Georgia Tech campus police received a call about a suspicious, potentially armed man. That student had suffered from mental illness and self-identified as non-gender conforming. This tragedy reveals much about our collective willingness to affirm chaos and confusion.

We then discuss the incredible story of “the man who saved the world.” Stanislav Petrov was a lieutenant colonel in the Soviet Union’s Air Defense Forces, and the way he responded in a crisis just might have prevented all-out nuclear war.

In today’s interview we discuss how we can overcome our modern-day tendency to think of the world as totally material. Our guest is Mike Cosper, the author of Recapturing the Wonder: Transcendent Faith in a Disenchanted World. Even in our own religious communities, we tend to dis-enchant our faith, making the Bible nothing more than another text to pick apart and understand intellectually. Rather than neglect the intangible and our own souls, let’s reconnect with the wonder of our faith and seek intimacy with God.

The Cato Institute has released an American Fear Index. The study suggests that we are much more anxious now than at other times in history. Dying is still the greatest fear, but dealing with death is only a problem if we are not living in accordance with the reality of God and His redemptive plan. Consider the difference a worldview makes in the public witness of two individuals in the news this week: Jim Carrey and Nabeel Qureshi.

 

According to research from the Annenberg Public Policy Center, 35% of Americans could not name a single branch of government, and only 27% knew what majority in the House and Senate is required to override a presidential veto. On this constitution day, Jonathan Crumly, lawyer with Taylor English, has encouraged us to dive into the constitution, along with its amendments, and be reminded of what this most foundational document declares.

 

In the last half, Ben Stuart, Pastor of Passion City Church in Washington, D.C. and first-time author of Single, Dating, Engaged, Married: Navigating Life and Love in the Modern Age, shared his desire to bring clarity to the utter confusion of young people walking the relationship pathway today. Aside from practical considerations, he offers through the lens of the New Testament a vision for being on mission- no matter what your relationship status.

Here is a rundown of the headlines for today:

* The London attack again ignites the spirit of terror in the world.

* North Korea fired another ballistic missile over Japan despite new UN sanctions.

* In Barbuda, destruction from Irma was complete.

* Stephen Greenblatt in his book The Rise and Fall of Adam and Eve explains the biblical account of the first humans as an integral myth for our culture. Christians need to be prepared to engage with those who are critical of the creation story.

* Challenges facing motherhood today include the new nihilistic movie, Mother!, as well as the portrayal of hurricanes as angry, wrathful mothers by Jennifer Lawrence.

* Congratulations to Senator Lankford for winning the Faith and Freedom award from National Religious Broadcasters!

* An enterprising 11-year-old mows the Rose Garden lawn and charges the president his “regular rate.”

Then Sally Lloyd Jones, author of the Jesus Storybook Bible, helps us see the power of story in communicating the gospel. For children whose lives are full of rules, what might happen if we could step back from moralising after Bible reading and allow God to show them grace. Her latest book helps older children adapt to having a new baby around and is called His Royal Highness, King Baby.

 

There are three vulnerable populations in the news today for believers to be mindful of and take action on behalf of, to befriend and walk alongside: the dreamers, the homeless, and the elderly. In other news, despite a dire prediction from 1966, religion is not going away. It is rising around the globe, so we can take heart as we stay busy about bringing God into every conversation.

In the second half, Dr. Alf Halvorson gives us a glimpse into the hurricane relief ministry of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. Their robust site, worthy of emulation, offers numerous practical resources, emotional coping tools, even an invitation for victims to tell their story- and is an example of incarnational ministry for any of life’s storms.

Related Resources

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Why religion is not going away and science will not destroy it

 

 

Here is a run down of the news topics for today:

Faith-based groups are on the front lines of disaster recovery efforts in coordination with FEMA, and yet if a church were to be damaged, would they be eligible to apply for public assistance?

Lifeway has released new research on the experience of pastor’s wives, and it provides an opportunity to examine our expectations of and responses to our church leaders’ families.

Spelman College, an all-women, historically black college and university, will admit transgender female students who “consistently live and self-identify as women.” What is consistency in a culture with identity confusion and how can Christians speak into those conversations?

Then, Marian Jordan Ellis, Masters of Biblical Studies from Southwestern Theological Seminary and founder of Redeemed Girl Ministries, talks with us about her latest book, Stand: Rising Up Against Darkness, Temptation, and Persecution. Our enemy and his battle against us is real. Listen to this interview and find encouragement to stand amidst whatever trials and temptations you may be facing.

Find further encouragement through the testimony of Nabeel Qureshi, who is fighting cancer, found here.

How long is your family prepared to live without power? Millions of people are living that reality in the aftermath of Irma, and some might not have power for an additional week and a half. Plus, Christians have a gospel conversation opportunity surrounding different people’s responses to the storm’s devastation- and the characterization of those responses.

Jesse Rojo is the Hispanic Affairs Director at Philos Project. He is also founder of the Israel A Cappella initiative which helps Hispanic Christians connect with Israel. Our conversation covers new research on the attitudes of Hispanic Christians towards Israel and why that research is important.

Trillia Newbell, Director of Community Outreach for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, joins us again to share about her new children’s book, God’s Very Good Idea. In her book, children have the opportunity to lay hold of a beautiful vision of an Ephesians 2 reality in the family of God- one where many different kinds of people celebrate and love each other and love God together.

Irma continues on its path now moving inland and impacting Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee. Just as humans are fallen because of sin- so is Creation, and the resulting storms provide opportunities for God’s people to be mobilized as living sacrifices for the glory of God and the advancement of the Gospel.

Albert Hsu, PhD in educational studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and senior editor for IVP Books at InterVarsity Press, has written a book entitled Grieving a Suicide: A Loved One’s Search for Comfort, Answers and Hope. He talks with us from a place of personal experience about how to care for the victims of suicide.

 

The Public Religion Research Institute has released an extensive new interactive tool of the American cultural landscape called the American Values Atlas. The study reveals trends in American attitudes and values, by demographic. Dr. Dan Cox is Research Director at Public Religion Research Institute and joins us today to understand the changing demographics of Americans and the decline of white Protestant Christianity.

Garry Ingram is passionate about helping Christian leaders in the very essential areas relating broadly to issues of sexual and relational brokenness. For many years, even generations, he sees how the Church has ignored sexuality and failed to speak truth on God’s good design on these matters. As someone who has homosexuality in his history, he speaks to these topics with conviction and compassion. He is the Founder and Director of Love and Truth Network, a ministry that equips Christian leaders.

Irma’s U.S. threat grows, per Weather Channel: “Irma is increasingly likely to target parts of the Florida peninsula as a dangerous hurricane this weekend.”

“Parts of Georgia and the Carolinas could then be struck by Irma early next week.”

Most Florida flood zone property not insured, per AP: “In just five years, the state’s total number of federal flood insurance policies has fallen by 15 percent.”

In the midst of the storms of life and just life’s general busyness, how do we experience the Peace which passes all understanding. How do we live in tranquility in the midst of chaos? My friend, David Henderson is Senior Pastor of Covenant Church and joins us to discuss this very important question. He is the author of Tranquility: Cultivating a Quiet Soul in a Busy World. He writes in his book about the difference between busyness and calling :

“There really are only two ways to view our time. We can follow the culture into a driven life, in which we view our time as our own, to meet our own needs. Or we can follow Christ into a called life, in which we yield up our time, giving it back to its rightful owner, and then allow him to lead us into the life he has already designed for us.”

 

Today start off with some quick takes bringing the eternal to bear on the everyday. So, hold onto your hat as we talk about: Hurricane Irma, Congress, Robert E. Lee, and the fact that there’s actually no way parents can be overprotective when it comes to kids and technology.

In our second half, we dive deeper into the issue of technology and family. Our guest, Andy Crouch is a tech-loving geek, and his wife is a scientist. How did they develop a “tech-wise” approach to parenting two kids? And why did they make some pretty radical stands on the role of technology in their family life?  He is the author of The Tech-wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place.

Related articles and resources:

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