Podcasts about Child

This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.On today's edition of The Briefing, Dr. Mohler discusses the issue of moral agency and A.I. chatbots, Christian confusion about A.I., why Christians must get the Imago Dei right, and Greece's potential social media ban for children under 15.Part I (00:14 – 08:47)Can Claude Become a Child of God? The Massive Moral Issue of the Moral Agency of A.I.Can AI be a ‘child of God'? Inside Anthropic's meeting with Christian leaders. by The Washington Post (Gerrit De Vynck and Nitasha Tiku)Part II (08:47 – 18:07)So-Called ‘Christian Leaders' Consult Anthropic for Moral Character of A.I.: There is a Massive Confusion Here – Now A.I. Has a ‘Soul'?Part III (18:07 – 20:56)‘In the Image of God He Created Them': Christians Must Always Get the Imago Dei Right, Especially as the World Around Us Gets It Very WrongPart IV (20:56 – 27:03)Greece is Expected to Ban Social Media for Children: Another Country is Attempting to Prevent Social Media's Harms to Its ChildrenGreece Plans to Block Social Media for Children Under 15 by The New York Times (Niki Kitsantonis)Sign up to receive The Briefing in your inbox every weekday morning.Follow Dr. Mohler:X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeFor more information on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, go to sbts.edu.For more information on Boyce College, just go to BoyceCollege.com.To write Dr. Mohler or submit a question for The Mailbox, go here.

Download MP3 | Watch Video Episode | Full Timestamps Watch full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@CastleSuperBeastArchive Finessed At Twitch Rivals: The Akali Gentleman's Agreement It Was Always The Yellow Hat Man's Fault Bridgebourn: The Best Parallax Sprites I've Ever Seen Invincible VS: Stiff & Samey, But There's Stuff Kingdom Hearts 2 Proud Mode: Donald & Goofy Are F***ing DEAD Go to http://drinkag1.com/SUPERBEAST to get an AG1 Flavor Sampler and a bottle of Vitamin D3+K2 for FREE in your AG1 Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order!  - Sign up for your 1$-per-month trial today at http://shopify.com/superbeast Docket: Sony Is Making an R Rated Bloodborne Animated Movie With YouTuber JackSepticEye Big Crimes at a TCG Expo NINTENDO is reportedly circulating false information internally as a deliberate strategy to identify leakers. Rockstar Games confirms it was hacked by malicious group — 'ShinyHunters' takes credit, gives until April 14 to pay ransom or it will release confidential data Mom: Do you guys want a giggle? A $10,000 BOUNTY WAS JUST SET BY @maximilian_  FOR THE IMPLIMENTATION OF ROLLBACK NETCODE FOR ULTIMATE MARVEL VS CAPCOM 3 New spoiler pic from the set of 'Daredevil: Born Again' Season 3

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Social media turned child abuse into a competitive sport. Munchausen by proxy expert Andrea Dunlop is here to explain how it works and why it's growing.Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1312What We Discuss with Andrea Dunlop:Munchausen by proxy abuse is when a caregiver — usually a mother — fabricates, exaggerates, or induces illness in a child for emotional gratification, attention, and control. It's not a delusion or a bad parenting moment — it's calculated, premeditated, and persistent abuse that can include unnecessary surgeries, poisoning, and starvation.Social media has supercharged this abuse by giving perpetrators an unlimited audience for sympathy, an online playbook for faking illnesses, and access to rare disease communities they can infiltrate. Support groups, GoFundMe campaigns, and medical blogs become tools for manipulation — turning the attention economy into a weapon against children.The system meant to protect kids often fails them — there's no official designation for Munchausen by proxy in most states, CPS may miscategorize it as "medical neglect," and perpetrators routinely cross state lines to dodge investigations. Child abuse records don't reliably follow offenders, giving them a clean slate with every move.When the abuser is someone you love, the psychological cost of confronting the truth is so high that many people build elaborate alternate realities rather than face it. Family members, doctors, and community members often choose their own comfort over a child's safety — and perpetrators exploit that reluctance masterfully.Trust your instincts — if something feels off about a child's medical situation, don't ignore it. Learning to recognize the red flags — like constant one-upmanship about a child's illness, doctor shopping, or a parent discussing death when no terminal diagnosis exists — can literally save a life. Awareness isn't paranoia; it's protection.And much more...Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: Booking.com: Book your getaway now with booking.comLufthansa Allegris: Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn moreBetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordanBoll & Branch: 15% off first set of sheets: bollandbranch.com, code JORDANSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you help your teen embrace who God says they are? Danny shares how kids in his counseling office have struggled with low self-esteem. You'll also hear Jim Daly talk with Tricia Goyer and Leslie Nunnery about how to be aware of messages your kids are hearing from social media. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Faith That Sticks for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment Supporting Your Preteen’s Faith Journey Learn About Our Age and Stage e-Newsletter Contact our Counseling Team Support This Show! If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.

Just because a child is older does not always mean they are more mature. In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne and Dr. Kathy explore the difference between chronological age and character age, why maturity should shape freedom more than birthdays, and how parents can wisely adjust their expectations as children grow.

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Who would have thought that children can be victims of identity theft? The sad truth is that kids become identity theft victims more often than we realize. If you're concerned about the possibility of your child becoming a victim, keep listening, because we provide some helpful ways to safeguard their identities from thieves.  Links: Learn more about Triangle's Better Checking account with identity theft protection and to view your credit report and score Check out TCU University for financial education tips and resources! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! Learn more about Triangle Credit Union Transcript: Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast.  Child identity theft isn't something we often think about. However, it occurs more often than you might expect. According to Javelin's Child Identity Fraud Report, child identity theft affects 1.25 million kids every year, which translates to about one in 50 children in America. When you see those numbers, it becomes apparent that we must act now to protect the children in our lives.  What Is Child Identity Theft?   According to the Federal Trade Commission, “Child identity theft happens when someone takes a child's sensitive personal information and uses it to get services or benefits or to commit fraud. They might use your child's Social Security number, name and address, or date of birth.”   Child identity theft happens for a multitude of reasons. The perpetrator could use this information to open a bank or credit card account, apply for government benefits, or even sign up for a utility service or rent a place to live. Much like other types of identity theft, it can be easy for this type of identity theft to remain undetected for months or even years.   How It Happens  As with adults, identity theft against children can be perpetrated through a variety of sources. Below we have listed some ways that children's personally identifiable information (PII) could be exposed and then potentially used for fraudulent purposes.  Data Breaches. Kids' personal identifying information is in so many places, and nothing is completely secure. Schools, doctors' offices, and your home can all experience security breaches. After a child's confidential information or PII is exposed, whether the data breach incident is accidental or with malicious intent, the security breach cannot be undone. Often, criminals will wait to utilize confiscated information for their own purposes.   Familial Fraud. Three out of four cases of child identity theft come from those close to the victim, in what is known as familial fraud, and often occur in correlation with other forms of abuse, according to Javelin's Child Identity Fraud Report. Kids are often more trusting than adults, especially when they know the person who is asking for their information. Unscrupulous individuals at times utilize the PII of their own children, or children they know through family or friends, for their own benefit.  Phishing. These scams don't just target adults. Children that use the internet without parental supervision have a higher chance of giving their sensitive information to a scammer, not realizing that they are being tricked. Kids don't always know not to share their birth date, place of birth, and passwords with strangers or online “friends.”   Hacking. As more children have their own devices, and often multiple devices (computers, tablets, and phones), hacking becomes more common. Hackers can gain access to the information stored on these devices and can also log in to social media accounts, which they could use to attempt to defraud friends and family, acting as your child.  Warning Signs of Child Identity Theft  Regardless of the way the information makes it into the hands of identity thieves, below are some warning signs that your child's identity may have been stolen:  Unexpected Mail. Your child begins receiving credit card offers, collection notices, or bills under their name.  Collection Calls. You or your family members begin to receive calls from collection agencies for unpaid bills in your child's name.  Government Benefits Denials. Your child is denied government benefits because they are already being claimed, when this is not the case.  IRS Notifications. The IRS contacts you or your child about your child owing taxes or indicates that their SSN was used on another tax return.  How You Can Help Protect Your Children   The best way to help protect your family from identity theft is to be proactive in helping to prevent it. The most effective preventative measure is education. This type of education will not only help protect them now, but it is information that will benefit them as adults.   Keep Important Documents in a Secure Location. Keep your family's personal identifying information in a secure place in your home, be selective about what services you sign up for, and don't give your information unless it is necessary. Make sure that any important documents in your home, such as Social Security cards, birth certificates, or other legal documents, are stored securely to avoid compromise.  Share Personal Information with Caution. Assess the need before listing your child's Social Security number (SSN) on forms. Schools and school break camps shouldn't be using it as the only unique ID for each child. If an SSN is required, don't be afraid to ask if it's ok to share only the last 4 digits of your child's SSN.  Educate Your Child. Talk to your child about the importance of privacy and the dangers of sharing personal information online and offline. Ensure that your child isn't sharing personal information like their birthdate, address, or school on social media, other online platforms, or with other individuals without your permission.  Secure Your Mail. If you're sending or receiving mail with personal details, especially if those personal details pertain to your children, consider using a mailbox that locks or opt for electronic delivery. Retrieve your mail daily as soon as possible. Consider opting into the U.S. Postal Service's “Informed Delivery” service. It's free to sign up, and it will provide a Daily Digest email that will preview your mail and packages scheduled to arrive soon, along with an image of each of your incoming letter-sized mail pieces. This will help you stay vigilant if any missing mail never arrives.   Discard Unnecessary Documents with Care. If you have postal mail or other important documents that you no longer need to keep on file, make sure that you use a cross-cut shredder to securely destroy the paperwork. Criminals can engage in "dumpster diving" to retrieve discarded paperwork with personal information, potentially compromising you and your family.  Monitor Your Child's Personal Information. If you have Triangle's Better Checking, you and your family are covered with dark web monitoring. This benefit monitors your personal information and any registered credentials. You have the option to add additional credentials in your secure account as well; you could consider adding your child's SSN or other identifiers to monitor any potential compromise or exposure on the dark web.  Child identity theft can have long-lasting consequences, potentially impacting your child's credit and future opportunities. By remaining vigilant, educating your child, and keeping a close eye on his or her personal information, you can help better protect your child from the impacts of identity theft.  While these recommendations are designed to help protect your children's identities, they can apply to your own personal information as well. Remember to communicate with caution and treat all personal information with care, whether it belongs to you or your loved ones.   We Are Standing Ready to Help   If you suspect identity theft or you find your personal information has been compromised, you have access to a team of professional Identity Theft Recovery Advocates as a no-cost benefit of your Better Checking account. These professionals are trained and ready to help you reverse the damage and get back on track quickly. Our experienced advocates know how to spot identity theft and, when necessary, will support you through the process of repairing any damage.  If you suspect identity fraud has affected any member of your family, even your minor children, our team of Identity Theft Recovery Advocates is standing by, ready to support you and your family. They are experienced in spotting child identity theft and supporting you through the process of repairing the harm it may cause now and in the future.  If you do not currently have a Better Checking account, visit trianglecu.org/bank/checking to learn more.  If there are any other tips or topics you would like us to cover, let us know at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org. Like and follow our Making Money Personal FB and IG page and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on social media to share your thoughts.   Thanks for listening to today's Money Tip Tuesday and check out our other tips and episodes on the Making Money Personal podcast. 

RU391: DEREK HOOK & JASON CHILDS ON AN INTRODUCTION TO FREUDIAN-LACANIAN PSYCHOANALYSIS: https://renderingunconscious.substack.com/p/ru391-derek-hook-and-jason-childs Join Rendering Unconscious Podcast at Substack for all new and archival episodes: https://renderingunconscious.substack.com Rendering Unconscious welcomes Drs. Derek Hook and Jason Childs to the podcast! They're here to talk about their upcoming course An Introduction to Freudian-Lacanian Psychoanalysis, which begins Saturday, May 2nd! https://www.jasonchildsphd.com/intro-hook-childs Rendering Unconscious episode 391. On this episode, Jason and Derek discuss their upcoming 10-week course on Freudian-Lacanian psychoanalysis, starting May 2, which will cover key concepts such as the Freudian unconscious, the Freudian clinic, drives, the death drive, Lacan's return to Freud, the symbolic, imaginary, and real, desire, jouissance, analytic ethics, diagnosis and technique. The course aims to provide a foundational understanding of Lacanian theory, emphasizing its clinical and theoretical implications. Derek and Jason also highlight the importance of understanding Lacanian social theory and its relevance to contemporary issues like racism.  RU Center News & Events: Saturday, April 18th, join me for the next installment of An Introduction to Psychoanalysis. In this class, we will be discussing the period following World War I, including Freud's free clinics, specifically the establishment of the Berlin Psychoanalytic Polyclinic by Max Eitingon, Karl Abraham and Ernst Simmel. We'll also look at the Secret Committee formed at the suggestion of Ernst Jones, and review the work of early woman psychoanalyst Lou Andreas-Salomé. Finally we will take a look at a Freud's texts, “The Uncanny” (1919), “A Child is Being Beaten” (1919), and Beyond the Pleasure Principle (1920), and review the cases of the Wolf Man and The Young Homosexual Woman. https://rucenterforpsychoanalysis.substack.com Friday, May 1st: LIVE RU Podcast event with Lara Sheehi on May Day for her new book From the Clinic to the Streets: Psychoanalysis for Revolutionary Futures (Pluto Press, 2026). https://rucenterforpsychoanalysis.substack.com/p/live-ru-podcast-event-with-lara-sheehi All paid subscribers to RU Center for Psychoanalysis are automatically registered for these RU Center/ RU Pod events, and the recordings will be archived at RU Center for Psychoanalysis Substack. https://rucenterforpsychoanalysis.substack.com See RU Center SCHEDULE OF EVENTS HERE: https://rucenterforpsychoanalysis.substack.com/p/schedule Rendering Unconscious is also a book: Rendering Unconscious: Psychoanalytic Perspectives, Politics & Poetry vols 1:1 & 1:2 (Trapart Books, 2024): https://amzn.to/4sOqSEu Thank you for being a paid subscriber to Rendering Unconscious Podcast. It makes my work possible. If you are so far a free subscriber, thanks to you too. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to gain access to all the material on the site, including new, future, and archival podcast episodes. It's so important to maintain independent spaces free from censorship and corporate influence. If you are interested in pursuing psychoanalytic treatment with me, please feel free to contact me directly: www.drvanessasinclair.net/contact/ Thank You.

Tokyo police have arrested a former worker of a facility for children with disabilities in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, for an alleged indecent assault against a 5-year-old girl who attended the facility, it was learned Monday. * Apparently 'Indecent Assault' and 'Abuse' are different types of crimes. Episode notes: ‘Tokyo Police Arrest Ex-Child Facility Worker for Indecent Assault Against 5-Year-Old Girl with Disability': https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/04/14/tokyo-police-arrest-ex-child-facility-worker-for-indecent-assault/

As heard every Monday and Thursday. Hot Cares aims at making a meaningful difference in the lives of those around us. Hot Cares

Am I the Jerk? is the show where you can confess your deepest darkest secrets and be part of the conversation.

If your morning routine for preschool looks less like a smooth routine and more like 21 rounds of "no", "stop", and "not like that" before 8 am, then things aren't working well for either of you. In this episode, we walk through one ordinary preschool morning minute by minute, from the cereal bowl to the car seat buckle. We also learn how to move from: "how do I get my child to cooperate" to: what is going on inside my child's body right now, and what are they trying to communicate through the flopping, dawdling, silliness, and defiance? Because when you understand that, you can find strategies that meet both of your needs. Questions This Episode Will Answer Why is my child so difficult in the morning? Preschoolers live almost entirely in the present moment and learn through movement and touch. When a morning is filled with a steady stream of corrections, their nervous system experiences it as "everything I do is wrong" - and the silliness, defiance, or shutdown you see is their body's response to that overload. Why is my child grumpy in the morning? It's often less about the time of day and more about the cumulative weight of limits. When children experience correction after correction with little room for exploration or connection, grumpiness and shutdown are common signals that their needs aren't being met. Why do kids dilly-dally and dawdle in the morning? What looks like dawdling is often a child following genuine curiosity, moving their body the way it wants to go, or trying to connect with you before the day pulls you apart. What is meant by "behavior is communication"? Preschoolers don't yet have the words to say "this is too much for me" or "I need to feel close to you right now". So they show you with their bodies. Finger-stirring cereal, flopping on the floor, asking to be carried - each of these is a message, if you know how to listen for it. When you understand that message you can help them meet their need - which also meets your needs for peace, ease, and order. Is misbehavior an unmet need? Often, yes. When you look beneath challenging behaviors in young children, you frequently find unmet needs for things like autonomy, movement, connection, or play. The behavior is a signal pointing you toward what your child actually needs. If you want to find out your child's biggest need (and easy, actionable strategies to meet it that make your life easier), take this free quiz. What are some reasons children misbehave? In early childhood, most challenging behavior traces back to a mismatch between a child's developmental capacity and what's being asked of them, combined with needs they're trying to meet in ways you're finding irritating. Preschoolers aren't misbehaving to make your life harder. They don't know how else to meet their needs. What You'll Learn in This Episode How to walk through a typical preschool morning routine and see it through your child's eyes, moment by momentWhat your child's most frustrating behaviors (flopping, dawdling, silliness, defiance) are often communicating about their needsWhy the total number of corrections across a morning matters as much as any single limit you setWhat your needs are in the morning routine, and why they are just as valid as your child's needsHow it's possible to meet your needs AND your child's needsHow to start moving toward fewer, clearer limits that your preschooler's nervous system can actually work withWhat the research on parent-child interaction patterns tells us about where repeated correction leads over timeHow parents who grew up in homes with heavy compliance expectations describe the long-term effects on themselves and their own parenting To help you put the ideas from this episode into practice, I've created a free worksheet: Your Difficult Morning Audit. You'll count your corrections, sort them, and start to see which limits are truly necessary - and which ones are habit. Get The Morning Audit Worksheet For Free If you thought "that's my kid" or "that's our mornings" - the Setting Loving (& Effective) Limits workshop is for you. Learn how to see how many limits you're actually setting, sort them into what's truly necessary and what can soften or disappear, and practice holding fewer, clearer limits in a way your child's nervous system can actually handle. You get short focused modules, three live group coaching calls where you can bring your real situations, and a community of parents working through the same things. The self-guided workshop is available year-round, but every April we run it live to give you even more support. Enrollment is open until April 26. Until April 16 at midnight Pacific, you can Pay What You Want:- any amount (even $1) gets you full access. You choose what you pay. After that, the price moves up to a fixed rate. If you're ready to move from correction-heavy mornings to fewer, truer limits your preschooler can actually live with, come join us in the Setting Loving (& Effective!) Limits workshop. Enrollment is open until April 26 Jump to highlights: 01:27 Introduction to today's episode 05:48 The behavior isn't defiance - it's communication about their needs. 08:21 Young children live in the present moment and learn through movement and repetition rather than explanations. 10:45 You're not the villain for wanting things to go smoothly. Getting out the door, you need to meet your responsibility to co-workers while staying connected to your kid. 13:58 Your child needs connection, autonomy, movement, exploration, play, and fun. You need ease, harmony, collaboration, and responsibility to others. 16:45 The Gottman research on couples suggests we need about five positive interactions for every negative one to stay connected. 18:43 As a young child, Crystal learned to read the room constantly. As a teenager, she rebelled hard and ended up heavily involved in drugs and alcohol. 30:38 Wrapping up the discussion. 31:40 An open invitation to Setting Loving (&Effective) Limits workshop.

From Gangster to Child of God with Brian Butler (Episode 290)   Disclaimer: This episode contains thematic material. Listener discretion advised.   2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”   *Transcription Below*   Brian Butler married his wife Pam in 2011. They have four children and eight grandchildren. Brian received his Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana State University in 2009. Arriving in Peoria, Illinois in 2009 Brian began his career working with the impoverished in his community as a Safety Net Monitor at The Salvation Army. He was afforded the opportunity to work with individuals in the community for four years providing case management assisting people to learn the value of work through work therapy and securing income and eventually housing. Brian was called to Peoria Rescue Ministries in 2014 and began his career there as the Assistant Director of the Rescue Mission. In 2018 Brian became the Program Director and in 2021 became the Director of Residential Ministries. In 2024 Peoria Rescue Ministries became Pathway Ministries. Coming from a former lifestyle of drug and alcohol addiction Brian has been able to transform programs at Pathway Ministries that address the needs of the impoverished community he serves to create pathways out of poverty through Jesus with his neighbors in need. Pathway Ministries provides emergency shelter, residential programs, and community services with a focus on counseling, education, and work to help the men and women they serve make transformative changes in their lives. Pathway Ministries is a social enterprise organization and has a partnership with Caterpillar – they reclaim discarded wood and turn it into pallets, mulch for industrial and commercial use, and home décor. Their residents are employed in these businesses while participating in their program.    Pathway Ministries Website   Thank you to our sponsor for today's episode: Midwest Food Bank   Topics We Cover: Growing up in an abusive home Lifestyle choices leading to prison God's miraculous redemption and restoration   Related Savvy Sauce Episode: 143 Prodigal Story: Sexuality, Drugs, and Scripture with Dr. Christopher Yuan   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:08)   Laura Dugger: (0:09 - 3:30) Hey friends! Thank you so much for joining us today. If you're watching this, you may notice that there's a unique screen that's going to pop up periodically.   So, here's the backstory. We delight in getting to do this work, and we do believe it's what God has called our team to do. And yet, we have a very present and active enemy.   And Satan has tried to thwart the progress of these podcast episodes in so many ways.  It's almost uncanny what will happen before a podcast recording. There's almost always something, yet it's different every time.   So, the way it showed up with this episode, first of all, when Brian and I tried to connect, somebody was working in our yard, and they accidentally cut our line for internet.  And so, we had to cancel that and reschedule. And then, when we got the episode rescheduled, Brian and I were chatting, and we haven't recorded.   We were just talking for a little while before the official interview began, and everything was great. And then, as soon as I said, “Welcome to The Savvy Sauce.” The screen went a little wavy, and something happened, and my audio quality was completely distorted. So, sorry for the lengthy explanation, but I wanted you to know how much work has gone into this episode.   So, if you ever have somebody that you want to thank, it should be Natalie, our editor, who had to go back and replace everything that I said to cover up the very convoluted form that was originally recorded. So, I hope it doesn't interrupt this episode or make it difficult for you to listen to, because Brian's story is so powerful, and I believe God has you here listening to this right now for a reason. So, please continue.   Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living.  I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   Today's episode includes some thematic material. I want you to be aware before you listen in the presence of little ears.   Thank you to an anonymous donor to Midwest Food Bank who paid the sponsorship fee in hopes of spreading awareness. Learn more about this non-profit organization at MidwestFoodBank.org.   Brian Butler is my outstanding guest for today, and he's going to take us on a very real journey with him from an extremely abusive childhood to a life of addictions and eventually to redemption and restoration all because of Jesus Christ. Brian's humility is so Christ-like, and I think that you're going to leave this conversation as a changed person. Here's our chat.   Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Brian.   Brian Butler: (3:31 - 3:33) Thank you so much for having me here. I appreciate it.   Laura Dugger: (3:34 - 3:42) Well, I would just love to start backwards. Where did you grow up, and what was childhood like for you?   Brian Butler: (3:43 - 9:46) I grew up all over the place, really. I'd spent several years in Danville as a child, Hartsburg, Illinois, eventually settled down in southern Illinois in a little town called Bridgeport. My dad was a professor at a local college, and he ended up being a high school teacher.   Where I went to school, my mom and dad were continually in chaos with their marriage.  My dad had some severe mental health issues. He was a pretty rough guy to be around.    He was a chronic alcoholic. He was abusive, and I'll just say for this podcast, in every kind of way you can imagine how a little boy might be abused by his daddy, that was my dad. Yet, that was just our normal.   I didn't know if it was bad, if it was wrong, whatever. He was very verbally abusive to the whole family, him and my mom. I think my mother, the whole time growing up, was just trying to salvage her marriage and to save face with her family, so on and so forth.   It was a pretty rough childhood, but I want to say that in those moments, it was just the way it was.  We didn't know good from bad. That was still my dad.   I believe that in some weird way that he loved us and cared for us, but there were so many mental health and substance abuse issues with him and the perversion that he had in his life that just leaked over to my little brother and me.  It was a different relationship with my little brother. He was very abusive to my little brother.   My little brother had a lot of behavioral issues and rebellion issues.  I was more of the compliant, the good kid in school. I made the good grades.    I wanted to please my dad, and yet I hated him from the inside. I just couldn't stand him. I rebelled against him.    There were a lot of drugs and alcohol my parents were. My mother was not an abuser by any means. My mother was not an alcoholic by any means, but my mother went along with my dad.   My whole childhood evolved around parties. My dad was a pretty social guy. He was into politics and those kinds of things.   I was exposed to a lot of stuff at an early age. I can remember being seven, eight years old, going around in parties and just sipping whatever it was out of unknown glasses and enjoying the effect that it had on me as a little kid. I was a big fan of Billy Bear.   I didn't even know what Billy Bear was, but I was drinking Billy Bear. That's a Jimmy Carter beer, so that takes you back in the day. All the music that we listened to back in those days all evolved around afternoon delight and getting high in some kind of form or fashion.   That was just what I clung to as a little boy and as a young man.  I was a full-fledged blackout alcoholic by the time I was a sophomore in high school. I was drinking regularly.   I was able to fly under the radar pretty good because mom and dad were always in the middle of crisis. As long as I wasn't in a lot of trouble, that was easily hidden, even though it was really out in the light, if that makes any kind of sense. It was pretty rough.    Looking back on it, it was rough. In today's standards, we would have been taken away from our homes, and those kinds of things would have been exposed. We just didn't know.   That's just kind of the way it was, but it did lead me into a lifestyle.  I don't want to say they led me into it. I really chose to and clung to a lifestyle.   When I was a little boy, Laura, I grew up Catholic.  We went to parochial schools until I was in fourth grade. I can remember even now.    I loved God. I loved God. He was my refuge.    I didn't know what a refuge meant. I can just say it by language now. I can remember having my crucifix above my bed and I would pray.    I wanted to be a priest. I really did. By the time I got to about 10, 11, 12 years old, the things that had happened and the things that had occurred in my life and my behavior as well just led me to believe that if God was even real because I cried out to him a lot and it didn't seem like he was there.   If he was real, then he really didn't want anything to do with me anyway.  I became kind of anti-God, anti-rebellious. I was just a very rebellious young man.    I went to high school. I mean, I'm getting pretty good grades in high school. My dad was a high school teacher in the same high school I went to.    It was very tumultuous. You can imagine our house. There were split-ups and break-ups, this and that. My dad was a party guy. All the students loved him. I hated him for that.    He was separated from my mom. He was a cheater and a liar. There were a lot of things that bothered me.   After I graduated high school, I had a partial scholarship to go to Eastern Illinois University, but I showed my dad. I got in my little car and drove to Wyoming. That just became my lifestyle, drinking, drugging, roaming all around the country as a young man.    Then I eventually got married to a gal I met down in Kentucky. We had three children really fast. I would say that we got along about three times. That was Emily, Amy, and Mark. We were divorced after five years. Then I was just as a young man and a young adult, just wild and crazy.   Laura Dugger: (9:48 - 10:05) Wow. Brian, thank you for sharing a glimpse of your childhood and even into adulthood. Just for clarification then, when you did get divorced, did you stay in the same state or how did all of that work with your children?   Brian Butler: (10:08 - 16:52) Yeah. No. Like I said, when I was 18, I was out in California for a while.  I was in Wyoming for a while. I landed in Kentucky and met my first wife. We had three kids really fast, divorced after five years.   Then I always wanted to be in a relationship with my children. I don't know if there's anybody out there listening, but I was really stuck in an addictive lifestyle. I was alcohol and drugs, just crazy in it.    I still loved my kids. Now, people on the outside looking in would say, oh, he doesn't love his kids by his lifestyle, but I still love my kids. I paid child support, crying out loud.   I really did. My relationship with my ex-wife was so volatile that she would prevent me from seeing the kids. After several years, I just gave up.   I just didn't give up on the visits and so on and so forth.  I was in Tennessee for a few years. I was all around the country.   Eventually, in the late 90s, I did actually get temporary custody of my kids because my ex-wife had went off the rails bad.  I had my kids for about a year that they lived with me. That was a sweet time.   Once again, my alcoholism and drug addiction and the mom came back into play.  There were just so many issues there. That's when I really got into it.   After the kids went back to their mom, I got into hard drugs, really hard drugs.  I started manufacturing methamphetamine, so on and so forth. There was a time, I'll back this up.   With my childhood and everything that happened there with my dad, before I got divorced from my ex-wife, one of the pivotal moments, I believe, looking back on my life and what led me into just this trajectory of anger and malice and hating God and anything that was good was the moment that my dad called us all together for a family meeting because him and my mom were officially going to get divorced. I was like 21 years old, something like that.   My dad came to tell us that he was a homosexual and that he had been living a homosexual lie for his whole life and that this was the lifestyle that he was choosing. For me, at that age, everything prior to that moment in my life just became a lie. I can't begin to even put into words what that did to me inside because of the perversion that I've experienced with my dad.   My father had made several comments along the way that I was gay, that I was going to be a little queer, a little this and that. I wasn't, but the things that he had done, then you've wrestled with all that stuff. I just became so angry and so fueled with resentment that I really started on this trajectory with my drug and alcohol use that even though I still liked it, I don't want to remove that from it.    I liked being high. I liked being drunk. I enjoyed all the aspects of that lifestyle at the time.   I went at it in a much different way because I didn't really care anymore.  That's just from a looking back perspective. In the moment, I think I cared a lot about everything, but I just had really taken this perspective on in my personal life that nothing matters as much as it did.    It just really didn't matter. I was just going to keep moving forward and doing the things that I to the extreme. I was very extreme on everything.   If it was drinking, I'm going to drink more than you are. If it was smoking something, I'm going to smoke more than you are. If it was snorting, look at the schmoz.    That's just the way I lived my lifestyle. It really took on that trajectory in my adult life until the law started becoming an issue when I was in my 30s. After I'd had the kids for all my life, I tell folks, in those times, I was like a functioning zombie.   I was still getting high, still drinking, but golly, I was the dad that got up and had breakfast for the kids.  I was a strict disciplinarian. I was over the top on so many things.   I was abusive in some ways like my dad was, the way that I spoke to the kids, the way that I treated my children. I didn't certainly know sexual abuse or anything like that with my own children, but I was a really strict disciplinarian. I regret that now.   It's one of my biggest regrets ever, the way that I treated those kids. I tried to make a good life for about a year. Then when they went back to their mom, it just really, really flew apart my life.   It was me doing it. I was flying it apart. I just destroyed everything around me.   If you've cared about me, then that would make me hate you even more. Anyone that cared about me, I would get you to care about me, and then I would hate you for caring about me. It's crazy making stuff, but that's the way that I live my life.    I eventually was introduced to a fellow that knew how to manufacture methamphetamine. He taught me the method. Of course, being the extreme person that I am, I went all in.   I became a methamphetamine manufacturer and dealer and lived that lifestyle for quite some time. It's not like it is now where you're driving around in cornfields with a five-gallon bucket making methamphetamine or Mexican methamphetamine. I had a lab down in Southern Illinois, and I sold a lot of methamphetamines, which is disastrous to me now, but I really became an in-my-own-mind gangster kind of person.    It was a very violent lifestyle. It was very awful, certainly nothing that you would want to glorify, but that's just who I became. And I lived my life for a number of years, and it was disastrous.   Laura Dugger: (16:53 - 19:27) And now a brief message from our sponsor.   Midwest Food Bank exists to provide industry-leading food relief to those in need while feeding them spiritually. They are a food charity with a desire to demonstrate God's love by providing help to those in need.   Unlike other parts of the world where there's not enough food, in America, the resources actually do exist. That's why food pantries and food banks like Midwest Food Bank are so important. The goods that they deliver to their agency partners help to supplement the food supply for families and individuals across our country, aiding those whose resources are beyond stretched.   Midwest Food Bank also supports people globally through their locations in Haiti and East Africa, which are some of the areas hardest hit by hunger arising from poverty. This ministry reaches millions of people every year, and thanks to the Lord's provision, 99% of every donation goes directly toward providing food to people in need. The remaining 1% of income is used for fundraising, costs of leadership, oversight, and other administrative expenses.   Donations, volunteers, and prayers are always appreciated for Midwest Food Bank. To learn more, visit midwestfoodbank.org or listen to episode 83 of The Savvy Sauce, where the founder, David Kieser, shares miracles of God that he's witnessed through this nonprofit organization. I hope you check them out today.   Well, I'm hearing all of this for the first time, and it's unimaginable what you were endured growing up, and my heart just aches to hear what happened and then hear the choices that were produced out of that and see where that lifestyle was leading you. But Brian, I just appreciate you for so many reasons, and one of those is for being transparent and vulnerable but also sharing the truth that there was some pleasure in it. You were enjoying it for a while, and the Bible does talk about pleasures of sin for a season, but we all know that that trajectory leads to death, even if it's death of relationships.   So, looking at your relationships at that time, were you still in contact with your mom or your brother or your dad throughout all of this?   Brian Butler: (19:28 - 21:37) No, not really. My brother, it's an interesting story. My brother had married a gal right out of high school.    He got born again. He became a Christian. So poor guy, I just tortured him my whole adult life.   I just made fun of him, and I called him weak, and he was a crutch, and we got in even physical fights over it a couple times, but we didn't have much of a relationship as you can imagine. I think that there were several times that we tried to reach out and be in contact, but it just didn't work due to my addictions and my alcoholism and his pride and all those other kinds of things. My mom held on to me for years.   I put my mother through, I tortured her. I was arrested seven times for driving under the influence. I had five DUI convictions.   I was in and out of trouble. I was always in the forefront of her mind, and I've experienced this with my own children after I came to Christ, continually worried that she wouldn't get the phone call that her son was dead, basically. The last two or three years of my being out there, I had no contact with my mom because she finally said, you're dead to me.   I'm done. You're not my son. I don't want to hear from you, and I was like, cool.   I don't care. You've been dead to me for 40 years, right? I blamed her for allowing things to happen.   It just wasn't true, right? I mean, it wasn't her fault at all of any of my childhood, and she was just trying to be a good mom and save her marriage, and she was being abused mentally and stuff that whole time. But you know how we are as sinful creatures.   I didn't want to take the blame on me because it wasn't my fault, so I was blaming everybody else around me. So, I didn't really have any solid relationships as far as family, anything like that goes while I was out there in my addiction. It all changed when I was arrested in 2003.   So that's a story.   Laura Dugger: (21:38 - 21:43) Are you willing to take us back to 2003 and share that story?   Brian Butler: (21:45 - 38:08) Yeah, yeah. So I was, like I said, I had become, you know, I was living a gangster life, so I was in the drug world, and I don't know if anybody knows anything about the drug world, but it's not like the movies. It's worse.    It's worse than they depict in movies. So, I was living that lifestyle for several years. I had a lot of money. I had a lot of guns. I had a lot of property. I had all the methamphetamine I could possibly use because I was manufacturing it.    I was selling more than I could possibly imagine. I was using more than that. I was king of the world is what I thought while everything around me was burning.    I was the king, if that makes any sense. And so that was the lifestyle that had led up to 2003. I'll never forget one time I had married another gal after my first wife and I had divorced several years later, and that was just a relationship based on lies and substance abuse.   So, it really wasn't a marriage at all, but I had been arrested in Vincennes, Indiana for dealing narcotics, and I had some other arrests down in Kentucky for dealing narcotics, and I made bail and all this. And so, what happened was in 2002, I went on the run. I still had my meth lab, and I was still selling lots of methamphetamine, but I had these warrants, and I was king of the world in my mind, and nobody was going to catch me, and I was going out like a gangster.    They were never going to take me alive, this fact. So, she went with me, which is great. She was crazy.    And we went on the run, and we just lived from casino to casino. I would make methamphetamine. I would sell $20,000 worth, and then we just kind of traveled around and lived that kind of lifestyle.    And I'll never forget one time down at the Casino Queen in St. Louis, Missouri. There's a casino down there. I just done a pretty big dope deal, and the casino was hot, and the air conditioning was down, and it was like 5 o'clock in the morning, and I just had to get out of there.   I just had to get away, and I got in my van and took a spin down in Belleville, Illinois, and I ended up in a cemetery on top of this cemetery, and it was looking down this great big hill. And I haven't been there since, but people from that area are like, yeah, I know that cemetery. I'm like, yeah, well, that's where I really had my Lieutenant Dan moment with God almost.    I sat on top of that. I was so, I can't explain it. I had lived my life in that addiction, loving that addiction, and loving getting high, loving drinking.   At that point in my life, I was still doing it. I hated myself, and I wanted to die, and I didn't like it so much anymore. I just wanted it to be over, and I kind of had it out with God.   I was drinking a fifth of whiskey, and I'm smoking methamphetamine. I'm a nine-millimeter pistol, and I'm putting it in my mouth. I was too much of a coward to pull the trigger, so that made me even more angry, and I thought for a moment that God might be real, and that there might be something worth living, but it was just a moment, and I kind of gathered myself together, and I went back to the casino, and just like as if nothing had happened, and just a few weeks later, I was arrested in Washington, Indiana.    I had made arrangements to see my kids. I had my kids for the weekend, which is crazy to think that I was in any kind of shape to be around my kids, but I was. I was always a functioning guy, and I was a gangster, so we had the kids for a weekend, and when the kids left the location I was at, my ex-wife called the police and told them where I was, and so that led into a great big chase, and there was all kinds of SWAT teams and all kinds of things.   I was holed up in a house at one point, and police were banging on the windows and trying to get in the house, and eventually they called on the telephone, and it just kept ringing and kept ringing and kept ringing.  I'm stuck in this house. I didn't have my guns.    I didn't have any drugs. I didn't have a cigarette, right, and the crazy thing about that whole thing is, I'll just back to the subject, so I'm in this chase, right, on foot from the police. I tried to pull a guy out of his pickup truck.   Of all things, God put this guy in the pickup truck. He was an off-duty police officer, and so I'm trying to carjack an off-duty police officer. He's having none of it.    I get away from him. I get in this. I'm running through a residential neighborhood trying to get any door open that I possibly could to get away from the police who were chasing me, and I made it to an open door, and I opened up that door, and it was an insurance company, and there were a bunch of little ladies sitting around computers in this room, and I was just like, hey, can I get a glass of water, and out there I am sweating profusely just in 10 o'clock in the morning with Harley Davidson boots, Hawaiian t-shirt, obviously in distress, and I scared these ladies to death, and I'm hearing them call the police anyway, and I just grabbed a glass of water and went out on that front porch, and some fella drove up in a pickup truck and got out of the truck to come in to do business with the insurance company, and I went and stole his truck, and I was able to get away and get to a safe spot.   I think it's safe because I'm only there for about three or four minutes, and the police show up all the way around that house, and so they're calling.  They're banging on the windows. We know it's you in there.   You need to come out, and eventually after about an hour or so of that, I did answer the phone, and the police officer said, I had a fake ID, and they were like, we know you're not Bill Berkshire.  We know that you're Brian Butler. You need to come out of that house.   You need to come out of there now, or we're going to come and get you, and I said, well, try it, because I'll kill the first three of you through the door. Now, they had already confiscated my fan and guns and all that kind of stuff, but they didn't know what I had. I didn't have anything.   There was a six-foot decorative simmer I swore on the wall that couldn't cut butter that I was arming myself with, and it took about another hour or two, and the SWAT team showed up, and they eventually got me out of that house. I was arrested and facing 120 years in the 20th century. I had multiple carjacking, dealing, manufacturing, every possible imaginable that you could possibly imagine of illegal substances.   I had those on me in my van and the property, and so there was the chase and all that happened, so they were unwilling to run any of those charges concurrent. They took four major charges and said, we're going to run a consecutive, and I was facing 120 years in prison. Honestly, when I was in jail, it was kind of like a relief in a way.    I was so angry. I was delusional. I really thought that the people who owed me money were going to break me out.    That's how delusional I was. They didn't, but that's where I had a moment, and I come back to my mom. I'd been in jail about a month, and what had happened was my mom came to the jail, and she didn't come there for a visit.   She came on a Saturday morning, and the police let her in, and she wanted to know if I would sign papers because I still had temporary custody of my children on paper and if my brother could have legal custody over my kids while all this was going on. Because my children, I'll back that up, my children were in Kentucky with their mom, my youngest daughter at that time. I was 14 years old, and she was using methamphetamine.    She was into alcohol. She wasn't being supervised. She was in abusive relationships with her mother's friends.   She was cutting herself because her daddy was going away forever. That was my daughter, and I loved her, and I was just taken aback that my brother would go down and rescue her. The whole story of how I came to Christ is all involved in this.   I'm kind of all over the place, but the Friday night prior to my mom showing up at the jail, back in those days in jail, there was no overcrowding in Indiana, and there were 16 of us in a six-man cell, and I had been in that jail for, like I said, three or four weeks, and on Friday nights, they would have the Gideons come in. Now, the only thing I knew about a Gideon was those Bibles that they put in hotels, and I was none too interested in any God talk. I didn't believe in that.   I just didn't want anything to do with that. As a matter of fact, I was mad about it, but after three or four weeks of being in there smelling nothing but feet and urine, I was willing to do anything for 15 minutes to get out of that cell, and so I agreed to go, and me and two other guys went up to a visitation booth, and there was a little fella in there, and he was very nice, but I couldn't tell you anything he said for the 15 minutes, nothing.    I wasn't paying attention. I was just sitting there looking around, just glad to be out of that cell, but at the end of that 15 minutes, he knocked on the window, and he pointed at me. He said, can I pray for you, and I said, hell no, you can't pray for me.   I don't want your prayers. I'm not here for your prayer, and whatever language it was, I was very vile. I said, but if you want to pray for something, you think that God of yours is listening, you pray for my daughter, and I kind of told her a little bit about what's going on with my kid.   I said, and so you pray for her, and he did, and I can't tell you what he prayed because I really wasn't listening, but it was nice, and I remember that night going back to my cell, and with my Catholic upbringing and everything that had happened, I think I probably said a little prayer myself that night to this God that I didn't believe in, and then a week later, my mom shows up telling me that my brother in Cleveland, Ohio, born again Christian, that the very night that this guy was praying, my brother and his wife decided to come down to Vincent's, Indiana, and they got my mom, and they drove to Owensburg, Kentucky, and literally kidnapped my daughter and took her back to live with them, and I wasn't, I was just kind of in a haze.   I wasn't putting all that together in the moment, and like I said, mom wasn't there for a visit, and I was just like Mark, would you do that for me?  He went and got Amy. I just couldn't believe it, and she's like, yes, I just need you to sign the paper so I can get out of here, and so I did, and that night, I was back in that jail cell, and all those lights were off, and man, the Holy Spirit of God fell on me, and he told me he was real, and to the best of my ability, I confessed my sins.    I repented for my sins. I was just, I just spent the whole night as a 40-year-old gangster, blubber, and idiot in a jail cell just crying about everything, just about my dad, about my lifestyle. I missed my kids.   It just came crashing down on me, and I believe that that was the night that I was truly born again. I believe that God had his hand on me before the foundation of the world. He knew me, and that he loved me, and he chose me, and that I loved him as a little boy, and for whatever happened in my life that I chose to ignore him and run away from him and hate him, but through his mercy and grace and through even facing 120 years in the penitentiary that he saved me, and I believe that night that I got saved, and I just told him, I know we're not supposed to make a deal with God, but it was just kind of like, man, I believe you're real. I don't know anything about you.   I don't know what, you know, my Catholic brother, I don't know if Mary has anything to do with this. I don't know nothing about you, but I believe you're real, and I'll do anything you tell me for the rest of my life if you just take this taste out of my mouth. I just don't want this addiction. I don't want all this crap anymore, and in that moment, he did.   I really believe that he took that away from me, and I've been following him kind of ever since. The next morning when they opened up the cell, we went out to the day room.  I'll never forget. There was a Bible there. Now, that Bible's been there the whole time, but it's the first time I see the Bible, and I kind of, you know, I'm still struggling.   I've been up all night, and I'm kind of wiped out anyway, drinking instant coffee and, you know, having a God experience, and there's a Bible, and I pick up this Bible, and it was in Romans chapter five. I'll never get it, and I'll just paraphrase, but I remember reading the verses that having been justified by faith, and it just kind of hit me that I wish I really believed God was real, and I don't know what that means, and I don't know anything about it, but I went on to read that I was no longer his enemy and that I could have peace with him and that he was going to give me good character and that I could persevere. It didn't matter what I had in front of me, so it was just God speaking to me in those moments that I'm going to be with you through all this, and it was just a wonderful, life-changing experience. It didn't, you know, sanctification takes a long time.   I still was sentenced to 15 years in prison, which was a miracle, right? I was facing 120, and there it was nothing that I had done prior to my conversion. I had been in front of a judge, and I had a $1 million full cash bond.   I was in front of the judge, and I'm like, I want a bond reduction. The judge is like; you're telling me you're going to pay $100,000 to get out of jail. I said, angrily, you could reduce my bond, and he said, denied.   We're not going to do that, and that was the last time I really talked to a judge or an attorney, and I sat in jail for six or seven months, and this attorney that was appointed to me after the one that I fired, he came to me one time and said, hey, they're willing to give you a 15-year sentence in prison if that's what you want to do, and I said, okay.  I wasn't concerned about prison. I wasn't concerned.   I just wanted to do what the Lord wanted me to, and that's been my whole life since.  People will ask me about prison. It was horrible, as you can imagine.    I was in the state of Indiana. There were no separation of offenders at that time. I was in a medium-max facility, so I was doing time with guys who were doing life, which were the best guys to do it with because they were just doing life, and then little gangbangers from Indianapolis.   It was a terrible affair. Every kind of drug possible, every kind of perversion possible was there, but it's where I met Jesus, and it's where I learned to follow Christ, and I had a godly man come alongside of me in the prison, Pastor Woodcocks, who just assigned my guy, and he helped me to work through so many things and to be a man of truth and integrity and all the different things that he taught me, so while I look back at that, and I say, yeah, prison sucked.   It was awful, and I never want to go back again in that capacity, but it's where I learned to follow Christ, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.  I wouldn't trade that time for anything. I needed every ounce of that time to become closer to him and to be less about me, and then I got out of prison in 2009.   It was a shock probation here to Peoria, Illinois, where my oldest daughter was at that time, and I moved in with her.  She's been following Jesus ever since. It's not been an easy road, right?   It's not been being a convicted felon and having all those things, but God does, if he is for us, who can be against us, right?  He has really, really, really been by my side. There's been so many things that have happened.   I could go on for hours and hours and hours, but that's how I came to Jesus and where I got to know Jesus and where I really solidified my relationship with, I believe, and he's saved.   Laura Dugger: (38:10 - 38:55) What an incredible journey he took you on.   Did you know you could receive a free email with monthly encouragement, practical tips, and plenty of questions to ask to take your conversation a level deeper, whether that's in parenting or on date nights? Make sure you access all of this at thesavvysauce.com by clicking the button that says join our email list so that you can follow the prompts and begin receiving these emails at the beginning of each month.  Enjoy.   So, then Brian, as a freed man at that point, once you were out of prison, how did you eventually find your way to what is now Pathway Ministries?   Brian Butler: (38:57 - 45:56) It's been a wild ride. I got out of prison thinking I was going to be a prison minister and there was going to be all kinds of things that were going to happen. You kind of buy into that prosperity stuff while I was locked up.   I really thought that there were big things in store. After I was out of prison for about three months, it was 2009, and so the economy in Peoria was really bad. The cap shut down.    Places weren't hiring. I couldn't find a job anywhere. I remember going to Kroger in Madison Park.   If anybody remembers Madison Park Kroger in Peoria, it was a really rough part of town.  They were banging out in the parking lot. I'm here.   I called the manager and he said set up a time for an interview.  I went to the interview, and I took him my resume. They taught us in the penitentiary and in classes.   I got a bachelor's degree in prison, by the way. I filled out my resume, and I filled the time up in my resume with the prison ministry I was involved in. Just so you don't have that slack of time.   The manager said, oh, I see that you were in a prison ministry. Man, that's amazing. Did they let you in there every day?    Well, I lived there. I was in prison at that time. This is what I was doing while I was in prison.   His words to me shook me to the core because he handed me back that resume and he said, “We don't hire your kind here.” I'm telling you, after all the disappointment I have for two or three months of not being able to find a job and rejection after rejection, I walked out in the parking lot. My daughter took me back to her house and I remember sitting on the end of her bed.   I'm not a crier, really, but at that time I think I might have been crying a little bit. She was bawling and I was just like, “Just take me down to the shelter. I don't want to be any more of a burden to this family. Please, I got to go.”   She's like, “Don't give up, dad, don't give up.” I'm like, “I'll give it up, oh God, I just don't want to be a burden.”    She said, “Just wait, just wait, just give it a little more time.” I agreed to do that. That week, through the grapevine, one of the friends of a guy that she went to church with, John McCormick, at McCormick Auto Place in Belleville, Illinois, called and said, “Hey, I heard through the grapevine you're having a hard time getting a job. I need somebody washing cars.”   That was a far cry from, you know, I'm a 46-year-old man and I'd walk around with briefcases full of money. It was a humbling experience, but I went to work for John, and he ended up, you know, as a Christian, he was just a Christ follower.    He accepted me into his family. I went from 10 hours a week to part-time. I eventually got a part-time job at the Salvation Army.    They called me. It was one of the first places I put in a resume. Paul Cousin called me from the Salvation Army.   He's like, “Hey, I don't know why we never saw your resume before, but we need help. Would you like to come to work at the safety net working with homeless guys?” I'm thinking, well, you know, I've been homeless, so sure.   And I went down there and I started working there.  And so eventually that turned into a full-time job at the Salvation Army. And I stayed working washing cars.    I washed cars for 12 years with John. He's just so great. He's one of the greatest Christian dudes you ever met.    He just, he was so vital in my Christian walk in my life. But I was at the Salvation Army. I was running, believe it or not, the lead case manager of Drop-In Center for the Homeless.    And I had conversations with Peoria Rescue Mission at that time, Peoria Rescue Ministries. Now, I'd never been there. I thought they were religious zealots.    You know, it was everything. It was so religious that the guys couldn't be there. But I did know that they did not allow drugs or alcohol.   And so, when I would meet a man that was struggling with addiction and they wanted to get out of them, I would call and talk to Lee and say, “Hey, listen, I got a guy I think would be good for your fit. Can I send him down there?” And so, we kind of built this bond.    Lee and I had this relationship over the phone. I'd never met the guy ever. Back in those days, Lee was really into sending those funny little emails.   You know, they always have a little cartoon or a little message. You know, the email knows that when you're really busy at work, you kind of start deleting after a while. And one day he sent me an email, and it said, “Are you interested?”    And for some reason, I opened it. And I know the reason is God. And he said that they had a position as the assistant director of the rescue mission, but I'd be interested in coming down and applying for the job.    And I went down and met with Lee. And one thing led to another. My wife, Pam, who I'm married to now, I consider my wife.   I can't believe that I'm married to somebody who loves God. Now, I know we're supposed to stay the way that we are, biblically a single and all these things scripturally as we come to Christ to stay that way. But this is my first marriage.    This is my marriage. In Christ, we're in marriage. She is the most wonderful. She's my gift that God just kind of gave me to care for and to nurture and to love her the way that I should.  But she really encouraged me. At the time of the Salvation Army, we were HUD funded.    I couldn't openly share my faith. I always had to take back doors to it. And she's like, this is what you've always prayed for.    They'll let you do that there, take the job. And so, I did. And that's how I came on at Peoria Rescue Ministries.    Eventually it became Pathway Ministries. I just kind of worked as Mr. Rokey, came on board in 2016. And then in 2018, we're really trying to do some things back there.   And from the way we used to do them, meeting people in crisis, I had a lot of good ideas.  And John had a lot of great ideas. And we're on the same page.    And he asked me to be program director. And I'm like, well, I'd love to, if I can write a program. And so, he just gave me free reign.   And then now I'm the director of residential ministries at Pathway Ministries. Just being able to allow God to blow that whole thing up. And he has to meet people just like me, just like so many other sons and daughters out there that need to have a God block put in front of them while they're in their crisis.    And so, it's just been a beautiful thing. And I just praise God for all the leadership and just what we've been able to do. And that's how I came to Pathway Ministries.    Just being able to do God's work there. It's incredible. It's crazy.   Putting it in a nutshell is really hard because there's been so many things that the Lord has done personally and through the ministry. It has just been incredible, the path that he's had me.   Laura Dugger: (45:57 - 46:35) You do such an amazing work there, and it is a worthy ministry to support. We'll definitely put links in the show notes for today's episode for Pathway Ministries. And that's a whole other conversation to talk about the miracles witnessed there.   But just to go back and close a few loops, I'm sorry, I'm going to throw a few things at you.  So, when did Pam come into the picture? And what's a current snapshot of your life with your children now?   And what did forgiveness look like with your family of origin?   Brian Butler: (46:37 - 52:04) Yeah, so my father passed away while I was in prison. It was an amazing story with my dad. He met me in prison and wanted to meet with me.   And I hadn't seen my father in years, and he came to the prison lot. I had worked through the forgiveness of my dad, I think, before we met, but he came to ask my forgiveness. And I'll never forget, he said, Brian, I made the wrong choice.    My whole life, I've made the wrong choices. And I'm just really sorry. And so, it was a sweet moment with me and him.   I'm not saying that we had a, you know, it wasn't like we're father, son kind of stuff.  But when he passed away, there's no false guilt. There's no guilt.    There's nothing I'm trusting. He even actually became a minister of the Catholic Church in the place that he lived. And I believe that he came to faith in Christ and Christ alone.   So, it was really something to see that transformation in my dad, even though he was, you know, he saw a lot of stuff. But I truly believe that the father entered his heart. My mom, shortly after I was incarcerated, after that experience at the jail, started to come around a little bit and supported me.   You know, and I think the biggest thing that helped me in or helped our relationship in the prison was I didn't ask for things. When I was able to talk to my mother, I was able to say, how are you? And just kind of relieve her of the burden.   It was bad enough that her son was in prison. It was bad enough that she had to see her son on the evening news and everything that I put her through. I just wanted to mend that and just to comfort my mom and just love my mom the best possible.    So, our relationship really grew through those days. And it's so amazing. So, here's a woman that said, you're dead to me, and I don't want around anymore.    In 2019, my mom and stepdad have been since Indiana, and they're aging now. They're in their early 80s. But in 2019, we had a family conversation, and she wanted to move to Peoria, Illinois, so that my wife and I could take care of her and him in their old age.    So, they lived two miles away from us, and we were able to meet my mom. It's crazy. And just to be able to be in a relationship with her and to be able to care for her, getting ready to take a trip down to Kentucky to see her sister, and all that entails.   So, it's just been a wonderful blessing for a relationship. My mom knows God's real because he's changed me and my children. While I didn't beat them over the head with the Bible, they know that God is real because they've seen him work in me.   They've all struggled with addiction and all those kinds of things. But I'm happy to say that all three of them are clean and sober. Right now, my son followed in my footsteps.    Unfortunately, he grew up, even though I wasn't there. I was divorced from his mother when he was two years old. But he always looked to me, and he always saw the tough guy and the gangster.   And I think that's what he really wanted to be. He ended up getting a prison sentence, and he spent 13 years in prison. And he is getting out in February.    So that's encouraging. But all three of them are clean and sober, and those relationships have been restored. Pam and I, you can imagine, Pam had no idea about addiction or lifestyle or gangsters.   So I am completely off the rails, foreign to her.  But she tells me all the time, she doesn't know that old guy. All she knows is me.   And she can hear stories, and she can hear testimonies. And of course, my mom is very open to share anything at a family dinner about Brian, which I'm like, please, mom, don't talk. But she hears those stories, and she just says, I don't know that man.    I don't know who that was. This is the man I'm married to. And so, it's just, we have a wonderful relationship.    She's my biggest supporter, my biggest fan. We pray together. We love the Lord together.  It's really something. I'm not saying that we haven't had a lot of hurt because my kids have been in addiction. I'm saying it hasn't been really, really hard.   But through those sufferings, that's how Jesus makes it more like him, through those sufferings and through those hard times.  And he's given me an avenue personally to be able to help others. So, I love that scripture.    It gives us this comfort. We needed the comfort so that one day you can comfort others with that same kind of comfort. So, he's enabled me to be in a position where I can comfort other folks in addiction and build great teams here at Pathway that are ministering to the folks that we serve in a meaningful way for the Lord.    And then I've been able to serve my wife. I've been able to serve her and that's what I want to do.   Laura Dugger: (52:05 - 52:31) Oh, it is evident to see you two at church and see you two holding hands and just your gentle way of interacting with each other is even a testimony. So how incredible that God has restored so much that was broken. And even going back to your brother Mark, was he rejoicing to hear you were now walking with Jesus as your Lord and Savior?   Brian Butler: (52:32 - 54:07) Yeah, well, at first it was kind of like the prodigal son story, and he was the big brother rather than me. I think at first there was a lot of, and rightfully so, I was no good. And so, I had the hearing officer tell me one time in Springfield Illinois when I was trying to get my driver's license back, which was another God story.    And I have a driver's license after five DUIs. I had that hearing officer tell me, even though I had been clean and sober for seven years, he said, you know, talk is cheap. He said, walking it is different.   So, you come back and see me in a year and when you've walked it, then we'll have a talk about giving you a driver's license. And I've always kind of stored that in my heart with my relationship with my brother. And now after my brother has seen me walk it, we have a pretty good relationship.    We're in cahoots because I'm taking care of mom. And so, we have a pretty good relationship there. Yeah, so it's been really a miracle.    Miracles of what has happened in relationships. Now some relationships that I've had, even with family members, you know, hey, that Brian Butler is still nothing but a no-good dope dealing maniac. And we're, you know, we're done.    And that's okay. That's God's job. My job is to keep walking the walk and talking the talk and sticking close to him and not letting anything get in the way of that and doing whatever I can to restore relationships and then let God do the rest.    And so, it's been, it's hard, but good. Yeah.   Laura Dugger: (54:08 - 54:22) You are a new creation. And Brian, I know you could continue teaching us so many things. Is there any encouragement you want to share before our conversation comes to a close?   Brian Butler: (54:23 - 56:46) Yeah, I would just say if you're, I had some, when I was going through it with my daughter, I had a lot of good counselors around me.  And then I got some advice that I didn't follow. And I'm so glad that I didn't.   I certainly think that if when we meet people that are in living destructive lifestyles, or you have a child in addiction and alcoholism, and they are just burning everything down around you, absolutely to set up boundaries and to limit communication to where they're draining you to death.  But if they're still breathing, then there's still hope. And we should never forget that there's hope and that God is so much bigger, and we can trust him with them more than what we can do with them.   I struggled for years with my daughter in addiction and being up in the middle of the night, just waiting on a phone call and praying and pleading and even thinking, Lord, it would be better if she was just gone.  If you just took her, would you? It's so harrowing.   But I never cut off communication completely because when she came out of the pig pen, I'm going to run. Now there were several runs that I made that, you know, she wasn't really out of the pig pen, but I don't regret that. And my daughter will say to a lot of folks, even though inside I kind of gave up in certain times, but I didn't make the life to end.    And she'll say, my dad never gave up on me. My dad was always there for me. And so, I just want to encourage people, if they're breathing, there's still hope and you can still put up boundaries and be strong and not give in and not give money and not do all those things, but there's still hope and our hope was in Christ.   And then we can hope that he does that work and that he'll do that work in us as we're hoping him to do it in others. So that's what I would just leave with folks that are really going through it because I've been through it. I've put people through it.   It's a tangled web and there's a whole lot, but you need to be around people that are going to love you and care for you and come around to you. You need to tell the truth to other people so that you don't hide it because it will destroy you.   Laura Dugger: (56:47 - 57:22) That's so good, Brian. How special to have her daddy never give up on her. And it reflects that greater truth that our heavenly father never gives up on any of us.  And he died for us even while we were still sinners. Thank you for sharing that.   And you may be familiar that we are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for you today, Brian, what is your savvy sauce?   Brian Butler: (57:24 - 58:36) I would say my savvy sauce is living in a daytight compartment, living this life one moment at a time, one day at a time, certainly making plans for the future, certainly living that life out. But I'm going to do what the Lord wants me to do right now. And then what he wants me to do next and what he wants me to do after that.    But just really staying in that daytight compartment. You know, I teach our students all the time at Pathway Ministries, really when we come to faith, this is really simplistic, but after we come to faith in the Lord Jesus, it really is about doing the next little right thing. And then the next little right thing after that, and the next little right thing after that.   And no one does the next little right thing all the time. But when you don't do the next little right thing, you get up and do the next little right thing. Understanding that sometimes doing the next little right thing might be the hardest thing you've ever done in your life.   And so, if we stay in that daytime compartment with Jesus, he'll help us through that next little right thing.  And so that's my savvy. So, I was just staying in the moment and doing the next little right thing.   Laura Dugger: (58:37 - 59:08) Oh, I love that so much. Ryan, you are an admirable man who walks the walk, and God has gifted you with such passion and such a compelling story. So, thank you for continuing to faithfully obey him.   You are certainly shining in our community and faithfully serving our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So, thank you for being my guest.   Brian Butler: (59:09 - 59:11) Thank you so much, Laura Dugger. We love you.   Laura Dugger: (59:11 - 1:02:28) We love you, too.   One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.    Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.    We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.    That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin.    This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you.    Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray.   Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him.    And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started.    First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it.    You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you.    We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.    And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.    And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

LEARN MORE at http://teach4theheart.com/382   When your coworker's child is in your class, even small behavior issues can feel complicated or awkward. You want to address disruptions appropriately, but you also don't want to create tension with a colleague you see every day. Join us for today's episode where Linda and Amanda walk through how to handle behavior concerns professionally, so you can protect both your classroom culture and your working relationships.   00:00 Navigating Challenges with Co-Worker's Child 02:40 Effective Communication with Parents 06:26 The Role of Clarity in Communication   Resources/Links Mentioned:   Planner Party: https://teach4theheart.com/party  

When your child says they hate school and have no friends, what really works? Discover why building friendships takes 200 hours of intentional time, and learn practical strategies from hosting craft days to finding 'third spaces'. Plus, understand the two key relationships that create true school belonging and why sometimes the best friendships might not be with peers at all. Quote of the Episode: "Friends don't usually land in our lap—they require intention and time." Key Insights: Close friendships require 200+ hours of intentional time School belonging needs two key relationships Third spaces beyond home and school are crucial Adult friendships can be valuable for children Structured activities help build new friendships Medical and psychological checks may be needed School relationships often need parental facilitation Quality family time remains foundational Resources Mentioned: Jeffrey Hall's friendship research from the University of Kansas School belonging research Happy Families Action Steps for Parents: Facilitate Intentional Friend Time Organise structured activities Create regular playdates Use third spaces effectively Work with Schools Identify potential friend matches Build teacher relationships Focus on school belonging Consider Broader Solutions Explore adult mentoring Check medical factors Strengthen family connections See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the Kairos moment, you will find yourself in an unknown place.And a person will appear.This person is known among storytellers as “The Old Man in the Woods.”His job is to prepare you for all the challenges you will face on the next segment of your adventure.Mr. Miyagi was the Old Man in the Woods for Daniel LaRusso in the Karate Kid.Obi-Wan was Luke Skywalker's first Old Man in the Woods, and Yoda was his second.Have you noticed how every James Bond movie begins with 007 visiting “Q”?“Q” is the armorer who supplies 007 with precisely the gadgets he will need to accomplish his next mission.“Q” is James Bond's “Old Man in the Woods.”Luke chapter 4 tell us of how Jesus, immediately after his baptism, spent 40 days in the wilderness of Judea. When he emerged from that wilderness, he revealed himself to the world. Verse 14 of that chapter says, “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.”Would it be fair to say that Jesus spent 40 days with the ultimate “Old Man in the Woods” prior to doing what he famously did?John bar Zebedee sat next to Jesus during The Last Supper. He was the only one of Jesus' followers to witness the crucifixion. And was entrusted by Jesus – from the cross – to care for his mother, Mary, while He was away.John bar Zebedee, in chapter two of First John*, writes about the Three Stages of Life.He speaks of the Child, the Young Man, and the Old Man.I am writing to you, dear Children,because your sins have been forgivenon account of his name,and because you know the Father.I write to you, Young Men,because you are strong,and the word of God lives in you,and you have overcome the evil one.I am writing to you, Fathers,because you know Himwho is from the beginning.Because you know Himwho is from the beginning.Children spend a dozen or more years preparing to become the strong Young Men and strong Young Women who, full of zest and zeal and zip-a-dee-doo-dah, will face challenges, overcome difficulties, and leave their fingerprints on the world.And every one of them will need an advisor – an older and wiser friend – to counsel them, encourage them, and prepare them for what lies ahead.John bar Zebedee was not speaking of biological Fathers and Mothers when he wrote the letter that we call the book of First John.The people John calls “Fathers” are those who have already wandered the pathless forest and found their way to the other side.The people John calls “Fathers” are those who already “know.”The American Dream promises that when you have finished your journey and completed your task, you can recreate, luxuriate, and selfishly celebrate your success for the rest of your life.And that certainly remains an option, if it appeals to you. But I believe that it will not.I believe that you will choose to advise, encourage, and counsel the next generation who must blaze a new and different trail through a new and different wilderness than the one that you and I faced.I believe that you will find fulfillment in your occasional role as “The Old Man” or “The Old Woman” in the woods.Roy H. Williams*I consolidated and reorganized what you will find in chapter two of First John, but if you read it closely, I believe you will agree that my retelling is faithful to the message of that original text.

April is Autism Acceptance Month, and this encore episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast honors the voices, stories, and lived experiences that continue to deepen our understanding of autism. Hosted by Daniel Smrokowski, this episode revisits a lively, thoughtful, and deeply human conversation that continues to resonate years later. In this encore, Daniel sits down with Dr. Kerry Magro—a nationally recognized speaker, bestselling author, consultant, and leading autism advocate. Kerry shares his remarkable journey from being nonverbal as a young child to becoming a powerful voice within the autism community. His message reflects strength and self-definition, captured in his belief: “Autism can't define me… I define autism.” The conversation explores Kerry's early years, his diagnosis, and the obstacles he worked to overcome, along with his nonprofit work through KFM Making a Difference. Listeners will hear how he built a career as a sought-after public speaker, the stories behind the books he has written, and his consulting work on major film and television projects. Kerry also shares ways audiences can connect with him and follow his ongoing advocacy efforts. In addition to the interview, the episode features several news stories from the disability community, including topics such as Down syndrome and adoption, misconceptions around eye contact and special needs, Daniel's first original video on The Mighty, stories connecting Spider-Man and autism, Spread the Word to End the Word Day, and a new Special Voices column. Packed with inspiration, advocacy, and storytelling, this episode is a reminder of how powerful voices can be when used to create positive change Episode 830 ShowNotes & Links

Am I the Jerk? is the show where you can confess your deepest darkest secrets and be part of the conversation.

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on May 26, 2021. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. Obaida Akram Jawabra grew up outside of Hebron in the occupied West Bank and dreamed of growing up to be a chef. When he was 15, his dreams were put on pause for the first time when he was arrested and imprisoned by the Israeli military. He was later acquitted but spent two months in jail. On May 17, as many Palestinians were protesting against Israeli air strikes on Gaza and Israelis were taking over Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem, Obaida, at 17 years old, was shot and killed by Israeli forces. At least 66 Palestinian children were killed by Israeli forces in the past month. Today, we take a look at the life of one Palestinian child. In this episode: Farah Bayadsi (@DCIPalestine), Human Rights Lawyer, Defense for Children International – Palestine Episode credits: This episode was updated by Chloe K. Li. The original production team was Amy Walters, Priyanka Tilve, Negin Owliaei, Alexandra Locke, Ney Alvarez, Dina Kesbeh and our host Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner is lead of audience engagement. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Jim Bob Duggar's email to his son Joseph in jail has been obtained through public records. He acknowledged "terrible decisions." He compared Joseph to King David, who "royally messed up" but repented and became "a man after God's own heart." He compared him to the Biblical Joseph, who was "also in prison," and told him to "make lemonade out of lemons." He told him God is not finished with his life. He called Kendra's arrest "ridiculous." The child his son allegedly harmed does not appear anywhere in the email.Retired FBI Counterintelligence Chief Robin Dreeke spent a career reading people for the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Program. He breaks down every line of Jim Bob's letter — the language patterns, the empathy direction, the theological framing that redirects accountability, and the omission that defines the entire document. This is a system performing exactly as it was designed — protecting the accused and editing the victim out before the narrative starts.Joseph Duggar faces charges of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under 12 in Bay County, Florida, after a 14-year-old girl disclosed that he allegedly harmed her repeatedly during a 2020 family vacation when she was nine. According to the arrest affidavit, Joseph reportedly admitted to the conduct when confronted by the girl's father, and allegedly admitted again on a detective-monitored call. He posted $600,000 bond and is barred from unsupervised contact with minors. In Arkansas, both Joseph and Kendra face charges after investigators reportedly found locks on the exterior of children's bedroom doors — four counts each of endangering the welfare of a minor and false imprisonment. The investigation remains active and ongoing.Retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer examines the investigative mechanics — how a home search tied to one arrest produces evidence of separate offenses, what the Tontitown Police Department's language signals about scope, and whether this family's documented history of internal handling draws broader federal scrutiny. Josh Duggar is serving twelve and a half years in federal prison.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#JimBobDuggar #JosephDuggar #RobinDreeke #DuggarFamily #KendraDuggar #IBLP #FBIBehavioral #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #DuggarExposed

Two-time Masters champion and golf hall of famer Bernhard Langer shares about his mom and dad’s decision to go ahead with an at-risk pregnancy to give him life. He also talks about his successful career and how he and his family committed their lives to Christ. We all love rooting for our favorite sports teams, but the stadium is only part of a larger arena in life: God’s kingdom. What does faith look like both on and off the playing field? In this special collection, you’ll hear powerful testimonies from athletes with memorable track records in sports and an even greater legacy in faith. Featuring guests like John Smoltz, Darrell Waltrip, Scott Hamilton, Benjamin Watson and more! Get More Episode Resources If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

Sheriff Grady Judd goes off on lenient judges after a brutal case involving a released offender, backing DeSantis and defending Florida's tough sentencing laws. He draws a hard line on second chances, arguing accountability is the only reason crime is dropping in the state.

In today's episode, I sit down with Dr. Michaeleen Doucleff to unpack what dopamine actually is—and how understanding it can completely shift the way we approach screens, food, and motivation in our kids' lives. We talk about why dopamine isn't about pleasure but about desire, and how that “do it again” loop can pull kids toward things that don't actually make them feel good in the long run. We discuss practical, doable ways to redirect that drive—by replacing, not restricting—so kids naturally want the activities that support their well-being. We also explore why willpower isn't the answer, how small environmental changes can make a big difference, and how starting tiny can help create lasting habits for a calmer, more connected home. I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK! Pre-order your copy of The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans https://draliza.com/pre-order/ Subscribe to my free newsletter for parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: draliza.substack.com  Follow me on Instagram for more: @raisinggoodhumanspodcast  Wayfair: Head to Wayfair.com April 25th through the 27th to shop Way Day Minnow: That's shopminnow.com code MEETMINNOW15 for 15% off Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics: Visit eatright.org/everytable to learn more and find a nutrition and dietetics professional Little Spoon: Try Little Spoon Formula with their 2 can trial pack (Buy 1,Get 1 free-that's $30 for 2 cans) at littlespoon.com/tryformula See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is my fastest technique that allows you to drop into Abundance Energy in under 10 minutes. In this deep dive episode I share a mind-blowing story of synchronicity and manifestation of how I met my 90-year-old spiritual teacher, why union with the Divine is the key to attracting more, and some poetry to drive the teachings home! Resources From Today's Episode:

In the year 2000, four pre-teen girls in Santa Rosa — three 11-year-olds, and one 9-year-old little sister — wrote and recorded an album inspired by the Spice Girls, Destiny's Child and Fiona Apple, and even filmed music videos for the album. Then, their band X-Cetra disbanded as the elder members entered junior high and found the entire project — to use the slang of today's kids — cringe. Decades later, online experimental music nerds discovered the album, with its haunting child vocals and startling low-fi beats, and turned it into a cult hit, garnering X-Cetra a record contract and a 25th anniversary reissue. A new film “Summer 2000: The X-Cetra Story,” which won the South by Southwest documentary jury award last month, documents the reunion of X-Cetra, many of whose members hadn't made art since. We'll talk with the band about what it means to revisit childhood creativity in adulthood, and we'll hear from you: Were you more creative as a tween than you are now? Have you returned to the art you made? Guests: Ayden Mayeri, member, X-Cetra; director, "Summer 2000: The X-Cetra Story" Jessica Hall, member, X-Cetra Robin O'Brien, musician; producer of X-Cetra's 2000 album, “Stardust"; mom of X-Cetra members Janet and Mary Brittany Spanos, music journalist who wrote the Rolling Stone profile, “Four Best Friends Made an Album as Kids. 25 Years Later, It's a Cult Classic” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DRB Kids  is a part of the one year Bible family of podcasts from the Daily Radio Bible. DRB Kids is a daily Bible reading podcast for kids. Children and families around the world gather to listen to amazing stories from the Bible. These short 5 minute podcasts will encourage your family, inspire your children, and help root your Child's life in the story of God's love for the world.    Find out more at www.drbkids.com   DONATE TO THE PODCAST to help kids around the world recieve these podcasts free everyday.  Thanks! Listen to the Bible in a Year  HERE on Spotify HERE on itunes Podcast Listen to our Daily Proverb Podcast HERE on Spotify HERE on itunes Podcasts Leave us a voicemail here: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible email Hunter for more information: hunter@dailyradiobible.com      

DRB Kids  is a part of the one year Bible family of podcasts from the Daily Radio Bible. DRB Kids is a daily Bible reading podcast for kids. Children and families around the world gather to listen to amazing stories from the Bible. These short 5 minute podcasts will encourage your family, inspire your children, and help root your Child's life in the story of God's love for the world.    Find out more at www.drbkids.com   DONATE TO THE PODCAST to help kids around the world recieve these podcasts free everyday.  Thanks! Listen to the Bible in a Year  HERE on Spotify HERE on itunes Podcast Listen to our Daily Proverb Podcast HERE on Spotify HERE on itunes Podcasts Leave us a voicemail here: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible email Hunter for more information: hunter@dailyradiobible.com      

The biggest stories on the internet from April 10th, 2026.Join our Patreon here!!! https://www.patreon.com/c/CentennialWorld/ Please consider buying us a coffee or subscribing to a membership to help keep Centennial World's weekly podcasts going! Every single dollar goes back into this business

RU390: ALICE JONES ON CADENCE OF VANISHING – PSYCHOANALYSIS, POETRY, WRITING, MEMOIR https://renderingunconscious.substack.com/p/ru390-alice-jones-on-cadence-of-vanishing Join Rendering Unconscious Podcast at Substack for all new and archival episodes: https://renderingunconscious.substack.com Rendering Unconscious welcomes Dr. Alice Jones to the podcast! Rendering Unconscious episode 390. On this episode, Alice discusses her book “Cadence of Vanishing,” which blends poetry and prose to capture the interwoven narratives of her life as a psychoanalyst. She draws from personal and professional experiences to explore the complexity of human stories. The book integrates various elements, including vignettes of daily life, news articles, quotations and analysand narratives, to reflect the layered, multifaceted and often synchronous nature of life. Alice also shares insights into her journey from medical school to psychoanalysis and poetry, emphasizing the importance of accessing spontaneity, intuition and the unconscious in both writing and analytic work. Alice Jones, MD is a personal and consulting analyst at the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis. She is the author of seven collections of poems and Cadence of Vanishing, a memoir. A collection of essays titled Poetry, Depth, and Endings in Psychoanalysis: Distant Music is forthcoming from Routledge in 2026. https://alicejones.net Mentioned in this episode: RU145: DR INGO LAMBRECHT ON PSYCHOANALYSIS, PSYCHOSIS, SHAMANISM, CULTURE, SOCIETY, MENTAL HEALTH RU Center News & Events: Saturday, April 18th, join me for the next installment of An Introduction to Psychoanalysis. In the previous class, we covered the relationships between Freud, Jung, and Spielrein. We also looked at Freud's metapsychological papers written during the First World War, Totem and Taboo and the case of Schreber. In this upcoming class, we'll discuss the period after WWI, the push for free clinics, and review Freud's texts “The Uncanny,” “A Child is Being Beaten,” Beyond the Pleasure Principle, and case of the Wolf Man. https://rucenterforpsychoanalysis.substack.com Friday, May 1st: LIVE RU Podcast event with Lara Sheehi on May Day for her new book From the Clinic to the Streets: Psychoanalysis for Revolutionary Futures (Pluto Press, 2026). https://rucenterforpsychoanalysis.substack.com/p/live-ru-podcast-event-with-lara-sheehi All paid subscribers to RU Center for Psychoanalysis are automatically registered for all RU Center events, and the recordings will be archived at RU Center for Psychoanalysis Substack. https://rucenterforpsychoanalysis.substack.com See RU Center SCHEDULE OF EVENTS HERE: https://rucenterforpsychoanalysis.substack.com/p/schedule Rendering Unconscious is also a book: Rendering Unconscious: Psychoanalytic Perspectives, Politics & Poetry vols 1:1 & 1:2 (Trapart Books, 2024): https://amzn.to/4sOqSEu Thank you for being a paid subscriber to Rendering Unconscious Podcast. It makes my work possible. If you are so far a free subscriber, thanks to you too. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to gain access to all the material on the site, including new, future, and archival podcast episodes. It's so important to maintain independent spaces free from censorship and corporate influence. If you are interested in pursuing psychoanalytic treatment with me, please feel free to contact me directly: www.drvanessasinclair.net/contact/ Thank You.

LEGO used to be just for kids. But with the help of the COVID-19 pandemic and plain old burnout, many adults have returned to LEGO. They've even got a cool acronym – AFOL. It stands for Adult Fans of Lego. Andi Smith says it's a hands-on, screen-free way to shut your brain off and create. In Andi's architecture classes, students use LEGO to build everything from model playgrounds to mausoleums. Not the kits – they freestyle! And: Have you ever played with an ouija board? Rhonda Brock and Chris McGee say that the whole game is really to prove that you aren't scared. And the camera is really one of the players. Because anything spooky must be proven! Later in the show: Many adults are reluctant to talk to children about grief and death. But why? 2026 PEN/Voelcker Award Finalist Gbenga Adesina and two-time National Book Award finalist Amber McBride join each other in conversation about their respective books Death Does Not End at the Sea and The Leaving Room where young adult narrators carry the reader through experiences with death and loss.

Bruce & Gaydos explain why roughly one in six college students say they've changed their major or field of study due to concerns about A.I.'s impact on the job market.

Somebody talked you out of your dream before it ever had a chance. Maybe it was a parent. Maybe a friend. Maybe someone you trusted. And the worst part? They didn't even know they were doing it. CJ takes his son Trey to a skateboard store and watches a 6-year-old fall twice in front of a crowd, get back up, and look at his dad like it was nothing — because CJ realized he was about to pass his own fear to his son. Fear of something he'd never even tried. ET traces his version, leaving comfort in Huntsville to chase something bigger when everyone said he already had enough. Jemal gives a raw testimony — real estate, the daycare, the businesses — every significant venture required blind, childlike faith. The one that didn't? Becoming a police officer. His whole family was already there. Everything else? Trust God with nothing upfront. And Karl brings the financial lens: your side hustle doesn't just need to make money. It needs to make sense. This one will make you think about who you've been taking advice from. And whether they've ever actually been on the skateboard.

The Year of Tears, the Long Goodbye, End of the Road…..Dead End?! Whatever people want to call it, buckle up, it's coming fast. Cry now or cry later, either way the liquids are flowing. The after volleyball tourney bar visit, midlevel marketing bros, and your very serious thoughts on ice cream, we cover all of it today and much more!https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/a-second-fatal-rattlesnake-bite-on-a-southern-california-hiking-trail/https://grownandflown.com/senior-year-high-school-year-tears/https://parentingteensandtweens.com/senior-year-survival-tips-for-parents-of-teensEnjoy the show!Join us at the Dustin Nickerson Comedy Fans Facebook Group: : http://www.facebook.com/groups/dustinnickersoncomedyWatch the show every week over at Nateland Entertainment:: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzAzMoLwjQTuyqu2QFFzvQQDon't Make Me Come Back There Podcast is hosted by Dustin and Melissa Nickerson |Watch Now: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4aMLhoDw6JasL8tgtrlkABlGU8tsiwnH&si=51tUApjDrmh4nz93Podcast produced and edited by Andy Lara at Sun Face Mediahttps://www.dustinnickerson.comhttps://www.andylikeswords.comEmail - dontmakemecomebackthere@gmail.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Come see Dustin LIVE on tour: https://www.dustinnickerson.com/tourFollow and Listen to  Don't Make Me Come Back There: https://apple.co/3A1fbnPSpotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/0qdEVMAx9LqmnqIHmkjOGg?si=341fc47a1a3145e1Watch the new comedy special, Runs in the Family from Dustin Nickerson | (Full Comedy Special) #newcomedy #standupcomedy : https://youtu.be/0Dybn3Atj9kOrder Dustin's book: How to Be Married (To Melissa) today!” https://www.thomasnelson.com/p/how-to-be-married-to-melissa/Give a little more and get a little more from the pod on Patreon!Head to https://www.patreon.com/DustinNickerson for the Patreon Pre Show with behind the scenes podcast rants, exclusive bonus content, and to help support the show.Visit the MERCH shop: https://www.dustinnickerson.com/shopGet social with DustinFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/dustinnickersoncomedyX: https://www.X.com/dustinnickersonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dustinnickerson/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dustinnickerson

In this episode of Everyone Needs an Aquarius, Dom and D analyze the intersection of music, sports, and legal headlines. They break down the Pooh Shiesty case, Gucci Mane's industry evolution, and the definitive R&B debate: TLC vs. Destiny's Child. The conversation moves to the NBA as they discuss LeBron James' critique of Memphis facilities and the possibility of a Nashville relocation. Plus, they explore Kanye West's recent performances and a "what if" scenario regarding the Kobe Bryant Denver case. 1:31 Trump's War Vs Iran 6:02 Pooh Shiesty and Gucci Mane situation is wild 19:42 Lebron James and Draymond Green's comments on the city of Memphis 37:42 Dom and D debate TLC vs Destiny Child in a 20 song battle 50:56 Is Kanye West back after his sold out So-Fi Stadium shows? Brand new voicemail: ‪(314) 649-3113‬ Subscribe to the Everyone Needs an Aquarius Patreon https://bit.ly/3tXnnCz  Email the show at straightolc@gmail.com           Follow SOLC Network online Instagram: https://bit.ly/39VL542                                    Twitter: https://bit.ly/39aL395                                     Facebook: https://bit.ly/3sQn7je                            To Listen to the podcast Podbean https://bit.ly/3t7SDJH                                YouTube http://bit.ly/3ouZqJU                                Spotify http://spoti.fi/3pwZZnJ                                Apple http://apple.co/39rwjD1                                                         IHeartRadio http://ihr.fm/2L0A2y 

DRB Kids  is a part of the one year Bible family of podcasts from the Daily Radio Bible. DRB Kids is a daily Bible reading podcast for kids. Children and families around the world gather to listen to amazing stories from the Bible. These short 5 minute podcasts will encourage your family, inspire your children, and help root your Child's life in the story of God's love for the world.    Find out more at www.drbkids.com   DONATE TO THE PODCAST to help kids around the world recieve these podcasts free everyday.  Thanks! Listen to the Bible in a Year  HERE on Spotify HERE on itunes Podcast Listen to our Daily Proverb Podcast HERE on Spotify HERE on itunes Podcasts Leave us a voicemail here: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible email Hunter for more information: hunter@dailyradiobible.com      

More Than a Clean Slate: A Life That Flourishes John 10:10 (NIV)“I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” Forgiveness Is the Beginning, Not the End God Doesn't Forgive You Just to Reset You—He Forgives You to Release You into Everything That Was Purposed for You. Jesus Did Not Rise Just to Leave You Empty—He Rose to Fill You. The Resurrection Is Not About Subtraction of Sin Only—It Is About the Addition of Life. Here Is the New Reality:•     We Are Not Just Declared “Not Guilty”•     You Are Now Called a Child of God, Alive in Christ •     We Are Not Just Set Free from the Power of Sin•     Our Life Has New Direction, Meaning and Power •     We Are Not Just Given a Behavior Management Manual•     We Are Given a New Empowered Way of Living Differently Where We Grow in Love, Joy, Peace, Etc. Receive More Than Forgiveness - Walk in the Newness of Life Jesus Didn't Walk Out of the Grave So We Could Stay the Same The Cross Erases Our Past—But the Resurrection Rewrites Our Future

Philosopher Stefan Molyneux arms a father against his gentle son's peer aggression by modeling healthy anger, confronting his bullying past and family failures for true peaceful parenting power.GET FREEDOMAIN MERCH! https://shop.freedomain.com/SUBSCRIBE TO ME ON X! https://x.com/StefanMolyneuxFollow me on Youtube! https://www.youtube.com/@freedomain1GET MY NEW BOOK 'PEACEFUL PARENTING', THE INTERACTIVE PEACEFUL PARENTING AI, AND THE FULL AUDIOBOOK!https://peacefulparenting.com/Join the PREMIUM philosophy community on the web for free!Subscribers get 12 HOURS on the "Truth About the French Revolution," multiple interactive multi-lingual philosophy AIs trained on thousands of hours of my material - as well as AIs for Real-Time Relationships, Bitcoin, Peaceful Parenting, and Call-In Shows!You also receive private livestreams, HUNDREDS of exclusive premium shows, early release podcasts, the 22 Part History of Philosophers series and much more!See you soon!https://freedomain.locals.com/support/promo/UPB2025

Should you have a third child? And how can you help your kids graduate college debt-free? In this episode, we explore one of life's most personal decisions: whether to grow your family. We walk through a thoughtful 7-step framework to help you and your partner decide if a third child is right for you—covering emotional readiness, relationship strength, finances, and the value of time. Then, we're joined by educator and author Shelley Branine to talk about how families can avoid student loan debt. We dive into why college costs have skyrocketed and how strategies like dual enrollment can help students earn college credits in high school—often at little to no cost. If you're thinking about expanding your family or planning for your child's education, this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and practical next steps. Resources and Links

Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks!Are you raising a child with known or suspected prenatal opioid exposure? Understanding the impacts and how to parent them will help you set your child up to thrive! We are joined by Lenette Serlo, an adoptive mom of four children impacted by prenatal substance exposure and the founder of Generation O, a nonprofit focused on creating understanding and support for children with prenatal opioid exposure and their families.In this episode, we talk about:What are opioids, and what does it mean when a child has been exposed to opioids before birth?What are some of the short-term and long-term ways prenatal opioid exposure can affect a child's brain, body, and development?What were some of the earliest things you noticed that helped you understand that your kids might experience the world differently?How can parents make the shift from asking “What's wrong with this child?” to “What does this child need?”When a child has prenatal opioid exposure, what practical ways can parents help support emotional regulation and nervous system balance for these kids?What are some everyday challenges families might see at home?  And what strategies can parents and caregivers try to support their kids with those challenges?What tools or routines can help kids succeed with things like organization, memory, and follow-through?How could a parent or caregiver partner with teachers or schools so that children impacted by prenatal opioid exposure can succeed academically and behaviorally?What have you learned about helping children build friendships and navigate social situations successfully?In the baby and preschool years, what supports or parenting approaches can make the biggest difference?What challenges tend to emerge during the elementary school years, and how can caregivers support learning, independence, and confidence during that stage?As children move into adolescence, what new challenges can appear, and how can parents continue supporting identity, independence, and life skills?What is one small change parents or caregivers can make tomorrow that could have a big impact?You founded Generation O to support families navigating prenatal opioid exposure. What gaps did you see that made you want to start this organization? What's giving you hope right now? What is one message would you most want our listeners to take with them about helping their kids with a history of opioid exposure thrive now and into their futures?Resources:Prenatal Substance Exposure Workshop for Foster, Adoptive & Kinship ParentsRaising a Child with Prenatal Substance ExposurePSupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review.  This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:Weekly podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family building

Episode 165. Building of Relationship with Carolyn Kohlhaas  “If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.”   Psalm 130: 3-4    Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE!    Podcasts by Series  Level One Book Study  Level Two Book Study  "Moral existence is a response to the Lord's loving initiative. It is the acknowledgement and homage given to God and a worship of thanksgiving. It is cooperation with the plan God pursues in history." Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 2062    “To teach morality, the catechist must be convinced that at its roots is love, and then proceed from that principle. Morality emerges from love. We must never wander far from this source, not even when we teach explicitly the Law, which shows us the way we must follow to reach God. The entire Law has been summarized by Jesus in the two commandments of love, and He has made love the badge of allegiance. ‘One cannot obey more than one loves,' wrote the prior of the Little Brothers of Jesus.” (Teaching Doctrine and Liturgy)    “We can never stress too much the necessity of anchoring every moral teaching in a solid, kerygmatic orientation. Before providing specific instructions of what I am to do, moral formation must tell me with whom I do it, for whom I do it, with whom I am in relationship. Often we rush to action without having given enough thought to these primary questions.” (RPCII, 83)  “The primary and fundamental attitude of the person educated in the moral life is the awareness of belonging: to belong to God, to belong to God's world, to belong to humanity.”- Father Mongillo  Carolyn joins the conversation today to walk us through how morality evolves and progresses in a child's life and how we can meet those needs in all levels of the atria.  Carolyn Kohlhaas is a nationally recognized Formation Leader for CGS at all three levels of formation. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology and in Religious Education from Franciscan University of Steubenville and her AMI Primary (3-6) and Elementary (6-12) Level Certifications from the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota. Carolyn has a Master of Education degree (Loyola College, Maryland) as well as a Master of Arts in Theology (St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity). She has worked with children in Atriums in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis since 2006 and with adults in formation courses across the US since 2009.  wosatrium.weebly.com      Books you might be interested in:  Development of the Rome Atrium  The Religious Potential of the Child 6 to 12 Year Olds  History of the Kingdom of God Part 1: Creation to Parouisa  History of the Kingdom of God Part 2: Liturgy and the Building of the Kingdom  Life in the Vine: The Joyful Journey Continues    Podcast Episodes you might be interested in:  Episode 34 – The Paschal Mystery  Episode 55 – Cosmic Education      TINA LILIG MEMORIAL FUND  During the month of February, we remember our first national director, Valentina Lillig, and we honor her legacy by encouraging generosity to the Tina Lillig Memorial Fund.     The mission of the Tina Lillig Memorial Fund is to support the growth and development of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd through catechist formation, missionary outreach, and the work of the United States Association of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGSUSA). To these ends, the TLM Fund offers a source of financial aid (in the form of partial scholarships) to applicants who would find paying the full tuition of a course to be a hardship.    If you or your community needs scholarship or grant support for formation, please visit our website and apply [this could be a link in the show notes]. The next deadline for applications is April 30. Thank you to all the donors who have generously supported the TLM Fund and made formation courses possible for catechists across the US and the world.      BECOME A CGSUSA MEMBER          AUDIOBOOK:    Audiobook – Now Available on Audible  CGSUSA is excited to offer you the audio version of The Religious Potential of the Child – 3rd Edition by Sofia Cavalletti, read by Rebekah Rojcewicz!  The Religious Potential of the Child is not a “how-to” book, complete with lesson plans and material ideas. Instead it offers a glimpse into the religious life of the atrium, a specially prepared place for children to live out their silent request: “Help me come closer to God by myself.” Here we can see the child's spiritual capabilities and perhaps even find in our own souls the child long burdened with religious information. This book serves as a companion to the second volume, The Religious Potential of the Child 6 to 12 Years Old. The desire to have this essential text available in audio has been a long-held goal for many. The work of many hands has combined to bring this release to life as an audiobook.    Find out more about CGS:       Learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd     Follow us on Social Media-  Facebook at “The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd”  Instagram-  cgsusa  Twitter- @cgsusa  Pinterest- Natl Assoc of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd USA  YouTube- catechesisofthegoodshepherd 

When our child is anxious or stuck in OCD, everything can feel urgent. The questions, the reassurance seeking, the distress, the pressure to fix it right away. As parents, our instinct is often to respond quickly so we can calm things down. But sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is pause.In this episode, I talk about the power of the pause and why slowing down our response can actually help our kids build resilience and break the anxiety and OCD cycle. A pause gives us space to respond intentionally instead of reacting out of stress, fear, or urgency. It also models for our kids that discomfort doesn't have to be solved immediately.If you are a parent who feels pulled to jump in quickly when your child is anxious, asks for reassurance, or gets stuck in OCD loops, this episode will help you see how a small pause can create big shifts in how you support your child.