The Christ Centered Life

In this episode of the Christ-Centered Life, hosts Derek Allen and Lindsay Allen continue their personal story, discussing their journey from dating to engagement, including the proposal and their early marriage years. They share details about their relationship, including memorable experiences, the significance of God's grace in their marriage, and lessons learned while preparing for a lifetime together.

Derek and Lindsay discuss their dating journey, emphasizing the importance of intentionality in relationships and how their experiences shaped their marriage.

Link to the Allen Family devotional plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wkczpIXCtNJXrExjFTJPCF7ynwwFHLtR8LtRaaYbqeI/edit?tab=t.0

What are Christians to do with Mardi Gras? Is it just another way to have good, clean family fun, or is it a celebration of immorality and debauchery? Listen in as Derek and Lindsay talk about it on this episode of The C2 Life.

Links from this Episode Discounted Bark Phone: https://www.bark.us/?ref=CQ2DH9J * * Screen Time Health Impacts: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/screen-time-side-effects-in-kids-and-teens * * California's New Social Media Law: https://www.axios.com/2024/09/21/social-media-ad-addictive-feeds-law * * Australia's Social Media Ban: https://www.npr.org/2024/12/19/nx-s1-5231020/australia-top-regulator-kids-social-media-ban * * Teens and Screens: https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/teens-and-screens

Recent state-wide initiatives have pointed in one direction. Pro-life legislation has failed. Pro-abortion legislation has succeeded. One major political party has made abortion a central part of its platform, and the other major political party has shown clear signs of distancing itself from the pro-life cause. Why? This is not a top-down process. It is a grassroots effort in which voters' opinions shape political positions. So why is the pro-life argument losing ground? Lindsay and Derek discuss this crucial issue on this episode of The C2 Life.

In this episode, Lindsay and Derek read and quickly respond to Yahoo News, Associated Press, Fox News, and NPR headlines. What is a Christ Centered response to news about Israel and Hezbollah, attempted assassinations of Trump, haircuts in space, and more? Listen in to find out.

We can't deal! At least, it seems we can't. But why can't we? In this episode, Lindsay and Derek talk with Brent Vance who is an LPCS (Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor) and the Missions and Children's Pastor at FBTC. Brent helps us unpack a Christ-Centered view of counseling, therapy, and the 21st century culture that "can't even deal."

God designed men to be the pastors, protectors, and providers for their families and, in many ways, for the entire culture. Modern culture works against that design, and one of the hot-button phrases is "toxic masculinity." In this episode, Derek and Lindsay discuss toxic masculinity and address the question, "Does our culture suffer from an overabundance of men who are too manly, or is the real problem a lack of boys who grow into mature manhood?" Yes--real men are nurturing, approachable, non-threatening, polite, men of conviction, responsible, diplomatic, progressive, and reverent. But they are also warriors. That is not toxicity. It is masculinity.

Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 6:11 pm, an assassin's bullet narrowly missed Donald Trump. Although it was unexpected, it also wasn't that surprising. How must followers of Christ respond in a political climate so filled with cruelty and volatility that an event of such magnitude seems like par for the course? Listen in as Derek and Lindsay share five guiding principles for The Christian Response to the Current Political Situation.

When it comes to dating, everyone is confused. Teenagers are learning as they go, and parents aren't sure what part they play. In this episode, Derek and Lindsay introduce foundational ideas about dating by exposing four lies parents often believe about dating.

This is the final episode of a five-part series on transgenderism. In this episode, Derek and Lindsay discuss the key passages and theological ideas pertinent to the transgender discussion.

Despite all of the cultural pressure to conform to the transgender revolution, one thing is increasingly clear. It isn't working. Those in the transgender community aren't finding peace. Our culture is not growing more stable. The obvious logical inconsistencies of transgenderism are becoming, well, obvious. In this episode, Lindsay and Derek discuss the unsuccessful push to normalize transgenderism.

In this third episode of a multipart series, Derek and Lindsay discuss three major fronts in the ideological battle over transgenderism--education, government, and the church.

In this second episode of a series about transgenderism, Derek and Lindsay define terms commonly used in the discussion about gender identity. They also discuss the Christian response to using terms the culture has created or captured.

This is the first of a three-part series about transgenderism. In this episode, Derek and Lindsay give five keys to remember when talking about transgender issues.

Recently, Polynesian Indigenous groups signed a treaty granting personhood to whales. In light of that, Derek and Lindsay discuss personhood and the importance of a solid Christian worldview.

This week is Holy Week, and this Sunday is Resurrection Sunday! It's a great time of year to celebrate all God has done for us through Jesus, and we don't want you to miss it. Listen in to hear seven ways to maximize this year's Easter celebration.

A recent decision by Alabama's Supreme Court and subsequent action by the state legislature and governor have brought In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) into the public conversation. In this episode, Derek and Lindsay address the ethics and politics of IVF and offer counsel to Christian couples facing infertility.

Families with special needs can feel out of place at church, but it doesn't have to be that way. For this episode, Lindsay reached out to several families with special needs to ask for their thoughts about the relationship between the church and these precious families.