Podcasts about Regent University

264. Simple Ideas for Incorporating Art with Children and Teens with Courtney Sanford   Colossians 3:23 NLT "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people."   **Transcription Below**   Questions and Topics We Discuss: Can you give us an overview of the seven major forms of art and give an example of ways our children can engage with each? What are the best art supplies to have on hand? As our children grow, why is this helpful in the teen years to have a healthy way to express ourselves and our ideas?   Courtney Sanford is a dedicated wife, and mother who triumphantly homeschooled her three children. With one pursuing a career in orthodontics, another just finishing a master's degree while working in higher education, and the youngest studying computer science at Regent University, Courtney's commitment to their education has yielded remarkable success.   Passionate about nurturing creativity and self-expression, she guides students through captivating art classes, exploring the intersection of imagination and skill. With her background as a graphic designer and experience in studio art, Courtney embarked on a new adventure as an art teacher.    As a multitasking mom, author, artist, teacher, and adventurer, Courtney embodies the spirit of embracing life's opportunities and fostering a love for learning and artistic expression.   Beyond her love for education, Courtney has an insatiable wanderlust. She finds joy in traversing the globe, hosting art retreats, and volunteering at Spiritual Twist Productions: both painting sets, and serving on the board of directors. When time permits, Courtney indulges in spring snow skiing, hiking in exotic locations, and leisurely walks with her dog, Zoey.   Delightful Art Co. was born out of a time when life gave Courtney a handful of lemons, and she creatively transformed those lemons into refreshing lemonade. The Covid shutdown rather forcefully prompted a major shift from in-person art classes to online classes.    Courtney's Website   Thank You to Our Sponsor: WinShape Marriage   Other Episodes Mentioned: 202 Simple Ways to Connect with Our Kids And Enjoy Breaks with Beth Rosenbleeth (Days with Grey) 223 Journey and Learnings as Former Second Lady of the United States with Karen Pence   Continue the conversation with us on Facebook, Instagram or our website.   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV)   Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*    Music: (0:00 – 0:09)   Laura Dugger: (0:10 - 1:36) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   I am thrilled to introduce you to our sponsor, WinShape Marriage.   Their weekend retreats will strengthen your marriage, and you will enjoy this gorgeous setting, delicious food, and quality time with your spouse. To find out more, visit them online at winshapemarriage.org. That's W-I-N-S-H-A-P-E marriage.org. Thanks for your sponsorship.   Courtney Sanford is my guest today, and she's an amazing artist and teacher and author, and I'm just so excited to share this conversation. If you're like me and you're ready for summer and your rhythm changes with your kids, she's going to share some super practical tips for incorporating art and beauty into our homes.   And I think that you're going to conclude this conversation by knowing where to begin and understanding why it matters. Here's our chat.    Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Courtney.   Courtney Sanford: Thanks for having me.    Laura Dugger: I'm so excited to hear more about your story, so will you share what has led you into the work that you get to do today?   Courtney Sanford: (1:37 - 4:20) I sure do like to share that story. I didn't start off as a homeschooler. I didn't imagine that that would be where my life went, but I was always a creative person.   I was a graphic designer, and I worked in the Performing Arts Center, and I got to do lots of fun design for shows. Then along came kids. I actually enjoyed dropping them off at school and going to Target, and I was okay with that.   We didn't do public school because the school near me didn't look safe, and we had lived near Columbine High School and thought it was just a beautiful, beautiful school. And when we left Colorado, we thought, oh, isn't it sad that our kids won't go to school there? And then just about a month later, the whole Columbine shooting happened, and so we were kind of traumatized by all of that.   And then when I saw the school that my precious five-year-old would go to, it didn't look safe, and so we sent them to a private school. So here we are spending a lot of money, having high expectations, and the kids were doing all worksheets all the time, and they started to dread going to school, and they didn't love learning, and the excitement of learning just kind of drained out of them. And so we looked into other options and decided that homeschooling would be the way to go, and I found the classical model and just loved the way that sounded, and we tried it, and it worked, and the little lights just came back on in their eyes, and they started to love learning again.   And I just found my people, and I just learned everything I could about homeschooling, and I just poured myself into it wholeheartedly as unto the Lord. And had a great time, and I just loved my time with my kids, and I felt like it was successful, and I encouraged other people to do it, but I wasn't really sure that it worked until they got into college and they turned out to be successful, thriving humans, and we're really proud of them. One will be a doctor in about a month.   He's about to graduate. He has a wife and a little girl, and then my second one has her MBA, and she works for a Christian college where she leads trips, and she's getting ready to take a group to Paris and London, and so she kind of ministers to students through that, and then my youngest is still in school staying to be a software developer. So now I can confidently say it was worth all the energy that I put into it.   It was hard work, probably the hardest thing I've ever done, but so worth it.   Laura Dugger: (4:21 - 4:40) That's incredible, and I love hearing the success story where your children are now, but you really also inspired them with beauty and art in their learning and growing up time, and I'm curious, are there any personal lessons that the Lord has taught you through art?   Courtney Sanford: (4:41 - 6:32) Oh, goodness. Yeah, I think my desire was to make learning interactive because I saw what they were doing in the private school, which was sit in a chair all day and do your worksheets, and it was just worksheet after worksheet after worksheet and then a quiz, and then you get graded, and so I was thinking if I'm going to pull them out, I've got to do better than that, and so that was my standard, and I was going to beat that standard every day, and so I pulled in art because that's what I knew, so if we were learning about an animal, we would draw the animal. If we were learning about a continent, we would draw the continent until we could draw it from memory, and I really learned with them. I did not have a great elementary education or even high school education, so I would learn this stuff, and then I would think of creative ways to get them involved with it, so a lot of times it was drawing.   It could be painting. It could be making things out of clay. We used to make things out of Rice Krispie Treats, and then they could take it to their co-op group.   Well, it was a classical conversations group, but they do presentations, and so we made a Mayan temple out of Rice Krispie Treats, and we would make volcanoes, and then they could take it to their friends and share it with them and tell them about it, so anything I could do that would get us out of the chair using our hands and using our senses and think, you know, how can I incorporate all five senses, and that just made learning so much more fun for them and for me, and so a lot of it was art. Some of it was science.   Anytime I could incorporate a sense of play into what they were learning, I could see that they would learn so much more.   Laura Dugger: (6:32 - 6:55) I love that, trying to incorporate all five senses, especially. That gets some ideas coming, but can you even back it up, and because you're an artist, will you give us an overview of the seven major forms of art, and can you give us examples as parents for ways that we can engage our children with each of those?   Courtney Sanford: (6:56 - 10:58) Oh, sure. Let me think. All right, so drawing, of course, you can draw what you see, so when I teach students to draw, I do a progression, so we'll draw from line art, and you can find line art anywhere.   It might be in a children's book, so using the library was key for me, so I'd get a laundry basket, and I would go to the library with an index card of what we'd be studying, and I would grab all kinds of books related to that, so when you come home, you get out a kid's book. If you see a good line drawing, say you're studying a lizard, if you see a good line drawing, draw from that. They could even trace it to start with, so you draw from the line drawing, then once they get really confident with that, you go to drawing from photos, and then you go to drawing from real life, so maybe you have a fish tank.   Maybe there's a fish in the fish tank, and you could draw from that or draw things in your yard, so that is how I break down drawing for them, and it could be years. You could draw from line art for years before you go to drawing from photos, and then to drawing from real life, and drawing's great for learning to memorize things. For painting, painting's just fun, and so I like to go to the kitchen table every afternoon and paint what you see, so you start off with the younger kids.   You could start with color and markers and fill in the areas, and then you can teach them how to shade using painting. Sculpture is also fun with kids. I like air-dry clay, and I like Sculpey clay.   I like to get a one-pound block of Sculpey clay and teach them the basic forms, like roll out a snake, do your hands together. Those of you who are listening, you can't see my hands, but I am making a sphere with imaginary clay. These are really good for developing their fine motor skills, too.   We also make the letters out of roll-out snakes and form your letters. That will really help if they're reversing letters. It takes a while to build the whole alphabet, so maybe you do three or four letters a day.   You work on it a couple times a week. It might take a month to make the whole alphabet, but that can be one goal, to get them working in three dimensions. We usually do additive sculpture, like adding on, and you can use found objects to make sculptures.   One time, my son took apart a pen. I rearranged the pieces into a human shape, and it was lovely. Getting them thinking in three dimensions is related to sculpture.   Carving, I don't like to do until they're old enough to be safe with a knife, but once they are, especially the boys love to go outside in the yard and get a log. They spend a lot of time carving spoons. Just a simple shape they can hold in their mind and then carve it is a good activity.   It keeps their little hands busy, too, if you want to read aloud to them and you don't mind a little mess in the house, they can carve. You can also carve out of a bar of soap as well. For that, that's a subtractive sculpture technique.   Let's see. That's the three main ones, drawing, painting, sculpture. I know film is one.   Film, I don't really incorporate much into my homeschool, except we will occasionally watch a movie about history. That has gotten me into trouble a few times because some of those movies that I think are going to be historic turn out to have racy scenes in them, and I'll have to jump up and get in front of the TV or cough really loud. But there are some good films that you can watch together as a family.   That's about as far as I went with film.   Laura Dugger: (10:59 - 11:19) I would, if you don't mind me interrupting there, too. I feel like that's one that our girls have actually begun to develop on their own, where our eldest daughter once wanted a video camera, so she got the old-school video camera. They're making their own movies, and I've seen that as a form of creative, artistic play.   Courtney Sanford: (11:20 - 11:49) Oh, that's fabulous. Yes, so when my kids were little, we didn't even have phones or video cameras on the phones, so that wasn't an option. When we first started homeschooling, our TV died, and so we did not even have a TV for years.   We just decided not to replace it, which forced us into audiobooks and reading aloud and then just playing outside instead and reading books. So that was a blessing.   Laura Dugger: (11:49 - 12:03) I love that because that's one of the other forms. That was new to me, that literature is an art form. Sorry, I sidetracked you because we still have literature, architecture, theater, and music.   Courtney Sanford: (12:04 - 14:20) Yeah, I think the best thing that we did for our kids, of course, I love teaching them to write using Andrew Pudewa's method with IEW. It's kind of imitative writing, so you learn to imitate good writers. But also, my husband read aloud to the kids every single night.   That was his time with him. He gave me a break, and he would read for hours. He loved it.   The kids loved it. And he would choose classics or funny things, you know, science fiction. Probably not the books that I would choose.   I would choose classics and things related to what we were studying, but he chose what he wanted to read. So I would read aloud in the afternoons, and we would do audiobooks like Story of the World and all the Jim Weiss readings. And then he would read aloud at night.   And just whatever he wanted to choose, he would read aloud. And I think hearing good language produces good speakers and good writers. So he gets about 50 percent of the credit for the success of the kids, I think, for just reading aloud every night.   It was such a great thing to do for the kids. And then the last one, architecture. I do incorporate architecture when I'm teaching about a culture.   So, if we're doing art history or history, we'll look at the buildings. So, of course, you do that with ancient Egypt. You look at the pyramids.   When you're talking Old Testament times, you look at the tents. And then as I go through art history with the high schoolers, I'll point out more and more like neoclassical, of course, comes from the ancient Greeks, but it's come to symbolize power and authority. And that's why we see it in government buildings.   So, my degree is graphic design, but it was in the School of Architecture. So, I had a lot of history of architecture and I appreciate it. And so I'm always pointing that out to my kids.   And I do that in my class, in my art history class. I always incorporate the architecture just as a part of understanding a culture.   Laura Dugger: (14:21 - 14:29) I love that. And was there anything specific that you did with your kids for encouraging music or also theater?   Courtney Sanford: (14:30 - 15:29) Oh, yeah. One thing I wish I had done more of was kinder music. I don't know why we didn't do that much kinder music, but now I'm learning more about it.   I wish I had done more of that. And I did put them in piano lessons. One wanted to do violin.   So, they had a few years of learning the basics of music, and then they really got into theater. We have a great Christian youth theater nearby. And so that was a really good experience.   In their Christian youth theater, they would sing praise and worship songs before and during and after a play. They would be praying for the audience and singing worship songs in addition to the singing on the stage. And that whole experience was really good for them.   Even my quietest kid got a big role in a play one time, and he had to memorize a lot of lines and sing in front of people. It's just such a great experience for them.   Laura Dugger: (15:30 - 15:57) I would think so. Even if they don't choose something that we would consider a very artistic career, I can see why all of this is still beneficial. That leads me to another question for you.   Regardless of the way that all of us parents listening are choosing to educate our children, why is it still beneficial for all of us to incorporate art into our homes and into our parenting?   Courtney Sanford: (15:58 - 21:59) That's a great question. So, the first line of the Bible says God created. So, the first thing we learn about God is that he was creative.   He created everything. And then just a few lines later, it says then he created man in his own image. So that tells me that we were created to be creative, to create.   Now, he doesn't let us create stuff out of nothing like him, which is probably for our own good. That would be a mess. But we can create things out of what he created.   And there is a study done by George Land. And there's a video on YouTube of George Land giving a talk about this creativity study that he did. And he created a test for NASA to help them find creative engineers when they were trying to get to the moon.   And they used it to study creativity in children. And they tested five-year-olds. So, they found a group of 1,600 five-year-olds who were in school.   And when they tested them at five years old, 98% of them tested as creative geniuses. So, their plan was to go every five years and test them again just to see what was going on. So, they went back after five years.   The kids are now 10. And it dropped down to like 27%. They went back another five years when the kids were 15, and it was down to about 17%.   And then they were so depressed, they stopped testing them because they could see they began as very creative. So, we're created creative. And a lot of moms will say, yes, I can see that in my children.   But something happens. And this was all in school. Something happened during school that taught them to not be creative.   So, the school teaches the kids to be obedient, to sit still, and to get the same outcome from every kid. Right? There's an expected answer on every test.   And you're to try to get the answer that the teacher wants. That's not creative. So, the first thing to do to preserve their creativity is don't send them to school.   That's the safest bet. And then when you do homeschool them, which I think is the best environment for them, don't do what they do in school. To bring them home and to go to all this trouble just to do the same thing that they're doing in school is not worth the trouble.   So, you've got to not do what they're doing in school. And so, for me, that meant don't do worksheets, make the content interactive. So, I did rely on curriculum, but I didn't rely on the curriculum to be the teacher.   So, I get the content from the curriculum, and then I make it interactive using artistic, creative skills so that they can be creative. And I don't teach it out of them. So, if you have young kids, that's good news.   They're already creative. You just have to don't teach it out of them. If your kids are older and maybe they've been in school, then you might have to like undo some of that training and set up some experiences where you ask them or even like in my classes, I'll set up a challenge.   And I expect everyone's to be different because everybody's going to do it a little bit more creatively in their way. And so, at the end of class, instead of like calling out the answers to see if everybody got the same thing, they're holding up what they did and telling me what they were thinking. And everybody's is different.   And then I really praise the ones who did something different. Maybe they changed the colors. Maybe they put glasses on Mona Lisa.   You know, maybe they gave her a cat to hold. So, I reward thinking outside the box. Now to to pour in beauty, and I think I might have heard this from Charlotte Mason, beauty in, beauty out.   So, you've got to load them with beauty. Now, I think that we were naturally drawn to beauty and people will argue with me about this. They'll say, well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.   But I betcha I could find something that's beautiful and do a survey. And I betcha I could get 100% of people to say, yes, that's beautiful. And I could find something else, maybe a Hindu goddess sculpture.   And I could find something that 100% people would say that is not beautiful. And so, I think that ingrained in some of us because we're created by God, I think we have a sense of appreciating beauty. I do think that it gets taught out of a lot of people.   So, with my kids, I show them a lot of beauty. And this can be as simple as get a coffee table book from the secondhand bookstore on art and put it on your coffee table. Get books from the library and have lots of beautiful things to look at.   And so, when I now when I was teaching my own kids, this is kind of a fly by the seat of my pants. Make it up as I go. Now that they've left home and I can think about it, I'm putting together books that are a little bit more thoughtful.   So, in my books, you will see I've chosen a piece of art that is beautiful and I will pair it with the lesson. And then I'll give you an art activity. So, for example, in Into the Woods, you'll see I've chosen a beautiful piece of art and I paired it with a poem, which is another piece of beauty.   Yes. And then I'll give you an art lesson so that they can get creative with it as well. So, it is this hard to pull it together.   So that's why I'm making books to help parents. So, you have something beautiful and something to do with it. And so, that's how I pour in beauty to give a beauty in beauty out.   Laura Dugger: (21:59 - 22:36) I love that so much. And just even holding this resource, it is so beautiful. There's so much to it.   When it arrived, our daughters were delighted to go through it and to dive in and get to learn. But I'm just thinking many listeners are fellow homeschool parents and also many are not. But I don't want them to be discouraged because I'm even thinking of your courses or if they do intentional art in the evenings or on weekends or summer break and winter break.   There are still ways for all of us to incorporate this.   Courtney Sanford: (22:36 - 24:28) Yes, for sure. Yeah. Even so, my mom, I was public school.   And of course, the word hadn't been invented back then, but my mom appreciates art and poetry and she would always have art books on the coffee table. And I would just stop and, you know, in my free time, flip through the pages. And those images stuck with me my whole life.   She had one that had a Monet on the cover of the Field of Red Poppies. And that was just ingrained in my mind as a piece of beauty. So just something as simple as putting it out on your coffee table.   She also took us to museums whenever we traveled. And she didn't make a big lesson out of it, but I was exposed to beautiful buildings. You know, most museums are in beautiful buildings.   You see the beautiful architecture. And I was exposed to a lot of art that way. So, that was that totally goes with which with summer vacations and your vacations to, you know, make an effort to see a gallery or an art museum when you're traveling.   That makes a big difference. It'll make an impression on them. And of course, the books you could do in the summer.   We have summer classes and we have an art retreat that might not line up with school because it's in May. But the books you could for sure add on. Hopefully someday we'll have evening classes so that you could go to school.   We've got some this coming year that will start at four o'clock. So, hopefully some kids can go to school and come home and join an art class. So, we're working on getting it out as we as I get teachers willing to.   Most of my teachers are homeschool moms, too. And by the end of the day, they're tired. So, I've got a few.   I've got a young lady who's just graduating and she's going to do some late afternoon ones for us next year. So pretty excited about that.   Laura Dugger: (24:28 - 25:04) I love that. And then even thinking of the beauty and beauty out stepping outdoors. There's so much beauty in God's creation and so much change depending on where you live throughout the seasons.   But I love how you also brought up the library, because anytime I'm trying to learn something new, that's my first go to is put books on hold at the library. And so, if we're wanting to know what to add to our library cart just to get us started into this, can you share books that you recommend, both yours and others that you think would be good additions?   Courtney Sanford: (25:05 - 26:19) Oh, that's a good question. Yes, there are. I love to think about the biographies of artists.   And if so, if you're studying ancient history, you could look up a biography on Giotto. And they're still tell the stories in such a nice, kid friendly way. Like there's the story of Giotto.   He was actually watching the sheep. And while he was out in the fields, he would draw on the sides of rocks like big rocks. But you get another rock and you would draw on the sides of rocks.   And another artist was walking through one day and he saw these drawings on the rocks. He was like, wow, you're really talented. Come with me.   I'll make you an apprentice. And those stories are just they're fun to read together and hear those kinds of stories. And of course, the Usborne books of art are beautiful and they often have projects for the kids to do.   I can't think of any specific ones, but I do love a short paperback on the particular artists. And so, I kind of line those up along with the period in history that we're studying.   Laura Dugger: (26:20 - 26:32) That's great. And even you're making me think of picture book biographies on artists. We've always enjoyed those as well.   Obviously, the illustrations are fantastic, too, but the storylines are so interesting.   Courtney Sanford: (26:33 - 27:23) Yes. So, I just grab whatever they have. I had a big laundry basket.   And and I know card and I just grab whatever I could find and sometimes let the kids choose. And sometimes I would choose. If you're going with geography, you can find beautiful photos of the different areas.   See the landscapes or the sunsets. And that can through photography. And you can really get to know a place through beautiful photographs.   I like that part, too. And then that might inspire a pastel drawing of a landscape. Maybe it's a beautiful sunset you could recreate with pastels.   So, photography books are really inspirational, too.   Laura Dugger: (27:23 - 28:10) It's a great idea. And circling back, you had mentioned Andrew Pudewa earlier in our conversation. And I remember learning from him that with writing, the worst way we can teach our children is to say just free write, just write something down or here's a prompt to finish this sentence because better writing comes through imitating.   And so, you've even mentioned tracing is a great way to start. That's not cheating in art if you're not stealing credit from them. But if you're just practicing and tracing, this is a way to imitate.   And so, I'm wondering, do you have any other cautions for ways that may be the wrong way to introduce our kids to art?   Courtney Sanford: (28:11 - 30:50) I agree that. Yeah, you can get writer's block. What I find funny is that some people are so afraid to imitate artists.   But if I were teaching piano, I would teach your kid how to play something by Bach in which he would learn what Bach did. And nobody would say I'm stealing from Bach. You know, and you learn to play Beethoven by playing Beethoven and you you learn to reproduce those pieces of music.   I do the same thing in art. We look at what the masters did and we'll copy it in order to learn what they knew. And that way we build.   We're like standing on the shoulders of giants. So, we don't want every kid to have to start with inventing the wheel themselves. We'd never get very far.   We want to learn what the masters knew and then build on that. So, I do a lot of imitation. And then as the students ready, I let them know you are free to change this or to experiment with it.   So just last week we were drawing and painting red poppies and learning about Georgia O'Keeffe. And so, I said we can do an imitation of her poppy. And I'll show you step by step how to reproduce her poppy.   And in doing that, we're going to cause us to look more closely at it and study her blends. Like she would blend from yellow to orange to red in every petal. And we can study that technique.   And then as we do it and we practice it, we look more closely at hers and it kind of becomes a part of us. And then we'll find another flower and we'll use that same technique on a flower that we choose. Or maybe it's a flower we make up and we take that technique and we can apply it.   And it's a much better way to learn than trying to learn it yourself without looking at what the masters did. So, I think that I think I pulled a lot of that from Andrew Pudewa. The idea of I'm going to assist you until you say I got this.   I can do it from here. So, I do assist until they get it. And then I always say whenever you're ready, as soon as you're ready, change it and make it your own or do your own thing.   And because turning them loose too soon can break their confidence. So, you want to build them up until they can confidently experiment on their own.   Laura Dugger: (30:51 - 32:34) Let's take a quick break to hear a message from our sponsor. I'm so excited to share today's sponsor, WinShape Marriage, with you. WinShape Marriage is a fantastic ministry that helps couples prepare, strengthen, and if needed, even save their marriage.   WinShape Marriage is grounded on the belief that the strongest marriages are the ones that are nurtured, even if it seems like things are going smoothly. That way they'll be stronger if they do hit a bump along their marital journey. Through their weekend retreats, WinShape Marriage invites couples to enjoy time away to simply focus on each other.   These weekend retreats are hosted within the beautiful refuge of WinShape Retreat, perched in the mountains of Rome, Georgia, which is just a short drive from Atlanta, Birmingham, and Chattanooga. While you and your spouse are there, you'll be well-fed, well-nurtured, and well-cared for. During your time away in this beautiful place, you and your spouse will learn from expert speakers and explore topics related to intimacy, overcoming challenges, improving communication, and so much more.   I've stayed on site at WinShape before, and I can attest to their generosity, food, and content. You will be so grateful you went. To find an experience that's right for you and your spouse, head to their website, WinShapeMarriage.org.  That's W-I-N-S-H-A-P-E Marriage.org. Thanks for your sponsorship.    Well, and as parents, once we're past the resistance to maybe invest some of our time or our money or allow the mess into our home, but if we push past through that and we're ready to get started, I'd love to go over some practical tips.   So, Courtney, first, just what are some great art supplies to have on hand?   Courtney Sanford: (32:36 - 37:13) A number two pencil and some Crayola markers you probably already have. Those are great tools. I like to have my kids work in an art journal, and you can get these real inexpensive at Michael's.   It'll say on the cover, mixed media art Journal, and they come in different sizes. I kind of like the big ones, and that will allow you to use paint, pencil, and marker or anything you want. If it says sketchbook, it's not going to hold up to paint very well.   So that's why I get the mixed media paper. So, I start with the art journal, and then I like to make that journal be their book on a subject. So right now, I'm doing ancient history with some kids, and so they are making their own book about ancient history.   So, every week we'll do a drawing or a painting or watercolor on a lesson in ancient history. And so, each piece is not a masterpiece to hang on the wall. Each piece is a part of the story in their book.   That takes all the pressure off. So, they don't see this as, I don't know if this is going to be good enough to hang on the wall. That's not even a question.   It's a part of the story in your book. They can also take some notes. They can show their grandparents and review the topic by presenting it to their grandparents and showing off their book.   And then you can collect their books and put them on a shelf. It's not all over the house making you crazy. And then you can see from year to year how their skills have improved.   So, I kind of like every year I like pick a topic to be the subject of our art journal. So, I call it arts integrated learning. So, I'm pairing an academic subject with art for that year.   So, it could be poetry. It could be history. It could be science.   Whatever you pick. That's what you'll add to your art journal with.   Pencils. I like blending tools too. There are some people call them stompies.   For those of you who are watching. Here's one. It's just rolled up newspaper, but you can buy these at Michael's.   They're really cheap. But it takes a drawing to the next level. You can just blend things out and shade things really lovely.   Mark Kistler does some videos and teaches you how to. He'll go shade, shade, shade. And so that's a good way to start.   And it really elevates a drawing and it gives them a lot of confidence. And then of course the good eraser. The book drawing with children is a really good one for our parents to read and then teach from in that book.   They suggest you have them draw with markers so that they don't spend an hour erasing. If you have someone who's a perfectionist, they will make one mark and spend 20 minutes erasing it. And so, if you go right to drawing with markers, that's gonna teach them to make a good mark first and then keep going and not spend half an hour erasing.   When I get to age nine or 10, I like to use acrylic paints, but I only buy four colors of paint and then I make them mix all the other colors. So, we use yellow, magenta, blue, and white. Those are like the colors in your printer.   Cyan, magenta, and yellow are the ones in your printer. And those colors can make all the other colors. Now your printer has black, but I don't give kids black.   Instead of black, they could make purple or brown or dark color. So, you know, you teach them how to mix the colors that they want. They'll learn to mix it because they want green or they want purple, or they want brown.   And then they develop a sense of color theory, and you don't even have to teach it. They'll figure it out because they want those colors. If they find, if, if you don't feel confident in that, you can buy craft colors of the specific colors, especially brown.   That's a hard one to mix. But I do like the coverage of acrylic paints. I like watercolors too.   That's a little bit easier to get into. You just take it slow and practice a lot. So that's really all you need.   It's pretty simple.   Laura Dugger: (37:14 - 37:27) Well, and I'm wondering too, even with the acrylic paint at that age, once they're older, that one, I'm assuming can stain. So are there any tips that you have for containing the mess?   Courtney Sanford: (37:28 - 38:32) Yes, I get, and they're a little bit hard to find. So go to Amazon and find a, a tablecloth that is plastic on one side and felt on the other side. I forget what you call it, but there'll be like picnic tables, tablecloths.   And the plastic ones are going to drive you crazy because they're too thin. So, if it's flannel backed, it's a little bit thicker. So I get a white one at the beginning of the year.   And that comes out anytime we do clay or paint, and it goes over the kitchen table and I don't worry about cleaning it. You just let it dry, fold it up. And I put mine in the China cabinet right there by the table.   And then anytime we do something messy, that tablecloth comes out and, and then just fold the mess back up in it. And it works, it works really great to, and then you might, if you're, if you're a neat freak, maybe plan on buying one at the beginning of every school year so that you get clean slates. And then the paint that gets onto the tablecloth is actually lovely and it'll be pretty next time you get it out.   Laura Dugger: (38:33 - 39:11) Oh, I love that. That's a genius tip. I appreciate that for coming indoors because in the summer, I guess we could take it outside depending on where we live.   But then what about any hacks for finding the time to do this? And I guess I'm thinking back to a previous episode with Beth Rosenbleeth. She's the one who started Days with Grey and she would talk about different art prompts that she would set out for her children in the morning for a variety of ages.   But were there any things that kind of required minimal time from you, but had maximum return for your kids?   Courtney Sanford: (39:11 - 41:06) Yeah, that's a good point. I had, I wouldn't say I had a strict schedule, but I had a pattern to my days. And the time after lunch was a good time to do messy things in the kitchen because we were in the kitchen anyway.   And as I could clean up lunch and start dinner, I could be in the kitchen with them and they could be creative at the kitchen table with minimum involvement from me. One of my best afternoons was we had the microscopes out to do something specific and I left it out as I was cooking chili. And as I cut up each ingredient, I would cut a thin slice for them to look at under the microscope.   And so they were looking at a bell pepper and a red pepper and celery and tomato. And they were so, they so enjoyed that and I was able to cook dinner at the same time, which was fabulous. And that turned, it was probably like a 15-minute science lesson into like four hours of discovering things under the microscope.   So that element of play and you can do that with your art supplies too. Like I'll demonstrate a technique and then leave it out. I'll turn my attention to cooking dinner while they see what else they can do with it.   And, um, you know, I'll give them a few tips. Like, um, if you mix these three colors together, you're going to make brown and then turn your back and let them discover it for themselves. So, um, I'm a big crock pot person.   And so after lunch would be the time I need to clean up lunch and put something in the crock pot. So that would be a good time for me to get them started on art or science and, um, and then turn my back and let them have that, um, that discovery time without me hovering or telling them what to do or something.   Laura Dugger: (41:06 - 41:22) Oh, that's a great rhythm. I love these ideas. And then I kind of want to go in chunks of age.   So, thinking of little kids, how would you define the difference between a piece of art and a craft?   Courtney Sanford: (41:23 - 43:41) Yeah, a craft is going to be something where the focus is on following directions and that's important. They need to learn how to follow directions. And so we would do, especially around the holidays, I might do a craft and we all follow directions.   Um, a piece of art is going to be where they're, they all come out different. They're allowed to play and express themselves. Um, for me personally, if I'm doing a craft when I'm done, I think, oh, I could make 50 of these and sell them.   If it's an art, when I'm done with a piece of art, like one of these paintings behind me, when I'm done with that, I'm thinking I could never do that again. That took so much out of me. I'm exhausted.   A little piece of my soul is in that that's art. That's the difference. Um, so I don't sell my paintings because there's a little piece of my soul in, um, my husband makes fun of me for that.   He's like, you could just sell your paintings. They're like, what? They're, they're like my babies.   I can't, I can't part with them. It took so much out of me to create them. Um, but a craft, yeah, I'll just give away things that are, that I just followed directions for, um, in terms of kids, younger kids will enjoy crafts, but getting to high school, they recognize it as slave labor and they don't want to do that.   They are in what the classical education people call the, the, um, poetic stage, you know, they want to express themselves and they want to be unique. I think this is why they get tattoos. The tattoo is a way of saying this is who I am.   This is what it means to me. I'm unique. Um, so I think if we don't teach them to express themselves in art, they're going to get tattoos.   So that might encourage moms to, to give them the skills so that they can express themselves. You know, they need to be able to write poetry or write songs or paint a painting or do a drawing. There's that need inside of us to do that that God put in us.   And if they don't have an outlet, then they're going to find something like tattoos or something that we don't want them to be doing. Yeah. I mean, some of my kids are tattooed.   It's not bad.   Laura Dugger: (43:42 - 44:25) Well, and you've kind of answered a follow-up question I had because we talked about little kids, but I'm thinking of teens. So going back, my background is in marriage and family therapy, and we would encourage everyone that journaling is a free form of therapy. But I think of art as the same way.   And there's even studies that show when you're engaged in something artistic, the critical side of your brain goes offline. So you can't think negative thoughts while you're creating something new, but with teens, there's that added benefit of getting to express themselves. So is there anything else with art that you see as basically free therapy for adolescents?   Courtney Sanford: (44:26 - 46:54) Oh, sure. I do see it a lot. I experienced it because I started my business because of the shutdown and because I was teaching in person and then I had to switch to online teaching.   And so, the group that I had moved online and I figured out how to do it and got a little bit better at it. And then that summer I offered a class for adults. These were directors and I was in classical conversations at the time.   And so a whole bunch of teachers are expected to teach Western cultural history without a lot of background. And so some of the moms asked me if I would do my art class for them. And so I had about a group of like 50 adults and we would get on for an hour and a half every day.   And this was at the height of the shutdown when turning on the news, just stresses you out. Going to the grocery store was stressful because people were in masks or they weren't in masks or, you know, we didn't know anything. It was such a stressful time, but that hour and a half that we had together, we, our focus was on discovering a piece of art.   So, we were looking at beautiful things and then we were creating something and that changed our focus from what was going on in the world. And we would just relax, and we'd enjoy it. Having the live class kept our focus on it.   And when I don't have a live class in front of me, I'll be like, oh, I should put the laundry in or I should start dinner and I get distracted. But with that, you know, with other people on zoom, it keeps me focused. And so, we'd have this wonderful hour and a half vacation from the world.   And after it was over, I would just have this sense of peace. And then I'd come down and be like, oh yeah, that's still going on. And it was, it was so good for our mental health.   And, and I get, I hear moms tell me that the hour and a half once a week they spend with me doing art has been such a blessing. Like one student lost her father a year ago and this is helping her. She said she's finally coming out of her depression and she's finding a way to express herself and find beauty again.   And it's, it's been transformative for some students. So, it is a blessing. And I didn't, I didn't read that somewhere.   That's just from my experience. So, I'm a big believer in that.   Laura Dugger: (46:54 - 47:51) I can see why I think you're bringing up two points. I don't want to miss both with art therapy and then also art in community. So art and community first, I think for all of us at any age, what can we do as this is airing probably when everybody's getting out for summertime, how can we gather others alongside of us for whether it's our kids or us as peers to get to engage in these activities together.   And so, I want to follow up with you on that, but also before I lose my thought, I also want to link back to Karen Pence's episode. She had started art therapy for veterans, I believe, and just incredible. The healing that is possible through this.   So, do you have any thoughts Courtney on ways that we can this summer gather together community at different ages and do something artistic?   Courtney Sanford: (47:51 - 52:15) That is a good question. So, we have, I have found the online classes are the easiest for people to get to. And it's I get people ask if we can do it in person, but honestly it's hard to get people out or they're busy.   They're doing things in summer. So, we do offer a class online in the summer that's live. We have recorded classes that you could do alone or get a few people together and, do them together.   I have some sampler packs too. So, some of them are just three lessons. You could get some friends together and find, maybe you could find three, three times during the summer to do.   I have like a Vango sampler pack and a couple of short ones that you could just pay for the video and do with your friends or maybe a mother daughter event. Maybe you do the self-paced class with your daughter. And I've had some seniors, like seniors in high school, do a mother daughter class together and just say, this is such a good time for us to spend a little bit of time together, a little bonus time before they go off to college.   During the school year, we have, I have a watercolor artist friends. She lives near me and she's a professional watercolor artist and she does the class called Bible journaling. And that is a beautiful combination of a devotion and a watercolor time together.   Those are hour and a half classes too. And they meet once a week. And we sometimes we'll have grandmas, we'll have high school students, we'll have mother daughter pairs do it together.   And they actually have a little prayer time, a little study of scripture. And then then Kate teaches them step-by-step how to do a beautiful watercolor and incorporate some hand lettering in it. So that's just a beautiful fun time together.   So I highly recommend her class during the school year. If, if a mom could get away, or if you have a high school daughter to do it together, that is a great experience. And then I have a short version of art history that you could do with friends or your high school daughter.   It's called paint your way through marvelous to behold, which is just 12 lessons that goes through. And that's a variety of drawing and painting. If you wanted to do something like that.   So, lots of things, or you can check out the books. And if you feel confident following step-by-step instructions in a book, you could use the book or a combination of videos and books. If you're feeling kind of like you could lead a art group, you could get the cell page video, watch the video and then do, you know, exactly what I said, do that live with a group.   And if you have any art experience doing that, you could get, probably get, I would like invite all the homeschool moms in your co-op group to get together. And I do some, sometimes I'll go to do a mom's group, do a watercolor or I love to do the milkmaid with moms because the milkmaid is this beautiful painting from the Dutch masters of a woman cooking. She's just pouring milk.   I think she's making bread pudding and it's just so beautiful. It's like, what I think I look like homeschooling. I'm wearing like a long gold gown and those suns coming in and everything's perfect.   I'm like, this is the ideal. This is what I think homeschooling is going to look like. And then I kind of use that painting as a launch pad for painting Delft tiles from the period.   And so sometimes I'll, I'll do that with some homeschool moms because I like to encourage homeschool moms. I know it's hard. And I had some mentors when I was homeschooling that I really appreciated.   So, I'm always happy to, to be the support and be able to say it's worth it. Keep going. I know you're driving a crappy car, but it will be worth it.   And so, the sacrifices you make now totally pay off. And you know, before I know it, my son is going to be homeschooling his daughter. She's seven months now, but it's going to fly by, you know, she'll be four before you know it.   And I'll be teaching her how to paint. I suppose.   Laura Dugger: (52:16 - 53:13) When was the first time you listened to an episode of The Savvy Sauce? How did you hear about our podcast? Did a friend share it with you?   Will you be willing to be that friend now and text five other friends or post on your socials, anything about The Savvy Sauce that you love? If you share your favorite episodes, that is how we continue to expand our reach and get the good news of Jesus Christ in more ears across the world. So, we need your help.   Another way to help us grow is to leave a five-star review on Apple podcasts. Each of these suggestions will cost you less than a minute, but it will be a great benefit to us. Thank you so much for being willing to be generous with your time and share. We appreciate you.    I don't want to miss what website to direct everyone to. If they want to sign up for one of these classes, where's the best place to follow up?   Courtney Sanford: (53:14 - 54:27) Go to delightfulartco.com and on that page, you'll see live classes, self-paced classes, summer retreats. I've done adult retreats before. I'd be open to doing it again if people want to.   So, I have, I would call it private retreats. So, if you want to get a group of women together, maybe somebody has a beach house, I'll come and do the art. It could be a one day, two day, or three-day event.   So that's an option. And we have self-paced classes. So, lots of things to look at.   I have a lot of sample classes on the website too. If you want to drop in and see what they're like. I think there's a how to paint Monet's water lilies is on the site.   You can watch that and see what it's like. Some people are afraid to try an online art class, but we all loved Bob Ross, and we watched him. So, if you can imagine saying, Bob, stop, could you do that again?   That's what my classes are like, and I'll be happy to stop and show you again. And then you can hold up your work at the end and I can give you some feedback. So, I'm like the new Bob Ross.   Laura Dugger: (54:27 - 54:46) There you go. That's wonderful. Thank you for sharing that.   And Courtney, I just have a couple more questions for you. If let's turn it back to parenting. If we want to get started today and we just want next step to get started.   What is an art prompt that we can still try today?   Courtney Sanford: (54:47 - 57:26) I would look at what you're, what, what are you teaching your kids? So, if you're teaching them, maybe you have a library book on the coffee table that you're studying biology. Pull out one thing from that and draw what you see and reproduce that.   Just one drawing a week. And before you know it, you'll have a whole biology book. So, I like to instead of saying parents, you have to add on another course.   You have to add art to everything else you're doing. Slide it into what you're already doing and it will enhance what they remember about that. And it's not like a whole other subject.   So just use art as a tool to help them remember what you want them to learn anyway. So, anything you want them to teach, if you have a photo or a drawing, have them trace it or draw it. I actually another good way to start is if you have little kids and Bible story time, let them draw what you're reading about.   My son loved to do stick figures. So, I have the whole Bible told in stick figures from when I'm from my youngest kid. And it is fabulous, especially like Sodom and Gomorrah.   And, you know, there's a lot of violent stuff. Boys love that stuff. So, he illustrated a lot of the Old Testament because I read it every morning, and he would just draw what he heard me.   I think I was using the Children's Illustrated Bible. So, he had some things to look at. That's another great way to get started.   Just let them look at the story and draw in their own art journal. So, there's so many fun ways you can use it in every subject. I had a mom tell me she read me an email.   She said, my daughter is just blooming in your classes. I wish every subject could be taught with an art journal and a paint palette. And I replied, we're working on it.   We're we've got we've got Latin and art, science and art, literature and art. There's just so many ways to find inspiration and what you're already studying and find the beauty in that subject. So, in our site, our art and biology course, students do a beautiful watercolor of the DNA strand.   And they draw the cell in watercolor. And it's just beautiful. And it helps them remember it and practices their art skills.   So, it's like a two for one. Think of it as a two for one. Take art and put it in another subject.   Laura Dugger: (57:26 - 57:46) I love win wins. That sounds amazing. And Courtney, I just have one final question for you today.   We are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge or insight. And so is my final question for you today. What is your savvy sauce?   Courtney Sanford: (57:47 - 58:15) The beauty, in beauty out, has been kind of my savvy sauce and also as unto the Lord. So, whatever I do, I do as unto the Lord. If I'm homeschooling, I'm teaching biology.   I'm going to do as unto the Lord. I'm not going to hand out a worksheet. I'm going to make it.   I'm going to make it a great experience. So, I would have to say whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly as unto the Lord and not for men.   Laura Dugger: (58:16 - 58:36) What a great place to end. Courtney, you are so inspiring. You've given us great ideas and kind of confidence to get to put this into practice.   Even if we're not artists like you, we're all created in God's image and therefore can be creative. So, thank you for your time and wisdom today. Thank you so much for being my guest.   Courtney Sanford: (58:37 - 58:40) You are sure welcome. I had a great time. It's good to talk to you.   Laura Dugger: (58:41 - 1:02:25) You as well. One more thing before you go. Have you heard the term gospel before?   It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you. But it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there is absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior. But God loved us so much, he made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live and died in our place for our sin. This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus.   We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished if we choose to receive what He has done for us. Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” So, would you pray with me now?   Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you. Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life?   We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.   If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me, so me for him. You get the opportunity to live your life for him. And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason.   We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you ready to get started? First, tell someone.   Say it out loud. Get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes & Noble and let me choose my own Bible.   I selected the Quest NIV Bible, and I love it. You can start by reading the book of John. Also, get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ.   I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps, such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you. We want to celebrate with you too, so feel free to leave a comment for us here if you did make a decision to follow Christ. We also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “In the same way I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

Mark David Hall, professor at Regent University, bravely makes his second appearance on the show to talk about his 2023 book, Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land, a history of Christianity's influence on American freedom and equality.

Bishop Paul Lanier continues his conversation Michele Bachmann, dean of the Robertson School of Government at Regent University, about her first visit to Israel as a teenager.

Recorded on 8 May 2025 for ICMDA Webinars.Dr Peter Saunders chairs a webinar with Dr Steven WillingIn recent years, an emerging body of research in cognitive psychology has focused on several fundamental prerequisites for sound thinking, reaffirming what Scripture has taught for millennia. These can be summarized in eight simple principles.The Christian Mind:Is humble.Seeks wisdom.Is discerning.Is not lazy.Learns from others.Is watchful of emotions.Honors God's word.Respects tradition.Dr. Steven Willing is an academic neuroscientist with over 40 years of clinical experience in academic and private settings. He is currently a consultant in radiology at Tenwek Hospital in Kenya, a pediatric neuroradiologist for Children's of Alabama, a visiting scholar with Reasons to Believe, and an Adjunct Professor of Divinity at Regent University.Dr. Willing is the author of Atlas of Neuroradiology, and more recently, Superbia: The Perils of Pride. The Power of Humility. His personal blog on science apologetics, “The Soggy Spaniel,” may be found at www.swilling.com.⁠⁠⁠To listen live to future ICMDA webinars visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://icmda.net/resources/webinars/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On this episode of The Man Up Show, Nikita Koloff sits down with Dr. Simon Tarr, dean of the Honors College and the School of Communication and the Arts at Regent University. As a respected educator, artist, and experimental filmmaker, Dr. Tarr opens up about his personal journey, his passion for teaching, and the vision behind Regent's Christian-centered approach to education. The conversation dives into the wide range of opportunities available to students—especially in film and communication—and explores Tarr's cutting-edge projects, including his work with virtual reality.

In today's episode, host Cyndee Ownbey sits down with Cicely Corry, the editorial director at Barna Group, for a powerful conversation about reaching Gen Z women in your church. Drawing on fresh data from Barna's latest research, Cyndee and Cicely dive into some eye-opening trends—like why young women are leaving the church at higher rates and what unique challenges and opportunities this presents for women's ministry leaders.If you're concerned about connecting with the next generation, want to understand what's going on behind these statistics, or you're just looking for fresh ways to engage young women, this episode is packed with insight, encouragement, and actionable steps rooted in real research and real-life ministry. Let's get started!The transcript for this interview is available at https://womensministrytoolbox.com/a-surprising-shift-gen-z-faith-and-the-future-of-womens-ministry/.Cicely Corry is Editorial Director at Barna Group, where she leads online contentstrategy to help Christian leaders understand key trends affecting the Church.Previously, she managed social media strategy and content for the Billy GrahamEvangelistic Association and wrote for the Christian Broadcasting Network. Cicely has served in student ministry for over 10 years, and founded Three Minute Study, an online Bible study community helping others understand, enjoy, and apply God's word. She holds an M.A. in journalism from Regent University and a B.A. in print journalism and marketing from Hampton University. Cicely is an Atlanta native now living in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband and two sons. Travel, red velvet cupcakes, and farmer's markets are a few of her favorite things.Related links:Barna site: https://www.barna.com/  Gen Z Vol. 3 Study: https://www.barna.com/gen-z-volume-3/ Barna's Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/barnagroup/?hl=en  Barna Access Plus: https://www.barna.com/access/  Thank you for listening to the Women's Ministry Toolbox Podcast. You'll find additional women's ministry resources below.Women's Ministry Toolbox Resources: Sign Up for My Email List - https://bit.ly/wmtbemail Website – www.womensministrytoolbox.com Online Store – www.womensministrytoolboxshop.com Online Training – www.womensministrytraining.com Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/womensministrytoolbox/ Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/womensministrytoolboxcommunity/ Women's Ministry Essentials on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/shop/wmtoolboxYou can connect with Cyndee via Facebook, Instagram (@womensministrytoolbox), and email (cyndee@womensministrytoolbox.com).

Hear Ken Freire's story of healing from childhood sexual abuse, achieving lasting freedom from porn, and finding joy and purpose in Christ.Ken Freire owns Scriptures.blog and hosts the Shame(less) Podcast. Ken has been helping Christian men break free from addiction and reclaim their purpose for the last 15 years. Through his own journey of overcoming abuse, shame, and embracing God's grace, he aims to equip others with biblical wisdom and practical tools for lasting transformation. He's been married for 13 years and has 4 beautiful children. Ken has a Master's in Divinity from Regent University, is a Full Focus Certified Pro, and a Prepare & Enrich Facilitator. Connect with Ken:Podcast: beshameless.orgWebsite: scriptures.blogInstagram: instagram.com/kenfreireLinkedin: linkedin.com/in/kenfreire/Support the showTake the Husband Material Journey... Step 1: Listen to this podcast or watch on YouTube Step 2: Join the private Husband Material Community Step 3: Take the free mini-course: How To Outgrow Porn Step 4: Try the all-in-one program: Husband Material Academy Thanks for listening!

Happiness Solved with Sandee Sgarlata. In this episode, Sandee interviews Dana Che Williams. In this engaging conversation, relationship expert Dana Shay Williams shares her journey from aspiring psychologist to a successful marriage coach and podcaster. She emphasizes the importance of connection and intimacy in relationships, discussing various forms of intimacy beyond the physical. Dana highlights the common misconception that communication issues are the root of relationship problems, instead pointing to disconnection as the default state. The discussion also covers effective communication strategies, the significance of timing in conversations, and the need for couples to work together to foster understanding and connection. In this conversation, Sandee Sgarlata and Dana Che Williams explore the intricacies of communication in relationships, emphasizing the importance of understanding each other's needs, maintaining connection over time, and the necessity of growth and change within partnerships. They discuss practical strategies for effective communication, the significance of vulnerability, and how to keep the spark alive in long-term relationships.Guest Bio:Dana Che Williams is a relationship expert, authentic, relatable podcaster, and keynote speaker who encourages, empowers, and equips people to step up more confidently and courageously in their lives and relationships. Dana is the founder of Thrive Relationships, LLC, and hosts the Rebuilding US marriage podcast.  Known for her humor, grace, and candid speaking style, Dana helps corporations, ministries, teams, and individuals tackle communication challenges, implement healthy boundaries, develop structured rhythms for emotional well-being, and overcome disconnection in their relationships. She holds a B.A. in communication from Regent University and lives with Shaun, her husband of twenty-five years, and the youngest two of their four fabulous children in Virginia Beach, VA.TakeawaysDana Shay Williams is a relationship expert and podcaster.Connection and intimacy are crucial for healthy relationships.Many couples misidentify their issues as communication problems.Intimacy encompasses emotional, physical, spiritual, and recreational aspects.Couples often disconnect due to life responsibilities and neglect friendship.Effective communication requires understanding, not just agreement.Timing is essential when discussing sensitive topics with a partner.Listening with empathy is key to effective communication.Couples should know their goals before initiating conversations.Navigating challenges in communication requires patience and understanding. Effective communication requires clarity about what you need.It's important to let your partner know if you just need to vent.Vulnerability is key in expressing emotional needs.Time spent together is essential for nurturing relationships.Communication skills can be applied in both personal and professional settings.Understanding your partner's communication style can enhance connection.Staying curious about your partner fosters deeper intimacy.Relationships evolve, and so should the way we communicate.Proactive measures can strengthen the foundation of a relationship.Connect with Dana:Instagram: https://instagram.com/mrsdanacheFacebook: https://facebook.com/mrsdanacheYouTube: https://youtube.com/@mrsdanacheConnect with Sandee: Website: www.sandeesgarlata.comPodcast: www.happinesssolved.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/coachsandeesgarlataTwitter: www.twitter.com/sandeesgarlataInstagram: www.instagram.com/coachsandeesgarlata

Episode Summary: A recent survey of 15,000 workers across 15 countries found that a quarter of all workers experienced burnout symptoms, but many don’t recognize it for what it is until after the crash has occurred. Join me with Dr. Jonathan Hoover, author of Stress Fracture: Your Ultimate Guide to Beating Burnout. Together, we will unpack the root causes of burnout and explore how it impacts physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Dr. Hoover shares actionable strategies and faith-based insights for recognizing stress fractures in life and taking steps to heal holistically. With practical advice, scientific understanding, and a focus on hope, this episode will equip you to overcome burnout and restore balance, resilience, and joy. Quotables from the episode: We can go from being okay to not being okay really quickly. Burnout is a legitimate path straight to depression. I found out that it’s (burnout) not a unique situation. It happens a lot, and especially even to people that we would look up to as incredibly productive people. It is very, very common, especially amongst highly productive individuals, because we have a tendency to even push through our body's normal signals that, hey, you need a rest. We kind of push through and go, I'll take time for a rest after I get this done, after I get that done and we don't take the time. But I think what is hard and your example of your father's experience is that often we don't see the early signs of burnout and we don't recognize it for what it is until after we've hit rock bottom. Burnout specifically tends to happen to people that are very driven. And we want to do lots of things and we want to take on the world and we dream big and we execute big. But sometimes we execute beyond what God is calling us to do. And we have to grieve the fact that there are lots of good things we could do but Paul taught us that not everything I could do is something I should do. There is something about the emotions we experience that are at the core of who we are as a person. And we sort of use that emotional capital in understanding how other people feel, sharing with them how we feel, using our emotions to achieve goals, exercising our emotions to be Christ -like. I mean, tells us about Jesus' emotion. So often we see that Jesus was compassionate. That is an emotion. And there is a season where Jesus wants to get off by himself because there wasn't even enough time for them to eat. Him and his disciples didn't even have enough time to eat. But what you see is that what was he tired of doing? He was giving of himself emotionally. There was this compassion, there was the desire to help people who were struggling. And we don't realize in our daily life how much emotional capital we are doling out from our emotional wallet. When it comes to caring about our kids, caring about our spouse, caring about our job, putting our passion and energy into our life's calling and At some point what can happen is we can write those emotional checks beyond what the balance is in the account That's what happens with burnout is and that's why it can start with such a benevolent and well-meaning direction in life. I want to give as much of myself as I can to as many people as I possibly can I want to accomplish big things, nothing wrong with any of that, until we write a check that's bigger than the balance. And then what happens is, this is something that we're still trying to figure out psychologically. There is a sort of, of last straw that happens with emotions. We haven't figured it out yet, but you go from being okay to not being okay very fast, very fast. And that is I think what is so challenging when you work with people as I do who are burned out is one day they're doing fine, and then the next day they're not. I like to treat the analog of going to the gym as a good way of thinking about burnout. So if I'm going to the gym and I'm hurting myself because I'm pushing myself beyond my limits. So let's say I go and I try to lift too much weight or something like that. I have three options for how to deal with it. I could, one, reduce the weight that I'm lifting. So sometimes when I work with people who are burned out, my first suggestion is let's try to figure out what we can delegate that you do. Let's figure out how to get you doing what only you can do and find a way to get people, other people to help you do what other people could do. Sometimes I have to work with people to say, well, the reason it's so difficult for you is it has to be perfect. Perfectionists tend to get burned out faster than anybody else. So we have to learn that science of good enough. Burnout can happen in a lot of arenas. It can happen in marriage. It doesn't have to be work. But whatever arena I'm burning out in, the question is, am I doing healthy things away from that arena to help me fight that more challenging battle in that one zone? Signs that you’re potentially facing burnout are massive exhaustion. There’s a difference between being exhausted and being tired. Tired is normal. Tired helps me know I need to rest. The difference between being tired and being exhausted is like when you’re driving down the road and the little gas light comes on, that's tired. If you are on the side of the road and literally your car won't start because there's no gas in it, that's exhausted. So there's a big difference between saying, "I really should rest," and saying, "I have nothing left to give anyone." That's exhaustion. When you start to feel like, "I don't have anything to give anybody," huge sign there, a burnout. So there are a lot of things that people wouldn't necessarily immediately tie to burnout that absolutely can be related. Digestive issues can be related to burnout, migraine headaches, shoulder and neck tension. Anything that ends in itis, pick up a medical manual when you're at your bookstore, look for anything that ends in itis. That is a bodily inflammation illness of some sort. Some, if it ends in itis, inflammation is at the root of it. And we know that stress causes bodily inflammation. So I make myself more likely to have those itis conditions by allowing stress to get out of hand. There are some cognitive things to look for. Burnout effects are working memory. So you have that kind of memory thing where it's sort of like a whiteboard. You can throw some numbers up there, an idea up there, but you don't need it long. You just need it for a second. And we have that in our memory where we can just hold something briefly. And when we're stressed out, that takes a huge hit. I mean, all of us have that experience where you're walking down the hallway and you're like, wait, what did I, what was I doing? Like, why did I come down this hallway? We all have that. But if it happens three or four times more than usual, so you constantly, like all the time, you're finding yourself going, well, I was thinking about something and I lost my train of thought. I was trying to walk down here. I forgot what I was going for. And you just realize, like, I don't remember things nearly as well as I normally do. That's a sign. Listen to people that love you. That's a big one. So when your spouse says, I'm worried about you, don't let that just roll off. Pay attention, right? And know that they care about you. The first thing I always tell anybody who's really thinking “I'm going through burnout” is you need to make three appointments. Just do it now. Just do it now. First appointment needs to be with your doctor. Get with your primary care physician, set up an appointment to go see them, get a checkup, let them know any symptoms you might be experiencing, physical symptoms, let them know that you're going through a season of stress. Have them check you out physically. Make an appointment with a therapist. Sit down with a counselor, a professional counselor, walk through what it is that you're going through. And then finally, make an appointment with a spiritual advisor. That could be your pastor to talk about your spiritual condition. Scripture References: Mark 4:38 “Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” Recommended Resources: Stress Fracture: Your Ultimate Guide to Beating Burnout by Jonathan Hoover, Ph.D. Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Dr. Jonathan Hoover: Website / Facebook / LinkedIn / Instagram For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Guest: Dr. Jonathan Hoover serves as the senior associate pastor of NewSpring Church in Wichita, Kansas. He also works as an assistant professor at Regent University’s School of Psychology and Counseling, where he is the director of the master of science in psychology program. He lives in Wichita, Kansas, with his wife, Wendy, and daughters, Cheyenne and Summer. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today our guest is Taryne Dismuke, Culture Catalyst at DO EWE Coaching & Consulting. We talk to Taryne about the concept of living out your pillars of purpose. She unpacks how easy it is to get pulled away from our core purpose in education—and how that drift can lead to burnout. Taryne offers practical insights on staying grounded in our “why,” and how doing so not only sustains us but also creates a ripple effect that benefits students, families, and entire communities. This conversation is a powerful reminder that while purpose-driven work isn't always easy, it's deeply rewarding. Learn More About CharacterStrong:  Access FREE Tier 2 Curriculum Samples Request a Quote Today! Visit the CharacterStrong Website   Taryne Dismuke, founder of DO EWE Coaching, is passionate about helping individuals, teams and organizations to develop systems, practices, goals, and cultural norms that enhance effectiveness, improve performance and advance equity. She inspires teams to gain traction toward their goals by fostering accountability, strategy, and inclusion.  With over 19 years of experience in teaching, coaching, and leadership development. Taryne has consulted for leaders and organizations across industries, including K-12 and higher education, management consulting, community development, and faith-based groups. She has helped hundreds of campuses strengthen school culture, elevate teacher-leaders, and implement sustainable, equitable practices.  While serving as a regional strategist in education solutions, Taryne led a team of 20 leaders, facilitating professional learning communities, mentoring individuals, and designing and delivering both virtual and in-person training. Her expertise includes strategic planning, leadership development, and cultivating inclusive cultures that embrace equitable practices.  Taryne holds a Bachelor's degree from Prairie View A&M University, a Master's in Organizational Development and Leadership from Regent University with a coaching and mentoring certification, and an Executive Certification in Diversity Coaching from Howard University and CoachDiversity Institute. She is also a credentialed coach with the International Coaching Federation.  When she's not helping teams and organizations grow, Taryne enjoys traveling, reading, exploring new restaurants, and spending quality time with her husband and son. She is also passionate about mentoring youth, helping them develop character and leadership skills to positively impact their communities. 

The Dean's List with Host Dean Bowen – Kingdom Education empowers students to rise above mediocrity by inspiring purpose, passion, and excellence. Dr. Amy Davies of Regent University shares how connecting academic content to a student's identity fuels a deeper love of learning. Through relationship-building and a classical mindset, educators can help students break free from average and pursue their God-given potential.

In today's episode, "A Prayer to Find Joy in Caring for Others," we explore the profound happiness that comes from selflessly serving and caring for those around us. This heartfelt prayer invites you to discover the joy that can blossom through acts of kindness and compassion, even in the midst of life's challenges. Through this prayer, we reflect on how caring for others not only enriches their lives but also fills our own hearts with love and fulfillment. It serves as a reminder that joy can be found in the simplest acts of service, reminding us to approach each day with a spirit of generosity and empathy. Key Themes: Finding joy in acts of service The power of compassion and kindness Spiritual fulfillment through caring for others Embracing relationships and nurturing connections This episode encourages listeners to embrace the joy that comes from caring for others, urging you to open your heart to the needs of those around you. Whether through small gestures or significant commitments, serving others can transform your perspective and strengthen your spirit. Join us as we seek renewal through prayer, asking for the grace to find joy in service and the courage to show compassion in our daily lives. Let this be a moment of inspiration, encouraging you to cultivate joy and love in your spiritual journey. About Today's Author Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.

Join America's Roundtable (https://americasrt.com/) radio co-hosts Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy with Chris Mitchell, CBN News Middle East Bureau Chief and bestselling author of titles including "Jerusalem Dateline," "Destination Jerusalem" and "ISIS, Iran and Israel: What You Need to Know about the Current Mideast Crisis and the Coming War." Chris Mitchell serves on the Executive Advisory Board of International Leaders Summit and Jerusalem Leaders Summit. Chris Mitchell first began reporting on the Middle East in the mid-1990s. He repeatedly traveled there to report on the religious and political issues facing Israel and the surrounding Arab states. The conversation on America's Roundatble with Chris Mitchell is focused on US-Israel relations, an update on the plight of hostages still held in Gaza, the recent findings of US taxpayer funds aiding Hamas terrorist group through the US government agency USAID, the crisis in Syria with attacks targeting the Alawite minority group and Christians, and the Iranian nuclear threat. On August 17, 2000, Chris Mitchell opened the CBN News Bureau in Israel. He came with his wife, Liz, and their three children without a notion of what would begin just five weeks later — a four-year-long campaign of Palestinian terror attacks and suicide bombings known as the Second Intifada rocked Israel. He also serves as the host and Executive Producer of Jerusalem Dateline, a weekly T.V. program from Israel seen worldwide on numerous networks. A native of the Boston area, Chris earned a B.A. in History at the University of New Hampshire in 1975. In 1987, he graduated with honors from Regent University, earning an M.A. in Communication. CBN's impact around the world engages an estimated viewing audience of 360 million people - a combined number of viewers through the numerous programs broadcasted in 156 countries and 76 languages. americasrt.com (https://americasrt.com/) https://summitleadersusa.com/ | https://jerusalemleaderssummit.com/ America's Roundtable on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-roundtable/id1518878472 Twitter: @ChrisCBNNews @ileaderssummit @NatashaSrdoc @JoelAnandUSA @supertalk America's Roundtable is co-hosted by Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy, co-founders of International Leaders Summit and the Jerusalem Leaders Summit. America's Roundtable (https://americasrt.com/) radio program - a strategic initiative of International Leaders Summit, focuses on America's economy, healthcare reform, rule of law, security and trade, and its strategic partnership with rule of law nations around the world. The radio program features high-ranking US administration officials, cabinet members, members of Congress, state government officials, distinguished diplomats, business and media leaders and influential thinkers from around the world. Tune into America's Roundtable Radio program from Washington, DC via live streaming on Saturday mornings via 65 radio stations at 7:30 A.M. (ET) on Lanser Broadcasting Corporation covering the Michigan and the Midwest market, and at 7:30 A.M. (CT) on SuperTalk Mississippi — SuperTalk.FM reaching listeners in every county within the State of Mississippi, and neighboring states in the South including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee. Listen to America's Roundtable on digital platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, Google and other key online platforms. Listen live, Saturdays at 7:30 A.M. (CT) on SuperTalk | https://www.supertalk.fm

Dr. Carlos Campo, CEO of Museum of the Bible, joins Unscrolled and shares his story of growing up in a talented family, his lifelong love and pursuit of education, and his hopes for Museum of the Bible in this new season. He shares more about what his Cuban father called “the wonder of life,” and how the words of the Bible guided him every step of the way.Guest Bio: Carlos Campo, PhD, serves as the chief executive officer for Museum of the Bible. He oversees the executive team and over 300 museum employees. Dr. Campo's appointment as CEO follows an illustrious career in academic leadership, including his term as the 30th president of Ashland University, the president of Regent University, and chief academic officer at the College of Southern Nevada.Dr. Campo provides strategic leadership to the museum, directing all functions related to the museum's mission to invite all people to engage with the transformative power of the Bible.museumoftheBible.orgMegiddo Mosaic - museumofthebible.org/exhibits/megiddoStay up to date with Museum of the Bible on social media:  Instagram: @museumofbible  X: @museumofBible  Facebook: museumofBible  Linkedin: museumofBible  YouTube: @museumoftheBibleCopyright © 2025 Museum of the Bible. All rights reserved.#museumoftheBible #Unscrolled #CarlosCampo

Ellen Kamhi talks with Troy Duell, an influential health educator and the founder of Centurion Labs. With a decade of experience, he leverages his background in professional sports, teaching, and pharmaceuticals to promote accessible healthcare. His commitment to evidence-based health information has established him as a trusted figure in health education. Duell holds degrees from the University of Alabama and Regent University.  He talks about the impact of sugar consumption on our physical and mental health.

It's St. Patrick's Day! We're live with Pete Dawson on the Irish flute, Josh McMullen, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Regent University and author of the book The Glacier Priest: Father Bernard Hubbard and "America's Last Frontier", Dr. Brian Pedraza, Director of Theology Program and The Dominus Project at Fran U in Baton Rouge talks about upcoming event called Rites of Passage: How Boys Grow Up and Why Some Men Don't and Danny Fitzpatrick, Catholic author and Editor of the St. Louis IX Society Joie de Vivre, talks about the upcoming Joie de Vivre Louisiana Arts and Culture Festival.

Find comfort and restoration with this heartfelt prayer designed specifically for healing from trauma. This prayer invites you to release pain and embrace the journey toward emotional recovery. Ideal for individuals seeking solace and strength, it encourages self-acceptance and the courage to confront past wounds. Use this prayer as a daily affirmation of hope, resilience, and divine support. Perfect for personal reflection, meditation, or group settings, this prayer serves as a powerful reminder that healing is possible. Embrace peace and renewal as you connect with your inner strength on the path to recovery. About Today's Author: Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.

Marriage isn't always easy, but what if we could make it easier? In today's episode, I sit down with Arlene Pellicane, author of Making Marriage Easier, to talk about the ups and downs of marriage, navigating grief and loss together, and how small intentional actions can reignite connection. Arlene shares her own love story—from longing for marriage as a young woman to waiting on God's timing and eventually walking through infertility and loss. She also gives practical tips on keeping fun and affection alive in marriage, communicating well, and choosing commitment even when emotions wane. Whether you're newly married or decades in, this conversation is full of wisdom, encouragement, and hope for making your marriage stronger.What You'll Learn in This Episode: • How waiting on God's timing shaped Arlene's view of marriage • The importance of processing grief together and marking moments of loss • Why affection and fun are vital to a thriving marriage (and how to cultivate both!) • The power of small daily actions that strengthen connection • How to move from transactional to intentional in your relationshipBio:Arlene Pellicane is a speaker, host of the Happy Home podcast, and author of several books, including Parents Rising, Making Marriage Easier, and Screen Kids (coauthored with Dr. Gary Chapman). She is the spokesperson for National Marriage Week and has been happily married to her husband, James, for more than 25 years. Arlene earned her BA from Biola University and her master's in journalism from Regent University. Arlene lives with her family in San Diego.  Connect with Arlene:Website: www.arlenepellicane.com  IG: https://www.instagram.com/arlenepellicane Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArlenePellicaneAuthor***Call to Action:Loved this conversation? Share this episode with a friend and tag us on social media! Don't forget to leave a review—it helps more people find hope and encouragement for their marriages.

When President Donald Trump was elected, he promised to clean up the foreign affairs mess left by his predecessor - specifically the Russian-Ukrainian war. Professor at Regent University, Dr. A.J. Nolte, joins Joseph Backholm to explore America’s stance on Ukraine, the Biden administration’s role, and whether the U.S. should engage with Putin. Why is Trump the only president who seems willing to talk to Russia? What mistakes has Zelensky made, and is Ukraine’s corruption a barrier to peace? They break down the challenges of a deal, military risks, and the future of power in the region.

When President Donald Trump was elected, he promised to clean up the foreign affairs mess left by his predecessor - specifically the Russian-Ukrainian war. Professor at Regent University, Dr. A.J. Nolte, joins Joseph Backholm to explore America's stance on Ukraine, the Biden administration's role, and whether the U.S. should engage with Putin. Why is Trump the only president who seems willing to talk to Russia? What mistakes has Zelensky made, and is Ukraine's corruption a barrier to peace? They break down the challenges of a deal, military risks, and the future of power in the region.

When President Donald Trump was elected, he promised to clean up the foreign affairs mess left by his predecessor - specifically the Russian-Ukrainian war. Professor at Regent University, Dr. A.J. Nolte, joins Joseph Backholm to explore America’s stance on Ukraine, the Biden administration’s role, and whether the U.S. should engage with Putin. Why is Trump the only president who seems willing to talk to Russia? What mistakes has Zelensky made, and is Ukraine’s corruption a barrier to peace? They break down the challenges of a deal, military risks, and the future of power in the region.

Are you managing or truly leading your team? What can military leadership teach us about running a successful business?In this episode of The Business Ownership Podcast I interviewed Dr. Anthony Simmons.  He is the founder and owner of Sixth Gear Consulting, LLC, which is a leadership performance consulting practice that instructs leaders on how to lead through bridging People and Technology. Dr. Anthony L. Simmons is a retired Navy Captain who served 28 years as a Surface Warfare Officer. His Navy experience includes four at-sea commands: a Patrol Coastal, two AEGIS Destroyers and a Destroyer Squadron. Ashore, he developed human resource strategies at the Bureau of Naval Personnel and the Pentagon on staffs of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Chief of Naval Operations as a Strategic Planner and Resource Officer. Dr. Simmons has worked in the Maritime Defense Sector supporting Small Business Innovation Research for the Office of Naval Research. Additionally, he has done business development, program management, and test and systems engineering. He holds a doctorate degree in Strategic Leadership from Regent University, a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Naval Postgraduate School, a M.A. in Military Operational Art and Science from Air University, and a bachelor's degree in Robotics from Austin Peay State University. Dr. Simmons grew up in the rural, working-class town of Goodwater, AL where he graduated from Goodwater High School in 1985 as Valedictorian, was honored as an All-State Football Player, and earned a full football scholarship to Austin Peay. Dr. Simmons is a member of Austin Peay Governors Military Hall of Fame Class of 2023.Want to build a culture of trust and performance? Learn how. Check this out!Show Links: Dr. Anthony L. Simmons on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-simmons/Sixth Gear Consulting Website: https://sixthgearconsulting.com/Phone number: 901 219 9906Book a call with Michelle: https://go.appointmentcore.com/book/IcFD4cGJoin our Facebook group for business owners to get help or help other business owners!The Business Ownership Group - Secrets to Scaling: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessownershipsecretstoscalingLooking to scale your business? Get free gifts here to help you on your way: https://www.awarenessstrategies.com/

The Way Home Podcast returns from hiatus! Today, we have Eric Patterson on The Way Home Podcast! Dr. Eric Patterson is a former Deam at Regent University in Virginia and is the current President and CEO of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. Today on The Way Home Podcast, Dan and Eric discuss the history […] The post The Way Home Podcast: Eric Patterson on the Foreign Policy and Just War appeared first on Daniel Darling.

On this WPN Call #419, Dr. Jim Garlow is joined by Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, the former U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 6th district from 2007-2015, and the academic dean of the Robertson School of Government at Regent University. She brings a detailed report about what Israel is going through right now.     Website: stopthewho.com     Dr. Jim Garlow has partnered with Pastor Mario Bramnick and Terry Barnes to bring you World Prayer Network (WPN), which seeks out Holy Spirit given strategies for how to be an effective and contagious Christ-follower in our present national situations. WPN hosts weekly prayer calls to seek out strategies for the transformation of nations, including our own. During these live calls, we share briefings from key leaders and then pray into what we see and hear from the Lord.     Follow us on social media:  facebook.com/wellversedworld twitter: @wellversedworld instagram: @wellversedworld www.wellversedworld.org

"Love without truth devolves into sentimentality. Truth without love becomes cold and calculated."~ Bishop Robert BarronWhere did we get to this place with regard to gender?How do I, a Christian, treat people who are gender nonconforming?What is the relationship between truth and love in real relationships?In Episode 67, hosts Kenna and Pat engage in a profound & faithful conversation with Dr. Julia Sadusky about gender identity and gender dysphoria. Dr. Sadusky, a licensed clinical psychologist, brings her expertise in psychology, gender, and faith, offering compassionate insights into how parents and individuals can navigate the complex terrain of gender identity with love and truth. This episode delves into the complexities of gender dysphoria, highlighting the real emotional challenges faced by those experiencing it, and provides practical guidance for parents aiming to support their children's gender exploration in a healthy and faith-filled way. Dr. Sadusky also shares her personal journey into this work, illustrating the power of compassion and the importance of presence in moments of suffering. Listeners are invited to examine their own positions and postures, fostering meaningful and empathetic relationships with those navigating gender questions.Dr. Julia Sadusky is a licensed clinical psychologist and the owner of a private practice in Littleton, CO. She is also an author, consultant, speaker, and adjunct professor. Dr. Sadusky has done extensive research and clinical work in sexual and gender development and specializes in trauma-informed care. She earned a bachelor's degree from Ave Maria University and a master's degree and doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Regent University. She has authored several books around human sexuality, with her most recent two-book series entitled, "Start Talking to Your Kids about Sex: A Practical Guide for Catholics" (Ave Maria Press, 2023) and "Talking with Your Teen about Sex: A Practical Guide for Catholics (Ave Maria Press, 2024). Episode 67 Show NotesVisit Dr. Julia Sadusky's website and check out her booksChapters:0:00: Introduction and Highs & Hards12:57: Defining gender & gender identity19:34: Gender dysphoria & distress around gender27:33: Parents facing gender confusion in their children42:16: Public gender nonconformity & pronouns54:28: Position vs. Posture59:49: Navigating gender expression with loved ones1:10:52: Challenge By ChoiceReflection Questions: What is one specific thing that stuck with you from this conversation?When have you encountered challenges around gender?How do you balance truth and love in the face of conversations around gender?What comes up in you with conversations around gender?Send us a text. We're excited to hear what's on your mind!Thank you for listening! Visit us online at thiswholelifepodcast.com, and send us an email with your thoughts, questions, or ideas.Follow us on Instagram & FacebookInterested in more faith-filled mental health resources? Check out the Martin Center for IntegrationMusic: "You're Not Alone" by Marie Miller. Used with permission.

What is the contribution of the neurosciences to our understanding of gender? How does the study of the brain help us understand transgenderism? How, if at all, are male and female brains different? And would it be possible to have a male brain in a female body? We'll answer these questions and more with our guest, Dr. Stephen Willing. Steven Willing is board-certified in diagnostic radiology and neuroradiology, with an MD from the Medical College of Georgia and an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He has held faculty positions at the University of Louisville, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Indiana University, where he taught and practiced diagnostic and interventional neuroradiology. Currently, he is a clinical neuroradiologist at Children's of Alabama, a consultant in radiology at Tenwek Hospital in Kenya, a visiting scholar with Reasons to Believe, and an adjunct Professor of Divinity at Regent University. Dr. Willing is the author of Superbia: The Perils of Pride. The Power of Humility. ==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California. Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.

Melanie is the award-winning author of thirty historical, time-slip, and romantic suspense novels. She received her undergraduate degree in journalism from Liberty University and her master's degree in communication from Regent University. Melanie explored the life of Grace Livingston Hill and visited her home while researching for her newest novel. Melanie and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest where Jon works at BibleProject. They have two daughters.www.melaniedobson.comGrace Livingston Hill is considered the creator of the modern Christian romance novel. She was born in Wellsville, New York. Her father was a Presbyterian minister, and both he and Grace's mother were writers. Grace's first book was published when she was just twelve years old. After the death of her first husband, Grace was left with two small children and no income. When her father died less than a year later, her mother came to live with her. This prompted Grace to begin writing two to three books a year in order to support her family. She traveled around the country speaking and founded a Sunday School Mission. She partnered with Evangeline Booth to write a nonfiction book on the Salvation Army. In addition, she wrote hundreds of short stories, poetry, composed lyrics for hymns and a choir cantata, and even wrote a syndicated weekly column for a newspaper. Grace passed away in 1947, but her books continue to delight readers today.www.gracelivingstonhill.com

The Dean's List with Host Dean Bowen – During my conversation with Dr. Amy Davies of Regent University, one word stands out—mediocrity. Kingdom Education challenges students to rise above it by igniting passion and purpose. Dr. Davies shares how building relationships and connecting learning to a student's identity fuels excellence. A Kingdom Education empowers students to go beyond the bare minimum and embrace their full potential.

Melanie is the award-winning author of thirty historical, time-slip, and romantic suspense novels. She received her undergraduate degree in journalism from Liberty University and her master's degree in communication from Regent University. Melanie explored the life of Grace Livingston Hill and visited her home while researching for her newest novel. Melanie and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest where Jon works at BibleProject. They have two daughters.www.melaniedobson.comGrace Livingston Hill is considered the creator of the modern Christian romance novel. She was born in Wellsville, New York. Her father was a Presbyterian minister, and both he and Grace's mother were writers. Grace's first book was published when she was just twelve years old. After the death of her first husband, Grace was left with two small children and no income. When her father died less than a year later, her mother came to live with her. This prompted Grace to begin writing two to three books a year in order to support her family. She traveled around the country speaking and founded a Sunday School Mission. She partnered with Evangeline Booth to write a nonfiction book on the Salvation Army. In addition, she wrote hundreds of short stories, poetry, composed lyrics for hymns and a choir cantata, and even wrote a syndicated weekly column for a newspaper. Grace passed away in 1947, but her books continue to delight readers today.www.gracelivingstonhill.com

This week I speak with Hewlette Pearson who taught incarcerated persons and returning citizens general education, job readiness skills, character education, and life skills. She is the president and founder of iLove Now, Inc., a non-profit organization that promotes love through humanitarian programs and activities in inner-city communities. Two of its flagship events include: •Lunch in the Park for The Homeless—where food, hygiene products, clothing, prayer, and a listening ear are provided to those in need. •The Love Thrives Community Conference—a biennial event focusing on the spiritual and personal development of persons in communities. Hewlette's enthusiasm for empowering others to pursue purpose and authenticity is palpable. Her pursuit of excellence in teaching, motivating, and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ led her to earn master's degrees in education and divinity from Johns Hopkins University and Regent University, respectively. She also holds a Doctor of Divinity degree from Emet Theological Seminary. A gifted non-fiction writer and aspiring fiction author, Hewlette has published three impactful books:•The View from the Mountain: The Process of Destiny, foreword by Keith Duncan •The Most Important Word, with a foreword by legendary Gospel artist Andraé Crouch •Get Got! Empowerment for Every Day Life SuccessesHewlette's ministry and humanitarian efforts have taken her across the Caribbean, Africa, and the United States. She was a keynote speaker at the Pastors' Wives International Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, and a guest speaker and missions sponsor at an assembly in Kampala, Uganda, in 2023. In January 2024, she served as keynote speaker at The Mr. & Mrs. Adams Family Life Conference in West Palm, Florida, and in October 2024 was the opening keynote speaker at the 30th Year National Women's Conference of the Jamaica Council of Churches of God 7th Day. Today, Hewlette continues to travel globally, teaching and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and motivating others to practice love and goodness on earth. Empowering others gives her joy, but God is her passion. We look at her childhood up to the present to find the beautiful thred of Jesus in her life. You won't want to miss this inspiring episode!Connect at:X (Twitter): ShowLoveTodayFacebook: @iLovenow100Instagram: ilove_nowYouTube Channel: iLove Now! - @ilovenow1896Website: iLoveNow.orgFacebook: Hewlette PearsonInstagram: HewletttepearsonYouTube Channel: @HewlettePearson*Theme music “Blessed Time” by Ketsa

Today, I'm joined by Veronica Cornejo, author of Unshackled: A Teen Mom Finding Unstoppable Freedom. Veronica's story is one of redemption, resilience, and the transformative power of God's grace. From becoming a mother at 16 to stepping into full-time ministry, she shares how God took what was meant for harm and turned it into something beautiful. In this episode, we discuss: ✨ Veronica's journey as a first-generation Salvadoran American and teen mom ✨ How God used her story to break generational cycles ✨ The power of faith in navigating marriage, parenting, and ministry ✨ The inspiration behind Unshackled and the meaning of the butterfly imagery on her book cover ✨ How she and her husband now walk alongside other couples, mentoring them in marriage and faith ✨ The incredible journey of adopting her brother-in-law and watching God's hand in his life Veronica's testimony is a powerful reminder that nothing is wasted in God's hands. He breaks chains, heals hearts, and gives us a new identity in Him. Whether you've faced struggles in motherhood, marriage, or finding your purpose, this conversation will encourage you to trust that God is working all things together for good.

Andree Aiken is a passionate coach, author, and advocate for personal growth and well-being. Originally from Jamaica, she now resides in the beautiful state of Georgia. Andree holds a Master's degree in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Coaching and Mentoring from Regent University. She is a certified coach with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) […]

It's time to wake up to the wonder all around you! Tune in as Mark Batterson shares simple ideas to shock your system and spark your curiosity. From prayer walks to outdoor adventures, you'll discover new ways to connect with God. Plus, Mark recounts his favorite wisdom from four thought leaders to help you go all-in as a dad.    Key Takeaways   Childlike wonder and pure delight are sacred, holy things.  Change of Pace + Change of Place = Change of Perspective  Nature acts as an antidote to narcissism.  There are no ordinary days.  You have never not experienced a miracle!   Mark Batterson   Mark Batterson serves as lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC. He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Regent University and is the New York Times bestselling author of 24 books. Mark is married to Lora, and they have three children.   Key Quotes   19:02 - "[Abraham] is in his tent. God says, Go outside, look up and count the stars. One second he's inside the tent, next second, he's outside. What's the big deal? Well, as long as he's inside the tent, he's staring at an eight foot ceiling. The second he steps outside, the sky's the limit. God is always trying to take us on field trips and take us outside. If you lose touch with nature, you lose touch with nature's God. So, I do think that all truth is God's truth, that God has revealed Himself through his creation, Romans 1:20... One of my formulas is change of pace + change a place = change of perspective. Great leaders are good at mixing up their routine and finding ways to think new thoughts. And sometimes that requires a different place or a different pace." 32:04 - "When we hear the word miracle, we tend to think of anomaly, epiphany, exception to the rule, things that defy laws of nature or defy a doctor's diagnosis. And I've experienced those kinds of miracles. But I think this book is about waking up to the everyday miracle. Right now, 37 sextillion chemical reactions happening in the human body. And I didn't flip a switch this morning. I'm guessing you didn't either. We didn't have to do a blame thing. In Him, we live and move and have our being... So people who say I've never experienced a miracle, with all due respect, you have never not, in fact, you are one."   Links from Today's Conversation   Send a Voice Message to DadAwesome Apply to join the next DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort: Email awesome@dadawesome.org   A Million Little Miracles by Mark Batterson Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson Chase the Lion by Mark Batterson The Lion Chaser's Manifesto Praying Circles Around the Lives of Your Children by Mark Batterson   Connect with dadAWESOME   Make a Donation to dadAWESOME Join the dadAWESOME Prayer Team Receive weekly encouragement by texting "dad" to 651-370-8618

Meet Amy Shippy—an accomplished business owner whose versatility and dedication have fueled success in both the food & beverage and design industries. With a proven background in event planning, customer service, coaching, and sales, Amy excels at delivering exceptional experiences and fostering lasting client relationships. Her well-rounded approach is informed by a Bachelor of Arts in Religion/Religious Studies from Regent University, adding a thoughtful, values-driven perspective to her professional endeavors. Throughout her career, Amy's creative insight and entrepreneurial acumen have guided businesses toward meaningful growth and distinction in competitive markets. Her unique blend of industry expertise, people-centered service, and strategic thinking promises to inspire listeners seeking to build their own successful ventures. https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-shippy/

On today's program, hosted by Jody Hice: Dr. A. J. Nolte, Director of the Institute for Israel Studies at Regent University, comments on the news that Israel is reportedly close to finalizing hostage deal with Hamas. He also shares what he

In this episode, I sit down with Kyle Winkler, author of Permission to Be Imperfect: How to Strive Less, Stress Less, and Sin Less. Kyle shares his personal journey of overcoming insecurity, striving, and the weight of perfectionism through the transformative power of God's grace.We dive into:* Kyle's faith journey, from childhood struggles with shyness to finding freedom in God's unconditional love.* The dangers of turning faith into a self-improvement project and how striving often makes things worse.* Why understanding that Jesus came because we can't be perfect changes everything.* How Kyle's app, Shut Up, Devil!, empowers believers to overcome lies with the truth of Scripture.* The beauty of deconstructing harmful beliefs under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and discovering the true character of God.* Moving from living for God's approval to living from His approval as His beloved children.This conversation will encourage you to take a deep breath, step off the treadmill of striving, and embrace the freedom Jesus died to give you.Resources Mentioned:* Kyle Winkler's book: Permission to Be Imperfect* Kyle Winkler's app: Shut Up, Devil!Tune in now for a refreshing perspective on God's grace and permission to live as the wonderfully imperfect person He made you to be!Bio:Kyle Winkler is a practical Bible teacher who equips people to live in victory. His highly acclaimed mobile app, Shut Up, Devil!, ranks as a top Christian app. As an author, sought-after speaker, and frequent guest on Christian media, including TBN's Praise the Lord, The 700 Club, and Sid Roth's It's Supernatural!, Kyle is known for using his own story to boast in the power of God's Word for victory over fear, insecurity, and issues of the past. Kyle holds an MDiv in biblical studies from Regent University.Anchor Verses:Ephesians 3:17Connect with Kyle:Website: https://www.kylewinkler.org IG: https://www.instagram.com/kylejwinklerFB: https://www.facebook.com/share/1E2fgLPBiF/?mibextid=LQQJ4d***We're thrilled to hear from our listeners! Sharing your thoughts through reviews is a fantastic way to become part of our podcast community and contribute to the conversation. If you've enjoyed our podcast, leaving a review is a quick and easy process. Simply head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you're listening and share your feedback. Your input makes a significant difference!***

Here's what to expect on the podcast:Yuriy's journey in founding Hope for Ukraine.How the organization manages operations through a network of over 100 volunteer groups across Ukraine.The organization's approach to ensuring clear and consistent communication with its donors.The devastating impact of the war on civilians.And much more! About Yuriy:Yuriy Boyechko is the founder and president of Hope For Ukraine Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving individuals and families in Ukraine's most impoverished communities. With a Master's degree in Media Communication from Regent University, Yuriy has spent over two decades working in the media and entertainment industry.In 2016, he channeled his passion for advocacy and humanitarian work into founding Hope For Ukraine. The organization was founded before the war, originally to focus on amplifying the voices of underserved populations, particularly children affected by HIV and AIDS, and provides critical support such as medical care for children with disabilities, as well as food and clothing for families living in extreme poverty.Now, as the war in Ukraine continues, Hope for Ukraine strives to provide much-needed support for food supplies, education services, childcare, healthcare, and shelter. Together with his wife, Tatyana, Yuriy is committed to making a lasting impact in Ukraine's most vulnerable communities. Connect with Yuriy Boyechko!Website: https://hfu.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hope-for-ukraine/Twitter: https://x.com/hopeforukraineInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeforukraine/ Connect with Candice Snyder!Website: https://hairhealthvitality.com/passion-purpose-and-possibilities/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candice.snyderInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/candicesny17/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicesnyder/ICAN Institute: https://vl729.isrefer.com/go/mindandbody/PassionPurpose22/Shop For A Cause With Gifts That Give Back to Nonprofits: https://thekindnesscause.com/

Former Minnesota Congresswoman and current Dean of the Robertson School of Government at Regent University, Michele Bachmann, joins the panel today, along with security and preparedness expert, Darren Parker, and pastor of Morningside Church, Pastor Joe Campbell and Pastor Ricky Bakker! The panel discusses the changes anticipated with the incoming Trump administration, and world policy from a biblical world perspective. Bachmann reveals how the nations will be judges using 3 criteria, and says a prayer for the nation.

Welcome back! This week, we are with Jonathan Hoover. We are going to learn all about how to protect ourselves from burnout, if we're burned out, how to heal, how to recover, and how to manage our stress in a healthy way.  This is such an important topic in our health series because so much of our health has to do with how we are doing and how we're managing stress. Are we on the verge of burnout? Are we just emotionally overwhelmed? Are we weary? These are the things that we need to talk about. We're going to get strategies and tools. We're going to have some light bulb moments. And even though the topic's a little bit heavy, we're going to have a lot of fun.  Jonathan Hoover, PhD, serves as the Senior Associate Pastor of NewSpring Church in Wichita, Kansas. He also works as an Assistant Professor at Regent University's School of Psychology and Counseling, where he is the Director of the Master of Science in Psychology program.  In Jonathan's new book, Stress Fracture: Your Ultimate Guide to Beating Burnout, he shares how to reclaim control of your life and win the battle against burnout. Join Jonathan and I as we talk about: Breaking the myth that all burnout is work-related The different phases of burnout How to manage our stress to recover from burnout Signs we may be susceptible to burnout that we should keep an eye out for Favorite Quotes:  04:19 - “We give the best version of ourselves to God and to our family when we are managing our stress load and taking care of ourselves.” 14:39 - “Burnout happens because of an accumulation of things.” 18:06 - “It's important to trust that feeling that something isn't quite right.” 30:23 - “Attitudes are contagious, but burnout is incredibly contagious.” 30:56 - “God designed us to be more active than what most of us are in our culture.”   Links to Great Things We Discussed: Jonathan Hoover Website   Jonathan Hoover Instagram  Stress Fracture: Your Ultimate Guide to Beating Burnout    My Life Is in Your Hands - Kirk Franklin    The Power of Habit    Frasier   AirTag    Build a Coaching Business Quick Start Challenge Alli on YouTube Remaining You While Raising Them Create a Course Little Things Studio Christmas items and more - 40% off!!  This delightful calendar celebrates 2025 with hymns, bold floral patterns, and intricate hand-lettering. It is bursting with color, truth, and song and is the perfect gift! Thoughtfully designed by Kate Whitley, these calendars are 10.6”L x 6” W and include a string for hanging.  I co-own Little Things Studio which is a woman-owned small business bringing daily reminders of beauty and truth to your home and life. These thoughtfully designed products are made in the USA and focus on the rich words of hymns and the beauty of nature.  Hope you loved this episode!   Make sure to hit that subscribe button on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Don't forget to check us out on YouTube and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli

Today, I'm thrilled to be joined by my good friend, bestselling author, and thought leader, Mark Batterson. We'll be diving deep into his latest book, "A Million Little Miracles," an exploration of the everyday wonders that make up our lives and evidence of the extraordinary design behind it all. In our conversation, Mark shares insightful stories, fascinating scientific tidbits, and profound reflections that remind us of the beauty and miracle of life. He seamlessly weaves together faith and science, highlighting how they complement and illuminate each other. From the miracle of human birth to the mysteries of the universe, Mark invites us all to rediscover the awe and inspiration that surround us. This episode isn't just about a book—it's about changing the way we see the world and recognizing the divine fingerprints in our everyday experiences. Whether you're walking to the gym or simply reflecting on the intricacies of your own body, Mark's reflections will encourage you to appreciate the miracles that happen each day. Most of all you'll be reminded of the walking miracle that you are. Remember to subscribe, share, and leave a review if you enjoyed the episode!   About Mark, Mark Batterson is the New York Times bestselling author of two dozen adult and children's books including his latest, A Million Little Miracles: Rediscover the God Who is Bigger Than Big, Closer than Close and Gooder Than Good (Multnomah; on sale 11/19/24). More than four million copies of his books are in print and he He's also the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C. One church with multiple campuses, NCC owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse, the DC Dream Center and the Capital Turnaround—a 100,000-square-foot city block that includes an event venue and child development center. Mark holds a doctor of ministry degree from Regent University. He and his wife, Lora, reside on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit markbatterson.com and https://twitter.com/markbatterson & Instagram.com/markbatterson    Here are a few additional resources for you… Every week, I send out a free Positive Tip newsletter via email. It's advice for your life, work and team. You can sign up now here and catch up on past newsletters. Join me for my IN PERSON Day of Development! You'll learn proven strategies to develop confidence, improve your leadership and build a connected and committed team. You'll leave with an action plan to supercharge your growth and results. It's time to Create your Positive Advantage. Get details and sign up here. Do you feel called to do more? Would you like to impact more people as a leader, writer, speaker, coach and trainer? Get Jon Gordon Certified if you want to be mentored by me and my team to teach my proven frameworks principles, and programs for businesses, sports, education, healthcare!

How invested should the U.S. government be in conflicts around the world? Is there a specific role the government should play? Professor at Regent University, A.J. Nolte, joins host Joseph Backholm to answer these questions regarding the war in Ukraine. Joseph and A.J. unpack the current situation in Ukraine, the United States’ role in the conflict, and if there is a clear path to resolution. With a new administration coming into power, will they handle Ukraine, Russia, and foreign policy differently?

How invested should the U.S. government be in conflicts around the world? Is there a specific role the government should play? Professor at Regent University, A.J. Nolte, joins host Joseph Backholm to answer these questions regarding the war in Ukraine. Joseph and A.J. unpack the current situation in Ukraine, the United States' role in the conflict, and if there is a clear path to resolution. With a new administration coming into power, will they handle Ukraine, Russia, and foreign policy differently?

On Today's Episode – Mark and Matt open with the topics following the Election.  From Trump's cabinent coming together, to the absolute meltdown at CNN and MSNBC (check their viewing numbers since the election). Our guest hops on and Mark dives right in talking about Marco Rubio – Who is tagged as Secretary of State.  We then move to Ukraine – we talk many things from religion to warfighting, to the future when Trump is back in office. Tune in for all the fun Gary Marx is President of Madison Strategies and the Concord Fund and currently serves as a Senior Advisor to the Judicial Crisis Network. He launched Madison Strategies in 2013 after serving almost three years at the helm of the Faith & Freedom Coalition as Executive Director. His career path has included high level postings as Senior Advisor to Scott Walker for President, Marco Rubio for President, Conservative Coalitions Director at the Bush-Cheney 2004 national campaign headquarters where he spearheaded outreach to social conservatives & people of faith. Gary is a media veteran and has done hundreds of television, print, and radio interviews including CNN, CBN, CSPAN and FOX NEWS. He has also been a featured speaker for prominent organizations such as The Federalist Society, International Republican Institute, The Leadership Institute, Hanns Seidel Foundation, AIPAC and The Council for National Policy. Marx has a degree in Political Science from James Madison University. Gary holds a Master's degree in Political Management from Regent University. He is married to Aimee and is the father of three children.   https://www.defendersoffaithukraine.com/   @defendfaitua  

What a CreepSeason 27, Episode 4Pat RobertsonPat Robertson was a minister, televangelist, media mogul, and presidential candidate. He was head of Regent University and the Christian Broadcasting Network, where he hosted “The 700 Club.”He was also a creep who talked all kinds of crap about LGBTQ+ rights, feminism, race, and the right to abortion, all under the guise of religion, to a massive audience on his Christian Broadcasting Network. He was instrumental in creating the Christian Right movement, changing American politics forever, and paving the way for MAGA and Trump. What a creep!Sources for this episode:AdvocateAP NewsEsquireMother JonesNew York TimesNew York TimesRolling StoneWashington PostWikipediaWikipedia (all of his controversies needed its own Wikipedia page)Trigger warning: Racism, sexism, homophobia - this creep has everythingBe sure to follow us on social media. But don't follow us too closely … don't be a creep about it! Subscribe to us on Apple PodcastsTwitter: https://twitter.com/CreepPod @CreepPodFacebook: Join the private group! Instagram @WhatACreepPodcastVisit our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/whatacreepEmail: WhatACreepPodcast@gmail.com We've got merch here! https://whatacreeppodcast.threadless.com/#Our website is www.whatacreeppodcast.com Our logo was created by Claudia Gomez-Rodriguez. Follow her on Instagram @ClaudInCloud

God is so good at doing what God does, that we don't even notice it. Pastor Mark Batterson magnifies the day in and day out miracles we often miss.Pre-order Mark's new book: A Million Little MiraclesScripture in this message: Genesis 1:1-3, Psalms 36:6, Psalms 139:13-16Watch this message on YouTubeMark Batterson serves as lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC. One church with multiple locations. NCC is focused on reaching emerging generations and meets in multiple locations around the Washington, DC metro area. NCC also owns and operates the largest coffeehouse on Capitol Hill. Mark holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Regent University and is the New York Times bestselling author of 24 books.Just starting your Jesus journey? Let us know by filling out this form so we can connect with you personallyHello Card Tithes & OfferingsPlease consider giving to help us spread the life giving message of Jesus to the 920 and beyondGive Here --Follow Life Church on socialsLCGB Facebook LCGB Instagram LCGB YouTube

In this thought-provoking episode, Jeremy Larson, assistant professor of English at Regent University, joins ISI to explore the enduring significance of John Milton and his literary and political contributions. Together, they delve into Paradise Lost and Milton's engagement with the political and religious upheavals of his time, discussing how these themes resonate in today's world. The conversation touches on disenchantment and the possibility of re-enchantment through Christianity, highlighting the intersection of faith, literature, and cultural renewal.Jeremy and the hosts also examine the importance of mythology in understanding and expressing faith, drawing connections between ancient myths and modern belief systems. They explore how narrative forms, both secular and sacred, shape human experience and offer insight into questions of virtue, meaning, and divine purpose.This episode offers an inspiring blend of literary analysis and theological reflection, perfect for listeners interested in the interplay between storytelling, politics, and spirituality. Tune in to discover how Milton's legacy continues to inform contemporary conversations on faith and culture.Read more from Jeremy

Zenet Maramara is the founder and president of Christian Stewards in the Philippines. After Zenet became a born-again Christian in her thirties, she enrolled at a seminary where she stepped into a fundraising role. Wanting to master the art of fundraising, Zenet attended Regent University and there experienced a “second conversion” into biblical stewardship, understanding the principles of managing God's money for His Kingdom purposes in a way that is transformational to the giver, not just transactional.    Zenet became passionate about advancing biblical stewardship education and has since built a multi-dimensional platform to empower the Filipino Church with generosity champions across the realms of business, ministry, and the local church. Christian Stewards has become a beacon of generosity in the Philippines and beyond, and Zenet had much wisdom to share.   Major topics include: How Christian Stewards began The difference between transactional and transformational fundraising Articulating your theology in fundraising and stewardship Intentional integration of generosity and discipleship training Empowering business owners to share the gospel by integrating business and faith Steward-leadership theology Core beliefs for a conversion as a biblical steward The blessing and challenge of collaboration QUOTES TO REMEMBER “Whose money are you fundraising? Isn't it all God's money?” “It's not just about money. It's about the heart.”  “Giving is a barometer for our spiritual condition, and money is a great way to test if we are fully surrendered to God.” “Fundraising is as spiritual as giving a sermon, a prayer, or going on a mission because you're helping people understand who they are and how to relate with the resources that God has entrusted to them.” “My vision is that every one of the 92,000 evangelical churches in the Philippines would have at least one generosity champion who will coordinate the teaching of generosity in their church.” “Business is the new ‘Roman Road' for the Gospel because we're in the marketplace more than we're in the church on Sunday.” “The steward-leader theology and practice is an upside-down leadership. Most leaders have the power, but a steward-leader shares the power, shares privilege, and shares in the purpose of the organization or company.” “If we hold lightly the material things that God has entrusted to us, then it is easier for us to listen to God when He calls us to move that resource to where it is most needed.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Christian Stewards The Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman) Stations of Generosity from the MacLellan Foundation (see our interview with Director of Generosity, John Cortines) Generous Church (see our interview with founder Patrick Johnson) Faith Driven Entrepreneur Rooting for Rivals (see our interview with author Peter Greer) Lausanne Movement The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group   WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebookand LinkedIn.

In this special episode of The Defender Podcast, host Herbie Newell and Dr. Rick Morton are joined by Pastor Chris Johnson, Lifeline's Senior Director of Church Partnerships and External Advocacy. Pastor Chris shares the inspiring story behind Orphan Sunday, a movement that started in Zambia and has become a global call for the church to care for orphans and vulnerable children. Discover how your church can engage in this important cause, using resources and tools from Lifeline Children's Services, and learn why caring for the vulnerable is not just a one-day event but an essential part of our discipleship journey. GUESTChris joined Lifeline in March 2020 as the Sr. Director of Church Partnerships & External Advocacy. With 24 years as a pastor and experience as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Governor's Office of Faith and Community-Based Initiatives, Chris has spoken widely about caring for vulnerable children and families. He holds a B.A. in Church Ministries from Trinity Baptist College and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Regent University. Chris and his wife, Alicia, have 10 children (7 adopted) and 6 grandchildren, and have fostered over 40 children. He enjoys family time, reading, and cheering on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.HOSTHerbie Newell is the President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children's Services and its ministry arms.CO-HOSTDr. Rick Morton is the Vice President of Engagement at Lifeline Children's Services.Orphan SundayOrphan Sunday is a powerful opportunity for your church to raise awareness and take action on behalf of the fatherless. Lifeline Children's Services is here to help you speak up for the voiceless, providing everything you need to equip your church. From videos and slides to prayer cards, sermon guides, and small group materials, Lifeline's resource page is packed with tools to help your congregation respond to the plight of the 140 million orphaned and vulnerable children around the world.We invite you to partner with us this Orphan Sunday. And if you'd like a speaker to share this message at your church, Lifeline's leaders—including Herbie Newell, Chris Johnson, and Dr. Rick Morton —are available to inspire your congregation to defend the vulnerable and respond to God's call.Visit LifelineChild.org/orphan to access these resources and learn more about how you can get involved.LIFELINE CHILDREN'S SERVICESThe mission of Lifeline Children's Services is to equip the Body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children. Our vision is for vulnerable children and their communities to be transformed by the gospel and to make disciples. FOLLOW USFacebook, Instagram, TwitterThe Defender Podcast: Subscribe on iTunes | Transistor | SpotifyThe Defender Bible Study: Subscribe on iTunes | Transistor | Spotify

Dr. A. J. Nolte, Director of the Institute for Israel Studies at Regent University, analyzes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to the United Nations General Assembly. Mary Szoch, FRC's Director of the Center for Human Dignity,

On Tuesday's Mark Levin Show, the Democrat party hand-picked Kamala Harris to be their nominee and the media have shoved her down our throats, and now Harris is shoving Tim Walz down our throats. Walz is another radical Marxist Socialist Democrat, one who let Minneapolis burn during the BLM riots despite the mayor begging for the National Guard. Gov Josh Shapiro was not chosen to be the VP because he is Jewish and it would offend their pro-Hamas voters. Walz is a carbon copy of Kamala so now there is the perfect balance between the Leninists and the Trotskyites in the Democrat party. This election will be about whether we will allow the people who exploit us, undermine us, and control us to get that final ounce of power to the point where we cannot get our freedom back. Later, Mark speaks with Michele Bachmann, former MN Congresswoman and Dean of the Robertson School of Government at Regent University in Virginia Beach, about her experience working with Tim Walz in Congress and his horrible record as governor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices