Blazing Grace Podcast

We live in chaotic, dark times. How do we not only navigate and survive, but thrive during the days we find ourselves in? Mike Genung walks through 9 ways every believer can order their lives in order to make an impact for eternity.

Gene Landers leads a support group for men who want healing and recovery from porn and sexual sin in Phoenix, Arizona. Jacob Frantz has been attending Gene's group for the past 6 months. In this second of two broadcasts we continue the discussion, beginning when Jacob had stated he believed he was a strong Christian when he initially began participating in Gene's group - and Gene's response. They discuss the key points of what has helped in them in their journey, and Gene shares the spiritual warfare he goes through in leading a men's group in this arena.   

Gene Landers leads a support group for men who want healing and recovery from porn and sexual sin in Phoenix, Arizona. Jacob Frantz has been attending Gene's group for the past 6 months. In this first of two broadcasts, both men share their stories, which collectively include sexual abuse, anger and violence, facing the issues of the heart - and having a wife discover their porn habit by walking in on them during the act. 

Leslie Vernick is a speaker, author, counselor and relationship coach. She is the author of seven books, including he Emotionally Destructive Relationship and her most recent The Emotionally Destructive Marriage. She has received the American Association of Christian Counselors Caregiver Award, and been married to Howard for over 43 years. In this broadcast Leslie shares her story with the abuse and neglect she suffered from her mother, setting proper boundaries, and what the healing and recovery process looks like for a wife in a marriage with porn and sexual sin.  

Jim Tilley is a former pastor with a PHD in clinical psychology. In this second of two broadcasts Jim continues the discussion the story of his journey to hope and healing, which includes watching his father videotape young women at a swimming pool in front of Jim's mother when Jim was 13, (his father, who was an elder of a church, ended up doing prison time) the lies that were implanted in Jim's heart at an early age, his struggles with the worship of women, porn and masturbation, 3 major depressive episodes... and his journey to finding Jesus and freedom. Jim also talks about the affect that his struggles had on his marriage. 

Jim Tilley is a former pastor with a PHD in clinical psychology. In this first of two broadcasts Jim shares his story, which includes watching his father videotape young women at a swimming pool in front of Jim's mother when Jim was 13, (his father, who was an elder of a church, ended up doing prison time) the lies that were implanted in Jim's heart at an early age, his struggles with the worship of women, porn and masturbation, 3 major depressive episodes... and his journey to finding Jesus and freedom.   

The life that Jesus modeled for us included going away alone for long stretches of prayer in silence. These extended times alone in God's presence are critical to the life of every believer, especially during these days that are chaotic and draining to the soul. In this broadcast Mike shares his experience of a recent 3 day trip alone with God where the Lord showered him with love and revived him.

For the past 30 years surveys have shown that waves of youth have exited the church. In this second of two shows, Sean Genung, 31, and Rebekah Genung, 23, join Mike to discuss what they see happening with youth. We begin this broadcast by looking at the results of a survey of youth that showed: “I don’t believe some of the things I hear talked about at religious gatherings.” - 60% “I do not like to be told answers about faith and religion. I’d rather discover my own answers.” 58% “Because other things help me find meaning in my life, I don't need a faith community.” 56% “I don’t feel like I can be my full self in a religious organization.” 55% “Religious communities try to fix my problem instead of just being there for me.” 54% “Religion, faith, or religious leaders will try to give me answers, but I am looking for something else.” 53% Mike, Sean, and Bekah discuss these topics and more, including the idols that youth and adults are paying homage to.

For the past 30 years surveys have shown that waves of youth have exited the church. With such a mass exit of youth, why aren't we hearing warnings and open discussions of this from our pulpits? If you were owner of a company and your customers were leaving in mass wouldn’t you be freaking out, calling meetings, making plans?  One survey showed that 70-88% of Christian youth born in evangelical homes leave the faith after one year in secular college. In this first of two shows, Sean Genung, 31, and Rebekah Genung, 23, join Mike to discuss what they see happening with youth. 

The first broadcast of every year, Mike Genung shares his back story, which includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, alcohol and drug use, daily binges with pornography and masturbation, affairs, other forms of sexual sin - and how God radically changed his life. Rebekah joins Mike for this show.

Mike and Rebekah, his daughter, discuss the new "Six Seven" trend in youth with occult influence, Jesus' words to "Remember Lot's Wife" in these last days, and the wonderful blessings God promises every believer who overcomes in Revelation 2 and 3, including: Rev. 2:7 –  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ Rev. 2:17 – To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’ Rev. 3:5-6 –  The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ Rev. 3:12 –  The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.  

Today, men are up against: A culture, even in some churches, that tries to emasculate them. The media often portrays fathers as useless idiots.   A sex-saturated society, with sirens of lust everywhere. There is often little help equipping them in these areas, including at the church. The battles with the flesh – learning how to “buffet our body and make it our slave” Learning how to fulfill the command for Husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the church. The isolation that is so prevalent in the church. How to be a leader in their home?  Mike and Tim Peterson, counselor and leader of the Blazing Grace men's ministry, discuss how men can find their way - and most importantly, their heart - so they can thrive and make an impact in today's challenging environment. 

Mike shares stories from his last trip in the UK, Finland, and Italy speaking about porn and sexual issues and The Rogue Christian topics, the warfare encountered, doors that that were opened, and walks through The Rogues Creed - 7 principles for the Rogue Christian way of life.  

Chris Landers lives with her husband Gene in Phoenix who she has been married to for 19 years. Early in their marriage Chris discovered that her husband was viewing pornography and struggling with sexual addiction. Over time with a lot of hard work and digging deep into their relationship with Jesus, God brought healing and restoration to their marriage, and now they both lead groups at their church to help men and women recover and heal from sexual sin. Amy has been married for 30 years. She is a homemaker and mother to 8 children, 4 grown and 4 living at home. Her marriage has been plagued by sexual sin for 25 years, including a recent discovery of an affair. Amy is in the middle of a divorce and working at healing and providing a stable loving home for her children.  In this 2nd show, Amy and Chris discuss the recovery process, some of the pitfalls they encountered along the way, and how God changes hearts.

Chris Landers lives with her husband Gene, who she has been married to for 19 years, in Phoenix. Early in their marriage Chris discovered that her husband was viewing pornography and struggling with sexual addiction. Over time and with a lot of hard work and digging deep into their relationship with Jesus, God brought healing and restoration to their marriage, and now they both lead groups at their church to help men and women recover and heal from sexual sin. Amy has been married for 30 years. She is a homemaker and mother to 8 children, 4 grown and 4 living at home. Her marriage has been plagued by sexual sin for 25 years, including a recent discovery of an affair. Amy is in the middle of a divorce and working at healing and providing a stable loving home for her children.  In this first of two shows, Chris and Amy share their stories. 

Dan Wiens is our ministry partner in Italy, and is the director of Liberati in Cristo, a ministry to the sexually broken and their spouse in Italy. In this second of 2 broadcasts, Dan and Mike continue the conversation by discussing the size of the Christian church in Italy (around 1-1.5% of the population), and his perspective on the Italian church. Spiritual abuse is a big problem there, as it is in the US.   This show was recorded in Modena, Italy. 

Dan Wiens is our ministry partner in Italy, and is the director of Liberati in Cristo, a ministry to the sexually broken and their spouse in Italy. In this first of 2 broadcasts, Dan shares his story, which included porn, masturbation, and sex with prostitutes while being involved in the church.  This show was recorded in Modena, Italy. 

In this second of two broadcasts that were recorded in Finland, Aura Elliott joins Mike again. Aura shares the keys for healing for a wife whose husband is struggling with pornography or sexual sin, then flips the script by asking Mike several questions. 

In a broadcast recorded near Helsinki, Finland, Aura Elliott, our ministry partner in Finland, joins Mike to discuss the prevalence of porn use in her country, and what she sees happening in the church in Finland.  

In this broadcast, Mike lays out the effective steps that can be taken to break free from porn addiction. Shutting down all dishonesty and lying and staying connected to others are just the beginning. The character needs rebuilding and the heart yearns for healing... what this looks like and more.

Today, many are struggling with fear and anxiety. Once fear gets a grip, it invites its cousins anger and control to join it, wrecking havoc on relationships in the process. Mike shares his own struggles with fear in the past, and what overcoming it can look like in different situations. Surrender, release, trust, prayer, and standing up in the spiritual battle make a difference.

Sandy Glazebrook is a 68 yr old married Christ-follower, a mother & grandmother, former drug addict and a survivor of physical, sexual, mental and verbal abuse. In Part 1 of our interview with Sandy, she shared her story, which included broken bones, a life of fear, being raped, and the difficulty of leaving her abusers. In Part 2, Mike and Sandy continue the conversation with what Sandy's healing process looked like. 

Sandy Glazebrook is a 68 yr old married Christ-follower, a mother & grandmother, former drug addict and a survivor of physical, sexual, mental and verbal abuse. In this first of two shows, Sandy shares her story, which includes broken bones, a life of fear, being raped, and the difficulty of leaving her abusers. Sandy's story is one of hope for those who are living in a nightmare. 

Tim Peterson is the leader of our men’s ministry. He leads our 8 week men’s courses, leads support and prayer groups, and does counseling, including 2 day intensives. He has also been a missionary to Uganda. Sandy England has been with Blazing Grace for more than 10 years. She leads our wives ministry does counseling wives, and plays a critical role in prayer which is the engine of BG. In this second of two shows, Tim and Sandy join Mike to discuss a range of topics, beginning with Ozzy Osbourne and how Christians affirmed the life and music of someone who promoted the occult and witchcraft.

Tim Peterson is the leader of our men’s ministry. He leads our 8 week men’s courses, leads support and prayer groups, and does counseling, including 2 day intensives. He has also been a missionary to Uganda. Sandy England has been with Blazing Grace for more than 10 years. She leads our wives ministry does counseling wives, and plays a critical role in prayer which is the engine of BG. In this first of two shows, Tim and Sandy join Mike to discuss a range of topics, beginning with childlike faith.

“Every church needs to be able to answer two questions. First, what is our plan for making disciples? And second, does our plan work?” - Dallas Willard We hear stories in the news of mass baptisms and people coming to Christ. This is fantastic news. Then we must asked, will they be equipped? Will they be told that they must be in God’s word every day for the rest of their life? Taught how powerful prayer is, and challenged to make prayer a top priority? Hear that they must not isolate themselves as 80% of modern Christians are doing today, and that they must live connected to a tribe of committed believers on an ongoing basis for support, accountability and prayer? Be encouraged and challenged to participate in prayer meetings consistently? Receive effective help for their struggles with sin, especially, sexual sin? With 70% of Christian men and 40% of Christian women viewing porn and masturbating while half of Christians seeing no problem with promiscuity, the chances that many new converts are struggling with sexual sin is high. Will they receive guidance, support, and effective answers in this area? Will they be taught about spiritual warfare, the intense battles they will face, and how to overcome?  We are commanded to make disciples, not mere converts. During a time when many are falling away, it's critical that we ask these questions.  

Mike shares from personal experience how God will allow us to go through extended trials for the purpose of building up our spiritual muscles, strengthening our character and faith, and forging endurance, as we're shown in the Bible. Endurance, as Jesus warned us in Matthew 24, will be critical for the days ahead. "Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4

Mike and Rebekah look at Revival, American Style, with the modern church's reliance on conferences with speakers to "spark revival," versus the Biblical version that focuses solely on crying out to God for mercy in prayer and confession and repentance of sin.  At the beginning of  the Hebrides Revival in 1950, Peggy Smith challenged a pastor there with the following: "I'm sure, Mr. McCie, that you're longing to see God working. What about calling your office bearers together, and suggest to them that you spend two nights a week waiting upon God in prayer. You've tried mission, you've tried special evangelists. Mr. McCie, have you tried God?" Peggy then challenged him to 2 nights of prayer a week from 10pm to 4am. Their focus on prayer would spark one of the most powerful spiritual awakenings of the last 125 years. Peggy's words are prophetic for what we need today. 

A recent study came out showing that smartphones are warping our personalities and character at an alarming rate. In recent years, persons aged 16-39 have seen Conscientiousness, Agreeableness and Extroversion rates plummet while Neuroticism has shot up, along with anxiety and depression. Many are using their phones as a drug to check out and go numb with. Mike and Rebekah look at the affects of this recent study - and what smartphones are doing to our spiritual life. It's difficult to pray for an extended period of time if one's attention span is fragmented. On average, Americans spend 5 hours a day on their phone. The affects of being hardwired 24/7 are having a profound affect on us chemically, emotionally, and spiritually.  

Initial data from a $43 million dollar research initiative show that individuals living in developing countries score higher in having purpose and meaning. The Global Flourishing Study is surveying 200,000 participants from different countries over five years, looking at which ones score highest for human flourishing. The surveys are showing that people in developing countries have a sense of meaning and purpose, while in the States rampant materialism and the chase for more has left people with depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems. Mike and Rebekah look at the results of this survey and how the Bible commands us to be content. But first, they discuss Ozzy Osbourne and how some Christians are extolling his music career, which glorified the occult and witchcraft, a message that is missing from many commentaries.

In this broadcast, Mike and Rebekah look at a long list of porn and sex-related statistics in the church, and provide ideas on what you can do to make a difference. The following showing the beginning of the survey results they discussed:  * 75% percent of Christian men and 40% of Christian women are viewing pornography. From a Barna 2024 survey; Porn Use Among Christians Reaches All Time High * 2022: A pastor of a church of 1,000 in Arizona reported that 80% of the men who attended their men’s retreat confessed to a current struggle with pornography. * 2023: When a youth group of teenage girls were asked to raise their hands if they struggled with porn, every hand went up. * After the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020, Pornhub, the largest porn site in the world, reported that their worldwide traffic increased by 25%. * A counseling pastor of a Colorado church of 5,000 reported that every marriage that came to him for help had pornography involved.

Oswald Chambers wrote: "If we are going to live as disciples of Jesus, we have to remember that all efforts of worth and excellence are difficult.  The Christian life is gloriously difficult, but its difficulty does not make us faint and cave in— it stirs us up to overcome.  Do we appreciate the miraculous salvation of Jesus Christ enough to be our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory?"  Mike and Rebekah discuss the need to persevere during tough times and circumstances. 

AI child porn is exploding, a Christian ministry leader is arrested or exposed every day in the US for sexual crimes/porn/affairs, adult film stars dying an early death, Gooning is exploding, 25% of youth believe that AI girlfriends/boyfriends have the potential to replace human relationships, AI sex robots... this is the world we live in today. Mike and Rebekah look at these issues and how critical it is to stay rooted deeply in God during these last days. 

At the age of 12 Phylicia got her first exposure to an erotica novel with sexually explicit content - which is pornography in book form. This first exposure sparked a battle that would go on for years including after she became a believer. Phylicia discusses her journey to freedom and the prevalence of women addicted to Erotica - she estimates that upwards of 80% of women are hooked on it, in addition to those who are ensnared to visual pornography.

Brenda Kennison suffered through depression, alcohol addiction, a DWI, two suicide attempts, and the struggles that come with mind-altering prescription drugs. During her journey to recovery she went through an 18 month outpatient rehab program and a treatment plan that relied primarily on medications. Brenda's story and how God rescued her provides hope for those struggling with mental health issues and the spiritual warfare that accompanies it.

Prayer is mentioned in the book of Acts 28 times. Prayer was a constant part of the early church, and included walls being shaken after praying for boldness, a woman brought back from the dead, and more. Mike begins by reading the verses when prayer is mentioned in the book of Acts, then discusses why we're not praying in our modern churches with Rebekah, his daughter. At one point Rebekah stated that "praying together in church has become weird," which shows how far we've drifted from being a Biblical church.  

Mike discusses the long trail of wreckage caused by sexual sin in the church and those who have fallen from it, including Bill Hybels, Ravi Zacharias, Mike Bickle, Brian Houston, Robert Morris, a 2024 article with a list of pastors in Texas who have lost their position due to sexual sin, and more, and asks, "Have we had enough pain?" Are we at a place yet where we're willing to talk about topics like sex, pornography, masturbation, sexting, and others in a no-holds barred manner from every pulpit and equip God's people in these areas, including men, women, and youth? Or will we continue to watch as thousands of lives are destroyed while many churches do nothing?  

Mike and Rebekah, his daughter, share their experiences over the years in the US and Europe at conferences and churches talking to Christians about sex and the porn epidemic. Some stories include getting a dirty look from a guy who walked into church and saw our table, talking with broken, hurting people, and the spiritual warfare involved with a ministry like this.

Recently, Brandon Lake, the Christian recording artist, said that having worship songs with too much theology, or "Christianese," as he called them should be tapered down in church to avoid offending those who might not want to be there. Lake gave  ‘Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty’ as an example for going overboard. Mike and his daughter, Rebekah, discuss this and more, including what happened to the work ethic of our youth, pouring our lives out for that which is eternal, and the lack of challenge in some churches.

Dwayne Allen was raised in a mid-west community by a single mother who earned her income from the sex industry. Dwayne experienced a lot of chaos and trauma growing up. Today, Dwayne lives in the power, grace, and healing that only God can provide; he is a plumber and also serves in prisons and other areas. In this show Dwayne shares what it was like growing up in a home in a dangerous industry, including when someone tried to poison his mother, and how God changed his life. 

The title of this broadcast is taken from a recent article posted in The Times in England on why parents should watch sexually provocative material with their children. Surveys show that more than 70% of a child's first exposure to porn occurs at home, making the home a fierce spiritual battleground.  Mike also gets into a post from an ex-porn actress on her struggles to do away with dressing in sexually provocative ways and gain her sense of self-worth from the looks of men. Also examined in this show is the desperate need for the church to make prayer a priority. Several quotes from Charles Spurgeon are provided, including this one:  "The condition of the church may be very well accurately gaged by its prayer meetings. If God be near a church it must pray. And if He be not there, one of the first tokens of His absence will be slothfulness in prayer." 

Celeste McKinney is a registered nurse and mother of a 13 year old son who lives in Arizona. As a teenager she went through the devastating trauma of having a parent commit suicide. Celeste turned to alcohol and drugs to numb the pain, got in legal trouble, fought with suicidal thoughts, and struggled with anger toward God for her mother's loss. God redeemed Celeste's story and brought healing. Today Celeste is blessed to be able to help others in life and death situations. In this second of two broadcasts, Celeste and Mike continue their discussion and examine the critical issues that many are struggling with..

Celeste McKinney is a registered nurse and mother of a 13 year old son; they live in Arizona. As a teenager she went through the devastating trauma of having a parent commit suicide. Celeste turned to alcohol and drugs to numb the pain, got in legal trouble, fought with suicidal thoughts, and struggled with anger toward God for her mother's loss. God redeemed Celeste's story and brought healing. Today Celeste is blessed to be able to help others in life and death situations.  In this first of two broadcasts, Celeste shares her story.

Greg Reid of Youthfire Ministries returns to discuss the dangers and roots of deconstruction, which is the abandoning or falling away from the faith. At a time when many are walking away from the church - especially many youth - this is a topic that needs to be opened up at every level of the church. It is critical that we warn and equip our people in spiritual warfare during these dark days. 

Mike discusses the authority every believer in Christ has to overcome in spiritual warfare. A story of when God had Corrie Ten Boom take up her authority in Christ while speaking at a church in Eastern Europe is shared to give a picture of the spiritual power and weapons that every Christian possesses. This authority is to be used in the proper context and in the flow of God's will and not as a way of promoting or calling attention to self.

in this broadcast we play session 2 of The Road to Grace video series, where Mike discusses what porn and sexual sin does to those who are ensnared to it, and how a wife is affected by her husband's sexual sin. The RTG Video Series is a 6-part course for freedom and healing from porn and sex addiction for men, wives, and youth. See www.blazinggrace.org for more information.

“But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.” Luke 5:16 “And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” - Mark 6:31 Jesus made going away alone to the desert for hours of prayer His way of life. We who are Christ followers and struggle with our flesh need this many times more than the spotless lamb of God. Mike shares about a recent solo 48 hour trip to the desert for extended time alone with God, after beginning the broadcast by sharing recent news stories of how the porn epidemic continues to explode, nearly unchallenged. 

Mike begins by sharing the audio of the trailer for the newly released Road to Grace Video Series. Then he shares about the explosion of AI boyfriends and girlfriends:  The top 6 AI companion aps has 52 million users  20 million Americans have engaged with flirtatious conversations with chatbots 25% of young adults believe AI has a potential to replace real life relationships The topic of AI boyfriends/girlfriends/sex partners is one that we need to warn people about... it can only lead to more bondage, depression, and social isolation. 

We live in a time when many are falling away. Whether it's called "deconstruction" or some other term the tragic result is the same - walking away from God. This has terrible eternal consequences. Asa was a King from Judah. When faced with a battle where his army was outnumbered two to 1, Asa cried out to God for deliverance and watched the Lord come through in the big way. After several decades of prosperity, Asa drifted from God and his hard went hard. This is a timely warning for us during these last days. 

Alexei Navalny was a Russian lawyer who opposed the corruption in the Russian government. He was arrested many times, had a toxic chemical sprayed in his face and nearly lost an eye, was poisoned by a military grade chemical, and spent the last 3 years of his life in jail, where he died in 2024. At the end of his life, Navalny stated the following: "I have my country and my convictions. I don’t want to give up my country or betray it. If your convictions mean something you must be prepared to stand up for them and make sacrifices. I know one thing for sure, I am among the happiest 1 percent of people on the planet – those who absolutely adore their work   I have enormous support from the people Maybe we won’t succeed but we have to try." Imagine a church where many lived their convictions and were wiling to put everything on the line. In this broadcast Mike discusses the example Alexei Navalny set for us, and more.