Faith in Families
Faith in Families is the stream that’s designed to be listened to as a whole family! At the kitchen table, in the backseat of the car – wherever you are, we want to equip your whole family to follow Jesus together. Join us for lots of fun with our hosts, Ed and Jam talking about God’s love for us and kindness to us in Christ Jesus, with fun facts, sketches and songs along the way.
Ed Drew is the Ministry Director and Founder of Faith in Kids. He has worked with children and families for more than 20 years. He is the author of Raising Confident Kids in a Confusing World, Meals with Jesus, The Wonder of Easter and The Adventure of Christmas. He is married to Mary and they have three children.
James Cary is screenwriter, author and stand-up theologian. He has written for TV shows like Miranda and Death in Paradise, as well as created BBC Radio 4 sitcoms like Hut 33 and Think The Unthinkable. His books include The Sacred Art of Joking and The Gospel According to a Sitcom Writer. He is married and has two daughters.
Faith in Families
Looking to God #4 Mind Full of God
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Even lions grow weak and hungry – according to Psalm 34 – but dolphins never forget! And you thought it was elephants, right? Fun facts about memories, happy places and how God is there for us in the rollercoaster of life if only we take care to remember! Our favourite First Mate has a bit of a wobble, and we hear music from Awesome Cutlery because we are all about Good News families!
https://www.awesomecutlery.com/tracks/good-news-family/
Don't forget the new Faith in Parents podcast, to the Family Moment videos that are on this page, and to our webinar on "Helping every child's mental wellbeing".
Okay, Jan, we're in.
SPEAKER_00We're cooking. Ready? Let's go.
SPEAKER_01Hello, Ed here. I host the Faith in Families podcast with my good friend Jan.
SPEAKER_02That's right, Ed and I are both dads. This podcast is for you if you want to get your family around the Bible for a chat, a giggle, and a chance to see the goodness of God.
SPEAKER_01Peter and Rachel have been doing that with their children, Lydia, Chloe, and Hannah. Although Hannah is only one year old, they dropped us a message to say so, so I know it for a fact.
SPEAKER_02This podcast is for any family to listen to together over dinner or breakfast at bedtime in the car or wait, car, while encountering reindeer on the roads on holiday in Sweden.
SPEAKER_01That's how Olivia and Gabriel listened one time on holiday with Mom Angelina and Dad Oscar. Oh, you're so welcome, Sweden.
SPEAKER_02Indeed, whatever you encounter on the road, welcome to the last episode in this series on the Psalms coming up, Psalm 34, more fun facts, pirates, a song. But first, I'll whip around question, which is Ed. What do you think about when you want to smile? Ooh, I think about my kids when they were little and they didn't really know how the world works, and they said and did things that just made me laugh. And every now and then my phone shows me a picture of one of them to say, Hey, do you remember this day 16 years ago or 15 years ago? And there's a picture of them with something stupid on their heads and it makes me laugh. How about you, Ed?
SPEAKER_01Eating crispy bread with butter on beside a river. Oh. I just picture myself doing that and I smile and it makes me happy. Well, have a think.
SPEAKER_02What do you think about when you want to smile?
SPEAKER_01Let's get into it. But Jam, I'm not gonna go a step further until you've jolly well fun facted us.
SPEAKER_02I have fun facts about our brains, our thoughts, our minds, and our memories because it's the things we remember that have a really big effect on us. Let me tell you about Jonas Van Essen. He says that people forget around half of the new information that they receive within an hour, and 90% of it has gone out of their heads within a week. But it doesn't have to be this way. He wants to prove how good our memories are and can perform under intense pressure and distraction and stress. So to prove it, do you know what he did? He set a Guinness World Record by naming 47 capital cities in one minute whilst on a roller coaster. Huh. He did this memory training to show that you can be effective in a high-pressure real-world condition. Although I'm not sure being on a roller coaster is a real world condition. Ed, have you ever tried to lead a Bible study on a roller coaster?
SPEAKER_00No, Jam, it's very difficult to stop the pages going everywhere.
SPEAKER_02Now, a study has shown that people often remember more from the ages of 15 to 25, often because it's full of first experiences, strong emotions, identity forming events. Kids, ask your parents about being 18 or 23, and they will talk for hours.
SPEAKER_00If your parents are aged over 25, they're gone.
SPEAKER_02Over the hill, past it. You could also ask them about smells, which are a very strong trigger for memories because smell areas in the brain are very closely connected to the bits that control your emotions and your memory. Ed, is there a smell that can suddenly make you very emotional?
SPEAKER_01Well, Jam, that's literally what I just said. Buttered, crusty bread.
SPEAKER_02Oh, that's lovely.
SPEAKER_01It's a smell that I want all the time.
SPEAKER_02Now, I've got a smell right now because next to me is a field which has just had cow muck spread all over it, and suddenly it's like I'm home. Because I was raised on a farm, and suddenly I'm right back where I was uh when I was little. And so that smell has transported me back to my youth, but it's a very odd trigger to take me back.
SPEAKER_01Sam, sometimes do you just lie on a chair on holiday and say, ah, the sweet smell of muck on a field?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. Here's my favourite fact, and I literally experienced this the other day. When you walk into a room and forget what you went in for. Kids, your parents get this all the time. It's a thing! I didn't know it was a thing. It's called the doorway effect. Mums and dads will be so pleased to hear about this. Studies suggest that walking into a room means your brain suddenly switches and goes, Oh, I'm in a new room now. So, you know, start again. And the reason that you went into that room is sometimes just completely wiped as your eyes and brain process, oh, I'm in a new room. And the reason for going into that room is lost. It's a thing, Ed.
SPEAKER_01So next time your parents say, Ah, the doorway effect, what they're saying is, I've totally forgotten why I'm here.
SPEAKER_02Lastly, bottle-nosed dolphins can remember the signature whistles of other dolphins for more than 20 years. Now, can you imagine a dolphin reunion? All those sounds and clicks and noises, and suddenly that smell of fish. Oh, that really takes me back to my late teens. Anyway, those are the fun facts, Ed.
SPEAKER_01Jam, thank you very much for telling us about memories, thoughts, smells, and feelings because they are all connected. That's what we're seeing today in Psalm 34. Isn't it time we heard it for ourselves?
SPEAKER_05Psalm 34, verses 1 to 11. I will praise the Lord at all times. His praise is always on my lips. My whole being praises the Lord. The poor will hear and be glad. Tell the greatness of the Lord with me. Let us praise his name together. I asked the Lord for help, and he answered me. He saved me from all that I feared. Those who go to him for help are happy. They are never disgraced. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him. The Lord saved him from all his troubles. The Lord saves those who fear him. His angel camps around them. Examine and see how good the Lord is. Happy is the person who trusts the Lord. People who belong to the Lord fear him. Those who fear him will have everything they need. Even lions may become weak and hungry. But those people who go to the Lord for help will have every good thing. Children, come and listen to me. I will teach you to worship the Lord.
SPEAKER_01Wondering what your next meal is, thinking how good your shoes look, or whether you'll get screen time later. In Psalm 34, King David shares his thoughts with us.
SPEAKER_03Examine and see how good the Lord is. Happy is the person who trusts the Lord.
SPEAKER_01David was thinking about how good God is and how we should all trust him. What he was thinking helped him to feel happy and then to act differently. Our thoughts are like the engine that pulls the train. Our thoughts pull our feelings and our actions follow behind like carriages. Thoughts at the front pull our feelings, and then our actions follow. So, I'm thinking about an ice cream I had yesterday on the beach with my family as the sun warmed my face. I smile. I feel happy. I feel the love for my family. I'm gonna walk over to my son and just give him a great big hug. And he's like, Where did that come from, Dad? But if I'm thinking about something scary in a film, I start to feel nervous and upset. So I'm gonna snap back at someone who surprises me. Hey, get out of my face! I wanna be on my own. Sorry, what's up with you? In Psalm 34, David's thoughts were full of good things about God. Just listen.
SPEAKER_03Even lions may become weak and hungry. But those people who go to the Lord for help will have every good thing.
SPEAKER_01David chose to fill his mind with good thoughts about a good God. He's daydreaming about lions and people he knows who God has helped. That made him feel happy. That might have shown in his body tingly toes, happy hands, fizzy energy. Thinking about God's goodness and feeling full of happiness led to action. Listen to what David shouted next.
SPEAKER_03Children, come and listen to me. I will teach you to worship the Lord.
SPEAKER_01Don't you love that? His beautiful thoughts about God led to happy feelings that exploded into him searching out some kids because he just had to tell someone how good God is. This is brilliant advice. Hey children, come listen, dive in, find out how good God is. He will rock your world. The things he has done through history will blow your mind.
SPEAKER_02And hey adults, you too, come and listen to me. I want to teach you about the Lord. You need to fill your minds with him too.
SPEAKER_01However young or old we are, we can read or listen to the Bible, sing songs about God, chat about his creation while we walk to school and help each other to fill our thoughts with him. This is the best kind of mindfulness. Can I tell you, I'm on a health kick at the moment. I'm trying to eat healthier, more bananas, less crisps for breakfast. I'm going for a run twice a week. And the easiest part is I love sleep, so I'm getting proper rest each night. And part of looking after myself is learning to control what I think about. What I watch and see and listen to changes my thoughts. So walking around the park, looking at God's glorious, beautiful trees, makes me think happier thoughts than staring at a screen. It's a thing, it's true. If you want to feel better and make better decisions, think about God and how good and great He is. And can I say God is even better than a banana and so much better for me than a run? Get healthy by thinking more about God. I'm gonna pray. Will you pray with me? Thank you, Father God, that you are good and always ready to help. Thank you for your kindness to us. Help us to think about you and your love for us every day. Amen.
SPEAKER_02Amen. Questions.
SPEAKER_01Under fives, think about ice cream and see where you can feel it in your body. Fives to sevens. What happens when we think about how good God is? Over eights, give us your best thought about God. Over elevens, can you think of a time your actions have followed your thoughts and feelings?
SPEAKER_02You can have a chat about that now, in which case press pause. But we're going to carry on and we're going to head out to sea one last time to find out what our pirates are up to.
SPEAKER_03This is the life, first mate. Smooth sailing all the way after another wonderful adventure.
SPEAKER_04Unless the tide turns or the wind changes. Well, yes, I suppose. Or the winds get so strong that the sails tear and the mast snaps. Although torn sails take the pressure off the mast, so. Or the hull springs a leak, or two leaks, or many separate leaks all at the same time. Many separate leaks.
SPEAKER_03It could happen! Look, first mate! It's a glorious day!
SPEAKER_04The sun is shining. Exactly! Sunstroke might make the crew go mad. Percy's been looking at that rope funny. What if he gets caught in the anchor just as it gets thrown overboard? That would be inconvenient and dangerous. But hauling him up can give us rope burns! Except Harry Hookhand can't burn his hand on the rest of the room. The rest of us will get terrible rope burns. They get infected. So we can't hold our cutlasses. So only Harry Hookhand can defend us if pirates attack and sea monsters. And what if the sea monsters are also pirates?
SPEAKER_03Okay, I'm a very imaginative pirate, and even I don't believe in pirate sea monsters. We're on course to get home and But we navigate by the stars!
SPEAKER_04What if the stars stop working or go out or move around into weird shapes and Pete a big head? What if his head actually gets bigger? Finally, a realistic concern. It could unbalance the ship with tip to one side. And what if the ship forgets how to fly? Stop! Please stop with your endless fears of just being prepared.
SPEAKER_03You are being extremely I was gonna say careful, but I'm going with bonkers because you've already forgotten something you told us this morning.
SPEAKER_04What did I tell you? Not to make coordinated holes in the hull. I knew it! This one's on me! I'm so sorry.
SPEAKER_03No! You told us about Psalm 34, about how good the Lord is and how happy the person is who trusts the Lord, because those who fear him will have everything they need. Which I suppose means we don't need to fear anything else. But what about including many separate leaks and sea monsters pretending to be pirates, even Peter Bighead's alarmingly big head. I'm not saying it's big now, but it might become Look, first mate, let us remember how we've been blessed with an island full of food, water, mobile stake on legs, no treasure to attract other pirates, and a ship that oddly always remembers how to float.
SPEAKER_04Good point.
SPEAKER_03So instead of filling my mind with everything that might go wrong, remember Psalm 34, Psalm 121, or 57 or 104, or anything from the Bible, and count your blessings. But what if I forget how to count?
unknownOh dear.
SPEAKER_02Ed, we've had an email from Joey and Owen Berryman, who loved the Easter episodes, and Owen particularly loves action Tim. And Joey loves fun facty facts. That's what he says.
SPEAKER_01The Cornell family enjoyed the fun facts too. That's Pip, Joy, and Flo, who also love the amount we enjoy the fun facts you've caught us there.
SPEAKER_02I love giving them and I love Ed loving them.
SPEAKER_01Mum and Dad Heidi and Dave also enjoy the Faith in Parents podcast. And on a recent trip to the zoo, Heidi says she channeled her inner Amy and remembered, stop and thank God for the flowers and amazing creation stuff. How right you are, Amy is proud of you. And by the way, have you heard about our Faith in Parents podcast? It's on its own little stream, you can find it there, and it's making a lot of people happy and sometimes cry. We have a whole series of good stuff for you if you want to look to God, mental well-being in the Psalms, Sunday school lessons, video psalms, and of course Amy's magical family moments. It's all there for you.
SPEAKER_02We're done for this series, we'll be back soon with another series. Jam! It's been amazing! It certainly has. Thank you for having us in your family. And this is the Faith in Families podcast. We're all about faith in the family, so we should have a song by Awesome Cutlery, Good News Family.
SPEAKER_08We've got good news for you. We got good news for me. We got good news. It's Jesus with a good news family.
unknownWe got good news for you. We got good news for me.
SPEAKER_08We got good news.
SPEAKER_07It's Jesus with a good news family. Jesus came down from heaven, God in the flesh. Perfectly living in the middle of a mess. Jesus said he had come to speak and stay the lost. And he paid for us since we died on the cross.
SPEAKER_08We got good news for you. We got good news for me. We got good news, it's Jesus with good news for me. We got good news for you. We got good news for me. We got good news, it's Jesus with good news for me.
SPEAKER_06Jesus rose up from the dead on the third day. Went with his witnesses and sent them on their way. Promised his Holy Spirit to empower them. Now we are going with people here.
SPEAKER_08We got the good news for me.
SPEAKER_02There'll be a link in the show notes to that song and do support the work of all those who write songs that we have on this podcast. Anyway, that's it for now. We're done. See you soon. Bye bye. Bye bye.
SPEAKER_01Under fives, think about ice cream and see where you can feel it in your body. Fives to sevens. What happens when we think about how good God is? Over eights, give us your best thought about God. Over elevens, can you think of a time your actions have followed your thoughts and feelings?