Family Life 5 O’Clock Report – 2/14/24
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Inside Out – Thorns – Faithfully handling disappointment – 2/14/24
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The Gift of Thorns
“We have to very careful to distinguish between ‘did God let me down?’ or ‘did my expectations of God let me down?’
What if not getting what we want is one of God’s great gifts?
“God knows what is good for us when we don’t,” says the Rev. Dr. A. J. Swoboda. “To ultimately assume God’s desires for us are the best desires, and believing that, is our first step in being followers of Christ.”
“I have grown the most in my spiritual journey with Jesus in places where I have not gotten everything I want. And what I’m trying to say is, I don’t grow in the great times. I grow in the times when I’m mad that I didn’t get what I want God to do,” Swoboda says.
When we find that we’re disappointed or angry with God, it’s important to figure out what God has promised us. “We have to very careful to distinguish between ‘did God let me down?’ or ‘did my expectations of God let me down?’ We’ve got to be cautious to not assume that God and our expectations about God are the same exact thing,” he says.
It is actually a gift, Swoboda says, to not get what we want.
“Jesus lived a life of willingly giving up everything He wanted. In fact, in the Garden of Gethsemane, he pleads with the Father to not die on the cross. Yet he submits Himself to what the Father wants over what His flesh and emotions wanted. And so I think life is in those places in our life. I think the thorns are a gift. I don’t think they’re a problem, I think they’re a gift.”
“At least in our world, unless you embrace the thorn, you won’t ever receive the rose. And that with every thorn there is a rose. We tend to focus on the thorn, and we forget the rose.”
Hear much more from A. J. Swoboda by listening to our 15-minute podcast.
Swoboda is Associate Professor of Biblical Studies and World Christianity at Bushnell University in Eugene, Oregon. He also leads a Doctor of Ministry program at Friends University. His new book is The Gift of Thorns: Jesus, the Flesh, and the War for our Wants. Learn more about A. J. Swoboda here.
“The Gift of Thorns” also is available as a Bible study series for individuals and groups.
The Calling – Episode 16: Pastor Christopher Powers and Pastor Sean Powers from Kingstree Church in Ohio
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The Calling is a Family Life original podcast for pastors that focuses on the personal and professional challenges they face in their mission to serve the Lord. In Episode 16, Steve’s guests are pastors Christopher and Sean Powers from Kingstree Church in Ohio. Christopher and Sean are not only pastors at the same church, they, along with Tim Powers of the Rise Up Morning Show, are brothers. In this episode, they talk about the importance of family and the role their parents played in their lives.
Hometown Heroes – House of Hope – Pastor Angelique – 2/13/24
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“We want them to know from the second they walk in that this is a place where they will receive healing and acceptance and value.”
It’s “Hometown Heroes” on Family Life
The House of Hope in Williamsport PA exists to help women overcome dependency, barriers, and challenges — so they will move from a state of homelessness to thriving in the community through the transforming power of Jesus Christ. The six-month residential program is an outreach of the Sojourner Truth Ministries there.
Pastor Angelique Labadie-Cihanowyz is the executive director, and she tells us about some of the paths which led these women to desperate or challenging life circumstances, and how the love of Jesus Christ is demonstrated to those who find shelter and solace at the House of Hope.
Sojourner Truth Ministries is named for the former slave who became an outspoken advocate for women’s rights, temperance and abolition of slavery. STM in Williamsport operates the House of Hope, prepares hot lunches six days a week, and have provided an after-school program for children. Find out more from their website, where you can watch their “House Tour” and “Cardboard Stories” videos.
Family Life Noon Report – 02/13/24
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Family Life 5 O’Clock Report – 2/12/24
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Issues in Education – Fewer students, Higher expenditures – 2/12/24
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Enrollments at public schools continues to drop, drastically in some districts. The causes are numerous: population declines, lower birth rates, and the move to charter, private and home schooling.
Dr. Ralph Kerr of the Teaching and Learning Institute discusses the weighty issues in the news as they pertain to public education in this ongoing Family Life series. This week on “Issues in Education”:
Rethinking Education Aid in NY- The 3 Greatest Challenges Facing PA Schools
- Why Run as a candidate for your local School Board
Family Life Noon Report – 2/12/24
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Kids Corner – That’s So Annoying
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There are lots of things that are annoying in this world, and sometimes those annoyances can be people! But, what does God say about how we should treat them?
Bible Verses: Proverbs 12:16, Proverbs 19:11, Proverbs 29:11, Ephesians 4, 2nd Timothy 2, Colossians 3, Philippians 1, 1st Peter 5:7, Ephesians 3:20, Philippians 4:13, Mark 9:23, Luke 1:37
Capital Connection – 2/09/24
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New York’s lawyers’ group says doctors should assist in suicides.
A gun-rights rally in Pennsylvania draws media attention — and a prominent political candidate
How can parents opposed to the actions of the trans-gender movement stand up for their own families?
Each Friday, Family Life’s “Capital Connection” feature talks with leading pro-family advocates who lobby at the state capitols in Harrisburg and Albany. Listen for this 10-minute analysis from Jason McGuire (executive director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms) and Michael Geer (president of the Pennsylvania Family Institute).
Both of these organizations have additional videos, podcasts, commentary and position papers. They are available through the tabs below.
NY: 
PA: 
