The Boundless Show

Pastors discuss the meaning of grace, plus decluttering and cleaning tips from a professional organizer, and should we fast to discern God’s will?Featured musical artist: Daniel BashtaRoundtable: A Practical Understanding of God’s Grace Christians love talking about God’s grace — but what does grace really mean for our everyday lives? Is it about salvation? Forgiveness? Just getting through the day? Two pastors discuss some of the misconceptions Christians have about grace, why a biblical understanding of grace is unique, and how grace can empower us to live the Christian life.Culture: Spring Cleaning and DeclutteringSpring is typically the season when we clean out our clutter, tidy up, and get more organized — or at least we say we will. Professional organizer Jaimi Stewart joins us with practical tips for bringing your good intentions to life. She’ll tackle everything from closets to tech to papers to your wardrobe. Get ready to toss, file and give away!Featured Article: The Spiritual Practice of Spring Cleaning Featured Website: The Simple SortInbox: Fasting to Find God’s WillOur listener has some big decisions coming up and has been told fasting can help as she prays for God’s direction. How can she practically approach this? Pastor Mark Bates weighs in.

When your identity is in the wrong things, plus unique advice for Hispanic young adults, and concerns about Christians and romantic entertainment.Featured musical artist:   Covenant Worship  Roundtable: The Identity Traps of Work, Relationships and HobbiesWe all struggle with giving something we value too much influence over us. Whether it’s our career, a relationship or a favorite hobby, anything we love can become a competitor with God for our time and affection. How can we find our identity in who God says we are instead of relying on people, experiences or acclaim to declare our worth? Our guests share their identity traps, how they put them in their proper place, and why they’re learning to find joy in Christ.                  Culture: Reaching the Hispanic Community for ChristEsteban Porras grew up in church, watching his dad preach and seeing many in his community and beyond come to Christ. But as a young adult, he had to travel his own faith journey, and it was influenced by his cultural context growing up in Costa Rica. He recently got married, had a baby and moved to the United States to continue Christian ministry to the Hispanic community here. As an integral part of the Enfoque a la Familia team, Esteban has his finger on the pulse of faith and family among Hispanics worldwide. In this interview, he talks about what trends he’s seeing among Spanish-speaking young adults, dating advice for them as they navigate unique family contexts, and how God is uniquely growing the faith of those in the Hispanic community.    Link to Enfoque a la FamiliaInbox: Romantic Entertainment and the ChristianWho doesn’t love a good love story? In light of that, is it a wise or unwise thing for Christians to watch romantic movies and TV? Is enjoying them a sign that we’re not being careful to guard our hearts? Lisa Anderson weighs in.

Learning to pray, plus thoughts on sexual purity before marriage, and what to do when singleness feels like suffering.Featured musical artist:   David Baloche  Roundtable: How to Pray in a Meaningful WaySome people seem to pray with ease, while others struggle with it. Are there “good” prayers and ways to pray? Our guests discuss some of their challenges with prayer, how they’ve learned to pray, and what it means to be honest with God. If you find prayer a difficult discipline, you’ll be encouraged by this conversation.Culture: Sexual Purity in Preparation for Marriage If you grew up in the church, you may have been taught (or at least assumed) that a discussion around purity was about not having sex before marriage. But instead of a list of don’ts, what if it’s something deeper and ultimately freeing? Tovares Grey is back to discuss ideas around biblical sexuality that are helpful in preparing for a godly marriage. As the founder of Godly Dating 101, he’ll share misconceptions he had about sex, sin and temptation; why we should trust God with our sexuality, and how God redeems sexual brokenness in those who want to be healed. Godly Dating 101: Discover the Truth About Relationships in  a World That Constantly Lies Inbox: Suffering in Singleness?Our listener is struggling to see singleness as a gift. While the Bible says it’s an honorable calling, what do you do when it feels more like suffering? Lisa Anderson weighs in.

Successfully dating long-distance, plus becoming a master communicator, and is it OK to keep finances separate in marriage?Featured musical artist:   Kerrie Roberts    Roundtable: Living Through a Long-Distance RelationshipLong-distance dating can be exciting, but it’s not without its pitfalls. To help those working through long-distance relational dynamics, we brought in guests who’ve walked that journey to engagement and marriage. They’ll share some of the challenges they had to overcome, what God taught them in that season, and what you need to be aware of if you pursue a relationship across states, time zones or even continents.Culture: Improve Your Communication Skills Despite technology that keeps us incredibly connected and reachable, record numbers of young adults feel isolated and lonely. Are real relationships, conversations and connections a thing of the past? Dr. Heather Holleman is a professor at Penn State who joins us this week to offer practical wisdom on improving your communication skills by looking others in the eye, staying attuned to them, avoiding toxic conversations, and learning to listen well.The Six Conversations: Pathways to Connecting in an Age of Isolation and Incivility   Inbox: His and Hers Finances?Her friend recently met a guy online, but the relationship is already revealing some red flags. In particular, he has said that if they eventually get married they should each have their own bank accounts, and their assets would always be kept separate in case of divorce. Is this biblical? Should our listener provide counsel to her friend? Counselor Tim Sanford weighs in.

Having a good relationship with your siblings, plus understanding your conflict style, and finding hope after losing a parent.Featured musical artist:   David Dunn Roundtable: Getting Along With Your SiblingsYour siblings will always be part of your story, even when you’re an adult. Learning to love and understand them can be a challenge, whether because of age, gender, personality or experience. This week’s guests discuss some of the challenges they’ve overcome in their sibling relationships, plus how the dynamics have changed with age and life stage, and how to have hope if a sibling relationship is strained or distant.  Culture: What’s Your Conflict Style? Conflict is an inevitable part of life, but everyone handles it differently. To offer practical understanding for managing conflict, Dr. Danny Huerta shares five common conflict styles. He helps us determine our style, the pitfalls of each, and how we can do conflict better by understanding our tendencies. Sharing practical examples from his own relationships, Danny gives us the tools to turn conflict into a positive part of loving others. Link to Counseling ServicesConflict Styles Quiz: Which Conflict Style Do You Have? Inbox: Finding Healing After Losing a ParentFive years ago, Lisa’s mom died after a long battle with dementia. Losing a parent is one of the most difficult things to experience, but healing is possible with God’s help and peace. Lisa offers a few insights that will help you or someone you know walk through the pain of personal loss and grief.

Keeping yourself motivated to learn, plus navigating mental health issues and dating, and some of Lisa’s favorite Scriptures.Featured musical artist: Aaron ShustRoundtable: How to Love LearningWhether you’re still in school or have long since graduated, you should always strive to grow and try new things. But where do you get started? Our guests share their journeys with learning, including why getting outside your comfort zone is a good thing, finding opportunities to learn new things, and if they had to try something new, what would it be?Culture: Mental Health Struggles and DatingMany have written to us wondering if their mental health struggles might keep them from ever entering the dating pool. To bring some clarity on what’s needed to be ready to date, we invited Dr. Danny Huerta to the conversation. He’ll share the most common mental health struggles, how to know if you’re healthy enough to date, and when mental health issues are a red flag.Link to Counseling ServicesWhat is Mental Health and Why Is It Important for Your Family? Inbox: Lisa’s Favorite Scriptures Have you ever wondered what Lisa Anderson’s favorite Bible verses are and why? She answers that very question this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Appreciating different seasons of life, plus lessons from the American story, and is embryo freezing OK for Christians?Featured musical artist:   Mosaic MSCRoundtable: Navigating Life’s Varied SeasonsSpring is one of the most beautiful times of the year. Fresh starts, new life, longer days. To help us anticipate it, we talk about what we’re most looking forward to in this colorful season. We also discuss the changing seasons of life including job changes, big moves, and when friendships come and go.           Culture: How We Learn From HistoryMany have a cynical view of where things are in America. But one of the best ways to engage the culture may be as simple as learning where we came from. Tim Goeglein is passionate about American history, working in Washington, DC as a policy liaison and government operative. Tim talks us through the lessons from history we’d do well to learn, plus insight on election exhaustion and how to put Christ above politics.Receive the book "Toward a More Perfect Union: The Moral and Cultural Case for Teaching the Great American Story" for your donation of any amount!Inbox: How Should Christians Discuss Embryo Freezing?She doesn’t think embryo freezing is a good idea, but knows others who think it’s OK, especially when considering future family planning. Is it morally right or wrong? Our friend and medical expert David Davis weighs in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A proper perspective on influencers, plus an insider’s look at Elisabeth Elliot, and helping a friend in an unplanned pregnancy.Featured musical artist:  Nathan Tasker  Roundtable: Admiring or Idolizing an Influencer? We all have that person we admire or enjoy following on social media and beyond — the star athlete, actor or musician, famous pastor/theologian, or popular influencer. While we may have good reason to look up to a person for their wisdom, talent or accomplishments, at what point does admiring someone cross a line over into idolatry? Our guests discuss people they admire and why, how to keep perspective, and why the blueprint for our lives has to come from somewhere other than the people around us — no matter how amazing they are.Culture: Elisabeth Elliot on the Heart of GodIf you ask for the names of the most influential Christian women of the past century, the name Elisabeth Elliot is usually one of the first names mentioned. Missionary, author, speaker, teacher: Elisabeth was a pioneer in Christian service and discipleship. Kathy Reeg is the president of the Elisabeth Elliot Foundation, an organization dedicated to preserving Elisabeth’s legacy and making her writings and wisdom available for the next generation. Kathy shares insider insight into Elisabeth’s giftings and passions, what we can learn from Elisabeth’s life, and a sneak peek at a previously unpublished and recently discovered book of Elisabeth’s titled “Heart of God.”Heart of God: 31 Days to Discover God’s Love for YouThe Elisabeth Elliot Foundation Timeline of Elisabeth Elliot’s Life Inbox: Helping a Friend Through an Unplanned PregnancyShe’s asking a very important but sensitive question: What are some dos and don’ts for supporting an unmarried friend who is now unexpectedly pregnant? Also, are there any recommended resources for me as I navigate this season with her? Our friend Robyn Chambers weighs in.See Life Video SeriesValuing Life from the Start Option Ultrasound Support Your Local Pro-Life Pregnancy Medical ClinicAlternatives to Abortion: Pregnancy Resource CentersHopeful Choice: What is a Pregnancy Help Center? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Advice for dating someone from a different culture, plus finding godly and gifted pastors, and do mental health issues make marriage off-limits?     The Focused PastorFeatured musical artist:  Danen Kane   Roundtable: Cultural Differences in DatingWhat are some things you should know when dating someone from a different cultural background? To help answer this question and address some dos and don’ts for the process, our panelists are ready to speak the truth. With personal experience in making cross-cultural relationships work, they’ll share their own stories of meeting and falling in love, the most common barriers they had to overcome, and why an open mind and an appreciation for healthy differences makes marriage even richer.Culture: What Makes a Good Pastor?Josh Zeichik’s job is to support, equip and encourage pastors. In this role, he rubs shoulders with seasoned pastors, new pastors, visionary pastors, and pastors just trying to stay afloat in a world of increasingly challenging ministry. Josh tells us the signs of a healthy pastor, plus the red flags you’ll find flying around those who probably shouldn’t be leading a church. He’ll also share how to best get to know and support your pastor, and what you should expect from a shepherd leader.Inbox: Do Mental Health Issues Mean I Shouldn’t Marry?She’s very much aware that the Bible says, “Those who marry will face many troubles in this life.” So does that mean that with her mental health challenges she should steer clear of marriage and avoid throwing fuel on the fire? Counselor Tim Sanford weighs in.Link to Counseling ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tips for relocating to a new city, plus more from Debra Fileta on healthy habits, and should you be a bridesmaid when there are red flags?Featured musical artist:  Ginny Owens   Roundtable: Adjusting to Life in a New PlaceRelocating to a new city or state can be one of life’s most daunting yet exciting opportunities. To truly build community in a new place takes time, patience and intention. Listen in this week as we discuss the struggle to settle in, how to make friends in a new place, and fun ways to discover the best your new hometown has to offer.Culture: Need a Life Tune-Up? (Part 2)We’re more than a month into the new year, so maybe you’ve strayed a bit from your well-intentioned goals and resolutions. Fear not: To get back on track, we brought in our counselor and friend Debra Fileta to discuss how to press the “reset” button and establish healthy habits in multiple life spheres. In part two of our discussion, she’ll address taking your unhealthy thoughts captive, dealing with feelings of discouragement, and finding healing from emotional baggage.True Love DatesInbox: Can I Support Her as a Bridesmaid?A friend recently asked her to be a bridesmaid in her upcoming wedding, but our listener sees red flags in the relationship. Is it best to stand up for her as a friend — or decline out of principle? Lisa Anderson weighs in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.