The Boundless Show

How COVID has impacted the way we do church, plus discovering your life purpose, and should single adults foster and adopt children? Featured musical artist: Aaron Strumpel ( http://www.aaronstrumpel.com/ ) Roundtable: COVID and the Local Church Since the start of the COVID pandemic, many churches have seen a big drop in both attendance and volunteers. Congregations are divided on things like mask mandates, vaccines, livestream technology and more. Our panelists share what has changed for them in experiencing church post-pandemic, and what has stayed the same. They also offer encouragement for staying focused on the gospel and making in-person worship a priority. Culture: The Research Behind Finding Your Purpose God made our lives to have direction and meaning. But struggles and disappointments abound, and it’s easy to lose our way. Dr. Stephanie Shackelford is a senior fellow at the Barna group where she’s done excellent research on how one can find their unique calling in life. She shares practical insights for moving ahead with clarity, including a four-step process: define, discover, decide, and do. Inbox: Should a Single Adult Foster and Adopt Children? She’s strongly considering adopting a child. But the big question looming in her mind is, does the Bible say anything about single adults adopting children? And either way, what are the pros and cons? Dr. Sharen Ford, Focus on the Family’s director of foster care and adoption, weighs in.

When the person you like isn’t attracted to you, plus hope for people-pleasers, and how to respond to a single pastor’s romantic interest. Featured musical artist: Covenant Worship ( https://covenantchurch.org/whatwedo/worship/ ) Roundtable: When Attraction Isn’t Mutual You happen to really like someone, but as you get to know them it becomes clear that the feelings of attraction aren’t mutual. Should you hold on to the hope that their feelings will change, or is it safer to just move on? Our panel shares ideas for navigating the awkwardness and disappointment of unrequited love, and how you can find peace even when someone doesn’t like you back. Culture: Taming the People-Pleasing Monster (Part 2) People-pleasers abound. In fact, if you’re honest, you probably are one. People-pleasers do the hard work, hoping someone will notice or give us a compliment for our efforts. Or we never say “no,” afraid to face disapproval or rejection. But constantly looking for approval will only leave us feeling used and depleted. Dr. Mike Bechtle shares how he’s struggled with and learned to stop trying to live for the approval of others. In part two of our discussion, he’ll share some practical tips for overcoming people-pleasing tendencies. Inbox: My Pastor Wants to Date Me She just moved and started attending a young adults group at her new church. However, the pastor is a single guy who has started showing interest in her. She appreciates his attention, but isn’t interested in dating right now. How should she respond? Counselor MT Wilson weighs in.

Making time for rest, plus common fears of a people-pleaser, and should you and your spouse have separate bank accounts? Featured musical artist: David Baloche ( https://www.louderthanthemusic.com/product.php?id=2437 ) Roundtable: How to Rest Well Your to-do list is full and it seems like you don’t have enough time to catch your breath. Are you taking on too much? Are your priorities off? Maybe you don’t know the difference between “checking out” and getting true restorative rest. Our guests share ways they’ve learned to practice self-care and rest well, even with busy lives. Culture: Taming the People-Pleasing Monster (Part 1) People-pleasers abound. In fact, if you’re honest, you probably are one. People-pleasers do the hard work, hoping someone will notice or give us a compliment for our efforts. Or we never say “no,” afraid to face disapproval or rejection. But constantly looking for approval will only leave us feeling used and depleted. Dr. Mike Bechtle shares how he’s struggled with and learned to stop trying to live for the approval of others. In part one of our discussion, he’ll share the common fears that people-pleasers face. Inbox: Separate Finances in Marriage? She and her boyfriend are close to getting engaged, but she’s troubled by some of his requests. Years ago, he went through a tough divorce where he lost a lot. Now, he’s wanting to have separate bank accounts and has even mentioned her signing a prenuptial agreement. What’s the best way for her to respond to these concerns? Counselor Glenn Lutjens weighs in.

Uncertainty around goals and calling, plus a live Q&A with Carey Nieuwhof, and should you speak up if a friend is engaged to a non-Christian? Featured musical artist: Stu Garrard ( https://www.stugworld.com/ ) Roundtable: Clarifying Your Life Goals Late January is typically the time of year when many give up on their New Year's resolutions. But what if you aren’t even sure what your goals are? What if the trajectory of your life seems vague at best? Our panel opens up about times they felt discouraged about their goals and what they learned from those seasons. If you’re feeling down about the direction of your life in 2022, this will give you some hope. Culture: Make the Most of Your Time (Part 2) Last week he told us how to live and work at our best. Join us this week for a Q&A with pastor, author and leadership expert Carey Nieuwhof as he answers questions from a live audience about priorities, time management, influence and more. Inbox: When a Friend Is Engaged to a Non-Christian Her friend recently got engaged — but her friend’s fiancé is not a Christan. She’s deeply concerned and is wondering if she should say something. Counselor Wendy Brown weighs in.

Volunteering in your community, plus Carey Nieuwhof on maximizing effectiveness, and should you reconnect with a high school love interest? Featured musical artist: Hollyn ( https://www.instagram.com/iamhollyn/?hl=en ) Roundtable: Volunteering Where You Live Whether it’s helping the homeless, being on a neighborhood committee, tutoring, or something out-of-the-box, the options for serving your community are endless. But how do you pick something and actually make it happen? How do you find a great fit that uses your gifting and passions? Our guests share how they volunteer locally and the process they went through to choose great ways to jump in and make a difference. Culture: Make the Most of Your Time (Part 1) For years, Carey Nieuwhof struggled with workaholism, which eventually led to his burnout. After much prayer and recovery, he started budgeting his time and energy, and has seen incredible results. In part one of our conversation, Carey shares lessons from research and his own journey, discussing how to find the time when you’re most productive, why achieving balance in your schedule isn’t the best goal, and insights for eliminating ever-present distractions. Inbox: That Crush From High School He asked her out in high school and she rejected him. Since then, he’s grown a lot in his faith, and recently started thinking about her again. Should he try to reconnect with her and see if she’d be interested now? Lisa Anderson weighs in.

How to love your extroverted friends, plus a Q&A with author Gary Thomas, and making room for a romantic interest when you have a full life.

How to love your introverted friends, plus a Q&A with counselor and author Debra Fileta, and what makes a good small group? Featured musical artist: Darlene Zschech ( https://www.darlenezschech.com/ ) Roundtable: Understanding Introverts How well do you understand your introverted friends? Do you know what makes them tick? Do you celebrate their strengths? Our panel of introverts shares some of the dos and don’ts of a successful introvert relationship, so if you’ve ever wondered how to connect with your energy-conserving friends, you’ll enjoy this conversation. (Don’t worry, extroverts. You’re up next week.) Culture: Q&A With Debra Fileta Author and relationship expert Debra Fileta is here to answer a variety of questions sent in by Boundless fans. She’ll address topics like femininity, maintaining strong mental health, and navigating tricky dating scenarios. She’ll also share both the biggest disappointment and the biggest joy she’s encountered in marriage. Inbox: Finding a Good Small Group Community is essential to living the Christian life well. But how can you find a group of friends who’ll also be a reliable community and a catalyst for growth? Is it best to find a group that only studies the Bible? How deep should the subject matter and sharing be? Does age, life stage or gender matter? Lisa Anderson weighs in.

Healthy attitudes for approaching a new year, plus self-care and goal-setting strategies, and hope for emotional eaters. Featured musical artist: Jeremy Rosado ( https://www.instagram.com/iamjeremyrosado/?hl=en ) Roundtable: Out With the Old, In With the New ‘Tis the season to straddle the “what-ifs” of last year and the “if-onlys” of the year to come. But what’s the right attitude and a healthy balance to have as the calendar turns the page? Our guests reflect on both the victories and missed opportunities from 2021 as well as what helps them stay optimistic about 2022. How to Survive Christmas as a Single Girl: https://liveoriginal.com/how-to-survive-christmas-as-a-single-girl/ Culture: The Right Kind of Goals Setting resolutions is all the rage in a new year. But it’s common to set lots of lofty goals only to have them fail by mid-January. The first step in successful goal setting is having the right goals and the right ways of going after them. Licensed professional counselor Easton Coleman and organizational development specialist Andrew Montgomery get down to the nitty-gritty in talking goals and strategies for everything from mental health to professional development to life plans. Inbox: Emotional Eating Her struggle with weight has been lifelong, as has her mom’s nagging about it. She knows her mom means well, but the pressure leads to anxiety which leads to more emotional eating. Can she develop a healthy mindset about food that will give her the tools necessary to move forward? Counselor Elaine Humphries weighs in. Counseling consultation and referrals: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/get-help/counseling-services-and-referrals/

Enjoying your family at Christmas, plus a Q&A with Jonathan Pokluda, and is it wrong to be attracted to others when you’re engaged? Featured musical artist: Daniel Bashta ( https://www.danielbashta.com/welcome ) Roundtable: Making Peace With Family at Christmas While getting together with your family for the holidays can be fun, it can also be challenging. What do you do when your family members don’t get along, or you’re the only Christian around the dinner table? Our guests discuss ways they’ve learned to compromise, set expectations, and enjoy quality time with their families, even when it’s not easy. Culture: Q&A With Pastor Jonathan Pokluda As a pastor and former leader of The Porch, Jonathan “JP” Pokluda has a lot of experience helping young adults. In this fun and thought-provoking conversation, we ask him a variety of questions on topics like: where young adults need to mature, how to develop spiritual rhythms in life, the importance of church, and how he navigates the temptation to be a “celebrity” pastor. Inbox: A Wandering Eye? Her fiancé recently proposed after three years of dating. Before their engagement, she only had eyes for him. However, since getting engaged, she’s noticing other guys and is tempted to compare them to her man. Is this normal or sinful? Counselor Joannie DeBrito weighs in. Counseling consultation and referrals: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/get-help/counseling-services-and-referrals/

Part two of a difficult pro-life story, plus teaching men to pursue marriage, and when your date reveals childhood abuse. Featured musical artist: Covenant Worship ( https://covenantchurch.org/whatwedo/worship/ ) Roundtable: The Hard Side of Choosing Life (Part 2) High school sweethearts at a Christian school, they seemed to be heading toward a bright future. Then came the news that they were pregnant. When faced with this reality, Jarod and Glory Adducci had a big decision to make: have the baby and forever alter their life plans, or choose abortion — something they had said they would never do. Listen to part two of Jarod and Glory’s powerful story. Option Ultrasound ( https://www.focusonthefamily.com/pro-life/option-ultrasound-program-2/ ) Culture: A Mentor for Young Men Shortly after his wife, Lori, died, Chris Peardon felt God calling him to teach young men lessons he learned in his own 33-year marriage. He started a small group with men from his church, and together they’ve talked through how to relate to women, how to prepare for marriage, and how to date well. In this thought-provoking conversation, Chris shares some of the principles he’s taught and the outcomes he’s seen. Inbox: Dating After Childhood Sexual Abuse The guy she likes recently shared that he was sexually abused as a young boy. Out of the pain he experienced, he struggled with same-sex attraction and pornography before becoming a Christian. Even though he’s grown immensely, she’s wondering, “Has he truly healed from his past?” Counselor M.T. Wilson weighs in. Counseling consultation and referrals: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/get-help/counseling-services-and-referrals/