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What happens when the future you thought you could see suddenly disappears? Former Florida Gators basketball star Patric Young had built a life around strength, competition, achievement, and independence. Then, in June 2022, a devastating car accident caused a spinal cord injury that changed the course of his life. In this episode of the Embracing Brokenness Podcast, Patric joins Steve Adams for an honest conversation about suffering, identity, dependence, faith, and discovering purpose when life looks nothing like you expected. Patric describes the journey through a powerful image: sometimes the streetlights illuminating your future become a flashlight—and eventually only candlelight, giving you enough light for today. In those moments, he says, God asks: Do you still believe I am who I am? Do you still believe I am in control? And do you still believe that I am crazy in love with you? Steve and Patric talk about: • How being an elite athlete shaped Patric’s identity• The accident that changed everything• Learning to accept dependence after a lifetime of physical strength• Why suffering exposed the “idol of self”• Wrestling honestly with God in adversity• The difference between surrender and giving up• Why Patric believes his best days are still ahead• Discovering purpose in suffering• The story behind Sit to Rise• Why embracing brokenness can become part of our transformation Patric also shares how his experience led him to establish a foundation helping others facing life-altering circumstances—and why he believes there is purpose even in the places we would never have chosen for ourselves. Near the end of the conversation, Patric captures the heart of the episode: “Embracing the brokenness, embracing it as your journey, as your story, as your unique path—I think that’s where the strength comes in.” ABOUT PATRIC YOUNG Patric Young is a former University of Florida basketball standout and professional basketball player, broadcaster, speaker, author, and founder of the Patric Young Foundation. His book, Sit to Rise: Turning Your Darkest Pain Into Your Brightest Victory, chronicles his journey through catastrophic injury, faith, resilience, and purpose. LEARN MORE Patric Younghttps://www.patricyoung.com/ Sit to Rise on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Sit-Rise-Turning-Darkest-Brightest/dp/B0CN1SXL42/

What does it actually mean to follow Jesus? Richard Blackaby joins Steve Adams for a conversation that challenges one of the most common assumptions in modern Christianity: that believing in Jesus and following Jesus are automatically the same thing. Richard argues that Jesus never simply invited Peter, Andrew, James, and John to agree with a set of beliefs. He told them: “Follow me.” That meant leaving the security of the fishing boat, surrendering their own agenda, and learning to recognize where Jesus was leading next. In this conversation, Steve and Richard explore why churches can emphasize decisions more than discipleship, how we can unknowingly make people disciples of us instead of Jesus, how to recognize the leading of the Holy Spirit, and why discipleship is ultimately a relationship—not simply a program. Richard also shares a deeply personal lesson from his father, Henry Blackaby. Whenever Richard came to him asking what decision he should make, Henry resisted simply giving him the answer. Instead, he taught his son to go to God, listen, discern, and follow Jesus for himself. The conversation also turns toward one of the harder dimensions of discipleship: sometimes following Jesus means recognizing that a good assignment or season has ended and being willing to move wherever He leads next. And Richard leaves us with a practical challenge for anyone wondering: “Am I really following Jesus?” Sometimes the first step is simply being willing to get out of the boat. Learn more about Richard Blackaby RichardBlackaby.com https://richardblackaby.com/ Get Following Jesus: God’s Ancient Path to Spiritual Maturity Lifeway: https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/following-jesus-P005852910 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Following-Jesus-Ancient-Spiritual-Maturity/dp/B0GRFSBR3N Learn more about Embracing Brokenness Ministries https://embracingbrokenness.org/

Why does transformation sometimes seem so difficult even after we’ve chosen to follow Jesus? In Part 2 of their Embracing the Way conversation, Steve and Colleen Adams move from identifying the problem of performance-based Christianity to exploring a pathway toward a different way of living. They unpack the six movements at the heart of Embracing the Way: Remember, Clarify, Choose, Recover & Reprogram, Reclaim, and Walk. The journey begins by returning to Genesis and remembering what humanity was created for, understanding what was lost in the Fall, choosing allegiance to a different Kingdom, healing the distortions that shape us, reclaiming our God-given purpose, and ultimately learning to walk with Jesus in everyday life.   Steve and Colleen also get personal about what this journey has changed in them. Colleen shares how surrender has increasingly meant waiting for God’s direction rather than charging ahead, while Steve talks about learning to begin his days in communion with God instead of allowing his agenda to lead. They also reflect on what living this message together has done for their marriage and ministry—and end with a question worth sitting with: What would your life look like if following Jesus stopped being something you were trying to succeed at and became a life you were actually learning to receive?  Request a PDF of the Introduction to our book here: [email protected]  Learn more about Embracing The Way at https://www.embracingtheway.com/

Why do so many sincere Christians still feel tired, anxious, disconnected, or as though something is missing from their faith? In Part 1 of this special Embracing the Way conversation, Steve and Colleen Adams introduce the message behind their upcoming book, Embracing the Way: Discovering the Life You Were Made For in Union with Christ. Drawing from their own stories, Steve and Colleen explore the difference between performance-based Christianity and a life of genuinely abiding in Christ. They discuss success, striving, identity, the competing kingdoms that shape our lives, and the realization that following Jesus was never intended to be merely about managing sin, believing the right things, or surviving until heaven. It is an invitation to something deeper: knowing God rather than simply knowing about Him, recovering the life we were created for, and learning to walk with Jesus in His Kingdom now. This episode also introduces the six movements that form the pathway of Embracing the Way: Remember, Clarify, Choose, Recover & Reprogram, Reclaim, and Walk. Learn more about Embracing The Way at https://www.embracingtheway.com/

What if the addiction isn't really the deepest problem? For Caitlin Hawk, drugs, alcohol, destructive relationships, and years of shame were symptoms of something much deeper: she didn't know who she was. A gifted young athlete, Caitlin learned early to measure her worth through performance. When that foundation began to crumble, alcohol, drugs, relationships, and rebellion became ways to numb the pain. By nineteen, she was pregnant with twins, battling addiction and suicidal thoughts, and wondering whether her own life was worth fighting for. Then, sitting drunk and high in a parking lot, Caitlin cried out to God for mercy. What happened next changed everything. In this deeply vulnerable conversation with Steve Adams, Caitlin shares how Jesus met her in brokenness, how Mercy Multiplied helped her begin replacing lies with biblical truth, and why learning her identity as a new creation in Christ became foundational to lasting freedom. Steve and Caitlin also explore: Why destructive behaviors often point to deeper woundsPerformance-based identity and the pressure to prove ourselvesShame, addiction, and the need to numb emotional painWhat people in crisis really need from the ChurchCaitlin's unexpected pregnancy and decision to choose lifeThe remarkable story of how a bed opened at Mercy MultipliedReplacing deeply rooted lies with God's truthSpiritual warfare and the battle over identityWhy recovery is a process, not an instantaneous transformationThe importance of discipleship and safe relationshipsTurning our pain into purposeWhy sometimes we need to become comfortable with being uncomfortableCaitlin is the author of Overcomer, Overcome: Finding Freedom from Addiction, Shame, and False Identity. This isn't simply a story about overcoming addiction. It's a story about discovering that what you've done is not who you are—and what God says about you gets the final word. Connect with Caitlin: https://caitlinhawk.com/ Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Overcomer-Overcome-Finding-Addiction-Identity/dp/B0GJQQ4RF9/ref=monarch_sidesheet_title 00:00 Addiction, Shame & the Lies We Believe01:16 Welcome & Caitlin Hawk05:45 Fast Five12:08 Who Am I?16:09 Church, Religion & Missing Identity20:29 Shame, Anger & Numbing the Pain24:24 Spiritual Warfare & What Lies Beneath Behavior26:56 Pregnant at 19 & Living in Bondage29:31 What Women in Crisis Really Need33:52 The Night Caitlin Cried Out for Mercy36:50 A Miraculous Door Opens37:26 Replacing Lies with Truth44:41 Learning How to Live Free49:09 Why Discipleship Matters53:35 Turning Pain Into Purpose57:20 Taking Territory59:20 What Caitlin Would Tell Her 19-Year-Old Self1:03:04 Hard Is Good1:04:15 Closing Thoughts & Caitlin's Book

Chuck Mobley has spent much of his life leaping before he looked—jumping from airplanes and bridges, surviving near disasters, starting a business with little preparation, traveling the world, and repeatedly finding himself in situations that could have gone very differently. But beneath the adventures is another story. Chuck spent years chasing attention, affirmation, achievement, and the feeling that he was finally enough. He had known Jesus since childhood, yet his Christian journey was anything but neat. Looking back now, he sees something he often missed in the moment: the persistent grace and providence of God. In this candid conversation, Chuck talks with Steve about growing up as the youngest of eight children, the need to be noticed, running to the Cayman Islands partly to escape his Christian identity, meeting the woman who would become his wife, failure and redemption, learning to surrender his need for approval, and developing a more intimate friendship with Jesus. Chuck also explains why the phrase “But God…” became the real title and meaning of his story: God intervened. God redirected. God protected. God remained faithful. And maybe the most encouraging truth of all: God did not erase Chuck’s personality. He began redeeming it. If you have ever wondered whether your mistakes, wandering, brokenness, or years of trying to prove yourself have somehow disqualified you, Chuck’s story offers another possibility—God may have been pursuing you through more of your story than you realize. Leap Before You Look, But God is available in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook, narrated by Chuck himself. Proceeds from the book help support mission work, including family-style homes for vulnerable children in Tanzania and Uganda. Visit his site: https://www.chuckmobley.com/ Buy Chuck's book: https://a.co/d/09v9puAh Chapters 00:00 — Trying to Be Enough 01:26 — Meet Chuck Mobley 08:02 — The Fast Five 14:45 — Why Chuck Became “The Crazy One” 25:24 — God’s Faithfulness Through a Messy Life 35:06 — Running From God to the Cayman Islands 39:18 — The Woman God Put in His Path 42:30 — The Lifelong Search for Approval 45:33 — Learning Intimacy With Jesus 48:28 — Looking Back at an Extraordinary Life 55:27 — Faith, Risk, and Taking the First Step 1:01:11 — Becoming Who God Created You to Be 1:03:59 — What “But God” Really Means 1:08:53 — Turning the Book Into Mission

What if the renewal of our communities does not begin with politics, programs or institutions—but with the transformation of the human heart? In this episode of the Embracing Brokenness Podcast, Steve talks with Rob Loughery, author of Building Redemptive Community: What Christians Can Do to Make Community Great Again. Rob has spent more than thirty years working at the intersection of business, real estate development, public service and community revitalization. But his deeper journey began when God showed him that restoring buildings and neighborhoods could never be separated from restoring people. Rob shares how a phrase he heard more than twenty years ago—“redemptive community”—captured his heart and eventually became both a calling and a way of life. He also opens up about growing up as a pastor’s kid, mistaking salvation for a spiritual “get-out-of-jail-free card,” and discovering that Jesus wanted to heal and transform the heart he had spent years protecting through performance and success. Together, Steve and Rob explore: • Why transformed communities require transformed hearts • What the Church may be getting wrong about discipleship • Why Christians must do more than attend, give and leave the work to others • How our gifts, passions and stories reveal our unique Kingdom assignments • What Nehemiah teaches us about prayer, courage and rebuilding • How ordinary believers can participate in God’s work of redeeming all things God is already at work restoring people and places. The question is not whether He will accomplish His purposes. The question is whether we will recognize and embrace the role He has invited us to play. CONNECT WITH ROB LOUGHERY Learn more about Rob’s work and Building Redemptive Community: Building Redemptive Community: https://www.buildingredemptivecommunity.com/ Nehemiah Development Company: https://www.nehemiahdevco.com/ The book is available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. 00:00 Guarding the Heart 01:05 What Transforms a Community? 03:05 Fast Five 05:35 Rob’s Story and Calling 11:54 The Birth of Redemptive Community 16:21 Physical, Relational and Spiritual Renewal 19:33 More Than a Ticket to Heaven 23:05 Losing the Life He Was Trying to Save 26:28 What It Means to Guard Your Heart 29:25 It Is Never Too Late 32:12 What Is Wrong with Discipleship? 34:58 Has the Church Outsourced Its Mission? 40:58 Giving Is Not Enough 45:22 Pay Attention to Your Heart 47:29 Nehemiah’s Roadmap 51:56 What Can You Help Redeem? 53:12 If Jesus Gave You One Square Mile 57:25 Redemptive Community Starts Within 59:33 Find Your Role in God’s Story 01:01:30 Where to Find Rob’s Book

Anxiety is not always our identity. Sometimes it is a signal pointing toward something deeper. Gabriel Andreson joins Steve Adams for an honest conversation about panic attacks, hidden pressure, trauma, performance-based identity, control, therapy, and healing. Gabe shares how his first panic attack at 30,000 feet became the beginning of a much deeper journey. Along the way, he discovered that lasting peace is not found by controlling every circumstance, but by learning to live with greater trust, presence, honesty, and steadiness in Christ. In this episode, you’ll hear: • Why anxiety may be revealing deeper wounds• How control and performance can intensify fear• The role of therapy, medication, exercise, and community• A practical way to identify lies and receive God’s truth• Why stillness, Scripture, and journaling can help restore peace• What it means to believe that God genuinely likes you Gabe is the author of UnAnxious: A Practical Guide to Calm Your Mind and Reclaim Your Peace in an Anxiety-Filled World. Learn more at:https://gabeandreson.com/ Visit Embracing Brokenness Ministries:https://embracingbrokenness.orgBuy Unanxious on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0eiAttcO CHAPTERS 00:00 God Doesn’t Just Love You—He Likes You 00:57 Anxiety May Be Pointing to Something Deeper 02:45 Welcome, Gabriel Andreson 04:20 Faith, Family, Business, and Marketplace Ministry 11:41 A Panic Attack at 30,000 Feet 16:00 When Anxiety Returned After Writing the Book 18:29 Anxiety as a Signal—and What May Be Beneath It 24:27 Turning Personal Pain Into Help for Others 26:23 Performance, a Father’s Approval, and Our View of God 29:28 Therapy and the Safety That Unlocked Healing 31:54 “God Talks”: Identifying Lies and Receiving Truth 35:15 “Isn’t It Great to Be Reminded Who You’re Not?” 39:03 Leadership, Burnout, Delegation, and Control 42:26 God Loves You—and He Actually Likes You 44:35 Silence, Scripture, Journaling, and Honest Venting 47:59 The First Step Out of Survival Mode 49:18 Where to Find Gabe and UnAnxious 50:24 Closing

What happens when the dream you've chased your entire life suddenly disappears?David Pollack knows.From becoming a three-time All-American at Georgia to playing in the NFL, working on ESPN's College GameDay, suffering a career-ending neck injury, losing his broadcasting job, and walking alongside his wife during her battle with brain cancer, David has learned that our identity cannot rest in what we do—it must rest in who God says we are.In this honest conversation, David shares what resilience really looks like, why broken seasons often become God's greatest classrooms, how daily disciplines shape lasting character, and why legacy isn't what you leave behind—it's what you leave in others.If you've ever struggled with disappointment, unexpected change, fear, or wondering what's next, this conversation will encourage you to trust that God is still writing your story.📖 Get Every Day Countshttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FG6Z4N9L?ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_N5F0PNTF15C59X1KNQCK&bestFormat=trueConnect with David:https://davidpollack.com/See Ball Get Ball Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPollackCFBFamily Goals Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/family-goals-with-david-pollack-and-pastor-j/id1585214791Subscribe for more conversations that help you embrace your brokenness and discover the life you were made for. 00:00 Why David Pollack's Story Matters 03:28 Welcome & Fast Five 10:36 The One Thing Most People Don't Know About David 16:28 The Broken Neck That Changed Everything 22:27 Building Resilience Through Adversity 28:14 Start Where You Are 30:45 Why So Many People Feel Stuck 35:45 Daily Habits That Change Your Life 40:48 Reading Scripture for Transformation 43:21 Walking Through Lindsey's Brain Cancer 47:11 Marriage, Parenting & Legacy 50:23 What Legacy Really Means 52:29 How to Make Every Day Count 55:02 Where to Connect with David 56:46 Closing

Many believers know they're saved but still struggle to experience the peace, joy, and freedom Jesus promised. In this episode, Steve Adams sits down with bestselling author Gary Thomas to discuss The Life You Were Reborn to Live. Together they unpack the subtle spiritual lies that keep Christians trapped in fear, striving, isolation, entitlement, and performance-driven faith. If you've ever sensed there must be more to following Jesus than simply "getting to heaven," this conversation offers a compelling invitation to rediscover the life you were truly reborn to live. Get Gary's new book: https://a.co/d/03OmXHwg Learn more about Gary Thomas: https://garythomas.com Connect with Embracing Brokenness Ministries: https://embracingbrokenness.org CHAPTERS 00:00 Why the Church Still Gives Gary Thomas Hope (Cold Open) 01:12 Introduction & Meet Gary Thomas 02:20 Why Gary Wrote The Life You Were Reborn to Live 08:45 The Spiritual Lies That Keep Christians Stuck 13:05 Consumer Christianity vs. Following Jesus 19:10 The Church Isn't Here to Serve You 27:35 Why Isolation Is So Spiritually Dangerous 33:45 Entitlement vs. Astonishment 40:15 The Life You Were Reborn to Live 45:05 Final Encouragement & Where to Find Gary Thomas

What if addiction isn't the real problem? In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Steve Adams sits down with author, speaker, and storyteller Jon Seidl to discuss his new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic. Jon shares his journey through anxiety, trauma, addiction, recovery, and ultimately deeper intimacy with Christ. Together they explore why addiction often begins long before substance abuse, how unresolved wounds shape our behaviors, the danger of hidden struggles in the Church, and why true freedom comes not from behavior modification but from healing the deeper places of the heart. Whether your struggle is alcohol, work, pornography, approval, control, comfort, food, success, or something else entirely, this conversation is for you. As Jon says: "We're all addicted to something." Topics include: • Trauma and addiction • The role of shame in keeping people stuck • Why Christians often hide their struggles • Radical vulnerability and authentic community • Identity in Christ • Abiding in Jesus as the path to freedom • The concept of "messy sanctification" • Finding healing beneath the habit Guest: Jon Seidl: Author of Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic Learn more: https://www.jonseidl.com/confessions-of-a-christian-alcoholic-book https://www.veritasrecovery.org/ For more resources from Embracing Brokenness Ministries: https://embracingbrokenness.org/ Chapter Markers 00:00 Introduction: We're All Addicted to Something 01:23 Meet Jon Seidl 05:50 From Journalist to Storyteller 09:30 Finding Rest and Mental Health 13:40 Success Didn't Fix the Problem 16:00 When Alcohol Became an Escape 19:00 The Slow Fade into Addiction 23:00 The Miami Trip That Changed Everything 27:00 "Get to the Root of Why You're Drinking" 29:00 Childhood Trauma and Hidden Wounds 32:00 Letting Jesus Into Every Part of Your Story 35:00 Why Jon Wrote This Book 37:15 Four Steps Toward Freedom 37:30 Abiding in Christ 40:15 Finding Your True Identity 43:00 Radical Vulnerability 47:00 The Power of Obedience 50:00 Escapism, Sobriety and Freedom 52:00 Embracing Messy Sanctification 56:00 The Healing Power of Community 58:00 Veritas Recovery and Next Steps 1:01:00 Final Encouragement

Richard Blackaby joins Steve Adams for a powerful conversation about spiritual maturity, daily rhythms with God, and what it really means to experience God in everyday life—not just in the extraordinary moments. Drawing from the legacy of the bestselling study Experiencing God and the new release Experiencing God in Everyday Life, Richard shares deeply personal stories about his father, Henry Blackaby, spiritual formation, abiding in Christ, and how ordinary believers can learn to recognize God’s presence in the middle of everyday life. Together, Steve and Richard discuss: Why many Christians feel disconnected from God in daily life The danger of reducing faith to activity instead of relationship The role of spiritual rhythms and habits in transformation The importance of spiritual companionship How suffering and disruption shape maturity The next generation’s hunger for authentic faith Why most of life is lived in the “valleys,” not the mountaintops This conversation is filled with wisdom, encouragement, and practical insight for anyone longing to walk more closely with Jesus in the ordinary rhythms of life. 🎥 Video opening courtesy of Lifeway. 📘 Get Experiencing God in Everyday Life by Richard Blackaby and sons: https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/experiencing-god-in-everyday-life-bible-study-book-with-video-access-P005853831 Buy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/066sB40o 🌐 Learn more about Richard Blackaby and Blackaby Ministries International: https://blackaby.org/ 🌿 Learn more about Embracing Brokenness Ministries: https://embracingbrokenness.org/ ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 — Opening Video (Courtesy of Lifeway) 01:24 — Welcome & Why This Conversation Matters 04:06 — Richard Blackaby on Family, Ministry & Legacy 10:54 — Grandchildren, Prayer Journals & Spiritual Heritage 14:12 — Writing Prayers & Hearing God More Deeply 15:28 — Leadership Trivia Begins 17:38 — Why Experiencing God in Everyday Life Matters Now 20:20 — Religion vs. Relationship with God 24:18 — “The Bible Is the Only Book Where You Can Know the Author” 25:18 — The Seven Realities of Experiencing God 26:15 — George Barna’s 10-Stop Spiritual Formation Journey 29:10 — Activity vs. Intimacy with God 31:30 — Humility, Abiding & the Presence of God 35:29 — Spiritual Legacy Across Generations 40:46 — Why Richard Wrote This Book with His Sons 45:19 — The Spiritual Hunger of Younger Generations 47:23 — God in the Ordinary Moments of Life 50:00 — Spiritual Maturity & Daily Rhythms 53:12 — Habit Stacking & Walking with God Daily 56:58 — Spiritual Companionship & Community 01:00:49 — Ministry, Prison Work & Walking Together 01:01:30 — Richard’s Message to the Younger Generation 01:03:05 — Leadership Trivia Answer Revealed 01:05:28 — Why This Book Is an Invitation Into a Way of Life 01:07:11 — Final Encouragement from Richard Blackaby

What does it really cost to follow Jesus? And what does it cost us when we don’t? In this powerful conversation, Steve Adams welcomes Morgan Snyder to the Embracing Brokenness Podcast for a deep and honest discussion about discipleship, formation, healing, risk, and the slow work of becoming whole in Christ. Morgan reflects on his 26 years in formal relationship with Wild at Heart, his transition with his wife Cherie into the Become Good Soil movement, and the deeper work of apprenticeship to Jesus in the second half of life. He shares why he and Cherie are now focused on “going deeper with fewer,” investing in the thirsty few who long for more of God and the abundant life. Together, Steve and Morgan explore the danger of consumer Christianity, the difference between information and formation, the invitation to become wholehearted men and women, and why brokenness is not the end of the story but often the beginning of deeper restoration. This episode is for anyone who feels stuck, spiritually dry, overextended, or aware that simply “believing the right things” has not produced the healing, maturity, intimacy, and purpose they long for. Morgan reminds us that God is not far away. He meets us at the end of our rope, in our need, in our pain, and in the ordinary moments where we create space to notice His voice. Learn more about Morgan and Cherie Snyder’s work at Become Good Soil: https://becomegoodsoil.com Learn more about Embracing Brokenness Ministries: https://embracingbrokenness.org Chapters 00:00 — God Meets Us at the End of Our Rope 01:00 — Welcome to the Embracing Brokenness Podcast 01:32 — Introducing Morgan Snyder 02:14 — Morgan’s History with John Eldredge and Wild at Heart 03:34 — Becoming Good Soil and Going Deeper with Fewer 04:55 — Husband and Wife Ministry in the Second Half of Life 05:45 — Don’t Waste Your Pain 07:01 — Preferring a Circle Over a Platform 08:00 — The Hidden Years and Carrying Water 09:11 — Steve’s First Wild at Heart Retreat 11:08 — Trusting the Slow Work of God 12:33 — The Interior Work of Becoming Whole 14:23 — We Are All Being Discipled by Something 16:21 — Leaving Platform, Salary, and Momentum 17:45 — Brokenness, Anesthesia, and the Fire in the House 21:22 — The Cost of Not Following Jesus 22:36 — Sabbath as Resistance 23:48 — God as the Father Who Initiates Our Children 24:56 — Why Embrace Brokenness? 27:16 — Living Where God Has to Show Up 29:16 — Becoming the Kind of Person God Can Entrust 30:25 — Risk at the Core of Discipleship 31:05 — Prison Ministry and Holy Ground 34:11 — What Is Burdening Morgan’s Heart? 35:48 — Dallas Willard and the Discipleship Crisis 37:40 — Power, Service, and the Vulnerable 39:52 — The Incomplete Gospel 41:57 — Consumer Christianity and Hyper-Individualism 43:53 — Information Is Not Enough 45:22 — What If God Feels Distant? 46:31 — How Do I Find God? 47:31 — Creating Space to Notice God 48:37 — The Gift of Margin 49:35 — Micro-Shifts That Change a Life 50:31 — Start with What Is Necessary 51:08 — Becoming a King and Practical Resources 52:02 — Become Good Soil and the Thirsty Few 53:28 — Participating in the Restoration of All Things 54:05 — Closing Thoughts

What happens when artificial intelligence reads a manuscript about intimacy with God… and then creates a podcast explaining it? That’s exactly what happened when one of our endorsers uploaded our upcoming book Embracing the Way into NotebookLM. Within moments, it generated a 20-minute conversation—two voices unpacking the heart of our message with surprising clarity, accuracy, and even emotional tone. So we decided to do something different. In this episode, we: Play the AI-generated podcast in full Reflect on what it got right Explore what felt… incomplete And wrestle with a critical question for our time: Can something that sounds human… begin to replace relationship? This isn’t a rejection of AI. It’s a call to discernment. Because while AI can: organize truth explain ideas accelerate productivity …it cannot: experience God heal your wounds or lead you into intimacy with Christ We close with practical, biblical guardrails for engaging AI wisely—without losing what matters most. Link to 5 Biblical Guardrails for Working with AI https://embracingbrokenness.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/5-Biblical-Guardrails-for-Working-with-AI.jpeg 00:00 – AI Needs a Warning Label (Part 2) 02:30 – The unexpected AI-generated podcast 06:15 – What surprised us most 09:30 – Playing the AI podcast (full segment) 29:00 – Our reaction: what it got right 31:30 – Where it missed: relationship vs replication 34:30 – Identity is received, not achieved 36:00 – 5 Biblical guardrails for AI (RAILS) 39:00 – The Great I Am is greater than AI

What if the greatest danger of artificial intelligence isn’t what it can do—but what it can replace? In this episode of the Embracing Brokenness Podcast, Steve and Colleen Adams explore a growing concern: AI is no longer just a productivity tool—it’s becoming a relational substitute. From AI companions to emotionally intelligent chatbots, we are entering a moment where technology can mimic what only God was meant to fulfill. This conversation goes deeper than headlines. It gets to the heart. Why AI feels like it “understands” you How it subtly meets core human longings The danger of synthetic belonging, love, and purpose Real stories of how far this has already gone Practical red flags to evaluate your own usage How to use AI without letting it use you This isn’t fear-based. It’s a warning—and an invitation. 👉 The truth: “I AM is greater than AI.” (Use this URL and create a bookmark next to your AI tab in your browser): https://bedecked-litter-95f.notion.site/I-Am-AI-29c29def361b80dc867df86090d3bfe0 Use this prompt in your favorite AI chat. You may be surprised at the answer it gives you. If Screwtape (from C.S. Lewis's Screwtape Letters) were to write a letter to Wormwood on how to thwart my faith and effectiveness personally, what would that letter say based on what you know about me? Chapters: 00:00 – A chilling real-world example of AI companionship 01:30 – Why this episode matters right now 03:00 – “AI may replace your need for God” 05:00 – The emotional evolution of AI 07:00 – Productivity vs. transformation 09:00 – AI and the loss of human connection 12:00 – The Screwtape exercise (eye-opening) 16:00 – Spiritual warfare and identity 18:30 – Core longings: Belonging 20:30 – Purpose vs. productivity 21:30 – Love and affirmation 23:00 – Understanding and being “seen” 24:30 – Safety and relational risk 26:30 – Significance and generational impact 29:00 – The substitution problem 31:00 – The “synthetic steak” analogy 33:00 – AI companionship and the future 36:00 – Red flags to watch for 39:00 – What if you’re not using AI yet? 41:00 – Practical guardrails 42:30 – Final truth: I AM > AI