We are taking a small break this July to gear up for season five of the Strong Women podcast. But during this break, we decided to re-air some episodes that we thought you would enjoy.   Lorie Smith is a graphic designer and the founder and owner of 303 Creative. She’s also the center of a landmark Supreme Court case regarding freedom of speech—a case she has just won thanks to her perseverance and the hard work of the Alliance Defending Freedom. She joins us to share her story of coming to Christ, developing as an artist and creator, and starting her business. In taking a public stand for religious freedom over the last seven years, Lorie has experienced backlash, hatred, and misrepresentation. But she has also experienced great strength from the Lord and support from His people. Her story of courageous faith displays the faithfulness of God and the role of the Church in helping Christians persevere through difficulty.    Lorie’s Website 303 Creative  Alliance Defending Freedom  The Cost of My Faith: How a Decision in My Cake Shop Took Me to the Supreme Court by Jack Phillips    You can leave a voicemail for us at 719-838-6700. Tell us what you love about the podcast and how it's encouraged you and impacted you in your daily life. The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly book list: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women   Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/ 

We are taking a small break this July to gear up for season five of the Strong Women podcast. But during this break, we decided to re-air some episodes that we thought you would enjoy. Our guests today are Linda Noble and Linda Stewart, affectionately called “The Lindas.” I love how these two ladies in different seasons of life looked at the world around them and asked, “What is missing that we can add?” They tell us how they joined together to learn and then create something that offers a window into God’s design for sex, which fits into the larger story that He wants to be known by us, and He uses His creation—including our own bodies—to pursue a relationship with us. I am excited for you to learn about how God has designed our bodies and our sexuality to invite us into a deeper relationship with Him. We must learn these big truths about God’s design in order to invite the young people in our lives to grasp the significance of the gift of sex within marriage. Without the big picture, this seems like just a rule to follow instead of an invitation to flourish.   You can leave a voicemail for us at 719-838-6700. Tell us what you love about the podcast and how it's encouraged you and impacted you in your daily life. The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly book list: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women   Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/ 

We are taking a small break this July to gear up for season five of the Strong Women podcast. But during this break, we decided to re-air some episodes that we thought you would enjoy. Our guests today are Linda Noble and Linda Stewart, affectionately called “The Lindas.” I love how these two ladies in different seasons of life looked at the world around them and asked, “What is missing that we can add?” They tell us how they joined together to learn and then create something that offers a window into God’s design for sex, which fits into the larger story that He wants to be known by us, and He uses His creation—including our own bodies—to pursue a relationship with us. I am excited for you to learn about how God has designed our bodies and our sexuality to invite us into a deeper relationship with Him. We must learn these big truths about God’s design in order to invite the young people in our lives to grasp the significance of the gift of sex within marriage. Without the big picture, this seems like just a rule to follow instead of an invitation to flourish.   Registration is now open for the Great Lakes Symposium on Christian Worldview, on Thursday, July 25 at 7pm Eastern. John Stonestreet will be joined by author and apologist Alisa Childers, and Ryan Bomberger of the Radiance Foundation. Our topic is “Truth and Its Counterfeits: Discerning the Lies that Take People Captive.”  Have you ever felt pressure to affirm unbiblical ideas in the name of “love” or “social justice?” Truly loving our neighbors means refusing to compromise God’s Word. To help us do that, Alisa Childers and Ryan Bomberger will join me for an important discussion on how Christians can pursue truth and love, even when it’s challenging. This event is free, and you can attend in-person in Bay Harbor, Michigan, or online via livestream. Register today at greatlakessymposium.org.  You can leave a voicemail for us at 719-838-6700. Tell us what you love about the podcast and how it's encouraged you and impacted you in your daily life. The Strong Women podcast is a product of the Colson Center, which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them. Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/ Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly book list: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women   Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/ 

We are taking a small break this July to gear up for season five of the Strong Women podcast. But during this break, we decided to re-air some episodes that we thought you would enjoy. Our guest today is Rachelle Starr, founder of Scarlet Hope. At 21, Rachelle felt God calling her to minister to women trapped working in strip clubs in her city of Louisville, KY. Today, she shares some of the stories she’s witnessed over 16 years of building relationships through good food and introducing these women to the God who sees and loves them. Scarlet Hope is now in many major cities around the nation, working to bring the hope of the Gospel to places that are often overlooked.    Rachelle’s Website Scarlet Hope  Outrageous Obedience: Answering God's Call to Shine in the Darkest Places by Rachelle Starr  Resilient: Restoring Your Weary Soul in These Turbulent Times by John Eldredge  Discernment by Henri J.M. Nouwen  The Way of the Heart by Henri J.M. Nouwen  Tramp for the Lord by Corrie Ten Boom  S3 27: Looking Back and Looking Forward: Reflecting on Three Years of the Strong Women Podcast With Erin Kunkle    You can leave a voicemail for us at 719-838-6700. Tell us what you love about the podcast and how it's encouraged you and impacted you in your daily life.   The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly book list: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women  Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/ 

Many assume prison is the last place to encounter God. But He is powerfully at work there through His people, both inside and out, fulfilling the promise to “proclaim liberty to the captives” and “set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18). Heather Rice-Minus, CEO of Prison Fellowship, has witnessed this firsthand in her work for prison reform and restorative justice. She joins Sarah to share the remarkable ways God is working today to redeem and restore people in the prison system.          Prison Fellowship https://www.prisonfellowship.org/  My Final Word: Holding Tight to the Issues that Matter Most by Charles Colson   Registration is now open for the Great Lakes Symposium on Christian Worldview, on Thursday, July 25 at 7pm Eastern. I’ll be joined by author and apologist Alisa Childers, and Ryan Bomberger of the Radiance Foundation. Our topic is “Truth and Its Counterfeits: Discerning the Lies that Take People Captive.”  Have you ever felt pressure to affirm unbiblical ideas in the name of “love” or “social justice?” Truly loving our neighbors means refusing to compromise God’s Word. To help us do that, Alisa Childers and Ryan Bomberger will join me for an important discussion on how Christians can pursue truth and love, even when it’s challenging. This event is free, and you can attend in-person in Bay Harbor, Michigan, or online via livestream. Register today at greatlakessymposium.org.  The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women  Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

Thanks to our relationship to technology, people are more disconnected than ever. Screen addiction is stunting real relationships, especially for kids and teens. How can we help young people pursue real, face-to-face relationships in the age of screens? Friend of the podcast Dr. Kathy Koch joins Sarah live at CCNC 2024 to answer that question and inspire us to foster deep connections and genuine friendships over virtual ones. This episode includes a thoughtful Q&A with our live audience.      Celebrate Kids: https://celebratekids.com/  Raising Spiritual Champions: Nurturing Your Child's Heart, Mind and Soul – George Barna  Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up - Abigail Schreier  The Anxious Generation how the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness - Jonathan Haidt  ADHD is Awesome A Guide to Mostly Thriving with ADHD - Penn Holderness and Kim Holderness      Great Lakes Symposium: greatlakessymposium.org      The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women    Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc     

Our post-Christian culture often promotes justice at the expense of mercy. God takes injustice seriously, and His forgiveness is the only thing in the universe that can deal with the full weight of injustice while also securing our redemption. According to theologian and apologist Amy Orr-Ewing, Christians have a precious opportunity in this cultural moment to show our neighbors how God meets their need for both justice and mercy through the cross. Amy joins us this week for an encouraging and hope-filled conversation Where is God in All the Suffering? by Amy Orr-Ewing  Lead Like the Real You by Amy Orr-Ewing (coming August 2024)  Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis  Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World by Tom Holland  Be Thou My Vision: A Liturgy for Daily Worship prayer book by Jonathan Gibson Registration is now open for the Great Lakes Symposium on Christian Worldview, which is on Thursday, July 25th at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. John Stonestreet is going to be joined by Alisa Childers and Ryan Bomberger of the Radiance Foundation. The topic for the evening is going to be truth and its counterfeit, discerning the lies that take people captive. This event is free and you can attend in person in Bay Harbor, Michigan, or online via a live stream. Register today at GreatLakesSymposium.org. Time is running out to apply for the Colson Fellows program. Applications close on June 30th. Do you want to understand this cultural moment so that you can live faithfully in it? Join a dedicated group of Christians who share that same desire. Colson Fellows dive into thought provoking books, webinars, devotionals and monthly cohort meetings to learn the biblical story of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. They come to understand this cultural moment in light of the big story. As a result, they find unshakable hope and take action. Participating in God's work of restoration, wherever he calls them. Discover timeless wisdom for this time and place in the Colson Fellows program. Submit your application before June 30th at ColsonFellows.org/apply. The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

You and I are not machines. We are trees. That’s just one of the beautiful observations in Joy Clarkson’s latest book, You Are a Tree: And Other Metaphors to Nourish Life, Thought, and Prayer. Joy joins us this week for a delightful conversation about metaphors and how they deepen our understanding of the human experience, including love, sadness, creativity, and even our own humanity.    Plough Quarterly  You Are a Tree: And Other Metaphors to Nourish Life, Thought, and Prayer by Joy Clarkson  Heavenly Participation: The Weaving of a Sacramental Tapestry by Hans Boersma   The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck  Shakespeare poem, Sonnet 116  Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry  A Series of Unfortunate Events series by Lemony Snicket  Daniel Deronda by George Eliot  The Marriage Question: George Eliot's Double Life by Clare Carlisle  Caravaggio: A Life Sacred and Profane by Andrew Graham-Dixon   Secrets of God: Writings of Hildegard of Bingen translated by Sabina Flanagan     We’re able to produce Strong Women and make it available for free thanks to the support of listeners like you. You make it possible for more women and girls to step out of shallow definitions of womanhood and into strong womanhood in Christ. We’re approaching the end of our fiscal year at the Colson Center, which is a critical time for raising support for the upcoming year of ministry. To support the production of the Strong Women podcast in the coming year, would you consider making a gift to the Colson Center by June 30? You can make your gift today at colsoncenter.org/swclarity.  Do you or people you care about need help answering tough questions about sexuality, gender, and identity? Cut through the confusion with the Identity Project. This digital platform features over 150 videos from vetted experts addressing topics like same-sex attraction, parenting, pornography, transgender ideology, sexual health, marriage, and a theology of the body. Experts include apologist Sean McDowell, child safety advocate Maria Keffler, psychologist Andrew Sodergren, and former transgender-identifying author and speaker Laura Perry Smalts. Get a free, 24-hour trial to explore the entire library of videos at identityproject.tv.   The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women   Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

Laura Perry Smalts spent nine years rejecting God and chasing a different "gender identity." Despite Laura’s social, hormonal, and surgical attempts to become a man, the promises of gender ideology proved to be lies. In the face of her anger and hatred of God and the Church, God miraculously broke through Laura’s heart with loving conviction and compassion. Tune in to hear her incredible journey and learn how to persevere in Christlike love toward loved ones embracing gender ideology.    Eden's Redemption  Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis  God, Sex and Marriage by Juli Slattery  Love Thy Body by Nancy Pearcey  God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew  The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom  As Christians, we’re called to love God with all our minds, and be transformed by the renewal of our minds. Without a mind that’s shaped by God’s Word, we’ll struggle to champion the truth, beauty, and goodness of God’s Kingdom in this time and place. To address this problem, Michael Craven, Vice President of Equipping and Mobilization at the Colson Center has written a brand-new, free e-book called The Christian Mind: Its Necessity to Christian Relevance and Renewal. It’s a primer on developing a thoroughly Christian mind for the sake of the Kingdom. If you want a more robust faith that actually shapes how you live in the world today, or if you’re wondering why cultivating a Christian mind really matters, you should read this book. You can grab your free copy by going to colsoncenter.org/book.     The Strong Women podcast exists to display the beautifully diverse ways God invites and equips women to participate in His story, encouraging us to step out of shallow definitions of womanhood and into the freedom of strong womanhood in Christ. Strong Women is a listener-funded program from the Colson Center that is only available for free because it has already been paid for by hundreds of listeners like you. To support the ongoing production of Strong Women, visit colsoncenter.org/give today.     The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women  Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

Sometimes we forget how radical and powerful God’s grace is. This week’s guest, Toni McFadden, has not forgotten. Toni travels the country to speak about abortion, promote healthy sexuality and relationships, and advocate for the unborn. After Toni had an abortion in high school, God transformed her life through radical salvation, healing, and a new calling. Her life testifies to how Jesus forgives our sin and redeems our stories.    Toni’s Website   Redeemed: My Journey After Abortion by Toni McFadden or at https://tonimcfadden.com/  Campus Crusade for Christ (Now Cru)  Forgiven and Set Free: A Bible Study for Women Seeking Healing after Abortion by Linda Cochrane   The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis   Live Action  March for Life  Pro Love Ministries and Love Line  On the Threshold of Hope: Opening the Door to Healing for Survivors of Sexual Abuse by Diane Mandt Langberg   “Remembering Pro-Life Trailblazer Mildred Jefferson,” Feb 4, 2020 Commentary from The Heritage Foundation     Strong Women listeners, the Colson Center is accepting applications for the Colson Fellows program Class of ‘25, until June 30th. This flagship program takes participants on a ten-month journey into the study of the Christian life and worldview. Why? Because Christians need to understand the entire biblical story so we can properly order our lives and the world around us in a way that rightly relates to us God, self, others, and creation. You can expect to deepen your relationship with Christ, gain clarity in your calling, develop practical skills and wisdom, and join a powerful network of commissioned Colson Fellows around the globe. Ultimately, you’ll be equipped to make an impact for God’s Kingdom right where he has placed you. To learn more and apply before the June 30th deadline, go to www.colsonfellows.org. Please note, tuition increases $50 for all applications submitted after June 5, so submit your applications soon!      The Strong Women podcast exists to display the beautifully diverse ways God invites and equips women to participate in His story, encouraging us to step out of shallow definitions of womanhood and into the freedom of strong womanhood in Christ. Strong Women is a listener-funded program from the Colson Center that is only available for free because it has already been paid for by hundreds of listeners like you. To support the ongoing production of Strong Women, visit colsoncenter.org/give today.    The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women  Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc