Ever asked, "What Difference Does That Make"? I have. And I do in every episode of these informative, entertaining collections of digital parables that help us live happier, healthier, and maybe holier. Join me, host Dr. Mike Courtney, and great guests, therapists, and friends! What Difference Does That Make? drops bi-weekly on all of your favorite podcast platforms. But also watch for the weekly, mini-podcast, Monday Matters, where Mike shares a 5-minute thought (or there-abouts) that focus ...
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Hope can be a desperate wish for some impossible results. Hope can be the wondering about some improbable outcome. But real hope is the confident anticipation of the positive consequences of my faith. Even that hope fades. So what do we do? How do we hold on to the Hope? 1. Read the promises. 2. Rehearse the blessings. 3. Recite your faith. 4. Reme…
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"What is man that Thou art mindful of him? The son of man that You care for Him?" Even the Psalmist struggled with the basic questions of the nature of man. This is the second half of the Systematic Theology lesson on The Nature of Man. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support…
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What do we believe about the nature of man? How is our personality, our temperament, our character, shaped by the person God made us to be? And, how does all of that shape our relationship with God? This is a two-week segment from a longer Systematic Theology teaching that I did at my local church this spring. I do not profess to be a scholar. I do…
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It’s not easy staying in touch with our adult children, but with a little work and a little sensitivity, it can be done. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support
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Day 36 of 40 days finds us in the begging of the Passion Week. Each day as we conclude our adventure, we will meditate on what Jesus was doing that day, 2000 years ago. Today, the day after His triumphal entry, He engaging the crowd with one more invitation to know Him. And Andrew responds by bringing people to Him. I want to be an Andrew.--- Suppo…
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When there is nothing else to look to, we look to the hands and feet of Jesus. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support
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Take a minute to day and look out on that moment when God came to you for the first time as your Lord and Savior. Wesley said, “My heart was strangely warmed.” At that moment you became a priest.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support
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We enter in to week leading up to Palm Sunday. Today is my son, Jacob’s, birthday. It is also day 29 of our 40 days. The theme for this week is Look Out, trouble is going to come. But, we can be made better and stronger for it. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support…
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What you do matters. Our walk with God is as much about our hands as it is our heart. Wake-up and live as God would have you live. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support
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Wake up to the cities, the mountains, and the stories that God has given you. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support
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When we finally wake up to what God has done for us, we will love others like never before. That might be painful but we won’t care because we will be real. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support
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More than halfway through our 40 Day Adventure. This week we look at the what, why, and how of waking up. To go deep you have to wake up. The scripture is Psalm 32 and Matthew 11.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support
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Wake up today to the marvelous grace of God in your life and then determine to make the best of that grace for Him.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support
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The power of our testimony is not in the words we say but in the life that we live. Testify everyday by Godly living. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support
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Your testimony is never more important than when you are speaking up for the disenfranchised. Today we talk about how to speak up and speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support
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There is such power in our testimony, especially when it’s done in the right way, about the right things, and for the right reasons. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support
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Testify. Tell your story. Witness. Whatever you call it, going deep requires us to speak up about what we believe.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support
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In John 6, the reading for today, we see the story of a little boy who has his lunch used by Jesus to perform one of the most iconic miracles in Christianity. The wisdom of this little boy to hold on to his lunch until it was time to let it go is an example for all of us. Thanks for listening. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.co…
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In this episode of What Difference Does That Make? we combine the bi-weekly podcast with the daily, Lenten Bible study, Going Deep. Regan Harlow is a bright graduate intern at Branches. She teaches Attachment Theory and uses the wonderful illustration of a caterpillar. I follow that with a quick look at the attachment style of Jesus, modeled by His…
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Off all the things we hold on to, perhaps the most important is the promises of God. Isaiah 55 is one hefty list of promises and this bride podcast is a reminder of what the promises are about. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support
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There is both blessings and technique to hold to the hand of the Almighty. Today is Day 8 of a 40 Day Spiritual Adventure, Going Deep. This episode not only encourages us to hold on, us but instructs us on how to hold on to God’s RIGHT hand. If you'd like to follow the daily blog, subscribe at BranchesBlog.com. To follow Mike Courtney on other soci…
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I John 1 has a letting go theme as well. It is letting go of the notion that somehow I have worked out my own salvation, that I can figure out a way to be righteous enough. We saw and heard Him. He appeared to us. He was light. It has never been about us, our ability, our piety. Let go of that. It is only about His great grace.--- Support this podc…
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Day 3 we read John 15. The theme that plays over and over is that we let go of our agenda, our plans, our desires, in order to be connected to the agenda of the Father. But when we do, oh my, the reward is unimaginable. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support…
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Day 2 of a 40 Day Spiritual Adventure. Matthew 10 is a challenge to give up those things that we normally depend on to make us feel safe, money, home, family. Going deep may require us to sacrifice what helps us to feel self-dependent in order to know what it means to rely on God and Him alone.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.co…
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As we begin 40 Days of Going Deep, John 13 starts us off with a gasp. We watch the Savior of the World kneel and wash the feet of His betrayer. How could I ever hope to match such depth? I begin by giving up.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support…
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Monday Matters invitation to a 40 Day spiritual adventure. We will intentionally grow deeper in our faith walk. Follow along here each day beginning March 7.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support
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We are created as thinking creatures and we are only as good as our thinking. Here are 5 tips to help you think better thoughts. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support
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This is the second installment of The Bible, a brief conversation about what we believe about the most important book ever written. This is part of a series on WDDM on Systematic Theology. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support
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A quick look at how to read and study the Bible better. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support
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I began teaching systematic theology to my home church a few weeks ago. It has been fun. We thought it might be helpful to break these live lectures into smaller segments and post them here. This week, this first episode deals with what we believe about the Bible. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodca…
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A brief discussion of and encouragement to read the Bible. 4 key statements that will help you in your understanding of the Bible and teach you to study it more effectively. Monday Matters is a shorter format of What Difference Does That Make? with Dr. Mike Courtney. To learn more about Mike or Branches go to www.branchesblog.com or check us out on…
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Mike comes back after months away to discuss suffering that requires a different solution, support system, surety, and savior.This podcast is here to offer you help and hope in your difficult circumstances!New episodes drop in January 2022!--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support…
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Mike talks with Dr. Paul Myers about the vaccine (part 2 of 2).This podcast is here to offer you help and hope in your difficult circumstances!--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/supportDr. Mike Courtney, Mana 3 Media, David Wilkinson
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Mike talks with Dr. Paul Myers about the vaccine (part 1 of 2).This podcast is here to offer you help and hope in your difficult circumstances!--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/supportDr. Mike Courtney, Mana 3 Media, David Wilkinson
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Mike shares a recent keynote he gave to a gathering of men called "A Different Kind Of War".New Segment!!! Ask Mike: “Why do you do what you do?”This podcast is here to offer you help and hope in your difficult circumstances!--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support…
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Mike talks with blogger Rhonda Rush about addiction, recovery, and From The Pit To The Palace.New Segment!!! Ask Mike: “Brag on someone in your life...”This podcast is here to offer you help and hope in your difficult circumstances!--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support…
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Mike brings back David Robertson to discuss My Virtual Mentor.New Segment!!! Ask Mike: “How do you prefer to unwind, slow down, or simplify?”This podcast is here to offer you help and hope in your difficult circumstances!--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support…
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Mike with former NFL player Mike Stowell discuss his career and the important role of a father.New Segment!!! Ask Mike: "Do you have a Father’s Day story?"This podcast is here to offer you help and hope in your difficult circumstances!--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support…
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Mike with his trainer, Cole Martinez, discuss Cole's work with CrossFit and discuss being "cross fit".New Segment!!! Ask Mike: "What is your favorite parable?"This podcast is here to offer you help and hope in your difficult circumstances!--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdifferencepodcast/support…
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Mike with his millennial son, Jacob Courtney, discuss their generational differences and what can be learned.New Segment!!! Ask Mike: What Does "How do you define mental health success?"This podcast is here to offer you help and hope in your difficult circumstances! therapy, trauma, coping, mental health, relationships, adversity, struggle, podcast…
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Mike with author Ashley Woods, discuss her book, Tell Me Quickly.New Segment!!! Ask Mike: What Does "Some Things Just Are" Mean?This podcast is here to offer you help and hope in your difficult circumstances!mental health medication, self-care, therapy, coping, trauma, mental health, relationships, adversity, struggle, podcast--- Support this podca…
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Mike with Josh Courtney, Physician Assistant and Branches Mid-Level Provider, discuss Mental Health Medication. Fred Johnson, Branches counselor, teaches on self-care.This podcast is here to offer you help and hope in your difficult circumstances!mental health medication, self-care, therapy, coping, mental health, relationships, adversity, struggle…
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Mike with David Robertson, founder of My Virtual Mentor, discuss the 21 Day Challenge. Mike also teaches on discipline.This podcast is here to offer you help and hope in your difficult circumstances!therapy, coping, mental health, relationships, adversity, struggle, podcast--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatdiffer…
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Mike with David Robertson, founder of My Virtual Mentor, discuss adversity. Daniel Crosby, Branches counselor, teaches on purpose.This podcast is here to offer you help and hope in your difficult circumstances!therapy, coping, mental health, relationships, adversity, struggle, podcast--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show…
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Mike talks with friend and singer songwriter Ken Hart on sad songs. Debi Russell, pastoral counselor, teaches on sadness. This podcast is here to offer you help and hope in your difficult circumstances!surrender, struggle, grief, therapy, coping, mental health, relationships, apology, help, counsel, podcast--- Support this podcast: https://podcaste…
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Mike continues his conversation with author, counselor, friend, Tammy Dickenson about men's ministry: Stripped Away. They also discuss surrender vs. struggle.This podcast is here to offer you help and hope in your difficult circumstances!surrender, struggle, grief, therapy, coping, mental health, relationships, apology, help, counsel, podcast--- Su…
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Mike teaches about "crying": speaking out that thing within you that has to be said, and has a conversation with auctioneer, friend, Jeff Harvey:This podcast is here to offer you help and hope in your difficult circumstances!grief, therapy, coping, mental health, relationships, apology, help, counsel, podcast--- Support this podcast: https://podcas…
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Mike teaches about getting out of the boat to face new challenges and has a conversation with fellow counselor, friend, Tammy Dickenson.This podcast is here to offer you help and hope in your difficult circumstances!grief, therapy, coping, mental health, relationships, apology, help, counsel, podcast--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spot…
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Season Two is here! Mike teaches about the rhythm of life and talks with his grandson and drummer extraordinaire, Jakson.This podcast is here to offer you help and hope in your difficult circumstances!grief, therapy, coping, mental health, relationships, apology, help, counsel, podcast--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sho…
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Season 1 finale: Mike shares his life goal to help others. Marlena Butler (Branches staff) teaches how to forgive. Mike also talks with pastoral counselor Debi Russell: grief, therapy, coping, mental health, relationships, apology, help, counsel.Season 2 will return within a few months! Check your feeds regularly while we are on hiatus!If you enjoy…
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