Upstream with Jim and Jon

It's been a wild few years for the United States. As the country continues to push on through times of almost unprecedented division, made worse by the lingering pandemic, Jim and Jon take a minute to discuss their individual concerns for their beloved home and native land. While we consider these serious threats to the nation, through everything we rejoice and trust in the sovereignty of our God. He is so good! Tune in next week for an episode abroad, as we record from Estes Park, Colorado.

This week Jim and Jon discuss the power of your moment-to-moment thoughts, how they are the building blocks of not only who you currently are, but also will be in the future, and how to change these thoughts and break destructive behavioral patterns. We wish you a restful Memorial Day, and ask that you take a moment today to pray for our servicemen and women, and their families. Thank you for listening, we are so grateful!

Often through the New Testament, Christ followers are called to submit to the authorities over them, and not to treat any human as our enemy. But if there is a point where a Christian ought to oppose their rulers or fellow man, to take a stand, when is that? And how should they go about it in a way that resembles Jesus and is pleasing to God? We are passionate about this conversation and are excited to share it with you. Thanks for listening!

This week, Jim and Jon are reunited! Join us as we talk about the nature of sin and how God sees it, and how your view on this, and other frameworks of your beliefs, can end up shaping your entire faith. Jim shares a story from his recent anniversary and Jon shows off one of his coolest book finds. Thanks for tuning in!

Jon discusses how to find God's help when your life or faith become disrupted. Also a great book review and Jon offers Ulysses S. Grant a formal apology.

Jim was abroad this week, so join him for a Jim Thoughts from Dallas Texas! He shares a list of ongoing convictions he has had lately concerning such things as the future of the church, and the depth of the love of God. Thank you for listening as we enter our second year of Upstream!

It's officially been two years of Upstream episodes! We have had a great time sharing our conversations with you, and are so, so grateful for our listeners. If you didn't get a question in in time, still send it our way. If we don't make an episode out of it we will discuss it in another special like this one down the road. Here's to another year of Upstream!

It’s another episode on identity! We have devised a model that may help you sort out your identity, who exactly you are, without relying on shifting, dynamic factors such as your career, abilities, etc. But instead of forgetting those factors completely, this model recognizes the powerful ways that God uses that information and experience in redeeming your story. We think it’s a great episode, tune in next week for our two-year anniversary special!

The Gospel (and Jesus Himself) is full of tension in what it calls Christ-followers to do. Are we to sell all we have and give to the poor, or to leave an inheritance to our children's children? Are promised a prosperous, blessed life, or a life of servitude and suffering? We observe these tensions and more this week, and discuss the ways they can actually prove very powerful in our lives. Have a great week!

It is news to no one that we are in the middle of a mental health epidemic even more severe and long-lasting than that of COVID. Especially for those in the Millennial and Gen-Z generations, anxiety and depression are brutally common. In this episode, we review some data and theories from professionals of the field as to why that is, and share some wisdom on how to navigate these challenges if you yourself struggle here. Got any feedback? Leave it in the comments below!