Find the shownotes HERE.

LINKS: 

 JesusHelpMeParent.com

RedeemingTheChaos.com

LaurieChristine.com

INTRO

“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you?” How many of you have said that to your kids before? I know I have!  I would estimate about 95% of conflict and parenting challenges in our household stems from sibling conflict. 

Welcome to Redeeming the Chaos. I’m your host, Laurie Christine. I’m an author, Bible teacher, wife, and mom to four wild, wonderful boys. I would love for you to join me on this adventure of raising courageous warriors for the Kingdom of God.

As moms of young men, we know that fighting among boys often gets very physical. While girls may sulk and hold a grudge for weeks on end, boys tend to explode with big emotions and lash out physically at whichever sibling is nearest to them.  (this is a generality. I’m sure you can tell me stories of your girls who have broken out into fist fights as well)

So, what causes these fights and quarrels? 

If you didn’t pick up on it, this question is a quote from James chapter 4. I’ll read the rest of the passage here:

“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them.”

Does that sound familiar?  Our kids have strong desires. Maybe they want the biggest piece of cake for dessert. Maybe they want the best, squishiest chair for movie night, or the front seat in the minivan. Maybe they want to be treated fairly, maybe they just want to be left alone. (Granted, not all these desires are evil… but often a big desire is the underlying cause of sibling conflict). 

And look what the verse says… you scheme and kill… you are jealous… you fight and wage war… all this in order to get what you want.  Sound familiar? Now, hopefully the conflict in our homes has not escalated  to the point of killing… however, in the book of Matthew Jesus says “hating” someone is just as bad as “murdering them” in our hearts. 

So, how do we deal with the conflict that inevitably arises between siblings? How can we teach our kids to show kindness and love to each other, rather than seeking revenge? 

We have a guest on the show today to help us answer these questions. 

"B.J. Meurer has worked with families for over 25 years as an elementary educator, biblical parenting coach & presenter, and digital course creator. He has coached families with children of all ages and stages facing a wide variety of emotional, mental, and biological challenges and helped them discover and personalize the practical heart-based tools and strategies that bring about positive change in their families. You can find many more of B.J.’s parenting resources and videos at JesusHelpMeParent.com. 

This is an episode of Redeeming the Chaos. The newer episodes in this podcast feed are part of The Sword and Story Podcast.

This is an episode of Redeeming the Chaos. The newer episodes in this podcast feed are part of The Sword and Story Podcast.

View the shownotes at https://lauriechristine.com/why-i-dont-make-new-years-resolution/

This is an episode of Redeeming the Chaos. The newer episodes in this podcast feed are part of The Sword and Story Podcast.

Boys are different. From the moment they burst into your life, they bring a whirlwind of energy, noise, and adventure that never seems to slow down. If you’re a mom of boys, you know it’s not just a parenting style—it’s a lifestyle. And I wouldn't trade it for the world! 

Whether it’s the endless supply of dirt in their pockets, the creative use of furniture as a jungle gym, or the unspoken rule that socks never stay on feet, raising boys comes with its own unique (and often hilarious) set of challenges. Here are 50 telltale signs you might be a boy mom—prepare to laugh, nod along, and maybe even roll your eyes in solidarity! 

This is an episode of Redeeming the Chaos. The newer episodes in this podcast feed are part of The Sword and Story Podcast.

Find the shownotes for this episode HERE.

RESOURCES

1. Go Bible
2. Average Boy Podcast
3. Average Boy Books
4. Clubhouse Magazine

This is an episode of Redeeming the Chaos. The newer episodes in this podcast feed are part of The Sword and Story Podcast.

Find the shownotes for this episode HERE.

Many boys tend to be drawn to books about evil monsters, epic battles in space, fire-breathing dragons, and planets exploding into smithereens. Our kids are drawn to magical stories about fantastical creatures and worlds beyond our own.

Are stories about fantastical creatures and magical places safe for our kids to read? Do they have value in the lives of our children? 

Find out in this episode of Redeeming the Chaos.

We have a special guest on the show today who is a bit of an expert on fantastical stories.

E. Stephen Burnett explores fantastical stories for God’s glory as publisher of Lorehaven.com and its weekly Fantastical Truth podcast. He coauthored The Pop Culture Parent and creates other resources for fans and families, serving with his wife, Lacy, in their central Texas church. Stephen’s first novel, Above the Circle of Earth, a science-fiction adventure, launches in 2025 from Enclave Publishing.

This is an episode of Redeeming the Chaos. The newer episodes in this podcast feed are part of The Sword and Story Podcast.

In this episode of Redeeming the Chaos, Laurie talks with Elizabeth Urbanowicz of Foundation Worldview, about God's design for gender.

Find the full show notes HERE.

There’s a lot of confusion in our society about sexuality and gender identity. A lot of voices are telling our kids that same-sex relationships are normal, or that you get to decide if you’re a boy or a girl. Our kids are confronted with these issues at younger and younger ages.

And we’re not just talking about homosexuality anymore. Our kids are faced with vocabulary like transgender, non-binary, and genderfluid. They’re being asked in public schools what their preferred pronouns are. 

As parents, we need to be prepared to have conversations with our kids about these issues. And we need to be proactive about discussions we have with our kids. You want to be the first one having these types of conversations with your kids, rather than waiting until your child comes home from a birthday party wondering what “trans” means.

You may be thinking: hold on, my kids are way too young to talk about these topics. Besides, I homeschool my kids so they don’t have to deal with these issues right away. 

Well, there may be some truth to that, but as parents we want to be intentional about teaching our kids about God’s design for gender, sexuality and marriage from an early age. That way, when our kids are confronted with an ideology that opposes the teaching of the Bible, they immediately recognize it as false. 

But how do we talk to our kids about these sensitive topics? How do you know what to say? Are there any resources available to help us do so? 

This is an episode of Redeeming the Chaos. The newer episodes in this podcast feed are part of The Sword and Story Podcast.

You can find the full shownotes for this episode HERE.

Episode Summary:

In today’s episode of Redeeming the Chaos, Laurie Christine talks with Jessica Hurlbut, author of Unlimited Motherhood and host of the Full Spectrum Parent podcast. Jessica is a mom to five children, two of whom have autism. She shares her journey of raising children on the spectrum while continuing to trust God through the difficulties of parenting.

Key Takeaways:

• Autism is a spectrum, and every child’s needs are unique.
• There is a grieving process when a child is diagnosed, but healing and peace come with acceptance.
• God doesn’t call parents to fix their children, but to love them.
• Autism or any special need does not limit God’s ability to work in and through a family.
• It’s essential to seek the resources and help your child needs, even if you fear labels.
• The challenges of motherhood, especially with special needs children, can deepen faith and trust in God.

This is an episode of Redeeming the Chaos. The newer episodes in this podcast feed are part of The Sword and Story Podcast.

Get the show notes here: https://lauriechristine.com/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-pornography/

Pornography. It’s not a fun topic to discuss, but it’s a very important conversation to have with our boys. (And not just an isolated discussion, but an ongoing conversation!)

The average age that kids are exposed to pornography is between the ages of 8-10. It’s literally everywhere. Especially when younger and younger kids have unlimited access to cell phones, ipads, and other devices. Even if you’ve been super careful to limit your child’s internet access, chances are they have a friend at school, on the bus, in the neighborhood and yes, even at church, who might expose them to pornography. 

Pornography is a world-wide pandemic that has been normalized by our society. I don’t think many Christians truly realize the danger of pornography. 

This is a quote that I found from an article on NPR that I think describes this pandemic very well: 

“Imagine a drug so powerful it can destroy a family simply by distorting a man’s perception of his wife. Picture an addiction so lethal it has the potential to render an entire generation incapable of forming lasting marriages and so widespread that it produces more annual revenue … than all of the leading technology companies combined.”

So, what can we do about this drug that is destroying the very foundation of our society? How can we protect our children and teach them to value God’s design for marriage? We have a special guest on the show to help us answer these questions. 

Kristen Jenson is the founder of Defend Young Minds and the #1 bestselling author of Good Pictures Bad Pictures, a read-aloud book to teach young children how to reject pornography. Her trusted resources and content, including the Brain Defense Digital Safety curriculum, have helped millions all over the world to defend children from all forms of sexual exploitation.

This is an episode of Redeeming the Chaos. The newer episodes in this podcast feed are part of The Sword and Story Podcast.

In this episode of Redeeming the Chaos, the Laurie Christine discusses the concept of the fruit of the Spirit. Guest Christy Thomas, a mom of three boys and an author with extensive experience in Children's Ministries, shares her insights on nurturing deep faith in children through small habits. They discuss common misconceptions about the fruit of the Spirit, the role of the Holy Spirit in fostering these qualities, and practical ways parents can instill these values in their kids. Christy also introduces her books Fruit Full, a family devotional on the fruit of the Spirit, and Little Habits Big Faith, which focuses on forming small, impactful habits to nurture faith in children.

This is an episode of Redeeming the Chaos. The newer episodes in this podcast feed are part of The Sword and Story Podcast.