Christian Parent, Crazy World

Many people look at the Christian faith as just a religion of do’s and don’ts.   Is it?   This is a question we need to be very clear on as parents., for ourselves and for our kids. If our children think that the faith is just about all the things we can’t do and all the things we have to do, then they don’t really understand what Christianity is all about. And they probably won’t stick around. They will become a part of the majority of kids who are leaving the faith when they leave the nest.   God never intended for our relationship with Him to be a labor-intensive checklist that is more of a burden than a delight. If this is how your kids approach the faith, chances are at some point they will chuck it for a belief system that doesn’t make them feel like they must constantly perform to be acceptable.    So what are all those do’s and don’ts about in Scripture?   Catherine explains that the do’s and don’t are about protecting us, not making us acceptable to our heavenly Father. Christ’s atoning work on the cross makes us acceptable to God. The don’t list isn’t comprised of what fulfills and us—it contains what leads us to bondage. And God’s overwhelming heart is not to condemn us; it is to free us.   Scripture shows how Christ is the Good Shepherd who leaves the 99 sheep who are doing the do’s to go after the one sheep being wounded by the don’ts. The Gospel of John depicts God as a passionate father who longs for his lost, don’t-doing child to come home. The list of do's and don'ts in Scripture are an expression of God's love for his children, his concern to protect his children, and his desire for them to thrive.   Enjoy the re-airing of this favorite early episode of CP/CW and tune in next week for a very special 100th episode of the show!   EPISODE RESOURCES:   The tree of knowledge of good and evil: Genesis 2:15-17 Church of the Highlands: Freedom Curriculum The Parable of the Lost Sheep: Luke 15:1-7 The Parable of the Lost Son: Luke 15:11-32 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The youth exodus is a very real concern for Christian parents. Much of CP/CW’s content is aimed at assuaging this falling away from the faith in our youth.   But what does a parent do when they have a child who is questioning or has left the faith? How do you parent the prodigal child?   Catherine answers these questions with hard-earned, first-hand experience by offering these vital guidelines:   1. Love your child unconditionally, regardless of what they think, say, or do. 2. Rid the obstacles in your child's life in prayer. 3. Recognize and respect what stage of parenting you are in: Caregiver, Cop, Coach, or Counselor. 4. Prayerfully establish Godly boundaries. Blessings come from boundaries. 5. Apologize for mistakes. Humility is a bridge builder. 6. Do not try to convince or convict your child. That is the Holy Spirit’s job. 7. Do not coerce or control your child. That is how the enemy works.  8. Remember that your child does not need a sermon. They need an encounter with God.   Laced throughout this advice are keen insights and critical direction on how to build a strong relationship with a teen or adult child who is on the prodigal path. There are things that can help to draw a child closer to God, and there are things that may seem right but are, in fact, counterproductive. They may push a child further from God.   When a child questions the faith, we must patiently answer their questions. If they leave the faith, we must love them with no strings attached and fervently pray for them to have an encounter with God. Loving our kids like Christ while not compromising truth is the most important way we can minister to them in a place of wandering or doubt.   Joining Catherine in the hosting chair is Laurie Christine, an author, podcast host, Biblical Parenting Coach, wife, and mom of four loud, adventurous boys. Her podcast, Redeeming the Chaos, invites moms of boys to join her on the wild, wonderful adventure of raising courageous boys and connecting them with Christ Her new devotional book for boys, Rise of the Enemy, was released on Amazon last year.   EPISODE RESOURCES:   EPISODE 14: How To Battle for Your Kids in Prayer   Get Catherine’s Prodigal Bundle including a Scripture Prayer List for Children Who Have Left the Faith: Subscribe HERE Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Studies show that a majority of kids raised in Christian homes are leaving the faith when they leave the nest. It is vital that we understand the primary reasons why young people no longer believe if we want to help them return to the faith.   In this episode, Catherine airs an important conversation she had recently on the Redeeming the Chaos Podcast with Laurie Christine. Catherine and Laurie discuss new research which tells us why young people are bailing on Christianity. Highlighted are the 7 most prominent reasons Gen Zrs cite for walking away from the Christian faith. They are:   1. I have a hard time believing that a good God would allow so much evil or suffering in the world (29%): see EPISODE 66 w/ Dr. Douglas Groothuis 2. Christians are hypocrites (23%) 3. I believe science refutes too much of the Bible (20%) See Dr. Stephen Meyer: Signature in the Cell, The Return of the God Hypothesis, and Darwin’s Doubt; also see Dr. John Lennox (The “God Delusion “ Debate with Richard Dawkins) 4. I don’t believe in fairy tales (19%) see “The Case for Christ” & “The Case for Christ for Kids” by Lee Strobel 5. There are too many injustices in the history of Christianity (15%) see Episode 9: How Does Christian Worldview Creates the World We all Want to Live”, see Episodes 93, 94, & 95 w/ Os Guinness 6. I used to go to church, but it’s just not important to me anymore (12%) 7. I had a bad experience in church/with a Christian (6%) see Episodes 39, 40, 41, & 42; see “When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community from Emotional & Spiritual Abuse” by Dr. Chuck DeGroat   Catherine offers some helpful resources to consult if a child you know has embraced one of these claims about Christianity, and she and Laurie also offer some helpful resources for discipling younger kids in the faith.   BIO: Laurie Christine is an author, podcast host, Biblical Parenting Coach, wife, and mom of four loud, adventurous boys. Her podcast, Redeeming the Chaos, invites moms of boys to join her on the wild, wonderful adventure of raising courageous boys and connecting them with Christ Her new devotional book for boys, Rise of the Enemy, was released on Amazon last year.   RESOURCES REFERENCED AND CITED:   “Emerging Gen Z may deliver huge blow to religion in U.S.” by Jeff Brumley (June 8, 2018) The American Worldview Inventory in 2022 highlights worldview beliefs of American pastors. “Only Half of Evangelical Pastors Possess a Christian Worldview: Incidence Even Lower for Most Denominations” (Cultural Research Cente::ACU) ACU Cultural Research Center Worldview Inventory 2020-current Foundation Worldview Curriculum (use “CPCW10” code for 10% discount) Apologia: What We Believe (4 volume set)   EPISODES CITED: Episode 57: “How To Teach Your Kids the Christian Worldview” w/ Elizabeth Urbanowicz Episode 58: “7 Lies Culture is Selling Our Kids: Are They Buying?” w/ Elizabeth Urbanowicz Episode 72: “What Do People Leaving the Faith often Get Wrong about God?” w/ Elizabeth Urbanowics Episode 84: “How To Learn More Scripture in 2024 Than You Ever Have Before” w/ Zac Fitzsimmons   SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:   Psalm 78:1-8 Hebrews 10:25 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

There is no formula for raising a child to be a lifelong follower of Christ. There is no 5 or 10 or even 20-step program to raising godly kids. Parents have a vital part to play as we commit to raise our children biblically, but we cannot choose the faith for our kids.   So what happens when you do your part as parents. You are diligent about training your kids biblically, and the spiritual formation of your children is first and foremost in your mind. You have gone to church but didn’t leave the responsibility of teaching your kids up to the church.  You have done the devotionals, taught the Bible stories, memorized the Scriptures, and you’ve had the deep conversations…   And you get a different result than you were expecting.   Your child doubts. Your child wanders. Your child takes a different path, perhaps the prodigal path. What then?   Catherine and her guest DJ Harry cover this tear-jerking territory as they continue to glean parenting wisdom from the book of Daniel. Pastor Harry shares the following powerful parenting lessons from the first chapter of Daniel:   We don't get to choose when or how our children's faith will be tested. (Daniel 1:1) A well-rounded education is a necessary part of significant influence. (Daniel 1:4) There was an intentional transfer of faith from Daniel's parents to Daniel. (Daniel 1:8) Daniel knew how to appeal to his ungodly authorities Daniel. (Daniel 1:11-13)   But even when we parent biblically to the best of our ability, even when we apply all these lessons, some kids will choose to wander. That does not absolve parents from our responsibility to train our children in the way they should go, which includes taking to heart these incredible lessons we can learn from the book of Daniel.   But the results are not up to us.   Parents must remember that we are not judged by God for our results. We are judged by God for our faithfulness. And our faithfulness in standing our ground, in maintaining that godly witness as our kids go out on their own, and our faithfulness to pray over our kids every day—that work will not return void.   DJ HARRY’S BIO: DJ and Lorrie Harry have been spent their entire lives ministering to others. Their early years were spent in the classroom where they developed a love for teaching and building relationships. In recent years, DJ has served as the Senior Pastor at Needham’s Grove Baptist Church in Seagrove, NC. Together, they currently host the Better Together podcast and love speaking at couples retreats and parenting conferences. DJ and Lorrie have a desire to encourage and equip young couples as they walk down the road of marriage and parenting.    OTHER EPISODES IN THIS SERIES:   Episode 96: Raising Kids To Stand Strong in a Godless Culture   OTHER PODCASTS MENTIONED:   Episode 55 – Better Together: Tools To Empower Your Kids against Cultural Pressures   RESOURCES REFERENCED:   DJ Harry’s website The Better Together Podcast To receive a free copy of The Prodigal Bundle, subscribe HERE. Alliance Defending Freedom   SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:   Daniel 1:1, 4, 8, 11-13 Proverbs 22:6 Ecclesiastes 8:14 Galatians 6:9 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Raising kids to stand strong in the faith while living in a godless culture is the greatest challenge Christian parents face today. In a world where a majority of kids from Christian households leave the faith after leaving the nest, what can Christian parents do to establish a firm spiritual foundation for their children?   Catherine and Pastor DJ Harry look to the book of Daniel to answer that question.   Four young men in this prophetic Old Testament book stayed committed to God in a very dark and godless culture. They stood when everyone else bowed. They prayed to the one true God when it could cost their lives. DJ has identified four lessons that parents can take from Daniel and his friends that will aid in the spiritual formation of our children. The first two lessons are covered in this episode. They are:   We don't get to choose when or how our children's faith will be tested. (Daniel 1:1) “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.”  A well-rounded education is a necessary part of significant influence. (Daniel 1:4) Daniel and his friends were “young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace.” We don’t know when or how our children will be tested, so we must be diligent about establishing a well-rounded spiritual education for our kids. It is our job as godly parents to be very intentional about the spiritual formation of our children. That preparation is the rich soil from which the seeds of truth can flourish. God plants the seeds. As parents, we nourish the soil and put our kids in environments where that planting can take place.   DJ HARRY’S BIO: DJ and Lorrie Harry have been spent their entire lives ministering to others. Their early years were spent in the classroom where they developed a love for teaching and building relationships. In recent years, DJ has served as the Senior Pastor at Needham’s Grove Baptist Church in Seagrove, NC. Together, they currently host the Better Together podcast and love speaking at couples retreats and parenting conferences. DJ and Lorrie have a desire to encourage and equip young couples as they walk down the road of marriage and parenting.    Links:   DJ Harry’s website The Better Together Podcast To receive a free copy of The Prodigal Bundle, subscribe HERE.   “Most Teenagers Drop Out of Church When They Become Young Adults” Lifeway Research   SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:   Daniel 1:1, 4 Matthew 24:8 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

As parents, we have a central role to play in passing on faith and freedom to the next generation. The spiritual soil of our kid’s lives is nurtured first and foremost by us through modeling the biblical life, through education and prayer, and through the stories we pass on to our kids about the faith.   Catherine wraps up a trilogy of conversations with world-renowned freedom expert, Os Guinness, author of The Magna Carta of Humanity: Sinai’s Revolutionary Faith and the Future of Freedom. In this episode, they discuss:   The origin and DNA of ordered freedom. The magnitude of the Genesis declaration that we are made in God’s image. The decline of the west leading to a need for renewal. The power of the creative minority. How parents have the greatest part to play in passing on freedom, equality, human dignity, and faith.   What makes the greatest difference in human history?   It is the stories parents tell our children. It is the truth we instill in them. It is the faith they see lived day in and day out from us as ordinary parents planting the seeds of an extraordinary God in the hearts of our kids. This simple but profound work is what makes the difference in the lives of our children, our communities, our country, and our world.   OS GUINNESS' BIO: Os Guinness is an author, social critic, and great-great-great grandson of Arthur Guinness, the Dublin brewer. Os has written or edited more than 30 books that offer valuable insight into the cultural, political, and social contexts in which we all live. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of London and his D.Phil in the social sciences from Oriel College, Oxford.   Os Guinness WEBSITE The Magna Carta of Humanity: Sinai’s Revolutionary Faith and the Future of Freedom   OTHER EPISODES IN THIS SERIES:   EPISODE 94: “The Dilemma Christians Face at the Ballot Box” EPISODE 93: “What Most Americans Don’t Understand about Freedom”   SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: Deuteronomy 11:18-21 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The crisis of leadership in our country is palpable right now, and Christian parents feel that challenge in big ways and small. We don’t have a pure choice at the ballot box, particularly on the national stage. Many Christians have a crisis of conscious when choosing a presidential leader.   How should we respond?   Catherine continues her conversation with the world-renowned author, philosopher, historian, and theologian Os Guinness. Together, they have a frank discussion about:   *The evangelical roots of abolition. *The bewitching of Americans from the ideals of our revolution to the ideals of the French Revolutions. *The “Long March” (infiltration of Marxist ideology) on our institutions. *Antonio Gramsci: 5 Pillars of western civilization that must fall for a successful Marxist Revolution to succeed identified by Antonio Gramsci (religion, family, education, media, law). *Classical Marxism (communism) vs. Cultural Marxism. *The link between faith and fertility/secularism and futility. *The perilous state of our union. *The crisis of leadership on the national stage. *The dilemma Christians face at the ballot box (co-belligerence vs. alliance). *The prayer we should pray for the leader we need.   Much of their conversation centers on the desperate need for Godly leadership at all levels of our government, but especially on the national stage.   “Leaders serve. Great leaders of free republics are teachers of freedom, like Moses,” says Os. We need that kind of leader. Os admonishes Christians to hold our leadership accountable while recognizing the difference between co-belligerence (uniting for a common cause) and alliance. Os also shares the prayer that he and his wife pray over our nation every day:   “Lord… Set over us a leader such that it would be to Your glory to give the victory through him or her.” Amen.   OS GUINNESS' BIO: Os Guinness is an author, social critic, and great-great-great grandson of Arthur Guinness, the Dublin brewer. Os has written or edited more than 30 books that offer valuable insight into the cultural, political, and social contexts in which we all live. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of London and his D.Phil in the social sciences from Oriel College, Oxford.   Os Guinness WEBSITE The Magna Carta of Humanity: Sinai’s Revolutionary Faith and the Future of Freedom   OTHER EPISODES IN THIS SERIES:   EPISODE 93: “What Most Americans Don’t Understand about Freedom”   RESOURCES MENTIONED:   EPISODE 9: “How the Christian Worldview Creates a World We All Want To Live In”   Italy’s Primer Minister Giorgia Meloni attacks cultural Marxism, progressivism, globalism and quotes Chesterton   “Is Voting for Trump the Lesser of Two Evils” by Catherine Segars   Trump Speech at NRB 2024 (National Religious Broadcasters   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

There's a lot we don't understand about freedom in this country. Lasting freedom, in any quantifiable sense, is very new to the historical landscape. After all, the United States fought a bloody revolution to acquire it just a few centuries ago.   But where did the idea of freedom come from? What prerequisites are necessary to achieve freedom? And most importantly... What is necessary to keep freedom?   Catherine is joined by one of the great intellectual minds in the world today to discuss the nature of freedom and the future of our country. Having authored and edited over 30 books, including The Magna Carta of Humanity: Sinai’s Revolutionary Faith and the Future of Freedom, Os Guinness is a world-renowned authority on freedom. As a western survivor of the Chinese Communist Revolution under Mao Zedong in 1949, and then having extensively studied the fields of history, philosophy, religion, theology, apologetics, and culture, Os possesses not a one-in-a-million perspective on the nature and necessary foundation for freedom to exist and thrive—his perspective is one-in-8 billion.   As Os reveals, slavery is the norm in human history. Freedom is the anomaly. And yet America’s founders established freedom. But they did not uncover the roots of liberty in 17th century enlightenment thinkers as some suppose. Rather the roots of freedom were excavated from the ancient Hebrew Republic, which was founded on a radical concept of covenant, or constitution, that requires the consent of the governed. The ramifications of these applied truths are far reaching, and they establish the critical foundation for freedom to exist.As freedom-loving Americans, there's a lot we don't understand about our freedom. Starting with the definition.   “Freedom is not the permission to do what you like. It is the power to do what you ought,” says Os. Most Westerners see freedom as a license to fulfill one’s whims and desires, as Rousseau’s philosophy encouraged. This hedonistic definition supports the ideals of the French Revolution of 1789. But a Biblical understanding of freedom, which our founders possessed, recognizes the weakness of mankind and therefore establishes a system of checks and balances for  "ambition to counter ambition." The plan was brilliant.   The American Revolution is diametrically opposed to the French, but as Os prophetically speaks to our country today, "WHO HAS BEWITCHED YOU, AMERICA? YOU ARE FOLLOWING THE WRONG REVOLUTION." We cannot maintain freedom by following the ideals of the wrong revolution.   We would be wise to remember Paul's words to the church of Galatia: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (5:1)   OS GUINNESS' BIO: Os Guinness is an author, social critic, and great-great-great grandson of Arthur Guinness, the Dublin brewer. Os has written or edited more than 30 books that offer valuable insight into the cultural, political, and social contexts in which we all live. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of London and his D.Phil in the social sciences from Oriel College, Oxford.   Os Guinness WEBSITE The Magna Carta of Humanity: Sinai’s Revolutionary Faith and the Future of Freedom     Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Something in the human soul cries out for equality. It is certainly a virtue that our culture lauds and espouses.   Where does the idea of equality come from? Can we arrive at the concept of equality from a naturalistic or humanistic worldview? How do we obtain equality?   Catherine’s special guest in this episode is an expert in the fields of philosophy, theology, and apologetics. Dr. Douglas Groothuis has devoted an entire chapter of his recent book Fire in the Streets: How You Can Confidently Respond to Incendiary Cultural Topics to the topic of equality. The necessary foundation for equality is a huge argument in favor of the Christian faith and the Christian worldview.   The renowned atheistic historian Yuval Noah Harari openly admits in his bestselling book, Sapiens, that “the Americans got the idea of equality from Christianity, which argues that every person has a divinely created soul, and that all souls are equal before God.”   It is impossible to ground the concept of equality without the Christian worldview, which says that we are created in the image of a personal, loving, all-powerful, all-knowing God. We have all fallen short of His glory, so Christ paid an equal price to redeem us.   There is no basis for equality without the Christian God and the Christian worldview. Catherine and Dr. Groothuis unpack the concept of equality in this episode, and in doing so they arrive at a powerful argument in favor of the Christian faith. Our kids in live in a world that demands equality. We need to help them see where it comes from.   GROOTHUIS’ BIO: Dr. Groothuis holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy (University of Oregon, 1993) has served a Professor of Philosophy and the head of the apologetics and ethics program at Denver Seminary since 1993. He is looking forward to a new chapter as the distinguished university research professor of apologetics and Christian worldview at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is the author of nineteen books, including the popular and voluminous textbook, Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith, 2nd ed.(IVP Academic, 2022), as well as a poignant memoir, Walking Through Twilight: A Wife’s Illness—a Philosopher’s Lament(InterVarsity, 2017), and a bold critique of Critical Race Theory, Fire in the Streets (Salem Books, 2022).   Dr. Groothuis’ website Dr. Gruuthuis’ podcast: Truth Tribe   EPISODE RESOURCES:   Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith by Dr. Douglas Groothuis Dr. Stephen Meyer’s website The Psychology of Totalitarianism by Mattias Desmet Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari John 18:37   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Cancel culture is nothing new. We see it all throughout Scripture. The enemy loves to cancel people. He tried to cancel Jesus, but it didn’t work. Satan never stops trying to silence the truth.   In this episode, Catherine investigates the shocking roots of the new political movement that has codified cancel culture in our society. Where does it come from?   Catherine’s special guest has written a brilliant response to the radical ideology at the heart of cancel culture, an ideology that has set our cities on fire and exacerbated the racial divide. Dr. Douglas Groothuis has authored dozens of books and scholarly articles and is a leading expert on philosophy, theology, history, religion, and culture. His recent book, Fire in the Streets: How You Can Confidently Respond to Incendiary Cultural Topics, expertly traces cancel culture back to its Marxist roots.   Topics covered in this episode include:   Marxism & Neo-Marxism Repressive Tolerance Racism Black Lives Matter Defund the Police Cancel Culture Standpoint Epistemology Intersectionality   Dr. Groothuis takes us on a journey to dig up the toxic roots of cancel culture and points us toward the liberating truth at the heart of the Gospel.   DR. GROOTHUIS’ BIO: Dr. Groothuis holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy (University of Oregon, 1993) has served a Professor of Philosophy and the head of the apologetics and ethics program at Denver Seminary since 1993. He is looking forward to a new chapter as the distinguished university research professor of apologetics and Christian worldview at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is the author of nineteen books, including the popular and voluminous textbook, Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith, 2nd ed.(IVP Academic, 2022), as well as a poignant memoir, Walking Through Twilight: A Wife’s Illness—a Philosopher’s Lament(InterVarsity, 2017), and a bold critique of Critical Race Theory, Fire in the Streets (Salem Books, 2022).   Dr. Groothuis’ website Dr. Gruuthuis’ podcast: Truth Tribe   EPISODE RESOURCES:   Episode 66: How Can a Good God Allow So Much Evil & Suffering in the World?   Articles on Morgan Bettinger: Reason Magazine: How an Ill-Informed Internet Mob Ruined a UVA Student's Life The NY Post: BLM Activist Ruined White Univeristy of Virginia Student’s Rep over Misheard Remark Daily Mail: Celebrated BLM Activist Ruthlessly Destroyed White Woman’s Life   The Woodson Center “Repressive Tolerance” by Herbert Marcuse Heather MacDonald – The War on Cops: How the New Attack on Law and Order Makes Everyone Less Safe   Hosea 4:6 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Is it possible for a marriage to recover from infidelity? Can the emotional wounds of an affair ever be a thing of the past? Can trust be rebuilt after betrayal?   Catherine’s special guests in this episode answer those questions with a resounding “yes!” Josh and Katie Walters, authors of New Marriage, Same Couple: Don’t Let Your Worst Days Be Your Last Days, had a marriage that was rocked to the core from an affair that nearly destroyed their relationship. Their restoration required grace, forgiveness, hope, and leaning into God like never before, but now their marriage is the epitome of love and fulfillment that we all long for with our spouses.   In this raw conversation, Josh shares how the desperation of his darkest hours fed a hunger for God like never before, and that hunger brought hope and healing. Katie shares how she found in Christ a loving Savior who is kinder than anyone we know. Piece by piece, God put their marriage back together and has given them a ministry to restore other marriages.   The enemy has come to steal our marriages, our children, our families, our futures, but God is committed to bring abundant life into our closest relationships. Josh and Katie Walters have experienced this reality first hand and they seek to share that redemption with others.   Josh’s Bio: Josh has been on staff at Seacoast Church for the last 14 years where he currently serves as the Executive Pastor for Seacoast Experience. He is a member of the Teaching Team and helps oversee what happens in person and online each weekend.   Katie’s Bio: Katie serves on the Experience Team at Seacoast Church and teaches as well. She is the CEO of Francis and Benedict, a fashion line that creates waxprint clothing hand made by single moms and widows in Togo, Africa.   EPISODE RESOURCES:   Josh & Katie’s Website Connect with them on Instagram & Facebook New Marriage, Same Couple: Don’t Let Your Days Be Your Last Days New Marriage, Same Couple Workbook Josh’s Doppelganger   SCRIPTURES REFERENCED: John 10:10 Romans 5:3-5 Romans 4:17 John 16:33 Hebrews 11:6   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We all want to have a marriage that thrives, but one-third of Christian marriages end in divorce, a figure that is “statistically identical to that of non-born again adults” according to recent research from Barna.   What critical foundation are so many Christians missing in their marriage that leads to the demise of their primary relationship?   Josh and Katie Walters, authors of the brand new book New Marriage, Same Couple: Don’t Let Your Worst Days Be Your Last Days, identify four essential principles that will help every marriage to thrive. After a devastating season involving an affair that rocked their marriage to the core, Josh and Katie discovered four Biblical mindsets that transformed their relationship. Those mindsets form the word STAY:   S—Start with you. T—Take quitting off the table. A—Allow others to be a part of your story. Y—Yield to God’s vision for your marriage.   The true testament of these mindsets is that they were applied to a dead marriage, and now that marriage is thriving. Catherine, Josh & Katie have a refreshing, raw, and grace-filled conversation about how we allow the enemy to sew seeds of discord and destruction into our relationships, but God has a plan to redeem what the enemy has stolen.   Josh’s Bio: Josh has been on staff at Seacoast Church for the last 14 years where he currently serves as the Executive Pastor for Seacoast Experience. He is a member of the Teaching Team and helps oversee what happens in person and online each weekend.   Katie’s Bio: Katie serves on the Experience Team at Seacoast Church and teaches as well. She is the CEO of Francis and Benedict, a fashion line that creates waxprint clothing hand made by single moms and widows in Togo, Africa.   EPISODE RESOURCES:   Josh & Katie’s Website Connect with them on Instagram & Facebook New Marriage, Same Couple: Don’t Let Your Days Be Your Last Days New Marriage, Same Couple Workbook Josh’s Doppelganger   SCRIPTURE’S REFERENCED:   1 John 1:9 James 5:16 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Life has tough lessons in store for all of us. Seeing those experiences through the lens of Biblical truth is imperative if we want to thrive in these difficult seasons and grow. As parents, we want to prepare our kids for these challenges so they can flourish.   What lessons are most important for our kids to learn?   In this wildly creative episode, Catherine digs into her acting roots and shares the three most important lessons life teaches everyone by examining the foundational principals of improvisational acting. Those lessons are:   1.  You can’t choose what happens to you in life, but you can choose your response.   At some point, life throws everyone a curve ball. An anticipated promotion doesn’t happen. A beloved child has a permanent disability. A routine outing results in a tragic accident. In big ways and small ways, life disappoints us. So what do you do? Life lesson # 2 tells us.   2.  Whatever life brings you in life, accept it and build.   When life gives us a sucker punch to the gut, we must remember that God causes all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28) So we need to teach our kids to accept whatever comes our way, and build on it—expecting God to do something good with what ails us.   3.  With God, your mistake can become a masterpiece.   That excruciating loss in your life, that big mistake, that epic fail, that horrific accident… in the hands of God can become triumphant. It can become the greatest victory. It can become a new ministry that leads other people to victory—if we let God have His way.   Teaching our kids these practical principles will enable them to grow in the toughest seasons of life by trusting God to bring good out of what the enemy meant for harm.   SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:   James 1:2-4 Romans 8:28 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We think of sex trafficking as being out there somewhere in the jungles of Central America or in Thailand and Cambodia. And to be sure, it is there. But what we must understand as parents and as Christians is that human trafficking is in every zip code in the United States as well. What do we need to know as parents to help prevent our children from being sexually exploited?   In this episode, Dr. Rondy Smith shares the shocking way many young girls are being lured by sexual predators. She reads a letter from a young woman with the pseudonym “V” who was sexually exploited for all of her teenage years—and  her parents had no idea even though it was happening under their roof. “V” was lured into a sexually exploitive relationship by a distant family member in his 30s who was posing as a suicidal 12-year-old boy from a neighboring school. Once this predator got his first image, he had control which he used to manipulate “V” for 8 years.   Rondy provides invaluable advice for parents to spot the signs of sexual exploitation. Moms and dads must:   *Heed that still, small voice—if something feels off, trust your instincts. *If your child panics when denied access to their devices, dig deeper. That could be a sign that they are in a sexually exploitive relationship. *Know that your child will often take the blame for their abuser and seek to shield others from the pain of what is happening. *Use extreme caution when posting pictures of children online. *Learn to think like a predator because they exist. *Not live in fear, but awareness.   Parents must be “wise as serpents but innocent as doves.” (Matt. 10:16). We must know the threats and the signs in order to prevent the spread of this evil.   Rondy’s bio: Dr. Rondy Smith is Founder & CEO of Rest Stop Ministries, which is a residential restoration program for female survivors of sex trafficking in the Nashville, TN area. Rondy is an ordained minister with a Doctorate in Education from Vanderbilt University in Human & Organizational Development, and she has served 37 years in Corporate, Academic, and Ministry professions.   EPISODE RESOURCES:   Rest Stop Ministries, Rest Stop: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter NCOSE: The National Center on Sexual Exploitation   SCRIPTURES REFERENCED: Galatians 1:5 Hebrews 10:23 Romans 4:17 Matthew 18:10-14 (the lost sheep) Psalm 40:1-3 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

January is National Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month. Joining Catherine in a vital conversation to promote awareness is an expert in the field of sexual trauma recovery. Dr. Rondy Smith is the Founder & CEO of Rest Stop Ministries,Tennessee’s first long-term residential restoration program for female survivors of sex trafficking. Rest Stop walks hand-in-hand with victims of sexual trauma through a 3-year recovery program. Graduates are able live happy, healthy, productive lives after completing this God-ordained work.   Catherine’s powerful conversation with Rondy reveals the magnitude of the problem, highlighting the shocking fact that sex trafficking exists in every zip code in the United States. Human trafficking is a world-wide, multi-billion dollar industry that is hidden in plain sight. Here is the alarming reality:   There are 27 million people enslaved in the world today, more than any time in history.   80% are female and 50% of those are children trafficked for sexual exploitation. (That is over 10 million kids.)   Sex Trafficking is a 34 billion dollar business – it is the 2nd largest criminal enterprise and fastest growing crime in the world.   Every 2 minutes a child is trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation in the United States (according to the U.S. Department of Justice).   Almost 300,000 American children are at risk annually for trafficking into the sex industry (according to the U.S. Department of State).   The average age of entry into prostitution is 13.   There are girls as young as 5 and 6 years old in the U.S. that are forced to do sexual acts for economic gain by their pimp (U.S. Department of Justice).   (Stats from Rest Stop Ministries.)   The problem is overwhelming, but Rondy points listeners toward practical ways that they can get involved in the fight against human trafficking. Proverbs 24:11 tells us to “ Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.” The imperative from Scripture is clear, and we all have a part to play.   We can’t fix a problem that we refuse to look at. God hates injustice. So we must take a long, hard look at this problem and become a part of the solution.   RONDY'S BIO: Dr. Rondy Smith is Founder & CEO of Rest Stop Ministries, which is a residential restoration program for female survivors of sex trafficking in the Nashville, TN area. Rondy is an ordained minister with a Doctorate in Education from Vanderbilt University in Human & Organizational Development, and she has served 37 years in Corporate, Academic, and Ministry professions.   EPISODE RESOURCES: Rest Stop Ministries, Rest Stop: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter The Samaritan Women: Institute for Shelter Care   SCRIPTURES REFERENCED: Isaiah 61 Proverbs 24:11 Matthew 22:39 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

There are eight critically important words that as parents we need to say to our kids, as often as necessary—and they are hard. They may be the hardest words to say in the English language. They are relationship building words, and words that model what true repentance looks like. If you don’t learn how to say these words, at some point, your relationship with your child will break. Those words are:   “I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me.”   In this episode, Catherine walks through the vital components of this critically important admission. It isn’t enough to express regret or sorrow. When we have wronged our child, as parents we must also admit culpability, which helps to free our child from the injury and begin the process of healing. Finally, we must ask for forgiveness, which helps our child to actively release the wound to God.   Also in this episode, Catherine shares:   3 key objectives that repentance accomplishes 2 crucial ways parents can be wrong 4 primary stages of parenting 8 bonus words to restore your relationship with your child   Talking about what is wrong in the world is the central theme of CPCW, but talking about what is wrong in us is much harder. We can’t effectively address what is wrong out there until we first address what is wrong in us. Expressing humility and true repentance is one of the most important spiritual disciplines we can teach our child. We must teach our kids this vital disciple not just in theory, but also in practice.   SCRIPTURE PASSAGES REFERENCED:   1 Corinthians 13:1-7 John 13:2-17 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This is one of Catherine’s most practical podcast and has been selected as a "best of" episode from 2022. In this insightful message, Catherine helps you leave behind the old and embrace the new with a “Dashboard for Life,” which is a report card containing 13 gauges on how to improve in the new year. Catherine walks you through how to examine your faith life, your marriage or dating life, your family life, and nine other areas by offering simple, everyday guidance on how to make effective and lasting change.This powerful tool for self-assessment will help all of your relationships, especially your parenting relationships. But most of all, it will help improve your relationship with God. And when that relationship is better, all of your relationships are better. To get the “Dashboard for Life” Report Card, subscribe on Catherine’s website: https://catherinesegars.com/OTHER RESOURCES MENTIONED:Chris Hodges’ Sermon, The Best Teacher, Dec. 26, 2021: https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/the-best-teacherFinancial class: Financial Peace University: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/ramseyplus/financial-peaceThe One Year Bible:Paperback: https://bit.ly/34RK7GZEbook: https://bit.ly/3A4yesOBible Reading Plans: https://bit.ly/3FzgdUMLife Application Bible: https://bit.ly/3A5iPINEpisode 17 of our show - “How To Discover Your Purpose in Life,” https://www.lifeaudio.com/christian-parent-crazy-world/how-to-discover-your-purpose-in-lifeSpiritual Gifts & Personality tests:https://giftstest.com/http://www.humanmetrics.com/personalityScriptures mentioned:Psalm 100:4; Psalm 51:10; Romans 8:28; Proverbs 29:18; 2 Corinthians 10:5 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

King David said, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)   As Believers, we know that we are supposed to hide God’s Word in our hearts, but most of have a really heard time retaining Scripture. We know that a verse is somewhere in a certain book of the Bible, and we sort of know what it says—but we can’t quote it, or even find it without an aid.   What if there were some simple techniques that helped Scripture to stick in your memory and reside in your heart?   There are.   In this special New Year’s episode of CHRISTIAN PARENT/CRAZY WORLD, Catherine shares her tried and true method for memorizing Scripture. Her secret is the power of song. And she welcomes Zac Fitzsimmons, an insanely talented singer/songwriter to share his music with the CP/CW audience.   Zac is devoted to creating powerful, anointed songs from word-for-word passages of Scripture. He sings Psalm 1 and Psalm 8 live in this episode, and Catherine sings harmony. Catherine also shares the proven method she uses for committing Scripture to memory with her kids through song and sign language.   And Catherine issues a challenge to memorize one verse a week this year using a Scripture song—just one verse a week. Even if you fall short of 52 verses in 2024, you will have memorized quite a few and you will have soaked in God’s Word intently and intentionally, and that meditation will bear a lot of fruit in your life and in your family.   So join Catherine’s challenge to learn more Scripture in 2024 than you ever have before!   You can email Catherine to offer feedback and tell her about your Bible memory plan for the new year at catherine@catherinesegars.com.   Zac Fitzsimmons Bio: Zac is a Christian singer/songwriter from Minnesota, USA. He has led various congregations in musical worship for over twenty years and is most known for his ongoing endeavor of writing music and melodies to the Psalms word for word from the English Standard Version of the Bible. These songs are being discovered by people worldwide as valuable tools for soaking in the scriptures in a new way and aiding in scripture memorization. You can find links to the audio, lyric videos and chord charts at www.psalmsongswordforword.com   You can also find Zac on YouTube and Instagram.   To receive downloads of Zac & Catherine’s live perform of Psalm 8, Zac’s performance of Psalm 1, and all of Catherine’s Scripture songs, and pro tips for memorizing the Bible, subscribe at Catherine’s website: https://catherinesegars.com/resources   EPISODE RESOURCES:   See Catherine’s complimentary article on Crosswalk: “Learn More Scripture This Year with This #1 Proven Method”   SCRIPTURE SONG ARTISTS:   The Corner Room Seeds Family Worship King Things Esther Mui Benjamin NG The Bigsby Show (for the books of the Bible and the 12 Disciples)   SIGN LANGUAGE RESOURCES:   Hands Speak,  Signs Savvy, ASL Dictionary   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Keeping Christ at the center of Christmas is a huge challenge. Busy parents are constantly pushed and pulled a hundred different directions, especially at the holidays. Our event calendar in December can look like a flow-chart from an international airport with constant departures and arrivals. It is easy to forget Christ in the hustle and bustle of baking, shopping, wrapping, and party-hopping.   How do we keep our families focused on Christ during the hectic holiday season? Bethany Kimsey, host of the Warrior Mama Podcast, joins Catherine again to discuss how to keep our hearts and our families concentrated on Christ during the Christmas season. These two moms have over 40 years of parenting experience, and in this episode, they share their favorite Christ-centered family traditions. These traditions are:   *Don’t compare yourself to other families. *Study the names of Jesus. *Celebrate Advent. *Watch Christ-centered entertainment. *Create a Jesse Tree. *Assign Scripture passages to each family member for Christmas. *Educate your kids and give to a Christ-centered mission. *Celebrate Jolaboklaflod (an evening of book-giving) with Christ-centered books.   Employing some of these wonderful family traditions will help counteract the busyness, the commercialism and materialism, and the overall stress of Christmas. Bethany’s bio: As a mother to 8 children, Bethany Kimsey has seen God radically change her messy motherhood from weary, anxious, and frantic to peaceful, joyful, and triumphant. She helps weary mothers win the battle against worry and fatigue as they understand their identity in Christ and rest in the hope of the Gospel in community with other moms.   Bethany recently authored A Warrior Mama’s Prayer Journal to help mothers pray intentionally over their children and anchor in gospel truths. This can be purchased at  www.Bethanykimsey.co.    She would love to connect at her website bethanykimsey.com or her Warrior Mama podcast https://whengodbreaksthrough.libsyn.com found on your favorite podcast platform. You can connect with Bethany on Instagram or Facebook as well.  Get Catherine's original Scripture songs by subscribing HERE.    OTHER EPISODES MENTIONED:   EPISODE 83: What Huge Lie Does Culture Teach Our Kids at Christmas? (w/ Bethany Kimsey) EPISODE 81: How Can Celebrating Advent Enrich Your Christmas Season (w/ Laurie Christine) EPISODE 51: 5 Family-Centered Films for Christmas Advent Devotional Guide with information on the Jesse Tree (by Laurie Christine)   5 Heartwarming Films You Should Watch This Christmas (article by Catherine Segars)   World Vision’s Gift Catalog   Jolaboklaflod – Icelandic Christmas tradition of giving books. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

“He sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows when you’ve been bad or good So be good for goodness sake.”   Our culture tells us that Jolly ole St. Nicholas is keeping a list, and he’s checking it twice. He’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice. So the gifts under our tree at Christmas are a direct result of how good or bad we’ve been throughout the year.   Is that how our faith works?   Did God give the great gift of Christ to the world because we were good? Because we deserved Him?   No.   The Christian faith tells us that a very good God sent the gift of his Son to a broken humanity, to a hopeless people who have fallen short of His glory. We don’t deserve the gift of Jesus, but God gave this gift because of His overwhelming love for us.   Likewise, the gifts under our tree for our kids must not be attached to their behavior. Unlike Santa Clause, our gifts must not have strings attached. They should be a result of our love, not a manipulative ploy to garner a good performance from our kids.   Joining Catherine as a co-host for this vital conversation about what our culture gets wrong about Christmas is Bethany Kimsey, a mother of 8 and host of The Warrior Mama Podcast, a show that is devoted to applying the Gospel to the daily details of parenting our children. Together, Bethany and Catherine tackle one of the greatest cultural lies about Christmas—the lie that your Christmas gifts are attached to your goodness.   Bethany's bio: As a mother to 8 children, Bethany Kimsey has seen God radically change her messy motherhood from weary, anxious, and frantic to peaceful, joyful, and triumphant. She helps weary mothers win the battle against worry and fatigue as they understand their identity in Christ and rest in the hope of the Gospel in community with other moms. As a writer, speaker, and encourager of mothers, she wants to see a generation of moms who can connect their motherhood to the love of Jesus in real and practical ways so that they can be confident.    Bethany recently authored A Warrior Mama’s Prayer Journal to help mothers pray intentionally over their children and anchor in gospel truths. This can be purchased at  www.Bethanykimsey.co.    She would love to connect at her website bethanykimsey.com or her Warrior Mama podcast https://whengodbreaksthrough.libsyn.com found on your favorite podcast platform. You can connect with Bethany on Instagram or Facebook as well.      EPISODE LINKS:   Bethany’s website: https://bethanykimsey.com/ The Warrior Mama Podcast Collaborated episode: The Hope of Christmas and Ways to Walk It Well w/ Catherine Segars   PODCASTS & RESOURCES REFERENCED:   Episode 4: Is Christianity Just a Religion of Do’s and Don’ts The St. Nicholas Center Song facts about “Santa Claus is Coming To Town” Matthew 22:37 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.