In the news today is a story describing millennials as the loneliest generation. Even though they are reportedly more connected via social media than any other generation previously, they lack a sense of belonging. Here is an opportunity for the church. Questions attached to loneliness include the big ones we all face about identity, meaning and belonging.

Film producer and director Lucas Miles joined us in conversation about healthy media usage for Christians. How much is too much? Why is it important to keep up with recent trending topics and what does it mean to be an influencer?

Have you thought of yourself as a content producer? And a content distributor? The fact is, if you have a Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or any other social media account, you are. We live in an environment of media consumption. As ambassadors of another Kingdom while in the kingdoms of this world, we need to test ourselves and be sure that we are only producing and promoting content that is good, true and beautiful.

 

Dr. Aykan Erdemir, former member of the Turkish Parliament and senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, spoke with us about the deterioration of democracy and the status of American Pastor Andrew Brunson whose trial resumes in the coming days. With Turkey under a state of emergency in which there is currently no rule of law under a leader that has no exit strategy, it is not a good time to be a Christian there. Pastor Brunson’s imprisonment is a result of hostage diplomacy, the framing of an innocent man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Learn more how to pray for and support Pastor Brunson here.

How do we bring God into conversations on the headlines of the day? As we scan the headlines, we look for what people are going to be talking about. It is our job to bring eternity to bear on the realities of the day and be ambassadors of His Kingdom. Carmen walks us through today’s headlines and demonstrates how to get God back into the conversation.

 

An article in The Atlantic called The End of Reality paints a picture of a world where fake video and virtual reality eliminate our ability to determine what is real. We need to be equipped to handle this world in which it will not be easy to defend ourselves when our words and images get manipulated while remaining steadfast in our understanding that who we are rests on truth that cannot be manipulated.

Jedd Medefind, President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans, offered up practical suggestions for supporting and coming alongside families in our churches who are adopting or fostering children. He communicated a beautiful vision for the church to be the centerpiece of extending the grace we have received through our own adoption into the family of God to a world full of vulnerable children in need.

 

In a historic meeting, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s President Moon Jae-In have agreed to work towards denuclearization and peace for the Korean peninsula. We rejoice in these declarations and pray for the continued mutual pursuit of peace, but we also recognize that all peace this side of Heaven is relative peace. The North Korean regime is a highly repressive one under which many have lost their lives.

William Vanderbloemen is the author of Culture Wins and the CEO and Founder of Vanderbloemen Search Group. His new book is a road map to creating a work culture that is irresistible, but it’s not your typical road map. The journey leads inward to self-examination in an effort to determine how our best work is produced for God’s glory.

Connecting Point: Every environment we are a part of has its own culture. As believers and ambassadors of Christ, we are called to work the soils in which we are operating and cultivate a harvest of righteousness.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has released their 2018 report and it communicates the deterioration of democracy and therefore religious freedom in many countries. Meanwhile in our country, a new PEW research study shows that many Americans believe in a higher power, not the God of the Bible, and many who self-identify as Christians don’t believe in God, evidence of the ongoing confusion and lack of concern in our culture regarding ultimate truth.

In the interview portion, Abdu Murray, North American Director with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, addressed that confusion and lack of concern as well as how Christians can help steer conversations out of muddy waters and towards the truth that saves. His new book is called Saving Truth: Finding Meaning and Clarity in a Post-Truth World.

Ultimately, confusion leads to bad ideas and bad consequences like we are seeing in the case of Alfie Evans, a toddler living in the U.K. whose parents are being prevented from accepting an offer of treatment from the Vatican by their government.

It is time for a Bible reading plan check. New research points out that many who have a Bible and claim to be Bible-believing, don’t actually read it. As people of the Word, we have a responsibility to be in the Word and let it work itself out through us in the times in which we live.

Kathy Branzell of Love2020 and the board of directors for the National Day of Prayer prompted us to prayer and unity and to authentically and tangibly love our neighbors. How to do that? First, help them feel safe around you, then help them feel loved and cared for, then find open doors for sharing the Gospel.

Lastly, in a world with a rising number of exorcists in response to a rising number of people who are considered possessed, let’s be sure as believers that we acknowledge that evil is real and that there is an enemy actively working to spread it.

Resources:

Missionamerica.org

LOVE2020.com

Nationaldayofprayer.org

Have you considered what should happen to your body after you die? Cremation is experiencing a surge in popularity because of secularism and economics. While it might be cheaper to get cremated, the biblical perspective of the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, purchased by the blood of Christ and not destined for final destruction, but for resurrection.

Matt Perman, author of How to Get Unstuck helped us see why paying attention to our productivity glorifies God. More integration and intentional planning will lead to a greater harvest of righteousness. Our choices arise from our character, so while we want to be efficient and productive workers, we also recognize that Jesus was never in a hurry, and wherever we go and whatever we do, we are representing Christ to every soul around us.

In the news, Senator Cory Booker’s line of questioning during Mike Pompeo’s confirmation hearing was an attempt to substantiate his vote with a religious test. #PraytheNews for the people of Myanmar who are hiding in the jungle from their own governement. In all our human interactions as ambassadors of Christ, are we putting on love in the manner of Colossians 3?

John Campbell is the senior fellow for Africa policy studies at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, DC. He’s the author of several books on Africa and his forthcoming book Nigeria: What Everyone Needs to Know is due out in July. He writes the blog Africa in Transition and edits both the Nigeria Security Tracker and the Sub-Saharan Security Tracker. In our conversation, he shed light on the rapidly growing African population and the implications for its future economic and political influence in addition to the particular situation in Nigeria.

Today’s News Commentary Stories:

* Chick-fil-A is now open in Union Station in Washington DC.

* Pastor Andrew Brunson has been returned to a prison of better conditions, and ⅔ of the U.S. Senate have demanded that the Turkish government release him.

* 170 early adopter boy scout packs are now accepting girls.

* The British royal family announces the birth of a boy.

Kelly Kannwischer, CEO of Younique, shared a vision for how the church can empower her people to go forth as ambassadors into the world by helping them discern and then live out their unique and specific callings thereby extending the church’s influence deeply and effectively into the culture.

Dr. Lisa Morrone closed out the show with a discussion of getting healthy for Heaven’s sake, which is also the title of her latest book, particularly in the area of stress. We discussed how it works, what it can do and how to manage it.

Today on Connecting Faith, Neil Stavem hosted the monthly Ask the Professor segment. Professors Mark Muska and Brad Sickler from Northwestern University answer questions from listeners. Today’s show covered the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus, forgiveness, legalism and Bible translations.