Embrace a fresh look at the eternal questions of purpose and design. In his insightful discussion, Shawn Boonstra portrays life as a grand production, where the stages of creation
Human existence is painted as a dramatic narrative filled with bold questions and remarkable promise. Shawn Boonstra reinterprets the Genesis account to reveal why free will and do
Genesis unfolds as the opening credits of a grand narrative, setting up the sacred story of humanity and redemption. Shawn Boonstra reinterprets this timeless passage with inspirin
What’s the true story of God’s interaction with humanity? Shawn Boonstra explores how the Genesis account positions humans, made in God’s image, as central to the Bible’s n
What makes humanity unique in all of creation? Shawn Boonstra explains how the Genesis account shows that God gave humanity dominion—a conscious responsibility to care for the ea
This week on Authentic, Shawn gets to the heart of what exactly "inspired by God" means when it comes to Scripture—writing it, compiling it, interpreting it. And what about all t
Could humanity really be the star of creation? Shawn Boonstra examines the Genesis narrative, where everything leads up to this climactic moment. The story slows down as God finish
What makes Genesis so unique compared to other ancient myths? Shawn Boonstra takes a closer look at the book of Genesis and its profound description of humanity's beginnings. Unlik
Rubik's cube whiz Chris Albrecht sat down with Amanda Ruf (Olivia's actor) to share about his experience in the world of competitive cubing! Did you enjoy Season 32's tournament?
Is the universe a product of random chance or intentional design? Shawn Boonstra explores how people once viewed the natural world as a reflection of God’s mind and heart, reveal
Is God against art? What’s His deal with statues? In this episode of Authentic, Shawn Boonstra continues his series on the Ten Commandments, digging into why the Bible forbids gr
Does the natural world hold clues about the existence of God? Shawn Boonstra dives into the 19th century mindset, where natural history and natural philosophy were seen as tools to
Have you ever thought about how your view of humanity shapes the way you live? Shawn Boonstra takes you on a journey through the book of Genesis, exploring the Bible’s perspectiv
Quantum physics teaches us that reality changes when we observe it—but what about our understanding of ourselves? Shawn Boonstra unpacks the tension between Darwin's ideas and th
Have we lost sight of what makes us unique? Shawn Boonstra examines how Darwin’s ideas changed humanity’s self perception, shifting us from being made in God’s image to being
Almost one third of humanity sees the Bible as “God breathed.” But it didn’t appear out of thin air...so where did these scriptures come from, and who decided they were autho
For centuries, many believed humanity was the ultimate purpose of creation, with Earth at the literal center of the universe. Shawn Boonstra explores how this belief began to shift
What does it mean to move from being “made in God’s image” to being the product of time and chance? Shawn Boonstra explores how Darwin’s work sparked a “spiritual revolut
It's time for the cube puzzle tournament! Who will win McGee's generous prize? And how has the Balanced Health program—and that shady new nurse—turned out? Let's join everyone
How did one copy of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species change America forever? Shawn Boonstra dives into the story of Asa Gray, the academic who championed Darwin’s ideas, and t
What happens when a nation experiences both spiritual revival and devastating conflict? Shawn Boonstra examines the impact of the Second Great Awakening and the Civil War on 19th c
Is it a coincidence that Darwin’s first essay on evolution came out during one of the most spiritually significant moments in American history? Shawn Boonstra discusses the curio
Have you ever wondered if your life has a greater purpose? Shawn Boonstra reflects on what it means to discover that your life plays a meaningful role in the universe. Are we just
Are we paying the price for rejecting biblical values? Shawn Boonstra examines Freud’s influential ideas about pleasure and repression, which taught that suppressing natural urge
Why was a tree that led to DEATH placed in paradise in the first place? Was God setting up Adam and Eve for temptation and failure? In part 6 of his "Answers for a Skeptic" series,
Shawn Boonstra examines the cultural revolution of the '60s and '70s and how it reshaped traditional Western values. While questioning social norms can bring important progress, wh
What happens when the pursuit of freedom goes too far? Shawn Boonstra reflects on the counterculture movement, spearheaded by Timothy Leary, and how ideas like "turn on, tune in, a
Cyrus and his friends are reminded of the power of "simple" faith like Naaman's—it can lead to miracles! Will Kyler choose Naaman's path? Become a supporter of this podcast: http
Why does our longing for a better world matter? Shawn Boonstra explains how this deep desire reflects eternity planted in our hearts by God. It’s a powerful reminder that God has
Shawn Boonstra reflects on how music like Beethoven’s symphonies and Brahms’ compositions can pull us out of the pain and monotony of daily life. These pieces remind us that th
What makes Beethoven’s seventh symphony so emotionally powerful? Shawn Boonstra reflects on the second movement’s simple yet profound melody and how it stirs a mix of joy and s
Shawn Boonstra shares an emotional reminder of God’s love: Christ’s humanity didn’t end at the resurrection. He chose to remain human, showing us that God fully understands a
Why do all human attempts to create perfection fail? Shawn Boonstra uncovers the reason by exploring the life of Christ, who lived authentically and perfectly, even when the world
In this thought provoking episode, Shawn Boonstra confronts the challenging topic of slavery in the Bible and its relevance to a modern audience. Join us as we focus on God’s eff
Shawn Boonstra dives into the stunning paradox of Christ’s nature: while we fall short of His perfection, the Bible teaches that He became like us to save us. Reflecting on Hebre
Have you ever felt unworthy of God’s love? Shawn Boonstra reflects on a powerful truth from Romans 5:8: "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." This verse reminds us t
The cube puzzle craze has gone from fun to frazzling for a few students. McGee has an enticing idea for the tournament. Become a supporter of this podcast:
Feeling like you’re not good enough is part of the journey. Shawn Boonstra breaks down the concept of conviction, the Bible's term for the feeling of inadequacy we experience whe
Have you ever felt like your life doesn’t measure up? Shawn Boonstra explains the Greek concept of hamartia, or "missing the mark," which reveals how far we’ve fallen from perf
Shawn Boonstra shares a profound truth about what it means to examine the life of Christ. The closer you get to His light, the more clearly you see your own flaws. While this might
Have you ever noticed how light can expose things you didn’t want to see? Shawn Boonstra takes us on a journey from a dimly lit basement to the astonishing perfection of Christ.
What does it mean that Jesus became fully human? Shawn Boonstra reflects on the powerful moment when Christ cried out in the darkness, revealing His deep connection to our struggle
This week Shawn continues investigating the common idea of hell and comparing it with Scripture. Where IS hell, exactly? Is it burning in the bowels of the earth? Is hell really ev
Do we truly understand the depth of God’s loss when humanity fell into sin? Genesis shows us a God who called out to Adam not in anger, but in grief. He remembers the perfection
At any moment, Jesus could have stopped His suffering, called twelve legions of angels, and returned to the glory of heaven. But He didn’t. Instead, He chose to endure betrayal,
What does Genesis 6 teach us about God’s suffering? Some see His regret over creating humanity as a flaw, but could it actually point to the depth of His love and heartbreak? God
Kyler receives praise for his cubing skills—but has he earned it? The Balanced Health program begins, yet the medical staff seem at odds. Become a supporter of this podcast: http
Imagine the heartache God feels as He remembers the perfection of the world He created—a world He called "very good." According to Job 38, the angels sang for joy at creation, bu
