This weekend marks the one year anniversary of Pastor Andrew Brunson’s wrongful detention in Turkey. Join us in praying for him and spreading the world. Read More for background and how to get involved: Free Pastor Andrew Brunson

Recent LifeWay Research found that while 8 in 10 pastors believe their churches are well-equipped to intervene in someone’s life who is threatening suicide, but a far smaller portion of attendees believe church leaders even knew when a loved one was suffering. There is still a big gap to overcome when removing the stigma of mental health in our churches. Read the research: LifeWay Research: Suicide Remains a Taboo Topic at Churches

Afshin Ziafat fled Iran with his family during the revolution. They moved to the United States to find refuge, but were often greeted with distrust and hostility. Afshin shares his incredible conversion story from Islam to Christianity thanks to a second-grade tutor who loved on him and shared a copy of the New Testament. Afshin shares with us amazing things God is doing in Iran today and how you can love and serve your Muslim neighbors.

America woke up to horror in Las Vegas. A shooter open fired on concert goers, killing at least 58 and injuring many others. This is the deadliest mass shooting in our country’s recent history. What can we do? Do not discount the power of prayer and consider the power of what it means to be a “gospel person.” We offer a real hope to the world.

Here are two recommendations to read as you process through this:

3 Ways to Pray for Las Vegas: It’s a Powerful (Not Political) Act for Christians

Carey Nieuwhof: Thoughts On How To Be The Church In An Age Of Terror And Tragedy

Regular guest George Barna joins us to discuss the impact Christian voters had on the 2016 election. George has written over 50 books, but this is his first one about politics. Pundits and commentators (even Hillary Clinton herself) are still trying to dissect and discuss “what happened.” Yet, not enough attention has been paid to how faith impacted voters. That’s why George wrote The Day Christians Changed America  to show how faith and values swayed voters. Faith was an inescapable part of the 2016 election, and he unpacks exactly what that meant for the outcome.

George Barna is the Executive Director of the American Culture and Faith Institute (a division of United in Purpose), conducting research on worldview, cultural transformation, and politics.

According to a new report from the WHO and the Guttmacher Institute, 55.7 million abortions were performed each year around the world, between 2010 and 2014. Reporters seem most concerned about the relative “safety” of abortions. Think about that for a moment. No one seems horrified that 55.7 million people are being murdered every year.

We are approaching. the one year mark of the false imprisonment of American citizen and Presbyterian pastor Andrew Brunson in Turkey. Brunson’s denomination, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, EPC.org, have called for a day of prayer and fasting.

Today, we talk with two men brought together in the most unlikely of circumstances: Andrew Collins is a former police officer who admitted to falsifying reports. Jameel McGee is one of the men Andrew wrongly accused and served three years in prison for crime he didn’t commit. How are they on our show together? Hear their story and the amazing power of God’s love and forgiveness at work.

There book is: Convicted: A Crooked Cop, an Innocent Man, and an Unlikely Journey of Forgiveness and Friendship

The TV show Will & Grace returns to network television. No show had a more culture-transforming impact than this one in moving the needle on acceptance of homosexuality. It remembering the show, it strikes me that Grace, Debra Messing’s character, was raised with a Christian background. 

Hugh Hefner died at the age of 91. His stated aim in life was to change Americans’ views about sex. We take some time to look at his beliefs about morality and sex and love. Notably, although Hugh Hefner claimed to have had sex with more than 1000 women in his lifetime, he also said he never found his soulmate. Maybe that’s because he so badly misunderstood not only sex and its rightful purpose but also badly misunderstood his own soul.

In our second half, we have the opportunity today to talk with my good friend, Parker Hudson. How can we confront the lie of Darwinism? Parker demonstrates the necessity to know the truth AND be a student of the false ideologies of the world so that we can engage in these conversations well.

 

Related articles and resources:

Interview with Hugh Hefner & Bill Bunkley

The Reconnect interview with Denny Burk on how pornography has shaped a generation

Hugh Hefner, Mourning, and Legacies: Beyond the Pipe and the Robe

Parker Hudson: 10 Lies and 10 Truths

Judge Roy Moore  won the Alabama Republican primary for special election to be held in November to fill U.S Senate seat vacated when Jeff Sessions became Attorney General. What does the election of Roy Moore say about the pro-Christian values voters?

Puerto Rico and many other Caribbean nations were ravaged by Hurricane Maria. The people there have lost their homes and are without basic necessities like medication, clean water, functioning sanitation, electricity. We have the opportunity to hear from Asher Bray, who is currently serving with Samaritan’s Purse as a Technical Advisor on the International Disaster Response Unit for Samaritan’s Purse in Dominica. To donate to their disaster and crisis release in the region, visit Samaritan’s Purse. 

Asher shared how we can pray for victims of Hurricane Maria: pray for strength, for families to remain strong together, for peace in the midst of a really difficult situation, and for the countries to come together to rebuild.

Today we discuss stories that remind us our neighbors are Mormon, Roman Catholic, atheist, Muslim –and suffering. As we approach the challenges and receive the blessings of this day, let us do so in ways that make the Truth of God’s grace known so that others might come to know the hope of history’s Gospel arc.

As we discuss issues of race, reconciliation and political protest, one of the national actors we repeatedly run into is the Black Lives Matter movement. What do we need to know about BLM, and as Christians how do we evaluate this group? Bruce Ashford shares with us his thoughts: An Evangelical Conservative’s Guide to #BlackLivesMatter

Bruce Ashford Provost & Dean of the Faculty at Southeastern Seminary, where he has been teaching since 2002.

Related articles and resources:

Three goodbyes in three days: Why these parents watched their children die at home

Every Holiday a Holy Day (Free E-Book by Bruce & Lauren Ashford)

Today is an exciting day: Carmen’s first book, Speak the Truth is released today. Find information and order here.

The largest number yet of NFL players protested during games across America, following a Friday speech by President Trump criticizing such behavior. The conversation has now devolved in a political fight. Christians are just as divided as the country, and that’s not how it should be. Both Colin Kaepernick and Tim Tebow are both Christians. Both have used kneeling on the field as an act of faith and an act of expression. Why do we feel differently about them?

Our guest today, Pastor Carl Day joins us to discuss the protests over the weekend and encourage Christians in how we engage on the topic. He is Pastor of Culture Changing Christians Worship Center and as an avid sports fan, hosts the Troll Free Sports podcast. Carl calls on Christian players to invest their time and money and get involved with community development and social justice. Will this be just a one-day PR stunt or will this provoke actual action?

The call to all Christians is similar. Step up and do more than react to what is in our social media feeds. Have the uncomfortable conversations, and show the world how to have them with grace, genuine care and concern.

[bctt tweet=”@PastorCarlDay on Christian athletes who #taketheknee –> We have to show Christ, by our love & not just our talk.  ” username=”carmenlaberge”]

 

Related articles and resources:

Colin Kaepernick vs. Tim Tebow: A tale of two Christians on their knees

 

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the social networking giant would be turning over around 3,000 Russian-linked ads to government investigators. There is an ongoing investigation into how bad actors could have posed as American activists to influence the 2016 election by spreading fake news on social media sites. Even though Facebook and other social media networks are roughly a decade old, their commercial, democratic and cultural influence is unparalleled. We must be discerning and wise about their influence personally and systemically.

President Trump approved new sanctions against North Korea, causing the already rocky relationship to become more unstable. Some commentators are asking, “Could this be the end of the world?” We dig into that question and help you turn that into an eternal conversation.

Our guest today is none other than musician, entertainer, and legend Pat Boone. In our wide-ranging conversation, we have the chance to ask him what is was like singing with Johnny Cash, living as a faithful Christian in the entertainment industry and why he is passionate about visiting Israel. He also co-wrote the book Questions About God And the Answers That Could Change Your life. 

Related resources:

If you are interested in travelling with Pat Boone to the Holy Lands, find out more at PatBooneIsraelTour.com

First Lady Melania Trump addressed the issue of bullying yesterday in her speech at a U.N. luncheon. She emphasized the need for parents to raise up children with empathy and compassion toward others. She says:

 As adults we are not merely responsible. We are accountable. I hope you will join me in committing ourselves to teaching the next generation to live by and honor the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, which is my paramount in today’s society and my focus as first lady.

Bullying and cyber-bullying is an affront to human dignity. We lift up a few heartbreaking examples in the news right now. These examples include kids young as seven and eight. Our job as adults and parents must include teaching our children to treat others with love and respect. We know better and must teach our kids to know better. 

‘Destroyed’ Dad Pleads with Parents to Educate Their Kids After Bullied Son with Rare Condition Is Called ‘Monster’ 

After alleged taunting and hanging, N.H. town comes together 

* An 8-Year-Old Bullied For Her Love of Bugs Just Got Her First Scientific Publication

[bctt tweet=”Why do we treat others as anything less than fellow image bearers of the living God? Our life ethic is too small.” username=”carmenlaberge”]

Our guest today helps us look at another attack on human dignity: human trafficking. The founder and president of Let My People Go Network, Raleigh Sadler joins us today to help us understand the scope of the challenge and open our eyes to see the reality of it here in our own country.

A helpful definition of human trafficking is: the exploitation of vulnerable people for financial gain. So what can our local congregations do to love and care for vulnerable people who might be ask risk to exploitation?

Resources:

Trillia Newbell’s book: God’s Very Good Idea

Let My People Go Network

Human trafficking hotline: 1-888-373-7888

Hurricane Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico this morning. The last image from San Juan radar showed at 5:50 a.m. EDT. After that, people braced for the worst without “eyes” on the storm. We have grown so accustomed to being able to “see” and know everything, what happens when we don’t?

Then we take a look at President Trump’s first speech to the UN. Yesterday, the President addressed the Assembly and many noted his repeated reference to sovereignty. The word sovereignty, what exactly does it mean theologically and what does it mean geo-politically?

Our guest today is author and Bible teacher Jen Wilkin. We discuss American church’s lacking biblical literacy, and the need for Christians to rightly read and understand God’s Word. Jen has a passion for reinvigorating women’s ministry, and shares how she sees women stepping into faithful Bible study.

[bctt tweet=”The Bible needs to not just be in the hands of Christians, but in our heart & minds.  -@JenniferWilkin on #TheReconnect” username=”carmenlaberge”]