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Sleep, Rest and Renewal: God’s Rhythm in Creation and Our Lives |  POD 008

Sleep, Rest and Renewal: God’s Rhythm in Creation and Our Lives | POD 008

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RESOURCES

HOSTS & GUESTS

Dr. Gayln Perry – Guest

Paul Brandes – Host

Liz Nelson – Guest

Show Notes

Sleep, Rest and Renewal: God’s Rhythm in Creation and Our Lives

How important are rest and sleep for renewal and spiritual growth? In this episode, we discuss how God’s design for rest affects all of creation, with sleep being a crucial element. Dr. Gayln Perry and Liz Nelson regularly work with patients who struggle with sleep disorders. They share their expertise, clarifying and addressing common contributors to sleep and rest issues. We talk about practical ideas for improving sleep quality and how inconsistent sleep schedules, napping in the afternoon, and engaging in non-sleep-related activities in bed can negatively impact the quality of sleep. Other negative contributing factors emphasized are caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. Exposure to bright light in the evenings from electronics can also confuse our circadian rhythm. We find out more about the importance of understanding and prioritizing sleep and rest for our physical and spiritual health.

In the latest episode of theFormed.life, we explore the importance of rest and sleep in our lives.

 

THREE KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Join us in this conversation about the importance of rest and sleep in our daily lives.

  1. God designed us to need rest, and resisting a Sabbath rest can prevent us from experiencing the joy, beauty, hope, peace, and calm that God intended for us to flourish.
  2. Sleep disorders, such as insomnia, can be triggered by life stressors, but prioritizing rest and building connections with others can lead to improved sleep.
  3. Best practices for improving sleep quality include consistent wake-up times, avoiding non-sleep-related activities in bed, and minimizing exposure to caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.

#TheFormedLife #RestAndRenewal #SleepQuality #SabbathRest #MentalHealthAwareness

 

GUEST BIO(S):

Dr. Gayln Perry is a pulmonologist dedicated to helping patients with all aspects of sleep, including sleep disorders. Her passion for this field stemmed from her personal struggle with insomnia over 30 years ago. She understands the importance of getting proper, restful sleep and empathizes with those who are facing life stressors that make it difficult to do so. With her expertise and compassion, Dr. Perry strives to help her patients achieve the restful sleep they need to live healthy and happy lives.

Liz Nelson earned her MA in Counseling from MidAmerica Nazarene University. She is a Clinically Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Kansas. Her areas of focus are adult counseling for individuals and couples. Elizabeth works from a psychodynamic theory and the attachment perspective that honors the client’s experiences of personal and relational struggles that interfere with well-being. Together with the client, Liz explores the symptoms and causes of distress. She works with a wide variety of needs and in diverse populations. Elizabeth also has over two decades of experience serving the non-profit community in Kansas City, and is deeply committed to coming alongside these leaders, caregivers, and volunteers.

 

 

QUOTES:

“…the circadian rhythm is driven by… the master clock. Every cell in our body has a clock and… it lines up with the master clock… and that clock again wakes us up when the sun comes up and puts us to sleep at night… In the morning when we wake up, we really should get bright light exposure and that resets that clock every day.”
– Dr. Gayln Perry

 

“I would prioritize sleep because it impacts your immune system, it impacts your emotional margin with your family, it impacts your productivity at work… it’s extremely important.”
– Dr. Gayln Perry

 

“[We need to] schedule times of holistic rest prior to other priorities, like where are the walks, where is nature, where is community, where are the sunsets? Schedule that ahead of other priorities or it disappears.”
– Liz Nelson

 

“…there’s an understanding that rest is designed by God, and we are designed by God to need rest.”
– Liz Nelson

 

 

RESOURCES:

The Body Keeps The Score: Book

Reading Resurrection in the Book of Nature: Blog from The Gospel Coalition

How Shorter Work Weeks Could Save The Planet: BBC Blog

 

CHAPTERS:

00:01:49 “Pulmonologist tackles a wide range of sleep issues”
00:02:24 “Doctor’s Insomnia Struggle Inspires Patient Care Approach”
00:12:16 “The Divine Importance of Sleep for Health”
00:14:58 “The Importance of Sleep for All Ages”
00:16:01 “The Fascinating Biology of our Circadian Rhythm”
00:18:16 “Improving Sleep Quality Through Addressing Mental Health”
00:26:30 “Tips for Better Sleep: Consistency is Key”
00:28:53 “Prioritize Sleep: Impact on Health, Family & Work”

Addressing Sexual Brokenness: Clues to Healing Through Story and Curiosity |  POD 007

Addressing Sexual Brokenness: Clues to Healing Through Story and Curiosity | POD 007

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RESOURCES

Hosts & Guests

Jay Stringer – Guest

Paul Brandes – Co-Host

Bill Gorman – Co-Host

Show Notes

Addressing Sexual Brokenness

Unwanted sexual behaviors are not random but reflect unaddressed parts of one’s story. Dealing with these underlying issues can lead to wider stories of healing. In this podcast episode, we talk with Jay Stringer about bringing the problems, heartache, brokenness, and sin into the foreground and get really curious about the origins of how that all began. And then, with curiosity and kindness, that’s how we are able to heal and grow.

 

Three key takeaways from this episode:

  • Insights into the journey out of unwanted sexual desires and behaviors
  • The church can be a significant place for sexual shame to develop due to secrecy, silence, and judgment. Christians need to open up about the realities of sexual brokenness and renew their sexual mind by submitting and being curious about it.
  • Sexual brokenness can be a roadmap to healing rather than a life sentence of shame or addiction. By addressing underlying issues, we can experience wider stories of healing.

Don’t just take our word for it; listen to the entire episode to discover more insights about the journey out of unwanted behaviors.

 

Guest bio:

Jay Stringer is a clinical researcher, author, and speaker best known for his work on the topic of unwanted sexual behavior. Jay’s research looks at the origins of this behavior, which often results from unresolved childhood trauma and present-day issues such as a lack of purpose, depression, and anxiety. His book, Unwanted, challenges the traditional approaches of shame and lust management, instead encouraging people to embrace their brokenness as a roadmap to healing. Through his work, Jay is committed to helping people understand their stories of brokenness, and ultimately find healing and growth.

 

Episode quotes:

“The danger of purity culture is that we can’t fail to educate, and then also try to trap and convict people of sin. I think that’s very sinful behavior…”

– Jay Stringer

“Become your child’s Google.” “The reality is that the average age of initial exposure is nine to eleven with porn; the parent has the choice to either say I’m going to be the primary sex educator of the child or [it will be] porn or my middle school peers.”

– Jay Stringer

“Deprivation and Entitlement: We live with a lot of deprivation. We don’t feel like our needs are that important. We don’t take care of ourselves well. And so then when we actually get the opportunity that we sign off for the night, we move from this place of deprivation and then seesaw into entitlement of, “I deserve this thing.””

– Jay Stringer

Chapters

02:19 Unwanted sexual behavior is not random
07:59 Renewing the sexual mind
14:38 Harm of the Purity Culture
21:20 Primary sex educators for children
26:31 Finding calm in healthy ways
28:04 Emotional and physical calming and healing
31:02 Deprivation and entitlement
34:57 Swim toward fear
38:47 Churches provide education

Legalization of Cannabis: How Should Christians Respond? |  POD 006

Legalization of Cannabis: How Should Christians Respond? | POD 006

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Hosts & Guests

Todd Miles – Guest,
Professor of Theology at Western Seminary

Paul Brandes – Co-Host

Bill Gorman – Co-Host

Show Notes

 

The cannabis debate is raging, with some countries legalizing it and others banning recreational use. In this episode of theFormed.life Podcast, Dr. Todd Miles joins us to discuss the legalization of cannabis and how Christians should respond. We explore a biblical framework, the different elements in cannabis, and some wisdom questions that can help us make informed decisions. Todd is a pastor and author with a beautiful Christian perspective on this topic

Is recreational marijuana a sin? What are the risks and benefits of cannabis use? How should Christians respond to the legalization of cannabis? This is an important topic, and we want to ensure we offer a biblical perspective. Whether you’re a Christian or not, this episode is a must-listen! We hope you enjoy the conversation and find it helpful as you continue to think about your response to cannabis.

Dr. Todd Miles is author of Cannabis and the Christian: What the Bible Says about Marijuana, and a Professor of Theology at Western Seminary in Portland, OR. He also serves as an elder at his local church.

The health risks of cannabis are not discussed at length in this conversation; however, in his book, Dr. Miles points out the increasing risks that are often overlooked or minimized. In fact, he cites a study showing that “while marijuana use is on the rise, perception of the risk is on the decline” (pg.33). We’ve included a short summary of some of those risks here, and Dr. Miles has a whole chapter on these risks in the book, so check it out there. Of note, marijuana is the most commonly used federally illegal drug in the United States, due in large part to the health risks. 

 

Health Risks Associated with Cannabis Use (from the book)

Four main categories of risks:
  • Addiction: While it is true that marijuana has been shown to be less addictive than nicotine and alcohol, less addictive doesn’t mean not addictive. Of particular concern, studies show that 17% of adolescent users develop an addiction.
  • Lung and heart issues: Both the American Heart Association and American Lung Association warn against smoking or vaping any substance, including cannabis, because of “potential harm to the heart, lungs, and blood vessels.” (pg. 38)
  • Teen use interferes with brain development: He writes, “THC has been proven to interfere with brain development [in teens], and the losses created by that interference cannot be restored… The evidence is overwhelming, and there is no credible disagreement with that conclusion” (pg. 40).
  • Psychosis and mental illness: Since the late 1980s, “study after study has been performed showing that marijuana use increases the risk for psychosis in general and schizophrenia in particular” (pg. 45)

RESOURCES:

Cannabis and the Christian – by Todd Miles (book on Amazon)

More information about health risks can be found here:
https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/health-effects/index.html

Mental Health and Spiritual Formation as Followers of Jesus |  POD 005

Mental Health and Spiritual Formation as Followers of Jesus | POD 005

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Hosts & Guests

Liz Nelson – Licensed Counselor

Tom Nelson – Lead Senior Pastor

Paul Brandes – Host

Bill Gorman – Co-Host

Show Notes

In this episode, we explore the intersection of mental health and spiritual formation as followers of Jesus. Tom and Liz Nelson join us for this important conversation. 

One in four of us will experience a mental health crisis in our lives. If we knew that one in four of our church family experienced this trauma, wouldn’t we want to know about it and have the church be a place that considers the unique needs of those dealing with these issues? 

Even if you never personally experience a crisis, your mental health and emotions are a part of how God made you, and Jesus cares deeply about you as a whole person.

In this conversation, we talk about:

  • how to “undo the aloneness” in our lives
  • the coming together of theology and mental health
  • the importance of not just knowing God but being known by God
  • Some practical advice on what to look for in mental health professional 
  • Attachment theory

You’ll hear us use the language of “attachment” and “attachment theory” a number of times. If you want to learn more about attachment and how it affects your relationships with others and God, here are a few resources: