Shows
Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. KathyBest of 2025 - Cycle-Breaking Parenting: Ending Unhealthy Patterns with Grace In this episode of The Celebrate Kids Podcast, the daily episode Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch explore new research on parenting benchmarks and trends, especially the growing movement of "cycle-breaking parenting" among Gen Z moms and dads. Together, they unpack what it means to parent with both wisdom and grace, moving beyond negative family patterns without shaming past generations. Dr. Kathy shares practical insights on being unified as parents, balancing correction with encouragement, and raising kids who know their God-given strengths. Wayne connects these themes to Ezekiel 18, showing how Scripture reminds us that every generation c...
2025-12-3016 minCelebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. KathySnap, Post, Repeat? Parenting Beyond Likes, Posts, and PressureIn this Facing the Dark conversation, Dr. Kathy and Wayne Stender engage the growing concern around "sharenting," a term popularized by legal scholar Leah Plunkett to describe how parents and trusted adults share children's lives online. While often well-intentioned, constant posting can subtly communicate that a child's value lies in how they appear, how well they perform, or how much attention their moments generate. Dr. Kathy explains how children can internalize the belief that they exist to make parents feel proud, connected, or validated. When everyday life becomes content, kids may begin to feel responsible for maintaining a...
2025-12-2512 minCelebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. KathyThe Longing for Belonging: The Difference Between Status and Likability In this episode of the Celebrate Kids Podcast, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch explore psychologist Mitch Prinstein's research on the two types of popularity—likability and status. Together, they discuss why likability leads to healthy belonging while status often leaves kids empty and isolated. Dr. Kathy connects these insights to her Five to Thrive model, showing how belonging shapes identity and why character qualities like compassion, faithfulness, and hospitality help kids form lasting friendships. Wayne ties it to the story of Jehoiada and young King Joash in 2 Chronicles 23, reminding parents that true belonging is found not in surface app...
2025-12-2213 min
Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. KathyRaising Thinkers in an AI World: Why Struggle Still MattersIf our kids can ask a chatbot for every answer, what happens to their ability to think? To struggle? To wrestle with an idea long enough for it to shape them? Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch dig into the hidden cost of growing up in an AI-accelerated world. They explore research showing how automation is changing workplaces and may be changing the cognitive wiring of the next generation. Wayne shares a classroom moment where students traded screens for paper and suddenly came alive, wrestling through ideas, searching for their own words, and discovering the power of s...
2025-11-2418 min
Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. KathyWhen Kids Stop Reading: Why Reading Still Shapes Who Our Kids BecomeBooks are disappearing from kids' lives, and so is something sacred. In this episode of Celebrate Kids: Facing in the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch explore startling new data showing that only 30% of eighth-graders read at or above proficiency, and that over 30% of teens hardly ever read for fun. Together, they unpack why reading has declined over the last 40 years and how technology has quietly taken its place. Dr. Kathy, whose Ph.D. is in reading and educational psychology, explains that kids don't just learn from books, they learn through them. Reading shapes imagination, memory, empathy, and ev...
2025-11-2113 min
Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. KathyA Hundred Praises or One Blessing: How Our Words Shape Who Kids BecomeWhat if the words we speak over our kids aren't just communication, but are actually creation? In this episode of Facing in the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy tackle a new claim from psychologist Dr. Chelsea Haug-Zavaleta that children should receive 100 compliments a day to thrive emotionally. Dr. Kathy challenges the research, explaining that it's not about the number of compliments, it's about the ratio of affirmation to correction and the meaning behind our words. She offers practical insights for balancing affirmation with healthy boundaries, showing how kids form identity through the voices they trust most. Together, Wayne a...
2025-11-2018 min
Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. KathyHow Going Device-Free Builds Real Resilience in KidsWhen was the last time you looked around a room full of kids and saw every face lit—not by screens—but by conversation and curiosity? Across the country, more schools are going device-free, and something amazing is happening: kids are becoming more attentive, more engaged, and more confident. In this episode of the Celebrate Kids Podcast, Dr. Kathy and Wayne Stender unpack what's really going on when we unplug. Dr. Kathy explains that technology, while useful, can condition children to expect life to be easy—and when challenges come, they give up too soon. True resilience, she sa...
2025-10-0716 min
Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. KathyThe Real Cost of Raising Kids (and Why It's Worth It)In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch tackle a question many parents quietly wrestle with: Can we really afford to raise kids in today's world? Drawing from both research and real-life experience, they unpack the financial realities of family life and explore what it means to trust God's calling over cultural caution. Dr. Kathy emphasizes that parenting isn't just a financial decision, it's a spiritual one. She encourages parents to seek the Lord's guidance when considering children, to embrace sacrifice with joy, and to celebrate kids as image bearers, not economic...
2025-10-0619 min
Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. KathyThe Difference Between Status and Likability: Understanding the Longing for BelongingIn this episode of the Celebrate Kids Podcast, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch explore psychologist Mitch Prinstein's research on the two types of popularity—likability and status. Together, they discuss why likability leads to healthy belonging while status often leaves kids empty and isolated. Dr. Kathy connects these insights to her Five to Thrive model, showing how belonging shapes identity and why character qualities like compassion, faithfulness, and hospitality help kids form lasting friendships. Wayne ties it to the story of Jehoiada and young King Joash in 2 Chronicles 23, reminding parents that true belonging is found not in surface ap...
2025-10-0313 min
Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. KathyCycle-Breaking Parenting: Ending Unhealthy Patterns with GraceIn this episode of The Celebrate Kids Podcast, the daily episode Facing the Dark, Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch explore new research on parenting benchmarks and trends, especially the growing movement of "cycle-breaking parenting" among Gen Z moms and dads. Together, they unpack what it means to parent with both wisdom and grace, moving beyond negative family patterns without shaming past generations. Dr. Kathy shares practical insights on being unified as parents, balancing correction with encouragement, and raising kids who know their God-given strengths. Wayne connects these themes to Ezekiel 18, showing how Scripture reminds us that every generation...
2025-10-0216 min
The President's Desk at Hillcrest AcademyEp. 37 - Thanksgiving and Thank You - How Your Support is Propelling Students and HillcrestPresident Brad sits down with Wayne Stender to reflect on how God is moving at Hillcrest. In this time they are led to moments of thankfulness, highlighting how amazing it is to see students express and share the impact of Jesus Christ in their lives as they live and understand more about God's faithfulness. Join what God is doing at Hillcrest by giving: www.gohillcrest.com/give24
2024-11-3055 minThe President's Desk at Hillcrest AcademyEp. 30 - Danielsen Program Update and Reflecting on Grad Weekend and the Impact of Hillcrest On this episode of The President's Desk, host Brad Hoganson recaps Grad Weekend and his recent trip to Norway, sharing testimonies from teachers and students about why so many kids are coming to Hillcrest in the fall for discipleship. Podcast producer Wayne Stender joins to discuss the closing of the 2023-24 school year, highlighting the excitement of graduation and the diverse group of alumni who reconnect at the reunion, including those celebrating their 70th reunion. The episode captures the unique and joyful atmosphere of graduation at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy.
2024-06-0855 minThe President's Desk at Hillcrest AcademyEp. 28 - Introducing the New Academic Dean Team On this episode of The President's Desk, President Brad Hoganson introduces the new academic dean team at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy - Mrs. Michele Foss, Mrs. Lauren Frobish, and Mrs. Julie Stender. They discuss their connections to Hillcrest and their roles in adopting the classical model of learning at the school. Later, Principal Isaac joins the conversation to give a full picture of what is happening behind the scenes to strengthen Hillcrest's academic program.
2024-05-1033 minThe President's Desk at Hillcrest AcademyEp. 025 - Choir Tour Highlights Join Brad Hoganson as he sits down with Carrie Bjorndahl and Nancy Stender, chaperones on Hillcrest's spring choir tour. They discuss the significance of choir tours and share their experiences from past tours. Tune in to hear about the impact of these tours on students and the unique opportunities they provide for growth and connection. You'll also hear a testimony from Matthew Knutson and insights into Mr. Jahr's teaching philosophy at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy.
2024-03-3047 minThe President's Desk at Hillcrest AcademyEp. 020 - From Testimonies to Legacy: A Recap of Favorite Episodes at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy On the 20th episode of The President's Desk podcast, host Brad Hoganson and producer Wayne Stender reflect on their podcast journey. They discuss how the idea of podcasting initially seemed daunting but has turned into an enjoyable experience. The episode touches on the opportunity to share updates from Hillcrest Lutheran Academy and the current marketing strategies in place. Join Brad and Wayne for a laid-back conversation about faith, intellect, and character.
2024-02-241h 12
SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership ShowChad Stender, Managing Partner SeventySix Capital - SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership ShowOn this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel's guest is Chad Stender, Managing Partner at SeventySix Capital.
Stender is a Managing Partner at SeventySix Capital, which invests in startup sports media & entertainment companies. Stender worked in professional sports, was an entrepreneur, and has been a venture capitalist for over a decade.
Stender focuses on deal sourcing and leads finance, operations and investor relations for the fund. He is on the Board of FORTË, Lucra Sports, Quintar, Showroom and ZATAP. Stender was on the Board of Vigtory that was acquired by fuboTV. I...
2024-02-2339 minThe President's Desk at Hillcrest Academy016 - The Comets for Life Club Reflects on the Minnesota March for Life In this episode of The President's Desk, Hillcrest President Brad Hoganson is joined by members of the Comets for Life Club. They share their experiences and insights from attending the Minnesota March for Life in St. Paul. Clara Nilsen, Vincent Nash, Breiden Stender, and Sarah Diniz explain why they joined the club, highlighting their passion for protecting the rights and well-being of children. Tune in to hear their perspectives on the importance of the pro-life movement.
2024-01-2720 minThe President's Desk at Hillcrest Academy008 - Lower School Training and Classical Ed. Support from the Generations Campaign on This Week's President's DeskThis week, President Brad joins two of our lower school teachers who have benefitted from a number of opportunities provided by the Generations Campaign, the capital campaign Hillcrest is currently raising support for. Ashton Fuhs and Julie Stender talk about the new lower school building and the training they've received for Classical Christian instruction at the lower school. These are two of the many benefits Hillcrest is reaping from the Generations campagin. Principal Isaac also shares the findings of an in-depth research into student graduates from classical programs, and Mr. Undseth and Mr. Peterson share a snippet...
2023-08-2652 minThe President's Desk at Hillcrest Academy006 - The Girls Dorm Staff Share About Dorm Enhancements and What is Planned for New StudentsPresident Brad jumps up to the Girls' Dorm to see the enhancements and ways that the ladies are gearing up for students this weekend. Karina Larson, Augusta Ewan, and Nancy Stender unpack why they work in the dorm, what they've seen in the dorms over the years, and how God is using Hillcrest to impact the hearts and minds of students.
2023-08-121h 12The President's Desk at Hillcrest Academy004 - Caden Mitchell and Breiden Stender Share their Summer at Camp - Miller Testimony and Isaac on Classical and DormsThis week President Brad sits down with Caden Mitchell and Breiden Stender to hear about their time at Inspiration Point's L4 program, a training program for future leaders and those who want to work at Inspiration Point in the future. The two boys explain the program, how they were discipled, and how unique camp and Hillcrest are while showcasing how they similarly train young people to know and love the Lord. Throughout the show we hear from Andrew and Stacie Miller, who really believe investing in Hillcrest is joining the mission of God worldwide. We also hear...
2023-07-2935 min
Cult Cinema CircleJurassic Park (1993) with special guest Barbie StenderOn today's episode, we're heading down to Isla Nublar to go check out this new park that some weird scientist is trying to open. Turns out, there's dinos afoot!! On today's episode, we're heading over to Jurassic Park (1993). This movie was written by Michael Crichton and David Koepp and directed by Steven Spielberg.This movie stars Sam Neil (Possession, Event Horizon), Laura Dern (Blue Velvet, Marriage Story), Jeff Goldblum (The Fly, Independence Day), Wayne Knight (Seinfeld, Dirty Dancing), and Richard Attenborough (Miracle on 34th Street, Doctor Dolittle... from 1967)I'm joined on this episode...
2023-06-071h 32
The Point by Colson CenterThe Opportunity for Christian EducationAccording to the U.S. Department of Education, since the start of the pandemic, more than 1.5 million students have left traditional public schooling. Many parents are realizing, some for the first time, that students aren’t learning what their parents thought they were learning. As one former college professor noted, if you haven’t been in education in the past three years, it’s almost unrecognizable to what you experienced growing up. This has led to incredible growth in the number of home schooling families and record enrollments for nearly every Christian school that I know of...
2021-09-2801 minThe Point by Colson CenterImaging God on ZoomAccording to Wired magazine, “Eighteen months of using front-facing cameras has distorted our self-image.” It’s what health experts are calling “Zoom Dysmorphia.” We’re spending so much time looking at ourselves through cameras, it’s crushing our self-esteem. Doctors have seen this effect for a long time. Feelings of distress and self-focus rise when people spend too much time looking in the mirror, even people who don’t have a diagnosed body image problem. A safe conclusion is that as humans, we weren’t designed to look at ourselves. We find our best sense of belonging, ident...
2021-09-2701 minThe Point by Colson CenterChina Bans Video Games for MinorsRecently, Chinese authorities announced that minors can only play video games for three hours a week, and not on school days. Of course, this kind of thing would never happen in the West, for all kinds of reasons, not least of which is our worship of individual autonomy. We can’t even pass real restrictions on known dangers like violent pornography and Instagram. In a communist vision, on the other hand, individuals and their freedom are dispensable. After all, video games are really addicting, and a generation of young men lost in fantasy worlds can’t serve...
2021-09-2401 minThe Point by Colson CenterLearning Loss From Covid-19While some studies conclude that “students made little or no progress while learning from home,” the effects of school shutdowns vary depending on additional factors: socio-economic status, the type of distance learning, and especially the involvement of parents. Though it’s mostly bad news, there is a marked silver lining. For example, one teenager told the New York Times, “… Although living through COVID has been really hard … I am so incredibly lucky to say that I probably gained more than I lost.” Like most of the damage from this pandemic, the key factors for education were pre-existi...
2021-09-2301 minThe Point by Colson CenterMarijuana Harms According to Dr. Eric Voth in a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, “There exists clear medical evidence of increased psychiatric difficulties with marijuana use, including violence, psychosis, schizophrenia, manic episodes, worsening depression and suicide.” These effects are particularly harmful for youth. Of course, when it comes to public policy, the cat is largely out of the bag, and probably isn’t going back in. One thing, however, is becoming more and more clear with each study, despite what proponents claimed and promised: marijuana is not the harmless thing we were sold by advocates and the...
2021-09-2201 minThe Point by Colson CenterJeff Bezos and the Quest for ImmortalityThe world’s richest person, Jeff Bezos, is reportedly spending a lot of money on immortality. According to MIT’s Technology Review, the Amazon founder has invested heavily in experimental genetic research to reverse the process of aging. It’s just a new twist on an old story. Sixteenth-century conquistadors sought the fountain of youth. For Indiana Jones, it was the Holy Grail. For 21st century tech gurus, it’s the science of epigenetics, driven by a worldview of transhumanism. People have always looked to escape death, and they will spend a fortune along the way. And tha...
2021-09-2101 minThe Point by Colson CenterLove Thy 15-Minute NeighborhoodFor years, urban innovators have dreamt of “15-minute neighborhoods,” where people have everything they need within a short walk. The pandemic is making the employment side of that possible for many. In Britain, for example, 24 percent of workers say they want to work from home permanently. One of the things that makes the 15-minute neighborhood concept so appealing to many is that many people feel a lack of neighbors. Although they do have neighbors, roughly one-in-four Americans under age 30 say they don’t know any of them. There’s a desire to reinvigorate the idea of neighborhood. Of c...
2021-09-2001 minThe Point by Colson CenterThe Immune System as a Worldview StrategyPhilipp Dettmer has an amazing YouTube video about the immune system, one of the most complex systems in the human body. The key to how this vast network of specialized cells survives infections is found in the antibodies: the proteins this system creates after the body has been attacked. In other words, immunity comes through challenge. That’s why it’s important that our immune systems get stronger, which involves being exposed to a wide range of attacks. The lesson for Christian parents is similar. We can’t protect kids from false ide...
2021-09-1701 minThe Point by Colson CenterFor God so Loved the CosmosWhen NASA astronaut Mike Massimino first looked at Earth from outer space, he asked, “How can something so beautiful be tolerated by human eyes?" We’ve been sending people past Earth’s atmosphere for just over 60 years now. Every single time, the reaction has been awe. Astronauts call this sensation the “overview effect.” Something within the human heart reacts to the beauty, size, and overall scope of Creation with a sense of awe. The fact that God made us to respond that way out to tell us something profound. Jesus said that “God so loved the world th...
2021-09-1601 minThe Point by Colson CenterTeens Are Developing TikTok TicsPediatricians in multiple countries are reporting skyrocketing numbers of young girls over the past year with facial or verbal tics similar to Tourette’s Syndrome. These patients have one thing in common: they spend a lot of time on social media. Neurologists in Canada have concluded these girls aren’t suffering from actual tics, but from “functional tic-like behaviors.” They aren’t faking it. This is what’s called a “mass sociogenic illness.” It’s a reverse-placebo effect. You watch someone with a tic; you begin manifesting a tic. “Mass sociogenic illness” was not a scientific concept at t...
2021-09-1501 minThe Point by Colson CenterWhat The Greeks Knew About the UnbornThe new heartbeat law in Texas forbids abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, when a fetal heartbeat is detectable. Opponents denounce the law as extreme and arbitrary, pointing out that some women don’t even know they’re pregnant by six weeks. But as Marvin Olasky writes at WORLD, the six-week boundary, while not protecting life from conception, does have very ancient roots. Hippocrates, the Greek physician whose followers gave us the Hippocratic oath, recognized six-week-old pre-born babies as... babies. Through studying miscarriages, he concluded that a baby’s limbs and organs are complete by 40 days after concepti...
2021-09-1401 minThe Point by Colson CenterWhen Parents Aren't Enough According to a recent article in the Atlantic, a growing number of parents wish they’d never had kids. Citing surveys of parents from America, Germany, and Poland, the article points to various reasons for the regret, but Polish researcher Konrad Piotrowski says that the overriding cause is feelings of inadequacy. Or, as a researcher from Belgium put it, “They don’t want to be a parent, because they are not able to be the perfect parent.” Parenting on social media is one source of that pressure, along with the fact that for many families, the state has take...
2021-09-1301 minThe Point by Colson CenterLegged Whales Don't Stand UpWhen reading headlines about evolution, look for actual evidence, not just the interpretation of that evidence. Case-in-point: a recent BBC story proclaimed a discovery in Egypt of a so-called “whale with legs,” dated 43 million years old. Phiomicetus anubis is hailed as Africa’s first “legged whale,” and is similar to other so-called “legged whales” from Asia. As the story goes, these preceded fully-aquatic whales. What the article neglects to mention is that paleontologists commonly accept that fully-aquatic whales predate this new discovery by millions of years. In fact, a helpful video from the Discovery Institute on whale evolut...
2021-09-1001 minThe Point by Colson CenterDoes Everyone Have a Sixth Sense?Researchers in Japan have discovered that humans can develop a “sixth sense.” Hooked to specialized audio receivers, blindfolded people were able to reliably determine whether objects were moving or stationary, even in a completely dark environment. How? By echolocation. You know, like bats. When deprived of input, the human brain adapts to interpret certain audio signals as visual input. If nothing else, this is pretty cool, and sheds light on how those who lose, or are born without, one sense can adapt by maximizing others. In fact, the human capacity for adaptation is incredible, whether they are adapt...
2021-09-0901 minThe Point by Colson CenterMen Are Not Be MothersLast week, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tweeted a picture of him and his partner lying in a hospital bed holding two newborns. “We are delighted to welcome Penelope Rose and Joseph August to our family,” he wrote. The picture is a metaphor. After all, neither of these men carried a child or went through labor and delivery. A woman did. They didn’t need a hospital bed. She did. But she’s missing… from the photo and the larger picture. As Katy Faust of Them Before Us observed, if created via egg “donor,” these babies were forced to...
2021-09-0800 minThe Point by Colson CenterEugenics is Alive and WellLast week, Richard Hanania, president of the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology and contributor for Newsweek tweeted this: “If red states ban abortion we could see a world where they have five times as many children with Down Syndrome. [They] could be outliers in the whole developed world. There are already negative stereotypes of Americans in these states, one can imagine it getting much more extreme.” The implication is clear: we should abort children with Down Syndrome, lest our nation has too many of them and become an embarrassment to the world. This is the i...
2021-09-0701 minThe Point by Colson CenterThe God Who LaboredI trust you’re having a good day off with friends and family. But before you fire up the grill one last time for the summer, please reflect with me on how Chuck Colson described the dignity of work. Years ago on BreakPoint, Chuck said that “Christians have a special reason to celebrate Labor Day, which honors the fundamental dignity of workers, because we worship a God Who labored to make the world, Who created human beings in His image to be workers. When God made Adam and Eve, He gave them work to do: cultivating and cari...
2021-09-0601 minThe Point by Colson CenterUS Paralympic Volleyball Team Points to ChristThe U.S. Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team has made it to the gold medal match in the past three Paralympics, winning their first-ever gold in 2016. In a recent interview with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, many members of Team USA pointed to Christ being at the center of their success. For example, Kaleo Kanahele Maclay, a setter for the team, said, “…my relationship with Jesus grounds me...I am praying that people can see God through me at the Games.” And middle blocker Nicky Nieves described how her faith intersects with her sport: “It's a constant reminder of...
2021-09-0201 min2021-09-0201 minThe Point by Colson CenterAfghan Female Paralympian Narrowly Escapes TalibanIn a feat of international coordination, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) evacuated two Paralympic athletes from Afghanistan last week to compete in the Games. One of these Paralympians, Zakia Khudadadi is competing in Taekwondo in this year’s Paralympics. The 23-year-old Paralympian grew up in a different Afghanistan. Now, Paralympian isn't likely to be a profession available to women in her country anymore. Khudadadi was trapped in Kabul before her rescue, her scheduled commercial flight grounded when the United States took control of the airport. She stayed with family who didn’t “have enough food to feed...
2021-09-0101 minThe Point by Colson CenterThe Problem with Kids Choosing PronounsAccording to a friend, the first day of her son’s 8th grade class began with teachers asking students to stand up and declare their pronouns. This was in Ohio, but I’d be willing to bet it happened in most state schools this year. Set aside for a moment the questionable wisdom of asking hormone-riddled middle-schoolers during the most awkward times of their lives to talk about their bodies in front of their peers… This would have never happened five, even three years ago. Compared to other ways gender confusion is aggressively advanced in our culture, this on...
2021-08-3001 minThe Point by Colson CenterI Have A Dream Speech and its Worldview FoundationDr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Dr. King’s speech was only to be four minutes, but gospel singer Mahalia Jackson shouted for King to “share the dream,” and he did. For 17 minutes, he shared the dream. Dr. King shared a dream of America living its founding creed: of descendants of slaves and descendants of slaveholders sitting together as brothers, of states long defined by injustice transformed into places of freedom, and, in what may be the best measure of progress in race rel...
2021-08-2601 minThe Point by Colson CenterThe Myth of Family-Friendly AbortionAbortion advocates tell us that killing unborn babies is an essential part of “family planning.” For instance, Planned Parenthood’s website says that “Deciding to have an abortion doesn’t mean you don’t want or love children. In fact, 6 out of 10 people who get abortions already have kids—and many of them decide to end their pregnancies so they can focus on the children they already have.” But according to a massive new study by the Charlotte Lozier Institute, that’s just not true. A review of almost eight million pregnancies found that abortion among low-income wo...
2021-08-2501 minThe Point by Colson CenterSen. Lankford's Speech Highlights How Budget Values MatterThe House votes on a $3.5 trillion budget resolution later this week. That’s a lot of money, which will fund a lot of programs… and every one of them reflects our national values. Despite bi-partisan requests, the appropriations committee sent this budget bill to the Senate floor without the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funds being used for abortion. But, in a courageous speech from the floor, Senator James Lankford called colleagues to remember that, “millions of Americans of faith and no faith know that the only difference between a child in the womb and outside...
2021-08-2401 minThe Point by Colson CenterSpike in Transgender Surgeries Show Medical Priorities Headlines and newsfeeds are full of images and descriptions of overcrowded hospitals, because of a spike in Covid infections.Some states have issued new lockdown and mask mandates to ensure that doctors and nurses aren’t overwhelmed by a new influx of the sick. From the beginning of the pandemic, some medical procedures were postponed to prioritize Covid care. That’s why it’s so strange that despite all the rationing we’ve been hearing about, there was a notable rise in so-called “gender confirmation surgeries” for women. These are procedures in which otherwise healthy body parts are removed...
2021-08-2401 minThe Point by Colson CenterPrayer is Doing SomethingAs more and more haunting images emerge from the airport in Kabul. Parents are passing children through lines of strangers in hopes they will be able to escape the Taliban, Young girls are gripping fences, crying out “The Taliban is coming!”, and we hear more and more reports from the ground that our worst fears about the Taliban are indeed coming true, many of us sit, watching these images, reading these stories on our phones, imagining ourselves and our own families in these same position. We can’t even begin to understand what any of this is like. We feel c...
2021-08-2301 minThe Point by Colson CenterTaliban's Worldview Trumps Words The Taliban has promised that this time, they’ll be different. This time, there will be more freedoms and less oppression of women and religious minorities. Clearly, Afghan citizens do not believe these promises… they are at the point of desperation, clinging to the wheels of departing American aircraft, some even falling from the sky to their deaths. Poignant scenes show women and girls begging U.S. troops to protect them, crying out, “The Taliban is coming! The Taliban is coming!” Desperate parents plead with Western forces at the airport, holding infants and children high in the air, begg...
2021-08-2001 minThe Point by Colson CenterTroy Polamalu is Not Just a Football HeroEarlier this month, former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu was inducted into the NFL’s Hall of Fame. Polamalu was known for his speed, his power, and his hair. And throughout his impressive football career, Polamalu was outspoken about his Christian faith, which he demonstrated by remaining humble, level-headed and team-oriented — which is unfortunately unusual for a player that talented. In his Hall of Fame induction speech, Polamalu reminded his fans of the unique way he approached the game. After he showered praise on his wife, he shared this wisdom with his two young sons: “Boys...
2021-08-1901 minThe Point by Colson CenterAfghan Fathers Pass Persecuted Faith to ChildrenAs a father, I often think about what a Christian heritage will mean for my children. I want it to be the source of their peace and strength in times of trouble. But what if I knew it would be the source of their persecution as well? On the Breakpoint Podcast this week, I spoke with Mindy Belz about the new dangers for Christians in Afghanistan. A couple years ago, a number of Christian leaders did something incredibly brave: they changed the official religious affiliation noted on their national identification cards. Because they knew that religious identity i...
2021-08-1801 minThe Point by Colson CenterHaitians Testify to Our Only HopeHaitians desperately need our prayers. The death toll of last week’s earthquake has now topped 1,300 people and continues to rise. Thousands of homes have been leveled. And now the country faces severe tropical weather, with victims still trapped in the rubble. These follow a presidential assassination, ongoing food insecurity, and increasing gang violence, all of which makes delivery of emergency services complicated. Please support the emergency relief efforts of groups such as Samaritan's Purse. You can give right now at the front page of samaritanspurse.org. Just find their “give” tab. To be clear, the sto...
2021-08-1701 minThe Point by Colson CenterA Lesson from the Ancient MayansArchaeologists recently discovered that the ancient Mayans of Tikal, in what is modern-day Guatemala, had uncovered an incredibly advanced water filtration system. Soil samples show they filled their reservoirs with zeolites: pieces of volcanic material that could filter out big bits of debris and invisible microbes which could cause disease. One researcher observed that the Mayans probably didn’t understand why the zeolites worked. They just saw that they did; so they used them. Isn’t that a great metaphor for God’s natural law? For a culture that largely denies the existence of God, we sur...
2021-08-1601 minThe Point by Colson CenterLiveAction's Baby Olivia Video is ConvincingLiveAction has produced a beautiful video that pulls back the curtain on the glories within the womb. In its short three minutes, we’re treated to a portrayal of the first nine months of a human life. According to LiveAction, 12 percent of pro-choice people changed their minds after watching, and 37 percent of those already pro-life became “more pro-life.” It’s this power to persuade which led doctors and lawyers to include “3-D and 4-D ultrasound images of unborn children” in their support of Mississippi’s challenge to Roe v. Wade at the Supreme Court. Looking these hidden figures “in th...
2021-08-1301 minThe Point by Colson CenterImagine as an Anthem for the World?“Imagine” has become a kind of secular national anthem, but it seems like a strange choice. Last year, a bunch of celebrities tried to make us feel better about a global pandemic by singing “Imagine there’s no heaven.” Really? Facing death, let’s offer a materialistic worldview, with no future after we die and no present source of meaning? And, these millionaire celebrities actually sang to us, “Imagine no possessions?” Then, during the opening ceremony of the Olympics, this song with the line “no religion, too” was sung, when 84 percent of the world identifies with a religious gro...
2021-08-1200 minThe Point by Colson CenterGender-Neutral Birth Certificates?Last month, the American Medical Association announced it will advocate removing sex designation from public birth certificates. Marking gender on the official document, says the AMA, could lead to discrimination for those who identify as transgender later in life. “There is no clear standard for defining sex designation,” AMA authors wrote, stating that “gender is a social construct.” Strangely enough, the AMA still recommends that hospitals accurately record a baby’s sex on the U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth, a document used for government data-keeping. This brings up important questions. If there is no c...
2021-08-1101 minThe Point by Colson CenterNightbirde Gives Lesson in Suffering to America’s Got TalentNightbirde sings in dark times. For the Colson Center, I’m John Stonestreet with The Point. Jane Marczewski was the front-runner on this year’s season of America’s Got Talent. She was forced to leave the competition last week to focus on fighting cancer. This is the third bout of cancer for the woman who goes by the stage name Nightbirde. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2017. Shortly afterwards, her husband asked for a divorce. She spiraled into depression, struggling to speak, eat, or leave her bed for several months. On her blog, J...
2021-08-1001 minThe Point by Colson CenterThere's Another PandemicMany feared that the isolation and unemployment from Covid lockdowns would lead to an increase in “deaths from despair.” Those predictions were tragically spot on. According to new numbers from the CDC, drug overdose deaths in the U.S. skyrocketed by nearly 30 percent in 2020, the greatest increase in decades. According to The Wall Street Journal most of the 93,000-plus fatalities involved fentanyl. Responding to health crises by focusing only on physical sickness just won't do. Nor can we continue to value pharmaceutical profits over human life. These numbers expose a second pandemic facing our cul...
2021-08-0901 minThe Point by Colson CenterA Nicene PunA few weeks ago, a self-described “heretic” tweeted out a message befitting that title, saying, “Jesus was Christ. Buddha was Christ. Muhammad was Christ. Christ is a word for the Universe seeing itself. You are Christ. We are the body of Christ.” To this, someone else retorted, “If you can’t say something Nicaean, then don’t say it at all.” The joke here is that the Nicene Creed of the fourth century clarified Christian beliefs in the midst of controversies over the nature of Christ, drawing a line between God’s self-revelation in the Bible and human speculation...
2021-08-0601 minThe Point by Colson CenterFiji Rugby Wins the Olympics with Their Hymn of PraiseNormally when an Olympian wins the gold, we see happy tears. We see families back home cheering. We see the pride in carrying the national flag around the field. It’s such a pure moment. It never gets old. So, when the Fiji men’s rugby team recently won the gold over New Zealand, there was something about this that was even more pure and enjoyable. This was the second Olympic gold for the Fijians. They got on their knees, they prayed to God in thanksgiving, and sang a hymn of praise. It was so beautiful. It's a tr...
2021-08-0501 minThe Point by Colson CenterD.C. Police Chief Calls Out Realities of MarijuanaIn 2015, then-Washington D.C. police chief Cathy Lanier assured reporters that legalizing marijuana would not have an effect on crime. “They just want to get a bag of chips and to relax,” she said. “Alcohol is a much bigger problem.” Six years later and DC is dealing with more than the munchies. Current Police Chief Robert Contee recently declared, “Marijuana undoubtedly is connected to violent crimes.” This in a community with a 20 percent increase in violent crime since Covid. Contee grew-up in D.C., He knew the smell of marijuana because his dad was an addict...
2021-08-0401 minThe Point by Colson CenterSyndey McLaughlin Joined God’s StoryIn 2016, sixteen-year-old American runner Sydney McLaughlin stepped onto the track at Rio De Janeiro as the youngest Olympic track competitor in decades. But after failing to qualify for the 400 meter hurdle finals in Rio, she stepped back from a seven-figure salary as a pro to strap on a bookbag at the University of Kentucky. After some focused training and maturing, she told The Guardian, “A lot of my life was trying to prove something, which is an endless cycle that will never fulfill you. My gifts are not to glorify myself. When I stand on the podium, I give...
2021-08-0301 minThe Point by Colson CenterMinnesota Politician Makes the Touch Choice for LifeMinnesota State senator Julia Coleman faced a dilemma. Informed by her doctors that severe complications threatened her unborn twin sons, she had to decide whether to end the life of one child to save the life of the other. For most people, it would only make sense to “remove” the unhealthy son to preserve the other. But as deeply pro-life Christian, Coleman and her husband declared that they “were never going to choose between our kids.” Following weeks in the NICU, sleepless nights, and thousands of prayers, the Colemans gave birth to both sons, and have since brough b...
2021-08-0201 minThe Point by Colson CenterWhat is Work Worth?Recently, Anthony Bradley shared a conversation he had with a man who decided to be homeless, not because he took a vow of poverty or had some cataclysmic tragedy. This man was healthy, owned a house, and had recently won the lottery. So, why was he choosing to live on the streets in San Francisco? Because “you can live there, get a job, and never worry about paying rent.” This strange story reveals the inherent contradictions when it comes to how work is viewed in our culture. On one hand, we work ourselves to the bone as thou...
2021-07-3001 minThe Point by Colson CenterBible Now Translated in 700 LanguagesWycliffe Bible Translators just announced that the Bible has now been translated into 700 languages. According to Executive Director James Poole, “5.7 billion people who speak 700 languages now have the Bible in the language that speaks to them best.” It’s not clear which language was exactly number 700, since several translations went into circulation around the same time, such as the Huichol language Bible in Mexico, or the Ellomwe language Bible in Malawi, and the Tiv Bible language in Nigeria. 700 Bible translations is a significant milestone toward fulfilling Jesus’ command to “make disciples of all nations” (MT 28:19). But there...
2021-07-2901 minThe Point by Colson CenterFaith & TreesThere’s a tree on the first and last pages of the Bible. Every major character in the Bible is associated with a tree. Trees are the most-mentioned living things in Scripture other than God and people. And a tree was not only the only thing Jesus ever harmed, but the only thing that could harm Him. Former emergency room doctor Matthew Sleeth chronicles this pattern of trees in Scripture in his outstanding book Reforesting Faith. He joins Shane Morris on the Colson Center’s Upstream Podcast to make the case that understanding and appreciating trees in God’s “bo...
2021-07-2801 minThe Point by Colson CenterTake Your Kids on a HikeThe Washington Post recently reported that some stuck-at-home teenagers are finding relief during this coronavirus chaos, from the news cycle, by stepping outside without their phones. “…spaced a careful six feet apart, high school students are discovering a pastime typically enjoyed by older generations.” They’re taking walks. One California teen described how she’s explored the trails near her home for the first time. “I could have gone through my entire high school and never gone up here,” she said, her normally clean shoes now caked with mud. And she has a rule for herself: No smar...
2021-07-2701 minThe Point by Colson CenterCalifornia is Mandating Insurance Providers Offer Juvenile MastectomiesEarlier this year, California’s insurance commissioner declared that health insurers must pay for mastectomies for girls and women with gender dysphoria. Maybe this doesn’t seem shocking. California’s gonna do its California thing after all. Sure, some adults are abusing hormones or hurting their bodies in service to transgender ideology. What’s the big deal? But to brush this off would be a mistake. Just three years ago, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles revealed in a published study that doctors there had performed two double mastectomies on shockingly young girls: one 14 and one 13.
2021-07-2601 minThe Point by Colson CenterAbortion’s Barbarity ContinuesRecently, the world learned that researchers at the University of Pittsburgh were grafting the scalps of aborted infants onto the flesh of rodents. And now, prolife group Live Action has uncovered that researchers at a California university has been trading in various body parts of aborted children, specifically genitalia, bladders, and kidneys. Perhaps most unsettling is the indifference of the people involved to what in any other context would be considered barbaric. Emails uncovered included pleasantries about the weekend and hopes for a happy holiday, exchanged between the parties amidst logs of body parts bought a...
2021-07-2301 minThe Point by Colson CenterOur Infant Mortality Rate is Worse Than in 1900My daughters loved the “Little House on the Prairie” books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Part of what makes these stories so captivating is what it took for pioneer families to survive the brutal elements as they headed west in the late 1800s. In fact, in 1900 the infant mortality in the U.S. was at about 10 percent. For every 1,000 babies born, over 100 did not live to their first birthday. Due to incredible medical advances, that rate had plummeted to just point-five percent by 2018. Before we are tempted to celebrate, however, here’s a tragic caveat. Also in 2018...
2021-07-2201 minThe Point by Colson CenterAmy Grant's Easy Answer Won't Do Recently, Christian music legend Amy Grant appeared on the pro-LGBT podcast “Proud Radio.” Asked about gay artists in country music, Grant said that she thinks it’s important to “set a welcome table” for people of all sexual orientations because: “None of us are a surprise to God. Nothing about who we are or what we’ve done.” The host understood these words as an endorsement of his gay lifestyle. But nothing Grant said is technically wrong. God does love and welcome sinners. He isn’t surprised by who we are or what we’ve done. But in this cultural mome...
2021-07-2101 minThe Point by Colson CenterThe Pascal PersuasionPhilosopher Blaise Pascal was best known for his so-called “wager” that believing in God is the smartest decision, even if you’re not sure God exists. What many don’t know is that Pascal was a pioneer in the psychology of persuasion. Heated disagreements are common in social media, writes Olivia Goldhill at “Quartz.” But Pascal suggested centuries ago that if you want to convince someone of your position, you don’t begin by telling them they’re wrong. You understand where they’re coming from, admit ways they’re right, but suggest they maybe haven’t seen the whole picture...
2021-07-2001 minThe Point by Colson CenterNew Children's Book Proselytizes AbortionCreators of a new children’s book have raised more than $20,000 online to publish their project. The title? What’s an Abortion, Anyway? Creators say they also plan to send 300 copies to libraries across the country. “We believe in building a world for kids and adults where abortion is normalized as another outcome of pregnancy,” reads the fundraising site. But this raises an important question. If abortion is “just another outcome of pregnancy,” why does it require a $20,000 effort to “normalize” it? How normal can something be if it takes a fundraising and propaganda effort just to convince the wor...
2021-07-1901 minThe Point by Colson CenterChristians are Called to Every Square Inch of CreationChuck Colson was passionate that Christians need to be in every aspect of society. The culture says we can be in any aspect of society, but we’re not allowed to be Christian, in the full sense of the word. Being a Christian means our motivations and interactions are driven by God’s guidance and our desire to be a part of Him restoring all things. That’s why we’re offering a special short course on restoring all things. We have Os Guinness, Chris Brooks, and Angela Franks slated to encourage us and help us unders...
2021-07-1601 minThe Point by Colson CenterScientific American's Racist Whitewashing of DarwinismIn a truly bizarre opinion piece in Scientific American, Allison Hopper argues that questioning evolution is a form of white supremacy. She strains to connect criticism of evolution with racism, even suggesting that those who take the account of Adam and Eve as history are trying to exclude people of color from their ancestry. As one pastor pointed out on Twitter, it’s hard to see how the biblical account of all humans being descended from “one blood” and made in God’s image is racist, while the Darwinian account of primitive man emerging from Africa is non-racis...
2021-07-1501 minThe Point by Colson CenterDid Archeologists Find Gideon?One of the problems with skepticism is that again and again, the archaeological record continues to affirm the Bible’s version of history. According to The Jerusalem Post, Israeli scholars recently found an inscription from ancient times, the name “Jerubbaal” written on a jug from the 12th century BC. If you remember your Bible stories, you’ll know that Jerubbaal was another name for Gideon, the Israelite judge who defeated the Midianites with a dramatic night attack using only 300 men. He’s a pivotal character in the Book of Judges, both as a hero for his people and a warn...
2021-07-1401 minThe Point by Colson CenterThe Face of God on Earth: Understanding the Imago Dei in 2021What is the image of God? Here's what my friend Dr. Glenn Sunshine said: In the ancient Near East when someone claimed to be the image of a god, it meant that the god had given that person authority to rule in his or her name. The proclaimer was literally the face of God on the earth and had that god's authority to rule. It was the title given to kings. We actually see it in Genesis where God says, “Let Us make man in Our image and let him have dominion.” The image of God is found...
2021-07-1301 minThe Point by Colson CenterA New Book Show You Aren't What You Think Tim Keller recently reviewed the new book by Chris Bail, Breaking the Social Media Prism: How to Make Our Platforms Less Polarizing. Most critiques of technology blame it for making us worse people, but Keller says that’s backwards. We are the real problem, not our technological toys. Many people resort to social media as a way of establishing identity. Our sense of who we are rests in what others see and say about us. As Keller says, “We need validation from someone outside, we cannot validate ourselves.” But, rather than recognizing who we are in the identi...
2021-07-1201 minThe Point by Colson CenterMaking or Mocking History? Last month the New York Post congratulated the first transgender contestant for winning the Miss Nevada USA Pageant, saying that the biological male was “making history.” Kataluna Enriquez bested 21 other contestants, in the usual beauty pageant stuff including wearing skimpy swimsuits. For years, these contests have been justly criticized as sexist and objectifying to women. But now that a man is competing, they’re “historic”? Certainly not like the first man on the moon, or Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, or the signing of the Magna Carta? I doubt that “men in beauty page...
2021-07-0901 minThe Point by Colson CenterThe Fulfillment of the Ancient Promise - The Lord Jesus Christ“I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God, eternally begotten of the Father. God from God, Light from Light, very God of very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father.” The Nicene Creed’s description of God the Son, the second person of the Trinity, was written to counteract the heresy that Jesus was just another creation. John 1 clarifies the Son is actually the very agent of creation and the eternal God himself. What C. S. Lewis describes as the central event of human history: the Son took on hum...
2021-07-0801 minThe Point by Colson CenterThe Pledge of Our Inheritance: The Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit has been called the forgotten God. But He’s also, according to Scripture, at the heart of the Christian life. “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” says the Nicene Creed, “The Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son is both worshiped and glorified. Who has spoken to us through the prophets.” Now, there’s a longstanding debate between Eastern and Western churches about whether the Spirit proceeds from the Father alone or from the Son as well. What Christians agree on, however, is...
2021-07-0701 minThe Point by Colson CenterGratitude in Difficult TimesG.K. Chesterton said that gratitude was “nearly the greatest of all human duties, (and) nearly the most difficult.” It is the greatest of human duties because, as Paul wrote the Corinthians, “what do we have that we did not receive?” Truth, tradition, technologies, medicine, democracy, relative peace, are all things that were given to us by those who’ve gone before. And yet, to paraphrase Jesus, even pagans can give thanks when things are going well. Expressing gratitude in a year like this, is much more difficult. Things could have gone better. We mourn for our fr...
2021-07-0601 minThe Point by Colson CenterAbortion Rebuked in ArgentinaAbortion isn’t just an American issue. For the Colson Center, I’m John Stonestreet. A few weeks ago, a federal judge struck down abortion across the country. It just wasn’t ours. At the beginning of this year, Argentina became the largest Latin American country to legalize abortion. Abortion advocates around the world hailed the new law as a great success, even though its parameters are moderate by U.S. standards, only allowing the grisly procedure up to 14 weeks in most cases. Thankfully, a judge has put the brakes on this law, at least tempor...
2021-07-0501 minThe Point by Colson CenterWhy You’re Free to Hate AmericaLast week at the U.S. Olympic Trials, an American hammer thrower turned away from the flag while the United States National Anthem played. Gwen Berry later told reporters that the national anthem “doesn’t speak” for her. Berry isn’t the first athlete to shun the anthem. Looking ahead to July 4th this weekend, it’s worth reflecting that had a group of men — imperfect, brave, brilliant, and sometimes morally inconsistent men — not written and signed our Declaration of Independence 245 years ago, Gwen Berry today may not have the right to freely speak her mind about her...
2021-07-0201 minThe Point by Colson CenterHow to Import a BabyRecently, The Atlantic described a problem unique to the 21st century: “stateless” babies. Here’s the situation: a gay couple uses their own sperm, an egg donor, and a surrogate mother. The result is twin boys, born in Canada. One was genetically related to his American father; the other to the partner, an Israeli citizen. The men wanted to bring the twins to the U.S. but one wasn't an American citizen. Diplomatic woes ensued. As the reporter put it, “When a child can have five possible parents, whose citizenship counts?” The exploitation and cold consumeris...
2021-07-0101 minThe Point by Colson CenterGood News from SudanIt’s no mystery why our news feeds are filled with information on what’s gone wrong in the world. After all, we’re more likely to click on stories that make us angry or sad than ones about sunshine and happiness. But sad tales aren’t the only ones worth reading. Writing at Juicy Ecumenism, Arielle Leviste recently shared some good news out of Africa. Normally, when Sudan has made the news, it’s been about famine, war, persecution, and so on. But now, with the passing of the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms Act, Sudan has repealed f...
2021-06-3001 minThe Point by Colson CenterBaby Born 5 Months Premature Celebrates 1st Birthday When Richard Hutchison was born last year, there wasn’t much hope he’d survive. Richard was born five months premature, and weighed 11.9 ounces. No one born that early and that small had ever survived. After more than six months in the hospital, with his parents commuting in each day and dodging hospital COVID restrictions, Richard went home. And he just celebrated his first birthday. The wonderful work of the doctors and nurses at Children’s Minnesota hospital is an example of common grace, where God uses the skills and dedication of these healthcare workers to ach...
2021-06-2901 minThe Point by Colson CenterPsalm 23 Is Music to Our Ears, in Any LanguageIn 2019, on Easter Sunday, Islamic extremists bombed Zion Church in the nation of Sri Lanka. One of those who were killed was a woman named Girija, who left behind a husband and a 12-year-old daughter named Dukashini. Before her death, Girija would read the Bible every night to her husband, who is illiterate. The terrorists may have thought that the act of violence would break this Christian family, but they were mistaken. As Open Doors reports, “since her mother’s death, Dukashini … reads God’s Word to her father.” The book of Daniel is her favorite...
2021-06-2801 minThe Point by Colson CenterBuild Clarity, Confidence, and Courage With the Colson FellowsEach year hundreds of Christians who are hoping to more deeply understand their faith, understand their world, and understand how to live out their faith in the world, study with us at the Colson Center as Colson Fellows. The program is the deepest dive into Christian worldview that I know of, with an intensive reading program, online interaction with Christian thought leaders, a group study in one of 55 regional cohorts around the country or by one of our online cohorts. But the goal isn’t merely to think, it’s to live our faith where God...
2021-06-2501 minThe Point by Colson CenterFetal FrankensteinsSci-fi and horror movies often feature the brilliant but mad scientist corrupted by his own arrogance, and the tantalizing question: “What if…?” before proceeding down a path of inhuman destruction. These fictional warnings against scientific hubris are increasingly moving from the screen to real life. According to recent articles by both the Susan B. Anthony List and The Federalist, scientists at the University of Pittsburgh have been grafting scalps from aborted infants onto rodents. This barbaric practice, justified of course by “science,” shocks and triggers our moral gag reflex. We all know it’s wrong. But why? Are t...
2021-06-2401 minThe Point by Colson CenterFind Your Place in God's StoryThere are certain moments in history, such as the fall of the Roman Empire or the Enlightenment, when it's obvious just how much the cultural ground is shifting. Cultural norms which may have worked before to foster social cohesion and the good life no longer suffice. Certain ideas, certain shared ways of thinking can no longer be taken for granted. It's at these hinge points that Christians are forced to remember who we are in the image of God. And to rethink our place in the overarching story of Redemption. I'm so humbled — and driven — by what I see God...
2021-06-2301 minThe Point by Colson CenterCulture Needs Moms and Dads, Not ParentsDr. Anthony Bradley of the King's College has long been a champion of the importance of fathers, not only to children, but also to society as a whole. Responding recently to a truly horrific story of a child murder last year, Bradley recently tweeted, “As I track male teen murderers this summer, one variable stands out: dad deprivation. Dad-deprived boys put us all at risk. I don't understand why nonprofits, churches, and social justice organizations don't focus on reaching unmarried fathers. Fathers are crime prevention.” With so many voices in our culture content to show dads as poin...
2021-06-2201 min
Port Of Harlem PodcastsMay 27, 2021 - Sara Stender Delaney - Rwandan Tea ImporterSara Stender Delaney, Sarilla Sparkling Tea founder and owner Sara Stender Delaney talks to us about trading fairly with Rwandan tea growers and the impact her products’ consumers are having in Rwanda. Her company reflects her passion, skills, and determination to create quality products for the beverage industry in an equitable fashion.
2021-06-2236 minThe Point by Colson CenterThe Queen's Painting USA Today reports that conservatives in the UK “got their knickers in a twist” when graduate students at Oxford’s Magdalen College removed a 70-year-old painting of Queen Elizabeth II, the reigning monarch of Britain. According to the student group, the painting was an unwelcome symbol of “recent colonial history.” It was strange that USA Today pointed to conservatives as the irrational, emotional ones here, instead of the students who didn’t know that the Queen has overseen the largest wave of decolonization in British history, particularly in Africa. Then again, cancel culture isn’t known for discernment.
2021-06-2101 minThe Point by Colson CenterReading the Printed WordI’m going to say it—a book is better than a phone. Stop me if you’ve heard this: a guy is walking his dog right beside a very busy road and he almost dies because he’s staring straight into, wait for it . . . a book! You were expecting it to be his phone, right? If you’re going to risk your life, at least do it for the printed word. We might tell ourselves there’s no difference between reading on paper and reading on a screen. But as Dr. Martin Tobin writes...
2021-06-1801 minThe Point by Colson CenterTake the Plunge and Signup for The Colson FellowsEverything we do at the Colson Center, including the Point and BreakPoint commentaries and the BreakPoint podcast, is designed to offer clarity on the culture from a Christian worldview. But the goal isn’t just to think clearly. It’s also to live redemptively. And if you’re ready for this kind of deep dive into Christian worldview, check out our Colson Fellows Program. Colson Fellows sign up for nine months of intense training in worldview and culture. The program’s world-class faculty, readings, webinars, and residencies equip Christians to confidently approach culture with biblical clarity...
2021-06-1701 minThe Point by Colson CenterThe Myth of the “Morally Neutral” DoctorIn a recent op-ed at CNN, a doctor argued that “bodily autonomy” should be the highest moral objective in medicine. In other words, if a patient wants to do something to his or her body, doctors should comply even if they don’t think it’s best. The obvious context of this op-ed, especially obvious to anyone who’s ever attempted to disagree with their doctors, is gender transition. The doctor smartly offers a philosophical take, since medical justifications for cross-sex hormones and body-mutilating surgeries are lacking. In claiming that her own moral judgment shouldn’t inform her...
2021-06-1601 minThe Point by Colson CenterAn Atheist’s AdviceResponding to a church’s tweet that celebrated all “sexual orientations and gender identities,” a self-described atheist retorted, “[I]f your church is just preaching the exact same thing as the broader culture, what’s the point of going to church? Just imbibe the party line somewhere with more comfortable seats.” CS Lewis once said something similar: “I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.” One of the biggest mistake...
2021-06-1501 minThe Point by Colson CenterCulture Wars and the Whole Counsel of GodMy friend Dan Darling recently offered insight on an oddity of Christian subculture. He tweeted, “If ‘stop fighting culture wars’ means rejecting irrational fear and worship of politics, yes. If it means ignoring Jesus’ command to love our neighbors by using our voice and vote to speak and work against injustices that hurt our neighbors’ flourishing, then no.” Most Christians agree that the Church should never politicize the Gospel. It’s a complaint we rarely applied to ourselves, only to others. For example, pastors who find it “too political” to speak out against abortion or religious liberty march in a Black L...
2021-06-1401 minThe Point by Colson CenterSurrogacy Never Goes RightLast month LiveAction shared a story from the New Zealand Herald about a couple whose surrogacy experience went terribly wrong. After a surrogate mom volunteered to carry a couple’s IVF-conceived child, she began suffering prenatal depression and opted for an abortion. The biological parents were devastated and helpless. Their story is one of many ways surrogacy goes wrong. But does it ever go right? Even if the surrogate mother had carried the baby to term, the child would be deprived of its biological mom. In cases where donor gametes are involved, the ch...
2021-06-1101 min