How and Why to Celebrate

Although some Christians are suspicious of holidays and celebrations, there are many examples and principles in Scripture that throw some light on the question.  What makes a Biblical celebration unique? Should we feel guilty for going off our diet for the holidays? Why are there different "right answers" to some of these questions? Join us as we're planning a wedding and looking forward to Easter, as we try to find Biblical principles to guide our celebrations!

 

 

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Psalm 103:2 says "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." But is that all it's about - "Bless me, God - Amen"? This episode Hal talks with Bob Sjogren of UnveilinGLORY, about a bigger -- and more Biblical -- vision of God, that can look beyond the gifts to really worship the One who gives them! Learn about why Bob calls this entitlement attitude "Cat Theology," and how we can teach our kids (and ourselves) to delight in really glorifying God.

Sooner or later, all of us are likely to need to find a new church - whether it's due to relocation, or a change in the doctrinal stand, or a need for a different sort of community for your family's spiritual growth. And even if we don't make that decision for our own family, each of our children will face that issue when they go away to college or move into independent adulthood. This episode, we're talking about reasons you might need to find a new church, reasons that you really ought not, how to leave a church graciously, and how to go about the search for your new church!

RESOURCES WE MENTIONED

Episode 113, "Dealing with a Toxic Church" (Interview with Andy and Kendra Fletcher)

Episode 132, "Recovering From Legalism"

Tim Challies' blog - http://www.challies.com/

Although most high school graduates head off to college, most don't reach their bachelor's degree. And the ones that do, are usually saddled with a boatload of debt. Is this really necessary? Not in every field, no. Are there alternatives? Yes, indeed. This episode, we speak with the founder of a successful software company which has specialized in apprenticeship as their training model and Christianity as their business ethics!

 

For more information

Role Model Software

Software Craftsmanship Academy

 

 

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One contentious question in the conservative wing of the church is modesty. What defines modesty? How should a modest spirit be expressed? The difficulty is that Scripture gives guidelines but no hemlines - and actually, appropriate dress and behavior will differ from one context or one culture to another. What's more, it isn't a women's issue - men have their issues, too. This episode we have a lively discussion involving blue jeans, ladies in the tropics, swimming in long skirts, and the Old Order Amish. It's all about making Biblical family life practical.

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Check out Hal and Melanie's new book!

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What happens when you do everything right and it turns out terribly, awfully wrong? Do you doubt God's love? Does it shake your faith? Or does it drive you to a closer walk with your Lord and Savior?

This episode, we talk with Kendra Fletcher, the author of the new book (affiliate link!), Lost & Found: Losing Religion, Finding Grace. Kendra and her husband Andy Fletcher (hosts of Homeschooling IRL on this network) have seen both sides of the coin, as God brought them from a cold, rule-based religiosity, to a living faith in a living Jesus day by day. You'll find it both challenging and encouraging as we talk about this crucially important distinction!

 

 

We get messages all the time from parents who’ve found out one of their children is watching porn. In every one, the parents express shock. They had no idea, no clue that this was going on in their house, so they just aren’t prepared to deal with it. When we talk to them, though, the signs have been there -- they just missed them. This episode, we're talking about warning signs that someone in your family is watching pornography - not so you can ambush them, but so you can get them help.

 

Check out our webpage for all sorts of resources to help you guide and recover your kids' integrity! 

 

We've heard the full range of opinions when it comes to young people and relationships - from the barber who asks the 7-year-old if he has a girlfriend yet, to the twenty-something girl who says, "Daddy is going to find me a husband." Surely the Bible has something to say about this ... and it does, but not as cut-and-dried as we might have thought! This episode we look into the question of friendship between guys and girls - is it possible? Is it advisable? Or is it commendable?

We decided to homeschool our kids before we had any! And we meet lots of families with very young children who are eager to get started. Who can blame them? This episode, we talk about our approach to teaching very young children - from the experience of parents with precocious readers and late bloomers and everyone homeschooled from the very beginning!

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Math is fundamental to so many things, but it causes a lot of worry and distress among homeschool parents who have to teach it. The truth is, most of us won't need calculus, but most of us use algebra frequently and never even realize it! How can you get over your own hesitation, calm your students' fears (as well as your own), and see God's hand in the beautiful order of mathematics? Join us for this episode when we talk about surviving the challenge of teaching math!

 

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