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So excited to have Andy Archer with us today. He's a 27 year old Starting Pitcher for the Savannah Bananas. He tells us the journey through college, the dissapointment about the minor league draft, joining the workforce and then into how teaching a group of kids at Sunday School changed his life. As I talked with Andy, I put myself in his shoes and also thought about what his parents thought about the decisions he made in his life. -risks he took -surfing on lunch break -living a comfortable life vs living a life with purpose and using your God giving abilities  -reading the Bible cover to cover -living away from all of his family and looking for ways to serve -how can you catch your kids imagination and be influenced by things that are good, true and beautiful Some questions to ponder: -when are times of life when someone can be depressed? -what do you do when you feel like your sin makes you not worthy of God's love? -what are some of the hardest words to say? Something I'm focused on is finding ways to have fun with my wife and daughters and also having fun while we are together. Whether we are playing sports, watching videos, doing houswork, going on an adventure day or just hanging out, it's important for me remember to have fun, laugh and connecting with my family. I wanted to record this podcast as a reminder for us dads to have FUN! Sometimes fun requires us to be uncomfortable. Andy talks about how he was below average dancer and one of the things he loves the most is the choreographed dancing that the Bananas do. He tells a cool story about doing the "Thunderstruck" dance. His story made me think about when I relax and am goofy with my family and let go of caring about being judged by other people. The Savannah Bananas are a lot of fun! Check them out in person with your family and on YouTube! Challenge: Have a conversation with one of your guy friends and read the same chapter of the Bible and discuss what each of you got out of it.   Connect with Andy Archer and watch some cool videos on Instragram HERE Check out the Savannah Bananas HERE Join our FREE Facebook Group The Journey of a Christian Dad HERE      

Tim is a third-generation LCMS pastor at Christ's Greenfield Lutheran Church in Gilbert, AZ that cares about the future of our denomination. Today, we talk about how to disagree in a healthy way and a path forward. Tim hosts the Lead Time Podcast and is passionate about helping the church become filled with great leaders and disciples through Unite Leadership Collective. To learn more about the podcast or access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com. Today's episode is brought to you by Children's HopeChest. This ministry is close to my heart and my family's heart. We have had the privilege of traveling with them and witnessing their incredible work firsthand overseas and now each of our family members has the honor of helping sponsor a Guatemala child through this organization on a monthly basis. HopeChest and Red Letter Living are teaming up with them for an epic Pastor's Vision trip March 24-29, 2025. Only a few spots remain. Pastors, we want to invite you and a plus-one to join us on this trip. You'll have the opportunity to engage in different activities including evangelism, home visits, and connecting with children at HopeChest's CarePoints. Each day, I'll also be leading inspiring devotions, guiding you some Red Letter Challenge principles, and empowering you to embody the teachings of Jesus in your everyday life. All the details are at www.redletterchallenge.com/hopechest. So, get in now to connect more with not only Red Letter Living, but hopefully to find a great mission partner overseas in Children's HopeChest. To find more info and to register for this trip go to www.redletterchallenge.com/hopechest. I truly hope that I'll see you there.Resources mentioned in the episode: Lead Time PodcastHarrison Assessment Behavioral ToolLeader and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the BoxDifficult ConversationsChrist Greenfield Church, Gilbert, AZEpisode President Brian Mueller Grand Canyon UniversityUnite Leadership CollectiveKey insights from the episode: I want to talk to people I disagree with. – Rev. Dr. Tim AhlmanWe need to confess our sins more to each other. – Rev. Dr. Tim AhlmanThe quicker I get to my contribution in our disagreements the better. – Rev. Dr. Tim AhlmanThe Holy Spirit wants to bring unity. – Rev. Dr. Tim AhlmanI don't want to give up on our denomination because you don't leave your family. – Rev. Dr. Tim Ahlman The quickest way to kill any organization is to go high control, low trust. – Rev. Dr. Tim AhlmanJesus gave us the model: it was about apprenticeship, mentorship, and discipleship all for the sake of the local church. – Rev. Dr. Tim AhlmanWhen I see the Lord I wanna say I did everything I could to reach people with the gospel. – Rev. Dr. Tim AhlmanTim's Challenge: Have at least one encouraging “ICNU”, or “I see in you” conversation with someone this week.Are you following Jesus? Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don't know how. We extensively studied everything Jesus commanded of us and located five key targets to which Jesus invited His followers. The five targets are Being, Forgiving, Serving, Giving, and Going.In partnership with LifeWay Research, we created a Red Letter Challenge Assessment that will measure you according to these five targets. And the best news of all: it's free! You will receive your results immediately and be presented with the next steps to help you become an even greater follower of Jesus.You can take the FREE Red Letter Challenge Assessment here. This is another Hurrdat Media Production. Hurrdat Media is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat Media Network by going to HurrdatMedia.com or the Hurrdat Media YouTube channel!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There are many obvious distractions that we could be spending our time and energy on, but there are also some sneaky ways the devil gets into our days, our mind, and our relationships. Let us pay attention and make sure we are spending our time and energy on the right things. Get quiet and get back to your values that matter to you and your family. Challenge: Have a purpose each day of where you time and energy is going. When we insist on chasing other things, God lets us have our way. ~Lisa Bevere

What is the key to understanding the Old Testament? How is the Old Testament relevant to us or to the New Testament? Emma Dotter answers these questions for us in today's episode through Genesis 12. Today's Challenge: Have you been reading the Old Testament with a heart of irrelevance? What would it look like for your heart to be re-postured?

Pastor Mark Schulz may be retired, but he's not tired! He shares what retirement has been like for him so far and why he believes God is calling him to minister to the LGBTQ community. Pastor Schulz also addresses how to avoid placing too much identity in your career, and last but not least, where to get the best pizza in Chicago! To learn more about the podcast or access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com. very pastor knows small groups are important, yet a lot aren't too happy with where there small groups are right now. You can grow your small groups right now. That's right. We have helped more than 750 churches grow their small groups, and it's not as hard as you think. Our super-simple, easily-doable 5-step guide to grow your small group strategy is found by clicking on this link. Resources mentioned in the episode: Robert Colb - The Christian Faithfullyandtruly.orgMarkschulz@fullyandtruly.orgKey insights from the episode: You can't run away from God; eventually, He gets you where He wants you to be. - Mark SchulzDon't sweat the big stuff all the time. - Mark SchulzWhen you show up in the little things, God works in big ways. - Zach ZehnderI wasn't ready for the “Now what do I do?” piece of retirement. - Mark SchulzI'm one who believes that what you want to do and what you should be doing ought to be pretty meshed in your life. - Mark SchulzHow do I stay faithful to what God's Word has to say and yet lead with love and grace, which is what I believe God wants us to do? - Mark SchulzThe good first right question to ask is not “Is being gay a sin?”; the good first question to ask is “Where is your source of identity?” - Mark Schulz86% of the LGBT community grew up in a faith-based community. - Mark Schulz75% of the gay community long to return to the faith of their youth if they felt like they would be welcome. (In the average American population, the same claim is 9%). - Mark SchulzThe first thing we need to do is listen more and talk less. - Mark SchulzMark Schulz's Challenge: Have one spiritual conversation with someone this week. As Mark was talking in this interview, it showed me how much collective work we have to when it comes to forgiveness.We'd love to help you and your church discover what freedom in forgiveness feels like by exploring the powerful forgiveness that Jesus offers to each and every one of us.We'd love to introduce you to the 40-Day Forgiving Challenge.The Forgiving Challenge takes you on a life-changing journey to experience the gift of God's grace so that you can share it with others. It also helps you identify and walk through the five phases leading to freedom. You can learn more about the challenge here!Some not-so-key insights: Luminati's is the best pizza in Chicago, and if you're going to get Chicago pizza, deep-dish is the way to go. - Mark SchulzWrite three wedding messages in seminary, and you never need to write another wedding message. - Chris JohnsonMaybe we ought to start serving mimosas and egg sandwiches at church. - Chris JohnsonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Teaching NotesFour Discoveries about our Future:Discovery #1: We are going to receive new bodies Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52Discovery #2: The final destination for believers is not up there but down here In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away… Revelation 21:1Discovery #3: God is not staying up there, but he is coming down here And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4Discovery #4: God will form a grand new city beyond our imaginations where we will live with Him on the new earth I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. Revelation 21:2 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick. Revelation 21:15-17Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.  They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. Revelation 22:1-5 New Testament Challenge:New: Jesus is going to create a New Heaven and New Earth Testament: All who believe in Jesus in this life, will live eternally with God in the next Challenge: Have you made your reservation? Going Deeper DiscussionAnd I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”Revelation 21:3-4Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.No longer will there be any curse.The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.There will be no more night.They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.And they will reign for ever and ever.Revelation 22:1-5According to Revelation, is the final state of things an escape or a reunion? What makes you think that?How do the above verses help you see your current place in life? How does that make you feel? 21:4 says "the old order of things has passed away." How would you contrast the "old order" with the "new order" described in these last two chapters of Revelation?How does all of this impact the way you live today? Sunday Set ListWFC Lenexa + WFC AnywhereGreat Things- Phil WickhamMercy- Elevation worship and Maverick CityYour Spirit- Tasha Cobbs LeonardHallelujah Rising- Mitch Langley WFC SpeedwayUnstoppable God- Elevation WorshipReckless Love- Cory AsburyThere Is A King- Elevation WorshipAvailable- Elevation WorshipBe sure to save our Spotify Worship Playlist, updated weekly with the upcoming Sunday's set!

Teaching NotesFour Discoveries about our Future:Discovery #1: We are going to receive new bodies Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52Discovery #2: The final destination for believers is not up there but down here In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away… Revelation 21:1Discovery #3: God is not staying up there, but he is coming down here And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4Discovery #4: God will form a grand new city beyond our imaginations where we will live with Him on the new earth I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. Revelation 21:2 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick. Revelation 21:15-17Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.  They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. Revelation 22:1-5 New Testament Challenge:New: Jesus is going to create a New Heaven and New Earth Testament: All who believe in Jesus in this life, will live eternally with God in the next Challenge: Have you made your reservation? Going Deeper DiscussionAnd I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”Revelation 21:3-4Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.No longer will there be any curse.The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.There will be no more night.They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.And they will reign for ever and ever.Revelation 22:1-5According to Revelation, is the final state of things an escape or a reunion? What makes you think that?How do the above verses help you see your current place in life? How does that make you feel? 21:4 says "the old order of things has passed away." How would you contrast the "old order" with the "new order" described in these last two chapters of Revelation?How does all of this impact the way you live today?Sunday Set ListWFC Lenexa + WFC AnywhereGreat Things- Phil WickhamMercy- Elevation worship and Maverick CityYour Spirit- Tasha Cobbs LeonardHallelujah Rising- Mitch Langley WFC SpeedwayUnstoppable God- Elevation WorshipReckless Love- Cory AsburyThere Is A King- Elevation WorshipAvailable- Elevation WorshipBe sure to save our Spotify Worship Playlist, updated weekly with the upcoming Sunday's set!

THE CHALLENGE: Have you ever struggled with perfectionism or feeling like no matter how well you do something…it seems like it's not quite good enough? Do you ever place a large amount of pressure and stress on yourself to perform at a high level and you find yourself beating yourself up when you don't achieve?? Do you ever feel that you can never meet a certain standard you've set for yourself?   I've struggled with this idea of self-doubt, feeling like I'm not good enough, and having to achieve more in order to prove my worth and value as a man…and beating myself up when I don't achieve “up to par”.   As men we all have a need for validation. The definition of validation is…”the act of affirming a person, or their ideas, feelings, actions, as acceptable and worthy”. Every man, including you desires to be affirmed and to feel as acceptable and worthy. Validation is what defines our self-worth and value.   THE PROBLEM: “External Validation” (aka Kryptonite)   Validation is needed and good, but only if it is coming from the right place and is not dependent on something external from us or outside of our control.   More often than not, we seek validation from and depend on validation from the wrong places…from things that are external from us. -This becomes a setup for dependence on something (similar to an addict dependent on drugs or alcohol)             - This becomes a setup for future crisis. If we become dependent on the validation, and it leaves, then so does our value & worth   -Top 3 things men receive external validation from: Success Success becomes a way to soothe our own underlying insecurities. We strive for success in order to validate our worth and value instead of knowing our own intrinsic value and creating success from it. If we don't achieve our goal or fall short, we end up feeling shame and self-doubt which shows up by beating ourselves up. Status Status and influence becomes something we chase in order to feel better about ourselves. The titles and followers, and likes we use to help define our significance. If we don't get the status, again we will often beat ourselves up OR do anything to get more status…even compromising our character. Sex We often times use sex as a way to be validated. We unfortunately feel like ‘conquering another woman' or performing well in bed will contribute to our feeling of worth and being masculine. This leads to troubled relationships and adultery, because you continue to use what should be an intimate experience as a way to soothe insecurities.   Our identity (how we define ourselves) is closely linked to what we get validated by most!!   For example, If you are dependent on success as a means of validation, then you will self-identify as a success ONLY IF you succeed at your goal. Unfortunately, the opposite will destroy your self-perception. Meaning, if you don't succeed or not actively succeeding…then you'll identify yourself as a failure.     Ways to determine if you are becoming addicted/dependent on some external validation You beat yourself up Feel like a failure if you aren't succeeding at something Succeed at any cost Compromise your character in order to get the success, status, or sex Perfectionism Feel like things have to be perfect, and if they aren't you take mistakes very personal   How to Turn Kryptonite into Cure   SOLUTION: RECOGNIZE the things you are dependent on for validation: Ask yourself: “Do I get caught up more with how this makes ME feel or how it will help someone else feel??” Success: Are you more focused on what you receive from success, as opposed to the service others recieve? Sex: Are you focused more on how it will make you feel vs how it will make your spouse feel Status: Are you more focused on achieving the title and influence vs. the people that you help to earn the status? RECEIVE validation PRIMARILY FROM YOUR IDENTITY as a Son of God What does God say about you? Made in the image and likeness of God Fearfully & Wonderfully made More than a conquer Able to do all things through Christ's strength This doesn't change!! This is truth This sets you up to CREATE success, elevate influence, and improve relationships (fruit) instead of CRAVING those things to prove you have value…because you now KNOW who you are! Remind others of the same thing Help others see the same in themselves and it will be reinforced in you.     ACTION ITEM: Daily remind yourself of who God says you are. His creation and your identity in him validates you!   The result? There will be no circumstance that can stop you! You'll become unstoppable and unbreakable!   If you need help, book a 1:1 Discovery Call with me at https://drbradmd.com

There is a fascinating story in the New Testament about a man with misplaced priorities. It's found in Matthew 19:16-22. Here's what the Bible says….“Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”18 “Which ones?” he inquired.Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,' and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.'”20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.Here is a young man who was doing well.  What we know about him is that in spite of his wealth and his accomplishment he still felt there was something missing in his life.  This is strange because he is a very religious man.  He believed in God and tried his best to do everything he knew he should.  The Ten Commandments were a way of life by him.  He was a moral man.  He didn't steal or cheat his way to the top.  Yet, after having “arrived,”  he felt that something was missing.There are many people today in this position.  They are hard working, successful, good, honest, upwardly mobile, moral people.  Yet without Christ, there remains emptiness in their lives.  Let's focus for a few a moment on his question.  “What good thing must I do to get eternal life?”  His aspirations are good.  He's been thinking about his life and has been trying to do the right thing.  But he wants to be sure.  How do I get to Heaven?  That's a great question.But there is a flaw in his question.  Something is wrong with his understanding of how to get to Heaven.  A lot of people make the same mistake.  He thinks that in order to get to Heaven, in order to have a right relationship with God, he has to do a lot of good things: live a good life, give money, be a good neighbor, be a moral person.  But the Bible tells us that God's love and acceptance is not something you can earn.Jesus gets around to answering his question.  He gives him the standard Jewish answer:  Obey the commandments.  “Which ones?” the man answered.  Just wanting to make sure that he had everything covered. Jesus says something to him that we would never say to someone we were trying to lead to Christ: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21). For this man, money was not just an object or a thing. Money had become his God. And Jesus knew it. He is touching this man at the point of his need. And he's saying, “You're going to have to give up your idolatry of money before you can be my disciple.”Would Jesus say to us, “One thing you lack?”  Would he identify a stronghold in our lives?  It could be so many things: a relationship, power, love of success, pornography, revenge or hatred, life of pleasure.Here's the main point of this conversation:  If you want to be a follower of Christ, if you are searching for eternal life, you have got to get your priorities straight.  What is the most important thing in your life?  Today's Challenge: Have you made Christ your priority? He is our purpose.  He is the center.  Truly following Christ impacts every area of your life. 

I love hearing stories of how people came to faith in Jesus. Everyone has their own journey and their own stories. A number of years ago, I was getting to know a man who had attended a few services at our church. As I often do, I asked him how he became a Christian. His response surprised me.He said, “You know, Pastor…I decided to study all the major world religions. I took a couple of years and did a deep dive into the various religions and beliefs. Out of the major religions, Christianity seems to make the most sense to me, so I decided to become a Christian.I'm in no position to judge the authenticity or the sincerity of his faith in Jesus, but the conversation led me to reflect on how a person comes to faith in Jesus. What does it truly mean to believe in Jesus? How does a person become a Christian?In John 6:44, Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them…”We learn here that God himself is actively involved in pursuing us and calling us to believe. Faith in Jesus cannot be the result in academic study alone.  It must include the work of God's spirit in our hearts and lives that brings us to a place of faith.We also know from Scripture that believing in Jesus is not simply an intellectual assent or agreement. It's more than just head knowledge. I've heard people say, “Pastor, there are too many unanswered questions in this world, there must be a God up there somewhere, so, yes, I guess I do believe in God.We must understand that this kind of belief is not saving faith. There will be multitude of people in Hell who believed in God. We do not receive salvation because we believe in God.James 2:19 - “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”Demons believe in the existence of God, but they will not be in Heaven.So, what does it mean to believe in Jesus? Well, we have established that saving faith is not believing in the existence of God. It is something more.In Romans 10:9-10 the Bible says, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”Twice in these verses Paul says we must believe.In scripture, one of the definitions of faith is “to fully lean.” It is leaning your full weight upon Jesus. It means we fully trust Christ as our savior.Faith that brings us salvation is trusting Jesus' death upon the cross as payment for our sins.” It's recognizing that salvation is found nowhere else. The death of Jesus satisfied the justice of a righteous and holy God. A penalty had to be paid for our sins or God is not just. Out of love, Jesus too our penalty. He took our place. So when we say salvation requires us to believe in Jesus, we believe not only that he exists but that his death was personal. He died for me. He died for you.You either trust Jesus' death on the cross on your behalf, or you trust your own good deeds. There is no other option. So many feel they are going to Heaven when they die because they believe in God and because they are a good person. If this were true, Jesus' death was in vain. It wasn't necessary.But it was necessary because it was the will of God. Jesus became our substitute. He died for us so we wouldn't have too. God offers us the opportunity to be born again, to be saved and forgiven of our sins. It requires faith. It requires trusting Jesus' finished work on the cross on our behalf.Today's Challenge: Have you trusted Jesus Christ as your savior and Lord? Or are you trusting in yourself and your good deeds? God offers us salvation as a free gift, but it requires that we believe. Today can be the day of your salvation.

In John chapter 3 a man named Nicodemus comes at night to have a conversation with Jesus. He is a very important person in Israel. He is a member of the Jewish ruling council. He is a deeply devout and religious man.I believe Nicodemus comes to Jesus, not out of a sense of investigation for his job. He visits Jesus because it's personal. He comes at night because he can't risk his own position to be seen with Jesus in the daylight.Nicodemus says, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” (verse 2)Jesus' response is so interesting. He doesn't say… “Wow, hey man, thanks for the support. That means a lot coming from someone in your position!” Instead, Jesus ignores the compliment and gets right to the issue on Nicodemus' mind… “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (Vs. 3)A person can be deeply religious and still lost in their sins.Being religious is not the same as being a Christian. One could not get much more religious than Nicodemus, but our Lord's words make it clear that as “religious” as he is, Nicodemus is not yet a Christian. He must be reborn from above.Being religious is never enough. If it were, Nicodemus wouldn't have had the time or interest to meet with Jesus. But he comes despite all of his religious activity because there is still an emptiness in his heart. Jesus is saying, to see the Kingdom of God, we must be born again.Let me remind you that Jesus spoke these words not to some immoral outcast, but to one of the most religious men of his day. By any standard Nicodemus was a very good man and certainly a man we would admire for his intense devotion to God. Yet Jesus told him, “You must be born again.”All of us need to be born again.Good peopleReligious peoplePeople who refrain from the bad sinsPeople who grew up in churchPeople who are church membersSalvation, as Jesus explains it, is not becoming morally better; it's having a whole new basis of right standing before God. Something that doesn't come because you did good works, but something that was given to you.Through salvation, God gives us a new life. Jesus said in John 10:10 - “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”Today's Challenge: Have you been born again? Don't let this day pass without having a spiritual birth. How do we do this? Through faith. We believe Jesus is the Son of God. We believe his death on the cross is sufficient payment for our sins. We believe he will save and forgive us. Faith leads to confession, repentance, and following. Visit the website: 5MinuteDiscipleship.comFollow on social:Facebook.com/5minutediscipleshipInstagram.com/5minutediscipleshipClick here to learn how you can start your own podcast.

I wanted to bring this encore conversation with Mothers Against Police Brutality’s Sara Mokuria in a week where so many of us have been grappling with the issue of police violence and what we can do about it. I know many of us have been searching for some action we can take about this issue and I want to encourage you to listen to this conversation with Sara Mokuria, one of the co-founders of Mothers Against Police Brutality. She will give you insight and advocacy steps from her own experience losing her father. And then, make a donation to Mothers Against Police Brutality, an organization that is seeking change by addressing policy and building police accountability, beginning in Texas but with nationwide impact. As you listen, I hope you’ll consider making a donation as well and I also challenge you to identify just one person who you can share this episode and this call to action with; together we can start to take steps in the direction of police accountability. Now here is my conversation with Sara Mokuria. ORIGINAL SHOW NOTES It’s an honor and responsibility to share this Episode #33 of the Mother’s Quest Podcast with Sara Mokuria, co-founder of Mothers Against Police Brutality. It’s the third and final in a series I recorded as part of the Women Podcasters in Solidarity Initiative and it comes to you with a call to action to get involved with this issue today. This episode was dedicated by Collette Flanagan, the founder of Mothers Against Police Brutality, who turned her grief from the loss of her son, Clinton Allen, into fuel for change. In her dedication, Collette reminded us of our common humanity as mothers and that an insult to one mother is an insult to all mothers. It is this knowing that caused me to record this series after I saw the heart-breaking video of Diamond Reynolds and her then four year old daughter after they witnessed the killing of Philando Castile. Philando was like a father to this little girl, was unarmed and was complying with the police officer’s requests when he was shot. Seeing the trauma and heartbreak endured by this four year old girl, who was the same age as my son when I saw this video, became a catalyst to face the epidemic of police brutality in our country, and to begin taking action, however imperfect. Much like Diamond Reynold’s daughter, Sara also endured trauma and heartbreak when she watched her father get shot and killed by police at her home in Dallas when she was 10 years old. Fueled by her own experience, Sara joined Collette along with another co-founder, John Fullinwider, in creating Mother’s Against Police Brutality, as a multi-racial, multi-ethnic coalition uniting mothers nationwide to fight for civil rights, police accountability and policy reform. Sara is a mom herself to a seven year old boy.  And, in addition to her work with Mothers Against Police Brutality, she’s a sought after educator, community organizer, project manager, and facilitator, currently working as Associate Director for Leadership Initiatives with The Institute for Urban Policy Research at the University of Texas at Dallas. She has two masters degrees, has taught both high school and college at the University of Texas at Dallas and currently serves on the International Mechanism Coordinating Committee for the US Human Rights Network. She came to the conversation with an open heart she told me, and I felt her generosity and honesty throughout as she shared how police violence changed her life forever, discussed the trauma of being black in America, how the institution of policing and the prison industrial complex contributes to that trauma, and the ways in which an investment in Mothers Against Police Brutality can change policies and systems to reduce violence and create more accountability. As compelling was Sara’s exploration of the vision she has for our future… of vibrant communities where we invest in our young people, lean into and value our differences, and where each of us taps into our own unique magic to get us there. We ended our conversation with a co-created prayer, a wish for ourselves as much as for all of you listening, to move into greater responsibility for this work from wherever we are, to have the courage to go to those difficult and painful places so we can create a freer future, and to take this moment right now to support this cause. I’m doing that today by making a financial contribution to Mothers Against Police Brutality and putting my resources with the mothers, like Sara and Collette, who are closest to the problem and who can see the solution. I hope you’ll join me. Visit http://mothersagainstpolicebrutality.org/donate/ to make a donation and reference Mother’s Quest or, if contributing on November 28th, Giving Tuesday, visit the Mother’s Quest Facebook Fundraising Page  to contribute to the Giving Tuesday Campaign. This episode dedicated by Mothers Against Police Brutality founder Collette Flanagan, whose son, Clinton Allen, was shot and killed by the Dallas Police in March of 2013. Topics discussed in this episode Sara’s joyous childhood which changed forever when her father was killed by Dallas police officers when she was just 10 years old How Sara’s mother was her fiercest advocate, even as her mother grappled with the deeply traumatic effects of her husband’s killing and the lack of support as a crime victim. Disturbing facts about our current law enforcement policies, lack of accountability, the militarization of police, and budget allocations that favor the prison industrial complex over investments that would build a vibrant community The New Jim Crowe and the War on Drugs and how it has played out as a war on people of color White privilege and how to move from shame and guilt to responsibility and action How Sara teaches her son to understand injustice, the history we don’t learn in our schools, and how tenderness, love and joy can be an act of resistance What happened when Sara met with the officer who killed her father years later and how that shifted her perspective about what the problem really is How women make up half of the world’s population and how we birthed the other half, therefore we are the world. And, the power of mothers to chart the direction of our families and communities. The importance of finding your own unique magic to make a difference and why Sara keeps her heart open to welcome people to this cause when they come to it Our prayer and invitation to you the listener Resources mentioned in this episode Women Podcasters in Solidarity Mothers Against Police Brutality The Movie 13th, directed by Ava Duvernay The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander Drug Policy Alliance EP31: Brave Spaces and Solidarity with “Rad Women” Author Kate Schatz Ep 27: Courageous Conversations about Race with Nicole Lee Ep 07: Living Out Loud with Jenjii Hysten How the Irish Became White by Noel Ignatiev Dallas Woman Turns Tragedy Into Conversation About Race, an article where Sara talks about the system and not police officers being the problem Stride Toward Justice: 9 Steps to Change Policing in America – policy recommendations from Mothers Against Police Brutality The Movement for Black Lives Campaign Zero This Week’s Three-fold Challenge Have courageous conversation about these issues with your families during the holidays. Get involved and informed about these issues locally. Become an advocate in your city. Make a monetary contribution to support the mothers who are closest to the solution at Mothers Against Police Brutality. Make a donation by visiting http://mothersagainstpolicebrutality.org/donate/.  Announcement Time Sensitive Opportunity To Join Me and Nicole Lee One of those guides, Nicole Lee and I, decided we'd like to collaborate on a four-week offering to hold space for learning, growth and solidarity through weekly zoom conversations. If you’re interested in joining, email me ASAP at julie@mothersquest.com or comment on our live conversation today in the Mother’s Quest group and I can give you more details.  Click [here] to watch the Zoom conversation in the Mother's Quest Group.

When emotions are high, our words only make up 10% of the message we send! 90% comes from our tone and non-verbals. Listen in to hear more about how our non-verbals are impacting the people in our span of care. Being intentional, and setting achievable goals can help us make sure we are setting the message we intend. CHALLENGE: Have an intentional conversation with your teammate, partner, friend, and/or child. Focus on all four aspects of nonverbal communication - speaking tone/voice, gestures & movements, body posture/positioning, and facial expressions/eye contact. https://www.ourcommunitylistens.org/

Lots of things are labeled "STEM" these days but many of them are just rote instructions for students to follow. Is this truly STEM learning? Taylor Ryan is STEM coordinator for his school as they work to integrate STEM into every class. He shares what he's learned about true STEM learning in the past year in this role. Hear about STEM from the trenches of a school that is doing it. www.coolcatteacher.com/e577    Challenge Have conversations about the STEM learning at your school. Is it authentic STEM learning? What could you apply from this podcast in terms of longer-term or shorter projects? How about cross-curricular? Taylor Ryan - Bio As Submitted Taylor is a teacher and STEM Officer at Fulford Academy, a private school in Brockville, Ontario. School Website: https://fulfordacademy.com/  

I’ll be back in two weeks with a new episode, but I wanted to bring this encore conversation with Mothers Against Police Brutality’s Sara Mokuria in a week where so many of us have been grappling with the issue of police violence and what we can do about it. This week, our consciousness has been focused on the tragic deaths of two black people, Botham Jean and Atiana Jefferson, who were murdered in their own homes by police officers. Botham was in his own apartment when an off duty police officer shot and killed him, allegedly mistaking him for an intruder in her own apartment. Recently, the woman who killed him was sentenced to only 10 years in prison for his killing. Atiana Jefferson, who was playing video games with her nephew in her own home at the time, was murdered when an officer sent to the house by a neighbor because of an open door, immediately shot and killed Atiana instead of checking on her wellbeing. I know many of us have been searching for some action we can take about this issue and I want to encourage you to do two things: first listen to this conversation with Sara Mokuria, one of the co-founders of Mothers Against Police Brutality. She will give you insight and advocacy steps from her own experience losing her father. And then, make a donation to Mothers Against Police Brutality, an organization that is seeking change by addressing policy and building police accountability, beginning in Texas but with nationwide impact. Inspired by my last conversation with trust-based philanthropy thought leader Pia Infante, our family committed to an ongoing monthly donation to support their work over time, and made the donation in honor of two men who lost their lives to police violence over the last year in my own area, Chinedu Okobi and Miles Hall. As you listen, I hope you’ll consider making a donation as well and I also challenge you to identify just one person who you can share this episode and this call to action with; together we can start to take steps in the direction of police accountability. Now here is my conversation with Sara Mokuria. Much appreciation, P.S. Know someone who would love this conversation? Click forward now to pay this forward to a friend who may be interested. Make a donation by visiting http://mothersagainstpolicebrutality.org/donate/.  ORIGINAL SHOW NOTES It’s an honor and responsibility to share this Episode #33 of the Mother’s Quest Podcast with Sara Mokuria, co-founder of Mothers Against Police Brutality. It’s the third and final in a series I recorded as part of the Women Podcasters in Solidarity Initiative and it comes to you with a call to action to get involved with this issue today. This episode was dedicated by Collette Flanagan, the founder of Mothers Against Police Brutality, who turned her grief from the loss of her son, Clinton Allen, into fuel for change. In her dedication, Collette reminded us of our common humanity as mothers and that an insult to one mother is an insult to all mothers. It is this knowing that caused me to record this series after I saw the heart-breaking video of Diamond Reynolds and her then four year old daughter after they witnessed the killing of Philando Castile. Philando was like a father to this little girl, was unarmed and was complying with the police officer’s requests when he was shot. Seeing the trauma and heartbreak endured by this four year old girl, who was the same age as my son when I saw this video, became a catalyst to face the epidemic of police brutality in our country, and to begin taking action, however imperfect. Much like Diamond Reynold’s daughter, Sara also endured trauma and heartbreak when she watched her father get shot and killed by police at her home in Dallas when she was 10 years old. Fueled by her own experience, Sara joined Collette along with another co-founder, John Fullinwider, in creating Mother’s Against Police Brutality, as a multi-racial, multi-ethnic coalition uniting mothers nationwide to fight for civil rights, police accountability and policy reform. Sara is a mom herself to a seven year old boy.  And, in addition to her work with Mothers Against Police Brutality, she’s a sought after educator, community organizer, project manager, and facilitator, currently working as Associate Director for Leadership Initiatives with The Institute for Urban Policy Research at the University of Texas at Dallas. She has two masters degrees, has taught both high school and college at the University of Texas at Dallas and currently serves on the International Mechanism Coordinating Committee for the US Human Rights Network. She came to the conversation with an open heart she told me, and I felt her generosity and honesty throughout as she shared how police violence changed her life forever, discussed the trauma of being black in America, how the institution of policing and the prison industrial complex contributes to that trauma, and the ways in which an investment in Mothers Against Police Brutality can change policies and systems to reduce violence and create more accountability. As compelling was Sara’s exploration of the vision she has for our future... of vibrant communities where we invest in our young people, lean into and value our differences, and where each of us taps into our own unique magic to get us there. We ended our conversation with a co-created prayer, a wish for ourselves as much as for all of you listening, to move into greater responsibility for this work from wherever we are, to have the courage to go to those difficult and painful places so we can create a freer future, and to take this moment right now to support this cause. I’m doing that today by making a financial contribution to Mothers Against Police Brutality and putting my resources with the mothers, like Sara and Collette, who are closest to the problem and who can see the solution. I hope you’ll join me. Visit http://mothersagainstpolicebrutality.org/donate/ to make a donation and reference Mother’s Quest or, if contributing on November 28th, Giving Tuesday, visit the Mother's Quest Facebook Fundraising Page  to contribute to the Giving Tuesday Campaign. This episode dedicated by Mothers Against Police Brutality founder Collette Flanagan, whose son, Clinton Allen, was shot and killed by the Dallas Police in March of 2013. Topics discussed in this episode Sara’s joyous childhood which changed forever when her father was killed by Dallas police officers when she was just 10 years old How Sara’s mother was her fiercest advocate, even as her mother grappled with the deeply traumatic effects of her husband’s killing and the lack of support as a crime victim. Disturbing facts about our current law enforcement policies, lack of accountability, the militarization of police, and budget allocations that favor the prison industrial complex over investments that would build a vibrant community The New Jim Crowe and the War on Drugs and how it has played out as a war on people of color White privilege and how to move from shame and guilt to responsibility and action How Sara teaches her son to understand injustice, the history we don’t learn in our schools, and how tenderness, love and joy can be an act of resistance What happened when Sara met with the officer who killed her father years later and how that shifted her perspective about what the problem really is How women make up half of the world’s population and how we birthed the other half, therefore we are the world. And, the power of mothers to chart the direction of our families and communities. The importance of finding your own unique magic to make a difference and why Sara keeps her heart open to welcome people to this cause when they come to it Our prayer and invitation to you the listener Resources mentioned in this episode Women Podcasters in Solidarity Mothers Against Police Brutality The Movie 13th, directed by Ava Duvernay The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander Drug Policy Alliance EP31: Brave Spaces and Solidarity with “Rad Women” Author Kate Schatz Ep 27: Courageous Conversations about Race with Nicole Lee Ep 07: Living Out Loud with Jenjii Hysten How the Irish Became White by Noel Ignatiev Dallas Woman Turns Tragedy Into Conversation About Race, an article where Sara talks about the system and not police officers being the problem Stride Toward Justice: 9 Steps to Change Policing in America - policy recommendations from Mothers Against Police Brutality The Movement for Black Lives Campaign Zero This Week’s Three-fold Challenge Have courageous conversation about these issues with your families during the holidays. Get involved and informed about these issues locally. Become an advocate in your city. Make a monetary contribution to support the mothers who are closest to the solution at Mothers Against Police Brutality. Announcements Women Podcasters in Solidarity Initiative If you identify as a woman podcaster, I hope you’ll join us for the third season of the Women Podcasters in Solidarity Initiative. Our group recently committed to the topic of immigration from a social justice perspective, and we invite you to join us by committing to record an episode that can shine a light on this important issue. To take a look at past seasons and get more information visit www.womenpodcastersinsolidarity.com. Applications are open for the Spark Your E.P.I.C. Live Virtual Circle If you’re on a quest to live an E.P.I.C. life, but you’ve been feeling challenged, isolated, or unsure of the path ahead, the Mother’s Quest Circle may be the source of connection you’re looking for. The Mother’s Quest Circle provides inspiration, coaching and community for an intimate group of no more than 8 women who are ready to say “yes” to: Reflect together, in a community of like-minded mothers, on what matters most To consciously live a more E.P.I.C. life To take bold action toward one of the E.P.I.C. life guideposts before the end of the session To hold space for sharing, coaching, and championing one another so we are “in community” on our journey Click HERE to Learn More Acknowledgements A big THANK YOU to our “patrons” for helping to bring these conversations to myself and other mothers through financial and/or in-kind support: On the Move and etsuko Kubo Kate Amoo-Gottfried Nicole Lee Olivia Parr-Rud “Vince” of the While Black Podcast Sara Brannin-Mooser Lindsay Pera Julie Castro Abrams Alexia Vernon Brooke Markevicius Democracy Clothing Michael Skolnik Helgi Maki Kari Azuma Tamara Sobomehin Katie Krimitsos Carrie Caulfield Arick Rachel Rosen Chandra Brooks Jen Simon Monisha Vasa Celia Ward-Wallace Vanessa Couto Desiree Adaway Rachel Steinman Katie Hanus Denise Barreto Sage B. Hobbs Samantha Nolan-Smith Jody Smith Emily Cretella Collette Flanagan Titilayo Tinubu Ali Carly Magnus Hurt Lizzy Russinko Suzanne Brown Mara Berns Langer Mallory Schlabach Katharine Earhart Jessica Kupferman Jen Jenkins Dohner Genese Harris Tonya Rineer Liane Louie-Badua Cristin Downs Erin Kendall Niko Osoteo Erik Newton Claire Fry Divya Silbermann Rachel Winter Caren and Debbie Lieberman Cameron Miranda Fran and David Lieberman Debbie and Alan Goore The Sustainable Living Podcast Support the Podcast If you’d like to make a contribution to Mother’s Quest to support Season Three of the Podcast and/or help provide coaching scholarships for mothers, follow this link to make a contribution. If you would like to “dedicate” an upcoming episode to a special mother in your life, email me at julie@mothersquest.com — Mother’s Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

Dania Santana, author of the bilingual children's book, Sebastian's Game Day Surprise, and multicultural parenting expert, shares how we can reach bilingual students. She discusses the current thought on best supporting bilingual students. www.coolcatteacher.com/e559   Challenge Have a conversation with one of your bilingual students and reflect on their situation based on what you've learned in today's episode. I also share some responses to a recent question about engagement with ideas from teachers. What is the most engaging thing you've done in your classroom this week? Got pics? Please share! — Vicki Davis (@coolcatteacher) September 11, 2019     Dania Santana - Bio As Submitted Dania Santana is a multicultural parenting expert who raises cultural awareness to create social change. She is also a published author and speaker on the subject of multiculturalism, diversity and inclusion. Twitter: @DiversityUS Blog: https://embracingdiversity.us/ 

This Week's Challenge: Have a Surface Level Conversation With Someone You Wouldn't Have One With Otherwise. Follow Rachel on Instagram instagram.com/hopefulraeofsunshine

Message on Acts 9:1-22 Summary of Acts 8 Stephen is stoned to death with Saul's approval. Persecution has broken out against those following the Way (of Jesus). God uses Philip to share the Good News with those in Samaria and with a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians. Amidst persecution and hardship, God's will can't be thwarted. We are either led by our flesh OR led by God's Holy Spirit. Challenge: Are you like “Saul”? Do you deal with a “Saul” as Christ would want you to? Comfort: Even if there is a “Saul” wanting to bring us down, the LORD is on our side! What we do with an encounter with God is our choice. Challenge: Have you asked the most important question ever: Who are You, Lord? Comfort: God will not turn away anyone who submits to Him, no matter who they are! When we humble ourselves and obey God, God's will is done, people are transformed and we are blessed! Challenge: When God calls you, do you respond? Do you obey? Comfort: God loves us, even when we chicken out! Don't downplay who Jesus is and what He's called us to do. Who God saves, God uses! Challenge: What's stopping you from stepping up to serve God? Comfort: God can use anyone, even us! God bless you! Learn more about Acts like Church (previously Calvary Chapel Brisbane) here: https://www.actslikechurch.com

Message on Acts 9:1-22 Summary of Acts 8 Stephen is stoned to death with Saul’s approval. Persecution has broken out against those following the Way (of Jesus). God uses Philip to share the Good News with those in Samaria and with a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians. Amidst persecution and hardship, God’s will can’t be thwarted. We are either led by our flesh OR led by God’s Holy Spirit. Challenge: Are you like “Saul”? Do you deal with a “Saul” as Christ would want you to? Comfort: Even if there is a “Saul” wanting to bring us down, the LORD is on our side! What we do with an encounter with God is our choice. Challenge: Have you asked the most important question ever: Who are You, Lord? Comfort: God will not turn away anyone who submits to Him, no matter who they are! When we humble ourselves and obey God, God’s will is done, people are transformed and we are blessed! Challenge: When God calls you, do you respond? Do you obey? Comfort: God loves us, even when we chicken out! Don’t downplay who Jesus is and what He’s called us to do. Who God saves, God uses! Challenge: What’s stopping you from stepping up to serve God? Comfort: God can use anyone, even us! God bless you! Learn more about Acts like Church (previously Calvary Chapel Brisbane) here: https://www.actslikechurch.com

John the Baptist preached a message of repentance while baptizing others for the forgiveness of sins; then Jesus came to him to be baptized. Jesus was without sin and had no need to be forgiven so why was Jesus baptized? To set an example for righteousness for all that follow him. In this sermon Pastor Byron shows us how Jesus’ baptism sets the pattern for God’s people. SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK:
 Mark 1:9-11 BEFORE YOU GET STARTED:
 Take 5 minutes to silently read over the section of scripture to gather insight, questions, or discussion with the group before answering the questions. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. What is the purpose of baptism? Why is it essential for the Christian life? 2. Why was Jesus baptized? How does this set the example for following him? 3. What does Jesus’ baptism teach us about the Trinity? 4. What are the implications of the Holy Spirit on Jesus’ life? What are the implications of the Holy Spirit on your life? 5. Notice that the Father was pleased with Jesus before he ever preached or performed a miracle. How does knowing God’s pleasure doesn’t depend on your performance affect your Christian life? CHALLENGE:
 Have you followed Jesus in baptism? If so tell your story about how that moment has shaped your Christian life. If not visit www.redemptiontx.com/baptism to sign up for our next Baptism Sunday.

It’s an honor and responsibility to share this Episode #33 of the Mother’s Quest Podcast with Sara Mokuria, co-founder of Mothers Against Police Brutality. It’s the third and final in a series I recorded as part of the Women Podcasters in Solidarity Initiative and it comes to you with a call to action to get involved with this issue today.  This episode was dedicated by Collette Flanagan, the founder of Mothers Against Police Brutality, who turned her grief from the loss of her son, Clinton Allen, into fuel for change.  In her dedication, Collette reminded us of our common humanity as mothers and that an insult to one mother is an insult to all mothers. It is this knowing that caused me to record this series after I saw the heart-breaking video of Diamond Reynolds and her then four year old daughter after they witnessed the killing of Philando Castile. Philando was like a father to this little girl, was unarmed and was complying with the police officer’s requests when he was shot. Seeing the trauma and heartbreak endured by this four year old girl, who was the same age as my son when I saw this video, became a catalyst to face the epidemic of police brutality in our country, and to begin taking action, however imperfect.  Much like Diamond Reynold’s daughter, Sara also endured trauma and heartbreak when she watched her father get shot and killed by police at her home in Dallas when she was 10 years old.  Fueled by her own experience, Sara joined Collette along with another co-founder, John Fullinwider, in creating Mother’s Against Police Brutality, as a multi-racial, multi-ethnic coalition uniting mothers nationwide to fight for civil rights, police accountability and policy reform.  Sara is a mom herself to a seven year old boy.  And, in addition to her work with Mothers Against Police Brutality, she’s a sought after educator, community organizer, project manager, and facilitator, currently working as Associate Director for Leadership Initiatives with The Institute for Urban Policy Research at the University of Texas at Dallas. She has two masters degrees, has taught both high school and college at the University of Texas at Dallas and currently serves on the International Mechanism Coordinating Committee for the US Human Rights Network.  She came to the conversation with an open heart she told me, and I felt her generosity and honesty throughout as she shared how police violence changed her life forever, discussed the trauma of being black in America, how the institution of policing and the prison industrial complex contributes to that trauma, and the ways in which an investment in Mothers Against Police Brutality can change policies and systems to reduce violence and create more accountability.  As compelling was Sara’s exploration of the vision she has for our future... of vibrant communities where we invest in our young people, lean into and value our differences, and where each of us taps into our own unique magic to get us there.  We ended our conversation with a co-created prayer, a wish for ourselves as much as for all of you listening, to move into greater responsibility for this work from wherever we are, to have the courage to go to those difficult and painful places so we can create a freer future, and to take this moment right now to support this cause.  I’m doing that today by making a financial contribution to Mothers Against Police Brutality and putting my resources with the mothers, like Sara and Collette, who are closest to the problem and who can see the solution. I hope you’ll join me.  Visit http://mothersagainstpolicebrutality.org/donate/ to make a donation and reference Mother’s Quest or, if contributing on November 28th, Giving Tuesday, visit the Mother’s Quest Facebook Page to contribute to the Giving Tuesday Campaign, where we have a  possibility of matching funds from the Gates Foundation. This episode dedicated by: Mothers Against Police Brutality founder Collette Flanagan, whose son, Clinton Allen, was shot and killed by the Dallas Police in March of 2013.    Topics discussed in this episode: Sara’s joyous childhood which changed forever when her father was killed by Dallas police officers when she was just 10 years old How Sara’s mother was her fiercest advocate, even as her mother grappled with the deeply traumatic effects of her husband’s killing and the lack of support as a crime victim. Disturbing facts about our current law enforcement policies, lack of accountability, the militarization of police, and budget allocations that favor the prison industrial complex over investments that would build a vibrant community The New Jim Crowe and the War on Drugs and how it has played out as a war on people of color White privilege and how to move from shame and guilt to responsibility and action How Sara teaches her son to understand injustice, the history we don’t learn in our schools, and how tenderness, love and joy can be an act of resistance What happened when Sara met with the officer who killed her father years later and how that shifted her perspective about what the problem really is How women make up half of the world’s population and how we birthed the other half, therefore we are the world. And, the power of mothers to chart the direction of our families and communities. The importance of finding your own unique magic to make a difference and why Sara keeps her heart open to welcome people to this cause when they come to it Our prayer and invitation to you the listener Resources mentioned in this episode: Women Podcasters in Solidarity Mothers Against Police Brutality The Movie 13th, directed by Ava Duvernay The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander Drug Policy Alliance EP31: Brave Spaces and Solidarity with “Rad Women” Author Kate Schatz Ep 27: Courageous Conversations about Race with Nicole Lee Ep 07: Living Out Loud with Jenjii Hysten How the Irish Became White by Noel Ignatiev Dallas Woman Turns Tragedy Into Conversation About Race, an article where Sara talks about the system and not police officers being the problem Stride Toward Justice: 9 Steps to Change Policing in America - policy recommendations from Mothers Against Police Brutality The Movement for Black Lives Campaign Zero This Week’s Three-fold Challenge: Have courageous conversation about these issues with your families during the holidays. Get involved and informed about these issues locally. Become an advocate in your city. Make a monetary contribution to support the mothers who are closest to the solution at Mothers Against Police Brutality. Announcements: Giving Tuesday Visit http://mothersagainstpolicebrutality.org/donate/ to make a donation and reference Mother’s Quest or, if contributing on November 28th, Giving Tuesday, visit the Mother’s Quest Facebook Page to contribute to the Giving Tuesday Campaign, where there is a possibility of matching funds from the Gates Foundation. Women Podcasters in Solidarity I’m honored to have shared three episodes in this series of conversations for the Women Podcasters in Solidarity Initiative. I created the Initiative to build awareness and raise dollars for Anti-Racism and the Movement for Black Lives. Coming soon: visit www.womenpodcastersinsolidarity.com for the complete list of episodes created by other podcasters who pledged to the initiative. Help Us Celebrate Mother’s Quest’s First Birthday A year ago on December 1st, I launched the Mother’s Quest Podcast as a birthday present to myself. It’s hard to believe that another personal birthday and the first birthday of the podcast is almost here. I’d love to celebrate by highlighting your stories and how the podcast or Mother’s Quest Community has helped you to live your E.P.I.C. life. Go tomothersquest.com and use the speakpipe tool to leave me a 1-2 minute message for a chance to be featured in this season’s finale. Everyone who submits will also be entered into a drawing for a free signature coaching session from me and some other prizes from other amazing moms in the Mother’s Quest Community. Can’t wait to hear your stories and celebrate with you. Virtual Mother’s Quest Circle Pilot You’re a mindful mother. And being present for your children in these years when you’re raising them is your highest priority. You’re also committed to making a positive impact in the world, something that feels even more important with all the challenges we currently face. If the description above sounds like you, the Virtual Mother’s Quest Circle Pilot, may be right for you. This signature offering provides inspiration, coaching and community to spark your E.P.I.C. life with intimate virtual reflective sessions over 3-4 months. Click http://mothersquest.com/virtualcircle/ to learn and apply. The group will start as soon as I have a committed number of participants so don’t delay if you’re interested. Questions? Email me at julie@mothersquest.com Visit the Website If you haven’t yet visited the website, head over to www.mothersquest.comto explore some of the ways you can get more connected. At the site, you can sign up for our email list (to get show notes delivered to your inbox and our new “Mothers on a Quest” features), click the link to join the Facebook group and press record to leave a voice message for me. You can also download the FREE Live Your E.P.I.C. Life Planning and Reflection Sheets. Acknowledgements: A big THANK YOU to our “patrons” for helping to bring these conversations to myself and other mothers through financial and/or in-kind support: Collette Flanagan, founder of Mothers Against Police Brutality Titilayo Tinubu Ali of Own Your Expertise Carly Magnus Hurt Lizzy Russinko of This (Un)Scripted Life Suzanne Brown, author of Mompowerment Mara Berns Langer Mallory Schlabach of Marketing Magic for Entrepreneurs Katharine Earhart of Alesco Advisors Jessica Kupferman of She Podcasts Resistance Artist Jen Jenkins Dohner Genese Harris Tonya Rineer, founder of The Profit Party Liane Louie-Badua Cristin Downs of the Notable Woman Podcast Erin Kendall of Fit Mom Go Niko Osoteo of Bear Beat Productions Erik Newton of The Together Show Claire Fry Divya Silbermann Rachel Winter Caren and Debbie Lieberman Cameron Miranda Fran and David Lieberman Debbie and Alan Goore Jenise and Marianne of the Sustainable Living Podcast

Summary: It's the week of Christmas, and Danielle & Justin spend some time talking about anticipation, and the blessings of the season. • Packing for a roadtrip • Extravagant gifts • Christmas Blessing   The Challenge: Have a merry Christmas! Links / Resources: The Legendary Marriage Facebook Group Listen Below: The post Episode013: Merry Christmas appeared first on Legendary Marriage: Build a life, a love, and a legacy together..