Every country—every culture—has the challenge of providing a foundation for its youngest members. Our hope is to provide what is needed so that when they grow they can build safe and successful lives for themselves--and for the generations that follow. In Kenya, one of the challenges is the issue of child homelessness. Poverty, political instability, and the AIDS pandemic have contributed to a large number of internally displaced people in Kenya—including in and near Kitale.

Join us for a conversation with Margaret Wanyonyi, founder and principal of the Purpose Driven Academy in Kitale, in Kenya’s North Rift Valley. We talk about the despair of living on the streets and the hope for children that can come through education.

“I see that as an answer, because every child needs education to survive. And if their lives are going to be any different, they have to get this education. It’s education that puts the rich and the poor at the same level. . . . When I have education, I can go to an office seeking for a job that a son or a daughter of a rich man goes for. So, I believe by giving them an education, I’m causing change.”

For Margaret, and the Deliverance Church of Kitale which sponsors the church as an educational outreach, it is important to provide spiritual as well as academic training.

“In our school we not only give the academics, we give the spiritual part of it,” Margaret says. “So we develop a whole person--a person who knows God and a person who has the academics. So we are also affecting the morals of our country by providing the education for them.”

Join us (by clicking on an icon above) for a conversation about the life of children on the street, the despair of the Glue Kids, and Margaret’s students who have gone on for university study. Please remember that this conversation is frank and, at times, unsettling.

Click here to learn how you may connect with the school: http://purposedrivenedcenter.ning.com/

Get up-to-the-minute news updates from television station KFOR, based in Oklahoma City.

Our own Bob Price spoke with Steuben County Deputy Director of Emergency Services for Tim Marshall. He asked why kids were kept in schools if they had warning to go home, why more homes don't have protections against strong storms in tornado alley, and how to protect yourself in a tornado.

The morning show team, Steve, Rachelle and Randy, interviewed the Christian group Convoy of Hope. They are providing long-term relief to Moore. Listen to the full interview.

See photos from the storm.

If you would like to help, there are a number of faith-based groups aiding the injured and homeless. Here are two of them:

•   Oklahoma Disaster Relief
•   Convoy of Hope

You can also donate to the American Red Cross

But have you noticed that Christians struggle to forgive each other? And the people we have the hardest time forgiving, it seems, are those in leadership.

That’s certainly Michael Cheshire’s observation. In fact, Michael thinks that the poor way we treat each other is actually a reason church attendance in the US is declining. People outside the church see that--even though we proclaim that God forgives sin--when a brother or sister sins--or a leader sins--we aren’t so gracious. In fact, Michael says, to people outside the church, it looks like we “eat our own.”

“Jesus was very clear: someday they’re going to know you’re my disciples not by the way you love me, but by the way you love each other,” Michael says. “And I think the world’s picking up on that.”

Michael’s the founding and senior pastor of The Journey Community Church in Conifer, Colorado and author of the soon-to-be released book “Why We Eat Our Own.” His Leadership Journal article “Going to Hell with Ted Haggard” is an excerpt from that book, and something we talk about in this recorded interview. Join us for this conversation about sin, forgiveness . . . and grace.

“I think there’s … more than I ever would have imagined, people who are saying, ‘We need to get this back in the church.’ And I realized later on it’s because most of us have an understanding that ‘there but by the grace of God go I,’” Michael says. “The only difference between me and Ted is my sins weren’t put on CNN.”

To listen to the conversation, click on the “Listen” or “Download” icon above.

To read the Leadership Journal article “Going to Hell with Ted Haggard,” click here: http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2012/december-online-only/going-to-hell-with-ted-haggard.html

For more information on Michael Cheshire or the book “Why We Eat Our Own,” go to: MichaelCheshire.com

You can also connect with Michael on twitter: Twitter.com/JourneyMike

“I hope that those people who are inclined to restrict their eating, to approach food with a diet mentality, and to feel guilty about food—I hope that in reading my book they might find freedom to enjoy God’s gift of food,” Rachel says. “And I hope that people might feel an invitation to be more intentional about family dinners and about inviting each other over for an ordinary meal. And I also hope that people will discover that there’s much more to food than just keeping us alive and healthy.”

Reduce guilt. Increase joy.

“Ultimately,” she says, “it’s about connecting us with one another, and connecting us to God.”

Rachel talked with us previously on Inside Out when we wondered if there’s a link between toy guns and violence. She also helped us understand the movement that’s being called the "new domesticity." Rachel’s written for numerous publications and is a regular contributor to one of Christianity Today's blogs: her.meneutics. She joined us for this conversation from her home in the Republic of Malawi, in southeast Africa. And though at times the physical distance between us diminished the sound quality of our recording, trust me when I say that it had no negative impact on her enthusiasm.

Join us (by clicking on an icon above) to hear for our conversation. We talk about how the Bible uses the language of food to illustrate God’s provision, how chopped onions and a little olive oil can delight the senses, and how a simple meal with family or friends can build community.

Learn more about Rachel Marie Stone and her book Eat With Joy.

We're seeing sin glorified in so many arenas; we're seeing the institution of marriage between a man and a woman that you ordained being vilified; we're seeing the killing of innocent unborn babies becoming more prevalent and gruesome with each passing today; and we wonder how long?  How long Lord before your wrath is poured out on a nation that has forgotten you; how long before men and women in public office who blatantly oppose your Word are brought to their knees in the presence of a holy God; how long before your people turn from their wicked ways and humble themselves and confess their sins; how long Lord before you bring a spiritual revival that is so desperately needed.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the privilege of the freedom that we have in Jesus Christ: freedom from the penalty and the chains of sin; freedom from the guilt that sin brings; freedom to live a life that is pleasing to you.  We thank you for the assurance that our lives are in your hands and that you desire to use us as salt and light in a world that so desperately needs you.  It is our prayer Lord that your will will be done in our lives; that as we commit ourselves daily to you and obeying your Word, that you will use us in ways that will bring glory to you.

Lord, we love you and we desire that your love shines through us as we confront the evil in our world with the  love of Christ.  May your Spirit have free reign in our lives as we daily surrender to your will.  May you use us to bring about spiritual healing in our land, and we will be quick to deflect all glory to the One that we serve - our Savior Jesus Christ.  In His name we pray - Amen!"

To learn more about the Almond Union of Churches, go here.
http://almondunionchurch.org/

View photos from the service

“Spiritual leaders are often looked to as someone who can care for and mentor others--guide them spiritually,” our guest Keri Wyatt Kent says. “And they often wrestle with the questions: ‘Well, who’s mentoring me? Where do I take my questions and my doubts? And if I’m supposed to be a role model, leader, encourager--who does that for me?’ And there’s nothing like doubt to make you feel alone.”

Join us for a wide ranging conversation about some of the pressures leaders feel, as well as the benefits of slowing down, spending time in solitude with God, and developing community with those who understand the pressures of leadership. Adding spiritual disciplines to an over-full life may seem like the last thing a leader ought to do, so we also talk about the need to prune away even good activities so that leaders can say “yes” to those things God has in mind for them.

“One of my mentors said, ‘You have all the time you need to do the things that God has called you to do.’ But the problem is many of us say ‘yes’ to things that God has not called us to. We say ‘yes’ to what people have called us to. I think this is especially true in the church.”

To combat this, “leaders need to get clear on calling,” Keri says. “Because I believe we all have what I call a ‘holy yes,’ the ‘yes’ that God is asking us to say. But when we say ‘yes’ to the things He’s not asking us to do, it gets in the way of that. And so we have to say ‘no’ to what He’s not calling us to do. But we need to get clarity about that first.”

Hear what she has to say by listening to the conversation; all you have to do is click the Listen or the Download icon above. Then let us know what you think by adding a comment below. 

To read Keri’s Gifted for Leadership blog post “Banishing Spiritual Loneliness,” click here: http://www.giftedforleadership.com/2013/03/banishing_spiritual_loneliness.html

To contact Keri or learn about her books, click here:  http://www.keriwyattkent.com/

For more on the common core exams and to see sample questions from the tests, click here

“Instead of trying to, say, keep up with the Joneses, and buy that new boat or those designer shoes,” she says, “I found that myself and other Christians can sort of intentionally try and stay behind the Joneses—or at least get a better deal than the Joneses--and that can be pride too, really.”

A “goodwill stalker and Craigslist surfer” by her own admission, it took one of Megan’s friends to point out the dark side of bargain hunting. As Megan says in her blog “Sin at the Clearance Rack,” “Pride loves anything it can put a number on.”

God isn’t silent about our use of money: Scripture talks about earning our way, caring for our families and providing for those in need. God’s primary concern through all of this, Megan says, is our motivation.

 “Ultimately, my focus needs to be on treasuring God above everything else,” she says. “And Jesus says: ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy . . . but store up treasures in heaven.’ So, it’s not just getting the best bargain. It’s putting my focus elsewhere, which is on having more of God.” 

Click on the “Listen” icon above to hear the conversation. We talk about applying God’s priorities when spending money, and some of the benefits—as well as the temptations—that go along with a thrifty lifestyle. Megan also suggests a few questions that may help us discover what motivates us when we pull out our wallets.

After you listen, would you let us know what you think by typing a comment or two below?

Click here to read Megan’s blog post “Sin at the Clearance Rack”: http://www.christianitytoday.com/women/2013/february/sin-at-clearance-rack.html

“Each and every one of us--we have the ability to truly outlive ourselves,” Todd Storch says in today’s interview.

I’m awed that we can contribute to preserving life long after we have no use for our organs; it’s miraculous, actually. But it’s also frightening, because each day an average of 18 people die as they wait. There are just not enough organs available for transplant.

Registering more organ donors is one of the goals of the Taylor’s Gift Foundation, begun by Todd and Tara Storch after they lost their 13 year-old daughter Taylor in a skiing accident in March of 2010. But to say that their new book Taylor’s Gift is about encouraging organ donation would miss much of what is important about this book. Taylor’s Gift is also about waking up with grief as a companion, finding purpose, giving grace to other hurting people, and clinging to God.

“We learned really just to surrender,” Tara Storch says. “As you’re going through your life, you have control of your day, you figure out what you’re doing, and have your to-do list and your work. And everything just busts into a million pieces and your whole life is scattered in front of you and you realize you don’t have control. And so, really to get through this together you have to surrender because you have to give each other the grace to be able to grieve the way he needs to be and I need to be.”

Click on the “Listen” button above to join Todd and Tara Storch in this Inside Out conversation. They talk about working to encourage donor registration, negotiating loss, and expanding their family to include those they know received some of Taylor’s gifts. 

“With our book we really hope people can see us and know—in a very raw way—that they’re going to survive this,” Tara says. “And they’re going to find joy again. And it all comes and stems through our faith.”

Visit the Taylor’s Gift Foundation website, where you can learn about Taylor, the book, and organ donation.

John 8

What could one person do that would make any difference?

Well, one person, dedicated to God, with the help of others, did make a difference. She broke the back of the Chinese slave trade in San Francisco at the turn of the last century. Her name was Donaldina Cameron, and though she was never mentioned in any of my history books, she’s the focus of a new biography by the mother-daughter writing team of Kristin and Kathryn Wong: Fierce Compassion: The Life of Abolitionist Donaldina Cameron.

“Today, we have new ways of slavery, and the lives of vulnerable teenage girls and young women is still cheap, in many ways,” Kristin Wong says in this Inside Out interview. “There are many—in our own country in our midst—who are desperately hoping for life and instead find themselves trapped in a nightmare. And the things that Donaldina Cameron did, and her courage and her perseverance in living them, are so relevant for those issues that are around us today. Kathryn and I pray that reintroducing Donaldina Cameron to this generation will inspire us also to speak on behalf of those who can’t speak for themselves.”  

Join us for this interview with both Kristin and Kathryn Wong as we talk about slavery in Cameron’s day, slavery today, and the lessons we can learn from this almost-forgotten abolitionist who loved God.

To listen to the recorded conversation with the authors, click on the icon above.

To learn more about Kristin and Kathryn Wong’s book Fierce Compassion, click here:  http://fiercecompassionbook.com/

To learn more about the contemporary slave trade, a $32 billion a year international crime, listen to these past Inside Out interviews on the topic of human trafficking:  

10-12-11/Interview with Women At Risk founder Rebecca McDonald: http://www.fln.org/sermon/inside-out-221-women-at-risk/

4-27-11/Inside Out interview with Bethany Hoang of International Justice Mission: http://www.fln.org/sermon/inside-out-71-human-rights-in-an-era-of-unrest/

Let us know what you think by typing a comment or two below.

In the first century, the Apostle Paul instructed the young pastor Titus to teach the older women so that they “can train the younger women” (Titus 1:4).  We have ideas about how this might have looked in the first century, but what might this look like in the 21^st century—when the older woman might be a retired grandmother and the younger woman the CEO of her own company? How might women of the same faith—but in very different circumstances--connect with the goal of developing their faith? 

“The question is: are we willing to think deeply about how to do this differently?” asks Lau in our recorded interview. “Is the Church willing to listen first to what all the generations are feeling about this issue before we set up something new?”

She believes that if older and younger women are going to be able to connect, both generations are going to need to make sacrifices--though she’s asking for more sacrifices from the older of the generations.

“These younger women—they don’t want become somebody’s ‘project.’ They don’t want you to look at them and think, ‘I need to be taken care of,’ or ‘I need to be fixed.’ Are we willing to make that sacrifice to stop making them be like us? To sacrifice the picture of: ‘I’ve lived the Christian life, so your life should look like mine.’”

Click on the “Listen” button above to hear what she has to say—to both generations—in this 19- minute recorded conversation about bridging the generation gap among women in the church.

To read Pamela Havey Lau’s Christianity Today her.meneutics blog post on the topic, titled “The Generation Gap Among Christian Women: An Open Letter to Women Over 40,” click here: http://www.christianitytoday.com/women/2013/february/generation-gap-among-christian-women-.html

To read her personal blog, click here: http://www.pamelalau.com/#!blog/c1xp7

To give to this project, contact Laura Rizkallah directly at laura@village-of-hope.com

To check out their Facebook page, go here: https://www.facebook.com/villageofhope.capecoast?fref=ts

To learn more about the company that Matt and Laura Rizkallah run in Corning, New York, Manufacturing Automation Systems (MAS), go here. http://www.mfgautosys.com/

Matta and Laura Rizkallah have 5 kids and run a small business in Corning, New York. Then God called them to build a school and orphanage in Ghana, Africa. Laura tells the amazing story of "Village of Hope."

If you'd like to donate 4 inch plastic toys (no plush toys and no small parts), donations are being accepted through April 5th at Family Life or the Christian Hope Center in Painted Post.