The Boundless Show

Your willingness to change, plus Jordan Raynor on why your job’s important, and when a ministry leader is dating a non-Christian. Featured musical artist: Love and the Outcome Roundtable: What Do You Need to Change? One of the most difficult yet rewarding things about adulthood is being honest with yourself when change needs to happen. Whether it’s making better choices, breaking bad habits, spending time with God, or improving your relationships, it’s healthy to own your stuff and start making adjustments. Our guests admit some of the struggles they’ve had to overcome, how they became aware of them, and what motivated them to push forward toward change and growth. Boundless Article: I Want Honest Feedback - But Not Really Boundless Article: God’s Sovereignty Doesn’t Excuse My Lazy Boundless Article: God’s Promptness is Worth Practicing Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: The Sacredness of Secular Work (Part 1) It’s easy to think your job matters to God only if you’re a pastor, missionary, or ministry worker. But what does God think of “secular” jobs? What if our jobs are just “average”? What if we’re not even sure what we want to do for a career? Jordan Raynor is an expert at helping people get connected to their calling, and this week he joins us to explain why your job has eternal value, even if it seems insignificant. The Sacredness of Secular Work: 4 Ways Your Job Matters for Eternity (Even When You’re Not Sharing the Gospel) Inbox: When a Ministry Leader Is Dating a Non-Christian She recently found out one of her friends, who happens to be a church ministry leader, is now dating a non-believer. Is it time for a hard conversation? Our counselor friend Kari weighs in. Link to Counseling Services Boundless Article: Why I’m Attracted to Guys Who Aren’t Good for Me

The influence of music, plus more from Jeanine Amapola on healthy perspectives, and Lisa Anderson shares life-altering moments in her walk with God. Featured musical artist: Austin Stone Worship Roundtable: The Power and Influence of Music It’s nearly impossible to escape the influence of music in today’s world, and with so many streaming services, curating your own sound experience is easier than ever. While there are enough styles of music to suit every mood, it’s also wise to use discernment on how we consume and internalize the songs we hear. Our guests share what music they like, how they find it, what’s nostalgic and what’s new — then they finish by each listing some of their favorite songs. Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: Healthy Perspectives for Young Adults (Part 2) What does it look like to be a truly happy and healthy person? Podcaster and young adult influencer Jeanine Amapola shares what it took for her to become a better version of who God made her to be. In part two of our conversation, she addresses the need for good habits, how to make godly choices, and living with a sense of adventure. Becoming Happy & Healthy: Real Life Advice on Friendship, Dating, Career, and Everything Else You Care About Inbox: Lisa’s Big “God Moments” The longer you walk with God, the more you will experience life-changing moments in your faith and how you live it out. Lisa Anderson recaps what some of those moments have been for her.

How long should my quiet time be? Plus Jeanine Amapola on healthy perspectives, and when someone ill withholds the news from family and friends. Featured musical artist: Abandon Roundtable: Am I Spending Enough Time With God? Read the Bible. Go to church. Listen to worship music. Pray. All of these are encouraged in our Christian walk. But is there a “magic number” of how much time we should dedicate to God when our schedules are loaded with work, friends, family and other activities? Our guests share strategies that have helped them make time for God, what “enough time” looks like for them, and why prioritizing God matters. Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: Healthy Perspectives for Young Adults (Part 1) What does it look like to be a truly happy and healthy person? Podcaster and young adult influencer Jeanine Amapola shares what it took for her to become a better version of who God made her to be. In part one of our conversation, she shares about a life-changing trip she took in 2019, how to submit your expectations to God, and embracing the life He gave you with confidence. Becoming Happy & Healthy: Real Life Advice on Friendship, Dating, Career, and Everything Else You Care About Inbox: Should Someone Who’s Sick Inform Others? When someone gets a serious diagnosis, should they tell family and friends or is it OK to keep quiet? Counselor Tim Sanford weighs in.

Unique ways to enjoy spring, plus trusting God with your vocational dreams, and why should we pray if God’s plan will happen anyway? Featured musical artist: Hollyn Roundtable: Spring is Here! What’s your favorite part about spring? For some, it’s the warm weather; for others it may be flowers blooming, spring activities or something else. This week we gather around the table to share why we love this time of year, what we look forward to, and what common and unique activities might inspire you to make the most of spring. Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: Making Sense of Your Big Dreams Are your dreams big enough? Maybe you have big dreams but are afraid to admit them. You want to follow God anywhere, use your talents and passions, and see lives changed — but what about being comfortable? What about family? What about earning a paycheck and building your 401K? Wai Jia Tam felt the call as a teenager to help underserved children around the world. She also wanted to be a doctor, earn money and please her parents. She shares her incredible story of how God unfolded and enabled her dream one step at a time. God has used Wai Jia in ways she never imagined, and her encouragement to us is to never underestimate what God can do to move us for His purposes and kingdom. Dream Brave: A Dare to Live by Faith When You Feel Too Small Find Wai Jia’s Website Wai Jia’s Instagram Articles by Wai Jia Tam Inbox: Why Pray if God’s in Control? We know that God is sovereign and His plans will prevail. If that’s the case, why should we pray? Counselor Jerry Jones weighs in.

How to maximize your weekends, plus Nancy Pearcey talks toxic masculinity, and should you tell a guy at church you want him to ask you out? Featured musical artist: Kerrie Roberts Roundtable: Ready for the Weekend! We all look forward to the weekend, but how should we make the best use of our time and freedom? Our guests share what they love about Saturdays and Sundays, plus a few helpful ideas for prioritizing and managing our time, and common pitfalls to avoid that can gobble up precious hours and leave us feeling unproductive. Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: The Truth About Toxic Masculinity Men today hear cultural messages on what it means to be a man: make lots of money, drive a nice car, date a beautiful girl; in short, be powerful and successful. But these things are self-driven and the opposite of what God calls masculinity: leading selflessly; protecting, providing for, and serving others. Professor Nancy Pearcey is a well-known researcher and writer on this topic, and joins us to separate the truth from the lies when it comes to appropriate manifestations of manhood in our families, churches and communities. The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes Find Nancy’s Website Inbox: Should I Tell Him I Like Him? She’s known a guy at her church for two years and has hung out with him socially many times. She really wants him to ask her out, so is it time to admit her feelings? Lisa Anderson weighs in. Boundless Episode: I’ll Ask You Out If…: Episode 138 Boundless Article: Is it OK for a woman to ask out a man?

Know if the person you’re dating is maturing or not, plus overcoming body image issues, and favorite foods of the Boundless team. Featured musical artist: David Dunn Roundtable: Prioritizing Growth in Dating Maturing together can be one of the greatest joys of dating someone. But how can you tell if the person you’re seeing is truly pursuing growth — or if they’re all talk and no action? Our panel shares strategies for assessing if your significant other is actually maturing, how to not be someone’s Holy Spirit, and why you need to be humble and teachable yourself. Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: A Conversation About Body Image Dr. Becky Taylor battled disordered eating and body image as a teenager and young adult — a struggle that still has ramifications in her life today. She’s now an eating disorder expert and professor at Colorado Christian University where she daily counsels young adults on body image issues of all kinds (e.g. not just food). In our conversation, she shows us how to embrace our God-given identities, how to recognize wrong perspectives, and where to start on a journey toward healing — including a powerful lesson from the children’s book “When God Made You.” Table for Two: Biblical Counsel for Eating Disorders Link to Counseling Services Find Becky Taylor Inbox: What’s Your Favorite Food? We received a light-hearted question about our favorite foods. The entire Boundless team weighs in with our opinions!

What your style aesthetic says about you, plus finding value in entertainment, and how to be a better listener. Featured musical artist: Nathan Tasker Roundtable: Trendsetters and Old Souls Fashion choices, home decor, life hacks, music and more. All of these are indicators of our culture — or our resistance to it. When it comes to being current or wishing for times past, where do you fit in? Our guests describe their place on the cultural continuum, talk through the pros and cons, and suggest how to appreciate people who are different from yourself. Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: What Good Entertainment Teaches Us We can learn a lot from the entertainment we consume — especially films and television. Understanding a culture, or someone’s unique experience, or even learning about history — all of these can be accomplished by watching a well-told story. This week our Plugged In experts address how movies can be good conversation starters, and they’ll give us some of their best recommendations to get us going. Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family: How to Navigate a Media-Saturated World–and Why We Should Link to Plugged In Website Inbox: Am I Talking Too Much? Our listener says that when she gets together with friends, she finds herself talking too much. She wants to be a better listener, but how? One of our counselors weighs in. Link to Counseling Services

Identifying sneaky (and often accepted) idols, plus how to stay away from online scammers, and understanding the basics of holistic health. Featured musical artist: Aaron Shust Roundtable: Tearing Down Our Most Common Idols We all have things we enjoy — and many of them are very good things. Maybe you love sports, or working out, or doing the job you do. Maybe you desire to be married, or maybe you have fun following your favorite celebrities or even Christian influencers on social media. But at what point do these things become idols? Are you afraid they’ve eclipsed your faith and even God himself in your own time and affections? Our guests describe some of the idols they’ve propped up, how they finally got honest with themselves, and what they did to reprioritize their hearts and attention. Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: Protect Yourself From Online Scams Identity theft. Social media scams. Bank account hacks. With so many opportunities to fall prey to online scammers, how do you keep yourself safe? Cybersecurity expert Rhett Saunders divulges the latest tricks and traps, and shares steps you can take to avoid being ripped off online. The 40-Day Social Media Fast: Exchange Your Online Distractions for Real-Life Devotion PDF: Tips for a Safe Online Life Inbox: Taking Care of Your Temple Living a healthy lifestyle is not just nutrition, sleep or mental health. It’s all of that and so much more. God cares about our bodies — not just our souls — so how do we follow biblical principles for treating our bodies as the temples He says they are? Counselor Patrick Hill weighs in. Link to Counseling Services

Finding fun and inspiration in other women, plus Bailey Hurley on what to look for in a friend, and when you’re frustrated with where life has you. Featured musical artist: All Sons & Daughters Roundtable: Finding Quality Female Friends Ladies, who’s someone from your friend group you can laugh and have fun with? And who inspires and challenges you? The truth is, we need both types of friends. This week, a group of women tells which of their friendships bring out the best in them, how they cultivate them, and why these types of friendships matter. Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: Friendship That Goes the Distance What’s the current state of your friendships? As a friendship coach, Bailey Hurley is passionate about helping people develop healthy relationships. She joins us this week to share strategic filters she applies for choosing friends, how to have realistic expectations of others, and what it looks like to be a giver and not just a taker. Together Is a Beautiful Place: Finding, Keeping, and Loving Our Friends Inbox: Should I Be Further Along in Life? At age 25, our listener isn’t sure what he wants to do for a career. It’s to a point where he’s feeling aimless and frustrated. How can he figure out what kind of job he wants and if it’ll be enough to provide for a family? Counselor Joannie DeBrito weighs in.

Finding fun and inspiration in other men, plus Scott Kedersha on doing devotions as a dating couple, and how guys can serve single moms. Featured musical artist: Love and the Outcome Roundtable: Finding Quality Male Friends Guys, who’s someone from your friend group you can laugh and have fun with? And who inspires and challenges you? The truth is, we need both types of friends. This week, a group of guys tells which of their friendships bring out the best in them, how they cultivate them, and why these types of friendships matter. Leave Us a Voicemail Find Us on YouTube Culture: Devotions for Dating Couples Spiritual compatibility is the most important part of your dating relationship, but we’ve heard that going too deep spiritually with your date can force inappropriate intimacy. Is there a balance? Pastor Scott Kedersha from Harris Creek Baptist Church has written a devotional for couples who are dating or engaged. He’ll discuss healthy boundaries in praying with your date, how to study the Bible together, and why knowing a person’s spiritual patterns and beliefs is good intel for assessing marriage potential. The Ready or Knot Prayer Guide: 100 Prayers for Dating and Engaged Couples Inbox: Men Serving Single Moms Our listener has many friends who are single mothers. He wants to reach out and offer practical help, but how can he do so without overstepping his bounds? Counselor Patrick Hill weighs in.

Help your married friends set you up, plus how to read the news with discernment, and thoughts on dating couples doing devotions together. Featured musical artist: JJ Heller Roundtable: Your Role in Being Set Up It’s flattering when friends and family try to set you up. It can lead to a happy and successful dating relationship — or even marriage. At other times, it can lead to awkwardness and strained friendships. Our guests share their perspectives on the dos and don’ts of successful setups. With funny stories and practical takeaways, this conversation will give you tools to make your dating journey smoother and more fun. Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: How to Navigate the News Today’s news is littered with bias. Everyone has an agenda, and it’s hard to separate the facts from opinion, interpretation, and flat-out manipulation. How can we determine what’s actual news and ensure we’re getting all sides of a story? Paul Batura and Gary Schneeberger are both communications pros and news junkies, having worked in radio, newspapers, public relations and beyond. They’ll share their best tips for practicing discernment when taking in headlines and commentary from around the world. A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World Link to Daily Citizen Inbox: Doing Devotions as a Couple You and your boyfriend or girlfriend want to encourage growth in each other’s relationship with God, but should that involve praying and studying Scripture together? Counselor Glenn Lutjens weighs in.

Improve your listening skills, plus breaking negative family patterns, and why should Christians dress modestly? Featured musical artist: About a Mile Roundtable: Improve Your Listening Skills Listening is a lost art. It’s also a skill that requires focus, intention, and care for the other person. While some people are naturally better listeners, anyone can get better at making others feel heard. Our guests discuss their own struggles with listening and talk through ideas for improvement including focus, honest feedback, and how to handle interactions with a poor listener. Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: Breaking Bad Family Cycles We’ve all been affected by family brokenness. For some, it was our parents’ divorce. Others had a parent abandon them. Still others grew up in homes filled with anger, blame, shame or grief. With so much heartbreak and negative history, many young adults wonder if having their own family someday is even worth it. Members of our Focus on the Family counseling team give us hope for starting over, breaking cycles, and honoring God in the process. Hope Again: When Life Hurts and Dreams Fade Link to Counseling Services Inbox: Does God Care What I Wear? Christians talk about how it’s important to dress modestly, but why, and what does that actually mean? Counselor Joannie DeBrito weighs in.

Fun ideas for boosting your intelligence, plus Alisa Childers tackles more sneaky cultural lies, and is dating multiple people at once OK? Featured musical artist: John Waller Roundtable: Boost Your Intelligence You don’t need to spend all your free time scrolling social media or binging Netflix. What if you resolved to improve your intelligence in 2024? Our guests share what areas they want to become more competent in this year and why. They’ll also discuss how they plan to make it happen without becoming performance-driven or arrogant. Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: The World Is Lying to Us (Part 2) Have you heard someone reference “their truth”? It may sound harmless — even affirming — but it’s a concept that is founded on a lie. Sadly, numerous untruths have infiltrated our cultural vocabulary, and sometimes even Christians don’t recognize how deceptive they are. Christian apologist and author Alisa Childers joins us for a candid conversation around unbiblical statements, platitudes and promises that sound good but are in fact dangerous. In part two she addresses the myths of “God just wants you to be happy,” “You shouldn’t judge,” and “It’s all about love.” Live Your Truth and Other Lies: Exposing Popular Deceptions That Make Us Anxious, Exhausted, and Self-Obsessed Inbox: Is Dating Multiple People OK? Is it acceptable to date multiple people at the same time? Our host Lisa Anderson weighs in.

Staying inspired even when it’s tough, plus Alisa Childers tackles sneaky cultural lies, and should you move to a new state for a fresh start? Featured musical artist: Tauren Wells Roundtable: How Can I Stay Motivated? We’re several weeks into the new year — and it’s already hard to sustain those big plans and goals we made on January 1 for starting something great or stopping something unhealthy. Staying the course is no easy task, but what if there are ways to remain inspired and continue making progress, even on days when you feel like giving up? Our panel discusses how they’re staying motivated this year. Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: The World Is Lying to Us (Part 1) Have you heard someone reference “their truth”? It may sound harmless — even affirming — but it’s a concept that is founded on a lie. Sadly, numerous untruths have infiltrated our cultural vocabulary, and sometimes even Christians don’t recognize how deceptive they are. Christian apologist and author Alisa Childers joins us for a candid conversation around unbiblical statements, platitudes and promises that sound good but are in fact dangerous. In part one she covers the myths of “Live your truth,” “You are enough,” and “You should put yourself first.” Live Your Truth and Other Lies: Exposing Popular Deceptions That Make Us Anxious, Exhausted, and Self-Obsessed Inbox: Should I Move to a New State? Our listener wants to move somewhere with a higher percentage of young adults who love the outdoors and hiking. But is this enough reason to uproot and relocate? Boundless producer John Peardon weighs in.

Finding activities in colder months, plus Mark Bates outlines the essentials of Christianity, and is playing lots of video games a sin? Featured musical artist: Zach Williams Roundtable: Don’t Wish Winter Away Now that the holidays are over and the hustle and bustle has died down, the temptation to hibernate is strong. The days are short and cold, activities are limited, and creativity and motivation easily give way to Netflix and napping. Can you make the most of the winter months, both inside and outdoors? Our guests offer their best ideas. Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: Marks of a True Christian Lots of people call themselves Christians. But even the Bible says that not everyone who claims Christ belongs to Him. So how can you know if you’re truly saved? What are the essentials we must believe and do? Pastor Mark Bates breaks down the necessary things for true Christians to agree on. True Community The Focused Pastor Inbox: How Much Time Playing Video Games Is Sinful? If you enjoy playing video games, how do you gauge if the amount of time you play them is too much? Can it even become sinful? And are certain games just flat-out wrong to play? Counselor Jeff Brown weighs in. Link to Counseling Services Link to Plugged In Website

Bringing optimism into 2024, plus Kait and JJ Tomlin answer your questions, and what if your church lacks a ministry to singles? Boundless Guides to Marrying Well Featured musical artist: Covenant Worship Roundtable: A Healthy Perspective for the New Year People are forecasting growth and setting goals for 2024, but what does it look like to bring genuine hope into your new year? Our guests discuss setting a healthy framework for the coming months, and how they (and we) can focus on blessings and opportunities rather than the discouraging headlines and circumstances around us. Whether you’re a natural optimist or more prone to cynicism and discouragement, this conversation will help. Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: “Heart of Dating” Hosts Kait & JJ Tomlin (Part 2) You may know Kait Warman as the host of the popular “Heart of Dating” podcast. Now married to JJ Tomlin, Kait is back on our show (with JJ this time). Last week they shared their story of meeting, dating, and marrying, and this week they answer relationship questions from our listeners. Boundless Guides to Marrying Well Link to Heart of Dating Website Inbox: No Church Ministry for Singles You long for connection with other singles at your church, but what can you do if your congregation doesn’t have a dedicated space for that — especially for those who are post-college? Lisa Anderson weighs in.

Reasons to go on a missions trip, plus Kait and JJ Tomlin from the “Heart of Dating” podcast, and how can you measure spiritual maturity? Featured musical artist: Hollyn Roundtable: Why Go on a Missions Trip? Churches and organizations are already advertising opportunities to join them on missions trips next year. Should you give one a try? Our guests have seen firsthand the fruit of giving their time and talent in other cultural contexts, and give helpful insight into what to expect, how to find a good fit, and what missions trips are and aren’t. Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: “Heart of Dating” Hosts Kait & JJ Tomlin (Part 1) You may know Kait Warman as the host of the popular “Heart of Dating” podcast. Now married to JJ Tomlin, Kait is back on our show (with JJ this time) so they can tell their story of meeting, overcoming assumptions and an age difference, preparing for marriage, and now doing ministry together. Heads-up: Next week they’ll answer your dating questions. Resource Offer: Boundless Guides to Marrying Well Link to Heart of Dating Website Inbox: Is My Faith Growing? Spiritual maturity is essential for Christians, but it’s a process. How do you know if there’s growth in your life, and how do you actively pursue it? Pastor Mark Bates offers advice.

A 2023 goals report card, plus firsthand help for addiction recovery (part two), and can you study the Bible without it getting repetitive? Featured musical artist: Phil Wickham Roundtable: What Happened to Our 2023 Resolutions? Do you remember what your goals were at the beginning of the year? Our team looked back at our aspirations for 2023 and how (if?) we actually saw them through. We share the highs and lows of this year, how we hoped to grow, what we wanted to accomplish, and what we might change heading into 2024, Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: An Inside Look at Addiction (Part 2) Addiction is no small thing, and one of the most painful experiences is falling prey to it, or seeing a friend or family member do so. Addicts either don’t think they have a problem, or assume it’s something to “fix” if they can muster up the willpower — but it goes so much deeper than that. Dr. Ken Harmon and Dr. Trent Langhofer, both former addicts, are now pastors and recovery experts whom God is using to help others. In part two of our conversation, they share the dos and don’ts of helping someone trapped in addiction. Healing the Scars of Addiction: Reclaiming Your Life and Moving Into a Healthy Future Link to Counseling Services Inbox: Does Your Bible Reading Seem Repetitive? Is there a way to read the Bible or devotional books without them feeling repetitive? Pastor Mark Bates weighs in. Boundless Advent Devotional

Pastors’ tips for finding a great small group, plus firsthand help for addiction recovery, and should a guy give a girl a gift on the first date? Featured musical artist: Je’kob Roundtable: How to Choose a Small Group We talk a lot about how one of the best ways to connect to other believers and truly grow is by “making the big church small.” Getting involved in a small group can do just that. But how do you find a small group that’s a good fit? And what makes a small group successful? Two pastors with tons of experience in Christian community and discipleship share what makes a good small group, how groups can go deeper, different types of groups to try, and when to walk away and try something else. Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: An Inside Look at Addiction (Part 1) Addiction is no small thing, and one of the most painful experiences is falling prey to it, or seeing a friend or family member do so. Addicts either don’t think they have a problem, or assume it’s something to “fix” if they can muster up the willpower — but it goes so much deeper than that. Dr. Ken Harmon and Dr. Trent Langhofer, both former addicts, are now pastors and recovery experts whom God is using to help others. In part one of our conversation, they share their stories and give common misconceptions about addiction and recovery. Healing the Scars of Addiction: Reclaiming Your Life and Moving Into a Healthy Future Link to Counseling Services Inbox: Should Guys Give a Gift on a First Date? Is bringing a gift on your first date appropriate? Lisa Anderson weighs in. Boundless Advent Devotional

Killer Christmas party ideas, plus Mark Ballenger on prioritizing God while dating, and a question about same-sex attraction and celibacy. Featured musical artist: Darlene Zschech Roundtable: Christmas Party Planning It’s that time of year: decorations, holiday tunes, Christmas cookies, ugly sweaters, and yes, Christmas parties. Most people can host a ho-hum Christmas party, but if you want yours to be next-level, you need this conversation. Our party people share tips for including introverts, melding friend groups, serving food, curating music, making memories and more. Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: God’s Role in Your Dating Life If you’ve ever watched the popular YouTube channel ApplyGodsWord.com, you’ve seen Mark Ballenger offer biblical dating and marriage advice. This week he shares his personal stories, plus how to overcome past hurts, blow past preconceived notions, and keep God at the center of all your dating decisions. Christ-Centered Dating: Pursuing a Relationship That Glorifies God Watch Mark’s YouTube Channel Mark’s Website Our listener struggles with same-sex attraction and is wondering if this means he’s destined to remain celibate forever. Gender and sexuality expert Jeff Johnston weighs in. Link to Counseling Services Boundless Advent Devotional Hear Jeff Johnston’s Testimony Find Articles by Jeff Johnston