Tweets & Tonic Podcast

Disney builds dreams of living happily ever after and somehow ignores the things that can make marriage hard. The church focuses on the nuclear family and married couples and steers clear of singles. Being single isn't a probation period and being married doesn't solve all the world's problems.

The state of Mississippi has somehow landed two of the biggest personalities in college football. The Golden Globes featured a lack of sleeves and a surplus of controversial monologues. And of course, Harry and Meghan have rocked the world with their call for independence.

From Once Upon a Time in Hollywood's nostalgic look at Tinsel Town, to the drama of Marriage Story in Adam Driver's poignant performance. Hollywood delivered in 2019 and you don't want to miss films like Booksmart, Us, Knives Out, Parasite, Avengers Endgame, Ford vs. Ferrari, The Irishman and Jojo Rabbit.

When you grow up in the church, discovering what you believe for yourself can really be a chore. Some even discourage questions and searching. Others celebrate it. Jesus isn't caught off guard with our questions or frustrated with us, after all, he told Thomas to touch his scars to know that he was really who he said he was. He can handle it. But can you handle not finding out for yourself?

Being seen and known are things we all want, in some aspect. It's a scary thing though to be seen, it can be uncomfortable. And it can be seriously challenging to be seen the way we want to. Often times it is hard for those who have known us for a long time to acknowledge our growth and see us as anything other than what we've always been to them.

Let's face it, you can't know everything. And it can be awfully scary to admit you don't know something. But imagine if you had a guide to help you know, what you don't know...some steps to light your way to more knowledge, more understanding and being brave.

From the lost art of making friends and belonging, to the shame we place on men when they show emotions, we have a lot to learn about in today's society and so many ways to grow. Everyone is looking for a place to belong and many feel displaced in our current political climate. The unabashed support of evangelical leaders of President Trump leave a longing world bruised and searching for hope.

Will Kanye launch his own church in 2020? Will Donald Trump be re-elected? Can Bernie Sanders deliver on his promises? Who will end up with who on the Kardashians? Will Alabama fire Nick Saban? Will the Dallas Cowboys finally rid themselves of Jason Garrett? Will Selena outsell the Biebs?

Rachel Held Evans passed away in May of this year. A loss so profoundly felt by thousands. At her funeral, lutheran minister Nadia Bolz Weber gave an earth-shaking sermon and spoke one of the most powerful benedictions I've ever heard at the end of the service. In today's episode we read her amazing words as a Christmas benediction.

Grief sucks. Simple enough right? You would be hard-pressed to make it out of this life without suffering some form of grief though, whether a death, the loss of a relationship, the end of a job, or the crashing of a dream. Grief looks different for everyone and each journey is unique. There are some things that can apply to everyone though to help them along the journey. Take hope, the waves will subside.