Send us a text In this, the final episode of season 4, we will take a look at an important aspect of faith in Christ; rest and renewal. God knew that we would need physical, emotional, and spiritual rest. He understood that our bodies and minds require renewal to function at their best. Yet in our modern society, we often neglect this sacred rhythm of busyness, striving, and the pursuit of success. Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give yo...
Jun 20, 2023•11 min•Season 4Ep. 16
Send us a text In this episode, I get to share some insights about my recent work trip in Europe where I visited Greece, Bulgaria, and Germany. As a videographer, I was documenting work going on that serves women and girls being rescued from human trafficking, Ukrainian refugees, and people far from God in Germany and France. Faith-based charities you can pray for and support financially: Crisis Aid Crisis Aid concentrates efforts in East Africa and the United States serving children and familie...
Jun 13, 2023•19 min•Season 4Ep. 15
Send us a text In this episode: Why was there no podcast last week? Who needs a summer break? What's my new favorite podcast? Make sure to follow This Awesome Life with Brandon Hair! May God, who gives you patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. –Romans 5:15 If you enjoyed this conversation with Brandon, please subscribe, rate, and review this podcast. Don't forget to share this episode with friends and fellow wo...
Jun 06, 2023•26 min•Season 4Ep. 14
Send us a text In this episode, we will take a look at Colossians 1:15-20 . One of the main components of this podcast is and always will be encouraging regular studying of the Bible. If this is something you haven't gotten a good handle on, episodes like this one will help you get on track. It doesn't have to be complicated or obligatory, and it's one of the best ways to get to know the character and promises of God. *** If this podcast has been of value to you, please consider helping defray t...
May 23, 2023•13 min•Season 4Ep. 13
Send us a text Story Time: A recent breakfast with some of my closest friends ended with a very unexpected twist. “Do not complain about growing old. It is a privilege denied to many.” — Mark Twain Psalm 90:12 - Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. James 4:14 – How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. Psalm 39:4 - Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind m...
May 16, 2023•15 min•Season 4Ep. 12
Send us a text This episode marks the beginning of what will be a recurring type of installment wherein I talk to composers, producers, musicians and everything in between; showcasing great music you might not have heard of yet. For this inaugural run , I have the honor of introducing you to Spencer Boliou . He's a producer/performer of some of my favorite music. We discuss his creative evolution from a young kid who dabbled in music to a man who loves God and wants to use his talent to honor Go...
May 09, 2023•34 min•Season 4Ep. 11
Send us a text In this powerful conclusion to our 4-part series on pornography addiction , I sit down with Mike and Erin to discuss where they are in their healing journey. They share how they are working together daily to rebuild trust, restore their fractured marriage, and navigate the long road of recovery with faith and perseverance. Pornography may seem harmless to some, but its impact on mental health, relationships, and faith is profound. Through open and honest conversation, we explore t...
May 02, 2023•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 9
Send us a text In this episode, I have the privilege of speaking with Nick Stumbo, Executive Director of Pure Desire , a ministry dedicated to bringing hope, freedom, and healing from sexual brokenness through Jesus Christ. We dive into the deeper struggles of pornography addiction, exploring what’s really happening in the mind of an addict and why breaking free is more than just a matter of willpower. Nick shares powerful insights on the spiritual, emotional, and neurological factors at play—an...
Apr 25, 2023•50 min•Season 4Ep. 8
Send us a text ***If you haven't listened to part 1 of this series, it is highly advised that you do so. Certain portions of this episode would lack contest without hearing the first show. There are two sides to every story, each as important as the other. In this episode, you will meet Erin, Mike's wife. The beginning of dating and then marriage and adding children to the mix were mostly normal for the pair; they would look like a nice family you know from church. However, there was a side of M...
Apr 18, 2023•50 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Send us a text Pornography addiction is a silent struggle affecting millions—nearly 70% of men and 25% of women wrestle with it, and the numbers don’t change much within the church. In this powerful series, we introduce you to Mike, a man whose addiction to porn started in high school, and his wife, Erin—who once believed this was never an issue in their marriage. In this first episode, Mike bravely shares his journey, from his first exposure to pornography as a young boy to the full-blown addic...
Apr 11, 2023•51 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Send us a text In this episode, it is such an honor to have Amie Patrick join me to conclude the series of shows titled, Personal Jesus; No Cookie Cutter Faith. In the past seven years, Amie has dealt with so much adversity, most of which was very publicized . In this discussion, she chronicles so much of what went on in three major losses. I believe you will be encouraged to lean heavily into Jesus when nothing in your life seems to make sense. *** Support the show Questions or comments can be ...
Apr 04, 2023•39 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Send us a text In this episode in a round-about-way, I get to pay homage to a group of women that often go unnoticed; our pastor's wife. I have the honor of introducing you to Annie D'Amico . She is a Nursing Director, mother of 2, and for the purposes of this episode, a pastor's wife. I reached out to her because she has built a following just north of 122,000 people on TikTok where shares quite a bit about her very real day-to-day life. No pasted on smiles or fancy dresses; Just Annie... and I...
Mar 28, 2023•45 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Send us a text Welcome to The Nook Podcast, where we explore stories of faith, hope, and redemption. In this episode, we are joined by Michael Ray Lewis . Michael grew up as an Atheist and his disbelief in God continued until the age of 26 when his wife told him she felt like Jesus was calling her back. Michael began asking questions about science and evolution that were difficult for many Christians to answer. However, digging deeper, he found out about Christian Apologetics and resources offer...
Mar 21, 2023•34 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Send us a text ***WARNING*** This episode does contain some explicit language. In other words, make sure the kiddos aren't around or you have a good pair of earbuds. In this episode, I get to introduce you to Joey Papa . His story is one of pain, loss, and amazing redemption. Check out Joey's podcast, The Failed Christian . *** This link allows you to support The Nook financially: Support the show Questions or comments can be sent to [email protected] Join The Nook Facebook page ! Steven's ...
Mar 14, 2023•49 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Send us a text Welcome to Season 4 of The Nook Podcast! With a new season comes a new series, Personal Jesus; No Cookie Cutter Faith ... Looking at stories from people who have been through some incredibly tough times. Joining me to kick things off is Seth Studley. He and his wife, Melanie, run Anatomy of Us ; an organization that is all about helping couples build strong marriages and families. Seth is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, and Melanie is a Marriage Expert & Motivation...
Mar 07, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Send us a text Another quick bonus episode following up on the Spirit and Truth series of shows from January, all about making worship a priority in 2023. In this one, I get to introduce you to Ryan Loche ; he's on staff at The Belonging Co , a fast-growing church in Nashville, TN, a teacher at Southeastern University , and one of the founders of The Church Collective . And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be ...
Feb 14, 2023•17 min•Season 3Ep. 15
Send us a text In this episode, I get to share a conversation I had with Mack Brock while we were working at a conference together recently. Brock’s greatest passion is to lead people into a heightened awareness of the presence of God and to see individuals experience the breakthrough God has for them through worship. Having spent the past 15 years paving the landscape of modern worship, Brock has co-written some of the biggest songs in today's church, including “O Come To The Altar,” “Resurrect...
Feb 07, 2023•5 min
Send us a text In this episode, Dan and Michelle from Air1 Radio join me to discuss their roles in sharing worship music across 300+ cities in the US and online. They got their start in radio together in Omaha, NE. From there they went on to Sacramento and now Nashville, and have been the morning show duo on Air1 since 2018. They are happy to be in Nashville with their two kids Jackson and Grace. *** Donating to support The Nook financially is safe and easy via the link below: Support the show Q...
Jan 31, 2023•41 min•Season 3Ep. 21
Send us a text We all carry places of anxiety, shame, and fear. But what if, instead of trying to control or squash what feels broken in us, we invited God to meet us there? This is holy vulnerability: offering our wounds to our Father so he can love us there. With pastoral tenderness, Kellye Fabian shines a light on the path into holy vulnerability: six unexpected spiritual practices that open us to God’s healing and transformation. Holy Vulnerability helps us notice where brokenness is leaking...
Jan 24, 2023•44 min•Season 3Ep. 20
Send us a text In this episode, I have the privilege of introducing you to Steve Davis and Jordan Colle , also known as Sons, The Band . These guys met at a song writing event in 2020 and hit it off, and despite living in two different states, they decided to take a chance on becoming a music duo that strives to write amazing music that will inspire the Church to worship Jesus deeply. In this conversation, you will hear the story of how they got started and where they see things going... as well...
Jan 17, 2023•49 min•Season 3Ep. 19
Send us a text In this episode, we continue to dive deep into the aspect of making worship a priority as we begin a new year. Join Me in welcoming Chad Bird to The Nook. He is a Scholar in Residence with an organization called 1517 , where he draws from a rich academic and theological background in Hebrew and Old Testament studies to build a bridge between the very ancient elements of our faith to a life built on Jesus and the New Testament. In short, Chad is a really smart guy who loves scriptu...
Jan 10, 2023•45 min•Season 3Ep. 19
Send us a text In this new series, we will be looking at how we can make worshiping God a greater priority in our lives, understanding what it means and, why we should do it every day. Kicking things off, I get to introduce you to Jen Smale ; she is a worship leader at 29:11 Church in Tempe, Arizona as well as a co-host of the Worship Leader Probs podcast. We discuss how to model worship for our own cultures and what we should know about the people leading worship at our own churches. But the ti...
Jan 03, 2023•45 min•Season 3Ep. 20
Send us a text In this episode, we wrap up a series, taking special look at the arrival of Christ. The Christmas season is over but an abundant life with Christ is just getting started. *** Support the show Questions or comments can be sent to [email protected] Join The Nook Facebook page ! Steven's Social Media: Instagram , TikTok and Twitter Your financial support means so much! Venmo: @Steven-Murphy-111...
Dec 26, 2022•6 min•Season 3Ep. 18
Send us a text In this special bonus Christmas episode, sing and song writer Ross King joins me to discuss his song, Bethlehem . It's such a great reminder of the humble beginnings of Christ and how we approach the celebration of his birth. Merry Christmas! *** Support the show Questions or comments can be sent to [email protected] Join The Nook Facebook page ! Steven's Social Media: Instagram , TikTok and Twitter Your financial support means so much! Venmo: @Steven-Murphy-111...
Dec 22, 2022•27 min•Season 3Ep. 17
Send us a text It is the week of Christmas, and in this episode, we continue to look at the arrival of Jesus Christ in a slightly different way. My hope is that you have time to pause in this week before we celebrate and remember all that happened at the time of Jesus' arrival. *** Support the show Questions or comments can be sent to [email protected] Join The Nook Facebook page ! Steven's Social Media: Instagram , TikTok and Twitter Your financial support means so much! Venmo: @Steven-Mur...
Dec 19, 2022•16 min•Season 3Ep. 16
Send us a text In this episode, we take a look at about the last year before the birth of Christ. Read Luke chapter 1 HERE Support the show Questions or comments can be sent to [email protected] Join The Nook Facebook page ! Steven's Social Media: Instagram , TikTok and Twitter Your financial support means so much! Venmo: @Steven-Murphy-111...
Dec 12, 2022•14 min•Season 3Ep. 15
Send us a text This is the second part of a 5-part series about the preparations for the arrival of Jesus Christ. In this episode, we will look at a 400 year span when God said nothing to the Jewish people. *** Support the show Questions or comments can be sent to [email protected] Join The Nook Facebook page ! Steven's Social Media: Instagram , TikTok and Twitter Your financial support means so much! Venmo: @Steven-Murphy-111...
Dec 05, 2022•12 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Send us a text This episode marks the beginning of a 5 week series called, Prepare . Throughout this time, we take a slightly different look at the birth of Jesus Christ and how we might prepare for him to have a greater place in each of our lives. I hope that you have some time to pause and reflect on some of the most incredible truths that I think we tend to blow by when we get so busy and so much can feel predictable. May they serve as a reminder as to why God can be trusted and how a long li...
Nov 28, 2022•10 min•Season 3Ep. 13
Send us a text In this episode, I take an interesting look at The Parable of the Good Samaritan. At the end of a brutal mid-term election season, it's vital to look at what is diving so many people and consider what God would have us do. From chapter 10 of the Gospel of Luke The Most Important Commandment 25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say?...
Nov 14, 2022•18 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Send us a text Just a short encouragement for you that ties my last two series of shows together. Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” –Matthew 26:36 Support the show Questions or comments can be sent to [email protected] Join The Nook Facebook page ! Steven's Social Media: Instagram , TikTok and Twitter Your financial support means so much! Venmo: @Steven-Murphy-111...
Nov 07, 2022•9 min•Season 3Ep. 10
