Shows
Confronting NormalConfronting Ourselves, The Importance of Self-AwarenessSelf-awareness takes brutal honesty. We all have parts of ourselves that we like, parts that we don’t, parts that we showcase, and parts that we try to hide away. It’s really difficult to be honest about all sides of who we are—the good, the bad, the messy and the downright ugly. But recognizing and confronting all of our parts is really important if ever we are to move through this world with a healthy sense of clarity and intentionality. Today’s episode is about all kinds of bad words our society likes for us to keep...2020-02-2956 minConfronting NormalConfronting Intentionality, RecalibrateSometimes in life we veer off course without notice. When we choose to live intentionally and to pursue a specified life destination, we also have to continually correct our path to ensure we end up where we intended to. This process can lead to some pretty interesting questions and ponderings, but also, it can lead us to step into some pretty intense self-reflection. In this first episode of 2020, Cindy and Renae discuss the beautiful gift of reflection and recalibration with questions such as the following: What would you do this year if you were not afraid...2020-01-2747 minConfronting NormalConfronting Christmas, Be Kind. Be Compassionate. Be Gracious.It’s the most wonderful time of the year … or so we sing — ‘tis the season for full bellies, family festivities, delicious baking, gift-giving/receiving, carols and more. But ‘tis also the most difficult time of the year for many — a season that isn’t particularly cheerful, jolly, merry and bright. Today’s episode is a gentle reminder to remember that not everyone around you is experiencing the Christmas season the same way you are. Be kind. Be compassionate. Be gracious. Create space whenever and wherever space might be needed, because you just never know how meaningful and needed your...2019-12-2330 minConfronting NormalConfronting Culture, What Did You Just SayYou are going to need a flow chart to follow this conversation all the way through friends! Today we are sitting down with friends of the podcast, Matt Rigby and Alex Marriott, to discuss, well, Kayne West – Bono – Billy Graham – Relevant Magazine – Rob Bell – Mars Hill, and seemingly everything in between. HA! You really don’t want to miss this gem of an episode. In classic Confronting Normal style, there is little in the way of answers in this conversation but we all did leave challenged by the idea that the way of Jesus is indeed a lot more tha...2019-12-111h 10Confronting NormalConfronting Faith, People NOT ProjectsHave you ever found yourself in a conversation with someone outside your religious context, stumbling upon your words as you realize that although your beliefs and vocabulary have changed the old scripts of your faith upbringing are still there in your mind fighting to come out? In this episode Cindy and Renae have a candid conversation about their upbringing in church, their shifting beliefs, and how living out this faith intentionally requires some serious reprogramming. People, not projects. Relationships, not agendas. Love, not fear. Trust, not control. These are all...2019-11-2547 minConfronting NormalConfronting Life, Do We Sanitize The Dark Side A Little Too Much?Light and dark coexist at every given moment of every given day. Holidays like Halloween and places like Vegas become easy targets of definable darkness because they’re overt in expression. But darkness is part of life always; it's present in the form of heartache, grief, sadness, discouragement, sickness, failure and everything else that weighs us down. Turning a blind eye is not as simple as turning off our lights and choosing to not participate. Today’s episode is a conversation about what it means to think critically about how we’re going to engage these tensions and ho...2019-11-1348 minConfronting NormalConfronting Culture, Then There’s HalloweenWe talk about the Confronting Normal community being an invitation to a number of things including wrestling through the tensions we feel about faith, life and culture – and that is exactly what this episode it all about. You see, you can go about pursuing a life and faith that is filled with intentionality and purpose but then, you’re a parent, in North America, and there is Halloween. Halloween is one of our cultures largest retail holidays and it is rooted in all kinds of things that don’t resonate with a life of faith. What are we suppos...2019-10-2833 minConfronting NormalConfronting Church, The Sunday Morning GatheringToday’s church/faith/Christian structure takes the shape of—and places high importance on—the Sunday morning gathering. It’s just how it is. We all know it and we all get it. But here are a few questions that Cindy and Renae can’t help but openly and honestly discuss in today’s episode: Why does the Christian faith have to come packaged as one standard structure? What if the structure we’re placing a lot of weight in is flawed? What if the Sunday morning gathering isn’t enough? What if there are so many more way...2019-10-1630 minConfronting NormalConfronting Life - Understanding The Season You're InWelcome to Season 3—another season for conversation, curiosity, learning and growing. In today’s episode, Cindy and Renae discuss their summers, the journeys they’ve been on and the lessons they’ve learned that have brought surprising new insights about God, themselves and their lives. As Season 3 gets under way, Cindy and Renae hope it does exactly what Seasons 1 & 2 have done, which is, to inspire, encourage, challenge and empower listeners to explore new depths of themselves, God, church, faith, the world around them, and the communities they live in.2019-09-3043 minConfronting NormalConfronting Life, Examining Our LivesWe are creatures of habit; it’s true. We don’t naturally go to places of self-reflection and self-discovery for the simple fact of self-preservation. We keep change at a distance for fear of what might surface. But practices such as self-examination and Sabbath are great reflective exercises that draw us into greater places of awareness if we’re willing to go there. It’s in these reflective places and spaces where we can ask ourselves and God some very honest questions: Does the way I’m living actually line up with the things I say I believe...2019-06-2531 minConfronting NormalConfronting Church - Religious VulnerabilityDo you feel safe admitting your struggles with faith, God, religion, church, or even beliefs? Religious vulnerability is a very real thing. The cost of being honest about your questions and doubts is high, but the cost of suppressing them is likely even higher. If we can't find a safe place within church to be honest with our doubts and to wrestle with them then where do we go? If we could find more safe places to talk about these things and to be honest about these things perhaps we would see fewer people leaving church. It is w...2019-06-1746 minConfronting NormalConfronting Life — To Be Comfortable With Not KnowingThe need for security runs deep in our culture. It’s a natural human response to be on a quest for answers in order to find a sure sense of certainty for today’s chaotic times. So when you meet someone who is willing to lean into uncomfortable places as a way of growing deeper and exploring greater paces of self-awareness, trust, faith and fulfillment, well, we cannot lie, it’s like oxygen for the soul. It’s also a little weird … abnormal … different … unconventional and uncommon because it confronts the very definition of security. Today’s guest...2019-06-1043 minConfronting NormalConfronting Faith, What Is Your Life Rooted In?Practices such as mindfulness, stillness, silence and meditation are great forms of discipline for today’s hyper-connected culture. They are certainly trendy topics and much-needed habits for this fast-paced generation we find ourselves living in. And these healthy practices are wonderful at teaching us to sit, reflect and slow down our pace of life. But it’s also important to consider what our stillness is founded on. What are we being mindful about? Who are we being silent for? What is feeding our souls? And what do we consider to be the center of our lives in which all the...2019-06-0334 minConfronting NormalConfronting Busyness — Learning To Be StillThe drive in our culture to live our best lives and be all we can be is one of our greatest temptations and biggest distractions. It stirs up constant pressure within us, and a perpetual rat race of busyness around us. In reality, we’re just being distracted from what is most meaningful and what actually matters. But what if, rather than being caught up with all we could do and should do, what if we chose instead, to really engage with a practice of stillness and recognize that we can’t change everything going on on the...2019-05-271h 01Confronting NormalConfronting Culture — Asking Questions & Paying Attention Are we surrounding ourselves with enough variety in our lives? Are we present or distracted when living out the in-between moments? Are we known as encouraging and empowering people by those that encounter us throughout the day-to-day? These may not be questions we think about often, if ever, but they are important questions to reflect on none-the-less if we desire to live lives of intentionality and self-awareness. Today’s episode is a varied conversation focusing on some key topics lacking in our culture today: the missing beauty and importance of inter-generational mentoring … the limited diversification of our rela...2019-05-2142 minConfronting NormalConfronting Life - Holding Things LooselyOnce upon a time there were two girls, Renae and Cindy, who went radio silent for two months - this is their story!! Only joking a little bit here. In this episode we take a deep dive into where we have been, why it has been so long since you have heard from us, and what's next. Oh, and we also get incredibly open and honest about who we are, how we are wired, and how one of us (cough, cough - Renae) does not enjoy facing her own limitations. "Exhaustion is not a badge of honour."...2019-05-1342 minConfronting NormalConfronting Life, So You’re Busy - How’s That Working For You?Has anyone ever told you “they’re so busy”? Have you ever found yourself saying, “I’m so busy”? Our world moves at a pace unnatural for man. The drive to do more, be more and keep up is a real tension felt by many. It’s all too easy to get caught up with culture’s current and feel the weight and pressure to match pace. The problem? The rat race often leads us in a direction we never intended to go. Today’s episode is a conversation about the concept of “busy as a badge of honor.” T...2019-03-0433 minConfronting NormalConfronting Life - Drowning Doesn't Have To Be Normal (#039)In a culture that pressures us to “do all, be all and look good doing it,” the weight of “more” is always looming; feelings of drowning are raw and real. But what if, rather than adding more stuff to our already maxed out lives, we took the time to consider what we could shed, instead? Today’s episode is a conversation about the concept of an “elimination diet.” By intentionally thinking about every area of our lives, and by giving critical thought to the things that are “necessity” and those that are mere “nicety,” we begin to see what is helping to...2019-02-1831 minConfronting NormalBeth McCord — Confronting Self-Awareness, Different Views Of The World (#038)We all think our view of the world is the right view, but what if we learned to see the world through nine different types of lenses? How might it shape our views, open up our empathy and increase our understanding of the world in a more wholistic way? This is exactly what makes The Enneagram the popular typology tool that it is today. Today’s episode is a conversation with Your Enneagram Coach, Beth McCord — speaker, author, coach — about what it could look like for us to meet in the middle and honour one another in order...2019-02-0453 minConfronting NormalOne Year! - Confronting TransformationThe Confronting Normal Podcast is celebrating one year! A full year of living the podcasting life, and Cindy and Renae can't help but dive into a conversation about this past year and the transformation they have seen begin to birth already in their own lives. Movement, change, transformation is rarely an overnight event - rather it is so often a slow progression that unfolds. A year of having amazing conversations with courageous people doing such interesting work in our world one can't help but feel the recalibration of their norms, which is what this episode unpacks. A half hour episo...2019-01-2836 minConfronting NormalCassandra Lee - Confronting Justice, Whispers of Justice Rising (#036)At just 10 years old a seed was planted in Cassandra Lee’s heart for The Republic of Congo. As she grew up, choosing to continuously nurture this seed and follow her passions into aid, development and missionary work, a dream emerged to use the power of education to give hope back to families and rebuild children’s lives in war-torn regions. As the co-founder of Justice Rising (alongside her husband Edison Lee), Justice Rising is an organization that aims to bring transformation to areas of conflict through education. To date, the organization has built 10 schools in Eastern Congo...2019-01-2152 minConfronting NormalInternational Justice Mission, Phil Reilly - Confronting Justice, Part Two (#035)It’s hard to imagine 40 million people in slavery today. But according to IJM (International Justice Mission), the numbers really are that staggering. And when one tries to wrap their head around such enormous and weighty statistics, it’s easy to feel the pull down and want to bury one’s head in the sand. Because really, how can one person help? What can one person do? Today’s episode is a two-part conversation with Phil Reilly, National Director of Development for IJM. Phil’s expertise and insight into the world of slavery helps to shed light on exactly...2019-01-1447 minConfronting NormalInternational Justice Ministries, Phil Reilly - Confronting Justice, Part One (#034)It’s hard to imagine 40 million people in slavery today. But according to IJM (International Justice Ministries), the numbers really are that staggering. And when one tries to wrap their head around such enormous and weighty statistics, it’s easy to feel the pull down and want to bury one’s head in the sand. Because really, how can one person help? What can one person do? Today’s episode is a two-part conversation with Phil Reilly, National Director of Development for IJM. Phil’s expertise and insight into the world of slavery helps to shed light on exactly...2019-01-0751 minConfronting NormalConfronting Christmas, Unwrapping The Gift of Christmas (#033)As we head into this busy Christmas season, it’s not a bad reminder to take time to think about what gift giving should really be about and what the gift of Christmas really means. Whether you lean towards the whimsy side of Christmas, like Renae, or you’re all about the practical side, like Cindy, taking time to think, ponder, reflect and pray about the true gift of Christmas is an enormous gift in and of itself. In this episode, Cindy & Renae “wrap up” the 2018 podcast year with a few book giveaways, a quick historic...2018-12-1636 minConfronting NormalSarah Harmeyer - Confronting Christmas, Gathering People With Love & Intention (#032)Today’s episode is an inspiring conversation about the importance of gathering around the table. For as simple of a concept as that may seem, being intentional about inviting people to sit with you, share a meal, partake in conversation and hear each other’s stories is a remarkable way for people to know you’re a safe and welcoming place. More so, it’s a wonderful opportunity for people to feel seen, heard, known, all because you simply took the time to gather them with love and intention. Sarah Harmeyer, our guest today, has personally invited 3000 people t...2018-12-101h 11Confronting NormalConfronting Christmas, Remembering To Slow Down (#031)Have you ever considered the wise insight a traffic light can provide your life, especially at this time of year? The prevalent colors of red and green are contrasting reminders of the stop and go that is this season, but where does yellow fit in to it all? We hustle from one event to the next (green), only to exhaustingly collapse on the couch (red) until the next rush of events unfold (green). And before we know it, the season is over (red) and it’s time to pack away the decorations for yet another year. But le...2018-12-0416 minConfronting NormalThe Collective - Confronting Faith & Doubt, With Matt Rigby (#030)We are pleased to bring you all another “Collective” episode, we love these conversations and having listeners join us on the podcast. On this episode we are again joined by Matt Rigby (you’ll remember Matt from episode #011) to discuss faith, and doubt, and learning, and reading, and all the good stuff that goes along with taking a good look at what you believe and why. "The problem is not that people are uneducated. The problem is that they are educated just enough to believe what they've been taught. And not educated enough to question what they've been taught...2018-11-2437 minConfronting NormalPlumb - Confronting Life, Beautifully Broken (#029)The topic of brokenness in today’s culture is so often seen as a shameful thing, as something to hide, shy away from or avoid. And when success is thrown into the mix, often measured by the appearance of having it all together, well … it doesn’t leave us with much room to find and see the beauty in our brokenness, does it? Today’s episode is not only an honest conversation about what it means to be broken, but it’s also a perspective-shifting reminder as Plumb — singer, songwriter and recording artist — encourages us to see how brokenness...2018-11-2054 minConfronting NormalDanielle Strickland - Confronting Advocacy, What Keeps You Up At Night? (#028)Today’s guest, Danielle Strickland — author, speaker, advocate and founder of many inspiring initiatives that mobilize people towards transformational living — takes today’s conversation into an exploration of external and internal advocacy. Whether it’s leaning into new goals, dreams, ideas and pursuits, or digging up the floorboards of our own inner wellness and healing, what does it mean to connect the dots of what God is doing in your life? How can curiosity be a true agent for change? And most importantly, how can leaning in to the uncomfortable places of our hearts awaken us to what matte...2018-11-121h 05Confronting NormalSarah Bessey - Faith Like a Child (#027)In this episode we unpack the idea of ‘faith like a child’ with Sarah Bessey — the Sarah Bessey! Sarah is so eloquent and effortlessly tackles questions with a scholarly wisdom paired with a spirit-filled wisdom. A beautiful combination.2018-11-0558 minConfronting NormalBrittney Moses - Confronting Mental Health, Meet People Where They Are (#026)It’s complicated, but not. It’s weighty, but it doesn’t have to be. The topic of mental health comes with so many stigmas. It can be hard and uncomfortable to talk about, seemingly unrelatable for many, and certainly layered with many misunderstood complexities. Yet today’s episode leaves the listener re-thinking how a simple concept such as, “meet people where they are,” can be the perfect way to bridge the gap of communication and connection. Brittney Moses, today’s guest, is a Clinical Psychologist Major, a certified Mental Health First Aid, and passionate about seeing this generatio...2018-10-291h 02Confronting NormalJerrad Lopes - Confronting Culture, The Roles We Play (#025)Men carry a lot on their shoulders. In a culture that expects men to be silent and stoic with their emotions but strong and courageous with their aggression, how do messages like “Man up,” “Pull up your bootstraps” and “Get your act together” make men feel? How do these messages help (or not help) men cope with the pressures of life? And how can these types of expectations possibly serve them well as they navigate their way through the day-to-day living? Today’s episode is a conversation with Jerrad Lopes: author, pastor, podcaster and founder of the Dad Tired comm...2018-10-2250 minConfronting NormalAlison Centofante - Confronting Activism, The Least of These (#024)Activism is so often about picking your side and hammering your stake in the ground; I’m right, you’re wrong and let me tell you all the reasons why. In this episode we confront this typical form of activism through a grace-laced conversation with Alison Centofante, Director of Strategic Communications for Live Action. Yes, this is a conversation about abortion. But it is also a conversation about so many other things, including a different way to talk about and interact with emotionally charged topics. 2018-10-161h 06Confronting NormalRenae Regehr - Confronting Social Media, Free To Be Real (#023)It’s safe to say that social media is here to stay. It’s part of our lives whether we like it or not, and it has influence over the culture in which we live whether we like it or not. But the real key to confronting social media is in how we engage with it, consume it and to what degree we allow its influence over the way we think, live and believe that will make all the difference. Today’s episode is a fascinating discussion with body image researcher, Renae Regehr. Renae’s non-profit organization, Free To...2018-10-0257 minConfronting NormalWayne Jacobsen - Confronting Community, Part 2: On Differences & Conflict (#022)In this part 2 episode about community, Cindy and Renae continuing discussing — with author, speaker and fellow podcaster, Wayne Jacobsen — the topic of community. With questions, thoughts and stories about embracing our differences, modelling the spirit of community to our kids, and dealing with the pain, the mess and heartache that community can so often be, they explore how, through the hard and uncomfortable parts, reconciliation, hope and love can also be discovered if we’re open to embracing the conflict and are willing to lay ourselves down.2018-09-2434 minConfronting NormalWayne Jacobsen - Confronting Community, Part 1: Let's Call It Friendship (#021)Community is a complicated topic. It’s a conversation laced with many layers, a wide variety of interpretations and definitions, and typically, it comes accompanied with a ton of painful baggage and unmet expectations. But in this episode, Cindy and Renae get the rare opportunity to sit down face-to-face with author, speaker and fellow podcaster, Wayne Jacobsen, as they explore this important conversation from the comforts of Cindy’s living room – a fitting location for such a relational topic. Together, the trio share openly and honestly about the struggle and beauty that is community. In the end, they c...2018-09-1743 min
Confronting NormalWayne Jacobsen in Kelowna (#020)With summer break in full swing, Cindy & Renae decide to pick up their mics and have a brief conversation about the exciting things happening within the Confronting Normal community. The details about Wayne Jacobsen coming to Kelowna and the exciting conversations they’ve been having couldn’t wait until Season 2. They knew they needed to take a break from their break to fill everyone in on the details. Take a short listen as Cindy & Renae discuss how their summers are flying by and how excited they are to be planning for an entire weekend with Wayne. An...2018-07-2915 min
Confronting NormalWhat Is Community To You? (#019)When Renae posed a question on Facebook about community, she had no idea the thoughts and comments that would pour in. Clearly the topic resonates. In this hyper-connected culture that’s sadly more disconnected than ever, it makes sense that people’s hearts, souls and minds want to understand who they are and where they truly belong. In this episode, Cindy & Renae explore Renae’s posted question: what is community to you?2018-07-0332 min
Confronting NormalAaron Tredway - On Living Outrageously (#018) Our guest today, Aaron Tredway — author, speaker, coach, husband, father, friend — takes today’s conversation on an outrageous journey into curiously talking about and asking, are we truly aware of the unexpected faith opportunities in our lives? Are we open to what God wants to do in us and through us? And are we intentionally posturing our lives to embrace the events and adventures that God makes available to us on a daily basis?2018-06-101h 08
Confronting NormalCindy & Renae - Open Up About DeconstructionAn important conversation discussing how deconstruction can take on many different forms for different people. On this episode, Cindy and Renae get open and honest about their own journey's of deconstruction and reconstruction and how two very different paths have brought to them to some surprisingly similar places.2018-06-0436 min
Confronting NormalThe Deconstructionists – The Beauty of Doubt (#016)The beauty of doubt, a conversation centred on reframing deconstruction. On this episode we talk to John Williamson and Adam Narloch, hosts of The Deconstructionists Podcast. Deconstruction is so often written off as a negative, as a phase to be outgrown, but any amount of time spent talking with John and Adam and your assumptions of what deconstruction is will quickly be challenged.2018-05-281h 13
Confronting NormalAndy Harrington - We Must Be ServantsNot your everyday take on social justice. Andy challenges us to look at issues of poverty, social justice, and missions from a different angle. Rather than viewing people and places as projects that need our fixing, he pauses to ask better questions. A conversation of humility, empowerment, servanthood, and intentionality, this episode is pure gold. Poverty is all around us regardless of where we live because, as Andy points out, poverty is actually about broken relationships.2018-05-2056 min
Confronting NormalShane Claiborne - Small Things With Great Love (#014)Mother Teresa once told today’s guest, “Calcutta’s are everywhere if we’ll only have eyes to see. Find your Calcutta.” As this episode explores what it means to live our lives as ordinary radicals doing small things with great love, Shane Claiborne’s contagious joy inspires each of us to reimagine a better world by coming alongside the most vulnerable of our world with big love and genuine relationship. Shane is a champion for grace, as well as a prominent speaker, activist, best-selling author and founder of The Simple Way.2018-05-141h 13
Confronting NormalCaleb Kaltenbach - A Catalyst for Conversation (#013)Caleb is one of those unique human beings who is able to wade into the messy conversations that make so many uneasy with both grace and truth. His work truly is a catalyst for conversation. Author of the book Messy Grace: How a Pastor With Gay Parents Learned to Love Others Without Sacrificing Conviction, Caleb has a rare perspective to offer to the conversation and does so with a great deal of honesty and vulnerability. 2018-05-0357 min
Confronting Normal012-Confronting-Normal-Vahen KingWhen you’ve been diagnosed with transverse myelitis as a newly engaged fiancée and introduced to a wheelchair upon graduating college, where does one go with life and how does faith look in the midst? Today’s guest, Vahen King — author, speaker, life coach, ordained minister and Miss Wheelchair Canada — sheds light on what it means to live life with contagious courage.2018-04-3049 min
Confronting NormalThe Collective - With Matt Rigby & Alex Marriott (#011)As promised we are opening up the discussion to our listeners! This episode of "The Collective" is the first of many on the podcast where we invite listeners to join us in unpacking prior episodes. We discuss the questions and thoughts previous episodes s2018-04-231h 06
Confronting NormalAllison Fallon - Accepting The Different Versions Of Our Lives (#010)It’s a story about a shocking marriage that didn’t go as planned, the truth that shattered everything, and the beautiful unfolding of a woman who decided that saving her marriage wasn’t worth losing herself. Today’s episode is a thought-provoking2018-04-111h 04
Confronting NormalAngi Fletcher - Sharing Our Stories (#008)With social media typically being a networking platform based on filters, half-truths and facade’s, have you ever wondered what it’s like to follow someone who’s willing to be refreshingly honest and vulnerable? Today’s episode is about living and2018-03-261h 00
Confronting NormalWayne Jacobsen - Living Loved (#009)On this episode Cindy and Renae get to pick Wayne Jacobsen's brain on all things God, faith, raising kids in the midst of rethinking the institution of church, and why people who love Jesus keep leaving churches. He comes with a wealth of experience2018-03-251h 10
Confronting NormalCraig Greenfield — The Upside Down Kingdom (#007)Today’s episode is an intriguing exploration into what it means to live and model the upside down Kingdom of Jesus. Following the call of Jesus to the broken and abandoned places of the world, today’s guest — Craig Greenfield, and his wife Nay — m2018-03-1738 min
Confronting NormalJulie Rohr - The Power of Perspective (#006)What do you do when you’re diagnosed with a rare form of Leiomyosarcoma at the tender age of 33? When your world is tipped upside down, your Doctors say you’ll be lucky to live for five more years, the odds are stacked against you and your entire sens2018-03-1250 min
Confronting NormalMatt Rempel - Connecting At The Ground Level (#005)On today’s episode as we talk with Matt Rempel, a former traditional pastor now confronting his norms of ministry as his views expand to see the people around him, particularly his neighbourhood, as his ministry. In this raw and honest conversation, Mat2018-03-051h 00
Confronting NormalThere's Always Room For One More ft. Sarah Marriott (#004)It’s a story about two teens; a knocked-up couple of kids who get on their knees in prayer, asking God for wisdom as they seek to live their lives with purpose and wisdom.2018-02-2539 min
Confronting NormalThe Tendency To Add On Extras (#003)But what’s interesting is that I see striving in our culture, but also in religious culture. We talk about grace, but I don’t feel like that’s often what we teach. We preach grace—you’re saved by grace—but then you’re absolutely taught that2018-02-0825 min
Confronting NormalThe Story of Us (#002)In this episode you will get to know Cindy and Renae a little more as they talk about their personal journeys that have brought them to this point and how Confronting Normal came to be. Their thirst for authentic conversation and desire to learn shi2018-02-0837 min
Confronting NormalThe Pursuit of Intentionality (001)In this introductory episode Renae and Cindy dive into their intentions for this podcast and unpack what they mean when they say "confronting". They set the stage for how they plan to use the Confronting Normal podcast to open the conversation aroun2018-02-0710 min
Confronting Normal017: Renae Kulhawe: Pushing Buttons & Asking QuestionsThis podcast finds you in the middle of a conversation between two friends candidly conversing about church, struggles, life confusion, and how Jesus fits in in the midst of it all.2017-05-2626 min
CK Collective With Cindy KeatingPushing Buttons & Asking Questions ft. Renae KulhaweWe’ve learned to think of pushing buttons and asking questions as a bad thing. But perhaps we should embrace the spirit behind these attitudes as more about curiosity and adventure than about outright defiance.2017-05-2600 min
Confronting Normal016: Chris Glubish: The Isolation of PovertyOn the podcast today is a conversation with my husband, Chris Glubish. Chris and I are reading a book together that has led us to a series of stumbling’s challenging us in our view of poverty. These stumbling’s have caused us to consider and confront a deadly form of poverty that is permeating culture at alarming speeds = the poverty of isolation.2017-05-1818 min
Confronting NormalKeep Tilling The GardenSo often we feel like what we do is unimportant and insignificant, but what filter are we seeing this through? To human eyes, sure, it may seem and be deemed unglamorous and unsuccessful. But to God, our dedication and steadfastness is noticed. When Rome surprised their people by recognizing Isidore the Farmer as a saint, it had them scratching their heads in wonderment. He wasn’t known as anything special to the eyes of culture, yet he somehow earned himself the highest of honorable recognition. How? Why? It could be said that as Isidore tilled th...2017-05-1105 min
Confronting Normal014: Bob Roxburgh: GrippedToday’s podcast episode is a candid conversation with Bob Roxburgh - pastor, preacher, professor, academic, theologian and all around down-to-earth guy. Based on 50 years of ministry and a life gripped by Jesus, he shares his wisdom on the church, today’s culture and the importance of living in missional community. “We belong to the Kingdom of God, and only until that really grips us can we cope with the kingdom of this world.”2017-05-0520 min
Confronting NormalThe Glory Of The CrossIn today’s podcast episode, we’re talking about what glory actually looks like. Jesus equated glory with doing the Father’s will and, through His example; He challenges each of us to live in the same way. But the cross doesn’t just challenge our way of life, it calls us to redefine our idea of glory.2017-04-1407 min
Confronting Normal012: He Is EnoughIn a culture caught up with needing more and more, we tend to be oblivious in understanding when enough is enough. We hoard out of our need for security and control, but the manna the Israelites tried to stockpile went mouldy if they gathered too much because God was trying to teach them to believe He would provide for their daily needs.2017-04-0710 min
Confronting Normal011: ReflectionIn today's episode I challenge you to go back through your faith journey and recall the beautiful moments in the same you would watch home videos. Spend time appreciating how much you’ve grown and changed along the way.2017-03-3104 min
Confronting NormalA Future Not Your OwnOn the podcast today, we talk about what it means to be compelled by a vision not our own. Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.2017-03-2407 min
Confronting Normal009: Heidi McLaughlin: Hope & GritJoining the podcast today is international speaker and author, Heidi McLaughlin – a widow, mom, step-mom and grandmother. Heidi shares candidly about community and what it looks like to have hope and grit when you’re faced with life’s worst-case sce2017-03-1520 min
Confronting Normal008: Keep Showing UpWe know our life story is never summed up by only one particular season of life. But still it can be hard. When the present season is a tough one, how does one live with a sense of anticipation that something good is coming? In today’s podcast musing, Cindy shares about how her difficult journey from the last two years has led her to today - with it’s exciting but slightly terrifying challenge: To incorporate a spirit of anticipation back into her life.2017-03-0913 min
Confronting Normal007: Glen Madden: Producing FruitOh how the parable of the sower speaks to our hearts as Christians – sometimes it’s rocky, other times it’s shallow, some days it’s choked and other times it’s fertile. The Christian life is never stagnant. It ebbs and flows with change like tha2017-03-0219 min
Confronting Normal006 The Paradoxical CommandmentsInspired by an author named Kent Keith and his Paradoxical Commandments, we are challenged to see seed planting take on a whole new meaning when we hear about how the seeds he planted in 1968 spread all around the world without him even knowing the impact2017-02-2311 min
Confronting Normal005: Amie Gosselin - I Like JesusWhat started out as a question between friends - “What are you reading and is there something specific you are learning?” - turned into a spontaneous conversation about Jesus. Because isn’t that how life should be? His words, His actions and His way2017-02-1710 min
Confronting NormalA Blanket Or The CrossThere’s a lot going around social media these days that is emotional, angry and aggressive. Trump has created a pretty huge divide in his country, which has certainly affected anyone and everyone tied to social media in any way. It’s frustrating to sa2017-02-1008 min
Confronting NormalWhat Is The Legacy You Want To Leave?2017-01-2706 min
Confronting NormalConversation With A FriendLast Tuesday, in conversation with a friend, Sarah mentioned that 2016 was an extremely hard year for her. I asked Sarah if I might record some of what we talked about because I felt this little prompting to share it with all of you. Something about the nudge told me it’s exactly what some of you need to hear.2017-01-2010 min