Bedtime--it's that sometimes elusive and dreaded time of the day, especially if you have young kids. Yet, bedtime can be the most significant time of the day to connect with your kids, and even your teens. In this episode, we discuss the spiritual and emotional significance of bedtime. We also get super practical about turning it into one of the most memorable--and maybe even enjoyable--parts of your day. Even more, bedtime could be the environment that shapes your family and child's story for y...
Nov 21, 2018•30 min
For many of us, inviting people into our lives and homes feels more like inviting judgment on our entertaining skills and stress on our already maxed-out schedules. And with the holidays approaching, you may be feeling the pressure. But what if you knew that opening your front door had the power to radically change the world around you? To make an impact and leave a legacy with everyday invitations? Jen Schmidt has set out to reframe how we think about hospitality and to equip us to walk a road ...
Nov 14, 2018•42 min
What happens when our son is exposed to pornography at a young age? Or our daughter begins hearing about sex at school and asking you questions? Many of our own parents didn't model for us how to have these difficult conversations with our kids. Not only that, our kids seem to be exposed to sex at even younger ages today. In this episode, we revisit with Linda Noble and Linda Stewart, two leading voices helping parents talk to their children about body image and sex through THE Conversation Work...
Nov 07, 2018•46 min
What happens when our daughter tells us she's fat? Or our son begins to ask questions about his private parts? These questions are enough to throw off any good parent. So how can we raise our kids to have a healthy body image in a culture that has distorted it? That's the conversation we have today with Linda Noble and Linda Stewart, two leading voices helping parents talk to their children about body image and sex through THE Conversation Workshop. This is part one of a two part series. In this...
Oct 31, 2018•44 min
There are eyes on your marriage. If you have kids, they watch how you interact. If you lead others in your community, those you lead watch how you live. In other words, your marriage is in a fishbowl. Some feel it more than others. But regardless of who's watching, if we don't pursue a marriage we'd wish on our kids, or we keep leading others without tending to our own marital garden, it will catch up to us. And besides, isn't it better to enjoy life with our spouse than merely tolerate it and g...
Oct 24, 2018•32 min
This episode is a treat. Lisa Harper joins us to talk about her newly released children's book, Who's Your Daddy: Discovering the Awesomest Daddy Ever. But she's not the only one to join us! After the break, her daughter Missy joins us - along with our kids - to sing and talk about Sid the Science Kid, the Greatest Showman, and Sing. They also talk about God and people they know in heaven. It is a precious portion we decided to keep in. We hope you enjoy the "real" interaction. The best descript...
Oct 17, 2018•38 min
How we set boundaries with our parents and in-laws is a frequent stressor for many families, especially around the holidays. Whether family lives close by or far away, everyone brings expectations into what that relationship should look like. We navigate this on an ongoing basis as well. The first question deals with that very issue. How do we talk to our parents about it in an honoring way? How can we be united as husband and wife in making decisions and setting our own traditions? In this epis...
Oct 10, 2018•36 min
Do you have a recurring issue in your marriage you can't seem to settle? Perhaps every now and again your marriage is tested in ways you couldn't even imagine at the time. Some nights you don't even sleep in the same bed. Maybe right now you just can't seem to connect with your spouse at all. Just getting on the same page would feel like a win. If you've been married for any length of time, you likely experience all of the above. That's because spiritual warfare is real. Natural and supernatural...
Oct 03, 2018•32 min
Did you know that singing is one of, if not the most, stated commands in all of the Bible? Filling our homes with song has a deep, visceral effect on who we are and what we believe. Perhaps it's no wonder why singing is arguably the most powerful way to pass God's truth onto our kids. In this episode, Keith Getty joins Josh to talk about the importance of singing in the home. Keith and Kristyn Getty occupy a unique space in the world of music today as preeminent modern hymn writers. According to...
Sep 26, 2018•36 min
Thanks again for your questions. These episodes are gold for us because we get to interact with you, our family of listeners, on a regular basis. The questions this week are vulnerable and honest. We appreciate that so much about this community. Let's keep striving to be better spouses, parents, and all out human beings. This week we discuss: * How being raised in a legalistic home can impact our own parenting and climate of our home * How grandparents can influence the spiritual lives of their ...
Sep 19, 2018•34 min
In a recent survey of over 700 parents, we found that “being too busy” or “not having enough time” was the biggest parenting struggle of our day. Can you relate? Do you wish you could slow down a bit? Do you seem to use the phrase "too busy" too often? We did. That's why we're having this conversation on today's episode. And it begins by realizing one thing: You are the only person looking out for your family. Starting at a 30,000 foot view, we begin our discussion asking of ourselves one questi...
Sep 12, 2018•42 min
Have you felt stuck in the trenches, especially in the early years of parenthood? Trying to be the best mom you can be, yet also feeling the urge to lead outside the home too? Or maybe you decided that in certain seasons you would focus on leading your kids, and wait to find God's calling for you outside of motherhood after that particular season was over. In this episode, we talk with Kelly King, Women's Ministry Specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources, about how women can lead in the varyin...
Sep 05, 2018•38 min
Have you been faced with getting difficult questions from your kids, and perhaps at a younger age than you had wished? Or feeling the need to have conversations with your kids but not sure how to have them? Welcome to parenting in the 21st century. We live in a very different political and cultural climate than in decades past. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Phillip Bethancourt, executive vice president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, on how he equips parents and church leader...
Aug 29, 2018•42 min
Your questions are fuel for us for two reasons. First, you are real and desire to live a great story for your kids. Secondly, your courage to ask questions helps everyone listening to the podcast. If you struggle with something, other families struggle with it too. It's an honor being in this together with you. These Q & A episodes give all of us encouragement. So thank you! In this episode, we had a number of questions related to being emotionally safe for our kids and why it's important. I...
Aug 22, 2018•42 min
Welcome to Season 4 of the "In This Together" podcast! School is back in session. In this episode, we talk about three ways we can spiritually prepare our kids for the new school year. Whether you homeschool, or your kids go to a public or private school, this episode will help guide your family to spiritually prepare your kids (and yourself) for the school year ahead. Here are the questions we consider to help us: * What is the biggest lesson you learned from last school year? Revisit that less...
Aug 15, 2018•35 min
The final week of our "Best Of" Series is one that will challenge your faith. We listened to it again and it was like watching a movie the second time around. There was much we missed the first time that we needed right now in this season of our lives. Faith is the currency of heaven. We all need more of it. You may be in a season where you think that a "faith adventure" is just too much... * “But we are in survival mode.” * “Maybe when the kids are out of the house.” * “I’m too afraid.” We ours...
Aug 08, 2018•50 min
Welcome to week 3 of our "Best Of" series! As Dr. Townsend states about entitlement, "This isn't a generational problem; it's a human problem." Apparently, a lot of parents in our generation don't want their kids to be entitled. It was the most listened to episode of season 3! Entitlement, according to Dr. John Townsend, is "a belief that I am exempt from responsibility and that I am owed special treatment." Unfortunately, you don't have to look too far today to find entitled kids--and adults! I...
Aug 01, 2018•41 min
Welcome to week 2 of our "Best Of" series! Emotional safety was one of the most requested topics in season 3. Not only that, this episode became one of the most listened to of any we did. When we first became parents we were exhausted and overwhelmed by the opinions of what we "should" do. That's why we decided to start with the end in mind. With the outcomes we most desire in our kids when they become adults. What we found is that emotional safety—more than any other factor—is scientifically li...
Jul 25, 2018•49 min
We're kicking off our "Best Of" Series for season 3. During the summer we take a little hiatus to regroup, rejuvenate, and plan for our upcoming season--season 4! In part 1 of of our "Best of" series, we revisit our interview with Frank Tate. As one of the most highly listened to and commented about episodes, we chose it first because of how it will change your view of being a parent. If you're a regular listener and were unable to listen to this episode, put it at the top of your list. Likewise...
Jul 18, 2018•1 hr 1 min
Championing kids with special needs or medical disabilities can be quite difficult on many levels. First, there's the academic needs of the child. For instance, in some school systems, grades become emphasized over emotional development or character. Other schools lack the resources to champion the heart or strengths of the child. In addition, there's the therapeutic needs of the child. From a financial perspective, this can put quite a strain on the family. We close out this three-part series o...
Jul 11, 2018•24 min
So often, conversation on kids with intellectual disabilities centers on ministry "to" children with disabilities. What if we instead focused on the ministry "of" children with disabilities? In this episode, Amy Julia Becker presents us with a massive paradigm shift on many levels. After reading her cover article in Christianity Today titled The Ministry of the Disabled, we knew we needed to learn from her. A graduate of Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary, Amy Julia's essays...
Jul 04, 2018•49 min
Parenting children with special needs or medical disabilities brings with it so many added variables. As if having a strong marriage and being a great parent weren't hard enough, what happens when you have to travel for 20 hours of therapy each week in addition to your other tasks and roles? This is the journey Nick and Jackie Tait are walking. With three beautiful children ages five and under, their five year old was born at 23 weeks. Today, he is a walking miracle. However, he has medical disa...
Jun 27, 2018•47 min
Money is one of the single biggest reasons for divorce today. If we don't have vision for our money, it will own us. Chris Brown, host of Life, Money, and Hope and a Ramsey Personality, joins us this week to talk about two primary topics: A.) How and why to budget from a Biblical perspective. B.) How to teach our kids about money. Here's a specific overview of what we talked about: * How to tell your money where it's going * How the Western world and Biblical teaching contradicts one another whe...
Jun 20, 2018•47 min
With Father's Day approaching, we want to honor dads. In particular, we share stories from our own dads. In this episode, I (Josh) share about what I've learned about being a dad, from my dad. He went to be with Jesus in November, 2016, but his legacy lives on in our family. Christi also shares memories from her childhood and the influence of her dad to this day. In this episode, you'll hear about: * Dad jokes. Yes, dad jokes. * How to make the most of the moments with our kids and those we love...
Jun 13, 2018•44 min
Your questions have been so good! We love hearing from each of you. This episode covers more questions related to parenting. In this week's episode we discuss: * How kids handle emotions * New ways to think about your child's overwhelming emotions * The difference between a temper tantrum and an act of disobedience * Sibling rivalry * How to handle grief and loss with kids * And how should we handle family members who don't hold their kids to the same values we hold ours to, especially when we s...
Jun 06, 2018•47 min
When should I get my child her first phone? Once I get that first phone, how should I set it up? What limits should I set on it? Is my child's phone different than the one I buy? We get so many questions from parents about what to do, and what not to do, when it comes to their child's first phone. Navigating the world of screens can feel scary, but it doesn't have to be! In this episode, we interview Michael Kong, CEO and founder of Forcefield, a parental control product he developed when his gi...
May 30, 2018•1 hr 11 min
In 2015, Corie Weathers was named Military Spouse of the Year. That was in large part because of how her husband, Chaplain Matthew Weathers, nominated and championed her. But as we all know, championing your spouse is much easier when you feel championed. In honor of Military Appreciation Month, we wanted to honor and learn from the marriage of a military family who is also in the trenches serving other military families and first responders. In this episode, Chaplain Matthew and Corie Weathers ...
May 23, 2018•55 min
When you hear the phrase, "faith adventure," what comes to mind? Excitement. Risk. Trust. Memories. Miracles. Or does the rational, natural side of your brain kick in? * "But we are in survival mode." * "Maybe when the kids are out of the house." * "I'm too afraid." We ourselves have said everyone of these. In this episode, Christine Caine shares her family's story of living a faith adventure and graciously shows us why we can't afford not to. Here are a few highlights from one our favorite epis...
May 16, 2018•50 min
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes that sweet, lovely, and wonderful baby carriage. Then comes our in-laws telling us how to parent. Then comes our parents spoiling our kids. Okay, so that may sound a bit dramatic. At least we hope so for your sake. Truthfully, we loved seeing our parents become grandparents. That doesn't mean we haven't had to figure things out along the way, sometimes with difficult conversations. But it does mean that our parents have our hearts. And because th...
May 09, 2018•45 min
If parenting is difficult, single parenting is all the more unyielding and lonely. In this episode, we learn from someone walking the road of single parenting. Even more, she gives us insights into her own ministry to single moms in her church community. Nicole C. Mullen, a two time Grammy nominated recording artist and Female Vocalist of the Year Award winner, who is now a single mom of three, shares her story. Since her difficult divorce, she has emerged from a "night season" stronger than she...
May 02, 2018•42 min
