THINQ Media Podcast

Growing up with parents who were gay, Caleb Kaltenbach was part of the gay rights movement from an early age. But when he became a Christian, his parents were furious, having seen so much hatred aimed at them from the Christian community. Caleb - who eventually became a pastor - shares his story of how he journeyed through this disagreement with his parents and gained empathy for those who think differently.

VOMO is powering today's movement of volunteers to change the world. Listen in as Rob Peabody, CEO of VOMO, and Gabe Lyons discuss the importance of volunteering in community and ways you, and your networks can better engage your city for good. VOMO makes volunteering easy and effortless. Join the movement for good at https://www.vomo.org Powering today's movement of volunteers to change the world. VOMO is powering a global volunteer movement by providing people and organizations with the technology needed to initiate projects, connect to community causes, and to measure and amplify the impact of community volunteering.

America was a divided nation since her founding. How can we understand the differences and appreciate their origins? Bestselling author, Colin Woodard suggests that America is an amalgamation of 11 different regions. While many still wonder what led to a Trump election, Colin saw the writing on the wall through his research and understanding of how America works. Hear his unique perspective on overcoming our differences by understanding where we come from and where we're going.

What are the rights all women should possess and live out? Noel Yeatts of World Help shares the state of women across the world today and the opportunity that can come from focusing on the true global issues facing women. What are you doing with your freedom of choice?

We live in an age of innovation, and a debate is raging about whether technology is improving our lives or making them worse. But Kevin Kelly, co-founder of Wired Magazine, says we're not asking the right questions. He believes we need to find out what technology is really after. Can technology be a force for the greater good, and if so, how do we thoughtfully engage new inventions? Kevin will attempt to construct a radically fresh answer to one of culture's nagging questions.

When have you felt moments of freedom in your life? Most of us glimpse this freedom less and less as we pursue other endeavors: achievement, career, family, or success. Author Rebekah Lyons reminds us that God has created us — at the core of who we are — to be someone unique and beautiful, and free. Through sharing her own story and search for freedom, Rebekah will encourage us to uncover who we already are: free in Christ and deeply loved.

Our lives are increasingly complex and so is our modern world. As a result, Christians often struggle to connect what they believe with what they do day by day. Paul Williams and Terry Timm share their vision for how ReFrame provides a Biblical foundation for how God is renewing all of creation. How does our story and day to day life fit into God's story? Learn how Christians can better connect faith with all of life.

Forty-six percent of Americans believe religion is part of the problem in our society. Yet faith is the motivation for many of the critical social services and programs that benefit the most vulnerable populations. Congregations, faith-based businesses, and charities lift people up in times of need in ways that few other institutions or government programs can. In this conversation, you will see the important role faith-based organizations play in renewing civil society.

Listen in as Gabe Lyons shares a conversation with Jason Pamer, filmmaker, producer and writer of the upcoming film, The Heart of Man, releasing in theaters for a one-night only special event on September 14. The Heart of Man is a story inviting the sons and daughters of God to leave behind our broken, moralistic and religious way of thinking and relating to God and to others. Once we begin to know who God is (and as a result who we are), we have something to invite the world into. Freedom from performance. Freedom from managing our behavior so we appear acceptable to God. Freedom from our addictions, compulsive behaviors, secrecy and double lives. This film tears the veil of confusion over the church's current identity crisis and enables it to invite the rest of the world to the banquet God is throwing all of us.

A study by The Design Council found that companies who emphasize design in their business dealings perform 200 percent better on the Stock Exchange than those who don't. Design isn't just about graphics and colors; it's in the aesthetics of a space. Danae Dougherty speaks from her background in designing spaces that create environments for real connection. She reflects on why beauty and design matter, and why it is so important to use design to foster relationships.

Much of what's happening in the American justice system remains overlooked. America boasts the highest rate of incarceration in the world, but even more alarming are the system's endemic injustices. Minority communities are far more afflicted by the justice system, a reality that affects the psyches of the children who grow up in them. Additionally, our system treats you much better if you're rich and guilty than if you are poor and innocent. Bryan Stevenson believes these realities are fundamentally changing our world, and he's devoted his life's work to finding solutions.

Jackie Hill-Perry knows that a life well lived speaks volumes in a world of contradiction. As individualism becomes common and pursuing your deepest feelings and desires is perceived as heroic, denying one's self is revolutionary. Her story of denying sexual desires to pursue true flourishing gives witness to a better way. A spoken word artist, Jackie will help us think through how self-denial can be what it was always meant to be inside our churches.

Over half of children think their parents check their phone too often, with a quarter of parents agreeing they want to look at their devices less. Yet it's difficult to pry ourselves away from technology, so social media is in large part making us less social. Andy Crouch reflects on these issues in his forthcoming book, The Techwise Family, and will help us think through utilizing tech in a way that contributes to relationships instead of taking away from them.

Drought. Food shortages. Conflict. These are deadly forces that children throughout East Africa are facing. Areas in South Sudan and Somalia are on the brink of catastrophe. Kenya and Ethiopia face severe drought. Tens of thousands of children could starve to death because of food and water shortages. But this crisis isn't hitting the news as it should. 25.5 million people, our brothers and sisters, are at risk of starvation. This hunger crisis is likely to be the most devastating since we were kids and witnessed Ethiopia's famine. Rich Stearns (President, World Vision US) and Gabe Lyons share a heartfelt conversation on the details and scope of this hunger crisis and what you can directly do about it today and the days to come. Want to learn more about the hunger crisis and what you can do? FAMINE & HUNGER IN AFRICA: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW MAKE AN IMPACT THROUGH GIVING & SHARING

The very last words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew are summed up in The Great Commission, a call for the Church to make disciples. Yet the Church has approached this process in different ways throughout history. How are today's Christians carrying out the Great Commission, and what are the unique challenges to disciple-making in the 21st Century? Ed Stetzer presents new research on this topic as he paints a portrait of the future of discipleship.

Gabe Lyons had a conversation with Jeremy Courtney about how the idea of loving anyway is changing lives in Iraq and Syria. Jeremy is the founder and president of Preemptive Love, an organization serving the refugee, the oppressed and the most vulnerable.

For thousands of years, mystics and Church fathers have understood the havoc the seven deadly sins reap in the human heart. But in a culture disinterested in a vocabulary of sin, these shadow sides can fester. Author and Enneagram expert, Ian Cron, suggests we each have blind spots—areas of temptation we're uniquely prone to—that keep us from being who God has made us to be.

We are increasingly losing touch with what it means to be human: how we treat one another, where meaning is derived from, and what purpose we are here to serve. Mark Sayers sees this not as a reason to despair, but as an opportunity for the church to meet the needs of this moment through discipleship. As the culture fails to meaningfully address what it means to be human, what opportunities might that create?

Forty percent of Americans believe that those with opposing political views pose a threat to the nation. In many ways, we are more divided than ever before: from race, to women's rights, to conservative and liberal policies. But when we focus on differences it's impossible to move toward creating community. Hip-hop artist, Propaganda, reminds us that the solution is to be intersectional. As a prophetic voice for reconciliation, he encourages us to find common ground.

In a wide-ranging conversation interspersed with song, author of The Sacredness of Questioning Everything David Dark and musician Dave Bazan (formerly, of Pedro the Lion) will discuss the struggles of a questioning faith. They'll wrestle with the joys and tensions of attempting to sustain a creative and neighborly livelihood without lying or going crazy.

There are 1.9 billion children in the world, 400 million of which live in extreme poverty. With so many suffering the consequences of war, displacement, and circumstances outside of their control, how can we inject life, hope and promise for a future they can hardly imagine? Rich Stearns, President of World Vision, and Khalil Sleiman, who grew up as a Syrian refugee, will remind us how we take care of the world's most vulnerable matters—not only for this moment, but for generations to come.

From the Psalmist to the astronomers, people for centuries have suggested that the natural world is a portal to the transcendent (Ps. 19:1). But it has always been difficult for the average earth dweller to grasp the breadth of such assertions - that is, until world-class telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope started showing us a universe we never dreamed of. Astronomer Jennifer Wiseman shares the latest astronomical images and discoveries and talks with Louie Giglio about how galaxies, stars, and planets form, what they can teach us about God, and how good science strengthens our faith.

How do you live out your faith in the public eye? Gabe Lyons has a conversation with Ernie Johnson, Jr. as they discuss what Ernie has learned from over 28 years of sports commentating with some of the most well-known figures in the NBA.

In this week's episode, Gabe had a conversation with Heather Avis, author of 'The Lucky Few.' She shares her story of adoption and finding out that our plans are not like God's plans. Listen in as she talks about advocating for the vulnerable, cheering on one another and loving those with special needs.

While we enjoy products from around the world, someone else is paying the price. How can we make a difference in the world when we aren't always sure what is helping the issues of the world. Justin Dillon talks to Gabe Lyons about his new project, "A Selfish Plan to Change The World."

In this episode, Gabe Lyons interviews John Mark Comer, the author of 'God Has A Name' as they discuss the importance of thinking well about who God is. What does it mean to know God and to know Him in truth and with understanding?

Today, the typical local church is not disruptive; rather, it has been disrupted. In what should otherwise be the church's finest hour, our collective witness has been undermined by a lack of thoughtful, proactive, and holistic engagement on matters of race, class, culture, and community. Gabe Lyons sat down with author of "Disruption" Mark DeYmaz to discuss this important moment.

In an earlier series, we talked about the Six Practices over a number of weeks. Now, we've got the entire talk by Greg Thompson available in one podcast. How can the Church respond to this cultural moment? What does it mean to live out our faith in the public arena?

What are the implications for the community when we consider the legalization of marijuana? What are the ways it could potentially contribute in positive ways and other ways that it might fall short? Gabe Lyons introduces some compelling conversations from a few people with different backgrounds surrounding the subject.

What is success? And is our definition of success making us poor? In his talk at Q Nashville in 2014, economist Brian Fikkert says that it's our flawed understanding of success that's making us sick, tired, and mentally ill. The solution, he says, is to better understand what God says human flourishing looks like. It starts from understanding what it means to be made in the image of God. Listen in as we discuss what this looks like in our real lives.

Over the past half century, America has moved from a culture of self-effacement to a culture of self-expression: think Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, etc. A TIME magazine cover once called out the "Me, Me, Me Generation" and the ways today's culture and technologies feed a present narcissism. But even with this apparent rise of self-love, there's also an institutional bent in Millennials that wasn't there in Gen X. So is it "me" or "we"? No matter the answer, it's time to rediscover the power of humility.

What does it mean to think well about singleness? It's easy for the church to make marriage into an idol, but our single friends have much to offer and are a vital part of the conversation. Listen in as Annie F. Downs shares about her experience and how she's striving for fulfillment in singleness, whatever the outcome.

Each year at Q, we partner with Praxis Labs to hear from some of the best up-and-comping visionaries. These people want to present their big idea to the room and our hope is that they will change the world with their incredible ideas. Listen in as Gabe Lyons introduces a few Praxis talks from Q Conferences past and consider joining us this year at #Q2017 by visiting www.qideas.org2017

Q Founder and President Gabe Lyons sits down for a conversation with James K.A. Smith about his upcoming book, "You Are What You Love." What does it mean to view our world holistically and how can Christians reclaim some lost practices?

What if you found your life's work when you were middle-aged? In this episode, we get the chance to listen to a compelling talk by Shauna Niequest as she explores her mother's journey into calling.

What does it mean to really invest in a city? How can we be better influences in our communities? This week, we're listening to a talk by Wayne Gordon in Chicago and another by Chris Horst in Denver as they explain how they see God moving in their cities.

Join us as we sit down with Rebekah Lyons, Q Co-Founder and author of "You Are Free: Be Who You Already Are." She talk about calling and how her life has been shaped by paying attention to where her "burden and talents collide."

What does it mean to live in a pluralistic society? How can we engage with those who do not believe the same things we do? The religious climate of the world we live in diverse, so we sat down with Miroslav Volf to hear about what it means to live alongside others well.

A generation passionate about authentic faith has given rise to a new golden age of Christian optimism and social activism. But as a dizzying number of organizations call for our attention and engagement, Christians are beginning to see the pitfalls that dot this landscape: slacktivism, cause faddishness, empathy fatigue, burnout and cynicism. Tyler Wigg-Stevenson argues to do activism well means carrying with us the awareness that our activism cannot fix everything—it cannot erase a broken past, even as it imagines a better future.

We are in danger of losing a new generation to the numbing agents of electronics. Dr. Kara Powell, executive director of Fuller Youth Institute, wonders what it means to raise children in a digital age. She argues that stewardship of technology doesn't start with kids; it starts with parents. If parents are addicted to technology and are not fully present as a result, that's the posture children will mimic.

In a nation in which the church was once a dominant and unifying mainstay in America life, what does it look like to be the minority?

How Christians think of politics, how we relate the machinations of politics to the promises of God and reality of the gospel, will determine how we respond to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Listen in as Michael Wear discusses his new book, "Reclaiming Hope" and what it means to think well about politics as a person of Faith.

How can Christians approach conversations about transgender identity? Q President Gabe Lyons sits down with Melinda Selmys, who lives with gender dysphoria, and Dr. Mark Yarhouse, a professor of psychology at Regent University to answer questions about this important topic.

We're in the middle of the largest refugee crisis since World War II, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed by what is happening all over the world. As we consider how we can respond both in action and in awareness, we hope you're encouraged by these two conversations with Richard Stearns of World Vision and Jeremy Courtney of Preemptive Love Coalition.

How do childhood experiences shape our calling? Dr. Una Mulale is the first Pediatric Critical Care Specialist from Botswana. Her goal is to implement tertiary healthcare structures in low-resource countries in Africa and around the world. This is her story.

People of faith differ on how much concern we should pay to the culture at hand, questioning what good can we really do engaging in a broken world. Can we really make a significant difference? Does God share these concerns? Every generation must answer these questions in the same way creatives, artisans, industry and civic leaders have done for two millennia. Tim Keller, New York Times Bestselling Author and Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City provides a fundamental perspective on why culture matters to God and therefore must matter to us.

How can we work toward racial reconciliation in America? We live in a nation that at times feels more divided than ever. In this conversation, we'll explore the history of racism in America, how to better engage with our community and what blindspots we have when it comes to racial bias. To work for unity means taking time to listen well and take steps toward healing.

We are all involved in some sort of vocation. No matter where or what it is, we know that God calls us to be faithful in those places. From home to office and beyond, we have the opportunity to practice vocation well in a way that makes the world a better place.

What does it mean to be part of a community? Is it different to invest in the Church or in the places you live and work? In this Episode, we talk about the importance of community, what it is and what it means to be a people of hospitality.

The way that we build character depends on how we approach even the littlest habits and moments of our days. When we form habits that are good, they build up in our lives in positive ways, and when we foster habits that are not good, they can slowly destroy us. As we look at the practice of formation, we're asking about how what we believe influences how we live. What does it mean to live out our faith in the daily habits?