Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast)

Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast)
Episode 485: Mikayla Munn and Linda Znachko
Former Inmate Becomes an Advocate for Women in Crisis
Mikayla Munn and Linda Znachko Bring Life-Giving Message of Hope and Encouragement for Women Battling Trauma and Shame
Indianapolis, IN—What would cause a young woman—a good student and college athlete— with a bright future to do the unthinkable and allow her newborn son to die?
Mikayla Munn plead guilty in 2018 to neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury or death. After serving six years in an Indiana Women’s Prison, Munn is now free and speaks publicly about the painful sequence of events that led to Alexander Liam’s death. She shares a message of hope and redemption for any woman who finds herself in desperate circumstances.
An unreported sexual assault between her junior and senior year at college led to feelings of shame and depression. Back at college for her senior year, Munn’s depression deepened causing her to self-isolate, which progressed to anger toward family, friends, and teammates. She began drinking, sneaking alcohol into her room, and taking over-the-counter and prescription drugs to anesthetize her pain.
Diagnosed with Acute Stress Disorder while in the hospital, Munn sought counseling help to make sense of her life and the choices she made that led to that fateful night. Following her subsequent arrest, Munn was placed in a suicide cell with nothing but a copy of the transcripts from the night of her son’s death and witness statements Munn came face-to-face with her actions and the resulting consequences. Broken, she looked up and, in the light, saw the figure of a cross, and cried out to God.
During the next six years, she was a model prisoner, attended continuing education classes, worked in the kitchen and other areas, and sought every opportunity to find out more about the God she had reached out to. With the help of the chaplain and others she attended group Bible studies, and during Covid lockdowns poured over the Word of God seeking greater understanding and intimacy with Him.
Today, Munn continues to rebuild the broken pieces of her life with the help of her faith, family, and friends. She has joined forces with Linda Znachko of He Knows Your Name Ministries, to let others know how this loss of life can be avoided in the future. It was Znachko who, after the two-year criminal investigation had been completed, officiated and made all the arrangements for the funeral allowing Alexander’s broken-hearted family to put him to rest.
Munn wants women to know, encourages, and reminds them that:
• Asking for help does not make you weak. It’s okay to ‘not be okay’ all the time.
• We all bear scars and have skeletons in the closet, how we deal with them makes all the difference.
• Choosing to navigate difficult circumstances well will make you a better person.
• Shame is a thief that will destroy your self-esteem and self-respect if you let it.
• Be courageous, speak up and fight for yourself, and don’t suffer in silence.
She also plans to partner with the “Safe Haven Baby Boxes” organization, an option that was not available to her at the time. The Safe Haven Baby Box program provides a way for a mother in distress, who might take the life of her newborn child, to bring the infant to a firehouse or hospital and anonymously surrender the baby in a safe chamber, allowing medical personnel to provide immediate care.
“As we learned from Mikayla if mothers–at their height of panic and distress–know they have a safe, reliable way to place their infant into the hands of those who will care for the child, without facing prosecution for making this heartbreaking decision,” Znachko says, “I believe it will be possible to save the lives of thousands of babies every year, and also spare these mothers from lifelong pain and remorse.”
ABOUT LINDA ZNACHKO
In 2009, Linda Znachko unexpectedly had her life turned upside down after watching a television news report about the tragic death of a young infant abandoned in a trash dumpster. The heartbreaking report made Znachko resolve that she would do everything in her power to ensure no infant would ever again die without a name or a proper burial. As the founder of He Knows Your Name Ministries, Znachko now works with numerous mothers to make certain that every infant who dies under similar unfortunate circumstances is recognized as a precious and important life.
Znachko partners with the organization “Safe Haven Baby Boxes” founded by Monica Kelsey and has spent the last seven years raising awareness and educating others about the Safe Haven Law and the Safe Haven Baby Box (SHBB) program, whose logo bears the footprint of baby Amelia, found deceased and abandoned at an Indiana park. In the seven years since Amelia was found Indiana has not had another abandoned deceased baby found, thanks in part to the work of Znachko and the SHBB program.
The SHBB program has achieved an impressive success rate in Indiana and is now being studied by groups who share Znachko’s commitment to preventing avoidable tragic infant deaths in other states throughout the U.S. As a result of the success of the program, the National Safe Haven law has been enhanced with the Safe Haven Baby Box option in Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, and is being considered in other states.
Znachko is a popular speaker at conferences and retreats and has been interviewed on The Steve Harvey Show, WISH-TV, Fox 59, The Indy Star, LifeToday, In the Market with Janet Parshall, American Essence Magazine, and many others.
Web Links:
heknowsyourname.org
https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1gqxvlNNlQlGB

Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast)
Episode 484: Brent Peterson - The Back Side of the Cross
 
Amazon Affiliate Buy Link: https://amzn.to/3BSV9tT
The Back Side of the Cross: An Atonement Theology for the Abused and Abandoned
Leclerc, Diane; Peterson, Brent
Citation (Chicago Style): Leclerc, Diane, and Peterson, Brent. The Back Side of the Cross: An Atonement Theology for the Abused and Abandoned. Cascade Books, an imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2022. Kindle edition.
Book Description
The cross has always been portrayed as the means of salvation and forgiveness for sinners, but does it have anything to say to those who have been sinned against? This book shows that the atonement of Christ has powerful potential to speak to those who have been wronged, especially those who have been abused and abandoned in countless ways—those who cower at the back side of the cross wondering if they are included. As victims of various kinds of abuse are beginning to come out of the shadows in cultural conversation and in the context of the church, The Back Side of the Cross is a timely book for several audiences. It is thoroughly rigorous and will interest theologians and their students; it also offers a very practical section for pastors and those who want to care for the wounded; and it can even reach survivors themselves as it offers true hope in the urgency of such real pain.
About the Co-Author
Brent Peterson is Dean of the College of Theology and Christian Ministries and Professor of Theology at Northwest Nazarene University. He is a leading voice in the Wesleyan tradition on the sacraments, and founded the Wesleyan Liturgical Society.
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Shine A Light In The Darkness
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Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast)
Episode 483: Elias Dummer
Elias Dummer co-founded and fronted one of Canada’s most acclaimed worship bands, The City Harmonic. As the group’s principal songwriter, he helped pen such hits as “Holy (Wedding Day)” and “Mountaintop,” as well as “Manifesto,” which served as the theme song for 2011’s National Day of Prayer. The City Harmonic earned 12 GMA Canada Covenant Awards and a Juno Award (Canada’s GRAMMY® equivalent), before disbanding in 2017. 
 
Dummer released his solo debut, The Work Vol. I, in 2019 and was named Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the 2020 Covenant Awards. Both as a solo artist and with The City Harmonic, Dummer’s music has garnered more than 100 million streams to date. 
 
His much-anticipated sophomore solo album, The Work Vol. II, released on July 29. The 10-song recording laments the failings of humanity while ultimately amplifying God’s lavish grace—His finished work on the cross which offers new mercies each day.   
 
LINKS:
 
ELIAS DUMMER’S ‘THE WORK VOL. II’ SHOWCASES GRACE, MERCY AND THE JOY OF COLLABORATION: http://www.turningpointpr.com/news/elias-dummers-the-work-vol-ii-showcases-grace-mercy-and-the-joy-of-collaboration/
 
ELIAS DUMMER ‘Expectation’ (acoustic) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IszitXzKuPY
 
 
RICK LEE JAMES INFO
Web Sites:
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Get The Single:
https://rickleejames.hearnow.com/halls
 
 
 
 
 
 
More from Rick Lee James
Shine A Light In The Darkness
Get The Single: https://rickleejames.hearnow.com/shine-a-light-in-the-darkness
Music Video:
 
Rick Lee James Playlist on Spotify:
 
https://t.co/S7nCRl0xqa
 
 
 

Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) -Episode 482
The Lost Sheep
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More from Rick Lee James
Shine A Light In The Darkness
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Music Video:
 
Rick Lee James Playlist on Spotify:
 
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Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) -Episode 481
Mindblown with Rich Kirkpatrick
MINDBLOWN: Unlock Your Creative Genius by Bridging Science and Magic. 
Simply put, creativity is what makes us human. What if creativity isn’t voodoo but a definable process to learn and follow? The author pulls from researchers, creatives, and experience. The premise is this. Everyone is wired to create. And as we uncover and apply the process, we might actually become better people along the way!You'll be introduced to the author's three-step creative process, The Dream, The Sandbox, and The Story, where you learn to discover, develop, and deliver your creation to the world. There's a magic to science and a science to magic. Bridging these different ways of thinking is the key. MINDBLOWN shares lessons from brain scientists and creative practitioners to give you the key to your innate design as a creator.
 
Get The Book: https://amzn.to/3QS6jDO
ABOUT Rich Kirkpatrick:
Rich Kirkpatrick, a native of San Jose, California, studied music at The Phil Mattson School, and earned his bachelor’s and master’s from William Jessup University. Over the years, he has worked as a church musician and ministry leader. Rich writes, consults, and speaks about the intersection of creativity, faith and leadership. His new book, MINDBLOWN: Unlock Your Creative Genius by Bridging Science and Magic, comes out the summer of 2022. His first book, The Six Hats of the Worship Leader (2014), has helped thousands of church musicians and remains on the reading list at several universities. As a musician, Rich is a songwriter and recording artist, with A Beautiful Liturgy. Rich loves a good espresso and deep conversations with friends, new and old. He lives in the East Bay Area, California, with his wife and family. 
 
Web Site: https://rkblog.com/
A Beautiful Liturgy: https://abeautifulliturgy.com/shop/
RICK LEE JAMES INFO
Web Sites:
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Get The Single:
https://rickleejames.hearnow.com/halls
 
 
 
 
 
 
More from Rick Lee James
Shine A Light In The Darkness
Get The Single: https://rickleejames.hearnow.com/shine-a-light-in-the-darkness
Music Video:
 
Rick Lee James Playlist on Spotify:
 
https://t.co/S7nCRl0xqa
 

Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) -Episode 480
Meredith Mauldin
ABOUT MEREDITH MAULDIN:
Meredith Mauldin is a passionate worshipper and songwriter that can’t help but rally others to do the same. She spent 7 years pioneering the worship and songwriting culture at the UPPEROOM in Dallas and was the founder of their label and publishing company. Meredith has now created a ministry called SongLab, to empower worshipers to minister to the Lord as well as write songs from their hearts and for their local churches. She has held over 30 SongLabs all over the country since 2019 and releases collective worship music from those events. Her passion is to write songs that will turn the eyes of the bride to Jesus! When she isn’t worship leading, she has enjoyed being a voice actor for cartoons for over 22 years and loves hanging out with her husband, Michael and three kids! They currently live in Atlanta, GA.
 
Web Sites:
Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-turning/1634823631
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6E9CCZc8nUZqridnjbTAgR?si=vMi1azddQ7CRRaZ7g9t8eQ
 
RICK LEE JAMES INFO
Web Sites:
https://www.rickleejames.com
Get The Single:
https://rickleejames.hearnow.com/halls
 
 
 
 
 
 
More from Rick Lee James
Shine A Light In The Darkness
Get The Single: https://rickleejames.hearnow.com/shine-a-light-in-the-darkness
Music Video:
 
Rick Lee James Playlist on Spotify:
 
https://t.co/S7nCRl0xqa
 

Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) -Episode 479
Confessions of a Crappy Christian with Blake Guichet
 
 
 
 
Confessions of a Crappy Christian
Real-Life Talk about All the Things Christians Aren’t Sure We’re Supposed to Say—and Why They Matter to God
 Why does it so often feel like Christians can’t talk about the real, hard
 stuff in life? We know our lives should reflect Jesus; what He did and said,
 and how He interacted with others. But if we’re being honest, there are
 days when we face tough, confusing things that can make us feel, well,
 very not like Jesus. As our culture moves further from truth and grace, Christians are burned- out, isolated, and unsure of where to turn for sound biblical advice that applies to their everyday struggles.
If you’ve ever felt this way or wished someone would talk about things like forgiveness, mental health, broken friendships, redirected dreams, sex, facts versus feelings, church hurt, rest, weakness, healing, and more in honest, down-to-earth terms while sticking to what Scripture has to say about them, you’ve come to the right place.
Confessions of a Crappy Christian is for you if you:
● have ever thought you’re too messed up for church
● feel exhausted and alone in your struggles
● think you need to complete a checklist before God will love you
● need a friend who cares about you too much to let you stay stuck
With honesty and vulnerability, Blake Guichet, host of the popular podcast Confessions of a Crappy Christian, helps us embrace the truth that we can’t do it all perfectly and gives us the wisdom, guidance, and hope to move from “crappy” Christian into a freer and fuller walk with Christ. In Confessions of a Crappy Christian, Blake Guichet offers an honest and transparent approach to navigating the things we aren’t sure we’re allowed to talk about as Christians and helps us discover why God cares about them and us. Invites anyone raised in the church, on the fringes of the church, or impacted by church culture to explore what the Bible really says, regardless of whether you fit into the “Christian mold.”
Befriends the person who feels alone in their struggles, as she humbly and vulnerably walks
 alongside them.
 Addresses today’s trend of hating on the Church with no plan to do anything about it. What if there
 was someone who could be honest about some of the issues within Christianity, while
 simultaneously offering hope and reminding them that God is still so good?
 “The world doesn’t need more perfectly presentable Christians. It needs people who love Jesus and
 are willing to show up and say, ‘I can’t do anything on my own. There is nothing good in me apart from
 Christ, but with Him, I am unstoppable. With Him, I am more than enough and He empowers my every
 effort,’” says Guichet.
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Blake Guichet is a writer and founder of the Crappy Christian Co., which aims to teach women how to use their God-given gifts for the Kingdom. She is the host of the popular podcast Confessions of a Crappy Christian—a weekly show that specializes in conversations with guests about their passions, struggles, and all the things they aren’t sure they can talk about. Blake is a proud Enneagram 8, American history buff, and playlist enthusiast, and her primary goal in all aspects of her ministry is to tell the truth while always pointing people to Jesus.
PRODUCT DETAILS
Paperback: 224 pages Price: $17.99 Publisher: Tyndale Momentum ISBN-13: 78-1-4964- 5704-2
BUY THE BOOK: https://amzn.to/3w6fc4r
 
Web Site:
https://crappychristianco.com/
 
 
 
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Shine A Light In The Darkness
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Music Video:
Rick Lee James Playlist on Spotify:
 
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Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) -Episode 478 -As I Walk These Halls
 
 
I’m back from my Podcast hiatus and I’ve got a new single.
-Rick Lee James
Special thanks to Chris Marchand for allowing me to feature our conversation from his Podcast, PostConsumer Reports, here on my show today. 
PostConsumer Reports Podcast : http://www.postconsumerreports.com/
 
Web Sites:
https://www.rickleejames.com
Get The Single:
https://rickleejames.hearnow.com/halls
 
Lyric Video:
 
Thank you for reading Rick Lee James Substack. This post is public so feel free to share it.
Share
 
Below are some trusted organizations that you can partner with to meet needs of refugees from Ukraine and around the world.
Fred Heumann's Article in Christianity Today: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/february-web-only/ukrainian-christians-church-worship-songs-war-and-peace.html
Serve Ukraine Web Link: https://actintl.givingfuel.com/serveukraine
Nazarene Compassion FB: https://www.facebook.com/nazcompassion
Caritas does great work in Crisis: https://www.caritas.org/2022/02/carit...
Mercy Corps is fantastic: https://www.mercycorps.org/blog/human...
A local Ukrainian non profit that has been serving traumatized children for years: https://voices.org.ua/en/
Alliance for a New Immigration Consensus
Tell your Senators you support meaningful bipartisan immigration reform 
Urge President Biden Not to Leave Behind Persecuted Afghans 
Project Alpha 
Afghan Advocacy Resources 
Protecting Ukrainian Refugees 
 
More from Rick Lee James
Shine A Light In The Darkness
Get The Single: https://rickleejames.hearnow.com/shine-a-light-in-the-darkness
Music Video:
 
Rick Lee James Playlist on Spotify:
 
https://t.co/S7nCRl0xqa
 
Rick Lee James Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
 
 
 

Going on a Hiatus for the rest of summer. Some closing thoughts for the summer.
 
www.RickLeeJames.com

Voices In My Head (the Rick Lee James Podcast)
Episode 476 - Lesli Hudson-Reynolds
 
Lesli Hudson-Reynolds serves as Director of Donor Relations, as well as resident Gender Identity Expert for Posture Shift, a leading training and consulting resource for church and ministry leaders on LGBT+ inclusion and care. Lesli also assists the Culture Shift’s president, Bill Henson, in managing Guiding Families Direct Care for Transgender young people and their families. Prior to joining the Posture Shift team, Lesli spent 15 years touring the US and Europe as Production Stage Manager for numerous Broadway musicals, ballets and plays. They recently began pursuing their MDiv in Theology and Biblical Studies. Lesli lives in Tennessee and they are Huge fan of the New England. The pronouns we will be using for Lesli today will be they and them.
Web Site:
https://postureshift.com/team/