4th Quarter Christianity

Do you enjoy listening to sermons. I hope so! We are excited to release our first episode of our newest segment of the podcast, Sermon Sunday! Sermons will be posted every other Sunday! Check them out! 

As a serious student of the Bible, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that the Bible is very bizarre and quite frankly disturbing at times. There have been many accusations raised against the Bible and the people who live by it. This has led me to reevaluate this book and deepen my study. Check out this sermon as we explore this topic.   

Sources:  

1. NASB 2020 

2. Butt, Kyle. Is The Bible God's Word? Apologetics Press, 2022. 

3. Kimball, Dan, and Sean McDowell. How (Not) to Read the Bible: Making Sense of the Anti-Women, Anti-Science, pro-Violence, pro-Slavery, and Other Crazy-Sounding Parts of Scripture

The genre of music known as a rap is a controversial subject among Christians. There have been statements made about rap in favor of it, and there have been statements that directly opposes it. Nevertheless, rap music is one of the most popular genres of music today. It is not only national but international. So, what about the Christian and rap? Is it an appropriate genre of music for the Christian? To answer this question and others like it, we must go back and view its history; namely, its origin and purpose. Check out the first part of a 2 part series as we strive to answer these questions!

Nurses go through a great deal of strenuous training. After all, they do have the lives of other people in their care. I believe this is the reason it will take more than a nice pay check to keep you in this field. My guest would argue that anyone interested in this field must have a passion to help others live happier and healthier lives even when its most challenging and especially when people are most difficult. 

Are you interested in the field of nursing? Are you passionate about helping others? Check out this final episode of our health & wellness theme!

Motherhood is a joy, a privilege, and a gift from God. Women of all ages and all walks of life,  have been blessed to be mothers! Perhaps, the most excited group of them all, are the new mothers. In this episode, we speak with two new mothers about their early experience as a momma: from hearing the news that they were pregnant, to their delivery experience, and the return home. We talk about the good, the challenging, and the ugly. Stay tune! 

DIY is more than just about building things, it's a mindset and a lifestyle. Join us on this journey by checking out this second episode of our Mother's Day series 2022, as these two DIY moms talk projects, perspective, and passion! 

Not only as the wife of the preacher, but as the mother of his kids, these ladies deal with their expectations for their families and the congregation's expectations of their family. Often times, their resilience in this area goes unnoticed. In this episode, we are going to highlight this and more! Stay tune!  

#Mothersdayseries

How's your credit score? What about the credit score of those by whom you're surrounded? Do you have a good working knowledge of credit? When talking about credit, there are a ton of misconceptions with which one must deal. These misconceptions have led many people to fear credit, resulting in bad credit or no credit at all. In this episode, those misconceptions are dealt with and the approach is to inform people of what a credit score is and the importance of building credit early. Check out this episode as we talk about credit, savings, investing, and more!  

What is Easter? How did it originate? Why is it a holiday? What exactly is it celebrating? Stay tune for this episode as we answer these questions and more! 

Check out Jordan's podcast: "When the scriptures become real" 

To many people, caring for yourself, to ensure you achieve optimal wellness seems impractical. Consider having the proper diet, let's be real, it cost some serious dough to shop at whole foods. But, do you really have to shop at whole foods to ensure you have a balanced diet? No! In this episode we talk, sports (of course), diet, recovery, relationship with God, and practical ways to achieve wellness. Check it out! 

movewellfitacademy.com 
movewellfit.myshaklee.com
movewellfit.com

Everyone wants to be fit. At least the idea of fitness resonates with everyone but not the work involved. Many people are often discouraged from living a life of fitness because of the misconceptions regarding fitness portrayed in the media. Good news is, we can change that perception by learning the basics! We take the premise that exercise is medicine not aesthetics. Check out this episode!

Dr. Charles R. Drew was an African American surgeon who discovered ways of storing blood plasma for transfusion. Along with this accomplishment, Dr. Drew also organized the first large scale blood bank in America. However, none of his achievements came without great difficulty, especially that of discrimination. 

Check out this historical highlight of an amazing and determined human, Dr. Charles R. Drew!

Sources: 
https://www.biography.com/scientist/charles-drew
https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/african-americans-in-sciences/charles-richard-drew.html

It takes guts to control your temper and restrain yourself from retaliating against personal insults. Jackie Robinson, however, not only possessed those guts but he revealed them in choosing not to fight back and turn the other cheek to personal insults, physical abuse, and threats. What about you, are you able to control your temper? Are you willing to endure the insults of others? 

Checkout this episode and see if it can't help you decide!

Life is transitions. We often take on new identities or roles when going through those transitions. Sometimes we are expected to fill multiple roles simultaneously. In this episode, Quianita Webster shares her story of switching between a college student, wife, mother - to simultaneously being all three! Check it out! 

This is a remarkable story of a young Nigerian man who is impacting the world through his medical illustrations, which symbolizes a message of hope, equity, and togetherness. Combining his love for art and medicine, Chidiebere Ibe aims to diversify the medical textbooks, by incorporating more images of black people in a realm that is heavily dominated by images of white people. His goal is to glorify God through his efforts as a medical illustrator and his future career as a Pediatric Neurosurgeon. 

Key Quote: "The difference you make with God is greater than the difference you can make along" - Chidiebere Ibe

Check out where to find Chidiebere Ibe and his work: 

• Facebook & Instagram - ebereillustrate 
• https://chidiebereibe24.wixsite.com/ebereillustrate?fbclid=IwAR3vEw7KsfXiZWbZatqm-5J3LT4XOdKH2CJaAcq1tyZFis85_eOMttWbdDI
• https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2Fblackpregnantwomannft&e=ATPtl0Dq_ywq5RxIm1Lj6thL3pNx-rj1z_mhrBMmIv3JMvE1wcr4PKDgIHkh2s_1m_dgBV03bikYOE-wMdC6DPr8_WSl1wljrVD7Bw&s=1

Forgiving ourselves is like stretching. We release the tension of the faults/mistakes we have been carrying around with us. However, it takes time and discipline to stretch after a hard workout, and the same is true regarding forgiving ourselves of the many sins we've committed. Thankfully, God forgives us and He expects us to forgive ourselves. Let's start now! Check out this episode! 

Sex is in high demand. It is flaunted around on social media platforms, tv commercials, and in society in general. Today, it is not uncommon to see a baby care facility in high schools to accommodate young teenage mothers in their pursuit of receiving a high school diploma. It too is not uncommon to see churches throw baby showers for mothers or couples who are not yet bound together by marriage. 

In a nut shell, sex has been normalized so, that an enormous number of Christians and non Christians alike participate in it on a regular basis. A great number of this participation happens outside of the realm of marriage. The questions we ask and discuss in this episode stems from this fact:  what is sex (its purpose, origin, etc)? If sex is from God, how could it possibly be wrong? Is it permissible for Christians to host and even participate in a baby shower of a person who is not married? 

The list goes on! Check out this episode! 

As a former athlete, my experience with a particular away game was transforming. My teammates and I spent the entire week preparing for the opposing team, but nothing we did prepared us for the environment. We failed to achieve the victory because many of us lost our composure due to the bias officials and hostile fans. We were unable to focus on the task we set to accomplish because we were distracted by all the noise. 

Interestingly, this translates easily to Christianity. As Christians, we are constantly at the away game preparing to face the enemy. However, we sometimes fail to achieve victory because we lose our composure at work, or school, etc. We sometimes find it difficult to hear God clearly and remain faithful to the mission when there is so much noise going on around us.  

In this episode we learn how to keep our composure, block out that noise,  and remain faithful to God! 

The month of October is not only uniquely known for the start of fall and halloween. It too is the time where we, as people, remember the individuals who have battled and currently battling with that old formidable foe called cancer! 

Cancer is a disease that has claimed many lives. Once diagnosed with it, it is nearly impossible to have any hope amid this seemingly hopeless situation. However, nearly impossible doesn't mean impossible. 

In this episode, my guest, Shelley Wheeler, shares her personal experience with a cancer known as Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. 

Ever wonder how to respond when things don't go our way? Sure you have! But, what about when the law goes contrary to your beliefs/wants. Is civil disobedience ever an appropriate response for the Christian? What if that law directly opposes our Christian duty. As a Christian, am I allowed to protest that law? If so, am I to be willing to accept the consequences for my disobeying what I may consider an unjust law. Or, what about pledging allegiance to America? Is it right or wrong for Christians to pledge their allegiance to America? 

This episode touches so many critical social and legal issues. I believe it is well worth your time! Check it out! 

Life is like a race - one that is full of various challenges. Often times these challenges come in the form of various hurdles. One of two things can happen when we face these hurdles, we can fail in the face of them by tripping over them or we can conquer them by hurdling over them. In this episode, my guest Hiram Kemp gives some practical ways that we can do the latter! 

Be sure to check out Hiram's latest book at the link below: 
http://thelightnetwork.tv/lastwill/

Be sure also to check out the God Magnified Podcast wherever you get your podcasts 

Michael Jordan once said, "my greatest skill set is that I was coachable - I was a sponge and aggressive to learn." Dare I say this should be the mindset of every Christian regarding how we should respond to our coach who is Jesus. Tune in to this episode as we talk about the ins and outs of the idea of being coachable and exactly what it means for the Christian. 

College is usually a time of self-discovery - a time where people embark on the arduous journey of finding their place in the world. During this critical time, the urge for social connection is extremely powerful - making acceptance the number one thing emerging adults crave. This is where fraternity and sorority groups thrive. Greek life is a major part of the college experience. Though these groups came into existence over a century ago, interest in Greek life is as present today as it was at the first.  Therefore, the question is, what influence does membership in a fraternity or sorority have on Christian college students? Check out this episode as we start the conversation!

Every year big time athletes who once competed in two or more sports in high school or in college make the ultimate decision regarding the one sport they are going to play. For LeBron James, who was a dual athlete in high school - playing both basketball and football - he chose basketball. Or someone more recent, Jalen Suggs, a highly recruited athlete as a football and basketball player, ended up choosing basketball. When these athletes host camps, they try and influence their participants to choose the sport in which they participate. Usually they give several reasons why by comparing their sport to other sports. In this episode, like athletes and coaches who seek to persuade young athletes to choose their sport, we want to give you some basic reasons why we believe you should choose a religion, specifically Christianity. As Christians, Dewayne and I do not believe Christianity is a man made religion but that it was given by God. In this episode Dewayne we will compare Christianity to other world religions and give you some reasons why to choose Christianity. 


Follow Dewayne here: 
https://www.dewaynebryant.com/
https://thedailyapologist.com/search?q=Dewayne
https://warrenapologetics.org/search?q=Dewayne
https://www.apologeticspress.org/sitesearch.aspx?q=Dewayne

Christians, have you ever faced an ethical dilemma - you know - when situations in life aren't black and white? For example, is abortion always wrong? What about in cases of rape? Is birth control permissible by God? Can we support euthanasia to end pain suffering? When we consider questions involving life or death such as these, it is CRITICAL that we have conviction! In this episode my guess, Dr. Brad Harrub and I, discuss Christian ethics. Christian ethics teaches us about the behaviors and actions that God does and does not approve of. This is a necessity for Christians because the sobering reality is that Christians spend far more time outside a church building than we do inside of one. During our time outside of the building we need to know how to behave even when faced with the toughest of situations! Check out this episode, as we discuss these questions and more! 

Be sure to checkout Dr. Brad Harrub at Focuspress.org 

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If you had to rate your self confidence according to God's standard, would it be below it or beyond it? How do I get my self-confidence where God would have it to be? Let's talk about it! Join Sam and I as we discuss the topic, "Take the Shot" - a practical discussion on self-confidence. 

Ever wonder why you are able to conquer some battles but fail miserably at battles of lesser severity and importance? Do you ever feel like it is impossible not to think of drugs, money, sex, etc.? Or, have you ever tried to think positively about yourself or someone else, but to no avail? Perhaps you have not mastered your mind. 

The Bible teaches that the heart is the mind and vice versa (Prov. 23:7). It informs us that the mind is the seat of our intentions and emotions (Matt. 15:18-19).  Thus, we must be careful what we put into our minds, and who/what we allow to rule our minds. As the old adage states, "the mind is a terrible thing to waste." So, why waste it? Master your mind by giving it over to Jesus (Phil. 4:8). 

Suffering a life-altering injury does a number on your confidence, your faith, and your overall life. You were use to living a certain way, when suddenly you suffered an injury that changed your life forever - forcing you to adapt to a totally new way of living. Do you, or someone you know (a fellow Christian or believer) suffer from a life-altering injury? How do you deal with this? How does this make you feel?  It is difficult for me to intimately understand the great amount of stress and pain you are feeling. Therefore, I simply imagine what  I would need most if I were in your shoes - hope. My guest today is Don Blackwell, a man who suffered a life-altering injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down. In this episode he provides words of wisdom and encouragement regarding the benefit from facing adversity, the strength from dealing with the onslaught of emotions, and the hope we have in Jesus. Please understand that the aim is not to mitigate the severity of your situation. However, the aim of this episode is to provide you with hope through the Lord, Jesus Christ!

#like #share #subscribe #rate #review 

For those who have played organized sports, you probably have experienced that moment of frustration with the referees. At times, it just seem that they didn't make the right call. So, what do you do? Well, many athletes decide to do their job and instruct the referees on how to do theirs. Unfortunately, this only proves to be more ineffective, as athletes find themselves  ejected from the contest. 

Over the recent years, months, weeks, and even presently, many citizens have voiced their thoughts regarding how officers should do their job. Given the recent transpiring of events, one can at least understand the feelings of those who are voicing their opinions. However, is instructing the police regarding how they should do the job for which they were trained, when we have no training in the area, the most effective way to promote proper change? For some, the answer is, yes. However, we believe the answer is open dialogue. 

Perhaps you do not understand police work, the method of policing, etc. but you want to change that; then this episode is for you! Check it out, as Daniel sits down and discuss policing with Sgt. Howard Banks of the Bellevue Police Department. 

Dr. James Dobson identified the years between 16 - 26 as the "critical decade." Within those ten years, major life changes happen such as (but not limited to) the sudden onslaught of hormones (a.k.a puberty), getting your driver's license, graduating high school, moving out of your parent's house,  heading off to college or graduating from college, acquiring that dream job, marriage, children, or becoming a Christian. These are very concrete matters that deserves practical answers. My guest, Ronald Sanders, Jr. and I strive to do just that in this episode! Check it out! 

Books referenced other than the Bible: 

1. Life on the Edge: A Young Adult's Guide to a Meaningful Future - Dr. James Dobson, Author. 
2. 10 Great Things Dads Do: Strategies for Raising Great Kids - Rick Johnson, Author. 

Hey young and emerging adults, are you currently dating? Are your relationships building towards marriage? Do you struggle to be social in the courting/dating stage? How do you know if the person you are currently with is the "one?" Check out this episode where my guest, Tammy Janelle and I talk about these things and more!

Money is important! It's a tool that when used properly can result in a lot of good! Unfortunately, many people are not skilled in handling their finances. Check out this preview of Episode 7 (scheduled to launch this Thursday) as Brandon Greene and I talk money!


Check out the book referenced in this episode entitled, "How to manage your money when you don't have any" by Erik Wecks. Link below!

https://www.amazon.com/Manage-Your-Money-When-Dont/dp/1475044038/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

There is a stigma against females who lift weights and participate in sports. Rather than being regarded for their talent or viewed as someone who wants to be healthy, they were often considered a tomboy or not lady like. In this episode, my guest argues that you can be athletic, lift weights, etc. and still be a lady. 

In this episode, Air Force Veteran and Elder, Ron Wheeler and I discuss a variety of important matters ranging from the importance of remaining discipline amid good times and when facing adversity to acquiring resilience. 

In this episode, my guest, Lee Wilson and I, discuss and offer practical advice to overcome the prevalence of alcohol addiction among emerging adults. 

Drugs have plagued the emerging adult community for years. It remains one of the primary hinderances to proper brain development and brain functionality in young people. This monstrous enemy challenges Christians and Non-Christians alike. Perhaps you or someone you know is addicted to drugs, is it possible for you or him/her to overcome it? Or, maybe you are thinking of experimenting with drugs, is it possible to prevent you from doing so? The answers to these questions are yes! Tune into this episode as my friend, instructor, and former chief probation officer, Diane Sjuts shares with us her experience in this particular area and provides practical advice for emerging adults - to overcome drug addiction and prevent from being addicted to drugs. 

Have you ever considered what it will cost you to follow Jesus? Perhaps you never thought of it that way? Nevertheless, choosing to be a Christian will cost you? Are you willing to pay that cost? In this episode we will look at this spiritual message Jesus conveyed to the crowds which followed Him, as recorded in Luke 14:25-33, through the metaphorical lenses of what it cost to be an athlete. 

In this episode I introduce the podcast and inform you on things to expect!