Restore The Glory Podcast

This week, Jake and Bob welcome John Edwards, a fellow guy in the pew, to share his raw and redemptive journey from addiction and secrecy to finding his identity in God. From outward success and hidden cocaine use to the devastating loss of his mother, John reveals how grief, shame, and a longing for affirmation shaped his choices—and nearly destroyed his marriage and family. He opens up about the masks he wore, the lies he believed about God as a harsh judge, and the panic attacks that finally exposed the prison he was living in. With honesty and courage, John recounts the night he chose confession over isolation, and how mercy began to break through years of self-reliance and despair. If you've ever felt abandoned by God or buried under your own failures, this conversation is an invitation to bring your whole story into the light.

 
Key Points:
The absence of emotional affirmation from John's father created a deep wound and a longing to feel seen.
Addiction to drugs, alcohol, and pornography became a way to numb pain and pursue belonging and control.
John describes living behind layers of "masks" to hide his addiction and shame from others.
Marriage and fatherhood did not automatically heal John's wounds, and secrecy continued to damage family life.
The death of John's mother shattered his emotional security and intensified his anger toward God.
Fear of being exposed kept John trapped in lies and prevented him from asking for help.
John's arrest and imprisonment brought total loss of control and the collapse of his false identities.
In the jail cell, John experienced profound powerlessness and the end of his ability to hide.
Surrendering control marked the moment when true freedom began.
Jesus met John in his darkest place, revealing that He never abandoned him.
Christ goes anywhere to restore broken hearts.
 
Resources:
Just a Guy in the Pew
John's Podcast: Just a Guy in the Pew Podcast
Redeemed - A Men's Retreat (with the JPII Healing Center)
Power Made Perfect by John Edwards - Coming Soon!
 
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
04:05 The Masculine Ache for Belonging
13:44 Wearing Masks and Chasing Connection and Power
21:22 Honoring Our Past Selves
23:10 Losing His Mother and God
30:03 Powerlessness and Rage
33:40 Resisting Comparison and Facing Your Story
38:40 John's Secret Comes Out and Meeting God in Jail
59:05 Resources
 
Connect with Restore the Glory: 
Instagram: @restoretheglorypodcast 
Twitter: @RestoreGloryPod
Facebook: Restore the Glory Podcast
 
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This week, Jake and Bob reflect on a few topics that were discussed during a recent "Holy Desire" Priest's retreat with the JPII Healing Center. They discuss the connection between communion with God and the removal of pain, how woundedness redirects good desires, and why coping strategies are not usually virtuous. Jake and Bob also answer a few questions received from priests at the retreat, such as—Am I using wounds as an excuse for sin? What is the difference between soul ties and enmeshment? And should I share my wounds with my parents?

 
Key Points:
Healing is best understood as an ongoing encounter with God's love that restores communion and is not simply the removal of pain.
Pain relief can be a fruit of healing, but it should never become the primary goal over intimacy with God.
Broken communion is the reason we experience pain.
Wounds often lead us to develop maladaptive responses that we mistakenly elevate into "virtues."
Holy desires naturally draw us toward love and communion with God and others.
When wounds and vows press down on holy desires, those desires often emerge sideways as disordered desires.
Disordered desires are not evil at their core but are distorted expressions of something originally good.
Enmeshment reflects a lack of healthy differentiation and often develops within family systems.
Soul ties are distorted bonds that form through sin, wounds, or misplaced dependency.
Learning to recognize the good desire beneath another's behavior transforms how we relate to them.
Love grows when we respond to a person's holy desire rather than reacting to their maladaptive behavior.
Discernment, timing, and freedom of heart are essential when considering sharing one's wounds with parents.
 
Resources:
Principles of Catholic Theology by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
Holy Desire Workbook (In the dropdown menu select the "Workbook" as the type)
Rick and Dick Hoyt Video
Deadly Wounds and Holy Desires Chart
 
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
06:34 What does "I Experienced Healing" Mean?
13:40 Can the Way I Cope with a Wound Actually be a Virtue?
18:42 How are Disordered Desires Formed?
29:36 How Do I Find the Holy Desire Behind My Sin?
35:55 Am I Treating Woundedness as an Excuse for Sin?
42:54 What is the Difference Between a Soul Tie and Enmeshment?
51:07 Should I Share My Wounds with My Parents?
 
Connect with Restore the Glory: 
Instagram: @restoretheglorypodcast 
Twitter: @RestoreGloryPod
Facebook: Restore the Glory Podcast
 
Never miss out on an episode by hitting the subscribe button right now! Help other people find the show and grow in holiness by sharing this podcast with them individually or on your social media. Thanks!

This week, Jake and Bob conclude their series on deliverance and healing by welcoming Fr. Boniface Hicks, OSB to the show. Together, they explore deliverance, not as a fixation on removing darkness, but as the ongoing work of living in the freedom of God's love. Fr. Boniface reframes spiritual warfare using the analogy of relationships and stories, and how our identities are shaped by our understanding of truth and love. They address common fears and misconceptions about spiritual warfare that have been fueled by culture and the practical role of prayer in helping us find the freedom Christ desires for us.
 
Key Points:
Deliverance is fundamentally about freedom in God's love, not removing evil.
Every person carries a story that deserves to be heard and healed.
Evil spirits try to limit our story but God seeks to bring it to its fullness.
Deliverance is an ongoing process, not a one-time event.
True deliverance draws us deeper into the love story of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Spiritual warfare is primarily a battle over truth, belief, and identity.
Love has the power to loosen spiritual oppression and restore freedom.
Prayer is most powerful when it is relational rather than formulaic.
Belief is not merely intellectual—it is lived, embodied trust.
 
Resources:
Fr. Boniface's Website

 
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
03:10 The Basics of Deliverance
08:58 Deliverance is the Process to Freedom
16:00 Our Fascination with the Spiritual World
24:01 The Subtle Movements Away from Good Lead to Disintegration
34:27 The Battle for Our Stories
43:46 Do Our Prayers Have Power?
 
Connect with Restore the Glory: 
Instagram: @restoretheglorypodcast 
Twitter: @RestoreGloryPod
Facebook: Restore the Glory Podcast
 
Never miss out on an episode by hitting the subscribe button right now! Help other people find the show and grow in holiness by sharing this podcast with them individually or on your social media. Thanks!

This week, Jake and Bob welcome Dr. Sean Tobin, author and psychologist, to explore the reality of spiritual warfare and deliverance ministry. Dr. Sean reframes deliverance not as a battle to fear but as a process of centering our hearts in Christ. They discuss how fear, self-reliance, and isolation fragment the soul, why the simplicity of love and praise is more powerful than you think, and the proper balance between technique and communion. This is a hopeful conversation about spiritual battle, one rooted not in fear, but in confidence in a Father who relentlessly pursues healing, wholeness, and communion with His children.
 
Key Points:
 Spiritual warfare is real, but we need not be afraid.
Deliverance is not about removing darkness but allowing the light of Christ back into our hearts.
The enemy's main tactics are to make us feel afraid, isolated, or grasp in self-reliance.
Feeding fear or falling into superstition can strengthen spiritual bondage instead of bringing freedom
The simple practices of faith (prayer, trust, and praise) are more profoundly effective than you think.
Spiritual warfare is ultimately about ministering to people, not fighting demons.
Healing involves restoring belonging, communion, and trust in God's presence.
Like healing, deliverance is a process, and does not usually happen in a single moment.
God can use spiritual conflict to refine, mature, and draw us into deeper communion with Him.


Resources:
Dr. Sean Tobin's Website
Big GOD, Little Devil by Dr. Sean Tobin
Big GOD, Little Devil audiobook narrated by Dr. Sean Tobin



Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
03:03 Dr. Sean's Background
09:59 Learning About Spiritual Warfare Can Help Increase Our Faith
16:16 How Fear Plays into the Enemy's Hands
21:37 Isolation, Self Reliance, and Distrust are Part of Spiritual Warfare
26:38 Authority and the Power of Suggestion
31:48 The Effects of Simple Practices
41:43 Technique vs Relationship with God
49:01 Words of Encouragement as You Enter the Battle
 
Connect with Restore the Glory: 
Instagram: @restoretheglorypodcast 
Twitter: @RestoreGloryPod
Facebook: Restore the Glory Podcast
 
Never miss out on an episode by hitting the subscribe button right now! Help other people find the show and grow in holiness by sharing this podcast with them individually or on your social media. Thanks!

This week, Jake and Bob discuss the relationship between healing, deliverance, and spiritual warfare. They explore the nature of spiritual strongholds (patterns of thoughts or beliefs that oppose the reality of who God is) and why these strongholds often obstruct emotional and spiritual healing. Jake and Bob also nuance the distinction between ordinary and extraordinary experiences of grace and how the supernatural is hidden within the quiet or ordinary moments. Finally, they address the role of spiritual authority within the Church, the importance of recognizing your own authority, and why authentic healing flows from relationship with Christ rather than technique.

 
Key Points:
The healing and deliverance processes are deeply connected 
Spiritual warfare is part of everyday life
Strongholds are built from repeated thoughts, beliefs, and lies that oppose the reality of who God is
The ordinary is often where the supernatural is most active. Extraordinary experiences are not a measure of God's presence in our lives
Wounds can become entry points for spiritual influence if left unaddressed
Deliverance often involves dismantling lies and beliefs (strongholds) rather than confronting extraordinary manifestations
Prayer, the Sacraments, and virtues are our weapons in spiritual warfare
Healing comes from relationship with Christ, not because of a specific prayer formula or technique
There are different levels of spiritual authority within the Church
 
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
03:02 Engaging in a Spiritual Battle as a Catholic
12:21 How Do We Pull Down Strongholds in Our Life?
18:21 The Supernatural isn't Exclusive to Extraordinary Moments
25:11 Ordinary and Extraordinary Dynamics in Healing and Deliverance
34:56 The Difference Between Human and Angelic Intelligence
43:55 What are the Different Levels of Authority in the Church?
57:43 How Can We Exercise Our Authority? 



Connect with Restore the Glory: 
Instagram: @restoretheglorypodcast 
Twitter: @RestoreGloryPod
Facebook: Restore the Glory Podcast
 
Never miss out on an episode by hitting the subscribe button right now! Help other people find the show and grow in holiness by sharing this podcast with them individually or on your social media. Thanks!