Men In Isolation
In this episode of Faith Café, Scott Dente hosts Nate Larkin. According to Nate, men don't seek out healthy relationships with other men and this affects every aspect of their lives, including their relationship with their wives. Nate is an expert. He's a man. Music is provided by Brandon Heath from Reunion Records. He's young. He's honest. He's ahead of his time.
Nate Larkin | www.natelarkin.com
Nate Larkin is a storyteller with a timely message. An entertaining speaker, he engages his audiences with humorous vignettes drawn from real life. Before long, however, he leads them into territory few Christian commentators openly explore. The oldest son of a Pentecostal preacher, Nate grew up in church and was always active in Christian youth groups. Educated in small town public schools in New York and Pennsylvania, he went on to earn a B.A. degree in Religious Studies from St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, spending one undergraduate semester at Nairobi University in Kenya, East Africa. After marrying Allie in 1978, he attended Princeton Theological Seminary, where he received an M.Div degree and was awarded the Preaching Prize in 1982. Today he and Allie live in Franklin, Tennessee , where he shares his life with a group of friends called the Samson Society. A popular speaker and teacher, he gives his audiences suggestions for building authenticity and integrity in their own relationships. "Christians are well-meaning," he says, "But unless we work hard to prevent it, the church can become the most difficult place on earth to be honest. We can actually force each other into falsehood. That's tragic, because false selves are doomed to empty lives of duty, outer conformity and inner numbness. Only our authentic selves, fragile but forgiven, can truly experience a spiritual life marked by love, joy, peace and self-control. And Christ intends us to enjoy that life together."
Brandon Heath
In the wilderness that is popular Christian music weighed down by dreams of secular emulation and candy sweet images of the happy-go-lucky Christian life, there are a few who stand strong in the changing winds of contemporary Christian music culture. Brandon Heath, with his soaring voice and unapologetic faith, stands up among these, embracing the shifting and blurring lines that are beginning to create music that appeals to not only believers, but seekers as well. Born and raised in Nashville, TN, Brandon got his start playing guitar and writing songs as any guy of 14 might, trying to impress a girl. Brandon met Jesus through a youth outreach organization called Young Life and has grown into his faith and music. He was surrounded by examples such as his high school student teacher Miss Owens, who through her example of faith and determination inspired him to look at his own gifts and how to serve God with them. That same Miss Owens would go on to become known to the world as the Dove Award winner, Ginny Owens. Throughout the years, Brandon has been playing at Young Life camps and retreats, graduated from college, playing regularly in the local Nashville music scene, as well as leading worship at West End Community Church.