Support on your Journey
to Well-being
With Larry Payne, D.Min., LPC
YOUTUBE AND PODCAST CHANNELS
INDEX OF EPISODES
All episodes of TRACKS FOR THE JOURNEY podcast and videos are indexed by TITLE, DATE, TOPICS, and LINKS. Click to use this searchable Google Sheets INDEX
View the Discovery Video
What is Tracks for the Journey all about? This short video tells the resources, the elements of Well-being, and the benefits for you!
SELECTED EPISODES
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I hoped my 3 year struggle with leukoplakia was near an end as my second tongue surgery began. Painful lesions had diminished my quality of life since a Covid infection. My spirituality had been important in the journey and now was under a test again. Would the mercies of God carry me through? This episode continues the story I’ve told in three other segments of the show. I describe what happened and the divine work which I experienced. I hope this final update of my Leuko Logbook will be of interest and even inspiration.
Less Tongue, More Hope
Speak Up Now!
Do you find it hard to “speak up?” There are times when silence is not golden but a matte black that doesn’t meet the challenge when something is wrong. It’s important to gain a voice in these difficult times. In this episode I explore the capacity—and even the responsibility—of speaking up when silence feels easier.
Taming the Mind in a Chaotic World
A tornado of chaos is roaring across our social landscape today. The mental energy diverted by chaotic events reduces our joy in life. Some may develop a generalized anxiety that infects nearly every thought. We can find help in taming our minds with spiritual insight and a practice called “Safe Place Visualization.”
I Confess: I'm Woke!
Please hear my confession: I’m Woke. What some use as a condemnation is, for me, a proclamation of what healthy Christian faith is all about. I reveal my support for equal rights, sectarian respect, scientific research, and even—using banned words! Most Americans would join me in my confession. Let’s fight for it!
Reframe for Success
Reframing our thoughts about the events of life is a superpower each can learn. We are not trapped in patterns of thought that hinder our well-being. It’s possible to discover options and alternatives no matter what experiences we have. By changing our vocabulary, examining the evidence, and questioning our assumptions we can reframe the ideas toward more constructive outcomes.
Grief for Good, Part 2
A grieving woman faced a choice. Her late husband’s storage building was filled with baseball mementoes. What to do with it all? What would help her the most on her journey of life? Grief is the universal human experience. This episode is Part Two of the series, Grief for Good, exploring ways to embrace the work of Mourning to move forward in life.
Walking through the dark valley of grief happens to everyone. Sadness, confusion, and loneliness fill our minds. We can find a healthy path as we pay attention to the wisdom of faith and science, bringing good from our grief. In this first of a two-part series, I explore the shape of grief and the value of accepting this emotional journey.
Segments include:
The ancient path of grief
The impact of grief on our well-being
Variety in the valley
A companion in the work of grief
Grief for Good, Part 1
Is God Punishing Me?
“Why is God punishing me?” An answer to the age-old question affects our well-being in many ways. Modern psychology and progressive theology offer insights built on God’s love and human choices which inspire hope in the toughest times of life. Explore the teaching Jesus offered when the disciples struggled with the same question to develop greater resilience in your own journey.
Baby No? The Ethics of Birth Control
Today 950 million women will say “No” to pregnancy by utilizing birth control. Is that a moral choice? With changes in America’s laws, the legality of interventional birth control is under attack. I believe there are four ethical and theological reasons to support reproductive choice which contribute to well-being at every stage of adult life.
Don't Sabotage Your Well-being
Danger! You may be sabotaging your own well-being! Uncover the ways we hinder our happiness in the newest episode of Tracks for the Journey. It’s vital to avoid the twin saboteurs of “Fearing Your Fears” and “Confusing Feelings with Facts.” In this episode I share a story of Nazi sabotage, the help Jasmine found, and inspiration from a jailbird. Join me to explore ways to foil the plot within and build greater well-being.
Affirming Transgendered Care
Transgendered youth and their parents have rights to determine their gender identity. But laws across America are trying to take away this fundamental freedom. Join me to understand the issues and the reasons this is bad for them, for you, and for the kingdom of God. Let’s affirm transgender rights in this episode of Tracks for the Journey.
Transgender, LBGTIA, Ethics, Gender Dysphoria
Myth of Christian Nationalism
The myth of Christian Nationalism is creeping across America in this Independence season. The ideology weds fundamentalist faith and regressive politics to undermine our democracy. We should stand against this bad theology, bad political history, and bad racism. Explore with me the timely topic “The Myth of Christian Nationalism.”
(Photo by T. Merkler on Flickr.com)
Politics, church and State, Bigotry, Jesus
Sex is Okay with God
Sex commands center stage in our society today, filling the headlines with debate and the websites with erotica. Can we find a healthier sexuality through theology, ethics, and science? I think so, as the title of this Tracks for the Journey episode says, "Sex is Okay with God."
In this episode I discuss the basic vocabulary we need but don't really know. I dig into some of the Bible material beyond just the simple proof texts, especially surrounding LBGTIA issues. Finally, the principles of sex as good and fidelity as central are presented.
Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/907723/episodes/10426891
(Photo by Conscious Design on unsplash.com)
Sex, LGBTIA, Gay rights, Ethics