Where in the Word are you today? 

Philippians 4:4-9

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Today’s Guests

Jeff Barrows – Christian Medical & Dental Association

Jeff is the Senior Vice President of Bioethics and Public Policy for the CMDA. Today he addresses the need to balance our approach to youth who are experiencing gender dysphoria. He also unpacks recent research about asthma and African-American female mortality rate during pregnancy.

Mike Nawrocki – Lipscomb University & Veggie Tales

Most of us have heard of Veggie Tales, but have we heard of the Dead Sea Squirrels? The Dead Sea Squirrels are a series of books by Mike. Now, he and his team desire to make an animated series of it and are raising funds through kickstarter to do it. For more information on this endeavor including a sneak peak behind the series go to this link: deadseasquirrels.com.

Today’s Episode

https://nwmedia-ondemand.streamguys1.com/mornings-with-carmen/20210216122010-02-16-2021-Mornings-with-Carmen-HR2.mp3

 

Winter Freeze Strategies

The big news this morning is just how very very cold it is across the nation. It’s a LOT warmer this morning in Hartford, CT than it is in Nashville, TN or Dallas, TX where they are experiencing rolling blackouts. Millions are without power in subfreezing temperatures in parts of the country where people are not prepared to endure extreme cold nor are their homes insulated for such. Churches that have power are opening as warming centers contrary to some COVID restrictions and it’s a very important day to check on your elderly and medically fragile neighbors – keeping in mind that you cannot and must not try to drive on roads covered with ice – which many times you cannot even see. 

If folks have medical equipment that depends on electricity, they may need some help figuring out how to charge or run those devices for several days. 

Remember, you can charge your phone and some other devices in your car but you cannot run your vehicle in a closed garage. 

Also, you can cover your windows with plastic or blankets to keep the cold from seeping in. 

Turn off or unplug appliances so when the power comes back on, the energy surge does not damage them. And only plug in those appliances you actually need. Consider sealing off part of your house and congregating in one interior room that can more quickly heat up when the power is restored and will stay warm longer when the power is out. 

Today’s Guests

Nick Pitts – Fellow at the Institute for Global Engagement

Nick Pitts is in Dallas and experiencing the rolling blackouts we’re talking about. Amidst those blackouts, he and Carmen discuss a Pew Research study stating their findings that many Americans believe evangelicals will lose, rather than gain influence during Biden’s presidency. 

Luke Moon – Philos Project & Providence Magazine

Myanmar, China, and a former Nazi guard are on the docket for Luke and Carmen. Respectively, resistance to Myanmar’s coup is still happening, the cause of the Coronavirus is being battled by U.S. and Chinese officials, and the Nazi guard who is 100 years old is charged as an accessory to murder.

Today’s Episode

https://nwmedia-ondemand.streamguys1.com/mornings-with-carmen/20210216122011-02-16-2021-Mornings-with-Carmen-HR1.mp3

 

San Francisco’s Schoolchildren

In the opening of this hour, Carmen discusses an article from an LA news source, KTLA5, titled San Francisco files suit to reopen schools, citing high suicide rates among children. She states what some roles of churches could be along with what you can do in your own sphere of influence such as check on kids and families who you know.

For more information on the mental health of kids, here is a resource to check out: https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/mental-illness-kids-and-how-churches-respond/

Today’s Guests

Linda Mintel – the Dr. Linda Mintle Show

How do we keep romance alive? What are 5 ways to create healthy relationships and manage conflicts? Dr. Mintle helps us think through these questions in the hopes that we would be equipped to love others well.

Karen Ehman – Author of “Make Their Day”

“Make Their Day: 101 Simple, Powerful Ways to Love Other Well” is a book with a title that says it all. These are ways that help you develop habits of daily thoughtfulness and even reconnect with friends and family members. This book meant for individuals gifted or not gifted with hospitality. It is meant to help us love others. For more information on the book click here and for more information on Karen and her ministry, click here.

Today’s Episode

https://nwmedia-ondemand.streamguys1.com/mornings-with-carmen/20210215111008-02-15-2021-Mornings-with-Carmen-HR2.mp3

 

Weather

The big news for a LOT of people across the country today is the weather. And as bad as the weather may be, its somehow refreshing that the big news is NOT something out of Washington or Hollywood or Wall Street.

As people of the Word, what’s the Bible got say about the weather this morning? 

Our minds may rush to the words of Jesus about our ability to forecast the weather but fail to understand the signs of our times or we might remember how God uses weather to work His will – in the days of the plagues or in raining down fire on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah or in the storms at sea in the lives of Jonah or Paul. Or we might consider the passages in the book of Job or this story from Elijah’s experience in I Kings 19, beginning at verse 11:

11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

How does God speak to you today in the quiet of snowfall or the howelling of the wind or the shaking of the earth or the ebbing tide? 

Today’s Guests

Zach Jenkins – Cedarville University

Our infectious disease expert, Zach Jenkins leads us through the top headlines surrounding Covid-19 and some promising news surrounding new treatment options for those who contract it!

Jim Denison – Denison Forum

Max Lucado’s speech at the Washington National Cathedral was in our conversations last week, and this week we continue to discuss it with insight from Jim Denison. He and Carmen also discuss: 1. The growing public censorship. 2. Three ways Christians should respond. 3. How to respond to opposition. For more information from Jim, go to the Denison Forum Webpage here.

Today’s Episode

https://nwmedia-ondemand.streamguys1.com/mornings-with-carmen/20210215105010-02-15-2021-Mornings-with-Carmen-HR1.mp3

 

When We Look Out

Many times when we look out into our culture, into the news headlines, into life in general, we think to ourselves, “the world is irreparably broken.” When we have that thought, the very next thought should be, “We have a God who redeems.” Right now, He is making all things new even if it doesn’t look or feel like it. If you are in Christ, God has begun a good work in you by the power of His Holy Spirit and will indeed bring it to completion. You can count on that promise. So, let us not despair. God HAS sent a savior, God HAS redeemed, and God IS actively redeeming now.

Spend some time in the Word of God today and call out for yourself some Valentines God sent you – declarations of His love. They are in any book of the Bible and the whole Bible points to it in Christ!

God has sent his love to us; it is Christ and in Christ, revealed in His word, by His Spirit and to redeemed bride, the Church.

Today’s Guests

Adam Holz – Plugged In

Today, Adam joins us to discuss some movie reviews, the current cancel culture, and the perils of celebrity pastors. Plugged In is from Focus on the Family and is an online resource for families to help them “understand, navigate, and impact the culture in which they live” (Plugged in) They help reveal what really is in the entertainment media of the day, diving deeper than just the industry ratings of G, PG, etc.

“Tim and Miriam Harris” – Authors of “Loving Your Muslim Neighbors”

We hear from “Time and Miriam” about how reaching out to Muslim people is not easy but is so worth it! Their books helps us understand first, how they got into ministry to Muslims, second, how God is working inside the Muslim world, and how Muslims are people like us who need Jesus. For more information on this book and their work go to: this link for the book and this one for their blog!

Today’s Episode

https://nwmedia-ondemand.streamguys1.com/mornings-with-carmen/20210212102011-02-12-2021-Mornings-with-Carmen-HR2.mp3

 

Love

It’s Valentine’s day weekend which gives us an opportunity to talk unashamedly about love. Let me encourage you to center on the love of God and on God, who is love. 

Here are handful of the valentine’s God has written to us in His Word – better than a box of chocolates every day! 

 

“‘The mountains may shift, and the hills may be shaken, but my faithful love won’t shift from you, and my covenant of peace won’t be shaken,’ says the Lord, the one who pities you.” — Isaiah 54:10

 

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us in that we should be called God’s children, and that is what we are! Because the world didn’t recognize him, it doesn’t recognize us.” — 1 John 3:1

“Know now then that the Lord your God is the only true God! He is the faithful God, who keeps the covenant and proves loyal to everyone who loves him and keeps his commands — even to the thousandth generation!” — Deuteronomy 7:9

“But you, my Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy; you are very patient and full of faithful love.” — Psalm 86:15

“The Lord your God is in your midst — a warrior bringing victory. He will create calm with his love; he will rejoice over you with singing.” — Zephaniah 3:17

“I ask that you’ll have the power to grasp love’s width and length, height and depth, together with all believers. I ask that you’ll know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge so that you will be filled entirely with the fullness of God.” — Ephesians 3:18-19

 

And my favorite valentine from the Lord – better than the BE MINE candy heart:

Isaiah 43:1 But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

Today’s Guests

Matthew Hawkins – Former Policy Director for the Ethics & Religious Liberties Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention

“Should prayer be part of our civic ceremonies?” an opinion writer for the Washington Post asks. They go on to say we that “If… the point of prayer is to inspire me…then please leave God out.” Matthew and Carmen dive into this topic of public prayer and answer many questions about the point of prayer.

Chris Martin – Terms of Service Blog

Chris is a Content Marketing Editor at Moody Publishers and is also a social media, marketing, and communicating consultant. He and Carmen discuss recent published Lifeway research about the missing online spaces churches are ignoring. He also helps us think through a conversation he had with Charlton Mcilwain about how black communities have shaped the internet. For more information on some of the topics covered here go to Chris’ Terms of Service blog here.

Today’s Episode

https://nwmedia-ondemand.streamguys1.com/mornings-with-carmen/20210212101012-02-12-2021-Mornings-with-Carmen-HR1.mp3

 

Decision of the Day: Retaliation Tour or Going the Second Mile? 

In the context of the Sermon on the Mount, following the recitation of the Beatitudes, and the declaration that his followers are the salt of the earth, Jesus teaches a series of lessons that begin, “you have heard that it was said, but I say unto you.” He is calling those who follow him to ways not of this world. He is calling us to live on earth as if in heaven that the world might catch a glimpse of what it looks like to be people who are literally not of this world. 

Listen to what Jesus says about retaliation and how we are to treat those whom we might be tempted to vilify as enemies. 

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 

Jesus calls us to a second mile love by calling us to himself and his ways. Indeed, his ways are not the ways of this world but the way of the Father. The narrow way that leads to eternal life. And yes, few follow it. But let us be found faithful today to people of the Way of Christ even as the world goes its own way, down a path that leads to destruction. 

Today’s Guests

Peter Kapsner – 50 Shades of Truth

Love, Marriage and Jedi are some of the conversation topics for Peter and Carmen, not to mention a Today Show article about moving in with a boyfriend. How may the mind of Christ come to bear on the issues of the day involving boyfriends and jedis. Let’s find out here.

Tish Harrison-Warren – Author of “Prayer in the Night”

“Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep” is a book in which Trish explores how we can trust God at night, in the night, when silence comes upon us and we may be overwhelmed by worry, grief, or suffering. She encourages us that we can discover God in that silence and learn to trust Him as we anchor ourselves to Jesus in our prayers. For more information on the book, click the link here.

Today’s Episode

https://nwmedia-ondemand.streamguys1.com/mornings-with-carmen/20210211095009-02-11-2021-Mornings-with-Carmen-HR2.mp3

 

Fight Like Heaven

The debate in our nation today is around the meaning, intent, interpretation and resulting action of one man saying three words, “fight like hell.” 

What I can say is this, as Christians, we are called to fight like heaven. 

Yes, fight, but fight the good fight. 

Yes, fight, for fight for justice and righteousness using an entirely different set of weapons, armor, strategies and principles. 

Fight like Jesus, on our knees and with our arms spread wide, as living sacrifices, ambassadors of a King and a Kingdom not of this world, nor of its ways. 

Fight Like Heaven Today

Turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, bless those who persecute you, pray for those who accuse you, forgive those who wrong you, flee from the temptation to take up the weapons of this world – malice, contempt, enmity, retribution, hate – and put on the full armor of God that you might withstand. Shine like lights in a perverse generation, sow peace. Yes, in so far as it depends on you, seek to live peaceably with everyone. 

Fight like heaven today: when the devil tempted Jesus to trade the power of the Kingdom of God for the all the kingdoms of this world, Jesus turned him down. When Peter raised the sword to defend Jesus when he faced unrighteous arrest, Jesus told him to put it away. When Peter was in prison, the early church didn’t go as a mob to break him out, they got down on their knees and they prayed for God to glorify Himself. 

The world knows how to fight like hell and fight they will. We do not belong to this world though we yet live in it. We do so as citizens of another Kingdom, ambassadors of another King, called to live as provisional demonstration of those Kingdom principles in the midst of the kingdoms of this world. 

We don’t fight like hell, we fight like heaven. 

We acknowledge God and His power to redeem. 

We pray and we seek justice and righteousness – but not through violence or intimidation. 

When you hear the phrase today, “fight like hell,” I want your mind to resist and respond, “I will not. I will fight like heaven for I am a saint, an ambassador, redeemed in Christ. Hell is beneath me and so therefore is fighting like hell. I will put on the full armor of God and I will stand, for I can do no other. Like the apostle Paul before me (2 Cor 10:3-5), though I walk in the flesh, I will not wage war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but the power of God, whose authority I possess by the Spirit and who has already overcome the world. 

Fight like heaven.

Today’s Guests

Ben Johnson – Acton Institute

The impeachment trial is in the headlines today. Jimmy Lai is in them too. What is happening in the impeachment trial and to Jimmy Lai? How may we think of incitement being used as a base for the trial and how may we reflect on the life and mission of Jimmy Lai? Ben joins us today to discuss these topics in more detail.

Kathy Branzell – National Day of Prayer Taskforce

“A new commandment I give you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 Kathy helps us think and pray through the way Jesus has loved us and how we may pray and act in love toward our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Today’s Episode

https://nwmedia-ondemand.streamguys1.com/mornings-with-carmen/20210211095010-02-11-2021-Mornings-with-Carmen-HR1.mp3

 

The Church

Max Lucado preached a sermon at the National Cathedral. Many people wanted him to be cancelled for some of his theological views. He was not. He preached a sermon and Carmen wonders whether those who were against him actually listened to it. A question from Carmen is “are there people to whom I respond to in this way? How would I respond if my church invited, fill in the blank, to speak or preach”

However, this question beckons us to another conversation about what makes a church. What are the parameters of a church? What is its theology and practice chosen by those who “constitute the particular expression of the ‘body’ in that place.” We do not have the space to discuss that today, but for more information about the church (and Church), check out this article from the Gospel Coalition (among others): What is the Church. Also explore the books, “What is a Healthy Church” by Mark Dever and “Corporate Worship” by Matt Merker

Today’s Guests

Bill English – Bible & Business

We are celebrating Bill’s book launch! His book is called “A Christian Theology of Business Ownership: An Introduction for Christian Entrepreneurs on What the Bible Says About Owning a Business.” Carmen and Bill also discuss a plummeted rate of female labor in the work force and teachers returning to the classrooms, not to mention the first effort within Amazon to unionize a warehouse.

Sharon Jaynes – Author of “When You Don’t Like Your Story”

“When You Don’t Like Your Story: What if Your Worst Chapters Could Become Your Greatest Victories?” is written to help us see how God untangles our painful circumstances, past and present, to reveal beauty. She points our eyes up to God for the help to heal our scars and even challenges us to share our story in order to connect with others (who likely have scars too). For more information on Sharon’s work and the book go to: sharonjaynes.com.

Today’s Episode

https://nwmedia-ondemand.streamguys1.com/mornings-with-carmen/20210210102012-02-10-2021-Mornings-with-Carmen-HR2.mp3

 

Where in the Word are you today? 

Psalm 139

1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.

3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.

4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?

8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,”

12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;my soul knows it very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you…

…23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!

24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Happy Birthday, Mia Graciela Ruth – may you know the one who created you and may you seek Him today. 

Today you achieve what our culture calls majority age, you are officially an adult. It is now time to put away childish ways. I pray that for you today. Having been raised with every advantage and in a family of great love, I pray you will become a woman of great faith who honors God and offers Him your all in all. 

You have been blessed in so many ways, my prayer for you today is that you see those blessings and the sacrifices made by others that you have what you have, have been where you’ve been, seen what you’ve seen and know what you know. The life you make of all that is now up to you. I pray you will choose to give it all to God, this day and forevermore. 

Happy birthday my little bean. 

Raising up the next generation is the topic of conversation with the next guest. He’s the head football coach at the University of Northwestern St Paul, Matt Moore is up next for what Carmen is calling the “Coach’s Corner with Carmen.”

Today’s Guests

Matt Moore

Coaches Corner begins, a new segment where hear the mind of a coach as their coaching intersects with life and faith. Matt talks with us about why he is coaching college football and what the the Northwestern athletic department motto teaches.

Ruth Kramer

Mission Network News is our news source to hear about and engage with the stories from around the globe that tell of how our brothers and sisters in Christ are thriving, hurting, worrying, rejoicing or praying. Ruth joins us today to talk about the countries of Lebanon, Syria, Myanmar, and some good news from North Korea.

Today’s Episode

https://nwmedia-ondemand.streamguys1.com/mornings-with-carmen/20210210101010-02-10-2021-Mornings-with-Carmen-HR1.mp3