Becoming Whole

Send us a textThe world has a plan for your formation—are you consciously designing your counter-strategy? In this episode, we continue our conversation about developing a "rule of life" that helps us resist the powerful current of cultural formation pulling us away from Christ-likeness.We tackle one of the most common obstacles to spiritual disciplines—the subtle belief that these practices earn God's favor rather than create space for relationship. When morning prayer becomes an obligation rather than a connection, we've missed the point entirely. Instead, we explore how disciplines function as training exercises that prepare us for lives of love.Resources from this episode:Rule of Life WorkbookCelebration of Discipline by Richard FosterSacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley BartonDaily examen Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textFreedom doesn't happen by accident. Whether we realize it or not, our daily routines, habits, and patterns are shaping who we're becoming—either drawing us deeper into wholeness or reinforcing cycles of brokenness.The practice of a "rule of life" offers hope and structure for those struggling with unwanted sexual behaviors. From scripture reading and prayer to solitude, fasting, and physical exercise, we discuss practical disciplines that support recovery from sexual struggles. Rather than one-size-fits-all prescriptions, we discuss how to personalize these practices to match your unique needs, personality, and circumstances.Jesus himself demonstrated a pattern of spiritual practices: early morning solitude, regular community worship, and intimate relationships with close disciples. His example invites us to consider what practices might create space in our busy lives to be with Him, become like Him, and do what He did.Resources from this episode:Rule of Life WorkbookCelebration of Discipline by Richard FosterSacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley BartonDaily examen Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textWhat happens when a seminary-educated lesbian pastor encounters the Holy Spirit in an unexpected way? Elizabeth Woning never planned to question her gay identity or theology. As a gay-affirming Presbyterian minister, she believed the church needed to change, not her sexuality. Then came the moment that shattered everything. During an awkward visit to a Pentecostal youth service, a teenage boy approached her with a prophetic word that answered a private prayer she'd never shared. "Does God know me specifically?" she wondered. "And if He does, I have no idea who He is."This realization launched Elizabeth on a years-long journey of reexamining Scripture without her postmodern filters. What she discovered challenged everything she believed about identity, sexuality, and the human body. As co-founder of The Change Movement, she now offers a provocative perspective on why labels like "gay Christian" might actually limit our human experience and separate us from the full work of redemption God wants to do.Elizabeth's story raises several questions: Can same-sex attraction be viewed more like depression - something experienced but not identity-defining? How does Christ's incarnation speak to the unity of body and spirit in ways our culture misses? What happens when we stop letting our desires define us and instead allow God's love to become our primary identity?Episode resources:https://changedmovement.com/https://changedmovement.com/navigating-lgbtq Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textWhat if your sexual struggles aren't merely obstacles to overcome but doorways to deeper healing? In this episode we welcome our guest Marco Casanova as he shares his story and journey of wholeness. As Associate Director of Desert Stream Ministries and coordinator of their Living Waters program, Marco brings a fresh perspective to one of our culture's most polarizing topics. Having left the Catholic seminary after eight years when he realized his same-sex attraction made him uncertain about celibacy, Marco shares how discovering Living Waters transformed his understanding of his sexuality and ultimately his destiny.For anyone struggling with unwanted sexual attractions, addictions, or desires—or for those who love someone who does—this conversation offers both challenge and hope. The church, Marco suggests, should be a place where people have "the freedom to struggle" without shame but with a vision of who they're becoming in Christ.Resources:Desert Stream MinistriesLiving WatersOur Bodies Tell God's Story by Christopher WestMan and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body by John Paul IIA Meditation on Givenness by John Paul II Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textWhat does it mean to be truly yourself while following Jesus? Kyle Bowman's transformative journey from embracing a same-sex lifestyle for eleven years to discovering her authentic identity in Christ challenges our assumptions about sexuality, spirituality, and personal transformation.Kyle's story begins with a seemingly typical childhood where performance became her pathway to connection. As she discovered her attraction to women, she fully embraced that identity until emotional turmoil and emptiness led her to reconsider the faith of her youth. The turning point came through an unexpected friendship with a Christian who demonstrated Christ's love without judgment or condemnation.Whether you're wrestling with same-sex attraction, pornography, or any struggle that feels deeply embedded in your identity, Kyle's testimony offers hope without empty promises. Her message is revolutionary: God isn't trying to strip you down to nothing—He wants everything that doesn't belong to fall away so your authentic self can emerge. Join us for this powerful conversation that might just change how you view your own journey toward wholeness. Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

What if the storms of sexual brokenness are your path to healing? Instead of fleeing like cows, learn to confront challenges head-on like buffalo. This approach emphasizes resilience, honesty, and accountability in your recovery journey. Discover how facing your pain can lead to freedom and wholeness. Drawing from biblical lessons and personal struggles, the conversation encourages vulnerability and faith as essential parts of overcoming life's emotional turmoil.

Send us a textWhat has your body been trying to tell you all along? In this profound conclusion to our three-part series, we explore how our physical bodies, specifically as male and female—communicate God's most essential nature: love that gives itself away.Diving into Genesis, we see human beings as image-bearers of God. The first attribute mentioned about humans in scripture is that they are "male and female," suggesting our gendered bodies communicate something vital about our Creator. We examine how the Fall distorted this vision, introducing shame where there had been blessing and dignity.Our pornographic culture has further blinded us, reducing bodies to objects of pleasure rather than carriers of God's Image. By gutting the body's message of family, commitment, and self-giving love, we've lost sight of what our bodies are trying to tell us about who God is and who we're meant to be.Whether you're struggling with pornography, wrestling with body image, or simply longing to see yourself and others as God sees you, this episode offers a vision of human embodiment that dignifies rather than degrades. Join us in praying, "Lord, help us to see as you see."Resources from this series:Celebration of the Disciplines by Richard FosterSacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley BartonRule of LifeDaily examen Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textWhat if the way Jesus saw people wasn't exceptional, but exemplary? What if His vision—His ability to perceive beyond surface appearances—is actually how we're designed to see?This episode continues in the importance to see people as whole human beings rather than objects for pleasure or obstacles to happiness. Josh opens with a powerful story about a seemingly "grumpy" waitress whose true circumstances completely transformed how he perceived her. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus consistently demonstrates this different way of seeing. When a woman touches His garment in a crowd, He doesn't just feel the touch—He stops everything to see her face-to-face. When Simon the Pharisee judges a "sinful woman," Jesus challenges him directly: "Do you see this woman?" These moments reveal Jesus not as an exception to humanity, but as our example of what true humanity looks like.Suppose you're struggling with lust or judgment. In that case, this episode offers hope beyond "managing" these tendencies—it invites you into a transformed way of seeing that aligns with how you were actually designed to perceive the world. Join us as we learn to ask, "Lord, show me what you see."Resources from this series:Celebration of the Disciplines by Richard FosterSacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley BartonRule of LifeDaily examen Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textHave you ever wondered if freedom from sexual struggles is actually possible? This episode challenges the common belief that lust is simply "a lifelong battle" that Christians must endure.Starting with the question—what happens when we forget what we truly are?—hosts Josh and James explore how our understanding of human sexuality has been distorted by both culture and limited gospel perspectives. They compare how differently we approach other struggles like anger or theft, where we expect real transformation, versus sexual integrity where we've normalized partial victory.For anyone who has struggled with repeated sexual failures and wondered if real freedom is possible, this episode offers genuine hope. Not through trying harder, but through reconnecting with who you truly are in Christ. Jesus didn't just come to forgive your sexual sin—He came to restore your sexual integrity. Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textThe digital world has transformed parenting in profound ways, creating unprecedented challenges for families navigating sexuality and technology. In this eye-opening conversation, Jacob Volk, Co-Executive Director of Into the Light Ministries, brings clarity and hope to parents feeling overwhelmed by these complex issues."The average child is exposed to explicit content at age eight," Volk reveals, underscoring why conversations about sexuality can't wait. But rather than approaching this reality with fear, he offers a compassionate framework balancing protection with preparation. Parents today face what he calls a "triple challenge" – the inherent difficulties of parenting, the pervasiveness of pornography, and the complexity of managing ever-evolving technology.For parents who discover their teens are already struggling with pornography, Volk offers hope through stories of families who've navigated these challenges toward restored relationships. His message resonates with grace: it's never too late to begin these conversations, even if it requires acknowledging past hesitation or mistakes.Perhaps most powerfully, Volk reminds us that sexuality is God's beautiful design, not the distorted version our culture presents. By reclaiming this territory from "the devil's turf," parents have the opportunity to guide their children toward a healthy, integrated understanding of sexuality as sacred rather than shameful.Ready to better equip yourself for these crucial conversations? Visit these resources below and begin transforming how your family approaches these essential topics.Into the Light Ministries: Parenting and Pornography: Tech Safe: Treading Boldly through a Pornographic WorldCovenant Eyes  Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)