Family Shield

Did you know that a 13-year-old boy saved 17 lives during Hurricane Harvey? Or that a five-year-old child led a group of toddlers to safety after Hurricane Katrina? Do you realize that a third grade girl sewed over a thousand blankets for people who needed them? Young people are doing amazing things all the time. Instead of thinking they need to wait until they’re older, they’re jumping into action now, as if to say “I can’t wait!” My guest today is Dr. Tim Elmore. He’s the author of I Can’t Wait. This book includes 52 stories of kids who changed their world. You can read these stories together with your kids. Dr. Elmore is the founder and CEO of Growing Leaders, an Atlanta based nonprofit organization encouraging and equipping emerging leaders. He has published over 35 books and has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and has been featured on Fox News on Fox & Friends. He and his wife Pam have two adult children and live outside of Atlanta.

What is the historical background of Thanksgiving? How do we prepare for Thanksgiving with our families, and why is it sometimes hard to keep Christ at the center of our holidays? How do you welcome the Lord to your Christmas holiday season? Join us today as I interview Bill Thrasher, the author of Putting God Back in the Holidays: Celebrate Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Birthdays, and 12 Other Special Occasions with Purpose. Bill and his wife Penny are frequent speakers for churches and retreats throughout the United States he's the author of several books including A Journey to Victorious Praying. They live in Chicago and have three sons.

Why do prodigal parents deal with heartache and pain when their children no longer attend church or practice their faith? How do we show unconditional love to our prodigal children? Why is prayer so important; and how can small groups and congregations encourage and assist prodigal parents? Join me today as I interview Paula Isakson. She was a prodigal child for 25 years before recommitting her life to Christ. After she returned to the faith, she began Faith Family Reunion, a prodigal parent ministry that offers encouragement and help for parents of prodigals.

How can Christians get acquainted with their neighbors? How do we befriend neighbors that have a different worldview than we do? And as God opens doors, how can we share our faith in Christ with them? My guest today is Reverend Michael Eckelkamp, Director of Ministry for Christ Lutheran Church in Lincoln Nebraska.

Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” At some point, our lives will be shaken by suffering, heartache, or loss. When this occurs we can ask these questions: will we rely on the faith that God gives us when life's sufferings shake us to the core? Through God’s strength, and by his grace, how can we leverage those experiences to point others to a relationship with Jesus Christ? Donna Snow, a popular author and speaker, wrote a new Bible study for Lutheran Women's Missionary League entitled Unshakable: Standing on the Rock When Life Quakes Hard. This Bible study will help participants learn about the lives of eight remarkable men and women used to point others to the hope of salvation. We'll talk about a few of these people today. In each person, we’ll see how the Lord gave them faith to survive and thrive. Thankfully, the Lord gives us a kingdom that cannot be shaken. My guest is Donna Snow, author of Unshakable: Standing on the Rock When Life Quakes Hard.

Dr Gary Chapman, author of the 5 Traits of a Healthy Family, shares. The family has been bombarded with influences ranging from the lure of bigger, better, more, to our culture’s emphasis on personal happiness above all else. Young people forming families today often lack models for healthy relationships. We all have hopes and dreams, yet it's easy to become overwhelmed and discouraged. Strong, healthy families are possible, and do exist, but they don't happen without meaningful effort. In Dr Chapman's newest book, 5 Traits of a Healthy Family, he shows us the way to a loving, stable family. With real life illustrations, he shares 5 timeless characteristics that create a flourishing family environment. These traits include families who develop an attitude of service, husband and wives who build intimate relationships, parents who guide their children, children who obey and honor their parents, and husbands and fathers who love, support, and lead. With so many distractions, real communication is getting harder. This new book is an important resource for all parents.

Hello and welcome to Family Shield Ministries. We are both a podcast and a radio program, so it's pretty exciting. My question for you is have you ever been in that moment where you're sitting in church and the pastor does it again - he looks at you and somehow he knows you haven't been reading the Bible. And he looks at you and says, “You should really start reading the Bible. It’s the Word of Life, it’s good - the more you’re in the Word, the freer you are.” Then you do that thing where you nod but on the inside you go “But it’s so boring.” Today we have somebody who I deeply appreciate and respect, Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Kloha. He was at the Concordia Seminary here in St Louis when I was here and then in 2017 Dr. Kloha, you went to the Museum of the Bible.

“And these words which I am commanding you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk to them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and write them on the doorpost of your house.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-8) According to God's Word God wants parents to be the primary disciple maker for their children. How do parents learn to disciple their children? How should congregations and leaders support parents in this important work? Today on Family Shield we’ll talk about how parents can be supported by the congregation to raise their children to know and love Jesus. My guests today are Rev. Brian Weaver, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Hurst, Texas, and Rev. Chris Kennedy, pastor of Shepherd of the Hills in San Antonio, Texas.

Patti took a leap of bravery and faith to acknowledge an eating disorder she had since she was a teenager and sought help. Her eating disorder began with negative thoughts about herself and how she viewed her body when she was a teenager. Today we’ll learn more about how Patti sought and received help as she went through an intensive 12-week treatment program. It helped her change her relationship with food, her body, and her mind. My guest today is Patti Caskey. Patti is my niece and lives in California with her husband Dean.

How do we respond and share our faith with Mormons who come to our door or that we meet in the community? What's the difference between the Mormon concept of God and how it differs from Christian beliefs? What do Mormons believe about Jesus, and how is this different from Christian beliefs? Why is it important that we talk about these things with our family, friends, and those who come to our doors that are Mormon? Today I'm interviewing Bill McKeever, the founder of Mormon Research Ministry.