Raising Christian Kids

Once a month, Lori and Lee Ann will discuss complex topics regarding parenting and disciplining to help families have peace in the home and work together to build lifetime connections! Lori Wildenberg is a national speaker, a licensed parent-family educator of over 25 years, and an award-winning author of six Christian parenting books. Lori also leads the popular Moms Together Facebook Community Page and Group. During this episode of MOMents with Lori and Lee Ann, both share pointers on dealing with sibling conflict and bullying. During this episode of Moments with Lori and Lee Ann, both ladies share advice and encouragement for parents who have a child who has been labeled as a troublemaker by their teachers or schoolmates due to their high energy level or constant talking. Key Takeaways: Instead of squelching a child’s spirit when they are high energy or talking at school in class, try to get the complete picture first and then redirect their energy into something positive. Getting to the “why” and find out why the child feels the need to talk constantly; possible reasons – the child has leadership qualities that need to be channeled into leadership roles at school, the child lacks self-control skills and needs to work on impulse control, or maybe it’s lack of attention from friends or family, so the child feels the need to try and gain attention elsewhere. How to determine if a child’s behavior is becoming more serious and in need of expert help – look at whether their inappropriate behavior is more consistent versus situational. Positive enforcements, redirection, and consistency from the parent are necessary when dealing with a high energy talker. Not all children pick up on social cues, and they need to be taught the art of conversation and how to be a listener verse a talker during certain situations. Ways to teach children not to interrupt and to have self-control and patience at home. Lori’s Website & Moms Together Facebook Community Page & Group. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

Do you have a child who has struggled to empathize with others? Don’t feel alone - most parents have experienced this with their kids at one point or another. Empathy has been described as a person’s ability to recognize and share another person’s emotions; it connects us with our common humanity. It has been called a virtue of the intellect. Empathy comes from the heart; it is foundational to what it means to be human and to act in an ethically loving manner. Empathy is critical to healthy emotional functioning and human interaction. Yet, just as with adults, it can be difficult for a child to walk in another person’s shoes and to understand their perspective. We need to teach our children about empathy and help them develop this critical “intellectual virtue.” Adam Stanley once said, "Your greatest contribution to the world may not be something you do, but someone you raise." During this episode, Lee Ann elaborates on the following ways we can teach empathy to our children: Empathize with your child and model what it looks like. When we empathize with or for our children, they develop trust, knowing we care for them and for what they are going through. We also need to let them see and hear how we care for others. When they watch you express empathy through words and actions, they learn firsthand what it means to empathize. Ask your child questions. For example: What was the hardest part of your day? What was the best part of your day? Process (empathize) with your child the bad and good parts of their day. Demonstrate empathy for people who are different from you or your family. Volunteer with your child in community service or at your church - model ways of contributing to others. Look for opportunities for your children to practice empathy. Children are born with the capacity to empathize – as children grow, their ability to empathize needs to be explored and nurtured. Regularly considering other people’s perspectives and circumstances equips a person to be empathic so that empathy becomes a natural reflex. Help your children connect and manage their feelings by helping them first identify their feelings, then learn how to have self-control in their actions and reactions, and eventually, to be able to resolve conflicts. Lee Ann also highlights some of the many ways to help your children develop sympathy and empathy from the article “How Parents Can Cultivate Empathy in Children” by Richard Weissbourd and Stephanie Jones: Have family meetings. Hold family meetings when there are family challenges or conflicts; in those meetings, give children a voice and encourage them to take the perspective of other family members. Listen carefully to your children’s views and ask your children to listen carefully to the views of others. Encouraging empathy for peers. Ask children about their classmates and other peers. Ask children when they’re in conflicts with peers to consider their peers’ perspectives. Reflecting on empathy and caring. Notice with your child when you’re together, and someone exhibits strong empathy—or shows a lack of empathy—either in your daily life, in a book, or on television. Discuss why acts of empathy are important and why lacking empathy can be harmful. Discussing ethical dilemmas. Discuss with your child ethical dilemmas that help them appreciate various perspectives, e.g., “Should I invite a new neighbor to my birthday party when my best friend doesn’t like her?” “Should I tell my friend if I know her boyfriend, who is also my friend, cheated on her?” Zooming in and out. Help children learn to zoom in, tuning in carefully to others and zoom out, taking in multiple perspectives and people. Use news media or TV stories to start conversations with children about other people’s hardships and challenges or simply the different experiences of children in another country or community. Romans 12:15 encourages us to: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Children’s books mentioned: Empathy Makes Me Kind by Divya Mohan, Be Kind by Pat Zielow Miller, and Stand in My Shoes by Bob Samson. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“There is a lot of toxic content now pushed on very small children, and the worst statistic of all is that while 62% of Americans who are over 40 believe in God, 32% of children believe in God in America.” -Brent Dusing. Brent Dusing is the CEO and founder of TruPlay, a gaming platform created to bring high-quality, fun, and biblically-sound entertainment to audiences worldwide. An entrepreneur at heart and a Harvard University graduate of economics, Dusing pioneered game creation with Christian content through Lightside Games and created the nation’s leading mobile coupon company. He began his career as a venture capitalist at Menlo Ventures and, over time, has been featured on CNN, Fox News, ABC News, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, and other mainstream news media. During this episode, Brent discusses his unique organization, Truplay, and how they’ve built a fun, relatable, biblically-based gaming platform for children. He explains how we're in a crisis where children have no concept or familiarity with Jesus Christ because they’re watching drama shows, playing toxic games, and living on their screens, learning nothing about God’s truth for more than 52 hours a week. “I was bothered by what I saw; I was bothered that suicide, anxiety, and depression rates are at an all-time high for kids which mirrors exactly the rise of social media on smartphones.” -Brent Dusing. Brent emphasizes the benefits of Truplay and how it brings world-class entertainment to kids that they will love, enjoy, and relate to, but that also teaches biblical principles and God’s truth. He discusses how the players go through extremely relatable situations to what kids face in today’s society and how this gaming platform can be an ideal medium for faith exploration in a much safer and uplifting way. Brent's social media: Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you, and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” -Ezekiel 36:26. The beauty of the Christian faith is that it offers redemption and forgiveness for our sins. We can use the Bible to show our children how even though people committed the worst sins against God, he still forgave them and transformed their hearts. We can help our children understand that character transformation is a continuous process due to the dual nature that lives within us. During this episode, Lee Ann elaborates on stories of biblical characters that can be used to help teach children about faith and transformation: Saul (Acts 9): Saul was a zealous Pharisee who persecuted Christians. He was on his way to persecute Christians when a light from Heaven suddenly blinded him. Jesus appeared to him and transformed his heart. Saul became one of the most influential apostles, spreading the gospel throughout the world. Saul’s transformation story shows us that God’s grace can transform anyone. Nicodemus (John 3:1-21): Nicodemus was a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council who did not believe in life after death and where they earnestly wanted to kill Jesus. God worked on Nicodemus’ heart because Nicodemus yearned for truth. He came to Jesus to learn more about him. Though he initially doubted Jesus could be the Messiah, Nicodemus eventually put his faith in Christ and became one of His followers. David (2 Samuel 12): David was a man after God’s own heart. David’s story is unique in that he slayed Goliath in honor of God yet, dishonored God later in life with his adultery with Bathsheba. He wrote many Psalms about repentance and forgiveness. David’s story teaches us that even the most faithful people are capable of sin but that God will always forgive us when we repent. Jonah (Jonah 1-2): Jonah was a prophet God called to preach to the city of Nineveh. Jonah disobeyed and ran away from God. God sends a giant whale to swallow up Jonah's belly of the whale for three whole days. It seemed that all was lost for Jonah, but he repented to God, and he was spit back up on shore. This story teaches us that we should always obey God, even when it is hard. It also teaches us that God is merciful and will forgive us when we repent. Peter (Luke 22:54-62& Acts 2:14-42): Peter denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed, but Peter repented and was forgiven. Learning to repent helps to transform a sinful heart to be more obedient. Peter was transformed, and he was one of the most influential apostles. He transformed from this self-motivated, impulsive, inconsistent follower of Jesus to one of the most charismatic leaders of the church. Moses (Exodus 2:11-15): Moses was a murderer and fugitive. He transformed into one of the most influential leaders in history. His story demonstrates that no matter how far we’ve fallen, it’s never too late to turn our lives around and follow God. Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10): Zacchaeus was a tax collector people hated. They were called publicans or tax collectors and were known for their corruption. Zacchaeus met Jesus and repented of his sin. Zacchaeus’s story teaches us that Jesus will save anyone, no matter how far they have strayed from Him. Here are some other transformation stories of biblical characters that you can read and discuss with your children, showing how one’s heart can continually be transformed through Christ: The Thief on the Cross (Luke 23:39-43) The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) Samson (Judges 16) Ruth (Ruth 1) Barnabas (Acts 4:36) Abraham (Genesis 17) The woman at the well (John 4) Philemon & Onesimus (Philemon 1) Resources Mentioned & Referenced: “The Story of Paul Lesson,” by Leah Pittsinger. “The Life of Paul in 16 Lessons,” by Mission Bible Class. “Nicodemus Reborn – John 3,” by Sunday School Lessons for Kids. “Lesson: God Forgave David’s Sin (2 Samuel 11-12, Psalm 51),” by Beth Steward. “Jonah: Nineveh Repents – Jonah 3: Bible Story,” by Share Faith Kids. “Peter is Transformed by Jesus,” by Leah Pittsinger. “The Life of Moses,” by Kids Sunday School. “Children’s Sermon Object Lesson on Zacchaeus Luke 19:1-10,” by Sunday School Works. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“There’s a lot of practical things we can do to build character in our kids; it doesn’t have to be overwhelming!” -Monica Swanson. Monica Swanson is a popular blogger, the host of the Monica Swanson Podcast, and the author of Boy Mom and Raising Amazing. Monica graduated from Pepperdine University, has a teaching credential from Linfield College, and has a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine. Monica strives to encourage families to raise amazing kids and loves to help build strong family relationships. She defines the word “amazing” as a pleasant surprise or something that causes wonder, and she is passionate about helping parents and children build hearts of character and faith. “It is so important for families to create their own culture, to have a place where their kids understand who we are and what we're about and that they really belong.” -Monica Swanson. Monica elaborates on the following key takeaways: The importance of building family culture – everyone wants to have a sense of belonging and to fit in. If our kids feel a sense of belonging at home, the chances of them wanting to get that feeling elsewhere become smaller. The benefits of creating a family mission statement. Character training methods to help transform a child’s character – create a list of inspiring character resources from other people and, as a requirement, have the child write down in a journal one nugget of information they got out of that resource each day. Benefits and examples of reverse negotiation work well with pushy, argumentative kids who always want to negotiate when they are told no; whatever your child asked for that you have already said no to, you simply negotiate in the opposite direction. Monica’s website, Instagram, & Facebook. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

How can we help children learn to trust God, especially when they feel like their world is falling apart? As parents and caregivers, it is our responsibility to help our children learn to trust God; They must learn to trust God’s guidance as the days become increasingly chaotic and evil. During this episode, Lee Ann expounds on the following tips for helping children to learn to trust God: Talk to them about God’s love for all people - use stories from the Bible to explain God’s character and how he is always with us. Share something in your life where you thought your prayer was not being heard but then something better happened than what you prayed for to happen. Model faith in all that you do - children learn by example, so when it comes to trusting God, it is important for parents to emulate a trusting, faithful relationship with God. Help them to realize the many blessings in their life, even in difficult times. Talk about people who have suffered profoundly but continued to trust the Lord—for example, Joni Eareckson Tada, Nick Vujicic, or Bethany Hamilton. Encourage them to ask you questions and be patient with how you answer them. As children grow, they will have many questions about God and faith. Talk about God and pray together often. Praying together allows children to see their parents trusting in God (Ref Ephesians 3:14-19). God always has a plan - plan with your family of what you will do, how you will behave, what happens when someone disobeys, etc.; knowing what, when, and how helps to establish security and trust. Show them how to be patient and understand that God is in control. When you know someone is in control, the chaos can be less scary and confusing. Discuss this acronym for TRUST and how each one is equally important when praying and building a trusting relationship with God: T = THANK R = RECEIVE U = UNDERSTAND S = SPIRIT T = TRANSFORM Resources: Answers Bible Curriculum by Answers in Genesis and the article “Teach Your Kids How to Trust God,” by Jim Jackson. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“My job is to teach my kids to discern right from wrong and to constantly help them practice in everyday situations. I’m instilling and equipping wisdom and discernment in my child by doing so.” – Julie Lowe. Julie Lowe, MA, is a faculty member at CCEF and a licensed professional counselor with over twenty years of counseling experience. Julie is also a registered play therapist and has developed a play therapy office at CCEF to better serve families, teens, and children. Julie is the author of Child Proof, Building Bridges, and Safeguards, as well as the mini-books Helping Your Anxious Child and Teens and Suicide. Julie and her husband, Greg, have five children and serve as foster and adoptive parents. During this episode, Julie shares her wisdom from her book, Safeguards, which equips and empowers parents and caregivers to think wisely and biblically about the dangers children face instead of living in constant worry, fear, and denial. “I really felt like there was a gap in equipping parents to know how to talk to their kids about hard topics to equip their kids.” – Julie Lowe. Julie elaborates on the following key points: Worry and denial are not safety skills; worrying and denial are equally dangerous – instilling a biblical worldview forms a foundation for any safety skill and understanding good from evil. To teach wisdom and discernment, we have to teach our children right vs. wrong and good vs. evil. We are crippling our children in the same ways we hope to protect them when we live in worry or denial because worry doesn't teach wisdom or discernment. A key mistake we all make is that we think we can evaluate whether a person is good; it’s important to teach our children to evaluate someone’s behavior rather than their character. Stranger danger is a myth- strangers aren’t dangerous; dangerous people are dangerous. It is important to teach kids the language of consent, which gives them the ability to say no in certain situations – if they feel like what they are being to do is wrong, and they choose to say no, this demonstrates discernment, and they should be supported by the parents or caretakers in this decision. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“No two mothers are alike. No two experiences in motherhood mirror each other. But something powerful happens when our stories come together: they speak love, worth, value, and beauty.” -Leslie Means. Leslie Means, the founder and owner of the popular website “Her View from Home,” is passionate about connecting women through heartfelt stories on motherhood, marriage, faith, and grief. She is a former news anchor, a weekly columnist and has published several short stories. During this episode, Leslie gives us insight into why she created her website, Her View from Home, and the impact she hopes it will bring on mothers or anyone who wants to share their stories. Her platform includes tons of women's articles on motherhood, marriage, relationships, and faith. Leslie also discusses her book, So God Made a Mother, hoping it will encourage mothers amid the chaos and the many challenges we face in today’s society. She emphasizes how the most common challenge mothers face today is loneliness and connection, especially in the last few years after covid. She shares advice for moms who are in the trenches and feeling lonely about the reward of opening yourself up and being vulnerable to make those connections in life either online or in person. Leslie gives encouragement to moms who are trying to navigate the chaos of today’s world while raising Christian children. She shares the importance of setting boundaries for families and the benefits of knowing who your kids spend their time with. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

"I think it’s very important not to play referee but be the coach and help them work through the issues.” -Lori Wildenberg Once a month, Lori and Lee Ann will discuss complex topics regarding parenting and disciplining to help families have peace in the home and work together to build lifetime connections! Lori Wildenberg is a national speaker, a licensed parent-family educator of over 25 years, and an award-winning author of six Christian parenting books. Lori also leads the popular Moms Together Facebook Community Page and Group. During this episode of MOMents with Lori and Lee Ann, both share pointers on dealing with sibling conflict and bullying. Key Takeaways: When a child is bullying a sibling, parents must help BOTH kids – the victim and the one doing the bullying; all kids need to feel safe at home. We, as parents, want to watch for repetitive behaviors that are intentional and are meant to harm or humiliate the other child. Pay attention to the cause of the bullying – work on problem-solving resolution conflict as a family and identify the triggers to be able to work on respectful ways to work through them. Parents need to be aware of their own behaviors as children mirror them for good or bad – blaming others, name-calling, silent treatment, comparing people, or labeling/favoring children. Steps to help siblings become allies and not enemies; our messaging matters, and we should tell our children early, and often they are each other’s best friends. We need to value each child's uniqueness while valuing family unity. Respect is one of the most critical character traits to help build in children; we must continue to weave respect in the family to avoid bullying problems amongst siblings. Don’t push the victim into forgiveness mode – they are allowed to grieve that their sibling has hurt them. Verbalize what you see on both sides, have them go to separate places to devise a plan to solve that problem, and then come together and merge their plans, putting them on the same side. Lori’s Website & Moms Together Facebook Community Page & Group. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

Looking for a summer camp for your child to have fun adventures, make lifelong friends, and learn more about Christ? Amy Lowe is the Director of WinShape Camps for Girls – a summer camp for girls from 1st grade to 12th grade, and she also oversees WinShape Camps for Families – a family camp and family weekend experience. She has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Samford University and a Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. Before WinShape, Amy worked for 12 years at LifeWay Christian Resources in the areas of camping and publishing. During this episode, Amy discusses her organization, WinShape, and the different summer camps that they offer to children and families all over the nation. WinShape Camps’ mission is to honor God in all the activities and experiences that they offer. They are passionate about transforming the hearts of campers and families with God’s Word and wisdom. WinShape also offers scholarships, payment plans, and 50% off for first-time overnight campers. Amy elaborates on the following summer camps: Day camp: for grades K5-5th; the day camp includes indoor and outdoor activities and creative play mixed with all-day adventures while teaching about Jesus in every experience. Overnight camp: for grades 1-12; choose between a one- or two-week experience for either just girls or just boys, helping children develop skillsets and build life-long friendships while growing a relationship with Jesus. Family camp: for families of all ages; gives families an opportunity to experience new things together and learn more about Jesus through Bible-based teaching together. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

Michelle Medlock Adams is a NY Times best-selling ghostwriter and an award-winning author of over 100 books. Raising Christian Kids and Michelle are doing a giveaway with four of her amazing books: I Love You to the Sun and Beyond, Our God I Bigger Than That, Fly High, and Love Connects Us All. During this episode, Lee Ann and Michelle discuss the four books in the Spring giveaway: I Love You to the Sun and Beyond is an educational picture book for parents to read with their children. It teaches them interesting, fun facts about the world through twenty-nine wacky analogies while simultaneously making them feel extremely loved. Our God is Bigger Than That is a children’s book for children six and under that helps them understand that no matter what problem they face, God is in control and has bigger plans for them. This book serves as a resource to help children to look to God, who is bigger than their fears when they are fearful. Fly High is a children’s fiction book about loss, grief, and hope. As we know, everyone experiences loss, even children. And we know how to verbalize how we feel when we are grieving or sad, but sometimes children have trouble understanding these feelings, and this book can help children relate who may have experienced some type of loss. Love Connects Us All teaches children that families come in all different shapes and sizes and help them realize that a family can be people who love each other, not necessarily a mom, a dad, a sister, and a brother. This book can be an excellent tool for children in diverse families or who are adopted into a family. It is important to inform children that God loves their family just as much as any other “traditional” family. The Michelle Medlock Adams Spring Giveaway is from April 13th-April 26th. ***CLICK HERE TO PARTICIPATE*** RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” -Luke 24:44. In a world that seems to reject Christianity, many Christian holidays such as Easter or Christmas seem to be centered around traditions such as the Easter Bunny or Santa Clause. And although we can still incorporate those fun traditions, we should also emphasize the importance of the actual reason for these holidays. Easter is a time to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, and it is our job as parents and caretakers to point our children to Christ in every way possible. Our goal should be to make memories with fun traditions while also connecting our children to Christ! So... how can we incorporate Jesus and the Psalms into fun family Easter traditions? During this episode, Lee Ann shares the importance of not only having traditions but also instilling truth and wisdom from the Bible regarding why we celebrate Easter in the first place. So perhaps instead of looking for Easter eggs, look for Jesus in the Psalms. Here are just a few of the many passages where we can find Jesus in the Psalms: Psalm 8:1-9 Psalm 16:8-11 Psalm 40:6-8 Psalm 68:18 Psalm 69:21 Psalm 110:1 Psalm 118:22-23 Psalms 96-100 Psalm 22 If your children believe in the Easter bunny, point out that bunnies represent new life in the springtime and correlate that with the new life Jesus brings us. With younger children, don’t use slang words and phrases; use actual words such as "resurrection" and "sacrifice" so they can grasp the correct terminology to understand what Christ has done for us and why we celebrate this holiday in the first place. Resources: Episode 39: “Teaching Children the Reason for the Easter Season,” by Lee Ann Mancini. Episode 113: “Understanding the Cardinal Points and Teaching Children 8 Christlike Characteristics for Easter,” by Lee Ann Mancini. “The Resurrection: “According to the Scriptures”?” by Herald Gandi. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“When we look at our actual homes, really the question to ask is, ‘How is screen time affecting my home - does technology bring my family closer together?’” – Arlene Pellicane. Arlene Pellicane is a speaker and author of several books, including Parents Rising, 31 Days to a Happy Husband, Calm, Cool, and Connected, and Screen Kids. Arlene has been a featured guest on the Today Show, Fox & Friends, and Focus on the Family. She hosts the Happy Home Podcast and lives in San Diego with her husband and their three children. Arlene is passionate about helping families on an array of topics. One of her missions is encouraging parents to remember that they control screen time and technology usage in their homes! During this final episode of disciplining month, Arlene dives into some important topics from her book, Screen Kids. She elaborates on the following key points on how to confront technology issues when disciplining: The confusing culture today teaches us that electronic devices are educational and that they help our kids connect with other kids – which can be true, but our kids are then lacking emotional skill sets. Tips on imposing new rules – prepare for resistance, try to make screen time as specific as possible, and make sure to have an end goal in mind. The benefits of reducing screen time in small incremental sections vs. all at once. Apologize and take responsibility for being “soft” when they get upset by your new rules to reduce screen time; admit you were wrong for letting them take advantage of their screens. Advice in disciplining a child that continues to abuse the digital rules – review the different types of rules that have failed, get other perspectives from parents or friends on how they deal with this issue in their home, and be willing to open your mind to other solutions. If it isn’t working, it’s time to try something different. Don’t be afraid to give consequences, and don’t extend the deadline. Allow the experiences and consequences to discipline your children. Arlene’s website, Instagram, & Happy Home University. Want to read the transcript of this episode? Click this booklet. Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

If we are not responsible for our children’s actions and behaviors, then who is? As parents, we tend to think that our children's actions and behavior directly reflect our parenting skills or lack thereof. And in some instances, this may be true. We may find ourselves as adults making excuses when we behave badly in front of others. But we are not responsible for how they act; we are responsible to them – meaning, we have a responsibility as their parent or caretaker to teach them, guide them, and emulate good behavior, especially when disciplining. When they deliberately choose to do wrong when they know they shouldn’t, it is not always our fault, and sometimes, they must suffer natural and logical consequences. Natural and logical consequences are great tools in our disciplining arsenal. Although we are not entirely responsible for our children’s actions, there is one area in life where we are held responsible. The laws of society say that parents are legally responsible for their minor children’s actions in civil and criminal court, regardless of whether it was intentional or accidental. This is another reason to ensure children we are disciplining our children early so they understand that their family is at stake in more serious matters. “For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.” - Colossians 3:25. During this episode, Lee Ann elaborates on these helpful guidelines to remember when disciplining children: Be clear about our expectations and what is expected of them. Provide guidance and support without being overbearing. Let them make mistakes and learn from them - don’t rescue or bail them out every time. Encourage them to be independent and responsible. Instill values like honesty, integrity, and respect for others. Encourage them to think for themselves and make their own decisions. Be patient as they learn to make responsible choices, and don’t forget to praise them when they do. Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“It’s never too late. God changes people at any age; he changes little children, he changes, elementary-aged children, he changes teenagers, he even changes adults; so, we’re really grateful that God’s grace permeates the heart of any person.” -Scott Turansky. Dr. Scott Turansky is the co-founder of the National Center for Biblical Parenting and the author of over 15 books. He is a professor at Concordia University, where he teaches the master’s level parenting class to students who will be social workers, counselors, and ministry professionals. During this second part of the two-part episode series, Scott continues to share his wisdom and expertise regarding effective disciplining to help parents reach children's hearts, specifically emphasizing the effectiveness of taking a break versus a time out and the benefits of parenting with firmness and consistency. Scott elaborates on the difference between a break and a time-out and how a break is much more effective than a time-out. Taking a “time out” is not a good parenting model because it’s a punitive punishment like a timed sentence that a child has to serve for a “crime” they’ve committed. Taking a “break” is more effective because it is based on repentance in the Bible, and it transfers responsibility to the child by letting them come back on their own terms when they feel like they’ve had a change of heart. “There comes this point when time and conscience and the Holy Spirit work in a child’s heart, and they come back and say, ‘Okay, I’m ready.’ That’s what we’re looking for - that’s the power of the break.” -Scott Turansky, Scott shares tools parents can implement to help improve communication and effectively reach their obstinate teenagers when disciplining. First, there has to be a relationship between the child and the parent. Although parents should have empathy and sympathy for their child, they must also have firmness and consistency when disciplining to be most effective for long-term results. He shares real-life examples of children who have had a heart transformation through a balance of consistency and firmness. “We need to trust the Lord and recognize that God can use these times in our child’s life for us to make an impact, and we don’t have to do it with a hammer.” -Scott Turansky. Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“Understanding the action point is a crucial idea that will help parents be more powerful and significant when working with their children.” -Dr. Scott Turansky. Dr. Scott Turansky co-founded the National Center for Biblical Parenting and is the author of over 15 books. He is also a professor at Concordia University, where he teaches the master’s level Parenting Class to students who will be social workers, counselors, and ministry professionals. During this first part of the two-part episode series, Dr. Turansky discusses what he offers for families at Biblical Parenting University and shares important teachings from his book, Parenting is Heart Work, to help children have heart-based obedience. Biblical Parenting University is an online university where parents can take different parenting or coaching classes. These classes help parents learn how to take biblical principles and apply them to the parent-child relationship to teach children how to get things done and to help children develop essential life skills. “Every one of the steps in the first cycle of getting things done is important because the cycle is building responsibility, responsiveness to authority, diligence, hard work, and perseverance… We are doing so much work here by helping children learn to follow instructions.” -Dr. Turansky. Scott shares three important teachings from his book to help children obtain heart-based knowledge and obedience: Parents need to go into the heart – the three components that parents need to reach are their children’s desires, emotions, and beliefs. Parents need to recognize they are the best counselors for their kids IF they have a good plan – the best way to help your children overcome behavioral issues and temperament is to get some training as a parent first because the parent knows the child more than anyone else. Consider your action point – every parent has an action point, and when you stop talking and start acting through practical application and exercises, children can learn what they need to do in their own hearts versus what they don’t want to do. Scott also details the “coming when called” exercise as an effective disciplining tool for children who don’t have an internal sense of obligation or tend to constantly argue instead of saying yes when called. Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“We do not need to be ‘punishing’ our children because Christ already took the punishment.” – Sarah R. Moore Sarah R. Moore is the author of Peaceful Discipline: Story Teaching, Brain Science, and Better Behavior and the founder of Dandelion Seeds Positive Parenting. She's a public speaker, an armchair, a neuroscientist, and, most importantly, a mother and a daughter of Christ. Sarah is a lifelong learner with training in child development, trauma recovery, interpersonal neurobiology, and improv comedy. As a certified master trainer in conscious parenting, she helps bring joy, ease, and connection back to families around the globe. During this episode, Sarah discusses how emotional safety and connection can be used in our parenting to discipline more effectively and more like Jesus! She elaborates on the following key points from her book, Peaceful Discipline: Some of the many ways Jesus taught people throughout the Bible can be used in parenting when disciplining children. We can teach our children the story of Zacchaeus from the Bible - he was a tax collector known as a bad guy who sinned often; instead of punishing and perishing him, God taught him through emotional safety and connection that there was another way. Jesus also taught through parables – it was always connection-based, and these stories illustrate what God’s love is like and how to live for God. We all have a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which allows everyone to be a natural storyteller and create narrative memories. When we directly access the hippocampus part of a child’s brain, it is emotionally safe for them, and we are using a tool that Jesus used himself. Jesus took all the punishment for all his believers; therefore, we do not have to punish our children, although there are consequences for their behavior. When we look at our children, we can see our father's face in Heaven. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” - Romans 8:1. Sarah’s social media: Instagram Facebook & Facebook Group YouTube Pinterest TikTok Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“Another issue with disciplining today is that way too many people think of it as punishment; discipline is training for righteousness; discipline is walking with!” -Kathy Koch. Dr. Kathy Koch is the founder and president of Celebrate Kids and the associate co-founder of Ignite the Family. She regularly speaks at conventions, schools, churches, and pregnancy resource centers, where she has influenced thousands of people. Dr. Kathy is a popular guest on Focus on the Family radio, and her podcast, Celebrate Kids with Dr. Kathy, is among the most popular parenting podcasts. She is also the author of six books published by Moody Publishers. Throughout this episode, Dr. Koch shares advice on disciplining, understanding strong-willed children, and the most problematic issues with disciplining children today. Key Takeaways: The discipline of wisdom can be defined as agreeing with God, a perspective God brings to a topic, and applying truth - wisdom is using the right with the right motive for the right outcome. Ways to address a strong-willed child when they continue arguing, talking back, or ignoring their parents’ directives. A strong-willed child is not bad when they have self-control, self-respect, and respect for others; having a strong will is a great characteristic for decision-making and leadership. What a strong-willed child wants is power, control, and victory. Advice for disciplining and understanding strong-willed children: Keep a written record of when your child argues, talks back, or ignores you to help determine if it’s situational. Avoid saying “no” when your child asks a question; replace it with “when and then.” Most problematic issues when disciplining children today: Overwhelmed parents: if parents are overwhelmed, and they’ve given up, or they’re afraid of their kids, and the kids talk back a lot, don’t sink into the lazy pit of despair but pray instead. Consequences differ from punishments: consequences are necessary for disciplining because they teach children how to change their behaviors. Technology: when we allow our children to use technology, they tend to think they’re in control and that everything is about them; so, they believe the world works like that because their brain is being developed by the media devices they spend their time on. Dr. Kathy's books: Resilient Kids 8 Great Smarts No More Perfect Kids Screens and Teens Start with the Heart Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“If we want to understand what biblical discipline truly looks like, we need to look at Jesus, and we need to see how Jesus disciplined his disciples.” -Angela Harders. In this second part of the two-part episode series, Angela continues to share her wisdom regarding the controversial passage, Proverbs 23:13-14, that states, “Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die. Punish them with the rod and save them from death.” Angela explains how the four proverbs (this verse included) were written by King Solomon, addressing his sons in hopes of training them to one day be King. The book of Proverbs is meant to address adults; it is not a parenting guide for toddlers. Proverbs 1 states right from the beginning, ‘these are the proverbs of Solomon;’ these are NOT commandments from God! The word “child” in Hebrew refers to a legal adult that is typically between the ages of 13 and 17, and people in this age group were considered adults back in ancient times. Therefore, if there are any claims of a child being punished with a rod, it is for committing a crime and about a legal adult. The word “rod” is meant to be a figurative rod in many circumstances throughout the Bible – it is not always meant to be a physical rod. But one thing we know for sure; the Bible never tells us as parents to hit our children with rods! Angela also discusses some tools to help you interact with your children the way Jesus interacted with his disciples, such as modeling, teaching, showing compassion, forgiveness, and correction. She also elaborates on the benefits of giving children a choice instead of giving them commands. This technique removes the power and control dynamics of a child wanting to argue back. It also empowers the child to make decisions and become a better critical thinker. Connect with Angela: Peaceful World Schoolers Facebook Instagram YouTube Rumble TikTok Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“We need to remember that when we see the word discipline in the Bible, it does not mean punishment; that word means to verbally teach or instruct; it does not mean physical punishment at all!” -Angela Harders. Angela Harders is a certified special education teacher, an international best-selling author, and the founder of Pax Ministries. She left a toxic school environment to practice Peaceful World schooling with her own children and to inspire other families to do the same. Angela empowers families to live with faith and freedom through her organization, books, podcast, courses, coaching, and more. During this first episode of this two-part series, Angela discusses her inspiration for writing her book, Gospel-based Parenting, and the truth behind the misconception of physical punishment in the Christian world. Angela explains that the phrase “spare the rod, spoil the child” does not come from the Bible but from an erotic poem! The correct passage from the Bible is, “He who withholds the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently,” which can be found in Proverbs 13:24. Parents should understand the meaning of this passage from the Bible correctly to be able to apply it when disciplining. Angela also details the three different types of consequences with real-life examples: contrived consequences (punishment), logical consequences, and natural consequences. She acknowledges the misconception regarding gentle parenting and emphasizes that even though it is “gentle” parenting, children still experience consequences. They get natural and logical consequences, just not physical/emotional based responses such as spanking or unrelated offenses. Here's how to connect with Angela: Peaceful World Schoolers Facebook Instagram YouTube Rumble TikTok Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“Discipline literally means to teach. And Jesus disciplined by how he lived his life, not by lecturing, punishing, and sending his disciples to their rooms.” -Kirk Martin. Celebrate Calm founder Kirk Martin has helped almost one million parents stop the yelling, defiance, and power struggles with the most strong-willed children. He is also the host of the Calm Parenting Podcast, and he offers a multitude of resources and packages on his website for you and your child's specific needs. During this episode, Kirk elaborates on the following key points to help discipline children, especially those who are strong-willed: Ways to overcome apathetic children who don’t want to change their behaviors. The benefit of giving impulsive or anxiety-prone children the tools to succeed rather than getting angry at them for not behaving right off the bat. How to make mornings more fun for younger kids – a treasure hunt or challenge in the morning can be a positive motivator to get them to want to get up versus telling them they have to get ready for school. Connection breeds cooperation – we can connect with children on things they are interested in and use that as a tool to connect and discipline them more effectively. Spark internal motivation using a mission and mentor tactic – getting another adult in the child’s life to spark motivation or have them do activities that they are good at to motivate them to want to do well in school. Some of the major things that parents often do wrong when disciplining their children – reacting emotionally and taking things personally. Stop the power struggles with your strong-willed children, and check out Kirk's Calm Parenting Package, which includes 30 hours’ worth of resources, from 13 different programs to help you discipline more effectively. Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

Discipline, instruction, and guidance… what do you think when you hear those words? For the entire month of March, we will feature experts in discipline and parenting to share their knowledge and help parents and caregivers navigate the rough waters of disciplining. The wisdom that will be shared will hopefully help you raise children who are teachable and obedient to you and, most importantly, obedient to God. We will cover many topics, such as disciplining strong-willed children, disciplining children with varying cognitive abilities, the different types of consequences, and the most problematic issues parents face disciplining in today's chaotic society. During this episode, Lee Ann will dive into what she believes can serve as the first step in disciplining: creating a discipline plan for your children. She elaborates on the following tips: Pray for guidance - ask God to help you develop a discipline plan that best serves the children in your care. Get input from your children - ask them what they think would be helpful to learn and consider their suggestions as you develop your plan. Be consistent with your rules and expectations. Avoid physical punishment. Use logical consequences. Be patient, and remember that your children are still learning. Explain to them your reasons for disciplining them. Apologize to your child if you lose your temper. Always show love and grace towards your child. Once you develop your plan, you can consider what areas of your life you need to work on the most and create a list of specific goals you would like to accomplish. Once you have your goals in mind, start working on a daily or weekly schedule to help you stay on track. Include regular Bible reading and prayer time, and ensure your other outside activities support those goals. And don’t be afraid to ask for help from a friend or mentor who can help to hold you accountable. Hopefully, we can all learn to discipline with a positive attitude, a humble spirit, and a servant's heart! Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“I think for us to be able to understand what the Bible is saying to us, we have to fully understand the broader context of what the author of the scripture intended for the original audience.” - Dr. Eric Bargerhuff. Dr. Eric Bargerhuff serves as the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Bible and Theology at Trinity College of Florida. He has served there for the past ten years; prior to that, he served in Pastoral Ministry for over 20 years. He is the author of four books and has an interest in writing "easy to understand" books that encourage believers to interpret Scripture correctly in its original context. During this episode, Eric emphasizes his passion for teaching theology and Scripture and educating the next generation of Christian leaders to invest in their spiritual growth in Christ. He discusses the importance of teaching the context behind the events and passages in the Bible so that people can truly understand and apply the meanings of these passages correctly. Eric shares information from his book, The Most Misused Verses in the Bible, and how many Bible verses are misunderstood because people don’t know the proper context behind who wrote them and why they were written. Eric elaborates on the following three well-known misused verses in the Bible: Matthew 7:1 states, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” In this specific passage, Jesus was referring to a particular type of judgment – hypocrisy. He is speaking about people in the Bible who would condemn others for doing the same things they were doing. Ultimately, we know that God is the one who is going to judge each one of us. Still, we do have a responsibility towards one another to hold each other accountable to a higher moral standard here on earth. Romans 8:28 states, “God works all things together for good.” As human beings, we tend to import our definition of good into that verse and then hold God accountable to apply it to our lives in the way we want it to be used. But if you look at the context of this verse, the Apostle Paul is talking about suffering and redemption. God works all things together for good, but he is weaving the good, the bad, and the suffering, causing us to grow more like Christ. Matthew 18:20 states, “For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.” This specific verse in the Bible talks about how to deal with sin in the church. Jesus used this approach with his disciples to address someone’s sin privately with two or three others, to keep the knowledge of the sin in the smallest circle to rebuke the sin in a way that brings them back to Christ. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

Mother Theresa wisely said, “Some people come in your life as blessings. Some come in your life as lessons.” “Life is not easy.” “It gets harder as you get older.” These are some phrases we sometimes hear throughout life. And maybe there is some truth to these sayings, but during tough times, the Lord can teach us and our children some valuable life lessons. Life lessons can be learned anywhere and however in life – through experiences, from family members, and most notably, from the Bible. The word of God is not just a story – it is true history. They are not just biblical characters – they are real people. “Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” - Acts 4:30. Some of the best life lessons can be learned from family members. Take the time to sit with and listen to an elder in your family or church. You may be surprised by what they have to say and share. We can learn a lot from their mistakes, wisdom, experiences, and corrections! "Wisdom belongs to the aged and understanding to the old." - Job 12:12. Lee Ann elaborates on one miracle, which was the birth of her daughter. Her daughter was born 10 minutes before midnight on the exact same day that Lee Ann’s mother went to be with Jesus six years earlier. March 3rd was always a sad day for her until the sad memories were replaced by the birth of Lena, named after her mother. God can create life lessons and miracle moments in the most impactful, unique way! Resources: Learning From the Giants, Running With the Giants, and Wisdom from Women in the Bible, by John Maxwell. “25 Life Lessons from the Bible,” by Natalie Regoli RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“Ask God to help you focus on that person, the eternal spirit, that is living inside that temporary body that may have limitations.” -Sonya Shafer. Sonya Shafer is a popular homeschool speaker and writer specializing in the Charlotte Mason Method. She has been on an adventure for more than 20 years studying, researching, practicing, and teaching Charlotte’s gentle and effective education methods. Her passion for homeschooling her own four daughters grew into helping others and then into Simply Charlotte Mason, which publishes her books and provides a place of practical encouragement to homeschoolers. During this episode, Sonya elaborates on the following key points: Her podcast, Simply Charlotte Mason, talks weekly about parenting techniques and homeschooling tips using the Charlotte Mason Method. The Charlotte Mason approach firmly believes that your home's atmosphere and the habits you instill educate your child. Physical, communicative, and comprehensive obstacles children with special needs can face when learning and tips from her experience to overcome them. Tips to overcoming those obstacles: simplifying your life, praying, and giving yourself grace for your mistakes. If we can slow down and become a student of our children and find out what makes them tick, we will be able to teach and discipline them effectively. Many ways to approach and communicate with a special needs child: greet the person by name, look past the limitations they have, and look them in the eyes as if you would do with any other person; instead of asking questions, make a direct observation inviting a response but not expecting or requiring one, give them some time to respond, and avoid talking about that child as if they are not there. Using a technique such as a mind memory to connect children to Christ. Rather than helping children memorize words and facts, help them to think about the information as a story or scene in their mind to help them remember better. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” -Matthew 25:40. Good friends are valuable for many reasons, one being that they help to prevent isolation and loneliness while increasing our sense of belonging and purpose. Jesus is the perfect example of what a friend should look like; in fact, he is the perfect example of a best friend. As children get older, their friends may have more influence on them than we do, making it a top priority to teach them about friendship. During this episode, Lee Ann connects five suggestions with occurrences from the Bible about Jesus and friendship: We must first model Christlike characteristics for our children to mirror. Let them see you exhibiting those characteristics and show them what we expect from a friend (John 15:15 & Luke 6:31). We can help our children understand the importance of staying away from those who seem like a friend but have ulterior motives (Proverbs 12:26 & Proverbs 20:11). Help them make a list of some of the characteristics they think a good or bad friend should have, and go over your list with them, so hopefully they’ll be more equipped to spot false friendships in the future. Help your child understand that a friend can come from many backgrounds and colors; everyone is made in God's image and deserves love, respect, and the opportunity to become our friend (Genesis 1:27 & James 2:1-4). Introduce biblical terms such as the good Samaritan, and read the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Remind them that we should forgive 77 X 7 (Matthew 18:21-22). Read the sections in the Old Testament that talk about the brotherly love between David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:6 & 1 Samuel 17:39) to help with sibling conflict, as we all hope our children stay close throughout their lives. Resources mentioned: “Choose Your Friends Wisely,” by Douglas Talks. “Teaching Friendship to Our Children, by David Padfield. “25 Important Bible Verses About Fake Friends,” by Fritz Chery. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“Parenting is broken people raising more broken people. I’m not perfect; so, I must go to something that is perfect, and that’s God and God’s word.” -Dan Seaborn. Dan Seaborn is the founder and president of Winning At Home, a non-profit ministry that encourages families of all ages and stages to lead Christ-centered homes. His book, Winning at Home: Tackling the Topics that Confuse Kids and Scare Parents, offers clarity amid chaos on hard-hitting topics such as mental health, technology, sexuality, and identity and can be used as a tool for parents who are trying to raise children from a faith-based perspective. Key Takeaways: Dan shares his testimony about having one of four children who went wayward and how it was the most challenging time in his life, especially as a parent. Winning at Home ministry – their goal is to provide spiritual guidance to anyone struggling and to make a difference for the Kingdom. Parents should not dread difficult conversations with their kids – it is evident in today’s culture that they will bring up some complex issues, such as gender or identity. When we point our children to God the father in times of need, we give our children stability. Advice for parents on guiding teenagers with identity issues and how it is essential to return to God’s word in Genesis. Parents first need to understand that their identity is in Christ, not what they own or have accomplished. A huge mistake parents make is that they build their children’s foundation on themselves instead of on God; they base their advice and wisdom solely on their opinions and thoughts and forget to include God, who is the only one who won’t let them down and will never fail them. Children ultimately, just like us, will make their own decisions - our job as a parent is to lead them to Christ and build that foundation in Christ so that when they do make those decisions, they have their identity in him to make wise choices in their lives. “I believe we are only at the beginning of what we are going to see in terms of our cultural collapse, so getting that solid biblical guidance to our children at an early age is critical.” -Dan Seaborn. Dan’s Instagram & Facebook. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

Does your child know what blasphemy of the Holy Spirit means? Blasphemy is a fundamental biblical directive we should understand well to be able to teach our children when the time comes. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is a willful, wicked rejection of God and, throughout the Bible, was subject to punishment by death. Blasphemy was to call into question the integrity and holiness of God himself. Idolatry, which is said to be the most detestable sin, is considered a form of blasphemy. During this episode, Lee Ann elaborates on this complex subject using direct examples from the Bible to guide you when teaching your children. In the Bible, there are only two possible explanations for Jesus healing the demon-possessed blind and deaf man. The religious leaders who witnessed Jesus perform this miracle refused to acknowledge that it was done by God's power and concluded that Jesus performed this by the power of Satan. But Satan is said to be a “strong man,” and his “goods” or property are the men and women he holds in spiritual bondage. Therefore, Satan would not have cast out that demon from a person because he wishes to keep them in bondage to himself. This is a direct example of blasphemy – they refused to believe it could have been the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in Matthew 12:28 that it was “by the Spirit of God” that he “casts out demons.” Jesus says that sins committed against him, the Son of Man, can be forgiven. It is only unforgivable if the person dies rejecting the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 6:4–6 points out that no argument or evidence will help such a person. The problem is willful rejection, and it’s called in 1 John 5:16, “a sin that ends in death. We can teach young children that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit means not believing that God and Jesus are real. For older children and adults, if you worry that you have somehow committed blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and have committed an unforgivable sin, rest assured you have not. Resources mentioned: The safe search engine Kiddle.co & the article, “Blasphemy: What Is it and Why Is it So Deadly?” by Casey B. Hough Bible verses and stories regarding Blasphemy: Leviticus 24:10-16 Matthew 12:22-32 Mark 3:22-30 Luke 12:10 Exodus 22:28 John 10:30 Hebrews 6:4–6 RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

If your kids want to listen to rap music, why not encourage them to listen to rap music about God? Timothy Brindle and Jonathan Gibson, together, are passionate about teaching kids about God and the Bible through their fun and engaging book series, Acrostic Theology, which uses the alphabet and rhyme to do just that! Timothy Brindle has a Master of Theology degree and a Master of Divinity degree and is a Pastor at Olive Street Presbyterian Church. He is the author of The Unfolding, co-author of the Acrostic Theology for Kids series, and has released several Christian hip-hop albums. Jonathan Gibson, Ph.D., is ordained in the International Presbyterian Church and serves as Associate Professor of Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary. He is the author of The Moon Is Always Round and co-author of the Acrostic Theology for Kids series. During this episode, Timothy and Jonathan discuss their three engaging and interactive books in the series: The Acrostic of God, The Acrostic of Jesus, and The Acrostic of Salvation. Their books teach children the attributes of God, Jesus, or Salvation, using the alphabet and written to a rhyming beat, making each book fun and easy to memorize. The biblical characteristics discussed, using the alphabet A to Z, weave together a beautiful picture of the Bible and its history. All three books can be used as a family devotional. Kids LOVE the engaging rhymes in each book. Here are the rap albums that go with the book series as an additional resource, available on Spotify: The Acrostic of God, The Acrostic of Jesus, and The Acrostic of Salvation. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“Sweat more in the training so you will bleed less on the battlefield.” -Greg Koukl As human beings, we are designed to be resilient. There are ways to teach children how to stand firm and have courage when faced with adversity or failure. Resilience is defined as the ability of a substance to return to its usual shape after being bent, stretched, or pressed; it is also defined as the ability to be happy and prosperous after something difficult or wrong has happened. As parents, it is our duty to emulate resilience as much as possible and show our children how to move forward from a situation with confidence, wisdom, and discernment. During this episode, Lee Ann discusses how we can guide our children to have more resilience. She discusses nine points to encourage parents to prioritize raising children with resilience from the book, Resilient Kids: Raising Them to Embrace Life with Confidence by Kathy Koch. It leads to growth and prevents perfectionism. It leads to hope and prevents victim mentality. It leads to learning and prevents plateauing and mediocrity. It leads to creative problem-solving and prevents children from giving up. It leads to healthy character, including teachability, and prevents disobedience. It leads to confidence and prevents fear and whiny, complaining behavior. It leads to healthy relationships and prevents anger, blaming others, and pride. It causes openness and connection and prevents long-lasting depression and anxiety. It leads to healthy dependence and independence and prevents apathy and isolation. “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the lord has promised to those who love him.” -James 1:12 We want our kids to be spiritually resilient so that when times get tough, and they feel like God has abandoned them, they will have the courage to dust off the devil's lies and move forward into the arms of Jesus. Resources: Resilient Kids: Raising Them to Embrace Life with Confidence, by Kathy Koch, and “13 Ways to Build Resilience in Your Children,” by Sophia Auld. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“Children have to make their faith their own. They have to get to that point where they can defend the Bible and defend their own faith, not their parent’s faith.”-Jesse Florea. Jesse Florea has worked at Focus on the Family for nearly 30 years. For 25 of those years, he’s been the editor of Clubhouse Magazine and Clubhouse Jr. Magazine. He has over forty book credits, including the CBS Defend Your Faith Bible and the devotional Defend Your Faith: 100 Devotions For Kids with Questions. He is the co-host of the Official Adventures in Odyssey and the Official Average Boy podcast. During this episode, Jesse discusses Clubhouse magazine and Clubhouse Jr. magazine, as well as his Defend Your Faith Bible and Devotional, to hopefully promote family fun and encourage parents to help children learn biblical principles in a fun and engaging way. Clubhouse magazine is for kids ages 8-12 and is packed with stories of average kids doing extraordinary things for God, including adventures, delicious recipes, jokes, and puzzles. Clubhouse Jr. magazine is for kids ages 3-7, and it helps children improve their reading and thinking skills. It also includes Bible stories, nature features, puzzles, jokes, and activities to reinforce traditional values and help children build a solid spiritual foundation. Jesse emphasizes the uniqueness of the Defend Your Faith children’s Bible and devotional and how they work together to translate the Bible accurately and efficiently to children. The Bible is a great tool to help introduce apologetics to young readers and equip them to understand why they believe what they believe and how they can defend their faith. His devotional works with the Bible as an extra tool to help children engage with God daily and learn about their faith. The Bible and devotional take evidence and scientific support to back up the Word of God to make it easier for them to understand when building a Christian worldview and learning apologetics! RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

As I'm sure you know, we, as human beings, don't always respond correctly when our patience is being tested. Even if we try and be gentle parents, we sometimes lose control and yell at our children when we are disciplining. Emotional reactivity and knee-jerk responses can sometimes turn us into the Incredible Hulk, the big angry superhero who only knows how to express his emotions with rage and anger. During this episode, Lee Ann elaborates on the following points about having the parental responsibility to our children to teach them to react to situations accordingly when disciplining: We as parents are responsible for our own emotions and reactions not for our kids’ responses; but we are responsible to guide them in making wise choices without using tactics such as screaming and bullying. We cannot always control what our kids say and do – our goal is to influence them, not to control them. When we resort to screaming at our kids, our kids are not hearing the actual message or lesson; they hear the anger behind the screaming, and disciplining means to teach and instruct, NOT scold. When we get reactive and become aggressive, we exhibit immature behavior that our children mimic. Try to avoid the pitfalls that can cause us to lose control. Kids operate off the “pleasure principle.” Disciplining our children requires patience and understanding. We should try our best to be more flexible in our schedules, tolerate uncertainty, go with the flow, don’t make promises we can’t keep, and find joy in every situation and all outcomes! Resources: “How to Keep Your Cool and Stop Yelling at Your Kids” by Julie Davis. “These Parents Never, Ever, Yell” (episode 38) by Lee Ann Mancini. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

"We have at this point way over 300 near-death experiences that describe an awareness or a detailed encounter with God." -Jeffrey Long Jeffrey Long, M.D., is a radiation oncology physician who, over 20 years ago, founded the Near-Death Experience Research Foundation and has investigated over 4000 near-death experiences. The results of his previous research were published in his New York Times bestselling book, Evidence of the Afterlife: The Science of Near-Death Experiences. During this episode, Dr. Long describes his research, and more specifically, out of 4,000, nearly 300 of those experiences have proved the existence of God and an afterlife. He emphasizes how all the people who encountered God described him as overwhelmingly loving and comforting beyond anything they’ve ever felt here on earth. During these encounters with Heaven, people often felt that Heaven was their natural home, and they felt more at home there than on earth at that moment. He also discusses one of his research series, including children having near-death experiences. During the children’s experiences, they were aware of a diseased sibling they never knew that they had; it’s been confirmed that 100% of the time when this information is brought back to the shocked parents, it is true and accurate. Dr. Long has a multitude of resources on his website nderf.org, and he discusses some amazing books to help assist you in talking to your loved ones and children about near-death experiences, God, and proof of an afterlife: Evidence of the Afterlife: The Science of Near-Death Experiences, by Jeffrey Long. Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back, by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent. Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife, by Eben Alexander. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

If we approach prayer intentionally with excitement and reverence, our children can learn to do the same! Teaching our children to pray often can help to prepare them for what they will face in life, and it can empower and equip them to stand firm in their faith when faced with adversity in today’s changing society. But we must teach them to pray often and more intentionally! During this second part of the two-part episode series, Lee Ann continues to share ideas on teaching children how to pray and encouraging children to be more intentional with their prayers. She elaborates on the following points: Help your child learn to speak to God from his heart, to be honest, and sincere. Help your children see you approaching prayer intentionally with excitement and reverence. We must keep our eyes open consciously and our ears attentive to look for opportunities to pray for and with our children and be consistent and spontaneous with our prayers. Research “answered prayers” or “miracle prayers” and help them to see the power of prayer in action. Place your hands on your children when you pray for them, and teach them to lay their hands on others when they are praying for them as well. Pull out a map and look for points of interest for people and places to pray for. Talk to your children about what is happening in the world, and don’t let them hear about the news from others first. Teach them to pray for the public schools to stop teaching things contradictory to the word of God. Resources: “4 Real-life Miracle Stories That Prove the Power of Prayers and Restores Our Faith in God,” by Lessons Learned in Life. “10 Ways to Pray for Public Schools,” by The Navigators in Prayer. Teaching Your Child How to Pray, by Rick Osborne. Pursuing Prayer, by Penny Cook. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

US News stated that fewer than half of American adults pray daily. And research says that only 69% of Christians pray weekly… Our top priority should be that our children learn how to speak to God all the time, every day, and as often as possible. And sometimes, it’s hard to remember to pray before something as we all have busy lives, and seeking God can become an afterthought. However, children can learn and remember to worship and seek God by seeing us pray – asking Jesus for forgiveness, thanking Him for our family and friends, and reading the Bible. Even the disciples asked Jesus how to pray! During this first part of the two-part episode series about teaching children how to pray, Lee Ann elaborates on the following tips: Pause, ponder, and pray – pause when something happens, ponder/think about it, then seek God. Share an example of how you went ahead and did something without seeking God’s guidance and how that turned out versus the times you did seek him for guidance or help beforehand. Help your child memorize the Lord’s prayer – perhaps after family devotional time, you can end with the Lord’s prayer. Ask your child what they think worship time should sound and look like. For example, do they like to talk to God out loud or quietly? Encourage them to speak to God in a way that pleases them, and don't try to correct them. Let them see and hear that you have a robust prayer life. Write down how many times you spoke with God and what those prayers were about, so your children can learn to do the same. Teach them how to sit quietly and listen for God to speak to them through his Holy Spirit. Never compromise set prayer times to accommodate outside activities – they must see you making it the ultimate priority. Let your children hear you say intercessory, praise, and confession prayers, and listen to you pray for the family, our country, and our leaders. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." -Matthew 11:28. Rest – precisely what we need, especially after the crazy busy Holiday season. Physical rest is the rest we need to help us maintain good health, but spiritual rest, which is harder to get, is equally important! Did you know that the Bible mentions "rest" over 500 times? Because Jesus was human, he also sought physical and spiritual rest. He calls on us to believe in him and come to him so that we will become better versions of ourselves. We find rest in him when we remember that he is always with us, and we can rely on his power and trust in his provisions. To obtain spiritual rest, we must pray to the Lord and ask him to open our hearts to understand what may be troubling us or making us restless. We can’t worry and stress about what is to come in our lives; that is why God tells us to find faith in him. Matthew 6:34 states, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Most of the time, we, as adults, can figure out when and why we need physical and spiritual rest. But children have more difficulty understanding when it is time to rest. Lee Ann elaborates on the following questions that could help you see the signs that your children may need physical or spiritual rest: Are they having trouble sleeping? Are they getting sick often? Does your child lash out at you for apparently no reason? Are they quiet and withdrawn more than usual? Do they no longer want to participate in family activities or hang out with friends? Are they adamant about not going to church when they used to love to go? Has their personality changed drastically, or enough for you to notice something is wrong? Resources: “What the Bible Says About Physical and Spiritual Rest,” by The Daily Grace podcast Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity, by Saundra Dalton-Smith “Find Rest for Your Family,” by Whitney Hopler with Crosswalk Take the Rest Quiz here! RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“How we live today determines how we will live tomorrow. What has to last, has to come first.” -Hal Runkel. Happy New Year, RCK community! Going into this new year, we should strive to prioritize our health and well-being! If we don't take care of ourselves, then we can’t expect to be able to care for others, specifically our children. So we must practice self-care and confide in God and his living word on this journey. And through God’s grace and mercy, we can have healing hearts, peace of mind, and a happy spirit! Psalm 46:5 states, “God is within her; she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.” So, how can we teach our children always to be joyful when we are not joyful because of the demands and stress of our busy lives? Self-care is the first step to good childcare! During this episode, Lee Ann elaborates on the following suggestions when practicing self-care to help you become the healthiest leader for your children: Read the word of God and pray often – stay connected to the power source. Eat healthily and stay hydrated – set a timer to eat a healthy snack and drink your water. Make sleep a priority, and don’t forget – intimacy with your spouse should never be neglected. Take deep breaths and relax often – deep breathing and relaxation activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which sends a signal to your brain to tell the anxious part that you're safe and doesn't need to use the fight, flight, or freeze response (which causes stress). Set goals and priorities – stay organized and be ready for the day; this will help keep you on track, and kids love and need consistency and structure. Try to incorporate each fruit of the Spirit in you and your children’s life daily – make a chart and check off every day how you all were loving, kind, generous, patient, etc. Reach out to family, friends, the church family, and, most importantly, God for help if you are stressed or overwhelmed. “But Jesus would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” -Luke 5:16 Resources: “Becoming a Better You – How Can You Become a Better You so You Can Be a Better Parent?” by Raising Christian Kids. “Printable Daily Self Care Checklist Plus 40 Easy Self Care Ideas,” by Faith Filled Food for Moms. “Spiritual Healing – 3 Biblical Steps to Heal Your Wounds,” by Renee Davis. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

A huge step in being successful in business is to envision. So, why not use this tool in parenting? When you envision what can and will be, it helps you create an action plan for success. Envision you and your children’s future 25 from now. Start by making a detailed list of questions you can discuss with your child. Here are some example questions you can use to help build your list: Are they married? Do they have children? What are the roles of other family members in their life? What is your role in their life? How well do they take responsibility for various aspects of their life? Are they engaging in intelligent conversation with others and their children? How do they beneficially contribute to society? How do they carry themselves in the public arena? How do they spend their quiet time? Are they respectful and kind to others? Do they respect you, their spouses, and their children? Are family gatherings for holidays and birthdays a special celebration in a fun and loving atmosphere? Do you see your adult children and grandchildren actively involved in the church? Do they read their Bible? Do they speak about Jesus often to others? After creating a detailed list of questions, you can start building your plan to envision using these four steps, which Lee Ann elaborates on during this episode: Start with what you know. We know that we need to model our faith in action and that children mirror our behaviors. Understand your children’s SWOT: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Identify their problems and possible risks. Plan to be transformative. Resources: “How Can We Help Our Children to Envision God’s Vision for Them?” Episode 85 by Lee Ann Mancini. The Family Table Ministry “Heart Parenting: How to Envision a Positive Future for Your Difficult Child,” from Ben and Me. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“God is close to the broken-hearted; he is a suffering savior who has been through the worst of it, and he understands what you are going through and is with you!” -Tina Yeager. Award-winning author, speaker, licensed mental health counselor, and life coach Tina Yeager encourages audiences to fulfill their potential and guides them on a new journey toward the life of their dreams. She is the author of multiple books, including Upcycled: Crafted for a Purpose and Beautiful Warrior: Finding Victory Over the Lies Formed Against You. She offers a 10-week, ten-minute-a-day, Subdue Stress and Anxiety course featuring 15 expert presenters and hosts the Flourish-Meant podcast. Tina's offering our listeners a discount code for her Subdue Stress and Anxiety course. Use YEAG99 at checkout! During this episode, Tina elaborates on the following key points to guide families who may be coping with mental health issues: Steps that children, teens, and adults can take to overcome loneliness. Changing thought patterns from thinking about our needs to thinking about ways to serve others. Parents should respond to their teens when they struggle emotionally by listening, letting them feel heard, and resisting the temptation to offer advice. When children express their emotions, find something they love, do it with them, and hear their hearts. Help children understand they can vent to God even if it’s angry; God listens and hears their heart regardless of how it’s expressed. Self-care tips for parents with kids struggling with mental health: Not everyone will understand what you are going through, but God does. God was close to the broken-hearted throughout the Bible – he chose people with mental illnesses to be extremely powerful leaders in Christian history, and he stays close to the broken-hearted today. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“If you can get the support and if you can get the resources, homeschooling is actually the best choice for struggling learners because it can be uniquely catered to them.” -Peggy Ployhar. After working as a special needs consultant, Peggy Ployhar founded SPED Homeschool, an organization that empowers families across the globe to home-educate children with specialized educational needs.SPED (abbreviation for special education) aims to equip and empower parents to home-educate struggling learners by making homeschooling the most viable choice for parents. Peggy also hosts Empowering Homeschool Conversations, a weekly talk show where her guests address relevant issues related to homeschooling for unique learners. During this episode, Peggy details the plethora of free resources on her website, specifically touching upon the following resources: Number one rated homeschool blog Curriculum options with written reviews on each description YouTube channel curriculum video reviews and a complete library covering all her podcast episodes Homeschool-friendly consultants, tutors, testing providers, and therapists for specific needs Connections to different special needs ministries that host retreats in various states Templates and guides for parents to write their own homeschool IEP (a document that’s designed to meet your child’s unique educational needs) Highschool homeschool checklists SPED Homeschool’s social media: Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

Everyone gets a spiritual formation, but to ensure our children get a Christian spiritual formation, they must form a relationship with God the father, God the son, and the Holy Spirit. Lacy Finn Borgo holds a Doctor of Ministry Degree and is the spiritual director at Haven House. Her ministry for adults, Good Dirt Ministries, provides spiritual direction for children at Haven House. Lacy is the author of many books, including Spiritual Conversations with Children: Listening to God Together and her newest children's book, All Will Be Will. Lacy elaborates on the following key points: Everyone gets a spiritual formation, but four specific formational elements shape a child’s relationship with the Trinity and help them to get a Christian spiritual formation. The four elements are God-self, the life that we’re living, the incarnational life with Jesus, and spiritual practices. Tools to connect children spiritually and how they work to lay down a neurological footprint in the brain. Creative ways to sculpt their prayers, such as prayer beads, clay, or Legos. Having a sacred place in the home where children can go to where they can engage with God in a bodily way, such as using markers and paper to express their feelings. Examples and tips on how a parent can "listen" to their children. The acronym: B is for the body – making sure your body is turned toward your children in an open posture; O is for openness – checking in with your children internally and being open to whatever it is they want to share with you; W is wonder – wonder how your children are connecting with the Trinity and be curious to understand what is going on with their child spiritually. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

Teaching children the true meaning of Christmas and Hanukkah can be challenging. Children sometimes think the only reason for the season is to give and receive gifts. During this episode, Lee Ann shares two resources that can help you guide your children to understand the true meaning of Christmas. Her Christmas book, God’s Gift, can teach children that it’s not about who gets more gifts on Christmas or Hanukkah; it’s about the gift of God and his son, Jesus, for Christians, and it’s about the gift of light for Jews. The Wandering Wise Men Activity Set, by Eric Schrotenboer, includes a beautiful hardcover book, three plush wise men, and a 37-day family devotional, helping families understand why we give gifts on Christmas. Let’s make every day, not only Christmas day, a day to celebrate our Savior, Jesus Christ! She also emphasizes three non-materialistic gifts parents can give children during Christmas and all year round. The gift of wisdom (James 1:5), the gift of time (Psalm 90:12), and the gift of conversation (Colossians 4:6). With this busy holiday season, it is important to create memories with our children. We should be sharing our wisdom to guide them in the right direction, spending time creating these memories, and engaging in spiritual conversations with them often. MERRY CHRISTMAS! RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“Instead of teaching children to follow their hearts, parents should teach them to guard their hearts and follow the truth.” -Dr. Frank Turek Dr. Frank Turek is passionate about helping the world know that Jesus is the one true superhero, and He can be seen in a lot of superhero movies today! He is a dynamic speaker and award-winning author and coauthor of many books, including Hollywood Heroes How Your Favorite Movies Reveal God, Stealing from God: Why Atheists Need God to make their Case, I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist, Correct, Not Politically Correct, and Legislating Morality. A former aviator in the US Navy, Frank has a master’s degree from George Washington University and a doctorate from Southern Evangelical Seminary. As the President of CrossExamined.org, Frank presents powerful and entertaining evidence for Christianity at churches, high schools, and secular college campuses that often begin hostile to his message. Frank elaborates on the following points: How superhero movies today can be derived from the story of Jesus. How superhero stories are inspiring because every superhero has to sacrifice to save others, and how this relates to the one true superhero, Jesus, who sacrifices for us every day. Sometimes events or incidents in our lives can be perceived as evil, but we must trust God because he can bring good from anything, even if we can’t see it. The most unique characteristic of Captain America is that he doesn’t need any moral development; he always chooses to do good and be good, just like Jesus. Tony Stark, who plays the superhero, Iron Man, starts off as a superhero with powers that he uses for himself; but, over time, with moral development, he becomes good, which relates to us as human beings. Proverbs 4:23 encompasses the life-changing biblical principle to guard our hearts and follow the truth; if we follow our hearts and establish success and power, we are missing identity and purpose. How culture says to follow your heart, but the bible says to guard your heart instead. Frank’s Facebook & Instagram. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“I really want to show people the beauty of the multicultural family that God crafted for Jesus.” -Dorena Williamson Dorena Williamson is the bestselling author of multiple children’s books, including ColorFull, Thoughtfull, Gracefull, The Celebration Place, Crowned with Glory, and Brown Baby Jesus. A veteran of cross-cultural ministry, Dorena is passionate about shaping perspectives with biblical truth and diverse representation. She is the co-planter of the multicultural multiracial Strong Tower Bible Church in Nashville, and her writing has been featured in Christianity Today, Facts and Trends, and Crosswalk. During this episode, Dorena discusses her inspiration for planting the multicultural Church. She discusses her books as she hopes they will encourage children to learn about multiple generations of diversity and help them relate to things regardless of their ethnicity and background. Her books encompass fun and engaging stories to help children understand and accept God’s diverse kingdom. Dorena hopes every child will be comfortable in their skin and loving to one another, even if they look different! Dorena’s website & Instagram. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“I want children to be trained from a very young age that their gender is a gift from God, and it can NEVER change.” -Marty Machowski. Marty Machowski is a Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church and leads Promise Kingdom, a gospel-centered children’s ministry. He is passionate about helping children understand their gender and help restore hope in weary parents. He is the author of several books, family devotionals, and curriculums, including Parenting First Aid, God Made Boys and Girls, Darkest Night Brightest Day: A Family Devotional for the Easter Season, and The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional. Marty elaborates on the following key points to empower hopeless parents with the reminder that God has a plan for your children while encouraging them to restore traditional Christian values in the home: Parenting materials to help parents who sometimes feel hopeless or discouraged and how to restore hope. Why you should not give up hope if you have a prodigal child. Raising kids isn't getting any easier, especially with everything children find on electronic devices and the ever-increasing confusion of sexuality - his book Parenting First Aid is for weary mothers, fathers, and guardians who are overwhelmed with their children's choices and the culture that exists today. Equipping parents to help teach their children to understand that their gender is a gift from God and can never change. The books in the library are no longer just teaching fundamental traditional values; traditional values have changed, and parents must restore traditional values and be aware of hidden messages of homosexuality and transgender permeating our literature. His Christmas advent devotional is a Bible study of light and darkness, helping readers to discover how light weaves its way through the Christmas story and God’s plan of salvation. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

"Don't give into the stigma of being a self-publishing author and if that's the route God wants you to take, take it because it's better to have the gospel message out there and into the world and hit a few lives than have it sitting on a desktop because you only want this one particular deal with this one particular publisher." - Michelle Lazurek Crystal Bowman is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 100 books for children and families. She enjoys teaching at writers' conferences, speaking to mothers of young children, and giving poetry workshops in elementary schools. She also writes lyrics for children's piano music and stories for Clubhouse Jr Magazine. Michelle Lazurek is a multi-genre award-winning author, literary agent, certified writing coach, speaker, pastor’s wife, and mother living in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania. She has won two Golden Scroll Children's Book of the Year awards, Article of the Year, and the Enduring Light silver medal, among many other honors. She is also a member of the Christian Author's Network and the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. During this episode, both ladies share their insight and knowledge about their writing journeys, the pitfalls of first-time authors, and both the labors and blessings behind becoming well-known published authors. Crystal and Michelle discuss the pressures society and schools have on our children at a young age to choose a career. They share advice on how parents can help children understand that having multiple passions and careers is okay and normal. They talk about the engaging and fun children’s picture book they co-authored, Who God Wants Me to Be, and how it empowers a diverse cast of little girls with dreams to grow up and serve God in all different kinds of careers, and not be afraid to be what they want to be! Crystal’s Website & Michelle’s Website. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

"82% of children whose parents talk about and practice their faith in the home go on to follow Jesus as adults." -Sarah Cowan Johnson. Sarah Cowan Johnson is a ministry trainer, consultant, coach, and author of Teach Your Children Well: A Step-by-Step Guide for Family Discipleship. She leads seminars for parents on family discipleship to help their children walk in the way of Jesus, and she is the cohost of The People of the Way podcast. Sarah served with the Evangelical Covenant Church as the executive pastor for Sanctuary Church in Providence, Rhode Island, where she and her husband live with their two sons. During this episode, Sarah elaborates on the following key points to help parents guide their children to have everlasting faith: A visualizing priorities instructions chart can benefit parents trying to manage their children's academic development, social development, extracurricular activities, and, most importantly, spiritual growth. Suggestions on how parents can repurpose their day to make time for family discipleship. God moments are moments when you become aware that God is initiating something with your child. Four steps to understand and guide children when having a God moment: Identify the moment, facilitate an encounter to help your child interact directly with God, clarify their beliefs, and encourage them to practice living out their encounter with God. The Up, In, Out, With directional guide can help families journey through their faith: Up: upward to be with Jesus – that intimacy and connection with the Holy Spirit. In: inward to become like Jesus - our sanctification and healing. Out: outward actions, to do what Jesus did – demonstrate and proclaim the good news to others. With: "with" ward" Jesus, follow Jesus together with a community. According to John Westerhof's roadmap, the four stages of spiritual development: age 0-5 - the experiential stage; age 5-12 - the affiliative stage; age 12-18 - the searching stage; final stage - adult-owned faith. Sarah's resources: Teach Your Children Well: A Step-by-Step Guide for Family Discipleship, website, and Twitter. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

It is important that we teach our children about the historical, geographical, and cultural context of the Bible! Eric and Meredith Schrotenboer are both storytellers at heart, hoping that their books can teach children the true context of the stories and events throughout the Bible! Eric is an award-winning filmmaker and music composer, and Meredith is an award-winning journalist and news anchor. They are the creators of the award-winning Christmas resource, The Wandering Wise Men activity set, and the authors of Hear, O Little One: In the Morning and in the Evening, The Youngest Disciple, and The Mouse in the Manger. During this episode, Eric and Meredith describe how their books can be a tool to teach children the real context of the stories and events throughout the Bible while teaching them about Jesus. The Wandering Wise Men activity set includes a book, three plush wise men, and a 37-day devotional that work together to give kids a visual of what happened with the wise men in the Bible. Hear, O Little One introduces children to the "Shema," a sacred statement of belief that has been recited in the morning and evening through the ages, including by Jesus Himself. The Youngest Disciple takes children from the shores along the Sea of Galilee to the empty tomb in Jerusalem, helping them discover the context of the disciples in the Bible, specifically the youngest one, John. The Mouse in the Manger brings the birth of Jesus alive with illustrations that show the hospitality that was shown to Mary and Joseph and also the truth of where Jesus was born. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” -John 1:1 Jesus is not mentioned by name in the Old Testament, but he is a central figure throughout. He is first seen in the Old Testament as the person who appeared as “the Angel of the Lord” (Gen 16:7). He came temporally in the form of a human, much before his final incarnation as a baby in Bethlehem. Yet this same “Angel of the Lord” is called and addressed often as “the Lord” himself (Gen 12:7, 17:1, and 19:1). John 5:39 states, “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have enteral life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me.” And in Luke 24:27, Jesus reminds them, “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” If we can find where Jesus is seen in the Old Testament, we can connect him to the New Testament, showing our children that Jesus is, in fact, the living word, not just a man who came to save us from our sins long after man was created. Lee Ann expounds on the following stories and passages that connect Jesus to the Old Testament and the New Testament: The Bride for Adam: the creation of woman was done in a way that pointed to Jesus. Jesus is the new Adam (Gen 2:7-22 – John 1:4-20:27 and Eph 5:25-27). The Fall of Humanity: Eve took the fruit, ate it, and gave it to her husband. Jesus took the bread, gave it to his disciplines, and they ate it (Gen 3:6 and Matthew 26:27). Noah’s Ark: Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation (Gen 6:9). Jesus committed no sin (1 Peter 2:22). Noah prepared an ark for salvation, and all were safe behind the door (Gen 6:16). Jesus claims to be the door (John 10:9). Noah received a covenant of peace and was given the sign of the rainbow (Gen 9:13). Jesus sat down at the right hand of the rainbow throne (Rev 3) and made peace by the blood of the everlasting covenant (Heb 13:20). The parallels between the sacrifice and deliverance of Isaac in the Old Testament (Gen 22) and Jesus (John 3:16, Matthew 27:33, 1 Cor 15:4, John 19:16-17, John 1:29, 1 Cor 5:7, and Luke 23:33). Joseph in suffering and glory: Joseph was the uniquely beloved shepherd son of this father (Gen 37:2-3, John: 10:11, and Matthew 3:17). Joseph was rejected by his brothers (Gen 37:2-3 and John 1:11), betrayed by a brother named Judah, and sold into slavery for silver (Gen 37:31-11 and Matthew 26:14-16, 48-50.) Joseph was unjustly charged and condemned (Gen 39:20, Matthew 27:60, Mark 15:46, and Luke 23:53). Joseph asked the cupbearer to “Remember me!” (Gen 40:14-15), and Jesus asked his disciples at the Last Supper to Remember him (Luke 22:19). The relation between Moses and Jesus: Moses was delivered from death and exalted to the royal house as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus 2:5-10 and Acts 2:33-36). Moses met his wife at a foreign well in Midian (Exodus 2:16-21 and John 4:3-7). Moses had compassion for Israel because they were like sheep without a shepherd (Numbers 27:17, John 10:11, 16, and Mark 6:34). The 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17). Samson’s strength: the angel of the Lord announces that his mother will bear a son who will save Israel. He will be betrayed, delivered over to his enemies, blinded, and mocked (Judges 13 and 16). Resources: “Jesus in the Old Testament,” by Walter Kaiser. “Resources for Seeing Christ in the Old Testament,” Andy Deane. The Watermark Gospel has many resources to change how the world reads the Bible and learn to see Jesus in every story. “What Do You Know About David and Goliath?” Episode 31 by Lee Ann Mancini. “The Prophies Jesus Fulfilled" and "The Ten Commandants for Little Ones” are downloadable free resources available on our website. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.

Irene Sun was born in Malaysia to parents who gave their lives to the Lord. For the sake of the gospel, they moved across cultures and continents many times. She studied literature at Yale University, where she holds a master’s degree in religion, and she also studied the Old Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, where she holds a master’s degree in theology. She is a Bible teacher and the author of the children’s books God Counts: Numbers in His Word and His World and Taste and See: All about God’s Goodness. During this episode, Irene shares her inspiration for writing her books, God Counts and Taste and See, and how both books can serve as beginner’s theology books for children. God Counts is a resource for children who love numbers and patterns as it grasps their attention while teaching the Bible, the love of Jesus, and so much more. Taste and See transforms the way children think about food. Irene elaborates on what it means to eat with Christ and how we can teach our children that each meal we share until Jesus comes is a time to remember God’s love for his children. Irene's Instagram. RCK social media: Facebook Facebook community group Instagram Pinterest Love this episode? Please leave us a rating/review and share this episode with a friend! You can find a list of all our episodes here.