Rooted Parent

David Zahl's new book The Big Relief offers a mess of help for parents who are in urgent need of grace in this worn-out world. David will take some big theological concepts like justification, imputation, and surrender, and show how these terms are not just ideas, but solid truths that set parents free from the pressure to do it all, and do it all perfectly, for the kids they love.   David Zahl is...

Parents in the 21st century are particularly burdened by the sense that they don’t have time to do all that needs to be done. Ask any parent-friend of yours how they are and they’re likely to say: “busy.” With all the things we try to provide for our kids- school, piano lessons, soccer, playdates, time with extended family- and, oh yeah, by the way, church… it all feels like too much. In this epis...

In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron and Anna address parental burnout: what causes it, and how can parents respond in a way that is faithful to God and loving to their children? Through examining the story of Elijah, whose burnout led him to despair, you'll be reminded that you can't do it all- and God has never expected you to. 1 Kings 19: 1-8 Jesus for the Weary Mother by Dawso...

Every parent has hopes and dreams for their child, but we get into trouble when we try to make those dreams come true instead of leaving the future in God's hands where it belongs. In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron and Anna examine the biblical story of Rebecca and her two sons, and how her best intentions cause her family a world of hurt.  Genesis 25:21-26 Genesis 27 When We D...

Meditating on the incommunicable attributes of our limitless God can bring such comfort to finite human beings. In this episode, Cameron and Anna talk about the ways that humans cannot be like God- and don't even need to try to be like God. Much of the trouble we get into as parents (or with sin, in general) comes from trying to be "like God." But the boundaries God put around his creation are for...

Have you ever said, "It's all too much!" "How are we going to do it all?" "There aren't enough hours in the day!" If so, this episode is for you. Cameron and Anna discuss the overwhelm of being a parent today. Because the gospel begins with bringing us to the spiritual end of ourselves, Jesus is where we find hope and yes, even rest, when we have too much to do. Hosted by Anna Meade Harris, author...

With this episode, Cameron and Anna begin a new series for parents, "Can't Do It All." Parents today are under enormous pressure to "do it all" for their families, and yet our human problem with limits goes all the way back to Eden. Cameron and Anna explore God's good - and finite- design for human beings, and discuss how living within our God-ordained limits will lead to greater spiritual health...

Join us for a very special episode of the Rooted Parent podcast addressing the real and painful topic of parental anxiety in raising teenagers. Speaking live at a Rooted event for parents, Katie and Chris Polski share their story of raising three teenagers. With honesty and vulnerability, they confess the challenges they faced with one of their children, and the goodness of God in those difficult...

In this final episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast season "Parenting in the Spirit," Cameron and Anna reach the crescendo of Romans 8 in verses 31-37. For us, and for our kids, God is the most stable person in the universe, and he holds all things in his more-than-capable hands. We can rest and rejoice, living out of the incredible stability that his love and power offer us. Hosted by Anna Meade H...

Sometimes, when our lives feel hard and the news is bad, we can struggle to understand God's sovereignty alongside man's free will to choose good or evil. In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron and Anna examine why God's sovereignty strengthens us as we raise our children in an uncertain world. Knowing he is in control of all things will not be much comfort if we do not believe that...

Sometimes the burden of expectations adds unnecessary weight to the already difficult job or raising kids. How does Romans 8 help us live out of the optimism that springs from the resurrection of Jesus, while also considering the pessimism that comes from living in a fallen world. Considering Romans 8: 16-24, Cameron and Anna will talk about living with high hopes in the goodness of God to us thro...

In this episode, Cameron and Anna turn to Romans 8: 12-17 to determine how the gospel helps parents let go of fear and control. When the US Surgeon General feels compelled to release a mental health report for parents, anxiety and stress are at an all-time high. How does the indwelling Holy Spirit free parents from living "according to the flesh"? Resources: Parents Under Pressure: The U.S. Surgeo...

Examining Romans 8:9-11, Cameron and Anna describe the ways that the indwelling Holy Spirit helps a parent who is lonely, exhausted, and in need of wisdom. Relying on the power of the Spirit and nurturing our union with Christ gives us the strength we need to persevere in the hard times of rising kids. Resources: Romans 8:9-11 2 Tim 2:1 Breathe in, Breathe Out: How the Holy Spirit Revives and Refr...

In this 8th and final episode of the mini-season, husband and wife Danny and Monica Kwon talk about working with the parents of teenagers as it relates to the mental health issues of teenagers and their families. They speak from their experience dealing with the mental health issues of one of their own teenagers, but also as Danny spent 29 years serving as the youth pastor at one church, while Mon...

One of the most difficult things about raising kids is the tendency we parents have to lose perspective. We can take the smallest situation and catastrophize; we are equally prone to focus on insignificant things and miss the big picture. Romans 8:5-8 urges us to set our minds on the Spirit, which will bring us life and peace in the hardest circumstances, as well as the most trivial. It’s our hope...

In this episode of the Rooted Parent podcast, Cameron and Anna discuss what it means to parent out of the "law of sin and death" versus "the law of the Spirit of life." Parents can learn to notice and  know,  in order to determine what their families  need (hint: what we need is to understand and live under the gospel!). Resources: Romans 8:2-4 Romans 5:5b Romans 7:23 Inside Out  Hosted by Anna Me...

Cameron and Anna spend this episode in the series “Parenting in the Spirit” talking about the glorious truth of Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Though parents may feel judgment from a variety of sources: other parents, parenting advice, church, extended family, and even from themselves, God does not judge us for our parenting failures, nor ar...

Welcome to our newest season of the Rooted Parent Podcast. In this season, Cameron and Anna will dive into possibly the most beloved chapter in all of Scripture: Romans 8. They will discuss the nuts and bolts of what it means to “walk in the Spirit,” and what that looks like for moms and dads in everyday life with their children. In this first episode, Cameron and Anna begin in Galatians 5 with th...

In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Melissa Kruger, the Director of Women’s Content at The Gospel Coalition, joins Cameron and Anna to discuss her new book  Parenting With Hope: Raising Teens for Christ in a Secular Age. Written from her own experience of raising teenagers,  Parenting With Hope encourages parents to seek the Lord’s wisdom as they parent out of the basic guiding principle...

In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron and Anna sit down with mother-daughter duo Clarissa and Fiona Moll, authors of the recent book Hurt, Help, and Hope: A Real Conversation About Teen Grief and Life After Loss. Drawing from their own personal experience of loss, Clarissa and Fiona have created an invaluable resource for teenagers— and those who love them!— as they navigate loss....

In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron and Anna talk with Faith Chang about Christian perfectionism in parenting. Faith is a pastor’s wife and mom of 4 who works with Westminster Books and serves on the editorial board of the SOLA Network. She is also the author of the book Peace Over Perfection: Enjoying a Good God When You Feel You’re Never Good Enough. Listen in as Cameron, Anna,...

Rooted introduces a new podcast focused on youth ministry in an Asian American context. It features a rotating panel of youth ministers who will talk about issues affecting Asian American youth and anyone ministering to them, whether in the home or in the church. This episode is a sample of what you will hear. The first full episode is available now at RootedMinistry.com/Podcasts . Or subscribe to...

In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron talks with special guest Jennifer Kvamme, author of  More to the Story: Deep Answers to Real Questions on Attraction, Identity, and Relationships . As a 21-year veteran youth worker, wife and mom of 3, Kvamme sees that issues of sexuality and gender have become central to the faith development for teenagers. She wants her teenage readers to und...

In this follow-up episode, Cameron interviews Anna about her book, The Grace of God from Single-Parent Families, with a particular emphasis on how brothers and sisters in Christ can serve single parents in their communities and churches. For married parents and singles, being aware of the particular challenges single parent families face is the first step towards understanding how to love their fa...

In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron interviews Anna about her life as a single mom raising 3 sons after the death of her husband. They talk about the challenges single parents face, at home and in church, and the goodness of God to single parent families. Resources: God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love...