Confronting Normal Podcast.

Today’s episode is a gentle reminder to remember that not everyone around you is experiencing the Christmas season the same way you are. Be kind. Be compassionate. Be gracious. Create space whenever and wherever space might be needed, because you just never know how meaningful and needed your small act of kindness may be. It’s through and with this awareness that our greatest Christmas opportunities present themselves — that WE can become the spirit of Christmas by offering hope, peace, love, joy and light to an otherwise worrisome, fearful and grieving season.

In classic Confronting Normal style, there is little in the way of answers with this episode. But there is a distinct takeaway around the idea that the way of Jesus is indeed a lot more than a set of beliefs, and that as much as ever before we need to think critically and not just consume all that comes at us. Today we sit down with long-time friends of the podcast, Matt Rigby and Alex Marriott, to discuss, well, everything. To note: this episode covers a lot of ground, from Kayne West, Bono, Billy Graham and Relevant Magazine, to Rob Bell, Mars Hill, and seemingly everything else in between—ha! You really don’t want to miss this gem of an episode. 

In this episode Cindy and Renae have a candid conversation about their upbringing in church, their shifting beliefs, and how living out intentional faith requires some serious reprogramming to see: people are not projects, relationships are not agendas, loving others cannot be motivated by fear, and trust can not be about control.

Today’s episode is a conversation about what it means to think critically about how we’re going to engage life's tensions and how we’re going to participate in being the light amidst the dark. Perhaps instead of sanitizing what's uncomfortable to deal with, what we need to do instead, is have grace and space to walk through what’s hard, messy and ugly.

As Christians, traditionally there are two options when approaching the 31st, you can either head to church or turn off your lights. But what if there was another way? What if we viewed Halloween, instead, as an opportunity to turn on our lights, open our doors (and hearts) and meaningfully connect with our neighbours?   

Today’s church/faith/Christian structure takes the shape of—and places high importance on—the Sunday morning gathering. We all know it and we all get it. But in today’s episode and conversation, Cindy and Renae ask some honest questions about why the Christian faith has to come packaged as one standard structure? What if there are so many more ways to experience and enjoy God than simply sitting in a pew?

In today’s episode, Cindy and Renae discuss their summers, the journeys they’ve been on and the lessons they’ve learned that have brought surprising new insights about God, themselves and their lives.

It may not be comfortable to do so, but by examining your life, you empower your faith to grow and reveal itself in unexpected ways. And you might just fantastically discover the thing that’s been bothering you all this time is actually something so much more. Today’s episode is a simple conversation about the possibilities that just might be on the other side of self-examination.

Religious vulnerability is a very real thing. The cost of being honest about your questions and doubts is high, but the cost of suppressing them is likely even higher. If we can't find a safe place within church to be honest with our doubts and to wrestle with them then where do we go? If we could find more safe places to talk about these things and to be honest about these things perhaps we would see fewer people leaving church.

The need for security runs deep in our culture. It’s a natural human response to be on a quest for answers in order to find a sure sense of certainty for today’s chaotic times. But today’s episode challenges each of us to lean into areas of not knowing, to confront the systems that hold us back, and to redefine what wealth should really mean. Because experiencing the deepest of deep is healthy.

Practices such as mindfulness, stillness, silence and meditation are great forms of discipline for today’s hyper-connected culture. They are certainly trendy topics and much-needed habits for this fast-paced generation we find ourselves living in. And these healthy practices are wonderful at teaching us to sit, reflect and slow down our pace of life. But it’s also important to consider what our stillness is founded on. What are we being mindful about? Who are we being silent for? What is feeding our souls? And what do we consider to be the center of our lives in which all the other practices...

The drive in our culture to live our best lives and be all we can be is one of our greatest temptations and biggest distractions. It stirs up constant pressure within us, and a perpetual rat race of busyness around us. In reality, we’re just being distracted from what is most meaningful and what actually matters. But what if, rather than being caught up with all we could do and should do, what if we chose instead, to really engage with a practice of stillness and recognize that we can’t change everything going on on the outside, but we do...

Are we surrounding ourselves with enough variety in our lives? Are we present or distracted when living out the in-between moments? Are we known as encouraging and empowering people by those that encounter us throughout the day-to-day? These may not be questions we think about often, if ever, but they are important questions to reflect on none-the-less if we desire to live lives of intentionality and self-awareness. Today’s episode is a varied conversation focusing on some key topics lacking in our culture today: the missing beauty and importance of inter-generational mentoring … the limited diversification of our relationships … and...

Once upon a time there were two girls, Renae and Cindy, who went radio silent for two months – this is their story!! Only joking a little bit here. In this episode we take a deep dive into where we have been, why it has been so long since you have heard from us, and what’s next. Oh, and we also get incredibly open and honest about who we are, how we are wired, and how one of us (cough, cough – Renae) does not enjoy facing her own limitations. “Exhaustion is not a badge of honour.” It really isn’t....

To be busy, it seems, is often equated to our success, value and worth. But is living busy really what it means to live a purposeful and meaningful life? Today's episode unpacks the concept of "busy as a badge of honor," and it challenges each of us to consider the answers to these questions: Is this the life I want to live? Is this the life I was designed to live?

In a culture that pressures us to “do all, be all and look good doing it,” the weight of “more” is always looming; feelings of drowning are raw and real. But what if, rather than adding more stuff to our already maxed out lives, we took the time to consider what we could shed, instead? Today’s episode is a conversation about the concept of an “elimination diet.” By intentionally thinking about every area of our lives, and by giving critical thought to the things that are “necessity” and those that are mere “nicety,” we begin to see what is helping...

We all think our view of the world is the right view, but what if we learned to see the world through nine different types of lenses? How might it shape our views? This is exactly what makes The Enneagram the popular typology tool that it is today. Today’s episode is a conversation with Your Enneagram Coach, Beth McCord, about what it could look like for us to meet in the middle and honour one another in order to see our relationships flourish.

Movement, change and transformation are rarely overnight events. Rather, they are so often slow progressions that unfold. But as J.R.R. Tolkien so wisely puts it, little but little, one travels far.

Today’s episode is a conversation about justice, but also about the power of education and how dreaming for the impossible can lead to incredible places if the Global community is willing to engage, lean into the uncertainty together and allow for justice to rise with unrelenting tenacity.

According to IJM's statistics, there are 40 million people in slavery today. These numbers are staggering, so what can one do? How can one help? Today’s episode is a two-part conversation with Phil Reilly, National Director of Development for International Justice Mission. Phil’s expertise and insight into the world of slavery helps each of us understand what we can do to take personal action steps towards confronting justice, and how there really is hope when we enter into this weighty topic with a solutions-based mindset and approach.

According to IJM's statistics, there are 40 million people in slavery today. These numbers are staggering, so what can one do? How can one help? Today’s episode is a two-part conversation with Phil Reilly, National Director of Development for International Justice Mission. Phil’s expertise and insight into the world of slavery helps each of us understand what we can do to take personal action steps towards confronting justice, and how there really is hope when we enter into this weighty topic with a solutions-based mindset and approach.

As we head into the Christmas season, take time to think about what gift giving is all about and what the gift of Christmas really means.

Our guest today has personally invited 3000 people to sit with her in her own backyard for a simple meal around her table. As she shares her heart and vision for people, you will be inspired and challenged to not only invite people to gather, but to gather them in a more loving, thoughtful and intentional way.

Today’s episode is a story inspired by the traffic light and how the traffic light is a reminder that a fulfilling life is found when we take time to notice the importance of ALL the speeds in life, especially at Christmas.

In this episode we discuss faith and doubt, learning and reading, and all the good stuff that goes along with taking a good look at what we believe and why. Because the problem is not that people are uneducated; the problem is that they are educated just enough to believe what they've been taught but not to question it.

Today’s episode is not only an honest conversation about what it means to be broken, but it’s also a perspective-shifting reminder that brokenness can in fact be beautiful when we recognize that we are all beautifully broken.

This episode, with the always inspiring Danielle Strickland — author, speaker and founder of many advocating initiatives that mobilize people towards transformational living — takes today’s conversation into an exploration of external and internal advocacy. Danielle challenges each of us to ask: what keeps you up at night? Because advocacy starts there.

So often we are given the advice, "Have faith like a child." But as Sarah Bessey (mother of four) points out, children have a lot of questions. In today's day, with so many people struggling to make peace with their evolving faith, Sarah Bessey — author and speaker — reminds us there IS room for questions, for curiosity and for evolving faith.

Today’s episode explores the different signs of depression, the many faces of mental unwellness and how empathy speaks, “I’m with you.” It leaves the listener re-thinking how a simple concept such as, “meet people where they are,” can be the perfect way to bridge the gap of communication and connection when it comes to the topic of mental health.

Today’s episode is a conversation with Jerrad Lopes: author, pastor, podcaster and founder of the Dad Tired community — a non-profit ministry focused on equipping men to lead their family well. As we dive into fatherhood, manhood, motherhood, marriage and more, Jerrad helps us understand how the man-up mentality isn’t working, what it is men do with their emotions, what the greatest fear is for a large percentage of husbands and how women can come alongside them in safety and support.

Activism is so often about picking your side and hammering your stake in the ground; I’m right, you’re wrong, and let me tell you all the reasons why. But in this episode we confront activism through a grace-laced conversation with Allison Centofante, Director of Strategic Communications for Live Action.

Social media is here to stay. But the real key to confronting social media is in how we engage with it, consume it and to what degree we allow its influence over the way we think, live and believe that will make all the difference.

With questions, thoughts and stories about the messy sides of community, this episode discusses what it means to embrace our differences, model the spirit of community to our kids, and how to deal with the pain and heartache that community can so often be.

Community is a complicated topic. It’s a conversation laced with many layers, a wide variety of interpretations and definitions, and typically, it comes accompanied with a ton of painful baggage and unmet expectations. This episode shares openly and honestly about the struggle and beauty that is community.

An episode about a weekend with Wayne Jacobsen in Kelowna, BC, Canada.

More than it’s a word to define, a question to answer or an expression to find, community should be a sense of warmth, a heart of compassion, a stance of empathy, a listening ear, a kind gesture, a gentle word, and a position of love.

Today’s guest takes us on an outrageous conversation into curiously asking, are we aware of the unexpected faith opportunities in our lives? Are we open to what God wants to do in us and through us? And are we intentionally posturing our lives to embrace the events and adventures that God makes available to us?

Deconstruction can take on many different forms for different people. On this episode, Cindy and Renae get open and honest about their own journey's of deconstruction and reconstruction, and how two very different paths have brought them to some surprisingly similar places.

Deconstruction is so often written off as negative, as a phase to be outgrown, but on this episode we talk to John Williamson and Adam Narloch — hosts of The Deconstructionists Podcast — about the beauty of doubt and on reframing deconstruction.

This episode is not your everyday take on social justice. Andy Harrington challenges us to look at issues of poverty, social justice, and missions from a different angle. Rather than viewing people and places as projects that need our fixing, he pauses to ask better questions.

Today's episode explores what it means to live our lives as ordinary radicals doing small things with great love. Shane Claiborne’s contagious joy inspires each of us to reimagine a better world by coming alongside the most vulnerable of our world with big love and genuine relationship.

Caleb Kaltenbach is a refreshing voice speaking to an issue that is so often driven by fear, emotion and a lack of empathy. Regardless of your perspective on the intersections between the Christian and LGBQT communities, today's episode is a catalyst for conversation and a wading into the messy work of truth and grace.

Where does one go with life and how does faith look in the midst when you’ve been diagnosed with a paralyzing disease and introduced to a wheelchair? Today’s guest, Vahen King — author, speaker, life coach, ordained minister and Miss Wheelchair Canada — sheds light on what it means to live life with contagious courage.

This episode of is the first of many on the podcast where we invite listeners to join us in unpacking prior episodes. We discuss the questions and thoughts previous episodes stirred up for us and get curious with them together.

A thought-provoking conversation with Allison Fallon as she challenges us to think through where we go with our questions when we find ourselves in difficult places, how we can show up in our lives in really honest ways, and how accepting “I don’t know” can be the most freeing thing we come to grips with.

On this episode, Cindy and Renae get to pick Wayne Jacobsen's brain on all things God, faith, raising kids in the midst of rethinking the institution of church, and why people who love Jesus keep leaving churches.

With social media typically being a networking platform based on filters, half-truths and façade’s, have you ever wondered what it’s like to follow someone who’s willing to be refreshingly honest and vulnerable? Today’s episode is about living and sharing your story with openness and transparency. As Angi Fletcher shares her story with us, which is a story marked by the hardships of divorce, death, depression, grief and anxiety, we learn that in the midst of such circumstances, the human spirit’s ability to rise above while openly sharing it with others is a powerful and beautiful thing. To own your story...

An intriguing exploration into what it means to live and model the upside down Kingdom of Jesus, Craig Greenfield challenges each of us to consider what it could look like to live out the Gospel with radical hospitality.

What do you do when you’re diagnosed with a rare form of Leiomyosarcoma at the tender age of 33? When your world is tipped upside down and the odds are stacked against you, how do you cope? This episode is a brilliantly hopeful conversation with Julie Rohr — cancer fighter and intentional optimist.

It's less important where we're attending on a Sunday morning and more important where the Spirit has planted us for the purposes of God and the Kingdom in our neighbourhoods.

It’s so important that we jump off of the well-tread paths and go ahead and make those mistakes … and be willing to fail, and be willing to mess up, and know that as we are faithful, not successful — but as we are faithful — that God is faithful and just to forgive us.

Striving manifests itself in the look of performance, in attendance, in being well put together, in having all the answers, in showing up to everything. That, in a way, can appear to be a form of striving—making it seem like you have to present yourself at this perfect type of Christian.

We want to curate for all of you resources and stories of people who are actually doing these out of the ordinary things.

It can be summed up in the idea of I am doing everything I am supposed to be doing but I still feel like there is something more out there ... this isn't working ... is this really it?