Christian Parent, Crazy World

In a world where cultural pressures challenge our faith every single day, how can we stay true to our beliefs and be a light in dark times? Catherine is joined once again by Martyn Ilse, CEO of Answers in Genesis, for a powerful discussion on living faithfully in a "lost culture." Together, they dive into the biblical story of Daniel and his friends in Babylon, using it as a guide for standing fir...

In today's increasingly secular world, many Christians grapple with understanding how to live faithfully amidst cultural changes that stray further from biblical truths. What are the characteristics of a "lost" or "Babylonian" culture, and how can believers navigate these complexities while staying true to their faith? Catherine welcomes Martyn Iles, the CEO of Answers in Genesis, to delve into th...

We live in a time when political conversations can be not just divisive, but downright contentious. It feels like maintaining a calm, respectful demeanor amid this politically charged environment is becoming harder by the day, especially with today’s election. Divisive rhetoric permeates everyday conversations. Families and friendships are straining under political disagreements, and often they br...

There's a topic that the church rarely addresses because it challenges long-held beliefs and practices. That topic is... Domestic abuse. And the failure of some churches to protect victims. The statistics and stories are heartbreaking. Churches should be sanctuaries, yet when it comes to domestic abuse, this isn’t always the case. Despite Biblical teaching on love, care, and justice, domesti...

Our modern culture often argues that Christian teachings on marriage and femininity are oppressive or out of touch. But if we peel back the layers of history, we discover a different story. The early Christian faith dramatically improved the lives of women. In this episode of CP/CW, Catherine is joined by prolific author and apologist Nancy Pearcey,  who sets the record straight about the historic...

In a world that is openly hostile to masculinity, does our faith offer a remedy? And what do we as Christian parents need to teach our sons and daughters? Consider these shocking examples of male-bashing in our culture:   *The Washington Post article by gender studies professor “ Why Can’t We Hate Men? ” *The New Stateman featured a British feminist writing , “ You can’t live with them. You can’t...

An astronomical number of Christian young people are leaving the faith after they leave the nest. A recent New LifeWay Research survey shows that two-thirds of Christian youth stop attending church for at least a year between the ages of 18 and 22. A study from the Assemblies of God shows that “at least half and possibly over two-thirds of Christian young people will step away from the faith while...

Do you ever look at other families and assume that they have it all together and yours doesn’t? Do you look at other pristine and put-together moms or dads and think that you are a hot mess? Do you look at the successes of your friends while focusing on all of your failures? There is a profound and often overlooked aspect of our family life that can sabotage us as parents—the desire to be “normal....

How has the prosperity gospel influenced purity culture, and what does that mean for parenting today? The connections might surprise you. Purity Culture, much like the prosperity gospel, promises rewards for adhering to specific behaviors, but it often leads to disappointment and shame. And all too often in the church, parents apply this same type of thinking to their children. Parents assume that...

Sexual sin remains one of the most prolific yet overlooked issues within the Christian community. Despite the prevalence of church teachings on purity and righteousness, hidden struggles with sexual sin abound. Despite Jesus' promise of freedom in Scripture, pornography, illicit romantic novels and television shows, and sexual indiscretions continue to keep many believers in bondage. Statistics re...

Do you know what your family's unique purpose or identity is? Can you and your kids name your family’s core values?   If you feel like a deer in headlights when asked those questions, you aren’t alone. Families are at the heart of God's plan for the world, serving as unique units designed to fulfill His divine purposes. Yet churches often zoom in on assessing individual callings and miss the bigge...

Many parents face the dilemma of sending their kids to a secular college or university. These institutions claim to be diverse, equitable, and inclusive, and yet they only present one view on the most salient issues of our day. In this episode, Catherine shares her disconcerting experience at her oldest child's college orientation at a state-funded school. At the student orientation, student leade...

We are all assuming something about the nature of reality. Our core assumptions exist because there isn’t definitive proof for any belief system. In this thought-provoking episode, Catherine and her guest, David Richardson, take a deep dive into the core assumptions that shape our beliefs about reality. In his first book Transparent: How to See Through the Powerful Assumptions That Control You , D...

Does the concept of worldview have a fatal flaw baked into the premise? Could the Christian worldview possibly be leading kids away from the faith? David Richardson, author of Transparent: How to See Through the Powerful Assumptions That Control You , reveals the shocking origin of this term and challenges the way it is used by almost everyone in our culture. There is an inherent flaw in the term...

Philosophy Professor Peter Boghossian notoriously claimed that “faith is a cognitive sickness that’s been turned into a moral virtue.” He went on to say that every class is an opportunity to help students lose their faith. When the instructors our kids sit under in higher education come in with an agenda like that, Gen Z’s sharp exodus from the faith makes sense. A child would have to be well prep...

Ryan Bomberger has been told that he should have never been born, that he doesn’t deserve to live. Repeatedly. Why? Because Ryan was conceived in rape. Less than 1% of pregnancies begin in the violent act of rape. Yet despite this extremely uncommon occurrence, the pro-choice narrative myopically centers around this rare circumstance as a justification for ending an innocent life. But people seldo...

In our culture, the use of preferred pronouns has become ubiquitous among Gen Zers and beyond. As a parent, you may have noticed this trend and wondered how to approach the subject with your children, especially your younger ones. It's crucial to start having conversations about pronouns and gender identity very young as many schools have embraced an agenda to "break the binary" in kindergarten. ...

There is a truth to glean from a Pennsylvania field that can save the world. And we will miss it… if we don’t turn our eyes to see and our ears to hear. A lot of us are taking stock of where our country is right now. Our heads are spinning as we have watched these recent heartbreaking events unfold. We are dazed and confused. How do we make sense of it all? In this episode, Catherine breaks down t...

Against the backdrop of recent troubling events and escalating tensions, Catherine delves into the profound divisions that have permeated society, emphasizing the critical role of faith in bridging these divides. In this timely episode, Catherine offers 9 guidelines to help heal our nation and bring about unity. These guidelines are not only spiritual but also relational, aiming to bridge the divi...

If we want our kids to stand strong in their faith, we need to have real answers to some of their hardest questions about God and His Word. Why did God use men to write His book? In this episode, Catherine unpacks this question and the powerful, life-altering answer. The fact that God used anointed men to write the Bible reveals this unmistakable truth: God's works through human beings to accompli...

Trying to find wholesome entertainment can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. As Christians, the most we usually hope for is entertainment that doesn’t undermine what we believe. But finding entertainment that actually reinforces Biblical values while wrestling through tough issues, does that even exist? It does. In this episode, Catherine is joined by author Felicia Ferguson to explo...

As parents, we spend a lot of time and energy ensuring that our kids are safe in their physical spaces. We put up safeguards around hour homes. We go to great lengths to live in a safe neighborhood and send our kids to a safe school. But what about our kid’s digital spaces? The threats for our children are as significant in cyberspace as they are in their physical space. Catherine welcomes back Kr...

Few conversations make parents fill more ill-equipped and tongue-tied than discussing the topic of pornography with our kids. How do we even broach the subject? Catherine’s guest has created a book series that does all of the hard work for us. Kristen Jenson is the #1 best-selling author of the Good Pictures Bad Pictures series of read-aloud books, which have been translated into 10 languages. The...

The Surgeon General came out with a very troubling report recently on social media usage among children that should concern us as parents. What are those warnings and what do we as parents need to know to safeguard our kids? Catherine has invited Dr. Walt Mueller back to break it all down for us. Covered in this episode: *Often overlooked good things to celebrate in the area of technology and soci...

Media is bombarding our children at every turn, and at the same time the generation gap is widening. Catherine’s special guest, Dr. Walt Mueller specializes in understanding the next generation—their thought processes, their challenges, and the many ways that entertainment and media are bombarding our kids’ lives with deeply concerning messages. As founder and president of The Center for Parent/Yo...