This vs. That

On this episode of This vs. That, we talk with Dr. Nate Brooks about navigating the tension between honesty and cynicism when dealing with chronic illness. We discuss how the church often struggles to address the realities of chronic pain in authentic ways, sometimes offering shallow platitudes rather than genuine understanding. Dr. Brooks, an associate professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and founder of Courage C...

On this episode of This vs. That, we talk with Harrison Scott Key, author of the incredibly popular book "How To Stay Married" as well as "Congratulations, Who Are You Again?" and "The World's Largest Man" (winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor).

We explore the theme of fairytale versus real marriage through Harrison's raw, honest, and often humorous account of marital betrayal. Harris...

On this episode of This vs. That, we explore the profound topic of rejection and how we respond to it with our special guest Tabitha Panariso. We dive into the contrast between hiding and being held when facing rejection in our lives. Tabitha, a licensed professional counselor, writer, and speaker, shares her personal journey with rejection and how these experiences shaped her identity.

We discuss why rejection leaves us feeling so ...

On this episode of This vs. That, we explore the relationship between the church and outside counseling resources. Our guest, Garrett Higbee, shares his extensive experience as founder of 12 Stones and president of Soul Care Consulting International.

We discuss the challenges churches face when navigating the counseling world, from concerns about liability to questions about theological alignment. Garrett offers insights on how cou...

On this episode of This vs. That, we explore the topic of nourished souls vs. starved souls with guest Kristen Wetherell, author of "Help for the Hungry Soul."

We discuss why Christians sometimes lose their appetite for God's Word and how to recognize the signs of spiritual malnourishment. Kristen shares personal insights about her own struggles with treating Bible reading as a checklist rather than an encounter with ...

On this episode of This vs. That, we explore the tension between accepting limitations and neglecting responsibility with Kelly Kapic, Professor of Theological Studies at Covenant College. Kelly, author of "Your Only Human" and the upcoming devotional "You Were Never Meant To Do It All," shares his personal struggles with productivity culture and the constant pressure to do more.

We discuss how human dependency—o...

On this episode of This vs. That, we welcome Kyle Worley, founder and lead pastor of Mosaic Church in Richardson, Texas. We explore the profound concept of our identity in Christ and what it means to be adopted as children of God. Kyle unpacks how our relationship with God as Father transcends mere acquittal from a holy judge—it's an invitation into a family where we are welcomed and delighted in despite our unworthiness. We di...

On this episode of This vs. That, we explore the critical distinction between pastoral care and counseling with Dr. Jeremy Pierre. We dive into how these two forms of care overlap and where they differ, examining the unique role each plays in the spiritual formation of believers.

Drawing from his 22 years of experience as both a pastor and professor, Dr. Pierre helps us understand how counseling serves as a specific tool within the...

On this episode of This vs. That, we explore the concept of whole body theology and how it differs from the body positivity movement with bestselling author Lisa Whittle. We discuss her forthcoming book Body and Soul, which takes a biblical look at how God created us to be whole persons - body and soul.

We examine why simply having good feelings about our bodies isn't enough, and how understanding Christ's incarnation and &...

On this episode of This vs. That, we sit down with Eric Schumacher to explore the profound concept of weakness in Christian life. We discuss how recognizing our limitations and dependence on God's grace can lead to greater freedom and spiritual growth.

Eric shares personal insights from his latest book, addressing the paradox of working diligently while maintaining complete reliance on God's strength.

We examine how understa...

On this episode of This vs. That, we tackle the complex balance between church and family priorities in ministry life. We welcome special guests Jenna Allen and Stephanie Gilbert from Pastors' Wives Tell All who share raw, honest perspectives about navigating the demands of church leadership while protecting family wellbeing. Through candid conversation, we explore how to set healthy boundaries, support children in ministry fam...

On this episode of This vs. That, we explore how to effectively help those suffering from depression without unintentionally causing more harm. Our guest Kathryn Butler, a former trauma surgeon turned writer, shares her unique perspective from both sides of depression - as a medical professional and as someone who has experienced it personally.

We discuss the complexities of depression, including its various causes and manifestation...

On this episode of This vs. That, we explore the tension between hope and despair in the face of evil with guest Collin Hansen, vice president and editor-in-chief of The Gospel Coalition. We tackle one of Christianity's most challenging questions: Where is God in a world of suffering?

Collin shares insights from his forthcoming book and his years of wrestling with difficult questions of faith. We discuss practical ways to cultivate ...

On this episode of This vs. That, we explore the challenging balance between anxious parenting vs. parenting with hope. We're joined by author and speaker Melissa Kruger, who brings wisdom and practical insights to this important conversation.

We discuss how parental anxiety manifests in different seasons - from checking if babies are breathing to teaching teens to drive. We examine how social media amplifies parenting pressures...

On this episode of This vs. That, we explore the important distinction between practical theology and prideful theology with guest Wendy Alsup, author and math professor.

We discuss how true theology should lead to humility and practical life changes, while examining why theological discussions sometimes become prideful and condescending. Through personal stories and biblical wisdom, we unpack how genuine knowledge of God naturally...

On this episode of This vs. That, we explore the complex relationship between neglecting and embracing emotions with Joe Hussung, Director of Ministry Partnership and Senior Counselor atFieldstone Counseling. Our conversation examines the role of emotions in the Christian life, cultural differences in emotional expression, and how the Bible speaks to our emotional experiences.

Joe brings unique insights from his doctoral work on...

On this episode of This vs. That, we explore the fascinating topic of good stress versus bad stress with our guest Eliza Huie, Director of Counseling at McLean Bible Church and biblical counseling instructor at Reform Theological Seminary.

We discuss how certain types of stress can actually be beneficial for growth and motivation, while other forms can be detrimental to our wellbeing. Drawing from her expertise as a licensed profe...

On this episode of This vs. That, we sit down with Robert Cheong, founder of Gospel Care Ministries and former pastor of care at Sojourn Church Midtown.

We explore the critical distinction between normal ministry tiredness and burnout, discussing how we can recognize the signs when regular exhaustion begins shifting toward burnout.

Drawing from his extensive pastoral experience, Robert shares valuable insights on maintaining heal...

On this episode of This vs. That, we sit down with Toni Collier, founder of Broken Crayons Still Color. We explore the powerful contrast between hiding vs. healing, as Toni shares her journey from a challenging childhood to becoming an author and speaker. We discuss what it truly means to heal, the importance of being honest with our pain, and how we can find hope and security in Christ even when life falls apart. With raw authenti...