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The mysterious connection between faith and healing takes center stage in this thought-provoking conversation. Following a successful Healing Academy session that drew fifty participants from across the UK, we dive deeper into the foundations and controversies surrounding Christian healing.

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Have you ever wondered what spills out when life bumps into you? In this deeply reflective episode, we explore the profound question: what's in your cup?

Through powerful stories and honest conversation, we unpack how the contents of our inner lives determine our responses to life's challenges. When someone bumps into you and you spill coffee, you spill coffee because that's what was in your cup. Similarly, when life's pressures mount, what emerges from us reveals what we've been carrying inside all along.

Kris shares a moving personal story about carrying the pain of a practical joke for nearly thirty years before finding healing through an unexpected act of forgiveness. Lisa offers the striking image of someone clinging to something dead and decaying on their shoulder – a powerful metaphor for how we sometimes hold onto emotional baggage long after it's stopped serving us.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn as we compare inner healing to computer maintenance. Just as we clean a hard drive and update software for better performance, we must examine what fills our emotional and spiritual cups, removing what hinders us and making room for what brings life. While we may never completely erase all fragments of painful past experiences, we can install new "software" through faith that helps us process those remnants differently.

Science confirms what faith has long taught us – Johns Hopkins Medicine reports that forgiveness leads to lower blood pressure, reduced pain, better sleep, and decreased anxiety and depression. These tangible benefits underscore the importance of this inner work.

Whether you're carrying decades of unprocessed hurt or simply feeling weighed down by life's daily stresses, this episode offers gentle wisdom for the journey toward transformation. As Romans 15:13 reminds us, may you "overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" as you discover what truly deserves space in your cup.

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What would our world look like with more women in leadership? Could the answers to many global challenges be found in the voices we've systematically silenced? This thought-provoking exploration dives deep into the paradox of female leadership in a male-dominated world.

The conversation tackles the often-misunderstood concept of "feminizing" institutions like the church. Rather than representing a threat, what if female leadership offers precisely what our world desperately needs? As Kris suggests, "For men to feel threatened by the presence of women, instead of using energy to prohibit women... what we could do is just find a posture where we celebrate women and their gifts."

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Have you ever felt like everything around you is burning? Whether it's the scorching summer temperatures or the heated conflicts erupting across the globe, we're living in a world that's hot in more ways than one.

Record-breaking heat waves are melting glaciers while geopolitical tensions simmer in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and beyond. Even our personal relationships can turn into pressure cookers, with workplace hierarchies and family dynamics creating friction that threatens to ignite. When everything feels this hot, where do we find refreshment?

Drawing from both practical wisdom and spiritual insights, we explore cooling strategies for body, mind, and spirit. Dehydration affects not just our physical wellbeing but our emotional stability—even a 1% reduction in hydration can alter your mood and focus. Similarly, heated conflicts often stem from our unwillingness to truly listen to others. As James 1 reminds us, we should be "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry."

The most powerful antidote to heat might be curiosity. When we approach others with genuine questions rather than defensive postures, tensions naturally dissipate. This applies equally to family disagreements and international diplomacy. Imagine if world leaders approached conflicts with curiosity about others' experiences rather than displays of strength and dominance.

Jesus demonstrated this cooling presence throughout his ministry, calming literal storms and bringing peace to heated situations. We can follow his example through practices like "breathing prayers," finding shade in God's presence, and approaching conflicts with gentle answers rather than harsh words. As Isaiah reminds us, God has been "a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat."

Whether you're physically overheated or spiritually burning, this episode offers practical paths to refreshment. Take a moment to breathe, listen, and find your cooling shade in God's presence.

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What happens when God surprises us? In moments of unexpected joy, miraculous encounters, or even space pranks, the divine often reveals itself most powerfully.

This episode begins with delightful stories of marriage proposals—one at a lighthouse overlooking the sea, another in a specially-reserved restaurant where the owner literally handed over the keys and disappeared for the evening. These deeply human moments of commitment mirror something profound about our relationship with God, who chooses us as His beloved.

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Have you ever wondered why some victories feel hollow while certain defeats ultimately strengthen us? Following the Lionesses' dramatic penalty shootout win, we found ourselves contemplating the spiritual dimensions of triumph and loss that affect us all.

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Feeling constantly drained by the demands of modern living? You're not alone. In this restorative conversation, we unpack the revolutionary idea that rest isn't merely a luxury—it's an essential spiritual practice with profound healing implications.

"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." Anne Lamott's words capture the heart of our discussion as we explore how our resistance to genuine rest has created a culture of exhaustion. While 96% of Britons consider holidays essential, many return from breaks more tired than when they left—highlighting the crucial difference between vacations and true, soul-deep rest.

We wrestle with why rest provokes such guilt in our achievement-oriented society. From educational systems that reward constant productivity to workplace cultures that celebrate burnout, we've internalized damaging messages about the value of stillness. Yet Jesus himself modelled the importance of retreat, regularly withdrawing to quiet places. If the Son of God needed rest, why do we consider ourselves exempt?

Through practical approaches like digital detoxes, prayer walks, and creating "Sabbath moments" in everyday life, we rediscover how intentional rest allows us to hear God's whispers rather than just the world's noise. The word "holiday" itself comes from "holy day"—time set apart for renewal. As summer unfolds, we invite you to reclaim rest not as indulgence but as essential spiritual practice that allows for genuine healing and restoration.

Listen now to transform your understanding of rest and discover how unplugging might be the most powerful healing tool available to you today.

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What happens when we expand our understanding of grief beyond death? In this deeply personal exploration, we discover that grief touches our lives in countless ways—sometimes daily. From losing jobs to watching children leave home, from community tragedies to environmental changes, grief emerges whenever something significant slips from our grasp.

The episode takes an intimate turn as Kris shares the story of his mentor, Coach Norman Lenneberg, whose recent passing has sparked reflection on how meaningful relationships leave permanent imprints on our hearts. Through touching anecdotes about this extraordinary man's life and impact, we witness how grief reflects the depth of our love and connection. Coach Norman's philosophy—"leave it better than you found it"—offers a powerful lens for processing loss while honoring legacies.

Most challenging is when different forms of grief layer upon each other, creating what Kris calls a "grief sandwich." Retirement might coincide with losing a parent while children move away—a confluence that can feel overwhelming. Yet even in these complex emotional landscapes, paths toward healing emerge through faith, community support, and honest expression.

Whether you're wrestling with bereavement or navigating life transitions, this episode offers both compassionate understanding and practical wisdom. The conversation emphasizes that healing takes time and requires grace for ourselves. Connect with Acorn's Digital Healing Hub for prayer support wherever you are—because no one should journey through grief alone. As we learn to process our losses while cherishing memories, we discover that hope remains present even in our darkest moments.

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