In this thought-provoking episode of Beneath the Headlines, host Mike Woodruff sits down with pastor, speaker, and bestselling author John Ortberg to discuss his latest book, Steps: How the 12 Steps Can Help Anyone Grow Spiritually. With over 40 years in ministry and a deep focus on spiritual formation, John shares profound insights on how the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous can be transformative for everyone—whether struggling with addiction or simply seeking deeper spiritual growth.

🔹 Key Points Discussed:
- The 12 Steps as a Spiritual Pathway – How these steps, rooted in Christian discipleship, offer a framework for surrender, humility, and transformation.
- Addiction vs. Sin – Is addiction a disease, a moral failing, or something deeper? John explores the intersection of psychology, theology, and human struggle.
- The Role of Willpower & Surrender – Why willpower alone fails and how surrendering to God’s will brings true freedom.
- Habits & Spiritual Formation – Practical ways to reshape daily habits to align with God’s vision for our lives.
- Confession & Community – The power of vulnerability and accountability in spiritual growth.
- Scripture & Renewing the Mind – How memorizing and meditating on Scripture reshapes our consciousness.
- Gratitude in Suffering – John reflects on finding God’s presence in life’s deepest challenges.

📖 About John Ortberg:
John is the founder of Become New, a ministry focused on daily spiritual growth (becomingnew.com). A longtime student of Dallas Willard’s teachings, he blends psychological insight with deep theological wisdom.

💡 Who Is This For?
If you’ve ever felt stuck in repetitive struggles, wondered how to move from head knowledge to heart change, or questioned why traditional discipleship often feels shallow—this conversation is for you.

🎧 Listen to the full episode and let us know: Which of the 12 Steps resonates most with you? Drop a comment below!

#SpiritualGrowth #12Steps #Faith #Discipleship #JohnOrtberg #ChristianLiving #Podcast

In this thought-provoking episode of Beneath the Headlines, host Mike Woodruff sits down with Dr. Darren Whitehead, pastor, author, and founder of Church of the City in Nashville, Tennessee. Together, they dive into the pressing issue of our relationship with technology and how it’s shaping—and often disrupting—our lives.

Dr. Whitehead’s book, The Digital Fast: 40 Days to Detox Your Mind and Reclaim What Matters Most, offers a transformative approach to breaking free from the grip of smartphones, social media, and constant digital distractions. In this conversation, they explore:

• The hidden costs of our tech addiction and how it’s rewiring our brains.
• Practical steps to detox from digital overload and rediscover joy, presence, and connection.
• Why collective action—like a church-wide fast—can help us overcome the fear of missing out (FOMO) and embrace the joy of missing out (JOMO).
• The impact of social media on mental health, especially for teenagers, and how parents can lead the way in creating healthier tech habits.

Mike and Darren also share personal stories of their own struggles with technology, from doom-scrolling to the surprising moments of clarity that come from unplugging. Whether you’re a parent, a pastor, or simply someone feeling overwhelmed by the digital noise, this episode offers hope and practical tools to reset your relationship with technology.

Join us as we explore how to live more intentionally in a world that’s constantly vying for our attention. And if you’re ready to take the first step, consider joining the Digital Fast this Lent season—it might just change your life.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Digital Fast by Dr. Darren Whitehead
• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
• The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch
• The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God by Justin Brierley

Listen, subscribe, and share to stay connected with Beneath the Headlines as we continue to explore the ideas shaping our lives. For more resources, visit LakeLight Institute.

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insightful conversations that help you apply timeless wisdom to modern life.

#DigitalFast #TechAddiction #MentalHealth #FaithAndCulture #Podcast #BeneathTheHeadlines #DarrenWhitehead #MikeWoodruff #LakeLightInstitute

In this episode of "Beneath the Headlines," host Mike Woodruff interviews Glen Scrivener, an Australian writer, pastor, and apologist currently living in the UK. The conversation centers around Scrivener's book "The Air We Breathe" which explores how modern Western values like human rights, equality, progress, and compassion are deeply rooted in Christian thought and tradition.

Key points discussed include:

• How many secular intellectuals (like Tom Holland, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and Louise Perry) are reconsidering Christianity's role in shaping Western civilization
• Scrivener's "3-2-1" course, a digital evangelism program that has reached thousands
• The current state of Christianity in different regions (particularly England, Australia, and America)
• The potential future directions of Western society, including both secular and religious trends
• The challenge of connecting modern secular values back to their Christian origins

The conversation offers an interesting perspective on how Christianity continues to influence modern thought, even among those who don't identify as religious, and discusses the current cultural shifts happening around faith and secularism.

Join Pastor Mike Woodruff and guest Collin Hansen, editor-in-chief of The Gospel Coalition, as they explore:

• The evolution of journalism from traditional reporting to advocacy
• Challenges in discerning truth in today's media landscape
• Impact of changing media on faith and society
• Strategies for thoughtful news consumption
• The importance of local journalism
• Hansen's upcoming book on theodicy and evil
• The enduring relevance of World War II in shaping moral understanding

Key topics include:

• Media bias and its effects
• The 2016 election's impact on news reporting
• Balancing faith perspectives with current events
• Cultural apologetics in the modern age

Tune in for insights on maintaining a balanced, faith-informed view in our complex information age.

Enjoy listening to Mike lead a panel discussion about restoring trust at the sold-out inaugural Lakelight Institute Good Work Summit. Panelists include Dr. David Miller (Director of Princeton Faith and Work Initiative), Mike Zafirovski (former President of Motorola) and Tom Tropp (Chief Ethics Officer at Gallagher).

Today Mike’s guest is American philosopher Christian Miller, PhD, an award-winning professor from Wake Forest University who recently authored The Character Gap, has authored numerous other books and articles, and is a regular contributor to publications including Forbes. He is also director of The Honesty Project. Mike and Dr. Miller discuss his work and how our character shapes our lives.

This week we are sharing with you a link to a podcast that Mike appeared on as a guest.

In it, he talks about the importance of thinking well, particularly at this moment in history when we are allowing other voices to think for us. Mike argues for more “white space” as the volume and velocity of life is increasing every day. Mike also talks about some of his news rules including “less is more.”