Podcast

Viral Jesus

Ike Miller: Good Baggage

Heather and Ike Miller discuss good baggage.

Is there such a thing as good baggage? For today’s episode, Heather sits down with Ike Miller and discusses the baggage that we experience in our past that sometimes impacts our present and future. But is it possible that seeing our parents parent, or do marriage, or live out their faith, can reveal to us how we can do things differently? Ike believes that his upbringing is what gave him the passion to pursue a different path for himself. What if some baggage can be good?

On today’s social toolkit, Heather discusses Elyse Meyers and her apparent social media break after being targeted by Operation Watermelon. Operation Watermelon is where a group of internet users target a single creator and try to take over their platform by commenting en masse on the tragedy impacting the Middle East between Israel and Palestine. Elyse Meyers shutdown her TikTok with over 7 million followers, and many users suspect it is because she was targeted by this peer pressure tactic. Should influencers make statements on cultural issues? Heather discusses her thoughts on this and adds a tool to your social toolkit.

Guest Bio

Ike Miller is the founding and lead pastor of Bright City Church in Durham, North Carolina. Ike writes regularly about the intersection of theology and mental health. His newest book is titled Good Baggage.

Host Bio

Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’ll See You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on the social platform X at @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Receive Heather’s weekly inspirational email every Friday at 7 p.m. ET; sign up at www.heatherthompsonday.com/links.

Our Latest

The Bulletin

Pete Hegseth’s Future, Farmers on Tariffs, and Religious Decline Stalls

Mike Cosper, Clarissa Moll

Hegseth scrutinized for drug boat strikes, farmers react to Trump’s tariffs, and a Pew report says religious decline has slowed.

The Debate over Government Overreach Started in 1776

Three books to read this month on politics and public life.

Turn Toward Each Other and Away from the Screen

Perhaps technology has changed everything. But God is still here, still wiring humans for connection and presence.

The Call to Art, Africa, and Politics

In 1964, CT urged Christians to “be what they really are—new men and women in Christ.”

Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

BONUS: Amanda Knox on the Satanic Panic and Wrongful Convictions

How elements of the satanic panic and conspiratorial thinking shaped a wrongful conviction.

The Chinese Christian Behind 2,000 Hymns

X. Yang

Lü Xiaomin never received formal music training. But her worship songs have made her a household name in China’s churches.

Death by a Thousand Error Messages

Classroom tech was supposed to solve besetting education problems. The reality is frustrating for students and costly for taxpayers.

The Surprising Joys of a Gift-Free Christmas

Ahrum Yoo

Amid peak consumerism season, I prayed for ways to teach my children about selfless giving.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube