CrossCurrent Podcasts

CrossCurrent Podcasts

By Cross CurrentReligion & Spirituality
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CrossCurrent Podcasts episodes

  • Breakpoint - Will AI Take Your Job?

    Maintaining the Christian worldview in this next frontier.

    __________

    Join Abdu Murray, Gretchen Huizinga, and John Lennox (virtually) as they help us explore how Christians can live out our God-given humanity in an increasingly AI-driven world. Register at greatlakessymposium.org.

    7 min
  • Focus on the Family with Jim Daly - How Tiny Changes Can Build a Stronger Family (Part 1 of 2)

    What’s the secret to a strong family? Author and mom Jessica Smartt says it’s not perfection – it’s connection. Drawing from her book Come On Home, Jessica shares powerful and practical ways to build a lasting family legacy, navigate technology with wisdom, and create meaningful memories as a family. You’ll be encouraged to create a home where your kids feel safe, seen, and deeply loved. Because as Jessica reminds us, “Your family doesn’t have to be perfect to be strong.”
    Receive a copy of "Come On Home" and an audio download of "Tiny Habits Can Build a Stronger Family" 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 episodes 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.

    28 min
  • New Books in Christian Studies - Sarah Rosenson, "Fan Fiction on the Book of Genesis: A Guide to Close Reading of and Creative Writing on the Bible" (Cherry Orchard Books, 2026)

    Can creative writing become a form of biblical interpretation?

    That is the provocative question at the heart of my conversation with Sarah Rosenson about her new book, Fan Fiction on the Book of Genesis: A Guide to Close Reading of and Creative Writing on the Bible (Cherry Orchard Books, 2026). 

    The modern phenomenon of fan fiction involves readers writing

    creative pieces that answer questions left open in favorite works of
    literature. This also describes the ancient tradition of midrash, where
    readers write stories filling in gaps in the Bible. In Fan Fiction on the Book of Genesis
    Sarah Rosenson discusses the questions left open in the first book of
    the Bible, and every chapter includes questions for the characters in
    the stories, which can serve as prompts for conversations or creative
    writing.

    Rosenson argues that careful reading reveals narrative gaps:

    characters whose motivations remain unexplained, conversations that
    never occur, ethical dilemmas left unresolved, and emotions that are
    only implied. Drawing on the long tradition of Jewish midrash, she
    proposes that readers can engage these silences through disciplined
    creative writing, using imagination not as a substitute for close
    reading but as an extension of it.

    In our conversation, we

    discussed some of Genesis's most familiar stories from unexpected
    angles. What if Eve's pursuit of knowledge is more complex than simple
    disobedience? Why does Noah never challenge God's decision to destroy
    the world? What happens when Hagar's perspective becomes central rather
    than peripheral? Why does Abraham argue for the people of Sodom but
    remain silent when Isaac is placed on the altar? And how does the Joseph
    narrative negotiate the relationship between divine providence and
    human responsibility?

    We also explore the broader methodological

    questions raised by the book. Does describing midrash as "fan fiction"
    make an ancient interpretive tradition more accessible, or does it risk
    misunderstanding it? How far can readers imaginatively expand biblical
    narratives while remaining faithful to the text? And what safeguards
    distinguish responsible interpretation from speculation?

    Whether

    you are interested in biblical studies, literary criticism, Jewish
    interpretation, or creative writing, our conversation offers a
    thoughtful discussion of how ancient texts continue to invite new
    readings. More than providing answers, Rosenson's book encourages
    readers to ask better questions and, in doing so, to discover that
    Genesis remains as intellectually and ethically challenging today as it
    has been for centuries.

    You can find more about Sarah and her work here.

    Amisah Bakuri (PhD) is

    an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
    at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Her work explores the intersections of
    religion, sexuality, gender, and migration, especially within African
    diasporic communities in the Netherlands.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/christian-studies

    59 min
  • Pastor Rick's Daily Hope - Relaxing in God's Goodness - Part 2
    When you relax in God's goodness, you learn that you don't have to prove your worth. You don't have to wear yourself out, believing there's something you could do to make God love you more. Instead, as Pastor Rick teaches in this message, you can rest in the truth that you are already extremely valuable to God.
    26 min
  • Christian Publishing Show - The Four Loves That Drive Book Sales

    Have you ever finished a book you loved, handed it to a friend, and heard back, "It was fine"?

    That disconnect has nothing to do with the quality of the writing. It has everything to do with a principle C.S. Lewis understood well enough to write classics that have endured for decades.

    In this week's episode, I sat down with bestselling novelist Angela Hunt to break down the four ancient loves that drive all fiction, and how mastering them can help you produce a bestseller and a classic.

    You’ll learn

    • The type of love almost every genre needs more of, and why the most violent stories need it most.
    • How the loneliness epidemic is creating a massive hunger in readers, and which type of love lonely readers are yearning for.
    • The type of love that makes for a classic but is hardest to write and easiest to botch. Get it wrong and your climax feels cheesy. Get it right and readers won't shut up about your book.

    We also explore the dark side of each love and how to use that tension to propel your plot forward.

    If the stakes in your story aren’t working or you’re sick of cheap, salacious storylines, listen in or read the blog version to learn how to incorporate these four types of love into your story. This one might change how you outline your next book or build your characters.

    Blog link: https://www.authormedia.com/the-four-loves-that-drive-fiction/

    Support the show

    1 hr 16 min
  • Focus on the Family with Jim Daly - Understanding How Birth Order Impacts Your Marriage

    Generally speaking, firstborns are leaders, middle children are peacemakers, and the babies of the family are playful. And while it’s challenging to understand your children’s dynamics when it comes to their birth order, these traits hold true for you and your spouse, as well. Dr. Kevin Leman helps you understand how birth order plays a role in the way you interact as a married couple and shares advice on how to manage challenges in your relationship that often stem from your placement in your family of origin.
    Receive a copy of The Birth Order Book: Why You Are the Way You Are and an audio download of "Understanding How Birth Order Impacts Your Marriage" 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.

    28 min

About CrossCurrent Podcasts

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