Candid Conversations with Jonathan Youssef

Are you facing the difficult journey of caring for an aging parent and wondering what it means to honor them in this season of life? As parents age and face cognitive or physical decline, families are often left with more questions than answers, including how to handle challenging emotions, manage difficult decisions, and stay true to their wishes and Christian faith.

In this episode of Candid Conversations, Jonathan Youssef speaks with Dr. Bill Davis on the complexities of honoring aging parents through a biblical lens, especially as they face cognitive and physical decline. Dr. Davis shares insights from his research and ministry experience, exploring practical ways to navigate the emotional, financial, and spiritual challenges of caring for dependent parents. From understanding the fifth commandment to engaging in complex but vital conversations, this discussion provides guidance and encouragement for families walking this journey.

More Episodes featuring Dr. Bill Davis on Candid Conversations:

How Should We Care for Our Aging Loved Ones (Part 1): Dr. Bill Davis

How Should We Care for Our Aging Loved Ones (Part 2): Dr. Bill Davis

Roe v. Wade Conversations with Dr. Bill Davis

Building Bridges in a Cancel Culture: Dr. Bill Davis

Let's Talk About Suicide: Dr. Bill Davis

For questions or to connect with the Candid community, visit LTW.org/Candid.

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Have you heard someone say, "I'm spiritual, but not religious"? It's a phrase everywhere, from casual conversations to celebrity interviews, and it might leave you wondering: What does that mean, and where does it come from? In this enlightening episode of Candid Conversations, Jonathan Youssef welcomes back Dr. Michael Horton, a renowned theologian and founder of Sola Media, to answer these questions and more. Dr. Horton’s latest book, Shaman and Sage: The Roots of 'Spiritual But Not Religious' in Antiquity, uncovers the ancient origins of these modern beliefs and their profound influence on today's culture.

If you're curious about why so many people reject organized religion yet embrace spirituality or want to understand better the challenges this mindset poses to the Christian faith, this episode is for you. With insights from history, philosophy, and theology, discover how to navigate these conversations with clarity and compassion.

Listen in as Dr. Horton helps untangle the complex threads of modern spirituality and points us back to the enduring Truth of the Gospel.

If you have questions or want to engage a community around this topic, connect with Jonathan and the Candid community:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candidpod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candidpod

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecandidpod

Costi Hinn is a voice of clarity in a world filled with prosperity gospel confusion. Formerly surrounded by the opulence and excesses of the Word of Faith movement, he left it all for an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ based on the Truth of His Word.

Today, Costi serves as the Teaching Pastor at Shepherd’s House Bible Church in Chandler, Arizona. He is currently completing his doctorate work at The Master’s Seminary.

In today's conversation, Costi joins Jonathan to discuss his latest book, Knowing the Spirit: Who He Is, What He Does, and How He Can Transform Your Christian Life. Join them and then get a copy of Costi's book to take a deep dive into the true nature and work of the Holy Spirit.

To ask Jonathan a question or connect with the Candid community, visit https://LTW.org/Candid

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Are you committed to Christ but searching for guidance? In this new reflection, Jonathan Youssef explores the gripping Biblical story of Jacob—a tale of struggle, transformation, and divine engagement. Jonathan connects his own experiences with Jacob’s journey, offering insights into the challenges of perseverance, the power of repentance, and the profound ways God works in our lives.

Listen and deepen your understanding of spiritual growth and how our trials can lead to profound blessings. This is a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration and guidance from God.

To ask Jonathan a question or connect with the Candid community, visit https://LTW.org/Candid

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candidpod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candidpod

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecandidpod

TRANSCRIPT:

This transcript recounts Candid Conversations with Jonathan Youssef Episode 255: Wrestling with God: Jonathan Youssef

In seventh grade, I joined my middle school wrestling program. For two weeks, we ran and did all kinds of exercises, and then we would wrestle each other for the rest of the time we were there. And I did not like it. I lost to a guy who was younger than me. I lost every day. I was terrible. And I was tired of losing, and I lacked perseverance. There is little more humiliating than being wedged under the fat arm of a sweaty teenage boy, and I thought, This is as low as it gets.

Well, our reflection today is about wrestling and persevering. I’ve always been intrigued by the biblical story because it has so many layers. It’s multifaceted and multidimensional. And it’s a little bit dangerous, meaning that there is potential to miss the main point of what the text is saying and to misunderstand or misrepresent it.

Over the years, I’ve reread it, read commentaries, listened to talks, and consumed all I can to try to understand it better. I want to know what is taking place at this really important moment in salvific history.

We have this man, Jacob. He has been at odds with his brother since birth. Even in the womb, he and Esau are wrestling with each other. He is at odds with his father over who is the favored son. He is at odds with who should be blessed. He’s at odds over who had the birthright in the family. He’s used trickery and deception to achieve his purposes. He’s at odds with his Uncle Laban, a master trickster himself.

But in Genesis, we begin to see the undoing of this character, Jacob. He’s being undone, and he’s being changed and transformed through these middle chapters of this book. He’s served his crooked uncle/father-in-law for twenty-some-odd years, and in many ways, he’s echoing the prodigal son here. Having come to himself, he’s leaving Laban here, and he’s coming home, you might say, to the homeland of his father, to his older brother, and although God has begun to work in him, although he is a new man, as it were, spiritually, it becomes clear that God is not finished with Jacob yet.

And so this chapter unfolds with three dramatic pictures. First, in verses 1 through 21, we have the picture of Jacob returning. God has been working in his life, as we just noted. God has also been working in the lives of Jacob’s two wives, Leah and Rachel, and now Jacob has sent word to his brother, Esau, the brother who swore that he would one day kill his little brother in a very Cain and Abel-type fashion.

So Jacob sends the word, “Hey! I’m coming home.” He’s really only able to do this because the Lord has told him, “The day will come that I’m going to bring you back to this land. And I am promising that I will do you good, that I will prosper you, and that I will be with you.”

If you remember the account of Jacob’s ladder, where Jacob falls asleep, and he envisions this ladder coming down from heaven, and the angels ascend and descend upon the ladder, the Lord tells him, “I will be with you. I will bring you back to this land. I will give it to you and your offspring. And the whole earth will be blessed through you and your seed.” And, of course, it reminds us of the very same promise given to Abraham.

He promises to keep and return him to that land, and now that day has come. In verses 1 and 2, we read that the angels come and meet Jacob. It’s confirmation that the Lord is with him. He names the area Mahanaim, meaning “two camps.”

Now, perhaps he’s referring to the fact that it’s his camp and the Lord’s camp; the Lord’s camp will be his shield and protection. Because he’s going to need it. And the report comes back, “Hey, Esau’s coming to see you. He’s got four hundred guys with him. It’s going to be great, right?”

Okay, either Esau is rolling out the red carpet for his little br...

It's easy to lose focus on what’s important when you are constantly surrounded by messages that distract you from the best God has for you. The lens you look through can shift your focus and, ultimately, lead to a distorted perspective in life.

In this episode of Candid Conversations, Jonathan Youssef encourages you to reflect on what has captured your attention lately and shares how to refocus on the right things.

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