Undone Redone

On this week's show, Tray and Mel are joined by author, speaker, and life-coach Seth Alan Taylor who openly shares his journey of recovery from pornography addiction and offers hope and help for fellow sojourners.

Seth's first book, Feels Like Redemption, leans into the issue of porn addiction, but is a book for everyone who seeks to experience freedom in their lives. Trained by Dr. Dan Allender at the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, Seth brings deep insight and wisdom to this important question of "How Do People Change?"

A few quotes from this episode:

"We carry our trauma in our bodies, but we survive in our brains."

"I started training myself how to feel."

"Instead of trying to master our trauma, we must move into it."

"There is no resurrection without a crucifixion."

"We must stop seeking lives that have no scars."

Get Seth's book, Feels Like Redemption, on Amazon at http://amzn.to/2v7uFmF.

Connect with Seth on Facebook, Twitter and at sethalantaylor.com.

Tray and Mel welcome author and speaker Elyse Fitzpatrick to the Undone Redone podcast! Elyse is the author of 23 books on daily living and the Christian life, including Good News For Weary Women, Because He Loves Me, Found in Him, and Give Them Grace.

Elyse is a frequent speaker at women's conferences, has been married for over 40 years, and has three adult children and six grandchildren.

Connect with Elyse at www.elysefitzpatrick.com.

Episode 116 features writer, speaker, and spoken-word artist, Jackie Hill Perry, whose work has been featured in the Washington Times, The 700 Club, Desiring God, and The Gospel Coalition.

Jackie lends her voice to the upcoming film, The Heart of Man, through her story of abuse and coming out of a homosexual lifestyle.

Jackie's debut Christian wrap album is The Art of Joy. CLICK HERE to purchase now.

Connect with Jackie on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and on her site at JackieHillPerry.com. Follow Jackie and the other poets on the Poets in Autumn Tour by CLICKING HERE.

Episode 115 of the show features Jessica Thompson, co-author of "Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids With the Love of Jesus" and "Answering Your Kids' Toughest Questions"…two fantastic books on grace-based parenting.

In this interview, you will hear Jessica's heart for men, women, and children to be freed from the bondage of moralism so that they can live in the freedom offered by the Gospel.

Here are a few great quotes from this episode:

"God showed me that my goodness would never be good enough…that I needed the goodness of another."

"I got saved in Bible college."

"I'm not a perfect parent. I'm not recommending myself…only the Gospel."

"You will only be dazzled by Jesus when you see what a great sinner you are. Why would we be dazzled by a love that we feel we have earned."

"We have a Father who loves and adopts rebels."

Connect with Jessica on Facebook and Twitter and her writing at ChristHoldFast.org.

Kendra Fletcher, author of Lost & Found: Losing Religion and Finding Grace, joins Tray and Mel for episode 114 of the show.

Kendra is a homeschooling mother of 8 and popular conference speaker. She and her husband came close to losing 3 of their 8 children over the span of 18 months and, in the process, discovered that their clean and neat Christian formula wasn't working.

Kendra is passionate about addressing the quiet legalism that so easily infiltrates Christian communities and exposes the dangers of focusing on anything but the finished work of Christ.

Connect with Kendra on Twitter and at her site, www.kendrafletcher.com. Also make sure to check out her podcast that she does with her husband, Fletch, at Homeschooling IRL.

Author John Lynch is back on the show to discuss the upcoming movie, The Heart of Man, his new book, The Cure & Parents, and the messy work of forgiveness.

John courageously and vulnerably shares his story of abuse in the film and again in today's interview and speaks to the debilitating shame that followed as he spent years covering up his secret. Listen as he shares the wonderful freedom that followed when he finally revealed his secret and experienced unconditional love instead of the rejection he anticipated.

Here are a few powerful quotes from this episode:

"Accountability is a great word for a job description, but a terrible word for the human heart. It becomes a function of law that leads to hiding."

"Out of the stunning reality of God's grace, we begin to sin less and love more. The power of the control cycle begins to fade."

"You can behave correctly from the wrong motive and God isn't interested."

"I'm capable of absolutely anything except stealing rap music."

"Grace does not demand."

"If you are not willing to allow him to get out of the doghouse, you will never be loved by a man again, but by a little boy."

"Forgiveness is almost impossible when we stay focused on the horizontal relationship. Vertical forgiveness let's us off the hook."

Learn more about The Heart of Man movie at http://www.theheartofmanmovie.com and John's ministry, TrueFace, at http://www.trueface.org.

Author and Pastor RJ Grunewald, a self-proclaimed theology nerd, joins Tray and Mel for episode 112 of the show to discuss law and grace, his latest book Reading Romans with Luther, and the many ways we attempt to hide our true selves from those around us.

In this episode, RJ shares the paradoxical truth that the things we spend so much energy trying to hide often become the tools God uses for the mission of the Gospel. Whatever you are facing today, be encouraged that you do not have to face it alone.

Connect with RJ on Facebook and Twitter and get his books Reading Romans with Luther, The Art of Law and Gospel, and Addiction: Leaving the Vomit Behind.

It is often tempting to hide who we really are to the outside world and project that we have it all together. We have many seemingly valid reasons for why we do this — to be a good witness to the world around us; to pretend the Christian life produces nothing but happiness and joy; and often, simply because we fear that no one could relate to who we really are.

But God has never called us to a pretend life where we cover up the truth about ourselves. As we see throughout scripture, it is often our past blunders that provide rich redemptive material for Him who is "working all things together for our good."

Author and speaker Chad Bird joins Tray and Mel for this episode of the show to courageously share his own undone/redone story and to help us understand that, instead of icons of shame, our scars can become emblems of God's grace and mercy toward us.

Chad is devoted to honest Christianity that addresses the raw realities of life. As he eloquently proclaims in this interview, the Gospel is for broken, messed up people.

Chad has served as an assistant professor of OT theology, contributed hymns to the Lutheran Service Book, and cohosts the podcast "40 Minutes in the OT." He holds Master's degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College. In addition to writing two books, Christ Alone and The Infant Priest, he has contributed articles to Modern Reformation, The Federalist, Concordia Pulpit Resources, Mockingbird and other publications. His book with Eerdmans, Night Driving: Notes from a Prodigal Soul, is now available for pre-order at Amazon. His book, Your God Is Too Glorious, will be published by Baker Books in 2018. He is also a regular contributor to christholdfast.org and 1517legacy.com.

Chad and his wife, Stacy, enjoy life together in the Texas Hill Country. Connect with Chad on Facebook, Twitter, and on his website at chadbird.com.

Therapist Jay Stringer joins us for episode 110 of the show to discuss story and the importance of understanding our trauma and wounds in order to experience true healing. Jay shares the difference between the quick-fix band-aid that we often turn to and the healing process that takes time and intentionality.

This interview also offers a powerful discussion about the paramount reality of shame in our lives and how it impacts our core-beliefs and even how we see and hear God. Jay leans on his clinical experience to explain the counterintuitive solution to shame - turning toward it and facing it head-on.

Connect with Jay on Facebook or on his site at www.jay-stringer.com.

Author, Speaker, Teacher and Professor Dr. Dan Allender joins Tray and Mel for episode 109 of the show to discuss the upcoming film, The Heart of Man, and the importance of entering into our own narrative in order for true healing to occur. An expert in sexual trauma, Dr. Allender shares practical insight into the journey to wholeness.

A co-founder of The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology, he is the author of The Wounded Heart, The Healing Path, To Be Told, and God Loves Sex, and the co-author of Intimate Allies, The Cry of the Soul, Bold Love, and Bold Purpose.

Don't miss Dr. Allender and Tray and Mel in the upcoming film, The Heart of Man, a modern retelling of the Prodigal story that invites the sons and daughters of God to discover His relentless love for them. The movie will be shown across the country on Thursday, September 14th!

Connect with Dr. Allender and The Allender Center on Facebook and Twitter.