Thru the Fire

Equality is the foundation of a free society. It means equal access to things like education, participation in the political process, and equal justice before the law. It means everyone begins at the same starting line. It's this idea that made this quote from Dr. Martin Luther King so powerful: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

Equity is about ensuring that everyone's outcomes are the same at the end, regardless of each person's unique gifts, abilities, hard work, perseverance, or attitude towards others or themselves. Can you imagine all the choices that would have to be taken away from us, and made for us, in order for that to happen? It would be a terrible world to live in. Equity is a corrosive and destructive concept contrary to equality.

As a therapist, the worst kinds of parents are parents who dictate and control the outcome of their children every step of the way. Can you imagine in if every one of your children had to end up exactly the same? If you had to deny their individual skills, their unique temperament, their effort, their persevering spirit, struggles. You would have to literally squash all of that and spoon-feed them one way of looking at things. For those who have had uncaring parents, I think that the equity parents would be even worse.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

Remember, there are two kinds of fire in the world: One that burns and consumes and one that burns and empowers. May God's word and God's love burn brightly in you, giving you the strength to face any fire. Until next time, little embers!

Thru the Fire is a production of Family Vision Media, a non-profit ministry committed to helping Christian parents discern the truth in a culture of lies.

Contact the Seltzes:

Lutheran Center for Religious Freedom: https://lcrlfreedom.org/

Connect with Family Vision Media:

We need to remember: immigrants are choosing to come here. They are not forced into coming here. They are free to leave if they do not like this country's treatment of them. It's not illegal for them to come to the border and seek entry. It is illegal, however, for them to enter unlawfully and stay here unlawfully. The rules and the laws need to be upheld to protect the citizens of this country.

Even Christians are confused about this. We see the caricatures of people desiring to enter our country. We see politicians abusing the chaos to the detriment of all Americans we tend to then mischaracterize this issue as a "how should I love my neighbor" discussion when it's really "what should a just government do to protect its own people first even as it opens its doors to over a million legal immigrants every year?"

Remember, there are two kinds of fire in the world: One that burns and consumes and one that burns and empowers. May God's word and God's love burn brightly in you, giving you the strength to face any fire. Until next time, little embers!

Thru the Fire is a production of Family Vision Media, a non-profit ministry committed to helping Christian parents discern the truth in a culture of lies.

Contact the Seltzes:

Lutheran Center for Religious Freedom: https://lcrlfreedom.org/

Connect with Family Vision Media:

Canceling our differences rather than seeking to understand one another, help one another, or honor one another is wrong. It shuts down communication, it shuts doors to understanding, it further divides us, it honors no one, it levies restrictions and empowers a few through propaganda to enable a minority to control the majority by using shame and emotions. Hitler used it, Franklin Rosevelt used it. We need to push back.

Scripture Mentioned in this Episode

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

Propaganda, by Edward Bernays

Remember, there are two kinds of fire in the world: One that burns and consumes and one that burns and empowers. May God's word and God's love burn brightly in you, giving you the strength to face any fire. Until next time, little embers!

Thru the Fire is a production of Family Vision Media, a non-profit ministry committed to helping Christian parents discern the truth in a culture of lies.

Contact the Seltzes:

Lutheran Center for Religious Freedom: https://lcrlfreedom.org/

Connect with Family Vision Media:

Christ has risen! He has risen indeed! Hallelujah!

Politics can't save us. It's only because of the power of Christ's death on the cross that we have the strength to face the evil and chaos in our world. Easter is not political, but its message is what makes liberty and freedom truly possible. It's a proclamation of what God did and is doing amidst the chaos of our world.

Our relationship with God is the key to all of the freedoms we enjoy. Many Americans don't realize that the freedoms we cherish, that motivate us to vote, protest, and just go about our own business without fear flow from a belief about the world, about God, and about our proper place in it. The freedom we celebrate on the fourth of July is directly related to the notion of their being eternal freedom that Jesus won for the world on the cross and in His resurrection.

Our nation's founders believed that if God wanted us to worship Him freely, we should have a government that protects and promotes that freedom!

What can we do to protect religious freedom?

Scripture Mentioned in this Episode

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

Thriving in Chaotic Times

Remember, there are two kinds of fire in the world: One that burns and consumes and one that burns and empowers. May God's word and God's love burn brightly in you, giving you the strength to face any fire. Until next time, little embers!

Thru the Fire is a production of Family Vision Media, a non-profit ministry committed to helping Christian parents discern the truth in a culture of lies.

Contact the Seltzes:

Lutheran Center for Religious Freedom: https://lcrlfreedom.org/

Connect with Family Vision Media:

Find more encouragement and information on our blog:

Questions? E-mail us!

The COVID pandemic, with the assistance of social media, has brought out the worst in herd behavior, specifically shame. Previously a personal decision, healthcare choices are now becoming understood as social matters. Throngs of individuals are joining forces to shame others into conforming to quell their own fears and lack of control of the current situation. Such behavior leads to pressure, defensiveness, confusion, and isolation for many targeted individuals and seldom influences the intended behavior change. There are better ways to have conversations and see conversions in behavior.v

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

Remember, there are two kinds of fire in the world: One that burns and consumes and one that burns and empowers. May God's word and God's love burn brightly in you, giving you the strength to face any fire. Until next time, little embers!

Thru the Fire is a production of Family Vision Media, a non-profit ministry committed to helping Christian parents discern the truth in a culture of lies.

Contact the Seltzes:

Lutheran Center for Religious Freedom: https://lcrlfreedom.org/

Connect with Family Vision Media:

Find more encouragement and information on our blog:

Questions? E-mail us!

Christians, along with others who share a "moral view" of the world that aligns with the 10 commandments, should be able to live their lives, run their businesses, raise and educate their families, and worship God faithfully without being demonized. It's time to stop the smearing of people who disagree with you, and it's time to stop making those conscience differences illegal.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

Article: No More Euphemisms, Dysphemisms, or Demonizations! -Dr. Gregory Seltz

Article: Can you See Hom plate? -Dr. Gregory Seltz

Remember, there are two kinds of fire in the world: One that burns and consumes and one that burns and empowers. May God's word and God's love burn brightly in you, giving you the strength to face any fire. Until next time, little embers!

Thru the Fire is a production of Family Vision Media, a non-profit ministry committed to helping Christian parents discern the truth in a culture of lies.

Contact the Seltzes:

Lutheran Center for Religious Freedom: https://lcrlfreedom.org/

Connect with Family Vision Media:

Find more encouragement and information on our blog:

Questions? E-mail us!

Within a month of being in office, the Biden administration is working to legalize abortion on demand (through the ninth month!), revoke religious liberty protections, attack private and parochial schools, and lockdown citizens with absurd, anti-scientific Covid-19 laws while non-sensically opening the border to people coming into the country illegally. These orders defy human nature and are aggressively oppose Biblical morality.

Today's culture tells us that it's acceptable, even legal, to covet, cheat, and take innocent life. How should Christians respond? How can we face this disaster? And do we have any power to overcome this disaster?

In addition to wisdom and courage, we need faith. Not the world's "believe in yourself" kind of faith or a general optimism that things will somehow work out, but something radically different: We need a faith with sustaining power that endures under the pressure of evil. The power of true faith rests not in how much we believe but in the object of our faith: Jesus Christ.

After his jet was shot down over North Vietnam, Admiral Jim Stockdale was taken as a prisoner of war for seven years. After this horrifying experience, Admiral Stockdale said it was his faith that got him through. Stockdale says: "I never lost faith in the end of the story. I never doubted, not only that I would get out, but that I would prevail and turn the experience into the defining events of my life, which in retrospect I would not trade."

Stockdale's faith challenges us to see that there are truths and values that endure beyond our mere practice or trust in them. They are simply undeniable and rely on no other reasoning or support. Americans, Christian and non-Christians alike, are familiar with this kind of foundational-truth as identified in the declaration of independence.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Belief in absolute truth is psychologically healthy. When we can trust in something bigger, wiser, less selfish, and more knowing than our very limited selves, it provides certainty, purpose, and peace amidst environmental calamity.

Psalm 23 says, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil..." Christians can take comfort in this because it means that God plays an active role in our life, that he has power over death because of His Son's death on the cross, and that our future is secure in His hands.

The Bible's message is a proclamation of freedom to a world hell-bent on destroying itself. It's a message of victory that doesn't rely on human strength or cunning. This means we see things as they are -the chaos, trouble, and evil in our world- and rejoice because God's victory over evil has already been accomplished. We have more than just wishful, empty hope that things will turn out alright. We can rejoice even in the face of adversity because God's victory over evil has already been accomplished. That victory belongs to anyone who puts their faith in the work of Christ.

Scripture mentioned in this episode:

Romans 8:35-39

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

Article: The Stockdale Paradox: We Know the End of the Story

Remember, there are two kinds of fire in the world: One that burns and consumes and one that burns and empowers. May God's word and God's love burn brightly in you, giving you the strength to face any fire. Until next time, little embers!

Thru the Fire is a production of Family Vision Media, a non-profit ministry committed to helping Christian parents discern the truth in a culture of lies.

Contact the Seltzes:

Lutheran Center for Religious Freedom: https://lcrlfreedom.org/

Connect with Family Vision Media:

Find more encouragement and information on our blog:

Questions? E-mail us!

Our society glorifies immoral behavior and tears down any who try to uphold traditional Christian morals. But no power can muzzle the truth of God's word: not the government, not the president, not Google, Facebook or Twitter.

The words of the Bible are like no other. They bring hope to the hopeless, peace where there is turmoil, and mercy for condemnation. Reading God's Word will change your life and our world is hungry for this truth!

Scripture mentioned in this episode:

Isaiah 55:10-11

Matthew 24:35

Romans 1:16

John 8:31-32

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

Since 2016, according to multiple reports, Google’s algorithm has been increasingly manipulated to bury and elevate specific information, especially politically charged information.

"You have made us for yourself, oh Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in you." - St. Augustine

"Say thank you in advance for what’s already yours." - Denzel Washington

Download the Brave web browser for free! (an alternative to Chrome, FireFox, Safari and Internet Explorer) It Blocks invasive ads & trackers, Shows you how many trackers were blocked, Loads content, sites, & games faster, Chromium based - all your Chrome extensions work.

Duck Duck Go search engine: Tired of being tracked online? Not only does Google keep your search history forever by default, their trackers have been found on 75% of the top million websites, which means they are tracking most everywhere you go on the Internet (unless you stop them with DuckDuckGo!). And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Use Duck Duck Go for all your internet searching needs!

Remember, there are two kinds of fire in the world: One that burns and consumes and one that burns and empowers. May God's word and God's love burn brightly in you, giving you the strength to face any fire. Until next time, little embers!

Thru the Fire is a production of Family Vision Media, a non-profit ministry committed to helping Christian parents discern the truth in a culture of lies.

Contact the Seltzes:

Lutheran Center for Religious Freedom: https://lcrlfreedom.org/

Connect with Family Vision Media:

Find more encouragement and information on our blog:

Questions? E-mail us!

TIV (Tendency of Interpersonal Victimhood) is an "enduring feeling that the self is a victim across different kinds of interpersonal relationships." This constant perception of victimhood forces a person into a position of prolonged helplessness, never being held responsible for their own circumstances. It encourages inward focus on problems, fostering grudges and desire for vindication, and blinding a person to possible solutions.

This mindset is incredibly harmful and destructive and is the opposite of how God wants us to see ourselves! Even true victims can call on God's strength to re-frame their situation. The world is a sinful and destructive place, but the Bible tells us that NOTHING can separate us from God!!

How can we help our kids take ownership of their life, learn to empathize with those around them, and ultimately fight the lie of victimhood with the truth of our victory in Christ?

Scripture mentioned in this episode:

Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14-30

Romans 8:28https://bit.ly/2Z6XtJq

Recommended Resources

Stacy on the Right: https://www.StacyOnTheRight.com

Remember, there are two kinds of fire in the world: One that burns and consumes and one that burns and empowers. May God's word and God's love burn brightly in you, giving you the strength to face any fire. Until next time, little embers!

Thru the Fire is a production of Family Vision Media, a non-profit ministry committed to helping Christian parents discern the truth in a culture of lies.

Contact the Seltzes:

Lutheran Center for Religious Freedom: https://lcrlfreedom.org/

Connect with Family Vision Media:

Find more encouragement and information on our blog:

Questions? E-mail us!

Title IX educational amendment of 1972 prohibited sex discrimination in federally funded education programs. It gave girls and women a fair and equal chance to compete. Today, title IX protections, meant to honor and protect girls, is being overturned. His first day in office, Biden signed an executive order that claims to prevent and combat discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation, but what it really does is discriminate against biological females.

This order proves what we've been expecting: The Biden administration is going to prioritize forcing schools to allow biological males to compete in women's sports and allow them to access women's private spaces.

This executive order infringes on the rights of our biological girls. It assaults them physically and psychologically. It puts our girls' dignity is at stake. It means that young, biological girls, who are at the very vulnerable stage of development socially will be forced to disrobe in front of young, biological boys. We're sacrificing them for the sake of another struggle - and that is ethically wrong. Rather than give them the message that they matter, we're delivering the message that they are less-than.

The effects of this order on our educational system should be a concern to everyone - but if you don't have kids in school, don't check out, because this executive order will effect everyone in some way:

-The privacy of single-sex bathrooms will be effected.

Boys are girls are different. That difference is designed by God. It is beautiful and should be celebrated, protected and honored.

Recommended Resources

Good Morning Britain: Do Transgender Athletes Have an Advantage in Female Sporting Events?

Remember, there are two kinds of fire in the world: One that burns and consumes and one that burns and empowers. May God's word and God's love burn brightly in you, giving you the strength to face any fire. Until next time, little embers!

Thru the Fire is a production of Family Vision Media, a non-profit ministry committed to helping Christian parents discern the truth in a culture of lies.

Contact the Seltzes:

Lutheran Center for Religious Freedom: https://lcrlfreedom.org/

Connect with Family Vision Media:

Find more encouragement and information on our blog:

Questions? E-mail us!