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During today's conversation on Back Porch Theology Alli and I have the distinct privilege of diving deep into this divine love letter we call the Bible with one of our very dear friends who just so happens to be a world-renowned Bible scholar, Professor Kristi McLelland. Kristi spent over a year living in Egypt and Israel so that she could study Scripture in its original socio-historical context, and the fruits of her labor will leave you gob-smacked with wonder over the accessible, redemptive truisms in God's Word. Just listen to this excerpt from her new book, Feasting on God's Word, "We are not orphans; we are not fatherless. We do not have to open the Bible and dig something out to feed ourselves. We are not alone in the moment. When we approach the Word of God, we do so as sons and daughters postured to receive. Rather than having to feed ourselves, we are readying ourselves to inherit and take in whatever the living God is ready to say and do as we interact with the Text." If you want less duty and more delight when you engage with the redemptive narrative and promises found in God's enscripturated revelation, today's episode is tailor made for you, baby! So please grab an iced mocha and of course bring your Bible as you pull up a proverbial chair on the porch with us...we're really glad you're here!

Hi, friend. Thank you so much for joining me for the podcast this summer.

I hope this series has been an encouragement to you, particularly if you're going through a difficult time. We've got some new stuff coming next week that I'm really excited about, but first we're going to put a bow on our study of the life of Joseph. If there's one thing you take from it, may it be this: we have a heavenly father who guides us with a sure hand.

Ever felt like quitting-especially when you think no one else would notice? In this episode, Christine Caine opens up about one of the darkest seasons of her life and how Psalm 23 became more than words-it became her lifeline. With raw honesty and deep biblical insight, she shares how God's presence is our anchor in the valley, how His rod and staff guide and protect us, and how even in the presence of enemies, He prepares a table for us.

What you'll learn:
-How to endure spiritual valleys without ringing the bell
-Why shadows don't mean the absence of light
-How to recognize God's protection, provision, and presence-even when you can't feel Him

This is part of our Resilient Hope Summer series - real talk and encouragement to keep your faith strong in every season.

 Don't forget to grab your free Episode Reflection Guide here!

P.S. We made a bonus resource for you this summer. Download your free 'Hope Kit' now!

+ + + + +
Christine Caine is a speaker, activist, and best-selling author. She and her husband, Nick, founded the anti-human trafficking organization The A21 Campaign. They also founded Propel Women, an initiative that is dedicated to coming alongside women all over the globe to activate their God-given purpose. Each week she brings you a Gospel-centered message filled with Biblical truths that will equip and empower you to step into the life God has for you. 

Today's conversation on Back Porch Theology is with some of the world's most renowned Bible scholars and theologians who were with us for Kerygma '25 including: Dr. Lynn Cohick, Dr. Craig Blomberg, Dr. Craig Keener, Dr. Dorian Coover Cox, Dr. Scot McKnight, Dr. Jim Howard, Dr. Nicole Massey Martin, Dr. Eva Bleeker, and Dr. Joel Muddamalle. Here's a sample of just a few of the questions they answer: What's the significance of the numerous "in Christ" references throughout Paul's New Testament epistles and how do they prove that God's love drives His redemptive plan? Why is Augustine's famous assertion: "In essentials - UNITY; in non-essentials, FREEDOM; in all things - CHARITY" necessary for a well-developed ecclesiology and missional focus? How can those of us who are serious about our faith not lose our heart for Jesus and other image bearers in our quest for biblical accuracy and theological acumen? Why do we have to be careful about merging triumphalism and exceptionalism into our faith narrative? How we can best tune our spiritual ears to the shape in which our Creator Redeemer contextualized this love letter we call the Bible? Today's dream team of scholars is about to give us a master class of biblically informed wisdom infused with grace and humility. So please grab a jumbo cup of java, your Bible, a notebook, and come hang out on the porch with us. We're really glad you're here.

Hello, friend. Welcome to the Encouraging Word Podcast.

Did you know the Bible has something to say about crisis management? That might feel like a modern construct, but it's not. In Joseph's life he faced multiple crises, including an extended, widespread famine. So how did he get through it? A two-pronged approach - he approached the crisis with faith and then came up with a plan.

What's keeping you from moving forward into the future God has for you? Christine Caine unpacks three simple yet sobering words from Jesus: "Remember Lot's wife." In a message rooted in Luke 17, she challenges us to release our past-failures, pain, or even past successes-and embrace God's invitation to step into a new season. If you've been stuck in regret, longing, or rumination, this message will help you fix your eyes forward.

What you'll learn:
- Why Jesus singled out Lot's wife and what her story reveals about your future.
- How to recognize when you're spiritually stuck and how to break free.
- What it practically means to stop looking back and start pressing forward.

This is part of our Resilient Hope Summer series - real talk and encouragement to keep your faith strong in every season.

Don't forget to grab your free Episode Reflection Guide here!

P.S. We made a bonus resource for you this summer. Download your free 'Hope Kit' now!

+ + + + +
Christine Caine is a speaker, activist, and best-selling author. She and her husband, Nick, founded the anti-human trafficking organization The A21 Campaign. They also founded Propel Women, an initiative that is dedicated to coming alongside women all over the globe to activate their God-given purpose. Each week she brings you a Gospel-centered message filled with Biblical truths that will equip and empower you to step into the life God has for you. 

In this episode, host Christine Caine sits down with powerhouse pastor and author Sarah Jakes Roberts for a deeply personal and rich conversation on leadership, identity, and navigating a calling you never saw coming. Sarah opens up about her health journey, her succession into ministry, and how she's learning to say "yes" with courage even when confidence is lacking. This is a conversation every woman in transition, leadership, or legacy needs to hear.

SHOW NOTES:

Running Toward Health & Healing
Sarah shares how a doctor's visit and family health crises sparked her commitment to wellness-both physical and emotional.

Leadership, Legacy & Identity
Stepping into her role at The Potter's House, Sarah opens up about the tension of honoring her father's legacy while walking her own unique path.

The Power of Saying "Yes" in Uncertainty
Vulnerability, not bravado, marks Sarah's leadership journey-and why that's the sweet spot of obedience.

Balancing Platform & Personal Life
From the kitchen to the pulpit, Sarah describes how her joy behind the scenes grounds her when the spotlight gets overwhelming.

Marriage, Mutuality & Ministry
She and Touré Roberts have learned to stay complementary, not competitive, in their calling-and how they keep God at the center.

A Safe Space for Every Woman
A sneak peek into Women Evolve and Sarah's passion to make room at the table for pastors' wives and strippers, moms and CEOs.

Follow Sarah Jakes Roberts @sarahjakesroberts
Find Woman Evolve at womanevolve.com

Follow Christine, @ChristineCaine

Subscribe now so you don't miss an episode, and don't forget to leave a review! See you next week on the Propel Women Life & Leadership Podcast.

You can connect with us further at PropelWomen.org or on Instagram, Facebook, X, and Threads @PropelWomen. We can't wait to hang out with you in your car, during your workout, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

-

Propel Women is an initiative of Equip & Empower Ministries founded by Christine Caine.

We EMPOWER women with biblical wisdom and encouragement, EQUIP women with practical training and education, and MOBILIZE women by providing hands-on leadership opportunities.

No matter where a woman has influence - in an office, in her community, at home with her family, or in ministry - Propel is driven by a calling to equip and mobilize women to become effective co-laborers with Christ and make a difference within their unique spheres of influence.

During today's conversation on Back Porch Theology, Alli and I are hanging out with one of my dear friends, DawnCheré Wilkerson, who's really gifted at something I really struggle with, which is waiting. The first time I met DawnCheré - about ten years ago - she and her husband, Pastor Rich Wilkerson, were in the midst of a very long season of infertility. And yet she was somehow pregnant with hope. When I asked her how she held onto genuine hope and joy after so many years of heartbreak and disappointment, she told me that God was teaching her to live in the wait. Waiting is inescapable. And while we might feel like a whole lot of nothing is going on in a slow burn, we couldn't be more wrong. There most definitely is something going on. God has not forgotten you and because of His immutable presence and grace, we can all experience the miraculous juxtaposition of divine wonder within our waits. So please fix yourself a cup of coffee and your Bible, and come hang out on the porch with us. We're really glad you're here today.

Gracie Binion is the real deal. In this episode, she shares how she went from writing songs in her childhood bedroom to leading worship with fire-and how a van full of bad smells and loud laughs became the backdrop to her newlywed life. She talks faith, calling, creative grit, and the night she heard God speak out loud. It's equal parts fun, raw, and full of purpose.

Connect with us on social!
Gracie: @graciebinion
Levi: @levilusko
Jennie: @jennielusko
Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]
Listen to Gracie on Spotify: https://bit.ly/45JodTO
Listen to Gracie on Apple Music: https://bit.ly/3ZSjFa4
Get the 5-Gallon Bucket: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY
Get the Lusketeer Sticker: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Subscribe for more exclusive content: https://levilusko.com/hitl-subscribe

Timestamps
00:25 - The Worship Prowler
02:07 - Married on Valentine's Day
04:34 - Smelly Vans & Sacred Friendships
10:35 - Childhood Songs & Taylor Swift
18:22 - Cat-Sound Warmups
32:50 - Ministry School & Hearing God

Hello, friend. I hope you're having a good day. Today's episode brings us to a pivotal moment between Joseph and his brothers. If you don't know what happens in the story, it powerfully illustrates what happens when the prince turns out to be your brother.

During today's conversation on Back Porch Theology Alli and I have the distinct privilege of diving deep into this divine love letter we call the Bible with one of our very dear friends who just so happens to be a world-renowned Bible scholar, Professor Kristi McLelland. Kristi spent over a year living in Egypt and Israel so that she could study Scripture in its original socio-historical context, and the fruits of her labor will leave you gob-smacked with wonder over the accessible, redemptive truisms in God's Word. Just listen to this excerpt from her new book, Feasting on God's Word, "We are not orphans; we are not fatherless. We do not have to open the Bible and dig something out to feed ourselves. We are not alone in the moment. When we approach the Word of God, we do so as sons and daughters postured to receive. Rather than having to feed ourselves, we are readying ourselves to inherit and take in whatever the living God is ready to say and do as we interact with the Text." If you want less duty and more delight when you engage with the redemptive narrative and promises found in God's enscripturated revelation, today's episode is tailor made for you, baby! So please grab an iced mocha and of course bring your Bible as you pull up a proverbial chair on the porch with us...we're really glad you're here!

During today's conversation on Back Porch Theology, Alli and I are hanging out with one of my dear friends, DawnCheré Wilkerson, who's really gifted at something I really struggle with, which is waiting. The first time I met DawnCheré - about ten years ago - she and her husband, Pastor Rich Wilkerson, were in the midst of a very long season of infertility. And yet she was somehow pregnant with hope. When I asked her how she held onto genuine hope and joy after so many years of heartbreak and disappointment, she told me that God was teaching her to live in the wait. Waiting is inescapable. And while we might feel like a whole lot of nothing is going on in a slow burn, we couldn't be more wrong. There most definitely is something going on. God has not forgotten you and because of His immutable presence and grace, we can all experience the miraculous juxtaposition of divine wonder within our waits. So please fix yourself a cup of coffee and your Bible, and come hang out on the porch with us. We're really glad you're here today.

In this episode, host Christine Caine sits down with powerhouse pastor and author Sarah Jakes Roberts for a deeply personal and rich conversation on leadership, identity, and navigating a calling you never saw coming. Sarah opens up about her health journey, her succession into ministry, and how she's learning to say "yes" with courage even when confidence is lacking. This is a conversation every woman in transition, leadership, or legacy needs to hear.

SHOW NOTES:

Running Toward Health & Healing
Sarah shares how a doctor's visit and family health crises sparked her commitment to wellness-both physical and emotional.

Leadership, Legacy & Identity
Stepping into her role at The Potter's House, Sarah opens up about the tension of honoring her father's legacy while walking her own unique path.

The Power of Saying "Yes" in Uncertainty
Vulnerability, not bravado, marks Sarah's leadership journey-and why that's the sweet spot of obedience.

Balancing Platform & Personal Life
From the kitchen to the pulpit, Sarah describes how her joy behind the scenes grounds her when the spotlight gets overwhelming.

Marriage, Mutuality & Ministry
She and Touré Roberts have learned to stay complementary, not competitive, in their calling-and how they keep God at the center.

A Safe Space for Every Woman
A sneak peek into Women Evolve and Sarah's passion to make room at the table for pastors' wives and strippers, moms and CEOs.

Follow Sarah Jakes Roberts @sarahjakesroberts
Find Woman Evolve at womanevolve.com

Follow Christine, @ChristineCaine

Subscribe now so you don't miss an episode, and don't forget to leave a review! See you next week on the Propel Women Life & Leadership Podcast.

You can connect with us further at PropelWomen.org or on Instagram, Facebook, X, and Threads @PropelWomen. We can't wait to hang out with you in your car, during your workout, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

-
Propel Women is an initiative of Equip & Empower Ministries founded by Christine Caine.

We EMPOWER women with biblical wisdom and encouragement, EQUIP women with practical training and education, and MOBILIZE women by providing hands-on leadership opportunities.

No matter where a woman has influence - in an office, in her community, at home with her family, or in ministry - Propel is driven by a calling to equip and mobilize women to become effective co-laborers with Christ and make a difference within their unique spheres of influence.

Candace and Lisa dive into a raw confession: "Dear God, I don't like my body." This episode of Body & Soul explores what happens when our physical reality feels like a burden-whether due to chronic pain, mental health struggles, or just the quiet disappointment we carry.

Candace shares the personal toll of living with migraines and the resentment it has sometimes stirred. Lisa opens up about hormonal changes, perimenopause, and the grief of realizing her body will never be what it once was. Together, they reflect on how body grief, trauma, and identity are deeply intertwined-and how Scripture offers a redemptive path forward.

If you've ever looked in the mirror and felt more frustration than freedom, this conversation will meet you there. It's for every woman who has whispered to God, "Why this body?"

Before you jump into this episode, we want to let you know that while we're having honest conversations today, some of the topics we'll be discussing might not be suitable for all ages.

In this raw and deeply personal episode of Body & Soul, Candace and Lisa continue their vulnerable journey into how we see and treat our bodies. Lisa shares a moment from childhood that shaped her entire body story-a traumatic exposure to pornography that led to years of compartmentalization and perfectionism. Candace relates through her own early body awareness, acting pressures, and a lifelong internal battle with image and value.

Together, they unpack why our relationships with our bodies go sideways-from treating our bodies like projects or performances, to seeing them as props for approval. They introduce the "trifecta" of body compartmentalization and explain why only a solid foundation can bring lasting freedom. They also respond to a moving listener question about emotional eating and point toward scripture as the root of transformation.

• Which of the three body perspectives do you relate to most: project, prop, or object?

• Have you ever treated your body like an opponent rather than an ally?

• What does renewing your mind with scripture look like for you?

Gracie Binion is the real deal. In this episode, she shares how she went from writing songs in her childhood bedroom to leading worship with fire-and how a van full of bad smells and loud laughs became the backdrop to her newlywed life. She talks faith, calling, creative grit, and the night she heard God speak out loud. It's equal parts fun, raw, and full of purpose.

Connect with us on social!
Gracie: @graciebinion
Levi: @levilusko
Jennie: @jennielusko
Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]
Listen to Gracie on Spotify: https://bit.ly/45JodTO
Listen to Gracie on Apple Music: https://bit.ly/3ZSjFa4
Get the 5-Gallon Bucket: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY
Get the Lusketeer Sticker: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Subscribe for more exclusive content: https://levilusko.com/hitl-subscribe

Timestamps
00:25 - The Worship Prowler
02:07 - Married on Valentine's Day
04:34 - Smelly Vans & Sacred Friendships
10:35 - Childhood Songs & Taylor Swift
18:22 - Cat-Sound Warmups
32:50 - Ministry School & Hearing God

We are constantly affected by people, experiences, and lessons we remember from our past. On this journey, Dr. G tells us about profound memories we are born with, whose origin and purpose remain a mystery to science, but not to the Bible. 

"Islands of Genius" by Dr. Darold Treffert

Sculptures by Alonzo Clemons

CLICK HERE for Dr. G's OFFICIAL WEBSITE.

CLICK HERE for Dr. G's OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE.

ORDER DR. G's EXCITING NEW BOOK! Let Creation Speak! 

* Tyndale

* Books-A-Million

* ChristianBook

* Amazon

* Barnes & Noble

You know that old, familiar ice-breaker question, "If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?" Well, during today's episode of Back Porch Theology - which was taped live at our 2025 Kerygma Summit a few weeks ago. And yes, we happen to be hugely biased, but y'all this bevy of Bible scholars could aptly be described as Wonder Women. Dr. Lynn Cohick is the Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Director of Houston Theological Seminary. Dr. Eva Bleeker is assistant professor of Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care at Denver Seminary. Dr. Irini Fambro, she and her family reside in Dallas where she serves as president of The King's University. Dr. Dorian Coover-Cox is a beloved Old Testament professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and has tutored hundreds of students in Hebrew over the years. And rounding out this dream team is Dr. Nicole Massey Martin. She's currently the COO for Christianity Today, and served as a senior VP at The American Bible Society. Today's episode is going to be FIRE, y'all ~ so please grab a great big iced mocha. Welcome to the porch - we're so glad you've chosen to hang out with us today!

Why Can't I Feel Free? - What keeps us from finding peace in our bodies?

In the premiere of Season 11, Body & Soul, Candace and her guest co-host Lisa Whittle begin a vulnerable and powerful conversation about their lifelong struggles with body image, disordered eating, and mental exhaustion. From Lisa's seminary days of Skittles and Diet Coke lunches to Candace's behind-the-scenes pressures as a young actress, both women reveal how shame and comparison shaped their self-worth.

But this season isn't about staying stuck. Lisa introduces the concept of "whole body theology," a Biblical foundation that reframes how we view our bodies-not as projects to fix, but as vessels created for God's glory. If you've ever felt exhausted by conflicting health advice, or caught in a cycle of striving and self-loathing, this episode offers gospel-centered hope for a new way forward. Because when body and soul are seen together, healing begins.

• What part of Candace or Lisa's story resonated most with you?

• Have you ever felt exhausted by all the advice about health and wellness?

• What does freedom in your body look like to you?

Today's episode is both deeply meaningful to me and deeply personal. I'm amazed at all the ways the ancient and ever Story of the Bible meets us in our modern, current, right now stories and lives. We are absolutely getting ready to see that Jesus is BETTER than we ever knew!

Our biblical pearl today is another well-known and often-taught passage from the New Testament but we are getting ready to look at it through the Middle Eastern lens. It's the story of Jesus healing the lame man at the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem. As we look at this story anchored in its historical, cultural context, significant light will be shed on the story, as well as the intriguing question Jesus asked the lame man.

"Do you want to get well?" This question seems strange and enigmatic to us. The man had been lame for 38 years. What was Jesus was really asking here? What was behind his question? I will share the story of when this question found me in my own life and journey, and what it meant to answer Jesus' question with a "yes" in my own heart.