Consider It Joy

People are opinionated, many are volatile, so how do we share our faith in a meaningful and compassionate way?  Facebook posts,  yelling at people outside a 'secular' concert, or mixing it with politics just don't work.  How can we be effective and loving?  In other words, how do we share our faith without being weird about it?   Our friend, pastor, and psychologist Jon Engen joins us again to talk through this, with a lot of laughs and valuable insights.   Consider It  Joy is a production of 88.3 Life FM in Bakersfield, CA.  You can listen to us every day 2-7pm PST during the week!  Find all the ways to listen and connect here!

We ask a lot of questions in our podcast, questions about music, faith, theology, movies... And we ask our guests a lot of questions.  This time, it's your turn!  You submitted questions, and we answer them!  Some questions are personal, some are fun, but they all pull out some great stories!  This is a relaxed, fun episode, where your questions lead us on a winding path!   If you havn't yet, please consider subscribing (and rating if you're using Apple or Spotify).  We don't make any money, we just volunteer our time to do this.  Those follows & ratings help us out a TON to get the word out!     Consider It Joy is a production of 88.3 Life FM out of Bakersfield, CA.  You can listen to us every M-F from 2-7pm on the 88.3 Life FM app!  Find all the ways to connect here!

Deconstruction has been a big topic around the church, and a lot of people, like with everything else, have taken sides on it.  This episode asks what is deconstruction? What does it look like when it happens?  Is it bad? Can it be a good thing? We invited Preston Ulmer, a pastor and author of the books 'The Doubters Club' and 'Deconstruct Faith, Discover Jesus' to help us define the word, and share some hope with those who are facing it.  Whether you know someone who is going through a deconstruction, or you yourself have been struggling with your faith or some questions and doubts, this episode is for you.   As always, we take a thoughtful look at the issue, from a perspective of faith and loving others.   If you are interested in reading more on the subject, we HIGHLY recommend both books by Preston, which you can find here. Consider It Joy is a production of 88.3 Life FM in Bakersfield, California.  You can listen to us each day on the 88.3 Life FM app from 2-7pm PST.  For more ways to connect or listen, just click here!   If you enjoyed the episode, check out our other topics, and please consider subscribing and rating this podcast, that would help us out tremendously!

There have been SO MANY amazing theme songs over the years.  From the animated shows of the 80s, to the sitcoms of the 90s, even the public television educational shows had some real jams! Join us as we walk through some of the best of all time, and attempt to declare the best TV theme song ever created. Will you agree?  Will the people revolt against us? Either way, you'll love this nostalgic trip down memory lane and the theme songs that will stick in your head forever.  Our show is topical, so be sure to check all the different, thought-provoking episodes of Consider It Joy!  Please subscribe and rate, as that helps us out a TON.   Consider It Joy is a production of 88.3 Life FM in Bakersfield, CA.  You can find all the ways to listen and connect here.

Some people get excited about them, others cringe.  We thought it was time to have a thoughtful conversation about Christian movies.  We invited back our friend Sean Chandler, one of the top movie critics on YouTube, to talk about things like: Where are they getting it right, and where can they improve? Should we label movies as 'Christian' and 'non-Christian?' How Christians are portrayed in Christian movies, but also in mainstream movies Join Consider It Joy for a thoughtful and honest look at this genre, and a thought-provoking discussion about the intersection of faith and cinema. If you love movies, make sure to subscribe to Sean Chandler Talks About by clicking here. Consider It Joy is a production of 88.3 Life FM from Bakersfield, CA.  You can find out all the ways to connect and listen by clicking here!

Ever wonder what the process is to write a song?  Anyone can write a song, but when you get a recording contract, is there a specific process?  Are there requirements?  Do record labels get to control the songs that are written?  We talk to our favorite recording artist Steven Stanley about it all. BUT, the BEST PART, we attempt to write a song in real time, have Stephen perform it, and share the live recording.  Listen in to a hilarious song writing project from idea to produced recording! Get ready to journey deep into the valuable insights of the songwriting process and enticing behind-the-scenes secrets from the music industry.   Consider It Joy is a production of 88.3 Life FM in Bakersfield, CA.  You can listen to hosts Matt & Aaron Monday - Friday every week!  Find all the ways to listen and connect here!  And please consider subscribing and leaving us a positive review to help us reach more people!

In the world of Christian apologetics, it is easy to move from backing up something you believe, to aggressively being defensive about it. In a time where everyone seems to be defensive, what is a better way to approach this?  Do we really need to engage every argument that comes our way?  What if it's ok to simply say "I don't know."  Join us for a refreshing and eye opening approach to apologetics.  We are joined this week by returning guests pastor and psychologist Jon Engen, and Cecil Ramos.  If you are enjoying this podcast, please consider subscribing and sharing a 5 star rating.  We feel these are important conversations to have, and your rating can really help us reach more people! Consider It Joy is a production of 88.3 Life FM out of Bakersfield, CA.  You can listen to us through our app, or find all the ways to connect here!

If you've ever felt removed, hurt, ignored, or rejected by the church, you're not alone. Maybe you want to grow spiritually, but not sure you ever want to step into a church again. Where is the balance between the church taking responsibility, and the individual being able to let go?  We invited a pastor who has experienced first hand being hurt by the church multiple times.  Pastor Matt Delgadillo takes us very realistic approach to dealing with hurt, how the church can do better, and how we can all move forward in a positive way when we stop letting the messy stuff trip us up, and use Jesus himself as the example.   If you've enjoyed this podcast, please consider subscribing and leaving a 5 star rating (Spotify & Apple). We are still an upstart podcast that doesn't make any money, we just do this because we think it's important to take a practical, every-day approach to faith topics.  Consider It Joy is a production of 88.3 Life FM out of Bakersfield, California. Check out our wide assortment of topics and guests!  You can also find more ways to connect and listen by clicking here.

In our final show for 2023, we are taking a look back at our personal favorite music, movies, and moments of the year, and pretty sure you'll be surprised (possibly confused) at what we picked. Hear which concert had people in butterfly costumes walking around on stilts, go behind the scenes with some secret industry events, and try to figure out why in the world would Matt pick THAT movie?! If you haven't yet, please consider subscribing and rating our podcast!  Thank you for all your support this year as we launched this passion project!  So many people have reached out and been so kind, and we really appreciate every one of you! Consider It Joy is a production of 88.3 Life FM in Bakersfield, CA.  You can listen to Matt & Aarons daily radio show, as well as find all the ways to listen and connect by clicking here.

Even a joyful holiday can be stressful or messy when the family gets together.  For some, it may be the first holiday without someone you love; for others maybe the incoming drama you know will happen around the table. It just might be both.  We have experienced all of the above this year, and invited pastor & psychologist Jon Engen to give us encouragement and practical tips in how to keep your sanity during the holidays. This is the perfect episode to share!  If you know someone who has faced loss this year, make sure to share it  with them! Consider It Joy is a production of 88.3 Life FM in Bakersfield, CA.  You can find all the ways to listen and connect here!

Every place has it's own culture.  From geographically like a region or city, to a community like a book club or sports team.  Churches have specific cultures, too.  Sometimes, that culture and what the Bible actually says might not be the same.  We are joined by Cecil Ramos, a Global Worker from Thailand, to talk about how we can thoughtfully navigate between church culture and Biblical truth.   If you enjoy the podcast, please check out our other topics and episodes, and consider subscribing and leaving that 5 star review. Consider it Joy is a production of 88.3 Life FM in Bakersfield, California.  You can find more ways to listen and connect by clicking here.

If you lived through it, you already know.  If you were not around Christian music in the 90's, you're about to find out. This was a truly unique time in Christian music when the industry exploded in every direction and format.  We talk to the authors of Mixtape Theology (Dr. Ashley Mofield and Rachel Cash) about what made that time frame so different in CCM, and dig into some of the theology of the songs from that time. This episode has something for everyone!  Nostalgia for those of you who remember it, and a fascinating look at why it was so different for those who don't. We highly recommend the book Mixtape Theology, which you can grab a copy of here! Consider It Joy is a production of 88.3 Life FM in Bakersfield, CA.  If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, and leaving a 5 star rating on Apple Music or Spotify.  Find more ways to listen and connect by clicking here!

Anger is such an emotional response, it's hard to talk about it objectively.  We like to feel justified in our anger, because there are terrible things in the world.  People say "even Jesus flipped tables" or "but it's a righteous anger." What the Bible actually says might surprise you.  It will also free you. We talk with our friend (who happens to also be a pastor and a psychologist) Jon Engen about what role, if any, anger should play in our lives. If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe and check out our other fascinating topics and conversations. Consider it Joy is a production of 88.3 Life FM out of Bakersfield California.  More ways to listen and connect can be found here.

Country music superstar Jay DeMarcus has been on all sides - on stage and in studio; performing and managing; mainstream and Christian; gospel music, rock music, and country music. So how do you find balance between the business side, and the ministry side? AND MOST IMPORTANTLY: How did Jay end up on the best B-movie franchise of all time?  There is lots of laughing and lots of learning, with some surprising revelations from one of the biggest country bands of all time. Consider It Joy is a production of 88.3 Life FM out of Bakersfield, CA.  We talk about everyday issues with a faith perspective.  Please consider subscribing, and checking out our other episodes!  You can also find ways to connect here! Quick reference for this episode: 00:01:54: Introduction of Jay DeMarcus, founder of Red Street Records 00:03:22: How music affects people's lives 00:04:17: Jay DeMarcus's transition to running a record label, Red Street Records 00:06:12: Influences and experiences contributing to Jay's approach to business 00:10:14: Importance of mentorship in life and in the music industry 00:11:08: Value and freedom in admitting "I don't know". 00:11:43: Introduction of Red Street 00:18:19: Transition from Christian rock to mainstream (Rascal Flats) 00:22:23: The role of charity in his life 00:23:31: Faith in Daily Work 00:25:04: Balancing Business and Ministry 00:34:13: Similarities and Differences between Christian Music and Country Music 00:40:07: Judgement and Acceptance in Singing about Faith 00:41:19: Jay's Experience in Sharknado Four

All the songs sound the same. They're too repetitive. There's no originality. They play the same 10 songs. We hear it all the time, and have seen all the memes, but is it true?  Our answers might surprise you! We tackle the myths and stereotypes of Christian music and Christian radio.  To do this, we brought our friend Mike Couchman.  Mike has worked in multiple formats of radio, and is a trail blazer in the Christian radio industry.  (He also lets it slip which artist gave him the cold shoulder). Whether you are a fan of Christian music/radio, or turn up your nose at it, this episode will bring a lot of clarity to what's true, what isn't, and the very real reasons why. If you enjoy the original content on Consider It Joy, please consider subscribing, and leaving a 5 star rating on Spotify & Apple.  We are an official podcast of 88.3 Life FM out of Bakersfield, CA.  You can find out more here. Some highlights for quick reference! 00:06:27: Misconceptions about knowing famous artists 00:07:25: Personal experiences with artists 00:08:56: Professional disappointments with artists 00:09:43: Feeling judged by an artist 00:11:33: Analysis of Radio Song Repetition 00:16:00: Conversation about Christian Music Content and Depth 00:18:13: Debate on Christian Radio Audience Interests 00:23:23: The Revenue Reality of Broadcasting and Christian Artists 00:23:55: The Myth of High Earnings in Broadcasting 00:30:46: Purpose of Repetition in Music 00:41:33: On contemporary Christian music vs other forms 00:44:02: What not to say or ask a Christian radio DJ

Do they walk through jungles with machetes? Do they just hand out tracts? Are they pushing western culture into the third world countries?  What does a missionary actually do? This episode we talk to our close friend Cecil Ramos who has been on the mission field for a decade. He helps us understand the difference between some of the past perceptions of what a Global Worker does, ways it has been done right as well as wrong, how it works, and what an average day in the life looks like. Cecil gives thoughtful answers, insights, and takes on some hard questions.   Some quick reference episode topics: 00:03:02: Defining 'missionary' 00:07:45: Decision to serve as a missionary with a family 00:10:54: Introduction to the 3D Gospel concept 00:11:53: Presenting Gospel in different ways 00:12:28: Understanding shame honour cultures 00:13:29: Understanding fear power cultures 00:14:09: Culture adjustments as a missionary 00:16:22: Experience and criticism of short term mission trips 00:19:09: Expectations vs reality for a global worker 00:30:29: Impacting Marriages and Parenting 00:31:17: Building Relationships Overseas 00:34:49: Importance of Love in Communication 00:35:38: The Evolving Role of Global Workers 00:37:05: Shift in Approach to Missions 00:38:00: The concept of 'Washing Feet' 00:38:30: Balancing Core Beliefs and Culture Adaptation 00:40:11: Impact and Interpretation of the Great Commission   Consider it Joy is a production of 88.3 Life FM.  If you enjoyed it, please consider liking & subscribing.  You can find all the ways to listen and interact here.

What defines a Christian song?  What if a Christian artist does a love song for their spouse, or a secular artist does a song about their faith?  Why do we say someone is a 'Christian artist' but not say, for example, 'Christian Optometrist' if they are a believer?  Chris Cleveland is the perfect person to have a conversation with about this! Stars Go Dim didn't start as a "Christian" band although he always was, but now they do operate under that label.    This was a fascinating discussion you don't want to miss! If you enjoy the show, please consider subscribing, and leaving that 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcast! Quick reference guide showing some of the things we cover: 00:01:23: Definition of Christian vs Secular music 00:03:21: Discussion on defining terms in music 00:04:01: Discussion around labels and preconceived notions 00:04:28: Chris talks about his songwriting process 00:06:07: Discussion about Christian artists and their music 00:07:12: Analysis of recent trends in Christian music and the "worship song" 00:10:32: Worship music and songwriting 00:13:09: Perceptions and standards in Christian music 00:16:55: Living up to the expectations as a Christian artist 00:21:18: The profound influence of secular artists on Christian music. 00:26:20: Debate on 'Secular' Songs and Artists with Christian Messages 00:26:54: The Spirituality in Songwriting 00:30:15: Analysis of Christian Songs in Mainstream Media 00:31:49: The Importance of Music Selection for Children 00:35:58: Parenting and Music Exposure 00:36:40: The Evolution of Christian Music 00:41:12: Dealing with Public Perceptions and Judgements 00:41:36: Discussion on music tastes and extending grace 00:42:55: Defining thoughts and disagreements within the Christian church 00:45:44: Importance of community in gospel Consider It Joy is a production of 88.3 Life FM in Bakersfield, CA.  You can find out more, connect, and all the ways to listen by clicking here!

Are we living in the end times? If you talk about the 'end times' in the church, you will likely get one of these responses. "Oh yeah, I read all the Left Behind books"  "have you seen what's happening in (fill in the blank with a middle eastern country)"  or "Revelation is weird and confusing" There are a lot of hot takes about the book of Revelation and living in the end times, but not a lot of thoughtful discussion.  For some it causes worry, for others, confusion.  We sit down with pastor Jon Engen to straighten some things out, and how to have a healthy, sensible approach to considering what the Bible ways about 'the last days.' Consider It Joy is a production of 88.3 Life FM in Bakersfield, CA. Our goal is to have helpful and casual conversations about every day faith.  Find all the ways to connect with us here! If you enjoy these types of approachable conversations about faith, please consider subscribing, we are a non-profit 501(c)3 and rely on listeners to help spread the word, and share 5 star ratings to help us reach more people. Key points in the episode: 00:06:26: The Divisiveness and Confusion in End Times Interpretations 00:10:16: Discussion on end times and its influence 00:10:24: The Book of Revelation's role and purpose 00:11:16: Analysing the interpretation of end times in religious texts 00:12:32: Issue with the interpretation of end times 00:13:21: Comparison between politics and the Bible 00:13:56: Difficulties in comprehending the end times 00:14:33: Specific prophecies in relation with the end times 00:14:55: Discussion on signs of end times 00:15:28: Reference to historical events as signs of end times 00:16:37: Variety of opinions on the truth of the end times 00:20:13: Impact of Reading the Left Behind Series on Personal Faith 00:25:13: Encouragement to Christians About End Times 00:27:02: Interpretation of Bible's Closed-Handed and Open-Handed Concepts. 00:36:34: Relationship with Revelation and Israel 00:37:26: Taking a Faith-Driven Approach 00:38:24: Avoiding Timeline Predictions 00:39:17: Understanding the Letters to the Churches 00:40:54: Fear-Driven Conversations 00:44:07: The Need for Realignment with the Presence of God

What's it like getting thrown off of a car and caught by Vin Diesel?  Brenda Garcia knows. Brenda is a professional stunt performer & actor who has been in some of the biggest movies!  Ant Man & The Wasp, Fast X, Transformers, and many more!  She talks about her life in the stunt world, the scariest stunts she's had to do, and how she has been able to keep her faith strong in Hollywood.   You can connect with Brenda on Facebook     and see her incredible list of accomplishments here. You can also follow on IG at @BrendaLGarcia or Twitter @BrendaLGarciaX   Consider it Joy is a production of 88.3 Life FM in Bakersfield, CA.  If you enjoy the podcast, subscribing and rating really does go a long way in helping us get the word out.  You can find all the ways to connect with us, our station, and our daily show at consideritjoypodcast.com

We love movies. We also love Jesus.  Sometimes the church community has a hard time navigating those things, or developing a standard for them.  On this episode we are joined by one of the top movie reviewers on Youtube, Sean Chandler.  Sean is a former pastor who switched to full time work as a Youtuber after a powerful testimony unfolded in his life. What is the right perspective to have on Hollywood, Youtube, and Jesus?  Is Hollywood evil? What's the deal with faith-based movies? Was Sean REALLY in a ska band? Join us for a fun and lively conversation of a shared love of film and faith.   If you love movies, make sure to like & subscribe Sean Chandler at Sean Chandler Talks, and Sean Chandler Plus. You can also find out more about his speaking engagements and live presentations here.   Speaking of liking and subscribing, if you enjoy this podcast, we are a non-profit organization and it would help us tremendously if you would be willing to rate & subscribe to this show.  You can find out more about us and the radio station we are based out of at Consideritjoypodcast.com

Whether you love Christian music, don't like it, or just share memes about it, the winding road of how it became what it is today is fascinating.  The name Chris Hauser probably isn't familiar to you, but is known to everyone within the industry.  Not only has he seen the growth of CCM first hand, he has been a massive part of shaping it.  He is also one of the kindest humans on earth. Join us as we walk through the decades starting with the Jesus Movement, and track the major artists and events (good and bad) that shaped the entire Christian Music Industry.   Consider It Joy is a production of 88.3 Life FM in Bakersfield, CA.  We take an honest and candid look at music, faith, and where they intersect.  We would greatly appreciate anyone willing to subscribe, and to share a 5 star rating (that helps us grow the show). You can find more ways to listen and connect by clicking here.

Honestly, we've all asked this before.  We welcome our friend, pastor & psychologist Jon Engen for a candid conversation on the problem of pain. For anyone who has gone through the really hard stuff, maybe even questioned God and struggled with this idea, this episode is for you.  Consider It Joy is a podcast with open and honest conversations about faith and music. Please consider subscribing wherever you get podcasts!  If you're willing, sharing a 5 star rating also really helps us get the word out. For more information on the show, or hosts, or to check out 88.3 Life FM where this podcast comes from, you can connect to all of the above here!

Much more goes into the creation of your favorite songs and albums than you realize.  Artist and long time music producer Scott Cash (We The Kingdom) drops some pretty stunning secrets of the process! Songwriting is often not what you think, and just wait until you hear about 'live' albums... (please consider rating and subscribing!)   Consider It Joy is the official podcast of 88.3 Life FM in Bakersfield, CA, but available worldwide through the 883 Life FM app. We like to talk about music and faith.  Click here to get to know us more!

Welcome to the first episode of Consider It Joy, the official podcast of 88.3 Life FM. It only made sense that our first episode explore our favorite subject - Christian music.  Matt & Aaron spotlight 6 albums that were both underrated, and personally impactful.  Discover some music you may not have even known existed!   Be sure to subscribe wherever you get podcasts.  You can also find all our social links and connections at Consider It Joy