Yesterday’s terrorist attack on a bike path in New York City is a fresh reminder that ISIS has not come to an end. Despite the recent string of defeats, as long as there are people who align with their ideology, we will continue to be subjected to such violence.

Who was the person who introduced you to Jesus Christ? Today is All Saints’ Day and we celebrate the spiritual bond between all the saints, whether in Heaven or still on Earth, and the saints themselves who have faithfully passed on the gospel since the time of the disciples.

In order to Speak the Truth, we have to be people who learn to listen. Becky Harling, author of How to Listen So People Will Talk: Build Stronger Communication and Deeper Connections, challenges us to consider just how good at listening we really are. Together we consider ways to be fully present in the lives of those around us.

All Hallows Eve; what is Halloween and what should Christians do with it? Where would Jesus have us on this day? Think about how you are going to greet your neighborhood kids. Be the gracious, incarnational person who comes to the door with great joy and lavishes the love of Christ on those who knock. This is a community building opportunity, rather than stuffing ourselves into our own activities extracting us from our neighborhood. Tonight, we need to take our place as lighthouses among the darkness.

On this special day, the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, our guest today is Dr. Stephen Nichols, president of Reformation Bible College and chief academic officer for Ligonier Ministries, and a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow. Dr. Nichols shares why what Luther did 500 years ago today is still so important for us today. His book is: The Legacy of Luther

Related articles and resources:

Must Read Monday: Reformation special

 

Special prosecutor Robert Mueller today issued the first charges in his investigation. We look at these serious charges and understand how to bring God into this conversation.

Part of this discussion returns to the topic of “opposition research,” and a specific file created about then-candidate Donald Trump. In the grand scheme of things, in the reality of the Gospel universe, we not only have serious opposition, we have an advocate, a champion, a Savior who pleads our case and covers our sins.

In advance of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation tomorrow, we recently spoke with Eric Metaxas about his biography of Martin Luther. Today, we talk about another key figure in the Reformation– albeit far less know. Ruth Tucker just us to talk about Martin Luther’s wife Katharina. Her book is Katie Luther, First Lady Of The Reformation: The Unconventional Life Of Katharina Von Bora.

 

White nationalists are expected to gather near Nashville, TN, this weekend. ERLC President Russell Moore writes in the Tennessean: 

The truth, though, is that the church must oppose this by, first, knowing that it will not go away on its own. We should also recognize where this comes from. White supremacy is not just backward but devilish. And it thrives, in part, due to the fact that people lacking a sense of transcendent belonging are clinging to the idolatries of “blood and soil.”

Additional articles:

Nepal Criminalizes Christian Conversion and Evangelism

PragerU Sues YouTube in Free-Speech Case

Samantha Bee’s Hell House Scares A Climate Change Denier Into Believing

Why do we sing in church? Does it matter? Our guest today is one-half of Getty Music, Keith Getty. Keith is passionate about passing on to the Church why we sing. We are commanded to sing, we are created to sing and we are compelled to sing in response to Christ. Singing is holy activity and it a small foretaste of heaven- let’s value it as such! The book is: Sing!: How Worship Transforms Your Life, Family, and Church.

Fall is my favorite season of the year. There’s almost nothing about it I don’t love, except, perhaps the name. The season of fall is a good time to talk about The Fall. 

As you watch leaves fall and fires burn; as you consider this year the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and our continual need – even as Christians – to be refined and renewed, as you lament the reality that Halloween is no longer confined in our culture to a day but that many people wander around as agents of darkness – like witches, vampires and zombies, consider the fall.

In our second half, best-selling author Sheila Walsh discusses why it is so important for parents to model a love for the Bible to their children, and ways to do that. The book is: The Bible Is My Best Friend- Family Devotional: 52 Devotions for Families

 

We have received some sad, breaking news on a story we covered last week. An undocumented immigrant teen, who is in custody of the American government, has petitioned the court for access to abortion and won. The ACLU rejoiced over the legal victory that resulted in the death of an unborn child. Stories like this should expand our view of what it means to be pro-life.

Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona announced he will be retiring from his position at the end of this term. Sen. Flake gave a pointed critique of the current state of civil discourse in this country. Read the speech here.

In the lead up to the International Day of prayer for the persecuted church, November 5, we’ve posted a special resources online and and we’re having a series of conversations on the topic.

Today our conversation is with Johnnie Moore, author of The Martyr’s Oath: Living for the Jesus They’re Willing to Die For.

Johnnie and a team of researchers traveled the globe to gather incredible stories of Christians enduring persecution. As Christians, we should be concerned when one part of the Body suffers. And as Americans, there is also a grave concern about the persecution of all religious minorities and destabilization around the world.

At nine years old, Denise Shick’s father told her a secret. He wanted to be a woman. Denise shares with us her story of growing up this weight on her shoulders and how God has redeemed her life and provided hope, love and security. Denise’s story sheds light on the often untold stories of families and relationships who experience consequences as a result of someone else’s “sexual freedom.” Denise now leads the organization Help 4 Families, which assists families walking through the gender dysphoria of a loved one.

At the end of this month, we will celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. How do the ideas put forth half a millennium ago still influence today? to discuss this, we are joined by Eric Metaxas, national radio host and best-selling author on his recent project: Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World.

As Eric points out, Martin Luther was just one of the reformers, but his ability to communicate broke through the systems of the day, with historic implications. He communicated in such a way to get beyond the elites (who primarily wrote in Latin) and into the public square. Coupled with the printing press, Luther’s writing was compelling and accessible so that elites could no longer squash the revolutionary ideas and control the flow of information. His story still has much to teach the Church today.

Where do you draw the line between a fun magic show and dabbling dangerously with darkness? Why must we learn to discern between deception or trickery and reality? What about ouiga boards, mind-readers, psychics and others who claim some sort of spiritual connection or supernatural ability? How do we communicate the important difference between the miracles of Jesus, fakes and the dark supernatural?

Most investigators of magic and the supernatural are atheists who seek to debunk the existence of any spiritual forces. But we have the opportunity and benefit of discussing all of these questions (and more) with three Christians who have done the investigation to divide real from fake, truth from deception, and good from real evil.

For the entire show, we talk with:

Rod Robison is a mentalist, illusionist, author, speaker, and broadcast professional. His comedy mind reading show, Mentallusions, has been a popular feature at corporate and organizational events as well as aboard Holland America cruise lines and at London’s Magic Circle Theater.

Dr. Toby A. Travis is an educator, researcher, trainer, speaker, consultant, and author. He officially retired from performing as an illusionist and as a theatrical producer in 2008.

Adrian Van Vactor is an internationally known award-winning illusionist and Christian apologist with FaithSearch International.

Get their book: Unmasking the Masquerade: Three Illusionists Investigate Deception, Fear, and the Supernatural

In our first half with talk with Michele Cushatt about living into our identity in Christ. We hear messages all day from the culture about identity, but she reminds us: “Knowing who God is changes how we see ourselves.” (REAIR)

How do we do this? The answer is not popular, says Michele. It takes the hard work of knowing our God. We must connect with the source. Her book is:  I Am: A 60-Day Journey to Knowing Who You Are Because of Who He Is

(NEW) Then, we talk with Jamie Ivey, host of the Happy Hour podcast and author of forthcoming book (January 2018)  If You Only Knew: My Unlikely, Unavoidable Story of Becoming Free.

Jamie grew up in a Christian home and knew all about God, but lived as if she didn’t know Him at all. She shares with us how God has forgiven her of every sin wiped her clean of guilt and shame. She wants other women to experience that same freedom.

Today, President George W. Bush gave an inspiring speech calling Americans away from bullying, prejudice and bigotry and to reclaim our identity as “we the people.” This is a call to the Christians in America to renew our vision of every person as a created in the very image of God.

Then we look at a case today in which a Utah man will be tried for murder in assisted-suicide death of friend.

Our guest today is author and pastor Jarrid Wilson, pastor at Home Church Nashville and founder of Anthem of Hope, a non-profit movement dedicated to illuminating hope for those battling brokenness, depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicide and addiction.

His latest book is Love Is Oxygen: How God Can Give You Life and Change Your World

Jarrid shares his powerful personal journey from depression and suicidal thoughts to encountering God’s love as transforming and life-giving. As part of that, he encourages pastors and the Church to do better when it comes to stepping into mental health challenges.

He passionately encourages pastors to be open and real about what they also struggles with. He notes, “If you don’t want to be open and vulnerable about your failures in life, then don’t become a pastor.”

[bctt tweet=”American Christianity has bought into the lie that you have to have it all together to lead people. In reality, you can’t relate to perfection. – @JarridWilson on #TheReconnect” username=”carmenlaberge”]