CrossCurrent Podcasts

New live series: Writing Wins, every Tuesday at 11am Eastern (9 Mountain) on the Kingdom Writers YouTube channel through December 8. Each week CJ and I share one simple win to help you finish your book when life is busy, and the replays are waiting if you miss one.

Watch the Writing Wins playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCv2_QZJjAHg

A member sent her chapter to a developmental editor, then ran the same chapter through an AI editing tool. The two gave her opposite advice. So who was right? In this episode on AI book editing for Christian writers, we share the surprising answer and what she needed to do next.

Shelley walks through the seven-step self-editing process we have taught for years, no AI required: spell check, double spaces, crutch words, reading out loud, having it read back to you, printing it, and adding emotion. Then she tests our Self-Editing Companion in both ChatGPT and Claude on a piece of her own writing, and talks through the differences.

CJ shares three questions every suggested edit has to pass: Does it still sound like me? Does it change what God gave me to say? Is it true?

We also cover where a human editor still fits, why you pay for editing with either your time or your money, and what to know about the invisible watermark AI tools are starting to add to the text they generate. This is episode three of our three-part series on AI for Kingdom Writers.

Stepfamily life comes with unique challenges – and Laura Petherbridge understands them firsthand as both a stepdaughter and a stepmom. She addresses common questions about co-parenting, step-siblings, and what “blending” really looks like in everyday life. Drawing on her one-of-a-kind resource, Stepfamilies of the Bible, Laura shares timeless wisdom to encourage and equip your unique family.

Get "Stepfamilies of the Bible" free with your gift.

Overcome Common Challenges in Blended Families -- Join Smart Stepfamilies founder Ron Deal for this series of seven short videos. He’ll offer insightful, practical tips to help you and your loved ones experience harmony in your household.

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Do you have a story or comment on how Focus on the Family impacted you or your family? Leave a message for Jim Daly!

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Many spiritual crises could be avoided if Christians recovered the biblical and historic doctrine of "common grace."

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For more resources visit breakpoint.org. 

Can technology be used to strengthen people instead of keeping them addicted, divided, and endlessly scrolling?

Kurt sits down with Ryan Collins, author of The God of Tech and Chief Revenue Officer at Up, to discuss the intersection of faith, technology, artificial intelligence, social media, and business. Ryan shares the vision behind Up, a social video platform designed around positive, wholesome content, and explains why he believes technology itself is a tool whose impact depends on who controls it and what values guide its use.

They explore how modern social media algorithms can reward outrage, sensationalism, and addictive behavior, and why Ryan believes healthier technology should give users more control over what they see. He also discusses Up’s approach to creator standards, content filtering, mental health reminders, and encouraging people to spend less time scrolling rather than maximizing time on the platform.

The conversation then turns to artificial intelligence. Ryan shares both his enthusiasm and caution around AI, describing it as a powerful research tool while warning against allowing it to replace human creativity, ingenuity, relationships, and discernment. Kurt and Ryan also discuss using AI for Bible study, the importance of verifying sources, AI hallucinations, and why transparency matters when businesses use AI-generated work.

Ryan also tells the story behind The God of Tech, from founding Bethel School of Technology to discovering the role Christian scientists such as James Clerk Maxwell played in the foundations of modern technology. He explains why he believes Christians should not retreat from technology but instead actively participate in building products, businesses, and innovations shaped by their faith and values.

The conversation closes with Ryan’s thoughts on faith in the marketplace, the growing spiritual curiosity he sees among younger generations, family, legacy, and why he ultimately measures success by the people he has loved and helped along the way.

Key Takeaways

00:00 Why Technology Can Go Wrong

00:26 Meet Ryan Collins

01:39 Building a Healthier Social Platform

05:17 Technology Is a Tool

06:19 The Cost of Doom Scrolling

09:31 Creating Better Social Media Habits

13:23 Giving Users Algorithm Control

15:57 How Christians Should Think About AI

19:18 What AI Should Never Replace

21:31 Using AI for Bible Study

26:53 The Story Behind The God of Tech

29:39 The Christian Roots of Modern Technology

33:05 Why Believers Should Engage With Tech

38:52 Faith in the Marketplace

42:53 Ryan’s Definition of Legacy

Resources

Ryan Collins

https://ryancollins.info/

The God of Tech: Modern Technology, Its Divine Origin, and Activating the Next Great Movement of God Through Spirit-Led Innovation

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXMKQXS6

Up – Positive Social Video Platform

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=up.app&hl=en

Bethel School of Technology

https://www.linkedin.com/school/bethel-school-of-technology/

94x Daily Devotional

https://regent-bank-daily-devotionals.simplecast.com/

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While writing her book The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages, Shaunti Feldhahn did a massive research study involving thousands of married couples. Her follow-up interviews with hundreds of couples who had the happiest marriages revealed some simple attitudes and actions that can help your marriage today!

Get "The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages" free with your gift.

Simple Habits for Marital Happiness -- Build a happy marriage with this free video series! You'll learn four foundational "fall in love" habits, how to overcome marital complacency, how-to’s for connecting through the day, and more.

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Do you have a story or comment on how Focus on the Family impacted you or your family? Leave a message for Jim Daly!

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The transforming power of Christianity enables us to not only know what is right but to do it—to be virtuous.  

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Join us at the 2027 Colson Center National Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. Register at colsonconference.org.