CIAM Radio

It’s Mailbag Friday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

Segment 1

• Todd receives a small correction on the population of Chattanooga.

• What advice would you give me, a teenager, who is trying to help a friend through depression? – Moses

Segment 2

• What resources would you recommend for someone looking to gain a biblical understanding of fasting? – David

• I’m disturbed by my church’s silence on the issue of abortion. How should I go about addressing this? – Jenee

• I want to avoid the apathy and numbness that can develop as believers continue on in their faith. How can I keep awe and wonder towards God alive in my walk? -Anonymous

Segment 3

• Since our culture is so intent on reaching our children with secular values, should we actually have our best, most qualified pastors teaching children instead of adults? – Derrick

• As a new pastor in your church, how did you determine the vision for the church? – Adrian

• Is it a Christian’s job to report someone to the law or a supervisor in a corporate setting? – Anonymous

Segment 4

• If I was saved and baptized years ago, but have started having doubts, is it ok to ask God to save me over and over again? -Anonymous

___

Thanks for listening!

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Is the good life measured by wealth and comfort, or by something deeper? In this second part of Psalm 37, Dr. John Neufeld examines David's description of the wicked versus the righteous, revealing that true prosperity consists of generosity, wisdom, justice, and inner peace. God promises the righteous: He will grant the desires of their hearts, bring their righteousness to light, give them an eternal inheritance, and never abandon them.

God's Provision: The sheep don't know what they need, but the shepherd does—and he arranges everything for their care. This is why David declared, "The LORD is my shepherd"—because God provides all we truly want and need. In this five-message series, Dr. John Neufeld explores Psalms 23 and 37, unpacking what it means to trust the Good Shepherd who guides, protects, and provides for our deepest needs.

Listen to today's Laugh Again with Phil Callaway, "Parachute to Rest." Enjoy!

If only they knew. You’ve been burned by church—gossip, hypocrisy, wounds that make isolation feel way safer than community. Meanwhile, parenting teens feels impossible: anxiety, porn, loneliness, and digital overload threaten to derail their faith. Turns out self-sufficiency sounds empowering but crumbles under real pressure. If you’re tempted to quit on people or give up on the long game, Shelby Abbott, author of Why We’re Feeling Lonely and What We Can Do About It, calls you back. He explains why going it alone doesn't work...and how messy relationships just might be worth it.

Show Notes and Resources

• Purchase Why We’re Feeling Lonely and What We Can Do About It by Shelby Abbott at your favorite bookstore.
• Begin the Easter story early with Resurrection Eggs. Start your family tradition now.

• Thanks to the Christian Standard Bible for sponsoring this episode. Learn more at CSBible.com.
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• See resources from our past podcasts.
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Though not strong in faith, Naaman was nevertheless greatly respected as a leader of troops and as a military warrior. One day all that was put on hold. None of his trophies seemed important any longer. He was unclean…he had become a leper. This is a story about a man, once proud and self-sufficient, finally humbling himself before the only One who could cleanse his leprosy…and did.

From the Series: Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives: Rediscovering Some Old Testament Characters

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Comparison can be lethal. What others drive, or wear, or how others look is no one’s business but theirs. Living in harmony means letting others be—and cutting each other some slack.

As a mom of 3 sons, Molly DeFrank knows firsthand how boys struggle to find their purpose and identity in a “toxic masculinity” culture. Molly offers hope and confidence — encouraging moms to keep planting seeds of the Gospel and remind their boys that they belong, they can be brave and tender, be creative, and even have fun! Intentional moms of young boys can help mold them into godly young men, and model how to struggle and grow in a daily walk with Jesus.

You know it's tough the first time your child goes to camp...I mean for the parent. The kids probably have a ball; it's just tough for the parents. It all comes together when you have to sign that permission slip, and then a medical release, and then insurance forms. You start to think of all the things that could go wrong - the bad things that could happen.

Now, up until now you've been there in the background to protect them and to make sure they're eating the right things, and guiding them to make the right choices. But now, even if it's only for a few days, you're turning your precious child over to someone else. That's why I like to know someone who's going to be in charge there. A lot of responsible parents do that; even with conferences we've planned. People will say "Hey, I want to find out who I'm turning this kid over to." It's tough. I want to be able to trust the person to whom I'm handing my son or daughter. But it's still hard to release them.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Turning Over Your Treasure."

Our word for today from the Word of God is from 1 Samuel 1. I'm going to begin reading at verse 27. It's part of a prayer that Hannah, the mother of Samuel, prayed. We know that Samuel grew up to become a mighty judge in Israel; a mighty leader for God at a strategic time. She had wanted this child for so many years. She had been barren, and finally God miraculously sends her a child. Listen to her very poignant words, "I prayed for this child," she says, "and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. So, now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life will be given over to the Lord." Wow!

Hannah is saying about a child that it has taken her years to have, "Lord, whatever you want to do with him; wherever you want to take him is fine with me." You know it's hard to say, "Whatever you want, Lord" just about your own life. I think it's even harder to say that about your child's life.

My friend is in the ministry. And Rob and his wife have served the Lord actively and effectively for many years. And their daughter, who's in her mid twenties, came to them and said, "Mom, Dad, I feel like God has just called me out of nursing and is calling me into the ministry." Rob said, "I couldn't believe how I responded. I said, 'Well, honey, you're making such good money now as a nurse. And, you know, that's security.'" And he said, "For two weeks I tried to talk her out of it. Finally," he said, "I realized what we had prayed for all of our lives, we were now trying to talk her out of."

Well, that's understandable. We've all been brainwashed with the American lie about what success is and what security is. We push our kids to perform and we often neglect their character. We want them to be societal winners sometimes, rather than spiritual warriors. The child God gave you is on loan to you. Not yours to keep; not yours to assign. Your job is to help them discover the person they are in Christ and the works God put them on earth to do. Not the works you want them to do.

If you're a parent, could I encourage you to take a Hannah inventory today? Are you releasing your son or daughter for whatever? Whatever assignment your Lord has for him or her? Or do you have a plan for your child that you're trying to get God to sign off on. Don't stand in the way of God's best for that child of yours, and don't be seduced by the lies our world tells us about what's best for them.

Find a quiet place, and again, turn over your treasure to the One who gave that treasure to you in the first place.