Christian Parent, Crazy World

Keeping Christ at the center of the Christmas season is always a challenge. The hectic pace of life intensifies during December, and often our focus shifts to the never-ending list of responsibilities and chores to complete before the big day.   Strategically celebrating Advent is a wonderful way to keep Christ central in all the commotion of gatherings, parties, concerts, baking, and buying. Utilizing Advent calendars, candles, and books help us to focus on the magnitude of what Christ accomplished in coming to earth while pointing us toward his return.   Catherine’s guest in this episode, Laurie Christine, has accumulated a wealth of devotional resources that will help enrich your Christmas season by celebrating Advent. Catherine and Laurie start by digging into the history of Advent, and then they highlight the great gift of celebrating God’s hope, peace, joy, and love in line with each candle lit. Laurie also offers devotional and book recommendations for all ages to participate in the wonderful celebration of Advent.   Laurie Christine’s Bio: Laurie Christine is an author, podcast host, Biblical Parenting Coach, wife, and mom of four loud, adventurous boys. Her podcast, Redeeming the Chaos, invites moms of boys to join her on the wild, wonderful adventure of raising courageous boys and connecting them with Christ.  In addition to hosting a podcast, Laurie writes devotions and Bible stories for families. Her passion is to raise strong, courageous warriors for the Kingdom of God, and to help families like yours do the same!  Her new devotional book for boys, Rise of the Enemy, just released on Amazon in November.   RESOURCES MENTIONED:   Laurie Christine has created a wonderful resource for CPCW listeners that contains all of the devotionals and books covered in this episode which can be accessed here: https://lauriechristine.com/podcast-interview-resources/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

  Biblically parenting a child who struggles in their sexuality requires resting on a bedrock foundation of truth while always operating in a spirit of love, humility, and surrender to Christ. We must never deny God’s truth, but a child struggling in this area must first be completely secure in their parents’ unconditional love. Focusing on the relationship is paramount. That relationship is secured by practicing unconditional love, the same love that God gives to us.   What can parents do to build a strong relationship with a child struggling in their sexuality? Incorporate this guidance:   *Commend your child’s courage for sharing their struggle with you. *Express your unconditional love for your child. Say, “There is nothing you can think, say, or do that will change my love for you. I love you unconditionally, and so does God.” *Pray fervently. Use the Word of God to pray over your child daily. (Find Scriptures to pray over you child HERE.) *Listen. Listen. And when you’re done listening to your child.… listen some more. *Humbly hold fast to Biblical truth on sexuality. *Speak truth when prompted by the Holy Spirit. Don’t turn every conversation into a sermon. Instead, rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance in your communication. *Walk in HUMILITY. The LGBTQ community has adopted PRIDE as their virtue, so we must walk in the opposite spirit. *Model a surrendered life for your child. *Model repentance for your child. You won’t parent your child perfectly, so when you mess up, tell them you are wrong and ask for forgiveness. *Forgive yourself for your parenting mistakes and allow God to redeem them.   Catherine’s guest in this episode has been ministering to parents of children in the LGBTQ community for many years because she is one. Melinda Patrick is a mother of a same-sex attracted daughter who has embraced an LGBTQ identity and union. Melinda shares the successes and failures of this parenting journey, and her advice will bless, encourage, and convict us all.   Melinda Patrick’s bio: Melinda is the Director of Parent Support for His Wonderful Works and is host of The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child While Not Compromising Truth and The Even While Podcast: Living Well in the Midst of Waiting. Melinda has parented a same-sex attracted child for twelve years and is passionate about helping moms and dads build strong relationships with their children while not compromising truth.   RESOURCES MENTIONED/REFERENCED: Melinda Patrick’s Website Melinda Patrick’s email address: melinda@melindapatrick.org Melinda Patrick’s Instagram Page The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child Well While Not Compromising Truth Catherine Segars email address: catherine@catherinesegars.com Debbie Causey’s Website  & Speaker bio Renovus website Greg & Lynn McDonald: Embracing the Journey The Unconditional Conference   SCRIPTURES REFERENCED: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 Matthew 11:28-30 John 8:31 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

A Christian can struggle with any number of attractions or temptations, including same sex desire and gender confusion. But should a Christian consider that struggle to be part of their identity? Should who we are attracted to or how we feel about our bodies be central to our being? Is our sexuality an immutable characteristic like our race or ethnicity? In other words, should we should claim our sexuality as part of our essence?   And if we do, what are the ramifications of this conclusion theologically and practically?   Christopher Yuan, author of Holy Sexuality and the Gospel, lived for many years as a gay man. He addresses the issue of our Christian identity very clearly saying:   “If I were to identify as a gay Christian, I would be trying to resuscitate my dead man. We should never put our identity in our sin nature or in our flesh. Sin is never meant to be sanctified. It is meant to be mortified.”   Who we are attracted to is part of our experience as human beings here on earth. So is how we feel about our bodies. So are our significant roles—husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, friend. So is what we do—teacher, doctor, business owner, plumber … fill in the blank. So is what we are afflicted with: depression, anxiety, disease, addiction, abuse. Those are all, sadly, a part of our fallen human experience.   But that is not who we are. As Christians, we must identify ourselves as sons and daughters of the most-high God. That is our identity. We must lay every other label down and brand ourselves with Christ. Then and only then can we walk in freedom.   Joining Catherine again to discuss the central topic of identity in the Christian life is Melinda Patrick, host of The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child While Not Compromising Truth. As a mother of a same-sex attracted daughter who has embraced an LGBTQ identity and union, Melinda considers identity to be a central component to every Believer’s spiritual journey. To overcome any temptation or obstacle, we must have our identity firmly rooted in Christ.   OTHER EPISODES IN THIS SERIES:   EPISODE 76: An LGBTQ Mom Responds to Andy Stanley   RESOURCES MENTIONED/REFERENCED: Melinda Patrick’s Website Melinda Patrick’s email address: melinda@melindapatrick.org Melinda Patrick’s Instagram Page The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child Well While Not Compromising Truth The Even While Podcast: Living Well in the Midst of Waiting His Wonderful Works: Hope Healing and Freedom The Freedom March Catherine Segars email address: catherine@catherinesegars.com   PODCASTS. ARTICLES, WEBSITES REFERENCED:   EPISODE 69: What Question Burns in the Heart of Your Gen Z Child? ARTICLE: “What Question Burns in the Heart of Your Gen Z Child?” by Catherine Segars “Sewing Heresy/Mainline Slide: The Push to Accept Homosexuality Gutted Traditional Protestantism. Evangelical churches Are Headed down the Same Road,” by Mary Jackson (World Magazine) “How to Confidently Minister to Friends Who Experience Same-Sex Attraction and Gender Confusion” Alisa Childers Podcast w/ Christopher Yuan “The Number of LGBTQ Identifying Adults is Soaring” (Axios/data from Gallup) Andy Stanley’s Message: “I Love My Church” Greg & Lynn McDonald: Embracing the Journey The Unconditional Conference Debbie C

Statistics show that one in five Gen Z children are identifying somewhere on the LGBTQ spectrum. One in five. Parents must realize that all of our children are dealing with this issue, because even if our kids aren't personally struggling in their sexuality, their friends are. This issue affects every parent and every child.    The church needs to have a loving and truthful approach for families facing this issue.   One of the largest and most influential churches in the United States, North Point Community Church, pastored by one of the most influential ministers in the world, Andy Stanley, just went on the record telling us about his church’s approach. Stanley’s message, along with the Unconditional Conference for parents of LGBTQ identifying children held at North Point, signify a substantial departure from where the evangelical church has stood on this issue.   Does Stanley have the right approach? Is it Biblical? Should we be concerned?   Catherine’s guest in this episode has been ministering to parents of children in the LGBTQ community for many years because she is one. As a mother of a same-sex attracted daughter who has embraced an LGBTQ identity and union, Melinda Patrick is precisely the kind of parent that the Unconditional Conference was trying to reach. But she has deep concerns about this conference and Stanley’s teaching.   Together, Catherine and Melinda break down the troubling aspects of this conference and the message that Andy Stanley presented to his church.   Melinda's Bio: Melinda Patrick is the Director of Parent Support for His Wonderful Works and is host of The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child While Not Compromising Truth and The Even While Podcast: Living Well in the Midst of Waiting. Melinda has parented a same-sex attracted child for twelve years and is passionate about helping moms and dads build strong relationships with their children while not compromising truth.   RESOURCES MENTIONED/REFERENCED:   Melinda Patrick’s Website Melinda Patrick’s email address: melinda@melindapatrick.org Melinda Patrick’s Instagram Page The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child Well While Not Compromising Truth The Even While Podcast: Living Well in the Midst of Waiting His Wonderful Works: Hope Healing and Freedom   Catherine Segars email address: catherine@catherinesegars.com   “The Number of LGBTQ Identifying Adults is Soaring” (Axios/data from Gallup) “The Train is Leaving the Station” by Albert Mohler Jr. Andy Stanley’s Response: “I Love My Church” Greg & Lynn McDonald: Embracing the Journey The Unconditional Conference Debbie Causey’s Website The Freedom March   SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:   John 3:16-21 Matthew 10:34-36 John 18:37 John 14:15 John 15:14 John 15:1 John 8:30-31 Matthew 18:7 Matthew 7:21-23 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Romans 6:23 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

There is a question that many Christian parents never ask God. Catherine and her husband didn’t ask God this question for the first two decades of their marriage, despite attending church weekly, tithing, going so small groups, and having daily devotionals. That question is:   WHAT DOES GOD WANT MY FAMILY TO LOOK LIKE?   We often seek God about where we should work, live, and go to church, what school our kids should attend, and how to raise our children—but many parents never ask God how many kids they should have, adopt, or foster.   Why is that?   In this episode, Catherine explores this topic and then allows listeners to be a fly on the wall of her post-interview conversation with Kirsten Vossler, a mother of nine (soon to be ten). They discuss how the church has been subtly influenced by the world’s perspective on parenting and children.   If Jesus is to truly be Lord of our lives, that means He must be Lord of our families. That doesn’t mean we have to crank out as many babies as possible in our child-bearing years, but it does mean we should seek God’s plan over our personal preference.   Kirsten Vossler’s Bio: Kirsten is a mother of 9, yes you heard that right—9 kiddos. She has been a Children’s pastor, a worship leader, a writer, a conference speaker, and now she is host of the Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast.   Kirsten’s Website Kirsten’s Podcast: Rejoicing in Motherhood   RESOURCES & PODCASTS REFERENCED:   “Should God Have a Say in the Size of Your Family” by Catherine Segars   EPISODE 70: “When God Doesn’t Answer Our Prayers the Way We Hoped He Would” (w/ Andy Howard)   EPISODE 71: “How Does God Bring Beauty Out of the Broken Places in Our Lives?” (w/ Andy Howard)   Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast EPISODE 120 – Dispelling 5 Cultural Myths about Motherhood (w/ Catherine Segars) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When it comes to blowing up at our kids, it’s not a matter of if. It’s a matter of when. It happens to the best of us. But often the inciting incident isn’t the real issue because the thing that sets us off isn’t the root of the problem. We’ve got to dig up the root if we want to get rid of the bitter fruit.   In this episode, Catherine continues her encouraging and incredibly practical conversation with Kirsten Vossler, a mother of 9 and host of the The Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast. Together, these mamas dig deep to find out what is really going on when that one last nerve is raw and exposed and we just can’t seem to keep it together. They also discuss how to exercise restraint and not indulge that fleshly desire to yell at our kids. The key is leaning into the Holy Spirit.   Using the 7 steps that Kirsten outlined in Episode 74, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us and control our tongues, and getting to the root of what is really bothering will help us to mature as parents and believers. And as we commit to these steps, we will blow it a lot less with our kids.   Kirsten Vossler’s Bio: Kirsten is a mother of 9, yes you heard that right—9 kiddos. She has been a Children’s pastor, a worship leader, a writer, a conference speaker, and now she is host of the Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast.   Kirsten’s Website Kirsten’s Podcast: Rejoicing in Motherhood   OTHER PODCASTS/EPISODES REFERENCED:   EPISODE 74 – 7 Steps to Reset When You’ve Blown It with Your Kids (w/ Kirsten Vossler)   Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast EPISODE 120 – Dispelling 5 Cultural Myths about Motherhood (w/ Catherine Segars) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

As a Christian parent, you can never have too many resources! Hear compelling segments from three fascinating LifeAudio shows hosted by Christian homeschooling moms and discover a new podcast you'll love!  Subscribe to the featured shows below & listen to more of their episodes! Empowering Homeschool Conversations with Peggy Ployhar: https://apple.co/3rStaIj / https://sptfy.com/P4uL  Real Refreshment with Rachael Carman: https://apple.co/400Tq00 / https://sptfy.com/P4uJ  Homeschooling Families with Leslie Nunnery: https://apple.co/45y46UT / https://sptfy.com/P4uK  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Let’s be honest… sometimes we blow it as parents. We lose our temper and fly off the handle. It is vital that we know how to reset when we do. All the hard work we do as parents to strategically establish a solid spiritual foundation for our kids will be severely comprised if our relationship is broken.   Catherine’s special guest in this episode is a pro on the parenting front. With nine kids, Kirsten Vossler is devoted to mothering full-time, and she imparts her hard-earned wisdom weekly on The Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast. Kirsten shares with the CPCW audience seven vital steps that we should take when we blow it with our kids. Those steps are:   1. Stop. (Easier said than done, but shut your mouth.) 2. Get alone. Remove yourself physically from the crazy situation. 3. Cry out to God. Be honest. 4. Ask God what He wants to say to you. Not to your kids. To you. He will bring identity, clarity, and perspective to you and the situation. 5. Repent to God first. 6. Repent to your child. Humble yourself. Say “I messed up. Jesus would never talk to you like that.” Acknowledge their pain. Say “I’m sorry.” And ask for forgiveness. 7. Be tender with your child as they are healing.   These steps walk us through the full cycle of repentance. Committing to this process is a critical part of discipling our kids because not only will it help to heal the damage we have caused in the parent-child relationship, it also models for our kids what true repentance looks like.   Kirsten Vossler’s Bio: Kirsten is a mother of 9, yes you heard that right—9 kiddos. She has been a Children’s pastor, a worship leader, a writer, a conference speaker, and now she is host of the Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast.   Kirsten’s Website Kirsten’s Podcast: Rejoicing in Motherhood   Bible Verse Referenced:   Psalm 90:4 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

There are some sins that seem unforgivable… and yet God forgives. But He doesn’t forgive because those sins are okay. He doesn’t brush those sins under the rug and say, “I’ll let it slide this time, but try your best not to torture, rape, or murder anyone again.”  That is not God’s response to these heinous acts.   So what is His response?   His response is the cross. His response was to take that sin upon Himself and pay the price so that every heinous act is punished. Every sin is paid for.   To thoroughly unpack this difficult topic, Catherine continues her conversation with Elizabeth Urbanowicz from Foundation Worldview, concluding last week’s conversation which analyzed some of the complaints and inaccurate portrayals of God in the deconstruction movement. In this episode, Catherine and Elizabeth discuss who God is more fully, in particular the extent of His mercy which forgives all who repent.   The fact that God is willing to forgive horrific crimes against innocent human beings is hard to fathom. But God’s mercy does not mean that the horrible things that happen in this world are not relevant or significant. God is not cavalier about these abhorrent sins. Quite the contrary. He paid the ultimate price to cover these sins.   Understanding all of God’s attributes is necessary in order to understand who He is. We cannot separate His mercy from His justice. But mercy and justice are perfectly satisfied at the cross in Christ, which enables God to forgive every sin.   Elizabeth’s bio: Elizabeth Urbanowicz holds a B.S. from Gordon College in Elementary Education and Spanish, an M.S.Ed. from Northern Illinois University in Literacy Education, and an M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Several years into her teaching experience, Elizabeth realized that despite being raised in Christian homes, attending a Christian school, and being active in church, her students thought more like the culture than like Christ. Elizabeth began searching for curricular materials that would equip her students to think critically, helping them discover that Christianity is the worldview that lines up with reality. After not finding materials that effectively met this need, she created a curriculum that did.   Foundation Worldview exists to equip Christian parents with the resources they need to train children to soundly interpret Scripture, carefully evaluate every idea they encounter, and understand the truth of the biblical worldview. Elizabeth firmly believes that the Christian youth exodus can be a thing of the past. When kids are equipped to soundly interpret Scripture, they will quickly develop a biblical worldview. When kids are taught to think well, they can carefully evaluate the messages they are exposed to each day.   To see clips from this interview and find inspiring supplemental quotes and posts, connect with Catherine on Instagram and Facebook . To receive updates about each new podcast and free resources like Scripture songs, Bible verses to pray over prodigal children, and a topical index of Scriptures for prayer, subscribe to Catherine’s website.   COUPON CODE:   Use the coupon code “CPCW10” to get $10 off any family license with Foundation Worldview.   Foundation Worldview Website: https://foundationworldview.com/   OTHER EPISODES IN THIS SERIES:   Episode 72: What Do Deconstructionists Often Get Wrong about God?   RESOURCES CONSULTED:   Presbyterians’ Decision to Drop Hymn Stirs Debate (USA Today, 8/5/13)   SCRIPTURE REFERENCED:   Romans 8:28 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

  Deconstruction is a growing trend within evangelical circles. With a majority of Christian kids leaving the faith after they leave the nest, the number of young people sharing stories of how they are dismantling their faith is on the rise. Many of these stories have inaccurate or incomplete depictions of God.   Richard Dawkins opens the second chapter of his New York Times best-selling book The God Delusion describing the God of the Old Testament as “arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.”   With false depictions of God rampant in our culture, a proper understanding of who God is according to His Word is vital for our children’s spiritual foundation, and for ours.   Catherine’s guest in this episode is a good friend of CPCW. Elizabeth Urbanowicz is founder and CEO of Foundation Worldview, a biblically-based curriculum for teaching children the Christian worldview. Elizabeth joins Catherine to have a deep conversation about who God is, His intrinsic attributes, while addressing some of the most popular complaints about God shared in these deconstruction stories.   We must understand all of God’s attributes. We cannot isolate his mercy and his love from his justice and his holiness as all of these inherent character traits combine to comprise who God is. This conversation will help parents and kids understand the totality of God by addressing some of the most misunderstood parts of the Bible.   Elizabeth’s bio: Elizabeth Urbanowicz holds a B.S. from Gordon College in Elementary Education and Spanish, an M.S.Ed. from Northern Illinois University in Literacy Education, and an M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Several years into her teaching experience, Elizabeth realized that despite being raised in Christian homes, attending a Christian school, and being active in church, her students thought more like the culture than like Christ. Elizabeth began searching for curricular materials that would equip her students to think critically, helping them discover that Christianity is the worldview that lines up with reality. After not finding materials that effectively met this need, she created a curriculum that did.   Foundation Worldview exists to equip Christian parents with the resources they need to train children to soundly interpret Scripture, carefully evaluate every idea they encounter, and understand the truth of the biblical worldview. Elizabeth firmly believes that the Christian youth exodus can be a thing of the past. When kids are equipped to soundly interpret Scripture, they will quickly develop a biblical worldview. When kids are taught to think well, they can carefully evaluate the messages they are exposed to each day.   To see clips from this interview and find inspiring supplemental quotes and posts, connect with Catherine on Instagram and Facebook . To receive updates about each new podcast and free resources like Scripture songs, Bible verses to pray over prodigal children, and a topical index of Scriptures for prayer, subscribe to Catherine’s website.   COUPON CODE:   Use the coupon code “CPCW10” to get $10 off any family license with Foundation Worldview.   Foundation Worldview Website: https://foundationworldview.com/   RESOURCES REFERENCED:   EPISODE 57 - How To Teach Our Kids the Christian Worldview (w/ Elizabeth Urbanowicz)   EPISODE 58 - <a href="https://w