Send a text

In this episode, Josh and Debbie brave the elements—literally. With the office heater broken, we’re recording outside in the Florida "cold" to talk about a different kind of chill: The Wilderness Phase.

We often think spiritual dryness is a punishment or a sign that God has left the building. But what if the wilderness isn't about abandonment? What if it’s about preparation? Just as Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, sometimes God strips away the noise and comforts to get us ready for the mission ahead.

We also breakdown the upcoming season of Lent, the real meaning of Shrove Tuesday (it’s more than just pancakes), and why "following your heart" is terrible advice when you're lost in the woods.

In This Episode:

• The "Icebox" Studio: Why we are recording outside and how distraction works.
• Theology of the Wild: The difference between wandering due to a lack of faith (Israel) vs. wandering for training (Jesus).
• Counseling Corner: Distinguishing between "Spiritual Dryness" and clinical depression.
• The "Shrove" Strategy: How to "clear the deck" of your heart before Lent begins.

The Challenge: The Pancake Summit. Before Ash Wednesday, sit down for a meal with your family (phones away!). Ask this question: "What is the one thing distracting us from God right now?"

Action Step: Pick Your Fast. Don't just pick something convenient. Choose one thing to "kill" for the next 40 days. Whether it's social media, sugar, or TV—pick a sacrifice that will actually cost you something, and use that space to seek God.

https://www.missionsent.org/

Send us a text

Arguments don’t wreck relationships—bad rules do. We sat down to unpack a counterintuitive promise: you can “win” every fight by changing what winning means. Instead of louder voices and sharper comebacks, we build a simple, repeatable framework that turns conflict into connection, whether you’re married, parenting, or navigating tough moments at work.

We start by swapping pride for purpose. Borrowing the logic of rules of engagement, we set boundaries that keep the relationship safe: when to talk, when to pause, and where the hard conversations happen. You’ll hear why a demilitarized zone—a consistent, private space—reduces shame and performative arguing, and how banning the words never and always stops character attacks before they start. We also explore why only a few hills deserve a fight and how aligning on end goals keeps you moving toward a shared future rather than short‑term wins.

Then we get practical. We break down a de‑escalation continuum you can use tonight: start with curiosity, keep it private, escalate slowly, and agree on a timed pause when tempers spike. There’s a quick tour of the brain science behind anger—why the prefrontal cortex goes quiet and the limbic system takes over—and how sleep, movement, and clear reconvene times restore logic and empathy. Throughout, we anchor the conversation in faith and humility, showing how restraint is strength and how peacemaking protects intimacy.

Ready to rewrite the script on conflict? Grab our free Rules of Engagement at missionscent.org/church under Resources, put them on the table with your spouse or family, and try them this week. If this helped, subscribe, share with a friend who argues about everything, and leave a review to help others find the show.

https://www.missionsent.org/

Send us a text

We argue that complacency, not crisis, is what erodes marriages, faith, health, and safety. From police training to family routines, we show how to replace autopilot with alert, steady awareness and small habits that change outcomes.

• complacency as the real silent killer across life
• why no task is routine and what that means at home
• color codes of awareness from white to black
• practical vigilance without anxiety or paranoia
• AI and social media as modern threats to families
• media inputs shaping beliefs, moods, and choices
• health risks built by repeated small compromises
• faith as transformation and the renewing of the mind
• breaking loops with simple habit interrupts
• finding blind spots through honest accountability

Share this episode with someone you think is being complacent

https://www.missionsent.org/