Why would a person take his own life, especially a young person who has so much to live for? When our natural instinct is to do everything in our power to preserve and protect our personal well-being, why would anyone kill himself? Suicide, though, doesn’t end all pain because it is never a solitary act with a single consequence of a life ended. When one person takes his/her life, a host of other lives are sucked into the vortex. Every person who commits suicide leaves others behind lamenting the loss, sometimes for the rest of their lives—colleagues and friends, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, children. Jon Noyes, from the ministry Stand to Reason, joined us and shared that suicide has impacted his own family and explains how this topic goes far deeper than an academic conversation.

https://www.str.org/w/suicide-when-hope-runs-out

CRU: Suicide Prevention Resources

Dial 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to talk to someone now https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/life-and-relationships/hardships/suicide-prevention-resources.html

Focus on the Family: Suicide - Resources 800-232-6459 https://www.focusonthefamily.com/resources-suicide/

If you need to talk, the 988 Lifeline is here. At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be difficult. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone. https://988lifeline.org/

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Remember Christian singer/songwriter Keith Green? Here’s a line from the song How Can They Live Without Jesus: “…he’s not just a religion/With steeples and bells/Or a salesman who will sell you/The things you just want to hear..”That first line in particular. It was clear that Green – born in 1953 – had that Boomer suspicion of all things structured about the faith. For him, sincerity lay in a lack of structure.

The more structure the less real. The less real the less likely to be how Jesus would have done it. By stating that Jesus is not “just” a religion with the familiar markings of a church building, and the calls to worship that bells ensued, he was seeking to distance the gospel from the conservative formalism that so many Boomers had rejected in the culture, not just in church. Green gave tens of thousands of his albums away for free, and refused to charge for his concerts. He practiced what he preached.

Note an irony about those two lines I just quoted.The rejection and removal of the former was often accompanied by the uncritical adoption of the latter. Enter the “seeker sensitive movement” in the church. How did this play out? Blogger and pastor Stephen McAlpine joined us to explain.

https://stephenmcalpine.com/keith-green-bill-hybels-and-the-loss-of-steeples-and-bells/

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Forgiveness. It is so much easier to talk about forgiveness, if you don't have someone in mind to forgive. The truth is, how can we withhold forgiveness from others, when those in Christ have been forgiven much? Listeners weighed in with stories of how they have been hurt.....and how God has helped them to forgive.

https://revdaveharvey.com/2024/07/23/3-questions-to-ask-about-forgiveness-2/

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Pastor, author, and church planter, Christopher Ash, writes this: “For some years now I have been on a voyage of discovery in the book of Psalms. In particular, I have wanted to know how we, as new covenant believers today, ought to read and sing the Psalms.” Isn’t that great? He joined us and shared four Psalms you didn't realize point to Christ!

https://www.crossway.org/articles/4-psalms-you-didnt-realize-point-to-christ/

https://www.crossway.org/books/the-psalms-hcj-5/

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God used George Sweeting in amazing ways! He went home to be with the Lord at the age of 99 a few days ago. We wanted to set aside some time to honor Dr. Sweeting. Longtime Moody Radio personality, Ruth Dinwiddie, joined us in studio to reflect on a life well lived for the glory of God!

Dr. George Sweeting (1924–2024) | Moody Bible Institute

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What’s your take on near-death and deathbed experiences? Do such experiences typically lead people away from their faith traditions? Do they teach that everyone should expect a wonderful afterlife? Do they teach that there is no judgment? Are they more consistent with Christian teachings or other worldviews, such as New Age beliefs? Do distressing NDEs/DBEs give evidence for hell and forces of evil? Do such experiences encourage us to consult mediums and delve into the occult, or warn us against such practices? What does the Bible say about these experiences? Dr. Steve Miller has extensively studied NDE's and joined us to help answer these questions!

https://www.amazon.com/Christianity-Compatible-Deathbed-near-Death-Experiences/dp/0988304864

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How can I pick the right job? Actually, you don't need to choose a job that's "perfect for you." But you do need to be productive in ways that honor God in your work life. Here's a better question: As a believer, how can I determine what I am supposed to do, and then do it well? The doctrine of calling, or vocation, will lead you to the answer. This is a great topic to dive into for all of us as believers, but especially those who are on the younger side of the equation!

https://www.amazon.com/Finding-My-Vocation-Seeking-Calling/dp/1959515292

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You never know where the conversation is going to take us! While debating which instruments are easy to play, Office Manager Cindy was reminded of her kids playing the kazoo in a song that Psalty the Singing Songbook used to sing. The reference helped us take a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Kurt, Kate and several listeners reminded us all of the childhood bible shows that made a lasting impact on our lives!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svks0JzOyY8

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