In this powerful Christian faith testimony, Greg Hurley shares his journey from routine church attendance and biblical knowledge to a life transformed by radical surrender to the Holy Spirit. A husband, father, and businessman, Greg believed in Jesus, faithfully served, and even read the entire Bible — yet he sensed something was missing in his relationship with God.

In 2022, a life-threatening medical crisis — a burst appendix that led to emergency hospitalization — became the turning point in his spiritual growth. In a moment of desperation, God taught him dependence. Faith shifted from information to formation. Religion became a relationship.

This episode explores:

1. The difference between intellectual belief and abiding in Christ
2. What radical surrender and daily dying to self really look like
3. How the Holy Spirit transforms marriage, fatherhood, and leadership
4. Moving from spiritual dryness to authentic Christian living

If you’ve ever felt spiritually stuck, spiritually dry, or wondered how to truly put God first in everyday life, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.

Discover what happens when faith becomes more than a label — and becomes your life.

When we think of the first Christmas, we often focus on the wide-eyed young mother and her faithful fiancé, on tattered shepherds and singing angels and road-weary wise men. But the Holy Spirit was there–and just as He hovered over the waters in the beginning, He hovers over every page of the Christmas story.

You can find Cynthia online at CynthiaRuchti.com, and The Spirit of Christmas is available for purchase on Amazon.

Doug and Jeff discuss parenting, not the picture-perfect filtered version, but the real thing. The moments when frustration rises quicker than we expected. The exhaustion that sneaks up on us, the nagging fear that we're not doing enough.

Jeremy Woods

 Jeremy has been in ministry since he was in college. He was with Biltmore Church for over 10 years, a multi-site congregation of +8000 in Western North Carolina, where he grew up. From there, he poured four years into founding and planting a gospel-centered Church on the coast of South Carolina.

A graduate of Liberty University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, he is passionate about learning, preaching, shepherding and equipping the church. His God-given purpose is to leave behind a legacy of faith.

Winter Garden's First Baptist

At FBC Winter Garden, we are one church in multiple locations, united in mission and heart. Each campus offers a welcoming environment, biblical teaching, and opportunities to connect with others as we grow in faith together. No matter which campus you attend, you’ll find a place to belong.

Foundation Academy

Foundation Academy, a private Christian school in Winter Garden, FL, partners with families and the church to build a firm foundation for life through Christ-centered education.

At Foundation Academy, we perceive the education of a child as a life-long process. A process that needs the right foundation set in place so as the child grows, they can thrive beyond any circumstance or adversity. We see it as an educational experience that lasts a lifetime and is comprised of four pillars Faith, Academics, Fine Arts and Athletics.

Bradley is the author of The Balanced Blueprint/Manage Pressure, Squash Burnout, Find Balance.

You can learn more about this week's guest, Bradley Mack: bradley@thebalancedblueprint.care

You can also find him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebalancedblueprint

Nancy Pearcey is a bestselling author and speaker. A former agnostic, she was hailed in The Economist as "America's pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual." Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, Washington Times, First Things, Human Events, American Thinker, Daily Caller, The Federalist, CNSNews, and Fox News. She has appeared on NPR, C-SPAN, and Fox & Friends. She is currently a professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. Pearcey's books have been translated into eighteen languages, including Total Truth, The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and Love Thy Body.

The link to Nancy Pearcey's book:

The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes

As a courtesy, here is the other book referred to by Jeff and Pastor Grosshans by Brant Hansen

The Men We Need: God’s Purpose for the Manly Man, the Avid Indoorsman, or Any Man Willing to Show Up

Pastor Tim Grosshans' Church

Winter Garden's First Baptist

Today, Jeff sits with Corey Cline, an Educational Technologist at Foundation Academy. Corey has a passion for God's word and lives his faith daily. Jeff and Corey deeply dive into what God's word says about living out our faith, not simply professing it.

Foundation Academy, a private Christian school in Winter Garden, FL, partners with families and the church to build a firm foundation for life through Christ-centered education.

At Foundation Academy, we perceive a child's education as a lifelong process. This process needs the right foundation set in place so that as the child grows, they can thrive beyond any circumstance or adversity. We see it as an educational experience that lasts a lifetime and is comprised of four pillars: Faith, Academics, Fine Arts, and Athletics.

Today, Jeff addresses believers, sharing that we have hope and certainty due to our relationship with the Creator. We can do things daily that will make a difference in how we perceive our world and allow us to make a difference through time in His word and prayer.

Her book addresses essential questions, such as: Who is God? Can we truly know God? How does God’s character impact my life? What draws God’s heart toward us? Can understanding God's character transform my own?

A King's Heart is a journey of discovery. It invites you to see God in a new light and inspires a deeper, more trusting relationship with Him. A King's Heart can be purchased on Amazon.

About Jeff's guest, Christie Thompson:

Christie Thompson earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science at Virginia Commonwealth University. She teaches Physical Education, Weightlifting, and Varsity Sports Conditioning at the Tilden Campus for middle school and high school and helps lead the SLI Mentor Campus Connection. She enjoys teaching people about health and fitness, playing basketball, and spending time with her family. Christie’s favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11. Her brother is most influential because he spent time teaching her about basketball.

For over twenty years, Brent-Dyer has led church worship ministries from 150 to 15,000. Through his work in both single-site congregations and multi-site congregations, Brent has honed his skills as a strategic, creative, and visionary leader. 

As a pacesetter in some of the nation's largest worship ministries, Brent has vast experience including large-scale productions, songwriting, choral music, leading large teams and staff, and more.

​In addition to his work as a worship pastor, Brent is a practicing Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in Texas, where he helps people find hope and healing. One of Brent’s greatest passions is seeing people around him thrive and become who God created them to be. This is demonstrated through his deeply relational approach to ministry and life, and the many worship pastors around the nation he mentors and coaches.

Brock is from Frankfort, Ohio. He received an M.A. in Christian and Classical Studies from Knox Theological Seminary. Brock teaches Bible and Apologetics at Foundation Academy's Tilden Campus. 

Jeff and Time explore the possible causes of loneliness, such as a changing culture, technology, and the loss of interdependency on our communities. They also discuss potential solutions to overcome loneliness and what we can do to create a sense of community.

Tim DeTellis serves as president of New Missions, a non-profit organization that helps families flourish. He graduated from Houghton College in New York with a degree in Communications. Tim advocates for National Good Neighbor Day, a movement to promote unity and togetherness by helping individuals practice the good neighbor mindset. An author of nine books, he travels frequently and speaks nationwide. Tim spoke for TEDx Eustis on 1/17/2020 and shared his talk titled: “Are you a good neighbor?” Tim enjoys bike rides around his neighborhood and playing the piano for fun.

Nilda Laguna is a licensed mental health therapist and founder of Inspirational Therapy in Clermont, Florida. Originally from Miami, she brings over a decade of experience in the mental health field, including her work with the Department of Children and Families, and as a professor and counselor to psychology students.

Nilda earned her Master’s degree in Psychology from Carlos Albizu University, graduating magna cum laude. Her practice is rooted in creating spaces of compassion, love, and acceptance, driven by her deep passion for helping others heal and grow.

Outside of her professional work, Nilda is a mother of two amazing boys. She finds joy in exploring the fields of neuroscience, studying the life of Christ, and discovering new food experiences.

The conversation is framed around the book The Anxious Generation; social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. He then investigates the nature of childhood, including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into competent, thriving adults. Haidt shows how the “play-based childhood” began to decline in the 1980s and how it was finally wiped out by the arrival of the “phone-based childhood” in the early 2010s. He presents more than a dozen mechanisms by which this “great rewiring of childhood” has interfered with children’s social and neurological development, covering everything from sleep deprivation to attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, social comparison, and perfectionism. He explains why social media damages girls more than boys and why boys have been withdrawing from the real world into the virtual world, with disastrous consequences for themselves, their families, and their societies. (*Amazon)

Nilda Laguna is a licensed mental health therapist and founder of Inspirational Therapy in Clermont, Florida. Originally from Miami, she brings over a decade of experience in the mental health field, including her work with the Department of Children and Families, and as a professor and counselor to psychology students.

Nilda earned her Master’s degree in Psychology from Carlos Albizu University, graduating magna cum laude. Her practice is rooted in creating spaces of compassion, love, and acceptance, driven by her deep passion for helping others heal and grow.

Outside of her professional work, Nilda is a mother of two amazing boys. She finds joy in exploring the fields of neuroscience, studying the life of Christ, and discovering new food experiences.

The conversation is framed around the book The Anxious Generation; social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. He then investigates the nature of childhood, including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into competent, thriving adults. Haidt shows how the “play-based childhood” began to decline in the 1980s and how it was finally wiped out by the arrival of the “phone-based childhood” in the early 2010s. He presents more than a dozen mechanisms by which this “great rewiring of childhood” has interfered with children’s social and neurological development, covering everything from sleep deprivation to attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, social comparison, and perfectionism. He explains why social media damages girls more than boys and why boys have been withdrawing from the real world into the virtual world, with disastrous consequences for themselves, their families, and their societies. (*Amazon)

Jeff and Martha dive into the shortcomings of traditional marketing models and why she felt called to create a new, more impactful way of doing business. They also explore the role of faith in entrepreneurship, discussing how Martha integrates her beliefs into her work with partners, clients, and her team. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to build a purpose-driven business while staying true to their values.

Tune in now to hear Martha’s insights on faith, business, and making a real difference in the marketplace!

Welcome to Between Faith and Reason, a weekly podcast exploring the intersection of faith and daily life in the Winter Garden, Florida, community. Hosted by Jeff Lawrence, this podcast will feature thought-provoking conversations on how faith shapes our families, schools, businesses, and local culture.

In this inaugural episode, Jeff introduces the heart behind the podcast and explains what listeners can expect in the coming weeks. We’ll discuss faith's role in our community and how it influences how we live, work, and connect.

Between Faith and Reason is brought to you by Foundation Academy, a private Christian school dedicated to academic excellence and spiritual growth, and The Observer, Winter Garden’s trusted hyper-local news source.

Join us on this journey as we seek wisdom, challenge perspectives, and celebrate the role of faith in our everyday lives.

Follow & Subscribe to stay updated on new episodes every week!

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