Have you ever wondered about how you should celebrate Halloween? Should you completely skip the holiday, or should it be a free for all? We have been unsure how to navigate Halloween with our kiddos for some time now, so we decided it was time to figure out what to do with this holiday! After doing quite a bit of research and using what we know to be true in scripture, we developed some simple guardrails to help navigate Halloween and activities associated with it. We hope this episode is as helpful for you as it was for us! During today’s episode, we referenced the following: 36. Don’t Judge Others? Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/36-dont-judge-others/id1544635214?i=1000533845418 YouTube: https://youtu.be/h5gVKUU6UrQ We used the following resources to compile information for this episode: https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween https://www.gotquestions.org/Halloween-origin.html https://www.britannica.com/topic/Halloween https://www.gotquestions.org/haunted-house.html

Something new is coming. We’re transitioning into Season 2 of Escaping Moral Adventure, and we’re excited! In the coming weeks, we’ll tell you more about what’s in store for this new season. Between now and the launch of the new season, we will still release new content, just not on a weekly basis. As we’re preparing for Season 2, this is a great time to get caught up on Season 1 (all 38 episodes)!

In today’s episode, we look at four individuals in the Bible who experienced suffering. As we examine their experiences, we find that sometimes there is a ‘clear’ reason for the suffering, but oftentimes there is not. It’s likely all of us can relate to that! Thankfully, scripture encourages us in our suffering, and we know that. As believers in and followers of Jesus Christ, we can (and should) think differently about our suffering. We know that our suffering is not in vain, that God has a purpose for our suffering, and that he is at work in the midst of it. We also have the hope of eternity with Christ Jesus in heaven! We used the following resources for this episode: 1. Psalm 119 by Matt Chandler on RightNow Media: https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Search?q=psalm%20119 2. https://bibleproject.com/blog/gods-gives-job-tour-wise-world/ During today’s episode, we shared some of our experience with miscarriages. We talk about it a bit on another episode as well: Episode 27: The Good News Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/27-the-good-news/id1544635214?i=1000527223732 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLC76tBIUwA

Now what? After you’ve made a mistake in life, what do you do next? Today, we discuss three ways people typically handle mess ups. Do you find someone or something to blame, try to justify your mistake, or do you own it? One of these choices can make you a better friend, family member, or even coworker, and the other two choices will cause you to lose integrity. We used the following website to help us gather information for this episode: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/integrity We referenced the following scriptures in today’s episode: Proverbs 10:9 (ESV) Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. Proverbs 28:6 (ESV) Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways. Proverbs 11:3 (ESV) The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. Proverbs 20:7 (ESV) The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him! Psalm 84:11 (NASB) For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV) 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

In this week’s episode, we discuss whether or not we are to judge others. On the surface, it seems the Bible may contradict itself on this matter of judging others. However, after digging in a bit further we find a much deeper and consistent idea of what the Bible teaches about judging. We *should* discern/judge right from wrong. We should *not* judge the person - that is God’s job and his alone. We used the following resources in this episode. Please take the time to read these articles to learn more about right and wrong judgments. https://www.gotquestions.org/judge-not-lest-you-be-judged.html https://www.gotquestions.org/do-not-judge.html

Having great friends is key for your physical, mental, and spiritual health, but building great friendships can seem daunting. Today we discuss the benefits and characteristics of great friendships and some practical ways to cultivate strong friendships in your own life. We referenced the following articles and scripture during today’s episode: The data and studies behind the benefits of friendships: https://www.livescience.com/53315-how-friendships-are-good-for-your-health.html John 15:12-15: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.“ Proverbs 18:24: “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,  but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 22:24-25: “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.” 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Proverbs 13:20: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” We also referenced the Fostering Faith-Shaping Friendships small group study in this episode.

A quick search on social media for #blessed, will pull up more than 6 million posts. #blessed posts oftentimes don pictures and stories of grand achievements, encouraging health news, and dangerous situations being escaped without injury. But what happens when the achievements are lost, the health news is discouraging (and unwanted), or the dangerous situation isn’t escaped without injury? Does #blessed still apply? Today we compare and contrast the common definition of ‘blessed’ with the definition found in the Beatitudes in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. We find there is much more to being #blessed than meets the eye! In today’s episode we reference Chip Ingram’s book “Good to Great in God’s Eyes”. https://livingontheedge.org/?s=good+to+great We also referenced the following from gotquestions.org: https://www.gotquestions.org/mean-to-be-blessed.html https://www.gotquestions.org/blessed-are-those-who-mourn.html https://www.gotquestions.org/blessed-are-the-merciful.html https://www.gotquestions.org/poor-in-spirit.html https://www.gotquestions.org/blessed-are-the-meek.html https://www.gotquestions.org/blessed-hunger-thirst-righteousness.html https://www.gotquestions.org/blessed-are-the-merciful.html https://www.gotquestions.org/pure-in-heart.html https://www.gotquestions.org/blessed-are-the-peacemakers.html https://www.gotquestions.org/blessed-are-those-who-are-persecuted.html

This week we add another episode to our marriage series with a discussion about the idea of ‘becoming one’ in marriage. We share scripture that speaks to the importance of this concept and list a few ways to ‘become one’ with your spouse. Check out our other episodes on marriage here: Episode 9. Marriage | Choose Love Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/9-marriage-choose-love/id1544635214?i=1000510300787 YouTube: https://youtu.be/nKIZEwefYLg Episode 15. Marriage | Pick Your Battles Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/15-marriage-pick-your-battles/id1544635214?i=1000515956885 YouTube: https://youtu.be/EyzkMII1S6k Episode 20. Marriage | Cool Your Tongue Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/20-marriage-cool-your-tongue/id1544635214?i=1000521276125 YouTube: https://youtu.be/sYHy9FqeVSo We also referenced the following: · ‘The 5 Love Languages’ by Gary Chapman: https://www.5lovelanguages.com/ · https://www.gotquestions.org/one-flesh-marriage.html

Parenting is a responsibility that is difficult while also being incredibly rewarding. Today we attempt to simplify the task of parenting by introducing and discussing six truths about parenting. This discussion is aimed at giving a practical way to become a parent that is aligned to truth, taking the complexity out of the task of being a great parent. We referenced the following podcast episodes during today’s conversation: Episode 18. On Mission In Motherhood With Jen Rowlen [Part 1] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/18-on-mission-in-motherhood-with-jen-rowlen-part-1/id1544635214?i=1000518803864 YouTube: https://youtu.be/NmkqpN7axcw Episode 19. On Mission In Motherhood With Jen Rowlen [Part 2] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/19-on-mission-in-motherhood-with-jen-rowlen-part-2/id1544635214?i=1000520019029 YouTube: https://youtu.be/_VQ6BquJg4Q Episode 8. Choosing To Be Response-Able Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/8-choosing-to-be-response-able/id1544635214?i=1000509231231 YouTube: https://youtu.be/0SaWtly_89U Episode 11. Training For Godliness With Pastor Mike Plummer [Part 1] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/11-training-for-godliness-with-pastor-mike-plummer-part-1/id1544635214?i=1000512218860 YouTube: https://youtu.be/WZS0WUGWAhE Episode 12. Training For Godliness With Pastor Mike Plummer [Part 2] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/12-training-for-godliness-with-pastor-mike-plummer-part-2/id1544635214?i=1000513223720 YouTube: https://youtu.be/_Ulfmrgnn0A Episode 26. Getting To Know God Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/26-getting-to-know-god/id1544635214?i=1000526375554 YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZL5ZmdIuGJA We also referenced the book “Parenting Scripts” by Amber Lia and Wendy Speake.

Grace is a free gift from God, which is an incredible truth about Christianity—there is nothing we can do to earn it. What we oftentimes fail to realize, though, is that accepting this free gift of grace costs us something…our life. In today’s episode, we discuss the difference between cheap grace and costly grace as introduced by Dietrich Bonhoeffer in The Cost of Discipleship. We find that cheap grace is grace without discipleship. We look to scripture to discover what it means to actually be a disciple. It’s no simple task, but it’s totally worth it! We mentioned the following resources during this episode: 1) The Cost of Discipleship 2) The Real God by Chip Ingram 3) Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” 4) Matthew 5, 6, 7 – Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount where he gives instructions about what it looks like to follow him 5) Episodes 11 & 12. Training For Godliness With Pastor Mike Plummer Part 1 · Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/11-training-for-godliness-with-pastor-mike-plummer-part-1/id1544635214?i=1000512218860 · YouTube:  https://youtu.be/WZS0WUGWAhE Part 2 · Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/12-training-for-godliness-with-pastor-mike-plummer-part-2/id1544635214?i=1000513223720 · YouTube:  https://youtu.be/_Ulfmrgnn0A 6) Episodes 13 & 14. A Hitchhiker, Jesus, and Becoming A Doer Of The Word With Marion Sparks Part 1 · Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/13-hitchhiker-jesus-becoming-doer-word-marion-sparks/id1544635214?i=1000514058681 · YouTube: https://youtu.be/mjX_HLvGMWg Part 2 · Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/14-hitchhiker-jesus-becoming-doer-word-marion-sparks/id1544635214?i=1000515001503 · YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Ut-w4CZIf0