{"id":303507,"date":"2015-05-25T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-05-25T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/making-your-faith-your-own\/"},"modified":"2015-05-25T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2015-05-25T15:00:00","slug":"making-your-faith-your-own","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/making-your-faith-your-own\/","title":{"rendered":"Making Your Faith Your Own"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ryan and Josh Shook tell how they came back from the brink of spiritual death after years of doubting their faith.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":294104,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/web.familylifetoday.com\/fl2015-05-25.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:","filesize":"11.91M","filesize_raw":"12493196","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2906,2822],"tags":[5662,4299,5660,5665,4291,5664,5667,5663,5666],"podcast_series":[8080],"cwp_profile":[9386,9385],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-303507","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-becoming-a-christian","category-growing-in-your-faith","tag-bible-verses-about-faith","tag-faith","tag-faith-in-god","tag-is-jesus-god","tag-jesus","tag-jesus-is-lord","tag-life-of-jesus","tag-what-is-faith","tag-who-was-jesus","podcast_series-firsthand","cwp_profile-josh-shook","cwp_profile-ryan-shook","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg?w=508","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/02\/image-scaled.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/303507\/making-your-faith-your-own","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/303507\/making-your-faith-your-own","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303?mt=2&app=podcast","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-today","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"Y1Py4fabpR\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/making-your-faith-your-own\/\">Making Your Faith Your Own<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/making-your-faith-your-own\/embed\/#?secret=Y1Py4fabpR\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Making Your Faith Your Own&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"Y1Py4fabpR\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg",508,508,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"kfairris@familylife.com","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/kfairrisfamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Ryan and Josh Shook tell how they came back from the brink of spiritual death after years of doubting their faith.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylifetoday.com\/fl2015-05-25.pdf","transcript_content":"<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Ryan and Josh Shook both grew up in a Christian home\u2014their dad is a pastor. But when they got to college, Ryan and Josh both decided to see if maybe they\u2019d been missing something. Here\u2019s [Josh]. <br>\u00a0\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>I think, for both of us, it was: \u201cOh, we\u2019re on our own.\u201d\u00a0 You have this freedom, seemingly, now that you\u2019re on your own\u2014you\u2019re in college. I don\u2019t think it was until I made a lot of mistakes and I really learned how\u2014when I wanted to do these things that I felt like because I was the pastor\u2019s kid that I couldn\u2019t do\u2014but now, that I was away and not known as that anymore, I had a different identity. I could try these things and see what all the fuss was about. But I mean\u2014I can\u2019t tell you how many times I look back and I just think: \u201cMan! I really just wish I took your word for it, Lord.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>This is <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> for Monday, May 25<sup>th<\/sup>. Our host is the President of FamilyLife<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, Dennis Rainey, and I\u2019m Bob Lepine.\u00a0 We\u2019ll hear from Ryan and Josh Shook today about how they ditched a secondhand religion for a faith of their own. Stay tuned. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>1:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd welcome to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. Thanks for joining us. I remember, years ago, we were talking with a pastor and an author about children making a profession of faith in Christ. I remember him saying, \u201cA child can make a credible profession of faith in Christ, but\u201d he said, \u201cyou\u2019ve got to be careful because the same child also says, \u2018And I want to be a fireman when I grow up,\u2019 and they may not be thinking in those kind of concrete terms.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt\u2019s tough for a mom and dad, sometimes, to know when a child\u2014at five, or six, or seven says, \u201cI\u2019ve become a Christian,\u201d\u2014has the real thing really happened in their heart?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>2:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Yes, and it doesn\u2019t remove the responsibility from parents to continue to present the truth about Jesus Christ, and the gospel, and how He came to redeem us from spiritual death. Yet, we don\u2019t know what\u2019s taking place in a child\u2019s heart. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI just want to use this opportunity because this is what we do, here on <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>\u2014we equip parents to be able to do this kind of thing. Some folks that make this possible are Legacy Partners. Those are people who give monthly to keep <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> on this station. I just want to say, \u201cThanks,\u201d to Andrew and Julia in DuBois, Pennsylvania. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Are you sure it\u2019s DuBois?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Is not DuBois? [Emphasis on the \u201cs\u201d]\u00a0 [Laughter]\u00a0 Do you remember?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>I cannot remember. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I can\u2019t either, but we\u2019ll hear from them\u2014it\u2019s one of those\u2014but Andrew and Julia\u2014\u201cThanks.\u201d\u00a0 I want to say \u201cThanks,\u201d to Andy\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>It\u2019s got to be DuBois\u2014it\u2019s got to be DuBois. [Emphasizing the \u201cs\u201d]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>It has to. Andy and Kate in Lowell, Michigan\u2014I don\u2019t know where that is. I do have an idea of where DuBois\u2014[Omits the \u201cs\u201d]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>DuBois. [Emphasis on the \u201cs\u201d]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014DuBois [Emphasis on the \u201cs\u201d] is in Pennsylvania. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>3:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThen, finally\u2014Anthony and Janet in Sacramento, California: \u201cThank you guys for making <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> possible. You\u2019re helping to pay for this broadcast today.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe\u2019ve got a couple of <em>great <\/em>guys with us on the broadcast\u2014the authors of <em>Firsthand<\/em>, which is a <em>New York Times<\/em> Bestseller. Ryan and Josh Shook join us. They are brothers from Houston, Texas. Welcome to the broadcast, guys. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>Thanks, Dennis and Bob. We\u2019re really happy to be here with you guys. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>Yes, thank you guys so much for having us. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Well, that voice was Josh. He\u2019s a musician\/songwriter and is a graduate of where else?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>Belmont University. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Everybody knew that\u2014in Nashville. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>Oh, yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>He lives in Nashville, and are you starving as a songwriter?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>I am starving! Yes\u2014very, very hungry all the time. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>So, someone needs to listen up. Ryan is a filmmaker, blogger, and a graduate of Baylor University, married to Sarah, and lives in Houston, Texas. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd you guys collaborated together to write this book. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>4:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThis is really about you guys nearly running off the cliff, spiritually; right?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>Yes, that\u2019s exactly right. Josh and I grew up in the church. Our dad\u2019s a pastor of a large church in Houston\u2014Woodlands Church. So, we had a great upbringing that was really built on biblical truths; but Josh and I realized\u2014when we got into high school\u2014that our friends weren\u2019t really following what we believed \/ they weren\u2019t really going to church. We looked at our own faith and we said, \u201cAre we just going through the motions, or do we really believe this?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tJosh and I kind of had this crisis of faith, somewhere in the middle of high school, when we looked at our faith and said: \u201cI think we\u2019re just doing what our parents do. It\u2019s not because we really believe it.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Now, Josh, did you guys have this simultaneously?\u00a0 Were you talking to one another about what was going on?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>I think that we were both kind of experiencing it. Ryan was the first one to really open up and talk about it. I feel like all of us\u2014I was going through some doubt and some struggles, but I didn\u2019t really want to verbalize it. I was scared if I was the only one or: \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>5:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cI\u2019m the pastor\u2019s kid. I\u2019m not supposed to say that or feel this way.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut Ryan was just really courageous and was very open about: \u201cI just feel empty. I feel like this isn\u2019t life in all its fullness like we\u2019ve been promised. I still deal with heartache and suffering.\u201d\u00a0 I think probably in our eyes too\u2014our parents are great, and they live out what they preach\u2014but it seemed like what was fulfilling for them wasn\u2019t fulfilling for us. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>I\u2019m assuming that both of you guys had kind of the standard evangelical kid upbringing, where you\u2019re listening to Bible songs \/ you\u2019re memorizing Bible verses. I mean, your whole home culture was built around \u201cWe\u2019re a family that loves Jesus\u201d; right?\u00a0 Is that what home was like?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>Yes, exactly!\u00a0 Well, our parents\u2014they truly did live out what they believed. So, they really exhibited that faith to us; but you\u2019re right. We knew all the songs \/ we knew all the Bible verses, but we reached this point where we said: \u201cI don\u2019t know if we believe this. I don\u2019t know if this is who we really are.\u201d\u00a0 We really reached a point, like Josh was saying\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>6:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014we felt empty because we were going to church every Sunday \/ we were going to every youth service, but we didn\u2019t feel fulfilled. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>And do you remember reaching that point?\u00a0 I mean\u2014was there a point in time where you thought: \u201cOh, wait!\u00a0 I shouldn\u2019t be thinking this way,\u201d or \u201cI shouldn\u2019t have these doubts\u201d?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>Yes. For me, it was definitely a struggle with doubt. You know, I was in science class on the weekdays, hearing about evolution and all this kind of stuff. And then, I was in church on the weekend, hearing Bible verses. For me, it was really a crisis of faith that was brought on by doubt about: \u201cCould this really be true?\u00a0 Could Jesus really do all things He said He could?\u201d\u00a0 And then, I started to really research, myself, and think, \u201cDo I really believe this?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Did you ever talk to your dad about it?\u2014I mean\u2014say: \u201cHey, Dad, I\u2019m struggling with my faith. I\u2019m having doubts\u201d?\u00a0 Or did you feel like it was unsafe to admit you had doubts?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>Yes, I think that\u2019s a struggle for a lot of kids who grow up in a Christian faith because they know their parents really believe it and they see them very strongly believing what they do. So, I felt kind of timid when I said: \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>7:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cMan, these miracles that He\u2019s done and these things that Jesus has done sound really farfetched at times.\u201d\u00a0 I think my dad had a great response\u2014it was that: \u201cI can present you a lot of great evidence; but in the end, it\u2019s really a decision you have to make for yourself.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I know a dad who actually encourages his children to come to him with their doubts, with their fears, with their questions, and doesn\u2019t ever shame them for doing that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>Absolutely. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>And frankly, looking back on raising our children, I wish I had been more proactive about that because, when you grow up around the church, and in the church, and saturated with Christian things, it\u2019s easy to think that you\u2019re somehow betraying your parents and who they are by believing anything any different. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Bob: <\/strong>Well, and if you have a science teacher\u2014who is a good teacher, and smart, and starts teaching stuff\u2014and saying, \u201cThis is how it is\u2026\u201d\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Bob: <\/strong>\u2014it\u2019s easy for a student\u2014I mean\u2014I remember, as a student, thinking: \u201cWell, now, wait!\u00a0 This person seems reasonable, seems sensible \/ seems nice. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>8:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cSo, what do I do with what they are saying and what I\u2019ve grown up believing?\u201d\u00a0 Was science the same kind of challenge for you?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>Yes, I think it definitely was; and I definitely struggled with it. I think our struggles were a little bit different. Mine was more: \u201cIs He really as personal as He says He is?\u00a0 Is that part really true?\u201d because I felt like, in my life, a lot of times\u2014how I perceived it\u2014it seemed like the Lord didn\u2019t really care that much\u2014at the time, that\u2019s how I felt. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd I remember I would get really frustrated when I was in high school and I would talk to my youth pastor about it. He would try to explain it to me\u2014he would say, \u201cWell, it\u2019s a relationship, not a religion.\u201d\u00a0 I would say: \u201cWhat does that mean, practically?\u00a0 We\u2019re talking about a lot of metaphysical concepts, and how was that a relationship?\u201d\u00a0 He would say, \u201cWell, it\u2019s personal.\u201d\u00a0 I would say, \u201cHow is me going to the same Bible study, in the same service as everyone else, personal and unique to me?\u201d\u00a0 It just felt like, \u201cIf this Lord was real, He was very distant.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>So, let me stop you, at this point, in the middle of your story. Let\u2019s say somebody comes to you with that same question\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>9:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014a high school student comes and says: \u201cWell, Josh, what does it mean He\u2019s personal?\u00a0 What does it mean\u2014\u2018I have a relationship with God,\u2019\u2014because when I talk, I don\u2019t hear anything back. When I pray, I\u2019m not sure what\u2019s supposed to happen next.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>Absolutely. For me\u2014I think, as every believer comes to find, it really truly is a process and it is personal. By personal, I mean my relationship with the Lord looks totally different from yours because I have my own unique strengths and I have my own unique weaknesses. I think that the Lord\u2014a lot of times in our own insecurities\u2014makes us sensitive to needs around us we can meet and ways we can step out. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tFor example, for a while, I was very frustrated with a lot of worship music in the church. I\u2019m not saying anything about worship music, or any particular artist, or anything like that\u2014but for some reason\u2014I was just like: \u201cI don\u2019t know. This doesn\u2019t resonate with me. I don\u2019t know how I feel about this.\u201d\u00a0 And\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Did you know you\u2019re the first church member, ever, to have a problem with church music?\u00a0 [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>10:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>Yes, absolutely. [Laughter]\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019re using electric guitars\u2014it\u2019s not right!\u201d\u00a0 But it was so interesting because my dad\u2014I was talking to my dad about it. I was just complaining, really\u2014just complaining about it. My dad challenged me\u2014he said: \u201cWell, why don\u2019t you try writing some worship music or about your relationship with the Lord?\u00a0 Just try it.\u201d\u00a0 I was like, \u201cWell, I don\u2019t know if I want to be a worship leader\u2014want to do that or a Christian writer, or\u2014I don\u2019t know.\u201d\u00a0 My dad really called me out with that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, I started writing. It\u2019s not necessarily that I wrote great songs for the church, but I\u2019m glad I was able to play them in church\u2014I still am. But it really, really changed the way I approached worship in my life. It was more for <em>me<\/em>. It\u2019s almost\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Josh\/Ryan, neither of you, right now, are parents?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>Right. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>So, you don\u2019t know this; but there are a lot of parents, listening to us right now, going, \u201cIs there some way I could somehow keep my child from having to go through what you guys both struggled through?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>11:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAs I look at my own faith\u2014because I had a similar journey\u2014I went on my own route for a number of years before truly coming back to my faith, and getting with the program, and submitting and surrendering to the authority of Jesus Christ, and really getting honest about my relationship with Him when I was 20 years old\u2014junior in college; okay?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThere really is no short circuit that you can go through\u2014you can\u2019t take a detour to get there. Sometimes, people have to go through these difficult times to truly hammer out what they honestly believe. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>That\u2019s a great point\u2014is that there is that kind of classic phrase we hear pretty often, especially with this book, is: \u201cGod has no grandchildren,\u201d\u2014that idea that, as strong as your faith might be, really that faith has to be genuine in your child\u2019s life. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd that\u2019s one of the questions we get so often from parents is: \u201cRyan\/Josh, what can we do to really help our son \/ our daughter, who is a teenager?\u201d or \u201c\u2026maybe about to finish high school,\u201d or \u201c\u2026going into high school?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>12:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd those are really critical times\u2014those years in junior high and high school when friends are being made and all kinds of connections are forming. They look at it and they say, \u201cI\u2019m concerned that the world is influencing my son or daughter so much that I don\u2019t know if my influence is what it should be or needs to be.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd I think that\u2014the first thing we tell parents is that \u201cGod is in control.\u201d\u00a0 God is the one who is in control of your child\u2019s destiny\u2014who is going to take care of them. I think that\u2019s tough for a lot of parents to let go of. And the next thing we really encourage them with is: \u201cEmbrace the conversation.\u201d\u00a0 I think\u2014like you\u2019re saying, Dennis\u2014there are a lot of times that parents naturally have this tendency to maybe get defensive or want to present the best possible image of their faith or who they are\u2014but, really, it\u2019s being genuine. It\u2019s being real about who you are\u2014about your struggles \/ about your faith\u2014that\u2019s really going to make the biggest impact in your child\u2019s life. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>There are a bunch of young people today leaving the church and not coming back. It\u2019s not a matter of them doing what you guys are doing\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>13:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014which you left your faith for a period of time and you came back. We are looking at\u2014what is it?\u2014upwards of 60 percent of young people, coming out the church today, don\u2019t darken the doors of a church again; right?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>It\u2019s\u2014to me, it just seems like what it will take to change that is really just\u2014it\u2019s the Holy Spirit that changes people\u2019s lives. We truly believe that. When you see someone who is following Jesus\u2014who is truly in love with Jesus\u2014it\u2019s life-changing. You can\u2019t help but explain it in any other way. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut when you see someone who is trying to cover up all the dirty parts of their life, and try to put on this image that they have it all together, it almost cheapens that message of redemption. It makes it seem like: \u201cThat\u2019s not practical to live out. You\u2019re just as imperfect as me; only, I can be open about it, and you feel like you have to act like you\u2019re better than me.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Ryan, let me ask you\u2014your journey\u2014you started to have doubts\u2014was it junior high \/ senior high when you started having doubts?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>It was probably right in the middle of high school. Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Bob: <\/strong>Okay. And did you get to a point on your path, where you said, \u201cI\u2019m not sure I\u2019m a Christian\u201d?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>14:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>Well, to be honest, Bob, I never personally\u2014I don\u2019t think I ever reached that point where I said, \u201cI\u2019m not a Christian.\u201d\u00a0 I did reach a point where I stopped going to church. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBasically, there is another great point of crisis for many, many students and kids\u2014is when they go from high school into that first year of college. And that was another time when Josh and I were really starting to come back to our faith\u2014was we had left high school. We were now on our own\u2014our freshman year of college. We both, at separate schools, kind of came to the same realization that: \u201cMan! The stuff our parents were talking about\u2014the biblical principles were all real.\u201d\u00a0 But they had to be real to me in a new, fresh way. That\u2019s why we wrote <em>Firsthand<\/em>\u2014is: \u201cHow do we present faith in a fresh way for this generation so that they can really grab it and own it for themselves?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>So, when you tuned out Christianity for a while\u2014from middle of high school until the beginning of your freshman year \/ somewhere in your freshman year\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>Yes?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>\u2014was it just an: \u201cI\u2019m not interested in that,\u201d or were you off experimenting with what the world has to offer during that time?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>15:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>I think that Josh and I dealt with things in different ways because we have unique personalities. Josh\u2014maybe, you can speak into how you dealt with it at that time. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>I was the experimenter, I think. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Okay. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>Yes, I mean, it\u2019s such a great question. I think it\u2019s so difficult\u2014when you\u2019re in high school, I really do believe, until you are on your own\u2014to really have the faith of your own. It\u2019s not impossible; but I do think that the challenge is, if you have loving parents, you are spared from consequences so much. I don\u2019t think it was until I made a lot of mistakes and I really learned how\u2014when I wanted to do these things that looked fun, or looked fulfilling, or the things that I felt like because I was the pastor\u2019s kid that I couldn\u2019t do\u2014but now, that I was away and not known as that anymore, I had a different identity. I could try these things and see what all the fuss was about. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI never really fully realized, until I was on my own, how <em>practical<\/em> the gospel is\u2014how all of everything the Lord tell us\u2014it\u2019s for our good. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Right. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>And we have a sinful nature. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>16:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe desire other things, and sin is fun for a time\u2014but ultimately, and it\u2019s not following those things that the Lord tells us to do that\u2019s fulfilling\u2014but there is so much protection in it. I mean, I can\u2019t tell you\u2014I\u2019m sure you guys feel the same way\u2014how many times I look back, and I just think: \u201cMan! I really just wish I took Your word for it, Lord. Why did I have to go do this and reach this point?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>So, your freshman year, you\u2019re not going to church anywhere?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>Not really. I was kind of bouncing around, finding\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Ryan, at Baylor, did you find a church your freshman year and start going?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>Yes, similar to Josh. It was more like I kind of said that I found a church just to put on a face; but really, I would just be going, maybe, once a month \/ not really checking in. That was how both of us dealt with it. But I think, to what you\u2019re saying: \u201cDid we ever hit a wall?\u00a0 Did we ever hit this point, where we realized, \u2018I am so empty\u2019?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt\u2019s kind of at that point\u2014at the end of your rope, when you have nowhere else to go \/ nowhere else to turn to\u2014rock bottom\u2014that is really a lot of times the best place to be because that\u2019s when you can look up at God and He can pick you up.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>17:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>You actually speak of that as \u201cthe gift of emptiness\u201d?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>Absolutely. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>Yes, absolutely. I think emptiness really is one of our greatest assets. When you think about it, Paul brags about it. He says, \u201cHis strength is made perfect in my weakness.\u201d\u00a0 You know, this is where I get to show the world God\u2019s grace, and His mercy, and how He works through our brokenness. And the older we get, I think, we come to realize how thankful we are that God\u2019s not just this doctor who fixes us and then sends us on our way\u2014that we have to keep going back to Him daily. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd these struggles we have\u2014yes, they are hard \/ they are difficult. Many times, they are not going to be just healed \/ they are not just going to go away, but that\u2019s <u>not<\/u> because the Lord is unloving\u2014it\u2019s the opposite. He wants to draw us into a relationship with Him. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>It seems, to me, it would be a good prayer for a parent to pray for a child who is wandering a bit\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>Absolutely. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014pray they\u2019d get so lost\u2014\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>It\u2019s a great\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>It\u2019s a scary prayer because you realize your need for a Savior. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>18:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou realize your need for Jesus. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Have you guys had a chance to double back with your mom and dad since all of this, and I guess since the book came out, and ask them, \u201cWhat were you thinking, as mom and dad, during our freshman year?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>Great question. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>\u201cDid you know that we were kind of off the rails?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>Yes, well, we have had opportunities to talk with them candidly. They have said, \u201cWe were concerned at times; but in the end, we always trusted that God was the One to kind of bring you back to Him.\u201d\u00a0 I know there were nights that my mom probably stayed up and worried about us\u2014like all moms do\u2014and that my dad probably was concerned about: \u201cWill they really believe what they are hearing on the weekends?\u00a0 Is it real in their lives?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut the greatest thing that my parents did for us was they lived out their faith. I think that a lot of our friends didn\u2019t have the benefit of having parents that were authentic. I think Josh and I were very, very blessed to have the benefit of parents that preached one thing on the weekends but also worked really, really hard to live it out on the weekdays. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>19:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>Absolutely. It makes you just go: \u201cI want that!\u00a0 I\u2019ve tried these other things, and I want that.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Well, it\u2019s interesting because the research that we\u2019ve seen says that young people, who are moving away from the faith\u2014one of the things they point back to is\u2014it wasn\u2019t real at home. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>Absolutely. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>\u201cWe went to church. We did all\u2014we went through the motions,\u201d but they didn\u2019t have the real experience of seeing a mom and dad who were really living\/walking by faith. Those kids who did\u2014that sticks with them in a way that what you hear in Sunday school doesn\u2019t stick with you. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>That\u2019s true. But you know, Bob, I had to think that if someone\u2019s listening to this\u2014it\u2019s a parent that really cares about their son or daughter\u2014and so, our message to them is just: \u201cWe want to encourage you. If you have a child that seems like they are kind of off the path, and they are not really engaged in church\u2014we just want to encourage you that God is faithful and that your patience will continue to pay off.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>And I would also add\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>20:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014just as a challenge to any parents\u2014to be honest and open with their children about that they can come to them with these doubts \/ they can talk about them. I would encourage parents to be open about their own imperfections. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI think a lot of times\u2014for Ryan and me, growing up\u2014even though our parents lived out what they believed, they weren\u2019t as open, sometimes, about when they made mistakes or when something went wrong. And seeing that, and seeing in hindsight how much that can speak about the relationship with the Lord, I wish it would have happened more often. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Both of you guys have done a good job speaking to the parents. There has to be, right now, a single man \/ single woman\u2014maybe, it\u2019s a married man \/ married woman\u2014they are in the woods \/ they are lost. They are coming to grips with their own emptiness. Which of the two of you wants to have the heart-to-heart conversation with that man \/ with that woman and call them out of the woods to come into the light?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>21:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Josh: <\/strong>If you are in that spot that Dennis just described, I would just encourage you: \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThe Lord loves you right where you are at. You don\u2019t have to have any shame or any regret about anything you\u2019ve done\u2014the Lord\u2019s mercy is just boundless. It doesn\u2019t\u2014you don\u2019t have to be perfect. You don\u2019t have to have it all figured out. You don\u2019t have to get things going and then start picking up the pieces for the Lord to start moving in your life. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIn this moment\u2014in this very moment, right now, I would just challenge you to just talk to the Lord\u2014to just pray and say: \u201cJesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner. You\u2019re the Lord of this world. You\u2019re the Lord of my life. I\u2019m broken, and I\u2019m a sinner. I need Your mercy.\u201d\u00a0 And not out of shame\u2014not out of regret \/ not out of the fact that there is no other option, even though we desperately need it\u2014but out of joy because He wants you to experience knowing Him.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>22:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI would just challenge you to confess these things to the Lord and just ask for Him to draw you close. I guarantee you\u2014you will see opportunities in your life to find life change, but don\u2019t worry about changing your life right now. Just focus on knowing Jesus, the only person who can change lives. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>And no matter what you\u2019ve done, it\u2019s never too late to surrender\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>Absolutely. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014to the King of kings and the Lord of lords. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ryan: <\/strong>Amen. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Dennis: <\/strong>He delights, in His grace and mercy, of meeting us where we are and beginning the process of making us into what He wants us to be. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve met people who have read your book and have said: \u201cYour story is my story. I\u2019ve had the same experience of finding myself with doubts, or confusion, or questions, or pulled away from my faith by a desire for what I thought would give me life.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>23:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou guys address that head-on in the book you\u2019ve written, which is called <em>Firsthand: Ditching Secondhand Religion for a Faith of Your Own<\/em>. It\u2019s a book we\u2019ve got in our <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> Resource Center. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI\u2019d encourage our listeners\u2014go to FamilyLifeToday.com to get more information about how you can order a copy of Ryan and Josh Shook\u2019s book, <em>Firsthand<\/em>. Go to FamilyLifeToday.com. Click the link in the upper left-hand corner of the screen that says, \u201cGO DEEPER,\u201d and the information about the book is available right there. You can order, online, if you\u2019d like; or if you\u2019d prefer to order by phone, our toll-free number is 1-800-\u201cF\u201d as in family, \u201cL\u201d as in life, and then, the word, \u201cTODAY.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, here in the United States, it is the Memorial Day holiday where we pause and reflect and remember those who have given their lives in service for our country and for us. It\u2019s a good day to be with family and a good day to remember the sacrifice of so many. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>24:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe want to take just a minute and add our word of \u201cThank you,\u201d to those of you who are in military families\u2014those of you who may have a family member who has made the ultimate sacrifice. We are grateful for that individual\u2019s service on our behalf. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd I hope you can join us back tomorrow. We are going to, again, talk to Josh and Ryan Shook about how you make a secondhand faith a firsthand faith. Hope you can tune in for that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI want to thank our engineer today, Keith Lynch, along with our entire broadcast production team. On behalf of our host, Dennis Rainey, I\u2019m Bob Lepine. We will see you back tomorrow for another edition of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHelp for today. Hope for tomorrow.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider <a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/donate\">donating today<\/a> to help defray the costs?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCopyright <sup>\u00a9<\/sup> 2015 FamilyLife. All rights reserved.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/\">www.FamilyLife.com<\/a>\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t1\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>","theme_header_position":"","post_header_is_sticky":"","is_header_overlay":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast\/303507","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/podcast"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/91"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=303507"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/294104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=303507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=303507"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=303507"},{"taxonomy":"podcast_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast_series?post=303507"},{"taxonomy":"cwp_profile","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cwp_profile?post=303507"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=303507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}