Conversations with Cinthia

Is It God or Coincidence? Interview: Rob Ekno

Have you ever wondered if events in your life were orchestrated by God or happened coincidentally?  Rob Ekno, who once lost a thriving broadcasting career to drugs and alcohol, is celebrating 28 years of sobriety this fall!  Today he joins Cinthia to discuss his book Is It God or Coincidence? Coming to Grips with the Unexpected Wonders in Life.  Sometimes life is confusing, but Rob Ekno encourages us to be open to see God at work in our lives.

Interview: Ruth Graham- Forgiving My Father, Forgiving Myself

Forgiveness is one of the toughest issues we face in life, whether we are struggling to forgive ourselves, people we love, or people we never want to see again.  Today Cinthia is delighted to welcome Ruth Graham for a discussion of her book Forgiving My Father, Forgiving Myself.   Ruth Graham describes her own realization that she knew nothing about forgiveness after a visit to men on death row at Angola Prison, as well as what she learned about what forgiveness is and is not.  If you have ever struggled to forgive yourself, others, or even God (and we’re not saying God actually does anything wrong here, but we’re using this phrasing because we get angry and disillusioned with Him sometimes), this episode is for you.

Loving Your Enemy: The Antidote for Loneliness

Loneliness is about more than how many people we have around us or what level of contact we keep with others.  The relationships we have with ourselves drastically influence the relationships we have with each other, which means that the work of reducing loneliness may need to begin inside us.  Today, Cinthia encourages us to look at what’s really going on inside us.  Are we judgmental of ourselves and others?  Do we get angry about the things that disturb God, or are we fighting and ranting about lesser issues?  Sometimes we are our own worst enemies, and we need the love of God for ourselves to rescue us from our sense of isolation.

The Church, Relationships, and Generation Z: Interview with Josh McDowell

Loneliness has reached pandemic proportions during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Studies are showing loneliness, suicide, and other troubling relationship-oriented problems to be skyrocketing.  Today Cinthia is thrilled to talk with Josh McDowell about the impact of the current circumstances on Generation Z.  The two note that our society’s emotional state going into the pandemic contributed to this but also discuss ways that contributing to the lives of others, even while locked down and isolated, is possible and is key to maintaining mental health.  Josh McDowell also discusses his own experiences fearing the idea of a Heavenly Father until he experienced relationship with Him.  Cinthia then further discusses the current struggle with loneliness and why God wants us in relationships in the first place.  If you are struggling with loneliness at any level, this episode is for you.  Join us.

Irritating and Annoying Habits People May Not Know They Have, Part 3 (orig. 5-12-19)

When is it appropriate to confront someone else's annoying habit?  Is it healthy to self-censor regarding our own habits?  Cinthia continues her discussion of irritating and annoying habits we and others may display that inadvertently get in the way of social enjoyment, relationship intimacy, or business success.

The Book of Job: My Name Is Suffering

Pain has been part of life on earth since Adam and Eve ate the fruit.  Sometimes it becomes so intense that we wonder where God is or how such pain can exist when a loving God is ultimately sovereign.  Today Cinthia discusses the Book of Job and what God does with the suffering that plagues His creation.  

I Am the Same Yesterday and Today and Forever

Object constancy is the ability to trust relationships to survive despite conflict, absence, or other difficulty.  This doesn't come easily for everyone, especially if it didn't develop well in childhood, and some people may find themselves thinking a relationship is over anytime they have a fight.  Others seem to act as though the relationship is irrelevant whenever their partner is out of the room.  But Jesus told us that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that He is with us always.  He is the One Who can heal our wounded sense of object constancy and bring us to approach our other relationships with greater health and objectivity.  Join Cinthia to explore how to start working on this today!  

Anger and Domestic Violence, with Interview: Michael Clark

Have you ever met anyone who just seemed angry all the time?  Have you ever been that person?  Have you ever pushed anger down to the point that it was running your life without even being acknowledged?  Anger is a healthy, normal emotion, one that is given to us by God for a purpose.  It's a great place to visit but a terrible place to live.  Today Cinthia discusses what to do with our anger so that it helps us and those around us instead of destroying us and them.  She is joined in the latter part of the episode by Michael Clark, who is in recovery from engaging in domestic violence and who has now founded the Ananias Foundation for others who struggle with it, as well.  

Critical Thinking Skills Bring Peace, with Interview: Michael Brown

The term "critical thinking" is popular in education these days, but actual critical thinking often takes a back seat to villainizing each other, ranting, and even name-calling.  Christians, unfortunately, are vulnerable to this, too, and we are currently divided over a number of issues, not the least of which is Donald Trump.  Is he sent from God?  Is he the enemy?  Today Cinthia discusses what it means to think critically, then talks with Michael Brown about his ideas concerning evangelicals' reactions to Donald Trump.  No, we aren't planning to turn this into a political podcast; today is a look at what it means to think critically about issues in ways that move us toward being our own best versions.  

Loving My Enemy: Why Am I So Angry?

What made Jesus angry?  What makes you angry?  Anger is normal and healthy; God feels it and gave us the ability to feel it for a reason.  But living with ongoing, unresolved anger can be harmful, and anger can begin to inordinately influence our health, relationships, decisions, and lives.  Today Cinthia discusses the purpose of anger, what it does in our bodies and brains, warning signs that anger is playing too powerful a role, and managing anger well.