All Things

On this episode of All Things I am joined by the Director of International Disaster Services for Convoy of Hope (COH), an international relief organization, delivering relief to those who remain in Ukraine. Listen in to hear about what conditions are like on the ground in Ukraine, how COH partners with local churches and Christians to bring aid into the country, and how you can pray for and support this complicated work. Bringing water, food, and other supplies into an active war situation is dangerous and difficult. But with God’s leading and help, the strategy of COH, and the good work and knowledge of those already in the country, help is being delivered day in and day out. The church in that part of the world displays what it looks like to lay yourself down for the sake of others. It’s a convicting and inspiring interview.

Convoy of Hope

Convoy of Hope - Crisis Response in Ukraine

Give to the Convoy of Hope - Ukrainian Crisis Relief Fund

In addition to relief work happening in Ukraine, I want to draw your attention to relief efforts being provided to refugees as they flee Ukraine. My husband and I are still involved in missions in Europe through Pioneers International. Our Pioneers in Europe colleagues in Ukraine and Poland are doing excellent and sacrificial work as they transport refugees away from Ukraine, and provide food and shelter and trauma care to the women and children in need. Listen to the two podcast episodes below, wherein my husband hears from our friends on the ground caring for the refugees. They too need your prayers and financial support. We are honored to know these friends and praise God for the way they are pouring themselves out in the midst of a war in their global backyard.

Pioneers in Europe

Pioneers in Europe Podcast - War in Ukraine, Part 1

Pioneers in Europe Podcast - War in Ukraine, Part 2

Give to the Pioneers in Europe - Europe East Humanitarian Relief

Americans are drinking more than ever. When lockdown orders first went into effect, the United States saw a 54% increase in alcohol sales. Alcohol consumption rose among adults over age 30 by 14% during the pandemic, with a 41% increase in women heavily drinking. Why are we (especially women) drinking more? How have our views and habits as a nation changed over the last few decades? On this episode of All Things I’m hoping to a offer a springboard for further in-person conversations about America’s drinking problem. More of us have Alcohol Use Disorder than we might think. And more of us need to bring our dependencies into the light and provide safe places for others to do the same. The question for those of us whose faith allows us to drink is this: considering the sharp rise in alcohol use around the country, are we willing to pause and take an honest look at ourselves, our friends, and our faith families? In an age when many are tempted to find false peace in alcohol, let us hold out the name and love of Jesus who says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (John 14:27). Jesus is our peace, let us share his goodness and healing with those who are hurting. 

How Should Churches Respond to America’s Alcohol Crisis? - Jen Oshman, Acts29

Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder - Nat. Inst. on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Drinking Levels Defined - NIAAA

Americans are using alcohol to cope with pandemic stress: Nearly 1 in 5 report 'heavy drinking' - USA Today

Women, alcohol, and COVID-19 - Harvard Health

No Amount Of Alcohol Is Good For Your Health, Global Study Says - NPR

Should You Avoid All Alcohol? Here’s What the Experts Think - Healthline

Why is that the vast majority of abortion clinics are located in minority neighborhoods? Cherilyn Holloway, founder of Pro-Black Pro-Life says, “what many call access is in reality extermination.” Holloway’s love of neighbor and desire to see the members of her community thrive is what caused her to start asking why there are a disproportionate number of abortions and abortion clinics in the black community.

Holloway says, “The human rights issue of our time is that we don’t value all lives.” Further, “we have to become a culture that supports and values motherhood.” Holloway calls abortion a bandaid—a quick fix to complex problems that need the attention, holistic care, and resources of the broader community, especially the church. Pro-Black Pro-Life was started so that black women considering abortion would know they have other options. Seeing a connection between racial justice and pro-life issues, Holloway’s vision is to reach the black community with a whole-life message, so that black women might feel empowered to choose life. She wants to make abortion altogether unnecessary.

On this episode of All Things we discuss the 49th Annual March for Life that took place last week (including a confrontation by a Neo-Nazi group in attendance), where race and life issues intersect, why Holloway calls abortion both a genocide and a bandaid, black maternal health (Did you know black women are 3-4x as likely to die in childbirth as white women?), and the need for the pro-life movement to integrate itself into marginalized communities so that we might create holistic structures to support vulnerable moms. Holloway has a fascinating life story herself and brings much wisdom and experience to the table. As the calendar turns from Sanctity of Human Life Month to Black History Month, this episode of All Things speaks to both.

Pro-Black Pro-Life

Cherilyn Holloway on Twitter

Does the March for Life have a white supremacy problem? - Kevin Clarke

Racial Disparities Persist in Maternal Morbidity, Mortality and Infant Health - AJMC

Beyoncé, Serena Williams open up about potentially fatal childbirths, a problem especially for black mothers - Allyson Chiu

Abortion Surveillance — United States, 2014 - CDC

Study: Abortion is the leading cause of death in America - Danny David

Abide Women’s Health Services

Alternatives Pregnancy Center in Colorado

Abortion is Not an Unforgivable Sin - Jen Oshman

When it comes to criminal justice we have two opposite camps in this country: one side cries “defund the police” and the other side demands more "law and order.” How is it possible to have two very different perspectives on the same criminal justice system? And how should Christians be grappling with the way justice is currently carried out in our country?

On this episode we hear from Matt Martens who is a criminal lawyer, a graduate of Dallas Theological seminary, was a federal prosecutor for 10 years, has written for the WSJ and WaPo and is currently writing a book entitled Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal (forthcoming with Crossway in 2023). Martens has a unique and qualified perspective with his robust background in both theology and both sides of our legal system.

From a theological perspective, Martens says Jesus not only declares us just, but is making us just. Meaning the gospel is not only about our individual salvation, but also our sanctification and how we live amongst one another. Part of preaching the gospel is seeking justice in our midst.

From a legal perspective, Martens says many Americans just don’t know how our system really works. He says there are outrageous injustices built into the system that the average person simply doesn’t know about. He wants to change that through his presence online and in his forthcoming book.

Two primary reasons we don’t see our criminal justice in a unified way, Martens says, are because we have varying degrees of education about our history as a nation and varying degrees of knowledge and experience with how our justice system currently operates.

Have a listen and learn. Martens covers a ton of both history and present realities. You’ll hear about how our criminal justice system was organized after the Civil War and how some of those practices remain today; how jury selection can have a huge and unjust impact on the accused; how both our bail and plea bargain systems coerce innocent people to confess guilt to crimes they did not commit; the realities of a broken policing system that leaves many crimes unsolved and prevents victims from experiencing justice; and more. Martens closes this episode by telling us what you and I can do to seek justice in our own localities.

The following books and links were mentioned in this show:

Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II - Douglas A. Blackmon

Talking about Race: Gospel Hope for Hard Conversations - Isaac Adams

Profit and Punishment: How America Criminalizes the Poor in the Name of Justice - Tony Messenger

A Theory of Justice - John Rawls

Matthew Martens on Twitter: @martensmatt1

Teens consume nine hours of entertainment media a day and tweens consume six (this does not include education-related content), according to Common Sense Media. As parents we don’t have a choice but to get in the game and help our kids navigate life online. But how do we do that? It can feel overwhelming and paralyzing. On this episode of All Things my husband joins me and we share a conversation about how we have been navigating social media with our teen daughters. We share the spiritual and everyday—the philosophical all the way to the practical. We hope the conversation serves you well as you seek to help your kids along the way.

Navigating Social Media with Teens & Tweens - by Jen Oshman at RisenMotherhood

The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Teens and Tweens

The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch

12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You - by Tony Reinke

Have you or a loved one ever been diagnosed with a mental disorder? A diagnosis might not only feel chaotic and unsettling, but also final and paralyzing. In the church we wonder if the issue is spiritual or physical, if friends can offer support or if we need to call in the professionals, if all we need is the Bible or if we need to draw on other resources. It can feel like we have more questions than answers.

On this episode of All Things we hear from Christine Chappell who just published a new mini-book resource entitled, Help! I've Been Diagnosed with a Mental Disorder (Shepherd Press). The book aims to give comfort and counsel to those who have been labeled with a psychiatric disorder of some kind. Christine cautions against a “fix it” mentality and says, “As someone who has personally navigated such a journey, I pray that the stabilizing biblical truths shared in this resource will minister to others in the same way that they ministered to me.” Listen in to hear Christine show how the Scriptures provide truths about our personhood, purpose, and potential for making God-glorifying progress during the challenging post-diagnosis journey.

Resources:

Christine Chappell Website

Help! I’ve Been Diagnosed with a Mental Disorder

On this episode of All Things we are sharing a podcast from Fathom Church here in Colorado where Pastor Chris Martin interviews Jen Oshman on issues surrounding the abortion debate. Chris recently preached on abortion and then invited his congregants to submit specific questions. He and Jen then chatted through the questions and produced this episode. We cover all kinds of things like the Plan B pill, the ethics behind saving the life of a mother, life issues to consider with in vitro fertilization, creativity when it comes to caring for vulnerable moms, end of life issues, and more.

Fathom Church Sermon: #Trending: Abortion by Chris Martin

All Things Episode 68: The Texas Heartbeat Law, The Flimsy Roots of Roe V. Wade, and Providing Real Help to Abortion-Minded Women

Abortion is Not an Unforgivable Sin - by Jen Oshman

Be sure to checkout the All Things home page for more resources on thinking through abortion.

On this episode of All Things I am joined by my friend who served in Afghanistan along with her husband and two young children in the years following the 9/11 attack. She shares what it was like to be called to a war-torn country, what life was really like on the ground 20 years ago, and how it has evolved since then. This conversation is both convicting and enlightening. My friend challenges our views of missions, radical obedience, and God’s unconditional provision. She also helps us understand what women in Afghanistan have been facing and thinking over the evolution of geo-political forces in the last 20 years. Finally, she offers us some ideas as to how we might help Afghans who remain in their home country and those who have already started arriving in cities across the US.