Storyformed Podcast Episode #27 - Why Do Goodness, Truth, and Beauty Matter? (A Conversation with Adam Pelser

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Do you ever hear people rattle off the words, 'goodness, truth, and beauty', and wonder what they are talking about? We mention this triad of words from time to time on the Storyformed podcast, but don't often take the time to discuss what we really mean when we say them. So, today I had the opportunity to interview philosophy professor Adam Pelser about this topic!

Adam received his Ph.d from Baylor University where he studied under Bob Roberts, a renown Christian philosopher. Adam is a currently a philosophy professor at the Air Force Academy where he teaches Ethics, Philosophy of Religion, Philosophy of Love, and even a course on C.S. Lewis and Philosophy. He writes on emotions and virtue formation and he is currently writing a book on Emotional Evidence for God where he explains how we can see God with the "eyes of our heart." You can connect with Adam on Facebook and Twitter (@AdamCPelser) and at his website - adampelser.com.  

Topics Include:

  • The value of understanding goodness, truth, and beauty as Christian virtues
  • How goodness, truth, and beauty show up in everyday life
  • How goodness, truth and beauty reveal themselves in stories
  • Book recommendations

To listen to this podcast and to view the show notes, click HERE.

Lifegiving Parent Podcast Series: Sam Smith

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    Don't you just love how God brings you friends that you really needed but didn't even know to ask? S.D. Smith, "Sam" as we know him, has become a cherished family friend. We really love his whole family and wish we could adopt them. His encouragement, support, love and creativity has been a constant source of encouragement in the past few years. 

As many know, cultivating our children's imaginations and reading hundreds of great stories to them became a foundation for them to learn to think of themselves as heroes, ready to live a courageous story for God's kingdom. 

Some years ago, Sam told us he was working on a book that was based on a story he told his children when they were little. It sounded like the stories we read to our children. We were intrigued and couldn't wait to see it print. This first book, The Green Ember, was the first book that has been a best seller since the beginning. Thousands of families and children have been hooked on these books and the wonderful characters of Rabbits who are the heroes of the tales. Two more books in the series have followed, Ember Falls and Ember Rising, as well as two short novels. For more info, visit the Story Warren shop and see all the books and descriptions.

 
 

Along the way, Sam asked Joel, our son, to become the narrator for each of the main volumes of his wonderful tales (find out more about each audiobook on the Story Warren store). Joel loved the challenge and interpreted the many voices and personalities of the characters in the books. And now, by God's grace, people all over the world write to Joel about how much they love listening to these audiobooks. In addition to his narration, Joel wrote an album of original musical soundscapes to listen to while reading the books, called Melodies for the Mended Wood, which you can find out more about here. Take a listen to the first five songs on the album below:

Sam has agreed to give away a set of signed copies of the whole set of his books. And so we decided to give away a set of our Lifegiving books to match his generous offer. He has also agreed to give away a set of audiobooks to a winner and five copies of Joel's Melodies for the Mended Wood album.

If you would like to win this wonderful giveaway, follow Sam (sdsmithereens) and me (sally.clarkson)  on instagram and then tag a friend to tell them about the launch of our new book, The Lifegiving Parent. We will pick a one winner from the comments for this great gift of his books and your friend that you tagged will win a set of my books. And 5 more winners will be chosen to win the audio books. What fun! 

 
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Would you please consider telling your friends about our new book and be sure to join Clay and me for our podcast series on the book starting Monday, May 7. Start a group with a friend, a Sunday school class, a small group or just have your husband listen. it is a great way to build philosophies together. 

 

Lifegiving Parent Podcast Series: Emily Ley & A Giveaway!

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What could be more inspiring than talking to Emily Ley? I have so enjoyed each and every guest this week. These sweet friends who have allowed us to interview them are those who I think are drawing so many to eternal goals, foundations of wisdom, and all have a heart for God. 

Emily delights me in many ways. She has developed some wonderful planners for women and focuses on simplifying life, And then she simplifies her own life and lives by priorities. I know you will be inspired by our interview today. 

This is also a very special day for her, as she is launching her new beautiful planners! She wanted to help our audience with planning and simplifying goals this summer, and she is happy to give away planners today. I would love for you to share her planners with your friends. Planning is what allowed Clay and me to focus on the goals God had for our family and to build priorities from those plans. Our strategic plans kept us accountable to staying to course on our priorities as parents. That is why I know you will love these planners. Take a look!

You can order these today as well as her books at Emily's store: Shop: EmilyLey.comBooks: A Simplified Life & Follow Emily on Instagram and leave a comment about why you want to plan your life or leave a comment on my in…

You can order these today as well as her books at Emily's store: Shop: EmilyLey.com
Books: A Simplified Life & 

Follow Emily on Instagram and leave a comment about why you want to plan your life or leave a comment on my instagram sally.clarkson and you will be entered to win a Simplified Planner of your choice. 
Find Emily on Instagram: @EmilyLey & @Simplified

I wish I had these planners when I was a younger woman. You will be so glad you can focus on the areas of your life that are most important to you when you use these. 

Emily will give away a new planner to the winner.  

Emily will give away a new planner to the winner.  

Be sure to enter to win one of Emily's beautiful new planners by leaving a comment on her instagram or mine.

Today you will read about all of the winners so far this week, for a mentoring time with me, some goodies from the UK and all that we have promised. Look for our winners on Intagram and on Facebook. If you win from leaving a comment on another place, we will make sure we find you. 

Thanks for so much support of Clay and me while I have been immobilized. Just a couple more months and they hope I see some healing. :)

Hope you enjoy the podcast!

Launch Day Special Podcast from Friends in the UK & Joel and Joy

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Because it is launch day and Clay and I are in Oxford, England, we will not be in the right time zone to do our normal facebook launch party. So we recorded a special launch day podcast for you from Scotland. 

Joel and Joy, my wonderful two who live in Scotland, joined us. This podcast is quite inspiring and it encouraged me so much to hear from so many women in this area and to see what my precious children most remember impacted them in our parenting, 

Hope you enjoy this podcast. it is our gift to you, 

Sending love to all of you who have encouraged us so much, Bless you!

Launch Day! Lifegiving Parent Podcast Series: Sarah Mackenzie

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Launch Day!

Today is the day Clay and I launch our newest book, The Lifegiving Parent. We hope that moms and dads, groups of friends, classes at church will grab a copy and go through it together. After 34 years of parenting, we know that parenting matters. The most fulfilling work of our lives has been to watch our 4 children embrace their walk with God and then to decide to invest their lives for his kingdom. 

If you haven't grabbed your copy yet, be sure to get yours today so you can join Clay and me on our 4 week podcast series starting Monday, May 7. We will guide you through the foundational principles from scripture that we followed in our own home. 

I am thrilled to have wonderful Sarah Mackenzie on a podcast with me today. I love her writing, her spirit, her wisdom and her story. She is a mama to six, a writer, has a wonderful podcast and speaks and encourages women all over the world.

I know you will be so very encouraged to listen to our interview together today. Most of all, I am so fortunate to call her my sweet, generous hearted friend. You will love listening to her wisdom today.

Sarah has generously offered to give away 3 of her newest books, The Read Aloud Family. 

I wish I had owned this book when I was a younger mom. So inspiring, 

I wish I had owned this book when I was a younger mom. So inspiring, 

We will also give away 3 sets of our books, along with Sarah, to 3 winners. Follow us on instagram--find Sarah there as readaloudrevival, and her website (click here!) Read Aloud Revival --or subscribe to our podcasts (Sally: https://www.instagram.com/sally.clarkson/ or Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/readaloudrevival/ and tell us about it below in a comment or on instagram and you will be entered to win the 2 sets of books. 

Be sure to join me for a very special launch day webcast later today to celebrate our new book, The Lifegiving Parent. Thanks to all who have helped us spread the word. We are most grateful. 

Lifegiving Parent Podcast Series: Lara Casey & Launch Week!!!

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Launch week is finally here. You will have our new book in your hands any time now if you have pre-ordered it. Clay and I will do a special podcast series starting next Monday, May 7, following the book, that you won't want to miss. You still have time to order the book.

What a great couple of weeks we have had interviewing parents of all ages of children to hear their thoughts on the secrets to parenting to reach our children's hearts. I am so excited for you to hear my podcast today with Lara Casey. You will be inspired.

Lara inspires me. Clay and I were great planners. We would meet every 6 months for a half day to plan goals for ourselves, for our children, to assess how we were doing with previous goals and to dream about what we wanted our home and family to grow in. 

I wish I had had Lara's beautiful powersheets to use for our days away. She says she is "passionate about helping women get unstuck, unrushed and living on purpose instead of by accident." Through her books, her blog, and her store you can find wonderful ideas and planning tools to help cultivate a flourishing and sustainable life. 

Find Lara's blog, books, powersheets and everything about her at laracasey.com

Lara and I have decided to give away some gifts to help you flourish as a parent. She will give away her wonderful Write the Word for Kids Journal and Powersheets intentional goal planner along with the gift of our new book, The Lifegiving Parent, and companion guide, The Lifegiving Parent Experience. 

To enter the giveaway, follow both of us on instagram and leave a comment on either of our profiles to share how you want to cultivate life or flourish as a parent this summer. Leave a comment in both places and you will have more opportunity to win. 

Remember, follow us both on Instagram: 

Follow me @ https://www.instagram.com/sally.clarkson/

Follow Lara @ https://www.instagram.com/laracasey/

This is what you will win:

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Be sure to order your book soon and share this fun week with your friends. We will have fun giveaways every day. i realize that many of you do not have instagram, so if you leave a comment below where you have shared about this giveaway, i will include you in the giveaway.

Enjoy this podcast! Hope you win!

Thanks so much for sharing about our new  book with your friends.

Lifegiving Parent Podcast Series: Kristen Kill

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Numbering your child’s days may not sound on the surface like a biblical priority of parenting, but think about parenting as though you were Commander Jim Lovell on the ill-fated flight of Apollo 13. On the return leg of their aborted moon mission, as the astronauts fought to control their crippled flight module, Commander Lovell had to make a manual course correction, relying only on a wristwatch and his own handwritten math, engineering skills, and jet-pilot instincts to steer the craft safely back home.

Fortunately, like the commander, you have the opportunity as a parent to steer the craft of your family safely home. Small choices like a family planning time may seem unimportant to you now, but they could be helping to set the trajectory of your children’s lives, sending them on a path to find life in God in your home. My desire is to help you become a lifegiving parent who confidently steers the modules of your children’s hearts into the life of God. The simple course correction of beginning to number your children’s days—of beginning to parent them with the end in mind—could be the one that points you, and them, safely home on this journey of life with God.

I was so thrilled to have this time podcasting with my delightful, dear friend, Kristen. We've known one another for years, and she is a kindred spirit. I hope you will enjoy listening in on our conversation.

I was so thrilled to have this time podcasting with my delightful, dear friend, Kristen. We've known one another for years, and she is a kindred spirit. I hope you will enjoy listening in on our conversation.

Kristen Kill is a woman transformed by the delight of God. She is passionate about encouraging women who feel stretched thin with the truth that, even in the tension, God is singing over them with love. After spending the last seven years in the hustle of New York City, Kristen and her husband, Josh, are learning to go slow as they raise their five kids in the Pacific Northwest. Her days are filled with homeschooling, walking her slightly anxious hound dog, and putting off the cleaning for one more day. Find Kristen writing at kristenkill.com and follow her on Instagram @kristenkill.

 
 

Lifegiving Parent Podcast Series: Holly and Glenn Packiam

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Comments about the life of God permeate all of Scripture. It is, after all, the “living and active” Word of God (Hebrews 4:12), given life by the living God who gave it to us. In Genesis, “the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (2:7). David wrote, “For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light” (Psalm 36:9). In the first words of his Gospel, mirroring the first words of Genesis, John says of Jesus, who is God incarnate, “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men” (John 1:4). Paul says that Jesus “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10).

As you can see, in many passages throughout Scripture about the life of God, the light of God also shines. The first words of God are “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3), for without light there is no life. David says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation” (Psalm 27:1), the One who saves his life. Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, pro- claimed, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life” (John 8:12). In his first epistle, John says, “God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Paul admonishes believers, “At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8, ESV).

So when we give our children God’s life, we are also giving them His light. It is the light of God that will shine in our hearts and our homes so that we can be a beacon of hope to the world around us. From a personal perspective as parents who love our children, life- giving parenting must first be about helping them find eternal life in Christ and getting them on God’s path so they can live in a way that’s pleasing to Him.

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We are so happy to share a podcast we did with Glenn and Holly Pakiam. Glenn is one of the pastors of New Life Church and Holly has been a friend and fellow Whole Heart ministry friend for many years. She runs Storyformed for us and does an excellent job writing about the best books and authors. Many people said one of their favorite podcasts was one that Glenn and Holly did a while back. You will love their heart for their 4 children.

 

If you would like to see what Holly is up to, follow her at storyformed.com or find her on Instagram @storyformedhome.

To keep up with Glenn's latest musings, follow him on Twitter at @gpackiam. You can also find links to his resources on glennpackiam.com. 

Lifegiving Podcast Series: Scott Turansky

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Lifegiving parenting is not about changing the culture we live in but about being a counterculture to it. It’s not about creating a comfortable Christian subculture insulated from the surrounding world; rather, it’s about being the kind of lifegiving home culture that will stand as a testimony of God’s biblical design for family to a lost world whose sandy foundations are washing away. It’s not about being a political or social “culture warrior” for the family but about definitively, and maybe even defiantly, building a home where the living God of Creation is undeniably living through the family within it. Lifegiving parenting is about bringing the life of God into your home and family to create, with Him, an outpost of the Kingdom of Heaven in this world. We can call that place a “Christian home,” but Christians often have very different ideas of what those words mean.

Throughout the quarter century of what I call our Christian home and parenting ministry, we’ve met and seen many families with life- affirming and life-infused Christian homes, where the presence of God was unmistakable in the parents’ vision for their biblical roles and in the spiritual homelife they were cultivating for their children. However, we’ve also observed many American Christian families where the parents, though unquestionably believers, seemed minimally engaged in the spiritual life of the home or their children. If asked to give a reason why theirs was a Christian home, they might answer by focusing mostly on what their children were doing—“My kids go to church, Sunday School, Bible club, youth group, and camp; have all the best Christian music, videos, books, and apps; attend a Christian school; go to VBS and Christian activities; and have great Christian friends. Of course they’re being raised in a Christian home.”

There’s no question that exposing children to so many good and godly Christian influences can be a positive thing. However, it can also become a negative thing if Christian consumerism becomes either an unintentional or preferred substitute for the life of God in a family. We need to distinguish between a home that is considered Christian primarily because cultural Christianity happens there and a home that is Christian because Christ is alive and present in percep- tible ways. Here’s the reality that needs to be affirmed: A distinctively Christian home can never be defined only by what the children are doing; it must be defined by what the parents are doing.

Excerpt from The Lifegiving Parent, Get your copy today and join us for the podcast series starting soon. You will be so refreshed and inspired.

Today, we have wonderful Scott Turansky from The National Center for Biblical Parenting

He has so much experience and wisdom for the parenting journey. Enjoy our podcast toddy. He is an author, a pastor and conference speaker who has so much to share. 

Find Scott Here: 

Lifegiving Podcast Series: Susie Davis, A Seasoned Parent

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Clay and I are so very excited to launch our newest book, The Lifegiving Parent, one week from now. Parenting is one of the most profound legacies you will leave in your lifetime. We hope that as you read our new book and listen to the podcasts, you will feel that you are supported, encouraged and guided with new ideas in your journey as a parent.

Be sure to order your copy and the study guide soon because Clay and I have a podcast series starting Monday, May 8, for you to listen to with friends, your husband or alone that will follow the 8 parenting principles to guide your journey. We had so much fun doing this series together. 

We have had such a great time interviewing different parents asking them to share some of their best ideas and advice about being a parent who raises their children for Christ. Today is our first such podcast. We hope you will enjoy this series and glean from the many ideas shared in the next two weeks.

You will love Susie Davis. She is a seasoned mom, an author and loves to encourage those in her ministry. You will be refreshed by our time shared on this podcast, Thanks, Susie.

I had already written The Lifegiving Home (with our daughter Sarah) and The Lifegiving Table, so when Clay suggested the idea of The Lifegiving Parent, I was thrilled. It would not only complete a “Lifegiving” trilogy but would also finally provide the book that all those moms for so many years had been asking for—and not just for their husbands but for themselves as well. It pulls together many of the messages we’ve taught through the years into a book that couples can read together to shape a philosophy of how to give their children the life of God in their homes. It’s not just about giving your children a Christian life but also about giving them the life of Christ. That’s what it means to be a lifegiving parent.

If you want to feel that cool breeze of God’s life blowing through your home and family, I pray this book will show you how to make that happen. It’s not a formula but simply a way of life and faith—it’s a lifegiving heart and mind-set. I’m excited for you as you read this book, not just because of what it will do for your family today but also because God’s life coming alive in your home can shape genera- tions to come through your children and their children. Lifegiving parenting will help you and your children to find yourselves in God’s epic story—and to live the story He is writing through and for you.

Be sure to listen to her podcast and look at her books and blog. You can find everything Susie @ :  Susiedavis.org