THINQ Media Podcast

What is countercultural living in a transactional world? We are the most powerful generation in history, but also the loneliest, most anxious, and most depressed. We’re meant to flourish in heart, soul, mind, strength, and relationship — yet culture asks us undermine our personhood to acquire power. Andy Crouch, author and partner at Praxis, reminds us what we have to offer in this unique moment.

How can God make His home in a heart that is lacking beauty by rage, jealousy, or pain? In this talk, Trina talks about how God came upon her trials and showed her how He intended her life to be whole with an eternal beauty. We must learn to behold the goodness of God and strive to always remember that beauty is still present in the midst of pain.

Where will we allow Jesus to lighten our load? Following the way of Jesus in contemporary culture is challenging – the amount of needs and opportunities to pursue can feel overwhelming. In this talk and subsequent interview, pastor and author Jon Tyson offers insight into how we can allow Jesus to shoulder this burden for us, and how that empowers us to more freely and fully seek God’s kingdom on earth.

What Attributes Represent God's Ways on Earth? The Kingdom of God enables people to live their fullest life within God’s love and provision, and Tony Evans seeks to bring this message and reality to diverse groups of people. Tony will help us think through what it means to be Kingdom-oriented in our thinking, actions, and faith to bring the rule of God’s love to earth.

What does comedy teach us about ourselves? Using humor to convey truth is as timeless as the medium of comedy. Used to solicit laughter, encourage relaxation, and relieve stress, comedy also has the unique ability to tell deeper truths in a way that’s accessible and convicting. Emmy Award-Winning Comedian and actor Tony Hale has ideas for how we can bring light – both in levity and illumination – to difficult situations to elicit a smile.

What do we do when we feel helpless? As Andy Crouch says, we only “change culture by creating more of it.” For decades, the problem of starving children in third world countries has been known to many, but most have never felt a tangible way to engage. Michael Chitwood, the founder of Team World Vision (the fastest-growing charity endurance program in the U.S) decided to do something about it. He shares his story of using his own story and pain to show up in the lives of others. 

How can partners mutually thrive? It can be hard for husbands and wives to work together in a way that is respectful and beneficial. As married co-pastors working together, Alex and Henry Seely model what it looks like to submit to one another in a relationship that shares a similar calling. Whether you work with your spouse or not, their stories and real-life experiences provide encouragement for couples who feel compelled to journey together in advancing good.

How do relationships transform people? When probation officer Tiffany Whittier was assigned to self-avowed white supremacist Michael Kent, an unlikely friendship developed, eventually leading Michael away from a life of racism. Tiffany and Michael will talk about building relationships in unexpected places and finding safe spaces to grow while standing firm in our convictions.

How is distrust eroding the sacred? In what Barna calls “an erosion of the sacred,” Americans find it harder to trust authorities for guidance, including God. But in a society plagued by skepticism, “fake news,” and distrust, where can people turn for comfort and direction? David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Group, details these trends, offers hope in the midst of uncertainty, and explains how Christians can provide a hopeful presence for a culture that is floundering.

Sex. In a world overwhelmingly obsessed with it, why is the church so silent about it? While our secular culture twists, perverts, cheapens, and idolizes sex, there are gaping holes in the church’s guidance of young people. The result is generations of sexually illiterate people drowning in the repercussions of overwhelming sin struggles. With raw vulnerability and a bold spirit, Mo Isom shares her own sexual testimony, opening up the conversation about misguided rule-following, virginity, temptation, porn, promiscuity, false sex-pectations, sex in marriage, and more and calling readers back to God’s original design for sex–a way to worship and glorify him.