Embracing Brokenness Ministries

We have much to be thankful for and plenty to be concerned about in a world filled with chaos. But God calls us to unity in purpose and oneness with Him. The time is short. Jesus' return is imminent.

How are you investing your energy?

On today's podcast, we look at the challenges we face in a world that wars against us and our purpose in it all.

Bonus PDF attached for a little Thanksgiving fun around the dinner table.

https://embracingbrokenness.org/thanksgiving-download/

With the unrest we see in the Middle East and around the world, there's no better time than this for Shalom, Shalom. Peace be with you. Nothing missing. Nothing broken.

God has called each of us to live by the rules of the Kingdom today not just on the New Earth.

It's the operating system that God built into each of us from the very beginning.

Colleen shared her thoughts on being a culture of blessing in the Shalom of God's Kingdom during a presentation to our friends at Scott Mission in Toronto, Canada.

Steve interviews Jay Payleitner in Part 2 of this 2-part series.

Jay is one of the top freelance producers for Christian radio, having worked on Josh McDowell Radio, Today's Father, Jesus Freaks Radio, and Project Angel Tree with Chuck Colson.

Jay is a long-time affiliate with the National Center for Fathering and Iron Sharpens Iron. He speaks at men's retreats, marriage weekends, writers' conferences, and weekend services. Jay has sold more than half million books including the bestselling 52 Things Kids Need from a Dad, The Prayer of Agur, and What If God Wrote Your Bucket List? His books have been translated into at least ten languages. And he has been a guest multiple times on The Harvest Show, Moody Radio, Cornerstone TV, and Focus on the Family.

Jay and his high school sweetheart, Rita, live in the Chicago area where they raised five great kids, loved on ten foster babies, and are cherishing grandparenthood.Jay shares his journey to finding God, purpose, calling, and serving as an author, speaker, and producer.

Jay Payleitner is one of the top freelance producers for Christian radio, having worked on Josh McDowell Radio, Today's Father, Jesus Freaks Radio, and Project Angel Tree with Chuck Colson.

Jay is a long-time affiliate with the National Center for Fathering and Iron Sharpens Iron. He speaks at men's retreats, marriage weekends, writers' conferences, and weekend services. Jay has sold more than half million books including the bestselling 52 Things Kids Need from a Dad, The Prayer of Agur, and What If God Wrote Your Bucket List? His books have been translated into at least ten languages. And he has been a guest multiple times on The Harvest Show, Moody Radio, Cornerstone TV, and Focus on the Family.

Jay and his high school sweetheart, Rita, live in the Chicago area where they raised five great kids, loved on ten foster babies, and are cherishing grandparenthood.

Jay shares his journey to finding God, purpose, calling, and serving as an author, speaker, and producer.

Michael Kurtz joins Steve on this episode of the Embracing Brokenness Podcast to discuss the process toward transformation in Christ. If you have been on this journey for any length of time, you know that miraculous process of transformation that begins when we say “I do” to Jesus and invite him to sit upon the throne of our hearts. It is a process.

Michael shares a recent article he wrote as our ally and content contributor. "I have been on this journey. Sometimes it seems like one step forward and two steps back, and there are seasons where I am tempted to doubt whether Jesus sits upon any throne in my life, especially when I focus on all of the things I 'get wrong'. But in time we begin to see and experience real change, measurable growth, and we experience freedom where once there was captivity."

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.  2 Corinthians 3:18

Chuck Girard joins Steve in this final episode of a 3-Part Embracing Brokenness Podcast series. Chuck shares how he met his wife, Karen, his struggles with alcohol, and how God saved him and moved him and his fellow Love Song bandmates to join Chuck Smith at Calvary Chapel, bringing the beginning of contemporary Christian music to all of us. He discusses his solo career and what will be his first album in a couple of decades. He leaves us with great advice and encouragement to join in what God has for each of us.

Singer, Songwriter, Recording Artist, and Worship Leader, Chuck is a Pioneer of Contemporary Christian Music, Member, and Co-Founder of the CCM group 'LOVE SONG.' Born in Los Angeles, and raised in both Southern and Northern California, Chuck began playing music at an early age. In his teens, he formed a group called THE CASTELLS, which had two national top 20 hits, “Sacred..” and “So This Is Love”. They also released the song “I Do”, which was produced by Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. It was during this time as a teenager that Chuck shared the stage with stars such as Roy Orbison, Jan and Dean, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bobby Vee, Jackie Wilson, Brenda Lee and others. This led to a successful career as a studio singer and musician which included singing the lead vocals on THE HONDELLS first two albums and their biggest hit, “Little Honda”.

Chuck Girard joins Steve on Part 2 of this 3-Part Embracing Brokenness Podcast. He discusses his life and experience of the Jesus Movement as chronicled in his book, Rock and Roll Preacher, and a host of other topics you won't want to miss.

Singer, Songwriter, Recording Artist, and Worship Leader, Chuck is a Pioneer of Contemporary Christian Music, Member, and Co-Founder of the CCM group 'LOVE SONG.' Born in Los Angeles, and raised in both Southern and Northern California, Chuck began playing music at an early age. In his teens, he formed a group called THE CASTELLS, which had two national top 20 hits, “Sacred..” and “So This Is Love”. They also released the song “I Do”, which was produced by Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. It was during this time as a teenager that Chuck shared the stage with stars such as Roy Orbison, Jan and Dean, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bobby Vee, Jackie Wilson, Brenda Lee and others. This led to a successful career as a studio singer and musician which included singing the lead vocals on THE HONDELLS first two albums and their biggest hit, “Little Honda”.

Chuck Girard joins Steve on Part 1 of this 3-Part Embracing Brokenness Podcast.

Singer, Songwriter, Recording Artist, and Worship Leader, Chuck is a Pioneer of Contemporary Christian Music, Member, and Co-Founder of the CCM group 'LOVE SONG.' Born in Los Angeles, and raised in both Southern and Northern California, Chuck began playing music at an early age. In his teens, he formed a group called THE CASTELLS, which had two national top 20 hits, “Sacred..” and “So This Is Love”. They also released the song “I Do”, which was produced by Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. It was during this time as a teenager that Chuck shared the stage with stars such as Roy Orbison, Jan and Dean, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bobby Vee, Jackie Wilson, Brenda Lee and others. This led to a successful career as a studio singer and musician which included singing the lead vocals on THE HONDELLS first two albums and their biggest hit, “Little Honda”.

He discusses his book, Rock and Roll Preacher, in detail, with Steve and a host of other topics you won't want to miss.

In Part 2 of this podcast, Steve asks Alisa to define Progressive Christianity and the dangers that exist when truth becomes relative and the inerrant Word of God is questioned.

As a lifelong church-goer, follower of Jesus, and former CCM recording artist with the Dove award-winning group ZOEgirl, Alisa Childers experienced a period of profound doubt about her faith in her mid-thirties. She felt as though she had been tossed in a stormy ocean of uncertainty with no life jacket or lifeboat in sight. Alisa didn’t know where to find answers to her questions, or if answers existed at all. Did she have to accept it all with some kind of blind faith? She began to investigate her faith intellectually—took seminary classes and read everything she could get her hands on. This began a journey from unreasoned doubt into a vibrant, rational, and informed faith.

As a lifelong church-goer, follower of Jesus, and former CCM recording artist with the Dove award-winning group ZOEgirl, Alisa Childers experienced a period of profound doubt about her faith in her mid-thirties. She felt as though she had been tossed in a stormy ocean of uncertainty with no life jacket or lifeboat in sight. Alisa didn’t know where to find answers to her questions, or if answers existed at all. Did she have to accept it all with some kind of blind faith? She began to investigate her faith intellectually—took seminary classes and read everything she could get her hands on. This began a journey from unreasoned doubt into a vibrant, rational, and informed faith.

In Part 1 of this podcast, Steve interviews Alisa as she shares about her family, her faith, and what led to her mission and ministry as an apologist.

Joseph Grenny is a New York Times bestselling author of eight books, including the communication classic, Crucial Conversations. His work has been used by nearly half of the Forbes Global 2000 and has helped millions of people achieve better relationships and results.

He cofounded Crucial Learning (formerly VitalSmarts), one of the world’s most respected learning and organization development firms, offering courses in communication, performance, and leadership.

Joseph also cofounded The Other Side Academy (TOSA), a residential school that teaches vocational and life skills to people with histories of crime, addiction, and homelessness.

On today's Podcast Steve talks with Joseph about the program at TOSA and the resultant changes evident in their students' lives. He also shares how God called him into this vital mission and the influence he's had by being obedient to that calling.

On today's Podcast, Steve and Colleen ask the question of whether it's possible for humanity to truly flourish on this side of heaven without Shalom. The discussion turns to the broader definition of Shalom as intended in scripture, not simply defined as Peace.

In Hebrew, it means peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity (not necessarily financial), welfare, and tranquility.

According to the Surgeon General over 50% of Americans, which equates to millions of people, live with a profound sense of loneliness. Loneliness decreases life expectancy by 30% and is more dangerous than obesity and drug abuse. Just one example of what the absence of Shalom yields.

Every worldview imparts a particular vision of human flourishing. This is true of the biblical worldview as well.

Unfortunately, apart from Christ, these worldviews do nothing to respond to the consequences of fallen relationships, being a part of a greater story, and living for the only thing that can truly bring joy – the complete confidence that God is in control of every aspect of my life—so only artificial happiness can be obtained and it constantly required “more” to feed its fire.

Join in on the conversation.

The experience of anyone that finds themselves without a home, without a meal, and most importantly devoid of relationships that would prevent such an experience, is a unique one. This condition is often misunderstood.

After nearly 12 years of service to those experiencing homelessness in our community, Colleen has much to share about the conditions of poverty and those most underserved among us.

Listen in, you'll be surprised by how much you may not know about those considered the least among us but the most important in the kingdom of God.

There's an ebb and flow to the rhythms of life. There's also an ebb and flow to the process we experience in our own healing journey through Christ. Today Colleen and Steve invited Michael Kurtz to have a conversation about how we approach that journey and what those rhythms might look like in your life.

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  And we all, with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.  For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:16)

On today's Podcast, Steve joins Cristin Germaine on a regional radio program she hosts. WPFG's Community Issues and Missions is a program where people in our community share their personal journey, their ministry, or their organization. 

During the interview, Steve provides personal insights on his spiritual journey but also that of Embracing Brokenness Ministries and the calling God has given both him and his wife, Colleen.

Continuing on in our series of interviews with friends and allies, sharing God Stories from the past and present. Stories where our lives have been forever changed by a God who loves us and saved us each one.

On today's podcast, Steve is joined by Author, Speaker, and Mom of many, Cathie Rosado. We'll discuss her book, among other topics, Choosing Plan A - A Mother's Adventure with Adoption, Acceptance after Miscarriage, and, Acknowledging the Miracle of Children

Cathie was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where more than 250 years of her family history is strongly rooted. “Be fruitful and multiply” was very practical advice for this largely agrarian society. Cathie’s immediate family would depart from that tradition as her parents met in college and moved toward professional office occupations. She and her younger brother enjoyed a middle-class life, and though their parents divorced, it was amicable, and life was pretty good.

Cathie graduated from a public high school and defied what some saw as odds stacked against her, eventually graduating with a bachelor’s of science in economics with a concentration in accounting and entrepreneurial management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She headed into her professional career with many expectations for what life would look like, and then the year 2000 changed everything.

In that one year, she went from being a single professional finishing her Penn State MBA to a married working mother experiencing a whirlwind of change. “Be fruitful and multiply” would not look the same for her as it did for her ancestors. Expectations of how things were going to be would have to be tossed out the window as a whole new adventure lay ahead—one where she would have to keep moving forward even when the steps were difficult or unclear.

Today, Cathie continues to work full time in a professional role while juggling parenting and embracing her passion for volunteering and impacting people. She is trying to figure out her developing grandparent role while the nest is still pretty full. While this book may be her story, the prayer is that it encourages and positively impacts you as you live your story.

Cathie welcomes your feedback and would love to hear from you. To connect with her by email: contact@ChoosingPlanA 

Everybody has a story. Some we'd rather not tell, others we can't keep quiet about. Or at least not quiet about God's goodness in our lives, especially when the difference He makes has an everlasting impact. We're never the same because of Him.

This is some of Cathie's story.

Happy New Year everyone. Can you believe it?

Princes’ song is rattling around in our head, 1999, released in 1982. Had to open with a few bars in the intro. 2022 is a done deal – in the books as they say - and we now look forward to the uncertainty waiting for us in 2023.

Are you excited?

The way you answer that question says a lot about where your heart is right now. And that’s not passing judgment. It’s just the truth.

Steve provides a few suggestions on how to approach the new year.

Everyone has a story. In this series, we introduce you to God's people sharing God's stories in each of their lives. Craig tells of his incarceration and how Jesus met him in that place and changed his life.

Listen in and be blessed by the amazing ways that God intersects our lives, in the good, bad, and ugly. But He gets the glory in our story.

If we don't talk it out, we'll act it out. What does it mean to be a peacemaker? What does the Bible say about conflict, and how we should best resolve our differences?

We dig deeper into the subject of peacemaking on today's video podcast.

Brokenness is the state in which we enter this world. No one escapes the ravages of sin. What we do with that is paramount in our healing journey toward wholeness in Christ.

On today's podcast, Michael Kurtz joins Steve to have a conversation on what it even means to embrace your brokenness and why you would even yield to the notion that embracing our condition of brokenness is a good idea.

Music and Lyrics by Roots and Recognition Featuring Dominique Calvillo  

Licensed for Use Adobe Stock Asset ID: #356515268

God is at work all the time. That means many different things to many different people. What often is missing in our understanding of that truth is the ability to notice Him. To notice Him in nearly every aspect of our lives as Believers. He wants to be in relationship with us constantly. Not just in an emergency. Even in the simple things.

In today’s podcast, Steve discusses hearing from God from a different perspective.

It’s been a rough couple of years. Most of us have experienced some level of trauma around a host of issues that can go unnoticed – until – something sets us off.  What is that something for you? What pushes your buttons and elicits an unexpected reaction?  

Sometimes the reaction may be termed an overreaction. Many times our responses to the simplest annoyances can have severe consequences. Mostly those consequences are internal and need to be processed with a safe person in a safe community.  

None is safer than God.  

In today’s podcast, Steve provides multiple examples of buttons being pushed, in his life and others. Better yet, a few observations to consider as you process what’s happening in and around you.

For many of us, the notion of dying to self is a foreign one. What does that even mean? Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Luke quoting Jesus said, "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'"

The idea of denying our own self interests is at the core of our Christian belief system. It starts with a posture of humility and understanding that our life is not our own as Christ followers. In today's Podcast Joe D'Orsie and Steve Adams go deeper into that conversation.

In today's Podcast, we examine the sometimes devastating fact that we believe lies about God. When lies are adopted as truth the consequences show up in dysfunctional behaviors and in ways that lead to confusion and mistrust. God is not a God of confusion. He's a God of Love not fear.

We are created in His image and with His attributes. Those attributes have become distorted by sin and an enemy that would have us believe lies about God, ourselves, and others in an effort to isolate us from the truth of who God says we are. It's part of a master plan of deceit to keep us from pursuing an intimate relationship with our Creator and Savior.

Being tempted is not a sin. Being tested can be challenging. How we respond to temptations and testing defines us. We must understand that we were not made for this world. We were made to exist in perfect harmony with Him. That is the only way toward wholeness and freedom in Christ.

We have an enemy bent on taking us out. We must not be complacent about that fact. Don’t let the enemy win. Don’t let the enemy sideline you from your calling and purpose, even when that liar would have you believe differently.

Don't listen to or live in the false belief that your life doesn’t matter and you might as well just quit. Pack it in for a better way of life. That better way doesn’t exist apart from God.

In today's podcast, Steve shares a recent experience targeting him for a takedown.

Garnering and harboring excessive wealth is something that has been nibbling at my conscience for a while. I can’t escape the gnawing feeling. The unfathomable amount of money resident not only in this country but around the world and the huge disparaging gap between those with and those without is striking.

God has a lot to say about finances in his Word. In fact, money and possessions are the second most referenced topic in the Bible – money is mentioned more than 800 times. How we treat the poor, how we manage our finances, and our accountability in doing so in this life is paramount.

Over the years I have come across a number of very rich Christians. Some of them are among the godliest and most committed believers I have known. Their riches are not necessarily a sign of God’s blessing – but neither are they something bad. The key thing is how you see your money, and what you do with it.

In today's podcast, we take a deeper look at wealth and how God views it.

In this final podcast episode on Identity Matters, we focus on safe people. We all desire to have close relationships with people we trust. People we know that are willing to battle it out in life by our side and have our backs.

What would you consider to be attributes of safe people? We'll explore this topic in detail and more as we wrap up this series of teaching on the all-important subject of Identity in Christ.

In this podcast, we cover the topic of intimacy with God through hearing His voice. What might that look like for you?  Is it through scripture, others, that still small voice inside you namely the Holy Spirit? Does God speak to you through circumstances or unique moments in time?

It's a topic not often discussed in church but one of the most critical parts of our spiritual journey toward wholeness in Christ.

Every day we experience brokenness in the form of consequences as a result of what is often called, original sin. When Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil all hell broke loose. Literally. Satan got exactly what he wanted. 

Here's the good news. God always wins. He's the Creator of all and knows all. He wired each of our brains to heal from wounds that have been inflicted upon us. Yet, we still suffer the losses from being separated from God. 

In today's podcast, we take a brief look at what the cost looks like in each of our lives. 

In case you weren't aware of it, a war broke out in Heaven on the heels of creation. When Lucifer rebelled and took 1/3 of the angels with him he landed on planet earth. Unfortunately, we then became the target of his evil ways and have been dealing with the consequences ever since.

In this podcast, Steve talks about the impact that Satan has on our identity as he reviews the sequence of events that led to the fall of man. Thankfully God provided a way back to Him through the saving grace of His son Jesus Christ.

When it comes to matters of identity it's vitally important that we understand who we are. Not just how we view ourselves but more importantly how God sees us. After all, He did create us in His image and likeness - with traits and characteristics that model His goodness. All was distorted when we decide we wanted to be like God.

But restoration is coming. 

In this episode, we go deeper into what Genesis 1 and 2 say about us and our God-given identity. 

In our second of a multi-podcast series on Identity, we examine how critically important it is to understand who God is and why what we believe about Him really does matter. Much of our impressions of who He is and how He sees us are formed at a very young age. How that translates into our day-to-day lives forms our ability to grow in our faith and in the knowledge of what a loving relationship with God should be. 

Choices have consequences. Some are more devastating than others. In today's podcast, Steve shares more about his own healing journey that started some 30 years ago with a 90-day stint in Federal Prison. A lifelong believer in Jesus was tempted by what the world had to offer and it landed him in a very precarious situation. But redemption awaited. He only needed to look up and lookout.

This is the beginning of that story that would lead to a book currently awaiting publication, 90 Days on the Inside - Short-timers Journey of Brokenness, Surrender, & Healing. Read more here www.90DaysInside.com 

In today's podcast, we discuss the consequences of sin that so easily befell us. Steve begins and ends with Colleen presenting in between. They look at a different perspective on how behaviors in this life are linked to the decisions made by our ancestors, Adam and Eve.

Wounds inflicted by others, and our own bad choices left us in a bit of a predicament. But God gave us a choice to return "back to the Garden", restored in Him.

Please join us as we go deeper into our healing journey prescribed for all Believers by our Savior.

World events and the Russian invasion of Ukraine are cause for all Christ-followers to pause and pray for those impacted by this crisis. From the people of Ukraine and Russia to the world leaders engaged in a resolution toward peace. Steve introduces us to a guided prayer from John Eldredge, as we together ask God to intervene in this horrific situation.

Chaos and a spirit of confusion reign among us all like we haven't seen for quite some time. Look at COVID. Look at Ukraine and the aggression being shown by Russia. 

How do we interpret what's happening around us in a productive and meaningful way? As Believers in Jesus Christ, there is only one way to do so even though the enemy of God's people has other plans.

In Part 2 of this 2 Part series, Steve and Colleen further their conversation about the importance of understanding our days and the appropriate response to the confusion that surrounds each of us in a world where the focus is on what's temporary, not eternal.

You may recall a song The Temptations made famous years ago entitled Ball of Confusion. It's not a stretch to equate that same title to conditions on the ground on this ball of dirt we call planet earth. Chaos and a spirit of confusion reign among us all like we haven't seen for quite some time.

How do we interpret what's happening here in a productive and meaningful way? As Believers in Jesus Christ, there is only one way to do so even though the enemy of God's people has other plans.

In this 2 part series, Steve and Colleen have a conversation about the importance of understanding our days and the appropriate response to the confusion that surrounds each of us in a world where the focus is on what's temporary, not eternal.

How we view God has a tremendous impact on how we view ourselves and others. He certainly is the Great Script Writer. We see familiar scenes from our life stories in every good film. From the foundation of the world, He knew each of us. Unique in our gifting and eventual calling in this life. 

Our beliefs are formed at a young age. If we would recognize God as a God of love our relationship with Him and others would be transformed forever. Steve shares a recent teaching he did on this subject - contrasting the worldview we get from infancy to the transforming realization that God Is Love.

Have you experienced a setback lately? Setbacks may be defined in various ways but the word itself conjures up negative thoughts. There's not a human being walking the planet that hasn't experienced some sort of setback. How should we respond? Can we grow through them and come out the other side a better person for it?

We'll answer this and other questions in this podcast with a real-life example and a few from God's Word.