Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation

Scripture tells us, “Be still and know that I am God”.  But for so many of us, this is so hard.  Today’s episode explores downtime, devotions, and distractions as we seek to be with God in our private and public lives. Our guest, Brian Heasley, is a long-term pioneer within the 24-7 prayer movement and serves as the International Prayer Director, he has years of experience in local-church and pioneer missions. Brian is passionate about prayer, mission, and justice that is rooted in a rhythm of devotional and prayerful responsiveness. Brian’s latest book is Be Still: A Simple Guide to Quiet Times.See the 24/7 Prayer MovementLECTIO 365 Prayer App for Iphone and Android.Dive deeper in our new book, Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection, and learn about our trainings and other resources at embodiedfaith.life.Stay Connected: Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort. Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources. Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).

Is the abundant life as promised in Scripture possible for trauma survivors? Can those who suffer deep tragedy really find wholeness, or happiness, again? Today we are talking with a medical doctor who has walked with many people through trauma and tragedy even as he was walking through it himself. Dr. Lee Warren (MD) is an award-winning author, brain surgeon, and Iraq War veteran. Dr. Warren hosts a podcast exploring the complex interplay between faith and science. We are talking with him about his recent book, "HOPE IS THE FIRST DOSE: A Treatment Plan for Recovering from Trauma, Tragedy, and Other Massive Things."Dive deeper in our new book, Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection, and learn about our trainings and other resources at embodiedfaith.life.Stay Connected: Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort. Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources. Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).

Cyd and Geoff discuss the importance of being compassionate towards our engrained attachment strategies and how they impact our nervous systems. They explore the influence of past experiences on neural connections and behaviors, advocating for self-awareness and aligning actions with spiritual intentions. The conversation also delves into the power of choice, habit formation, and decision-making processes, emphasizing personal growth and following a Jesus-centered journey.

Dr. Todd Hall, Professor of Psychology at Rosemead School of Psychology, discusses attachment filters and their influence on our perception of reality. They explore attachment relationships, the impact of past experiences, and healing self-criticisms through new relational experiences. The concept of attachment styles and their influence on relationships is explored, along with the characteristics of secure, anxious, avoidant, and fearful attachment styles. They also discuss the concept of real freedom and the ability to love, recommending Todd Hall's books.

The church is not immune to the growing mental health crisis, certainly not pastors and leaders. And we don’t always know where to get mental health resources for creating resilient individuals and churches. Howe guest today is passionate about bridging that gap.Laura Howe is a clinical mental health social worker, addictions counselor, and projectmanager. She has spent her 15-year career supporting and serving the marginalizedand suffering in her local community. Laura launched Hope Made Strong, an organization dedicated to helping the local church care for their communities without burning out. And launched the Church Mental Health Summit, happening on Oct. 10th, which is on World Mental Health Day.Links: Church Mental Health Summit: https://www.churchmentalhealthsummit.com/Hope Made Strong: https://www.hopemadestrong.org/aboutDive deeper in our new book, Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection, and learn about our trainings and other resources at embodiedfaith.life.Stay Connected: Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort. Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources. Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).

(During our Summer Break we are airing important past episodes)We're tackling a topic that treads the tightrope between theology and personal acceptance - body theology and body shame. Why have we turned "your body is a temple" into a shaming mechanism? What if our bodies are the place we meet God? The place through which we glorify God?In this episode we wade deep into the waters of Western philosophical tradition, consumer capitalism's impact on body shaming, and the misinterpretation of scripture that's contributed to a culture of body blame.Dr. Beth Felker Jones joins Cyd and Geoff to talk about a theology of the body, and how we can lead our culture and churches into deeper freedom.Follow Dr. Jones at Church Blogmatics. Dive deeper in our new book, Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection, and learn about our trainings and other resources at embodiedfaith.life.Stay Connected: Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort. Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources. Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).

(During our Summer Break we are airing important past episodes)What if the secret to impactful leadership and genuine community connection lies deep within our biological construct?  Are emotions and moods contagious, between people and in groups? Why are we unconsciously drawn to certain people and repelled by others? And what does this have to do with leadership?This episode uncovers the power of our limbic system, our emotional center, and how it shapes our interactions, leadership, and relationships. Embodied Faith host, Geoff Holsclaw (Phd), talks with professor MaryKate Morse of Portland Seminary about LIMBIC RESONANCE, leadership, and the shifts between connection and protection.MaryKate has authored  Lifelong Leadership: Woven Together through Mentoring Communities,   Making Room for Leadership: Power, Space, and Influence and  A Guidebook to Prayer .We journey through the transformative power of purposeful love, exemplified by Jesus' actions, and counter the use of fear as a tool for influence. The conversation takes us deeper into the profound impact of creating a nurturing learning environment, fostering the growth of pastors and leaders. It's a deep dive into the critical role of emotions, identity, and spiritual formation in shaping a culture of openness in theological education and beyond.Finally, we bear witness to the power of authenticity and community in spiritual growth, illustrating how speaking our truth and forming genuine relationships is instrumental to our spiritual evolution. We conclude with a reflective discussion on the transformative power of reading and the influence of books on our lives. Get ready to explore your emotional self and discover how it shapes your leadership and connections. Join us on this enlightening journey and enrich your understanding of the intricate relationship between our emotions and our lives.Dive deeper in our new book, Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection, and learn about our trainings and other resources at embodiedfaith.life.Stay Connected: Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort. Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources. Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).

(During our Summer Break we are airing important past episodes) We spend our days feeling like we’re the only one with problems, when everyone else has their act together.  We feel like other are achieving so much, but we aren’t living up to our potential. What if the answer wasn’t a higher self-esteem, but a lower anthropology? What if instead of expecting more from others (and ourselves) we actually expected less?Host Geoff Holsclaw (PhD) talks with David Zahl about how a high anthropology—thinking optimistically about human nature—can breed perfectionism, anxiety, burnout, loneliness, and resentment. To counteract this Zahl invites us to consider a biblically rooted and surprisingly life-giving low anthropology, which fosters hope, deep connection, and even happiness.Check out his new book, Low Anthropology: The Unlikely Key to a Gracious View of Others (and Yourself).Dive deeper in our new book, Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection, and learn about our trainings and other resources at embodiedfaith.life.Stay Connected: Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort. Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources. Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).

What does it mean to be human? This timeless question proves critical as we seek to understand our purpose, identity, and significance. Amidst the many voices clamoring to shape our understanding of humanity, the Bible reveals important truths related to our human identity and vocation that are critical to the flourishing of all of creation.In this episode, we unpack the profound depths of human existence and our identities in God's image. Dr. Carmen Joy Imes is our guest. She is an associate professor of Old Testament at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University.  She is the author of Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters and Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters.Through out the episode, we talk about how salvation is more than just a ticket to heaven; it encompasses our physical bodies, the world around us, and our role in God's restored creation. The beauty of God's presence and purpose consistently echo through the Bible, unveiling our destiny to participate and prosper in all of creation. Dive deeper in our new book, Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection, and learn about our trainings and other resources at embodiedfaith.life.Stay Connected: Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort. Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources. Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).

Clinical Psychologist & Neurotheologian Jim Wilder explores the concept of enemy mode, explaining brain states affecting communication and relationships. He offers practical advice on overcoming hostility, shifting towards connection, empathy, and forming attachments with God for personal growth.