Hope In The Middle Podcast

The Hope in the Middle Podcast with Pastor Alan McGrath - messages of encouragement to help us live in the joy for which we were created.  Find more at hopeinthemiddle.com.Notes: Come like the Facebook page at facebook.com/hopeinthemiddle. Orson Welles and the "War of the Worlds." Advertising dollars care about one thing - eyeballs. Where do you get your fear? Jesus and the angels say again and again, "do not fear!" 1 John 4:18 - "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear expects pnishment.  The person who is afraid has not been made perfect in love."  CEB

The Hope in the Middle Podcast with Pastor Alan McGrath - messages of encouragement to help us live in the joy for which we were created.  Find more at hopeinthemiddle.com.   Notes: Come like the Facebook page at facebook.com/hopeinthemiddle. This episode is part two of a series on neighboring.  Part one was in episode 6. Quote from Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown - "What if we stopped celebrating being busy as a measurement of importance?  What if instead we celebrated how much time we had spent listening, pondering, meditating, and enjoying time with the most important people in our lives?" "Discipline equals freedom."  Jocko Willink on The Tim Ferriss Show. #1 - Create a Time Budget (template below this text) #2 - Leave Room for Interruptions #3 - Use Batch Processing #4 - Do it now! from Getting Things Done by David Allen. #5 - Use a Power Hour (time to focus on week or day) Luke 10:38-42

Interview with Crimson Holland, LPC from Hutto, Texas. Depression can be a silent enemy.  We may know something is wrong, but many rarely say anything.  The hope of this podcast is to begin a conversation - maybe with yourself, maybe with a close friend.  Let's allow ourselves to talk about something that we frequently keep to ourselves when others can help.As mentioned in the Podcast, please reach out to a professional if you should feel you are fighting depression.  Don't let this this recording be the last word for you, but maybe it can be the first for you or someone you love. For this Podcast, we welcome Crimson Holland as our first interview.  Crimson is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a practice in Hutto, Texas.  You can read her bio from her website. (3:20) - Who is Crimson Holland? (4:30) - and what about all of the titles for counselors? (6:07) - We are not doctors, ask a doctor if you have a question. (7:46) - What is depression?  What are the symptoms? (10:02) - What is clinical depressio

The Hope in the Middle Podcast with Pastor Alan McGrath - messages of encouragement to help us live in the joy for which we were created.  Find more at hopeinthemiddle.com.   Notes: Come like the Facebook page at facebook.com/hopeinthemiddle. Assistant City Manager, "We don't see a noticeable difference in the way Christians treat their neighbors." Jesus meets the legal expert in Luke 10:25-29. What if we took the Great Commandment literally? "When we have metaphorical love for our metaphorical neighbor" - things are easy. Find the Neighbor Chart and print it out. If we are going to love our neighbor, first we have to know their name. The Art of Neighboring by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon

The Hope in the Middle Podcast with Pastor Alan McGrath - messages of encouragement to help us live in the joy for which we were created.  Find more at hopeinthemiddle.com. Notes: If you really love music and camping (possibly in some heat), you need to check out UtopiaFest.  Two of our favorite bands this year were Leftover Salmon (bluegrass) and Calliope Musicals (fun Austin rock).  Proverbs 28:13 - "Those who hide their sins won't succeed, but those who confess and give them up will receive mercy." The Apology Setup = face to face and set up a time to meet 5 Steps to nailing that apology: (I heard the first four steps first shared by Rev. Adam Hamilton in this sermon) #1 - See the pain YOU caused. (don't rationalize or blame others) #2 - Feel Sorry #3 - Accept Responsibility "I'm sorry I" not "I'm sorry you" Bonus #1 - Don't say "if" (I'm sorry if you heard me that way) #4 - Commit to Change "from now on, I'm going to..." Bonus #2 - After step 1-4, STOP TALKING #5 - Be Patient With Them

The Hope in the Middle Podcast with Pastor Alan McGrath - messages of encouragement to help us live in the joy for which we were created.  Find more at hopeinthemiddle.com. Notes: Family Night - You HAVE to schedule it.  You claim your time or your time claims you. Be patient and flexible with the process of adding a regular night to your schedule. Some of our favorite ideas: watch a movie from a book recently read by the boys, hike and look for bugs, baseball games, bowling, and showing the boys my super old Nintendo system (the OG system). Consider the WHY: #1 - Quantity Time - both quantity and quality are important, not just quality. #2 - Anticipation - The boys really look forward to this special time. #3 - Be Here (See Episode #2) - These are our moments with our kids. For the future - Theme dinners? Have each family member pick the evening's fun (thanks Jessica!).

The Hope in the Middle Podcast with Pastor Alan McGrath - messages of encouragement to help us live in the joy for which we were created.  Find more at hopeinthemiddle.com. Notes: Not all, but some of this information can also be found in Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University Class.  Go online to find a class near you.  These tips are about JOY, not getting rich. #1 - Set a budget (and have patience in the process) #2 - Build an emergency fund #3 - Don't lend money to friends and family (if desired, just give it to them) #4 - Use cash #5 - Use a set aside account (pay the annual bills on a monthly basis) #6 - 24 Hour Rule - when you feel the adrenaline rushing, go home and sleep on it #7 - Major Surgery - some may need to make big decisions to find financial freedom #8 - Give #9 - Find a financial mentor (maybe a financial adviser)

The Hope in the Middle Podcast with Pastor Alan McGrath - messages of encouragement to help us live in the joy for which we were created.  Find more at hopeinthemiddle.com. Notes: Two goals as we travel through life: achieve or appreciate. We have forgotten to savor life - to really taste life around us. Three turns towards appreciation: #1 - Be Here "Where are you?" #2 - Pay Attention Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World #3 - Find Reverence You are part of something much larger. Action: Send your photos of your "polar bears" to Alan on the Hope in the Middle Facebook Page.

Find the show notes at hopeinthemiddle.com/podcast/01 - The Hope in the Middle Podcast with Pastor Alan McGrath - messages of encouragement to help us live in the joy for which we were created.  Find more at hopeinthemiddle.com.   Notes: Unforgiveness is that person stuck in your head.  They fill up your mental to-do list. There is a certain appeal to unforgiveness. When someone wrongs you, they owe you something. Forgiveness is the "heartfelt release of the debt someone may owe you."  (quote unknown) "...if someone has a complaint against anyone, forgive each other."  Colossians 3:13 Note #1 - There is a good chance they don't know they hurt you.  So tell 'em if you can. Note #2 - Forgiving is an act of faith where we claim God is the justice-maker and we can't do this by ourselves. Therefore, forgiveness is really about me (my faith, my feeling of worth, my trust in God, my need for revenge) Forgiveness can take time.  It doesn't happen overnight. Forgiveness is between you and God - so we can find healing