by Jeff | Jun 5, 2016
Who’s on this episode?
Jeff Strommen @jstrommen | Dave Wager @wagerdaw | Todd @toddmcilhany
Podcast: Download
Every person is searching for intimacy. But what is intimacy? Here’s an idea, the next person you see, ask them to define that word. You can reasonably expect the ones who are willing to attempt to answer will say something about sex, generally between a man and a woman. And really, they couldn’t be more wrong. This week, Jeff and Dave welcome back Todd to the show to break down what it means to have intimate relationships.
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Show Notes
Welcome back, Todd!
Todd is an NBI Graduate serving as the Media Specialist at Silver Birch Ranch. He was on the show with us back when we first started. He and his wife, Sarah, will be expecting their first child in July.
This TED Talk is amazing. Robert Waldinger talks about one of the most comprehensive longitudinal studies on lifetime happiness. From their website:
What keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life? If you think it’s fame and money, you’re not alone – but, according to psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, you’re mistaken. As the director of a 75-year-old study on adult development, Waldinger has unprecedented access to data on true happiness and satisfaction. In this talk, he shares three important lessons learned from the study as well as some practical, old-as-the-hills wisdom on how to build a fulfilling, long life.
What’s the big idea?
- Intimacy is about developing and growing deep bonds with another person. It is about closeness and familiarity. Members of the same gender can (and should) have intimate relationships. The greater the number of deep bonds we have with people, the more we understand love. However, in a culture where “everything is sexual,” we are not connecting with those around us in a way that is healthy. When we only equate intimacy with sex, we know not the true purpose and meaning of both intimacy and sex.
- Deep affection or bonds with a person of the same gender does not change your sexual orientation. At HopeNet 360, we are inclusive of people from all backgrounds, regardless of who they are or how they self-identify. There are no checkboxes to mark if you are gay, straight, transgendered, etc. All of humanity needs hope. All of humanity is despairing because of their inability to perfect themselves, even with the help of other people. Every person is made to bond with God and bond with people. Sexual orientation, as big of a deal as people make it to be today, is actually a really small part of who we are as humans.
[Tweet “”When you don’t acknowledge people’s differences and strengths, it holds everybody back.” -Todd #HNRTB”]
“I’m not gay, but…”
Jean Paul-Bedard writes:
I was taking inventory of the meaningful friendships in my life, and it became clear to me that although I have many male friends, all of these relationships are collegial, superficial, or competitive. […] Herein lies the problem, and I believe it raises two questions. First, why as a society do we equate intimacy and vulnerability with sex? Two, why have we associated strong ties between men as either indicative of homosexuality or propagation of institutionalized patriarchy?
Aristotle referred to Platonic friendships between men as the societal “ideal”. In the 19th century, male friendships were more sentimental and were marked with endearing language that by today’s standards, would be construed as “queer.”
Somewhere along the way, it became more difficult for men to turn to other men for the intimacy we all long for in a meaningful relationship. […] Men now view one another as competitors rather than colleagues.
Links & Articles
What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness | TED Talk
I’m Not Gay But I’d Like To Have An Intimate Relationship With A Man | Jean-Paul Bedard (Huffington Post Canada)
Intimacy With God | OpenBible.info
Hope for Those Who Don’t Want to Parade with Pride
Trey Pearson, a Popular Christian Rocker, Tells Fans He’s Gay | NY Times
It’s time for Summer Camp at Silver Birch Ranch!
by Jeff | May 29, 2016
Who’s on this episode?
Jeff Strommen @jstrommen | Dave Wager @wagerdaw | Pastor Kirk Gerbers @kirkgerbers | Sarah Gerbers @sarahbeth_gerbers
Podcast: Download
Take a look around. Someone somewhere is taking a selfie right now. They might be wearing a Chewbacca mask, too. Chances are, they’re taking 100 photos just for one measly Instagram. That’s what life has become – one measly, filtered, selfie-centered photo. Is there anyone who will risk it all to live an unfiltered life? This week, Jeff and Dave sit down with Kirk and Sarah Gerbers, youth pastors from Destiny Church in De Pere, Wisconsin.
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Show Notes
Upcoming Events
May | Mental Health Month
We are partnering with the Don’t Let Go Campaign in raising awareness about mental health during the month of May. Learn more
Kirk & Sarah Gerbers
Kirk is a youth pastor of over 10 years. Born and raised in Green Bay, Kirk spent some years in Flint, Michigan and has been youth pastoring in De Pere, Wisconsin since 2013. He is on Twitter, but as you will find out in this week’s episode, he would rather be face-to-face than thumb-to-thumb.
Sarah is a professional photographer and owns Selah Photography. Born in Milwaukee, she met Kirk in college and the rest is history. In her time on social media, Sarah has found the good and the bad. She was in it for the wrong reasons and then started over.
Conversation Starters
Do you think the average person who is on a social media site spends too much, too little, or just the right amount of time using it?
What is the point of social media? Why is so much time and energy invested in snapping, gramming, liking, commenting, sharing? Is it all healthy?
What would you do with your time without social media?
How has our society changed since social media really took off in the mid-2000’s?
Could it be that my attitude or outlook on life has been based on how people think of me on social media?
Things to consider
Candace Payne, better known as the Chewbacca Mom, went unfiltered on Facebook and has inspired over 150 million people!
As humans we love to hide.
(more…)
by Jeff | May 15, 2016
Who’s on this episode?
Jeff Strommen @jstrommen | Dave Wager @wagerdaw | Terra Kay @terrakfree
Podcast: Download
Graduation season is upon us! It’s the time of year where grads reap the benefits of years of hard work – or so it seems. Here is our list of gifts you didn’t expect to get, but we think will mean more in the long run.
Subscribe & Support the Podcast
Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the podcast for free on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Tune In Radio! Make sure to leave a ★★★★★ review and consider supporting the show.
Show Notes
Upcoming Events
May | Mental Health Month
We are partnering with the Don’t Let Go Campaign in raising awareness about mental health during the month of May. Learn more
by Jeff | Apr 24, 2016
Who’s on this episode?
Jeff Strommen @jstrommen | Dave Wager @wagerdaw | Jason Kemper @kempster220 | Jeff Eckart @jeffeckart
Podcast: Download
What happens when 8 students take the challenge to pray for their school every day? Jeff Eckart from Never the Same shares how what began with 8 students has turned into a movement across America that is uniting middle school & high school students to love God and change the world in which they live.
Plus, we sit down with Bri and Lizzy to talk about the Don’t Let Go Campaign for Mental Health Month coming up in May.
Subscribe & Support the Podcast
Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the podcast for free on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Tune In Radio! Make sure to leave a ★★★★★ review and consider supporting the show.
Show Notes
Bri and Lizzy sat down to share about the Don’t Let Go Campaign
Download the poster
Don’t Let Go Campaign is a social media campaign based in Northeast Wisconsin that brings awareness around the issue of mental health. May is Mental Health Month. Listen to this week’s episode to hear Bri and Lizzy share their vision and like the page on Facebook.
Claim Your Campus & Jeff Eckart
Jeff Eckart believes that this generation is our best hope for change. He is the CEO of Never The Same, a movement uniting middle school & high school students to love God and change the world in which they live through their faith in Jesus. His organization launched Claim Your Campus as a way to unite students.
Claim Your Campus is students meeting for prayer at their school on a regular basis throughout the school year. The goal of CYC is to have students praying every day on every high school and middle school campus in America. CYC is not affiliated with a certain group or denomination and welcomes all Christ followers from any church, background, or culture. CYC seeks to unite Christian students of all kinds and from all backgrounds in praying for their schools.
CYC is encouraging, equipping & uniting middle school & high school students to pray for change 1x a week on their campus.
Our strategy:
Encourage students to organize 5 weekly prayer groups (1 per school day)
Our mission:
Equip 1 million students to pray (15 per campus on 67,000 campuses)
Our vision:
Unite this generation for prayer and change (Learn more)
CYC Connect
Get the CYC app
National Network of Youth Ministries
by Jeff | Mar 6, 2016
Who’s on this episode?
Jeff Strommen @jstrommen | Dave Wager @wagerdaw | Jason Kemper @kempster220
You are who you surround yourself with. In other words, who you hang with will determine who you become. This week, Jeff and Dave talk about what it takes to build a strong community. There are two kinds of people out there: those who wait for community to come to them, and those who build community. Building real community can be done. Jeff will share the strategy he uses to network local youth pastors together. The goal is to begin to think about the people you can help right now become successful.
Podcast: Download
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Show Notes
Kids in Crisis Series & Webcasts (USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
“Kids in Crisis is USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin’s groundbreaking series on youth mental health. Wisconsin ranks among the worst states for rates of youth depression, youth suicide, and shortages of care providers. A team of 25 journalists throughout the state have spent months reporting on the topic and we hope you will join us in finding solutions.”
It’s no secret that this generation is pressed from many sides. “What do I do about my kid’s cutting habits?” “I’m afraid my child is doing drugs. What do I do?” “My kids’ friends are not good influences. How can I help?”
I hear these questions all the time and I can’t help but believe that conversations save lives. We need opportunities to have these kinds of conversations. And faith communities have to be part of these dialogues.
Thanks for listening. If you like it, share it! Feel free to leave some thoughts in the comments. -J
