CIAM Radio

Listen to today's Laugh Again with Phil Callaway, "No Fine Print." Enjoy!

Being forgiven and going to heaven would be wonderful enough, but God wasn't satisfied with making us merely His servants or subjects. Dr. John Neufeld explores adoption as the highest privilege of the gospel - being made sons and daughters of the King of the universe. Using 1 John 3:1-3, he shows how this transforms three relationships: with God (calling Him "Abba Father"), with the world (sharing Christ's rejection and honor), and with the future (inheriting everything as fellow heirs with Christ).

Making the Most of Your Salvation: In a world of endless technology, the opportunity for learning, communicating, and creating is at an all-time high. But for many of us, we don’t take full advantage of all of the resources at our fingertips. We know that many of us aren’t using technology to its full capacity, but did you know that many of us view our salvation in the same way? Join Dr. John Neufeld in the 10-message series, Making the Most of Your Salvation, as we learn about a sad reality that many Christians face: We don’t appreciate all that our salvation has to offer us. All too often, we see salvation as something that is there, that we understand, but we don’t take full advantage of. We go to church, we try to read the Bible, and we know that we’re going to heaven when we die. But there are so many other benefits of salvation that have the power to revolutionize our lives!

Each day you can make a difference in someone’s life. The people you come into contact with give you opportunities to extending kindness, courtesy, and compassion.

Discover with Pastor Chuck Swindoll more about the “groaning” found in Romans 8. Learn how the future and eternal glory awaiting the Christian far surpasses the agony of present suffering.

From the Series: Romans: The Christian’s Constitution

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Parents today are in panic mode. Gen Zers are struggling with depression, identity, and in some cases, abandoning their faith. Jason Jimenez encourages parents to help the younger generation understand their true identity in Christ. He provides strategies to connect with Gen Z kids and instill a strong Biblical faith.

This has got to be one of the great engineering feats in the world - packing the trunk of our car for a family trip. Oh, those were the days. Maybe you can relate to that. We had a family of five - quite a challenge to get all of that luggage in one trunk. So, I would stuff every corner, trying the suitcases every which way, and then I'd see if there was something the kids could sit on during the trip. And if all else failed, I called my wife and she could figure it out. Finally, you get it all in, but just barely of course.

And then the big moment comes. There's a drum roll as I try to close the trunk, and after a couple of tries, it closes - barely! Then along comes one of the kids with one more bag I didn't know about. So, the frustrating search begins - looking for a place to put just one more thing. We would try to cram one more thing in this space that was already jammed. Wait a minute! That sounds a lot like our lives doesn't it?

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The One More Thing Syndrome."

Now, our word for today from the Word of God catches Jesus in the middle of this in Luke 4, and beginning at verse 40. It says, "When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness." Okay, His day is almost over, but it looks like it's just about to begin again. "And laying His hands on each one, He healed them." Now, listen to this, "At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for Him, and when they came to where He was, they tried to keep Him from leaving them. But He said, 'I must preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.' And He kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea."

Now, here's a side of Jesus we don't often think about. Jesus knew how to say "no." Did you notice that? There were more needs; they begged Him to stay. But He said, "No, I can't." He had set His priorities, and the people were crying, "Just one more!" And He said, "No." Maybe some of us should learn to do that. We live in a constant state of being behind, I think, because of the 'one more thing' syndrome.

You know, it's time to leave and we say, "Oh, just one more call; just one more email. I'll just get one more task done." And we end up frazzled, over extended, late and not at our best. Oh, you can add peace and sanity to your life if you discipline yourself to say no to that one more thing before you go. Look at the bigger picture. There are so many needs crying for your time, for your attention, and you can only do as much as you can do well. Maybe you're doing that right now.

And then like the child running out to the over-packed trunk, "One more thing!" Why do we say yes? Usually because we underestimate the job; we don't really count the cost of what it's going to take, or we overestimate ourselves and think it's got to be us that does it. Or we forget about Murphy's Law: "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong." Realize you can't meet every need - not even Jesus did.

Five liberating words from the mouth of John the Baptist in John 1: "I am not the Messiah." See, God might want to develop somebody else to do it, and you'll get in the way if you do it. Maybe the people who asked you are ahead of God's schedule. Maybe you need to unpack something else before you put this in. You don't do anyone a favor by taking on more than you can really do well. You're saying to people, "Depend on me" but you know you won't be able to be dependable - not in all of that.

Now, we're telling teenagers today when it comes to drugs, "Just say no." Well, that's not just good for drugs. It's good for us responsibility addicts too. I'm one. I know. The next time you're tempted to over-commit yourself, think of that trunk that's jam packed with all that it shou

On the first day of a camp where Alan teaches teens entrepreneurial skills, a student said, “You’re a Christian, aren’t you? I can tell.” Before Alan said he was a Christian or wore his favorite socks and ties decorated with Christian symbols, the teen said he saw Jesus through Alan’s words, actions, and attitude. They discussed how they could better represent Jesus wherever they go.

Saying we’re Christian and wearing clothes with Christian messages are good things. However, the Bible teaches that the way we live and love as we share the gospel are the true identifiers of those who follow Jesus. The apostle Paul and the other believers in Corinth were compelled, or driven, to please God by living with an eternal perspective while sharing Him with others (2 Corinthians 5:9-14).

When we’re committed to living for Jesus instead of for ourselves, the Holy Spirit changes our perspective, character, priorities, and ways of interacting with others (vv. 15-17). Our new life in Christ is intended to represent Him while we point others to Him, “as though God were making his appeal through us” (vv. 18-20).

Empowered by the Spirit, we’re given the joy and responsibility of representing Jesus wherever we go.

Segment 1

• Sermons used to be long and weighty—now they’re shallow.

• Why do we tolerate hours of football but squirm after 20 minutes of preaching?

• Lloyd-Jones and Packer: urgent, doctrinal preaching isn’t optional—it’s essential.

Segment 2

• Why do you go to church—and what do you expect?

• Many show up with little thought, fueling shorter and shallower sermons.

• Preparation matters: pray, take notes, engage your Bible, fight distractions.

Segment 3

• Doctrinal truth without application leaves us wanting.

• Head and heart can’t be separated—truth must move affections.

• Don’t fall into ditches: emotionalism on one side, cold intellectualism on the other.

Segment 4

• Taliban shuts down internet, silencing women and education.

• Christianity uniquely dignifies women—seen even in witnesses to the resurrection.

• True flourishing for women and children is found only in Christ.

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Thanks for listening!

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