Christian Parent, Crazy World

Many people look at the Christian faith as just a religion of do’s and don’ts.

Is it?

This is a question we need to be very clear on as parents., for ourselves and for our kids. If our children think that the faith is just about all the things we can’t do and all the things we have to do, then they don’t really understand what Christianity is all about. And they probably won’t stick around. They will become a part of the majority of kids who are leaving the faith when they leave the nest.

God never intended for our relationship with Him to be a labor-intensive checklist that is more of a burden than a delight. If this is how your kids approach the faith, chances are at some point they will chuck it for a belief system that doesn’t make them feel like they must constantly perform to be acceptable. 

So what are all those do’s and don’ts about in Scripture?

Catherine explains that the do’s and don’t are about protecting us, not making us acceptable to our heavenly Father. Christ’s atoning work on the cross makes us acceptable to God. The don’t list isn’t comprised of a bunch of good stuff that God inexplicably doesn't want us to do—it contains what leads us to bondage. And God’s overwhelming heart is not to condemn us; it is to free us.

Scripture shows how Christ is the Good Shepherd who leaves the 99 sheep who are doing the do’s to go after the one sheep being wounded by the don’ts. The Gospel of John depicts God as a passionate father who longs for his lost, don’t-doing child to come home. The list of do's and don'ts in Scripture are an expression of God's love for his children, his concern to protect his children, and his desire for them to thrive.

Enjoy the re-airing of this favorite early episode of CP/CW and tune in next week for a very special 100th episode of the show!

EPISODE RESOURCES:

The tree of knowledge of good and evil: Genesis 2:15-17

Church of the Highlands: Freedom Curriculum

The Parable of the Lost Sheep: Luke 15:1-7

The Parable of the Lost Son: Luke 15:11-32

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The youth exodus is a very real concern for Christian parents. Much of CP/CW’s content is aimed at assuaging this falling away from the faith in our youth.

But what does a parent do when they have a child who is questioning or has left the faith? How do you parent the prodigal child?

Catherine answers these questions with hard-earned, first-hand experience by offering these vital guidelines:

1. Love your child unconditionally, regardless of what they think, say, or do.

2. Rid the obstacles in your child's life in prayer.

3. Recognize and respect what stage of parenting you are in: Caregiver, Cop, Coach, or Counselor.

4. Prayerfully establish Godly boundaries. Blessings come from boundaries.

5. Apologize for mistakes. Humility is a bridge builder.

6. Do not try to convince or convict your child. That is the Holy Spirit’s job.

7. Do not coerce or controlyour child. That is how the enemy works. 

8. Remember that your child does not need a sermon. They need an encounter with God.

Laced throughout this advice are keen insights and critical direction on how to build a strong relationship with a teen or adult child who is on the prodigal path. There are things that can help to draw a child closer to God, and there are things that may seem right but are, in fact, counterproductive. They may push a child further from God.

When a child questions the faith, we must patiently answer their questions. If they leave the faith, we must love them with no strings attached and fervently pray for them to have an encounter with God. Loving our kids like Christ while not compromising truth is the most important way we can minister to them in a place of wandering or doubt.

Joining Catherine in the hosting chair is Laurie Christine, an author, podcast host, Biblical Parenting Coach, wife, and mom of four loud, adventurous boys. Her podcast, Redeeming the Chaos, invites moms of boys to join her on the wild, wonderful adventure of raising courageous boys and connecting them with Christ Her new devotional book for boys, Rise of the Enemy, was released on Amazon last year.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

EPISODE 14: How To Battle for Your Kids in Prayer

Get Catherine’s Prodigal Bundle including a Scripture Prayer List for Children Who Have Left the Faith: Subscribe HERE

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Studies show that a majority of kids raised in Christian homes are leaving the faith when they leave the nest. It is vital that we understand the primary reasons why young people no longer believe if we want to help them return to the faith.

In this episode, Catherine airs an important conversation she had recently on the Redeeming the Chaos Podcastwith Laurie Christine. Catherine and Laurie discuss new research which tells us why young people are bailing on Christianity. Highlighted are the 7 most prominent reasons Gen Zrs cite for walking away from the Christian faith. They are:

1. I have a hard time believing that a good God would allow so much evil or suffering in the world (29%):see EPISODE 66 w/ Dr. Douglas Groothuis

2. Christians are hypocrites(23%)

3. I believe science refutes too much of the Bible(20%) See Dr. Stephen Meyer: Signature in the Cell, The Return of the God Hypothesis, and Darwin’s Doubt; also see Dr. John Lennox (The “God Delusion “ Debate with Richard Dawkins)

4. I don’t believe in fairy tales(19%) see “The Case for Christ” & “The Case for Christ for Kids” by Lee Strobel

5. There are too many injustices in the history of Christianity (15%) see Episode 9: How Does Christian Worldview Creates the World We all Want to Live”, see Episodes 93, 94, & 95 w/ Os Guinness

6. I used to go to church, but it’s just not important to me anymore(12%)

7. I had a bad experience in church/with a Christian(6%)see Episodes 39, 40, 41, & 42; see “When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community from Emotional & Spiritual Abuse” by Dr. Chuck DeGroat

Catherine offers some helpful resources to consult if a child you know has embraced one of these claims about Christianity, and she and Laurie also offer some helpful resources for discipling younger kids in the faith.

BIO: Laurie Christine is an author, podcast host, Biblical Parenting Coach, wife, and mom of four loud, adventurous boys. Her podcast, Redeeming the Chaos, invites moms of boys to join her on the wild, wonderful adventure of raising courageous boys and connecting them with Christ Her new devotional book for boys, Rise of the Enemy, was released on Amazon last year.

RESOURCES REFERENCED AND CITED:

“Emerging Gen Z may deliver huge blow to religion in U.S.” by Jeff Brumley (June 8, 2018)

The American Worldview Inventory in 2022highlights worldview beliefs of American pastors.

“Only Half of Evangelical Pastors Possess a Christian Worldview: Incidence Even Lower for Most Denominations” (Cultural Research Cente::ACU)

ACU Cultural Research Center Worldview Inventory 2020-current

Foundation Worldview Curriculum (use “CPCW10” code for 10% discount)

Apologia: What We Believe (4 volume set)

EPISODES CITED:

Episode 57: “How To Teach Your Kids the Christian Worldview” w/ Elizabeth Urbanowicz

Episode 58: “7 Lies Culture is Selling Our Kids: Are They Buying?” w/ Elizabeth Urbanowicz

Episode 72: “What Do People Leaving the Faith often Get Wrong about God?” w/ Elizabeth Urbanowics

Episode 84: “How To Learn More Scripture in 2024 Than You Ever Have Before” w/ Zac Fitzsimmons

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

Psalm 78:1-8

Hebrews 10:25

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There is no formula for raising a child to be a lifelong follower of Christ. There is no 5 or 10 or even 20-step program to raising godly kids. Parents have a vital part to play as we commit to raise our children biblically, but we cannot choose the faith for our kids.

So what happens when you do your part as parents. You are diligent about training your kids biblically, and the spiritual formation of your children is first and foremost in your mind. You have gone to church but didn’t leave the responsibility of teaching your kids up to the church.  You have done the devotionals, taught the Bible stories, memorized the Scriptures, and you’ve had the deep conversations…

And you get a different result than you were expecting.

Your child doubts. Your child wanders. Your child takes a different path, perhaps the prodigal path.

What then?

Catherine and her guest DJ Harry cover this tear-jerking territory as they continue to glean parenting wisdom from the book of Daniel. Pastor Harry shares the following powerful parenting lessons from the first chapter of Daniel:

We don't get to choose when or how our children's faith will be tested. (Daniel 1:1) A well-rounded education is a necessary part of significant influence. (Daniel 1:4) There was an intentional transfer of faith from Daniel's parents to Daniel. (Daniel 1:8) Daniel knew how to appeal to his ungodly authorities Daniel. (Daniel 1:11-13)

But even when we parent biblically to the best of our ability, even when we apply all these lessons, some kids will choose to wander. That does not absolve parents from our responsibility to train our children in the way they should go, which includes taking to heart these incredible lessons we can learn from the book of Daniel.

But the results are not up to us.

Parents must remember that we are not judged by God for our results. We are judged by God for our faithfulness. And our faithfulness in standing our ground, in maintaining that godly witness as our kids go out on their own, and our faithfulness to pray over our kids every day—that work will not return void.

DJ HARRY’S BIO:DJ and Lorrie Harry have been spent their entire lives ministering to others. Their early years were spent in the classroom where they developed a love for teaching and building relationships. In recent years, DJ has served as the Senior Pastor at Needham’s Grove Baptist Church in Seagrove, NC. Together, they currently host the Better Together podcast and love speaking at couples retreats and parenting conferences. DJ and Lorrie have a desire to encourage and equip young couples as they walk down the road of marriage and parenting. 

OTHER EPISODES IN THIS SERIES:

Episode 96: Raising Kids To Stand Strong in a Godless Culture

OTHER PODCASTS MENTIONED:

Episode 55 – Better Together: Tools To Empower Your Kids against Cultural Pressures

RESOURCES REFERENCED:

DJ Harry’s website

The Better Together Podcast

To receive a free copy of The Prodigal Bundle,subscribe HERE.

Alliance Defending Freedom

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

Daniel 1:1, 4, 8, 11-13

Proverbs 22:6

Ecclesiastes 8:14

Galatians 6:9

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Raising kids to stand strong in the faith while living in a godless culture is the greatest challenge Christian parents face today. In a world where a majority of kids from Christian households leave the faith after leaving the nest, what can Christian parents do to establish a firm spiritual foundation for their children?

Catherine and Pastor DJ Harry look to the book of Daniel to answer that question.

Four young men in this prophetic Old Testament book stayed committed to God in a very dark and godless culture. They stood when everyone else bowed. They prayed to the one true God when it could cost their lives. DJ has identified four lessons that parents can take from Daniel and his friends that will aid in the spiritual formation of our children. The first two lessons are covered in this episode. They are:

We don't get to choose when or how our children's faith will be tested. (Daniel 1:1) “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.”  A well-rounded education is a necessary part of significant influence. (Daniel 1:4)Daniel and his friends were“young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace.”

We don’t know when or how our children will be tested, so we must be diligent about establishing a well-rounded spiritual education for our kids. It is our job as godly parents to be very intentional about the spiritual formation of our children. That preparation is the rich soil from which the seeds of truth can flourish. God plants the seeds. As parents, we nourish the soil and put our kids in environments where that planting can take place.

DJ HARRY’S BIO:DJ and Lorrie Harry have been spent their entire lives ministering to others. Their early years were spent in the classroom where they developed a love for teaching and building relationships. In recent years, DJ has served as the Senior Pastor at Needham’s Grove Baptist Church in Seagrove, NC. Together, they currently host the Better Together podcast and love speaking at couples retreats and parenting conferences. DJ and Lorrie have a desire to encourage and equip young couples as they walk down the road of marriage and parenting. 

Links:

DJ Harry’s website

The Better Together Podcast

To receive a free copy of The Prodigal Bundle,subscribe HERE.

“Most Teenagers Drop Out of Church When They Become Young Adults” Lifeway Research

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

Daniel 1:1, 4

Matthew 24:8

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As parents, we have a central role to play in passing on faith and freedom to the next generation. The spiritual soil of our kid’s lives is nurtured first and foremost by us through modeling the biblical life, through education and prayer, and through the stories we pass on to our kids about the faith.

Catherine wraps up a trilogy of conversations with world-renowned freedom expert, Os Guinness, author of The Magna Carta of Humanity: Sinai’s Revolutionary Faith and the Future of Freedom. In this episode, they discuss:

Whatmakes the greatest difference in human history?

It is the stories parents tell our children. It is the truth we instill in them. It is the faith they see lived day in and day out from us as ordinary parents planting the seeds of an extraordinary God in the hearts of our kids. This simple but profound work is what makes the difference in the lives of our children, our communities, our country, and our world.

OS GUINNESS' BIO: Os Guinness is an author, social critic, and great-great-great grandson of Arthur Guinness, the Dublin brewer. Os has written or edited more than 30 books that offer valuable insight into the cultural, political, and social contexts in which we all live. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of London and his D.Phil in the social sciences from Oriel College, Oxford.

Os Guinness WEBSITE

The Magna Carta of Humanity: Sinai’s Revolutionary Faith and the Future of Freedom

OTHER EPISODES IN THIS SERIES:

EPISODE 94: “The Dilemma Christians Face at the Ballot Box”

EPISODE 93: “What Most Americans Don’t Understand about Freedom”

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE:

Deuteronomy 11:18-21

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The crisis of leadership in our country is palpable right now, and Christian parents feel that challenge in big ways and small. We don’t have a pure choice at the ballot box, particularly on the national stage. Many Christians have a crisis of conscious when choosing a presidential leader.

How should we respond?

Catherine continues her conversation with the world-renowned author, philosopher, historian, and theologian Os Guinness. Together, they have a frank discussion about:

*The evangelical roots of abolition.

*The bewitching of Americans from the ideals of our revolution to the ideals of the French Revolutions.

*The “Long March” (infiltration of Marxist ideology) on our institutions.

*Antonio Gramsci: 5 Pillars of western civilization that must fall for a successful Marxist Revolution to succeed identified by Antonio Gramsci (religion, family, education, media, law).

*Classical Marxism (communism) vs. Cultural Marxism.

*The link between faith and fertility/secularism and futility.

*The perilous state of our union.

*The crisis of leadership on the national stage.

*The dilemma Christians face at the ballot box (co-belligerence vs. alliance).

*The prayer we should pray for the leader we need.

Much of their conversation centers on the desperate need for Godly leadership at all levels of our government, but especially on the national stage.

“Leaders serve. Great leaders of free republics are teachers of freedom, like Moses,” says Os. We need that kind of leader. Os admonishes Christians to hold our leadership accountable while recognizing the difference between co-belligerence (uniting for a common cause) and alliance. Os also shares the prayer that he and his wife pray over our nation every day:

“Lord… Set over us a leader such that it would be to Your glory to give the victory through him or her.”Amen.

OS GUINNESS' BIO: Os Guinness is an author, social critic, and great-great-great grandson of Arthur Guinness, the Dublin brewer. Os has written or edited more than 30 books that offer valuable insight into the cultural, political, and social contexts in which we all live. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of London and his D.Phil in the social sciences from Oriel College, Oxford.

Os Guinness WEBSITE

The Magna Carta of Humanity: Sinai’s Revolutionary Faith and the Future of Freedom

OTHER EPISODES IN THIS SERIES:

EPISODE 93: “What Most Americans Don’t Understand about Freedom”

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

EPISODE 9: “How the Christian Worldview Creates a World We All Want To Live In”

Italy’s Primer Minister Giorgia Meloni attacks cultural Marxism, progressivism, globalism and quotes Chesterton

“Is Voting for Trump the Lesser of Two Evils” by Catherine Segars

Trump Speech at NRB 2024 (National Religious Broadcasters

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There's a lot we don't understand about freedom in this country. Lasting freedom, in any quantifiable sense, is very new to the historical landscape. After all, the United States fought a bloody revolution to acquire it just a few centuries ago.

Catherine is joined by one of the great intellectual minds in the world today to discuss the nature of freedom and the future of our country. Having authored and edited over 30 books, including The Magna Carta of Humanity: Sinai’s Revolutionary Faith and the Future of Freedom,Os Guinness is a world-renowned authority on freedom. As a western survivor of the Chinese Communist Revolution under Mao Zedong in 1949, and then having extensively studied the fields of history, philosophy, religion, theology, apologetics, and culture, Os possesses not a one-in-a-million perspective on the nature and necessary foundation for freedom to exist and thrive—his perspective is one-in-8 billion.

As Os reveals, slavery is the norm in human history. Freedom is the anomaly.

And yet America’s founders established freedom. But they did not uncover the roots of liberty in 17th century enlightenment thinkers as some suppose. Rather the roots of freedom were excavated from the ancient Hebrew Republic, which was founded on a radical concept of covenant, or constitution, that requires the consent of the governed. The ramifications of these applied truths are far reaching, and they establish the critical foundation for freedom to exist.

As freedom-loving Americans, there's a lot we don't understand about our freedom. Starting with the definition.

“Freedom is not the permission to do what you like. It is the power to do what you ought,” says Os. Most Westerners see freedom as a license to fulfill one’s whims and desires, as Rousseau’s philosophy encouraged. This hedonistic definition supports the ideals of the French Revolution of 1789. But a Biblical understanding of freedom, which our founders possessed, recognizes the weakness of mankind and therefore establishes a system of checks and balances for  "ambition to counter ambition." The plan was brilliant.

The American Revolution is diametrically opposed to the French, but as Os prophetically speaks to our country today, "WHO HAS BEWITCHED YOU, AMERICA? YOU ARE FOLLOWING THE WRONG REVOLUTION."We cannot maintain freedom by following the ideals of the wrong revolution.

We would be wise to remember Paul's words to the church of Galatia: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (5:1)

OS GUINNESS' BIO: Os Guinness is an author, social critic, and great-great-great grandson of Arthur Guinness, the Dublin brewer. Os has written or edited more than 30 books that offer valuable insight into the cultural, political, and social contexts in which we all live. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of London and his D.Phil in the social sciences from Oriel College, Oxford.

Os Guinness WEBSITE

The Magna Carta of Humanity: Sinai’s Revolutionary Faith and the Future of Freedom

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Something in the human soul cries out for equality. It is certainly a virtue that our culture lauds and espouses.

Where does the idea of equality come from?

Can we arrive at the concept of equality from a naturalistic or humanistic worldview?

How do we obtain equality?

Catherine’s special guest in this episode is an expert in the fields of philosophy, theology, and apologetics. Dr. Douglas Groothuis has devoted an entire chapter of his recent book Fire in the Streets: How You Can Confidently Respond to Incendiary Cultural Topicsto the topic of equality. The necessary foundation for equality is a huge argument in favor of the Christian faith and the Christian worldview.

The renowned atheistic historian Yuval Noah Harari openly admits in his bestselling book, Sapiens,that “the Americans got the idea of equality from Christianity, which argues that every person has a divinely created soul, and that all souls are equal before God.”

It is impossible to ground the concept of equality without the Christian worldview, which says that we are created in the image of a personal, loving, all-powerful, all-knowing God. We have all fallen short of His glory, so Christ paid an equal price to redeem us.

There is no basis for equality without the Christian God and the Christian worldview. Catherine and Dr. Groothuis unpack the concept of equality in this episode, and in doing so they arrive at a powerful argument in favor of the Christian faith. Our kids in live in a world that demands equality. We need to help them see where it comes from.

GROOTHUIS’ BIO: Dr. Groothuis holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy (University of Oregon, 1993) has served a Professor of Philosophy and the head of the apologetics and ethics program at Denver Seminary since 1993. He is looking forward to a new chapter as the distinguished university research professor of apologetics and Christian worldview at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is the author of nineteen books, including the popular and voluminous textbook, Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith, 2nd ed.(IVP Academic, 2022), as well as a poignant memoir, Walking Through Twilight: A Wife’s Illness—a Philosopher’s Lament(InterVarsity, 2017), and a bold critique of Critical Race Theory, Fire in the Streets (Salem Books, 2022).

Dr. Groothuis’ website

Dr. Gruuthuis’ podcast: Truth Tribe

EPISODE RESOURCES:

Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faithby Dr. Douglas Groothuis

Dr. Stephen Meyer’s website

The Psychology of Totalitarianismby Mattias Desmet

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankindby Yuval Noah Harari

John 18:37

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Cancel culture is nothing new. We see it all throughout Scripture. The enemy loves to cancel people. He tried to cancel Jesus, but it didn’t work. Satan never stops trying to silence the truth.

In this episode, Catherine investigates the shocking roots of the new political movement that has codified cancel culture in our society. Where does it come from?

Catherine’s special guest has written a brilliant response to the radical ideology at the heart of cancel culture, an ideology that has set our cities on fire and exacerbated the racial divide. Dr. Douglas Groothuis has authored dozens of books and scholarly articles and is a leading expert on philosophy, theology, history, religion, and culture. His recent book, Fire in the Streets: How You Can Confidently Respond to Incendiary Cultural Topics,expertly traces cancel culture back to its Marxist roots.

Topics covered in this episode include:

Marxism & Neo-Marxism

Repressive Tolerance

Racism

Black Lives Matter

Defund the Police

Cancel Culture

Standpoint Epistemology

Intersectionality

Dr. Groothuis takes us on a journey to dig up the toxic roots of cancel culture and points us toward the liberating truth at the heart of the Gospel.

DR. GROOTHUIS’ BIO: Dr. Groothuis holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy (University of Oregon, 1993) has served a Professor of Philosophy and the head of the apologetics and ethics program at Denver Seminary since 1993. He is looking forward to a new chapter as the distinguished university research professor of apologetics and Christian worldview at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is the author of nineteen books, including the popular and voluminous textbook, Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith, 2nd ed.(IVP Academic, 2022), as well as a poignant memoir, Walking Through Twilight: A Wife’s Illness—a Philosopher’s Lament(InterVarsity, 2017), and a bold critique of Critical Race Theory, Fire in the Streets (Salem Books, 2022).

Dr. Groothuis’ website

Dr. Gruuthuis’ podcast: Truth Tribe

EPISODE RESOURCES:

Episode 66: How Can a Good God Allow So Much Evil & Suffering in the World?

Articles on Morgan Bettinger:

Reason Magazine: How an Ill-Informed Internet Mob Ruined a UVA Student's Life

The NY Post: BLM Activist Ruined White Univeristy of Virginia Student’s Rep over Misheard Remark

Daily Mail: Celebrated BLM Activist Ruthlessly Destroyed White Woman’s Life

The Woodson Center

“Repressive Tolerance” by Herbert Marcuse

Heather MacDonald – The War on Cops: How the New Attack on Law and Order Makes Everyone Less Safe

Hosea 4:6

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Is it possible for a marriage to recover from infidelity? Can the emotional wounds of an affair ever be a thing of the past? Can trust be rebuilt after betrayal?

Catherine’s special guests in this episode answer those questions with a resounding “yes!” Josh and Katie Walters, authors of New Marriage, Same Couple: Don’t Let Your Worst Days Be Your Last Days,had a marriage that was rocked to the core from an affair that nearly destroyed their relationship. Their restoration required grace, forgiveness, hope, and leaning into God like never before, but now their marriage is the epitome of love and fulfillment that we all long for with our spouses.

In this raw conversation, Josh shares how the desperation of his darkest hours fed a hunger for God like never before, and that hunger brought hope and healing. Katie shares how she found in Christ a loving Savior who is kinder than anyone we know. Piece by piece, God put their marriage back together and has given them a ministry to restore other marriages.

The enemy has come to steal our marriages, our children, our families, our futures, but God is committed to bring abundant life into our closest relationships. Josh and Katie Walters have experienced this reality first hand and they seek to share that redemption with others.

Josh’s Bio: Josh has been on staff at Seacoast Church for the last 14 years where he currently serves as the Executive Pastor for Seacoast Experience. He is a member of the Teaching Team and helps oversee what happens in person and online each weekend.

Katie’s Bio: Katie serves on the Experience Team at Seacoast Church and teaches as well. She is the CEO of Francis and Benedict, a fashion line that creates waxprint clothing hand made by single moms and widows in Togo, Africa.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

Josh & Katie’s Website

Connect with them on Instagram & Facebook

New Marriage, Same Couple: Don’t Let Your Days Be Your Last Days

New Marriage, Same Couple Workbook

Josh’s Doppelganger

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

John 10:10

Romans 5:3-5

Romans 4:17

John 16:33

Hebrews 11:6

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We all want to have a marriage that thrives, but one-third of Christian marriages end in divorce, a figure that is “statistically identical to that of non-born again adults” according to recent research from Barna.

What critical foundation are so many Christians missing in their marriage that leads to the demise of their primary relationship?

Josh and Katie Walters, authors of the brand new book New Marriage, Same Couple: Don’t Let Your Worst Days Be Your Last Days,identify four essential principles that will help every marriage to thrive. After a devastating season involving an affair that rocked their marriage to the core, Josh and Katie discovered four Biblical mindsets that transformed their relationship. Those mindsets form the word STAY:

S—Start with you.

T—Take quitting off the table.

A—Allow others to be a part of your story.

Y—Yield to God’s vision for your marriage.

The true testament of these mindsets is that they were applied to a dead marriage, and now that marriage is thriving. Catherine, Josh & Katie have a refreshing, raw, and grace-filled conversation about how we allow the enemy to sew seeds of discord and destruction into our relationships, but God has a plan to redeem what the enemy has stolen.

Josh’s Bio: Josh has been on staff at Seacoast Church for the last 14 years where he currently serves as the Executive Pastor for Seacoast Experience. He is a member of the Teaching Team and helps oversee what happens in person and online each weekend.

Katie’s Bio: Katie serves on the Experience Team at Seacoast Church and teaches as well. She is the CEO of Francis and Benedict, a fashion line that creates waxprint clothing hand made by single moms and widows in Togo, Africa.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

Josh & Katie’s Website

Connect with them on Instagram & Facebook

New Marriage, Same Couple: Don’t Let Your Days Be Your Last Days

New Marriage, Same Couple Workbook

Josh’s Doppelganger

SCRIPTURE’S REFERENCED:

1 John 1:9

James 5:16

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Life has tough lessons in store for all of us. Seeing those experiences through the lens of Biblical truth is imperative if we want to thrive in these difficult seasons and grow. As parents, we want to prepare our kids for these challenges so they can flourish.

What lessons are most important for our kids to learn?

In this wildly creative episode, Catherine digs into her acting roots and shares the three most important lessons life teaches everyone by examining the foundational principals of improvisational acting. Those lessons are:

1.  You can’t choose what happens to you in life, but you can choose your response.

At some point, life throws everyone a curve ball. An anticipated promotion doesn’t happen. A beloved child has a permanent disability. A routine outing results in a tragic accident. In big ways and small ways, life disappoints us. So what do you do? Life lesson # 2 tells us.

2.  Whatever life brings you in life, accept it and build.

When life gives us a sucker punch to the gut, we must remember that God causes all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28) So we need to teach our kids to accept whatever comes our way, and build on it—expecting God to do something good with what ails us.

3.  With God, your mistake can become a masterpiece.

That excruciating loss in your life, that big mistake, that epic fail, that horrific accident… in the hands of God can become triumphant. It can become the greatest victory. It can become a new ministry that leads other people to victory—if we let God have His way.

Teaching our kids these practical principles will enable them to grow in the toughest seasons of life by trusting God to bring good out of what the enemy meant for harm.

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

James 1:2-4

Romans 8:28

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We think of sex trafficking as being out there somewhere in the jungles of Central America or in Thailand and Cambodia. And to be sure, it is there. But what we must understand as parents and as Christians is that human trafficking is in every zip code in the United States as well.

What do we need to know as parents to help prevent our children from being sexually exploited?

In this episode, Dr. Rondy Smith shares the shocking way many young girls are being lured by sexual predators. She reads a letter from a young woman with the pseudonym “V” who was sexually exploited for all of her teenage years—and  her parents had no idea even though it was happening under their roof. “V” was lured into a sexually exploitive relationship by a distant family member in his 30s who was posing as a suicidal 12-year-old boy from a neighboring school. Once this predator got his first image, he had control which he used to manipulate “V” for 8 years.

Rondy provides invaluable advice for parents to spot the signs of sexual exploitation. Moms and dads must:

*Heed that still, small voice—if something feels off, trust your instincts.

*If your child panics when denied access to their devices, dig deeper. That could be a sign that they are in a sexually exploitive relationship.

*Know that your child will often take the blame for their abuser and seek to shield others from the pain of what is happening.

*Use extreme caution when posting pictures of children online.

*Learn to think like a predator because they exist.

*Not live in fear, but awareness.

Parents must be “wise as serpents but innocent as doves.” (Matt. 10:16). We must know the threats and the signs in order to prevent the spread of this evil.

Rondy’s bio: Dr. Rondy Smith is Founder & CEO of Rest Stop Ministries, which is a residential restoration program for female survivors of sex trafficking in the Nashville, TN area. Rondy is an ordained minister with a Doctorate in Education from Vanderbilt University in Human & Organizational Development, and she has served 37 years in Corporate, Academic, and Ministry professions.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

Rest Stop Ministries, Rest Stop: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter

NCOSE: The National Center on Sexual Exploitation

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

Galatians 1:5

Hebrews 10:23

Romans 4:17

Matthew 18:10-14 (the lost sheep)

Psalm 40:1-3

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January is National Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month. Joining Catherine in a vital conversation to promote awareness is an expert in the field of sexual trauma recovery. Dr. Rondy Smith is the Founder & CEO of Rest Stop Ministries,Tennessee’s first long-term residential restoration program for female survivors of sex trafficking. Rest Stop walks hand-in-hand with victims of sexual trauma through a 3-year recovery program. Graduates are able live happy, healthy, productive lives after completing this God-ordained work.

Catherine’s powerful conversation with Rondy reveals the magnitude of the problem, highlighting the shocking fact that sex trafficking exists in every zip code in the United States. Human trafficking is a world-wide, multi-billion dollar industry that is hidden in plain sight. Here is the alarming reality:

(Stats from Rest Stop Ministries.)

The problem is overwhelming, but Rondy points listeners toward practical ways that they can get involved in the fight against human trafficking. Proverbs 24:11 tells us to “ Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.” The imperative from Scripture is clear, and we all have a part to play.

We can’t fix a problem that we refuse to look at. God hates injustice. So we must take a long, hard look at this problem and become a part of the solution.

RONDY'S BIO: Dr. Rondy Smith is Founder & CEO of Rest Stop Ministries, which is a residential restoration program for female survivors of sex trafficking in the Nashville, TN area. Rondy is an ordained minister with a Doctorate in Education from Vanderbilt University in Human & Organizational Development, and she has served 37 years in Corporate, Academic, and Ministry professions.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

Rest Stop Ministries, Rest Stop: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter

The Samaritan Women: Institute for Shelter Care

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

Isaiah 61

Proverbs 24:11

Matthew 22:39

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

There are eight critically important words that as parents we need to say to our kids, as often as necessary—and they are hard. They may be the hardest words to say in the English language. They are relationship building words, and words that model what true repentance looks like. If you don’t learn how to say these words, at some point, your relationship with your child will break. Those words are:

“I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me.”

In this episode, Catherine walks through the vital components of this critically important admission. It isn’t enough to express regret or sorrow. When we have wronged our child, as parents we must also admit culpability, which helps to free our child from the injury and begin the process of healing. Finally, we must ask for forgiveness, which helps our child to actively release the wound to God.

Also in this episode, Catherine shares:

Talking about what is wrong in the world is the central theme of CPCW, but talking about what is wrong in us is much harder. We can’t effectively address what is wrong out there until we first address what is wrong in us. Expressing humility and true repentance is one of the most important spiritual disciplines we can teach our child. We must teach our kids this vital disciple not just in theory, but also in practice.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGES REFERENCED:

1 Corinthians 13:1-7

John 13:2-17

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This is one of Catherine’s most practical podcast and has been selected as a "best of" episode from 2022. In this insightful message, Catherine helps you leave behind the old and embrace the new with a “Dashboard for Life,” which is a report card containing 13 gauges on how to improve in the new year. Catherine walks you through how to examine your faith life, your marriage or dating life, your family life, and nine other areas by offering simple, everyday guidance on how to make effective and lasting change.


This powerful tool for self-assessment will help all of your relationships, especially your parenting relationships. But most of all, it will help improve your relationship with God. And when that relationship is better, all of your relationships are better.

To get the “Dashboard for Life” Report Card, subscribe on Catherine’s website: https://catherinesegars.com/


OTHER RESOURCES MENTIONED:


Chris Hodges’ Sermon, The Best Teacher, Dec. 26, 2021: https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/the-best-teacher


Financial class: Financial Peace University: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/ramseyplus/financial-peace


The One Year Bible:
Paperback: https://bit.ly/34RK7GZ
Ebook: https://bit.ly/3A4yesO
Bible Reading Plans: https://bit.ly/3FzgdUM
Life Application Bible: https://bit.ly/3A5iPIN

Episode 17 of our show - “How To Discover Your Purpose in Life,” https://www.lifeaudio.com/christian-parent-crazy-world/how-to-discover-your-purpose-in-life

Spiritual Gifts & Personality tests:
https://giftstest.com/
http://www.humanmetrics.com/personality

Scriptures mentioned:
Psalm 100:4; Psalm 51:10; Romans 8:28; Proverbs 29:18; 2 Corinthians 10:5

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King David said, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)

As Believers, we know that we are supposed to hide God’s Word in our hearts, but most of have a really heard time retaining Scripture. We know that a verse is somewhere in a certain book of the Bible, and we sort of know what it says—but we can’t quote it, or even find it without an aid.

What if there were some simple techniques that helped Scripture to stick in your memory and reside in your heart?

There are.

In this special New Year’s episode of CHRISTIAN PARENT/CRAZY WORLD, Catherine shares her tried and true method for memorizing Scripture. Her secret is the power of song. And she welcomes Zac Fitzsimmons, an insanely talented singer/songwriter to share his music with the CP/CW audience.

Zac is devoted to creating powerful, anointed songs from word-for-word passages of Scripture. He sings Psalm 1 and Psalm 8 live in this episode, and Catherine sings harmony. Catherine also shares the proven method she uses for committing Scripture to memory with her kids through song and sign language.

And Catherine issues a challenge to memorize one verse a week this year using a Scripture song—just one verse a week. Even if you fall short of 52 verses in 2024, you will have memorized quite a few and you will have soaked in God’s Word intently and intentionally, and that meditation will bear a lot of fruit in your life and in your family.

So join Catherine’s challenge to learn more Scripture in 2024 than you ever have before!

You can email Catherine to offer feedback and tell her about your Bible memory plan for the new year at catherine@catherinesegars.com.

Zac Fitzsimmons Bio: Zac is a Christian singer/songwriter from Minnesota, USA. He has led various congregations in musical worship for over twenty years and is most known for his ongoing endeavor of writing music and melodies to the Psalms word for word from the English Standard Version of the Bible. These songs are being discovered by people worldwide as valuable tools for soaking in the scriptures in a new way and aiding in scripture memorization. You can find links to the audio, lyric videos and chord charts at www.psalmsongswordforword.com

You can also find Zac on YouTube and Instagram.

To receive downloads of Zac & Catherine’s live perform of Psalm 8, Zac’s performance of Psalm 1, and all of Catherine’s Scripture songs, and pro tips for memorizing the Bible, subscribe at Catherine’s website: https://catherinesegars.com/resources

EPISODE RESOURCES:

See Catherine’s complimentary article on Crosswalk: “Learn More Scripture This Year with This #1 Proven Method”

SCRIPTURE SONG ARTISTS:

The Corner Room

Seeds Family Worship

King Things

Esther Mui

Benjamin NG

The Bigsby Show (for the books of the Bible and the 12 Disciples)

SIGN LANGUAGE RESOURCES:

Hands Speak,  Signs Savvy, ASL Dictionary

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Keeping Christ at the center of Christmas is a huge challenge. Busy parents are constantly pushed and pulled a hundred different directions, especially at the holidays. Our event calendar in December can look like a flow-chart from an international airport with constant departures and arrivals. It is easy to forget Christ in the hustle and bustle of baking, shopping, wrapping, and party-hopping.

How do we keep our families focused on Christ during the hectic holiday season?

Bethany Kimsey, host of the Warrior Mama Podcast, joins Catherine again to discuss how to keep our hearts and our families concentrated on Christ during the Christmas season. These two moms have over 40 years of parenting experience, and in this episode, they share their favorite Christ-centered family traditions. These traditions are:

*Don’t compare yourself to other families.

*Study the names of Jesus.

*Celebrate Advent.

*Watch Christ-centered entertainment.

*Create a Jesse Tree.

*Assign Scripture passages to each family member for Christmas.

*Educate your kids and give to a Christ-centered mission.

*Celebrate Jolaboklaflod (an evening of book-giving) with Christ-centered books.

Employing some of these wonderful family traditions will help counteract the busyness, the commercialism and materialism, and the overall stress of Christmas.

Bethany’s bio: As a mother to 8 children, Bethany Kimsey has seen God radically change her messy motherhood from weary, anxious, and frantic to peaceful, joyful, and triumphant. She helps weary mothers win the battle against worry and fatigue as they understand their identity in Christ and rest in the hope of the Gospel in community with other moms.

Bethany recently authored A Warrior Mama’s Prayer Journal to help mothers pray intentionally over their children and anchor in gospel truths. This can be purchased at  www.Bethanykimsey.co. 

She would love to connect at her website bethanykimsey.com or her Warrior Mama podcast https://whengodbreaksthrough.libsyn.com found on your favorite podcast platform. You can connect with Bethany on Instagram or Facebook as well. 

Get Catherine's original Scripture songs by subscribing HERE. 

OTHER EPISODES MENTIONED:

EPISODE 83: What Huge Lie Does Culture Teach Our Kids at Christmas?(w/ Bethany Kimsey)

EPISODE 81: How Can Celebrating Advent Enrich Your Christmas Season (w/ Laurie Christine)

EPISODE 51: 5 Family-Centered Films for Christmas

Advent Devotional Guide with information on the Jesse Tree (by Laurie Christine)

5 Heartwarming Films You Should Watch This Christmas (article by Catherine Segars)

World Vision’s Gift Catalog

Jolaboklaflod – Icelandic Christmas tradition of giving books.

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“He sees you when you’re sleeping.

He knows when you’re awake.

He knows when you’ve been bad or good

So be good for goodness sake.”

Our culture tells us that Jolly ole St. Nicholas is keeping a list, and he’s checking it twice. He’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice. So the gifts under our tree at Christmas are a direct result of how good or bad we’ve been throughout the year.

Is that how our faith works?

Did God give the great gift of Christ to the world because we were good? Because we deserved Him?

No.

The Christian faith tells us that a very good God sent the gift of his Son to a broken humanity, to a hopeless people who have fallen short of His glory. We don’t deserve the gift of Jesus, but God gave this gift because of His overwhelming love for us.

Likewise, the gifts under our tree for our kids must not be attached to their behavior. Unlike Santa Clause, our gifts must not have strings attached. They should be a result of our love, not a manipulative ploy to garner a good performance from our kids.

Joining Catherine as a co-host for this vital conversation about what our culture gets wrong about Christmas is Bethany Kimsey, a mother of 8 and host of The Warrior Mama Podcast,a show that is devoted to applying the Gospel to the daily details of parenting our children. Together, Bethany and Catherine tackle one of the greatest cultural lies about Christmas—the lie that your Christmas gifts are attached to your goodness.

Bethany's bio: As a mother to 8 children, Bethany Kimsey has seen God radically change her messy motherhood from weary, anxious, and frantic to peaceful, joyful, and triumphant. She helps weary mothers win the battle against worry and fatigue as they understand their identity in Christ and rest in the hope of the Gospel in community with other moms. As a writer, speaker, and encourager of mothers, she wants to see a generation of moms who can connect their motherhood to the love of Jesus in real and practical ways so that they can be confident. 

Bethany recently authored A Warrior Mama’s Prayer Journal to help mothers pray intentionally over their children and anchor in gospel truths. This can be purchased at  www.Bethanykimsey.co. 

She would love to connect at her website bethanykimsey.com or her Warrior Mama podcast https://whengodbreaksthrough.libsyn.com found on your favorite podcast platform. You can connect with Bethany on Instagram or Facebook as well. 

EPISODE LINKS:

Bethany’s website: https://bethanykimsey.com/

The Warrior Mama Podcast

Collaborated episode: The Hope of Christmas and Ways to Walk It Well w/ Catherine Segars

PODCASTS & RESOURCES REFERENCED:

Episode 4:Is Christianity Just a Religion of Do’s and Don’ts

The St. Nicholas Center

Song facts about “Santa Claus is Coming To Town”

Matthew 22:37

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There is a powerful and pervasive cultural myth being piped into our kids these days, and you are a bad parent if you don’t buy into it. The myth says that our kids can be whoever they want to be in life.

Is this idea BIBLICAL?

Is it TRUE or even REALISTIC?

In this solo episode, Catherine tackles this topic head on to establish what is Biblical and what is cultural when it comes to the dreams that our children pursue in life.

The idea that you can be whoever you want to be is the central theme in countless books, movies, and television shows. If you can dream it, you can be it. So the pressure is on for parents to support our child’s dream no matter what it is. After all, one of the most popular verses in the Bible tells us that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)

We often fail to note that this verse is cherry-picked out of a section where Paul talks about his countless struggles, sharing how he has learned contentment with little or with much, in hunger or well fed. This verse is often used to promote the pursuit of a glorious dream yielding material success. It is seldom used to console someone whose dream has been crushed. And yet Paul said that in Christ, we can be content in both of those realities.

Can our kid be whoever they want to be in life?

No.

Nor do we want them to be.

But our kids can be who God created them to be in life. And who God has created them to be is the most exciting and fulfilling dream that our kids can pursue. God’s plan is what we should all be aiming for in life. As parents, we should let our kids see us aim for that mark, and hopefully they will learn to do the same.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

World Magazine

“The Hill: Sports film inspires but falls into familiar prosperity Gospel trap” by Collin Garbarino

The Hill (2023)

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

Philippians 4:6

Philippians 4:8

Philippians 4:11-13

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Keeping Christ at the center of the Christmas season is always a challenge. The hectic pace of life intensifies during December, and often our focus shifts to the never-ending list of responsibilities and chores to complete before the big day.

Strategically celebrating Advent is a wonderful way to keep Christ central in all the commotion of gatherings, parties, concerts, baking, and buying. Utilizing Advent calendars, candles, and books help us to focus on the magnitude of what Christ accomplished in coming to earth while pointing us toward his return.

Catherine’s guest in this episode, Laurie Christine, has accumulated a wealth of devotional resources that will help enrich your Christmas season by celebrating Advent. Catherine and Laurie start by digging into the history of Advent, and then they highlight the great gift of celebrating God’s hope, peace, joy, and love in line with each candle lit. Laurie also offers devotional and book recommendations for all ages to participate in the wonderful celebration of Advent.

Laurie Christine’s Bio: Laurie Christine is an author, podcast host, Biblical Parenting Coach, wife, and mom of four loud, adventurous boys. Her podcast, Redeeming the Chaos, invites moms of boys to join her on the wild, wonderful adventure of raising courageous boys and connecting them with Christ.  In addition to hosting a podcast, Laurie writes devotions and Bible stories for families. Her passion is to raise strong, courageous warriors for the Kingdom of God, and to help families like yours do the same!  Her new devotional book for boys, Rise of the Enemy, just released on Amazon in November.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Laurie Christine's website: https://lauriechristine.com/ 

Laurie Christine's Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/laurie.christine.author/?hl=en 

Laurie Christine has created a wonderful resource for CPCW listeners that contains all of the devotionals and books covered in this episode which can be accessed here:

https://lauriechristine.com/podcast-interview-resources/

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Biblically parenting a child who struggles in their sexuality requires resting on a bedrock foundation of truth while always operating in a spirit of love, humility, and surrender to Christ. We must never deny God’s truth, but a child struggling in this area must first be completely secure in their parents’ unconditional love. Focusing on the relationship is paramount. That relationship is secured by practicing unconditional love, the same love that God gives to us.

What can parents do to build a strong relationship with a child struggling in their sexuality? Incorporate this guidance:

*Commend your child’s courage for sharing their struggle with you.

*Express your unconditional love for your child. Say, “There is nothing you can think, say, or do that will change my love for you. I love you unconditionally, and so does God.”

*Pray fervently. Use the Word of God to pray over your child daily. (Find Scriptures to pray over you child HERE.)

*Listen. Listen. And when you’re done listening to your child.… listen some more.

*Humbly hold fast to Biblical truth on sexuality.

*Speak truth when prompted by the Holy Spirit. Don’t turn every conversation into a sermon. Instead, rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance in your communication.

*Walk in HUMILITY. The LGBTQ community has adopted PRIDE as their virtue, so we must walk in the opposite spirit.

*Model a surrendered life for your child.

*Model repentance for your child. You won’t parent your child perfectly, so when you mess up, tell them you are wrong and ask for forgiveness.

*Forgive yourself for your parenting mistakes and allow God to redeem them.

Catherine’s guest in this episode has been ministering to parents of children in the LGBTQ community for many years because she is one. Melinda Patrick is a mother of a same-sex attracted daughter who has embraced an LGBTQ identity and union. Melinda shares the successes and failures of this parenting journey, and her advice will bless, encourage, and convict us all.

Melinda Patrick’s bio: Melinda is the Director of Parent Support for His Wonderful Works and is host of The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child While Not Compromising Truthand TheEven While Podcast:Living Well in the Midst of Waiting.Melinda has parented a same-sex attracted child for twelve years and is passionate about helping moms and dads build strong relationships with their children while not compromising truth.

RESOURCES MENTIONED/REFERENCED:

Melinda Patrick’s Website

Melinda Patrick’s email address: melinda@melindapatrick.org

Melinda Patrick’s Instagram Page

The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child Well While Not Compromising Truth

Catherine Segars email address: catherine@catherinesegars.com

Debbie Causey’s Website  & Speaker bio

Renovus website

Greg & Lynn McDonald: Embracing the Journey

The Unconditional Conference

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

Matthew 11:28-30

John 8:31

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A Christian can struggle with any number of attractions or temptations, including same sex desire and gender confusion. But should a Christian consider that struggle to be part of their identity? Should who we are attracted to or how we feel about our bodies be central to our being? Is our sexuality an immutable characteristic like our race or ethnicity? In other words, should we should claim our sexuality as part of our essence?

And if we do, what are the ramifications of this conclusion theologically and practically?

Christopher Yuan, author of Holy Sexuality and the Gospel,lived for many years as a gay man. He addresses the issue of our Christian identity very clearly saying:

“If I were to identify as a gay Christian, I would be trying to resuscitate my dead man. We should never put our identity in our sin nature or in our flesh. Sin is never meant to be sanctified. It is meant to be mortified.”

Who we are attracted to is part of our experienceas human beings here on earth. So is how we feel about our bodies. So are our significant roles—husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, friend. So is what we do—teacher, doctor, business owner, plumber … fill in the blank. So is what we are afflicted with: depression, anxiety, disease, addiction, abuse. Those are all, sadly, a part of our fallen human experience.

But that is not who we are.

As Christians, we must identify ourselves as sons and daughters of the most-high God. That is our identity. We must lay every other label down and brand ourselves with Christ. Then and only then can we walk in freedom.

Joining Catherine again to discuss the central topic of identity in the Christian life is Melinda Patrick, host of The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child While Not Compromising Truth.As a mother of a same-sex attracted daughter who has embraced an LGBTQ identity and union, Melinda considers identity to be a central component to every Believer’s spiritual journey. To overcome any temptation or obstacle, we must have our identity firmly rooted in Christ.

OTHER EPISODES IN THIS SERIES:

EPISODE 76: An LGBTQ Mom Responds to Andy Stanley

RESOURCES MENTIONED/REFERENCED:

Melinda Patrick’s Website

Melinda Patrick’s email address: melinda@melindapatrick.org

Melinda Patrick’s Instagram Page

The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child Well While Not Compromising Truth

The Even While Podcast: Living Well in the Midst of Waiting

His Wonderful Works: Hope Healing and Freedom

The Freedom March

Catherine Segars email address: catherine@catherinesegars.com

PODCASTS. ARTICLES, WEBSITES REFERENCED:

EPISODE 69: What Question Burns in the Heart of Your Gen Z Child?

ARTICLE: “What Question Burns in the Heart of Your Gen Z Child?” by Catherine Segars

“Sewing Heresy/Mainline Slide: The Push to Accept Homosexuality Gutted Traditional Protestantism. Evangelical churches Are Headed down the Same Road,” by Mary Jackson (World Magazine)

“How to Confidently Minister to Friends Who Experience Same-Sex Attraction and Gender Confusion” Alisa Childers Podcast w/ Christopher Yuan

“The Number of LGBTQ Identifying Adults is Soaring” (Axios/data from Gallup)

Andy Stanley’s Message: “I Love My Church”

Greg & Lynn McDonald: Embracing the Journey

The Unconditional Conference

Debbie Causey’s Website

SCRIPTURES:

Psalm 24:3

Jeremiah 29:11

1 Corinthians 13:6

Proverbs 11:2

John 6:68-69

Psalm 40:1-3

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Statistics show that one in five Gen Z children are identifying somewhere on the LGBTQ spectrum. One in five. Parents must realize that all of our children are dealing with this issue, because even if our kids aren't personally struggling in their sexuality, their friends are. This issue affects every parent and every child. 

The church needs to have a loving and truthful approach for families facing this issue.

One of the largest and most influential churches in the United States, North Point Community Church, pastored by one of the most influential ministers in the world, Andy Stanley, just went on the record telling us about his church’s approach. Stanley’s message, along with the Unconditional Conference for parents of LGBTQ identifying children held at North Point, signify a substantial departure from where the evangelical church has stood on this issue.

Does Stanley have the right approach? Is it Biblical? Should we be concerned?

Catherine’s guest in this episode has been ministering to parents of children in the LGBTQ community for many years because she is one. As a mother of a same-sex attracted daughter who has embraced an LGBTQ identity and union, Melinda Patrick is precisely the kind of parent that the Unconditional Conference was trying to reach. But she has deep concerns about this conference and Stanley’s teaching.

Together, Catherine and Melinda break down the troubling aspects of this conference and the message that Andy Stanley presented to his church.

Melinda's Bio: Melinda Patrick is the Director of Parent Support for His Wonderful Works and is host of The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child While Not Compromising Truthand TheEven While Podcast: Living Well in the Midst of Waiting.Melinda has parented a same-sex attracted child for twelve years and is passionate about helping moms and dads build strong relationships with their children while not compromising truth.

RESOURCES MENTIONED/REFERENCED:

Melinda Patrick’s Website

Melinda Patrick’s email address: melinda@melindapatrick.org

Melinda Patrick’s Instagram Page

The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child Well While Not Compromising Truth

The Even While Podcast: Living Well in the Midst of Waiting

His Wonderful Works: Hope Healing and Freedom

Catherine Segars email address: catherine@catherinesegars.com

“The Number of LGBTQ Identifying Adults is Soaring” (Axios/data from Gallup)

“The Train is Leaving the Station” by Albert Mohler Jr.

Andy Stanley’s Response: “I Love My Church”

Greg & Lynn McDonald: Embracing the Journey

The Unconditional Conference

Debbie Causey’s Website

The Freedom March

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

John 3:16-21

Matthew 10:34-36

John 18:37

John 14:15

John 15:14

John 15:1

John 8:30-31

Matthew 18:7

Matthew 7:21-23

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Romans 6:23

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There is a question that many Christian parents never ask God. Catherine and her husband didn’t ask God this question for the first two decades of their marriage, despite attending church weekly, tithing, going so small groups, and having daily devotionals. That question is:

WHAT DOES GOD WANT MY FAMILY TO LOOK LIKE?

We often seek God about where we should work, live, and go to church, what school our kids should attend, and how to raise our children—but many parents never ask God how many kids they should have, adopt, or foster.

Why is that?

In this episode, Catherine explores this topic and then allows listeners to be a fly on the wall of her post-interview conversation with Kirsten Vossler, a mother of nine (soon to be ten). They discuss how the church has been subtly influenced by the world’s perspective on parenting and children.

If Jesus is to truly be Lord of our lives, that means He must be Lord of our families. That doesn’t mean we have to crank out as many babies as possible in our child-bearing years, but it does mean we should seek God’s plan over our personal preference.

Kirsten Vossler’s Bio: Kirsten is a mother of 9, yes you heard that right—9 kiddos. She has been a Children’s pastor, a worship leader, a writer, a conference speaker, and now she is host of the Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast.

Kirsten’s Website

Kirsten’s Podcast: Rejoicing in Motherhood

RESOURCES & PODCASTS REFERENCED:

“Should God Have a Say in the Size of Your Family” by Catherine Segars

EPISODE 70: “When God Doesn’t Answer Our Prayers the Way We Hoped He Would” (w/ Andy Howard)

EPISODE 71: “How Does God Bring Beauty Out of the Broken Places in Our Lives?” (w/ Andy Howard)

Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast EPISODE 120 – Dispelling 5 Cultural Myths about Motherhood (w/ Catherine Segars)

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When it comes to blowing up at our kids, it’s not a matter of if. It’s a matter of when. It happens to the best of us. But often the inciting incident isn’t the real issue because the thing that sets us off isn’t the root of the problem. We’ve got to dig up the root if we want to get rid of the bitter fruit.

In this episode, Catherine continues her encouraging and incredibly practical conversation with Kirsten Vossler, a mother of 9 and host of the The Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast. Together, these mamas dig deep to find out what is really going on when that one last nerve is raw and exposed and we just can’t seem to keep it together. They also discuss how to exercise restraint and not indulge that fleshly desire to yell at our kids. The key is leaning into the Holy Spirit.

Using the 7 steps that Kirsten outlined in Episode 74, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us and control our tongues, and getting to the root of what is really bothering will help us to mature as parents and believers. And as we commit to these steps, we will blow it a lot less with our kids.

Kirsten Vossler’s Bio: Kirsten is a mother of 9, yes you heard that right—9 kiddos. She has been a Children’s pastor, a worship leader, a writer, a conference speaker, and now she is host of the Rejoicing in MotherhoodPodcast.

Kirsten’s Website

Kirsten’s Podcast: Rejoicing in Motherhood

OTHER PODCASTS/EPISODES REFERENCED:

EPISODE 74 – 7 Steps to Reset When You’ve Blown It with Your Kids (w/ Kirsten Vossler)

Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast EPISODE 120 – Dispelling 5 Cultural Myths about Motherhood (w/ Catherine Segars)

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

As a Christian parent, you can never have too many resources! Hear compelling segments from three fascinating LifeAudio shows hosted by Christian homeschooling moms and discover a new podcast you'll love! 

Subscribe to the featured shows below & listen to more of their episodes!

Empowering Homeschool Conversations with Peggy Ployhar:https://apple.co/3rStaIj / https://sptfy.com/P4uL 

Real Refreshment with Rachael Carman:https://apple.co/400Tq00 / https://sptfy.com/P4uJ 

Homeschooling Families with Leslie Nunnery:https://apple.co/45y46UT / https://sptfy.com/P4uK 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Let’s be honest… sometimes we blow it as parents. We lose our temper and fly off the handle. It is vital that we know how to reset when we do. All the hard work we do as parents to strategically establish a solid spiritual foundation for our kids will be severely comprised if our relationship is broken.

Catherine’s special guest in this episode is a pro on the parenting front. With nine kids, Kirsten Vossler is devoted to mothering full-time, and she imparts her hard-earned wisdom weekly on The Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast. Kirsten shares with the CPCW audience seven vital steps that we should take when we blow it with our kids. Those steps are:

1. Stop. (Easier said than done, but shut your mouth.)

2. Get alone. Remove yourself physically from the crazy situation.

3. Cry out to God. Be honest.

4. Ask God what He wants to say to you. Not to your kids. To you.He will bring identity, clarity, and perspective to you and the situation.

5. Repent to God first.

6. Repent to your child. Humble yourself. Say “I messed up. Jesus would never talk to you like that.” Acknowledge their pain. Say “I’m sorry.” And ask for forgiveness.

7. Be tender with your child as they are healing.

These steps walk us through the full cycle of repentance. Committing to this process is a critical part of discipling our kids because not only will it help to heal the damage we have caused in the parent-child relationship, it also models for our kids what true repentance looks like.

Kirsten Vossler’s Bio: Kirsten is a mother of 9, yes you heard that right—9 kiddos. She has been a Children’s pastor, a worship leader, a writer, a conference speaker, and now she is host of the Rejoicing in MotherhoodPodcast.

Kirsten’s Website

Kirsten’s Podcast: Rejoicing in Motherhood

Bible Verse Referenced:

Psalm 90:4

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

There are some sins that seem unforgivable… and yet God forgives. But He doesn’t forgive because those sins are okay. He doesn’t brush those sins under the rug and say, “I’ll let it slide this time, but try your best not to torture, rape, or murder anyone again.”  That is notGod’s response to these heinous acts.

So what is His response?

His response is the cross. His response was to take that sin upon Himself and pay the price so that every heinous act is punished. Every sin is paid for.

To thoroughly unpack this difficult topic, Catherine continues her conversation with Elizabeth Urbanowicz from Foundation Worldview, concluding last week’s conversation which analyzed some of the complaints and inaccurate portrayals of God in the deconstruction movement. In this episode, Catherine and Elizabeth discuss who God is more fully, in particular the extent of His mercy which forgives all who repent.

The fact that God is willing to forgive horrific crimes against innocent human beings is hard to fathom. But God’s mercy does not mean that the horrible things that happen in this world are not relevant or significant. God is not cavalier about these abhorrent sins. Quite the contrary. He paid the ultimate price to cover these sins.

Understanding all of God’s attributes is necessary in order to understand who He is. We cannot separate His mercy from His justice. But mercy and justice are perfectly satisfied at the cross in Christ, which enables God to forgive every sin.

Elizabeth’s bio: Elizabeth Urbanowicz holds a B.S. from Gordon College in Elementary Education and Spanish, an M.S.Ed. from Northern Illinois University in Literacy Education, and an M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Several years into her teaching experience, Elizabeth realized that despite being raised in Christian homes, attending a Christian school, and being active in church, her students thought more like the culture than like Christ. Elizabeth began searching for curricular materials that would equip her students to think critically, helping them discover that Christianity is the worldview that lines up with reality. After not finding materials that effectively met this need, she created a curriculum that did.

Foundation Worldview exists to equip Christian parents with the resources they need to train children to soundly interpret Scripture, carefully evaluate every idea they encounter, and understand the truth of the biblical worldview. Elizabeth firmly believes that the Christian youth exodus can be a thing of the past. When kids are equipped to soundly interpret Scripture, they will quickly develop a biblical worldview. When kids are taught to think well, they can carefully evaluate the messages they are exposed to each day.

To see clips from this interview and find inspiring supplemental quotes and posts, connect with Catherine on Instagram and Facebook . To receive updates about each new podcast and free resources like Scripture songs, Bible verses to pray over prodigal children, and a topical index of Scriptures for prayer, subscribe to Catherine’s website.

COUPON CODE:

Use the coupon code “CPCW10” to get $10 off any family license with Foundation Worldview.

Foundation Worldview Website: https://foundationworldview.com/

OTHER EPISODES IN THIS SERIES:

Episode 72: What Do Deconstructionists Often Get Wrong about God?

RESOURCES CONSULTED:

Presbyterians’ Decision to Drop Hymn Stirs Debate (USA Today, 8/5/13)

SCRIPTURE REFERENCED:

Romans 8:28

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Deconstruction is a growing trend within evangelical circles. With a majority of Christian kids leaving the faith after they leave the nest, the number of young people sharing stories of how they are dismantling their faith is on the rise. Many of these stories have inaccurate or incomplete depictions of God.

Richard Dawkins opens the second chapter of his New York Times best-selling book The God Delusiondescribing the God of the Old Testament as “arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.”

With false depictions of God rampant in our culture, a proper understanding of who God is according to His Word is vital for our children’s spiritual foundation, and for ours.

Catherine’s guest in this episode is a good friend of CPCW. Elizabeth Urbanowicz is founder and CEO of Foundation Worldview, a biblically-based curriculum for teaching children the Christian worldview. Elizabeth joins Catherine to have a deep conversation about who God is, His intrinsic attributes, while addressing some of the most popular complaints about God shared in these deconstruction stories.

We must understandall of God’s attributes. We cannot isolate his mercy and his love from his justice and his holiness as all of these inherent character traits combine to comprise who God is. This conversation will help parents and kids understand the totality of God by addressing some of the most misunderstood parts of the Bible.

Elizabeth’s bio: Elizabeth Urbanowicz holds a B.S. from Gordon College in Elementary Education and Spanish, an M.S.Ed. from Northern Illinois University in Literacy Education, and an M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Several years into her teaching experience, Elizabeth realized that despite being raised in Christian homes, attending a Christian school, and being active in church, her students thought more like the culture than like Christ. Elizabeth began searching for curricular materials that would equip her students to think critically, helping them discover that Christianity is the worldview that lines up with reality. After not finding materials that effectively met this need, she created a curriculum that did.

Foundation Worldview exists to equip Christian parents with the resources they need to train children to soundly interpret Scripture, carefully evaluate every idea they encounter, and understand the truth of the biblical worldview. Elizabeth firmly believes that the Christian youth exodus can be a thing of the past. When kids are equipped to soundly interpret Scripture, they will quickly develop a biblical worldview. When kids are taught to think well, they can carefully evaluate the messages they are exposed to each day.

To see clips from this interview and find inspiring supplemental quotes and posts, connect with Catherine on Instagram and Facebook . To receive updates about each new podcast and free resources like Scripture songs, Bible verses to pray over prodigal children, and a topical index of Scriptures for prayer, subscribe to Catherine’s website.

COUPON CODE:

Use the coupon code “CPCW10” to get $10 off any family license with Foundation Worldview.

Foundation Worldview Website: https://foundationworldview.com/

RESOURCES REFERENCED:

EPISODE 57 - How To Teach Our Kids the Christian Worldview (w/ Elizabeth Urbanowicz)

EPISODE 58 - 7 Lies Culture is Teaching Our Kids: Are They Buying? (w/ Elizabeth Urbanowicz)

Richard Dawkin’s quote about the God of the Old Testament from The God Delusion

Portia’s monologue on mercy and justice from The Merchant of Venice

Natasha Crain: A Christian Response to a Viral Deconversion Post

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Brokenness is a reality of life. We all experience it. Something breaks each and every one of us, usually many things. But God promises to use our brokenness to find beauty in this world.

Catherine continues her heart-warming conversation with Andy Howard, a father who received a devastating diagnosis with his first child that broke him. As we heard in the last episode, Andy’s daughter Peyton was born legally blind with 10% brain function. As a baby, Andy was told that she would never walk and would likely never speak. That diagnosis led to a four-year season of depression.

But the skies began to clear on a beach trip when Andy saw a couple picking up sea shells, and whenever they found a broken one, they would throw it back. God spoke so clearly to Andy’s heart that morning, telling him that there is beauty in those broken shells... and Andy has been collecting beautiful broken shells ever since.

In this episode, Catherine and Andy discuss how God is committed to bringing beauty from the broken places in our lives. You will get to peek behind the veil to see what Payton is really experiencing here on earth, and you will learn how to help families who have children with special needs.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

To see clips from this interview and find inspiring supplemental quotes and posts, connect with Catherine on Instagram and Facebook . To receive updates about each new podcast and free resources like Scripture songs, Bible verses to pray over prodigal children, and a topical index of Scriptures for prayer, subscribe to Catherine’s website.

ANDY'S BIO: For over 20 years, Andy Howard has served in ministry as a youth pastor and marriage ministry pastor. Andy is an advocate for mental health awareness as he has known the heaviness of depression himself. That battle with depression led Andy to tip the scales at 345 lbs. He was Self medicating a crisis in his family with food. He and his wife Tiffany decided to change that, losing over 350 lbs. combined. They have co-founded a health coaching business called Taking Back My Life, where they have helped thousands of people get healthy and well. Andy is also host of the When Words Don’t Come Easy podcast,and he has authored a book with the same name. You’ll hear more about that in our conversation. He lives with his wife, Tiffany, in Bryan, Texas and their three beautiful daughters, Payton, Parker, and Presley.

OTHER EPISODES IN THIS SERIES:

EPISODE 70: When God Doesn’t Answer Our Prayers the Way We Hoped He Would

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Andy’s WEBSITE

Andy’s podcast: When Words Don’t Come Easy

Andy’s book: When Words Don’t Come Easy

Catherine’s episode with Andy on When Words Don’t Come Easy—From Grief to Redemption: Catherine Segars’ Powerful Story of Faith, Love, and Redemption

CPCW Episode 66: “How Can A Good God Allow So Much Evil and Suffering in the World? (w/ Dr. Douglas Groothuis)”

SCRIPTURE’S REFERENCED:

Isaiah 61:1-4

Psalm 23

Matthew 7:24-27

Luke 4:14-30

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

It is so hard when God’s answer is no—for us and for our kids. There are times in our lives when we pray and we fast and we hope for a miracle and we speak the Word of God over a situation in our lives—and God is still faithful—but He doesn’t give us the answer we hoped for. The answer we prayed for. The answer that this person might have gotten and that person might have gotten, but for some reason we didn’t.

Catherine’s special guest in this episode has walked that path. A devastating diagnosis with his first child blindsided him and led to a four-year battle with depression. But God met him in the most beautiful way, walking with Andy Howard through his darkest hours as a parent. God has truly brought beauty out of what broke Andy. And what he has learned will bless us all.

In this first installment of a two-part interview, Andy share’s his testimony of receiving a life-altering diagnosis with his first child, Payton, at Dallas Children’s Hospital, how he has worked through an answer from God that wasn’t what he prayed for, and how God spoke a powerful message to him that we all need hear. Tune in next week to hear part two where we find out how God has brought so much beauty out of the broken places in Andy’s life, how his daughter Payton is doing now, and how we can help special needs families in the body of Christ.

To see clips from this interview and find inspiring supplemental quotes and posts, connect with Catherine on Instagram and Facebook . To receive updates about each new podcast and free resources like Scripture songs, Bible verses to pray over prodigal children, and a topical index of Scriptures for prayer, subscribe to Catherine’s website.

Andy’s bio: For over 20 years, Andy Howard has served in ministry as a youth pastor and marriage ministry pastor. Andy is an advocate for mental health awareness as he has known the heaviness of depression himself. That battle with depression led Andy to tip the scales at 345 lbs. He was self-medicating a crisis in his family with food. He and his wife, Tiffany, decided to change that, losing over 350 lbs. combined. They have co-founded a health coaching business called Taking Back My Life, where they have helped thousands of people get healthy and well. Andy is also host of the When Words Don’t Come Easy podcast,and he has authored a book with the same name. He lives with his wife, Tiffany, in Bryan, Texas and their three beautiful daughters, Payton, Parker, and Presley.

*Please vote for Catherine to Win a Spark Media Ignite Fan Award in the category of “Best Female Host” here: https://www.sparkmedia.ventures/ignite-2023-awards

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Andy’s WEBSITE

Andy’s podcast: When Words Don’t Come Easy

Andy’s book: When Words Don’t Come Easy

Catherine’s episode with Andy on When Words Don’t Come Easy—From Grief to Redemption: Catherine Segars’ Powerful Story of Faith, Love, and Redemption

CPCW Episode 66: “How Can A Good God Allow So Much Evil and Suffering in the World? (w/ Dr. Douglas Groothuis)”

SCRIPTURE’S REFERENCED:

Matthew 11:6

Job 13:15

Isaiah 61:1-4

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The LifeAudio Podcast Network is thrilled to announce that Hearing Jesus for Kids is now available on all podcasting apps! 

Sometimes people think that the Bible is just for adults, but God actually wants kids to know about Him and encourages parents to raise faithful families. So, on Hearing Jesus for Kids, your children are going to be able to learn all about God’s Big Story and how he shows Himself to us through the Bible. Host & Children's Pastor Rachael Groll is excited to help your kids learn what the stories in the Bible mean so that they can learn how to live out their faith in everyday life!

SUBSCRIBE NOW: 

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3sCuEXf  

Spotify: https://sptfy.com/OSgW 

Rachael Groll's Website: https://shehears.org 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

One prevailing question burns at the heart of each generation—one question keeps them up at night. Understanding this question helps us know how to reach people of every age, especially our kids.

For the Baby Boomers, people born in the 40s, 50, and 60s, that question is:

What is TRUE?

Like the great philosophers of old, this generation was preoccupied with truth.

For Gen X, born between 1965 and 1980, that question is:

What is REAL?

This generation invented reality TV because they are preoccupied with finding authenticity.

For Millennials, born between 1981 and 1995, that question is:

What is GOOD?

This generation is deeply concerned about the environment, justice, and contributing to the greater good.

Which brings us to our kids, to Gen Z. What question burns at the heart of this generation? They want to know:

What am I?

Or “Who am I?”

Our kids are preoccupied with understanding their identity.

In this episode of CPCW, Catherine expertly navigates each of these questions in the light of Biblical truth. Every generation is asking a vital question, but they aren’t necessarily asking them in the right order. We cannot know who we are, our true identity, unless we understand what is good. And we can’t understand what is good if we don’t know what is real. And we can’t know what is real unless we first know what is true.

Without a foundation of Biblical truth, we can’t arrive at the correct answer for any of these crucial questions. But when you start with the right question, you can arrive at the correct answer for each generation. Truth is paramount. This is why Jesus’ primary purpose in coming to the earth was to proclaim the truth. Christ said,

“For this purpose I was born. For this purpose I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth.” (John 18:37)

Truthleads to an accurate definition of reality,which leads to the correct definition of what is good,which leads to the proper understand of who we are, our identity.

Moms & Dads, this is the prevailing issue of our kid's day. Identity is it. We must understand what our kids are facing, and how to lead them back to truth.

LINKS:

Read Catherine's new article on Crosswalk: What Question Burns in the Heart of Your Gen Z Child?

RESOURCES REFERENCED/CONSULTED:

CPCW Episode 68: “What Critical Foundation Do Many Parents Miss When Discipling Their Kids?” (w/ Robby Angle, 8/21/23)

CPCW Episode 23: “What Is the Biggest Threat to Our Faith and Culture Today?” (1/31/22)

The Truth Project (Focus on the Family)

“Powerlifter Reacts To Biological Male Taking Women’s National Record: ‘Completely Unfair’” (The New York Post,8/16/23)

Midland Public Schools October 2021 Board of Education Meeting (Midland Public Schools, 10/25/21)

“No Litter Boxes for Students Who Identify As Cats: Superintendent” (Patch.com, 2/26/22)

“Kentucky School District: Students Are Dressing and Acting like Cats” (WLWT Channel 5, 8/25/21)

“What’s the Deal with Furries?” (Psychology Today, 7/24/17)

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

John 18:37

John 14:6

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Where does discipleship in the home start? Do you use a particular curriculum or a new Bible study or is there a check list that gets the job done?All of those things can be helpful, but they aren’t where discipleship starts.Discipleship needs to begin with a spiritual truth that so many parents miss because oftenthey don’t know it themselves.

That truth is identity.

Understanding our identity in Christ is central to our walk with God, which makes it central to our parenting and our discipleship of our kids and their understanding of who God has created them to be. If we miss the core component of identity, that omission will show up everywhere else.

Joining Catherine to unpack the foundational truth of identity is Robby Angle, President and CEO of Trueface, based in Dawsonville Georgia. A small groups expert, Robby is the author of Embarkas well as The Cure for Groups. He also hosts a podcast, Trueface: Beyond The Mask, which helps listeners learn how to increase trust in God and experience his grace.

Robby and his wife, Emily, both worked in professional counseling and aid work, where they served with Samaritan’s Purse in Pakistan and Myanmar overseeing international disaster response teams. They received a Master's in Community Counseling from Appalachian State University, which has equipped them to teach others how to have a deeper relationship with God. They now have 8 children, most of which are adopted.

Together, Catherine and Robby unpack the critical foundation of our shared identity in Christ and then apply that understanding to our children's specific identity, their purpose in life. The theology and practical applications revealed in this episode are indispensable in our parenting and discipling our kids.

EPISODE LINKS:

Robby’s Website: Trueface

Robby’s Podcast - Trueface: Beyond The Mask

More about Robby Angle: Robby’s Bio

BOOKS REFERENCED:

The Cure: What If God Isn’t Who You Think He Is and Neither Are You by John Lynch, Bruce McNicol, and Bill Thrall

The Cure for Parents by Lynch, McNicol, and Thrall

The Practice of the Presence by Brother Lawrence

Humility: The Journey Toward Holiness by Andrew Murray

Living Fearless: Exchanging the Lies of the World for the Liberating Truth of God by Jamie Winship

WEBSITES REFERENCED:

The Giftedness Center – Discovering Your Giftedness: A Step by Step Guide

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

There isn't a more stressful job in life than raising children to be God-loving, God-fearing, competent, motivated, responsible adults. After all, that is the goal. A large part of that process, we don’t have control over. But there are parts that we do. There are habits we can employ that will reduce stress and promote peace in our parenting.

Catherine’s guest in this episode is Elizabeth Andreyevskiy, a stress coach for Christian moms and host of the Emotionally Healthy Legacy Podcast. A mom of 4 herself, Elizabeth knows the value of emotionalwellness in parenting and the impact it has on the whole family. She is passionate about teaching moms how to prioritize their needs guilt free, lower daily stressors, set healthy boundaries and implement healthy habits. Elizabeth teaches moms how to manage mom rage and overcome guilt and shame. She believes that a strong relationship with God and simple mindset shifts can transform moms in their emotional wellness and break destructive patterns.

Elizabeth has 5 simple, practical habits that parents can employ today to de-stress their lives and experience more peace in their parenting, and she shares those life-changing pro tips with the CPCW audience. They are:

1. Get up earlier than your kids to spend time with God.

2. Journal to process your thoughts.

3. Limit your screen time and turn off notifications.

4. Put downtime in your schedule (don’t over schedule).

5. Ask for help.

Sometimes it isn’t the big, shiny new thing that makes the difference in your life. Sometimes it is a simple, practical change, perhaps something that you used to do that you stopped doing, that makes all the difference. Implementing these practical habits will bring peace into your parenting and eliminate stress.

LINKS:

Elizabeth’s website

The Emotionally Healthy Legacy Podcast

Promised resource: 5 Simple Ways to Calm Down When You Feel Triggered

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

God is Good, But This Isn’t published at inCourage

Take Heart: 100 Devotions To Seeing God When Life’s Not Okay

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

According to recent Barna research, reconciling a good God with an evil world is the number one barrier to the Christian faith for the next generation. As parents, if there is an obstacle to our kids’ faith, we need be prepared with some answers.

Catherine’s special guest for this episode is eminently qualified to help us reconcile any difficult question concerning the Christian faith. Dr. Douglas Groothuis is one of the great apologetic voices in the world today. He is the author of 17 books, including Christian Apologetics:A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith, Walking through Twilight: A Wife’s Illness—A Philosopher’s Lament,and most recently,Fire in the Streets: How You Can Confidently Respond to Incendiary Cultural Topics.He is currently a professor of philosophy and the head of the apologetics and ethics program at Denver Seminary.

Dr. Groothuis has a brilliant mind that he has employed for God’s glory and the good of the church for many decades. But most striking in this conversation is not only how this masterful apologist ponders the great perplexities of life through the lens of our faith, but also how he has employed that faith in the midst of great heartache. Dr. Groothuis shares his own deeply personal experience with suffering in the loss of his late wife, Rebecca. His thoughts are deep, and his journey is powerful and poignant.

Every worldview must wrestle with the problem of evil. The Christian worldview provides philosophical and theological answers that are rational and that resonate with the human experience. But most of all, our faith provides hope, meaning, and redemption in life’s heartache. As Dr. Groothuis says, “We can smelt meaning out of suffering.”  

RESOURCES:

Dr. Douglas Groothuis website

Truth Tribe with Douglas Groothuis (podcast)

Dr. Groothuis speaking request

BOOKS REFERENCED:

Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith (2nd ed.) by Dr. Douglas Groothuis

Walking through Twilight: A Wife’s Illness—A Philosopher’s Lamentby Dr. Douglas Groothuis

RESEARCHED REFERENCED:

Emerging Gen Z May Deliver Huge Blow to Religion in U.S. (Baptist News Global, 6/8/18)

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

Gen. 50:20

Isaiah 50:4

1 Kings 19

John 11:35

Romans 8:28

John 6:68-69

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Woke ideology is everywhere. You can’t escape it. As parents, we need to understand exactly what it is so we can help our kids to understand it. That means we need to know where it came from and where it is going.

Catherine wraps up this two-part series on Woke by digging into the history of Woke philosophy:

Catherine answers those questions by giving an aerial view of Woke’s history and then shows where it is headed.

OTHER EPISODES IN THIS SERIES:

Ep. 64 "What Gives Woke Ideology Its Power?"

PODCASTS REFERENCED & CONSULTED:

CPCW Worldview Series:

Ep. 6 “5 Reasons You Should Teach Your Kids about Other Worldviews”

Ep. 7 “What Worldviews Are Competing with Your Kids’ Faith?”

Ep. 8 “What Sets the Christian Worldview Apart from Other Worldviews”

Ep. 9 “How Does the Christian Worldview Create a World We All Want to Live in?”

Red Pilled America Woke Army Series (re-released)

Ep. 120 Woke Army (Part One)

Ep. 121 Woke Army (Part Two)

Ep. 122 Woke Army (Part Three)

Ep. 123 Woke Army (Part Four)

Ep. 124 Woke Army (Part Five)

The Liz Wheeler Show

Ep. 4 What Do You Like about Being White?

Ep. 270 The Cult of Woke Is… an Actual Cult (with Dr. James Lindsay)

Ep. 291 How To Extract Your Friends and Family from the Woke Cult (with Dr. James Lindsay)

RESOURCES CONSULTED:

“Karl Marx Lived in Fifth and Neglected His Children” (HubPages, 6/21/10)

“BLM removes page on ‘nuclear family structure’ amid NFL vet’s criticism” (New York Post, 9/24/2020)

“Blood-boiling moment woke Stanford law school students taunt conservative judge invited to speak there—before dean of ‘equity’ ambushed him with pious speech accusing him of ‘harm’” (Harriet Alexander, Daily Mail,3/11/23)

“Terrified swimming champion Riley Gaines is ambushed by screaming trans activists and ‘hit twice by a guy in a dress’ after Saving Women’s Sports speech at San Fran State Uniersity – as cops say there were no arrests” (Rohan Gupta, Daily Mail,4/7/23)

“High School volleyball Player Injured by Trans Athlete Speaks Out to Megyn Kelly, with Payton McNabb” (The Megyn Kelly Show, 4/28/23)

“How the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ between Venus and Serena Williams and World No. 203 Karsten Braasch played out” (Urvi Mehra, Sportskeeda, 6/22/23)

“Dear Patti LuPone: The ‘Christian Right’ and the Taliban are far from the same” (Billy Hallowell, The Washington Times,4/27/23)

Want more on Christian Apologetics for Parents? Visit https://www.crosswalk.com/author/catherine-segars 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Woke ideology permeates our culture. It has saturated our airwaves—sung in our songs, read in our novels, acted out in our films, espoused by our educators, preached by our politicians, and even (re)written into our history.

But what exactly is woke, and what makes it so powerful?

Catherine begins a new two-part solo series on woke ideology by looking at the long view of history to properly establish the platform it rests on. After all, you can’t de-platform something unless you understand what is holding it up. There is a kernel of truth that perpetuates this dangerous philosophy.

So in this episode, Catherine identifies that truth by examining the abuse of power operating in hierarchical structures throughout human history, from the Egyptian subjugation of the Israelites to the conquest of Canaan to the Hebrew occupation by the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and Romans. She also examines this oppressive structure in the Japanese Heian period, European feudalism, and the Indian caste system.

What is the woke answer to oppression?

Erase the hierarchy. Defund the Police. Demolish our legal system. Destroy the nuclear family. Put children on par with parents in the home.

What is God’s answer?

It is an entirely different way of doing things. Jesus said, “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.” (Matt. 20:25-28)

God doesn’t erase the hierarchy. He turns it upside down. Those in charge must serve, not make slaves of others.

Woke cannot answer the problems it criticizes. But we’ve got to recognize the tiny bit of truth that woke ideology gets right if we want to explain everything it gets wrong.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Stolen Youth: How Radicals Are Erasing Innocence and Indoctrinating a Generationby Bethany Mandel

“I Was Asked To Define Woke. My Humiliation Went Viral” by Bethany Mandel in Newsweek

The Last Samurai,  Warner Brothers Picture

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

Colossians 3:25

Isaiah 1:17

Psalm 72:4

Zechariah 7:10

James 1:27

Want more on Christian Apologetics for Parents? Visit https://www.crosswalk.com/author/catherine-segars/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

At some point, every parent will have to work through a crisis with their kids. Whether their child deals with a substance addiction or battles an eating disorder or questions their sexuality or walks away from the faith, parents need encouragement and strategy to work through these difficult seasons.

Joining Catherine again to discuss parenting through the hard times is best-selling author Laine Lawson Craft. Laine’s brand new book, The Parent’s Battle Plan: Warfare Strategies to Win Back Your Prodigal,covers a plethora of parenting potholes. Together, Catherine and Laine cover this vital parenting ground:

And at the end of this episode, these ladies offer a powerful, Spirit-filled prayer to wage war in the heavenlies for this next generation.

LINKS:

Laine’s Book: The Parent’s Battle Plan: Warfare Strategies to Win Back Your Prodigal

Laine’s website

Laine’s Instagram Page

Laine’s Facebook Page

Laine’s podcast: Warfare Parenting Podcast

To receive a free copy of “Scriptures to Pray Over Children Who Have Walked Away from the Faith,” subscribe HERE

STUDY REFERENCED:

“45% of Parents with Adult Children Are Helping Them Pay Their Bills” (Money.com)

RELATED ARTICLES:

Crosswalk: “What Every Parent Needs to Know about the Prodigal Child” by Catherine Segars

Crosswalk: “What To Do if Your Child Has Walked Away from the Faith” by Catherine Segars

(2/2/22)

Lifeway Research: “Most Teenagers Drop Out of Church When They Become Young Adults” (1/15/19)

Cold-Case Christianity: “UPDATED: Are Young People Really Leaving Christianity” by J. Warner Wallace (1/12/19)

Barna Research: “Atheism Doubles Among Gen Z” (1/24/18)

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

Isaiah 43:5-6

Isaiah 54: 13,15,17

Romans 4:17

Jeremiah 31:16-17

Want more on Christian Apologetics for Parents? Visit https://www.crosswalk.com/author/catherine-segars/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Statistics show that a majority of Christian kids are leaving the faith when they leave the nest. That means a majority of Christian parents are parenting a prodigal child. Support for those walking through the prodigal journey is one of the greatest needs for parents in the body of Christ today.

Where does the prodigal parent start?

Joining Catherine to discuss parenting prodigal children in a two-part series is bestselling author Laine Lawson Craft. Laine’s brand new book, The Parent’s Battle Plan: Warfare Strategies to Win Back Your Prodigal, chronicles her 15-year journey with multiple prodigal children who struggled with drugs, sex, depression, suicidal ideation, and so much more.

Parenting has always been hard, but it’s even harder in today’s dark world. Children are bombarded with technology, peer pressures, and substances that can lead to devastating repercussions for not only the child, but also their family. Today’s youth are just one click away from a destructive path.

In this episode, Catherine and Laine answer these questions while pointing parents to the single greatest weapon we have in the battle to win back a prodigal child—that is prayer.

Laine’s Bio: Laine Lawson Craft is an award-winning author, popular media host, and in-demand speaker. The founder and publisher of WHOAwomen magazine (2010-2018), she regularly hosts online challenges and masterclasses as well as Facebook Live events that reach thousands. Her Livin' Lively with Laine podcast encourages women around the world, and her Warfare Parenting podcast encourages parents of adult children. 

Links:

Laine’s website

Laine’s Instagram Page

Laine’s Facebook Page

Warfare Parenting Podcast

To receive a free copy of “Scriptures to Pray Over Children Who Have Walked Away from the Faith,” subscribe HERE

REFERENCED AND RELATED PODCASTS:

EPISODE 13: 4 Types of Prayer Every Believer Should Know

EPISODE 14: How To Battle for Your Kids in Prayer

EPISODE 15: What Should I Expect When I Battle in Prayer?

EPISODE 26: What Every Parent Needs to Know about the Prodigal Child

EPISODE 12: What To Do if Your Child Walks Away from the Faith

BOOKS REFERENCED:

The Parent’s Battle Plan: Warfare Strategies to Win Back Your Prodigalby Laine Lawson Craft

Intercessory Prayer: How God Can Use Your Prayers to Move Heaven and Earthby Dutch Sheets

RELATED ARTICLES:

 “What Every Parent Needs to Know about the Prodigal Child” by Catherine Segars (3/22/22)

“What To Do if Your Child Has Walked Away from the Faith” by Catherine Segars (11/2/22)

"Christian Kids Are Leaving the Faith. What Can We Do about It?" by Catherine Segars (2/9/22)

Lifeway Research: “Most Teenagers Drop Out of Church When They Become Young Adults” (1/15/19)

Cold-Case Christianity: “UPDATED: Are Young People Really Leaving Christianity” by J. Warner Wallace (1/12/19)

Barna Research: “Atheism Doubles Among Gen Z” (1/24/18)

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED: 

Deuteronomy 20:4 

Matthew 16:19, 18:18 

Mark 11:23 

Luke 10:19 

John 10:10 

James 1:5 

Romans 8:28 

Want more on Christian Apologetics for Parents? Visit https://www.crosswalk.com/author/catherine-segars/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you wake up anxious first thing in the morning? Is your mind racing with thoughts of what you need to get done today and what you failed to do yesterday? If this is a pattern for you, we challenge you to break the morning cycle of worry with prayer!

In this episode preview from Teach Us to Pray, host Christina Patterson shares what to pray in the morning for a worry-free day.

Discover More Episodes of 'Teach Us to Pray' with Christina Patterson:

3 Signs God Is Trying to Get Your Attention: https://apple.co/3pmZYHN / https://spoti.fi/42uBdYS 

How to Turn Your Worries into Prayers: https://apple.co/3I4FPgd / https://spoti.fi/3VTyWUO 

How to Pray When You Sense God Moving You In a New Direction: https://apple.co/42tOrVJ / https://spoti.fi/3BoBwIJ 

Why Prayer Is So Hard: https://apple.co/3pz8jZ9 / https://spoti.fi/3LUNSx9

Follow the Show, 'Teach Us to Pray':

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3NBnXgt

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3NXSghL

Want more on Christian Apologetics for Parents? Visit https://www.crosswalk.com/author/catherine-segars 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

May is mental health awareness month, and more families than ever are battling challenges in this area of health. Catherine and her special guest, Peyton Garland, dive deep into the topics of OCD, anxiety, and depression in this episode to offer unique insights, education, and encouragement to weary parents.

Peyton has a powerful testimony of how God is using a mental health disorder in her life for her good and for His glory. Having dealt with obsessive compulsive thoughts since early childhood, Peyton breaks down the four primary types of “sticky thoughts” that people who battle OCD contend with. They are:

Mental Thoughts & Taboo Rituals (a.k.a. Religious OCD) Symmetry Contamination Harm

Peyton expertly navigates the detours and dead ends associated with these compulsive thoughts, and Catherine shares the victory she has experienced in her 17-year battle with clinical depression, highlighting the most dangerous prayer you can pray as a Christian! Along the way, these ladies offer hope while pointing families that deal with mental health disorders towards healing.

Peyton Garland is an author and coffee shop hopper who loves connecting people to a grace bigger than expected. Her debut book, Not So by Myself, was ranked on Kharis Publishing's 2021 Bestseller List. Meanwhile, Wipf & Stock recently released her second title: Tired, Hungry, & Kinda Faithful. Outside the writing world, Peyton is a pilot's wife, dog mom, and soon-to-be boy mom who loves reading WWII fiction and faithfully defending the Oxford comma. 

LINKS:

Peyton’swebsite

Peyton’s blog: Uncured & Okay

Peyton’s Instagram & Facebook Pages

BOOKS REFERENCED:

Tired, Hungry, and Kinda Faithful: Where Exhaustion and Exile Meet Godby Peyton Garland

Not So By Myself: A safe space where God doesn’t fix the loneliness but sits with you insteadby Peyton Garland

The Book of Mysteriesby Jonathan Cahn (day 191)

ARTICLES REFERENCED:

“To the Mama with a Mental Health Disorder” by Peyton Garland

“A Few Not So Stereotypical Thoughts on OCD” by Peyton Garland

“What I Wish People Knew about Mental Illness” by Catherine Segars

“What I Wish People with Mental Illness Knew” by Catherine Segars

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

Psalm 40:1-3

2 Corinthians 10:5

1 Timothy 2:7

Want more on Christian Apologetics for Parents? Visit https://www.crosswalk.com/author/catherine-segars/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode, Catherine continues her riveting conversation Blake Howard, the committed church kid raised in a Christian home who struggled with same sex attraction from a very young age. Then, tragically, Blake was molested and bullied in school for acting gay. So after high school, he became gay. He was also addicted to drugs and was doing drag to receive the love and affirmation that his heart longed for. Blake shares this part of his testimony in Episode 59.

Now you will hear the rest of the story…as Paul Harvey used to say. You will hear about Blake’s dramatic alter-call conversion to belief in Christ, his deliverance from drug addiction through the power of the Holy Spirit, and his continued struggle with homosexuality and eventual complete submission to Christ in that area of his life. You’ll also hear about his marriage and parenting and how he came to be a minister.

It is an incredible story!

And along the way, you will get some priceless, hard-earned advice on how to walk in relationship with the people in your life who struggle with same sex attraction and gender dysphoria… all from a guy who knows exactly what they need because he’s been there.

Blake Howard is the Associate Pastor & Creative Director at Xtreme Harvest Church in San Antonio, TX. Blake graduated from Ramp School of Ministry in Hamilton, AL.

To see clips from this interview and find inspiring supplemental quotes and posts, connect with Catherine on Instagram and Facebook . To receive updates about each new podcast and free resources like Scripture songs, Bible verses to pray over prodigal children, and a topical index of Scriptures for prayer, subscribe to Catherine’s website.

LINKS:

Blake’s Instagram & Facebook Pages

BOOK REFERENCED:

From Mascara to Manhoodby Benjamin Blake Howard

Gay Awareness: Discovering the Heart of the Father and the Mind of Christ on Sexualityby Landon Schott

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

Romans 5:8-10

OTHER EPISODES IN THIS SERIES:

Episode 59: How Does a Committed Church Kid Become a Drag Queen?

RELATED PODCASTS WITH BLAKE HOWARD:

Red Pilled America, Episode 149: Bondage, February 10, 2023

Allie Beth Stuckey, Episode 748: From Drag Queen & Drug Dealer to Jesus Follower

CPCW Series on Sexuality:

Episode 45: How Do We Help Our Kids to Understand Biblical Sexuality?

Episode 46: How to Talk to Your Kids about Biblical Sexuality

Episode 47: What is Our Culture Teaching Kids about Sexuality

Episode 48: How Our Culture is Distorting Sexuality and Harming Children

RELATED ARTICLES

“Understanding Biblical Sexuality and How To Talk about It with Your Children” by Erin A. Barry and Catherine Segars

“What Culture Is Teaching Our Kids about Sexuality: 7 Ways to Respond” by Erin A. Barry and Catherine Segars

Want more on Christian Apologetics for Parents? Visit https://www.crosswalk.com/author/catherine-segars/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We've all heard the story of a kid in the church youth group who is now on a destructive path. Many parents are living this story. Sometimes the lessons we teach our kids don’t stick. The faith we hand down doesn’t become their own.They have outside influences that erode the foundation that us parents seek so diligently to build.

In this episode, Catherine shares a cautionary tale of a young man who was raised in the church, in the Bible belt, and yet he chose a very destructive path. Blake Howard found love and affirmation under layers of make-up and pounds fake body parts.There are a lot of lessons that parents can learn from his story. Catherine and Blake discuss:

Along the way, you will see how a church kid can slowly descend into a life of sexual confusion and gender dysphoria, all from a guy who has been there and has a lot of wisdom to offer.

And while today’s tale is tragic, in the very next episode you will hear how this same young man went from being a drag queen to being a minister of the Gospel.

 Only God could write a story like that!

Blake Howard is the Associate Pastor & Creative Director at Xtreme Harvest Church in San Antonio, TX. Blake graduated from Ramp School of Ministry in Hamilton, AL.

To see clips from this interview and find inspiring supplemental quotes and posts, connect with Catherine on Instagram and Facebook . To receive updates about each new podcast and free resources like Scripture songs, Bible verses to pray over prodigal children, and a topical index of Scriptures for prayer, subscribe to Catherine’s website.

Episode Links:

Blake’s Instagram & Facebook Pages

BOOK REFERENCED:

From Mascara to Manhoodby Benjamin Blake Howard

God’s Design for SexSeries(4 books) by Stan & Brenna Jones

PODCASTS REFERENCED:

Red Pilled America, Episode 149: Bondage, February 10, 2023

Allie Beth Stuckey, Episode 748: From Drag Queen & Drug Dealer to Jesus Follower

CPCW Series on Sexuality:

Episode 45: How Do We Help Our Kids to Understand Biblical Sexuality?

Episode 46: How to Talk to Your Kids about Biblical Sexuality

Episode 47: What is Our Culture Teaching Kids about Sexuality

Episode 48: How Our Culture is Distorting Sexuality and Harming Children

ARTICLES REFERENCED:

“Understanding Biblical Sexuality and How To Talk about It with Your Children” by Erin A. Barry and Catherine Segars

“What Culture Is Teaching Our Kids about Sexuality: 7 Ways to Respond” by Erin A. Barry and Catherine Segars

Want more on Christian Apologetics for Parents? Visit https://www.crosswalk.com/author/catherine-segars/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Our culture is selling a pack of lies to the next generation. Are your kids buying?

Joining Catherine again in this episode is Elizabeth Urbanowicz, creator of Foundation Worldview, a Christian worldview curriculum for kids ages 14 to 4. Elizabeth has distilled the catalog of cultural falsehoods into a best-of list containing the top seven most prevalent lies being sold to our kids.

They are:

If I feel it, it must be true. Follow your heart. Love is affirming everything we feel. Faith is the opposite of knowledge. Humans are the products of blind, unguided evolution. You are the one you’ve been waiting for. A good God wouldn’t judge.

In this episode, Catherine and Elizabeth break down each lie and offer ways that you can teach your children to recognize them, reject them, and stand for what is true. We’ve got to know what these lies are if we want to help our kids not to fall for them.

Elizabeth Urbanowicz holds a B.S. from Gordon College in Elementary Education and Spanish, an M.S.Ed. from Northern Illinois University in Literacy Education, and an M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Elizabeth created Foundation Worldview to equip Christian parents with the resources they need to train children to soundly interpret Scripture, carefully evaluate every idea they encounter, and understand the truth of the biblical worldview. Elizabeth firmly believes that the Christian youth exodus can be a thing of the past. When kids are equipped to soundly interpret Scripture, they will quickly develop a biblical worldview. And when kids are taught to think well, they can carefully evaluate the messages they are exposed to each day.

To see clips from this interview and find inspiring supplemental quotes and posts, connect with Catherine on Instagram and Facebook . To receive updates about each new podcast and free resources like Scripture songs, Bible verses to pray over prodigal children, and a topical index of Scriptures for prayer, subscribe to Catherine’s website.

COUPON CODE:

Use the coupon code “CPCW10” to get $10 off any family license with Foundation Worldview.

STUDIES & QUOTES:

Lord Acton Quote: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Ligonier Ministries Bi-annual State of Theology Report

Richard Dawkins’ quote from The Blind Watchmaker

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

Jeremiah 17:9

Psalm 52:5-8

1 Corinthians 15:14

Matthew 11:1-6

Mark 12:30

Hebrews 11:1

To receive my free Scripture songs including Psalm 52:5-8, subscribe HERE.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Mama Bear Apologetics

The Discovery Institute

The Gospel Project by Lifeway

Dr. Stephen Meyer, Signature in the Cell

Want more on Christian Apologetics for Parents? Visit https://www.crosswalk.com/author/catherine-segars/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What type of mindset makes us vulnerable to chronic stress, anxiety & depression? When you are stressed, what automatic coping mechanisms have you adopted that don’t help, but diminish your wellness?  What holds you back from getting the rest that you need when you’re stressed?  

In this episode from Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast (another free show from LifeAudio), soul care coach Bonnie shares how to ditch mindsets that keep you stuck in anxiety, worry, and stress and what you can do to stop the stress, when you need it most.

This episode will help you let go of unhealthy thinking patterns and replace them with a healthy biblical mindset to create a new rhythm to stop the stress cycle.

DISCOVER MORE EPISODES OF BREATHE: THE STRESS LESS PODCAST FROM BONNIE GRAY:

LINKS & RESOURCES:

FOLLOW BONNIE:

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The Christian worldview is challenged like never before in American culture. With a majority of kids leaving the faith after they leave the nest, Christian parents need to prioritize establishing a biblical worldview in the lives of our children.

Our kids can’t keep what they don’t own, and they can’t own what they haven't received. 

But how do we teach our kids the Christian worldview?

What foundational principles need to be covered and how do we break it down for young minds to grasp?

Catherine’s guest in this episode is an expert at teaching the Christian worldview to children. Elizabeth Urbanowicz holds a B.S. from Gordon College in Elementary Education and Spanish, an M.S.Ed. from Northern Illinois University in Literacy Education, and an M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Biola University.

Several years into her teaching experience, Elizabeth realized that despite being raised in Christian homes, attending a Christian school, and being active in church, her students thought more like the culture than like Christ. Elizabeth began searching for curricular materials that would equip her students to think critically, helping them discover that Christianity is the worldview that lines up with reality. After not finding materials that effectively met this need, she created a curriculum that did.

Foundation Worldview exists to equip Christian parents with the resources they need to train children to soundly interpret Scripture, carefully evaluate every idea they encounter, and understand the truth of the biblical worldview. Elizabeth firmly believes that the Christian youth exodus can be a thing of the past. When kids are equipped to soundly interpret Scripture, they will quickly develop a biblical worldview. When kids are taught to think well, they can carefully evaluate the messages they are exposed to each day.

To see clips from this interview and find inspiring supplemental quotes and posts, connect with Catherine on Instagram and Facebook . To receive updates about each new podcast and free resources like Scripture songs, Bible verses to pray over prodigal children, and a topical index of Scriptures for prayer, subscribe to Catherine’s website.

COUPON CODE:

Use the coupon code “CPCW10” to get $10 off any family license with Foundation Worldview.

CPCW WORLDVIEW SERIES REFERENCED:

EPISODE 6: 5 Reasons You Should Teach Your Kids about Other Worldviews

EPISODE 7: What Worldviews Are Competing with Your Kids Faith?

EPISODE 8: What Sets the Christian Worldview Apart from Other Worldviews?

EPISODE 9: How Does the Christian Worldview Create a World We All Want To Live In

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

“Only 4 Percent of Gen Z Have a Biblical Worldview”, Impact 360/Barna Research

“Atheism Doubles Among Gen Z”, Barna Research

“Do We Live in a Post-Modern Society?”, William Lane Craig

SCRIPTURE MENTIONED:

John 18:37

John 14:6

John 1:1

Want more on Christian Apologetics for Parents? Visit https://www.crosswalk.com/author/catherine-segars/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

There is no greater discipline that we can teach our children than the daily practice of prayer. Communing with our heavenly Father is the lifeblood of our faith.

But how do we teach our kids to pray?

Catherine wraps up this series on Gen Z by exploring that question.

Joining Catherine to discuss this vital topic is Erica Renaud, author of the brand new book Pray with Me: Help Your Children Engage in Authentic and Powerful Prayer.In addition to being a captivating speaker and writer, Erica is a mother five kids ages 18 to 6, and she is passionate about prayer.

Together, Catherine and Erica investigate what prayer is, why we pray, what prayer accomplishes, how to prepare for prayer, and how to respond when our prayers aren’t answered the way we hoped—all using terminology that your kids can understand. Their conversation is insightful, practical, encouraging, enlightening, and refreshing.

You don’t have to be an expert on prayer to teach your children how to pray... so breathe a sigh of relief, moms and dads! You just have to be willing to guide your kids on a journey to engage with God.

To see clips from this interview and find inspiring supplemental quotes and posts, connect with Catherine on Instagram and Facebook . To receive updates about each new podcast and free resources like Scripture songs, Bible verses to pray over prodigal children, and a topical index of Scriptures for prayer, subscribe to Catherine’s website.

OTHER EPISODES IN THIS SERIES:

EPISODE 55: “The 5 Greatest Cultural Challenges Facing Gen Z” with Dr. Jonathan Morrow

EPISODE 54: “5 Things Every Parent Needs to Know about Gen Z” with Dr. Jonathan Morrow

EPISODE 53: “Practical Ways to Disciple Gen Z” with Dana Che

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Erica’s Website

Erica’s Book: Pray with Me: Help Your Children Engage in Authentic and Powerful Prayer

Erica’s Instagram and Facebook Pages

EPISODES ON PRAYER MENTIONED

EPISODE 13: “4 Types of Prayer Every Believer Should Know”

EPISODE 14: “How To Battle for Your Kids in Prayer”

EPISODE 15: “What Should I Expect When I Battle in Prayer?”

BOOKS MENTIONED:

Watchman Nee: Let Us Pray

Watchman Nee: The Prayer and Ministry of the Church

SCRIPTURE MENTIONED:

2 Chronicles 2:9

Want more on Christian Apologetics for Parents? Visit https://www.crosswalk.com/author/catherine-segars/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Every generation has faced challenges from the culture, but the intensity and ferocity of the challenges facing Gen Z is new. These challenges are pummeling the next generation like waves, one after another after another.

What are the cultural waves facing Gen Z?

We can’t respond to them if we don’t know what they are.

Joining Catherine again to discuss these cultural waves is Dr. Jonathan Morrow, the director of cultural engagement and student discipleship at Impact 360 Institute. Jonathan has been equipping students and parents in biblical worldview, apologetics, and culture for over 16 years and is passionate about seeing a new generation build a lasting faith. He holds a Master of Divinity, a Master of Philosophy of Religion and Ethics, and a Doctorate in Worldview and Culture from Talbot School of Theology. An adjunct professor of Christian apologetics at Biola University, Jonathan has authored several books on apologetics and resides near Atlanta with his wife of 20 years and three kids.

In this episode, Jonathan dives deep into his area of expertise to illuminate and connect these cultural waves. They are:

Scientism

Relativism

Tribalism

Sexual Revolution 2.0

Progressive Christianity

Each successive wave builds on the one that precedes it. Understanding these waves will help parents, grandparents, mentors, and guides of Gen Z to better equip and disciple them.

To see clips from this interview and find inspiring supplemental quotes and posts, connect with Catherine on Instagram and Facebook . To receive updates about each new podcast and free resources like Scripture songs, Bible verses to pray over prodigal children, and a topical index of Scriptures for prayer, subscribe to Catherine’s website.

OTHER EPISODES IN THIS SERIES:

EPISODE 54: “5 Things Every Parent Needs to Know about Gen Z” with Dr. Jonathan Morrow

EPISODE 53: “Practical Ways to Disciple Gen Z” with Dana Che

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Jonathan Morrow’s website

Impact 360 Institute

BOOKS & ARTICLES MENTIONED:

The Magician’s Twin: C.S. Lewis on Science, Scientism, and Society by John G. West

The “A Study Has Found…” Fallacy by Martin Cothran

BOOKS BY JONATHAN MORROW:

Welcome to College: A Christ-Followers Guide for the Journey

Questioning the Bible: 11 Major Challenges to the Bible’s Authority

Is God Just a Human Invention?: And Seventeen Other Questions Raised by New Atheists

Want more on Christian Apologetics for Parents? Visit https://www.crosswalk.com/author/catherine-segars/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The gap between generations has never been greater. Understanding the unique aspects and challenges of Gen Z is vital if we want to reach this generation with the truth of the Christian worldview.

How well are we doing?

Recent statistics show that half of Gen Z children raised in the church are leaving the faith after they leave the nest, and recent research from Barna shows that only 4% of Gen Z has a Biblical worldview.

How do you disciple them?

How do you relate?

What obstacles do they face and how can you teach them to pray?

To answer those questions, Catherine launched a new 4-part series on Gen Z.

Joining her for the second installment is Dr. Jonathan Morrow, the director of cultural engagement and student discipleship at Impact 360 Institute. Jonathan has been equipping students and parents in biblical worldview, apologetics, and culture for over 16 years and is passionate about seeing a new generation build a lasting faith. He holds a Master of Divinity, a Master of Philosophy of Religion and Ethics, and a Doctorate in Worldview and Culture from Talbot School of Theology. An adjunct professor of apologetics at Biola University, Jonathan has authored several books on apologetics and resides near Atlanta with his wife of 20 years and three kids.

In this episode, Jonathan helps bridge the gap to Gen Z by sharing five things that every parent needs to know about this generation.

OTHER EPISODES IN THIS SERIES:

EPISODE 54: “Practical Ways to Disciple Gen Z” with Dana Che

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Jonathan’s website

Impact 360 Institute

BOOKS BY JONATHAN MORROW:

Welcome to College: A Christ-Followers Guide for the Journey

Questioning the Bible: 11 Major Challenges to the Bible’s Authority

Is God Just a Human Invention?: And Seventeen Other Questions Raised by New Atheists

GUIDES MENTIONED:

Gen Z: The Culture, Beliefs, and Motivations Shaping This Generation (Volume 1)

Gen Z: Caring for Young Souls and Cultivating Resilience (Volume 2)

RESEARCH:

Barna Research: “Only 4 Percent of Gen Z Have a Biblical Worldview”

OTHER EPISODES MENTIONED:

EPISODE 48: “How Do We Combat the Epidemic of Teen Suicide?”

EPISODE 49: “What Can We Learn from a Survivor of Teen Suicide?”

*Note that in this interview I said “Hawkins and Dickens.” I meant to say “Hitchens and Dawkins.”

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Raising the next generation presents some very unique challenges. Recent statistics show that half of Gen Z children raised in the church are leaving the faith after they leave the nest. And recent research from Barna shows that only 4% of Gen Z has a Biblical worldview.

How do you disciple them?

How do you relate?

What obstacles do they face and how can you teach them to pray?

Catherine and her guests will answer all of those questions in this new 4-part series on Gen Z.

Joining her for the premier episode of this series is special guest Dana Che, marriage coach and host of Real Relationship Talk, a podcast that delivers authentic, inspirational relationship advice for your most intimate relationships. Dana, a mother of four Gen Z’rs, shares her relationship expertise and hard-earned advice on how to disciple the next generation through everyday conversations with your kids. She shows us how to make an infinite God relatable to our little ones while engaging our teens and adult children through the challenges all around them.

This episode is chocked full of practical advice, wisdom from a wealth of experience, and a lot of laughter as these two mamas get real about discipling Gen Z.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Dana Che’s podcast and website: https://realrelationshiptalk.com/; https://danache.com/

Statistics on Gen Z:

 4% have a Biblical worldview:  https://bit.ly/2EKn7bM

Most leave the faith: https://bit.ly/3XhCXSH

“Unashamed” by LeCrae: https://bit.ly/3ZEB2JD

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Psalm 103:7
Hebrews 11:25
Deuteronomy 30:19
Psalm 103:14

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Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

How can you eat better, sleep better, exercise better, work better, play better, spend better, save better, serve better, worship better, and pray better? Those are very good questions to ask at the beginning of a new year.

But how can you improve your relationship with your kids this year?

Now that’s a question to put at the top of the list.

In this special New Year’s episode, Catherine specifically talks about how we can improve our relationships with our kids.

CPCW spends a lot of time counteracting the onslaught of secular ideology and theology that is coming against our children in an attempt to subvert their faith, and that is critically important work for us to do. But we can’t really help our kids with those ideas if we don’t have a solid relationship with them to start with.

So this episode is all about improving our relationship with our kids. Catherine offers 12 ways that you could do that—including the question every parent needs to ask their child—to provide a great way to start off the new year in our families.

To see clips from this interview and find inspiring supplemental quotes and posts, connect with Catherine on Instagram and Facebook . To receive updates about each new podcast and free resources like Scripture songs, Bible verses to pray over prodigal children, and a topical index of Scriptures for prayer, subscribe to Catherine’s website.

LINKS:

Scripture list to pray over children: https://catherinesegars.com/

EPISODES REFERENCED:

Episode 22: “13 Ways To Be a Better Parent in 2022” https://bit.ly/3G5Ng58

Episode 13: “What Should I Expect When I Battle in Prayer” https://bit.ly/3C8NVRR

Episode 14: “How To Battle for Your Kids in Prayer” https://bit.ly/3i4MNYI

Episode 15: “What Should I Expect When I Battle in Prayer” https://bit.ly/3CewNKN

Episode 37: “7 Ways To Bless Your Kids with Words” https://bit.ly/3WwN4mi

Episode 49: “How Do We Combat the Epidemic of Teen Suicide?” https://bit.ly/3Z2zwjY

Episode 50: “What Can We Learn from a Survivor of Teen Suicide?” https://bit.ly/3WALZtP

GAMES REFERENCED:

Apples to Apples: https://amzn.to/3Z3f5Dy

Settlers of Catan: https://amzn.to/3VBilmL

Rummikub: https://amzn.to/3YYYMb1

Lost Cities: https://amzn.to/3FY4H7y 

Other Game Recommendations:

For families: Do You Really Know Your Child? https://amzn.to/3CcsBez

For couples: The Date Deck https://amzn.to/3IdPrWR

Bob Ross Stuffed Doll: https://amzn.to/3WVOoip

BOOK REFERENCED:

“Praying God’s Word” by Beth Moore: https://bit.ly/3VA1fWu

SCRIPTURE REFERENCED:

Numbers 6:24-26

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Finding worthwhile holiday entertainment is quite a challenge these days. A recent list of “The Top 100 Christmas Movies of All Time” on Rotten Tomatoes placed a movie called “Tangerine”at number 4. Brace yourself for the description:

“After hearing that her boyfriend/pimp cheated on her while she was in jail, a transgender sex worker and her best friend set out to find him and teach him and his new lover a lesson.”

According to the largest movie review website in the world, this is the fourth-best Christmas movie OF ALL TIME. What exactly transgendered prostitution and revenge have to do with the birth of our Lord is unclear, but parents are certainly struggling to find family-friendly entertainment when this is what the film industry celebrates.

In this episode, Catherine offers five wholesome, family-centered Christmas movies for your viewing pleasure this holiday season. She has a recommendation for the kids, the guys, the girls, the couples, and the whole family.  Several of them have a strong Christian theme, and they are all off the beaten path making them truly “fresh.”

Merry Christmas from CPCW!

To see clips from this interview and find inspiring supplemental quotes and posts, connect with Catherine on Instagram and Facebook . To receive updates about each new podcast and free resources like Scripture songs, Bible verses to pray over prodigal children, and a topical index of Scriptures for prayer, subscribe to Catherine’s website.

Links:

“The 100 Best Christmas Movies of All Time” according to Rotten Tomatos: https://bit.ly/3YulRlI

CATHERINE’S KIDS’ PICK: “Journey to the Christmas Star” https://amzn.to/3FBOFQC

CATHERINE’S GUY’S PICK: “Joyeux Noel” (Merry Christmas) https://amzn.to/3V2T84p

CATHERINE’S GIRL’S PICK: “The Christmas Candle” https://amzn.to/3HSZdxg

CATHERINE’S DATE NIGHT PICK: “The Family Man” https://amzn.to/3uWxDYs

CATHERINE’S FAMILY PICK: “The Nativity Story” https://amzn.to/3Wom0Fp

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Baptism is an important part of being a Christian, regardless of your theological tradition. However, we can’t all seem to agree upon exactly how we’re supposed to do it.

In this special episode, Catherine provides a special preview of Kainos Project, another podcast on the LifeAudio podcast network that's perfect for parents! Every week, hosts Dale and Tamara Chamberlain help you tackle ancient truths in everyday settings.

Tune in to hear Dale and Tamara discuss the different traditions and beliefs surrounding baptism in the western Church, where they find their scriptural support, and how these views affect our faith and theology overall.

LISTEN & FOLLOW KAINOS PROJECT: 
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kainos-project/id1508890853
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7FLwkMnnFwukDXzzDuLgJi
Website: https://kainosproject.com/podcasts

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.