Christian Parent, Crazy World

Few conversations make parents fill more ill-equipped and tongue-tied than discussing the topic of pornography with our kids. How do we even broach the subject? Catherine’s guest has created a book series that does all of the hard work for us. Kristen Jenson is the #1 best-selling author of the Good Pictures Bad Pictures series of read-aloud books, which have been translated into 10 languages. These books define pornography and warn against the threats, and then they provide parents and kids with a game plan to defend young minds against the dangers. In this episode, Kristen walks parents through the Defend Young Minds triple defense plan for parents: Get the facts. Arm your kids. Continue the conversation As parents, we must give our kids the proper vocabulary to discuss this threat while explaining the dangers lurking behind enticing pictures and videos. And we need to empower our children to resist the temptation. Pornography isn’t your child’s fault, but it is their problem. No child deserves to face the porn industry alone. They need to be educated and they need to have a strategy for the moment when they encounter pornography. About the author Kristen A. Jenson, MA is the founder of Defend Young Minds and #1 best-selling author of the Good Pictures Bad Pictures series of read-aloud books which have translations in 10 languages. She is also the executive producer of the Brain Defense: Digital Safety curriculum and the owner and CEO of Glen Cove Press, LLC. RESOURCES MENTIONED: To enter the giveaway for a free set of Kristen’s books, SUBSCRIBE HERE. Good Pictures, Bad Pictures Book Series Defend Young Minds Website How To Talk to Kids about Pornography (free guide) My Kids Saw Porn, Now What (guide) How God Made Your Body by Jim Burns (ages 3-5) How God Makes Babies by Jim Burns (ages 6-9) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The Surgeon General came out with a very troubling report recently on social media usage among children that should concern us as parents. What are those warnings and what do we as parents need to know to safeguard our kids? Catherine has invited Dr. Walt Mueller back to break it all down for us. Covered in this episode: *Often overlooked good things to celebrate in the area of technology and social media. *The shocking statistics and serious warnings contained in the recent Surgeon General’s Report on children and social media usage. *Warning signs of device addiction. *Important questions to ask ourselves regarding our device and social media usage as parents. *How to have meaningful conversation with our kids on the topic of social media. *Vital guidelines for protecting our kids from social media and device addiction. Bio: Dr. Walt Mueller is the founder and President of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, a non-profit organization serving schools, churches, and community organizations around the world in their efforts to strengthen families. Walt has been working with young people and families for over 35 years, and with a Masters of Divinity and a Doctorate in Postmodern Generation from Gordon Cromwell Theological Seminary, he has become a recognized authority on youth culture, family issues, and all things having to do with teens and their world. Walt is also the host of the Youth Culture Matters Podcast. EPISODE RESOURCES & LINKS: The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding Youth Culture Matters Podcast Youth Culture Matters: Episode 179 “Teens, Tech, and Social Media – A Youth Worker Roundtable” Social Media and Youth Mental Health – The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory 2023 Pew Research Center: Teens, Social Media and Technology (2022) The Social Dilemma (Netflix) Tony Renke: 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You Greg Luukianoff & Jonathan Haidt: The Coddling of the American Mind Jean Twenge: IGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy—and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood CPYU Parent Prompt: Social Media & God’s Glory Unplugged (FOTF)Effective Strategies: Tips for Influencing Your Child’s Social Media Use Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Media is bombarding our children at every turn, and at the same time the generation gap is widening. Catherine’s special guest, Dr. Walt Mueller specializes in understanding the next generation—their thought processes, their challenges, and the many ways that entertainment and media are bombarding our kids’ lives with deeply concerning messages. As founder and president of The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, Walt has worked as a cross generational liaison for more than 35 years. Threats from the entertainment world have proliferated with endless internet and television inroads and influences. Walt and Catherine discuss concerning messages from: *Mr. Beast *Arthur *Madagascar *Chip & Potato *My Little Pony *Rugrats *Doc McStuffins *Ridley Jones As Walt wisely advises, we must read, listen to, and watch what is engaging the hearts and minds of our kids. We must not to be alarmist, but we must be aware. And we must speak first on all of these topics to establish a foundation of truth for our kids. Bio: Dr. Walt Mueller is the founder and President of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, a non-profit organization serving schools, churches, and community organizations around the world in their efforts to strengthen families. Walt has been working with young people and families for over 35 years, and with a Masters of Divinity and a Doctorate in Postmodern Generation from Gordon Cromwell Theological Seminary, he has become a recognized authority on youth culture, family issues, and all things having to do with teens and their world. Walt is also the host of the Youth Culture Matters Podcast. EPISODE RESOURCES & LINKS: The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding Youth Culture Matters Podcast CPYU Blog The Latest on Teens and Social Media Feb. 23, 2024 EPISODE 81: Can Your Kids Be Whoever They Want to Be in Life? All Creatures Great and Small (Masterpiece Theater) Will Mr. Best ‘Indoctrinate Young Children with Trangender Propaganda?,’ SBC Leader Asks Romper List of Shows with LGBTQ+ Characters The No-Watch List: Guide to All the Kid’s Shows and Movies that Have LGBTQ Characters and Content (Scott Smith) FOTF: Plugged In TV & Movie Reviews Christian Courier: Guidelines for Children’s Entertainment The Social Dilemma (Netflix) FAITH BASED SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES FOR KIDS: Minno Pureflix Kids Yippie Shalom World Faithlife TV Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The mental health crisis in our country is at critical mass. Children are struggling like never before and parents are concerned, as they should be. What foundation do we need to have in place to help our kids to be strong mentally? Catherine’s guest, Dr. Bill Senyard, shares some warning signs that a child is struggling and offers practical ways to establish a strong foundation for your child’s mental health. Attachment theory, the prevailing psychological theory in child development, emphasizes a child’s emotional bond with their primary caregiver. Dr. Senyard defines the four primary attachment styles that a child can exhibit. They are: Secure—confident, reciprocal, non-reactive, resilient. Anxious—emotional, reactive, volatile. Fearful—composite of anxious and avoidant. Avoidant—isolated, emotionally distant. One relational style is mentally healthy and strong, the other three are showing signs of distress., of a breakdown in mental health. In this episode, Dr. Senyard gives practical ways to help children who exhibit those unhealthy traits. Dr. Bill Senyard’s bio: Bill’s career has taken him from being a Chemical engineer, a strategic management consultant, and a co-owner of an Inc. 500 high-tech company to fulltime church ministry where he served multiple congregations as a Lead Pastor for over 35 years. He is a popular conference speaker in the US and Canada as well as abroad. He has written over a dozen non-fiction books and workbooks on a wide range of important topics including, how Christians can effectively and Biblically forgive others, how frustrated parents of teens can be “good enough parents” and most importantly, God’s love for the unlovable. Bill is the creator of The Good Enough Parent, a phenomenal curriculum that has a ton of free resources for parents. Bill’s Website Good Enough Parent Curriculum Attachment Theory For Teens Simplified (video) Bill’s Book: Tale of the Unlikely Prince EPISODE RESOURCES: Episode 85: 8 Words Every Parent Must Say To Their Child Beyond Consequences by Heather T. Forbes Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and according to the CDC, our kids are facing a mental health crisis. Consider these recent statistics: *Suicide & homicide rates in youth ages 10 to 24 are the highest they have been in decades, since 1968. *42% of adolescents are feeling sadness and hopelessness, up 50% from 2011 (57% are females). *22% of all students have considered attempting suicide, up from 36%. *Youth and young adults (ages 10-24) account for 15% of all suicides, an increase of 52.2% since 2000. *Suicide has become the second-leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24. *46% of adolescence ages 13 to 17 say that social media makes their body image worse. Parents are justifiably concerned, and often they don’t know where to start when a child is struggling mentally. Catherine’s guest in this episode is Dr. Bill Senyard, a mental health expert who specializes in helping parents reconnect the critical bond with their child to address the foundation of their mental health. Every child has two primary needs from their parents: 1. They need to feel CONNECTED. 2. They need to feel like they are ENOUGH. A child must know that their parents have their back, and they must know that they are loved no matter what. If this critical foundation breaks down, a child will become disconnected from their parents and others. They will suffer in all of their relationships and in their mental health. Bill shares how to reestablish that connection through attunement. If one in every three interactions with our kids attune to their foundational emotional needs, we can reconnect with our child and build a strong mental foundation for life. Dr. Bill Senyard’s bio: Bill’s career has taken him from being a Chemical engineer, a strategic management consultant, and a co-owner of an Inc. 500 high-tech company to fulltime church ministry where he served multiple congregations as a Lead Pastor for over 35 years. He is a popular conference speaker in the US and Canada as well as abroad. He has written over a dozen non-fiction books and workbooks on a wide range of important topics including, how Christians can effectively and Biblically forgive others, how frustrated parents of teens can be “good enough parents” and most importantly, God’s love for the unlovable. Bill is the creator of The Good Enough Parent, a phenomenal curriculum that has a ton of free resources for parents. Bill’s Website Good Enough Parent Curriculum Attachment Theory For Teens Simplified (video) Bill’s Book: Tale of the Unlikely Prince EPISODE RESOURCES: John 3:16 Romans 8:1 Ephesians 3 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The problem of pain has plagued humanity since the beginning of time. Many great apologists have grappled with the reality of suffering, endeavoring to form a theologically sound answer to life’s hardest question. In this poignant exchange, a couple of moms wrestle with pain and suffering from a distinctly maternal point of view. Catherine and her guest from across the great pond, Ruth Jackson, have a conversation that is real, raw, and refreshingly honest. Miscarriage. Postpartum depression. Premature death. When suffering these heartbreaking realities, the temptation is to ask WHY… and yet answering the WHY doesn’t meet our deepest need. The Christian faith does offer an apologetic for suffering, but more importantly our faith tradition presents a God who came to earth and was broken on our behalf. He is intimately acquainted with suffering. He meets us in our grief. And when we weep, He weeps with us. As believers in Christ, we know who suffered for us. We know who suffers with us. And we know who will wipe away every tear and make all things new. RUTH JACKSON'S BIO: Ruth is a producer and youth specialist for Premier Christian Radio's Unbelievable radio programme and podcast, which brings Christians and non-Christians together for dialogue. ue. Ruth studied theology at Oxford University before working at the BBC’s flagship children’s television show Blue Peter. She then moved to the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, where she helped set up the youth apologetics strand Reboot. Ruth contributed to Hope Rising 365, a book for young women. She also plays bass guitar in award-winning all-girl rock ‘n roll band The Daisy Chains. Ruth’s Instagram Premier Christian Radio’s Unbelievable Unapologetic Podcast EPISODE RESOURCES: Episode 66: How Does a Good God Allow So Much Evil and Suffering in the World? w/ Dr. Douglas Groothuis Article: “Joy To The World” by Ruth Jackson Article: “God Is Good but This Isn’t” by Catherine Segars SCRIPTURES REFERENCED: John 11:35 Isaiah 61 Isaiah 49 John 1 Habakkuk 3 Lamentations 3 Psalm 56:8 Psalm 84:4-7 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In the last episode, Catherine highlighted the five primary apologetic approaches for defending the Christian faith. While varying greatly on inception points, strategy, philosophy and subject matter, all of the approaches agree on the superiority of one defense. That is—EXPERIENCE. A person’s experience with God is powerful and preeminent. Offering a personal testimony of how God has transformed your life is the one defense that no one can dispute, because it is your experience. A personal encounter with God solidifies one’s faith, making it rational, robust, and enduring. So how can we have a practical encounter with God? Catherine walks us through 10 practical ways that we can experience God: Make God your priority (engage with God’s Word, worship, and prayer daily). Plant yourself in the local church. Practice honest reflection and repentance. Fast regularly. Shake up your schedule with sacrifice. Get involved with a mission or ministry. Go on a mission’s trip. Go on a nature walk. Start a spiritual journal. Read a biography on a missionary or great Christian leader. The items on this list are not revolutionary, but implementing them are. Start with the first three, which need to be a part of every believer’s daily discipleship, and then choose a few others to try. As you commit to prioritizing God, you will experience Him in new and exciting ways. EPISODE RESOURCES: Resource on church wounds: Episode 44 – Have You Or Your Kids Been Wounded in the Church? Driven By Eternity: Make Your Life Count Today and Forever by John Bevere Fasting: Open the Door To a Deeper, More Intimate, More Powerful Relationship with God by Jentezen Franklin The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boon A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael by Elisabeth Elliott The Intercessor (Reese Howell) by Norman Grubb The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun Hero Tales: A Family Treasury of True Stories from the Lives of Christian Heroes by Dave and Neta Jackson SCRIPTURES REFERENCED: Matthew 6:21 & 33 Hebrews 20:25 Psalm 62:5-8 2 Tim. 1:6-7 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Catherine offers a powerful message worthy of CP/CW’s 100th episode by revealing the #1 factor in maintaining a vibrant, lifelong faith, which corresponds perfectly with the #1 prayer every parent should pray over their kids. The answer to this question should interest us as followers of Christ personally and as parents. In her apologetic studies, Catherine discovered one defense of the faith that every believer is qualified to employ. She begins by summarizing the five primary approaches for defending the Christian faith. They are the: 1. Classic Method – a 2-step approach that begins with natural theology (the knowledge we acquire about God without Scripture or special revelation) to prove Intelligent Design and then proceeds to establish God as that intelligent being. 2. Evidential Method – 1-step approach that relies heavily on evidence, in particular miracles, to prove the existence of God. 3. Cumulative Method – a flexible method that utilizes various arguments and approaches to present an overwhelming case for the existence of God. 4. Presuppositional Method – a method that presupposes God’s existence due to the effect that sin has on our capacity to think and reason. 5. Reformed Epistemological Method – a method that de-emphasizes proof or evidence and focusses on the way that people actually acquire beliefs. These approaches vary quite a bit, but they all agree on one very important factor—that is experience. Having an experience with God is reason enough for believing in Him. Every believer can have a rational, justified faith by experience alone. And every follower of Christ can offer a powerful apologetic by simply sharing their experience with God. So what is the #1 factor in maintaining a lifelong faith? Experiencing God. And what is the most important prayer every parent should pray over their kids? “Lord, please help my child to have a powerful encounter with You.” Tune in next when Catherine offers 10 practical ways that you and your kids can experience God. EPISODE RESOURCES: Five Views on Apologetics, Steven B. Cohen ed. Signature in the Cell by Dr. Stephen Meyers C.S. Lewis Quote Richard Dawkins Quote John 9 – Jesus heals the man born blind Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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

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

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 Podcast with 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 2022 highlights 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 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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

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

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: The origin and DNA of ordered freedom. The magnitude of the Genesis declaration that we are made in God’s image. The decline of the west leading to a need for renewal. The power of the creative minority. How parents have the greatest part to play in passing on freedom, equality, human dignity, and faith. What makes 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 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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

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. But where did the idea of freedom come from? What prerequisites are necessary to achieve freedom? And most importantly... What is necessary to keep freedom? 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 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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 Topics to 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 Faith by Dr. Douglas Groothuis Dr. Stephen Meyer’s website The Psychology of Totalitarianism by Mattias Desmet Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari John 18:37 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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

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

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

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

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

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: There are 27 million people enslaved in the world today, more than any time in history. 80% are female and 50% of those are children trafficked for sexual exploitation. (That is over 10 million kids.) Sex Trafficking is a 34 billion dollar business – it is the 2nd largest criminal enterprise and fastest growing crime in the world. Every 2 minutes a child is trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation in the United States (according to the U.S. Department of Justice). Almost 300,000 American children are at risk annually for trafficking into the sex industry (according to the U.S. Department of State). The average age of entry into prostitution is 13. There are girls as young as 5 and 6 years old in the U.S. that are forced to do sexual acts for economic gain by their pimp (U.S. Department of Justice). (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: 3 key objectives that repentance accomplishes 2 crucial ways parents can be wrong 4 primary stages of parenting 8 bonus words to restore your relationship with your child 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 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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-teacherFinancial class: Financial Peace University: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/ramseyplus/financial-peaceThe One Year Bible:Paperback: https://bit.ly/34RK7GZEbook: https://bit.ly/3A4yesOBible Reading Plans: https://bit.ly/3FzgdUMLife Application Bible: https://bit.ly/3A5iPINEpisode 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-lifeSpiritual Gifts & Personality tests:https://giftstest.com/http://www.humanmetrics.com/personalityScriptures mentioned:Psalm 100:4; Psalm 51:10; Romans 8:28; Proverbs 29:18; 2 Corinthians 10:5 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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

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

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

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

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

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 Truth and The Even 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: [email protected] Melinda Patrick’s Instagram Page The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child Well While Not Compromising Truth Catherine Segars email address: [email protected] 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 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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 experience as 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: [email protected] 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: [email protected] 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 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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 Truth and The Even 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: [email protected] 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: [email protected] “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 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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

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 Motherhood Podcast. 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 Motherhood Podcast. 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 not God’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 Delusion describing 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 understand all 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) Truth leads 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 often they 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 Embark as 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.

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 Lament by 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: Who were the major players? What did they believe? How did they introduce Woke ideology to the West? What tools do they use? What is the ultimate goal of Wokeism? 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 Generation by 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: Maintaining self-care in a crisis Evicting enablement Establishing healthy boundaries Changing the rules Responding to manipulation Dealing with the judgment of others Establishing community Finding a Christian counselor Guarding our minds from discouragement Praying the Word over our children 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. How do parents recover from the shock, panic, and guilt they feel when a child chooses a destructive path? What can parents do to help their children when they continue making self-destructive life choices? How can parents partner with God, the perfect parent, to win back their child? 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 Prodigal by Laine Lawson Craft Intercessory Prayer: How God Can Use Your Prayers to Move Heaven and Earth by 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.