The Session with Tom Russell

The Session: Special Guest, Betsy Marvin, host of Everyday Faith for Her!  Luke 10:41-42, “But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”   Our episode with Betsy today is all about the busy Christian mom. Why Busy Christian Moms Feel S...

The Session: Foster Care, with special guest, Sherry Bouquet, from Fostering Family Ministries Thank you Greg & Sally Kibler for their monthly support! Ps. 68:5-5  “A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation.  God sets the solitary in families; He bring out those who are bound into prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.”  We don’t have a lot fo...

The Session: What to Do When Your Teen Girl is Pregnant – Or, How to Parent When Your Teen Becomes a Parent Book update You can help share the hope of Jesus on the Session by becoming a sponsor! Psalm 139:13 says, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.” God made that baby and loves it. He has a plan for that child’s life. From Focus on The Family  Pro...

The Session: The Celebration of Success That each of them may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:13. Why Your Brain Needs Celebration Dopamine release: Acknowledging milestones activates the brain’s reward system, which boosts your mood, attention, and drive. Momentum building: Tracking small achievements breaks down overwhelming, long-ter...

The Session: The Pastoral Grind Proverbs 4:23: "Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life" Stress, loneliness and political division are the three items that rise to the surface. 56% of pastors say stress of the job is the biggest issue. (43%) of Pastor, say “I feel lonely and isolated.  Treatment Pastors should have a leader outside of his church Pastors should h...

The Session:  Pastor Appreciation Month 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 (NIV): “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.” Pick a different strategy for the week. Do it every day of the week. Do this for the entire month...

The Session - Parenting Today’s Teenager Mark Gregston, Parenting Today’s Teens Parenting Today's Teens with Mark Gregston Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4   Christian parenting today involves guiding teens through cultural pressures by replacing lectures with meaningful conversation, grace, and relatio...

The Session: Parenting Today’s Teenager - Part 1 Mark Gregston, Parenting Today’s Teen  "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."  Ephesians 6:4 Christian parenting today involves guiding teens through cultural pressures by replacing lectures with meaningful conversation, grace, and relational connection. Core Strategi...

The Session: The META Settlement META settlement-up to $17.1 billion to 29 states, including Ohio, alleging META’s social media policies contributed to depression and other mental health issues in young people.  META is accused of knowing about the addictive issues, but doing nothing about it, and hiding the information from the public.  They are also accused of breaking state consumer protection...

The Session: The 5 Love Languages, by Dr. Gary Chapman  Resources (includes quiz for how to learn your love language) What are The 5 Love Languages? The 5 Love Languages: Words of Affirmation: Encourage, affirm, appreciate and listen actively Physical Touch: Non-verbal use of body language and touch to show love Receiving Gifts: Thoughtfulness, make your spouse a priority Quality Time: Uninterrupt...

The Session: The 5 Love Languages, by Dr. Gary Chapman  Resources (includes quiz for how to learn your love language) What are The 5 Love Languages? The 5 Love Languages: Words of Affirmation: Encourage, affirm, appreciate and listen actively Physical Touch: Non-verbal use of body language and touch to show love Receiving Gifts: Thoughtfulness, make your spouse a priority Quality Time: Uninterrupt...

The Session: Help for Bullying Psalm 138:7, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me.”  First, let’s define bullying. Tom, how do you feel about this, from www.stopbullying.gov :  Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior by one person or group toward another, involving a real or perceived...

The Session: Help for Bullying Psalm 138:7, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me.”  First, let’s define bullying. Tom, how do you feel about this, from www.stopbullying.gov :  Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior by one person or group toward another, involving a real or perceived...

The Session: The Session: Helping Children Adjust to the Stress of a New Teacher or School. Joshua 1:9 (NIV) "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God." Take Time to Talk to Them As you help them prepare...

The Session: 8 Simple Steps to a Lifelong Marriage  Genesis 2:24 “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” Housekeeping: How to become a Friend of the Session, book release update       ·  Build and maintain a solid foundation in Christ A recent Harvard study shows that attending worship weekly reduces the likelihood of divorce by 57%  ...

The Session: 5 Important Fundamentals of Strong Marriages, from The Gottman Institute      Genesis 2:24, "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." Research shows that the primary keys to staying married are not about avoiding conflict, but about building positive emotional habits, managing conflict constructively, and actively...

The Session: The Importance of Laughter Proverbs 17:22: A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Joyce Meyer writes in her article, “ The Benefits of Laughter!”, “Laughter is so important! It’s the outward evidence of inward joy, and it is proven to make you feel better. The joy of the Lord can ease any emotional and physical pain and bring you a new level of sat...

The Session: Children of Divorce, an Overview of Research and Articles Matthew 19:14, “Let the little children come to me.” Children of divorce, living in two households face complex emotional, relational, and spiritual challenges.  The Emotional Impact The impact of two houses has a direct hit or impact on the child’s security and stability The impact of two houses also causes a grieving process...

The Session: Giving our Children Tough Love Romans 8:38–39 , "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Emotions, Teens, and Hormones Emotions can be very tumul...

The Session: The Importance of Dad in the Home - a Collection of Tom’s View on Dads Luke 22:41-44: "He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 'Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.' An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was l...

The Session: Defeating Alzheimer’s (from Defeating Dementia, by Dr. Furman) I Corinthians 6:19-20 , "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies." Start with the name. How did we come to calling it Alzheimer’s? 7.4 million adults suf...

The Session: Faith of our Founding Fathers You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you ." Psalm 128:2 Patrick Henry  Famous for “ Give me Liberty or give me death” He was a member of The House of Burgesses  First Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia traces its roots back to the church of England, whic...

The Session: Faith of our Founding Fathers You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you ." Psalm 128:2 Patrick Henry  Famous for “ Give me Liberty or give me death” He was a member of The House of Burgesses  First Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia traces its roots back to the church of England, whic...

The Session: The Impact of Media on America We Set out to Examine What Impacts the World View of Americans Today Matthew 5:14-16  "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, tha...

The Session:  The Impact of Media on America We Set out to Examine What Impacts the World View of Americans Today Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, tha...