Sharpening Arrows

Popular culture offers two competing narratives about what it means to be a man. Charlie Kirk rejected both and set an example for young men everywhere. Victor first looks at the two competing cultural messages -- either to act like a woman or like Andrew Tate. He details what both versions of manhood miss. He then lays out four principles, from "Raising a Modern Day Knight," on what Bib...

Charlie Kirk went to college campuses to share his political beliefs and his faith. Now, he’s dead. Where is God in a tragedy like this? Victor discusses that and what we can all learn from Kirk's faith and life. Parental pause point questions: 1. Why does death make us so sad? (2:00) 2. How do you think Charlie Kirk wanted to be remembered? (7:41) 3. When was the last time you gave each membe...

Isn't banning guns the easiest way to stop mass shootings? That may seem like a logical solution, but Victor discusses why the argument doesn't work, including insight on what happened to Britain's homicide rate after it banned firearms. That information may surprise you. Finally, he makes the case against gun control. Parental pause point questions: 1. Do you think new restrictions on...

Last week, children in Minneapolis were shot to death in church during a prayer service. Does this mean that prayer doesn’t work? It's an understandable question, and one that should be seriously considered. Victor lays out the arguments against prayer and then examines what we can learn from the Bible and church history about people dying for their faith. Finally, he talks about what the purp...

Cracker Barrel’s new logo now looks like its old logo. Why do people fight over symbols? Parental pause point questions: 1. Why was there so much controversy over a logo, a symbol? (1:22) 2. If symbols provide meaning to a people, what happens when some in the society seek to change those symbols or tear them down? (3:40) Life can be crazy. Some weeks it’s hard for parents and teens to find 20 (or...

Trump said he could bring down crime in DC and he did -- in a big way. Does that mean Trump should expand this strategy to other high-crime cities? Victor offers a strong argument for doing so, but then looks at the downside -- and it is significant. He also looks at why it's so unusual for a political debate to produce a clear answer so quickly. Parental pause point questions: 1. What, if any...

We are taking a slight break from political topics look briefly at the life of Dr. James Dobson. But first, Victor looks at two objections teenagers might have to learning from the example of others. After responding to those concerns, Victor looks at three powerful lessons we can all learn from Dr. Dobson. Parental pause point questions: 1. What's a way, teens, that you are different from you...

Can a business do more to help the poor than a person who society deems compassionate? Absolutely. Parental pause point questions: 1. How do successful businesses and entrepreneurs help the poor? (1:14) 2. Is it possible to make money and make someone else’s life better off? (2:39) 3. How does this Thomas Sowell quote change your view of people running a business? (3:10) Life can be crazy. Some we...

There are many objections to the death penalty, but there are good answers to those arguments, as Victor shares. He also lays out why the death penalty should remain an option. Parental pause point questions: 1. Do you think your state should have the death penalty? (5:19) 2. What would you say to someone who quoted Scripture to oppose the death penalty? (7:19) 3. Which anti-death penalty argument...

President Donald Trump argues that more law enforcement is the key to reducing crime. Others claim we need social workers and better crime prevention efforts. Victor makes the case for the former, including an argument based on The Great 8. Then he explains the problems with a soft-on-crime approach. Finally, he lays out why sending criminals to jail reduces crime. Parental pause point questions:...

This advice from Warren Buffett could change your life. At the least, it's worth considering Pause point questions: 1. Even if you disagree with Buffett, how could saying no to things make someone more successful? (2:02) 2. Is there something you should say no to this year? (2:28)

Judging people based on merit produces racial disparities. Is that a cause for concern? To discuss this, Victor dives into a case study involving NYC high schools. He first makes the case that racial disparities prove there is racial discrimination. He then exposes the many flaws in that argument. He ends with compelling evidenced debunking this notion from Thomas Sowell's wonderful book "Discrimi...

Is gerrymandering the end of democracy? Many Democrats claim so -- at least when Texas does it. Victor explains what gerrymandering is and why there's such a big fight about who draws congressional districts. He lays out three common arguments against what Texas Republicans are doing and then explains why they don't hold up to scrutiny. Parental pause point questions: 1. Why is there a big...

200 years ago, Americans defined education very differently and it's worth looking at the difference. Pause point questions: 1. How would the world be different, if our society still held to the 1828 definition of education? (3:45) 2. Are there any changes you want to incorporate as you think about this year of education? (3:54) 3. Do you agree that a religious education is indispensable? Why...

President Donald Trump is bringing back the Presidential Fitness Test. The White House says that out-of-shape youth weaken our country's academic performance. That's the question Victor looks at -- are there academic benefits to exercising. He begins by making the case against that position, rebuts those arguments and lays out the reasons and research in support of it. Parental pause point...

Teenagers can learn a lot by thinking about their life as a business. Victor takes a break from political topics to help teens think about setting goals. Imagine a business. There are three main roles: 1) president, 2) manager and 3) employee. Every successful business needs people in each of those roles. This also applies to our own lives — except that each individual has to switch between the th...

If education doesn’t connect you to greatness, you’re doing it wrong. Pause point questions: 1. How do you experience greatness in education? (1:53) 2. Is it preferable for people to have equal opportunity or for the government to enforce equal outcomes? Is it possible to have both? (3:36) Life can be crazy. Some weeks it’s hard for parents and teens to find 20 (or 30 minutes) to dig into a weight...

The climate is always changing, but there's a significant disagreement about what to do about it. Victor lays out the case for dramatically reducing carbon emissions, looking at both heat waves and hurricanes. He then points out the many problems with that line of thinking. Finally, he shares why adaptation is the key to dealing with natural disasters and changing weather. Parental pause point...

Almost two-thirds of Americans are worried about global warming, but you don't have to be. Victor looks at the claim that climate change is an existential threat and then reveals the broad difference between the spin and the science. Finally, he shares a surprising statistic about climate deaths. Parental pause point questions: 1. What have you heard about global warming or climate change? (0:...

What C.S. Lewis said about friendship may surprise you.   Pause point questions: 1. Should you feel jealous of time your friends spend withother friends? (2:01) 2. Do you agree with Lewis? And what makes someone a truefriend? (4:34)   Life can be crazy. Some weeks it’s hard for parents andteens to find 20 (or 30 minutes) to dig into a weighty political topic. But we need to have meaningful discuss...

Socialists claim that the financial inequities of capitalism threaten democracy. The argument may sound appealing, but it doesn't hold up under scrutiny Victor then explains why it's socialism that leads to autocracy. Parental pause point questions: 1. What would say to someone who says America is run by billionaires? (3:56) 2. Does what Sen. Sanders describe sound like real democracy to y...

Continuing his deep dive into socialism, Victor looks Sen. Bernie Sanders' argument that America is now an oligarch run by billionaires. He examines why this argument is appealing and even acknowledges the one bit of truth in it. Then, he explains why it's wrong and why you shouldn't think of billionaires as a unified group. Parental pause point questions: 1. Is it wrong for billionair...

Victor continues his series on socialism by digging into the arguments powerful politicians make against billionaires. He lays out two arguments against billionaires and examines the appeal of those arguments. Victor then makes the case that in a free market people become wealthy by creating value for other people and that you don't lose your property rights by acquiring more property. Parenta...

A socialist is the leading candidate to be the next mayor of New York City, and younger Americans increasingly support socialism. But what is socialism and is it a good thing or a bad thing ? Victor starts this new series on socialism by looking at profits. First, he makes the case against profits, before laying out why profits are so important. That includes understanding what profits are in a fr...

In the final episode of this immigration series, Victor looks at the economics of unchecked legal immigration. He digs into the claim that immigration boosts GDP. Then, he lays out the rest of the story. Parental pause point questions: 1. Is unchecked legal immigration good for the economy? (3:34) 2. What do you think of the economic argument in favor of unlimited legal immigration? (8:40) 3. Whic...