CrossCurrent Podcasts

Massachusetts has a new abortion law that some have likened to partial birth abortion. A new government report unveils extreme levels of fraud in gender conversion clinics. And what's going on in the WNBA

Segment 1 – Massachusetts New Abortion Law; Fraud in Gender Clinics; WNBA Craziness

• New MA Law

• National Review Article on Late Term Abortion

• HHS Report

• Daily Signal article

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This is really about reader curiosity, but from a fresh angle. Instead of "how to build suspense," it's about intentionally planting questions throughout a novel.

Who Is a True Christian?: Contesting Religious Identity in American Culture (Cambridge UP, 2024) examines how American Christians have tried to determine who qualifies as an authentic Christian and which beliefs should be treated as authoritative. Congdon approaches the question historically, tracing debates over terms such as orthodox, historic and biblical Christianity across the twentieth century and into the present.

The book distinguishes between describing Christianity as it has existed and prescribing what Christianity ought to be. It considers how theological disagreements, cultural identity and political conflict have influenced the boundaries Christians draw around their faith.

In its conclusion, the book proposes a more plural understanding of Christian identity through the ideas of polydoxy and religious autonomy. These proposals form the author's alternative to fixed definitions of a single, universal Christian norm.

Key Ideas:

Takeaway From the Conversation:

The conversation centers on the difficulty of defining authentic Christianity in a diverse and divided religious culture. Congdon's analysis raises questions about who has the authority to establish religious boundaries, how those boundaries have changed over time and what happens when one group claims the power to determine who belongs.

About Podcast Host

Angela Marie Hutchinson is the author of “Create Your Yes! When You Keep Hearing No,” named a Forbes No. 4 book to advance your career. She is a podcast host for New Books Network, where she leads conversations for the neuroscience and Christianity channels. Hutchinson is also a talent and intellectual property executive, former social media professor and BBC commentator. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband and three children.

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What if your child’s biggest challenge is actually their greatest strength? Dr. Kathy Koch explores life-changing insights from her book 8 Great Smarts, revealing how every child is uniquely wired with different kinds of intelligence – from the nonstop talker to the deep thinker, the music-maker to the curious questioner. Learn how to recognize your child’s natural strengths, nurture what makes them come alive, and stop unintentionally paralyzing their "smarts."
Receive a copy of the "8 Great Smarts" bundle and an audio download of "Unlock Your Child's Learning Potential with the 8 Types of Intelligence" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.
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Man was not made for the Sabbath; the Sabbath was made for man.  

__________

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What happens when you achieve the business success you worked for, but still feel like something is missing?

In this conversation, Kurt and Kristen Luidhardt talk with Matthew Potter, co-founder of Pray.com, about his journey from building thousands of apps and growing a successful real estate technology company to creating a digital platform designed to help people grow in faith.

Matthew shares how he and his business partner worked 100-hour weeks, went three years without paying themselves, and eventually built a thriving company. Even after reaching their goals, however, Matthew began arriving at work each day feeling empty.

Remembering the purpose he had felt while serving others on a mission trip led him to ask how he could use his skills for something greater.

That question led to a providential coffee shop conversation with his friend Steve, who had recently become a Christian after receiving an audio sermon during a difficult season.

Together, they saw the need for a digital destination where people could explore Christianity, access biblical content, pray, and connect with a community. That conversation became the beginning of Pray.com.

Matthew also shares powerful stories of people whose lives and faith were changed through the app, including a woman who discovered her late brother had become a Christian and a police officer who received a shared devotional at the exact moment he was considering ending his life.

The conversation also explores Pray.com’s research into prayer and mental health, why consistency may matter more than the length of a prayer, and how digital tools can support people between visits with pastors, counselors, coaches, or therapists.

Matthew also discusses the future of Pray.com, including multilingual content, artificial intelligence tools based on trusted pastors and biblical teaching, animated Bible content, and a standalone app for children.

If you are a Christian entrepreneur, ministry leader, technology professional, or anyone wondering how your skills can serve a greater purpose, this episode is a reminder that success becomes more meaningful when it helps other people.

00:37 Introducing Matthew Potter and Pray.com

02:01 What Pray.com Offers

04:01 The Reach and Impact of the Platform

05:26 Discovering a Brother’s Faith After His Death

07:39 The Devotional That Helped Save a Life

10:17 Why Acting on a Prompting Can Matter

11:02 Connecting Prayer, Science, and Mental Health

14:30 Why the Frequency of Prayer Matters

17:03 From Technology Entrepreneur to Faith-Driven Founder

18:07 Reaching His Goals but Still Feeling Empty

19:18 The Coffee Shop Conversation That Started Pray.com

21:31 Acquiring the Pray.com Domain

23:11 AI, Multilingual Content, and Digital Discipleship

25:24 Creating a Standalone Prayer App for Children

26:28 Who Pray.com Is Designed to Help

27:13 Free One-Year Access for Listeners

Resources Mentioned

●       Pray.com

●       Pray.com podcasts

●       HomeStack

Connect With Matthew Potter

Free one-year access for listeners: https://www.pray.com/matt

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What if your child’s biggest challenge is actually their greatest strength? Dr. Kathy Koch explores life-changing insights from her book 8 Great Smarts, revealing how every child is uniquely wired with different kinds of intelligence – from the nonstop talker to the deep thinker, the music-maker to the curious questioner. Learn how to recognize your child’s natural strengths, nurture what makes them come alive, and stop unintentionally paralyzing their "smarts."
Receive a copy of the "8 Great Smarts" bundle and an audio download of "Unlock Your Child's Learning Potential with the 8 Types of Intelligence" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.
Get more episode resources 
Do you have a story or comment on how Focus on the Family impacted you or your family? Leave a message for Jim Daly!
If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.