In this episode of the Embracing Brokenness podcast, host Steve Adams engages in a profound conversation with Chip Skowron, a former Hedge Fund Manager indicted for insider trading, who shares his transformative journey from a life of self-serving behaviors and material success to one of redemption and purpose.

Chip discusses his early traumas, the impact of his career changes, and his commitment to prison ministry, emphasizing the importance of celebrating stories of redemption and healing. This conversation delves into the themes of brokenness, redemption, and the transformative power of community.

They reflect on their journey from a life of deceit and materialism to one of authenticity and purpose, emphasizing the importance of confession, community support, and the role of faith in healing.

The discussion also highlights the significance of prison ministry and the Prison Entrepreneurship Program in fostering connections and providing hope for those affected by incarceration.

Prison Entrepreneurship Program: https://www.pep.org/

New Caanan Society: https://newcanaansociety.org/

Chapters

00:00 The Journey of Redemption

05:29 From Medicine to Finance: A Life Transformed

12:34 The Impact of Early Trauma

20:18 Struggles with Identity and Expectations

25:08 Navigating Career Changes and Life Decisions

32:01 The Quest for Soul Satisfaction

34:52 The Consequences of Deceit and Brokenness

38:36 Transformation Through Community and Confession

41:40 The Power of Community in Adversity

45:45 Building Bridges: Prison Ministry and Redemption

48:55 Connecting Inside and Outside: The Prison Entrepreneurship Program

56:10 The Importance of Authentic Community

01:00:51 Hope and Healing Beyond Incarceration

In this episode of the Embracing Brokenness podcast, hosts Steve and Colleen Adams explore the themes surrounding the Tower of Babel, the spiritual forces at play, and the implications of a biblical worldview in today's society.

They discuss the cultural mandate given by God, the nature of evil as represented by the Nephilim, and the modern parallels to the Tower of Babel in the context of globalization and technology.

The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding spiritual influences, the rise of a one world religion, and the consolidation of power in contemporary society.

Ultimately, they call on believers to be truth tellers and to remain steadfast in their faith amidst the challenges of the modern world.

Chapters

00:00 The Tower of Babel: Lessons in Humility

03:10 The Spiritual Forces at Play

05:57 The Cultural Mandate and Its Implications

08:53 The Nephilim and the Nature of Evil

11:46 The Scattering of Nations and Languages

14:47 The New Tower of Babel: Modern Parallels

18:00 The Role of Technology and Globalization

20:53 The Influence of Spiritual Forces

23:45 The Importance of a Biblical Worldview

27:07 The Rise of One World Religion

30:05 The Consolidation of Power

32:58 The Future of Humanity and Faith

35:46 The Call to Action for Believers

In this episode of the Embracing Brokenness podcast, host Colleen Adams explores the current state of Christianity in America and discusses the alarming statistics surrounding biblical worldviews.

She delves into the historical context of the Enlightenment and its impact on faith, the importance of understanding the spiritual realm, and the dangers of syncretism in modern Christianity.

The conversation also touches on the pitfalls of manifesting and positive thought, and the distinctions between theism and deism. Finally, she reflects on the Tower of Babel and its significance in shaping cultural and religious identities.

Chapters

00:00 The Quest for a Unified World Order

01:11 The State of Christianity in America

03:31 The Impact of Enlightenment on Faith

07:45 Understanding the Spiritual Realm

10:58 The Great Commission and Spiritual Integration

13:46 Evaluating Worldviews and Syncretism

20:01 The Dangers of Manifesting and Positive Thought

23:51 Theism vs. Deism: Understanding God

28:13 The Tower of Babel and Cultural Dispersal

Defining a Biblical Worldview in a Post-Christian Culture.

In this episode of the Embracing Brokenness podcast, hosts Steve and Colleen Adams dive deep into the concept of a biblical worldview, exploring its importance and implications in a modern, post-Christian American society.

They discuss how only a small percentage of self-identified Christians in the U.S. hold a biblical worldview, according to research by George Barna, and address the concerning trends of increasing secularism, syncretism, and the 'Great Falling Away.'

The conversation also touches on the impacts of spiritual and cultural shifts on society, including rising depression, and anxiety. It emphasizes the need to return to the roots of Jesus's teachings. The episode wraps up with the hopeful promise of a new heaven and earth, as described in Revelation 21.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Worldviews

00:58 Welcome to Embracing Brokenness

01:24 The Decline of Biblical Worldview

03:06 Defining a Biblical Worldview

05:05 Impact of Worldviews on Society

07:05 Historical Perspectives on Worldviews

22:05 Modern and Postmodern Worldviews

24:51 Syncretism and Its Effects

29:45 Personal Stories

37:29 Hope and Encouragement

Todd Pierce, a former bareback rider, shares his story and the impact of his ministry, Riding High, which uses horses to convey the message of the Kingdom of Jesus. The conversation covers Todd's rodeo career, his passion for horses, and the transformative power of encountering God. The video clip from his presentation at Flatirons Community Church is highlighted, showcasing the profound impact it had on the audience.

On today's podcast, Todd shares his journey of faith and how he found healing and redemption through his relationship with horses. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity and honesty in relationships with others and with God. He encourages listeners to embrace their role as leaders in their homes and to seek healing and transformation through the love of God.

Flatirons Horsebreaking Presentation: https://youtu.be/CzKYytt2I50?si=InpxqPtgIKk1B7MZ

Riding High Ministries website: https://www.ridinghighministries.org/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/share/hWVfooHwkHEziP2C/?mibextid=LQQJ4d

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@toddpierceridinghighministries

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pierce_todd/

Chapters:

00:00 The Spiritual Connection Between Horses and Humans

01:06 The Tragedy of Misrepresenting God

02:03 Encountering Jesus: Transformation and New Understanding

03:21 Healing and Redemption: A Journey of Faith

30:13 God's Work in All Things

31:07 The Lie of Having to Make It Work

32:24 Leading in the Way of God's Love

33:21 Becoming the Word of God Made Flesh

34:51 Pressing Forward and Forgetting the Past

36:15 Jesus as the Father We May Not Have Had

37:02 The Consequences of Seeking the World's Offerings

38:17 Encountering God's Love and Making a Deal

39:46 Discipleship by Horses and Conversations with Holy Spirit

44:09 The Power of Connection and Authenticity with Horses

48:43 Authenticity and Healing in Front of Others

49:13 The Central Truth of the Bible: Sin has been Dealt With

51:31 Embracing Our Identity as Children of God

55:19 Becoming One with Jesus and with One Another

Mark Whitacre is the highest-level executive to ever turn whistleblower in U.S. history. His undercover work with the FBI during the ADM scandal inspired the major motion picture, "The Informant," starring Matt Damon as Mark Whitacre. And was the inspiration for the Discovery Channel Documentary, titled "Undercover" which is linked below.

In this podcast, Mark recounts his early years, education, career, and time with Archer Daniels Midland. He shares how his life was transformed when he found faith in prison and has since dedicated his life to serving others and spreading the message of redemption through Jesus Christ.

Mark's Authorized Biography - Against All Odds - https://a.co/d/7ddvWr9

Discovery Channel Documentary - Undercover - https://vimeo.com/416514389

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Mark Whitaker's Background

19:19 Living Large: The Temptations of Wealth

29:42 A Conscience Awakened: Ginger's Conviction

32:36 Exposing the Corruption

35:02 Wearing a Wire and Gathering Evidence

37:47 The Dangers and Toll of Being an Informant

46:18 Choosing Trial Over a Plea Agreement

51:28 Finding Faith and Redemption

56:20 Living a Life of Significance

In this episode of the Embracing Brokenness podcast, hosts Colleen Adams and Michael Kurtz delve into spiritual warfare, emphasizing that it revolves around standing on God's truth. They highlight the importance of abiding in Christ, understanding scripture, and maintaining one's position in God's truth to fend off deception from the enemy.

The discussion touches on the misconceptions around spiritual warfare, the influence of cultural shifts, and the critical role of personal spiritual formation and obedience. The hosts conclude that true spiritual warfare is about being rooted in God's power and truth.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Spiritual Warfare

00:47 Welcome to Embracing Brokenness Podcast

02:16 Defining Spiritual Warfare

05:37 The Role of Abiding in Spiritual Warfare

08:07 The Full Armor of God

12:17 Cultural Mandate and Spiritual Warfare

15:14 Challenges in Modern Spiritual Warfare

22:30 Standing Firm in Truth

31:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

37:57 Outro and Contact Information

What does it mean to abide in Christ? That's not a term we use often, but it is one you'll find in the Bible to describe our life in Christ. Why abide? How should we abide? There's a way things work. We bear the fruit of the Spirit only through abiding in Christ. (John 15:5) On today's podcast, our team takes a deep dive into why and how to abide in Jesus as that plays out in the current context of our days here on earth.

Barna Study: A Biblical Worldview Has a Radical Effect on a Person’s Life https://www.barna.com/research/a-biblical-worldview-has-a-radical-effect-on-a-persons-life/

Grey Matter Research & Consulting referenced in this book: Mature-ish: Your Mission from God, Should You Choose to Accept It . . . https://www.amazon.com/dp/1947505327?ref=cm_sw_r_em_ud_dp_9DATPWYQ2HP8HY5ESD7F&ref_=cm_sw_r_em_ud_dp_9DATPWYQ2HP8HY5ESD7F&social_share=cm_sw_r_em_ud_dp_9DATPWYQ2HP8HY5ESD7F&skipTwisterOG=2

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Abiding in Christ

00:23 Welcome to the Embracing Brokenness Podcast

01:00 Discussing the Importance of Abiding

01:17 Statistics on Christian Worldview

03:06 Colleen's Perspective on Abiding

04:42 Defining Abiding and Intimacy with God

06:49 The Greek Meaning of Abiding

07:28 Analyzing John 15: The Vine and the Branches

08:56 Pruning and Spiritual Growth

11:16 Live Demonstration: The Rosebush Analogy

16:33 The Process of Spiritual Cleaning

18:12 Cultural Relevance of Abiding

21:24 The Responsibility of Abiding

24:07 Defining Abiding in Practical Terms

26:51 Developing a Lifestyle of Prayer

27:02 Understanding True Abiding

27:56 Spiritual Growth and Pruning

28:34 Challenges of Modern Christian Life

29:58 Intimacy and Communication with God

31:28 The Importance of Abiding in Love

36:20 The Role of Obedience and Commandments

37:37 The Journey of Spiritual Maturity

40:17 The Power of Community and Love

46:05 Final Thoughts on Abiding and Prayer