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Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer join me to discuss the abuse of power in the church, creating a goodness culture, and how the western business model has negatively impacted the church. Topics they wrote about in their book A Church Called Tov. Questions Scot, Laura and I Discussed: (3:39) Your family attended and served at Willow Creek Church for a number of years.  What were some strengths and weaknesses you observed while attending? (7:33) The two of you have written A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing. Laura, will you share a bit of the back story that led you to write this book? (15:47) "We form church cultures, but we are simultaneously formed by the cultures we've helped form." In relation to the church, Scot unpack that a bit for us. (18:56) What are a few early warning signs of a toxic church culture? (22:57) Something I have witnessed personally is the mis-application of Matthew 18, which you write about in Chapter 3 of the book.  How is Matt. 18 mis-applied in abuse culture and how is it to be appropriately applied? (30:17) What is Tov? And how is it more than a works based goodness? (34:28)  The portion that particularly struck me was how the western business model has taken root in churches. The focus has become achievement and accomplishment rather than holiness and Christlikeness. Unpack that a bit for our listeners. (42:13) As we close, what would you say is a good first step to take if you are a member of a church and are experiencing that feeling of "ugh...I think this may be happening in my church"? Quotes to Remember: "When people are confronted with their sins that are shocking, and will destroy their ministry they do certain patterns." "Good characters produce good cultures, and bad toxic characters produce toxic cultures." "If I see loyalty, constant building up, bragging about the church, and the pastor, and the musicians, I'm going to be suspicious, because they're holding people up at a level that is going to detract from Christ." "Goodness is a fruit of the Spirit. It is also a term used a lot in Judaism. But it is a term that makes Christians scared." "If you are connected to Jesus, you are connected to someone who is all together tov (good), and if you spend time in the presence of someone who's all together tov, you'll be tov-er." "We would go to these training sessions led by Bill Hybels, and he called it Fill. He wanted your section to fill. It was all about inviting people in and making sure that the seats had bodies in them." SHOW NOTES cont. Related Episodes: 94: Mary DeMuth | Hope After Sexual Abuse 97: Hannah Anderson | Goodness and The Lost Art of Discernment 101: Paula LeJeune | When God's Love and Adversity Collide Connect with Scot McKnight on Twitter and at Jesus Creed Connect with Laura Barringer on Twitter ----------------------------------------------- Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB and www.graceenoughpodcast.com ------------------------------------------------

Cheri Jimenez joins me to discuss Safe Families for Children, supporting families in crisis, and the various roles people can fill to help a family in need reach a place of stability. Questions Cheri and I Discussed: (4:16) Share a little of your faith journey with us.  How did you become involved with Safe Families for Children? (7:40) What is Safe Families for Children? What is the purpose and the mission behind Safe Families? (13:27) How does Safe Families for Children differ from foster care? (18:57) If someone is listening, who is interested in getting involved with Safe Families, what are some of the volunteer roles they would fill? (25:27) How does Safe Families get connected with families in need? (30:37) Will you share 1 or 2 impact stories of families here in the Raleigh area who have come along side a family in crisis? Quotes to Remember: “I was brought up in a Christian home, we have a wonderful spiritual legacy. My grandparents were missionaries in Haiti for 46 years….Yy parents took over the work and the late 90s.” “They [parents] maintain full custody. This is not something mandated by the state. They do not sign their children over…. They allow us to keep their children, so that they can make those changes necessary.” “If we didn’t have a support system where would we be? So many of the individuals we serve just need help. So we are able to step in and through our host families…host their children while the parents get the help that they need.” “This [Safe Families for Children] isn’t foster care.” SHOW NOTES cont. Related Episodes: 37: Dr. Lindsay Hinson | Foster Parenting 48: Tori Hope Petersen | Hope for the Foster Child 28: Jodie Berndt “Praying The Scriptures For Your Children 64: Natalie Maxwell | A Story of Special Needs Adoption Find out more about Safe Families for Children ----------------------------------------------- Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB and www.graceenoughpodcast.com ------------------------------------------------

Susie Rowan joins me to discuss her journey through Bible Study Fellowship, encountering God through His Word, and pivoting an international ministry during a pandemic.  Questions Susie and I Discussed: (3:46) How did you come to know Jesus as Savior? (6:05) What prompted you to first begin attending BSF? (8:45) You are the current Executive Director of BSF and have served in various other roles in the BSF organization.  Will you share a bit of that journey with us? (15:16) What are some of the things that you have changed in BSF to help engage future generations? (20:50) What are some of the shifts you have had to make as an organization as a result of coronavirus? (24:53) What is the study model of BSF? (28:25) What would you like to say to the woman listening who may still be struggling to commit to an in-depth Bible Study for whatever reason? Quotes to Remember: "I gave my life to Christ on Sunday morning during the preaching of the gospel by a local pastor in a local church. I love to encourage pastors by saying, 'God saved me during the preaching on Sunday morning'."   SHOW NOTES cont. Related Episodes: 99: Jen Wilkin | Women of the Word 95: Nancy Guthrie | God Does His Best Work With Empty 28: Jodie Berndt "Praying The Scriptures For Your Children Connect with Susie Rowan at www.bsfinternational.org ----------------------------------------------- Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB and www.graceenoughpodcast.com ------------------------------------------------

www.graceenoughpodcast.com Pastor Andy George joins me to discuss pastoring a multi-site church through the pandemic.  We discuss challenges, unexpected blessings, engaging an online community, and how people can support their local ministry leaders. Questions Andy and I Discussed: (5:23) We are quickly approaching 1 year of living during a pandemic, which means you are approaching 1 year of leading a church during a pandemic.  How has your life and ministry changed during this time? (9:05) What have been some of the biggest challenges of leading during this time? (12:45) What have been some of the unexpected blessings of leading during this time? (19:02) What does pastoring an online community look like in comparison to a traditional congregation?  (28:23) What has been/is one of your greatest fears for your congregation? (34:01) In what ways, can congregants (in this case me) come along side their pastors to support and encourage them? (39:29) Any final words you would like to share with followers of Jesus who find themselves struggling to return to their local church or engage online? Quotes to Remember: "My biggest fear for our congregation is that they're just going to get apathetic, that they just have gotten so used to not attending church in person."   SHOW NOTES cont.    Related Episodes: 63: Mazi Robinson | Managing Anxiety 61: Daniel Messina | Jesus as King 68: Doug Gamble | Learning to Rest Connect with Andy George on Twitter and IG ----------------------------------------------- Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB and www.graceenoughpodcast.com ------------------------------------------------

Christopher Yuan joins me to discuss his journey from being an agnostic gay man in prison to a follower of Jesus, who now teaches the Bible at Moody Bible Institute and travels around the world with his parents speaking on faith and sexuality Questions Christopher and I Discussed: (1:48) I have briefly introduced you, but will share with our listeners a little about the work you do on a day to day basis? (3:03) What was life like for you growing up?  (4:41) In your early 20’s, you came out as a gay man to your parents, which you and your mother write about in your first book Out of A Far Country, tell us more about that experience. (14:51) It was through realizing she was a sinner that your mom was able to begin loving and accepting you, but you went the opposite direction.  You were in dental school and began making some really destructive choices.  Tell us what happened that led you to read the Bible and a little about your journey from prisoner to Bible professor?............................. Quotes to Remember: “We were in the office [Dean of the Dental School], all four of us and my mom told the dean, ‘It’s not important that Christopher becomes a dentist. What’s more important is that Christopher becomes a Christ follower.” “She realized that nothing is more important than our children following Jesus, even more important than education, even more important than career.” “Before my dad left, he wanted to give me his very first Bible and I threw it in the trash can. That’s how much I despised it.” SHOW NOTES cont. Related Episodes: 76: Rosaria Butterfield | Radical Hospitality 77: Rosaria Butterfield | Christian Identity, Intersectionality 98: Katherine James | A Son’s Addiction &  A Mother’s Love 52: Nick Stumbo | Discovering Freedom From Pornography 91: Mary Flo Ridley | Let’s Talk Birds and Bees Connect with Christopher Yuan on Twitter and christopheryuan.com ----------------------------------------------- Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB and www.graceenoughpodcast.com ------------------------------------------------

Paula LeJeune was born into adversity.  She was born a conjoined twin, underwent more than 30 facial surgeries, lived with an abusive father, yet she has experienced the love and grace of God throughout her life. Questions Paula and I Discussed: (4:00) Adversity is a word that can be used to describe your literal first breath on earth. Share about your birth and the adversity you and your mother faced. (6:38) What were your early childhood years like?  (surgeries, family life, etc.) (9:53) Did you grow up in a Christian family?   (14:01) Did you ever get the feeling that people in your congregation new their pastor was abusing his family? (15:14) When did you personally decide, despite all that was going on, I believe that Jesus is my Savior, he is the one that can redeem me? (16:55) As we all know, tween and teen years can be difficult and even more so if your appearance is outside of what kids perceive as "normal." What were some of the things that affected what you believed about yourself, what you believed about God, and relationships? In addition to the adversity that came along with all of the facial surgeries, you dealt with adversity at home.  We all want home to be our safe place, but sometimes home is a place of fear and abuse. Share a little of the adversity you had to overcome at home. (21:40) Did you ever have anybody in your life that kind of helped keep you going? (23:16) What was your deepest longing through those long years of surgeries and scarring and recovering and more surgeries and how did God meet the longing through Clifton? (32:08) What do you think kept you serving in your dad's church as an adult, even though you knew that he was really a fraud? (33:54) What was it like taking over the church that you grew up in, where your dad was the pastor? (39:10) For the woman listening who may be in the midst of adversity, how would you encourage them that their current circumstance does not have to be their future? SHOW NOTES cont. Resources Mentioned: Book: The Perfectly Imperfect Princess: An Un-fairy Tale Gone Right by Paula LeJeune Lisa Whittle: Ministry Strong Related Episodes: 94: Mary DeMuth | Hope After Sexual Abuse 57: Kristen Hatton | Redemptive Parenting 64: Natalie Maxwell | A Story of Special Needs Adoption Connect with Paula LeJeune on IG ----------------------------------------------- Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB and www.graceenoughpodcast.com ------------------------------------------------

www.graceenoughpodcast.com The host of Grace Enough Podcast, Amber is interviewed by her oldest son and daughter about her journey over the last two years, which includes 100 episodes. Questions Discussed: (4:00) How do you find who you want to interview on the podcast? (5:10) How do you think up all your questions? (6:10) How do you feel when you get a big interview? (8:12) How do you feel when you think it’s gonna be a really good interview, but actually turns out to be boring? (9:41) Can you tell us what it’s like to record, get ready, and post an episode of the podcast? (11:49) Is there an episode, it doesn’t just have to be one, that the message was so amazing you felt like you were there with them? (14:09) What was your favorite episode of the podcast? (15:58) Has there been an episode where you didn’t really know what the guest was talking about? (16:37) Who do you want to interview in the future? Quotes to Remember: “Why are they listening to [the Grace Enough Podcast]? And my response was to be encouraged to take the next step of faith, knowing God is faithful, even if it looks different than expected.” SHOW NOTES cont. Related Episodes: 99: Jen Wilkin | Women of the Word 52: Jonathan Gibson | Proclaiming God is Good After Infant Loss 90: Hillary Morgan Ferrer | Empowering Kids t0 Challenge Cultural Lies ----------------------------------------------- Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB ------------------------------------------------

www.graceenoughpodcast.com Jen Wilkin joins me to talk about diving into the Scriptures and the risk of a diet made up of mostly devotional reading vs. God's Word.  Questions Jen and I Discussed: (1:41) When did you come to know Jesus? (3:15) What prompted you to begin leading Bible Studies and what did those early days look like? (7:36) How would you encourage busy women who struggle to spend time consistently reading and studying the Bible? (12:06) Your books, particularly Women of The Word and None Like Him, have been "go to" resources for me in my own time with Jesus. What led to the writing of those books? (17:04) You recently wrote a piece titled, "Your Devotional Is Not A Bible." Share a little about that piece and the importance of not using a devotional as a substitute for God's Word? (19:53) As we close, if someone is listening today and simply feels discouraged when they think about reading the Bible, what are a few simple steps that can take to begin? Quotes to Remember: "I remember [when] one girl showed up, because everybody else had something that came up. And so I taught one girl in my living room, and we just started going through books of the Bible." "I think there's a myth out there that personal Bible study time is the sweet spot and the reality is the Bible is meant to be understood in community. There is a role for personal study time, but but it to be pointing us toward a shared conversation around the scriptures." SHOW NOTES cont. Related Episodes: 95: Nancy Guthrie | God Does His Best Work With Empty 96: Alisa Childers | Truth In Response To Progressive Christianity 35: Sharon Hodde Miller | Why We Love to Be Liked and How God Calls Us To More Follow Jen Wilkin on Twitter and at jenwilkin.net ----------------------------------------------- Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB ------------------------------------------------

www.graceenoughpodcast.com Katherine James and I discuss her journey of loving her son through his addiction and the magnificence of God during some of the darkest days. Questions Katherine and I Discussed: (3:34) You have 3 grown children whom you used to pray for while looking up at Orion‘s belt.  Take us back to that time and share a little about those prayers, your hopes for your little people and what your family’s life with Jesus was like at that time. (6:19) Eventually, you discovered your youngest son was heavily addicted to drugs.  Share a little of that discovery with us. (11:59) In A Prayer for Orion, you frequently reflect on the guilt parents feel as they raise their kids: “Parenting was supposed to be if this, then that. We would raise them right and they would be all right” How did you work through the guilt and shame you experienced being both a parent of an addict and a Christian?  (15:53) What would you say to parents who struggle with guilt or feel as if they somehow failed their kids? (19:31) Your home became a welcoming place for your son’s friends who were also addicts.  You and your husband welcomed and loved, “The Lost Boys.” What did you learn from opening your home to those who were walking through addiction? (25:05) While reading A Prayer for Orion, I could feel the heaviness of evil and the hope of God. Describe the tension between evil and magnificence you refer to in the book. (25:58) Let’s close with the moment when “what if” became “even if.” Even if Sweetboy didn’t survive a heroin overdose, everything would still be okay.  Share that experience with us. Quotes to Remember: “He was always a great kid at home. There wasn’t any sense of rebellion or anger.” “The unique thing about drugs is it’s unpredictable. That’s one of the particularly difficult things about it… you don’t know if it’s going to come back or not….There’s just this, I have to trust You [God]. What I’m trusting in, isn’t the way that things are going to turn out. What I’m trusting in is that You are who You say You are, that You have not lied to me.” SHOW NOTES continued Related Episodes: 28: Jodie Berndt | Praying The Scriptures For Your Children 57: Kristen Hatton | Redemptive Parenting 71: Krista Boan | Tips For Parents In The Digital Age Follow Katherine James on Twitter and at katherinejameshome.com ----------------------------------------------- Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB ------------------------------------------------

www.graceenoughpodcast.com Hannah Anderson joins me on the Grace Enough Podcast to discuss the pursuit of goodness,  derived from the character of God, and how it helps develop discernment in us. Questions Hannah and I Discussed: (6:37) You have described the digital age as disorienting.  What do you mean by that? (13:28) As Christians our initial response is often to close ourselves off to the world and the news and live in a bubble that we perceive as safe, but you challenge your reader to take up Paul’s charge to the Phillipians.  Share a little about that with us. (19:54) In my limited experience, what I have found is people really don’t understand discernment.  In your book, All That’s Good, you take the reader on a journey of understanding discernment.  For someone, who may struggle to understand discernment in practical terms how would you break it down? (31:57) We have taken the word goodness and attached a definition to it. That is we aren’t good. There is nothing in us, which is good, which is true, but that’s not what you’re talking about when you’re talking about. Goodness, it’s not about earning God’s favor, as much as it is God’s image in all people. Tease that out for us. (39:19) “We miss a world of good, beautiful things because we are so worried about making ourselves good and beautiful that we don’t have time to see that God has already made us good and beautiful through His Son. And we miss His good gifts because we are too busy trying to earn them.” If you could charge the listener to go into the world, into challenging and uncomfortable situations and seek out the good, what final thoughts would you share with them? Quotes to Remember: “I don’t think we’re any more naive or gullible than any other time in history, but we just have a lot more that we’re being asked to process.” “So for Paul, the pursuit of silencing the chaos in our minds is not withdraw, it’s engagement in a certain way. It’s engaging with the world, looking for things that are true, honorable, just pure, lovely, commendable and excellent…. Instead of just staying away from the bad things, I want you to learn what goodness looks like, because then you’ll be able to see it, and then you’ll be able to move toward it.” SHOW NOTES cont.  Related Episodes: 90: Hillary Morgan Ferrer | Empowering Your Kids To Challenge Cultural Lies 52: Jonathan Gibson | Proclaiming God Is Good After Infant Loss 40: Tim Challies | Spiritual Discernment Episode Sponsor: SHOP NOW at Hope & Vine Enter GRACE-2020 at checkout for 15 % off. Follow Hannah Anderson on Twitter and at sometimesalight.com ----------------------------------------------- Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB ------------------------------------------------

www.graceenoughpodcast.com Alisa Childers joins me to discuss  progressive Christianity and her journey of rebuilding her faith after being taught by a progressive pastor. Questions Alisa and I Discussed: (5:21) You have walked with Jesus a long time and as an adult you experienced a faith crisis when you began attending a Sunday School class led by one of the church pastors.  Will you share a bit of that story with us? (9:22) What were some of the steps you took to dig in and research if you what you had believed as a Christian was true? (14:24) It was not a university professor that challenged all you believed, but a progressive Christian pastor.  What is progressive Christianity and what are some of their core beliefs? (18:24) Share a little about what you discovered when you began to research why the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God? (31:07) How do progressives view the Bible? (34:49) Listener Question (Erica): What are some buzz words or red flags that may point toward progressive Christian thought? (39:10) Progressive Christianity can be very subtle changes made to God’s Word and often seem true and good and right.  How do you encourage Christians to educate and prepare themselves to interact with progressive Christian claims? (47:31) We are both commanded to love God and love our neighbor.  How are these commands being misinterpreted by progressive Christian thoughts and ideas? Quotes to Remember: “So the Christianity that I grew up with was very wholistic…it wasn’t just a Sunday thing and it wasn’t just a church thing. This was something that we lived as a family.” “The pastor invited me to be a part of this small class situation that he compared to seminary…. In the context of the class, the pastor early on, revealed that he was actually agnostic and that really kind of shook me…because by this point I had come to respect this guy, and really trust him as a pastor….Over the course of about four months, just about everything that I ever believed about God, and Jesus, and the Bible, in particular, was picked apart and explained away.   SHOW NOTES cont. Related Episodes: 90: Hillary Morgan Ferrer | Empowering Kids To Challenge Cultural Lies 77: Rosaria Butterfield | Christian Identity, Intersectionality Episode Sponsor: SHOP NOW at Hope & Vine Enter GRACE-2020 at checkout for 15 % off. Follow Alisa Childers on YouTube and at alisachilders.com ----------------------------------------------- Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB ------------------------------------------------

www.graceenoughpodcast.com Nancy Guthrie joins me to discuss how God filled her emptiness after the loss of baby Hope and Gabriel, how God demonstrates He does His best work with empty through the Scriptures, and her passion for God’s Word. Questions Nancy and I Discussed: (8:32) God Does His Best Work With Empty was born out of your own personal experience and the respite retreats you lead with your husband. For those unfamiliar with your family’s story of loss and your ministry, will you share that with us? (15:39) How did the idea that God does His best work with empty come about?  (18:57) You write, “Sometimes your sense of emptiness haunts you as an undefined yet relentless ache. At other times it overwhelms you as an undeniable agony. It is amazing to me how heavy the weight of emptiness can feel, how much room emptiness can take up in our souls, how much pain can be caused by something that isn’t even there.” What are some ways you began working through the emptiness experienced when you lost your children? (24:26) As you began to trace the theme of emptiness in the Bible, what were some things that jumped out at you? (28:41) You point out 8 ways God fills our emptiness.  One of those is God fills our emptiness with His grace. Will you share how the story of Naomi demonstrates that truth? (33:08) You clearly love God’s Word and have been faithful to teach it to women in your local church, around the world and now are generously teaching other women how to study and teach it.  Share a little of how you’ve seen God develop that love, that passion in you over the years. (38:35) How do you go about deciding which book in the Bible you’re going to teach? (43:54) Listener question from Allison McCoy: How do you avoid being moralistic when teaching the Bible, but still make applications for your audience? SHOW NOTES cont. Resources Mentioned: Book: God Does His Best Work With Empty  Biblical Theology Workshop For Women Respite Retreat Book: Holding Onto Hope Book: Hearing Jesus Speak To Your Sorrow Book: Saints and Scoundrels Bible Study Fellowship Book: Even Better Than Preaching Christ in A Postmodern World: Teaching Seminars by Dr. Tim Keller and Dr. Edmund Clowney Related Episodes: 52: Jonathan Gibson | Proclaiming God is Good After Infant Loss 51: Vaneetha Risner | When Suffering is Your Story 36: Treva Kuyper | Hope and Healing After Unexpected Loss Episode Sponsor: Hope & Vine SHOP NOW at Hope & Vine Enter GRACE-2020 at checkout for 15 % off. Follow Nancy Guthrie on IG and at nancyguthrie.com ----------------------------------------------- Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB ------------------------------------------------    

Mary DeMuth joins me to share her story of being sexual abused as a 5 year old girl and how God re-storied her through the ministry of Young Life.  Mary also shares how the church can redemptively respond to the sexual abuse crisis. Questions Mary and I Discussed: (5:23) You say, "Not only have I been restored, I have been re-storied."  Take us back to your childhood and share what happened to you at 5 years old? (13:03)  What were some of those wounds that you carried with you and likely continue to work through today? (17:27) What were your teens years like? (20:10) At 15, you met Jesus through Young Life.  Tell us about that experience. (29:00) You have written, "He changed my I was statements into I am statements."  Will you share some of those with us? (31:21) One of your recent books is We Too: How the Church Can Respond Redemptively to the Sexual Abuse Crisis. First, what are some ways we are missing the mark? (37:19) As followers of Jesus, what are some ways we can respond redemptively to sexual abuse? Quotes to Remember: "It's extremely rare for a child to tell, so the fact that I did is surprising, but the sad thing is the babysitter did nothing." "I was thinking to myself, not a soul in this world cares about me, no one's gonna take care of me." "I would say the greatest wound is or the greatest manifestation of my sexual abuse.... is disconnection. When all this abuse was happening, I would disassociate and fly away in my mind." SHOW NOTES cont.  Related Episodes: 71: Krista Boan | Tips For Parents In The Digital Age 54: Nick Stumbo | Discovering Freedom From Pornography 91: Mary Flo Ridley | Let’s Talk Birds and Bees Episode Sponsors: Heather M. Dixon | Author, Speaker, Bible Teacher BIBLE STUDY: Renewed: Finding Hope When You Don’t Like Your Story Hope & Vine Enter GRACE-2020 at checkout for 15 % off. Follow Mary DeMuth on IG and at marydemuth.com ----------------------------------------------- Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB ------------------------------------------------

Lynn Cowell joins me to discuss the importance of being available, approachable, and partnering with the Holy Spirit to develop our children's gifts, particularly our daughters. Questions Lynn and I Discussed: (5:16) Share how you came to know Jesus (6:33) Take us back to when your daughters were young. What were their personalities like? (9:33) What were some of the intentional steps you took to develop a strong relationship with them at a young age? (12:10) How did you experience the benefits of that as they became teens and now adults? (19:09) One of the biggest fears I face is the fear of not having a close relationship with my kids as they get older and become adults.  How would you encourage someone like me, who has an 8 year old daughter, to develop that strong mother/daughter relationship in the early years? (23:58) In our world today there are so many conflicting messages for young girls and women about what makes you a strong woman.  When you began facing that reality as a mom, how did you teach your daughters about being kind and gentle, yet bold and courageous? (31:40)  What do you hope a girl walks away with upon completion of your Loved and Cherished devotional? SHOW NOTES cont. Related Episodes: 28: Jodie Berndt "Praying The Scriptures For Your Children 90: Hillary Morgan Ferrer | Empowering Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies 91: Mary Flo Ridley | Let’s Talk Birds and Bees 89: Meg Glesener | Casting Vision For Your Family 57: Kristen Hatton | Redemptive Parenting 69: Sam and Amber Cullum | Sabbath As A Family 71: Krista Boan | Tips For Parents In The Digital Age 34: Dr. Michelle Deering | Mother/Daughter Relationships Episode Sponsors: Spiritual Seeds Planner Heather M. Dixon | Author, Speaker, Bible Teacher BIBLE STUDY: Renewed: Finding Hope When You Don’t Like Your Story   Follow Lynn Cowell on Facebook and at lynncowell.com ----------------------------------------------- Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB ------------------------------------------------  

www.graceenoughpodcast.com Ted Turnau and Jared Moore join me to discuss how becoming familiar with pop culture and discussing it with our children actually helps them engage their world for Christ. Questions Ted, Jared and I Discussed: (5:14) What led you to write the pop culture parent? (9:24) How do you define pop culture? (10:41) Christians tend to avoid or forbid anything related to pop culture, whether it be R-rated movies or secular music, what are some of the dangers in taking that approach? (12:18) Ted you've said, “Popular culture shapes imagination and inner worlds. It creates connections between them and their friends. They need parents to help them see how the gospel shines in contrast to what the world offers. They need training in discernment and wisdom as ambassadors of Christ to their friends. They need to learn the cultural language of the land to which God calls them: their own culture.” How can we go about engaging popular culture with our kids now to help them see the gospel in contrast to the world? (22:40) For the parent of a toddler or early elementary child that may be listening, provide an example of how they can engage their child in their interests now to begin laying a foundation for more spiritual conversations later? (33:34) Will you walk us through the 5 Simple Questions to ask about popular culture?  (41:21) What final encouragement do you have for parents? Quotes to Remember: "Popular culture is not the equivalent to bad culture, which is what a lot of Christians take it to mean." -Ted "This is a popular culture world that we live in. Do we want to train our children to live in this world? Or do we want to train them to live in a world that doesn't exist? You can't evangelize in that world that doesn't exist. We live in this world and so let us train our children to be in this popular cultural world but not of it." -Jared SHOW NOTES cont. Related Episodes: 71: Krista Boan | Tips For Parents In The Digital Age 90: Hillary Morgan Ferrer | Empowering Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies 91: Mary Flo Ridley | Let's Talk Birds and Bees 89: Meg Glesener | Casting Vision For Your Family 28: Jodie Berndt “Praying The Scriptures For Your Children 57: Kristen Hatton | Redemptive Parenting Episode Sponsor: Heather M. Dixon | Author, Speaker, Bible Teacher BIBLE STUDY: Renewed: Finding Hope When You Don’t Like Your Story Follow Ted Turnau on Twitter: @tedturnau Follow Jared Moore on Twitter: @JaredhMoore ----------------------------------------------- Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB ------------------------------------------------  

www.graceenoughpodcast.com Mary Flo Ridley joins me to talk about simple, foundational conversations to have with our children, ranging from toddlers to teens, that will shape their sexual health for years to come. Questions Mary Flo and I Discussed: (4:25) Even in 2020, I have conversations with friends who cringe when it comes to having the “birds and bees” talk with their children.  We deal with questions like when is it the right time, what should I say, and so on, but Birds and Bees is all about getting rid of this idea that this is a one-time conversation in parenting. What are you hoping to see in exchange? (9:12) Let’s begin by talking to the parents who have toddlers, what is a conversation pattern they can establish to show their children they are the loving authority on the topic of their bodies? (13:36) What are some key conversations and general language parents can practice with their elementary age children? (19:11) The average age someone first sees pornography is 11 yo and are as likely to see it accidentally as on purpose.  How do you encourage parents to deal with discussing pornography with their children? (27:20) For parents of middle and high school age children (or really all young parents), talking about masturbation and puberty feels daunting. How do you encourage parents to address this topic? (32:30) Birds & Bees offers a curriculum. What can one expect if they use your curriculum? (36:15) Do you have any encouragement for the parent who feels like they are “behind” or have failed to create an open dialogue surrounding sex and our bodies? (39:38) Lastly, what are some books and other resources you would recommend to parents on this topic? Quotes to Remember: “What is the main thing you want your children to know about sex? If they’re growing up in your family? If you could give that answer in one sentence? What would that sentence be?” SHOW NOTES cont. Related Episodes: 71: Krista Boan | Tips For Parents In The Digital Age 54: Nick Stumbo | Discovering Freedom From Pornography 90: Hillary Morgan Ferrer | Empowering Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies Episode Sponsor: Heather M. Dixon | Author, Speaker, Bible Teacher BIBLE STUDY: Renewed: Finding Hope When You Don’t Like Your Story Follow Birds & Bees on IG and at birds-bees.com ----------------------------------------------- Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB ------------------------------------------------  

www.graceenoughpodcast.com Hillary Morgan Ferrer joins me to discuss some myths that Christians are tempted to believe when it comes to children and their faith. We also talk how to help our kids recognize false messages, the chew and spit method, linguistic theft, and the R.O.A.R. method that has been so helpful in my journey of separating truth from the subtle lies that bombard us daily. Questions Hillary and I Discussed: (3:35) Define apologetics and why you’re so passionate about parents embracing the role of apologist in the lives of their children. (6:00) What are some of the myths we, as followers of Jesus, are tempted to believe when it comes to our children and their faith? (16:50) Share a little about helping our kids discern truth from lies, what you deem the “chew and spit” method. (29:38) In Mamabear Apologetics, you devote a whole chapter to linguistic theft. What is linguistic theft and how are we seeing it play it out right now in our culture? (38:13) You advise parents to gain a clear understanding of each “ism” so that we can recognize which one is affecting our children.  Will you share an overview of the “ism”s you are referring to and why it is important to know them? (45:53) Lastly, there is no question we are living in a post-Christian culture here in America. Share the ROAR method with our listeners to help them address the lies we face on a daily basis. Quotes to Remember: “We have this idea that faith is this feeling that we conjure up when we don’t know something, but I’m just gonna believe it anyway, despite the evidence. That is a horrible definition of faith. A better definition of faith is if we go back to Scripture, to Hebrews 11:1 where it says faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see. So anything that makes you more sure and more certain increases your faith. It’s the idea of responding to available evidence.” SHOW NOTES cont.  Related Episodes: 49: Jeremy Pryor | Family Teams 57: Kristen Hatton | Redemptive Parenting 71: Krista Boan | Tips For Parents In The Digital Age 81: Tricia Goyer | Calming Angry Kids 77: Rosaria Butterfield | Christian Identity, Intersectionality Follow Hillary Ferrer and Mamabear Apologetics on Facebook and listen at Mamabearapologetics.com ----------------------------------------------- Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB ------------------------------------------------

www.graceenoughpodcast.com Meg Glesener joins me to discuss some practical ways to cast vision in your family, how it empowers your children to focus on the big picture and how it promotes family unity. Questions Meg and I Discussed: (5:29): Today, we are going to talk about casting a vision for your family.  Give our listeners a little background about the family you grew up in and how you came to know Jesus. (16:07) What led you and your husband to begin intentionally casting vision in your family? (21:59) In your family, how did you go about casting vision?  (Together, as individuals, etc.) (28:47) How did having a family vision help you and your children? (30:18) For the listener, who is feeling the nudge to cast a vision for his/her family, what steps would you encourage them to take? (35:48)  What are some final words about family vision casting you would like the listener to take away? Quotes to Remember: "My childhood was pretty messy. In my in our home growing up there were so many strikes against me." "I think when you take that extra time to build an environment of love and teamwork, and we're all serving God together when they're young that carries into their teen years." "Casting a vision happens in the non-confrontational moments when the kids are the best versions of themselves, and they want to participate." SHOW NOTES cont. Resources Mentioned: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People The 7 Habits of Happy Kids Related Episodes: 49: Jeremy Pryor | Family Teams 28: Jodie Berndt "Praying The Scriptures For Your Children 57: Kristen Hatton | Redemptive Parenting 69: Sam and Amber Cullum | Sabbath As A Family 81: Tricia Goyer | Calming Angry Kids Follow Meg Glesener on Facebook and listen to Letters From Home Podcast ----------------------------------------------- Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB ------------------------------------------------

www.graceenoughpodcast.com Taylor Schumann joins me to discuss surviving a school shooting, the long work of healing and trauma recovery, gun reform, thoughts and prayers, and her faith in Jesus. Questions Taylor and I Discussed: (2:25) Before we fully launch into your story tell us a little about your faith journey with Jesus.  When did you come to know Him? (3:20) Take us back to 2013 and share with our listeners what happened to you on that day and how your life was forever changed (14:54) What were some of the hardest things you faced in the days and months following the shooting?  (19:51) In a Christianity Today article you wrote, "I have a complicated relationship with thoughts and prayers."  Expound on that a bit for us. (25:48) You are passionate about holding the American Christian church accountable to its pro-life claims.  In your experience, how does pro-life accountability involve gun reform? (34:08) For those listening, who are tempted to stop listening or look away or launch into all of the BUTS that come along with gun reform activism what would you like to share with them? Quotes to Remember: "The bullet went through my left hand" "He attempted to shoot through the door a second time, but it missed me." SHOW NOTES continued Follow Taylor Schumann on Twitter and at taylorschumman.com ----------------------------------------------- Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB ------------------------------------------------      

www.graceenoughpodcast.com Mike Savage joins me to talk about how Jesus wrecked and saved His life while serving 15 + years in prison for international money laundering.  Questions Mike and I Discussed: (2:58) To set the stage for your story, tell us a little about your childhood working your way through getting married and your first few jobs. (6:53) You end up being labeled as “a criminal mastermind” and often joke about how that can’t be true, because you got caught, describe your job to us and how the phrase “it’s a slow fade” is true of your plunge into money laundering. (13:21) Your wife, Cynthia, stayed with you, despite having absolutely no idea about your criminal activity. So go back and tell me a little bit about what your family life was like, while you were living this criminal lifestyle and she was clueless. And then what was it like those two years where you weren’t in prison, but you were being investigated? (30:02) So you end up in prison for 15 years, where you surrender your life to Jesus.  Walk us through how you came to know Him. (35:52) The day arrives, when your time served is complete.  What was the first year out of prison like for you and your family? What does your life look like today?  How do you and Cynthia use your experience to point others toward Jesus? Quotes to Remember: “I knew everything that was going on. She knew nothing.” “I actually was praying, even though I hadn’t been saved, I’m still praying, ‘God, please get me out of this. Please get me out of this.’ And He did get me out of it. I went to prison. I was found guilty.” Related Episodes: 33: Steven Elliott | A War Story SHOW NOTES continued Follow Mike Savage on Twitter  ----------------------------------------------- Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB ------------------------------------------------