1 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 1: Welcome to Christian Parent Crazy World, the podcast that tackles 2 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:14,159 Speaker 1: tough topics to help you be a godly parent in 3 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:18,119 Speaker 1: an ungodly world. I am your host, Catherine Seekers, and 4 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 1: in today's episode, we will tackle this culturally relevant question, 5 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: can your kids be whoever they want to be in life? Like? 6 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 1: There is a powerful and pervasive cultural myth being piped 7 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: into our kids these days, and make no mistake about it, 8 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 1: you are a bad parent if you don't buy into 9 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: it and actively support it. The myth says that our 10 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:45,560 Speaker 1: kids can be whoever they want to be in life? 11 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:47,200 Speaker 2: Is this idea biblical? 12 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 1: Is it true or even realistic? If I had a 13 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 1: dime for every movie I've seen that has some form 14 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: of this myth in it, I would have a lot 15 00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: of dimes, and some of these movies are really great. Today, 16 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 1: I want to dig into this myth and establish what 17 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: is biblical and what is cultural when it comes to 18 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: the dreams that our children pursue in life and our dreams. 19 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 2: As well for that matter. 20 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:14,559 Speaker 1: That's the plan for this episode of Christian Parent Crazy World. 21 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 2: So let's get started, Hey, you guys. 22 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 1: Today's best of episode is short, sharp, and surprisingly weighty. 23 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:33,680 Speaker 1: The kind of episode that you can possibly finish between 24 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:38,399 Speaker 1: innings or on the drive to practice, and fittingly, baseball 25 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 1: threads its way all through this one. This reair actually 26 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: came out of a recent conversation I had at the 27 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: ball field. I was sitting in the stands getting to 28 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: know a really great dad. He was one of those 29 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: faithful present all in kind of guys, you know the type. 30 00:01:56,280 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 1: He's there early, he stays late, rain or shine. Meanwhile, 31 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 1: my older son was out on the mound. Different son 32 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 1: than the one I talk about in this episode, by 33 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:08,639 Speaker 1: the way. The one I'm talking about in this episode 34 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 1: is the younger one who has known for years that 35 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 1: he wants to play for LSU on his way to 36 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:17,080 Speaker 1: the majors. So we're sitting there watching the game, talking 37 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: about parenting, vocational u turns, church journeys, theology, life like 38 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 1: literally all the things, and this dad looks over and 39 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 1: he says, I always tell my kids that with enough work, 40 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 1: they can be whoever they want to be. And I paused, 41 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 1: not because I disagree with his heart, because I didn't. 42 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 1: This is, like I said, he's a great dad, but 43 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 1: because something about that statement doesn't sit quite right. It's 44 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: what we're supposed to say as parents, but where does 45 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: this idea come from? Does it come from God or 46 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 1: our culture? Yeah? So I gently pushed back and what 47 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 1: followed was a really thoughtful conversation, one that led me 48 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 1: straight back to the message you're about to hear today. 49 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: Because here's the tension, moms and dads. We don't want 50 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 1: to crush our kids' dreams, not even a little. According 51 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 1: to our faith. Look in the Holy Book, God often 52 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 1: plants big, bold, even unlikely dreams in the hearts of 53 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: our children, and those dreams matter, They're part of their 54 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: calling and life. But at the same time, not every 55 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: dream comes from God, and that's a distinction our culture 56 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 1: almost never makes. 57 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 2: So what do we do with that? 58 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 1: Do we encourage every dream redirect some How do we 59 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: help our kids pursue purpose instead of just possibility? Those 60 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 1: are the questions sitting underneath this episode, and they are 61 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: worth wrestling with. So with that in mind, on a 62 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 1: week when I'm headed to senior Night to see my 63 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: oldest son pitch his last game in competitive baseball, here 64 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 1: is a best of conversation that gets right to the 65 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 1: heart of it. Can your child really be whoever they 66 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:18,840 Speaker 1: want to? Be in life. Let's dig in. So let's 67 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 1: talk about our kids' dreams today. You guys, this is 68 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 1: such an important topic because if you are like me, 69 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:29,160 Speaker 1: you may have felt pressure from our culture to support 70 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: whatever dream your child wants to pursue in life, regardless 71 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:37,360 Speaker 1: of their skill set or the cost or the odds. You, 72 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: as their parents, are supposed to tell your kids that 73 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:43,360 Speaker 1: they can be whoever they want to be in life. 74 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: Right m h. You know, I got a book recommendation 75 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 1: recently for a kid's book that literally says on the 76 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:54,159 Speaker 1: back cover, do you believe you can have, do, or 77 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: be anything you want? 78 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 2: Well? You can. 79 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 1: Your wonderful imagination, MA makes your dreams possible. So keep 80 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:07,920 Speaker 1: on dreaming. Yep, It's right there and black and white. 81 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:11,919 Speaker 1: You can have, do, or be anything you want to be. 82 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 1: Your imagination makes this possible. And if you are the 83 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 1: realistic parents sitting over here saying, honey and ivy League, 84 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:24,720 Speaker 1: education with or without a scholarship is going to leave 85 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 1: you mini tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars 86 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: in debt, or you know your eyesight might prevent you 87 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:36,719 Speaker 1: from being a fighter pilot, or I don't know, darling, 88 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:39,280 Speaker 1: you're five foot six, so maybe a career in the 89 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 1: NHL is unlikely. And look, I say that with my 90 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: one and only official NHL hockey jersey bearing the name 91 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:53,159 Speaker 1: of Roco Grimaldi. I loved that spunky player. He was 92 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:56,719 Speaker 1: all over the ice. Saw a game where he scored 93 00:05:57,040 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: four goals, like three of them were in the span 94 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 1: of ninety seconds or something crazy like that. 95 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:04,159 Speaker 2: That's called a hat trick, by the way. 96 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:08,239 Speaker 1: And the dude is five foot six. He was playing 97 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:11,839 Speaker 1: against guys who were literally twice his size, So you 98 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 1: know it does happen. It absolutely does. Coprattes and one 99 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 1: of my all time favorite movies is Rudy, about that 100 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 1: little short pipsqueak of a guy who ended up playing. 101 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 2: Notre Dame football. 102 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 1: That is one of the all time best sports movies ever. 103 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 1: If you have not seen that movie, definitely see it. 104 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 1: But like I said, you are a bad parent if 105 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: you don't support every dream that your child has in life. 106 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:41,839 Speaker 1: And I was faced with this challenge head on a 107 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 1: few years ago when my fourth child sat on my 108 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 1: lap at the ripe age of six and told me 109 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:50,719 Speaker 1: what he wanted to be when he grew up. He 110 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:55,840 Speaker 1: wants to be a major league baseball player. Isn't that adorable? 111 00:06:56,279 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 1: Love it? He actually opened this conversation by saying, mom, 112 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:07,040 Speaker 1: God made me to play baseball, and you know what, 113 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 1: I think he may be right. And let me tell 114 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 1: you a few things about this kid. Though. He lives 115 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 1: and breathes the sport of baseball like no kid I 116 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 1: have ever seen. He is so animated, so excited to 117 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 1: get out on the baseball field. He loves nothing more 118 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 1: than to blay baseball from the moment he gets up 119 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: in the morning until he has used every ounce of 120 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 1: energy in his body and conks out coming home from 121 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 1: a fourteen hour tournament at night. Like we have him 122 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 1: on this little travel ball team right now, and they 123 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: play throughout the year, but then they'll take these little breaks, 124 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 1: and every single time when we start up practice again, 125 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: like a full twenty four hours before practice starts, he 126 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: is fully dressed, ready to go. He sleeps in his uniform, 127 00:07:56,920 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 1: and then the next day I get like this countdown 128 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: starting at tema in his eight hours. Mommy, Mommy practices 129 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 1: in eight hours. Mommy practices in six hours. Mommy practice 130 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 1: isn't in two hours? And then roughly about an hour 131 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: before we have to leave. He's brought my shoes, my purs, 132 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 1: my keys to my side, and I get updates at 133 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 1: that point, like every two to three minutes. I've never 134 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 1: seen anything like it, you guys, neither have his coaches. 135 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 2: He's about to like sprout a glove out. 136 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 1: Of his left arm, and he's constantly throwing things against 137 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: walls like nerf balls and dryer balls and baseballs, softballs, 138 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 1: golf balls. Oh my goodness, he like literally broke our oven, 139 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 1: like broke it. The kid is always throwing and catching, 140 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: and I have to pry these things out of his 141 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:43,439 Speaker 1: hand and make them do some schoolwork. Sorry, that was 142 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 1: probably a little TMI, but that's my kid. 143 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 2: Okay. 144 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: So when he sat on my lap three years ago 145 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: and said, Mommy, I think God made me to play baseball, 146 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 1: you know, I knew I had to come up with 147 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 1: the right response, Like what do I tell this kid 148 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:05,680 Speaker 1: who has what seems to be a divinely inspired passion 149 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: for something at a very young age, Like what do 150 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:14,600 Speaker 1: you say when your kid has a big dream like that? Now, 151 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 1: I believe the Holy Spirit gave me the right answer 152 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 1: because it didn't come from my head, an answer that 153 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 1: I think applies to all of our kids. And I'm 154 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 1: going to tell you that answer in just a bit. 155 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: But first, I know what my culture says I should 156 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:43,840 Speaker 1: have told my son. I should have said, well, of course, son, 157 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 1: you can be whoever you imagine, you can be, whoever 158 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 1: you dream you can be whoever you want to be 159 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 1: in work hard to be, you can do it. I 160 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 1: believe in you. And I could have followed that up 161 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:00,439 Speaker 1: by telling my son to just you know, follow it art, 162 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 1: which has a little hallmark theology there. That's what our 163 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 1: culture says a good parent should say. But is that 164 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 1: what a Christian parent should say? Who is trying to 165 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 1: parent biblically? M No, No, I don't think that's the 166 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 1: right answer, because look, I have lived a little too 167 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 1: much life to say that to my kid. But I 168 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 1: also don't want to kill my kid's imagination and his 169 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 1: dreams either. Honestly, that is part of the wonder of 170 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 1: being a kid, isn't it. There is nothing wrong with 171 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: dreaming about stepping up to the plate and donning the 172 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,319 Speaker 1: jersey of your favorite team, which may or may not 173 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:48,080 Speaker 1: be the New York Mets, probably not this year, but 174 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:52,599 Speaker 1: like hitting a walk off homer in extra innings in 175 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:55,800 Speaker 1: the last game of the World Series. I mean, come on, 176 00:10:56,800 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 1: that is a right of passage as a child. So 177 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:04,680 Speaker 1: dream on. I don't want to be a dream killer. 178 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:09,559 Speaker 1: And you know what, neither does God. His dreams are 179 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 1: bigger and better than ours are. But like I said 180 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 1: in the intro, not every dream is from God. So 181 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:20,560 Speaker 1: it seems like we can be caught between a rock 182 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:25,440 Speaker 1: and a hard place when it comes to supporting our kids' dreams, 183 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 1: and too often we get the answer wrong in Christian circles. 184 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 1: So I was reading a review for a new faith 185 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: based movie called The Hill. The review is in World magazine. 186 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 1: Love that magazine. It's my favorite, absolutely love it. So 187 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:47,840 Speaker 1: this is a family, feel good movie about baseball right 188 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 1: up our alley. And the review is written by a 189 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:55,599 Speaker 1: guy named Colin Garbarino who made some very astute observations 190 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:58,080 Speaker 1: that will bring a lot of richness and depth to 191 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 1: our conversation today. So here's the basic premise of the film. 192 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:06,199 Speaker 1: A young kid named Ricky Hill dreams of being a 193 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 1: major league baseball player, so that kind of hits close 194 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 1: to home in my home at least. But he has 195 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: a problem, or rather an impediment. He has a debilitating 196 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 1: health condition which has left him in leg braces. So 197 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:25,960 Speaker 1: the first half of the film highlights Ricky's fierce determination 198 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:30,080 Speaker 1: to overcome his physical limitations and pursue the sport that 199 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:33,320 Speaker 1: he loves. And by the time this kid hits high school, 200 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:38,440 Speaker 1: he has become a slugging sensation. But as he takes 201 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:42,600 Speaker 1: his shot at the big leagues, his childhood struggle comes 202 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:46,560 Speaker 1: back to haunt him. So Ricky is trying to overcome 203 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 1: his giant, a metaphor that plays throughout the film as 204 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 1: Ricky is portrayed as this David like character who is 205 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:59,440 Speaker 1: facing the giant Goliath of his physical limitations. Meanwhile, his father, 206 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: who as a minister played by Dennis Quaid, who is 207 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 1: like always in these sports films. If you have not 208 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 1: seen The Rookie, Oh my gosh, go check out that movie. 209 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 1: I absolutely love that film. Talk about dreams coming true. 210 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 1: That is a great, great film, and it's based off 211 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,880 Speaker 1: of a true story. But Dennis Quaid plays the father 212 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: who thinks that his son should be a preacher. Now 213 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: you know, I haven't seen this movie yet, but I 214 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 1: really want to, and I suspect there are some really 215 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:33,440 Speaker 1: good things to recommend it. But prominently featured in the 216 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 1: film is this theme that you can be whoever you 217 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: want to be in life. You can fulfill every dream 218 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:45,319 Speaker 1: and wishing and hard work will make it so. Yep, yeah, 219 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 1: that is how you fulfill your dreams in life. This 220 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 1: film certainly suggests that is the case, but does real life. 221 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 1: Let me read you this excerpt from the review. This 222 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 1: is from Garbarina. He says, most disappointingly, the Hill suffers 223 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 1: from some of the same theological problems that plague other 224 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:09,079 Speaker 1: faith based films. 225 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:10,719 Speaker 2: The movie uses. 226 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 1: David and Goliath as its guiding motif. Little Ricky is 227 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 1: David and he is flinging stones at his goliath like adversity. 228 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:23,040 Speaker 1: The message is clear, you can be a David if 229 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:28,320 Speaker 1: you have enough faith. Garborino goes on to say, a 230 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: more faithful interpretation of the story puts Jesus in the 231 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:36,480 Speaker 1: place of David, with the rest of us Israelites powering 232 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 1: back at the camp. By merging metaphor with the reality 233 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 1: of victory in Jesus, the Hill slips into the familiar 234 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 1: trap of promoting a prosperity gospel. Hmmm, yeah, so Garbarino 235 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 1: goes on here. He says the movie trots out the 236 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:58,359 Speaker 1: usual list of motivational Bible versus taken out of context, 237 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 1: and it misconstrus them as promises for Christians who want 238 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 1: material and temporal success. The movie bills itself as an 239 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 1: inspirational story that teaches us never to let go of 240 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 1: our dreams. After all, I can do all things through Christ, 241 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 1: who strengthens me. That's Philippines four thirteen. I can even 242 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 1: make it to the big leagues. Garbarino concludes, true to 243 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 1: the genre, we see the underdog struggle and then prevail 244 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 1: in the end. He made the most of his shot. 245 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 1: Roll the credits, except the Hill ends Ricky Hill's story 246 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 1: much too soon. In real life, Ricky Hill never made 247 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 1: it to the majors. He gutted it out for a 248 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 1: few years in the minor leagues before his debilitating condition 249 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: forced him to quit. In interviews, he said he fell 250 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 1: into suicidal despair after poor health robbed him of baseball. 251 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:05,400 Speaker 1: How does faith respond to failure? That's the story Christians 252 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:09,560 Speaker 1: and non Christians need to see when our world crumbles. 253 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 1: Responding with Philippians four thirteen becomes a powerful testimony. End quote. 254 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 1: Yeah wow, wow, did this reviewer ever nail it. That 255 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: is the story Christians ought to be telling in our movies. 256 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 1: How does our faith carry us through the disappointment of 257 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 1: dashed dreams? What does our faith have to say when 258 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 1: everything we've hoped for doesn't happen, When you don't get drafted, 259 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:44,520 Speaker 1: or you don't make it out of the minor leagues, 260 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 1: when you don't get the promotion, when your business fails, 261 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 1: when you have a physical limitation or ailment that prevents 262 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:59,600 Speaker 1: you from fulfilling your dream. Yeah, that is a story 263 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 1: that a lot a lot of people could relate to. 264 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:06,479 Speaker 1: Why Why do Christian filmmakers keep missing that opportunity? It 265 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 1: is some low hanging fruit ripe for the picking. That 266 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 1: is a crossover film that could really do some good. 267 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 1: So this faith based Christian film, they'll prey to the 268 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 1: cultural myth that you can be whoever you dream that 269 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:28,440 Speaker 1: you can be. And it used scripture to reinforce that myth. 270 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:31,360 Speaker 1: After all, I can do all things through Christ, who 271 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 1: strengthens me. I think we should spend a little time 272 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,200 Speaker 1: camping out in that section of scripture actually, instead of 273 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:42,440 Speaker 1: cherry picking from it. Philippins four has several of the 274 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:48,400 Speaker 1: most famous verses in all of Scripture. For example, verse 275 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 1: six tells us not to be anxious for anything, but 276 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:58,480 Speaker 1: in every situation, with prayer and supplication, to let our 277 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 1: requests be known to God. And the peace of God, 278 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:09,680 Speaker 1: which surpasses all comprehension, will guard our hearts and our minds. 279 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 1: In Christ, Jesus, I love that verse. Verse eight tells 280 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 1: us that whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, 281 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 1: whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if 282 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 1: anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. Another 283 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:35,359 Speaker 1: great verse. A lot of heavy hitters in this chapter. 284 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 1: And then, of course we have verse thirteen, one of 285 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:43,119 Speaker 1: the most famous and popular verses in all of scripture. 286 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:48,160 Speaker 1: I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength. 287 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:52,199 Speaker 1: Philippines four should be an all star chapter of the Bible, 288 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 1: for sure, But let's take a closer look at that section, 289 00:18:57,040 --> 00:19:07,879 Speaker 1: a much closer look. Hey friends, it's Katherine here. If 290 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:10,920 Speaker 1: you're trying to be a godly parent in this wild 291 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 1: and wacky world, you need all the help you can get, 292 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 1: and I've got you covered. When you subscribe to my website, 293 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: you'll get instant access to tons of free resources made just. 294 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 2: For Christian parents. 295 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 1: You'll get my Prodigal Bundle, which is packed with every podcast, 296 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:30,560 Speaker 1: article and scripture list I've created for parents walking that 297 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:33,960 Speaker 1: tough prodigal road. You'll also get my free eat book 298 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:37,920 Speaker 1: Beyond the Lies and covering five myths the culture spreads 299 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:41,440 Speaker 1: to mothers, plus powerful scripture list Pray over your kids, 300 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:44,359 Speaker 1: and even scripture songs to help your family hide God's 301 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 1: word in your hearts without even trying. And of course 302 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:51,479 Speaker 1: I'll keep you encouraged with my weekly newsletter full of 303 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 1: faith filled PEP talks and outlines of what we're tackling 304 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 1: each week on the show. 305 00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 2: So don't miss out. 306 00:19:57,160 --> 00:20:00,399 Speaker 1: Head over to Katherine Seekers dot com. That's Catherine Seekers 307 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 1: dot com and subscribe today. Because Christian parenting may be crazy, 308 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 1: but you don't have to do it alone. Listen to 309 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:14,000 Speaker 1: what Paul says here to the Church at Philippi, starting 310 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:19,119 Speaker 1: in verse eleven, just prior to that famous verse. This 311 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:22,280 Speaker 1: is the critical context I'm going to read this in 312 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:26,160 Speaker 1: the message version. He says, I don't have a sense 313 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 1: of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be 314 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:34,880 Speaker 1: quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with 315 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 1: little as with much, with much as with little I 316 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:42,320 Speaker 1: found the recipe for being happy, whether full or hungry, 317 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:46,159 Speaker 1: and it's full or hands empty. Whatever I have, whatever 318 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 1: I am, I can make it through anything in the 319 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 1: One who makes me who I am. Quote yeah yeah. 320 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 1: This verse takes on a much different meaning when read 321 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:05,639 Speaker 1: in context. Paul goes on to talk about how he 322 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:08,480 Speaker 1: had set out on his missionary journey, but none of 323 00:21:08,520 --> 00:21:11,640 Speaker 1: the other churches helped him. Only the Church at Philippi did, 324 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:16,400 Speaker 1: and Paul had some serious needs, and he commends this 325 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:20,720 Speaker 1: church for their generosity. The point of this whole passage 326 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 1: is that God through Christ, will enable us to live 327 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:30,719 Speaker 1: through the lean times as well as the lavish ones. 328 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:34,720 Speaker 1: In Christ, we can be content even when our dreams 329 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:37,680 Speaker 1: don't come true or we don't have food or shelter 330 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:42,120 Speaker 1: or clothing. Like Paul. In Christ, we can be content 331 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:46,479 Speaker 1: in every situation. But that is not how we use 332 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:54,440 Speaker 1: that verse, is it? So how do we approach our kids' dreams? Look? 333 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:58,119 Speaker 1: I don't think we need to ignore reality when it 334 00:21:58,119 --> 00:22:00,960 Speaker 1: comes to our kids dreams. I don't There are two 335 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:05,360 Speaker 1: point six million Little League Baseball players in the world, 336 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 1: and with thirty Major League Baseball teams, there are roughly 337 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 1: only nine hundred and forty five Major League baseball players 338 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:17,280 Speaker 1: in the world. You do the math, Those are not 339 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 1: great odds. That being said, I have a very big God, 340 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:30,399 Speaker 1: so I don't play by the world's odds either. So 341 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 1: how do we as parents stay grounded in reality while 342 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:39,040 Speaker 1: acknowledging the greatness of our God? How do we biblically 343 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 1: support our kids' dreams? Well, here is how I answered 344 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:46,719 Speaker 1: my son when he told me that he thinks that 345 00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 1: God made him to be a baseball player. 346 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:50,200 Speaker 2: I didn't give. 347 00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:53,439 Speaker 1: Him a cultural raw ra speech, but hopefully it was 348 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:57,880 Speaker 1: a lot more real and inspirational long term. I gave 349 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:01,399 Speaker 1: my son a big hug, and I agreed that God 350 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:05,000 Speaker 1: had given him a special love for and a special 351 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:08,480 Speaker 1: gift to play the game of baseball, which is the 352 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:12,199 Speaker 1: world's greatest sport, by the way. And I said, look, honey, 353 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 1: I'm not sure who you are going to be in 354 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 1: life because I'm not got so I don't know if 355 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 1: you're going to be who you want to be, who 356 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:26,159 Speaker 1: you dream that you can be in life. But I 357 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:30,480 Speaker 1: do know this, you can be whoever God created you 358 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:34,880 Speaker 1: to be, and whoever that is is amazing and awesome, 359 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 1: and it's going to fulfill you more than anything else 360 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:41,840 Speaker 1: in a life. God has an incredible plan for your life. 361 00:23:42,359 --> 00:23:45,840 Speaker 1: And you know what that plan might be for you 362 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:49,360 Speaker 1: to be a major league baseball player, or it might 363 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:51,199 Speaker 1: be a minor league one, or it might just be 364 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:54,680 Speaker 1: a little leaguer. Everybody has to hang up their cleat someday, 365 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:56,960 Speaker 1: and I don't know when you are going to have 366 00:23:57,000 --> 00:23:59,879 Speaker 1: to do that, but I know that you can be 367 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:04,200 Speaker 1: who God created you to be. And what I encourage 368 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:08,480 Speaker 1: you to do, son, is to pray this prayer. Lord, 369 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: help me to glorify you with all of my gifts. 370 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:16,359 Speaker 1: Help me to glorify you when I play baseball for 371 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:22,480 Speaker 1: as long as I can. That's what it's about. Mama's 372 00:24:22,520 --> 00:24:27,600 Speaker 1: and Papa's fulfilling God's call on our lives for kids 373 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:33,159 Speaker 1: and for us. I guarantee you it's bigger. Whatever He 374 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:36,199 Speaker 1: has planned for us is bigger and greater than we 375 00:24:36,359 --> 00:24:40,200 Speaker 1: can possibly imagine. And it's probably different than what most 376 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 1: of us imagined when we were six years old or 377 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:46,200 Speaker 1: twelve or twenty or I don't know, maybe even forty five. 378 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:51,320 Speaker 1: It's quite different. But God's plan is the best plan. 379 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:56,120 Speaker 1: So in conclusion, can your kid be whoever they want 380 00:24:56,119 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 1: to be in life? Well, entirely depends if they want 381 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:02,960 Speaker 1: to be who God planned for them to be. That's 382 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:06,760 Speaker 1: the ticket there. They can be whoever God created them 383 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:10,000 Speaker 1: to be in life, and that's what we should all 384 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:13,640 Speaker 1: be aiming for. So let your kids see you aim 385 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:18,040 Speaker 1: for that mark and hopefully they will learn to do 386 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:22,480 Speaker 1: the same. Now, be sure to tune in next week 387 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:25,480 Speaker 1: for a very special Mother's Day episode with best selling 388 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 1: author Ronda Stoppy, and we're gonna dig into her new book, 389 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:33,640 Speaker 1: Moms of the Bible. You guys, this conversation is phenomenal. 390 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:37,400 Speaker 1: You do not want to miss it, and always remember 391 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:41,480 Speaker 1: God gave you your kids, your specific. 392 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:42,439 Speaker 2: Kids for a reason. 393 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:46,639 Speaker 1: That's because you hold the key to unlocking who God 394 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:50,000 Speaker 1: created them to be. We'll see you next time. 395 00:25:57,160 --> 00:26:00,399 Speaker 3: Christian parent Crazy World is a production of Life Audio 396 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 3: and Salem Media. If you liked what you heard today, 397 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:06,320 Speaker 3: please take a second to rate and review this podcast 398 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:09,399 Speaker 3: in your favorite podcast app so that more listeners like 399 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:13,800 Speaker 3: you can find the show. For more faith filled inspirational podcasts, 400 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 3: visit us at lifeaudio dot com.