Straight to the Heart

In this episode of Straight to the Heart, our host Rush Witt meets with Dan Alger who is the Canon for Church Planting for the Anglican Church in North America, through which he leads the Always Forward Church Planting Initiative. They discuss the important topic of liturgy in the normal Christian life.DAN ALGER ONLINEDan’s WebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitter/XMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEWord and SacramentAlways Forward PodcastFor more about the podcast at New Growth Press online.Timestamps:1:30 - Intro4:31 - What are people most curious to know about the Anglican Church?7:26 - How does the modern culture see a more liturgical approach to church?13:59 - Tell me more about what led you to write Word and Sacrament?20:24 - How would you describe the role of liturgy in the Christian life?29:23 - What is the potential for good liturgy to impact the Christian life?35:16. -How can Christians not in a liturgical church start using liturgy in their daily life?39:16 - Describe how liturgy changed your day already on this Wednesday.43:28 - Farewell

In this episode of Straight to the Heart, our host Rush Witt talks with Mike Emlet who practiced as a family physician for over ten years before becoming a counselor and faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). They talk about difficult topics like intrusive thoughts and Scrupulosity, and the biblical wisdom that helps us overcome them.MIKE EMLET ONLINEMike’s WebsiteMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEAutism Spectrum Disorder (minibook)Saints, Sinners, and SufferersFor more about the podcast at New Growth Press online.Timestamps:1:21 - Why do you describe yourself as a cup half empty kind of guy?4:25 - What’s the most recent cup-half-empty moment  you’ve had?6:45 - What do you mean when you refer to emotional buoyancy?10:44 - The Intrusive Problem of Scrupulosity14:49 - Why are we prone to intrusive, unwanted thoughts?17:54 - When you counsel scrupulosity, what is the central approach you take?23:54 - What does growth look like in the area of intrusive thoughts?27:12 - How do we turn down the volume on intrusive thoughts?33:55 - In what ways does our embodied nature affect us?38:35 - Is Mike Emlet a hugger?41:50 - Farewell

In this episode of Straight to the Heart, our host Rush Witt talks with Eliza Huie, Director of Counseling at McLean Bible Church in Vienna, VA. They discuss Christian self-care, the relentless pressure to keep up with modern life, and the concerning problem of burnout among adults and children.ELIZA HUIE ONLINEEliza’s WebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitter/XMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEThe Whole LifeTeens and AnxietyI’m StressedFor more about the podcast at New Growth Press online.Timestamps:1:30 - Welcome4:00 - What interested you about the topics of self-care and counseling?9:23 - How can the average person find the best pace for life?16:00 - Isn't it selfish to practice self-care?18:30 - Keys Parents Can Use To Build Margin Into Their Kids21:28 - What are some big emotional struggles parents should watch for?24:50 - Eliza shares her own story of panic.31:06 - What reminds you to give better attention to your stress?35:05 - What have you done to encourage others toward self-awareness?37:21 - When do I need intensive help for my stress?41:29 - Farewell

Preview Season 3 of Straight to the Heart, a podcast from New Growth Press, hosted by Rush Witt. Each episode includes thought-provoking conversations with leading Christian writers and thinkers. We hear who they are, what they believe, how they approach their work and ministry, and the moments and people who have changed their lives. In "Straight to the Heart," we go beyond the books to connect with the remarkable people behind them.Join us for Season 3 conversations with Randy Alcorn, Joni Eareckson Tada, Adriel Sanchez, Paul Tripp, and more. Learn more about the podcast here.

In this episode of Straight to the Heart, our host, Rush Witt, talks with Dr. Curtis Solomon. They dive into the hallmarks of the PTSD experience and key ways biblical counseling has been effective in helping those suffering from PTSD. They also touch on a fascinating historical perspective, discussing PTSD in the context of World War II and the lessons learned from that era.CURTIS SOLOMON ONLINECurtis' WebsiteBiblical Counseling CoalitionFacebookInstagramTwitter/XMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEI Have PTSDRedeem Your MarriageReclaim Your MarriageFor more about the podcast at New Growth Press online.Timestamps:1:50 - Welcome3:28 - Can you give a brief overview of the BCC and your role in it?10:03 - Where did your interest in PTSD begin?17:16 - What are some of the hallmarks of the PTSD experience?24:57 - Does PTSD usually result from physical trauma?32:05 - How do you help a person see a difference between hardship and trauma.37:28 - What are the key ways you’ve seen biblical counseling help people suffering with PTSD.47:37 - A Final Question About PTSD and WWII57:11 - Farewell

In this episode of Straight to the Heart, our host Rush Witt, sits down with Dr. Jeremy Pierre, Dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism, and Ministry, to talk about the daily help of the Gospel. They discuss the common misunderstandings of the Gospel and how taking small steps to make the gospel central to life offers freedom from pressures to perform for God and comfort during hard times.JEREMY PIERRE ONLINEJeremy’s WebsiteInstagramTwitter/XMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEShepherding the PastorThe Gospel-Centered Life SeriesThe Dynamic Heart in Daily LifeFor more about the podcast at New Growth Press online.Timestamps:1:38 - Intro3:42 - How does the Gospel relate to your very busy life?5:40 - When do you remember first hearing the gospel?9:12 - How did the Gospel become "present tense" for you?12:22 - The Gospel Gap17:10 - Law and Gospel in Daily Life19:18 - What would you like to say to little Jeremy in 1987?22:06 - How can I make basic movements to be more in tune with the daily help of the Gospel?25:02 - Which personal struggles do you think are driven by our struggle to embrace the Gospel?31:44 - The Gospel gives freedom and comfort to parents too.34:30 - How do I counsel myself when I feel the pressure to perform?38:24 - The Importance of Close Friends for Gospel Encouragements41:30 - Farewell

In this episode of Straight to the Heart, our host Rush Witt enjoys a conversation with Juan and Jeanine Sanchez, coauthors of a new book called Reaching Your Child’s Heart: A practical Guide to Faithful Parenting. Juan and Jeanine share wisdom about the value of reading aloud as a family, the importance of being present in our parenting, and finding a balance in our parental discipline–not too much and not too little, lest we provoke our children to anger.JUAN AND JEANINE SANCHEZ ONLINEWebsiteFacebook - Juan and JeanineInstagram - Juan and JeanineTwitter/X - Juan and JeanineMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEReaching Your Child’s HeartThe Treasure by Marty MachowskiFor more about the podcast at New Growth Press online.Timestamps:1:56 - Juan and Jeanine Fall In Love In Florida6:07 - The Journey of Differences Between 5 Daughters11:52 - A Key Message Shifted Juan to Be More Present at Home16:23 - How did reading aloud as a family assist your parenting?25:37 - What were the discipline influences in your own upbringing?28:35 - How should parents balance their discipline to avoid provoking children to anger?36:55 - How can parents model presence and positive instruction?41:21 - You should not be alone in parenting.44:04 - There are so many parenting books. Why another?45:15 - Farewell

In this episode of Straight to the Heart, Adriel Sanchez shares with our host, Rush Witt, how the Lord’s prayer can be used as a fresh and helpful guide for those of us who struggle in our prayer lives. Adriel also shares practical principles that will help you to pray faithfully, as well as the not-so-well-known National Day of Prayer, on Thursday, May 2.ADRIEL SANCHEZ ONLINEAdriel’s WebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitter/XMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEPraying with JesusWhy Should I Pray?I Prayed and Nothing ChangedFor more about the podcast at New Growth Press online.Timestamps:1:53 – Welcome4:11 – Intro to the book Praying with Jesus5:55 – Adriel’s upbringing and conversion8:31 – Expecting God’s goodness in prayer14:32 – What to do when you don’t feel like praying21:50 – Tools which help us pray personally or at church31:51 – How the prayers of a homebound saint moved D.L. Moody across the ocean36:22 – The National Day of Prayer41:16 – How the Gospel connects to daily prayer45:13 – Farewell

In this episode of Straight to the Heart, our guest is Julie Lowe. She and Rush Witt discuss an important topic that is on the minds of parents, teachers, pastors, and anyone who cares about the souls of kids—bullying. From her experience of counseling children, Julie shares practical, biblical wisdom for recognizing bullying, navigating the influences of social media in our digital world, and how we can bring the gospel to bear on this important issue.JULIE LOWE ONLINEJulie's WebsiteFacebookInstagramMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEChild ProofSafeguardsBuilding BridgesHelping Your Child with A BullyFor more about the podcast at New Growth Press online.Timestamps:1:34 - How might we define bullying?4:20 - What was your introduction to biblical counseling?7:54 - What key lessons did you learn in the early days of counseling?9:32 - How does the Bible speak to the problem of bullying?14:36 - Bullying and Social Media20:22 - What about the influence of social media on parents and adults?26:52 - How to recognize when your child is bullied30:14 - Advice for helping kids learn to handle bullying32:50 - What should families and churches do to intervene in bullying?38:42 - How do you encourage Christians to see the gospel as central to bullying?40:28 - Farewell

In this episode of Straight to the Heart, our host Rush Witt, talks with Mike McGarry about some of the friends and enemies of theologically-minded youth ministry, the importance of team-based ministry among students, and Mike’s advice to new, green youth ministry leaders.MIKE MCGARRY ONLINEWebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitter/XMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODELead Them to JesusDiscoverA Biblical Theology of Youth MinistryFor more about the podcast at New Growth Press online.Timestamps:1:33 - Welcome2:47 - What's Your Story?7:08 - Tell me about Youth Pastor Theologian11:21 - How theological is youth ministry really?16:19 - What's youth ministry like in a strong culture like Boston?21:35 - What youth ministry misunderstandings do you see among adults? 33:15 - Are fun and games the enemies of theological youth ministry?40:35 - The importance of team-based youth ministry46:57 - Mike McGarry’s advice to brand new youth ministers49:10 - Farewell