Breaking Bread Podcast

The Moravians, an unassuming, powerless, group of refugees prayed mightily for one hundred years. The effects of those prayers cannot be estimated and are still felt today. This is no surprise to anyone who understands intercessory prayer. Prayer makes a difference. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Joe Gerber recounts this history and lays a foundation for prayer today. Listeners will be inspired by the privilege and responsibility of prayer.

Sometimes little things make big differences. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Kaleb Beyer relays three small things that exist in happy marriages. 3 Small Things Be Purposeful Highly happy couples practice meaningful touches throughout the day, boosting relational and individual health. Be Present Highly happy couples aren’t just spending time together because they are happy; a big part of the reason they’re so happy is that they are spending time together! Be Positive Highly happy couples quickly stop a negative train of thought or action by replacing unhappy or angry thoughts or actions with positive ones to combat negativity. Taken from “The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages: The Little Things That Make a Big Difference” by Shaunti Feldhahn

The apostle Paul encouraged the Ephesian church to forbear with one another. Forbearance requires a skill set that is growing increasingly foreign in today’s world. A world where individual preferences abound and we have increasingly less reason to endure with those things that do not suit us. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Arlan Miller and Kaleb Beyer flush out the attribute of forbearance and expose it for its Christ-like beauty. Forbearance is enduring with someone or something that doesn’t comply with your favor. Forbearance is not forgiveness, which requires an offense to be pardoned. Forbearance is acknowledging an annoyance but tolerating it. Forbearance is not “facing”, which happens when we confront an unfavorable issue and urge change. Forbearance is expecting the irritant to exist and not becoming bitter that it does. Forbearance is not enjoying, appreciating or celebrating the annoyance. Forbearance is receiving people and loving them despite their unfavorable attributes. Forbearance is not i

Parenting kids can tee up disagreement between parents. Why? Parenting styles differ. However, it doesn’t have to drive a wedge in a family. In fact, by working together couples might just get parenting right. In this episode Brian and Alison Sutter finish addressing the four basic parenting styles and expose God’s overarching purposes.

Parenting is hard. Should we scold? Punish? Praise? Or ignore? In this episode of Breaking Bread, Brian and Alison Sutter walk us through the dense undergrowth of parenting kids. To discern the path, they give us two lenses: grace and truth. Together these lenses will help us parent our children wisely. Yet if we fail to use either one or both, we’ll surely lose our way. Content contained in this episode: Good parenting requires a growth mindset. Determine to learn and grow as a parent. Jesus was “full” of grace and truth. Healthy parenting is “full” of grace and truth. Grace is love that springs from mercy. Truth is love that springs from boundaries and regulation. Four parenting styles immerge when we vary grace and truth. Low grace and low truth yields a dismissive parenting style. Characterized by apathy, hesitation and separation Low grace and high truth yields a judging parenting style. Characterized by rules, authoritarianism and a focus on behavior High grace and low truth yields a permissi

All of us tend to our physical hygiene. It is important that we do. Little attention, however, is given to mental hygiene. In this episode Ted Witzig Jr. urges the listener to employ four simple mental hygiene tips in the new year. 

Some things we see clearly and yet, other things are blind spots to us. Because of this, the generations can clash in their ideals. Commitment, change and freedom are all such ideals that vary widely among the generations. In this episode, a spirit of hearing and learning is cast by participants Amber Miller (Millennial), Tim Funk (Baby-Boomer) and Matt Kaufmann (GenXer) in such a way that each learns and can appreciate each other.

We are not self-made people. We are influenced. We are molded. Each one of us has been born into a generation and that generation has molded us. In this episode of Breaking Bread Tim Funk, Amber Miller and Matt Kaufmann dialogue about different generations and learn from each other.

The best way to be helpful to an unattached child is to direct them back to their parents.  In this episode of Breaking Bread Craig Stickling answers some direct questions regarding attachment disorder.  His answers are both practical and hopeful. Critical content contained in this episode: Question: How can the believing community be helpful with the unattached child? Answer: Always direct the unattached child back to their parents. Question: Is unattachment unique only to non-biological children such as foster children and adoptive children? Answer: No. Biological children can undergo attachment trauma in the early months of life also. Question: Will early attachment trauma always result in attachment disorder with our children? Answer: No. Each child is unique. Temperaments play a part. Some children are more disposed to connection and relationship. Question: Is there hope for the unattached child to become attached? Answer: Yes. While healing takes time, positive momentum and difference can be see

Description: Sometimes the struggles while parenting is not rebellion in the child, nor is it poor parenting in the parent. Sometimes the problem lies in the attachment between parents and children. This is a brain problem – with answers. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Craig Stickling teaches us about Reactive Attachment Disorder. Critical content contained in this episode:  Attachment is a deep and lasting connection between a child and a caregiver established in the first 36 months of life. Attachment is a construct built over time. Attachment impacts a person’s self worth, emotional management and ability to build relationships. Characteristics of poor attachment in a child can manifest itself in the following ways: detached and unresponsive behavior difficulty being comforted defiant behavior poor boundaries with strangers difficulty trusting parents While cause and effect is difficult to tease out, Reactive Attachment Disorder rises from early trauma and stresses and should be understood as an i

Sometimes little things make big differences. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Kaleb Beyer relays three small things that exist in happy marriages.    3 Small Things  Be Purposeful Highly happy couples tend to put God at the center of their marriage. They focus on Him, not their spouse, for fulfillment and happiness. Be Present Highly happy couples choose gratefulness for how their spouse realistically meets their needs instead of longing for something which is difficult or impossible for their spouse to meet. Be Positive - When highly happy couples experience hurt, they extend grace and assume their mate’s intentions were pure and have a reasonable explanation.  Resource: “The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages: The Little Things That Make a Big Difference” by Shaunti Feldhahn.

Addictions of all kind concern us. Fortunately there is hope. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Roger Gasser walks us through what addiction treatment looks like. Seeing a path through addiction is, in itself, hopeful. The following questions will be addressed in the podcast: What to do when a family member is addicted but is in denial.  What is an Intensive Outpatient Program and when is it needed? When is it recommended?  What is Residential Treatment and when is it needed? When is it recommended?  What should I look for in choosing one?  What are the pros and cons of 28-day versus 90-day treatment?

Jesus lived in community. Interpersonal, face to face relationships, with people. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Amber Miller makes a strong case for community, especially for the single. What is community and how is it done? Turns out community is critical for personal well-being and many times requires intentionality on our part.

Brian Sutter and Craig Stickling provide very practical advice on what to look for and how to engage our children with social anxiety in this episode of Breaking Bread.  Be informed.  Be equipped.  Be encouraged.

We are all too familiar with anxiety. We don’t like it. But do we understand it for its finer details? In this episode of Breaking Bread, Ted Witzig Jr. walks through three types of anxiety: spiritual, situational and anxiety disorder.  Show Notes:  Below are some of the topics covered in this podcast: Is there a difference between worry and anxiety? How does God view anxiety? Is all anxiety sin? Understanding the nuances between spiritual anxiety, situational anxiety and anxiety disorders. What is the role of our thoughts in worry and anxiety?  How does focusing on God’s promises help with worry and anxiety? The role of shame in keeping Christian people dealing with anxiety from receiving support. How the church family can help. How to give support to someone with anxiety without being overly simplistic or trite. Ted shares his personal experience of anxiety and how spiritual and medical support helped him.   For more information on types of anxiety click here.

Without question, sexual vice carries with it sobering consequences.  There are things at stake.  Yet, oddly enough, the trials we bear have an upside – they define the space of faith and worship we exhibit through obedience to God.

We live in a sexually sensual culture.  No doubt about it.  And it impacts all of us, irrespective of age, gender and marital status.  All the more reason we need to be good stewards of our sexuality.  In this episode Katie and Arlan Miller along with Matt tackle this very real aspect of our lives.

Communication with our spouse can be hard.  It is important to note that the content of our conversation is not most important.  Process is critical. In this episode, Kaleb Beyer teaches us, with very practical tips, how to steer our conversations back on track.  In so doing, we will answer a question superior to content agreement, that is, you matter to me.

Marijuana is experiencing a sweeping acceptance across America.  How do we make heads and tails of this drug today?  In this episode, Dr. Aaron Plattner provides some very welcome discernment.

We want to protect them at all costs.  But our children will not be able to navigate through this world unharmed.  In this episode Brian Sutter and Craig Stickling help us understand the impact trauma has on children. They also provide practical insights on engaging them on the basis of trauma awareness and healing.