How to navigate Mother’s Day, plus Dr. Greg Smalley continues the cohabitation conversation, and when your date has concerns about your family.   

Featured musical artist: Austin Stone Worship

Roundtable: What Does Your Mother’s Day Look Like?

What does Mother’s Day mean for you? For some, it’s joy-filled, but for others it’s extremely difficult — even painful. Our guests have different histories with the holiday as well as different levels of relationship with their mothers. They’ll share tips for navigating Mother’s Day, how to love our moms with Christ’s love, and how to make the day hopeful, no matter your circumstances.      

Send Us Your Show Ideas

Leave Us a Voicemail

Culture: The Cohabitation Conundrum (Part 2)

The Institute for Family Studies reports that almost 70 percent of Christian couples live together before getting married. According to psychologist Dr. Greg Smalley, both biblical and practical arguments against cohabitation seem to be “white noise.” Why so, and is there a better way to have this conversation? Greg, Focus on the Family’s Vice President of Marriage, joins us for a two-part discussion on cohabitation, including new insights and research to debunk the “it’s no big deal” arguments made by many young adults. In part two, Greg shares the practical, emotional and spiritual benefits of delaying your move-in until after marriage.  

Watch This Segment on YouTube

Ready to Wed: 12 Ways to Start a Marriage You’ll Love

Inbox: Your Significant Other Is Concerned About Your Family

Her boyfriend recently expressed concerns about her family and how they interact. How serious is this, and in what way should she address the problem? Counselor Geremy Keeton weighs in. 

Find us on YouTube 

Link to Counseling Services 

The Department of Homeland Security is a fairly new idea in American history. Of course, we live in pretty dangerous times and we need an agency that coordinates our efforts to keep our country safe from growingly hostile forces that could hurt us. But "homeland security" is hardly a new idea. It's been the job of every parent since children were invented. It's a sacred assignment - guarding our family from the things that could hurt them, and the job's never been more difficult.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Homeland Security For Your Home."

Not all the things that can hurt our children are from the outside. Some of them are from the darkness inside us; selfishness, anger, a critical or negative attitude, hurting words, praise that's really needed but never given, affection that's not shown, words that should be said but are left unsaid, and the words that should have been left unsaid. Those are some of the deadliest missiles that can hit a child's heart. And the same mom or dad who is in such a wonderful position to protect them from harm can be the same mom or dad who is in a position to inflict so much hurt.

Our families need our own Department of Homeland Security, right? Something or someone who will keep our family safe and who can make us the mom or dad that our children so need us to be.

Jesus Christ wants to be that for you. He describes the unique security He offers in Isaiah 40:11, our word for today from the Word of God; one of my favorite verses as a Dad. "He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms" (you can put the names of your children where it says "lambs") "and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads those that have young." Whoa! That's you, Mom! That's you, Dad! The dark side of each of us could be the single greatest threat to the security of our personal homeland. The battle against that dark side is going to have to be won by someone stronger than we are - because most of us have tried to change the things we don't like about ourselves and we know that hurt other people, and there's still way too much dark stuff.

Good news! There are three wonderful miracles that Jesus does in the heart and life of a mom or dad who will allow Him to be their shepherd; to decide the direction they go. First, He forgives you for every mistake, every sin, every wound you've ever inflicted, everything you wish you'd done differently, and every hurting thing you've ever done. That forgiveness was not cheap. It meant paying the price to remove the huge wall that we've all built between us and God. We built that wall by our sins. And paying that price meant being separated from God himself on that awful cross. Jesus was, so you would never have to be, separated from Him again. When you open your life to Jesus, He brings with Him the new beginning of being totally forgiven and clean.

Secondly, Jesus will change you from the inside out. The Bible calls it becoming "a new creation in Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:17). If He had the power to conquer death, He surely has the power to conquer the darkness in you and me. And then, Jesus protects those who belong to Him, like a shepherd protects His sheep.

And right now, this Jesus is waiting for you to put your life in His hands. He's probably been waiting a long time. I don't know how much longer He'll wait, but I can tell you, Jesus is a Daddy's Savior. He's a Mommy's Savior. He wants to be your Savior. And He will be from the moment you tell Him, "Jesus, I'm not running things anymore. You died for me! I am all yours."

I would love to help you get started in this relationship with Him. In fact, we've set up our website just for that purpose. It's ANewStory.com.

There's no home that is more secure than a home

Beloved pastor Andrew Murray (1828-1917) shared how in his native South Africa, various diseases affect the orange trees there. To the unpracticed eye all may seem fine, but an expert arborist can spot the rot that heralds the tree’s slow death. The only way to save the diseased tree is to remove the stem and branches from the root and graft them onto a new one. Then the tree can thrive, producing fruit.

Murray connected this illustration to the apostle Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians. From prison in Rome, Paul wrote a letter that wonderfully summarizes the gospel of Jesus Christ. His pastoral heart shines through when he prayed that the believers would be strengthened with power through Christ’s Spirit in their inner being so that He would dwell in their hearts by faith (Ephesians 3:16-17). Paul longed that they’d be “rooted and established in love” and would grasp the full measure of God’s abundant love (vv. 17-18).

As believers in Jesus, our roots sink deeply into the rich soil of God’s love, where the nutrients fortify us and help us grow. And as we’re grafted onto Jesus, His Spirit helps us to produce fruit. We may have to weather storms that bend us one way or another, but we can withstand them when we’re rooted in the Source of life and love.

As investors, we’ve been given resources to manage—not just for profit, but in alignment with God’s will and values. Yet, it’s easy to see investing through a purely earthly lens. On today's Faith & Finance Live, Rob West will welcome Robin John to explore the bigger vision God calls us to have when we understand how our money can be used for good. Then Rob will tackle your financial questions. 

Faith & Finance Live is a listener supported program on Moody Radio.  To join our team of supporters, click here.

To support the ministry of FaithFi, click here.

To learn more about Rob West, click here.

To learn more about Faith & Finance Live, click here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Witness Wednesday!

Todd Friel is at Georgia Tech where he talks with students about the fundamental questions of life, ethics, and spirituality. This episode highlights the importance of repentance, faith, and the transformative power of the Christian gospel.

Segment 1:

• Student attends an Episcopalian church but admits his faith doesn’t impact his daily life.

• He defends morality without biblical grounding and even jokes about wanting political opponents harmed.

• Todd gently exposes student’s contradictions, showing that ignoring God’s commands doesn’t erase guilt — it confirms it.

Segment 2:

• Student calls himself lukewarm and challenges Christianity’s uniqueness among world religions.

• Todd responds with the gospel’s distinctiveness: only Christianity offers salvation through grace, not works.

• Student intellectually engages but admits he’s not living like Jesus is central — leaving his soul in dangerous territory.

Segment 3:

• An unnamed student confesses to lying, lust, and blasphemy, but insists being “better” should be enough.

• Todd presses the reality: if God is just, then sin must be punished — and everyone’s guilty.

• Todd meets another student who agrees with much of the message but still thinks “being mostly good” should qualify him for heaven.

Segment 4:

• Todd explains the full gospel to the student — Jesus lived perfectly and died sacrificially to save sinners like him.

• Student is told to go to God directly: repent, trust Christ alone, and be born again — not through religion, but real faith.

• With tears in his eyes, student quietly listens, visibly affected, as Todd pleads with him to respond to the gospel.

–

Preorder the new book, Lies My Therapist Told Me, by Fortis Institute Fellow Dr. Greg Gifford now! https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/liesmytherapisttoldme

–

Thanks for listening!

Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners.

If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/

If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

Welcome to episode #231! ️ Pure Victory Podcast: How Porn Impacts the Brain (Part 1 of Series)

Episode Summary:
In this eye-opening kickoff to a powerful new series, Braden takes us deep into the science of what porn actually does to our brains—and why understanding this is a crucial step toward breaking free.

We often hear about the spiritual or moral consequences of porn use, but this episode zooms in on something many people miss: the physiological side—specifically how porn rewires our brains, alters our decision-making, and even dulls our ability to enjoy real-life pleasures like friendships, hobbies, and intimacy.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Braden’s first experience with porn and the powerful chemical reaction it triggered in his body.
• How dopamine plays a key role in addiction—and how porn hijacks this God-designed brain chemical.
• Why porn leaves us chasing more extreme content over time, and how this mirrors drug addiction.
• How our brain’s “reward system” can get fried, making real life feel dull and disconnected.
• The link between porn and rising levels of depression, anxiety, and emotional numbness.
• What happens when our prefrontal cortex (the decision-making part of the brain) shrinks.
• Why many people feel "stuck" and out of control in their addiction—and how it's not just about willpower.

Encouragement & Hope: You’re not broken beyond repair. God designed your brain with something called neuroplasticity—which means it can change and heal. Even though porn may have rewired your brain, recovery is absolutely possible. With awareness, community, behavioral changes, and spiritual support, you can build new neural pathways toward life-giving things.

Practical Takeaways:

• Start by cutting off easy access to porn—create “friction” to slow down impulsive behavior.
• Join an accountability group. You’re not meant to walk this road alone.
• Make space for life-giving habits like prayer, real relationships, and community.
• Know your triggers and create a game plan for dealing with them in healthy ways.

Next Episode Sneak Peek:
Next time, Braden will explore how porn reshapes our views on sex and the opposite sex—and how that impacts our relationships, dating life, and culture at large. You won’t want to miss it.

Final Word:
This episode isn’t meant to shame—it’s meant to wake us up with compassion and clarity. There is freedom available. You’re not too far gone. With God’s help and the right tools, you can experience lasting change.

  Help Set People Free: Support the Podcast that Fights Porn Addiction

At Pure Victory Podcast, we believe in the power of God’s grace to heal and restore lives. Pornography addiction is a silent struggle for many, but with Christ, there is hope for freedom and transformation. Through biblically-based guidance, real-life testimonies, and expert advice, we’re helping individuals break free from the chains of addiction and walk in the fullness of God’s plan for their lives.

But we need your help to continue this vital work. Your donation will support the production of future episodes, reach more people with the life-changing message of freedom in Christ, and provide resources to those in need of healing.

Why Donate?

• Bring Hope to the Hurting: Your generosity will help us reach those who feel trapped and alone in their addiction, showing them the love, forgiveness, and freedom found in Christ.
• Provide Free Resources: The podcast is a free resource for a

How should Christians handle political division in the Church? Can I follow Jesus without picking a political side? Why does Christianity feel so divided today—and what can I do about it? In this powerful episode of THE INDOUBT SHOW, we explore how faith and politics collide, what it means to follow Jesus in a divided world, and why unity in the Church doesn’t mean uniformity. From cancel culture and online outrage to spiritual apathy and inherited beliefs, this conversation tackles the hard questions facing Gen Z and Millennials.

In this sermon on Acts 9, Pastor Chuck Swindoll teaches how God refined Saul’s independent will through waiting, suffering, and dependence on others. Discover how these counter-cultural truths apply to you today!

From the Series: Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit

read more