Richard Bruxvoort Colligan is a musician and a student of the Psalms. He has an MA in theology and the arts from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and a DMin in grief work from Eden Seminary. An indie musician for over 30 years, he has composed and published 100s of songs for the wider church, including community songs for all the psalms. He lives in Strawberry Point, Iowa, and serves as director of spiritual formation at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN. Today we are discussing his book, Dangerous Songs: The Psalms and a Gloriously Disrupted Life.

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We talked with pastor and author Tomy Cummins about what to do when someone you love admits that they're drowning in anxiety, depression, or thoughts of suicide. Most of us care deeply but feel unprepared, afraid of saying the wrong thing or making things worse. His new book Shepherds of The Mind: Caring Like Christ in an age of Silent Suffering equips ordinary people to respond with compassion, gentleness, and hope.

Tomy A. Cummins is a pastor, communicator, author, and mental health advocate. With over two decades of ministry experience, his work integrates scripture with evidence-based practices, shaped by training in Youth and Teen Mental Health First Aid, safeTALK, ASIST, Soul Shop, and QPRT suicide risk detection. Tomy is passionate about helping everyday followers of Jesus become a healing presence rooted in a life deeply connected to the Good Shepherd. He lives in Colorado with his wife Mendy, their two children (Laney and Judah), and an extremely affectionate golden doodle named Sir Chester Chauntavious Chewingston Esquire—Chewie for short. Tomy enjoys spending time with his family, reading, cycling, disc golf, birdwatching, smoking briskets, and cheering for the Oklahoma City Thunder like they can hear him from 600 miles away. You can connect with Tomy and his work on his website https://www.tomycummins.com/

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What is “Ordinary Time” in the Christian calendar, and why is it called “ordinary” if it’s still spiritually significant? How can we practice rhythms of faith and stay spiritually grounded during the quieter seasons of life? Christy, Ben, and Matt discuss.

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