Dying to Live Podcast

What comes to mind when you hear the words mental health? Is it a genuine health issue that deserves the same attention as physical illness, or has mental health become an excuse people use to justify their behaviour?

It’s a subject that affects millions of people, yet it remains surrounded by confusion, misconceptions and stigma. Some people suffer in silence because they’re afraid of being judged. Others wonder whether society has become too quick to label ordinary struggles as mental health conditions. And with the growing influence of social media, we have to ask: are we experiencing a genuine increase in mental health problems, or are we simply becoming more aware of them?

In this episode, we’re tackling these difficult questions head-on. What exactly is mental health? How is it different from physical health, and how are the two connected? What role have social media and online influencers played in shaping the way we understand mental health today?

And, perhaps most importantly, how should Christians approach this subject? How do we distinguish between spiritual struggles, emotional difficulties and conditions that require professional treatment? When should we speak to a pastor, a counsellor, a psychologist or a psychiatrist? And how do we hold on to our faith while recognising that sometimes we need help beyond what our church community can provide?

We want to move beyond the stereotypes, challenge some assumptions and explore what it means to respond with both biblical wisdom and compassion.

Because mental health is not a subject we can afford to ignore, dismiss or misunderstand.

So, is mental health an excuse, a reality, or something far more complex than either of those labels suggests?

Let’s talk about it.

What if generosity wasn’t just something you did once a month, but a way of life that transforms how you live every day?

In this episode we’re talking about living a generous life.

The New Testament calls us to something far greater than a month-end transaction. Generosity is about more than money; it’s about the posture of our hearts and how we respond to what God has entrusted to us.

Generosity isn’t just financial. It includes our time, our gifts, our love, our service, and our willingness to respond when the Holy Spirit prompts us to bless someone.

True generosity is Spirit-led. We receive from God, respond to His leading, bless others, and keep the cycle of generosity going.

So, how do we move from giving out of obligation to living with open hands and open hearts? What changes when we see everything we have as entrusted to us by God for His purposes and to steward it faithfully?

Join us as we explore what it means to live generously, reflecting the heart of God in the way we live, give, and love.

Because generosity isn’t just an action — it’s a lifestyle.

Christianity and African culture — must we choose between the two, or can they complement one another?

Africa is rich in cultural heritage, with traditions, customs, music, family structures and community values that have shaped generations. Yet, as Christians, we are called to examine every aspect of our lives through the lens of Scripture.

So, where do Christianity and African culture complement one another? What can we celebrate, preserve and embrace from our cultural heritage? And where do certain customs, beliefs and traditional practices come into conflict with biblical Christianity?

How do we distinguish between cultural practices that enrich our faith and those that compromise it? And how do we remain authentically African while being fully committed followers of Jesus Christ?

But these questions become especially challenging when our faith conflicts with the expectations of our non-believing family members. How do we honour our parents, respect our elders and maintain family relationships when we are asked to participate in practices that go against our biblical convictions? How do we stand firm in our faith without becoming disrespectful, judgemental or disconnected from those we love?

Today, we explore these questions and consider how the Bible helps us discern what to embrace, what to adapt and what we must leave behind — while remaining faithful to Christ and loving towards our families and communities.

Where should my child go to school?

For Christian parents in South Africa, this is becoming an increasingly important question. Should our children attend a government school, private school, Christian school, homeschool or online school?

And with worldviews and values that increasingly conflict with biblical Christianity finding their way into schools, many parents are asking, “Is this the right environment for my child?”

But perhaps we need to start with a bigger question:

Does God care which school my child goes to?

The Bible makes it clear that parents have the primary responsibility for raising and discipling their children. We cannot simply hand that responsibility over to a school. Ultimately, the decision belongs to the parents.

But how do we make that decision?

Perhaps the question isn't simply, “Which school is best?” It is: “God, where do You want me to send this unique child You have entrusted to me, so that their potential can be maximised while they grow in their relationship with You and discover Your plans and purposes for their life?”

Every child is different. What works for one child may not be right for another.

A government school isn't automatically wrong. A private school isn't automatically better. A Christian school isn't necessarily the right choice for every child, and homeschooling isn't automatically the most biblical option.The responsibility is ours as parents to seek God, understand our child, evaluate the options and make a wise decision.

So in this episode, we're going to ask what the Bible says about parental responsibility, education, competing worldviews and how Christian parents can make wise schooling decisions in today's South Africa.

Because ultimately, the question isn't simply:

“Which school should my child attend?

”It's:

“Lord, where do You want me to send the child You have entrusted to me?”

What if the thing you’re doing to make yourself healthier is actually making you less healthy?

What if eating clean, counting calories, weighing yourself, tracking your sleep, exercising every day and constantly thinking about your health has stopped being good stewardship—and has started controlling you?

We live in a culture that tells us to optimise everything: our food, our fitness, our sleep, our weight, our bodies and even our longevity. And wanting to be healthy is certainly not a bad thing.

But when does healthy become unhealthy?

When does discipline become obsession?
When does commitment become control?
When does looking after your body become being controlled by your body?

And perhaps most importantly, where does God fit into all of this?

The Bible doesn’t give us a particular diet, exercise programme or sleep schedule. But it does give us principles about self-control, discipline, stewardship, freedom, priorities and the condition of our hearts.

So how do we pursue good health without making health our god?

How do we recognise when something good has quietly become something that has too much control over our lives?

In this episode we’re going to explore that tension—and look at what God’s Word can teach us about caring for the bodies God has given us while making sure that our pursuit of health doesn’t become an obsession.

Because being healthy matters—but what controls your heart matters even more.