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Christian Parent, Crazy World
Catherine SegarsThe Christian Parent, Crazy World podcast with Catherine Segars equips moms and dads to be godly parents in a world that often opposes their faith. As a passionate apologist and seasoned communicator, Catherine unpacks the tough cultural issues facing families today, offering insightful, biblically grounded guidance. Each episode helps parents understand the challenges of our times and respond with wisdom, confidence, and grace.
Topics covered on this podcast include:
- What to Do If Your Child Walks Away from the Faith
- Can Our Words Change the Future?
- Why Are So Many Kids Falling Away from The Faith?
- 13 Ways To Be a Better Parent This Year
- 5 Things Every Parent Needs to Know About Gen Z
- What Critical Foundation Do Many Parents Miss When Discipling Their Kids?
- How To Teach Your Kids the Christian Worldview
- Hope and Strategy for Parents of Prodigal Children
Want to read some of Catherine's most popular Christian parenting articles? Check them out here: https://www.crosswalk.com/author/catherine-segars/
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Beauty Still Whispers: Empowering Artists to Share Faith and Shape Culture (w/ Isaac & Emily Gay) - Ep. 160
September 22, 2025 - 46 min
For centuries, the Church wasn’t just a home for faith—it was the lighthouse of creativity and culture. But when did we stop leading the way in beauty, innovation, and art? And what happens when the Church loses its bond with the artist? Catherine dives deep into this critical topic with special guests Isaac and Emily Gay, co-founders of the Parallel Society. With over twenty years of ministry experience pioneering creative communities, building prayer rooms, and raising three children of their own, Isaac and Emily have dedicated their lives to restoring creativity within the Church and equipping the next generation of artists. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: The Great Disconnect: Why did the Church abandon creativity, and how did this create a vacuum that Hollywood and secular culture rushed to fill? Redefining Christian Art: Isaac & Emily challenge the narrow definitions that often limit Christian expression. Drawing from Leo Tolstoy, they ask: What if Christian art isn’t only about displaying explicit symbols, but about work that promotes "an ethic and morality that longs for human flourishing"? Both Sides Matter: Listeners will hear why mending the rift between the Church and artists isn’t just a leadership issue—but requires artists to reexamine the purpose behind their work, moving beyond self-expression to serve a greater, redemptive calling. Restoring Beauty in the Home: Emily shares how families can cultivate creativity over convenience, offering hope-filled encouragement that it starts not on a stage or a gallery wall, but around the dinner table, in moments of Sabbath, and with simple, intentional practices that awaken wonder in children. The Power of Beauty: Catherine passionately reminds us: "We are losing our culture not because we lack truth, but because we’ve lost beauty. In a culture grown deaf to preaching, beauty still whispers. It still sings." Practical Wisdom & Inspiration: Hear how the Gays wrote their own family Sabbath liturgy, and get actionable ideas for fostering beauty, awe, and storytelling within your own home—no matter your artistic skills. Notable Quotes: “Creativity is not optional. It’s our calling.”“Beauty is the language our culture still understands. Are we speaking it?”“There is no formation without repetition. The job of a parent is to create space for the wild things to run.” – Isaac Gay About the Guests:Isaac and Emily Gay are founders of the Parallel Society, a ministry devoted to discipling artists in biblical truth. With two decades of experience engaging some of the most secular areas of the West, they offer invaluable insight on how the Church can once again become a wellspring of culture and innovation. What if the future of your child’s faith—and the influence of the Church—depends on how we restore this forgotten partnership with creativity and beauty? Tune in for encouragement, theological depth, and practical next steps for every parent who wants to raise a generation that doesn’t just reflect the world, but reclaims it for Christ through the power of art. Connect with Isaac & Emily Gay: isaacandemilygay.com Instagram: Isaac & Emily Connect with Catherine: Instagram Facebook Email at catherine@catherinesegars.com Special Resource for Moms:Looking for more encouragement? Don’t miss Catherine’s free groundbreaking ebook, "Beyond the Lies: Uncovering 5 Myths The Culture Spreads to Mothers." In just 20 minutes, you’ll discover the life-giving truth God speaks over every mom.๐ Download your copy and find more faith-filled resources by subscribing HERE. How are you fostering a love for beauty and creativity in your home? What’s one small way you can invite your children to co-create with God this week? Share your thoughts with us and join the conversation! Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Hollywood Didn’t Win. The Church Forfeited (w/ Isaac & Emily Gay) - Ep. 159
September 15, 2025 - 48 min
Beauty is not a luxury—it's a vital, transformative force that shapes souls, redeems culture, and unlocks the creative potential God has placed in us all. In this inspiring and intensely practical episode, Catherine welcomes Isaac and Emily Gay to “Christian Parent, Crazy World” for a discussion that is anything but superficial. Together, they tackle the overlooked virtue of beauty in the church and in the home—a topic with power to reach the lost and restore what has been tragically neglected in the Western church. Isaac and Emily Gay share their hearts, talents, and hard-won wisdom from years of artistic leadership, ministry, and motherhood. With backgrounds in theater, worship, and church planting, they know firsthand the struggle of being artists in a culture—and a faith community—that too often sidelines creativity in favor of utilitarian metrics. Their mission? To help the modern church reclaim its historical role as a cultivator of beauty and creativity, both in its worship and its community life. Key topics explored in this episode: The Forgotten Virtue: Catherine and her guests outline how beauty once held a central place in the church, only to be pushed aside by industrial-age utilitarianism, soul-counting, and a focus on productivity at the expense of creativity. Healing the Rift: Catherine dives into the history of how secularism, dualism, and fundamentalist thinking fractured the relationship between church and creative souls. A Biblical Blueprint for Collaboration: Drawing from Exodus and the story of Bezalel and Oholiab—the first individuals filled with the Holy Spirit for the purpose of art—Emily and Isaac urge pastors and church leaders to actively commission and empower artists, forging genuine partnerships for the sake of the Gospel. The Culture-Shaping Power of Art: Isaac shares a provocative example from pop culture—Lil Nas X’s infamous “satanic shoes”—to illustrate how the world hasn’t forgotten art’s power, but the church has. The consequences? Hollywood and secular creatives have filled the cultural void abandoned by faith communities. Personal Stories and Honest Confessions: Catherine, Emily, and Isaac each open up about their individual struggles—feeling misunderstood, pressured to produce, and at times outright rejected by faith communities. Their honesty will resonate with parents, pastors, and anyone grappling with their creative calling. Reimagining Success: The conversation challenges the prevailing idea that only overtly “productive” or evangelical art is worthwhile, calling for a holistic embrace of beauty as a means of forming souls, shaping culture, and expressing the fullness of the Imago Dei. Have you ever wondered why the church has lost its cultural influence to Hollywood? Are you, or your children, gifted in the arts and unsure of how that fits in God’s kingdom? Are you a church leader looking to be a force for good in our culture? Emily and Isaac’s insights will encourage you to see artistic expression as a calling worthy of investment—and essential to the church’s mission in the world. This episode is essential listening for parents, pastors, creatives, and anyone longing to see God redeem our culture through something as simple—and as sacred—as beauty. Don’t miss this heartfelt and hope-filled conversation that just might change the way you see art, faith, parenthood, and the power of beauty to shape the world for good. Guest Bios: Isaac and Emily Gay are artists, worship leaders, and church planters in Buffalo, NY. With backgrounds in acting, worship, and the arts, they’ve helped lead church planting and prayer movements while building creative communities both locally and online. Parents of three boys, they are passionate about the power of beauty, creativity, and play—at home, in the church, and in culture. Episode Resources: Isaac’s Website & Instagram The Parallel Society The Prodigal by Isaac Gay For resources, free guides for parents, and more on nurturing creativity in your kids, visit catherine@catherinesegars.com. Stay curious. Stay creative. Let’s raise a new generation of culture-makers—one story, painting, song, or act of love at a time. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Created to Create: The Bible's Blueprint for Culture (w/ Isaac Gay) - Ep. 158
September 8, 2025 - 86 min
The Church Once Shaped the World Through Beauty—Can We Help Restore Its Influence Again? For centuries, the Christian faith was the driving force behind breathtaking art, transcendent music, and the very fabric of Western culture. But somewhere along the way, the church lost its influence—and with it, our society became less attuned to the transcendent power of beauty to point hearts to God. How did we get here, and most importantly, how can parents reclaim beauty as a powerful tool for reaching a generation that’s grown deaf to lectures and argument? In this compelling episode, Catherine is joined by multi-talented artist, philosopher, and theologian Isaac Gay—an accomplished musician, singer, songwriter, actor, dancer, and founder of The Parallel Society, a ministry devoted to discipling artists and restoring creativity in the church. Isaac and his wife Emily have spent nearly two decades planting churches, building prayer rooms, and nurturing creative communities in some of the most secular cities in the West—while also raising three boys of their own. Key Insights & Takeaways: Beauty as a Lost Apologetic: Discover why beauty is the most overlooked, and perhaps most powerful, way for Christians to influence culture today. “Beauty just might be our most powerful apologetic,” Catherine declares, underscoring its unique role in capturing hearts in a post-truth society. The Biblical Foundation of Creativity: Learn how the very first thing Scripture tells us about God isn’t that He’s a king, or father—but that He is a Creator, bringing order out of chaos. And why that means that every parent, regardless of natural talent, is called to be creative too. History’s Lessons: Journey from the Renaissance and beyond to see how the church used to set the standard for art, music, and culture. Why did Christians abdicate that position of influence, and how did utilitarian thinking, fundamentalism, and a sacred/secular divide contribute to exile of the arts? The Plight—and Calling—of Christian Artists: Hear Isaac’s own story of exchanging Broadway dreams for full-time ministry, and the tension so many creative Christians face when their gifts seem at odds with church expectations. “You are joining God, the ultimate creator, in the act of the most beautiful piece of art and creativity that has ever been created,” Isaac encourages all parents. Why Lectures Don’t Reach Culture (But Stories Do): The world isn’t tuning into our sermons—they’re going to movies, reading novels, and being shaped by art. Find out why reclaiming creativity in the church isn’t optional, but essential if we want to influence the next generation. Notable Moments: The astonishing significance of the first person in Scripture filled with the Holy Spirit (hint: he was an artist, not a preacher!) Stories from church history, the Renaissance, and the power of artists as “missionaries” to culture. A moving discussion on how even parenting itself is an act of creativity, forming order and beauty from chaos. The church hasn’t just neglected the arts—it’s handed the cultural keys to the world, often settling for copying what’s popular instead of shaping what’s meaningful. What could happen if Christian parents and churches reclaimed beauty—not just in our sanctuaries, but in our homes, our parenting, and our calling? Listen in and consider:How are you nurturing the creative spark God gave your children? In what ways could reclaiming beauty and imagination in your home, church, or community become the bridge to the gospel your world desperately needs? Don’t miss Part 2—where Isaac will be joined by his wife Emily for an even deeper dive into the practical steps of nurturing Christian creativity and restoring the church as a wellspring of beauty and culture. About the Guest: Isaac Gay is a modern-day renaissance man with a background in theatre, music, and ministry. As the founder of The Parallel Society, he equips Christian artists to use their gifts for cultural renewal and gospel advance. His work with his wife Emily has built creative communities and fostered discipleship of artists across the U.S. Episode Resources: Isaac’s Website & Instagram The Parallel Society The Prodigal by Isaac Gay For resources, free guides for parents, and more on nurturing creativity in your kids, visit catherine@catherinesegars.com. Stay curious. Stay creative. Let’s raise a new generation of culture-makers—one story, painting, song, or act of love at a time. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
From Chaos to Calm: 5 Simple Ways to Reduce Stress in Your Home (w/ Elizabeth Andreyevskiy) - "Best of" Ep. 67
September 1, 2025 - 58 min
Feeling overwhelmed, reactive, or just plain exhausted in your parenting journey? You’re not alone—parenting can be one of the most stressful, emotionally charged roles we ever take on. But what if simple, doable habits could restore peace and patience to your life… starting today? In this “best of” episode, host Catherine sits down with stress coach and mother of four, Elizabeth Andrejewski, to uncover 5 Simple Habits That Will Reduce Stress in Your Parenting. Elizabeth, host of the Emotionally Healthy Legacy podcast, brings firsthand wisdom from her years juggling daily chaos, mom guilt, and that all-too-familiar “mom rage.” Her mission? To equip Christian moms and dads with practical strategies for emotional wellness—rooted in faith and free from unnecessary guilt. Key Habits & Insights from this Episode: Start Your Day With Intention, Not Chaos: Elizabeth shares how waking up just a bit earlier than your kids—using that time for prayer, journaling, and stillness—can radically change your reactions for the entire day. “If I skip more than a day, oh, it’s showing up for me big time…I notice that I’m a lot more agitated and short and snappy with my family,” she says. Journaling as a Lifeline: Processing your emotions on paper (as a prayer to God!) provides a safe, biblical way to release frustration before it spills over onto your loved ones. Catherine points out, “Journaling started a whole new life for me, actually.” Break Up With Your Phone: Overstimulation and distraction from constant notifications contribute massively to stress and impatience. Elizabeth reveals the science-backed benefits of disabling notifications and setting app limits—plus the generational example you set for your children. Say “No” to Over-Scheduling: Creating intentional whitespace in your family’s life isn’t selfish; it’s soul care. Both Catherine and Elizabeth discuss how relentless busyness—fueled by people-pleasing and fear of missing out—steals joy and connection. Ask for (and Accept) Support: God created us for community. Whether it’s a spouse, older child, or an elder in your church, learning to ask for help is not weakness—it’s wise stewardship of your mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Peppered with vulnerable anecdotes, humor, and a comforting reminder that even Jesus withdrew for rest and prayer, this conversation is a balm for weary, overloaded parents. You’ll walk away with not just ideas, but actionable changes you can implement immediately—no fancy resources required. As Elizabeth affirms, “Nobody benefits if you’re running empty…no one suffers when you’re restored and present.” Favorite Moments: Elizabeth describing her “little propeller” toddler and how real-life stress pushed her to her vocation. Catherine’s revelation about journaling through loss—and how it birthed a new calling. Practical tech hacks, healthy boundary-setting, and the liberating insight that “feeling the guilt and doing it anyway” is sometimes the most spirit-led, loving path you can take as a parent. Are you ready to replace chaos with calm and lead your family from a place of peace, not pressure? Tune in for perspective, practical tips, and permission to care for yourself as you steward your children’s hearts. Guest bio:Elizabeth Andrejewski is a certified stress coach for Christian moms, mother of four, and host of the Emotionally Healthy Legacy podcast. She is passionate about helping women break unhealthy cycles, lower daily stress, and create lives that reflect God’s peace. Links and Resources: Listen to the Emotionally Healthy Legacy podcast Learn more about this podcast and receive Catherine’s free ebook, Beyond the Lies: Uncovering Five Myths Our Culture Spreads to Mothers God is Good, But This Isn’t published at inCourage Take Heart: 100 Devotions To Seeing God When Life’s Not Okay Ready to experience less stress and more peace in your parenting? Don’t miss this wisdom-packed conversation—it just might be the breakthrough your family needs. What’s one habit you’re willing to change this week to create a more peaceful home? How can making space for your own emotional well-being transform your parenting — and your children’s future? Don’t forget to subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review if this episode blessed you! Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
What Is the Purpose in Your Pain? Finding Hope in the Valley - Ep. 157
August 25, 2025 - 30 min
What if your deepest pain was actually planting seeds for the spiritual fruit your family needs most? Every Christian parent walks through seasons of hardship and heartache, moments that feel like a “dark night of the soul.” But why does God allow these painful, confusing valleys? And—more importantly—what is He growing in us through them? In this solo episode of Christian Parent/Crazy World, host Catherine pulls back the curtain on her own current season of struggle: holding down the fort as her husband works in another state, navigating loneliness, and wrestling with God’s timing and plans. But this isn’t just about surviving difficulty—it’s about discovering what God is accomplishing in the midst of it. Catherine reminds listeners that these hard, unchosen seasons are not evidence of God’s absence, but fertile ground for His deepest growth. Key Insights and Takeaways: Gifts vs. Fruit: Catherine draws on a striking analogy from a recent sermon—how, in the Old Testament, priests wore alternating gold bells (gifts) and pomegranates (fruit) on their robes. Just as gifts and fruit were literally woven together, so too must our talents be balanced with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. How is Spiritual Fruit Grown? Unlike our natural gifts, spiritual fruit isn’t something we’re born with or can develop by sheer will—it’s birthed in intimacy with God, often in the hardest and most uncomfortable soil. As Catherine powerfully states, “The fruit of the Spirit is birthed in the opposite soil from what it reflects." The Soil Where Each Fruit of the Spirit Grows: Love is birthed in loss Joy is birthed in mourning Peace is birthed in chaos Patience is birthed in waiting Kindness is birthed in disappointment Goodness is birthed in need and injustice Faithfulness is birthed in betrayal Gentleness is birthed in conflict Self-control is birthed in temptation Pain Has Purpose: Using vivid stories—from her own journey to those of friends facing life-threatening illness or unimaginable grief—Catherine assures parents that God never wastes our dark nights. These seasons prepare us, shaping our character to carry God’s gifts with humility and serving as a foundation for godly parenting in a fallen world. Practical Encouragement: Catherine offers heartfelt encouragement and a moving prayer for listeners enduring their own difficult seasons, reminding every Christian parent that “God is growing something in you that you will need for where He is taking you.” Notable Moment:Catherine shares, “Fruit is birthed in the dark night of the soul… Spiritual fruit grows in the dark, in the painful places, in the moments that push us and stretch us and sometimes crush us—because fruit is birthed in the dark night of the soul.” Don’t miss:This episode’s challenge to examine your own family: Are you nurturing both gifts and fruit in your parenting? Are you modeling for your children what it looks like to trust God through sorrow and uncertainty? Call to Action:How might your current struggles be the very soil God is using to grow love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control in your home? What fruit is He birthing in your family—right now, in the dark? Tune in for a rich, honest conversation that will strengthen you in every season—and don’t forget to subscribe at catherineseagers.com for free resources specially designed for Christian parents. Your dark nights have a purpose—let’s discover it together.Link:Check out this sermon about how fruit grows:"Birth Pains" by Eric Eason Get Your Free Parenting Resources!Are you seeking encouragement and Biblical wisdom as you lead your family? Catherine has created incredible FREE resources just for you—covering topics like anxiety, depression, ADHD, and scriptures for courage, kindness, guidance, and more. These resources are yours when you sign up, along with her weekly newsletter packed with practical insights for Christian parents navigating today’s crazy world.Sign up by emailing catherine@catherinesegars.com today! Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Balancing the Strengths and Weaknesses of Charismatic Faith: An Honest Conversation (w/ Isaac Gay) - Ep. 156
August 18, 2025 - 67 min
What happens when the faith we’ve built our lives around collides with the hardest seasons we never saw coming? Is there something deeper God wants to do in our hearts—and in our churches—when comfort drops away and the “dark night of the soul” invades our story? In this provoking and vulnerable episode of Christian Parent Crazy World, host Catherine Segars sits down with accomplished artist, worship leader, and theological scholar Isaac Gay for an unexpected, off-script deep dive into the challenges—and the stunning potential—of the modern charismatic church. Key Takeaways from this Episode: The “Dark Night of the Soul” is Real: Every believer—charismatic or not—must face seasons of doubt, disappointment, and difficulty. Instead of offering quick fixes, God invites us deeper, beyond beginner faith, to real trust and transformation. Strengths of the Charismatic Movement: We cherish and pursue God’s presence, expectant for miracles and supernatural encounters... but sometimes get so focused on the sensational that we neglect depth, discipline, and theology. Where We Fall Short: Charismatic churches can fall into emotionalism, lacking intellectual rigor or robust discipleship. Kids can get stuck in shallow social environments, leaving them spiritually bored, starved, or even driving them away from faith entirely. Learning from Other Traditions: We need BOTH heart and mind—experience AND theology. Ancient disciplines, liturgies, “high church” practices, and regularly engaging with deep thinkers (even ones we disagree with!) can anchor our faith when feelings fade. Raising Faithful Kids Means Planting in Rich Soil: Where (and how) we “plant” our kids spiritually matters—a safe, friendly environment isn’t always a spiritually nourishing one. Sometimes our children (and we, as parents) need deep, hard, stretching soil to really grow. Unity and Humility: All branches of Christianity have blind spots—we need one another! Learning across traditions, holding fast to Scripture, and pursuing Christ above all else is the path to a genuine, lasting faith. The Goal: More than chasing blessings or avoiding pain, mature faith says, “Even if God doesn’t move the way I want, I will still serve Him.” That’s the kind of walk our kids need to see—and the legacy we want to leave. Key Quote: “I want to be a church with theology that can't be dismissed and power that can't be denied.” ~ Isaac Gay Isaac and Catherine’s raw conversation is a must-listen for any parent who wants to raise kids that aren’t just “good churchgoers,” but wholehearted disciples—anchored in truth, resilient in hardship, ready for beauty, and alive to the Holy Spirit. What about you? How is your church—and your home—preparing your children to handle the dark nights of faith? How can you help them embrace both Spirit and truth, head and heart, as they follow Jesus in a confusing world? Don’t miss next week’s solo episode, where Catherine digs into what God is accomplishing in the dark night of the soul. And stay tuned for the conversation Catherine and Isaac were supposed to have (coming soon), where they will dig into how beauty—and restoring creativity—can become one of the strongest apologetics for a new generation. Meet the guest: Isaac Gay is a multifaceted artist working at the intersection of creativity, spirituality, and contemporary thought. As a worship leader, thinker, and writer, Isaac’s heart is one of an iconoclast, while remaining grounded in the enduring principles of orthodox Christianity. He and his wife Emily are the hosts of the Not Crushing It Podcast, and have three children. He holds a Master of Letters from the University of Aberdeen. Episode Resources: Isaac’s Website, The Parallel Society, Instagram Catherine’s FREE RESOURCES—Prodigal Bundle, Scriptures Lists, Scripture Songs, Ebook Beyond the Lies: Uncovering 5 Myths Our Culture Spreads to Mothers Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Debunking the Top Seven Lies Sold to the Next Generation (w/ Elizabeth Urbanowicz) - "Best Of" Ep. 58
August 11, 2025 - 63 min
Culture is selling our kids a pack of lies every single day—are they buying? In this must-listen episode of Christian Parent/Crazy World, host Catherine Segars tackles one of the most pressing challenges facing Christian parents today: the pervasive, culture-wide lies targeting our children’s hearts and minds. As parents, recognizing and uprooting these falsehoods is essential if we want to raise godly kids in an ungodly world. Catherine is joined by Elizabeth Urbanowicz, founder of Foundation Worldview—a curriculum dedicated to equipping parents and children to rightly interpret Scripture, think critically, and recognize truth. With dual master’s degrees in literacy education and Christian apologetics, Elizabeth brings both academic rigor and biblical foundation to the conversation. In this “Best Of” episode, Elizabeth counts down the TOP 7 LIES that culture is selling our kids, including: If I feel it, it must be true. Follow your heart. Love is affirming everything I feel. Faith is the opposite of knowledge. Humans are the product of blind, unguided evolution. You are the one you’ve been waiting for. A good God wouldn’t judge. Elizabeth and Catherine don’t just name the lies—they empower parents with practical, age-appropriate strategies to expose these cultural deceptions and ground children in biblical truth. Learn how to turn conversations (and even family games!) into teachable moments, helping kids discern between feeling and fact, and equipping teens to logically walk through real-life scenarios that challenge what is true, right, and loving. One powerful quote:“Our emotions shouldn’t be negated, and they shouldn’t be followed. They should be discerned.” – Elizabeth Urbanowicz COUPON CODE: Use the coupon code “CPCW10” to get $10 off any family license with Foundation Worldview. STUDIES & QUOTES: Lord Acton Quote: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Ligonier Ministries Bi-annual State of Theology Report Richard Dawkins’ quote from The Blind Watchmaker RESOURCES MENTIONED: To receive Catherine’s free Scripture songs including Psalm 52:5-8, subscribe HERE. Mama Bear Apologetics The Discovery Institute The Gospel Project by Lifeway Dr. Stephen Meyer, Signature in the Cell SCRIPTURES REFERENCED: Jeremiah 17:9 Psalm 52:5-8 1 Corinthians 15:14 Matthew 11:1-6 Mark 12:30 Hebrews 11:1 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Raising Resilient Kids: Practical Ways to Instill a Christian Worldview (w/ Elizabeth Urbanowicz) - "Best of" Ep. 57
August 4, 2025 - 44 min
If you’re not intentionally teaching your kids a solid Christian worldview, someone else is shaping their beliefs for you. In this can’t-miss replay from the Christian Parent / Crazy World vault, sits down with Elizabeth Urbanowicz—elementary educator, apologist, and founder of Foundation Worldview—to equip parents for the immense challenge of raising resilient, truth-loving kids in a culture determined to shape their values. While many children in Christian homes learn Bible stories and attend church, a shocking disconnect remains: they often think more like the surrounding culture than like Christ. Elizabeth shares her journey from the Christian classroom—where she saw even well-discipled kids absorbing secular ideas—to developing comprehensive curricula that anchor young minds in biblical truth. A worldview, she explains, is a “mental map” that guides everything we think, say, and do. In this episode, she equips parents to make that map biblical—even for their youngest learners. ๐ Highlights from the Episode: ๐ The Worldview CrisisElizabeth explains why even diligent discipleship and Christian education aren't enough without intentional worldview training. Humorous and sobering stories show how easily relativism creeps in—even at age eight. ๐งฑ Practical Building BlocksDon’t aim for a “giant leap to the roof.” Instead, build your child’s worldview step-by-step. Elizabeth outlines key strategies to ground young believers in truth. ๐ก Two Essentials for Raising Faithful Kids Equip children to read, interpret, and apply Scripture independently. Teach them to think critically and evaluate every idea they encounter. These are vital skills in today’s age of information overload. โ Foundational QuestionsHer curriculum answers five critical worldview questions that help kids compare beliefs and recognize truth: What is truth? Who is God? How did life begin? Who am I? How can I tell right from wrong? ๐ Curriculum for Real LifeFrom classroom meditation examples to parent testimonials, Catherine and Elizabeth show how transformative—and fun—worldview learning can be. ๐ง Essential Foundational Questions (Revisited) Elizabeth emphasizes five big questions every child needs answered: What is truth? Who is God? How did life begin? Who am I? (What does it mean to be human?) *How can I tell right from wrong? ๐ฉ๐ซ Guest Bio: Elizabeth Urbanowicz Elizabeth holds master’s degrees in literacy education and Christian apologetics (Biola University) and is the founder and CEO of Foundation Worldview. Her years in the classroom illuminated a pressing need for worldview discipleship, inspiring her to develop resources now used by parents, churches, and schools nationwide. ๐ ๏ธ Key Takeaway: Your kids can’t keep what they don’t own, and they can’t own what they don’t know.Equip them with the tools to discern truth—and watch them stand strong in a culture of confusion. ๐ง Don’t Miss the Follow-Up Episode!Elizabeth returns to expose the seven most dangerous lies our culture is selling your kids right now. Stay tuned! ๐ Links & Resources: ๐ Explore Foundation Worldview’s curricula and free resources: foundationworldview.com ๐ Use code CPCW10 for $10 off any family curriculum license at Foundation Worldview(Not a sponsored deal—just a bonus for CPCW listeners!) ๐ฉ Subscribe to updates, blogs, and Catherine’s free ebook: catherinesegars.com ๐ฑ Follow Catherine on Instagram @catherinesegars and Facebook Catherine Segars Speaker ๐ Referenced Research: “Only 4 Percent of Gen Z Have a Biblical Worldview”, Impact 360/Barna Research “Atheism Doubles Among Gen Z”, Barna Research “Do We Live in a Post-Modern Society?,” William Lane Craig ๐ง CPCW Worldview Series Referenced: EPISODE 6: 5 Reasons You Should Teach Your Kids about Other Worldviews EPISODE 7: What Worldviews Are Competing with Your Kids Faith? EPISODE 8: What Sets the Christian Worldview Apart from Other Worldviews? EPISODE 9: How Does the Christian Worldview Create a World We All Want To Live In Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
What the Church Stopped Teaching (and Culture Rewrote) w/Scott Allen - Ep. 155
July 28, 2025 - 55 min
๐ฌ What if reclaiming a few “dangerous” and neglected biblical words could rescue the next generation—and even the soul of our civilization? In this must-listen episode of Christian Parent/Crazy World, Catherine welcomes Scott Allen, president of the Disciple Nations Alliance and author of the groundbreaking new book, 10 Words to Heal Our Broken World. Together, they explore three words that once shaped the West but are now often misunderstood or even maligned: Authority. Faith. Beauty. These words may sound old-fashioned—or even problematic—but their true, biblical meanings are desperately needed in today’s world. ๐ง Why This Episode Matters Scott Allen has spent decades equipping Christian leaders around the globe. His message is clear: If we lose these words, we lose the foundation of freedom, flourishing, and faith. Whether you’re parenting toddlers or teenagers, mentoring youth, or simply longing to be salt and light in a crumbling culture—this conversation will reframe your worldview. ๐ Key Takeaways๐น Authority — From Trigger Word to World-Changing Truth "Authority" has become almost a dirty word in modern culture. But Jesus didn’t abolish hierarchy—He redefined it through servant leadership. “If you want to be great… you must become a servant.” — Scott Allen โ๏ธ Learn how to model biblical authority in your home.โ๏ธ Discover how Christ-like leadership transforms power from oppression into blessing. ๐น Faith — Not Blind Belief, But Reasoned Trust Faith is often mocked as naïve. But biblical faith is trustworthiness—firm, tested, and grounded. “Faith in the Bible is trust. It’s trustworthiness. Something is trustworthy.” โ๏ธ Help your children see that Christian faith is not a leap into the dark, but a reasoned trust in a trustworthy God. ๐น Beauty — The Forgotten Apologetic Beauty isn’t optional. It’s one of the three transcendentals, alongside truth and goodness. And when the church neglects beauty, we surrender cultural influence. “If we forsake beauty, we literally gift-wrap the culture and hand it over to the enemy.” — Catherine โ๏ธ See how beauty restores hope—even in the darkest places.โ๏ธ Reignite wonder in your home, even if you’re not an “artist.” ๐ Memorable Moments ๐ก On Authority “He doesn’t abolish hierarchy… but completely redefines it.” ๐จ On Beauty “We created the vacuum, and then what do we do? We shake a naughty finger at ‘bad Hollywood’... instead, we must reclaim the artistry God intended for His people.” ๐พ On Hope Through Beauty Hear the story of how a simple, clean street helped someone in despair believe that life could be beautiful again. ๐ฃ Final Takeaway The future of our families—and our civilization—depends on how we define and live out authority, faith, and beauty. These aren't just theological words. They're parenting tools. Cultural lifelines. Civilization-shaping truths. Let’s reclaim the words that built the West—and hand them down with clarity, courage, and conviction. ๐ค Guest Spotlight: Scott Allen President of the Disciple Nations Alliance, Scott is a leading voice on biblical worldview and cultural renewal. He’s trained leaders around the globe and authored several influential books, including Why Social Justice Is Not Biblical Justice and The Kingdom Unleashed. Scott brings decades of insight into how biblical truth transforms not just lives—but entire nations. ๐ Resources & Links: Disciple Nations Alliance Scott Allen’s Books Catherine Segars’ Free Resources Other Episode in this series: Episode 153: The Words That Built the West: How the Bible Shaped Our Civilization Episode 154: One Idea, Countless Freedoms — How a Single Biblical Belief Shaped the Western World Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
One Idea, Countless Freedoms — How a Single Biblical Belief Shaped the Western World (w/ Scott Allen) - Ep. 154
July 21, 2025 - 54 min
Words are not just for communication—they shape civilizations. They define truth, identity, and purpose. They are the load-bearing beams of a society’s moral structure. And when those words are redefined or removed, everything built on them begins to crumble. In this powerful and timely episode of Christian Parent/Crazy World, Catherine Segars welcomes back worldview expert Scott Allen for a riveting conversation about the biblical words that built Western civilization—and why our children’s future depends on preserving them. We’re not just losing vocabulary in today’s culture war—we’re losing the very ideas that gave us human dignity, justice, freedom, and purpose. Concepts like truth, freedom, and even human are being reimagined in ways that disconnect us from reality and rob our kids of the meaning they were created to know. Scott and Catherine take a deep dive into the word “human”—and what it meant when rooted in the biblical worldview. They unpack how the radical declaration in Genesis—that humans are made in the image of God—revolutionized the ancient world. In a culture where women were often viewed as property, and children or the disabled were disposable, Scripture declared that every single person has immeasurable worth. You’ll hear: How the biblical idea of humanity upended Greek, Roman, and pagan views of people as tools or cosmic accidents The chilling story of a modern Kenyan tribe that used the same word for “woman” and “tool” The consequences of raising children in a world that sees them as just evolved animals—or self-defining machines ๐ง In This Episode, You'll Discover: How our definition of “human” shapes everything—from identity to justice to how we raise our kids What’s at stake when a society redefines freedom as “limitless choice” rather than living within God’s design How parents can reclaim and teach the biblical worldview—right in our homes, in everyday conversations Why our kids are in a truth crisis, and how to anchor them before the cultural current sweeps them away ๐ฅ Key Topics Include: The quiet cultural catastrophe of losing “load-bearing words” How radical autonomy is replacing sacred personhood Why the biblical concept of freedom is the only kind that truly liberates How to equip your kids to stand firm when truth is under siege ๐ค Guest Spotlight: Scott Allen President of the Disciple Nations Alliance, Scott is a leading voice on biblical worldview and cultural renewal. He’s trained leaders around the globe and authored several influential books, including Why Social Justice Is Not Biblical Justice and The Kingdom Unleashed. Scott brings decades of insight into how biblical truth transforms not just lives—but entire nations. ๐ Resources & Links: Disciple Nations Alliance Scott Allen’s Books Catherine Segars’ Free Resources Related Episode: Gender Identity—Can a 5'9 White Guy Be a 6'5 Chinese Woman? ๐ฏ Final Word: If we want our children to flourish, we must fight to preserve the truth that made them free. This episode is not just a conversation—it’s a call to action. Because when we lose the words that built the West, we lose the future we hope to pass on. Other Episode in this series: Episode 153: The Words That Built the West: How the Bible Shaped Our Civilization Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Meet Your Host
Catherine Segars is an award-winning actress and playwrightโturned stay-at-home-momโturned author, speaker, blogger, and motherhood apologist. This homeschooling mama of five has a masterโs degree in communications and is earning a masterโs degree in Christian apologetics. Catherine helps parents navigate through dangerous secular landmines to establish a sound Biblical foundation for their kids. Author of the e-book Five Myths about Motherhood That Make You Feel Mere, And Why They're Wrong, Catherine is also passionate about helping mothers see their worth in a season when they often feel overwhelmed and irrelevant. You can find Catherineโs blog, dramatic blogcast, and other writings at www.catherinesegars.com and connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.