The Strong Women Podcast

Are you waiting for different circumstances to flourish in your faith? You don’t have to wait, because God is at work right where you are. Ruth Chou Simons, author of Now and Not Yet, reminds us that we can deepen our relationship with God even when we’re not yet where we want to be. Tune in for an encouraging discussion on seasons of waiting, freedom from striving, and resting in God’s grace. Show Notes:  Now and Not Yet: Pressing in When You’re Waiting, Wanting, and Restless for More by Ruth Chou Simons When Strivings Cease: Replacing the Gospel of Self-Improvement with the Gospel of Life-Transforming Grace by Ruth Chou Simons Future Grace: The Purifying Power of the Promises of God by John Piper GraceLaced You Are What You Love: the Spiritual Power of Habit by James K.A. Smith   You Are a Theologian by Jen Wilkin and J.T. English No habit is neutral. To help you develop Christ-centered habbits, grab a free copy of Habits that Aim our Affections at colsoncenter.org/habits. In collaboration with Focus on the Family, we are excited to announce Lighthouse Voices returns on September 10 at 7pm Eastern. Lighthouse Voices is a livestreamed event series designed to help Christians navigate today’s cultural landscape with truth AND love.  We will be talking about Resilient Faith in a Digital World with Samuel James, author of the new book Digital Liturgies. Contrary to what we may think, technology isn’t neutral. The mindless act of scrolling on our phones and consuming digital content DOES something to us. It reshapes the way we relate to God and truth. James will highlight five ways digital habits have slowly starved our souls and will point us to the abundant life we can enjoy when we trade digital addiction for godly wisdom. This faith-shaping conversation will be followed by a Q&A and book signing. To attend via livestream or in person in Holland, Michigan, register for free today at colsoncenter.org/lighthouse. 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     

Dependence invites us to experience greater joy in the Lord—and Joni Eareckson Tada’s life testifies to this joy. She joins us today to share the wisdom she’s gained through years of following Jesus. Pour yourself a cup of coffee and tune in to hear what God is teaching Joni about Himself in this season of life.    Show Notes:  Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves  The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown  Facing the Mountain by Daniel James Brown  Strong Women S1 E 3: Who We Are is Rooted With Joni Eareckson Tada No habit is neutral. To help you develop Christ-centered habbits, grab a free copy of Habits that Aim our Affections at colsoncenter.org/habits. In collaboration with Focus on the Family, we are excited to announce Lighthouse Voices returns on September 10 at 7pm Eastern. Lighthouse Voices is a livestreamed event series designed to help Christians navigate today’s cultural landscape with truth AND love.  We will be talking about Resilient Faith in a Digital World with Samuel James, author of the new book Digital Liturgies. Contrary to what we may think, technology isn’t neutral. The mindless act of scrolling on our phones and consuming digital content DOES something to us. It reshapes the way we relate to God and truth. James will highlight five ways digital habits have slowly starved our souls and will point us to the abundant life we can enjoy when we trade digital addiction for godly wisdom. This faith-shaping conversation will be followed by a Q&A and book signing. To attend via livestream or in person in Holland, Michigan, register for free today at colsoncenter.org/lighthouse.   Get free digital access to CCNC 2024 when you make a gift to the Colson Center by August 31st. Access includes all mainstage sessions from the conference, featuring speakers like Calvin Robinson, Cathy Cooke, Neil Shenvi and more. Every gift given will support the next three months of ministry, including brand new What Would You Say videos, Breakpoint forums and the ongoing production of Strong Women and Breakpoint. Ultimately, when you support these initiatives, you're helping us strengthen everyday Christians with courageous faith. To make your gift and get access to CCNC 2024 online, go to ColsonCenter.org/August.   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 

Christianity is exploding across India. For the last 25 years, Rebecca Stanley has participated in God’s work there through evangelism, church planting, and advocating for the vulnerable. Rebecca joins us in-studio to share how God is building His Church in India and bringing life and purpose to men and women on the fringes of society. Kairos Global Foundation  Kingdom Unleashed by Jerry Trousdale, Glenn Sunshine, with Gregory C. Benoit  The Unshakable Kingdom and the Unchanging Person by E. Stanley Jones Does the thought of voting stress you out—especially this year? Maybe the idea of political engagement as a Christian even feels hopeless. You’re not alone. You want wisdom, but the Bible doesn’t directly address voting, so what do you do?   To help you find clarity, stability, and wisdom for this year, we’ve put together a short, four-episode video series called “Why Vote? Courageous Faith in an Election Year.” Each video answers a different question about voting from a Christian perspective, including “What if I don’t like either candidate?” “Why vote if God is sovereign?” and more. You don’t have to give in to our culture’s political anxiety. Clarity and hope is possible- even in an election year. Get your FREE access to the “Why Vote?” video series at colsoncenter.org/whyvote. Get free digital access to CCNC 2024 when you make a gift to the Colson Center by August 31st. Access includes all mainstage sessions from the conference, featuring speakers like Calvin Robinson, Cathy Cooke, Neil Shenvi and more. Every gift given will support the next three months of ministry, including brand new What Would You Say videos, Breakpoint forums and the ongoing production of Strong Women and Breakpoint. Ultimately, when you support these initiatives, you're helping us strengthen everyday Christians with courageous faith. To make your gift and get access to CCNC 2024 online, go to ColsonCenter.org/August. 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

Grief, trauma, and shame thrive in the darkness—but honesty enables us to walk in the light of healing and freedom. Tune in for a story of redemption and healing from Anne Beiler, founder of Auntie Anne’s pretzels. More than a successful businesswoman, Anne is a woman of God who has walked through devastating loss and trauma and discovered the freedom that comes when we share our burdens with those who love us.        Show Notes:  Overcome and Lead by Auntie Anne Beiler  Transforming Trauma into Triumph by Shanea Clancy    The Rhythm of Home by Chris and Jenni Graebe    Does the thought of voting stress you out—especially this year? Maybe the idea of political engagement as a Christian even feels hopeless. You’re not alone. You want wisdom, but the Bible doesn’t directly address voting, so what do you do?   To help you find clarity, stability, and wisdom for this year, we’ve put together a short, four-episode video series called “Why Vote? Courageous Faith in an Election Year.” Each video answers a different question about voting from a Christian perspective, including “What if I don’t like either candidate?” “Why vote if God is sovereign?” and more. You don’t have to give in to our culture’s political anxiety. Clarity and hope is possible- even in an election year. Get your FREE access to the “Why Vote?” video series at colsoncenter.org/whyvote.   Get free digital access to CCNC 2024 when you make a gift to the Colson Center by August 31st. Access includes all mainstage sessions from the conference, featuring speakers like Calvin Robinson, Cathy Cooke, Neil Shenvi and more. Every gift given will support the next three months of ministry, including brand new What Would You Say videos, Breakpoint forums and the ongoing production of Strong Women and Breakpoint. Ultimately, when you support these initiatives, you're helping us strengthen everyday Christians with courageous faith. To make your gift and get access to CCNC 2024 online, go to ColsonCenter.org/August.   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 

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.   Crystal Downing joins us this week to talk about the 20th-century Christian author, Dorothy Sayers. Crystal is Co-Director of the Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College, where scholars research, write about, and preserve the memorabilia of a handful of British writers—including a few members of the Inklings. Though Dorothy Sayers wasn’t an Inkling herself, she was friends with many of them and was a major spiritual influence on C.S. Lewis. Dorothy was not afraid to challenge people, including both Christians and the nonreligious. Crystal’s book Subversive: Christ, Culture, and the Shocking Dorothy L. Sayers is a wonderful introduction to this interesting woman.    The Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College  Crystal’s books Writing Performances: The Stages of Dorothy L. Sayers by Crystal Downing  How Postmodernism Serves (My) Faith by Crystal Downing  Changing Signs of Truth by Crystal Downing   Salvation from Cinema: The Medium Is the Message by Crystal Downing  Subversive: Christ, Culture, and the Shocking Dorothy L Sayers by Crystal Downing  The Wages of Cinema: Looking Through the Lens of Dorothy L. Sayers by Crystal Downing (coming soon)  Are Women Human? by Dorothy Sayers   Lord Peter Wimsey detective books by Dorothy L. Sayers  Murder in the Cathedral by T.S. Eliot  The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri  The Zeal of Thy House play by Dorothy Sayers  The Man Who Was Thursday by GK Chesterton  Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte  Mill on the Floss by George Elliot  Silas Marner by George Elliot  Middlemarch by George Elliot  The Man Born to Be King by Dorothy Sayers      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.   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