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Tracks for the Journey is a channel dedicated to your emotional and spiritual well-being. I’m Larry Payne, the host, and I’d like to explain in more depth how you can benefit from joining me on this life journey. My Tracks for the Journey channel utilizes great resources to enhance your emotional and spiritual well-being. Progressive Christian spirituality is founded on God’s essential love, all-pervasive presence, collaboration with all creatures to create the future, and connections to all faith traditions. Another vital resource is Positive Psychology that enables people to thrive. I also use history to give breadth to our explorations. These sources interact with my 50 years of professional experience as a pastor, hospital chaplain, and licensed counselor. Join me to explore your well-being!

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Subscribe to the TRACKS EXPRESS newsletter and find more resources for well-being at https://www.tracksforthejourney.com
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How good are we at listening to each other? Scientists have been listening for signals from aliens. Sadly, none have been received. In our relationships we give and receive signals every moment. Improving these skills are vital for well-being. This episode explores ways to improve our listening to build better relationships. We can “Listen Up” by: 
Focusing our attention
Letting go of our agenda
Paying attention to non-verbal signals
Spirituality involves listening by God and to God

Resources cited:

John Gottman and Joan DeClaire. The Relationship Cure. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2001.   

https://www.gottman.com

“Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence,” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_for_extraterrestrial_intelligence

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Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you.

The climate is acting crazy but we don’t need to do the same! The climate crisis is not a future threat but upon us now. The effects of catastrophic events have become as destructive to emotional health as to the environment. In this episode I explore ecotheology that leads to tangible actions each of us can take as stewards of the Earth. Join me and Pope Francis as we seek a new climate comfort zone. Sections include:
Our climate crisis
Ecotheology for stewards of the Earth
Act Now in practical ways
The prayer of Pope Francis
CITED
David Gushee, Introducing Christian Ethics. Front Edge Publishing, 2022.
United Nations Act Now program. https://actnow.aworld.org/

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Subscribe to this podcast for only $5 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being!

Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.com

Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you.

The Bible once failed America and it may happen today, threatening our well-being. In this episode I explore the error of "commonsense literalism" that contributed to the Civil War. There is a better way to interpret the Bible: as a Wisdom book which can speak to all cultures. 
Sections include:
Two messages about slavery from the Bible
The mistakes of "Commonsense Literalism"
How the Bible actually works
Interpretation as wisdom for each culture

CITED
Mark A. Noll. America’s God: from Jonathan Edwards to Abraham Lincoln.  Oxford University Press, 2002.

Peter Enns, How the Bible Actually Works. HarperOne, 2019.

Visit my website https://tracksforthejourney.com

Support the show

Subscribe to this podcast for only $5 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being!

Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.com

Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you.

All of us have seen the movie scene where the good guy is merciful and spares the criminal, right? But we may not realize that mercy can contribute to healthy living on a daily basis. In this Fast Track series episode Larry discusses what the Bible says about God acting in mercy. He highlights the quality is vital for our emotional health as well. It’s crazy how our well-being grows with Mercy received and given!
Sections include:
Do X, Get Y? Not with Mercy
A Merciful God
Mercy is good for our well-being

CITED:
Diana Butler Bass, Grateful: the Subversive Practice of Giving Thanks. (New York: HarperCollins, 2018). 

Emma Seppala, “The Compassionate Mind.” https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/the-compassionate-mind

Support the show

Subscribe to this podcast for only $5 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being!

Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.com

Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you.

Transgendered youth and their parents have rights to determine their gender identity. But laws across America are trying to take away this fundamental freedom. Join me to understand the issues and the reasons this is bad for them, for you, and for the kingdom of God. Let’s affirm transgender rights in this episode of Tracks for the Journey.

For more resources www.tracksforthejourney.com

Sources include:
Kayden Asher, “This is not how you fix things.” The Imprint Newsletter, March 13, 2022. https://imprintnews.org/opinion/testimony-from-transgender-teen-in-texas/63370

American Psychiatric Association, “What is Gender Dsyphoria?” https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/gender-dysphoria/what-is-gender-dysphoria

Jack Turban, “The Evidence for Trans Youth Gender-Affirming Care.” www.psychologytoday.com.

United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, “Born Free and Equal.” https://www.ohchr.org

Adam Nagourney and Jeremy W. Peters, “How a Campaign against Transgender Rights Mobilized Conservatives.” New York Times, April 17, 2023.

Laurel Wamsley, “A Guide to Gender Identity Terms.” https://www.npr.org/2021/06/02/996319297/gender-identity-pronouns-expression-guide-lgbtq

Frankie de La Cretaz, “Being Nikki Hiltz.” https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a44201663/nikki-hiltz-first-nonbinary-usatf-champion

Support the show

Subscribe to this podcast for only $5 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being!

Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.com

Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Text me your thoughts!

The myth of Christian Nationalism is creeping across America in this Independence season. The ideology weds fundamentalist faith and regressive politics to undermine our democracy. We should stand against this bad theology, bad political history, and bigotry. Explore with me the timely topic “The Myth of Christian Nationalism.”

Resources cited include:
Andrew L. Whitehead and Samuel L. Perry. Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States, Oxford University Press, 2020
Gerardo Marti, American Blindspot. Rowman and Littlefield, 2020
“Christian Nationalism and the January 6, 2021 Insurrection.” https://www.christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org/jan6report
The Baptist Joint Committee, a non-sectarian group promoting religious liberty, has many resources on this topic. https://www.bjconline.org
“Christians Against Christian Nationalism.” https://www.christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org.
Photos from pixabay.com, unsplash.com, and T.Merkler on Flickr.com
Music by Z. Valaha on pixabay.com
FIND MORE RESOURCES AT WWW.TRACKSFORTHEJOURNEY.COM

Support the show

Subscribe to this podcast for a monthly bonus episode plus the TRACKS EXPRESS weekly newsletter with more resources for well-being!



Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Text me your thoughts!

Most of us pray. What we think about our essential worth, the future, and God can help us thrive, or hinder, our prayer and our well-being. In this episode of Tracks for the Journey I explore exciting truths about relating to God, the openness of the future, and the vital need for positive self-worth. I share insights from Process Theology and Open Theism to challenge the toxic messages some receive about essential worth.

Segments include:
To pray is to believe God is aware
Self-worth is essential for prayer and well-being
Prayer creates the future with God

CITED

Thomas Jay Oord, Pluriform Love: An open and relational theology of well-being. SacraSage Press, 2022

Matthew McKay and Patrick Fanning, Self-Esteem, 4th ed. New Harbinger Publications, Inc, 2016.

Bruce Epperly, Praying with Process Theology. River Lane Press, 2017.

Mark G. Karris, Divine Echoes: Reconciling prayer with the uncontrolling love of God. Quoir Press, 2018.

Support the show

Subscribe to this podcast for a monthly bonus episode plus the TRACKS EXPRESS weekly newsletter with more resources for well-being!



Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Text me your thoughts!

The headlines of abuse by religious leaders have shocked the world. It's time to lift the silence and uncover teachings that have made it worse, including patriarchy, erotophobia, and xenophobia. The good news is that victims can surmount spiritual abuse. Speak the truth today.

Segments include:
Patriarchy promotes misogony
Erotophobia sabotages healthy esteem and relationships
Xenophobia polarizes communities
Surmount abuse by owning the distortions and building a network for health

CITED

Carolyn Radofsky, “Ministry that once nourished Duggar’s family faith falls from grace.” www.nbcnews.com. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ministry-nourished-duggar-familys-faith-falls-grace-rcna14024

Clyde Haberman, “How an abstinence pledge in the ‘90’s shamed a generation of evangelicals.” https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/06/us/abstinence-pledge-evangelicals.html?smid=tw-share

Marlene Winell, Leaving the Fold. The Apocryphile Press, 2007.

Support the show

Subscribe to this podcast for a monthly bonus episode plus the TRACKS EXPRESS weekly newsletter with more resources for well-being!



Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you.

“My bad!” It’s lingo for something done wrong. Why do we make bad choices? Debates over human nature and our relationship to God stretch back to the dawn of human history. In this episode take a new look to uncover what people who do bad things can learn about themselves and the goodness of God. The traditional Christian doctrine of original sin misinterprets reality. We find help to build well-being with progressive spirituality and community. 
Segments include: 
The false foundation of Original Sin
Owning our actions offers choices for health
Embracing solidarity with others overcomes bigotry
Renewal of meaning in God's universal love
Find more resources at www.tracksforthejourney.com

Support the show

Subscribe to this podcast for only $5 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being!

Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.com

Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77