All of us tend to our physical hygiene. It is important that we do. Little attention, however, is given to mental hygiene. In this episode Ted Witzig Jr. urges the listener to employ four simple mental hygiene tips in the new year. 

Some things we see clearly and yet, other things are blind spots to us. Because of this, the generations can clash in their ideals. Commitment, change and freedom are all such ideals that vary widely among the generations. In this episode, a spirit of hearing and learning is cast by participants Amber Miller (Millennial), Tim Funk (Baby-Boomer) and Matt Kaufmann (GenXer) in such a way that each learns and can appreciate each other.

We are not self-made people. We are influenced. We are molded. Each one of us has been born into a generation and that generation has molded us. In this episode of Breaking Bread Tim Funk, Amber Miller and Matt Kaufmann dialogue about different generations and learn from each other.

The best way to be helpful to an unattached child is to direct them back to their parents.  In this episode of Breaking Bread Craig Stickling answers some direct questions regarding attachment disorder.  His answers are both practical and hopeful.

Critical content contained in this episode:

• Question: How can the believing community be helpful with the unattached child?

Answer: Always direct the unattached child back to their parents.

• Question: Is unattachment unique only to non-biological children such as foster children and adoptive children?

Answer: No. Biological children can undergo attachment trauma in the early months of life also.

• Question: Will early attachment trauma always result in attachment disorder with our children?

Answer: No. Each child is unique. Temperaments play a part. Some children are more disposed to connection and relationship.

• Question: Is there hope for the unattached child to become attached?

Answer: Yes. While healing takes time, positive momentum and difference can be seen in surprisingly short time frames if proper supports are put in place.

• Question: Does God understand attachment disorder?

Answer: Yes. God’s call to mankind, to trust Him and to walk in relationship is exactly the attachment issue. He longs for our attachment to Him as we long for our children to be attached to us.

• Question: What encouragement can you give parents who are dealing with attachment disorder?

Answer:  You will be seen as trustworthy to your child.

• • You will be able to handle their misbehavior.
  • You will be able to remain calm during stressful encounters.
  • You will be able to protect them.

          * You will be an advocate for their healing and growth.

• Question: What resources would you offer those who want to learn more about attachment disorder?

Answer: Nancy Thomas – Families by Design, www.attachment.org

         Matthew and Fawn Bradley, www.beatitudehouse.org

         Lee Anne Cooper, https://www.unplowedground.org/

Description: Sometimes the struggles while parenting is not rebellion in the child, nor is it poor parenting in the parent. Sometimes the problem lies in the attachment between parents and children. This is a brain problem – with answers. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Craig Stickling teaches us about Reactive Attachment Disorder.

Critical content contained in this episode:

•  Attachment is a deep and lasting connection between a child and a caregiver established in the first 36 months of life.
• Attachment is a construct built over time.
• Attachment impacts a person’s self worth, emotional management and ability to build relationships.
• Characteristics of poor attachment in a child can manifest itself in the following ways:
• • detached and unresponsive behavior
  • difficulty being comforted
  • defiant behavior
  • poor boundaries with strangers
  • difficulty trusting parents
• While cause and effect is difficult to tease out, Reactive Attachment Disorder rises from early trauma and stresses and should be understood as an infliction of the brain.
• • While trauma and stresses may be present in the early years of a child it puts them at higher risk of Reactive Attachment Disorder but doesn’t mean that they necessarily will suffer with attachment issues.
• The road to recovery includes reorienting a child’s brain toward their parents. Establishing “mom and dad know best" and can assure safety along with unconditional love is foundational.

 Resource: "When love is not enough” by Nancy Thomas

Sometimes little things make big differences. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Kaleb Beyer relays three small things that exist in happy marriages.   

3 Small Things

 Be Purposeful

• Highly happy couples tend to put God at the center of their marriage. They focus on Him, not their spouse, for fulfillment and happiness.

Be Present

• Highly happy couples choose gratefulness for how their spouse realistically meets their needs instead of longing for something which is difficult or impossible for their spouse to meet.

Be Positive -

• When highly happy couples experience hurt, they extend grace and assume their mate’s intentions were pure and have a reasonable explanation.

 Resource: “The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages: The Little Things That Make a Big Difference” by Shaunti Feldhahn.

Addictions of all kind concern us. Fortunately there is hope. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Roger Gasser walks us through what addiction treatment looks like. Seeing a path through addiction is, in itself, hopeful.

The following questions will be addressed in the podcast:

1. What to do when a family member is addicted but is in denial. 
2. What is an Intensive Outpatient Program and when is it needed? When is it recommended? 
3. What is Residential Treatment and when is it needed? When is it recommended?  What should I look for in choosing one? 

What are the pros and cons of 28-day versus 90-day treatment?

Jesus lived in community. Interpersonal, face to face relationships, with people. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Amber Miller makes a strong case for community, especially for the single. What is community and how is it done? Turns out community is critical for personal well-being and many times requires intentionality on our part.

Brian Sutter and Craig Stickling provide very practical advice on what to look for and how to engage our children with social anxiety in this episode of Breaking Bread.  Be informed.  Be equipped.  Be encouraged.

We are all too familiar with anxiety. We don’t like it. But do we understand it for its finer details? In this episode of Breaking Bread, Ted Witzig Jr. walks through three types of anxiety: spiritual, situational and anxiety disorder. 

Show Notes:

 Below are some of the topics covered in this podcast:

• Is there a difference between worry and anxiety?
• How does God view anxiety? Is all anxiety sin?
• Understanding the nuances between spiritual anxiety, situational anxiety and anxiety disorders.
• What is the role of our thoughts in worry and anxiety?  How does focusing on God’s promises help with worry and anxiety?
• The role of shame in keeping Christian people dealing with anxiety from receiving support. How the church family can help.
• How to give support to someone with anxiety without being overly simplistic or trite.
• Ted shares his personal experience of anxiety and how spiritual and medical support helped him. 

 For more information on types of anxiety click here.

Without question, sexual vice carries with it sobering consequences.  There are things at stake.  Yet, oddly enough, the trials we bear have an upside – they define the space of faith and worship we exhibit through obedience to God.

We live in a sexually sensual culture.  No doubt about it.  And it impacts all of us, irrespective of age, gender and marital status.  All the more reason we need to be good stewards of our sexuality.  In this episode Katie and Arlan Miller along with Matt tackle this very real aspect of our lives.

Communication with our spouse can be hard.  It is important to note that the content of our conversation is not most important.  Process is critical. In this episode, Kaleb Beyer teaches us, with very practical tips, how to steer our conversations back on track.  In so doing, we will answer a question superior to content agreement, that is, you matter to me.

Marijuana is experiencing a sweeping acceptance across America.  How do we make heads and tails of this drug today?  In this episode, Dr. Aaron Plattner provides some very welcome discernment.

We want to protect them at all costs.  But our children will not be able to navigate through this world unharmed.  In this episode Brian Sutter and Craig Stickling help us understand the impact trauma has on children. They also provide practical insights on engaging them on the basis of trauma awareness and healing.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is becoming a house hold term.  In this episode, Ted Witzig Jr. continues to shed light on trauma and it’s effects.  He helps us understand PTSD and more importantly what Jesus thinks of trauma.

The event is in the past.  It jeopardized your core, basic human needs.  Yet your mind and body remain on alert as if the event was in the present.  In this episode of Breaking Bread, Ted Witzig Jr. educates us on trauma.

A supporting community is not just a nice idea for those with special needs.  It is essential.  Wonderfully, the church is such a community.  In this episode, Randy and Evie Mogler conclude their remarks about supporting those with special needs.  Included in their remarks are practical tips for engaging those with challenges as well as a high and noble calling for the church.

Jesus engaged those with special needs -the blind, the lame, the leper.  And we should too.  In this episode of Breaking Bread, guests Randy and Evie Mogler educate us on the beautiful world of special needs.

The previous episode focused on the “What is” of emotional intelligence.  In this episode Brian Sutter and Amber Miller address the “how to.”  Expect practical ways to regulate your emotions.

Emotions play a huge role in governing our behaviors and subsequent wellbeing.  It is so important then, that we are able to perceive, understand and regulate them.  In this podcast Brian Sutter and Amber Miller help us do just that.

The greatest born among women, Jesus called him. Yet this man, who was set aside by God to proclaim Christ’s deity, questioned it deeply. John Reinhard and Brian Sutter explain three critical lessons we learn from the way John the Baptist dealt with his doubt.

Because doubt is such an affront to faith, it can be ignored in Christian circles.  Yet John Reinhard and Brian Sutter see doubt much differently.  Doubt is not an affront to faith, it is necessary for faith.

Families are a system.  A set of dynamic moving parts that effect and influence each other.  Over time they form up our norms for family life.  In this episode of Breaking Bread, Kaleb Beyer exposes the nuances of family systems and helps us notice where adjustments can be made.

Giving and receiving a “no” is painful.  Ron Messner and Amber Miller discuss the complexities that swirl when this has happened.  While easy answers will not be given, a cradle for carrying the difficult questions will be.