The Mission Driven Mom: Recent Episodes
Audrey Rindlisbacher
In studying forgiveness as a moral action, I dug deeper into the idea of morals and morality itself. What I often call "natural law" can also be called the "natural moral law" so I wanted to better understand the moral component of the natural law. I had some huge insights -- things I'd never thought of before that make my own inner battles with myself and my conscience take on a whole new dimension.
Join me today as we dig into what it means to be moral, why we say something is "not wrong" and how that harms us, and the role of scripture in our moral, intellectual, spiritual, and emotional lives.
Check Out My BOOK and Courses: https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
February Book Club pick is The Giver! This novel is rich with themes that are incredibly relevant today:
- sameness vs equality
- safety vs freedom
- wisdom and suffering
- moral law vs civil law
- constrained vs unconstrained visions
Join us as we discuss these and other themes that help us make sense of the cultural unraveling we are watching right before our eyes!
Discuss The Giver with us! Join the Audrey Rindlisbacher Library for a discussion community, resource guide and more: https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Follow my Audrey Rindlisbacher Author FB page for articles, videos, my thoughts, and other resources I discover as I study and prepare these podcasts and my books: https://www.facebook.com/audreyrindlisbacherauthor/
What holds any organization together, whether it's a family, business, or nation? SHARE VALUES. And the nature of those values, how they're taught and promoted, and whether or not people are held accountable to them, is the fabric that makes individual lives and organizes work, or fall apart.
That is precisely what is happening to our culture today--the loss of shared values.
Join me in this podcast to learn HOW incorporating shared values has been the foundation of every major civilization, WHY shared values work, WHAT they have to do with the natural law and virtue, and WHERE you can start today to apply these principles in your own life.
Get Your "Truth Seekers Starter Kit": https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Grab your copy of my book "The Mission Driven Life: Discover and Fulfill Your Unique Contribution to the World": https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Become a Truth Seeker and expand your ability to recognize and live true principles by joining the Audrey Rindlisbacher Library: https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Through ideologies like "wokeness," LGBTQ+, postmodernism and others, we are fed a constant diet of the "your truth, my truth" paradigm. Although there is some truth to the idea that you and I see things very differently, we don't have to choose between the concept of "your" truth and "the" truth--when we properly understand what they really mean, and how they can work together.
Join me in this podcast for images and stories that will help you discern between these concepts of truth and learn how the natural law can be seen more clearly!
For more discussions of these ideas or to join my book club check out the Audrey Rindlisbacher library: https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
To learn more about how you can more closely align your life with the natural law and true principles, check out my book The Mission Driven Life: https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Awakened one morning with quotes in my mind, I spent the day researching and making connections until I saw the central problem we face--what comes before the natural law. If we want to present God's laws and principles as the solution to today's problems, we need to first show others that there actually is a problem to solve. With beginning insights into where to go from here, in this podcast I introduce you to the quotes I found, the connections I made, and how we'll begin to unravel the problem and the solution of the natural moral law.
Find out more about the natural law and true principles in the Audrey Rindlisbacher library here: https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Join my monthly book club and get your Reading and Discussion Guide, study skill and more: https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Listen to my podcast on Albert Schweitzer: https://blubrry.com/the_mission_driven_mom/41957108/mission-driven-stories-albert-schweitzer/
A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen, first published in 1879 was, at one point, the most frequently performed play in the world and has continued to be performed regularly throughout the 20th and into the 21st century. In addition to its popularity with the public, many scholars list Ibsen right after Shakespeare as the greatest playwright in history. Ibsen, like Shakespeare holds a mirror up to life by creating situations where his audience is forced to look at itself and its underlying assumptions. In A Doll's House, Ibsen introduces us to Dora, who occupies her husband's home like a doll in a dollhouse. She does everything the men around her have always told her to do, never bothering to truly think for herself. And when the most noble act she has ever performed comes to be seen by the man she is sacrificing for as irresponsible and dangerous, she is forced to look inside for the answers. Her internal struggle results in a discussion about the nature of womanhood and the value of the individual—as well as the seeds of feminism. As Nora explains her intellectual journey and the conclusions she has drawn, she resolves to leave her family in order to repair her own mind and soul. Controversial, insightful, thought-provoking and persuasive, this play not only set the stage for how we think and act today, it will force you to take a closer look at who you are and what you truly stand for.
Watch My Book Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL7JRyGDACk
Get the Reading and Discussion Guide and Author Bio in the Audrey Rindlisbacher Library: https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
I'm sorry I haven't been more clear about what the truth is and how it can set you free! This is a RESET for 2024, and from now on I'll be bringing you all the insights from my study of truth and natural law as I write another book that will demonstrate HOW the truth can truly set you free!
Get the "TRUTH SEEKERS Starter Kit" for FREE: https://audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Get the tools you need to learn and live truth in the Audrey Rindlisbacher LIBRARY: https://audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Learn About My Book "The Mission Driven Life: Discover and Fulfill Your Unique Contribution to the World": https://audreyrindlisbacher.com/
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audreyrindlisbacher/
My Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/audreyrindlisbacherauthor/
Join me, Lindsey and Kim for an enriching and inspiring discussion of my December Book Club pick A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens--you'll love it!
For further discussion, and to access the principles list, study skills, and other tools, join my library: https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/store
Get your FREE "Truth Seekers Starter Kit": https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Gain the tools for learning and living truth by subscribing to the Audrey Rindlisbacher Library: https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Check out MY BOOK "The Mission Driven Life": https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Enjoy book reviews, trainings, and highlights from the Audrey Rindlisbacher library on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AudreyRindlisbacher
With literally THOUSANDS of new books being published every day, how in the world can we choose things to read and discuss that are WORTHY of our time and life energy?! Here I outline 3 RULES for choosing readings that are enriching, insightful, and full of discussion points and true principles!
Get your FREE "Truth Seekers Starter Kit": https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Gain the tools for learning and living truth by subscribing to the Audrey Rindlisbacher Library: https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Check out MY BOOK "The Mission Driven Life": https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Enjoy book reviews, trainings, and highlights from the Audrey Rindlisbacher library on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AudreyRindlisbacher
What do Benjamin Franklin, Louis L'Amour, and Mortimer Adler have in common?! Along with thousands of other great influencers throughout history, they saw the power of reading, writing, and discussing classics as the KEY personal development. This is something YOU can do right now to kickstart your own personal growth!
Join My Book Club and discuss the classics with me in My Library: https://audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Get the "TRUTH SEEKERS Starter Kit" for FREE: https://audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Learn about and buy my book "The Mission Driven Life": https://audreyrindlisbacher.com/
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audreyrindlisbacher/
My Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/audreyrindlisbacherauthor/
It seems like things are changing so fast that our culture is becoming almost unrecognizable. Thomas Sowell in his book A Conflict of Visions, provides a framework for understanding the world that once you've learned, you WON'T be able to unsee it! The current conflict of visions in Western society is driving ideologies like wokeness, post-modernism, and others. Stick with me through the full hour to see how PROFOUNDLY this model applies to your life, right now!
Get the Reading and Discussion Guide with notes and charts from today's episode in the Audrey Rindlisbacher library: https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Get your FREE "Truth Seekers Starter Kit": https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Gain the tools for learning and living truth by subscribing to the Audrey Rindlisbacher library: https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Enjoy book reviews, trainings, and highlights from the Audrey Rindlisbacher library on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AudreyRindlisbacher
For many years I thought I was the problem, and that was why EVERYTHING I tried didn’t seem to work! Then, through a series of experiences and deep study, I realized that I was NOT the problem (and neither are you), SELF-HELP is the problem! In this podcast I reveal WHY self-help is not helping you and show you how the TRUTH is what will truly set you free.
Get your FREE "Truth Seekers Starter Kit": https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Gain the tools for learning and living truth by subscribing to the Audrey Rindlisbacher library: https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/
Enjoy book reviews, trainings, and highlights from the Audrey Rindlisbacher library on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AudreyRindlisbacher
“Our culture is moving further and further away from principles and truth. What we really ultimately hope to give you, and to build and create, is a community that has the power to shift the culture. We do that by beginning with shifting the culture in our homes and raising principle-centered children. But we also do that by reaching out into our communities and building bridges through emphasizing that there are fundamental truths that can unify us all.
And all of that begins with empowering every mom with a clear understanding of true principles and how to apply them in her life.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher Are you ready for the fast track to a principled life?! HERE IT IS!
This fall you have the opportunity to gather in Dallas, TX with other moms just like you--truth seekers who want to build a strong family culture centered on principles--and spend an entire day gleaning all the most important concepts, ideas, and tools that Audrey and her team have gathered in over 20 years of research, study, and teaching!
Do NOT pass up this unique and one-time chance to be mentored, inspired, and trained in the ability to pierce the confusion and identify the principles. Not only that, you'll be armed with skills for implementing those principles in your daily life and enjoying the abundant blessings that always follow principles.
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
1:16 - Welcome and introduction of Julie, Tracie, Lindsey, and Audrey 2:17 - When, how, why did you begin learning about principles? 12:57 - How have principles changed your life? 23:05 - What insights have you had as you've been preparing for the event? 30:43 - What would you tell someone who thinks this is too hard, too intellectual, or too abstract? 35:40 - What excited you the most about this event?
Quotes from this episode: “We make rules, but we don’t make principles.” ~ Lindsey Wright “His settled convictions were as a dike against those invading waters of novel opinion - social, political, and otherwise - which carried away, as in a torrent, no few minds, in those days; minds by nature not inferior to his own.” ~ Herman Melville, Billie Bud “I realized that I was lacking something, I just didn’t know how to think when I was confronted with different ideas and different opinions. I just wanted a way to find a way through that and I knew I desperately needed it.” ~ Tracie Hyde “Natural law is a way to bring people together; to connect us at our core.” ~ Audrey Rindlisbacher “It’s been my passion to try to govern my life according to principles. I wanted to discover what they are and build a framework that can be communicated clearly to give other people tools for the discovery and utilization of true principles at the most basic, easiest level possible.” ~ Audrey Rindlisbacher “I got so much clarity by asking better questions and focusing on the outcome that I want and then connecting that to some principles and first principles.” ~ Lindsey Wright “Once you understand the principles and the outcome then it’s really clear what the next step is.” ~ Lindsey Wright “Now I have a way forward. I have a way to act because principles have given me something specific to do - a direction to act that I didn’t know before.” ~ Tracie Hyde “The role that each of these types play, from natural law to first principles, principles, and applications, is in helping us to clarify our vision and to figure out the what, the why, and the how, to move forward.” ~ Audrey Rindlisbacher “They change the way I think about myself and the way I think about the world. They give me hope…They help me get clear.” ~ Audrey Rindlisbacher “They create long-term solutions and peace.” ~ Audrey Rindlisbacher “When we ask the five types of questions that’s what helps keep us focused on finding principles, articulating them and applying them.” ~ Tracie Hyde “Just understanding this framework,
"I feel the sustaining presence of the Savior and a deep sense of calm." ~Sharidean Flint One year ago, my sister was healthy and happy —as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend, neighbor, and community leader. If you were part of our community then you probably watched or listened to an interview I did with her about her childhood, motherhood, and path to becoming the first woman mayor of Hyde Park city. We discussed her challenges, hardships, and the difficulties she’d overcome in her life. I also made sure to highlight how she lived the 7 Laws of Life Mission and the way in which they prepared her to become an amazing source of love and inspiration to those around her. Since our interview, Sharidean had continued to do all the good of which she was capable, serving others in her fun-loving way. Then, at the end of January, intense migraines began. Within two weeks she had brain surgery and was diagnosed with glioblastoma. Almost from the moment she was diagnosed I felt that I needed to share with you what I saw, heard, and experienced, so that, along with her family, friends, and community, you could be lifted by the legacy she has left. This podcast is the rest of her story. (P.S. When I went in to create the image for the podcast, I was going to post a picture of us together or of her with her family. But then I visited her Facebook page and noticed that I hadn't seen her newest profile picture. I've used that picture here. The image and words are what she created -- a powerful, faithful message which demonstrates all she stood for.)
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
1:20 - MDM Updates 6:30 - Sharidean Update 15:39 - Sharidean's fear is replaced with profound peace 29:30 - Love between Sharidean & her husband Kevin 31:13 - Outpouring of love from the community 38:47 - Sharidean's letter to the city
Quotes from this episode: "She went through a lot of really hard things in her life. And she used those hard things to drive her faith deeper." ~Audrey Rindlisbacher "I feel the sustaining presence of the Savior and a deep sense of calm. I feel His love and your love." ~Sharidean Flint
Links from this episode:
“There is an exhilaration in knowing who you are.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
The first time I learned about "The Hero's Journey" by Joseph Campbell, I was blown away. It was everywhere! The idea that there was a form for the way the best stories are told - across time and culture - spoke to how similar we really are as humans.
But for me, it was much bigger than that. My question was: WHY? Why do we tell the same kinds of stories, century after century, and why are these stories made up of the same components? Why do our best stories talk of "calls," "departures," "trials," and "treasures"? What is it about these kinds of stories that evoke our imagination and resonate with us so much?
I believe it is because we are identifying with the Adventure of Self-Discovery. Deep down inside all of us want to grow and learn and become more than we are. "The Hero's Journey" reminds us of what that path looks like, that we need to say "Yes" to the call in order to begin the growth process, and that although the way will be full of obstacles and hardships the pay-off will be well worth the struggle.
In this podcast, I explore "The Hero's Journey" using stories of those who have rejected and those who have accepted the call. I look at why we reject the call and remind us all of some of the treasures we can obtain if we accept it. I also encourage you, if you've heard the call of self-discovery - through an MDM program or other opportunity - and you've rejected the call, or you've hesitated on your journey, to ask yourself "Why"? And begin again on the adventure of your own self-discovery, knowing you won't be disappointed.
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
2:39 Introduction to Andrew Young 4:38 The Heor's Journey/The Adventure of Self-Discovery 10:00 The turning Point 13:51 Leadership, Martin Luther King, and Non-violence 14:44 A New Chapter in Life 18:11 A Changed Man and Politics 21:53 Your Call to Self-discovery 30:10 Why Do We Do It 34:48 If You Are Stuck...
Quotes from this episode: “Andrew, if you ever forget that under that sheet is a child of God you need to quit preaching.” ~Jean Childs Young “We are like any growing thing, going to experience resistance, pain, trials, and tests. A flower has to burst out of its seed, push against the soil, and spring up above the earth. It has to put down roots, weather the rain and storms. It is always pushing, that's what makes it strong. It grows by pushing through the resistance. That is how we are fashioned, it's what we are meant to do.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “Why do we do it? Partly because that is what we are made to do. Partly because it is what makes life worth living. Partly because that's the only way we're really going to know ourselves. But mostly, we do it for the reward, the pay off - of who we will become, and the people we will bless.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “There is an exhilaration in knowing who you are.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
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Links from this episode:
“Whatever is at the center of a person's life forms the fabric of his conscience. The conscience must be educated from divine sources in order for it to be keen and sharp, responsive and sensitive to God. ” ~Stephen Covey
The rights of life, liberty, and property seem pretty straight-forward and self-explanatory, but the right of conscience?! What does that mean? And more importantly, why does it matter?
In this podcast, Audrey and Lindsey explore the 2 Consciences taught by Stephen Covey and why understanding them is so critical. With so much confusion in the world around rights and entitlement, absolute or relative truth, and the nature of the conscience, this podcast is a MUST LISTEN for those who want to better understand the proper role of government in society.
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
0:45 Summary - Principles of Government Part 1 3:30v Understanding the Significance of Basic Rights 8:11 Conscience - What is It 18:30 Understanding Conscience and How it Affects Us 20:55 Shinichi Suzuki 23:26 James Madison 27:03 Albert Schweitzer 27:40 Immaculée Ilibagiza 28:05 Your Center is Your conscience 29:50 Recognising the Difference in the Two Consciences 38:40 Government and conscience
Quotes from this episode: “The conscience is the internal voice, our sensitivity or awareness, our sense of right and wrong. This is why we can say we are all born with a conscience because on some level we have a sense that there is a right and there is a wrong and that we ought to choose the right.” ~Stephen Covey “We basically have two consciences. We have a divine conscience and a social conscience. The divine one is the true one. It is the light God has given every man who comes into the world. The second one is also given to us but this one comes from our human experiences - from our upbringing, the culture around us, the norms, the mores, the traditions, values, and beliefs, and from the level of our obedience to the divine conscience.” ~Stephen Covey “The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.” ~Holy Bible, Psalm 37:31 “ We must educate our conscience. Once a person is true to the light he has received he is then capable of receiving more light and obeying it. Until he is true to the light already given additional light would only condemn him for he is capable neither of understanding it nor appreciating it. He would fall into the trap of being given a gift and being unable to receive it. The Lord gives to his children what they are able to receive and no more. If they are true to that he will give them more. ” ~Stephen Covey
“The voice of your conscience is the voice of God.” ~Leo Tolstoy
“Do the next right thing.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“You can speed up your own personal growth by deciding to stay in obedience to your divine conscience.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“In the former sense, a man’s land, or merchandise, or money is called his property. In the latter sense, a man has property in his opinions and the free communication of them. He has a property of peculiar value in his religious opinions, and in the profession and practice dictated by them. He has a property very dear to him in the safety and liberty of his person. He has an equal property in the free use of his faculties and free choice of the objects on which to employ them. In a word, as a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights...conscience is the most sacred of all properties.” ~James Madison
“Whatever is at the center of a person's life forms the fabric of his conscience. The conscience must be educated from divine sources in order for it to be keen and sharp, responsive and sensitive to God. ” ~Stephen Covey
“The heart never takes the place of the head but can, and should obey it.
“MDM has quenched a thirst to really be consistent in applying principles. It has broken open the doors of empowerment, freedom, and joy by helping me apply principles daily.” ~Leanna Irving "Understanding principles fundamentally changes you." ~Lindsey Wright “Permanent change is hard but living principles is the road to permanent change.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “When you are a Mother of Principle you no longer are so easily deceived.” ~Kim Miner
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
5:25 Audrey Rindlisbacher-My introduction to the Law of Nature and Principles 13:18 LeeAnna Irving-My introduction to the Law of Nature and Principles 17:00 Kim Miner-My introduction to the Law of Nature and Principles 18:43 Lindsey Wright-My introduction to the Law of Nature and Principles 20:50 The Impact of Understanding and Living Laws and Principles 27:24 Understanding and Living Principles Isn't Easy 36:09 Other Qualities of a Mother of Principle
Quotes from this episode: “ The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions… ” ~John Locke
“For he has so intimately connected, so inseparably interwoven the laws of eternal justice with the happiness of each individual, that the latter cannot be attained but by observing the former; and, if the former be punctually obeyed, it cannot but induce the latter. The truth is that right actions done for the wrong reason do not help to build the internal quality or character called a virtue.” ~William Blackstone
“MDM has quenched a thirst to really be consistent in applying principles. It has broken open the doors of empowerment, freedom, and joy by helping me apply principles daily.” ~LeeAnna Irving
“It is satisfying to understand principles and then see them in current articles and in the classics. Understanding principles fundamentally changes you.” ~Lindsey Wright
“In the world of memes and self-help, there is a lot of the application of principles. Applications of principle are a dime a dozen but it is digging into the root, the core that empowers us to handle anything.” ~LeeAnna Irving
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive...” ~Holy Bible, Ephesians 4: 14
“It is interesting the things I have had to unlearn, especially from graduate school, that aren't rooted in true principles but that sound good. ” ~Kim Miner “ ...truth seldom is sweet; it is almost invariably bitter.” ~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn “It's hard work to identify false beliefs and put principles into action because you must change who you are. ” ~Lindsey Wright
“Permanent change is hard but [living principles] is the road to permanent change.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “When you are a mother of principle you no longer are so easily deceived.” ~Kim Miner “Mothers of Principle have paradigm shifts that make them permanently different.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“When mom elevates herself everyone else is elevated.” ~LeeAnna Irving
“Principles are concentrated truth.” ~LeeAnna Irving
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“Moral philosophy is the science of virtue and vice and therefore the true doctrine of the Laws of Nature is the true moral philosophy.” ~Thomas Hobbes
After sharing a difficult situation we are facing with a friend, and coming to the conclusion that there's nothing more we can do but wait, one of us will often finish the conversation with, "Well...patience is a virtue!" But what does it mean to say that patience is A virtue? Isn't virtue just "virtue"?
Over the last few weeks, as Audrey was studying patience, she was intrigued by this idea that it is "a virtue." So, she did what she always does - she studied virtue in more depth. Guess what she uncovered? A wealth of knowledge about how human beings have been talking about good and bad and right and wrong since the beginning of written history, and what they have been saying about them.
It turns out that the greatest leaders and thinkers from all cultures, races and civilizations have universally agreed that not only are virtue and vice an integral part of the human experience, but we should all choose to be virtuous. In fact, Audrey learned that although being "virtuous" is a desired state of being, she also discovered that there are actually several different types of virtues that have been taught for centuries.
Join her this week as she introduces you to "The Virtues", helping you understand what the virtues are and how they are connected to finding happiness here on earth and in the life to come! Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
3:47 Introduction to the Series 7:41 Why We Think The Way We Do 20:23 The Natural Virtues or Cardinal Virtues 22:47 Intellectual Virtues 25:42 The Theological Virtues or Supernatural Virtues 31:30 How Do We Become Virtuous 33:37 What is the Good of Virtue 45:13 The Culminating Point
Quotes from this episode: “ The implication is simply that man may be good as a scientist or good as an artist by the acquisition of these virtues. But he is not made good as a man by these virtues, nor do they enable him to lead a good life and achieve happiness, as do the moral virtues accompanied by prudence.” ~Mortimer Adler
“The truth is that right actions done for the wrong reason do not help to build the internal quality or character called a virtue.” ~CS Lewis
“Morality is not properly the doctrine of how we should make ourselves happy, but how we should become worthy of happiness.” ~Immanuel Kant
“We do not acquire or preserve virtue by the help of external goods but external goods by the help of virtue. ” ~Aristotle
“Moral philosophy is the science of virtue and vice and therefore the true doctrine of the Laws of Nature is the true moral philosophy.” ~Thomas Hobbes
“Virtue is its own reward.” ~Marcus Aurelius
“That virtue is good and vice evil seems to go undisputed in the tradition of the great books, even by Machiavelli.” ~Mortimer Adler “Virtue itself is a reference to a more ultimate good, happiness, for them the virtues are ordered to happiness as means to an end.” ~Mortimer Adler “People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed. The golden rule is older than the Bible. The golden rule is as old as we are, that you should do as you would be done by.” ~C.S. Lewis
“Faith, hope, and charity - They are indispensable to lift man's life to a plane and direct it to a goal which exceeds his nature. ” ~C.S. Lewis
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“What is the difference between my books and those of other writers, is that I prefer to describe and perpetuate the best I have known in life." ~Gene Stratton-Porter
As a young girl growing up on a farm in Indiana, Gene had the idyllic life. The youngest of 12 children, Gene was given free-range of her large farm to fall in love with nature - her lifelong passion. Sadly, while she was still in her formative years, tragedy struck when the accidental deaths of her brother and sister were followed closely by the death of her mother. Yet, with the help of a loving, supportive father and siblings, she overcame her heartache and poured her heart into her self-education.
Eventually, as her calling became clear, she determined to use her gifts to glorify God and inspire what is most noble and elevated in human life. Amidst rejection from editors and resistance from publishers, she insisted that her nature books and stories would be accepted and become well-loved by individuals and families around the globe.
She was right. Even in her own day she sold over 30 million books worldwide - a very rare accomplishment for any author. Of course today the legacy of her in-depth nature work and enriching, inspiring stories lives on, continuing to bless millions of lives. Join Audrey to hear the amazing true story of Gene Stratton-Porter's hard work and sacrifice to bring beauty and truth to the world.
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
4:18 Laddie - an Autobiography 6:12 Her Parents and Family 17:24 Her Relationship to God 20:53 List of Principles Taught in The Stratton-Porter Home 21:25 Self-Care and Self-Discovery 25:00 A Tribute to Her Father and Family Tragedies 29:33 The Math Paper and an Affirmation of Talent 34:16 Leaving School for Six Months 36:24 A Father Assists in Learning 39:49 Her Own Family and Developing Her Talents 53:20 The Limberlost 58:16 A Commitment to Excellence 1:01:29 A Noble Purpose
Quotes from this episode: “All [my father's] ideas were clear cut. No man could influence him against his better judgment. He believed in God, in courtesy, in honor, and cleanliness, in beauty, and in education. ” ~Gene Stratton-Porter “[My father] would often say, "I would rather see my child the author of a book of which I could be proud than on the throne of England," which was the strongest way he knew to express himself.” ~Gene Stratton-Porter “[My father's] very first earnings were spent for a book and when other men rested he read. All his life he was a student of extraordinary, tenacious memory.” ~Gene Stratton-Porter “ All his life, with no thought of fatigue or inconvenience to himself, Mark Stratton, traveled miles uncounted to share what he had learned with those less fortunately situated by delivering sermons, lectures, and talks on civic improvement and politics. ” ~Gene Stratton-Porter
“The most that can be said of what education I have is that it is the very best kind in the world for me. I always had been too thankful for words that circumstances intervened which saved my brain from being run through a groove in company with dozens of others of widely different interests, tastes, and mentalities. What small measure of success I have had has come through preserving my individual point of view, method of expression, and...the spartan regulation of my girlhood home.” ~Gene Stratton-Porter
“[My father] knew I was boiling and bubbling like a yeast jar in July over some literary work and if I timidly slipped to him with a composition or a faulty poem he saw good in it and he made suggestions for its betterment.” ~Gene Stratton-Porter
“It was [my father] who demanded of me, from birth, the finishing of any task I attempted and who taught me to cultivate patience; to watch and wait even years, if necessary,
“It is the lack of knowledge of natural law and principles over the last century that has gotten us to where we are now.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
In this time of great civil unrest, do you know the principles of government that can save us? Do you have a clear understanding of the natural laws and fundamental ideas that shaped the first American documents? Do you know for yourself how these principles, ideas and documents led to the greatest amount of freedom for the largest number of people than ever before in history?
Most importantly, do you know how important all of this is -- for you, for your family, for your community and for the world?
Join Audrey and Lindsey this week as they begin a discussion about the natural laws, rights and duties that lay the foundation of proper thinking about ourselves, our communities and our government. As we learn these truths and put our own lives in line with them, and then share them with others, we can correct what's going wrong!
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1:33 Begin at the Beginning - Aristotle 3:46 The State of All Men - Locke 12:01 The Beginning of Society 14:23 Natural Rights 23:50 Worldviews 29:53 The Four Natural Rights vs. Entitlement 32:32 Maintaining Natural Rights 40:25 Duty/Responsibility 46:19 Natural Law-Now and in the Future
Quotes from this episode: “Of all the things that I know, what I know best is what goes on inside of me.” ~C.S. Lewis “The better you understand your home life, the interactions in your family, and the interactions in your neighborhood, and how these interactions work, the better you understand government.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “It all begins with the individual.” ~Aristotle “ ...it is impossible that the rulers now on earth should make any benefit, or derive the least shadow of authority from that, which is held to be the fountain of all power...” ~John Locke
“To understand political power, and derive it from its original, we must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature, without asking leave, or depending upon the will of any other man.” ~John Locke
“A state also of equality, wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another; there being nothing more evident, than that creatures of the same species and rank, promiscuously born to all the same advantages of nature, and the use of the same faculties, should also be equal one amongst another without subordination or subjection, unless the lord and master of them all should, by any manifest declaration of his will, set one above another, and confer on him, by an evident and clear appointment, an undoubted right to dominion and sovereignty.” ~John Locke
“This equality of men by nature, the judicious Hooker looks upon as so evident in itself, and beyond all question, that he makes it the foundation of that obligation to mutual love amongst men, on which he builds the duties they owe one another, and from whence he derives the great maxims of justice and charity.” ~John Locke
“The family is the association established by nature for the supply of men's everyday wants...But when several families are united, and the association aims at something more than the supply of daily needs, the first society to be formed is the village. And the most natural form of the village appears to be that of a colony from the family, composed of the children and grandchildren, who are said to be suckled 'with the same milk...Now, that man is more of a political animal than bees or any other gregarious animals is evident. And it is a characteristic of man that he alone has any sense of good and evil, of just and unjust, and the like,
“Telling myself the truth was my guiding light." ~Heidi Mathews
At The Mission Driven Mom, we make a big deal about principles. We know that principles are timeless, absolute truths that can guide us through hard times, show us how to change for the better, and make our way in life a little bit smoother. We work hard to make the concepts of natural law, first principles, and principles as clear as possible. We know that one of the key reasons we are floundering as individuals, as families, as communities, and as a nation is precisely because we have lost touch with true principles and their enlightening and healing power.
In this podcast, Audrey and a few of the MDM Clapham Leadership Team members look back at the principles that came to their rescue in 2020. Join them as they share how truths they learned through The Mission Driven Mom programs and courses empowered them to overcome the trials they faced--bringing them the peace of mind and heart they so desperately needed.
As you listen, ponder the principles in your life own that aid you in times of trouble and consider what new truths you could learn and live in 2021 that would make it your best year yet!
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2:15 Introduction of Ashley Mecham, member of the Leadership Team 3:31 Introduction of Heidi Mathews, member of the Leadership Team 7:16 What to Expect in the Facebook Group in 2021 12:30 How Truth Statements Conquered Negativity and Lightened the Load - Audrey Rindlisbacher 16:41 How Habit, Routine, and Structure Rescued the Family - Ashley Mecham 18:26 How Telling Ourselves the Truth Set the Tone for the Year - Heidi Mathews 22:06 The Power of Remembering Truth - Audrey Rindlisbacher 24:1 1 Super Woman vs Values and What is Essential
Quotes from this episode: “... where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." 2 Corinthians 3:17 Holy Bible
“The truth shall make you free.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher's Family Mission Statement
“I made it a priority to do truth statements every single day...What I didn't expect was that eventually, I didn't have to lean so heavily on them. Over time the burden [of negativity] got lighter and lighter and the truth became louder than the lies. It was liberating!" ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“The fact that we had routines already in place and that we could keep these routines and habits saved our sanity. The structure helped us not spiral down into negativity.” ~Ashley Mecham
“Telling myself the truth was my guiding light. We do need to help each other and I am worthy of help. Telling the truth rescued me." ~Heidi Mathews
“I had to cut some big things out of my life to make room for myself because I had nothing left to give. Choosing between two really good things, those are the hardest choices. But I needed to get to the essential things I needed to be doing. ” ~Lindsey Wright
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At the end of a tough Covid-19 year, we have all struggled with things that feel out of our control. Societal issues like quarantines, riots, illness, contentious debates, and even fraud have caused even the best of us frustration and heartache. Often these were compounded by personal challenges such as job loss, struggling children, and lack of community connection. Unfortunately, most of these trials have felt like they were imposed on us by others. We didn't ask for these troubles! It can feel so unfair and overwhelming.
When we face situations like these, that bring us pain or frustration and seem as though there is nothing we can do about them, is there anything we can do?
Join Audrey this week as she shares what she does when there's nothing she can do. Listen to the daily practices which nourish her hope, courage, and faith. Learn with her those actions you can begin taking now which will empower you to move forward with increased optimism and love as you face your own personal challenges.
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5:07 What the Title Means 9:12 What Doesn't Work 9:55 The Time Required 11:12 Responses Can be a Lesson 13:17 Prayer, Written Prayers, Prayer Journal 22:31 Positive Images in Our Minds 26:52 Watch Your Language 28:01 Truth Statements 28:44 Daily Gratitude 29:18 Scripture Reading 30:19 Listen To/Read Faith building Content 31:23 Remember You Can Only Control You 31:39 Work on Your Way of Being 31:53 Remember It's Not About You 32:44 Focus on your Goals and Dreams 35:27 Visualize 37:33 Voice Memos 38:05 Meet Your Needs 39:00 Success Story 1 45:03 Success Story 2
Quotes from this episode: “Your expectation must have a clearly defined objective. Lot's of people get nowhere simply because they do not know where they want to go. They have no clear cut, precisely defined purpose. You cannot expect the best if you think aimlessly." ~Norman Vincent Peale
“I believe that if you want to get somewhere, you must decide definitely where you want to be or what you want to accomplish. Be sure it is a right objective, then photograph this objective on your mind and hold it there. Work hard, believe in it, and the thought will become so powerful that it will tend to assure success. There is a deep tendency to become what your mind pictures, provided you hold the mental picture, and if the objective is sound.” ~Norman Vincent Peale
Books from this episode:
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“I'm 100% certain that Becky is called to Africa. And I am called to her.” ~Tom Rogers
Meet Becky Rogers, mother of 10, music major, and violin teacher. Although she used to live a typical American family life, through her vigilance in the 7 Laws of Life Mission, she prepared herself and eventually heard the call to become a passionate advocate for African women. She now lives full-time in Ghana. Since arriving three years ago, she and her husband have founded Family Literacy Centers in several African countries and are finishing up the first Family Restoration Center in Ghana.
This week join Becky Rogers and Audrey Rindlisbacher as they explore Becky's journey. Learn about her childhood, her self-education and self-discovery, and the steps that led to her call to Africa. Be inspired by the courage and faith she and her husband exercised to get there. Best of all, listen to the miracles that are taking place as a result of the relationship she so vigilantly built with God.
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1:15 Becky's Childhood 3:58 Family Culture and Priorities 6:26 Investing in Children 7:05 Religion and Music 9:09 Work Ethic and Discipline 10:31 Beginning a Family and Going Large 15:54 The Perfect Storm for Homeschooling 19:17 What to Teach 25:13 What Does God Need Me to Know? 33:17 Moving Towards Africa 46:55 "We could Always Move to Africa!" 50:12 Leaving the USA and God Links 54:42 Arrival in Ghana 1:00:39 Her Husband and the Greatest Blessing 1:02:14 The Story Refelcts the Outcome of Spiritual Preparation 1:06:09 The Projects in Ghana 1:18:01 The Objective of the Family Restoration Center 1:22:32 Safety and the Dog 1:25:55 How This Has Influenced Becky's Children
Quotes from this episode: “If we moved to Ghana we would have to learn to live so radically differently that we would actually have time to be a family.” ~Tom Rogers “We got an impression every day of two things to do and we didn't get the next piece until we did them.” ~Becky Rogers “One day I prayed, "I'm totally good in the space of not knowing but if there is anything that is OK for us to know then that would also be cool.” ~Becky Rogers “Sometimes the mercy is the not knowing.” ~Becky Rogers
“I'm 100% certain that Becky is called to Africa. And I am called to her.” ~Tom Rogers
“We are wholly dependent on the paycheck from God.” ~Becky rogers
Links from this episode: FMF Family Literacy Center
Family Restoration Introduction
By the time Audrey Rindlisbacher was 19 years old, her father and two close friends had passed away unexpectedly. Through these trials Audrey learned for herself that life is very fragile. She knew that we have to make the most of the day we are in, because we never know when it might be the last day for us or someone we love. "Many people live as if someday they’ll arrive at “happiness” like one arrives at a bus stop. They figure that someday everything will fall into place, they will take a deep breath and say, 'Here I am at last…happy!' Hence their life story is one of 'I’ll be happy when…'" ~Andrew Matthews When we relegate our happiness to the future, we rob ourselves and others of the chance for deeper connection, joyful moments, and greater fulfillment. The mindset of waiting to be happy keeps us from seeing all the beautiful things in our lives right now. When we realize that happiness is a choice, that it is, "something we make inside ourselves," we are able to shift our focus from all the things that are making us unhappy, to all the things that can bring us happiness and fulfillment every day.
Join Audrey and other women in The Mission Driven Mom Mastermind FB Group for a replay of a "Lighting Our Lamps: Morning Inspiration for Moms" FB Live from the spring of 2020, where Audrey shares stories, quotes, and tips that will inspire you to choose happiness today.
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2:29 Why We Are Unhappy 3:22 Happiness is a Decision 4:45 Audrey's Story 5:55 "Learning in Wartime" 7:37 I Made a Decision-Andrew Matthews 10:23 From The Hiding Place 13:54 How Can I Be Happy Today? 15:38 Sharing Gratitude
Quotes from this episode: “Truth seldom is sweet; it is almost invariably bitter." ~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
“Being happy can be one of the greatest challenges that we face and can sometimes take all the determination, persistence, and self-discipline we can muster. ” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“If we’re unhappy, it’s because life is not as we want it. Life is not matching our expectations of how it ‘ought’ to be. We want the future, not 'the now'. We don’t want what is, we want what isn’t. Too much of this and you go crazy.” ~Andrew Matthews
“Life is not perfect. Life is about being exhilarated, frustrated, sometimes achieving, and sometimes missing out. So long as we say “I’ll be happy when…” we’re deluding ourselves.” ~Andrew Matthews
“Happiness is a decision. Many people live as if someday they’ll arrive at “happiness” like one arrives at a bus stop. They figure that someday everything will fall into place, they will take a deep breath and say, “Here I am at last…happy!” Hence their life story is one of “I’ll be happy when…” ~Andrew Matthews
“Each one of us has a decision to make. Are we prepared to daily remind ourselves that we have only a limited time to make the most of what we’ve got, or will we while away the present, hoping for a better future?” ~Andrew Matthews
“The world is not perfect. The degree of our unhappiness is the distance between the way things are and the way we ‘think’ they ‘ought’ to be.” ~Andrew Matthews
“Value people. Don't go to bed angry. Let people know how much they mean to you.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Make today one you would want to end on.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” ~Abraham Lincoln
“It's not what happens to us in life that determines our happiness as much as the way we react to what happens.” ~Andrew Matthews
“You've got today. That's all you've got. You might as well be happy.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“We clothe experiences with our words and with our thoughts. We determine what meaning to attach to the experiences we have.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“We can change the way we think by first, changing the way we talk.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
"That is what you had to do to live in the camp: be engaged, not live for yourself alone. The self-centered life has no place in the world of the deported. You must go beyond it. Lay hold on something outside yourself.”~Jacques Lusseyran Born to loving, devoted, faithful parents, Jacques Lusseyran had a very happy childhood. Even the accident that stole his sight at age 7 couldn't dampen the joy and wonder he experienced as a boy. A loyal friend, a serious scholar, a faithful Christian, Jacques loved every element of life...until the occupation of France by the Nazis. Dedicated to truth and freedom, Jacques determined to do something about it.
Join Audrey this week as she tells the inspiring and miraculous story of Jacques Lusseyran, blind resistance hero of WWII who risked everything for what he knew to be right.
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3:34 Introduction to Jacques Lusseyran 5:10 My Parents 7:02 Blindness 9:10 Experiencing Light 12:00 Fear Made Me Blind 14:19 Discerning Character through Voices 16:06 Friendship 17:03 Education 19:15 Independence, War, Speaking Out 23:00 Looking For Answers 27:37 An Incredible Teacher 29:36 Illness, Spiritual Experience, Resolve, the Responsible Ones 36:00 Recruiting 39:00 Elio, Betrayal, Democracy and Christian Morality 49:40 Robert and Clinging to Christ 52:38 Letting Fear Go and Living On Hope
Quotes from this episode: “My parents spoke to me about God, but only later. I had no name for Him. He was just there and it was better so. Behind my parents there was Someone, and my father and mother were simply the people responsible for passing along the gift. My religion began like this, which I think explains why I have never known doubt.” ~Jacques Lusseyran
“What the loss of my eyes had not accomplished was brought about by fear. It made me blind. Anger and impatience had the same effect, throwing everything into confusion. The minute before I knew just where everything in the room was, but if I got angry, things got angrier than I. They went and hid in the most unlikely corners, mixed themselves up, turned turtle, muttered like crazy men, and looked wild. As for me, I no longer knew where to put hand or foot. Everything hurt me. This mechanism worked so well that I became cautious.” ~Jacques Lusseyran “For our part, we wanted to learn how to live, and that was a much more serious matter....Unless we were up to making a better life than the life of our elders, the orgy of stupidity and killing would go on till the end of the world. Let people be silent if they were able to go on living without speaking out. We were incapable of it. As for that fear of theirs, it was indecent and made us feel sick. We had no forbearance toward the philosophers, our teachers, or our families. It was better so since we needed our strength to prepare ourselves. Students were very serious that winter in Paris.” ~Jacques Lusseyran “I sat up late at night. I had thrown myself furiously into the study of philosophy. I wanted to understand it all and felt it was urgent, I don't know exactly why, but it seemed to me that such a chance would not come again, that I was going to be snatched away to more worldly responsibilities. All the ideas of men who had dedicated themselves to thought found their way into my head for the first time, from Pythagoras to Bergson, from Plato to Freud. I examined them as closely as I could.” ~Jacques Lusseyran "At the beginning of May I had adopted the ascetic life, including Sunday. I got up at half-past four before it was light. The first thing I did was to kneel down and pray: “My God, give me the strength to keep my promises. Since I made them in a good cause, they are yours to keep as well as mine. Now that twenty young men – tomorrow there may be a hundred – are - waiting for my orders,
“All you have to give is what you’ve been given to give.” ~Max Lucado
Years ago a trusted mentor challenged Audrey when she was ready to give up her studies. With four small children and many demands on her time, Audrey felt it might be best to put off her online courses and focus more on her family. But this mentor knew how long and hard Audrey had searched for this educational opportunity, she also knew the spiritual conviction about its importance that Audrey had expressed when she had begun mentoring.
The problem was that not only did Audrey want to make space for all the good things that were crowding her life, she wanted to do them all with precision and excellence, every time. This seemed not only a noble goal but an achievable one, if only she could get herself together!
What was Audrey to do when it felt like she couldn't do it all?
Join her this week as she challenges you with the same questions she was challenged with: Are you a perfectionist? If so, what if perfectionism is a sin?
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1:32 My First Experience With Perfectionism 8:55 What Are You Giving Up For Perfection 14:03 Perfectionism Reframed 21:00 Understanding the Word 'Perfect' 24:23 Three Keys to Mastering Perfectionism 25:10 Self-Nurturing 30:27 Focus On Strength 35:08 Give the Rest to God 40:56 The Challenge
Quotes from this episode: “There are important things and then there are more important things. A perfectionist says, "If I can't do it perfectly, then I'm going to cut out things, even if they are the more important things.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “What are you willing to sacrifice so that you can do the most important things? How can you make space so you can do the most important things?” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “The Greek word for perfect is 'whole'. From the Greek - téleios, tel'-i-os; complete: in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc. ~From The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
"We become perfect and complete by coming to God in a partnership. We are complete with Him.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Perfectionism is a sin because it pulls us away from God as we try to do everything ourselves.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “I'm just delighted to be part of God's work because I know that he delights in using small and simple things.” ~Corrie ten Boom “Live your life or it won’t be lived. If you aren’t you, we don’t get you. The world misses out.” ~Max Lucado
“Building your strengths forces you to overcome your weakness but it’s exciting and motivating, not drudgery.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “Focusing on your strengths is self-affirming, highly motivating, draws you closer to God and the people around you, and you also overcome your weaknesses in the process.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “You can only control you but perfectionism is about controlling everything.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “Perfectionism will make you unhappy.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Let God work his magic, get out of his way.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher Advice for perfectionists from The Enneagram Made Easy: “Instead of mentally rehashing past mistakes, remember the accomplishments you are most proud of. ” ~Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele
“Ask others to help so you don’t do more than your share.” ~Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele
“Allow yourself to do certain things quickly, although imperfectly, so you can get on to the next task or go home on time.” ~Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele
“In relationships: Learn to forgive yourself and others; Learn to respect others’ ways of doing things; Be aware that your tone of voice can be hard or upset people; Allow your children to come to decisions on their own so they can develop more self-esteem.” ~Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele “Things to say to myself: It’s ok to relax and enjoy myself; I’m ok even when I make mist...
“If all you do is give your kids a desire to keep learning you have done your job.”~Marlene Peterson
Meet Marlene Peterson, the founder of Libraries of Hope and finder of the Well-Educated Heart pattern for learning. She and her husband Brent have raised eight daughters and one son and are thoroughly enjoying the grand-parenting stage of their lives. Although she has a degree in Child Development and Family Relations from Brigham Young University, her real learning took place in the laboratory of her own home. She currently lives in the beautiful countryside of Appomattox, Virginia, blissfully surrounded by the stories of history.
Join Marlene and Audrey Rindlisbacher in one of Marlene's only live interviews, as they discuss Marlene's life, education, and current projects. Be inspired and motivated by their shared vision of how mothers are a powerful force for good in the world.
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2:41 Marlene's Childhood 8:35 Her Most Important Lesson 13:19 Willing vs Willful 15:21 College 19:04 Children - A Let go and Reach Up Moment 23:09 Advice for Young Mom's 26:04 What I Discovered About Myself 29:21 How I Discovered the Principles of Education 31:25 Libraries of Hope 33:56 Gathering Stories 39:20 Family culture 41:13 The Well Educated Heart 45:22 Simple Joy Art 50:33 The Connection Between Mind and Heart 55:00 Rewarding Experiences 56:20 How to Engage Boys in Heart-Style Learning 58:44 The Statuary Garden Metaphor 1:02:36 Leading and Peace 1:03:43 Why Have Historical Figures for Heroes 1:09:09 How Has Your Work Changed You Personally
Quotes from this episode: “God cannot steer a parked car and we have to be moving if we want him to guide us.” ~John Bytheway “We keep holding on to what we can see but the Lord says, "Let go and reach up. I've got you.” ~Marlene Peterson “Women can have it all, just not at the same time.” ~Phyllis Schlafly “Every child deserves to have someone who is wild, crazy, in love with them.” ~Marlene Peterson
“Well Educated Heart is all about helping us, as moms, give our children eyes to see and hearts to feel.” ~Marlene Peterson
“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he...” ~The Holy Bible, Proverbs 23: 7
“Our heart is in the driver's seat. That is why we need to tend to the heart.” ~Marlene Peterson
“Reading about great people teaches me how to do life. Good stories get you through.” ~Marlene Peterson
“Heart education is more concerned with truth rather than what is true. So if a story of a historical figure teaches truth, then it will resonate with you.” ~Marlene Peterson
“If all you do is give your kids a desire to keep learning you have done your job.” ~Marlene Peterson
“Opinions are fine but they are only opinions. What we need to do is be truth-seekers and find out for ourselves.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“There is a difference between worshipping someone and honoring their efforts and work.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“The heart can't be taught directly. You experience it.” ~Marlene Peterson
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“Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. What makes life difficult is that the process of confronting and solving problems is a painful one.” ~M. Scott Peck So often in life we face problems that bring feelings of overwhelm, confusion, frustration or anger. What do we choose to do when we feel these uncomfortable emotions?
In this podcast you'll learn about four stay-at-home moms just like you. Women who are smart, pretty, and gifted. Women who love their children and what to be good moms. Unfortunately, though, when life got challenging, they chose to run away, rather than face their problems head-on. This habit of running away, chosen over and over again, created lives for them that were even worse than the original problems they ran away from.
In our modern, face-paced world there are countless escapes we can choose rather than searching for solutions, conquering our challenges and becoming the heroes of our own stories. Yet, feeling proud of who we are and the life we've lived is how we all want to feel.
Join Audrey this week as she shares the stories of these moms who chose to run away and the disastrous effects for them and their families. Consider with her how even the seemingly innocent behaviors--reading, vacationing, watching TV, social media--can easily become distractions that keep us stuck. Then look closely at the truth about problems and how they can actually become great blessings--giving our lives real meaning and deep purpose.
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3:45 We are All Tempted to Run Away - Three Stories 4:26 Story One - Alice 9:08 Story Two - Felice 13:25 Story Three - Jennie Lee 17:32 Are You Running Away with an Emotional Distraction 21:32 Problems = Pain and Problem Solving 23:51 A Helpful Way to Think About Problems 28:13 A Final Message and Challenge 29:19 Tiffany - Facing Our Problems
Quotes from this episode: “Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult-once we truly understand and accept it-then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.” ~M. Scott Peck, M.D. “Life is a series of problems. Do we want to moan about them or solve them? Discipline is the basic set of tools we require to solve life's problems. Without discipline, we can solve nothing. With only some discipline we can solve only some problems. With total discipline, we can solve all problems.” ~M. Scott Peck, M.D. “What makes life difficult is that the process of confronting and solving problems is a painful one. Problems, depending upon their nature, evoke in us frustration or grief or sadness or loneliness or guilt or regret or anger or fear or anxiety or anguish or despair. These are uncomfortable feelings, often very uncomfortable, often as painful as any kind of physical pain, sometimes equaling the very worst kind of physical pain. Indeed, it is because of the pain that events or conflicts engender in us that we call them problems. And since life poses an endless series of problems, life is always difficult and is full of pain as well as joy.
"Yet it is in this whole process of meeting and solving problems that life has its meaning. Problems are the cutting edge that distinguishes between success and failure. Problems call forth our courage and our wisdom; indeed, they create our courage and our wisdom. It is only because of problems that we grow mentally and spiritually. When we desire to encourage the growth of the human spirit, we challenge and encourage the human capacity to solve problems, just as in school we deliberately set problems for our children to solve.” ~M. Scott Peck, M.D.
“Addiction is always a way of quickly changing our e...
“Every worldview requires a healthy amount of faith to believe it, because no one has all the evidence yet.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher Now that you have been introduced to what worldviews are and why they matter (Intro to Worldviews, pt. 1), it's time to learn how to begin evaluating them. In this podcast Audrey shares 10 areas where all worldviews attempt to answer the fundamental questions of life and provide answers to how people ought to live.
Using this 10 areas, Audrey then compares two hugely influential worldviews: Biblical Christianity and Secular Humanism. Join her as she deconstructs them and shows how they have impacted our government, educational systems, and moral values.
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1:48 Why Study Worldviews 3:24 What is a Worldview 5:35 10 Areas of Reference 6:25 Theology-Philosophy 13:22 Ethics-Biology-Psychology- 15:01 Sociology-Law-Politics 18:40 Economics-History 25:16 Terms and Comparisons of Worldviews 36:53 Following the Logical Path of a WorldView 41:08 The Individual vs The Family 43:42 Equality vs Sameness 45:10 The Lens of Evolution
Quotes from this episode: “A worldview is the lens through which we see the world.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “Worldviews answer important questions - where do I come from, why am I on earth, what is the role of human beings, what happens when I die, how should we respond to each other, how do we care for the earth, what kind of society should we have, what should the government look like, etc.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “There are dominant, overarching worldviews, but each individual creates their own worldview.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“A worldview informs your decisions.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Worldviews seem to have a common goal - To achieve the best human society possible.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Sometimes we see people as radical, but they are just following the logical path of where their worldview takes them.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Every worldview requires a healthy amount of faith to believe and sustain. Each individual goes out and looks for evidence that sustains and upholds their worldview.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “Truth seekers look for where the evidence doesn't fit, is flawed, or doesn't make sense.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
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"William Wilberforce knew if he discovered a truth to his satisfaction he would have no choice but to embrace it and act upon it.” ~Eric Metaxas William Wilberforce began life as the son of wealthy merchants. Attractive, charming, funny and sweet, he was the favorite of all who knew him. As a youth he experienced a short conversion and attempted to live as a Christian. But when all those around him discouraged and dissuaded him from following the faithful path, he eventually put religion behind him and learned to enjoy all the luxuries wealth and position could buy him.
Yet, because of his commitment to complete intellectual honesty, when the opportunity opened to him several years later to learn thoroughly about the tenets, principles and governing values of Christianity, he took it. The result was a deep and permanent conversion, and a commitment to living fully as he believed a faithful Christian should. For the rest of his life, he would give all he had--his wealth, his time, his gifts, his money and his love--to the "two great objects" God had placed on his heart: the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners.
Although most popularly known for his abolition of the slave trade and slavery, and eventually the complete emancipation of all British slaves, the "reformation of manners" was an even greater legacy. In fact, it is not commonly known that the way people in the West today think and believe about philanthropy and charity can be traced directly back to Wilberforce and his group of fellow Christians.
Join Audrey this week as she shares the power of the Bible and Christian living, and its ability to not only change one man but to empowered him change the society in which he lived.
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6:32 The Most Important Thing Wilberforce Did 8:01 The Importance of the Bible for Wilberforce 10:00 The Character of Wilberforce 11:37 Early Life - Wealth, Health, Temperament 14:37 Father's Death-His Uncle and Aunt-The Problem of Religion 20:14 College and the Wasted Years 22:47 William Pitt and Politics 25:08 Conversion 28:05 What to Do Next 30:35 Do I Stay in Parliament 33:05 Living a Principled Life 39:11 Turning His Will to God and Moving Forward 42:13 How to Love God 43:16 Advancing Philanthropy 48:10 Gratitude in All Circumstances 50:25 Cheddar Gorge
Quotes from this episode: “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit..” ~The Holy Bible, John 15: 2 Of his years to maintain his faith in his youth: “The religious impressions which I gained at Wimbledon continued for a considerable time, but my friends spared no pains to stifle them. I might say that no pious parent ever labored more to impress a beloved child with sentiments of piety than they did to give me a taste of the world and its diversions.” ~William Wilberforce “For the rest of his life, he struggled terribly with self-discipline and always attributed this weakness to his wasted and feckless years at Pocklington and Cambridge.” ~Eric Metaxas
Of his character: “He knew if he discovered a truth to his satisfaction he would have no choice but to embrace it and act upon it.” ~Eric Metaxas
After his conversion: “It was not so much the fear of punishment by which I was affected as a sense of my great sinfulness in having so long neglected the unspeakable mercies of my God and Saviour; and such was the effect which this thought produced, that for months I was in a state of the deepest depression, from strong convictions of my guilt.” ~Eric Metaxas
“When Wilberforce returned to the House of Commons in 1786, he was a different man…He had lived for so long for his own ambition, that to live for God, as he now longed to do,
"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” ~The Holy Bible, James 1:6-8 When Audrey found herself struggling with deep self-doubts, she assumed that these doubts were valid. She spent lots of time listening to them, evaluating them and striving to consider how much truth was in them. She wanted to be humble, self-evaluating and honest with herself. She was willing to change herself and try to be better, if only she could figure out how!
She spent countless hours pondering, journaling and praying. She read books, talked to friends and family and tried to get to the bottom of things. No matter what she tried, though, nothing seemed to help. As time went on and her doubts didn't go away, she became even more self-critical and confused.
And then, through a scripture verse and some insights from God, what was really happening to her became perfectly clear!
Join Audrey as she sheds light on what it means to waver, doubt, and be double minded. In this podcast, she clarifies what faith is and how it helps us form a partnership with God. She also gives suggestions that enable you to take control of your thinking and become a more confident woman today!
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3:27 Introduction to Self-doubt 5:01 Scripture Insight - James 1: 6-8 5:52 Wavering 8:36 Doubt and Faith 14:04 If We Doubt We Cannot Be Blessed 17:37 Two kinds of Self-doubt and How They Are Destructive 26:39 Norman Vincent Peale Quote 32:47 Norman Vincent Peale Story
Quotes from this episode: “I've been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.” ~Mark Twain “God cannot help you until you decide what you're about.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “When I look at my current circumstances and begin to doubt my past experiences I make it impossible for myself to have confidence in the present.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “If it's in the past and you knew better, then fix it and forgive yourself. If it's in the present and you're doubting yourself, pay a price to know and follow the truth.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“You cannot live an intentional and envisioning life and continue to move toward with the righteous desires God has for you unless you have a healthy amount of confidence in your ability to work with God.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Self-doubt is an enemy because it prevents us from confidently partnering with God in moving forward in our lives.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Faith is something you have to actively work at.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” ~The Holy Bible, James 1:6-8
“The greatest secret for eliminating the inferiority complex which is another term for a profound self-doubt is to fill your mind to the overflowing with faith. Develop a tremendous faith in God and that will give you a humble yet soundly realistic faith in yourself.” ~Norman Vincent Peale
“The bigger your problem, the bigger your prayer should be. Drive your prayers deep into your doubts, into your fears, and insecurities. Pray deep big prayers that have plenty of strength and you will come up with a powerful and vital faith.” ~Norman Vincent Peale “The cure for self-doubt is the thought that you are not alone in this world, that Almighty is actually with you helping you, that He will be your companion, that He will stand by you support you and see you through every adversity.” ~Norman Vincent Peale “If God be for us who can be against us.” ~The Holy Bible, Romans 8:31
“Leadership is a gift. You can’t buy it, you can’t sell it, you can’t trade it. You either have it or you don’t. It is the most valuable commodity on the planet, and it is the rarest commodity we have. But it’s not just any type of leadership, it’s leadership without ego. It’s servant-leadership.” ~Bob Davids As moms, we often practice principles of servant-leadership without realizing it. But what if we better understood this most powerful leadership style? What if we began practicing it more in our homes and gradually gained the knowledge and skills to more effectively practice it in our communities as well?
Think of the powerful force for good we could be as we learn to become the influential servant-leaders God intends us to be!
Join Audrey as she outlines the characteristics of servant-leadership. You'll be encouraged by examples of how ordinary people who become servant-leaders have impacted the world for good. And you'll see how nurturing these characteristics in yourself can improve you and your family immensely!
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1:40 An Introduction to Servant-Leadership 4:12 Birth of the Term Servant-Leadership 8:13 Authority is Not Leadership 9:28 Characteristics of Servants 10:37 Characteristics of Leaders 15:14 Servant-Leaders Love Self first 17:59 Vision, Values, Competence 19:50 Judgement, a Sustaining Spirit, Goals 22:11 Listening, Language, Resources, Study, Regular Renewal, Institutions for Service 24:50 How We See Problems 25:53 The Great Impediment to Leadership 26:35 Example of Servant-Leadership
Quotes from this episode: “Leadership is a gift. You can’t buy it, you can’t sell it, you can’t trade it. You either have it or you don’t. It is the most valuable commodity on the planet, and it is the rarest commodity we have. But it’s not just any type of leadership, it’s leadership without ego. It’s servant leadership.” ~Bob Davids “...the great leader is seen as servant first, and that simple fact is the key to his greatness...His servant nature—his desire to help others—was a part of his character, and it could not be taken away. That’s why he was a servant first, a servant at heart.” ~ Robert K. Greenleaf “You're only a leader when people decide to follow you. They follow you because they can see that you are worthy of being followed, that you are going somewhere they want to go.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “Servant-leadership begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. ” ~Robert K. Greenleaf
“Authority or positions of authority are not the same as leadership.” ~Robert K. Greenleaf
“Leadership is about influence rather than power and control. It's about inspiration rather than position and title. It's about focusing on others strengths rather than weaknesses. It's about listening rather than giving orders. It's about humility rather than pride, the big picture rather than self-interest. It's about long-range benefits rather than short term profit. It is about creating new futures rather than maintaining the status quo.” ~Barclay Corporation
“The servant-leader is meeting a real, natural need that people have. The difference between a servant first and a leader first manifests itself in the care taken by the servant, first to make sure other people's highest priority needs are being served.” ~Robert K. Greenleaf
A gauge for servant-leadership - “...do those served grow as persons. Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more like themselves, and more likely to become servants? And what is the effect on the least privileged in society? Will they benefit or at least will they not be further deprived?” ~Robert K. Greenleaf
“You must be a servant-leader to yourself first. You must be willing to serve yourself by understandin...
“Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18, Holy Bible
As mentors for the upcoming 'Mothers of Vision' MDM Celebration event, Audrey, Tresta, and Julie discuss their insights and favorite takeaways. Listen as they share how the principles that will be taught are changing the way they think, feel and live!
And if you haven't signed up yet, consider joining us Sat. Sept 26th LIVE Online! Find all the details and register HERE!
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0:43 Their initial response to the event 3:07 Why Some are Leery of Vision as a Tool 7:26 Principles vs. Materialism in Using Vision as a Tool 9:21 The Successful Producer 10:26 Faith, Creation, and Visualization 11:28 Julie Greenman's Experiences with Visualization 14:42 What is Your Destination 17:11 Audrey's Favorite Content 18:58 One Reason to Come 21:49 Is This Event Independent of MDM Academy 22:48 How Can Attendees Prepare? 23:51 How to Get Last Years Recording and Book Free! 24:37 The Number One Objective of the Event
Quotes from this episode: “Vision increases desire.” ~Tresta Neil Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” ~Holy Bible
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“It always comes back to the family.” ~Gayle Ruzicka
As a young girl, Gayle's parents forced her to go to church, even though they didn't attend themselves. This caused her to look inward--to forge her own relationship with God and determine the belief system that would guide her through life. She clung to Christianity, and its moral principles became the foundation upon which she built her life and her home.
A mother of 12, devoted homeschooler and political activist, Gayle took her children EVERYWHERE with her! They sat countless times in the state capital, learning about what government is, why it matters and how it works. These experiences proved to deepen her family's faith in, and understanding of, eternal principles that govern all areas of life--including government.
Listen this week to her experiences in the 7 Laws of Life Mission--learning to love God, herself, truth and humanity. And hear about the amazing difference her mission driven life has made in her home, her community, her state and her country!
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1:47 Gayle Ruzicka's Childhood 3:00 Parents & Politics 6:43 Religion 8:58 Choosing a Relationship with God 11:42 Education 14:47 Women Have Choices 16:25 Life Long Learning/Books 20:58 Political Involvement 24:23 Eagle Forum 31:19 President of Eagle Forum 33:25 Homeschool, Activism, & Governmental Principles 38:00 Your Stand Out Experience 41:19 It Comes Back to the Family 45:15 What Are You Reading Now 47:59 Principles & the Proper Role of Government 51:52 The Emergency Powers of Government 58:59 Were You Ever Afraid? 1:00:24 What's One Thing Can We Do Now? 1:02:02 How Can We Get Involved?
Quotes from this episode: “Never put politics before people.” ~Gayle Ruzicka “Women have more choices than men. Have you ever noticed that?” ~Gayle Ruzicka “I learned everything I learned [about government involvement] by being an easel.” ~Gayle Ruzicka “OK, I can die. My kids are there for each other.” ~Gayle Ruzicka
“It always comes back to the family.” ~Gayle Ruzicka
“With liberty comes responsibility.” ~Gayle Ruzicka
“We had founders who gave up their lives to give us liberty. Now we are afraid of dying so we are giving up our liberty.” ~Gayle Ruzicka
“If people are governing themselves you won't have to send the police to see if they are sneaking out the back door or standing too close to a neighbor.” ~Gayle Ruzicka
“We have got to replace fear with faith. That's what it's all about.” ~Gayle Ruzicka
“Those people who gave us this freedom did the hard work. We only have to keep it.” ~Gayle Ruzicka
“It's not that fear is wrong but you need to deal with it and replace it with faith.” ~Gayle Ruzicka
“Fear drives you to your knees so you can exercise faith and remain humble.” ~Gayle Ruzicka
“I don't love politics but I do love freedom.” ~Gayle Ruzicka
“The beating down of faith has repercussions on liberty.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
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“Now I speak of thanking God, I desire with all humility to acknowledge that I owe the mentioned happiness of my past life to his divine providence, which led me to the means I used and gave them success.” ~Benjamin Franklin This podcast is different from other our other Mission Driven Stories podcasts. We usually focus on how proper preparation in childhood leads to the virtues and successes of great men and women. Today's podcast, however, focuses on the foibles of a youth, Benjamin Franklin, who, despite his early mistakes, eventually gained self-mastery and became a remarkable man.
This podcast gives hope to every parent--demonstrating that despite their own poor choices, your child can still embrace principles, praise God and become a wise and successful human being.
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1:40 Why This Podcast is Different 5:30 His autobiography-The Central message 7:48 His Father 10:43 The Printing Trade 15:29 The Silence Dogood Letters 18:41 Independence in Philadelphia 20:47 The Folly of youth 30:56 England and More Poor Choices 38:56 Religion 40:29 Moral virtues
Quotes from this episode: “Now I speak of thanking God, I desire with all humility to acknowledge that I owe the mentioned happiness of my past life to his divine providence, which led me to the means I used and gave them success.” ~Benjamin Franklin “My early readiness in learning to read (which must have been very early, as I do not remember when I could not read), and the opinion of all his friends that I should certainly make a good scholar, encouraged him in this purpose of his.” ~Benjamin Franklin “I remember well his [my father] being frequently visited by leading men who consulted him for his opinion in affairs of the town or of the church he belonged to, and who showed a good deal of respect for his judgment and advice. He was also much consulted by private persons about their affairs when any difficulty occurred, and frequently chose an arbitrator between contending parties. At his table, he liked to have, as often as he could some sensible friend or neighbor to converse with, and always took care to start some ingenious or useful topic for discourse which might tend to improve the minds of his children. By this means, he turned our attention to what was good, just, and prudent in the conduct of life.” ~Benjamin Franklin “Often I sat in my room reading the greatest part of the night when the book borrowed in the evening had to be returned early in the morning, lest it should be found missing or wanted.” ~Benjamin Franklin
“His prayer: 'O powerful Goodness, bountiful Father, merciful Guide! Increase in me that wisdom which discovers my truest interests; strengthen my resolutions to perform what that wisdom dictates. Accept my kind offices to thy other children, as the only return in my power for thy continual favors to me.'” ~Benjamin Franklin
“Fundamental religious creed:
That there is one God who made all things. That he governs the world by his providence. That he ought to be worshipped by adoration, prayer, and thanksgiving. But that the most acceptable service to God is doing good to man. That the soul is immortal. And that God will certainly reward virtue and punish vice, either here or hereafter.”
~Benjamin Franklin Franklin's morning question: “What good shall I do this day?
Franklin's evening question: “What good have I done today?”
Franklin's 13 Moral Virtues:
Temperance - “Eat not to dullness. Drink not to elevation.” Silence - “Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.” Order - “Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time. ” Resolution - “Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.”
“Understanding worldviews makes it 100 times easier to navigate current events and world issues. It especially makes it easier to extend empathy and understanding to people of all faiths and worldviews.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher There are so many things that modern mothers say are confusing to them: Black Lives Matter; riots; educational approaches and methodologies; religion and spirituality; why people think and behave the way they do.
How can we navigate all of the confusing and conflicting ideas that we hear and see in our world?
An understanding of worldviews can help us sort through the confusion and gain clarity. But there is an even more important reason for understanding what a worldview is and how it determines why people do what they do: so we can can teach our children.
This knowledge can help our children navigate the educational system and the current events that surround them. It can assist them in asking some key questions that will give them a foundation for how they will choose to live. It will also help them understand those with opposing worldviews and keep them from buying into every new idea that comes along.
Join Audrey for this introduction to what worldviews are and how they are affecting you and your family right now!
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3:33 Dinner with Friends 5:29 Worldviews are a key element to education 7:44 Understanding worldviews give a frame of reference 8:28 Worldviews and Feminism 10:16 What is a Worldview and Questions to Ask 11:18 Dominant Worldviews 14:03 Worldviews and Modern Education 22:01 Worldviews and Youth 24:00 An Example: Mao's Little Red Book 31:27 Why Mother's Must Understand Worldviews
Quotes from this episode: “There are so many things that modern mothers say are confusing to them: Black Lives Matter; riots; educational approaches and methodologies; religion and spirituality; why people think and behave the way they do —these are all clarified by an understanding of worldviews.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “Worldviews are simply our specific view of the world. A worldview answers questions like: Where did we come from? Why are we on earth? What is right and wrong? What has purpose and meaning in life? and similar questions. What is more important - the individual, the family or the state? Do we have human rights and duties and what are they? Where do they come from? What happens when we die? What is success? How is happiness created? How should I live my life? The answers to these questions rest on a central set of values and beliefs. These inform the answers to these questions and shape the attitudes and behaviors of the people who adhere to them.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “When people buy into a specific worldview, they behave in pretty consistent ways. Its easier to understand why they do what they do and where we might begin to connect with them. It helps us see if we have beliefs or principles in common upon which to build. It helps us make sense of the world and know better how to insert ourselves with principle-centered solutions.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “New worldviews are always introduced- to the young through their education.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“It’s so critical for mothers to understand and teach their children about worldviews so that: 1) they won’t be deceived 2) they’ll better understand others 3) they will be able to find common ground in differing worldviews and better connect with those who believe differently and 4) they won’t fall prey to swallowing whole what others teach as truth. ” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Understanding worldviews makes it 100 times easier to navigate current events and world issues. It makes it easier to extend empathy and understanding to people of all faiths and worldviews.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
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"Truth is seldom pleasant; it is almost invariably bitter." ~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn While it is empowering and ennobling to striving for truth, it's important to remember that truth is also bitter. Truth requires attention, it requires commitment, it requires change. These aren't always things we want to give in our pursuit of a mission driven life, but they are essential.
Where do we begin, then? What is the truth? And where is it to be found?
In 1945 Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was a loyal communist officer in the Russian army. When he made derogatory comments about Stalin in a private letter, he was immediately arrested and sentenced to 8 years hard labor in a labor camp. Over time, as he came to see the countless lies he had been told, he became determined to understand the truth and share it with the world.
His life is a legacy of sacrifice and suffering in his relentless pursuit to expose the truth about communism. That's why, if someone can tell us about the incredibly destructive power of lies and the amazingly liberating power of the truth, Solzhenitsyn can.
As you dive deeper into the 7 Laws of Life Mission and seek to prepare for and discover your own life mission, Solzhenitsyn has invaluable things to teach you about the empowering but also the bitter nature of truth.
Join Audrey this week as she shares Alexandr Solzhenitsyn's life and legacy, increasing our courage and conviction to follow in his footsteps and cling to truth no matter the cost.
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2:26 Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn - Childhood 4:02 War & Imprisonment 6:55 Exile & Writing 7:29 Reconversion, Cancer and Fame 8:57 Underground 9:41 Assassination Attempt & Exile Again 12:15 Back in Russia 13:19 Harvard and "A World Split Apart" 16:18 Truth Tells Us We Need to Change 22:00 Why I Wouldn't Recommend You 26:35 Truth, Governments, and Humility 30:09 Principle-Centered Homes
Quotes from this episode: John 8:32 - “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ~The Holy Bible, King James Version “A man is happy so long as he chooses to be happy and nothing can stop him.” ~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn “Everything you add to the truth subtracts from the truth.” ~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn “It's a universal law-- intolerance is the first sign of an inadequate education. An ill-educated person behaves with arrogant impatience, whereas truly profound education breeds humility.” ~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
“You can resolve to live your life with integrity. Let your credo be this: Let the lie come into the world, let it even triumph. But not through me.” ~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
“Do not pursue what is illusory - property and position: all that is gained at the expense of your nerves decade after decade and can be confiscated in one fell night. Live with a steady superiority over life - don't be afraid of misfortune, and do not yearn after happiness; it is, after all, all the same: the bitter doesn't last forever, and the sweet never fills the cup to overflowing.” ~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
“My wish for you... is that your skeptic-eclectic brain be flooded with the light of truth.” ~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
“To stand up for truth is nothing. For truth, you must sit in jail.” ~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
“The meaning of earthly existence lies not, as we have grown used to thinking, in prospering but in the development of the soul.” ~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
“Harvard's motto is "Veritas." Many of you have already found out and others will find out in the course of their lives that truth eludes us if we do not concentrate with total attention on its pursuit. And even while it eludes us, the illusion still lingers of knowing it and leads to many misunderstandings. Also, truth is seldom pleasant; it is almost invariably bitter. There is some bitterness in my speech today, too.
“It was no more glorious or joyful to lead a rally than it was to bathe my children.” ~Phyllis Schlafly Phyllis Schlafly often said that women can have it all...just not at the same time. Her life exemplifies that truth. Driven, intelligent, kind-hearted and devout, Phyllis made the most of every season of her life.
First, as a young woman, she worked in a munitions factory while putting herself through college studying political science. Then as a married wife and mother, she set aside her personal aspirations to raise her six children full-time, support her husband, and serve faithfully in her community and church. Finally, as her children left home and the ERA movement heated up, she put her education and life experience behind the cause she knew would affect millions of women, mothers and families for decades to come.
A woman who talked with kings and presidents, Phyllis always cited her children as her greatest accomplishment.
Join Audrey this week as she discusses what life was really like with Phyllis Schlafly in this interview with her daughter Anne. Originally aired as a FB Live in The Mission Driven Mom Mastermind FB Group, this podcast contains the entire interview, Q&A session, and recommended resources.
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2:15 Anne Schlafly Cori's Childhood 4:28 Daily Routines 6:30 Her Relationship with Her Mother 7:29 A Favorite Memory 8:22 Faith in the Home 14:00 Her Parents Relationship 18:00 The Feminine Mystique 19:22 A Choice Not An Echo and Other Books 26:25 Actively Fighting ERA 36:41 Mrs. America, the mini-series 40:35 Learning More About Phyllis Schlafly 42:37 Questions and Answers from Listeners 55:10 Resources to Educate Others
Quotes from this episode: “Part of her success was that she always made herself available.” ~Anne Schlafly Cori “Women can have it all, just not at the same time.” ~Phyllis Schlafly “All women work. If you're a homemaker you work.” ~Phyllis Schlafly “You may believe that the person sitting next to you will not be saved but you're going to work together on this issue.” ~Phyllis Schlafly
When asked if she always wanted a large family - “I came from a family with two children. My husband from a family with four. Those numbers are good, but if you are happy and having fun things just happen.” ~Phyllis Schlafly
“Home is not a concentration camp. It is a sanctuary.” ~Anne Schlafly Cori
“Feminism is doomed to failure because it is based on an attempt to repeal and restructure human nature.” ~Phyllis Schlafly
“The feminist movement taught women to see themselves as victims of an oppressive patriarchy...Self-imposed victimhood is not a recipe for happiness.” ~Phyllis Schlafly
“It was no more glorious or joyful to lead a rally than it was to bathe my children.” ~Phyllis Schlafly
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To youth, Grandma Moses gave this advice: “Keep in good company, always try to improve your mind and body in every way. Never lose faith in what is ahead of you.” These were principles she not only believed in, but lived herself.
A simple farmers wife, Anna Mary Moses never dreamed she would someday become known around the world. She never laid up plans to become rich and famous, she just tried to do her duty--to God, to herself, to her family and community--at every season of her life.
As she once said about her marriage to Thomas: “I believed, when we started out, that we were a team and I had to do as much as my husband did, not like some girls, they sat down, and then somebody has to throw sugar at them. I was always striving to do my share.”
Like many of us, Anna Mary was a mother very involved in raising her family. However, as she lived correct principles, she developed self-mastery, good character, and artistic gifts that first beautified her own family's hearth and eventually made their way into the world's greatest museums.
Join Audrey this week as she shares compelling stories of a woman who kept life simple, paid attention to what mattered, and developed the gifts God gave her.
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3:20 Early Life 9:42 On Her Own at Twelve 15:30 Age Fourteen and School 17:16 A Visit Home 20:32 Thomas Moses and Marriage 23:36 The Water Fight 27:45 Roles, Women, Careers 32:54 Arthritis 34:12 Painting - The Beginning 39:33 Fame Grows 44:10 Advice from Grandma Moses 46:12 Honoring Seasons and Developing Gifts
Quotes from this episode: “I was proud in those days, could get up such fine dinners for Mr. Whiteside’s friends who came from far off to see him. When the minister came, and I could bring out the fine linen and the china tea set and the heavy silver, then with hot biscuits, home-made butter and honey, with home-cured dried beef, I was proud.” ~Anna Mary Moses “One day at the dinner table, after Thomas had gone out, someone threw water, then someone else. Then the battle was on, some were running out of doors, out to the pump and commenced to throw it by the bucket-full. Some ran upstairs for protection, and they threw water out of the window, nearly drowning the ones under the window. The battle grew hotter, and they threw the water into the window till it ran down the backstairs into the dining room. Then one of my sisters said she would not stand for it if she was me. I told her to let them have fun while they are young and could, it would be something to laugh about when they were old—and now they do…It was a rollicksome, happy house, and their father would join in with them, he really was one of them.” ~Anna Mary Moses “He found me a good cook, and I found him of a good family, very temperate and thrifty. In those days we didn’t look for a man with money, but for a good family, good reputation—many of the boys were chicken thieves…Thomas just loved to work. He was handy and could do almost anything. He was a wonderful man, much better than I am, he was a Christian, always trying to do good to fellowmen.” ~Anna Mary Moses “When my other children were born, I got the other nurse, Aunt Carrie, she took charge of everything. All I had to do was give her $10. She stayed for two weeks and did all the washing, ironing and took care of the other children too. She was a wonderful woman.” ~Anna Mary Moses
“I don’t think I ever lost my temper and got real wild like some folks, even when I was young. When I get angry, I just keep quiet and I think “Ishkabibble”—what the meaning of “Ishkabibble” is I don’t know, but it’s quite a by-word, something like ‘the devil take you.’ If you lose your temper, you do something and say something which you wouldn’t if you waited a few minutes. But a flash of temper is sometimes better than to brood over things and feel revengefu...
“It is peculiar to humankind that they can only live by looking to the future. This is man's salvation in the most difficult moments of his existence--although he sometimes has to force his mind to the task.” ~Viktor Frankl What crisis are you facing? Rebellious child, troubled marriage, financial setbacks, poor self-image? The Principles of Vision, when understood and practiced, empower you to face those troubles with newfound hope and energy. Principles are the tools for overcoming obstacles permanently.
Join Audrey this week as she shares powerful stories of those who faced insurmountable difficulties and overcame them with the Principles of Vision!
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
2:34 Viktor Frankl 8:04 Lost in Motherhood 11:57 James Allen 17:02 Luck vs Vision 19:23 The Event - Mothers of Vision - Tools for Gaining a Vision 24:53 Be a Stellar Mom 26:38 Scripture and Vision 28:02 First Principle of Vision 28:47 Second Principle of Vision 29:36 Immaculée Ilibagiza 32:34 Norman Vincent Peale 28:47 Be a Mother of Vision 35:43 Pay the Price
Quotes from this episode: “Vision is a picture of the future that produces passion.” Fisher and Allen “It is peculiar to humankind that they can only live by looking to the future and this is man's salvation in the most difficult moments of his existence, although he sometimes has to force his mind to the task.” ~Viktor Frankl “The worse your circumstances are, the more critical it is for you to have a vision for the future, of something meaningful you are preparing to execute that will make a difference for others.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher Frankl speaking about dwelling on the problems of daily life in the camp - “I forced my thoughts to turn to another subject. Suddenly I saw myself standing on a platform of a well lit, warm, and pleasant lecture room. In front of me sat an audience on comfortable, upholstered seats. I was giving a lecture on the psychology of the concentration camp. All that oppressed me at that moment became objective, seen, and described from the remote viewpoint of science. By this method, I succeeded somehow in rising above the situation, above the sufferings of the moment, and I observed them as if they were already of the past.” ~Viktor Frankl “He (Frankl) moved from being totally problem-centered to being solution-centered.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
Speaking of mothers - “We choose what we put into our minds and how we train them. We choose how focused we are going to be and how mentally tough we are going to be.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“In spite of all the enforced physical and mental primitiveness of the life in a concentration camp, it was possible for spiritual life to deepen. Sensitive people who were used to a rich intellectual life may have suffered much pain (they were often of a delicate constitution), but the damage to their inner selves was less. They were able to retreat from their terrible surroundings to a life of inner riches and spiritual freedom.” ~Viktor Frankl
“Suffering ceases to be suffering as soon as we form a clear and precise picture of it.” ~Viktor Frankl
“But I came to learn that God never shows us something we aren't ready to understand. Instead, He lets us see what we need to see, when we need to see it. He'll wait until our eyes and hearts are open to Him, and then when we're ready, He will plant our feet on the path that's best for us...but it's up to us to do the walking.” ~Immaculée Ilibagiza
“Someone had once told me that it was important to visualize what you want to happen in the future because doing so can actually help make it come true. Well, thanks to God I've become a big believer in that philosophy. ” ~Immaculée Ilibagiza
“Change your thoughts and you change the world.” ~Norman Vincent Peale
“You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your ...
When moms in The Mission Driven Mom Mastermind FB Group were asked, “What is your greatest strength?” some of the responses included:
“I don’t really know.” “I’m uncomfortable talking about this because it seems wrong to focus on my strengths.” “How can I be righteous and overcome my weaknesses if I’m focused on my talents?” “Maybe my greatest strength is to see my weaknesses?”
What is wrong with this picture? Why are mothers unable or unwilling to honestly assess and admit their greatest strengths? And what are the repercussions for them, their families and their communities when they don't know or don't develop their God-given talents?
Everyone loses.
In this podcast, Audrey affirms the truth that all of us have been given specific gifts in order to bring joy to ourselves and serve others around us. In fact, our talents are planted on our hearts by God, giving us clarity and direction about how to best spend our time, energy and focus. The honest recognition of these and the determination to develop and share them becomes a blessing and a sterling example to our children.
Join Audrey this week to increase your motivation to grow your greatest strengths and experience the joy that follows!
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
6:50 The Power of Knowing Your Strengths - Betsie and Corrie ten Boom 14:38 Example vs Helicopter Parenting 18:23 What is Your Greatest Strength? 21:16 Audrey's Struggle 27:49 When You Accept Self/Natural Gifts You Can Bless Others 29:43 Ex. 1 - The Fly Lady 30:33 Ex. 2 - Olympians Who Serve God 33:13 Ex. 3 - Audrey's Experience 36:14 Balancing Time and Self 40:57 Do Three Things
Quotes from this episode: “You are a daughter of God. He makes you unique to accomplish a special work. You’re not better or worse than anyone else, you just have been given the tools you need to glorify God in a unique way and it’s your privilege to uncover your gifts and develop them.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “You cannot do it all. You cannot be it all. You can be YOU! I sometimes think I should be like other women and other moms, but I can’t be. It took me a long time to realize there’s no one right way to be.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “There is no greater investment a family can make than in the education of the mother.” ~ “I would ask myself, “What can only I do as a wife and mother?” And then I would make sure I did those things the best I could.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “Think about a time when you were doing something you love to do, something you do well. Take a minute and recall how you felt in that moment. It doesn’t matter what it is or when it was. Just think about how you felt about yourself, about others, about the task you were doing. You can feel that way more of the time.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“GOD PLANTED YOUR INTERESTS IN YOUR HEART SO YOU WOULD FOLLOW THEM.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“If you aren't you, we don't get you.” ~Max Lucado
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Although feminism can seem like a good thing, and definitely attempted to make things better for women in several ways, the real story behind feminism is seldom told. Like an iceberg, the true story of modern feminism has a lot more below the surface than most of us see above it.
As in everything that's truly important, glancing at the tip of the iceberg will NOT give us real understanding.
Getting to the bottom of things is critical, and understanding the iceberg all the way to the bottom enables us to really see the matter for what it truly is. Only then can we make an informed decision about what feminism is. Only then can do we know if and how we should support it.
Join Audrey this week as she gets to the bottom of modern feminism - bringing clarity to its founders, its founding book The Feminine Mystique and its author Betty Friedan - showing their crucial role in changing the way Americans think about women.
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3:30 Marilyn French 5:38 The Book - The Feminine Mystique 9:27 Who Was Betty Friedan & Why It Matters 11:40 Smith College - The Making of a Worldview 17:50 Highlander Folk School and the Changing of Institutions 19:14 UC Berkley & Union Journalist 20:33 Standing for Issues & early writings on Women's Issues 24:04 The Real Story Behind The Feminine Mystique 25:08 Authors Who Influenced Betty Friedan 29:10 Simone de Beauvoir & Frederich Engels 34:30 Did It Work? 37:55 Girls in the '50s and '60s - Film and Magazines 39:16 Conscious Raising and The Feminine Mystique 42:40 Anne Oakley 43:34 The Demands 44:22 What Audrey Learned
Quotes from this episode: “...my father's individualism and pagan ethical standards were in complete contrast to the rigidly moral conventionalism of my mother's teaching. This disequilibrium, which made my life a kind of endless disputation, is the main reason why I became an intellectual.”~Simone de Beauvoir “Feminism is my religion. I wouldn't know how to think without it." ~Marilyn French “The story of her life, which she has told and which has been popularly accepted, is that she awoke to the woman problem in the late ’50s and early ’60s and was totally unaware of it previously...All sources agree that Friedan’s feminism emerged solely from her research for the Feminist Mystique.” ~Daniel Horowitz “...married in 1947 (true) and for almost the next 20 years, lived the life of a conventional suburban housewife and mother (not true).” ~Cambridge Dictionary of American Biography 1995 “Success of the book was due in large measure (6000 copies to millions) to its claim that it spoke to and from experiences of a suburban housewife in the 1950’s.” ~Daniel Horowitz
“Men, there is something cooking in your kitchens. Women are waking up to the fact that they can produce things other than babies.” ~Betty Friedan
“The liberation of women will only come when they enter the workforce.” ~Frederich Engels “This is not a story of how one woman came to consciousness about her role as a housewife. It is about a national movement with many people involved, of which she was a part.” ~Daniel Horowitz “There are three political statements that point the way to the liberation of housewives: The housewife role must be abolished, the family must be abolished, gender roles must be abolished.” ~Anne Oakley
“What we didn’t think through was how else we were to bring up children.” “She changed the course of history almost singlehandedly. It took a driven, super-aggressive, egocentric, almost lunatic dynamo to rock the world the way she did. Unfortunately, she was that same person at home, where that kind of conduct doesn't work. She simply never understood this.” ~Carl Friedan
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"I enjoyed this podcast immensely. I could relate on so many levels. It mirrored many of my own experiences and has encouraged me to remain courageous as I fill my own missions." ~Mary Ann Johnson
Have you ever wanted to peek in the window of a successful and influential mom and see what her day looks like, what struggles she faces, and how she overcomes obstacles in pursuit of a mission driven life?
NOW IS YOUR CHANCE!
Sharidean Flint has been married to her sweetheart 42 years, is the mother of 5 kids, and the current MAYOR of Hyde Park! Her years of sacrifice to stay home with her small children, her self-education in the classics and her courage to move forward on inspiration she received to lead others, even when she was terrified!
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1:07 Childhood 7:26 The Teen Years 13:48 Marriage and Family 15:54 Religion - My Anchor 20:56 From Mothering to Mayor 30:06 Learning to be a Leader 35:31 The Gifts that Helped Me Lead 37:00 How Much to Sacrifice 42:54 How to Filter the News 47:00 COVID and the Constitution 49:46 My Message 56:48 Her Advice
Quotes from this episode: “We accepted that life was dangerous. It's just the way it was. Kids today live such sheltered lives. It's harder for mothers and kids today." ~Sharidean Flint “I had such freedom as a child. It gave me a sense of confidence." ~Sharidean Flint “Whatever your mind can conceive and believe it can achieve. " ~Napoleon Hill
“I went to a new school about every year. I learned to get in and make a friend quickly. I became very good at making friends.” ~Sharidean Flint On learning to read -“I thought, 'This is the most fantastic thing!'” ~Sharidean Flint “When you read a lot it broadens your world, increases your knowledge, and gives you a great vocabulary. You become a larger person because you have more experiences than just your own.” ~Sharidean Flint
On reading great books - “When you read, you will learn morals, either good morals or bad morals.” ~Sharidean Flint
On being a stay-at-home mother - “We are home in the trenches. But men are in their own trench. It's a heavy load.” ~Sharidean Flint On being a stay-at-home mother - “I have no regrets. I don't look back. I made a lot of mistakes but I was there!” ~Sharidean Flint On needing help to run her campaign for city council - “I know someone who knows everything. I know God. I'll just ask Him.” ~Sharidean Flint “You can't control and lead others if you can't control yourself.” ~Sharidean Flint “If I get too responsible for too long it makes me grumpy. I have to have some fun.” ~Sharidean Flint
“If it's never happened before in Hyde Park or in the history of the world, it's going to happen while I am mayor! ~Sharidean Flint “I stayed home not because its what my church expected of me, not because it's what my husband said I had to do. It wasn't because society said I couldn't do anything else. I stayed home because I wanted to be a mom. I didn't finish my degree, and now I am a mayor. BUT being a mom is the most important thing I have done with my life.” ~Sharidean Flint “As we are telling young girls how important it is to get an education, can we at least consider being moms as equally important?” ~Sharidean Flint
“Women can have it all, just not at the same time.” ~Phyllis Schlafly “Enjoy whatever time you are in.” ~Sharidean Flint
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"From my earliest recollection, I date the entertainment of a deep conviction that slavery would not always be able to hold me within its foul embrace; and in the darkest hours of my career in slavery, this living word of faith and spirit of hope departed not from me, but remained like ministering angels to cheer me through the gloom. This good spirit was from God, and to him, I offer thanksgiving and praise." ~Frederick Douglass From his childhood, though burdened down by incredible oppression, this inner belief that he could someday, somehow overcome slavery was a light and hope that Douglass nurtured. The incredible circumstances which led to a chance opportunity to begin learning to read, and the perseverance and tenacity he demonstrated in becoming literate, are remarkable. With little more than his faith in God and his determination, Douglass conquered reading and it transformed his life. Empowered with this new skill, the world was now open to him and he saw the circumstances of slavery for what they really were.
Once mentally liberated himself, he longed for his brothers and sisters in slavery to experience the same freedom. Compassion and deep love led him to teach his fellow slaves to read--whoever was willing to learn--and to lead them in worshipping the God he knew was aiding them.
Yet, although surrounded by loving friends, it eventually became clear to Douglass that he could no longer live the life of a slave. He must escape or die.
Join Audrey this week as she shares the terrible hardships of Douglass' young life and the triumphant heights he rose to--aiding in the freeing of other slaves, consulting with authors and a U.S. President, sacrificing everything to make the world a better place. His story truly teaches us that when we love God and seek truth, we can be lifted from any oppression, and truly set free.
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1:36 Birth and Early Years 4:44 The Master - Colonel Edward Lloyd 7:59 The Overseer - Mr. Gore 9:27 Learning to Read 11:47 Self-education 15:50 Frederick Douglass and the Foundational Laws 19:12 The Columbian Orator 22:22 Breaking the Slave 26:37 A Moment of Resolve 36:52 Teaching Slaves to Read 38:25 Attempt at Freedom 43:00 A Miracle - Learning a Trade 46:49 Final Escape 50:00 New Bedford 52:21 Summary of the Rest of His Life
Quotes from this episode: “I did not, when a slave, understand the deep meaning of those rude and apparently incoherent songs. They told a tale of woe which was then altogether beyond my feeble comprehension; they were tones loud, long, and deep; they breathed the prayer and complaint of souls boiling over with the bitterest anguish. Every tone was a testimony against slavery, and a prayer to God for deliverance from chains." ~Frederick Douglass “And here I saw what I had never seen before; it was a white face beaming with the most kindly emotions; it was the face of my new mistress, Sophia Auld. I wish I could describe the rapture that flashed through my soul as I beheld it. " ~Frederick Douglass “Mr. Auld found out what was going on, and at once forbade Mrs. Auld to instruct me further, telling her, among other things, that it was unlawful, as well as unsafe, to teach a slave to read. To use his own words, further, he said, 'If you give a nigger an inch, he will take an ell. A nigger should know nothing but to obey his master—to do as he is told to do. Learning would spoil the best nigger in the world. Now,' said he, 'if you teach that nigger (speaking of myself) how to read, there would be no keeping him. It would forever unfit him to be a slave. He would at once become unmanageable, and of no value to his master. As to himself, it could do him no good, but a great deal of harm. It would make him discontented and unhappy.' These words sank deep into my heart,
"Expectation is the root of all heartache." ~William Shakespeare
We all set expectations--it's just part of our human nature. In fact, we are so accustomed to creating expectations, that we often don't even know we have!
Here's the problem--expectations can be dangerous! Why? Because expectations create a standard that we begin to believe must be met. And even more dangerous is the fact that much of the time we want others to meet the expectations we set!
How can we overcome this? How we can set goals and plan for the future without letting unmet expectations upset and discourage us?
Join Audrey this week as she walks you through what expectations are and what they are not, why they either hurt or help us, and how we can take control of ourselves and our lives while remaining optimistic and hopeful!
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
2:47 Audrey's Homeschool Journey and Family Culture 6:10 Audrey's Motivation to Homeschool 8:21 Unrealistic Expectations, Self-Judgement and Comparison 14:35 Focus on the Process and Enjoy the Journey 16:31 Expectations Are Not Goal Setting, Visualizing, or Personal Outcomes 17:18 Question One - Why Am I Doing This? 19:44 Question Two - Who Am I Doing It For? 23:14 No Regrets 25:04 Creating Our Own Internal Upset 27:25 The Last Battle 26:47 Audrey's Challenge
Quotes from this episode: “Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour." ~from Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte “I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself." ~from Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte “I have no right to tell other people how to live their lives. I only have duties I need to perform; I have a conscience I need to obey. And I have one person, Audrey, who I am responsible for completely. I have got to make her the best she can be.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “I made my own education a huge priority, and through that education, I gained tools and learned about principles and was able to fashion my character to a high degree.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “I have greater influence with my family and others because I know how to love better.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “I have made new resolves to be very careful about the beliefs I adopt--to be very careful about the people I listen to and very careful about the expectations I set.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “I can't expect anything from anyone. They don't owe me anything. What I can do is envision and be full of faith, hope, and intention about what I am creating.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “I see how distinctly different having a vision and holding that and moving toward pre-determined goals is from expectations. When I envision, I am in control of me and what I am creating for my life. Expectations usually involve other people, and I can't control that.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “Expectation is the root of all heartache.” ~Shakespeare
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As we move forward on our journey toward life mission, loving ourselves is an absolutely critical foundational piece because, honestly, how can we truly love others if we aren't loving God and ourselves? Now that we have learned the first principle of loving ourselves--recognizing and meeting our real needs--we are ready for the second: Disciplining Our Heart and Mind!
In this podcast, Audrey outlines 7 Tools for gaining increased self-mastery through disciplining your mind and disciplining your heart.
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1:50 Definition of Discipline 3:20 Make Yourself Mind Yourself 4:38 Discipline the Mind 6:02 Step One - Develop Your Reason and Logic 12:49 Step Two - Control Your Thoughts 16:16 Step Three - Set Goals and Envision Them 18:27 Discipline the Heart 18:30 Step One - Stay Out of Victim Mode 22:19 Step Two - Control Your Emotions 24:46 Step three - Forgive Yourself and Others 26:47 Step Four - Practice Patience 30:10 Recap
Quotes from this episode: “Anyone who has done any thinking, even a little bit, knows that it is hard work, in fact, the very hardest work that human beings are ever called to do. " ~Mortimer Adler “I stand and work in the world as one who aims at making men and women morally better by making them think.” ~Albert Schweitzer “Nobody’s life circumstances are perfect. But what are we telling ourselves about those circumstances?” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “You are the controller of your happiness or your unhappiness…Yet, learning to be a happy, adjusted, productive, and attractive person cannot be done for you. Your therapist can’t do it for you. Your doctor can’t do it for you. Your husband can’t do it for you. They can’t push a button and presto, you’re no longer depressed or anxious. It takes work on your part to be happy.” ~Bachus & Chapian “Patience may spring from constitutional fortitude, from a kind of heroic pride, or from Christian submission to the divine will...Patience is a calm temper which bears evils without murmuring...Patience is the act or quality of waiting long for justice or expected good without discontent.” ~1828 Dictionary
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“Truth is the only safe ground to stand upon.” ~Elizabeth Cady Stanton
As women in America were extended more and more opportunities for higher education, there arose a group of educated, middle class women who felt strongly about the need for women's suffrage. For Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the right for women to vote was simple, clear and vital. She dedicated her life to raising her 7 children, and putting in whatever work was necessary to see suffrage for women realized. She, and other key figures like Susan B. Anthony and Alice Paul played important roles in this fight.
In the meantime, other women like Jane Addams, Dorothea Dix, and Florence Kelly were working for the poorer and ignorant classes to improve their living conditions and opportunities. As part of an attempt to improve the conditions of the lower class, Margaret Sanger, a trained nurse, felt that birth control was the best answer. Control the population, she believed, and give the women the ability to choose when they have children, and living conditions, jobs and wages would improve for all. She devoted herself and all her energy to realizing this ambition--founding the first Planned Parenthood clinics and forming the group of philanthropists, doctors and scientists who would develop the first birth control pill.
In this podcast, Audrey sweeps across the history of women's issues in the last two centuries. She quickly covers key events, people and issues to create a backdrop for the modern Feminist movement that defines the way women think and talk about themselves today. Tune in next month when Betty Friedan and The Feminine Mystique take hold in the minds of women across the U.S. and change the framework of relations between men and women forever!
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
2:00 The Vote - The Next Big Thing After Education 7:30 Elizabeth Cady Stanton - First Public Figure in American Suffrage 8:47 Susan B. Anthony 10:33 The Woman's Bible: A Classic Feminist Perspective 11:25 Alice Paul 14:09 The National Women's Party 18:28 The Woman's Era 20:53 Florence Kelly 22:48 Margaret Sanger - Birth Control 26:46 Margaret Sanger's Reasons for Birth Control 29:45 Planned Parenthood 33:47 Margaret Sanger's Reasons for Birth Control 35:05 Margaret Sanger's Personal Life 37:39 The Mike Wallace Interview 41:47 Roe vs Wade
Quotes from this episode: “To live for a principle, for the triumph of some reform by which all mankind are to be lifted up—to be wedded to an idea—maybe, after all, the holiest and happiest of marriages.” ~Elizabeth Cady Stanton “I would have girls regard themselves not as adjectives, but as nouns.” ~Elizabeth Cady Stanton
“Truth is the only safe ground to stand upon.” ~Elizabeth Cady Stanton
“The best protection any woman can have ... is courage. ” ~Elizabeth Cady Stanton
“The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls. Every truth we see is ours to give the world, not to keep for ourselves alone, for in so doing we cheat humanity out of their rights and check our own development.” ~Elizabeth Cady Stanton
“To think I have had more than 60 years of hard struggle for a little liberty, and then to die without it seems so cruel.” ~Susan B. Anthony
“I do not demand equal pay for any women save those who do equal work in value. Scorn to be coddled by your employers; make them understand that you are in their service as workers, not as women.” ~Susan B. Anthony
“The true republic: Men, their rights, and nothing more; women, their rights, and nothing less.” ~Susan B. Anthony
“I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand.
“God sometimes calls us into service at the most inopportune times. Often, we find a hundred reasons to say no…God wants our availability. He wants our hearts and minds, and lives. He wants us to say in the words of Isaiah, ‘Here am I. Send me.’” ~Millard Fuller
Millard Fuller believed that success was measured in dollars. He longed to be a millionaire more than anything else in the world. He ate, drank and slept his vision of riches. He was willing to pay the price, too. He brainstormed, he worked, and he sacrificed for his ultimate goal...until it was almost too late.
Like Millard, many of us are caught up in the rat race with dreams of more and more and more...not even knowing where we're headed or why we want more. The story of Millard and Linda Fuller is a wake up call for all of us - reminding us what success truly is, and showing us how to get it.
In this podcast Audrey demonstrates how truly living the 7 Laws of Mission transformed Millard and Linda, then how they, with God's help, transformed the world.
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
2:33 Family, Faith, Church 4:32 Learning Principles and Practices of Success 9:18 Two Formative Projects 16:30 Law School - Morris Dees 21:45 A Covenant with God 27:00 Cookbooks, Toothbrushes and $1 Million 31:38 The Cost 35:58 The Call and the Facade 43:55 Submitting to God and Starting Over 48:50 Answering the Call 56:32 It is a blessing and privilege to do God's work
Quotes from this episode: “Sunday and church went together in our family, like ham and eggs.” ~Millard Fuller “I developed a real love for business and for making money before graduating from high school. My dad and I talked a lot about making money and about business. He spent a lot of time with me…he did a great job of teaching me and motivating me to be self-reliant and self-starting.” ~Millard Fuller
“By the end of high school, I had developed a strong desire to go into business. I didn’t know yet what kind of business, but I wanted it to be big, profitable, and successful. I wanted to be a millionaire too. This would be a sure sign of success in life.” ~Millard Fuller
“Without a doubt, my college career had been full. For three years I had packed in as much as I possibly could—days, nights, weekends, vacations, and summers. I always had something going. I had heard and believed that youth is the time to do something and become somebody. My aim was to fill my life with as many varied experiences as time allowed. All the while, I had a sense of being close to God and in tune with his reality—his will—for my life. ” ~Millard Fuller
“When asked to do missionary work for a few months - Deep inside, I knew I should go. I felt the invitation was a call from God to perform a particular service for his church. But I turned it down. In my replay to Mr. Waery, I wrote, ‘I’ll do it in two years, maybe.’” ~Millard Fuller
“God sometimes calls us into service at the most inopportune times. Often, we find a hundred reasons to say no…God wants our availability. He wants our hearts and minds, and lives. He wants us to say in the words of Isaiah, ‘Here am I. Send me.’” ~Millard Fuller
“When I was in Law school, I had promised God that I would make myself available for his purposes. I had assured God that, regardless of the success or financial achievements of our company, I would always put his kingdom first…But in a real-life situation, I said no to God and yes to business and further financial achievements.” ~Millard Fuller
“The words of praise from the community rang in my ears. ‘You’ve got it made,’ these voices said. ‘Many people would like to be in your shoes.’ The other voice I heard was much quieter, but nonetheless bothersome: ‘Where are you headed? What does all of this mean? You’re not putting God first.’” ~Millard Fuller
“Do we not all hear these two voices when faced ...
“Confidence is something we can choose! It is something we can work on today!” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
One woman recently shared struggles that so many women are experiencing today: “Where do I start if I’m at zero? Last week you asked us to write down things we liked about ourselves and I went blank. I thought about it for a couple of days and still came up empty. All the things I’ve been saying about myself lately are negative ones and I’ve struggled [to get] away from them. They are really loud.” What is happening? Why are good, honest, well-intentioned mothers unable to see all the good in themselves? Why are their thoughts so negative and destructive? Why do they so deeply lack confidence? Confidence can seem like such a fragile thing, coming and going throughout our lives, and often seeming so out of our control. Understanding the definition of confidence gives us insight into why women are suffering and how they can begin to develop greater confidence. In fact, in this podcast you'll learn that there is a formula for gaining and retaining confidence--and it's simple and very doable.
You'll also come to see the real meaning of confidence, how it is tied to living true principles and why it is in your control. Audrey will equip you with three key tools which will enable you to ask yourself questions that will empower you to build greater confidence in yourself!
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
1:30 The event that got Audrey thinking about confidence 5:53 The Keys to Confidence - Trust & Truth 9:57 The two kinds of truth 12:13 If I'm doing my best why do I still lack confidence 18:30 Three components of trust & empowering questions 19:49 Who you are 22:50 What you know 25:10 The quality of your relationships 28:43 Angela's story
Quotes from this episode: “You have to affirm yourself and draw your worth from God. No one can do that for you and make you feel enough.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“We have to start by leading ourselves first.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “Confidence is a state of being where we know the truth and we trust our ability to live that truth. ” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “Then Jesus said to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ~John 8:31-32
“Desired blessings come only by obedience to divine law, and in no other way. My lifetime thus far has been focused on learning those laws. Only as the laws are known, and then obeyed, can the blessings we desire be earned.” ~Russell M. Nelson
“The key to self-mastery is to take responsibility for ourselves and to work on aligning our lives more closely with truth and principles. This increases our power. ” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Trust is something you can do something about— and probably much faster than you think.” ~ Stephen M.R. Covey
“CONFIDENCE is something we can choose! It is something we can work on today!” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“[My] pursuit of truth through the MDM Academy has given me confidence, to care for myself, to pursue truth and to live principles regardless of what others are doing” ~Karen Bates
Empowering Questions: 1. Do I have personal integrity and follow through on the commitments I make to myself?
Is my heart really in the right place? Do I have the right intentions? Is my character what it ought to be?
- Do I truly have the skills to accomplish my goals and commitments?
Do I really know how to do this job properly? Do I need to gain more knowledge or practice my skill-set?
- Do I talk well about myself and to myself the way I would like someone else to talk to me and about me?
How am I treating others? Do I show respect Do I listen? Do I take their input and involve them in the decisions?
Books from this episode:
“Your relationship with God and yourself is the foundation of ALL your other relationships.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
As busy moms, we all have one trait in common - putting ourselves last. Be honest, you've done it far more often than you should have - and to the detriment of your own health and well-being. While this is a very admirable trait in many ways, the horrible consequences we all seem to experience include negativity, burn out, overwhelm and sometimes even depression.
But it doesn't have to be that way!
Although sacrifice is inherent in the mothering world, not understanding or not making time to meet our real needs can wreak havoc in our homes. Not only because of the awful consequences to ourselves, but because through our example and lack of teaching, our children never learn what their real needs are and how critical it is to meet them daily.
In this podcast, you'll hear about Dave Rubin, a staunch liberal who, in his moment of quiet self-care, had a life-changing experience. You'll also be introduced to what self-care truly means and how you can begin today. You'll gain a new perspective on what it means to love yourself - remembering that it's not an emotion but an action! Best of all, we encourage you to take Audrey's challenge and see how loving yourself can change your life!
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
1:30 Discussion on loving yourself 6:58 Dave Rubin 11:30 Dave Rubin's political conversion 13:22 I am not an atheist 15:15 Dave Rubin's self-care practice 16:50 Truth in the madness 17:14 The result of loving self 20:49 Sharpen the saw 22:40 Physical 24:32 Spiritual 26:31 Mental 28:53 Social/Emotional 32:13 Audrey's Challenge
Quotes from this episode: “You are the only one that can meet your real needs." ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “Loving God and loving self is the foundation of everything else.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “No one is going to treat us better than we treat ourselves.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“You are the only person you are going to spend your whole life with. Everyone else is going to come and go, so it is really important that you like yourself. You're only going to like yourself if you love yourself. Love is a verb. It's an action, a choice that we make. It's something that we do. We don't wait for emotions to be generated. We take action to care for ourselves properly. Remember, we're striving for self-mastery.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Loving self is about understanding and meeting our real needs. We will only truly feel good and have the necessary positive energy to bring to our lives and the world when those needs are met. ” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“The idea that there has to be a bedrock, something real and true outside of us moved me. One day it just came out of my mouth, I am not an atheist. I got a lot of hate for that one.” ~Dave Rubin
“I like to talk to people from all walks of life and figure out what the common stuff is.” ~Dave Rubin
“I really believe that there is something out there that is fundamentally true that doesn't shift over time, that gives us our sense of right and wrong, and is a bedrock in our lives.” ~Dave Rubin
“I'm in it like everyone else, trying to find the truth in the madness.” ~Dave Rubin
“[Sharpening the saw] is the single most powerful investment we can ever make in life - investment in ourselves, in the only instrument we have with which to deal with life and to contribute. We are the instruments of our own performance, and to be effective, we need to recognize the importance of taking time regularly to sharpen the saw in all four ways." ~Stephen Covey “A good exercise program is one that you can do in your own home and one that will build your body in three areas: endurance, flexibility, and strength.” ~Stephen Covey “As you act based on the value of physical well-being instead of reacting to all the forces t...
“When we understand rights clearly, then we don't need to be feminists or non-feminists. We don't need to stand in anyone's camp; we can stand on truth.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
As we move forward in time, and the freedom of women in the West expands, we see a new movement to extend greater educational opportunities to women. The voices for this advancement increased until eventually the majority of women were not only literate but had access to traditional schools and education.
But upon what does the the idea of expanded education rest for women? Rights!
It is because women are also human, because they share reason and intellect with men, that they can claim not the privilege but the right to receive as much as education as they can.
That's why in this podcast we pause to introduce the origin of rights and their importance in the question of women and feminism. Once understand, the rest of the rights of women follow.
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3:35 A discussion on 'Rights' 6:09 Magna Charta 8:13 Lysander Spooner 9:42 A discussion of duty 10:55 Four Main Rights 14:05 The education of women - Daniel Defoe 23:54 Mary Wollstonecraft 28:33 Key ideas of feminism pre-WWII
Quotes from this episode: “I plead not for myself but for my sex. My own personal wants, anyway, amount to very little. For many years I have regarded independence as the great blessing of life, the basis of every virtue; and even if I end up living on a barren heath, I will always guarantee my independence by contracting my wants." ~Mary Wollstonecraft “I do not wish them [women] to have power over men, but over themselves.” ~Mary Wollstonecraft “Fighting for the rights of women, my main argument is built on this simple principle: If woman isn’t fitted by education to become man’s companion, she will stop the progress of knowledge, because truth must be common to all; if it isn’t, it won’t be able to influence how people in general behave. And how can woman be expected to cooperate if she doesn’t know why she ought to be virtuous; if freedom doesn’t strengthen her reason until she understands her duty and sees how it is connected with her real good? If children are to be brought up to understand the true principle of patriotism, their mother must be a patriot.” ~Mary Wollstonecraft
“Surely, sir, you won’t say that a duty can be binding without being founded on reason! Arguments for civil and political rights can be drawn from reason; and with that splendid support, the more understanding women acquire the more they will be attached to their duty, understanding it. Unless they understand it—unless their morals are based on the same immutable principles as those of man—no authority can make them act virtuously. ” ~Mary Wollstonecraft
“If women aren’t permitted to enjoy legitimate rights, they will seek illicit privileges.” ~Mary Wollstonecraft
“In the present state of society, it seems that we have to go back to first principles in search of the simplest truths, and to fight against some prevailing prejudice for every inch of ground.” ~Mary Wollstonecraft
“Only a strong mind can resolutely form its own principles.” ~Mary Wollstonecraft
“I have often thought of it as one of the most barbarous customs in the world, considering us as a civilized and a Christian country, that we deny the advantages of learning to women. We reproach the sex every day with folly and impertinence; while I am confident, had they the advantages of education equal to us, they would be guilty of less than ourselves.” ~Daniel Defoe
“But besides this, they should be taught languages, as particularly French and Italian: and I would venture the injury of giving a woman more tongues than one. They should, as a particular study, be taught all the graces of speech, and all the necessary air of conversation; which our common education is so defective in,...
"Our talents are given us in order that we may serve ourselves and our fellowmen." ~Calvin Coolidge From a small town boy in Vermont to President of the U.S., Calvin Coolidge remained the same stalwart, honest, clear-thinking man he was trained to be at home. He clung to the values and principles instilled in him through his parents, grandparents and devoted professors, all his life. He never flinched in his beliefs that God is at the helm, that He directs His children through natural laws and principles, that hard work is the backbone of success and progress and that liberty must be earned. He brought order and increased freedom at every level of government in which he served. Best of all, he loudly exclaimed--through his words and through the life he lived--that we are here to serve God by serving our fellowmen and that if we'll prepare ourselves, God will call us to His work.
In this podcast, you'll hear Coolidge's own words about all aspects of life. You'll see his spiritual training, his educational preparation and his commitment to giving of himself to create better communities. In his life, you'll watch the fruits of the 7 Laws of Life Mission bless a nation, and hopefully, you'll be inspired to follow in his footsteps.
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
6:18 Birth and early life 14:13 Education 19:14 A deeper introduction to Natural Law and Truth 27:42 Professor Garman 30:09 Law 33:01 Family 35:45 Public Office 39:27 The real role of government 42:51 National Attention and Staying the Course 45:24 The hand of God 48:36 Mr. President 51:46 Two sad events
Quotes from this episode: “By reason of what I saw and heard in my early life, I came to have a good working knowledge of the practical side of government. I understood that it consisted of restraints which the people had imposed upon themselves in order to promote the common welfare.” ~Calvin Coolidge
“[My parents] drew no class distinctions except towards those who assumed superior airs. Those they held in contempt. They held strongly to the doctrine of equality. Whenever the hired man or the hired girl wanted to go anywhere they were always understood to be entitled to my place in the wagon, in which case, I remained at home. This gave me a very early training in democratic ideas and impressed upon me very forcibly the dignity and power, if not the superiority, of labor.” ~Calvin Coolidge “While I can think of many pleasures we did not have, and many niceties of culture with which we were unfamiliar, yet if I had the power to order my life anew I would not dare to change that period of it. If it did not afford me the best that there was, it abundantly provided the best that there was for me.” ~Calvin Coolidge “I discovered that our ideas of democracy came from the agora of Greece, and our ideas of liberty came from the forum of Rome. Something of the sequence of history was revealed to me so that I began to understand the significance of our own times and our own country.” ~Calvin Coolidge
“If attendance on these religious services ever harmed any of the men of my time I have never been informed of it. The good it did I believe was infinite. Not the least of it was the discipline that resulted from having constantly to give some thought to things that young men would often prefer not to consider. If we did not have the privilege of doing what we wanted to do we had the much greater benefit of doing what we ought to do. It broke down our selfishness, it conquered our resistance, it supplanted impulse, and finally, it enthroned reason.” ~Calvin Coolidge
“Above all, we were taught to follow the truth whithersoever it might lead. We were warned that this would oftentimes be very difficult and result in much opposition, for there would be many who were not going that way, but if we pressed on steadfastly it was sure to yield...
“Next to the blessed sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.” ~C.S. Lewis
In reading The Problem of Pain, Audrey ran across a simple sentence that started her thinking along brand new lines about this thing we call "communication." Communication is an idea that we speak about incessantly, that we attend counseling, life coaching and seminars to gain. It's something we say we're practicing and getting better at. It's something we believe will fix our relationships, our businesses and our international relations.
But what if, amidst all this talking and training and obsessing about communication, we just fundamentally misunderstand what it is? What if, given a little bit different perspective, we could see ourselves and others so differently that "communication" would become something we actually know how to do - and can do well?
In this podcast, Audrey shares recent insights she's had about the true nature and meaning of communication that are shifting how she thinks about God, about herself and about all her relationships.
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5:43 The sentence which began it all 6:44 Definitions matter 10:00 The connection between communication and love 13:04 How true communication/communion impacts us 20:00 Important questions to ask
Quotes from this episode: “I have tried to assume nothing that is not professed by all baptized and communicating Christians." ~C. S. Lewis “By the goodness of God we mean nowadays, almost exclusively his lovingness and may be right. But in this context most of us mean kindness...We want...not so much a Father in Heaven as a Grandfather in Heaven...who likes to see young people enjoying themselves and who planned...that it might be truly said at the end of the day, 'A good time was had by all.' I should very much like to live in a universe...grounded on such lines but since it is abundantly clear that I don't and since I have reason to believe...God is love, I conclude that my conception of love needs correction.” ~C. S. Lewis “Love is the will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth.” ~M. Scott Peck
“The principal form that the work of love takes is attention.” ~M. Scott Peck
“If we listen enough to our children and well enough, we will begin to understand what extraordinary beings they are. The more you know about the child the better able you will be to teach. This is a cycle. Value begets value and love begets love.” ~M. Scott Peck
“True listening, total concentration on the other is always a manifestation of love. An essential part of true listening is the discipline of temporarily giving up or setting aside one's own prejudices, frames of reference and desires, so as to experience...the speaker's world from inside...This unification of speaker and listener is actually an extension and enlargement of one's self and new knowledge is always gained from this. Moreover, since true listening involves this attention to the setting aside of the self...it involves a total acceptance of the other.” ~M. Scott Peck
“When we are communing with God we are thinking more about the attention we are paying to Him.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“It may be possible for each of us to think too much of his own potential...It is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbor. The...burden of my neighbor's glory should be laid on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it and the backs of the proud will be broken. It is a serious thing to live in a society of potential Gods and Goddesses... To remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person...may one day be a creature which you would be ...tempted to worship or who else might be a horror and corruption such as you would only meet in a nightmare. All day long we are,
“It is the most courageous act in this world to put God's will first in our lives - to listen to what our conscience is asking us to do.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
There are important questions that have consumed the thinking of men and women through all the ages. Do we have free will or are we only acted upon? What does it mean to be willing? What role does conscience play in action? Should God have anything to do with our actions?
Understanding natural laws and first principles can help us understand what is true concerning our ability to act or be acted upon. As we understand and apply these truths it will help us resolve problems, make wise choices and be a positive influence for good in the world!
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1:34 Definition of Willing 7:19 What God asks - Be willing 9:30 Obedience - Duty 12:33 Shinichi Suzuki 16:17 Educate your conscience 20:17 God's love and our courage to do
Quotes from this episode: “To deceive oneself is worse than to deceive others.” ~Leo Tolstoy “The voice of conscience is the voice of God.” ~Leo Tolstoy “Happiness must happen, and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it. I want you to listen to what your conscience commands you to do and go on to carry it out to the best of your knowledge.” ~Viktor Frankl “The process of educating the conscience is not unlike the physical or mental processes of self-discipline: learning, listening, committing, doing, listening again, recommitting, practicing, learning again, practicing again, and so on.” ~Stephen Covey “Here I should like to remark, for the sake of princes and princesses in general, that it is a low and contemptible thing to refuse to confess a fault, or even an error. If a true princess has done wrong, she is always uneasy until she has had an opportunity of throwing the wrongness away from her by saying: ‘I did it; and I wish I had not; and I am sorry for having done it.'” ~George MacDonald “First principles have been written by the finger of God on the very hearts of men.” ~Thomas Reid
“As I have paid more attention to my conscience, I've been able to ask questions and find answers that a few months ago were probably there but I overlooked them.” ~Marisa Hill, MDM Academy student
“In reality moral rules, God's laws, true principles, are directions for running the human machine. Every moral rule is there to prevent a breakdown, or strain, or a friction in the running of that machine.” ~C.S. Lewis “[God] knows what will make us happy. He knows the next step we should take. He knows what purifying we need to go through.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “It is the most courageous act in this world to put God's will first in our lives - to listen to what our conscience is asking us to do.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “God loved us first. He loves us still. He loves us always and we have infinite worth. It is up to us to love Him in return. Then gratitude for God's love will grow within us.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
Books from this episode:
Links from this episode:
“If every man in history had believed that women were inferior and should never be listened to, then these women would not have had the tremendous influence they did.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
Julian of Norwich wrote the earliest surviving book in the English language to be written by a woman. She challenged the notion of a God who wanted to damn mankind and put forth the idea of a God who loved like a mother loves.
Christine de Pizan was the first female professional writer of the Middle Ages and the first woman of letters in France. During her own journey to understand the true role of women, she asked God, "How can everything you create be good except women?" This opened the door to her discovery of womankind's real worth.
Margery Kempe was a medieval mystic and author of the first autobiography in English. Today it is considered a classic of Medieval Literature. Her devotion and faith compelled her to dramatically change her way of thinking and living, which forced others to look more honestly at themselves.
Joan of Arc was a medieval peasant who, claiming to receive visions from God, turned the tide of the Hundred Years’ War in favor of a French victory. Her actions were so heroic, courageous and good that she continues to inspire people today.
As you immerse yourself in four more stories of real women who had a lasting impact for good in the lives of thousands of people during the Middle Ages and who still impact lives today, you'll be inspired to overcome the obstacles in your own life and let your own light shine more brightly!
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3:50 Julian of Norwich 5:38 Christine de Pizan 8:55 Christine de Pizan's struggle to understand women's worth 13:16 Christine de Pizan's 3 arguments for woman's equality with men 17:28 Margery Kempe 18:29 Joan of Arc
Quotes from this episode: “One day I was sitting alone in my study surrounded by books on all kinds of subjects, devoting myself to literary studies, my usual habit, my mind dwelt at length on the weighty opinions of various authors whom I had studied for a long time...Thinking deeply about these matters, I began to examine my character and conduct as a natural woman and, similarly, I considered other women whose company I frequently kept…I could not see or realize how [the great men] claims could be true when compared to the natural behavior and character of women...[I concluded that] the man or the woman in whom resides greater virtue is the higher; neither the loftiness nor the sex, but in the perfection of conduct and virtues." ~Christine de Pizan, from The Book of the City of Ladies, 1405 “…moral education amends and ennobles [women]. How could anyone think or believe that whoever follows good teaching or doctrine is the worse for it? Thus, not all men (and especially the wisest) share the opinion that it is bad for women to be educated.” ~Christine de Pizan, from The Book of the City of Ladies, 1405 “Possibly the book may not sell, but that is nothing—it was written for love.” ~Mark Twain about his book Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc
“Twain decided to publish the early serialized version of Joan of Arc anonymously so the book could be judged on its merits. His request for anonymity clearly shows the magnitude of his admiration for the character of Joan, and his high regard for her life story. Twain’s meticulous research—a true labor of love—spanned a dozen years, with an additional two years devoted to writing the work.” ~Mark Twain, Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc
“All will be well and every manner of thing will be well in spite of how circumstances might appear.” ~Julian of Norwich
“It's not as if, in today's world, we just suddenly woke up and we were the first people smart enough to think that men and women are equal. These kinds of things were discussed all through history.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Lord, if you will show me the way, I will follow you. Amen.” ~Brother Andrew
Once there was a boy who grew up poor, uneducated, with a deaf father, an ill mother and a handicapped brother. This boy's life was full of troubles and heartaches. Yet, despite the challenges, his family deeply loved each other and God.
Unfortunately, despite being taught all the right principles this boy, Andrew, still lacked clarity, self-confidence and direction. Rather than turning to God to solve these problems, Andrew chose to lean on other things for strength -- changing his environment, giving in to peer pressure, chain smoking, getting drunk, even risking his life in battle.
Of course, none of the things he had chosen to lean on restored his love of self, removed his grief and shame, took away his resentments, made him happy or brought him comfort, peace, or joy.
Like Andrew, when the pain of the world descends upon us we must lean on something for support! What will we choose to lean on?
That makes all the difference!
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3:54 Andrew's story 8:31 What do you want to do with your life, Andrew? 10:30 Killing is not the adventure he sought 13:57 Leaning on all the wrong things 25:00 The Bible 28:46 Letting go and Freedom! 30:00 God's smuggler 33:15 Audrey's challenge and the 1st Law of Life Mission
Quotes from this episode: “I left home emotionally as well as physically…how I liked being treated like an adult.” ~Brother Andrew “And instantly I knew that I had been wrong about this adventure. It wasn’t the danger—I liked that—it was the killing. Suddenly targets were no longer pieces of paper stuck up on an earth background, they were fathers and brothers like my own. Often our targets weren’t even in uniform. What was I doing? How had I gotten here? I was more disgusted with myself than I had ever imagined possible.” ~Brother Andrew Brother Andrew's prayer: “Today help me not take a step outside Your will.” “That was the final irony, the final failure. I hadn’t even managed to get my brains blown out. Just a foot. Somehow in all my furious self-destructiveness I had never considered this possibility. I had always seen myself going out in a blaze of contempt for the whole human farce. But to live—and crippled!—that was the meanest fate of all. My great adventure had failed. Worse, I was twenty years old, and I had discovered that there was no real adventure anywhere in the world.” ~Brother Andrew “I said thanks but I didn’t pick [the Bible] up. I doubt if I ever would have, except for the nuns….The hospital to which I had been assigned was run by Franciscan sisters. I soon fell in love with every one of them…" ~Brother Andrew “He asks for so little in order to give us so much.” ~Brother Andrew
“'Why, Andrew, you ought to know the answer to that—a good Dutch boy like you. It’s the love the Christ.’ When she said it, her eyes sparkled, and I knew without question that for her this was the whole answer...” ~from God's Smuggler
“It is just when we are weakest that God can use us most.” ~Brother Andrew “What was I hanging on to? I lay on my back with my hands under my head staring at the darkened ceiling and all at once, very quietly, I let go of my ego. With a new note in the wind yelling at me not to be a fool, I turned myself over to God—lock, stock, and adventure. There wasn’t much faith in my prayer. I just said, ‘Lord, if You will show me the way, I will follow You. Amen. ...although I had thrown away every shred of self-defense, I felt secure in a way I had never before known. I woke up with such joy welling in me that I had to tell someone.” ~Brother Andrew “Fast as we could give money away, God was always swifter.” ~Brother Andrew
Books from this episode:
Links from this episode:
“No mere acquisition of knowledge was of any value in her eyes in comparison with a longing to dedicate it to the service of humanity.” ~Francis Tiffany about Dorothea Dix Dorothea Dix was remarkable!
Despite being raised by a mentally ill father, deprived of a proper education, born down by the early responsibility of two younger brothers and suffering from her own physical illnesses, Dorothea determined to make something beautiful and purposeful of her life.
Not surprisingly, her life perfectly exemplifies the 7 Laws of Life Mission. Through her determination to love God and serve Him, she learned to better care for her health, studied hard to gain a deep classical education, took on adult responsibilities at a young age, and came to love people of all cultures and faiths. Then, as it always does, her calling came when she visited insane women in prison. Moved by deep compassion for their helpless state, she determined to spend the rest of her life championing the cause of the insane poor in a world that was indifferent to their plight.
The story of Dorothea's life will encourage and inspire you to strive a little harder to fulfill your own life mission!
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
4:47 Her feelings on being a public figure 9:22 Her father 12:20 Leaving home-Her grandmother 15:10 Determined to teach 18:37 Law 1 - Letters of examination 20:09 Law 2 - Love of self 22:25 Law 3 - Love of truth 23:51 Law 4 - Love of humanity 26:20 How she gained a love of humanity 31:42 Law 5 - The catalyst for her work 34:25 Law 6 - She studies insanity 36:04 The Massachusetts Legislature 39:04 Law 7 - Being a voice for good
Quotes from this episode: “I feel it right to say to you frankly that nothing could be undertaken which would give me more pain and serious annoyance, which would so trespass on my personal rights,…or interfere more seriously with the real usefulness of my mission. I am not ambitious of nominal distinctions, and notoriety is my special aversion. My reputation and my services belong to my country.” ~Dorothea Dix
“I never knew childhood!” ~Dorothea Dix
“Eager for knowledge, ambitious for more refined and intellectual social opportunities, loaded down already with a premature sense of responsibility, thus early had the iron entered her soul, and the conviction been developed in her of the reality and sharpness of the battle of life.” ~Francis Tiffany “To become independent in means, to educate herself for a position that would command support and respect, to be able to get her two younger brothers under the same roof with her and enact the part of child-mother to them—this early developed into the indomitable purpose of her life.” ~Francis Tiffany “Happily preparation for this calling [teacher] was in the line of the deepest instincts of her nature. These were at that time thirst for knowledge and longing to exert direct moral influence.” ~Francis Tiffany “Her sense of pitiful compassion for the ignorant, degraded, and suffering was the strongest element in her being.” ~Francis Tiffany
“The hour of bodily suffering is to me the house of spiritual joy. It is then that most I feel my dependence on God and his power to sustain.” ~Dorothea Dix
“No mere acquisition of knowledge was of any value in her eyes in comparison with a longing to dedicate it to the service of humanity.” ~Francis Tiffany
“…vivid interest in all the branches of natural history, which unquestionably would have asserted itself as the dominant passion of her mind, had it not been overmastered by the still stronger passion for consecrating herself to the relief of human suffering.” ~Francis Tiffany
“But there are duties to be performed here. Life is not to be expended in vain regrets. No day, no hour, comes but brings in its train work to be performed for some useful end,
In 2006, an unknown woman was instrumental in creating and releasing a little documentary titled "The Secret." Its fame grew rapidly through unconventional avenues until it achieved massive worldwide impact. Now, in 2020, a sequel to this documentary is being released in movie form titled: "The Secret: Dare to Dream."
The release of the new movie reminded Audrey of how deeply she had been impacted by the original version in 2006. She decided to returned to it and reviewed its teachings from the new place she finds herself in 15 years later. As she studied it, she was struck by how much she agreed with what was taught--but she was also surprised by how much she argued with it as well.
In this podcast, Audrey shares what she loved and hated most in this documentary and why. She shares her perspective, after 20 years of studying history and learning from the world's greatest philosophers and thinkers, what she believes to be true and false in this movie and why. Then she goes on to share key pieces she believes are missing and why their absence in discussing the law of attraction and envisioning can be so detrimental.
She hopes, through analyzing this documentary, that she can help others on the mission path to look more critically at what is being taught about how we can create the lives we want. She encourages everyone to consider more closely what ideas and principles they adopt. Most of all, she hopes that this podcast will empower everyone to better understand how to move forward in their own mission.
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2:00 An Overview of The Secret 5:50 Infinite power and Natural Law 6:32 The basic premise of The Secret 8:48 Thoughts on positive thinking 9:27 Why Audrey is responding 11:20 Is "the secret" like a genie in a bottle? 13:20 What is missing and cosmic humanism 15:04 Are all desires of equal value? 20:00 Where does God fit in? 21:58 Service and sacrifice
Quotes from this episode: “Creation is always happening.” ~'The Secret'
“Positive thoughts are 100x more powerful than negative ones.” ~'The Secret'
“You are the Michelangelo of your own life. The David you are sculpting is you.” ~Joe Vitale
“You’re getting what you’re feeling about.” ~'The Secret'
“Whatever the mind of man can conceive, it can achieve.”~W. Clement Stone
“I could not allow anything to come in to my mind that would distract me from my goal and my vision.” ~Morris E. Goodman, 'The Miracle Man'
“The idea that all desires are equal is simply not a true principle.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“The universe is abundant. We are meant to be happy and fulfilled, but we are here to learn and grow. Sometimes that includes suffering and sacrifice.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
Books from this episode:
Links from this episode:
“As the rest of the world grew stranger, one thing became increasingly clear....our Bible was the center of an ever-widening circle of help and hope. Like waifs clustered around a blazing fire, we gathered about it, holding out our hearts to its warmth and light. The blacker the night around us grew, the brighter and truer and more beautiful burned the word of God.” ~Corrie ten Boom This is a central classic.
It is the book that gives your life meaning; the book that tells you who you are, why you are on earth and where you will go after death. It governs the choices you make. It tells you what is real. It is the book that is so important to you that you would, like Corrie, risk even life to have it. To you, it is the truth.
Mission driven men and women throughout history have always chosen to make their central classic the center of their lives. In this way, they adopt a truth higher than their own opinions, emotions and tendencies. Through their central classic they become grounded in true principles from which to govern their lives - creating stability and leading them ever closer to peace and happiness.
In this podcast, Audrey discusses not only the importance of making your scripture of utmost importance in your life, but she also gives tips to help your study of scripture come alive. As you emulate the greats in this way, you will watch your life become happier, more joyful, more faithful, and more hopeful.
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2:16 We are moral beings 3:09 The importance of a central classic 6:00 The ten Boom family's commitment to the Bible 8:30 Choosing a central classic 12:07 The "most read book" 14:52 James Madison 17:18 Why live by a central classic 17:58 How we wrongly use the scriptures 19:13 Recommendations for studying your central classic 21:25 Using the Five Types of Questions
Quotes from this episode: “This is a central classic. It is the book that gives your life meaning. The book that tells you who you are, why you are on earth and where you will go after death. It governs the choices you make. It tells you what is real. It is the book that is so important to you that you would, like Corrie, risk even life to have it. To you, it is the truth. ” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“The Bible was a whole literature, a library. It was an anthology of poetry and short stories. It taught history, biography, biology, geography, philosophy, political science, psychology, hygiene, and sociology (statistical at that), in addition to cosmogony, ethics and theology. ” ~Jacques Barzun
“The Holy Scripture is to me, and always will be, the constant guide of my assent; and I shall always hearken to it, as containing the infallible truth relating to things of highest concernment…and I shall presently condemn and quit any opinion of mine, as soon as I am shown that it is contrary to any revelation in the Holy Scripture.” ~James Madison
“While the Bible has served as the central classic for the West, there are also central classics in the East—The Vedas, Bhagavadgita, The Koran, Writings of Confucius and others. Other civilizations such as the American Indians and the early Hindus have had oral traditions... All of these central classics, written or oral, have taught about the beginning of the world, how man came into being, why he is now on earth and what he should do with his life. These are timeless questions that all human beings have sought answers to. And a central classic lies at the center of whatever belief system you adopt. ” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“One day, in heaven, we will have complete insight and knowledge, but here below we have to grasp many things without fully understanding them. We have to make a clear choice between man's scientific criticism and the declaration, “It is written.””~Casper ten Boom
“It is essential...that you should form and adopt certain rules or ...
“It is shortsighted to say that feminism is a Biblical problem or that it is predominantly a Western problem.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
Although most women in medieval times did not have the opportunity to utilize all of their gifts and talents , some amazing women were able to rise above their status and have a positive impact on society.
Here is your introduction to seven of them! Through learning their stories we are introduced to a different view of women in this time period. We see women leading in political positions, as artisans, through running organizations, as writers, and other capacities. We also come to see the reality that even in medieval times, there were men who respected women, believed in them and even followed them.
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3:50 Women's inferiority owing to the Bible and church refuted 7:45 What we know about Medieval women 10:58 Theodora of Byzantium 12:35 Hilda, Abbess of Whitby 14:03 Ende the Illuminator 14:47 Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians 15:55 Hrotsvitha of Gandersheim 17:57 Hildegard of Bingen 19:07 Marie de France
Quotes from this episode: “It is shortsighted to say that feminism is a Biblical problem or that it is predominantly a Western problem.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“The middle class has always been the core of any thriving society. Men relied on their wives to raise children, run the household, help with businesses, and to work hard physically. Men treated them more equally than in the higher levels of society.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
Books from this episode:
“If the conversation is worth having, it's worth doing right.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
We LOVE principles! We know they matter and we desperately want to share them with those we love. But... sharing principles can be tricky! When wanting to share the truths we've learned, we might be asking ourselves: How do I know I'm right? How much should I say? What if they won't listen? What if it hurts our relationship? Yet, we should actually be asking ourselves: Is it my place to be talking to them? Are my motives pure or am I trying to "fix" them? Do we have the kind of relationship that makes it possible for them to hear and accept what I'm sharing? Do I understand the principle and live it well enough? In this podcast, Audrey as she shares 10 Steps that will help you determine the what, when, where and how of sharing the principles you love with the people you love!
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1:37 Step 1 8:12 Step 2 12:57 Step 3 16:41 Step 4 18:32 Step 5 20:59 Step 6 23:38 Step 7 25:29 Step 8 27:02 Benjamin Franklin 31:40 Step 9 30:59 Step 10
Quotes from this episode: “No amount of good behavior can make up for how you truly feel about someone. Get your heart in the right place.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” ~Theodore Roosevelt
“Everyone hates a hypocrite. Make sure your life is in harmony with what you want to teach.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“[Make] direct amends...wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.” ~Alcoholics Anonymous
“Check in with your stewardship. It's not always your place to say anything.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Nobody wants your advice unless they ask for it, and even then, they usually don't want it.”~Audrey Rindlisbacher's mom
“Be prepared to be ignored: even Jesus couldn't convince everyone.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Stories are the most powerful and memorable thing you can share. When they remember the story, they remember the principle.”~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Show up humble and vulnerable.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“If the conversation is worth having, it's worth doing right.”~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Faith is based on evidence. Evidence weighs in favor of truth.”~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“The most powerful thing we can do for anyone is to ask the right question at the right time.”~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Because we are creators by nature, when we're asked a good question it can have more power than almost anything else.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
Books from this episode:
“I believe that God made me for a purpose - to be a missionary in China. But He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure! ~Eric Liddell The incredible true story of Eric Liddell is one of overcoming self, obedience to God, and service born of love for others. Best known as an Olympic Gold medalist, many don't realize that Liddell spent most of his life striving to bring others to God. In fact, he didn't just give to others all his life, in the end, he gave his life as well.
His impact his been worldwide and lasting - as a son, a friend, a father, a husband, an athlete, a teacher, an author and a missionary. His work ethic, kindness and devotion to God make him a hero for all of us. His story will inspire and motivate you to follow his example and give just a little more for God.
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1:30 Childhood in China 5:36 Becoming an athlete 7:15 College 11:10 Beginning to preach 14:19 Sportsmanship 16:56 1924 Olympics 22:49 Teaching in China & Marriage 25:19 Internment camp 32:43 The Disciplines of the Christian Life
Quotes from this episode: *All Eric Liddell quotes are from his book The Disciplines of the Christian Life “The Christian life should be a life of growth. I believe the secret of growth is to develop the devotional life. This involves setting aside each day a time for prayer and Bible study. The time need not be long but it should be unhurried. We should bring to it in an honest spirit, prepared to face the challenge of God’s Word as it lays down a way of life, and prepared to face any inconsistencies in our lives which make them un-Christlike.” ~Eric Liddell “The ideal way [to surrender to God] would be to take what you feel should be surrendered and in prayer, on your knees before God, tell him all. Hide nothing; be honest in your attitude towards it and towards God. Wait on your knees till you know you have God’s forgiveness and that your surrender has been accepted. “ ~Eric Liddell
“Many of us have found the surrender more satisfactory and complete by first sharing it, that is, talking it over with a friend who understands. This is hard. I know it is hard. It strikes at one of the most deep-rooted sins, namely pride, and that is what makes it so difficult. It seems harder to tell someone else than to tell God. Yet it shouldn’t be. We often take things to God in such a way that it cost us very little, more in the attitude of justifying our failure than confessing out guilt. It is here that a true friend can be so helpful, bringing out the points that need to be surrendered. Together turn in prayer to make your surrender to God. In quiet, wait for God, to know what you should do about it.” ~Eric Liddell
“Self-examination which does not result in action is dangerous. What am I going to do about what I see? The action called for is surrender—of ourselves to God." ~Eric Liddell
“A disciple is one who knows God personally, and who learns from Jesus Christ, who most perfectly revealed God. One word stands out from all others as the key to knowing God, to having his peace and assurance in your heart; it is obedience.” ~Eric Liddell "Here are four tests of the moral law by which to measure ourselves—and so obey the biblical commands.
Am I truthful? Am I honest? Am I pure? Am I selfish?"
“Obedience to God’s will is the secret of spiritual knowledge and insight. It is not willingness to know, but willingness to do (obey) God’s will that brings enlightenment and certainty regarding spiritual truth. ‘If any man will do [obey] his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself’ (John 7:17).'" ~Eric Liddell
“Following truth leads to God, for truth is of God." ~Eric Liddell
“Obedience is the secret of being conscious that God guides you personally.
Do you ever wish you could figure out why you aren't as happy as you think you should be? Do you struggle with a sense of insecurity? Does social media make you feel inferior because, as a social mirror, you don't look as good as your friends. Do you struggle to change deeply embedded habits? Are you ever immobilized when what you want is to be productive. Have you felt a yearning for a deep sense of worth, the capacity to change for the better, a desire to feel whole? As she began learning about principles and laws, these were some of the things Audrey was wrestling with. Haven't we all? In this weeks podcast Audrey shares some transformative information on Law 1 of Life mission - Love God, and Principle 1 of that law - PRAYER. As we learn more about our relationship to God and how to access him through prayer, "We can hone in on security, guidance, wisdom and power through our closeness to God." Join Audrey this week and expand your knowledge about your relationship to God and prayer. She also shares her own personal experience with prayer and tips that can help you make prayer more effective in your life.
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1:24 Audrey's daughter's experience with Law 1 and centers 6:58 The four abilities being God centered gives us 14:52 The difference in prayer, meditation, visualization 16:53 Prayer as a stand-alone principle 18:53 1st purpose of prayer 22:16 2nd purpose of prayer 24:04 3rd purpose of prayer 26:52 4th purpose of prayer 29:54 Parable of the unjust judge 33:41 Audrey's tips for more effective prayer
“The principles don’t change; our understanding of them does.” ~Stephen Covey “The only real limitation of power is the natural consequences of the principles themselves.” ~Stephen Covey “Because principles apply to everyone, whether or not why are aware, this limitation is universal. And the more we know of correct principles, the greater is our personal freedom to act wisely.” ~Stephen Covey “By centering our lives on timeless, unchanging principles, we create a fundamental paradigm of effective living. It is the center that puts all other centers in perspective.” ~Stephen Covey “We can hone in on great security, guidance, wisdom, and power through our closeness to God." ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
"Having a divine center goes beyond having a principle center because when we are God centered it is about a relationship. Because of that relationship He can lift us and buoy us up in a way that laws and principles cannot." ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“We never know how God will answer our prayers, but we can expect that He will get us involved in His plan for the answer. If we are true intercessors, we must be ready to take part in God’s work on behalf of the people for whom we pray." ~Corrie ten Boom
Books from this episode:
ARE YOU CONFUSED BY THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT? If so, you are not alone! Today we are taught that throughout history men have been trying to oppress women. Most people believe that men have always considered women inferior to them and wanted to use them for their own selfish purposes. As Audrey wrestled with this controversy she wondered if this is really the whole truth. Could there be more to the story? she wanted to know. Through her research and study she discovered that there definitely is! To her delight, she found proof that the debate about women and womanhood goes back to ancient times. In fact, she learned that the feminist movement as we know it today is new--not even a hundred years old. In this insightful and illuminating podcast, Audrey takes us back to the ancients in the Western World and shows us their views, beliefs, and debates about women's strengths, virtues, and place in society. Throughout this podcast we are privy to original sources from the great thinkers and we get a rare view of both sides of the debate. In part one of her series on feminism, you will be encouraged and delighted to learn that from the beginning there have been men working to honor and protect women.
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4:27 What makes a woman a hero 9:12 Plato 15:22 Aristotle 18:19 Plutarch 21:29 Telesilla of Argos 24:12 Solon 25:34 Euripides/Andromache 28:17 The Suppliant and Trojan Women 29:45 Aristophanes 30:59 Herodotus 31:35 The Muses and Oracles
“Meno says: ‘A woman’s virtue if you wish to know about that, may also be easily described: her duty is to order her house, and keep what is indoors, and obey her husband.’ ‘You say, Meno, that there is one virtue of a man, another of a woman, another of a child, and so on…[but] will not virtue, as virtue, be the same, whether in a child or a grown-up person, in a woman or in a man?’ ‘I cannot help feeling, Socrates that this case is different from the others.’ ‘But why? Were you not saying that the virtue of man was to order a state, and the virtue of a woman was to order a house? ‘I did say so.’ ‘And can either house or state or anything be well ordered without temperance and without justice?’ ‘Certainly not.’ ‘Then both men and women, if they are to be good men and women, must have the same virtues of temperance and justice.’ ~Plato
“...if the difference consists only in women bearing and men begetting children, this does not amount to a proof that a woman differs from a man in respect of the sort of education she should receive.” ~Plato
“Men and women alike possess the qualities which make a guardian; they differ only in their comparative strength or weakness.”~Plato
“Clearly, then, moral virtue belongs to all of them; but the temperance of a man and of a woman, or the courage and justice of a man and of a woman, are not as Socrates maintained, the same; the courage of a man is how in commanding, of a woman in obeying.” ~Aristotle
“...he who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.”~Aristotle
“I do not hold the same opinion as Thucydides. For he declares that the best woman is she about whom there is the least talk among persons outside regarding either censure or commendation, feeling that the name of the good woman, like her person, ought to be shut up indoors and never go out.” ~Plutarch
“... man's virtues and woman's virtues are one and the same.”~Plutarch
“...let us not postulate many different kinds of bravery, wisdom, and justice...” ~Plutarch
“...many deeds worthy of mention have been done by women both in association with other women and by themselves alone...”~Plutarch
She, as they say, was the daughter of a famous house but sickly in body, and so she sent to the god to ask about health; and when an oracle was given her to cultivate the Muses,
Early in Audrey's parenting, she realized how difficult it can be to teach children responsibility, especially in today’s “entitlement” environment. It can seem like everyone has their hand out and is focused on what’s in it for them. How, she wondered, can moms raise conscientious, responsible adults in a positive, empowering way? Then she ran across a phrase in Stephen Covey’s book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - responsibility is actually two words: response and ability! With this new insight, Audrey was able to fashion and practice a new way of teaching responsibility to her children that has born good fruits. Understanding what responsibility is and how it is attached to privileges has made a huge difference, not only in her ability to manage her children and home, but it has enabled her children to take ownership of themselves and their lives and begin pursuing their own God-given missions with excitement. The simple process she lays out in this podcast will empower you to do the same for yourself and your children!
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1:21 Definition of responsibility 4:40 Definition of privilege 5:50 Structure and purpose of the family meeting 8:27 Explanation of the diagram 15:35 How taking responsibility allows children to begin shaping their lives 19:55 Keep the energy of your family meeting positive 22:15 The end goal for your family meeting 24:10 Consequences 29:00 A new privilege can become a new responsibility 33:54 The principle 34:23 A few warnings 37:56 Who has authority
Quotes from this episode: "Young people innately desire to know what the principles are. They are yearning for the teacher who can unveil them, who invites their examination."~Neil Flinders
"As we get older we are capable of more and it's our responsibility to do the things we're capable of. If we're capable of doing something, that becomes our new responsibility." ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
"As our children grow, with every new age comes new abilities, but these can be challenging. We all have to grow in our capacity. Attaching a privilege to increase motivation can be very, very helpful." ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
"The level at which people are truly responsible for what they are capable of doing is the greatest gauge of life's satisfaction, growth, and success." ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
"As teenagers strain relationships with adults to test the limits of their freedom, they rebel against what they interpret as injustice or hypocrisy." ~Neil Flinders
Books from this episode:
For months Audrey felt like she was stuck. She knew what she needed to do but couldn't bring herself to do it.
Has this ever happened to you?
Thinking the time just wasn't right, Audrey continually put off the next step until it was clear that she was drowning and had to do something. Yet, every time she tried to take action, she just couldn't bring herself to pull the trigger.
Finally, the realization struck - she was immobilized by fear! Through recognizing that fear was stopping her, taking the time to name all her fears and then working things through with God and her family, she was finally released from the fear that gripped her and was freed to move forward in her mission journey!
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1:10 Audrey's preparation for MDM 4:45 MDM is growing 6:54 "I'm going to hire a secretary" 12:00 Audrey figures out its fear 14:22 Her fears 16:31 How God helped Audrey 18:45 Audrey's hesitations about sharing 21:33 Audrey talks to her family 23:43 Fear defined 25:40 The truth sets you free
Quotes from this episode: "The truth shall make you free." ~Jesus
"If you're putting off things you know you should do, maybe you're struggling with fear." ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
"Fear is the anticipation of evil." ~Aristotle
"Attack your fears, find the truth, and let it set you free from the fears that are stopping you from the personal growth you're being urged on to." ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
Books from this episode:
"The power of believing in a personal mission is a principle that had had an impact on my own life..." ~Richard Paul Evans Richard Paul Evans is a true believer not only in a loving God but in God's desire to communicate and guide us in our personal life missions! In fact, the principle of life mission has so radically transformed his own life that Evans travels the globe sharing the message of life mission everywhere he goes. And, wanting to reach an even larger audience, Evans shared his insights about life mission in his book The Four Doors.
Not surprisingly, Richard Paul Evans is himself a perfect example of a mission driven life - having lived the 7 Laws of Life Mission without even realizing it! His story is replete with profound spiritual experiences, a strong focus on self-discovery, an on-going submission to truth and principles and a love of learning that were the perfect preparation for the powerful influence he's had in the world. With 38 million copies of his books in print, translated into 24 languages, Evans has earned a gigantic platform from which to share God's love - and he does it beautifully.
From his difficult childhood experiences to his failed businesses in his 20's, Evans is no stranger to loss and suffering. Yet, he has used his solid foundation to overcome his challenges and sacrifice immensely to realize his God-given missions. The hope and healing he has provided to millions is an amazingly inspiring legacy.
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1:40 The impact of Richard's story on Audrey 3:30 Richard's difficult childhood 6:16 His mother's depression 9:21 His grandfather's spiritual power 13:30 Other childhood challenges 14:50 Youth and young adulthood 18:15 Marriage and fatherhood 21:44 Business and politics 24:28 Evans and the 7 Laws of Life Mission 33:47 Turning his will over to God 38:43 Loving truth and humanity with his whole heart 40:40 Favorite quotes from Richard Paul Evans
Quotes from this episode: “I believe in God…I believe in an all-loving, purposeful God who is willing to give us hard things so might spiritually progress…In addition to my belief in God, these principles comprise the core of my personal belief system and I believe are, to a large degree, self-evident.” “Few things promise more excitement and joy than learning, self-discovery, and self-improvement.” “The power of believing in a personal mission is a principle that had had an impact on my own life and has led me to achieve things that I would have never dreamed possible…My personal belief in a divine life mission has brought me hope, understanding, and meaning throughout my life.” “As a believer in Divine intervention, I also believe that we are sometimes given specific direction to fulfill our missions…Implicit in our belief in a divine life mission is the importance of listening to those internal voices that may direct us for good.” “Fame and greatness are not the same thing. There are great people in this world—people of great accomplishment and service to humanity—who are not famous…In most cases, true greatness is a silent and lonely affair…To be of value to others is a far greater ambition than the vain hope for the world’s fleeting applause and fickle admiration.” “The work of spiritual liberation is the work of God. Asking for Divine assistance to free ourselves from destructive and flawed mental maps is a powerful and, arguably, necessary first step…This principle correlates with six of the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.” “To magnify our lives is to take those talents and gifts unique to each of us and with them, utilizing imagination, risk, work and consistent effort, make more out our lives. As the parable promises, in this we will find joy.” “I believe that preceding teaching personal and spiritual victory there must be a moment of adversity—a literal trial of spirit. These dark times,
"My dear children, I am very anxious that you should know something about the History of Jesus Christ. For everybody ought to know about Him. No one ever lived who was so good, so kind, so gentle, and so sorry for all people who did wrong, or were in any way ill or miserable, as He was." ~Charles Dickens With so much busyness and commercialism all around us at this time of year, and many mixed messages about the real meaning of Christmas, these 3 amazing books offer opportunities to everyone in our families to reconnect with the true "Christmas spirit"! A precious story about the life of Christ which Dickens wrote just for his family, a classic tale of a miserly man's change of heart, and a novel rich with redemptive and sacrificial symbolism will re-center you in the true reason we celebrate Christmas - the birth of the One who has made salvation a reality for all of us.
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1:38 What is the "Christmas Spirit"? 2:51 The Life of Our Lord's history 6:10 What did Dickens really believe about Jesus? 11:39 Favorite quotes from The Life of Our Lord 15:05 A Christmas Carol 21:35 Themes in A Tale of Two Cities 25:05 Plot and favorite quotes from A Tale of Two Cities
Quotes from this episode: "At last there came a poor widow who dropped in two mites, each half a farthing in value, and then went quietly away. Jesus, seeing her do this, as He rose to leave the place called His Disciples about Him, and said to them that that poor widow had been more truly charitable than all the rest who had given money that day; for the others were rich and would never miss what they had given, but she was very poor, and had given those two mites which might have bought her bread to eat. Let us never forget what the poor widow did, when we think we are charitable."
"Remember!--It is Christianity TO DO GOOD, always--even to those who do evil to us. It is Christianity to love our neighbors as ourself, and to do to all men as we would have them do to us. It is Christianity to be gentle, merciful, and forgiving, and to keep those qualities quiet in our own hearts, and never make a boast of them, or of our prayers or of our love of God, but always to show that we love Him by humbly trying to do right in everything."
"'Good Spirit,' he pursued, as down upon the ground he fell before it: 'Your nature intercedes for me, and pities me. Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life!...I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!' In his agony, he caught up the spectral hand. It sought to free itself, but he was strong in his entreaty, and detained it. The Spirit, stronger yet, repulsed him. Holding up his hands in one last prayer to have his fate reversed, he saw an alteration in the Phantom's hood and dress. It shrunk, collapsed, and dwindled down into a bedpost...He was so fluttered and so glowing with his good intentions, that his broken voice would scarcely answer to his call. He had been sobbing violently in his conflict with the Spirit, and his face was wet with tears."
"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." John 11:25
Books from this episode:
“God orders me to fulfill the philosopher’s mission of searching into myself and other men...I say again that daily to discourse about virtue, and of those other things about which you hear me examining myself and others, is the greatest good of man, and that the unexamined life is not worth living.” ~Socrates In this second podcast in the series we dive in to two Ancient Greek writings - Oedipus Rex and Apology - and look for the ideas around the Mantic-Sophic debate that they bring to the forefront. In Oedipus Rex we see the true purpose Sophocles had in writing it - to convince the Greeks to let God lead their lives. In Apology we get the real story from Socrates when he tells us he has been accused only because he is devoted to his mission from God.
These and other Ancient Greek writings, when seen through the eyes of the Mantic vs. Sophic frame of reference, come alive with a civilization that looks very much like our own. One where smart men who think they've discovered all the answers and no longer need God, seek to persuade others to abandon their faith and lean on reason alone. Yet the greats hold strong and stand up for God and truth - sometimes at the expense of their lives.
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3:33 Greek culture at the time of Oedipus Rex 6:20 Sophocles' purpose 8:29 Background of the play 11:00 Oedipus commits to follow God 14:56 Oedipus begins to turn on everyone - reveals his Sophic beliefs 18:11 Oedipus' real history 22:00 How Oedipus was not "fated" 26:38 Background of Apology - conversion of Socrates and Plato 28:52 Why Socrates was on trial 31:50 Socrates' mission
Quotes from this episode: “Both Plato and Aristotle placed inspiration above reason and moral insight…because it comes from God—for while reason is far from infallible, ‘the sureness of inspiration, on the other hand, is like lightning.'” ~from "Three Shrines: Mantic, Sophic and Sophistic" “‘When I was young,’ Plato wrote about Socrates, ‘I was fanatically devoted to the intellectual quest which they call natural science. Filled with pride and youthful conceit, I was convinced that I could know the reason for everything…I was always experimenting to discover the secrets of nature and life.’ He was convinced, as was Socrates, ‘that no one need look any farther than science for the answers to everything.’ That is the ‘Sophic’ state of mind clearly set forth. Then it was, he says, that he read the passage that completely changed his point of view: ‘There is a mind that orders things and causes all things to be.’ The idea electrified him: he turned from the majority to join a very small minority. ‘Shall we say,’ he asks in discussing the nature of the earth, ‘that God the Creator made it? Or would you prefer the teaching and language that everybody follows today—that it all came about simply by spontaneous cause and without any intelligence?’ Here we have the basic dichotomy: on the one hand, things just happen—the physics holds itself the explanation for everything; on the other hand, things do not just happen. Note well that in Plato’s day public opinion was all on the side of the former…At the end of life Socrates explained that he had taken the course he had through the years ‘because, as I said, the way was shown me by God through oracles and dreams and by whatever other means divine providence directs the actions of men.’ He was dead serious about this…'Now my concern is how I may present my soul to the judge in its healthiest condition.’ The next world and the judgment are his guiding light.” ~from "Three Shrines: Mantic, Sophic and Sophistic" “No, the Greeks did not have the true religion: even Plato didn’t, and he knew he didn’t. His Socrates is a seeker, convinced as he is that true enlightenment can come only by revelation.” ~from "Three Shrines: Mantic, Sophic and Sophistic" “Plato is simply appalled at the Athenians’ lack of beli...
"'Blessed be the God in heaven who has brought us over this vast and furious ocean,' he prayed, 'You have delivered us from the perils and miseries at sea and set our feet on firm and stable ground--our proper place to dwell. For this we thank You and bless You.'" So many versions of the First Thanksgiving are told today! With Thanksgiving coming soon, we thought we'd bypass others' opinions and go right to the original source. To do this we learned all about the central figure that made it all possible - William Bradford. As a major driving force behind the escape to Holland, the decision to seek religious freedom in the New World, finding financial backers for their venture, determining the exact location for their colony, building peaceful relations with the local Indians and keeping everyone alive for the first 3 years, Bradford played THE biggest role in making the Plymouth Plantation a key part in America's eventual success. In this podcast, you'll hear about the tremendous number of losses he experienced as a young boy, his phenomenal education and spiritual preparation, his personal sacrifices, and the exceptional leadership he provided as Plymouth's governor for 36 years. Make sure to share this story with all you love so they can appreciate with heartfelt gratitude this Thanksgiving the rich heritage they've been given.
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0:43 Update on hard copies of The Mission Driven Life book, Podcasts, and Cottage Meetings 6:00 William Bradford's early years 9:40 Bradford's education 11:55 King James' reforms and Puritanism 14:35 Bradford tries out Puritanism 16:30 Bradford's attempts to escape 18:54 Conditions in Holland 21:28 The decision to move to the New World and the search for investors 25:35 Merchant Adventurers change the deal and they sail to America 29:55 The Mayflower Compact and the first prayer 35:00 Samoset and Squanto arrive and help the Puritans 38:00 Plymouth colony and Massasoit sign a peace treaty, the "First Thanksgiving" 40:11 Merchant Adventurers make things harder 42:40 Principles Bradford honored and led with
Quotes from this episode: *All quotes from William Bradford, Plymouth's Rock by Janet and Geoff Benge and Of Plymouth Plantation: The Pilgrims in America by William Bradford
"Williams was a good student and soon mastered reading, writing, and arithmetic. Most of all, he enjoyed reading, in particular, one book his tutor loaned him, Foxe's Book of Martyrs."
"Tears ran down the faces of the Separatist men as they looked back in horror, realizing that their wives and children and their fellow Separatist men were being left behind and they were helpless to do anything about it."
"It was challenging to feed and clothe everyone...everyone had to work hard to raise the money needed to survive. Even the children, some as young as four years old, had to work...The truth was, if a family could not make enough money, they were in danger of starving to death...A number of people lived in cramped quarters, where disease was a constant threat. Several children had died, including the Brewsters' new baby. Many families worked with linen, and over the years, tiny, wiry flax fibers had lodged in their lungs, making it hard to breathe."
Mayflower Compact:
"In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereigne Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britaine, France and Ireland king, defender of the faith, etc. having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honour of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civill body politick, for our better ordering and preservation,
Today we are led to believe that the fight between religion and science is something new. We are told that it is a radically new idea that the earth originated through spontaneous causes. And we are taught that ancient people only believed in God because they couldn't explain natural phenomenon.
NOTHING could be further from the truth!
These ideas were prevalent in many civilizations, including Ancient Greece. The Greeks not only believed in a God that revealed truths to mankind and an afterlife where we would be held accountable to Him for our choices, they understood the need for worship and holy places to make us more virtuous and pure.
This two-part podcast series first introduces you to the key words and ideas that clarify these religious debates, then it takes you into ancient writings to explore them and see how the religious debates we see around us are nothing new--they are actually very old.
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2:42 Mantic defined 5:35 Sophic defined 9:05 "Harmonizing" them 14:47 Civilizations "created by God" 17:05 Mysteries of Eleusis 19:55 Musaeus 24:40 Religion was institutionalized 25:45 Creation as an act of God
Quotes from this episode: All quotes from “Three Shrines: Mantic, Sophic, Sophistic” by Stephen D Ricks, Donald W. Parry and Hugh Nibley found in The Ancient State: The Rulers and the Ruled MANTIC “The Greek word Mantic simply means prophetic or inspired, oracular, coming from the other world and not from the resources of the human mind.” “‘Vertical’ Judaism, i.e. the belief in the real and present operation of divine gifts by which one receives constant guidance from the other world.” “It supplies the element of hope in our lives by assuring us of the reality of things beyond.” “Those who share the Mantic hope of things beyond, whatever those things may be, are in a very real sense a community of believers, just as Christians, Jews and Moslems form a fellowship of ‘the People of the Book,’ because of their belief in inspired books—even though they may not agree as to which books are the inspired ones.” “None is more insistent on the need for revelation than Plato. Plato was the greatest champion of the Mantic.” Revelation, supernatural, duality, what’s to come SOPHIC “The Sophic, on the other hand, is the tradition which boasted its cool, critical, objective, naturalistic and scientific attitude; its Jewish equivalent is called ‘horizontal’ Judaism—scholarly, bookish, halachic, intellectual, rabbinical. All religions seem to make some distinction.” “On the other hand, the Sophic society unitedly rejects the Mantic proposition, and it too forms a single community.” Reason, materialism, here and now, naturalistic SOPHISTIC “Sophistic came to be identical with Rhetorical, that is, a pseudothought form which merely imitated the other two in an attempt to impress the public.” “HARMONIZING” SOPHIC AND MANTIC “Whoever accepts the Sophic attitude must abandon the Mantic, and vice versa. It is the famous doctrine of Two Ways found among the Orientals, Greeks and early Christians—if you try to compromise between them you get nowhere, because as one of the Apostolic Fathers points out, they lead in opposite directions.” “It is when one seeks to combine or reconcile the Sophic and the Mantic that trouble begins.” MANTIC IN HISTORY “Each great civilization thought of itself as having been carefully planned in the beginning, all its rites and patterns handed down from above, a complete, perfect structure, planned in detail from the beginning as the faithful reflection of a heavenly prototype present in sacred books of great antiquity. Over against this, the Sophic presented a theory of the evolution of man from his primitive beginnings, following ‘natural laws,’ a theory which armies of dedicated researchers have failed to make even momentarily watertight to this day; not that it mig...
"I had an inner certainty that I was on the right path in my life—the path God had chosen for me. Great things were going to happen in my life, and I had to do my part by preparing myself and being ready." ~Ben Carson What if we just assumed that God has a specific path for us? What if we knew that "great things were going to happen in our lives"? Would we see our lives differently? Would we see ourselves differently?
By the time Ben Carson was in his early 20's, there was no question in his mind that God had big plans for him and that it was his job to put in the work and prepare himself thoroughly.
How as this made possible? Because of his mother! Ben could never have become the man he became or had the influence in the world he now has without the determination, vision, encouragement and hard work of his mother.
This family is an incredible model for us to follow through all the 7 Laws of Life Mission -- as they devoted their lives to God, cared for themselves, embraced truth and educated themselves out of poverty and into the highest offices in the country!
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2:27 Sonya Carson's early years 9:37 How Sonya handled opposition 14:00 How Sonya became self-reliant 20:02 How Sonya parented her boys and helped them get world-class educations 26:25 Carsons and the 7 Laws 29:18 Ben's spiritually transforming experiences
Quotes from this episode (all quotes from Ben Carson): “Part of mother’s strength came from a deep-seated faith in God and perhaps just as much from her innate ability to inspire Curtis and me to know she meant every word she said.” “Mother never let on how it hurt her, but her treatment in a mental hospital provided neighbors with a hot topic of gossip, perhaps even more because she had gone through a divorce. Both problems created serious stigmas at the time. Mother not only had to cope with providing a home and making a living to support us, but most of her friends disappeared when she needed them most…'I just decided that I had to go about my own business,’ Mother once told me, ‘and ignore what people said.’ She did, but it couldn’t have been easy.” “Of course, mother worked. Constantly. She seldom had much free time, but she showered that time on Curtis and me, which made up for the hours she was away…No matter how tired she was, if we were still up when she got home, mother didn’t fail to ask about school.” “‘That’s what I want to do,’ I said to my mother as we walked home. ‘I want to be a doctor. Can I be a doctor, mother? ‘Bennie,’ she said, ‘listen to me.’ We stopped walking and mother stared into my eyes. Then laying her hands on my thin shoulders, she said, ‘If you ask the Lord for something and believe He will do it, then it’ll happen.’ ‘I believe I can be a doctor.’ “Then, Bennie, you will be a doctor,’ she said matter-of=factly, and we started to walk on again.” “Mother had a goal in mind…she planned to go back and reclaim the house we’d lived in…’Boys,’ she told us as the weeks and months passed, ‘just wait. We’re going back to outhouse on Deacon Street. We may not be able to afford living in it now, but we’ll make it. In the meantime, we can still use the rent we get from it.’ Not a day passed that mother didn’t talk about going home. Determination burned in her eyes, and I never doubted that we would.” “My mother worked two and three jobs at a time…She was especially interested in the people, because most of the time she worked for the wealthy. She’d come home and tell us, ‘This is what wealthy people do. This is how successful people behave. Here’s how they think.’ She constantly drilled this kind of information into my brother and me. ‘Now you boys can do it too,’ she’d say with a smile adding, and you can do it better!’” “'I’ve decided you boys are watching too much television,’ she said one evening, snapping off the set in the middle of a program…From now on,
“We want to love God-not with an empty, small, or flabby mind, but with a mind as large, as vigorous, and as disciplined as we can possibly make it.” ~Dr. Arnold Green Our 1st Annual MDM Celebration event was a great success! We loved spending the day with stellar moms, collaborating and learning from each other and especially gaining insights and principles for better discernment. Check out these highlights from the event!
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2:40 Introduction to Discernment 6:45 Judgment 11:07 Indoctrination 19:20 Workshops 22:00 Social Discernment 25:16 Spiritual Discernment 29:38 Cultural Discernment
Quotes from this episode: “Moral education is impossible apart from the habitual vision of greatness.” ~Alfred North Whitehead “Mr. Hutchins and I…taught a course in the philosophy of education last year. It was taken by men and women who were candidates for the Ph.D. in education, many of whom were already in responsible teaching or administrative positions. We began with this definition: ‘Education is the process where by the power of human nature become developed by good habits.’ I have italicized the word “good” because that, as usual, was the stumbling block. The class objected to the definition as normative; the science of education must be objective. Some of them said there was a nothing good or bad about education, and others shocked us even more by suggestion that education might just as well be a development of bad habits. The argument went on for days, requiring us to get down to fundamentals. In the course of it we discovered that these professionals in education had been thoroughly indoctrinated with scientism and positivism. The mark of indoctrination was that they really couldn’t defend their position; the marks of the doctrine they had swallowed were the familiar denials—of the objectivity of moral standards, of the rationality of men, of any method for answering questions except that of empirical science.” ~Mortimer Adler “A man has as much authority intrinsically as he is able to speak the truth.” ~Mortimer Adler
“Judgment is automatic, like swallowing...judgment must be based on first principles...principles require the exercise of reason and judgment.” ~Thomas Reid
“Love requires wisdom and judgment - knowing what is best for someone and having the spiritual courage and mental discipline to take the necessary action.” ~M. Scott Reid
“When right feelings are not supported by right thinking, good men can be insensibly corrupted.” ~Mortimer Adler “Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can.” ~Samuel Adams “Conscience is the most sacred of all property…and is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate.” ~James Madison “Individual rights are moral principles identifying the social conditions required by man’s nature for his proper survival.” ~Ayn Rand “God has formed us as moral agents...that we may promote the happiness of those with whom He has placed us in society, by acting honestly towards all, benevolently to those who fall within our way, respecting sacredly their rights, bodily and mental, and cherishing especially their freedom of conscience, as we value our own.” ~Thomas Jefferson “We want to love God-not with an empty, small, or flabby mind, but with a mind as large, as vigorous, and as disciplined as we can possibly make it.” ~Dr. Arnold Green “The least stain upon your character will do more harm to your happiness than all accomplishments will do it good.” ~John Adams
Book from this episode (released in hard copy at the event):
Links from this episode (suggested listening for MDM Celebration attendees): Intro to Principles I: Natural Law
Intro to Principles II: First Principles
All of us want the same thing--to be happy. As mothers, we especially want our children to be happy. But how is happiness accomplished? Is happiness something we can control or just something we hope happens to us?
According to Aristotle, happiness is not only within our reach but is attainable for ALL of us! The best part is, in striving for happiness, we become a much better person in the process, because, as Aristotle teaches, happiness is simply the result of becoming a virtuous person!
Listen to this podcast for an overview of Aristotle's incredible classic Nicomachean Ethics where he defines happiness and virtue and then shows us the path to a virtuous, happy life!
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2:10 Happiness and virtue defined 8:00 Courage 15:20 Temperance 17:19 Liberality 21:04 Magnificence 22:25 Proper pride 26:07 Good temper 27:23 Truthfulness 28:17 Justice 30:48 Equity 33:08 Intellectual Virtues
Quotes from this episode: “…happiness is an activity of soul in accordance with perfect virtue…” “Virtue, then, is a state of character concerned with choice, lying in a mean, i.e. the mean relative to us, this being determined by a rational principle, and by that principle by which the man of practical wisdom would determine it.” “…it is no easy task to be good.” “Again, wish relates rather to the end, choice to the means; for instance we wish to be healthy but we choose the acts which will make us healthy.” “…we are masters of our actions from the beginning right to the end…” “…sudden actions must be in accordance with one’s state of character.” “Now by ‘wealth’ we mean all the things whose value is measured by money. Further, prodigality and meanness are excesses and defects with regard to wealth…” “Nor will he neglect his own property, since he wishes by means of this to help others.” “…the liberal are almost the most loved of all virtuous characters since they are useful; and this depends on their giving.” “…for the magnificent man spends not on himself but on public objects.” “For the unduly humble man, being worthy of good things, robs himself of what he deserves, and seems to have something bad about him from the fact that he does not think himself worthy of good things, and seems also not to know himself; else he would have desired the things he was worthy of, since these are good…for each class of people aims at what corresponds to its worthy, and these people stand back even from noble actions and undertakings, deeming themselves unworthy…” “Vain people, on the other hand, are fools and ignorant of themselves, and manifestly; for, not being worthy of them, they attempt honorable undertakings, and then are found out; and they adorn themselves with clothing and outward show and such things, and wish their strokes of good fortune made public, and speak about them as if they would be honored for them. But undue humility is more opposed to pride than vanity is; for it is both commoner and worse.” “When the law speaks universally, then, and a case arises on it which is not covered by the universal statement, then it is right, where the legislator fails us and has erred by over-simplicity, to correct the omission—to say what the legislator himself would have said had he been present, and would have put into his law if he had know.” “If follows that the wise man must not only know what follows from the first principles, but must also possess truth about the first principles.” “…for virtue makes us aim at the right mark, and practical wisdom makes us take the right means.” “If reason is divine, then, in comparison with man, the life according to it is divine in comparison with human life.” “…so far as we can, make ourselves immortal, and strain every nerve to live in accordance with the best thing in us.” “Now if you take away from a living being action, and still more production,
A continuation from part 1, this podcast takes you through the Characteristics of True Principles 7-12. With examples from novels, biographies and self-help books, each characteristic is brought to light and delineated to help you better understand the nature of true principles.
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1:50 7- Empower 9:00 8- Increase desire for good 16:13 9- Generate growth 23:09 10- Improve health 30:20 11- Create win-win solutions 33:47 12- Build unity
Quotes from this episode: "Let us look to America, not in order to make a servile copy of the institutions that she has established, but to gain a clearer view of the polity that will be the best for us; let us look there less to find examples than instruction; let us borrow from her the principles, rather than the details, of her laws." ~Alexis de Tocqueville
"There is only on way under high heaven to get anybody to do anything. Did you ever stop to think of that? Yes, just one way. And that is by making the other person want to do it." ~Dale Carnegie
"Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult--once we truly understand and accept it--then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters." ~M. Scott Peck
"Life is a series of problems. Do we want to moan about them or solve them? Do we want to teach our children to solve them? Discipline is the basic set of tools we require to solve life's problems. Without discipline we can solve nothing...What are these tools, these techniques of suffering, these means of experiencing the pain of problems constructively that I call discipline? There are four: delaying gratification, acceptance of responsibility, dedication to truth, and balancing." ~M. Scott Peck
"Son, there is no question but what the thing you have done today deserves severe punishment. You might have killed yourself or the horse, but much worse than that, you have injured your own character. A man's character is like his house. If he tears boards off his house and burns them to keep himself warm and comfortable his house soon becomes a ruin. If he tells lies to be able to do the things he shouldn't do but wants to, his character will soon become a ruin. A man with a ruined character is a shame on the face of the earth." ~Ralph Moody
"How could I get into the good graces of this man? I remembered the book we were reading aloud by bicycle lamp, How to Win Friends and Influence People. One of the techniques advocated by Dale Carnegie was: find the man's hobby...'How smart of you, Doctor!' I said in German to the grizzled-haired man on the sofa.' 'Smart?' 'Yes, to bring these lovely dogs with you. They must be company when you have to be away from your family.'" ~Corrie ten Boom
"So far as motivational status is concerned, healthy people have sufficiently gratified their basic needs for safety, belongingness, love, respect and self-esteem so that they are motivated primarily by trends to self-actualization, defined as ongoing actualization of potentials, capacities and talents, as fulfillment of mission." ~Abraham Maslow
"Growth is, in itself, a rewarding and exciting process, e.g., the fulfilling of yearnings and ambitions, like that of being a good doctor; the acquisition of admired skills, like playing the violin or being a good carpenter; the steady increase of understanding about people or about the universe, or about oneself; the development of creativeness in whatever field, or most important, simply the ambition to be a good human being." ~Abraham Maslow
"Healthy people have:
Superior perception of reality. Increased acceptance of self, of others and of nature. Increased spontaneity. Increase in problem-centering.
We live in a world of relativism--my truth and your truth, rather than THE truth. Yet, as mission driven moms, we are striving to build principle-centered hearts and homes. This is no easy task, especially when we've been given almost no clear instruction or direction in the skills of discovering and applying true principles in our lives.
Among other tools we offer at The Mission Driven Mom is this invaluable one--The 12 Characteristics of True Principles! Armed with this simple list of attributes, we can now see principles more clearly.
In this podcast you'll be introduced to the first 12 characteristics, with the last 6 coming next week! Listen to stories, quotes and explanations of each in order to better understand the nature of true principles.
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4:11 How the 12 Characteristics came about 5:55 1- Foundational idea 8:55 2- True for all people, all the time 13:30 3- Increase freedom 17:47 4- Expand the mind 21:32 5- Enlighten the heart 25:05 6- Enlarge the soul
Quotes from this episode: "But things have been so admirably arranged by the divine Inventor fo the social order that in this, as in everything, political economy and morality, far from clashing, are in harmony, so that the wisdom of Ariste [the brother who saves] is not only more worthy, but even more profitable, than the follow of Mondor [the brother who spends]." ~Frederic Bastiat
"It is not without actual physical pain that I see such contradictions appear between the great laws of Nature. If mankind were reduced to choosing between the two sides, one of which hurts its interests and the other its conscience, we should have to despair for its future. Happily this is not so. To see Ariste regain his economic as well as his moral superiority, we need only understand this consoling axiom, which is not the less true for having a paradoxical appearance: To save is to spend." ~Frederic Bastiat
"They were standing a little straighter, and working a little more smartly. It did things to a man, Nat thought, to find out he had a brain." ~Jean Lee Latham
"It was not that my hygiene lessons had yet made that much difference, nor that I had grown accustomed to the smells because in other situations my crazy nose bothered me as much as always. It was rather that as I came to know the children and to think of them as persons rather that names in my grade book, I forgot my reactions and began to love them. I suppose the principle was that the higher affection will always expel the lower whenever we give the higher affection sway. For me, it was letting love for the mountain children come in the front door while my preoccupation with bad smells crept out the rathole." ~Catherine Marshall
"The nervous agitation of Alexey Alexandrovitch kept increasing, and had by now reached such a point that he ceased to struggle with it. He suddenly felt that what he had regarded as nervous agitation was on the contrary a blissful spiritual condition that gave him all at once a new happiness he had never known. He did not think that the Christian law that he had been all his life trying to follow, enjoined on him to forgive and love his enemies; but a glad feeling of love and forgiveness for his enemies filled his heart." ~Leo Tolstoy
"'But I saw her and forgave her. And the happiness of forgiveness has revealed to me my duty. I forgive completely. I would offer the other cheek, I would give my cloak if my coat be taken. I pray to God only not to take from me the bless of forgiveness.'" ~Alexey Alexandrovitch, Anna Karenina
Books from this episode: .
Links from this episode: Intro to Principles I: Natural Law
Intro to Principles II: First Principles
Intro to Principles III: Principles
In our attempts to build principle-centered homes, sometimes we are tempted to think that if we could just find and teach our children true principles, we'd be home free! Unfortunately, that's not how it works.
The life of Oscar Wilde is a perfect tutorial in principles ignored. Even though he was brilliant and funny, even though he was handed everything in life on a silver platter, even though he understand natural laws and principles well enough to write profound moral stories, he never listened to his own conscience. Even at the end, when it was clear his way didn't work and he seemed on the verge of confessing all and changing his ways, his willfulness and pride continued to stand in the way.
Join Audrey this week for an in-depth look at what happens when you know the principles but you refuse to let them save you.
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1:50 Oscar Wilde's childhood 4:15 Wilde's new worldview and fame 9:45 Wilde marries, has peace and begins rebelling 12:19 The Picture of Dorian Gray 19:42 Wilde spirals downward 27:25 De Profundis 33:40 Lord Alfred's reflections
Quotes from this episode: “The artist is the creator of beautiful things...There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all...All art is quite useless.” ~Oscar Wilde from the Introduction of The Picture of Dorian Gray Quotes from The Picture of Dorian Gray:
“Conscience and cowardice are really the same things.” “Women represent the triumph of matter over mind, just as men represent the triumph of mind over morals.” “I am perfectly happy now. I know what conscience is, to begin with. It is not what you told me it was. It is the divinest thing in us. Don’t sneer at it, Harry, any more—at least, not before me. I want to be good.” “He sought to elaborate some new scheme of life that would have its reasoned philosophy and its ordered principles, and find in the spiritualizing of the senses its highest realization.”
Quotes from De Profundis:
"She and my father had bequeathed me a name they had made noble and honoured, not merely in literature, art, archaeology, and science, but in the public history of my own country, in its evolution as a nation. I had disgraced that name eternally. I had made it a low by-word among low people. I had dragged it through the very mire. I had given it to brutes that they might make it brutal, and to fools that they might turn it into a synonym for folly."
"I must say to myself that I ruined myself, and that nobody great or small can be ruined except by his own hand. I am quite ready to say so. I am trying to say so, though they may not think it at the present moment. This pitiless indictment I bring without pity against myself. Terrible as was what the world did to me, what I did to myself was far more terrible still."
"The gods had given me almost everything. But I let myself be lured into long spells of senseless and sensual ease. I amused myself with being a flâneur, a dandy, a man of fashion. I surrounded myself with the smaller natures and the meaner minds. I became the spendthrift of my own genius, and to waste an eternal youth gave me a curious joy. Tired of being on the heights, I deliberately went to the depths in the search for new sensation. What the paradox was to me in the sphere of thought, perversity became to me in the sphere of passion. Desire, at the end, was a malady, or a madness, or both. I grew careless of the lives of others. I took pleasure where it pleased me, and passed on. I forgot that every little action of the common day makes or unmakes character, and that therefore what one has done in the secret chamber one has some day to cry aloud on the housetop. I ceased to be lord over myself. I was no longer the captain of my soul, and did not know it. I allowed pleasure to dominate me.
If you were asked what rules the world, what would you say? Money, politicians, scientists? Incredibly, what really rules the world is none of these, but an intangible entity: ideas. From ancient Greece to the French Revolution, history is replete with evidence of the power of ideas.
Join Audrey Rindlisbacher for this podcast as she gives evidence supporting the claim that ideas do in fact rule the world. You'll hear how Athens and Sparta were shaped on dramatically different ideas and how they developed for good or bad as a result of those ideas. You'll also hear about The Great Ideas Movement in the early 20th Century and why it's vital mothers learn about The Great Ideas and get involved in The Great Conversation happening today. “Ideas matter. Ideas rule the world. It’s important for moms to start learning who it is that’s putting forth these ideas, why these ideas have such great power, and how they are affecting the daily life we find ourselves living in.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
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1:21 Ideas rule the world 5:15 Solon of Athens’ ideas vs. Lycurgus of Sparta’s ideas and the results 10:27 The power of ideas today 14:14 The Great Ideas through history 26:05 Why mothers need to know about the ideas shaping society 28:35 Why it’s important for mothers to engage in The Great Conversation
Quotes from this episode: “The density of ideas in Plato or Shakespeare or Thomas Hardy frustrates the mind that comes to them ready to draw conclusions. To tackle a course of reading successfully, we have to retrain our minds to grasp new ideas by first understanding them, then evaluating them, and finally forming our own opinions.” ~Susan Wise Bauer
“These books are the means of understanding our society and ourselves. They contain the great ideas that dominate us without our knowing it.” ~Robert M. Hutchins
“The liberally educated man has a mind that can operate well in all fields. He may be a specialist in one field. But he can understand anything important that is said in any field and can see and use the light that it sheds upon his own. The liberally educated man is at home in the world of ideas and in the world of practical affairs, too, because he understands the relation of the two.” ~Robert M. Hutchins
“A classic is a book that is contemporary in every age. That is why it is a classic. The conversations of Socrates raise questions that are as urgent today as they were when Plato wrote. In fact they are more so, because the society in which Plato lived did not need to have them raised as much as we do. We have forgotten how important they are. Such books are then a part, and a large part of the permanent studies. They are so in the first place because they are the best books we know. How can we call a man educated who has never read any of the great books in the Western world?” ~Robert M. Hutchins
“My challenge for you is to engage more in the conversation around the great ideas and to start picking up the classics where these ideas are found and start talking about them…” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
Books from this episode: .
For many years Audrey and her family have been pursuing principle-centered living. It is a journey that has been bumpy but rewarding. Through all of the books, all the experiences and all the trial and error, a few governing principles have emerged as most powerful for obtaining and maintaining peace--peace of conscience, peace in the home and peaceful interactions in the world.
Audrey and her life are far from perfect, but the re-centering these principles provide is a constant source of aid in difficult times and direction in good times, as she diligently strives to be more than she is.
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
2:50 Principle 1: Always forgive 9:42 Principle 2: Ask empowering questions 14:52 Principle 3: Submit to all truth 24:42 Principle 4: Be diligent 29:40 Principle 5: Have a vision
Quotes from this episode: “After 15 years of research, I feel that we have found sufficient evidence of the power of forgiveness so that I can offer our knowledge to those who want to be free from the bondage of anger and resentment.”—Robert D. Enright, PhD
“Think about questions that expand your mind because you will receive answers to any questions you ask.” ~Keith Cameron Smith
“I shall presently condemn and quit any opinion of mind, as soon as I am shown that it is contrary to any revelation in the Holy Scripture.” ~John Locke
“[Diligence] is the element of being awake, of thinking about what I’m doing, of striving to make improvements as I go.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Where there is no vision, the people perish” ~Proverbs 29:18
“Think about how you can have a clearer vision for where you’re heading in life and what foundation you’re building. Live those 4 foundational laws of life mission. Get them really solid. Don’t short circuit the system. Make sure you have a solid handle on those so you can continue to build a foundation in your home and hold a vision of where your family is headed. And in the meantime bring as many people as you possibly can.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
Links from this episode: Principles of Addiction Recovery
Principles of Forgiveness
Principles of Addiction in Action
3 Keys of Clear Thinking
Books from this episode:
"When our motives are wrong, nothing else can be right." ~Stephen R. Covey Why is this? Why do our motives and intentions matter so much? Why is it that even when an individual seems to be doing all the right things, we turn away in disgust when we discover they had wrong intentions? What are intentions anyway? And how are they playing a vital role in how we see ourselves, others and the world?
Most importantly, though, what do our children need to understand about intention? How is intention connected to actions, behavior and character? And how can understanding these connections empower us to train up children of noble character?
This podcast answers these questions and more, as Audrey explores the very critical concept of intention!
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
2:00 Return to Covey story from "Principles Stink!" podcast 5:16 The definition of intention 8:37 Action vs. behavior 12:00 Goodness and character 13:53 The best way to build a child of noble character 17:35 A principle for teaching your child 21:18 Can you live principles with the wrong intention? 23:00 Wrong intention erodes character 26:00 Intention is either about you or others 29:44 Audrey's wrong intention in her relationships
Quotes from this episode: "Intention: mind strained on an object; eager in pursuit of an object; anxiously diligent; design, purpose, meaning." ~Webster's 1828 Dictionary
"Right actions do lead to good thinking, and thinking good does sponsor right actions, just as improper thoughts can produce undesirable acts." ~Neil J. Flinders
"Encouraging and emphasizing right actions among children (birth to puberty) is the most productive, while encouraging and emphasizing good thoughts and intentions is the most appropriate and productive approach for adults (puberty through adulthood)." ~Neil J. Flinders
"Viewing others' actions means that we must comprehend their intentions as well as their behavior. It means that we must put ourselves in the others' shoes, as the saying goes. This means empathizing, using our capacity to participate in another person's feelings and ideas." ~Neil J. Flinders
"When our motives are wrong, nothing else can be right." ~Stephen R. Covey
"I realized that Sandra and I had been getting social mileage out of our children's good behavior, and, in our eyes, this son simply didn't measure up. Our image of ourselves, and our role as good, caring parents was even deeper than our image of our son and perhaps influenced it." ~Stephen R. Covey
"If we do not have morality and intention, we are not truly acting in the world; we are not free." ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
Books from this episode:
At The Mission Driven Mom, we are empowering moms with principles and purpose. We know that God in His wisdom created a world run by immutable natural laws. We know that true principles flow from these natural laws. And we know that principles are the answer to life's toughest problems.
Yet, when comes time to actually live those principles, the path can be not only overwhelming but incredibly painful. Who wants to exercise regularly? Who wants to save 10%? Who wants to keep forgiving their spouse?
Principles are hard--there's no doubt about it. We can't break them or we will reap the negative results in our lives. So what do we do when we really want to live principles but it seems virtually impossible?
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
2:30 Audrey studying MDM Academy with her kids 4:08 Quick fixes make things worse 9:25 Stephen Covey and his son's development 13:32 The power of facing the truth and beginning with ourselves 16:34 Why principles stink 21:50 We can't live principles on sheer will power 22:35 Alexander Solzhenitsyn and the importance of truth 26:48 Impact of principles on the MDM moms 27:38 We need a vision greater than the principles
Quotes from this episode: "People are intrigued when they see good things happening in the lives of individuals, families, and organizations that are based on solid principles...And their immediate request is very revealing of their basic paradigm. 'How do you do it? Teach me the techniques.' What they're really saying is, 'Give me some quick fix advice or solution that will relieve the pain in my own situation.'" ~Stephen R. Covey
"We knew that social comparison motives were out of harmony with our deeper values and could lead to conditional love and eventually to our son's lessened sense of self-worth. So we determined to focus our efforts on us--not on our techniques, but on our deepest motives and our perception of him." ~Stephen R. Covey
"The truth seldom is sweet: it is almost invariably bitter." ~Alexander Solzhenitsyn
"A sense of responsibility before God and society has fallen away." ~Alexander Solzhenitsyn
"The sense of greatness is the groundwork of morals." ~Alfred North Whitehead
"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." ~Proverbs 29:18
Books from this episode:
Podcast mentioned in this episode: Find "Intro to Principles" podcast series HERE
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. turned the world upside down in the 1960's with his revolutionary approach to the problem of racial segregation. His method, "nonviolent resistance," had produced amazing results in India. When King sought to bring a consciousness of the evil of segregation to the minds of the white community, he determined to utilize this method. He said of this approach: "Christ furnished the spirit and motivation while Gandhi furnished the method." ~Martin Luther King, Jr. King went further, though. He explained that once his followers had a deep understanding of this "political" method for change, nonviolent resistance eventually became a "way of life" for them.
How could something that was meant to fight off injustice in America become a way of life? Why did this method take such a hold in the lives of King's followers? Most importantly, why and how can the principles of nonviolent resistance become a way of life for us?
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
1:38 Introduction to nonviolent resistance as a 'way of life' 8:02 Principle 1 10:01 Principle 2 11:23 Principle 3 17:27 Principle 4 19:55 Principle 5 21:11 2 wrong ways of mothering 26:28 Jordan Peterson's examples 32:48 Agape and Principle 6
Quotes from this episode: "I stressed that the use of violence in our struggle would be both impractical and immoral. To meet hate with retaliatory hate would do nothing but intensify the existence of evil in the universe." ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
"...nonviolence is ultimately a way of life that men live by because of the sheer morality of its claim." ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
"It must be emphasized that nonviolent resistance is not a method for coward; it does resist...This is ultimately the way of the strong man." ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Someone else's bad behavior is never an excuse for my bad behavior." ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
"Things of fundamental importance to people are not secured by reason alone, but have to be purchased with their suffering." ~Mahatma Gandhi
"Along the way of life, someone must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate. This can only be done by projecting the ethic of love to the center of our lives." ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Love is...the will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth." ~M. Scott Peck
"...we are incapable of teaching our children self-discipline unless we ourselves are self-disciplined. It is actually impossible to forsake our own spiritual development in favor of someone else's." ~M. Scott Peck
"Children must be shaped and informed, or they cannot thrive. This fact is reflected starkly in their behavior; kids are utterly desperate for attention from both peers and adults because attention, which renders them effective and sophisticated communal players, it vitally necessary." ~Jordan Peterson
"It is an act of responsibility to discipline a child. It is not anger at misbehavior. It is not revenge for a misdeed. It is instead a careful combination of mercy and long-term judgment. Proper discipline requires effort-indeed, is virtually synonymous with effort. It is difficult to pay careful attention to children. It is difficult to figure out what is wrong and what is right and why. It is difficult to formulate just and compassionate strategies of discipline..." ~Jordan Peterson
"Agape is the willingness to go to any length to restore community." ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
"To the degree that I harm my brother, no matter what he is doing to me, to that extent I am harming myself." ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
Summary of the 6 Principles:
Physically passive but very mentally, emotionally and spiritually active Does not defeat or humiliate but seeks to bring redemption and reconciliation in order to create the beloved community Attack is directed against forces of evil rathe...
You probably already know all about C.S. Lewis' incredible writings like The Narnia Series and The Screwtape Letters. You may also be aware that he was once an atheist and eventually converted not only to theism but also to Christianity. What you may not know is how he got from Christianity to atheism and back to Christianity.
Clearly a Mission Driven Individual, who lived The 7 Laws of Life Mission with all his heart, his incredible life story is not only inspiring but so insightful and faith-building. With children of our own to raise and duly convert to truth, light and a solid belief in God and His laws, C.S. Lewis can teach us a lot about the loss of faith and the journey back.
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
3:43 Lewis' early life 7:32 Lewis' 3 life changing moments with Joy 14:48 Losing his mother and practicing prayer 17:17 Lewis' boarding school experiences and loss of belief 28:17 Studying with The Great Knock 34:04 WWI and Oxford 40:09 Complete submission to God
Quotes from this episode: "Instantly I was uplifted into huge regions of northern sky, I desired with almost sickening intensity something never to be described and then...found myself at the very same moment already falling out of the desire and wishing I were back in it. I call it Joy..." ~C.S. Lewis
"Spiritually speaking, the deadly thing was that school life was a life almost wholly dominated by the social struggle." ~C.S. Lewis
"I maintained that God did not exist. I was also very angry with God for not existing. I was equally angry with Him for creating a world." ~C.S. Lewis
"As Johnson points out, where courage is not, no other virtue can survive except by accident." ~ C.S. Lewis
"I sometimes wonder whether all pleasures not substitutes for Joy." ~C.S. Lewis
"A young man who wishes to remain an Atheist cannot be too careful of his reading...Really,, a young Atheist cannot guard his faith too carefully. Dangers lie in wait for him on every side." ~C.S. Lewis
"Indeed, I must have been as blind as a bat not to have seen, long before, the ludicrous contradiction between my theory of life and my actual experiences as a reader." ~C.S. Lewis
"For the first time I examined myself with a seriously practical purpose. And there I found what appalled me; a zoo of lusts, a bedlam of ambitions, nursery of fears, a harem of fondled hatreds. My name was Legion." ~C.S. Lewis
"In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt down and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England." ~C.S. Lewis
Book from this episode:
Links from this episode: Find the Feedspot Top 40 list mentioned in the podcast HERE
Listen to "The Types of People in Hell" podcast taken from The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis HERE
Do you ever feel confused about who or what to believe? News articles, sound bites and competing voices can leave your head spinning. If you have felt this, you’re not alone. As mothers, we desire greater discernment—especially when it comes to leading our families.
In this podcast Audrey Rindlisbacher and Lindsey Wright discuss the 1st Annual MDM Celebration Event centered around the theme “Mothers of Discernment.” You’ll hear the backstory behind the creation of the event, details about the event itself, and why the MDM Celebration will support mothers in their quest for greater discernment. “To become better mothers of discernment is our objective…wisdom, discipleship, knowledge, love, judgement, indoctrination, personal revelation, truth and principles are all part of the discussion of being a mother of discernment.We hope that you’ll join us.Anyone is invited to this event.You do not have to be an MDM Academy member to come…We’d love to see you there.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher *Learn more about the 1st Annual MDM Celebration Event and how you can dive deep into discernment with us this fall: https://themissiondrivenmom.com/mdm-celebration/
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
1:23 Why an MDM Celebration Event? 5:17 Why learn about discernment and what it really is? 9:10 Lindsey’s initial impressions about discernment 11:25 Deception is the opposite of discernment 13:27 How to gain a knowledge of truth 17:14 How discernment is connected to love 22:59 Why judgement is vital to discernment
Quotes from this episode: “We’ve been asked to discern since Adam and Eve partook of fruit in the Garden. They partook of the fruit and now they can discern between good and evil. It goes way back…What’s the difference [between good and evil] and how do you find that?…One thing that stood out to me was that discernment involves action on our part. We have to work for it. We have to discern with the intention to act on what we learn.” ~Lindsey Wright
“Discernment is a form of discipline. It’s disciplining our minds. And when we love God, then we will have the desire and motivation to discipline our minds because He doesn’t want us to just be blind followers. He wants us to know the truth, to know why it’s the truth, and not just because He said so, but because we love Him enough to be discerning, to discipline our hearts and our minds. When we learn to discern better, it helps us to recognize His love and His divine design in the things we are studying or just coming across in our daily lives.” ~Lindsey Wright
Have you ever considered that the way you talk to yourself about yourself might actually not be true? Have you ever caught yourself speaking about yourself in reference to a fault or weakness like, "I'm not good with people" or "I'm not a morning person" or "I hate exercising?" As if these habits were part of who you are!
Recently Nir Eyal put a new spin on this negative self-talk most of us engage in by asking us to reframe our identity around small life-time commitments. He challenges us, in fact, to become not experts but AMATEURS! Rather than trying to be spectacular at everything, we move slowly but consistently toward a more happy, fulfilling life.
Listen to this podcast to discover the simple but profound way you can reframe how you see yourself, build your confidence and feel much more successful RIGHT NOW!
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
1:40 How we define ourselves 7:38 The price to become a truth seeker 12:16 Decision fatigue 16.21 The power of becoming an amateur 20:39 How small commitments become part of our new identity 26:34 A new frame of reference
Quotes from this episode: "Instead of wishing you could 'Be like Mike', you need to focus on and enjoy the small everyday tasks in order to accomplish those long-standing stubborn goals such as 'I need to exercise more'. In short, you need to become an amateur. An amateur is a consistent practitioner of a healthful habit. The amateur practices a behavior because they enjoy it and it becomes part of their identity." ~Nir Eyal
"In fact, even goals such as consistently exercising and eating right are too big for the budding amateur. You have to break them down into much smaller actions to form new habits." ~Nir Eyal
"To begin forming new habits, we need to find a MEA, a Minimal Enjoyable Action. A MEA is a behavior, which is so easy and enjoyable, that we do it virtually without effort, and most importantly, we can do it consistently." ~Nir Eyal
Link to the article from this episode: Forming New Habits: Train to be an Amateur, Not an Expert
Link to the video from this episode: "How to Break the Bad Habits"
With the 4th of July just around the corner, it's a good time to reflect on the liberties we enjoy. It's important that as mothers raising the next generation, we work hard to understand our national heritage, our political liberties and most importantly, how those liberties are tied to our personal understanding of and adherence to truth.
As the saying goes, "Freedom isn't free." What, then, is the cost? And what does freedom for our children and grandchildren require from us?
Join Audrey as she explores ideas and insights from great men and women who have thought deeply on these principles and can lead us to the greater personal and societal freedom!
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
2:04 Audrey's experiences as a liberal arts student learning about American history 3:50 Alexander Solzhenitsyn and loss of freedom in the East 6:47 Connection between freedom, truth and responsibility 9:28 Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder discovering this connection 17:38 What "liberal" and "liberal arts" have come to mean 21:48 Hayek and how the loss of the term "liberal" is decreasing liberty 25:40 How liberal education is traditional American education and increases liberty 29:20 Jordan Peterson and how he summarizes these ideas
Quotes from this episode: “We come because we realize that the only road to freedom lies through a knowledge of the truth." ~Calvin Coolidge
“Under [George Washington] the Americans made a sacrifice for liberty which was not local; it was universal. That sacrifice resisted then, and has ever since been successfully resisting, despotism everywhere. America in its beginnings was doing the work of the world." ~Calvin Coolidge
“Your natural freedom--your control over your own life-energy--was born in you along with life itself. It is a part of life itself. No one can give it to you, nor can you give it to someone else. Nor can you hold any other person responsible for your acts. Control simply can't be separated from responsibility; control is responsibility." ~Henry Grady Weaver
"She thought: Americans won't obey any king on earth. Americans are free. That means they have to obey their own consciences. No king bosses Pa, he has to boss himself. Why (she thought), when I am a little older, Pa and Ma will stop telling me what to do, and there isn't anyone else who has a right to give me orders. I will have to make myself be good. Her whole mind seemed to be lighted up by that thought. This is what it means to be free. It means you have to be good. 'Our father's God, author of liberty--' The laws of Nature and of Nature's God endow you with a right to life and liberty. Then you have to keep the laws of God, for God's law is the only thing that gives you a right to be free." ~Laura Ingalls Wilder
"I use throughout the term 'liberal' in the original, nineteenth-century sense in which it is still current in Britain. In current American usage it often means very nearly the opposite of this. It has been part of the camouflage of leftish movements in this country, helped by the muddleheadedness of many who really believe in liberty, that 'liberal' has come to mean the advocacy of almost every kind of government control...The essence of the liberal position, however, is the denial of all privilege, if privilege is understood in its proper and original meaning of the state granting and protecting rights to some which are not available on equal terms of others." ~F.A. Hayek
"The polity will function if people attend to their consciences. That's the overlap of those conceptualizations. I think that's the case. If we assume that the political state is something like the emergent consequence of the decision of all its citizens we would assume that the wiser the decisions of the citizens, the more upright and functional the state. I can't see how it can be any other way. And perhaps the most upright,
As mission driven moms, we need all the help we can get! Sometimes, though, it can feel as if we are limping along and barely making it. How do we get the help we need?
In this podcast, Audrey shares the TRUE story of Christy Huddleston, a middle-class young woman struggling to find herself and her purpose. As she turned to her mentor for answers, Christy was shown the amazing power that was already hers to claim the blessings she so desperately needed.
If you are striving to find and fulfill your mission as a mother and a woman, Christy's story will have unique value for you in claiming God's help to fulfill His work!
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
1:07 Introduction to the book Christy by Catherine Marshall 6:05 Christy thinks more deeply about her why 11:01 Christy learns to claim her blessings and is empowered to fulfill her mission 19:19 Mothers and fathers are called by God and have a right to claim blessings 22:40 Christy chooses to claim her blessings
Quotes from this episode: “Give and it shall be given you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over shall men give into your bosom.” ~Luke 6:37, Holy Bible
“[God] can’t use ivory-tower followers. They’re plaster of paris, they crumble and fall apart in life’s press. So you’ve got to see life the way it really is before you can do anything about it.” ~Miss Alice
“You see, Christy, evil is real-and powerful. It has to be fought, not explained away, not fled. And God is against evil all the way. So each of us has to decide where we stand, how we’re going to live our lives. We can try to persuade ourselves that evil doesn’t exist; live for ourselves and wink at evil. We can say that it isn’t so bad after all, maybe even try to call it fun by clothing it in silks and velvets. We can compromise with it, keep quiet about it and say it’s none of our business. Or we can work on God’s side, listen for His orders on strategy against the evil, no matter how horrible it is, and know that He can transform it.” ~Miss Alice
“If you don’t do the work that’s been given you to do, that work may never be done.” ~Miss Alice
“Dear God, when I came here, maybe I was partly running off from home for fun and freedom and adventure. But I have a notion that You had something else in mind in letting me come. Anyway if You can use me here in this Cove, well, here I am.” ~Christy
“Lord, Miss Alice said that ‘if we give, it shall be given unto us.’ Well, she is giving, Lord. And so are Dr. Ferrand and David. And even I’m trying to give, though I don’t yet see what I have that You can use. I don’t have the faith that Miss Alice has, Lord, in You, in this Book, in anything. Can you help me with my faith?” ~ Christy
Book from this episode:
Join Lindsey Wright, MDM board member, as she interviews Audrey Rindlisbacher, founder and CEO of The Mission Driven Mom. Listen to this episode to hear about the first inklings of The Mission Driven Mom, Audrey’s experience discovering the 7 Laws of Life Mission, and her vision for MDM in the future. You'll also hear Audrey’s words of encouragement for mothers. “Don’t limit God and don't limit yourself. Start where you are and take a step.”~Audrey Rindlisbacher
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
1:42 What’s going on in Audrey’s life right now 5:16 First seeds of MDM 10:06 Creation of The Mission Driven Life 16:14 Audrey’s vision for MDM 25:15 Literature for mothers 30:53 Words of encouragement for moms
Quotes from this episode: “We hope to build many relationships across the country and all over the world…we’re across the country already and growing. We hope to connect those women and have those thousands of groups of moms gathering together, reading great material, discussing principles, transforming themselves, transforming their families, transforming their communities.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“[The vision] for The Mission Driven Mom is that communit[ies] of moms, becoming principle centered and finding purpose and modeling that for their children, will create a generation of mission driven adults…That to me is the greatest goal of all. That’s the biggest picture.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
As mothers in a modern Information Age, we are inundated with information from every direction. Yet, very little of this "information" is truly valuable to us and our families. As mission driven moms, our job becomes to filter through this information and find the most essential principles that will build a strong family and home. And, of course, Freud was right when he said the most important knowledge we need is knowledge of ourselves: “To be completely honest with oneself is the very best effort a human being can make.” ~Sigmund Freud This is so critical because it's only when we see the truth about ourselves, our lives and our families that we can begin to take steps that will create permanent change. But this is precisely the truth we most often run away from -- it means we must admit that we've been in the wrong and face the pain of our own shortcomings.
In this podcast, though, Abraham Maslow - creator of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs - assures us that although we fear knowing -- knowing the truth about ourselves, our families and the world -- although it requires work and effort and although it means we have to change in accordance with the truth we find, we have a dire NEED to know! “If you’re going to reach your potential, if you’re going to be a mission driven mom, you must know. You must know all about yourself, you must know about your children, you must know the principles, you must know how to live them, you must know what God is asking you to do. And you have to let go of that FEAR…and submit to that NEED to know.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
0:57 Introduction to Maslow 5:31 The power of knowing oneself 9:03 Fear of weakness 11:46 Fear of greatness 18:45 Knowledge for decreasing anxiety 24:00 Avoidance of knowledge as avoidance of responsibility 26:29 Knowledge is essential
Quotes from this episode: “Freud's greatest discovery is that the great cause of much psychological illness is the fear of knowledge of oneself.” ~Abraham Maslow
“To be completely honest with oneself is the very best effort a human being can make.” ~Sigmund Freud
“We have discovered that fear of knowledge of oneself is very often isomorphic with, and parallel with, fear of the outside world. That is, inner problems and outer problems tend to be deeply similar and to be related to each other.” ~Abraham Maslow FEAR OF WEAKNESS “In general this kind of fear is defensive, in the sense that it is a protection of our self-esteem, of our love and respect for ourselves. We tend to be afraid of any knowledge that could cause us to despise ourselves or to make us feel inferior, weak, worthless, evil, shameful.” ~Abraham Maslow FEAR OF GREATNESS “But there is another kind of truth we tend to evade. Not only do we hang on to our psychopathology, but also we tend to evade personal growth because this too, can bring another kind of fear, of awe, of feelings of weakness and inadequacy. And so we find another kind of resistance, a denying of our best side, of our talents, of our finest impulses, of our highest potentialities, of our creativeness. In brief this is the struggle against our own greatness.” ~Abraham Maslow
“[Women who are] truly searching for an accurate picture of themselves, paving the way for increased influence over themselves and in their homes and communities. We cannot grow to the extent that we don’t have knowledge. One of the most important pieces of knowledge we really need is the truth about ourselves. When we see ourselves…truthfully, then we can get to work. When we understand what we need to do, what that work is, we can take tremendous strides in a short period of time.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“It is precisely the god-like in ourselves that we are ambivalent about, fascinated by, and fear of, motivated to and defensive against…Every one of our great creators, our god-like people,
“She will never assert herself for herself—she will suffer wrong first—but for others she will be perfectly fearless…Throw responsibility upon her.” Mr. Fowler of the young Clara Barton Young Clara Barton struggled with shyness, yet as a young woman, she faced the stark battlefield of the Civil War to bring relief to wounded soldiers. Despite her weakness, Clara overcame her fear to fulfill a call to life mission.
Listen to this episode to see how Clara’s life followed the pattern of the 7 Laws of Life Mission. You'll hear how Clara’s parents and siblings nurtured within her a love of God, truth, and humanity which prepared her to serve and bless those around her and eventually lead to the founding of the American Red Cross.
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
1:05 Clara’s childhood and early education 10:15 Parents instilled a love of God and principles 17:01 Honesty about weaknesses 28.11 Caring for her brother 32:09 Given a school to teach
Quotes from this episode: “Naturally my book education became their first care, and under these conditions it is little to say, that I have no knowledge of ever learning to read, or of a time that I did not do my own story reading. The other studies followed very early.” ~Clara Barton
“Multiplication, division, subtraction, halves, quarters and wholes, soon ceased to be a mystery, and no toy equaled my little slate.” ~Clara Barton
“During the winter I had become the happy possessor of a Menseur’s Geography and Atlas. It is questionable if my satisfaction was fully shared by others of the household. I required a great deal of assistance in the study of my maps, and became so interested that I could not sleep, and was not willing that others should, but persisted in waking my poor drowsy sister in the cold winter mornings to sit up in bed and by the light of a tallow candle, help me to find mountains, rivers, counties, oceans, lakes, islands, isthmuses, channels, cities, towns and capitals.” ~Clara Barton
“…long vacations in which the out-of-doors played by far the most prominent part. There were garden and flower beds to be made, choice pets animals to look after, a few needy families with little children to be thought of, and some sewing to be attempted.” ~Clara Barton
“…my Sabbath breaking and unbecoming conduct, and all the trouble I had caused [revived my] conscience, and my mental suffering far exceeded my physical. I despised myself and failed to sleep or eat.” ~Clara Barton
“Sleepless, restless, in agony both physical and mental, his case grew desperate. He had been my ideal from earliest memory. I was distressed beyond measure at his condition. I had been his little protege, and his companion, and in his nervous wretchedness he clung to me. Thus, from the first days and nights of his illness, I remained near his side…I could not be taken away from him except by compulsion, and he was unhappy until my return…I learned to take all directions for his medicines from physician and to administer them like a genuine nurse…This state of things continued with little change for two years…” ~Clara Barton
“It seemed very strange to me to be in school again. I had been so long accustomed to govern myself, in a manner, that I wondered how any one should need others to govern them. If scholars came there to learn, why should they try, or want, to do anything else?” ~Clara Barton
“I think it usually occurs in small communities that there is one family, or one house, to which all strangers or new comers naturally gravitate. Nothing was plainer than that ours was that house. All lecturers, upon any subject, clergymen on trial, whoever had a new idea to expound and was in need of an abiding place meanwhile, found on there. My father’s active and liberal mind inclined him to examination and toleration, and his cordial hospitality was seconded by my mother’s welcome to any one who could...
Life is a series of ups and downs. Sometimes we feel on the top of the world and sometimes we feel like not one more thing could possibly go wrong. But then there are also those trials in life that blindside us--experiences or tragedies we thought would never happen to us.
What do we do when those trials come? How do we respond when life gives us a burden we don't think we can carry?
This podcast shows you what 4 incredible individuals chose to do when tragedy struck their lives. It demonstrates the immense power we all have to choose to look outward even in our suffering and through service to others, find the purpose and joy we long for. “I thanked God for this miracle, for giving me this incredible gift to share with the world…I cried for the miracle of life, for the chance I and we all have been given to offer our unique gifts to the world, gifts born, so often, from our very woundedness.” ~Jackie Waldman
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
1:23 Ben’s story 8:49 Bea’s story 17:44 Brianne’s story 25:02 Jackie’s story
Quotes from this episode: "When bad things happen to us; when bad things happen to good people, we still have the power to choose love, to choose service, to see that no matter what feels or seems broken in us or in our lives, we still have the opportunity to reach outside ourselves, to develop our gifts, to use them to serve others, and to live a mission driven life.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“During each tour [at the Dallas Memorial Center for Holocaust Studies], when I told [the kids] about a particular survivor who lost his parents and brothers and sister, I always started to cry—it was the man who had founded this center so that could never happen again. I left the tour each week exhausted—but feeling new energy that I had discovered…For the very first time since my MS diagnosis, I was feeling someone else’s pain and not thinking about myself. I liked the way I was feeling. And so I took on more volunteer jobs.” ~Jackie Waldman
“Wayne Dyer taught of going within and discovering that our purpose in life is to love unconditionally and to live a life of service…In that moment, I knew without a doubt who I was—not a person with a disease and weak legs, but a person who has a heart filled with love and wants to be of service.” ~Jackie Waldman
“I knew my purpose was to serve others—that’s why my service work always gave me new energy…I said, ‘God, OK, I’m really stretched. I keep saying ‘Yes’ to everyone. I promise I’ll say ‘Yes’ to whatever YOU ask me to do. What’s next?” Less than a week later, I woke up and looked at Steve. “Ok, I got my marching orders. I’m writing a book, and I’ve been told exactly what it is about. It’s about people who have suffered physical or emotional pain, and gone beyond their own pain to help someone else.” ~Jackie Waldman
“I had gone outside to throw the trash away, and I heard something moving in the Dumpster. When I peered over the edge, I saw a little boy from a nearby apartment in there. He was digging around in that garbage looking for something to eat. I had never seen anything like that in my life…I couldn’t imagine it. I had worked so hard to provide for my own kids. I realized that I had been so busy taking care of my own five children that I hadn’t noticed the needs of the other children right around me.” ~Bea Salazar
“I believe God called me to do this work. God needed someone to look after these kids—and that someone was me. When he calls you to do something, you don’t fight it. You go with it.” ~Bea Salazar
“I am so blessed. These children are the reason I’m here now. That’s why I’m living—to help them. Even when I have days when I can barely walk because of my injuries, I get up and get going because I know my kids need me. They give me purpose. In fact, they’ve given me more than I’ve ever given them. I know now that this is why God saved my life…He sav...
Meet Tracie Hyde, board member and Director of Events at The Mission Driven Mom. Join Audrey Rindlisbacher as Tracie shares with Audrey her experiences in the Middle East and what she learned from insightful mothers there. You'll hear Tracie share her search for purpose in education, how after wandering in the educational desert for years, she realized principles are the key to connecting education with life mission. “[I joined The Mission Driven Mom] to help other moms find [their mission path]… I want women to find this path because I know it can open their eyes, deepen their joys and increase the good fruit in their lives.” ~Tracie Hyde
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
2:00 Meet Tracie Hyde 4:09 Tracie’s experiences in the Middle East 11:52 An educational quest 14:20 Tracie’s journey with principles 20:49 Why Tracie decided to get involved with MDM 22:49 Experiences with self-discovery 26:42 What Tracie is most excited about with MDM
Quotes from this episode: "I know how powerful this is if moms find [the mission path], then they’ll be able to help their children find it so their children are going into their adult years on this path …and that they’ll be able to make better decisions for their future if they are mission minded from the beginning and if they know how to seek it.” ~Tracie Hyde
“I think a lot of us think, "I’ll just have the call, I’ll be inspired someday to do something great." But it doesn’t work that way.We need to find our gifts, we need to hone them, we need to study things out. We need to prepare ourselves for it, but I think often times we don’t know how to prepare and we’re stuck.” ~Tracie Hyde
"We just started working on the MDM Celebration that will be held this fall. I’m just really excited to get mothers together. I’m excited to have them discover principles…and the mission path and get excited about getting on it. I think these events in the future will be a really great way for women to connect." ~Tracie Hyde
"As for this superior morality of some non-believers, supposing we grant it, what does it amount to? Just to this, that the universe of mind, as the universe of matter, is governed by unwritten laws of God...and that those who do ascertain and keep any divine law inherit the blessing due to obedience." ~Charlotte Mason Although many modern mothers may never have heard of Charlotte Mason, she was a powerful influence on education in her day. Her ideas influenced how children were treated and taught throughout the Western world. Today, her legacy lives on in the homeschooling world and many mothers are turning to her for answers as to how to educate their children at home.
Yet, what many don't know, is that her central purpose was NOT to aid educators, teachers or even parents in educating their children. It was to empower parents to teach their children God's natural laws and principles so that they could be guided by them and obtain the blessings God intended for them. She could see that as education became more secularized and as more and more individuals and families became more atheistic, the result would be children who could not harmonize what they learned at church and what they learned at school.
She knew natural law could bridge this gap and help their children see that blessings come through obedience to law and even those who do not confess the lawgiver can obtain those blessings through their obedience.
Join Audrey for this half hour discussion of a key selection from the first book in Charlotte Mason's series on education and see how clearly and powerfully Mason states the need for parents to understand, live and teach true principles to their children!
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
0:58 A gem from Charlotte Mason 1:51 A little background 10:17 Charlotte Mason on Natural Law and education 27:58 Why parents must educate themselves concerning Natural Law
Quotes from this episode: “As for this superior morality of some non-believers, supposing we grant it, what does it amount to? Just to this, that the universe of mind, as the universe of matter, is governed by unwritten laws of God; that the child cannot blow soap bubbles or think his flitting thoughts otherwise than in obedience to divine laws; that all safety, progress, and success in life come out of obedience to law, to the laws of mental, moral or physical science, or of that spiritual science which the Bible unfolds; that it is possible to ascertain laws and keep laws without recognising the Lawgiver, and that those who do ascertain and keep any divine law inherit the blessing due to obedience, whatever be their attitude towards the Lawgiver; just as the man who goes out into blazing sunshine is warmed, though he may shut his eyes and decline to see the sun. Conversely, that they who take no pains to study the principles which govern human action and human thought miss the blessings of obedience to certain laws, though they may inherit the better blessings which come of acknowledged relationship with the Lawgiver.” ~Charlotte Mason
“These last blessings [of the spirit] are so unspeakably satisfying, that often enough the believer who enjoys them wants no more. He opens his mouth and draws in his breath for the delight he has in the law, it is true; but it is the law of the spiritual life only. Towards the other laws of God which govern the universe he sometimes takes up an attitude of antagonism, almost of resistance, worthy of an infidel.” ~Charlotte Mason
“Now, believing parents have no right to lay up this crucial difficulty for their children. They have no right, for instance, to pray that their children may be made truthful, diligent, upright, and at the same time neglect to acquaint themselves with those principles of moral science the observance of which will guide into truthfulness, diligence, and uprightness of character. For this, also,
Born into humble circumstances, the son of a devoted pastor, David Green realized early on that he possessed a knack for retail, yet as with all truly mission driven individuals, those around him questioned the spiritual meaning of this profession. Despite opposition, David found a way to bring meaning to his talents and, after years of preparation, founded Hobby Lobby, a chain of arts and crafts stores. Over time, Hobby Lobby became hugely profitable, yet despite the immense wealth he had acquired, David turned to God for how He would have David use this incredible resource.
God's answer, coupled with David's commitment to obey will astound you!
Listen to this episode to hear how David Green lived the 7 Laws of Life Mission. You’ll see how the first 4 foundational laws prepared him to courageously execute his mission, even in the face of incredible opposition, and how he's leaving a legacy of developing talents and joyfully sharing them with the world.
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
1:31 Law 1: A foundation for Love of God 6:33 Law 2: Discovers talents in retail 8:44 Law 3: Parents instill Love of Truth 12:32 Law 4: Inspired by biographies of great men and women 14:12 Law 5: A call to the retail industry 22:46 Law 6 Courageously turns Hobby Lobby over to God 27:50 Law 7: Stands for his beliefs at the Supreme Court
Quotes from this episode: “What I learned from the fierce faith of my parents has shaped every day of life since. I can still remember hearing their voices raised in prayer and how they cried out to God for their children and for the lost people of our various communities. The sound of their singing still plays in my mind and moves me deeply. They trusted in Jesus Christ completely and because they did, we saw an almost unceasing stream of miracles. My faith grew as I saw God faithfully provide for our needs again and again.” ~David Green
“A calling can be anything from retail work to landscaping to carpentry to homemaking. We’re each wired differently and have something unique and significant to contribute.” ~David Green
“The immense profits we were enjoying had become a source of worry to me. I was grateful for them, but I also knew that wealth has to be handled wisely to keep it from being destructive. I was eager to be wise, and this yearning to do the right thing was keeping me up at night. One night I was praying about this out in the back yard. All of a sudden, right there under the Oklahoma night sky, something dramatic happened. I sensed God saying to me, ‘This company belongs to me. Don’t you touch it. It’s mine.’ The force of these words jolted me…I truly believed then, as I do now, that Hobby Lobby is a company God allowed to be born and to endure. If we kept getting in his way, if we kept relying on human strengths and thinking, what kind of trouble awaited us?...From that moment on, it was crystal clear in my mind that this was not my corporation…The fact that God owns Hobby Lobby has influenced our decisions about how we run the business in many different ways…” ~David Green
“If we don’t use Hobby Lobby’s earnings to touch people for the Lord, I really don’t see the reason for me to be in business at all.” ~David Green
“I challenge you to strive in some measure to do something of what David Green has done, to really develop those gifts and give them out, receive the joy that’s there for you in developing and sharing all of the intellectual, spiritual, emotional and social capital you have to share out and give it all away.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
Book from this episode:
When trying to resolve a problem with one of your children, have you ever felt something wasn't quite right but weren’t sure how to discern what was really going on? Have you sometimes questioned yourself, your methods or the consequences you administer? Have you wondered if you were making a bigger deal of things than they need to be? Or worried that you weren't taking their behavior seriously enough?
So have we! And while we can't offer solutions to every one of the parenting problems you face, we can tell you that the 5 Triggers of Addiction have brought tremendous clarity to our parenting! Like us, you can experience the freedom that comes from seeing how the triggers of addiction are being manifest in you and your children. With this new perspective, you can learn to recognize them and apply their antidotes - keeping all of you focused on the real problems and solutions!
As we teach these triggers and antidotes to our children and consistently point them out, we are all empowered to not only stay away from addiction, but to engage in responsible behavior and build quality relationships through living these simple truths.
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
1:49 The 5 Triggers of Addiction 2:49 Audrey’s experience with her daughter 11:08 Why it’s helpful to teach children principles before give in to the Triggers of Addiction 14:14 How to analyze a situation looking for The 5 Triggers 24:05 Why it's crucial to help children see where their choices lead 26:14 How Suzuki handled the trigger of dishonesty 28:17 Why listening to conscience keeps us out of addiction
Quotes from this episode: “Teach your children the principles before you have the parenting and disciplining moment so that you can return to those truths and they won’t think that you’re making something up on the spot. It’s so critical for them because [then] they can see those [principles] in action in their lives.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“To deceive oneself is worse than to deceive others.” ~Leo Tolstoy
“The voice of conscience is the voice of God.” ~Leo Tolstoy
“I determined to live according to these ideas!” ~Shinichi Suzuki
“Look at these triggers, think about them, teach them to your children and recognize them over and over again in the situations that you run into in your parenting experiences so your children will be empowered to understand where giving into the triggers would lead them. That they don’t want to go there and that’s a life they don’t want to have. That they have the power to stay in truth and to experience the joy and the self-acceptance and self-love that comes from really living and abiding in truth all the time." ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
Chart from this Episode: Trigger Antidote
Resentment Forgiveness
Selfishness Service
Self-pity Gratitude
Dishonesty Honesty
Fear Faith
Books from this episode:
“All you’ve got to do is plant that seed in your mind, care for it, work steadily toward your goal, and it will become a reality. It not only will, there’s no way that it cannot.”~Earl Nightingale Jenny Butchart started small. With a young family she had little time for outside interests. Even though she had chosen family over a prestigious art scholarship in Paris, she decided not to bury her artistic gifts but to develop them in her own backyard. Bringing her children along with her, Jenny built relationships while building on her strengths and through diligence and patience, a lush and inspiring garden was created that has become a Canadian National Historical Site visited by over 1 million people each year.
Jenny shows us, as mothers, that we all have gifts we can develop while we continue to put motherhood first. And as we set that example for our children, we create a legacy of growth and giving! Like Jenny we can start where we are by planting one small seed and then another, and as we do, we bring joy to ourselves and those around us by producing our own abundant "garden."
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
0:58 The story of Jenny Butchart and her garden 6:22 The sunken garden 10:31 How Jenny’s passion project influenced others 12:52 A family legacy 15:34 A mindset for mothers 18:38 Gardening and the mind 24:06 A family’s best investment: the education of the mother
Quotes from this episode: “Man's mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind. Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts. By pursuing this process, a man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life. He also reveals, within himself, the laws of thought, and understands, with ever-increasing accuracy, how the thought-forces and mind elements operate in the shaping of his character, circumstances, and destiny.” ~James Allen
“Now it stands to reason that a person who is thinking about a concrete and worthwhile goal is going to reach it, because that’s what he is thinking about and we become what we think about. Conversely, the man who has no goal, who doesn’t know where he is going, and whose thoughts must therefore be thoughts of confusion and anxiety and fear and worry, becomes what he thinks about. One’s life becomes one of frustration, fear, anxiety and worry. And if he thinks about nothing, he becomes nothing.” ~Earl Nightingale
“All you’ve got to do is plant that seed in your mind, care for it, work steadily toward your goal, and it will become a reality. It not only will, there’s no way that it cannot. You see, that is a law, like the laws of Sir Isaac Newton, the laws of gravity. If you get on top of a building and jump off, you’ll always go down, you’ll never go up. And it is the same with all the other laws of nature. They always work. They’re inflexible.” ~Earl Nightingale
“Stories like this are just amazing because [Jenny Butchart's talent] nurtured her, it nurtured her family, and it nurtured her community and now it’s a blessing to the world. But it didn’t start out that way. It started out as a small and simple thing. But it started out, especially, with a mindset. It started out with how Jenny saw herself and how she saw her talents. She chose family, but she didn’t give up on herself. And she didn’t say to herself, “Well my time is past.
Meet Julie Greenman, board member and Director of Public Relations at The Mission Driven Mom. Join Audrey Rindlisbacher as Julie shares with Audrey her personal journey to learning to love God and self, how the classics have influenced her life, and the greatest thing in her life right now. You’ll hear what motivates Julie to teach mothers and youth about the power of principles and why they matter. "'The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.' I feel like so many moms know that to be true, but they are really struggling to find principles…Once [a] principle is found and you admit it, you understand it, and you study it, it becomes a stronger guide rather than this little feeling that’s kind of guiding you. It’s an actual truth that’s guiding you." ~Julie Greenman
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
0:58 Meet Julie Greenman 5:05 Julie’s personal journey learning to love God and self 11:57 How the classics influenced Julie’s life 15:15 How government and economic classics apply to motherhood 18:21 The greatest thing in Julie’s life right now 20:13 Why Julie decided to join the MDM Board 22:21 Julie’s vision for MDM 24:51 One thing Julie would like moms to know
Quotes from this episode: Julie: "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world." And I feel like so many moms know that to be true, but they are really struggling to find principles…We read these books and we have feelings about them and these feelings kind of innately turn towards something that’s good but what’s so exciting is that you can read these things and have those feelings, but then you can actually go deeply and look for the actual principles that are hiding in there that can be found. Once that principle is found and you admit it, you understand it, and you study it, it becomes a stronger guide rather than this little feeling that’s kind of guiding you. It’s an actual truth that’s guiding you.
Audrey: It’s such a relativistic world. And unarmed with that skill, it’s easy to fall victim to "It’s my truth. It’s your truth, and just do your thing. Just tolerate everything and anything goes." That’s a recipe for disaster that leads to personal destruction, family destruction and societal destruction. We’re watching that happen and we want to put the brakes on it...We have a conscience and we have God and we receive answers from him, but He also wants us to do our part. He wants us to exercise our minds and to put our own effort in and He’ll guide us to the truth if we’ll submit and commit ourselves.
Julie: The thing I really want to emphasize is He’s already been guiding us but it’s usually through feelings or a few little ideas here and there, but the real change is looking straight, right at that truth, that principle that will even make us make the better choices.
Audrey: Because then that’s the foundation, that’s solid, that’s not like "well that felt like a good idea last time but I’m not sure what to do this time." You have this whole paradigm shift of "actually God puts laws in place and they always guide us and my job is just to find them and I’ll build…this solid foundation"….It’s so empowering.
“I have nowhere seen woman occupying a loftier position; and if I were asked, now that I am drawing to the close of this work, in which I have spoken of so many important things done by the Americans, to what the singular prosperity and growing strength of that people ought mainly to be attributed, I should reply: To the superiority of their women.” ~Alexis de Tocqueville In 1831, Alexis deTocqueville, a French diplomat and political philosopher, visited the United States of America where he observed the positive and negative effects of democracy. After much observation, de Tocqueville wrote the landmark book Democracy in America. At the close of his 943-page work detailing many aspects of the American government and people, de Tocqueville attributed America's democratic success mainly to its women. WHY?
Listen to this podcast as Audrey Rindlisbacher describes the influence of mothers in the founding of the United States of America. Hear how mothers back then prepared a moral people ready to found a great nation under God and how, as mothers today, we too play a critical role in upholding morals in the societies to which we belong. As women and mothers we can bring back natural laws and build homes centered on principles, becoming the bulwark of morals in a time of shifting morality.
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
1:00 Alexis de Tocqueville looks to America 11:57 American education in the 1700’s 14:47 How is leadership created? 16.34 What de Tocqueville had to say about women in America 25:02 Why mothers are the bulwark of morality
Quotes from this episode: “…let us borrow from [America] the principles, rather than the details, of her laws.” ~Alexis de Tocqueville
“…it was a burly intellectual craving that called them from the comforts of their former homes; and in facing the inevitable sufferings of exile their object was the triumph of an idea.”~Alexis de Tocqueville
“No free communities ever existed without morals, and as I observed in the former part of this work, morals are the work of woman.” ~Alexis de Tocqueville
“Great events in history are determined by all kinds of factors, but the most important single one is always the quality of the people in charge; and never was this principle more convincingly demonstrated than in the struggle for American independence.” ~Paul Johnson
“Taken as a whole, the course of studies was regarded less as an induction into various branches of learning and more as a fixed body of absolute, immutable truths.” ~Christopher J. Lucas
“The most important leader in a young child’s life is her mother.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“I have nowhere seen woman occupying a loftier position; and if I were asked, now that I am drawing to the close of this work, in which I have spoken of so many important things done by the Americans, to what the singular prosperity and growing strength of that people ought mainly to be attributed, I should reply: To the superiority of their women.” ~Alexis de Tocqueville
"That is where you and I come in as women and as mothers--bringing those natural laws back, building homes that are principle centered, becoming the bulwark of morals in a time of shifting morality. Our role is just as difficult as the role of past generations and in some regard may be more difficult because the information isn’t as readily available, we’re not taught [natural law and principles] in the schools and they're not upheld in society. We have to…band together as mothers to help and support each other in this morality that we are striving to perpetuate for future generations because we know that’s where true happiness lies. We know that’s where the strength of any individual, any family, any community, any nation comes from is submission to natural laws. That is the foundation of true morality and it’s what builds strength in any endeavor.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
As a mother, have you ever had a child approach you with an idea that sounded ok on the surface, but didn’t feel completely right after a closer look? We live in a world that’s at times tricky to navigate.
What if we could organize our minds in a way that would allow us to unravel the gray issues, discerning the true from the false?
This is where principles come to our rescue. If we can identify first principles and principles, we’ll better be able to isolate the truth and error. Fortunately for us, God, in his mercy, has made our journey much easier by pointing out first principles in our core books--we just need to know how to find them.
Join Audrey Rindlisbacher in this episode to learn more about finding principles, and specifically, first principles in the scriptures. She’ll take you through several verses found in Matthew in the King James version of the Bible that illustrate Jesus Christ’s use of first principles to teach the truth amidst confusing ideas. Looking to Christ's example and with practice, you can find the truth in today’s world of deceiving half-truths and, ultimately, peace in the storm.
Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.
1:21 The power of harmonizing scripture with secular learning through principles 4:19 A small sampling: looking for first principles in Matthew 4:44 Use The 5 Types of Questions to dig deeper 5:48 Scribes and Pharisees focused on applications more than first principles 10:03 Jesus brings the focus back to first principles 14:04 First principles found across religions 17:23 The relationship between doctrines and first principles 18:40 Doctrines versus the commandments of men 19:57 Prioritizing first principles creates a solid foundation and brings balance to life
Quotes from this episode: "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." ~Matthew 15:1-9 King James Version (KJV)
“I just love this section of scripture because it’s Jesus doing what he does over and over again so brilliantly, and that is not letting people replace what’s far less important for what’s most important.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
"Because we’re constantly asked to do good things, but they’re at the expense of more important things and when we do good things at the expense of more important things, at the expense of the first principles, then our lives unravel, our families unravel, and our society unravels. So if we all spend our energy being kind and tolerating, that may work for a while, but if it’s at the expense of the weightier first principles that a solid society is founded upon, or a family, or a life, then it will unravel. And this is where the confusion comes in, especially for our children and our youth, because when they go to school, go to college, go to work out in the world,…the problem really arises when they’re…asked to do a good thing, but they do that good thing at the expense of the first principle they should be living.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“The story of Mother Teresa’s childhood and youth is quite simply a demonstration of how God can take the life of any individual who is willing to offer it to Him and make of it something quite literally superhuman in its power and its effectiveness. This is the story of the making of a child of God.” ~David Porter All of us have heard of Mother Teresa, perhaps even been touched by her work. Yet, there is still much mystery that surrounds her and her life, largely because she was so apprehensive about ever speaking about herself. Not surprisingly, however, just as in the lives of the Ten Boom family and many other Mission Driven men and women, her childhood was the perfect preparatory foundation for the work she later went on to do.
You'll be amazed to discover how her parents paved the way - how the lives they lead, the opportunities they gave her and the skills they taught her, fashioned her into the woman of God she became. This is invaluable information for mothers like us and give us tremendous insight into how we can play a bigger role in the development of a principle centered and mission driven home of our own!
Best of all, you’ll see first-hand how Mother Teresa did in fact live the 7 Laws of Life Mission and how God magnified her humble offering to bless and influence the lives of millions throughout the world.
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1:15 Laws 1-4: Mother Theresa’s childhood and youth 3:09 Inspired by her father 10:46 Influenced by her mother 23:48 Law 5: Agnes hears the call 24:28 Law 6: Agnes executes her mission 34:13 Law 7: A call within a call
Quotes from this episode: “She said that ‘She knew God would help her because she knew it was God’s work,’ and so she knew that it would be successful. She said, 'What matters is that God calls each of us in a different way. It is no credit to us that he does so. What matters is that we should answer the call. In those difficult and dramatic days, I was certain that this was God’s doing and not mine, and I am still certain and it was the work of God. I knew the world would benefit from it. And so it has been. I think of Elizabeth’s words to Mary, ‘Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.' That was her testimony. She knew when God was talking to her and she was determined to answer the call despite the opposition.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Many of the poor in and around Skopje knew our house, and none left it empty-handed. We had guests at table every day. At first I used to ask, ‘Who are they?’ and Mother would answer: ‘Some are relatives, but all of them are our people.’ When I was older, I realized that the strangers were poor people who had nothing and whom my mother was feeding” ~Mother Teresa
“She has described how she went to her Father Confessor one day. ‘How can I know whether God really is calling me,’ She asked him, ‘and if so, what is he calling me to?’ ‘You can know by how you feel about it,’ the priest replied. ‘If the thought that God may be calling you to serve him and your neighbor makes you happy, then that may be the very best proof of the genuineness of your vocation. Joy that comes from the depths of your being is like a compass, by which you can tell what direction your life should follow. That is the case even when the road you must take is a difficult one.’” ~from Mother Teresa, The Early Years
“As we went along the street we came across one family gathered around a dead relative, wrapped in worn red rags, strewn with yellow flowers, his face painted in colored stripes. It was a horrifying sight. If our people could only see all this, they would stop grumbling about their own misfortunes and offer up thanks to God for blessing them with such abundance.” ~Mother Teresa
“In the hospital pharmacy hangs a picture of the Redeemer surrounded by a throng of suffering people,
Meet Lindsey Wright, board member and Director of Marketing at The Mission Driven Mom. Join Audrey Rindlisbacher as she chats with Lindsey about her home life, moments of self-discovery and balancing the demands of family and mission. You'll hear Lindsey's inspiring vision and encouragement for moms. "I would like the moms to know that this is hard, but it is so worth it and you can do it! [Be] patient with yourself - it will change your life, it will change your family, it will change your neighborhood! Knowledge of principles makes change possible. I’ve been able to make so many changes in my life because I’ve learned the principle." ~Lindsey Wright
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1:15 Meet Lindsey Wright 2:36 The power of vision 4:24 Balancing life’s demands and self-care 12:55 Empowered by The Mission Driven Mom 14:44 Lindsey’s self-discovery moment 17:35 How weaknesses can become strengths 20:32 Lindsey’s vision for MDM 23:06 The power of principles 27:00 Lindsey’s thoughts for moms
Quotes from this episode: "For MDM, the thing that I get excited about is thinking of other moms doing the same thing in their homes and getting...satisfaction and feelings of purpose and empowerment for themselves and then teaching their kids..." ~Lindsey Wright
"One of the things I love about principles is that they create permanent solutions because they’re true. If you know that principle, then you can create that solution that matches with that principle, you’ve solved the problem." ~Lindsey Wright
"I see these [MDM] communities and they start really small and get bigger and bigger... and then our influence in society grows and we have more people reading the great books, more people that are seeing the principles, and knowing how to think deeply about things and how to understand things and have taken the personal responsibility to put their lives in order and I just see that spreading...and just having a tremendous amount of influence." ~Lindsey Wright
For me principles provide a way to see clearly, so if I can think deeply enough about the things that I’m reading or watching or just learning and find the principle or the truth…Once you understand the principle, you can’t not understand it. You can’t un-see it. It’s there and you have this marker and you can say I’m either on this side of it or this side of it or I’m in line with it. And so it just provides clarity so you can take an issue or a problem in your home, your family, your personal life, maybe your neighborhood or society, and it just helps you to see what the right answer is because you know what the truth is….Principles provide clarity, they empower." ~Lindsey Wright
”Our children have greatness within them. When we seek true principles, we can draw out their greatness and help them become who they were meant to become.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher Maria Montessori felt this way too. She once observed: "I watched them, seeking to understand the secret of these souls, of whose greatness I had been so ignorant." Have you ever looked at your child and seen greatness, yet not known how to unleash it?
Maria Montessori may have some answers for you. Through many years of study and practice working with normal as well as mentally handicapped children, Maria discovered simple principles of education that lead to a genuine desire to learn and become self-disciplined. This podcast outlines these specific principles, giving you the first tools you need to begin unlocking the greatness in your children.
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2:51 Maria Montessori’s story 6:48 A first principle of education: The liberty of the child 12.40 How to honor the liberty of your child at home within set bounds 14:33 Why the preparation of the teacher is key 20:16 Why trust in the child’s intuitive self-knowledge 24:17 Classroom examples about spontaneous self-discipline 29:20 Teaching the importance of silence
Quotes from this episode: “The extraordinary rapidity with which this system of education has been adopted for children of every race and every social condition has provided us with an abundance of experimental data and enabled us to identify common features and universal tendencies and thus to determine the natural laws upon which the education of children should be based.” ~Maria Montessori, The Secret of Childhood, 140.
“The fundamental principle of scientific pedagogy must be, indeed, the liberty of the pupil—such liberty as shall permit a development of individual, spontaneous manifestations of the child’s nature.” ~Maria Montessori, The Montessori Method, 42.
“The new education has as its primary aim the discovery and freeing of the child.” ~Maria Montessori, The Secret of Childhood, 110.
“[The teacher must] prepare himself interiorly by systematically studying himself so that he can tear out his most deeply rooted defects, those in fact which impede his relations with children.” ~Maria Montessori, The Secret of Childhood, 149.
“…there is here a question of a deeper calm, an empty, or better, unencumbered state that is a source of inner clarity. This calm consists in a spiritual humility and intellectual purity necessary for the understanding of a child, and which, as a consequence, must be found in a teacher.” ~Maria Montessori, The Secret of Childhood, 137.
“This new system of education has been widely discussed, particularly with respect to the reversed roles of child and adult—the teacher without a desk, without authority, and almost without teaching, and the child, the center of activity, free to move about as he wills and to choose is own occupations.” ~Maria Montessori, The Secret of Childhood, 111.
“The teacher must understand and feel her position of observer.” ~Maria Montessori, The Montessori Method, 79.
“A child’s psychic life should develop naturally and reveal its inner secret. Unless this principle is maintained, all later attempts at education will only lead one more deeply into an endless maze.” ~Maria Montessori, The Secret of Childhood, 110.
“Discipline must come through liberty.” ~Maria Montessori, The Montessori Method, 78.
“When a normal child is attracted by an object he fixes his whole attention intently upon it and continues to work without a break in a remarkable state of concentration. After the child has finished his work, he appears satisfied, rested, and happy.” ~Maria Montessori, The Secret of Childhood, 114.
Audrey's Master's essay on Montessori's Educational Principles: Click Here to Read Audrey's Master's essay on Montessori's Educational Princi...
“Many of my colleagues in the social sciences, quite frankly, thought that I had lost my mind studying such a ‘soft or inappropriate topic’ such as forgiveness. ‘Leave the examination of forgiveness to the clergy,’ I was told. ‘You’ll never get a job working in academia if you stick with that Enright,’ my graduate students were counseled. ‘This topic has nothing to do with social science,’ I heard whispered more than once.
I’ve battled through misunderstandings, indifference, and anger from others as I’ve tried to bring some perspective and depth to the question ‘What is forgiveness?’” ~Robert D. Enright, PhD. When striving for personal growth do we sometimes overlook the power of forgiveness? In our struggle to heal ourselves and others do we understand the key role forgiveness plays?
Forgiveness is something we may think we understand, but when faced with it, we often find ourselves at a loss. What is it really, and how do we actually do it? We may fall short when faced with these questions. Even those from vibrant religious backgrounds can draw a blank about the true nature of forgiveness, yet, it is a fundamental component of a healthy, happy life.
This is why it’s critical for mothers to build a home life centered on forgiveness in order to empower their families with the tools for emotional and spiritual well-being.
In this podcast, Audrey Rindlisbacher introduces the insightful book Forgiveness is a Choice by Robert D. Enright, PhD. In his book, Dr. Enright shares what he learned about forgiveness through a clinical study of incest survivors and the effect of forgiveness on their ability to find emotional and spiritual health. You will hear Dr. Enright’s 7 points defining forgiveness, what you will gain when you forgive, and 5 Tools for forgiveness taught by Jesus Christ, the very author and source of forgiveness.
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2.06 The case for forgiveness 9:38 Robert Enright’s clinical study about forgiveness 13:30 What forgiveness is and what it is not 14.52 Results you can expect when you forgive 16:27 5 Forgiveness Helps from the Bible 29:27 A story of the healing power of forgiveness
Quotes from this episode: “We could fill volumes with case histories and first person accounts of how forgiveness has set people free.” ~Dr. Robert Enright
“[You will] learn that the first person that forgiveness changes is the person doing the forgiving.” ~Dr. Robert Enright
“We saw that these resentments must be mastered, but how? We could not wish them away any more than alcohol. This was our course. We realized that the people who wronged us were perhaps spiritually sick. Though we did not like their symptoms and the way these disturbed us, they, like ourselves, were sick too. We asked God to help us show them the same tolerance, pity, and patience that we would cheerfully grant a sick friend. When a person offended we said to ourselves, ‘This is a sick man. How can I be helpful to him? God save me from being angry. Thy will be done.'” ~Alcoholics Anonymous
Forgiveness Help #1: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors… For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” ~Matthew 6: 12, 15-16
Forgiveness Help #2: “Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” ~Luke 23:34
Forgiveness Help #3: “So when they continued asking him [Jesus], he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” ~John 8:7
Forgiveness Help #4: “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.” ~Matt. 24:10
Forgiveness Help #5: “The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him,
“Lack of power, that was our dilemma. We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves.” ~Alcoholics Anonymous Have you ever felt afraid or powerless when it comes to addiction--afraid there’s nothing you can do to protect your family?
At times, addiction may seem like a mystery. It may be be unaware of what’s really going on in our own homes. As mothers, we need to understand addiction in order to fortify our families and know how to help them when they struggle.
The GREAT NEWS is that just as in other keys areas of life, there are guiding principles surrounding addiction. There is hope because we can learn and live these principles, then teach them to our families and strengthen them against addiction -- helping them know how to stay free from addiction’s bonds.
The key is having an intimate understanding of the triggers of addiction and their corresponding antidotes. These empower us to see what's behind the addictive behavior to what is really happening in the hearts of minds of those battling addiction. Once we can diagnose the spiritual issue, we can use these anecdotes to provide clarity and needed changes. When partnered with the 12 Steps Program and effective sponsorship, every addict can find permanent sobriety!
In this podcast, Audrey Rindlisbacher will share foundational principles of addiction. Through personal experience, Audrey is here to tell us there is hope, there are guiding principles we can stand on, and, ultimately, there is a higher Power we can reach up to for that change of heart we seek in ourselves and those we love.
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2:24 Why it’s crucial to recognize and treat addiction as a spiritual illness 5:06 The story of Cindy Beall, author of Healing Your Marriage When Trust is Broken 10:16 How to dispel the mystery surrounding addiction by understanding foundational principles of addiction 15:25 Why belief in a higher power is essential to addiction recovery 19:53 Trigger #1: Resentment 22:33 Trigger #2: Selfishness 24:05 Trigger #3: Self-pity 26:25 Trigger #4: Dishonesty 27:54 Trigger #5: Fear 33:45 How to arm your children by teaching them to manage these triggers and apply the corresponding antidotes
Quotes from this Episode: “Lack of power, that was our dilemma. We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves.” ~Alcoholics Anonymous
“So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self-will run riot, though he usually does not think so. Above everything, we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness. We must, or it kills us! God makes that possible.” ~Alcoholics Anonymous
“Resentment is the ‘number one’ offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else. From it stems all forms of spiritual disease, for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually sick. When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically.” ~Alcoholics Anonymous
“I would respect you if you felt that you needed to remove yourself from your marriage. What you’ve endured is very hard. But you are not a fool to stay and be a part of the redemptive work in man’s life.” ~Pastor Dan to Cindy Beall
“As I drove back to Georgetown that afternoon, I heard God’s voice over and over and over in my head. ‘Do you trust Me?’ I was hesitant to answer Him; I knew what saying yes would mean. It would mean staying in a marriage that was deeply wounded, nearly destroyed. It would mean forgiving a man for breaking his marriage vows over and over again. It would mean remaining in a trustless marriage until Chris could build that trust back up, which may take the rest of his life. But after wrestling in prayer and remembering the promises that God had made to me in His Word...
Albert Schweitzer is the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and is known world wide for his service to humanity. Yet, he began life in an ordinary home, with an ordinary family in a small village in the mountains.
We might well ask: What made him different? What did he do to have far-reaching impact for good? And what clues for living life mission can his life story reveal?
In this podcast you'll learn the story of Albert Schweitzer's life and his journey through the 7 Laws of Life Mission. You’ll be fascinated to see how he prepared, heard the call to life mission and executed his mission--despite the opposition of family and friends, without the financial means he needed, with years of preparation still ahead of him.
As you listen, perhaps you will find insights from Albert Schweitzer’s life that will help you see more clearly your own mission path. You may even see where you are on the path right now and what you need to do to take the next step.
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2:07 Law 1--Love of God 4:07 Law 2--Love of Self 8.22 Law 3--Love of Truth 10:44 Law 4--Love of Humanity 21:34 Law 5--Hear the Call 39:05 Law 6--Courageously Execute 46:11 Law 7--Do it Again
Quotes from this Episode: “When I was five years old my father began giving me music lessons on the old square piano which we had inherited from grandfather Schillinger. He had no technical skill, but improvised charmingly. When I was seven I surprised our schoolmistress by playing hymn tunes on the harmonium with harmonies which I supplied myself. At eight, when my legs were hardly long enough to reach the pedals, I began to play the organ. My passion for that instrument was inherited from my grandfather Schillinger…I was nine years old when for the first time I took the place of the organist for a service at Gunsbach.” ~Albert Schweitzer
“Three times a week, from eleven to twelve, when the morning lessons were over, I had to take the Confirmation classes for boys, which in Alsace continue for two years. I tried hard to give them as little home work to do as possible, that the lessons might be a time of pure refreshment for heart and spirit. I therefore used the last ten minutes for making them repeat after me, and so get to know by heart, Bible sayings and verses of hymns which they might take away from these classes to guide them throughout their lives. The aim of my teaching was to bring home to their hearts and thoughts the great truths of the Gospel, and to make them religious in such a way that in later life they might be able to resist the temptations to irreligion which would assail them. I tried also to awake in them a love for the Church, and a feeling of need for a solemn hour for their souls in the Sunday services. I taught them to respect traditional doctrines, but at the same time to hold fast to the saying of St. Paul that where the spirit of Christ is, there is liberty.” ~Albert Schweitzer
“Intoxicated as I was with the delight of dealing with realities which could be determined with exactitude, I was far from any inclination to undervalue the humanities as others in a similar position often did. On the contrary, through my study of chemistry, physics, zoology, botany, and physiology I became more than ever conscious to what an extent truth in thought is justified and necessary, side by side with the truth which is merely established by facts. No doubt something subjective clings to the knowledge which results from a creative act of the mind. But at the same time such knowledge is on a higher plane than the knowledge based only on the facts.” ~Albert Schweitzer
“We can find our right place in the Being that envelops us only if we experience in our individual lives the universal life which wills and rules within it. The nature of the living Being without me I can understand only through the living Being which is within me.
“Are we prepared to defend democratic principles? Of course not.” ~Robert M. Hutchins Robert M. Hutchins said this in 1940! If society was steeped in relativism then, what about now? As a mother, you may ask, "What can I do about it?" The answer is more simple than you may think: create a principle-centered home.
According to Mortimer Adler, those who teach are more influential than those who write a country’s novels and make its laws. As a mother, you are your children’s most impactful teacher.
Listen to this episode to find out what you can do to recapture your children by showing them evidence of Natural Law through principle-based living. See how you can build a strong foundation that will become a bedrock of strength, courage and faith for generations to come as you become a truth seeker who understands what principles are and knows how find and live them.
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5:19 Natural Law, the foundation of a truth seeker 7:04 C.S. Lewis’ effort to bring back Natural Law in Britain 10:50 Relativism in the United States 20:10 What can you do as a mom? 24:43 Why mothers are more powerful than professors 27:50 What mothers can do to recapture this generation
Quotes from this episode: “Are we prepared to defend democratic principles? Of course not. For forty years and more our intellectual leaders have been telling us they are not true. They have been telling us in fact that nothing is true which cannot be subject to experimental verification. In the whole realm of social thought there can, therefore, be nothing but opinion. Since there is nothing but opinion, everybody is entitled to his own opinion…If everything is a matter of opinion, force becomes the only way of settling differences of opinion. And, of course, if success is the test of rightness, right is on the side of the heavier battalions.” ~Robert M. Hutchins, 1940
“We must believe that man can discover truth, goodness, and right by the exercise of his reason, and that he may do so even as to those problems which, in the nature of the case, science can never solve…” ~Robert M. Hutchins
“If the teachers of the country, and more than the teachers, their higher-ups, are in this [relativistic] state of mind, can we expect the present generation to be otherwise? Mr. MacLeish may think that those who write a country’s novels are more influential than those who make its laws. I think that those who teach its youth are more, immeasurably more influential than either.” ~Mortimer J.Adler
“There is something we can do to recapture our children and more of this generation. Our children…are being robbed of the evidence that would buoy up their faith. They don’t have the rational arguments for truth and natural laws. And it’s because this started so long ago. It has not been on the landscape for 100 years or more…Ultimately it has to be a movement, we have to do this together.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“Our greatest need is the clearest understanding of what democracy means, the most patient rational articulation of its principles. And I do not mean that this should be a rare secret, possessed by the favored few who have written books on the subject. I mean it should belong to the masses. [The schools'] aim must be the same as that of the church and the home, namely, the development of the moral virtues.” ~Mortimer J. Adler
“You and I can start now. We can move forward. We can train our minds and our hearts, and we can train ourselves to better lead our families. We can be truth seekers who understand what principles are, who know how to find, delineate, and live them and build strong foundations that become a bedrock of strength and courage and faith for future generations.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“To claim truth for what one is saying is not to be intolerant of others who may differ, for we can try to speak the truth 'with malice towar...
Have you ever wondered how to harness the power of great books in your life? In the past, reading a classic might have meant reading for a class in order to pass a test. But now, perhaps you want something different, something that expands and uplifts. So, how can you make the paradigm shift from a classroom mentality to a transformational experience?
In this episode, Audrey Ribdlisbacher will help you see how you can plant and nourish the seed of transformational learning. You’ll hear how to:
get a book through you
choose books wisely with personal growth in mind
nourish your fledgling plant by giving yourself permission to only read a part of a book
mark quotes and epiphanies in a way you can easily refer back to them
write questions that expand your understanding
strengthen your faith by bringing what you read back to your scriptures
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0:40 Getting a book through you 6:40 Reading skills for life-long learning 8:23 How to chose the books you spend time with 18:02 Start reading by asking your WHY 21:05 Mark quotes and write the 5 types of questions 23:22 Bring it back to your scriptures 28:44 Record your “take home”
Quotes from this episode: “But I hope that you have now arrived at an age to understand that reading, even of the bible, is a thing in itself neither good nor bad, but that all the good that can be drawn from it, is by the use and improvement of what you have read, with the help of your own reflections. Young people sometimes boast of how many books and how much they have read; when instead of boasting, they ought to be ashamed of having wasted so much time to so little profit. I advise you, my son, in whatsoever you read, and most of all in reading the Bible, to remember that it is for the purpose of making you wiser and more virtuous.” ~John Quincy Adams to his son
“The best education for the best is the best education for all.” ~Robert Maynard Hutchins
“The ideas and issues raised by good books are more permanent and more interesting than those that are raised by inferior books. In fact, the best books—great books, as they are called—raise the most fundamental and lively issues of all.” ~Mortimer J. Adler
“You are not, in fact, going to read nothing: if you don’t read good books, you’ll read bad ones.” ~C.S. Lewis
“A man who has lived in many places is not likely to be deceived by the local errors of his native village; the scholar has lived in many times and is therefore in some degree immune from the great cataract of nonsense that pours from the press and the microphone of his own age.” ~C.S. Lewis
“The best books are over our heads.” ~Mortimer J. Adler
“We can not solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them.” ~Albert Einstein
“I have myself for many years made it a practice to read through the Bible once every year. I have always endeavoured to read it with the same spirit and temper of mind which I now recommend to you. That is, with the intention and desire that it may contribute to my advancement in wisdom and virtue.” ~John Quincy Adams
“The Holy Scripture is to me, and always will be the constant guide of my assent; and I shall always hearken to it, as containing the infallible truth relating to things of highest concernment…and I shall presently condemn and quit any opinion of mind, as soon as I am shown that it is contrary to any revelation in the Holy Scripture.” ~John Locke
“I hope…that as you learn to read, the heavier reading you once put aside will cease to be burdensome. You will enjoy learning. All books will become light in proportion as you find light in them.” ~Mortimer J. Adler
Reading skills for life-long learning: 1-Discern truth from error 2-Compare principles 3-Agree or disagree logically with the author 4-Mark your book well to find meaningful passages later on
“The truth is that you probably have more natural potential than you could use if you lived one hundred lifetimes. Whatever you have accomplished up until now is only a small fraction of what is truly possible for you.” ~Brian Tracy As moms, we often focus far more on just getting through the day rather than about reaching our potential. But think about that. What message do we send our kids when we are always too busy to make time for ourselves? That it's ok for them to hyper-focus on themselves? Or that they also can't afford to make time for personal needs and growth?
Neither message is healthy or what we truly want for our children...or for ourselves. So how do we do it? How do we work toward our own potential while helping our children to do the same?
Join Audrey in this episode as she discusses how to tap into your potential and shares practical tools to help you make it happen. You will also hear how Natural Law can provide a safe boundary for your desires and the freedom you’ve always wanted to whole-heartedly follow your passions while glorifying God.
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2:55 Author Brian Tracy shares the moment he realizes he’s responsible for himself 6:27 We get what we desire most 8:35 We have untapped potential 9:27 How do I determine what is O.K. to desire? 11:30 How do I grow? When I get up in the morning, what’s the translation? 12:27 How do I know if what I desire is right in God’s eyes? 18:46 How can a framework of Natural Law help me navigate my desires? 22:50 The mechanics of goal setting 29:15 Practical tips: what Audrey does to reach her goals
Quotes from this episode: “Wherever you focus you attention, wherever you put your energy, that is what will grow.” ~Mark Fisher and Marc Allen
“1. SOME goals must be big (out of reach-not out of sight) to make you stretch and grow to your full potential. 2. SOME goals must be long-range to keep you on track and greatly reduce the possibility of short-range frustrations. 3. SOME goals must be small and daily to keep you disciplined and in touch with the reality of ‘nitty gritties’ of daily life. 4. SOME goals must be ongoing. 5. SOME goals (sales, educational, financial, weight loss, etc.) might require analysis and consultation to determine where you are before you can set the goals. 6. MOST goals should be specific.” ~Zig Ziglar
“The most common answer given by successful people is that they think about what they want, and how to get it most of the time. Unsuccessful, unhappy people think and talk about what they don’t want most of the time. They talk about their problems and worries and who is to blame most of the time.” ~Brian Tracy
Books from this episode:
“When we are not who we should be, we become shadows of ourselves. We are not real. We are not the real person we were meant to be when we’re petty,…jealous,…aggressive,…ruled by our passions and prideful. That is not who we really are.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher On life’s journey, we may stumble into traps without realizing it. These pitfalls can unwittingly keep us from becoming who we want to be. How can we become more self-aware? How can we know where we might be getting tripped up--where our own self-blindness is keeping us from the personal growth we long for?
In his book, The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis attempts to expose subtle spiritual traps through a metaphor of a group of people in Hell boarding a bus bound for Heaven. Listen to this podcast to hear about each of the "personalities" in Hell and what is keeping them from Heaven. Through their behavior you may just find the key to better self-awareness--leading you out of your own self-made Hell and into the Heaven that awaits you!
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2:10 C.S. Lewis’ picture of Hell 5:23 What we can learn from people waiting for a bus to Heaven 21:43 What these individuals have in common 27:35 How they reacted to Heaven
Quotes from this episode: “When we are not who we should be, we become shadows of ourselves. We are not real. We are not the real person we were meant to be when we’re petty,…jealous,…aggressive,…ruled by our passions and prideful. That is not who we really are.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“And yet all loneliness, angers, hatreds, envies, and itchings that (Hell) contains, if rolled into one single experience and put into the scale against the least moment of the joy that is felt by the least in Heaven, would have no weight that could be registered at all.” ~C.S. Lewis
“Who you really are is strong and competent… and amazing…As you think about the types of people in Hell and as you spend your time with The Great Divorce with CS Lewis, I challenge you to look at the people who changed,…why they change[d] and how they change[d], and to be on that journey to be the best you, to stay away from being a victim and from being selfish,…petty and small and to make more of yourself—to become who you were really meant to be.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher
"A damned soul is nearly nothing; it is shrunk, shut up in itself." ~C.S. Lewis
Books from this episode:
“Love is not simply giving; it is judicious giving and judicious withholding as well. It is judicious praising and judicious criticizing. It is judicious arguing, struggling, confronting, urging, pushing and pulling in addition to comforting. It is leadership.” ~M. Scott Peck If, as mothers, we want to be leaders to our children, we must not only love them, but love them properly. It's vital that we have a crystal clear understanding of the nature of love and how what Peck is teaching applies to us. The question then becomes, "How can we love judiciously and fully, developing our children to their highest potential?"
Listen to this episode to hear a clear definition of love that will help you judge how to love. You will also hear how "will" is linked to love, why you must choose to love yourself first before you can truly love, and why wisdom is key to beneficial loving.
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0:38 The Two Great Laws 2:50 An impactful definition of love 8:08 Why we must love ourselves to love others 10:33 How will is connected to love 18:30 Why wisdom is key to truly loving 24:17 A question that generates love
Quotes from this episode: “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” ~Matthew 22:36-39
“Love, in the Christian sense, does not mean emotion. It is a state not of the feelings, but of the will.” ~CS Lewis
“[Love is] the will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.” ~M. Scott Peck
“Do not waste time bothering whether you 'love' your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more.” ~C.S. Lewis
“Indeed, as has been pointed out, we are incapable of loving another unless we love ourselves, just as we are incapable of teaching our children self-discipline unless we ourselves are self-disciplined. It is actually impossible to forsake our own spiritual development in favor of someone else’s. We cannot forsake self-discipline and at the same time be disciplined in our care for another. We cannot be a source of strength unless we nurture our own strength. As we proceed in our exploration of the nature of love, I believe it will become clear that not only do self-love and love of others go hand in hand but that ultimately they are indistinguishable.” ~M. Scott Peck
“They are told they ought to love God. They cannot find any such feeling in themselves. What are they to do? The answer is the same as before. Act as if you did. Do not sit trying to manufacture feelings. Ask yourself, ‘If I were sure that I loved God, what would I do?’ When you have found the answer, go and do it.” ~C.S. Lewis
“Indeed, if one can say that one has built genuinely loving relationships with a spouse and children, then one has already succeeded in accomplishing more than most people accomplish in a lifetime.” ~M. Scott Peck
“Call it what you will, genuine love, with all the discipline that it requires, is the only path in this life to substantial joy. Take another path and you may find rare moments of ecstatic joy, but they will be fleeting and progressively more elusive. When I genuinely love I am extending myself, and when I am extending myself I am growing. The more I love, the longer I love, the larger I become. Genuine love is self-replenishing. The more I nurture the spiritual growth of others, the more my own spiritual growth is nurtured.” ~M. Scott Peck
“Love is not simply giving; it is judicious giving and judicious withholding as well.
At the age of 17, Shinichi Suzuki innocently hit the keys of a typewriter in an office at his father’s violin factory. The owner of the typewriter entered the room and asked if he was pressing the keys without paper. Suzuki quickly denied his actions, saying he was just looking at the typewriter.
At that moment, he knew he had lied. Wracked by his conscience, Suzuki sought relief at a local book store where he found The Diaries of Leo Tolstoy. Later Suzuki wrote: “Tolstoy said that one should not deceive oneself and that the voice of conscience is the voice of God. I determined to live according to these ideas.” This podcast is all about the life of this amazing man. See how Shinichi Suzuki lived The 7 Laws of Life Mission and, ultimately inspired people around the globe to become not just proficient violinists, but noble human beings!
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1:25 Suzuki’s early life 5:00 Principles Suzuki learned from his father 7:15 Law 1: Love of God 7:51 Suzuki discovers Tolstoy 14:24 “First character, and then ability” 15:10 Law 2: Love of Self 16:20 Suzuki displays a strong character in high school 19: 40 Suzuki discovers his talents 21.40 Law 3: Love of truth 21:52 Suzuki learns a financial principle through experience and commits to live it 24:47 Suzuki learns gratitude from his father when he visits a shrine with friends 26:10 Law 4: Love of Humanity 27:57 Suzuki’s experiences in Germany 32.04 Law 5: The Call 35:50 Law 6: Courageously Execute 37:58 Law 7: Do it again
Quotes from this episode: “[Tolstoy’s] Diary was always at my side. Wherever I went I took it with me. Several years later when, at twenty-three, I went to Germany to study, the book went with me in my pocket. Tolstoy said that one should not deceive oneself and that the voice of conscience is the voice of God. I determined to live according to these ideas.”~Shinichi Suzuki
“[The words ‘first character, and then ability] were inscribed on a tablet that hung in the lecture hall. This principle has been a light to my path all my life and is written on my heart.”~Shinichi Suzuki
“One trait that I continue to find in these great men and women is their ability to make and keep commitments to themselves. They’re just amazing at their consistency in finding truth and then subitting to it and committing to it.”~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“'Sensei, will my boy amount to something?’ a mother asked. 'No,' [Suzuki replied]. 'He will not become something. He will become a noble person through his violin playing. Isn’t that good enough? You should stop wanting your child to become a professional, a good money earner. This thought is concealed in your question and is offensive. A person with a fine and pure heart will find happiness. The only concern for parents should be to bring up their children as noble human beings. That is sufficient. If this is not their greatest hope, in the end the child may take a road contrary to their expectations. Your son plays the violin very well. We must try to make him splendid in mind and heart also.’”~Shinichi Suzuki
“Close to thirty years have passed and all my former student friends today are fine adults, which fills me with deep, profound joy.”~Shinichi Suzuki
“People say that I am trying to do the impossible, and expending my energies for nothing. But I know that what I conceive is possible, and I believe that one day the human race will create the kind of world in which everyone will realize that children have the potential. That is why at the United Nations, after Casals had spoken on world peace, I appealed to the representatives of the nations of the world to do something. What I am trying to do now is to apply my Talent Education to all areas of life. I am trying to get sympathetic primary-school principals to try out methods of education that will ensure that not even one student fails in sc...
"Does everyone have a mission? Yes, if they want one. God will always use us if we want Him to."~Audrey Rindlisbacher If everyone has mission, then how do they set about discovering it? What does life mission really look like? And how do we ensure that the mission work we do will positively effect others--ourselves and our families included?
Through examining the lives of dozens of influential men and women, Audrey Rindlisbacher noticed a pattern emerge: Every individual whose lasting impact brought others closer to God and truth had lived 7 specific laws.
Listen to this episode to learn about each of the 7 Laws of Life Mission and find out how you can begin your mission journey TODAY!.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
How Audrey discovered The 7 Laws of Life Mission What mission looks like What mission is not A brief overview of The 7 Laws
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1:12 How Audrey’s search for the laws of life mission began 6:40 What is mission? 9:55 What mission is not 13:18 Does everyone have a mission? 14:46 What are laws and principles? 19:14 Law 1: Love of God 22:11 Law 2: Love of Self 24:54 Law 3: Love of Truth 26:30 Law 4: Love of Humanity 29:38 Law 5: Hear the Call 30:38 Law 6: Courageously Execute 32:42 Law 7: Do it Again
Quotes from this episode: “Does everyone have a mission? Yes, if they want one. God will always use us if we want Him to. In other words, we could say that we don’t necessarily have a mission. God isn’t going to wait around for us when things need to be done right now, but if we want a mission, if we want to be part of God’s army, if we want Him to work through us, if we want the hardships and rewards available to us through life mission, He would love nothing better than to partner with us and show us the way. It’s our choice.”~Audrey Rindlisbacher
“It is impossible for us to break the law. We can only break ourselves against the law.”~Cecil B. DeMille
“Our mission is to convey God’s love”~Mother Teresa
“Love is the will to extend ones self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.”~Scott Peck
“I know that these laws will lead you on a path that will lead you to be the best you can be, learning how to partner with God, and how to, as Mother Theresa said, “Convey God’s love.” That is our mission. And my challenge to you is to…Get onto the mission path because your life will never be the same. It’s a great adventure.”~Audrey Rindlisbacher
Books from this episode: