Karl and Crew

A North Carolina pastor was so outraged, he wrote a letter to the Washington Post. Why was he so upset? American Girl released their first-ever male doll. Is this something Christians should be upset about, and should our sons play with dolls? Brian and Kathleen share the details of the story and examine both sides of the issue on this week’s episode.

America needs to sit down and have some hard conversations. But who’s in the best position to start them? Musicians, professional athletes, celebrities, politicians, the mainstream media and others are scratching and clawing for a job. Brian and Kathleen share the results of a fascinating Lifeway Research report on the subject in this week’s episode. Then they try to answer the question themselves.

The refugee debate is raging everywhere. It’s dominating the news. It’s spilling into the streets in protests. It’s all over the place on social media. And it’s dividing Christians. In this week’s episode, Brian and Kathleen enter the fray and do their best to digest the issues through the lens of Scripture.

Television and movies are a significant part of American culture. But what should Christians do with the violence, language, and sexual content so frequently found in media today? In this week's episode, Brian and Kathleen discuss a recent lawsuit faced by a faith-based video filtering company. Then, they tackle the deeper issues surrounding what Christians should censor, and why.

It’s a growing trend on college campuses. Many roll their eyes and groan when the topic arises. However, some legitimate cases can be made for the value of trigger warnings for those who’ve experienced trauma. But should Christian colleges implement them? Brian and Kathleen share the details about a seminary that uses a specific trigger warning in this week’s episode. They also spend time discussing whether the practice has value for followers of Jesus.

Virtually everybody agrees that worship is an essential part of a church service. But how much musical talent should be displayed while praising God? Are guitar and sax solos ever appropriate? Brian and Kathleen disagree on this, and so do many listeners. Eavesdrop on their debate in this week’s episode. And don’t worry, they’re still friends when it’s over.

Prepare yourselves for something special. Based on their names alone it sounds like it was supposed to happen. Brian and Kathleen’s moms, Sandy and Cindi, are the special guests on this week’s episode. What are the challenges of being a mom to adult children? Eavesdrop on this conversation that many should have, but don’t. There’s plenty of laughter and tears. It’s basically a “Mom-Com.”

Why is it even called a sleepover? Nobody sleeps, including the parents. But there's much more to consider for followers of Jesus related to this common childhood activity. Are we taking unnecessary risks allowing kids to stay overnight at a stranger's house? Is it weird to ban the practice altogether? Brian and Kathleen talk with each other, and a special guest about it in this week's episode.

It's our 50th full episode! As part of the celebration, this week's topic was selected by one of our listeners. Judy wanted to know whether Christians should give money to panhandlers. Is there a rule of thumb we can follow? What if they use the money to feed an addiction? Brian and Kathleen chat with Judy and tackle the subject with personal stories and Biblical examples.

Surprise! We’ve got an early Christmas present for you. It’s not all that spiritual, it’s not entirely serious, yet it’s lots of fun. Get to know Brian and Kathleen a bit better as they open up about their personal pet peeves. And they’ll prove once again that they’re polar opposites.