HomeWord with Jim Burns

Life is messy—but we can trust God through the mess. On this episode of HomeWord, Jim Burns is joined by Cynthia Yanof—wife, mom, blogger, podcast host of MESSmerized, and author of Life is Messy, God is Good. Together they talk about redefining success and failure from a Kingdom perspective, the power of community and friendships, and the importance of parenting with eternity in mind. Cynthia opens up about church hurt, the beauty...

You asked—Jim answered…again! In Part 2 of this special listener Q&A, Jim Burns returns with producer Mike to continue addressing tough, honest questions from HomeWord  listeners about navigating relationships with adult children. Jim tackles real-life concerns like: Is it ever okay to ask our 26-year-old son to move out? Should we require our adult child to attend church if they live at home? Is it wrong to help them financial...

You asked—Jim answered! In this special listener Q&A episode, Jim Burns is joined by producer Mike to tackle real-life questions submitted by HomeWord listeners. From navigating estranged relationships to managing financial boundaries, Jim offers heartfelt, practical advice rooted in decades of experience and his bestselling book Doing Life with Your Adult Children. What do you do when your adult child walks away from church—or...

A recent Barna study reveals that 62% of men report struggling with sex addiction or challenges related to pornography—yet only 1 in 10 churches offer resources to help. In this powerful and vulnerable episode, Chris Cannon, founder and Executive Director of Sword and Shovel and leader in HomeWord’s Pastor-to-Pastor ministry, shares his personal journey from early exposure to pornography at age 8 to finding healing through grace, c...

God created us with a deep need for connection—not on social media, but real, meaningful connection. Dr. Mark Mayfield joins Jim Burns to unpack the growing epidemic of loneliness and its serious impact on our physical and emotional health. They talk about how loneliness affects children as well as adults, and how people often try to numb it in unhealthy ways. Dr. Mayfield shares a personal story of caring for his grandparents that...

Did you know that 27% of adults are estranged from at least one family member? In this heartfelt episode, Jim Burns sits down with therapist and author Tina Gilbertson to unpack the many layers of parent–adult child estrangement. They explore the different forms this can take—whether emotional distance, total silence, or an on-again, off-again connection. Tina shares practical do’s and don’ts for reaching out, how to apologize auth...

Grandchildren today face a rapidly changing world—and more than ever, they need intentional, Christ-centered grandparents who are present, prayerful, and purpose-driven. In this inspiring episode, Jim Burns sits down with Larry Fowler, Founder and CEO of Legacy Coalition, to explore the powerful spiritual influence grandparents can have on the next generation. Larry shares how Scripture opened his eyes to the calling of grandparent...

Did you know that staying connected with our kids can actually change their brain chemistry? Today, Jim welcomes Dr. Chinwé Williams—a trauma therapist, author, and speaker—for a powerful conversation about the vital role parents play in their children's emotional and spiritual development. They explore the healing power of presence, the pain that comes from disconnection, and how to balance empathy with healthy boundaries. Dr...

Is technology bringing your family closer together—or pulling it farther apart? That’s one of the key questions Jim Burns invites you to reflect on in this episode about building a media-safe home. He encourages parents to evaluate what their children are seeing and hearing, examine their own habits, and engage in ongoing conversations about technology and social media. How can we guide our kids to use technology responsibly? Jim s...

Today, Jim welcomes Cindi J. Martin, a licensed psychotherapist with over 40 years of experience in counseling and ministry. As Founder and Director of Wellspring Counseling Ministries, Cindi integrates biblical faith with mental health support to help individuals and couples heal from trauma, addiction, and relational challenges. Cindi recently released a truly excellent book called Choosing Intimacy: Exploring Christ’s Model for ...

*Trigger Warning* This episode contains adult themes around pornography and marital betrayal.

For the wife whose husband was unfaithful or discovered to have a sexual addiction, you know the pain, anger, and sense of betrayal that overtakes you. Today’s guest, Dr. Sheri Denham Keffer, knows this agony all too well - and her journey through it is what led her to help women in a similar situation today. Dr. Sheri Denham Keffer receive...

Do you consider yourself a go-with-the-flow parent? Or are you a little more rigid? When it comes to raising our kids, it turns out that flexibility and adaptability are vital to effective parenting - but that doesn’t mean boundaries and authority don’t have their place. Today, Jim welcomes Dr. Danny Huerta. Dr. Huerta is a bilingual psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, author of 7 Traits of Effective Parenting, and the V...

Forgiveness is hard. There are hurts so deep that the pain has become a familiar friend you can’t imagine life without  - so how do you move forward? Today, Jim welcomes back Ruth Graham, author, speaker, and founder of Ruth Graham Ministries, to discuss her book Forgiving My Father, Forgiving Myself. Ruth’s story is full of deep wounds that affected her for years until she discovered the true freedom found in Christ’s love and how...

‘Outdo one another in showing honor.’ - Romans 12:10 

This isn’t a marriage verse - is it? When we are looking for opportunities to “outdo” one another in honor, love, and kindness, the relationship can’t help but flourish. And if we try to “outlove” our spouse daily (not out of unhealthy competition or pride) but out of genuine desire to serve and support each other, pretty amazing things begin to happen - in AND out of the bedroom...

It’s no secret that parenting looks different now than it did when our parents and grandparents were having kids. This may even be a point of tension in how you parent now! But what are some of the golden parenting nuggets from generations gone by that may be of use today?

Today, Jim welcomes friend Rick Bundschuh: a veteran surfer, Youth Pastor, Bible Teacher, writer, cartoonist, humorist, and one of the founding Pastors who launch...

Moms, have you wanted to pass on your life experiences and instill faith in your daughter, but you’re maybe feeling unqualified and unsure where to start? This episode is for you! Today, Jim welcomes mother-daughter duo, Sandra Stanley and Allie Stanley Cooney to talk about their new book, Meet Me in The Middle, which is all about navigating conversations around life, faith, identity, relationships and more. Far more than just disc...

“Being a dad is the only thing a man does in his life without a specific plan.” - Jeff Hamilton

Cheat codes for parenting don’t exist but today’s episode with Dad Academy founder Jeff Hamilton is the next best thing. If you’re a dad and you’re desperate to do this parenting thing well and you’re not entirely sure how to do it, this one’s for you! Join Jim and Jeff as they unpack 4 key principles to father with purpose and build a la...

In today’s episode, Jim welcomes his friend Dr. Aaron Santmyire. Aaron is a husband, father, nurse practitioner, author, and host of The Clarity Podcast. Aaron has spent the last 20 years of his life serving in Africa, specifically Burkina Faso, Madagascar, and Kenya, and recently released a book called A Caring Family: Seven Virtues that Help Your Family Care Better and Love Longer. Together, Jim and Aaron dive into the value of t...

When someone we love is suffering, we can feel utterly helpless. We long to trust God, but frustration creeps in when healing doesn’t come, and exhaustion from caregiving on an empty tank weighs us down. Where can we find the hope and peace God promises in His Word?

Today, Jim welcomes author, entrepreneur, and career coach Camille Block to discuss her new book, Hope for Secondhand Suffering: Tools for the Heart When You Can’t Fix Y...