CrossCurrent Podcasts

The post-Reformation era has witnessed a vastly changing landscape in Indonesian Islam, particularly with the emergence of conservative Muslim voices. Christian-Muslim Relations in Post-Reformation Indonesia: Resistance, Identity and Belonging (Edinburgh UP, 2026) explores several strategies of Christian resistance against the resurgence of conservative voices in Indonesian Islam to establish a coherent view of Christian responses and a greater understanding of Christian-Muslim relations after the Reformation in 1998. These different strategies demonstrate that, despite their status as a religious minority, Indonesian Christians are far from passive and submissive. Instead, they actively negotiate their identity and role in contemporary Indonesia’s shifting political and social context to cultivate a sense of belonging.

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Marriage isn’t built in a single defining moment—it’s formed in the everyday choices couples make with their words, their attitudes, and their actions. Dave and Ashley Willis join us to explore how small, intentional shifts in marriage can lead to lasting change. Drawing on Scripture and decades of family ministry experience, they offer practical tools to help you strengthen your connection and build a marriage that reflects Christ’s love.

Receive a copy of Do Marriage Better and an audio download of "Transform Your Marriage Through Simple Lifestyle Shifts" 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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Most investors assume their money is neutral. Hal Lambert argues it’s not. That’s why he founded Invest Politically.

After watching Target stock fall while critics unknowingly still owned it, he realized something most people miss:

You can boycott a company but still be invested in it.

That insight led him to build a different kind of portfolio–one based on political contribution data pulled from the S&P 500.

The result looks nothing like a typical index fund: minimal tech, heavy industrials, energy, and financials. And a completely different way of thinking about alignment.

But the bigger shift goes beyond portfolios…

Hal ties investing directly to global power, arguing that moves in Venezuela, Iran, and even Greenland are part of a larger strategy centered on China and control of resources.

From that perspective, traditional diversification starts to break down. Instead of spreading risk globally, he makes a more aggressive bet:

The United States isn’t just an option–it’s the only one.

This episode poses a question most investors never ask: Are you actually aligned with what your money is doing?

0:00 Intro

1:55 The Moment That Changed Hal’s Investing Strategy

7:03 What Happens When You Align Investing With Beliefs

10:46 Why This Portfolio Looks Nothing Like the S&P 500

15:31 The “New World Order” and What It Means for Markets

24:30 Policy, Regulation, and Market Momentum

27:40 Where the Economy Is Headed Next

32:25 Lightning Round

Resources Mentioned:

Invest Politically

https://www.investpolitically.com

Point Bridge Capital

https://pointbridgecapital.com

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Hopes of revival are being hotly contested, but that shouldn't stop us from expecting the move of God always. 

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Grab your ticket to CCNC before they sell out completely at colsonconference.org.

How can Christian parents safeguard their children in a world where sexual exploitation is hidden in plain sight—even within their own homes?

In this crucial episode of Christian Parent/Crazy World, Catherine welcomes Dr. Rondy Smith, founder and CEO of Rest Stop Ministries—the first long-term residential restoration program in Tennessee for female survivors of sex trafficking. Dr. Smith brings decades of frontline experience walking with women through profound trauma toward hope and restoration.

The conversation delves into one of the most urgent questions facing parents today: “How can we protect our kids from being sexually exploited?” Drawing on powerful personal stories—including a heart-wrenching letter from a survivor whose abuse spanned eight years without her parents’ knowledge—Dr. Smith exposes the shocking reality: predators are often familiar faces, and exploitation is happening everywhere, not just distant or impoverished places.

Key insights and takeaways:

• Myth-Busting: Over 60% of victims know their traffickers; they could be family friends, relatives, or acquaintances. Familiarity is not safety.

• Cybersex Trafficking: Dr. Smith recounts how online predators exploit children’s innocence and manipulate them through social media and gaming platforms, turning everyday devices into “porn boxes” with unfettered access to vulnerable youth.

• Warning Signs: Parents must trust their intuition and watch for behavioral changes such as panic over losing access to devices or withdrawal from routine activities.

• Open Communication: Survivors say they wish someone had intervened sooner—parents must foster safe spaces where children feel supported, not judged, regardless of what has happened.

• Hope and Restoration: No matter how deep the trauma, God is able to bring healing. Stories shared in the episode highlight recovery, reconciliation, and new beginnings for survivors and their families.

Notable moments include Rondy's passionate call for parents to “think like a predator”—not out of fear, but out of wisdom and love for their children. The episode closes with a moving time of prayer and encouragement, affirming that Christian parents are called to be active peacemakers: to engage, educate, and advocate for their kids and their communities.

Quote from the episode:
"Wherever your kids are, the predators are there. We have to begin thinking like a predator and know that they’re out there." – Dr. Rondy Smith

Anecdote:
The episode features a survivor’s letter detailing eight years of secret exploitation, her eventual disclosure, and her journey to healing—a story that could “be happening in your home right now and you don’t know it,” as Catherine observes.

Call to Action:
Have you built an open channel of communication with your children? Are you prepared to spot the signs and have the hard conversations, even when it’s uncomfortable?

Take today's conversation beyond the episode—pray, seek wisdom, and consider supporting ministries like Rest Stop. Share this episode and equip your family for the world we live in. Because awareness, prevention, and restoration are not just vital—they are part of our calling as Christian parents.

EPISODE LINKS:

• Learn more about Rest Stop Ministries: reststopministries.org

• Rest Stop: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter

Approximately one in five children struggles with some form of mental illness. Dr. Nicole Wilke helps parents to create a safe, supportive space for their kids where they can develop resilience and heal from trauma. Growing up with over 70 foster siblings in her lifetime, Nicole has extensive experience with vulnerable kids. Using biblical principles and scientific research, she’ll offer practical advice for overcoming adversity to thrive in life.

Receive a copy of the books Overcoming: What Scripture and Science Say About Resilience and Caleb Koala’s Comeback Ride: A Journey to Overcoming -- plus an audio download of "Helping Children Overcome Adversity and Trauma" -- for your donation of any amount!

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We must protect every vulnerable life and support every vulnerable mother and father every chance we are given.

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