brown, and Luke Bowerman to talk about the hope they have in Jesus and how they see God working in their generation.

Has this ever happened to you? You go to look something up on the internet, maybe a recipe or a news article, and you find an overload of information. You begin to scroll and scroll and before you know it, it's been two hours and you forgot what you originally wanted to look up. How do you keep the main thing, the main thing? This is the question today that Joe and Beth Ann discuss with some of our director team, featuring Robert Bruce, Jake Sizelove, Connor Wilkins, Patrick Cone, and Lindsey and Michael Sloan. We hope you are encouraged with their insights and walk away with ideas for how to keep your relationship with God the main thing in your life.

In the age of social media, "keeping up with the Jones's" isn't just something we have to fight in ourselves, it's constantly on our screens and feeds as well. "Would've, should've, could've" are words that constantly fill our minds as we try to keep our heads above water amidst the torrential storm of parenting. For those who feel like you don't have it all together when it comes to raising kids, you are not alone and God is with you. Joe and Beth Ann are joined today by an ensemble of guests featuring Michael and Lindsey Sloan, Jake and Emily Sizelove, Collin Sparks, Matt Houston, and Ward and Beth Wiebe. To all the parents out there, we hope you are encouraged and know God's grace and mercy, which is new every morning.

If you're familiar with the book of Esther in the Bible, you might be familiar with the phrase, "for such a time as this". For Esther, God placed her at the right place at the right time, giving Esther an opportunity to be part of God's plan and protect the Israelites. In our lives, God places our own opportunities in front of us so that we can be a part of God's plan, whether that be speaking in front of hundreds or in a conversation with someone who just needed someone to talk to after a rough day. Today, Joe and Beth Ann are joined by Rachel Wilkins, who shares her experience of God and his sovereignty "for such a time as this". We hope you are encouraged today.

If you asked yourself how you really felt about social media, what would you say? If you were to take an inventory of your time with social media and your smart phone in general, what do you think you would find? As our culture is seeing continuing rises in anxiety, depression, and addiction, it is time to re-evaluate our digital relationship with our screens. If you're wondering "how do I do that?", join Joe and Beth Ann as they pick up the conversation about social media with Adam Donyes. While finding freedom from your smart phone and social media might seem overwhelming, we are reminded by verses like 1 Peter 5:7 to cast our anxieties on God, who is more powerful than our smart phones and addictions. We hope you listen and are encouraged today!

This episode talks about the reality of some of the negative impacts Smartphones can have on individuals. As a result there are some mature topics covered that may not be suitable for a younger audience.