by Jeff | Apr 9, 2017
Show Notes
Why is it that you never see your favorite superheroes checking in to the doctor’s office? Is it that we portray the image that in order to be a “hero” to someone that you have to be almost invincible to pain or suffering?
Depression and other mental health struggles do not discriminate. An important part of any kind of human service or ministry is to be mentally and spiritually well. Too often, in our flesh, we try to mask the perceived weaknesses associated with depression, anxiety, and emotional suffering that it eventually leads to burnout or a host of other problems.
This week, we’re saying, “NO MORE!”
It is time to step out of that darkness and open the doors for conversations to save our leaders, healers, and ministers. But how do we do it? Where do we start? Is this even possible in a world that tends to shy away from embracing vulnerability?
by Jeff | Jul 24, 2016
Who’s on this episode?
Jeff Strommen @jstrommen | Dave Wager @wagerdaw
Podcast: Download
Have you ever asked yourself, “What am I conforming my life to?” Every person who has ever walked this planet has conformed his or her life to something. It’s why we are influenced through peer pressure and the like. This week, Jeff and Dave welcome back Mike Jewel of Relational Integrity to look at the different ways we conform our life and what it will take for real transformation to take place.
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Show Notes
Coming soon…
by Jeff | Jun 12, 2016
Who’s on this episode?
Jeff Strommen @jstrommen | Dave Wager @wagerdaw | Terra Kay @terrakfree
Podcast: Download
Contrary to popular belief (ie. culture) the “Friend Zone” is not a good place to be. I tend to disagree. Friendship is essential to a full life. But sometimes friends can be confusing. This week, Jeff and DW sit down with Terra Kay to peel back the layers of relationships in our follow up to last week’s episode on intimacy. We’re looking at Powell’s five levels of communication and relating them to relationships.
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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
John Powell’s 5 Levels of Communication (we put counted from 1 to 5, instead of 5 to 1 on the episode. We are sorry.)
Level 5: Small Talk. This is surface communication, like “How are you?” as you pass someone on the street. There’s nothing wrong with it. It helps to break the ice, but if communication remains on this level, it can be frustrating. Authentic intimacy requires greater depth, and tough truths require much greater depth.
Level 4: Factual Conversation. This is when the conversation stays at a head level. It lacks feeling. At this level you might describe all the rational reasons why something is true for you, but not explain why you care so much or how it affects you personally. Again, facts are important in conversation. But including emotions takes communication to a new level.
Level 3: Ideas and Opinions. This is where authenticity and intimacy begin. You start to expose yourself at this level, sharing opinions and hopes that go beyond the factual. Its amazing how much ice is broken at this level, when we really hear each others hopes (and fears) and dreams.
Level 2: Feelings and Emotions. This is where tough truth is expressed, as well as exciting vision. This is when you describe why you feel the way you feel. You describe what is going on inside you, including feelings of frustration, anger, resentment, or happiness.
Level 1: Deep Insight. This is the gold of communication where you bring together facts, opinions, feelings and depth. You speak honestly AND kindly, clear about who you are but not needing others to agree. When you connect at this level with another person, or a group of people, you have really struck the gold of authentic intimacy.
‘Scary Close-Reflections For Finding True Intimacy’ Bible Reading Plan
Donald Miller released a Bible reading plan to go along with his book, Scary Close: Dropping the Act and Finding True Intimacy.
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.
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
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.
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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
