Podcasts about culture helping

A new report on the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7th. Connecticut is close to enacting a law placing more restrictions on homeschoolers. Katy Faust of Them Before Us was the victim of a hit piece by the Seattle Times. And John and Maria will talk about the administration's infatuation with IVF.    Recommendations  The World and Everything in It  Segment 1 – The Horrors of October 7; Attempts to Restrict Homeschooling  MSN article on October 7 report  Telegraph article on Nicholas Kristoff  More violence in Nigeria  Connecticut Democrats pass bill restricting homeschooling    Segment 2 – Seattle Times Doxes Katy Faust; White House Pushes IVF  MSN article on Chloe Cole  Age of first time mothers hit record high  Segment 3 – Questions and Comments  A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World  The Briefing  Breakpoint   

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we're joined by Aaron Graham, lead pastor of The District Church, a diverse and growing congregation in the heart of Washington, D.C. Founded in 2010 just a few miles from the White House, the church has become known for its global diversity—with people from more than 80 nations represented—and its commitment to living out the gospel for the good of the city. Are you noticing both spiritual curiosity and spiritual drift among people in your community? Wondering how to disciple people faithfully in a culture that increasingly pushes back against historic Christian orthodoxy? In this conversation, Aaron shares insights from his ministry context in D.C. and his new book Unshakable Faith: How to Stand Firm in a Culture of Lies, offering practical ways churches can respond to cultural pressure while forming resilient disciples from the next generation. A generation leaning in—and drifting away. // Aaron observes a striking tension among young adults today: some are pursuing faith with new seriousness, while others are quietly drifting away. Cities like Washington, D.C., attract highly educated young professionals who want to make a difference in the world through public service. Many are motivated by compassion and a desire to serve others, but they also face cultural pressures that can slowly reshape their beliefs. In Aaron's experience, this environment creates both incredible opportunities for ministry and real challenges in maintaining historic Christian faith. Some people are exploring spiritual questions deeply, while others disengage from church entirely through gradual spiritual drift. Understanding doubt, deconstruction, and denial. // Aaron encourages church leaders to distinguish between three different spiritual responses: doubt, deconstruction, and denial. Doubt is a natural part of faith—it involves uncertainty and questions that can ultimately strengthen belief when handled within a supportive community. Deconstruction, however, goes further by dismantling previously held beliefs. While some deconstruction may be necessary—especially when people have experienced unhealthy theology or spiritual abuse—it becomes dangerous when it happens in isolation without reconstructing a healthier biblical foundation. Denial is the final stage, where a person actively rejects core Christian beliefs. Recognizing these distinctions helps pastors respond with wisdom and compassion rather than assuming everyone wrestling with faith is in the same place. Creating space for honest questions. // One practical way The District Church engages doubt is through a summer series called “This Is My Story.” During this series, church members share short testimonies about their biggest spiritual questions and how God met them through those struggles and doubts. These stories normalize honest questions while showing that faith can deepen through wrestling with difficult issues. Instead of centering doubt itself, the church highlights the journey from questioning to deeper trust in God. This approach has been especially meaningful for newcomers, helping them see that the church is a place where people can wrestle honestly with faith while still moving toward spiritual maturity. Resisting the pull of cultural lies. // Aaron's book identifies several cultural narratives that quietly reshape Christian belief. One example is what he calls the “selective Christian”—someone who edits Scripture to match personal preferences or cultural expectations. When believers accept only the parts of the Bible that feel comfortable, the authority of Scripture slowly erodes. Over time, this selective approach strips the gospel of its transformative power. Aaron emphasizes that discipleship must include serious engagement with the whole Bible, even the passages that challenge modern assumptions. Returning to deep Bible engagement. // One of the most effective ways Aaron addresses cultural pressure is by encouraging consistent Bible engagement within the church. Through reading plans, group discussions, and teaching that emphasizes submission to Scripture rather than simply learning about it, believers begin to develop a more holistic faith. Interestingly, Aaron notes that people who deeply engage Scripture often become both more morally conservative and more socially liberal with deeper compassion toward others. Instead of fitting into political categories, they develop a kingdom perspective shaped by the teachings of Jesus. Holding together justice and biblical conviction. // Throughout his ministry, Aaron has worked extensively in justice initiatives, advocating for the poor and vulnerable. However, he has also seen many leaders abandon historic Christian beliefs while pursuing social justice causes. This experience convinced him that justice and biblical orthodoxy must remain connected. True justice flows naturally from a high view of Scripture and the lordship of Christ. When churches separate the two, they risk losing both their theological foundation and their long-term spiritual influence. To learn more about Aaron Graham's book Unshakable Faith: How to Stand Firm in a Culture of Lies, visit aarongrahamdc.com, where you can find resources, curriculum, and links to purchase the book. Plus, check out District Church at districtchurch.org. Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Risepointe Do you feel like your church’s or school's facility could be preventing growth? Are you frustrated or possibly overwhelmed at the thought of a complicated or costly building project? Are the limitations of your building becoming obstacles in the path of expanding your ministry? Have you ever felt that you could reach more people if only the facility was better suited to the community’s needs? Well, the team over at Risepointe can help! As former ministry staff and church leaders, they understand how to prioritize and help lead you to a place where the building is a ministry multiplier. Your mission should not be held back by your building. Their team of architects, interior designers and project managers have the professional experience to incorporate creative design solutions to help move YOUR mission forward. Check them out at risepointe.com and while you’re there, schedule a FREE call to explore possibilities for your needs, vision and future…Risepointe believes that God still uses spaces…and they're here to help. Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. Super excited that you have decided to tune in today. I know you got a lot going on this week and the fact that you would turn us on is just incredible. So we want to honor you for that. Thanks for doing that. Rich Birch — Today, we’re going to talk about some stuff that I know is applicable to all of us. It It’s the kind of conversation that we’re we’re wrestling with in all of our churches. And we also have a repeat guest, which you know does not happen that often at unSeminary. And you know when we have repeat guests, it means I really want you to hear them and hear what they have to say out. Rich Birch — Today we’re honored to have Aaron Graham with us. He is the lead pastor of of District Church. It was founded in 2010 in Washington, D.C. It’s a Christ-centered, culture-defining church. for transplants and natives. The church was born from a dream about what it would look like for a church to be, or to seek the peace of the city and to exist for the sake of Christ and for the good of the city.Rich Birch — So we’re really excited to have Aaron with us today. Aaron, welcome back to the podcast after a couple of years, but glad to you glad you decided to come back on. Appreciate that.Aaron Graham — Thanks, Rich, for having me and love what you guys are doing and how you’re practically helping church leaders like myself address problems we’re facing in our organizations and culture cultural contexts. Rich Birch — Kind of you to say that. Give us a bit of the District story for folks that, you know, my mom listens to every episode, but not everyone listens to every episode. But kind of to give us a bit of the District story and and talk a little bit about how you intersect with all of that.Aaron Graham — Yeah, we launched 15 years ago right in the heart of DC. We meet two miles north of the White House, and made up of mostly young adults becoming more intergenerational. But one of the things we’ve become known for is just our diversity. So there’s over 80 nations represented in the church. Last night at the newcomers dinner, there were 14 nations represented… Rich Birch — Wow.Aaron Graham — …and so just in that small little dinner. So that’s a real privilege we have of of doing that. We’re a church of life groups and just love what we’re doing right here in the heart of DC.Rich Birch — So good. I once heard a leader say that, you know, DC is full of young leaders, young people like, and, you know, the the whole thing that, you know, the main business will call it in DC is all run on the back of, you know, 20s and 30s who are making a huge difference. What have you noticed with reaching that? And I know, i know you’re, you’re, you’re, like you said there, you’re becoming a more diverse church and, you know, age-wise in all different ways. But let’s let’s kind of focus in on that kind of 20-somethings, 30-somethings. What have you been noticing with folks in that generation as it comes to faith and their relationship with Jesus and, you know, all of their kind of spiritual side? What’s what are some of the observations you’re seeing?Aaron Graham — Yeah, well, I think a lot of young adults are leaning into their faith more than ever. There’s a revival in so many ways happening among young people, but there’s also a lot of retreating and people drifting in their faith. And so we kind of find ourselves with people either leaning in like never before or leaning out like never before. And in a context like D.C., people move to D.C. to change the world. I mean, this is where you come.Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — This is a city of public service. And so these are the Ivy League, educated top of their class. They move here. They land that that job at the U.S. Capitol working for a member of Congress or the White House or an agency whatever, an advocacy advocacy firm. Aaron Graham — And so what happens is it’s very highly educated people here. And highly educated people I’ve noticed have a deep care for those who are suffering. And they want to make a difference. That’s like what public service is all about. Rich Birch — Right. Aaron Graham — Like I want to help serve people. Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — And like the government is supposed to exist to serve people. And so just that kind of love for neighbor. I want to help people out. And so D.C. is like a very politically progressive, highly educated city. And there’s a lot to draw upon with that because people are making a lot of sacrifices. But it does come with some problems, mainly people drifting from biblical orthodoxy, the historic Christian faith that has been handed down to us.Rich Birch — Yeah, I, so I’m Canadian for folks that are listening in and don’t know that I lived in the States for a bunch of years. We lived in New Jersey. And I remember the first time I visited D.C. as a Canadian, I felt patriotic for America. I was like, man, this place is unbelievable. Aaron Graham — Yeah. Yeah. Rich Birch — I’m like, you know, and obviously I was just there as a tourist and actually we’re visiting some friends and we got the tour of the Capitol, one of these like behind the scenes, let me put you behind the velvet rope. And I was like, this place is unreal. Like what a, what a place to serve and… Aaron Graham — Yeah. Rich Birch — …it has that kind of feeling of, you know, while people are are coming to change the world really in a positive way. I’d love to kind of focus in on this as you talk about people that are leaning, you know, leaning back, leaning away, drifting from their faith, drifting from orthodoxy. You know, we’ve we’ve heard a lot about even the kind of deconstructing movement and that, you know, there’s, it is an interesting time we live in, spiritually, because these are like two realities that are kind of happening at the same time, people leaning in and leaning back.Rich Birch — What are some of those common assumptions that you’ve noticed for people who are leaning back from, from, like you say, an Orthodox Christian faith?Aaron Graham — Yeah, absolutely. I think one is just, we’ve we’ve heard this, but just church hurt. I think scandals and hypocrisy in the church among leaders is kind of at least at an all time high of what we’re hearing about right now. And so because we’re so tapped into the news and online, I think most people are very aware, if they haven’t had a bad experience, they know somebody who has been been hurt by a religious leader or by you know a church leader. And it’s sort of like, you know we always hear the bad examples, right? Aaron Graham — Like all the planes that arrive safely every day, you never hear about. But when when the one plane has some mechanical issues or has has a rough landing, you hear about it. And I think there’s so many just faithful pastors and church leaders out there that are doing awesome work. But unfortunately, we’re hearing about the, the, the bad apples. And there’s been a lot of them that have been reported on. So I think that influences people saying, do I really want to be a part of this? If it’s an option, do I? You know, so church hurt’s one of them. Aaron Graham — I think theological differences. I mean, this is the age of the church split and human sexuality is like front and center of that. Rich Birch — Right. Aaron Graham — But politics increasing these, these last few years or what side are you on and how do you interpret? So, so I think, political, theological differences. And then I think just like complacency, like just straight up spiritual drift. It’s not doctrine doctrinal. It’s not scandal. It’s just like, you know what? Like, it’s just easier not to go to church. Aaron Graham — It’s sort of the folks that left during COVID. It’s like, oh I’m going to watch online and then I’m not going to return to church. It’s just like that spiritual drift. So those are some themes I’m seeing, you know, right here in DC. And I’ve seen as a pattern and talking to other church leaders.Rich Birch — Yeah, that I’d love to kind of narrow in a little bit there on this tension between spiritual drift, like it’s the, you know, I’d rather watch football or whatever, you know, complacency. And then actually folks that are wrestling, honestly, that are asking questions and are are struggling. What have you seen? How how do you discern that how how does that? How does that work itself out? What have you learned about the difference between people who are in these kind of two categories?Aaron Graham — Yeah, I talk a lot about the difference between doubt, deconstruction, and denial. And I think it’s helpful to have these kind of three categories because it’s easy to just put everybody in the same category when they’re not dealing with the same thing.Aaron Graham — And so to doubt is to lack confidence, to be unsure about something. And that’s like part of what it means to be human, to have questions.Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — Like we want to have churches where like youth and young adults can ask honest questions about human suffering and about questions they have theologically like that. You want people to be curious and it says in the book of Jude that we need to be merciful to those who doubt.Aaron Graham — And so we see that modeled in Jesus. But he ultimately calls us beyond our doubt. Like he doesn He doesn’t call us to like center our doubt. He calls us to walk by faith, not by doubt. And so we have to create space for that. But you know if a church is like, you know its mission statement is to just welcome doubters and then you center that, that’s actually not a very forward…Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — …facing thing. Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — And so, so, so we need to create space for doubt. And sometimes people, that’s just what they’re having. They’re are just having questions. Aaron Graham — I think deconstruction is a step beyond doubt and deconstruction is like when you are in the process of dismantling your beliefs. And sometimes there’s some beliefs that need to be dismantled because there’s like, you grew up in a church that had like really messed up theology. Rich Birch — Right. Yeah. Aaron Graham — Like you grew up in a cult or something. Rich Birch — Yeah. Aaron Graham — And you’re like, I’ve got to deconstruct this. Or like I experienced spiritual manipulation and I thought this is what it meant to honor a leader. Or I experienced abuse in some way. And so you have to kind of deconstruct that. The problem is a lot of people are deconstructing outside of the context of community or biblical community. And so they’re doing so in isolation and the enemy loves that. Like the enemy loves to isolate us. Aaron Graham — And so if you’re going to deconstruct something unhealthy, you have to reconstruct. And the problem is there’s been a lot of deconstruction without reconstructing. So so there’s doubt, there’s deconstruction, and then unhealthy deconstruction can lead to denial, right? This is Judas, right? This is like, I will not go with you. Rich Birch — rightAaron Graham — Like and so denial is like, is more active, where doubt is more passive, denial can be ah more more active. And I think it’s very dangerous. This is Jude saying, snatch them from the fire. You know, this is life or death type of thing. So.Rich Birch — Can we focus in a bit on the doubt piece for a second? What does that look like for you as a leader? Like, what are some practical ways that we can offer space for people who are, who do have legit doubts? And, you know, I get that there’s this tension of like, we don’t want to create just like, let’s all get around and talk about what we don’t know. But like, how how can we do that? Or how are you doing that at District? What’s that look like for you guys?Aaron Graham — We do a series every summer called This Is My Story, where I don’t preach for two weeks and we hear 10-minute testimonies from people in our church. So three 10-minute testimonies each week, and we select people in our church and then we coach them around how to prepare for it. And they share a question, their biggest question, their biggest doubt, their biggest struggle and how they’ve moved through that and how it’s actually enabled them to deepen their faith and not to deconstruct their faith.Aaron Graham — So it’s testimony time, but it’s structured around how they’ve moved through doubt. Because I think our biggest questions, for me as a child, it was why do kids die of preventable causes? Like it shapes so much of your calling if you process it in a healthy way. And so, yeah, so this is my story. And that’s just been really helpful. It gives the pastor a break. Rich Birch — Right. Aaron Graham — Sometimes I’m doing it when I’m on vacation. Rich Birch — Yeah. Aaron Graham — So allows me to step out, but it also allows leaders. And so what it does in terms of formation in the congregation is we’re actually moving the date this year to be when most newcomers come at the end of August. Rich Birch — That’s cool.Aaron Graham — Because it’s been so popular with newcomers. Cause they’re like, Oh, I see myself in this church. Like, Oh, you have questions too. I have questions. But once again, it’s not like I’m centering that doubt or that question at the end of the day. So, so that’s, that’s one thing practically, you know, we’ve done.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s cool. I love that. And, you know, there there was a time in the generation before me where, yeah, it was like, you don’t acknowledge any of that, right? It’s like, you don’t, you can’t ask any of those questions. Cause that, that is it’s like, just asking the question is going to, it’s like something bad is going to happen. I worked for a long time for a lead pastor that did open forum Q and A after every single message. So every single message you would say, Hey, like, is there anything, have any questions about anything I said or left unsaid? And similarly, it, it created a culture where, people kept you honest as a preacher. I hated it when I spoke. I was like, gosh, because you know, like any question? Aaron Graham — Totally.Rich Birch — But it did create a culture where like, hey, it’s okay to ask, right? It’s okay to to explore for sure.Aaron Graham — Yeah, that’s great.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s interesting.Aaron Graham — I love it.Rich Birch — So getting back to this whole idea, you know, doubt, discernment, denial, at some point, you know, you’ve started to see some patterns in the culture around us, some recurring themes that you’ve seen. And actually you package these into a book that I want to make sure people, I actually think it’d be a really helpful tool for folks. But and so no, I’m not just trying to sell books, but I do think it’s a helpful thing. Help us talk through, so tell us about the book and how is it set up? What is the framework for it?Aaron Graham — Yeah, so the new book’s called Unshakable Faith: How to Stand Firm in a Culture of Lies. And for me, it really came about from trying to see this pattern of so many people slowly drifting from their faith and saying, how do we prevent this as pastors?Aaron Graham — Like, the if we don’t disciple our people, the world gladly will. And in some ways, they’re doing the world’s doing a better job…Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — …of discipling our people. And so what are these like subtle lies that people are believing that is causing people to, you know, not lean into their faith. And I’ve just seen it like in the urban center here, I’ve just seen so many well-intentioned, highly educated, sometimes often sincere people just drift.Aaron Graham — And so they’re no longer going to church. They’re not raising their kids in the faith. And so, yeah, I’ve just seen it over and over. And so I wrote this book in response to that. And honestly, in so many ways, it’s a critique of what I what I call progressive Christianity. And I mean that theologically, not politically. But it’s it’s when someone reinterprets Scripture, the historic teachings of Scripture, to make it more comfortable or palatable to the current culture.Aaron Graham — It’s it’s like emphasizing relevance over faithfulness. And so what I’ve seen so often over and over is that oh, this isn’t just a conversation around human sexuality or progressive Christianity. Progressive Christianity is becoming a layover to post-Christianity for so many people. And so I just began to say, okay, is this new thing? Oh, it’s actually not new. It’s not in the last like 20 years.Aaron Graham — This has been happening for like 500 years since the enlightenment where you know progressive Christians, or however they’re labeled, end up denying the miraculous. And then denying at the core the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is like the very core of our faith. Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — I was like, this isn’t just a conversation around human sexuality, which is where it started with the newcomer. This is, you know, or with the leader, even in the church, this is about something much more deep.Aaron Graham — And so that’s when I just began to pray in this and and just say, what are the patterns that I’m seeing? What are these lies that people are often like well-meaning, but believing? And how is that compromising our ability to call people to faith, but also help make disciples. So.Rich Birch — Is there, I think, friends, I had a chance to sneak peek at this book and I think it could be a great resource for many of our churches. It could be a great kind of small group discussion, a great leadership book. I think it could be a fantastic thing for us to do with our leadership team together wrestling through these these issues. so We’re not going to be able to cover all of it, but what would you say maybe one of these pernicious subtle lies that you see is prevailing? It it’s it it pops up all the time. Help us unpack one of those.Aaron Graham — Yeah, sure. So one of them I talk about is the selective Christian, the person who edits scripture to fit preferences rather than engaging in the whole word of God. And you know, Jim Wallace, who is a well-known social justice advocate in the 70s, when he was at Trinity Evangelical Seminary, got together with some friends, and they went through the Bible and they cut up every reference in the Bible to the poor, or to the widow, the orphan. And there’s like 2000 verses in the Bible about about that. And he would go around and he’d hold up a Bible and he’d say, this is the Bible we have in in America. It’s a Bible full of holes because we’ve neglected the call to justice and the call to care for the poor.Aaron Graham — Well, I’m seeing that same thing happen in this next generation around some other core doctrine, around human depravity, around human sexuality, around gender and marriage and these other things that we don’t want to talk about. But what’s really at stake in so many ways is the authority of Scripture. And so we pick and choose what parts we want to believe. And then we strip the gospel of its saving power because we’ve only chosen to believe the parts that are the most acceptable to us and our friends in this cultural moment. That’s just a really dangerous way to not be formed in our faith.Rich Birch — Yeah. And, you know, I think we’ve, you can see that in how, you know, we handle scripture. I think one of the dangers that we face as preachers, we did a study where we looked at common passages that people were using over a couple years in churches. And we found that, you know, it’s not surprising, right? People come back to like the same passages time and time again, because I think we are trying to, even if it’s not if it’s not a like a willful decision, we just kind of drift in that direction of like, hey, well, I’m just not going to talk about that because I just am not sure what to say. Rich Birch — How how do you fight this in yourself, in the church around you? Because you know you are a winsome leader. You’re a church full of grace. You’re trying to actually interact with the culture. You’re not running for the hills. You’re not like, you know, putting your head in the sand kind of thing. How, how do you, how does not being a selective Christian work itself out in, in your world?Aaron Graham — Yeah, so one of the things I’m trying to really emphasize in our church is like Bible engagement. It seems like so 101, but it’s like, guys, we got to read our Bibles. Rich Birch — Yeah, no, absolutely. Aaron Graham — And so it’s like you know Bible in a year kind of plans, getting as many groups together. I lead a group on on Bible in a year, and it’s like, let’s read the whole Bible and let’s like struggle with these passages and talking about it and like, let’s see the power of the word of God.Aaron Graham — And so, you know, there’s a lot of research that shows that people who engage with the Bible have like measurable differences in their life. And one of the things is that when you actually engage in not in reading the Bible, but actually submitting yourself to it, you become both more liberal and conservative. Because you you you become more morally conservative and you become more socially liberal, like in caring for the needs of others. And so you just break out of these categories.Aaron Graham — And for somebody like you in Canada, that’s not in the US, like, it’s kind of crazy how we get polarized in the U.S. over certain things that that global Christians don’t get as as polarized on in some ways.Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — And so I think that’s one of the things that I’ve seen a lot of fruit in is like, hey, we’re going to be at a church that’s about the word of God. We’re going to teach the word of God. We’re going to sit under its authority even when it’s uncomfortable.Aaron Graham — And I find even in very progressive cities like D.C., people hunger for biblical teaching.Even if they they don’t agree with it all, they’ll come listen to it because they’re looking for something that’s different than what they’re hearing everywhere else where it’s like affirm, affirm, affirm everything. It’s like, I wanna be called to something higher, something that’s bigger than me, that’s more historic than me. So as it relates to being a selective Christian, I think just simple Bible engagement and really putting effort in that has is has borne a lot of fruit.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s cool. I know my lead pastor has been saying the same thing for the last few years. And I would I would echo this. I think this has been, this is a very unique season where I think in general, the culture is leaning in and asking the question, what is it about this? And, you know, Jeff, my lead pastor makes the joke. He’s like this, you see this rippling it all in all parts of culture. There’s you know one of the outcomes of the fact that things are so kind of changing all the time, we’re we’re obsessed with the you know the latest trend or whatever, is people want things that have been true for a long time. They’re and it’s why are people putting chickens in their backyards? And what is it with all the sourdough? Like, why does that stuff, why is that resonating? Rich Birch — There’s a connection to this so, you know, similar kind of cultural issue that we’re saying here with scripture, where it’s like, I’m intrigued by the Bible. I want to learn about that because that’s it something we’ve been telling each other these stories for thousands of years. And how does that apply to our lives? Let’s not miss that moment, church leaders, and not actually give them what they’re what they’re looking for. So yeah, that’s that’s interesting.Aaron Graham — Absolutely. I think the devil really overplayed his hand as it relates to secular culture. Meaning, secular culture meaning it’s defined itself in opposition to the church with a message of the more personal freedom you have, the more autonomy you have, the more the happier you’ll be. And Gen Z is waking up and being like…Rich Birch — That’s not true. Yeah.Aaron Graham — …no, this is not fulfilling. I want something more historic and rooted. And that’s, I think, one of the things that’s leading a lot of people to come into the church right now in this generation. They’re just saying, I’m hungry for God. And I don’t think that just having more freedom and flexibility is the answer.Aaron Graham — It’s like so somebody just gave their life to Jesus on Sunday, came to the newcomer’s dinner last night, and he’s like, what do I need to do next? And and you know and I gave it to him hard. I was like, it’s not just about praying a prayer. You prayed that, praise the Lord, and you’re going to baptized and you’re doing a Rooted group and all this. But it’s like, what in your life, in your relationships in your work, like you need to cut some things off, like repentance, like change directions. And he’s like, yeah, like, tell me more. You know, he’s like leaning in.Rich Birch — Yeah, yeah.Aaron Graham — Like, I think people want to be led, like in love, but they want to be led. Rich Birch — Yeah.Aaron Graham — It’s not just like choose your own adventure.Rich Birch — Yeah.Aaron Graham — That’s not helping this generation.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so true. I would echo that. You know, it does feel like we’ve come to the end of secular humanism. And and I remember a time when I first started ministry, I was like, well, it sure seems that that’s working. Aaron Graham — Yeah. Rich Birch — Like, it’s just so dominant, but it feels like there’s this collective like, well, that didn’t work. So. Rich Birch — What was that what’s another lie that we, again, we’re not gonna able to get to all of them. So don’t worry, friends. And we, you know, you’re gonna have to read the book. But what’s another one that that has bubbled up that’s been, you know particularly intriguing as you’ve interacted with people around it?Aaron Graham — Yeah, um there’s there’s so many different ones, but I think um one of them is the divisive influencer. This is the seventh lie, so I’ll kind of take it to the the end of the book here. But the divisive influencer is really growing right now. It’s somebody who kind of mirrors cancel culture instead of practicing radical forgiveness and grace. Aaron Graham — And so we see a lot of political polarization right now. We feel it in our families. We feel it in our churches where it’s like you’re coming for a holiday meal and it’s like, it’s this tension underneath. We feel it in life groups and it’s like, how do we navigate this? And so that’s that’s one of the ones that, you know, being in DC the political…Rich Birch — Yeah, it was gonna that was going to be my follow-up. I’m like, wait a second. Isn’t that the bread and butter of the people you work with?Aaron Graham — Yes. And honestly, people, when they come to church, even in DC, they don’t want to like enter into an echo chamber. They want to be formed. They want to go upstream. They want to hear the word of the Lord.Aaron Graham — And so I think that one of the things as it relates to this, like cancel culture and like the solution to that obviously is like Jesus, it’s like, love your enemies, forgive those who persecute you. Like actually when you lean into relationships with people who are different, like that’s that’s how you you grow.Aaron Graham — And so whenever we’re dealing with an issue, like whatever, some issues in the news, and it’s like, oh, what should should we what should we include in our prayer? Do we need to talk about that in the sermon? And you know you’re getting pressure from certain people to do that. One of the things I’ve realized is that if we haven’t gone upstream as church leaders, and taught our congregation the biblical call around poverty or abortion or immigration or whatever, then when it pops up in the news, we get very reactive and people interpret that through their political lens. They’ve already made their mind up.Aaron Graham — And so some pastors are playing on this and you can kind of grow your church, like you’ll lose 10%, but grow 40% because you kind of lean into that predictable division.Rich Birch — Yep.Aaron Graham — But I think that one of the the calls of of Jesus is like, how do we we go upstream so you can form people to say, hey, we have to engage in poverty. We have to… But like two Christians can agree on addressing something like abortion, poverty, you know justice, and disagree which policy solution will be the best. And so we should have that kind of diversity our church.Aaron Graham — That’s what’s made our nation great is having that level of diversity. And I think we need to model that out in the church, not just our racial and ethnic diversity but I think our political diversity is increasingly important and it’s not to say that each side is like morally equivalent on each issue. I think some parties are way better on certain issues than others. But I think we have to really lean into this forgiveness and not lean into this radical divisive influencer even though that kind of posture may be rewarded online. And this next generation is, I think a high percentage of them want to be influencers online. So there’s ah a great temptation to kind of lean into that. But it’s like, what does Jesus teach us around that?Rich Birch — Right. Yeah, that’s so good. Yeah, I think you’re calling out of something that we you know definitely see. And there’s ah even ah ah this kind of return of particularly young men back to church. There’s some of that that I’m not sure is is actually positive where it’s it’s leaning towards. It’s a it is a very politically charged kind of faith that to me doesn’t read Jesus. It or it’s a it’s just one aspect maybe of of of Jesus. So that’s interesting you’re calling that out for sure.Rich Birch — Off-roading a little bit on a similar topic, one of the things I find fascinating about you, about the church, about District, is that there was like this false dichotomy that’s set up in a lot of churches. It’s like, hey, you can either be a church that is has a high value on scripture, which you clearly do. Or you can be a church that is engaged in issues of development and justice in the world around you. You can’t do both of those. You can’t actually make a difference in the community around you, be cared, be care about the poor care about those things and also have a high view of scripture. I’m not saying that’s true. I’m saying there seems to be this popular notion out there. Your church seems to be doing both, trying to do both. Am I reading that correctly? Help me understand how, how you see those interacting with each other.Aaron Graham — Yeah, I’ve always been known the last 20 years in ministry as the justice guy, the one calling the church to engage in justice. And then I looked up around and saw so many of my justice friends had deconstructed their faith, were no longer pastoring churches, and their kids weren’t following Jesus. Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — And I was like, something’s wrong. Because it’s like, oh, we’re trying to like care for the poor, but now we’ve lost our faith in the process. And the kids that we’re raising, we have no message for them other than just be tolerant and inclusive Christians. Like tolerant being tolerant and inclusive and loving is a great value. Jesus is the most loving person, but he called people to repentance and he called people to the to to the Father.Aaron Graham — And so I think that that’s always just been a a big value of ours is like the authority of scripture and the Lordship of Christ. And I think that leads to justice. Like, um and so I think it’s just being willing to stand alone. I’ve lost a lot of friendships over this. Not not just friendships. Not like I don’t talk to somebody, but just like colleagues in ministry, because there’s like theologically, like you just believe something that’s different. Like you’ve stepped outside of biblical orthodoxy.Aaron Graham — So I think we have to be, be willing to to stand alone. And i think we’re on the winning side. I think Jesus and justice, I think both those things go together. Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — So I don’t think we’re crazy, but it is hard to hold them together when the political narratives are so forming and deceptive. And so it’s hard. It’s hard for me. I got a lot of flack for my theological positions in this city. but I think, you know, we got to be willing to stand alone.Rich Birch — Yeah. Very cool. Well, I want to, I think this could be a great book, as you were writing it. What were kind of what were you picturing your kind of ideal situation where it would land? Obviously you want lots of people to read it, but to me, I saw it. I was like the, when I, the sneak peek I looked into, I was like, man, this could be a great, I think a really good discussion starter in a leadership team. Are there other environments you think, Hey man, this could be really a great place to, you know, to use this resource.Aaron Graham — Yeah, the the the main person I’m writing to, and I hope a lot of people read it, but the main person is like a 23-year-old that graduates from college that has at least a nominal Christian faith. They have the intention to join a church when they move to the city and land their first job, but they are totally at risk of abandoning their faith unless they make some very clear decisions and are a part of a church that has made some really clear decisions around, we’re not going to believe these lies. We’re going to call them out, and we’re going intentionally disciple you away from being discipled by secular culture and disciple you around the Word of God. Aaron Graham — That’s my hope. You know If anybody that’s deconstructed comes back to faith, praise the Lord. Hallelujah.Rich Birch — Right. Yeah, that’s amazing.Aaron Graham — But I’m actually trying to do a prevention so that all the people who are coming to faith right now in this revival, that it falls on good ground. Because we have such a discipleship culture in our churches that is able to name and discern, first, and then name these lies and to help this next generation stand firm in the gospel. And so that’s that’s the subtitle of the the book is how to stand firm in a culture of lies.Aaron Graham — And for so long, we were trained in the church as church leaders to evangelize people who were like spiritually kind of curious and open, like kind of the seeker sensitive movement. That’s how like international, but I grew up as a missionary kid. So it’s like, we were trained to like share the gospel with people who like just needed to hear that there’s one God and that he loves you and that you can have a relationship with him.Aaron Graham — But now we’re trying to evangelize a post-Christian culture, which you know a lot about in Canada. And we’re learning more about here in in North America. And that culture actually is not just like ambivalent towards Christianity. It’s actually anti-Christian faith. Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — They’re trying to evangelize us. And so if we just try to take the same approach where we’re just loving and let me give them a hug, see if they hug back, they’re actually winning. Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — And so so so it’s like, how do we… how do we have a plan to say, you know what, we’re going to love the world. We’re going in the world, but not of the world. But it’s it’s like it’s a whole different, I can use that word on on this, ah the word here on this church leaders podcast. It’s a whole different missiology around how to engage in mission.Aaron Graham — And so, yeah, so I’m hoping that we reach the 20-something and I’m hoping that people talk about this. We wrote this and we have a small group video curriculum coming out as well, because we really want pastors who say, I want this culture in my church to be able to have people do it in groups, discuss it… Rich Birch — That’s great. Aaron Graham — …and be able to make these commitments before it becomes an even greater problem in our churches.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. That’s a really vivid picture of, like you say, the 23 year old who’s moving to the city, um you know, who has some faith, but is is maybe at risk, I think is ah is ah is a vivid picture for all of us. And I would share, you didn’t actually say it this way, but I would share some concern with the swell towards faith. I don’t, who am I? Like the, obviously it’s an amazing thing that’s going on. Lots of people are taking steps toward Jesus. I’m not going to be the guy that’s like, that’s bad.Rich Birch — But I would say I’m concerned that we are a good steward of this moment, that it’s like, man, I have been waiting my entire ministry career for this to happen.Aaron Graham — Yeah.Rich Birch — And now, gosh, let’s not drop the ball. And I think your book could be a part of helping us think through and helping leaders and individuals think through this. So the name of the book is Unshakable Faith. And again, you said that: How to stand firm in a culture of lies. Where can people, look at that? There’s a shot of it. There’s got a beautiful front on. It’s very hip. I’m assuming we can get it at Amazon. Are there other places we should go to get copies of this?Aaron Graham — Everywhere books are sold so um if you go to aarongrahamDC.com—just my name aarongrahamDC (double meaning for District Church and DC of the the city of DC) aarongrahamDC.com —and then you’ll see the links to all the retailers on there, including Amazon, but all the different retailers Christianbook, Books-a-million, Barnes and Noble, all that. And so, yeah, you can you can grab a copy there, and we’d love to hear from you as well. You you can have a place where you can contact me on there.Rich Birch — Oh, that’s great. Perfect. We’ll put links to all of that in the show notes. And friends, like I say, if you’re a long-term listener, you know, we don’t actually typically have a lot of authors on, but I wanted to have Aaron on because I do think this is particularly poignant for us, I think, in in today’s culture. And I think it could be a thing that could really help your team, help, you know, people at your church, I think could be ah a really great resource for that. Rich Birch — As we wrap up today’s episode, any kind of final words you’d have for a church leader that’s wrestling in, that’s wrestling with these issues today is, is maybe feeling some of this tension around, you know, feeling compromised at the door kind of thing. Help us, help us as we wrap up today.Aaron Graham — Yeah, well, first off, just thanks for having me on and having me back, you know, as a repeat guest. That’s awesome. I love what you’re doing. Like I said, I learned so much from you. Some practical stuff is so great to hear all the different speakers that come on and and leaders. Aaron Graham — But yeah, no, I think the the the message that I want leaders church leaders to hear is that if you don’t run to this problem around what’s happening in our culture and how it’s affecting discipleship, this problem will get worse. And, and I think that one of the the challenges for me being in the belly of the beast in the heart of DC, I’m not just like DC, like, so I’m like in the heart with all these national leaders, very educated people, is that it’s sort of like a signal, kind of like downtown New York city is as well. It’s like a signal of where culture is going.Aaron Graham — And so if, if you don’t lean towards this conversation and learn, this problem will only grow in your church. And so while it might be uncomfortable for some of you based on, like if you’re like me and you’re wired as like a harmony person, like I don’t want to have disagreements on my staff or with my board or in my family conversation, like it will only get bigger and worse. So lean in and and take advantage of of resources from people who are writing about this, who have thought about it. And don’t be alone in this. Don’t try to be isolated in this conversation because there’s a lot of people who, even though you might feel alone where you’re pastoring or where you’re leading, there’s a lot of people who feel the same way you are. And so, so get connected in, in with them. So, so that’s, that’s what I’d say.Rich Birch — That’s great. Thanks so much, Aaron. Give us that website again where we want to send people to if they want to connect more directly with you or with the church.Aaron Graham — Yeah, just aarongrahamDC.com. And that’ll also link to our church website, districtchurch.org. And we’d love to have people visit us when you’re in DC, because like you said, DC is a fun city.Rich Birch — Love it. It is a fun city.Aaron Graham — It’s one of the best cities to 250th anniversary of DC. Lots of celebrations happening this year. Rich Birch — Yes, that’s true. Aaron Graham — So come in and see us. Rich Birch — It’ll be a big year. That’s great. Thanks so much. Appreciate being here today, sir. And we’ll have you back on sometime soon. Thanks for coming.Aaron Graham — Awesome. Thanks, Rich.

Guest host Katie McCoy talks to John Stonestreet about their recent trips to South Korea and Brazil. More violence in Minneapolis as ICE raids continue in that state. The Greater Than Campaign is underway to remind us that children's needs are greater than adult desires. And we wade into a social media debate over interracial marriage.  Recommendations  Colson Center National Conference  The Comment    Segment 1 – Worldwide Religious Persecution  Colson Fellows  A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle      Segment 2 – Continued Chaos in Minnesota  The Independent  Segment 3 – Greater Than Campaign  Greater Than Press release  Breakpoint article  Segment 4 - March for Life  European Conservative  Colson Center National Conference  Segment 5 – Is Interracial Marriage a Sin?  X post  Webbon debate    ______________________   Make a gift by December 31 to help us form families, churches, and schools in the Christian worldview in 2026! Thanks to a generous grant, your gift will be doubled, up to $500,000. Give today at colsoncenter.org/november.   Watch Truth Rising, now available at truthrising.com/colson.   

In this end-of-year recap episode, Maria Baer and John Stonestreet reflect on the significant cultural shifts of 2025, discussing major stories such as the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the rise of antisemitism, and the evolving landscape of transgenderism. They explore the implications of these events on society and the church, emphasizing the importance of truth and the need for a return to meaningful relationships in the face of technological advancements like AI. The conversation also touches on the changing dynamics of Christian leadership and the ongoing challenges and opportunities for the church in a rapidly shifting cultural context.    Segment 1 – Charlie Kirk and Antisemitism  A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World  Breakpoint article: The Charlie Kirk Effect  Quiet Revival Bonus Podcast  Rise of Antisemitism  Segment 2 – Charlie Kirk and Culture  Segment 3 – Transgenderism, AI, Return to Masculinity and 2025 Deaths  Interesting Times with Ross Douthat  Nellie Bowles TGIF  Mumford and Sons new album Rushmere  The Desecration of Man How the Rejection of God Degrades Our Humanity By Carl Trueman  ______________________   Make a gift by December 31 to help us form families, churches, and schools in the Christian worldview in 2026! Thanks to a generous grant, your gift will be doubled, up to $500,000. Give today at colsoncenter.org/november.   Watch Truth Rising, now available at truthrising.com/colson.   

As moms or teachers or mentors, how do we help the young people in our lives grow deep roots of faith before they launch into the world? Today's guest has some practical answers. As Educators Specialist here at the Colson Center, Billy Hutchinson is all about helping Christian educators form their students in the Christian worldview. But this episode isn't just for educators! If you play any influential role in the life of a young person, you'll find encouragement and help in this conversation.  Show Notes:  A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle  Kingmaker by Sonia Purnell  The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt: The Women Who Created a President by Edward O'Keefe   The Colson Educators Program  The Colson Fellows Program   The Identity Project    Want to know what it takes to be a Colson Fellow? Well, you can find out from someone who's already been through it by checking out the Pursuit series on the Colson Fellows blog. There, you can read testimonies of men and women like you from different backgrounds who took on the challenge of the Colson Fellows Program and came out on the other side transformed. Start with Catherine Wheeler's story. She was in my Colson Fellows cohort when I was a leader. She's an OBGYN and former abortionist whose transformation story really is amazing. You can read Catherine's testimony and many others by visiting colsonfellows.org/stories.   You don't have to look far to notice cancel culture is everywhere. Maybe your teen is nervous to speak up at school about being pro-life because she's afraid her opinion will be dismissed. Maybe you're hesitant to voice concerns at work because you're worried about backlash from your co-workers. These situations are common, but speaking the truth with love is our calling as Christians. The Colson Educators course, "Navigating Cancel Culture," can help. In partnership with "No Safe Spaces," the Colson Center and Brett Kunkle teach you how to understand cancel culture, recognize where it shows up, and respond with a Christian perspective. Ready to learn more? Sign up at colsoneducators.org.    The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what's happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women    Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

Today, we're diving into our current parenting culture- does it support or hinder parents and kids? To have this conversation with me today on Yoga|Birth|Babies I have Emily Edlynn, PhD. Emily is a licensed clinical psychologist, international speaker, co-host of the Psychologists Off the Clock podcast, and award-winning author of Autonomy-Supportive Parenting: Reduce Parental Burnout and Raise Competent, Confident Children. Emily's writing has appeared in outlets such as the Washington Post, Parents, Scary Mommy, Good Housekeeping, Motherly, and Psychology Today and she writes regularly for her Substack, Parent Smarter, Not Harder. Emily and I take a deep dive into modern parenting culture, examining its impact on both parents and children. We get honest about where there might be some downfalls, and how those downfalls especially affect mothers. Lastly, we explore the topics of intensive-parenting or over-parenting, vs. “Autonomy-Supportive Parenting.” Any parent of a child, no matter how old, can learn from this. Enjoy this episode. Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com Don't forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE  If you love what you've been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) or on Spotify! To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:  Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've all heard the stats: Anxiety, depression, and loneliness are on the rise. Yet, therapies, medications, and other techniques for alleviating mental afflictions abound. What are we missing? Alan Noble, author of “On Getting Out of Bed,” joins us today to first normalize mental anguish as an everyday experience for the majority of people. His book takes on the central challenge of life: Why is it worth living? And how do we survive all of this suffering? Alan and Patrick discuss how Western society historically perpetuated the lies that mental suffering is abnormal and that we can conquer anything by maximizing our own efficiency. But do techniques for alleviating anxiety and depression really work? Or are they making things even worse? They discuss how therapy culture has backfired and how too many latch onto their mental diagnosis as their identity. Plus, is our environment breeding more anxiety and depression? And how can we enter well into the anxiety of others? Listen now! Have you benefitted personally from Truth Over Tribe or seen it have a positive effect on someone you know? have you used the podcast, book, or blog as a catalyst for conversation on polarizing topics? We want to hear about it! Share your story at choosetruthovertribe.com/story. Ok, truth time... Did you like this episode? Tell us by leaving a rating or review!

One author has poignantly written “we're not in an age of change, but a change of age.” John and Maria discuss that idea as it relates to culture, the church, and ideology in general.   Recommendations Add to the Beauty by Sara Groves The Confessions of Saint Augustine   Segment 1 - Shifts in Culture A Change of Age A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle  A Free People's Suicide: Sustainable Freedom and the American Future by Os Guinness Segment 2 - Shifts in the Church The Strong Women podcast The World and Everything in It podcast Segment 3 - Shifts in Ideology __________ Get access to recordings from the 2024 Colson Center National Conference with your gift of any amount at colsoncenter.org/august. Register for the upcoming Lighthouse Voices featuring Samuel D. Jones, author of Digital Liturgies: Rediscovering Christian Wisdom in an Online Age, at colsoncenter.org/lighthouse.

Mike Winther continues his discussion on Biblical Principles of Government. This episode will focus on history, but he begins the lecture by highlighting two key solutions to our problems: the political solution and the educational solution. All of our efforts to change the world can be divided into these two categories. We either try to change society politically or through education. Unfortunately, we often concentrate all our efforts on the political solution, when focusing on education is the real answer. Spending just one-tenth of what is spent on political campaigns on biblical education could significantly influence the outlooks of future generations. Mike also emphasizes the importance of reading physical books, underlining, and bookmarking the best passages. Mike kicks off the history portion by breaking down the etymology of the word "history." He discusses how history is important to God and uses the Bible as an example. Mike then explores the six philosophical views of history that shape how people perceive it. We learn that history is the study of the consequences of ideas. Mike strives to make history interesting and ties it back to the Biblical Principles we cherish. You'll Learn: [01:02] The political and educational solutions to our problems. We either try to change society politically or through education. [01:41] Sometimes we get our focus wrong and put all of our effort on the political solution and neglect education. [05:32] If we spent 1/10 of what is spent on political campaigns on education and teaching High School students this course, it would change society. [12:16] Mike talks about the importance of reading and how we all need to be readers. [16:06] History and the etymology of the word. His story or the working out of God's story. [19:15] History is important to God. Just try to find a book in the Bible that isn't about history. [19:44] Psalm 78 and Joshua 4 and Judges 5 and the New Testament. [22:23] Mike talks about the six philosophical views of history that frame how people view history. [23:15] The state of society, good or bad. Early time and later time. This charts the views of History. [23:46] 1. The random view of History. Things are sometimes better and sometimes worse. [24:13] 2. The pendulum view of History where we swing from one extreme to another. [24:51] 3. The evolutionary progress view. This is where everything evolves over time and gets better. [25:39] The first three views of history are atheist or agnostic. The next three are compatible with Christianity. [25:41] He also talks about what all Christians agree on. [27:13] 4. The pessimistic view. Things get worse and worse until the second coming. [27:46] 5. The neutral view. We're not getting more or less righteous, things just vacillate back and forth. [28:08] 6. The optimistic view. Over time, the church has more influence, and the level of righteousness improves. [28:46] Psalm 110 [36:37] History is simply the study of the consequences of ideas. It gets exciting when you think about the stuff that really happened. [37:48] The Magna Carta was the first time a king was seriously challenged. [38:36] The Great Charter was the start of a multi-millennial challenge to the power of the king. [39:46] Mike shares the history before the landing of the Mayflower. [40:30] The Gutenberg Bible gave more people access to read God's word.  [42:28] Separatists were people who were tired of the Church of England and were separating. The Puritans were trying to purify and solve all the flaws. [43:11] The pilgrims lived in Holland before they came to Plymouth. John Robinson preached all of God's words.  [44:14] The number one reason they left Holland was because their children were too influenced by the secular nature of Holland. The fifth reason was to evangelize the natives of North America. [48:20] The Mayflower Compact. The first constitution in the US. [51:51] The providential view of history says that Providence or God intervenes in history. [56:24] The pilgrims didn't have enough crops to sustain themselves. [01:00:35] The first experiment in socialism was a failure. Once it was abandoned they had more food than they could use. Your Resources: Books to browse Biblical Principles of Government (1a) Biblical Principles of Government (1b) Biblical Principles of Government (2a) Biblical Principles of Government (2b) Biblical Principles of Government (3a) Biblical Principles of Government (3b) Biblical Principles of Government (4a) Biblical Principles of Government (4b) Biblical Principles of Government (5a) Biblical Principles of Government (5b) Biblical Principles of Government (6a) Biblical Principles of Government (6a) Biblical Principles of Government (7a) Biblical Principles of Government (7b) Biblical Principles of Government (8a) Biblical Principles of Government (8b) A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World History of Plimoth Plantation

In our latest episode, we had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Mel Taveras, a seasoned expert in youth culture, mental health coaching, and parenting. Dr. Taveras shared valuable insights on how parents can guide their children through the complexities of today's youth culture, incorporating age-appropriate discussions and grounding them in God's truths.Here are some key takeaways from the episode:1. Communicating Age-Appropriate Information: Dr. Taveras emphasized the importance of tailoring conversations to match the developmental stage of the child. She shared a personal experience of discussing pregnancy with her grandchildren, highlighting the necessity of providing just the right amount of information based on each child's understanding.2. Addressing Sensitive Topics: The gender identity issue and bullying were brought to light, with Dr. Taveras offering thoughtful guidance on how to approach these sensitive topics with children. She emphasized the use of scripture references, such as Genesis 1:27 and Luke 6:31, to reinforce values and foster understanding.3. Protecting Children Online: As the digital landscape continues to influence young minds, Dr. Taveras discussed the significance of monitoring and safeguarding children's online activities. She recommended the "Protect Young Eyes" website as a valuable resource for parents to stay informed and equipped in this area.We understand the challenges and concerns that parents face in today's rapidly evolving cultural landscape. That's why we're committed to providing you with practical tools and resources to support you on your parenting journey.For more info on Mel Tavares, visit her website.Protect Young Eyes website.A great resource from Focus on the Family on gender issues.Mel's book: #Challenged: Equipping Families to Thrive in Today's Youth Culture (RiseUp Isaiah 60:1) Check out free resources and downloads on my website: Website: http://SandraKayChambers.com Follow Me on Social Media: Instagram: http://instagram.com/SandraKayChambers Facebook: http://facebook.com/SandraKayChambersauthor Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/SandraKayChamberswriter Thanks to my Virtual Assistant, Alyssa Avant (https://alyssaavantandcompany.com), for her tech genius and help with this podcast.

Is social media turning your kids into digital zombies? You wouldn't believe how much time the average person will spend scrolling their phone in a lifetime, but the effects that endless scrolling is having on today's youth is becoming more and more apparent. Is there anything that concerned parents can do to safeguard the well-being of vulnerable children, teens, and young adults from the tech industry's attacks? In this midweek podcast episode, Jorge Gil sounds the alarm on the negative impact that the overuse of technology is having on our modern culture and how it's brainwashing younger generations. A pressing issue hiding in plain sight, parents and even grandparents have the huge responsibility to stay in the know when it comes to their children's online interactions. During this episode, Jorge will answer questions like: In what ways is social media lying to you and your children? What is the connection between social media and depression rates among young people? What practical rules can you put in place to protect kids from their devices? How long does the average person spend scrolling everyday? How can Christians use technology for good instead of evil?   Phone addiction doesn't discriminate, but the good news is, you can do something about it if you tackle it now! This episode will give you a lot to think about as Jorge exposes the dangers of allowing young people to have too much access to social media without any accountability. Jorge will also give you the tools you need to fight back against the tech industry's digital assault on your family and share practical advice on how to use technology in a way that honors God. To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It's the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry. You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE. Resources mentioned during the episode: Article: Has the Smartphone Destroyed a Generation Article: The Tech Industry's War on Kids Book: American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers Book: A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World  

Help your married friends set you up, plus how to read the news with discernment, and thoughts on dating couples doing devotions together.   Featured musical artist: JJ Heller  Roundtable: Your Role in Being Set Up It's flattering when friends and family try to set you up. It can lead to a happy and successful dating relationship — or even marriage. At other times, it can lead to awkwardness and strained friendships. Our guests share their perspectives on the dos and don'ts of successful setups. With funny stories and practical takeaways, this conversation will give you tools to make your dating journey smoother and more fun.                   Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: How to Navigate the News Today's news is littered with bias. Everyone has an agenda, and it's hard to separate the facts from opinion, interpretation, and flat-out manipulation. How can we determine what's actual news and ensure we're getting all sides of a story? Paul Batura and Gary Schneeberger are both communications pros and news junkies, having worked in radio, newspapers, public relations and beyond. They'll share their best tips for practicing discernment when taking in headlines and commentary from around the world.       A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World  Link to Daily Citizen Inbox: Doing Devotions as a Couple You and your boyfriend or girlfriend want to encourage growth in each other's relationship with God, but should that involve praying and studying Scripture together? Counselor Glenn Lutjens weighs in.

Help your married friends set you up, plus how to read the news with discernment, and thoughts on dating couples doing devotions together.   Featured musical artist: JJ Heller  Roundtable: Your Role in Being Set Up It's flattering when friends and family try to set you up. It can lead to a happy and successful dating relationship — or even marriage. At other times, it can lead to awkwardness and strained friendships. Our guests share their perspectives on the dos and don'ts of successful setups. With funny stories and practical takeaways, this conversation will give you tools to make your dating journey smoother and more fun.                   Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: How to Navigate the News Today's news is littered with bias. Everyone has an agenda, and it's hard to separate the facts from opinion, interpretation, and flat-out manipulation. How can we determine what's actual news and ensure we're getting all sides of a story? Paul Batura and Gary Schneeberger are both communications pros and news junkies, having worked in radio, newspapers, public relations and beyond. They'll share their best tips for practicing discernment when taking in headlines and commentary from around the world.       A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World  Link to Daily Citizen Inbox: Doing Devotions as a Couple You and your boyfriend or girlfriend want to encourage growth in each other's relationship with God, but should that involve praying and studying Scripture together? Counselor Glenn Lutjens weighs in. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1058/29

During our Embodied series, we had over 70 questions texted in. To cover these questions more fully, we're releasing a handful of extra podcast episodes to further equip you.Timestamps:1:28 - How do you parent a child with gender identity questions or who experiences SSA?16:58 - Are you living in sin if you don't have sex as an older married couple?19:44 - Why do people elevate sexual desires above all else? What desires should we have?23:20 - Would you officiate a LGBTQIA+ wedding?30:15 - How do we think through when churches deny a biblical sexual ethic?37:13 - Are people who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community and saved Christians still a child of God?41:18 - My workplace encourages using pronouns to introduce ourselves. As a Christian, how should I think about this?46:44 - What do we mean when we refer to “culture”?51:10 - If you were born to a single-parent does that mean you were born into sin and less worth saving?ResourcesBooks:The Genesis of Gender: A Christian Theory by Abigail Favale10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlinIntended for Pleasure: Sex Technique and Sexual Fulfillment in Christian Marriage by Ed Wheat M.D. and Gaye Wheat The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to the Sexual Revolution by Carl R. TruemanStrange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution by Carl R. TruemanBrave New World by Aldous HuxleyAmerican Experience: Kinsey (2005) Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage? 21 Conversations from a Historically Christian View by Preston SprinkleA Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World by John Stonestreet and Brett KnuckleThe Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith by Tim KellerSermons:“Incarnation/Agape” sermon by Midtown Fellowship Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch“Theology of Sex” sermon series by Midtown Fellowship Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch“Mountains, Molehills, and Which Ones to Die On” sermon by Midtown Fellowship Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch“Q+A” sermon by Midtown Fellowship Lexington | Downtown | Two NotchMusic by Levvy and Midtown MusicFind out more at Weird Tower Collective

During our Embodied series, we had over 70 questions texted in. To cover these questions more fully, we're releasing a handful of extra podcast episodes to further equip you.Timestamps:1:28 - How do you parent a child with gender identity questions or who experiences SSA?16:58 - Are you living in sin if you don't have sex as an older married couple?19:44 - Why do people elevate sexual desires above all else? What desires should we have?23:20 - Would you officiate a LGBTQIA+ wedding?30:15 - How do we think through when churches deny a biblical sexual ethic?37:13 - Are people who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community and saved Christians still a child of God?41:18 - My workplace encourages using pronouns to introduce ourselves. As a Christian, how should I think about this?46:44 - What do we mean when we refer to “culture”?51:10 - If you were born to a single-parent does that mean you were born into sin and less worth saving?ResourcesBooks:The Genesis of Gender: A Christian Theory by Abigail Favale10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlinIntended for Pleasure: Sex Technique and Sexual Fulfillment in Christian Marriage by Ed Wheat M.D. and Gaye Wheat The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to the Sexual Revolution by Carl R. TruemanStrange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution by Carl R. TruemanBrave New World by Aldous HuxleyAmerican Experience: Kinsey (2005) Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage? 21 Conversations from a Historically Christian View by Preston SprinkleA Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World by John Stonestreet and Brett KnuckleThe Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith by Tim KellerSermons:“Incarnation/Agape” sermon by Midtown Fellowship Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch“Theology of Sex” sermon series by Midtown Fellowship Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch“Mountains, Molehills, and Which Ones to Die On” sermon by Midtown Fellowship Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch“Q+A” sermon by Midtown Fellowship Lexington | Downtown | Two NotchMusic by Levvy and Midtown MusicFind out more at Weird Tower Collective

During our Embodied series, we had over 70 questions texted in. To cover these questions more fully, we're releasing a handful of extra podcast episodes to further equip you.Timestamps:1:28 - How do you parent a child with gender identity questions or who experiences SSA?16:58 - Are you living in sin if you don't have sex as an older married couple?19:44 - Why do people elevate sexual desires above all else? What desires should we have?23:20 - Would you officiate a LGBTQIA+ wedding?30:15 - How do we think through when churches deny a biblical sexual ethic?37:13 - Are people who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community and saved Christians still a child of God?41:18 - My workplace encourages using pronouns to introduce ourselves. As a Christian, how should I think about this?46:44 - What do we mean when we refer to “culture”?51:10 - If you were born to a single-parent does that mean you were born into sin and less worth saving?ResourcesBooks:The Genesis of Gender: A Christian Theory by Abigail Favale10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlinIntended for Pleasure: Sex Technique and Sexual Fulfillment in Christian Marriage by Ed Wheat M.D. and Gaye Wheat The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to the Sexual Revolution by Carl R. TruemanStrange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution by Carl R. TruemanBrave New World by Aldous HuxleyAmerican Experience: Kinsey (2005) Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage? 21 Conversations from a Historically Christian View by Preston SprinkleA Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World by John Stonestreet and Brett KnuckleThe Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith by Tim KellerSermons:“Incarnation/Agape” sermon by Midtown Fellowship Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch“Theology of Sex” sermon series by Midtown Fellowship Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch“Mountains, Molehills, and Which Ones to Die On” sermon by Midtown Fellowship Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch“Q+A” sermon by Midtown Fellowship Lexington | Downtown | Two NotchMusic by Levvy and Midtown MusicFind out more at Weird Tower Collective

John Stonestreet serves as president of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He's a sought-after author and speaker in areas of faith and culture, theology, worldview, education, and apologetics. John is the daily voice of Breakpoint, the nationally syndicated commentary on the culture, founded by the late Chuck Colson. He is also the voice of The Point, a daily one-minute feature on worldview, apologetics, and cultural issues.  This week on the show, I'm honored to be joined by John to dive into a thought-provoking discussion about the intersection of faith, popular culture, and the power of transforming lives. John shares how he initially crossed paths with the visionary founder of Prison Fellowship, Chuck Colson, whose faith inspired John's work today at the Colson Center, applying Christian principles to every facet of life. We also examine the four relationships that shape our understanding of identity, the importance of teaching children to look outward, not inward, and the troubling correlation between the growing mental health crisis among young people and the influence of social media. “Faith gives you a framework for understanding what's happening in the world.” - John Stonestreet “Parenting never happens in a vacuum. It happens in a cultural moment.” - John Stonestreet “A Christian worldview turns you outward and upward.” -  John Stonestreet This Week on The Wow Factor: How John initially connected with Prison Fellowship founder Chuck Colson, whose faith inspired him to see prisoners as valuable individuals John's personal view of his faith as something that communicates the truth about our reality How Chuck's legacy led to bipartisan agreement on criminal justice reform as a way to address community breakdown and trust issues How the Colson Center continues Chuck's work of applying Christian principles to all aspects of life, including government, culture, and personal transformation Why the Breakpoint podcasts are different from traditional Christian programming Why so many damaging ideas are rooted into culture right now The four relationships that impact our understanding of who we are  The importance of teaching children to look outward, not inward, to find their purpose Why there is a direct correlation between the growing mental health crisis among young people and social media John Stonestreet's Words of Wisdom: Hope is out there; the universe has hope because Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. So have hope, not only in what you say but in how you live. Tell your kids that they're made in the image of God, and then order your homes so that they're turned outward and upward instead of inward. Connect with John Stonestreet:  Breakpoint Podcasts John Stonestreet - Breakpoint  Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World by John Stonestreet Connect with The WOW Factor: The WOW Factor Website Connect with Brad Formsma via email Brad Formsma on LinkedIn Brad Formsma on Instagram Brad Formsma on Facebook Brad Formsma on Twitter

This is one of my favorite episodes because Erin and I get to interview our husbands. Being made in the image of God as male and female is a good thing. It is not an accident that we are created to be a man or a woman. When God made us male and female, he said it was very good. We were created not to compete or be opposed to each other, but to work together in the cosmic task God has invited us into—to care for His creation and cause it to flourish. Join us as we wrestle through the idea of difference and design with our amazing and funny husbands.    Our Bodies Tell God's Story: Discovering the Divine Plan for Love, Sex, and Gender by Christopher West  A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World by John Stonestreet, Brett Kunkle  Restoring All Things: God's Audacious Plan to Change the World Through Everyday People by Warren Cole Smith, John Stonestreet   Erin and her husband, Brett, run Maven which “exists to help the next generation know truth, pursue goodness, and create beauty, all for the cause of Christ.” Check out more about Maven here: https://maventruth.com/   The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what's happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly book list: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women    Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/ 

Episode Summary. This episode gives four biblical foundations upon which a father needs to build his plan for training his child in the way he should go. For Further Prayerful Thought. How would you support the argument that the starting point for training a child is to help his heart learn to hate evil because he experiences painful consequences from bad choices and love righteousness because he experiences benefit from making good choices?In the portrait of eight character qualities that we must instill in our children, which ones stood out?What insight stood out in 4-step process of helping kids internalize the Word of God? Why do you think so many young parents are using the New City Catechism with their children?Is it overstating the case to say that dads who send their kids out into the secular world, after being cocooned in the Christian sub-culture with no training in worldviews, are sending out lambs to be slaughtered?Resources.Foundation # 1: Heart Trained by ConsequencesBoundaries with Kids, Henry Cloud & John TownsendRaising Great Kids, Cloud & TownsendFoundation # 2: Character Expressed in Godly AttitudesCharacter Development Training Plan (Pa 132 Focus Notebook)Foundation # 3: Word of God InternalizedThe New City Catechism CurriculumThe Topical Memory SystemFoundation # 4:  Biblical Worldview EmbracedThe Secular Creed: Engaging Five Contemporary Claims, Rebecca McLaughlinA Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World, John Stonestreet & Brent KunkleMama Bear Apologetics: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies, Hillary Ferrer, Editor.For the printed version of this message click here.For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.For FREE downloadable studies on men's issues

Parental Discretion is advised for this episode. We will be discussing the harmful effects of pornography on those who consume it. It's a very destructive addiction that can affect everyone in the family including children. It's a tough topic that is rarely talked about. So let's get started.References mentioned in this episode:Children School Porn - TheBlazeE-book: Your Brain on Porn | Covenant EyesA Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World: John Stonestreet, Brett Kunkle: 9780830781249 - Christianbook.com

Today we want to talk about a word or phrase that made its way to the Oxford English Dictionary Word of the Year in 2020 which is: Cancel Culture. As social researchers, each week are deploying surveys and analysing demographic and community data. We gather content from focus groups and in-depth interviews and draw out the trends. That is social research. While analysing these data sets gives us specific insights into certain groups or areas, it also gives us a very broad read on our society. One outcome of this type of work is that we are often asked to share insights and perspectives not just from a particular study, but a general perspective on our society and where we see it going. This is often labelled as social commentary. So, in this episode we going to take our social research hat off and put the social commentator hat on, to see what is going on in our broader society and where things are going. Joining our host, Ashley Fell, to do just that is Social Researcher and Principal of McCrindle, Mark McCrindle.

Jonathan Dodson of City Life Church and Gospel-Centered Discipleship talks about embodying the Gospel in a culture that seems to be coming apart.  Counselor Sissy Goff, author of "Brave," talks about ways to help our children, especially daughters, beat worry and anxiety.

Jonathan Dodson of City Life Church and Gospel-Centered Discipleship talks about embodying the Gospel in a culture that seems to be coming apart.  Counselor Sissy Goff, author of "Brave," talks about ways to help our children, especially daughters, beat worry and anxiety.

Today’s Guests Jonathan Dodson – Pastor of City Life Church in Austin, Texas Jonathan breaks down the details of his recent article at The Gospel Coalition titled, How to Inhabit an Unraveling Culture He encourages the church to take up the weapons of God and not the weapons of the world, weaving shalom, God’s peace into the […] The post Inhabiting and Serving in Our Unraveling Culture | Helping Our Daughters Be Worry Free appeared first on The Reconnect with Carmen | Engaging Culture from a Christian Worldview.

Register TODAY for Culture Conference!Because it literally affects everything and every person your organization touches, your culture is either helping or hindering your mission every day. It is either a tail wind helping you move forward or a head wind causing obstacles at every turn. Listen in to this conversation between Jenni Catron, William Vanderbloemen, and Jim Sheppard and hosted by Trey McKnight as they discuss why culture matters and how to make sure yours is the best it can be.In this episode, you'll learn...why culture mattersthe moment the culture conversation "clicked" for William and Jimwhy the leader always thinks culture is better than it actually ishow culture can improve by subtractionwhere to start with practical ways to invest in your team with TheCultureTool.comAbout William VanderbloemenAs the Founder and CEO of Vanderbloemen Search Group, William has been able to combine over 15 years of ministry experience as a Senior Pastor with the best practices of Executive Search to provide churches with a unique offering: a deep understanding of local church work with the very best knowledge and practices of professional executive search.About Jim SheppardJim Sheppard is CEO & Principal of Generis, a consulting firm passionate about helping churches inspire and cultivate generosity through giving development, coaching, and strategy.

Saudi Arabia has embarked on a path of gradual social and economic modernization in recent years but it's unclear how much it's extending beyond major urban centers. ICWA fellow David Kenner talks to Dan about Western-style cafes in the southern border city of Jazan, where local entrepreneurs are contending with cultural norms in a bid to grow their businesses.

This week on Geek Force, the Squad tearfully discusses Daft Punk's separation, as well as Disney's new "Cruella" movie starring Emma Stone. They examine and explore celebrities that have been branded "cancelled" or face consequences in our pop culture - from Joss Whedon to Gina Carano - and what solutions that could be presented to help establish a healthy norm in the industry. Marlin announces the winners of the Crunchyroll Awards, and Jennifer Lawrence as Sue Storm? Eming says hell no!  

Christian students are called, as are all Christians, to be “in the world but not of it." Yet doing so is much easier said than done, and sometimes much harder on university campuses. To help students in this, John Stonestreet and I discuss his and Brett Kunkle's recent book, A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World. John holds a master of arts in Christian thought from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) where he graduated with honors. He currently serves as president of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. John is a sought-after author and speaker on areas of faith and culture, theology, worldview, education and apologetics. He is the daily voice of BreakPoint, the nationally syndicated commentary on the culture founded by the late Chuck Colson. He is also the voice of the Point, a daily one-minute feature on worldview, apologetics and cultural issues. Prior to his current role, John worked in various capacities with Summit Ministries including Executive Director, overseeing the various aspects of the ministry to accomplish its mission of cultivating rising generations to resolutely champion a Biblical worldview. Prior to working with Summit and The Colson Center, John was on the teaching faculty of Bryan College where he helped to develop a Christian worldview sequence for the core curriculum, as well as several non-traditional educational opportunities. He also directed the Bryan College Worldview Team, an innovative educational initiative designed to teach students to analyze worldviews using the lens of popular media and culture. In addition to A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World, John has also authored Restoring All Things: God's Audacious Plan to Change the World through Ordinary People (with Warren Cole Smith), Same-Sex Marriage: A Thoughtful Approach to God's Design for Marriage (with Sean McDowell), and Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview (with W. Gary Phillips and William E. Brown). John and his wife Sarah, have three daughters and live in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In this podcast we discuss:  How to define “culture” and why we must understand culture How Christians should engage in and respond to culture How Christian students can celebrate the good on campus Why “Christian” is a great noun, but a horrible adjective The fallacy of chasing cultural relevance How higher education has become dehumanizing How students can flourish in this dehumanizing environment The two questions all students must learn to ask Practical ways students can discover their calling The unseen influence of cultural undercurrents How to overcome cultural influences and become virtuous people Why so many millennials are drawn to Socialism Resources mentioned during our conversation: A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World, by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle A Student's Guide to Culture, by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle The Aims of Education, by T.S. Eliot The Fabric of Faithfulness: Weaving Together Belief and Behavior, by Steven Garber  “Men Without Chests” in The Abolition of Man, by C.S. Lewis The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by C.S. Lewis What it Means to Be Human: The Case for the Body in Public Bioethics, by O. Carter Sneed You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit, by James K. A. Smith Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation, by James K. A. Smith Imagining the Kingdom: How Worship Works, by James. K. A. Smith   The Colson Fellows Program Live Not By Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents, by Rod Dreher Breakpoint - A Program of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview

Generation Z,” or Gen Z, the generation born after 1995 has grown up as digital natives. What can we do to reach this younger generation, which is more likely to be spiritually and biblically illiterate than any previous, and to shepherd the faith of Gen Z within the church? While it is tempting to use generational research to develop highly contextual approaches to evangelism that meet young people exactly where they are, such attempts often function as poor imitations of the very fads our culture is selling. This is how we end up with the “youth group as pop concert” or “Christian film as evangelism tract” phenomena. At best, this approach grabs the attention of young people for the short term (though it often fails even to accomplish this); at worst, it offers cheap entertainment in place of the deep roots needed for faith to survive in a post-Christian culture. In our witness to Gen Z, we must take the long view, recognizing that witnessing is more often planting seeds of faith than harvesting the fruit.This Postmodern Realities episode is a conversation with Journal This Postmodern Realities episode is a conversation with Journal author Kyle Keating about his article “Making the Christian Story Plausible and Desirable to Generation Z” in the forthcoming 43:3 issue of the Christian Research Journal. We'd also like to invite you to subscribe to the Journal. To subscribe to the Journal, please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/crj-subscription/When you to subscribe to the Journal, you join the team of print subscribers whose paid subscriptions help provide the resources at equip.org that minister to people worldwide. These resources include our free online-exclusive articles, such as this review, as well as our free Postmodern Realities podcast.Another way you can support keeping our resources free is by leaving us a tip. A tip is just a small amount, like $3 or $5, which is the cost for some of a latte, lunch out, or coffee drink. To leave a tip, click here.https://www.equip.org/product/pmr-jnl-tip/Other articles and Postmodern Realities podcasts featuring this author: Episode 188 OK, Boomer: Time to Declare a Truce in the Generational Wars OK, Boomer: Time to Declare a Truce in the Generational Wars Episode 133 The Disorientation of Deconversion Am I Just Not Chosen? The Disorientation of DeconversionEpisode 074: Authentic Community in the Age of Social MediaCream or Sugar: Fostering Authentic Community in the Expanding Age of Social MediaRelatedEpisode 210: Bespoke Religiosity and the Rise of the Nones: a review of Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World by Tara Isabella BurtonBespoke Religiosity and the Rise of the Nones: a review of Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World by Tara Isabella BurtonEpisode 186 Gen Z. Live For the Ray not the LineEpisode 88: Training Teens in ApologeticsSpecial Episode: A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's WorldDon't miss an episode; please subscribe to the Postmodern Realities podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Please help spread the word about Postmodern Realities by giving us a rating and review when you subscribe to the podcast. The more ratings and reviews we have, the more new listeners can discover our content.

Contemporary culture is anything but neutral. In fact, it frequently promotes ways of thinking and behaving that are contrary to Scripture. So if we’re not intentional about our faith, we will be conformed to the dogmas and values of our age. But in Romans 12:2 Paul instructs Christians saying, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” On this episode, Shane Rosenthal attempts to flesh out the implications of this passage in our present-day context as he continues his conversation with Brett Kunkle, co-author of A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World. Study kits which are perfect for small groups or family devotions are available to download with  a donation of $15 - whitehorseinn.org/studykits To get access to all of the White Horse Inn extended episodes become a member. Head over to whitehorseinn.org/podcastpartner

In this interview we spoke with Brett Kunkle about his book A Practical Guide to Culture. We also talked about his experience equipping the next generation of apologists to defend the faith. Hope you enjoy! Brett Kunkle is the founder and president of MAVEN, a movement to equip the next generation know truth, pursue goodness and create beauty. He has more than 25 years of experience working with junior high, high school, and college students. He was a youth pastor in Southern California and in the Denver area for 11 years and was the Student Impact Director for Stand to Reason for 14 years. He wrote the Ambassadors Guide to Mormonism, was an associate editor for the Apologetics Study Bible for Students and co-authored A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World. He received his Master’s degree in philosophy of religion and ethics from Talbot School of Theology. Brett lives with his wife and kids in Southern California. To purchase Brett's book please visit: https://www.amazon.com/Brett-Kunkle/e/B00BGBOPGC%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share To learn more about MAVEN visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3pqzzKbsrF12SFhucm6ecQ To learn more about Solid Faith please visit https://www.thesolidfaith.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/clark-weidner/support

It's a little late to still be doing Christmas shopping (like I am), especially for anything that needs to be shipped. Even so, books that pass on Christian worldview are worth the hassle, and I've got four to recommend for you this Christmas. In fact, you might want to self-gift some of these… The first is the best book I know of that teaches the “how” of communication in a tough culture: “Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions” by my friend Greg Koukl. Every Christian needs this book because every Christian, in this day and age, will find themselves in conversations about controversial topic, called upon to defend their beliefs, and even Christianity itself. “Tactics” teaches, well, tactics. In other words, this book gives you the rhetorical strategies you need to speak up in such a way as to generate light, not heat. If you're thinking, “Wait, hasn't that book been out for a while?” Yes, it has. Ten years, in fact. And now, it's been expanded and re-released in a 10th- anniversary edition. This edition not only has updated stories of Greg's tactics in action (which are very helpful), it has more tactics. Honestly, I didn't think this book could really be improved, but Greg has. He and I discussed the book on the BreakPoint podcast at BreakPoint.org. As I told Greg, the book should come with a warning: Anyone who reads it no longer has an excuse for not sharing their beliefs and convictions, even on the tough topics. The second book is for children, especially for little girls: Rachael Denhollander's “How Much Is a Little Girl Worth?” Denhollander, as you might remember, is the force of nature that bravely and persistently worked to expose the hundreds of cases of abuse by U.S.A. Gymnastics doctor Larry Nasser. Rachael Denhollander understands that in a culture that victimizes little girls in so many ways, they need to know who they are, as made in the image of God. Her beautifully written and illustrated book teaches that their worth is beyond price, and that they can meet any challenges they will face with God's help. It's an especially important gift for the little 4- to 8-year old girl in your life, but I bought it for my daughters, who are older. My third recommendation is a bit self-serving...  “A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World,” which I co-authored with Brett Kunkle, is an ideal resource for parents, grandparents, teachers, and youth pastors who are in the cultural deep end with their kids. The book unpacks the major issues in our culture, from the obvious ones like LGBT issues, social media, drugs, and smartphones, to the unseen undercurrents in our culture that parents often miss, such as identity struggles and the overwhelming amount of information students face today. The best part is that “A Practical Guide to Culture” is exactly that: practical. In fact, it's proven especially helpful for grandparents, believe it or not. There's always been a generation gap, but many sense that the gap is more vast today – especially when it comes to technology, sexuality, and politics. We hear consistently from parents and grandparents that “A Practical Guide” has helped them make sense of the culture their kids face, so that they can connect with the students in their life and help them to navigate the tricky cultural waters. And speaking of students and culture, I'm pleased to announce that on January 1, a student edition of “A Practical Guide to Culture, called A Student's Guide to Culture,” will be released.  This book is written directly for junior high and high school students, and covers the same crucial issues in our culture from a Christian worldview. It's not yet released but is available for pre-order. Why not give a great book this Christmas? You can find these books at our online bookstore. Whenever you purchase books at our online store, it benefits the ministry of the Colson Center.

We’re back in the studio this week with special guest and founder of Maven Truth, Brett Kunkle! Brett is a fellow contributor to Stand to Reason, Impact 360, and breaks down the different struggles Christians can have with doubt. Brett Kunkle on Twitter Maven Truth - Brett Kunkle A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World Love Your God with All Your Mind by J. P. Moreland Kingdom Triangle: Recover the Christian Mind by J. P. Moreland Show Sponsor Learn more about Impact 360 Institute (https://www.impact360institute.org) and their apologetic videos and resources for students and young adults. Purchase an online course and use the promo code FREEMIND to get $25 off! Visit: impact360.org (https://www.impact360institute.org) Freemind Patreon Support Freemind with a monthly donation on our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/freemindfm) and gain access to bonus episodes, interviews, and more! Visit patreon.com/freemindfm (https://www.patreon.com/freemindfm) to join today. Social Media Links Seth and Nirva's Website (http://sethandnirva.com) Seth and Nirva on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYqnbFT37k3tz_86ZwIelNw) Seth and Nirva on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sethandnirva/) Seth and Nirva on Twitter (https://twitter.com/sethandnirva) Stephen Robles on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stephenrobles/) Stephen Robles on Twitter (https://twitter.com/stephenrobles) Apologetics and Philosophy Resources Reasonable Faith (https://www.reasonablefaith.org) J.P. Moreland Website (http://www.jpmoreland.com) Ravi Zacharias Ministries (https://www.rzim.org) Stand To Reason (https://www.str.org) Impact 360 Institute (https://www.impact360institute.org) Science & Religion Reasonable Faith (https://www.reasonablefaith.org) Discovery Institute (https://www.discovery.org) John Lennox (http://www.johnlennox.org) Reasons To Believe (https://www.reasons.org) Answers In Genesis (https://answersingenesis.org) BioLogos (https://biologos.org) Politics and Culture Os Guiness (http://www.osguinness.com) Prager U (https://www.prageru.com) Discovery Institute (https://www.discovery.org) Wayne Grudem (http://www.waynegrudem.com/politics-according-to-the-bible/) Eric Metaxas (http://ericmetaxas.com) LGBTQ Joe Dallas (https://joedallas.com) Christopher Yuan (https://christopheryuan.com) Can You Be Gay and Christian? By Dr. Michael Brown (https://askdrbrown.myshopify.com/collections/books-1/products/can-you-be-gay-and-christian-responding-with-love-and-truth-to-questions-about-homosexuality) Outlasting The Gay Revolution By Dr. Michael Brown (https://askdrbrown.myshopify.com/collections/books-1/products/outlasting-the-gay-revolution) Washed and Waiting by Wesley Hill (https://www.amazon.com/Washed-Waiting-Reflections-Faithfulness-Homosexuality/dp/0310534194/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_img_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EJVGF8TVDZ8QYSYGBM67) Special Guest: Brett Kunkle.

This week the docs sit down with Brett Kunkle to discuss his new book, A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World.  If you’re worried about this culture’s impact on your child as they head off to school every day, this discussion is for you.  Your kids can be prepared to take on all this secular society has to throw at them, and Brett’s books show you how you can be the instrument in God’s hand’s to bring that about.    Links to information discussed in the show:   Maven   Brett's Latest Book: A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World   ---- Website: www.maventruth.com Twitter: @BrettKunkle Facebook: @brett.kunkle Instagram: @brettkunkle -----   Dr. Jimmy Myers on Twitter: @docjimmymyers, Instagram: @jmyersfam, and Facebook: @docjimmymyers   Dr. Josh Myers on Twitter: @docjoshmyers, Instagram: @docjoshmyers, and Facebook: @docjoshmyers   Pairadocs Podcast on Twitter: @docspodcast, Instagram: @docspodcast, and Facebook: @docspodcast   How do give to the show: www.patreon.com/docspodcast  Billy Myers: www.therapywithbilly.com

Do you feel like you are fighting a losing battle for the hearts and minds of your kids? Something has changed. We all sense it. The cultural pressure is increasing, especially on our kids. But even in a world of ever-present screens, gender-identity questions, and addictions, kids can have clarity and confidence. We must help them and there's nobody better in this important subject than Brett Kunkle founder of MAVEN. In this interview Frank and Brett talk about his latest book A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World. Where he explores questions such as: - What unseen undercurrents are shaping twenty-first-century youth culture? - Why do so many kids struggle with identity? - How do we talk to kids about LGBT issues? - How can we steer kids away from substance abuse and other addictions? - How can we ground students in the biblical story and empower them to change the world? and more! Don't miss it!    

Do you feel like you are fighting a losing battle for the hearts and minds of your kids? Something has changed. We all sense it. The cultural pressure is increasing, especially on our kids. But even in a world of ever-present screens, gender-identity questions, and addictions, kids can have clarity and confidence. We must help […] The post A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World appeared first on Cross Examined - Christian Apologetic Ministry | Frank Turek | Christian Apologetics | Christian Apologetics Speakers.

From confusion about sexuality to the devaluing of religious liberty, today's youth face major cultural challenges. Those of us who are farther along in life and in the faith need to be intentional about setting the next generation up to be a faithful witness to Jesus Christ and his gospel. At our National Conference, John Stonestreet addressed this topic in his talk “A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World.” We hope this message equips you to disciple the young people in your life. Subscribe here iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher | Tune in

John Stonestreet carpool-diemed with us a few weeks ago, but we saved it for Christmas. As we celebrate the day that Hope arrived alive and well on the scene, John shares how Hope informs today and every day. Especially when things like technology, social media platforms, political impasses, strained relationships and so much more seem to be so powerfully on the scene. "To take seriously the cultural moment without losing hope is to realize that this moment is part of a larger story. And that story ultimately is culminating in the fact that God will, in Christ, make all things new." Enjoy & Merry Christmas! THANK YOU for joining this and so many of our other conversations! We so appreciate traveling the road with you. John Stonestreet is president of the Colson Center, the cohost of BreakPoint, and the coauthor of several books – the most recent with Brett Kunkle called: A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World. John is a highly sought-after public speaker who address tens of thousands of students, teachers, parents, and pastors each year. John lives with his family in Colorado Springs, Colorado Find John at breakpoint.org SaySomething: a-come-as-you-are vodcast for walking life's roads (relationships, friendship, parenting, hardship, entertainment,...) together

From the rude friend in the neighborhood to the scary show at Grandma’s house, our children will face negative influences. Even more so, their own hearts will lead them to worship the wrong things. So what do we do as moms to train our children in godliness? In this episode, Laura and Emily talk about building a gospel culture within our homes by offering grace, not guilt, to our children. By creating an environment of conversation, repentance, and joy, we can extend the welcoming attitude of Christ towards our children as they learn to live like Jesus. Our children are not the things they see or do, and we have the privilege of teaching them to look towards Jesus, again and again.     RM APPLY QUESTIONS   VIEW TRANSCRIPT   Articles, Resources and Related Content: Mothering a Rebellious Heart - Courtney Reissig  Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family - Paul David Tripp Parenting with a Big Gospel Picture - Mitch Chase, The Gospel Coalition  A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Todays World - John Stonestreet, ERLC 6 Truths about Parenting That Reorient Everything - Paul David Tripp, Crossway How to Raise an Alien Child - Jen Wilkin, The Gospel Coalition Offensive vs. Defensive Discipleship - Eric Geiger Jesus is God - Matt Chandler, The Village Church Resources X-ray Questions: Drawing Out the Whys and Wherefores of Human Behavior - David Powlison Loving Someone in Their Mess - Colleen Chao, Revive Our Hearts How Do We Keep Ourselves From Idol Worship - David Powlison, CCEF 12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child - Desiring God Don't Raise Good Kids - Jon Bloom, Desiring God What if I Ruin My Kids - John Piper, Desiring God Parenting Is Like Jazz - William P. Smith, The Gospel Coalition Social Media Isn't Your Teens' Biggest Problem - Kristen Hatton, The Gospel Coalition Divine Words for Desperate Parents - Nancy Guthrie, The Gospel Coalition    For More: To subscribe: on iOS, go to our iTunes page and subscribe. On Android, click this podcast RSS feed link and select your podcast app. You may need to copy the link into your favorite podcast app (like Overcast or Stitcher). Leave an iTunes review. These are huge for us! The more reviews, the greater chance another mother will find us. Like Risen Motherhood on Facebook and follow on Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates and related information. Let us know your thoughts! We'd love to hear more about the conversations you're having. Shoot us an email, or find us on social media. Tell others. We truly hope this podcast fosters conversations and deeper discussions between mothers to seek the gospel in their daily activities - we'd be honored if you shared and encouraged others to listen in. *Affiliate links used where appropriate. Thanks for supporting this ministry! RM|APPLY: Questions for personal reflection or conversation with others, to dig deep and allow the transforming work of the gospel to impact every part of your motherhood While we cannot keep our children from all of the negative influences of this world, we can create a culture within our homes that continually points them to Christ (Deut. 11:18-20). Jesus modeled perfect obedience to God during his life, teaching us how to be in this world but not of it. Because of his perfect life and death on the cross, we experience deep grace every day. As you work through these questions, consider how you can draw your children to Christ through the normal rhythms in your home. Our family culture influences our children at home. What does your family value most? As a mom, you have the opportunity to live an authentic life of discipleship to Jesus in front of your children. How are you teaching your children to walk in his ways? The biggest problem our children have is inside of them. So we need to address negative influences with our children at the heart level. Consider an issue in your home right now. What does it look like to bring it back to the heart issue? We need to be praying constantly that our children will grow to love the one true God as we work to protect them. What practical things can you do to surround your children with godly influences in different settings? Ultimately, we do not change the hearts of our children, only God can do that. When we understand that God is in control of all things, we no longer have to strive to control our children. Are there are any areas of motherhood that you still try to control? How does your identity in Christ free you to trust God?  

This week on Family Policy Matters, NC Family President John L. Rustin continues a discussion with Brett Kunkle, co-author—along with the Colson Center’s John Stonestreet—of a new book entitled, A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World. They discuss the new book, which seeks to help young people successfully navigate today’s complex culture while staying focused on those thing that are truly important and that have an eternal significance.

This week on Family Policy Matters, NC Family President John L. Rustin speaks with Brett Kunkle, co-author—along with the Colson Center’s John Stonestreet—of a new book entitled, “A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World.” They discuss the new book, which seeks to help young people successfully navigate today’s complex culture while staying focused on those thing that are truly important and that have an eternal significance.

Christians need to navigate each cultural wave. We must view each issue in light of biblical truth and then engage it in our homes, churches, communities, and in the larger culture. If Christians are going to effectively engage todays culture, we must be culturally savvy and engage both the seen and unseen elements all around us. Only then can we demolish the cultural arguments that set themselves up against the knowledge of God 2 Cor. 105 and in contrast, proclaim the truth and hope of the gospel. This special episode of the Postmodern Realities podcast is an interview with Brett Kunkle, co author of A Practical Guide to Culture Helping the Next Generation Navigate Todays World as he answers these pressing questions Because of sin, there has never been a completely Christian culture How then do we as Christians engage in culture, or as you say, where should we draw the line? What role do parents pastors have in helping youth develop a healthy worldview in an age that is increasingly digital and informative? How can parents pastors encourage kids to have a healthy relationship with entertainment? How can we make an argument for the authority of scripture and that we can accept these words as truth? How can parents pastors equip our kids to push back against the lies of culture with the truth and hope of the Gospel?

A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World with Brett Kunkle

This week, Hank is joined on Hank Unplugged by John Stonestreet, president of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview and cohost of the radio show BreakPoint. This is a truly wide-ranging conversation on the major cultural issues of today and how Christians should handle these uniquely modern issues outlined in Stonestreet's new book A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World. Topics discussed include: Chuck Colson as a mentor to both (1:30); the false dichotomy of sacred and secular and the pandemic of churches conforming to the culture (9:00); the importance of authority in the church in accordance with Scripture and the ties to church history (17:00); the distinction between cultural waves and undercurrents outlined in Stonestreet's book A Practical Guide to Culture (23:30); the problem of perpetual adolescence and a culture that craves staying young forever (30:00); how information has replaced knowledge in our age, the shifting importance of right from wrong to whether we're nice or mean, and discernment as an antidote (37:00); the transactional nature some churches have taken on as opposed to being transformational (43:30); the influence of materialists like Richard Dawkins on culture and the loss of what it means to be humans made in the Imago Dei (51:30); gender fluidity in contrast to biological reality (56:30); influencing the culture rather than the culture changing us (1:01:00).

It’s a force that drives you towards success or failure, and most people don’t pay it much attention: culture. Most people think about culture in terms of a business culture. But if you’re the leader of a team, you need your personal culture in line for your business culture to fall into place.   Joe’s definition of culture is your environment. When done intentionally, it's a philosophy about life and business that you play out, that's played out by your team and those around you. At its worst it's a demoralizing and destructive force. At its best, it’s an uplifting, motivating force that gives you momentum. It's a rising tide that lifts all boats, carries your team forward, and gives you and your team the ability to keep pushing.   Culture is one of those things that even if you don't pay attention to it, will still come to be. If you have a team and you don't create a culture intentionally, it's going to grow organically and it's probably not going to be what you want it to be. It's no fun to fight a bad culture.   Intentional Culture versus Organic Culture Right now organic is really big. Everybody wants organic food; organic is seen as a good thing. But when you're talking about culture, organic is a bad thing. Organic is the kind of culture most people and businesses have. There's no one thinking about it. There's no one putting any guardrails in place. Meanwhile, an intentional culture is where you think through the building blocks that create culture and you put them into place so you have the kind of environment and the kind of motivation and momentum you want in your life.   Culture is driven by your beliefs and the beliefs of those around you. If you have positive, empowering beliefs and that's your dominant focus, then you're going to have a positive, empowering culture. But if the dominant focus is negative or limiting beliefs, then that's going to create a negative or limiting culture.   Have you ever seen people who just have a dark cloud over them? They're always negative. Everything that could go wrong does go wrong. That's someone who has a very bad personal culture. They’re usually speaking negative things into the world and living those negative things out. Someone who has that kind of demeanor and life almost always has automatic negative thoughts. Or as Jim Kwik calls them: ANTS, automatic negative thoughts. That's where when something happens you immediately think negatively about it.   So many people allow those kinds of thoughts to dominate their mind. What you feed into your mind and what you say out into the world eventually becomes your reality. Because, if that's what you're always saying and always thinking, your life is naturally going to follow that progression.   Some people live such negative lives they don't even see the positive opportunities that come their way. They are ruled by their emotions instead of by their thoughts and they're lying to themselves all the time. So, what are you saying to yourself? What are the thoughts that pop into your head when things come up? What are the things you say to the world about yourself?   You're creating your personal culture with that.   Another way to look at it is with an organic culture you allow life to happen to you and then you react to what happens to you. You're always playing defense.   With an intentional culture, you happen to life! You play offense and you set the agenda for what your life's going to look like. When bad things happen, you find the positive in it. You study it to find out what went wrong and you fix it and move on instead of just staying in a negative place.   Personal culture You have to know and intentionally live out your core values. What do you believe? You also have to know your vision very clearly. Who and what do you want to become? You have to know your purpose and you have to seek out opportunities to be working in the purpose God created you for. You have to cultivate an attitude of abundance as opposed to an attitude of scarcity and that comes from knowing what you believe.   A culture is naturally going to grow around you based on those things, rather than on what you would become if you were just living life haphazardly.   Who you associate with is going to shape your personal culture. If you're hanging around a bunch of people who are negative, always talking about how they're failing and say they're not good enough, then that's your sphere of influence. Guess what you're going to end up being like?   Instead, surround yourself with people who are positive. Be around people who are seeking fulfillment in their life, who are working towards being better people and towards their own vision. Are you developing and building positive and empowering relationships?   What do you spend your discretionary time doing? Are you sitting on the sofa with a bag of chips instead of doing something productive? That's fine once in a while, but you should be spending most of your discretionary time reading and learning and trying to better yourself. Are you moving towards your vision and figuring out what you need to learn to achieve it?   How do you behave in your moments of crisis? What happens when you're faced with a moral dilemma? How do you treat other people?   If you’re a leader, what do you encourage in yourself and in others? How do you carry yourself in front of them? And what do you tolerate from people and from yourself?   Are you content with your life right now? Even if you're not satisfied, are you learning to be content with where you are? There are a lot of people who spend their whole life dissatisfied. It's ok to not be completely satisfied with where you're at, but if you've got core values and a purpose and a vision and you're going after those, you can be content where you are while still having a clear idea of where you're going and what you want to accomplish.   All those things come together to create your personal culture. So whatever you create, however your life looks, because of that, know you're going to attract more of what you created. If you're someone who's always negative, positive people will not want to interact with you. If you're someone who's always positive, negative people won't want to interact with you. It's your choice which group you want to be a part of. It's up to you who you want to be, who you want to attract and how you want that all to play out.   Joe’s personal culture Joe strives to be a person who is a thinker, contemplator and someone who ponders the big questions in life. He always wants to be learning. He is always listening to podcasts, trying to read as many books as possible, looking for people to learn from. He is always striving for achievement and fulfillment.   He is really trying in life to live out his purpose and the reason that God created him. He spends time focused on and working on those things. He strives to stay true to his core values to use them as a tool to filter life decisions through.   Additionally Joe wants to spend his discretionary time wisely. He doesn’t want to waste time or hang out with people he doesn’t enjoy being around. He has a small group of people he spends discretionary time with, who he enjoys being around. They’re people he brings value to and who bring value into his life. They’re people he can learn from and who can learn from him as well. Joe wants to spend his time in general serving people and helping them get better.   He also wants to always be content with where he is in life, knowing he’s done all he can to get where he is, but never satisfied. He strives for healthy dissatisfaction, which drives him to do better and reach more of the potential God has placed in him.   All these things create Joe’s personal culture.   Business culture Your business culture flows directly from your personal culture. If you're doing things in your personal life that you shouldn't be doing, or that you don't want other people to know about, it's going to show up in your business culture. You want to be the best person you can be so that people will respect you because they know you're a person who walks the talk.   Most businesses have an organic culture, which rarely results in a culture that's pleasing to the leader. It’s common to hear the statement, if you just get great people the culture will take care of itself. Joe couldn't disagree with that more.   Great people could be very talented, but they could have different core values than you. They could have their own agenda coming into your organization. They could have different goals than you and be working towards their goals while they're in your business, leading other people in a different direction than where you want them to go.   You need great people, but you need great people who are like-minded to you and who are sold out to going after your vision. Otherwise, you're going to develop a culture that's geared toward the vision of your people. That’s probably not your vision.   Have you ever had one of those situations where you just can't drag yourself out of bed in the morning to go into the office? You just can't bear the people there, you can't bear the environment there and you can't bear what's going on. Working in a bad culture is just miserable.   Characteristics of a bad culture Everyone does their own thing Office cancers actively working against your vision Infighting and office politics People protect their turf and refuse to share or help other team members Team members sabotaging one another Poor client experience because your team is working against one another at the expense of your clients Good people leaving your team out of frustration The wrong people sticking around too long A toxic atmosphere / office gossip Staff always arriving the moment the work day starts and leaving the moment the work day ends Salespeople find excuses to stay away from the office as often as possible     Do you have any of those things going on with your team or in your office? If you do, it’s a big red flag. You need to take a look at this and see if you've got things rolling the way you want them to.   If you are the leader and you've got a bad culture in your office, it's your fault. It is nobody else's fault. As the leader you are 100 percent responsible for your culture. You set the tone for it. You allowed it to flourish. Think of yourself like a gardener. You've got this garden to tend, you're trying to grow flowers, and when weeds are popping up you're just sitting back and letting them grow. Do you blame the weeds for being there? Or do you blame yourself for letting them grow?   It's the same thing in your culture. If you've got a bad business culture, it doesn't matter if someone on your team is causing it. You're the one who sets the tone, so you're responsible for it.   Building an intentional culture within your organization It's a very simple process. It's not easy but it's very simple. It starts with very clearly defined core values and a very clearly defined vision. These fundamental principles are foundational to building a great culture.   What do you believe for your business? Do you have this written out so you can recite it? How does your purpose create this vision of who you want to be and what you want to become?   Your next job is to give them away to your team, and to do it with conviction. You stand behind them and say, “these are things that we're not going to compromise on.” And then you personally live them out. You're the example everyone else is going to follow. So you need to truly believe them, and you need to hold your team and yourself accountable for living them out.   One of the beautiful things about having a great vision and culture is that you don't have to make all the decisions yourself. You can create an environment where everybody's running forward together instead of you out in front dragging them along behind you. You, as the leader, are the keeper of the culture in the beginning, especially if you've had a team that's been together for a while and you've been really lax. They're going to test you and make it difficult on you at first. You have to keep that culture, and encourage and correct the people who aren't living it out, to get it established. And then when you bring new people on to your team you have to filter them through your core values and your vision to make sure they're buying into those things before they ever join your team. Check out Episode 3 for more on that.   Over time, the culture takes over and starts to correct itself. You'll have the people on the team who are sold out to your culture, core values and vision. They're going hold people in line or make sure  someone who's not operating within the core values knows it. Your time to step in and deal with those things is going to be relatively minimal because the culture will protect itself. But that takes some time to get into place.   Culture is an incredible force. It’s probably the most important thing in business that nobody thinks about. Are you letting it be momentum against you instead of momentum for you?     If you enjoy the podcast, Joe would be greatly honored if you would give it a review on iTunes. Also, if you haven't already, please go to iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and hit the subscribe button.

Today we'll review former FBI director Comey's testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, talk with John Stonestreet, co-author of , “A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World” (David C Cook), Oregon Right to Life Executive Director, Gayle Atteberry, on SB 494, passed today by the Oregon Senate, and Norbert Michel, Senior Research Fellow in Financial Regulations and Monetary Policy, on the House passage of the Financial Choice Act amending Dodd-Frank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we explore ways to help your students take their writing to the next level. Follow: @bamradionetwork @raepica1 @coolcatteacher #edchat #edreform #ece #earlyed #AskingWhatIf Vicki Davis is a full-time classroom teacher and IT Director in Camilla, Georgia. Recipient of the 2014 Bammy Award for Education Talk Show Host, she also authors the popular Cool Cat Teacher Blog. Mashable named her a rockstar teacher on Twitter, where she has more than 100,000 followers. She is author of 2 books, Reinventing Writing and Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds.