Interview with Marianne Hering

CNG radio for today's culture and timeless truths come together is reason relevant content apologetics worldview and answers to the questions that you need to know need to know from Alex McFarlane ministries.

This is true for a new generation radio and now the man who preached in 50 states and 50 days speaker, writer, and advocate for Christian apologetics Dr. Alex McFarlane welcome to TMG radio Alex McFarlane to him so excited about today's program.

Talk about a couple of things were going to be talking about writing ministry through the written word and I've got with me somebody. God has used in a very extensive way throughout the last 20 years in Christian publishing and also for those of you with kids in the house you probably have heard of the imagination station your kids they will perk up their ears when they hear the phrase imagination station and if you get the Focus on the Family magazine and if you've read any of my books you even if you don't know the name, you've definitely benefited from the work of the ministry of Mary and hearing the ministry of the written word Marianne writing, publishing and sharing the gospel through writing. How did you get into that and my husband was in seminary in Pasadena and I needed a job in Focus on the Family hired me in the publications department. Now you are one of the ones back when Dr. Dobson started focus you go way back before they moved to Colorado correct that's correct. We were in Pasadena and I was employee number 411 while and you're still with focus today. I am privileged to work in the beautiful state of Colorado and have been now with focus often on for 30 years. Do you have any estimation of the number of projects you've done. Articles books of the adventures in Odyssey 25th anniversary book what what's been your favorite Odyssey or the marriage articles or the magazine highlighted enjoy working with an author in the books department named Alex McFarlane. Perhaps you heard of his books the stand series. I am getting into teaching apologetics was an honor. I've also enjoyed imagination station books getting to really hone in on second and third grade literature, I'm, it's a delight.

How important is it for children. Is there an elementary school for mom and dad to cultivate an ethic of reading to make them readers how important you see that I am very important and if you're not a good reader read any way. I would say just read everything and then also if it's not really your strong suit coated with the audio versions. Publishers are so good. Now what audiobooks you need the content and however you get it via radio via audio or reading. Make sure that you're getting a steady diet of Christian literature. You were the editor on the series of kingdom and books with Tony Evans and tell me about those that because there were several, and they did very very well. I did kingdom man kingdom woman in the curriculum that was attached to it. They've had several more that I didn't work on, but Tony Evans is also a speaker as well as a writer and listening to Tony reading Tony you would be very very enriched and encourage, so I can recommend the kingdom product line to every family also has some devotional type workbooks for kids.

You've done some things that I want to talk about some very, very memorable things and suck some of the books that you've edited the incredible stories that people of gone through. But here's the question. And I get it.

Literally every weekend. How do I become a writer. People ask me that and you are much more prepared to give an answer to that than I think even I am but what you say to people who aspire to get published and not Gladwell had a book out called outliers where he recommended 10,000 hours of work. It really is you have to write 10,000 pages before you really hone in on the crafts of your start early and really focus on it and I can also recommend writers conferences you will be guided and loved on those places are spiritual nurturing green houses for writers and you can get encouragement and practical advice out that's that's how you become a writer is due get around like-minded folks. How do you determine if from God has really called you to write and be in publishing or if it's maybe just kind of a vanity project. Well, it's communication. And so I believe that everybody has a message to tell if there Christian and everybody should be able to articulate their testimony God story in their life, and then some people are called to write that down. So I see it is a life continuum.

Everybody has a story to tell and then it's your life calling to figure out what form that message is going to take minutes to edify other people. It's all about them, not about you and and you gotta be in it for the long haul. On the you've got a really be committed to it for a long time. Right.

Well I would say would depend on what God's calling you to. I believe there are some people who have one that they can tell their life story their memoir and then they God would release them that they're not supposed to be in publishing or have 20 books. One book is probably enough if you if that's what God's calling and not to make your living and to be in the business of publishing is a little bit different and yes you do have to work hard, stick with it a myth that you're calling and you really love to do it. It's possible, and the world needs Christian voices now more than ever. So I would encourage anyone who feels the Holy Spirit nudging them to get on your computer and start typing.

With all the free stuff on the Internet blog sites in just innumerable free websites or publishers so able to make a profit on the Wawa published a for sale when there is so much free stuff on the Internet. Publishers are, we get paid to call through and bring out the very best and then we can also authenticate the material. There is so much I hate to say the term fake news and so when you get something published by a reputable publishing house. The quality is just much better this is stingy radio Alex McFarlane you were talking with author, editor and publisher Marianne hearing and she's the creative force behind the imagination station books and many many other projects as well stated will continue our talk Marianne hearing regarding Christian publishing when TMG returns from watchmen ministries. Here's today's I am a watchman minute friends in Christ. Let me share a Bible verse that can change your life.

It's James 42 you have not for you asked not many tend to think that because God knows all things does not need to voice our prayers.

That's just not true. The biblical mandate is clear we are to ask and seek and knock and pray and not give up in the next verse. James 43. We are instructed to pray with the right heart and motive, and for the right things so versus two and three present the key to a powerful prayer life. We are to ask and pray with precision and passion with the right heart and motive. Yes, there is power in prayer.

Be quick to voice your praises and prayers to the Lord. People be faithful watchman I am a watchman.com. If you're Christian. You of course want to instill a biblical view of life in the heart of your children, your pastor, you want to offer ministry that draws young families to your church.

This is Alex McFarlane encouraging you to check out my new book and video curriculum. The 21 toughest questions your kids will ask about Christianity. I interviewed hundreds of children ages 5 to 12 and we address actual questions from actual children. The spiritual issues that are on the minds of your kids everything the book and video lessons are great for groups of any size and was produced with the goal of equipping kids to stand strong for Christ in any situation. The 21 toughest questions your kids will ask the book study guide and video series. You'll find it@afastore.net that AFA store.net you know Romans 116 says for.

I'm not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God to bring salvation to everyone who believes. That's what your kids need before they go to college. That's the theme for the 2019 TMG Christian apologetics youth July 29 through August 2 at Kale North Carolina speakers include of course Alex McFarlane along with Daniel Ritchie, Andy Lawrenson and Vicki Addison exciting worship. Every night is rock solid teaching every day. And yes, it's a summer camp with all the summer camp activities and kids would expect the TMG Christian apologetics youth camp July 29 through August 2 at Kale to learn more and to register, call 800. Yes, God, one 800 yes God in the number one or email info truth for a new generation.com for apologetics resources by Alex McFarlane.

To find out where Alex is speaking. Visit Alex McFarlane.com welcome back to TMG radio Alex McFarlane to talking about writing and communicating, and before we resume our conversation with Marianne hearing. I do want to remind some exciting things coming, it's not too many weeks away. Our annual summer apologetics Parked in the summer is unashamed. Remember Romans 116 Paul said, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation. July 29 to August 2 will be in eastern North Carolina not too far from the coast will bit beyond Elizabeth city, near the Outer Banks and the unashamed apologetics camp is something you don't want to miss. There is still time to register. This can be fun stuff kayaking zip lines great memories great fun but best of all great content because we will be doing 15 apologetics sessions to equip young people stand strong for their faith when they go back to school, whether they graduate so you can go to our website truth for a new generation.com that's truth for a four truth for a new generation.com also want to remind everybody were coming up on Richmond, Virginia this fall and Cincinnati Ohio in October were going to be in Richmond Virginia Mount Vernon Baptist Church of phenomenal church speakers that you know in the that you love like Gabe Hamilton and Josh McDowell and Todd Starnes Ryan Blomberg are from the radiance foundation. One of the most powerful pro-life voices you ever hear and then in November will be at landmark Baptist Church, very historic church in Cincinnati Ohio.

So pray promote plan to attend. When truth for new generation comes to your city and again the website is truth for a new generation.com were talking with Marianne hearing the Focus on the Family, but she works with authors and ministries all around North America and Marianne in the first segment you talked about your story. How did God bring you into publishing as you are okay. So when I was in my early 20s I got a job at Focus on the Family and they were starting at Clausen, Senior magazine and so I became assistant editor there and had a flair for telling stories that you about frogs and some other things and it was such a joy to read books and children's books.

So I've just always since then, had 11 of children's literature and these magazines still exist 30. The focus magazine for teen girls. How can people find out about the ministries of Focus on the Family thinking. Got a focusonthefamily.com and just type in magazines and I'm sure there's all kinds of ads that flowed across the top to you about our materials and they are well worth that the gentleman who is editor of clubhouse's name is Jesse Floria and he is just a wonderful Christian man and his team are very creative and that they have wholesome delightful material that will educate and disciple your kids the magazine has touched a lot of lives, and you've touched a lot of lives of the imagination station how many imagination station books are there.

I'm 24 is going to press this month and what is the title of them rescue on the river. It's about Harriet Tubman and Abraham Lincoln.

I mean, it starts with Abraham Lincoln's inauguration journey, and then his inauguration and then Harriet Tubman gives down to South Carolina and helps free whole bunch of slaves on the come by he River so is the premise behind imagination station historical fiction but with the Christian message to touched children. I select my stories with Christian worldview in mind their true events.

Of course there's don't tell your kids this, but there's no real time travel involved that we did meet Harriet Tubman in his through her own words. I bag with carefully got as many of her words as I could into that book talks about freeing slaves and she knew that the Lord had, on her life to help free slaves so you take a little bit of artistic license to make a story, but of the 24 books.

Some would've been some of the ones that were the most interesting to you to research and there's one that set on Fiji. It's called battle for Kanab Island and I tell you those Methodist missionaries were the most courageous people I was completely humbled by their faith and by the courage to go reach cannibals for Christ and you did one of Leif Erickson who came to North America, who was a Christian right right but I focused on he brought Christianity to Greenland from Norway. He met with the king of Norway heard the gospel and then brought it back to Greenland for the rest of his folks.

While it's got to be gratifying to know how many hundreds of thousands of kids are reading these, and we do know what the circulation is at this point of the imagination station books. With just 10 million combined sales for the imagination station so you have to divide that by 24 that's about how many readers we have. I like to think that people pass around the books, but what I really want people to do is to be encouraged by those stories and to go out and make your own Christian history and you know what I agree. I've often said this when I speak to parenting conferences, and you and I did a book on the 21 toughest questions your kids will ask in that book is open a lot of doors for me but generally, if a child is a strong reader will do well in school, they can do well in most any subject with this age of mobile devices and you know 24 seven Wi-Fi do you do you see kids reading like always. Or is it more of a challenge to urge especially little boys to get them to read is it more of a challenge for moms and dads than ever. Well, little boys are reading with their reading on the Internet and it's just too hard to control. I would say parents would would do well to have some kind of family reading hour, or even if he read aloud to your kids or you can listen to a book together, but I'm there so much rich literature out there and if you if you and your child are talking about the same things.

Then you'll grow closer and then you have a history with them to be able to teach him pretty much anything I got back to reading. If you can get your kids off the computers and and with a book in their hands because it's a different experience and I've been following the research abet and reading reading actual books is a skill that is different from reading online and I would just recommend that your kids are good at both.

Indeed, you said that for several years. In fact, I've had a few people at conferences. That kind of called me on it and they said they disagree, but I've read for number of years that when you're reading a book book. I'm in a physical book different neurons are firing your your memory recall and your assimilation.

The new information your reading meshes with existing knowledge bases that you have so reading off the screen. Don't let that be the only type of reading that your children do hate stingy radio Alex McFarlane. Hearing with a pull away for a brief break when we come back final segment will talk more about modern Christian publishing the word of God itself. So stay tuned. TMG radio with Marion hearing his back. After this at liberty University. You'll earn more than a degree in the satisfaction of seeing what you can accomplish and what God can accomplish more than 600° options from associate 100% online more discover God's truth through every degree at liberty University where we train champions for Christ, go to liberty\explorer to learn more at liberty\explorer to learn more were told to do something like we don't follow traditions merely for the tradition world in search of reasons behind answers for the Christian deeper engagement with relevant articles from the reviews and like in the believer spiritual share true magazine P&G unashamed conferences coming to Richmond, Virginia, October 11-12.

Experience core truths that make for an unshakable faith with Tina Marie Griffith Todd Starks compulsion Ricci Addison Chris and William better. Romans 116 says I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes come to the truth for new generation conference equipped, empowered and inspired to confidently share the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is committed to impacting our nation for Christ and the future and equipping you to be a difference maker. Register now by calling 877 yes.1 that's 877 yes God in the number one or visit the TMG website for a generation.com P&G unashamed conference, Richmond, Virginia, October 11 12 dive deeper into your faith in the midst of a culture obsessed with relativism. Alex McFarlane is a voice you can trust to speak the timeless truths of Christianity in a timely way. You're listening to the truth for a few generations. Radio for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God and for salvation to everyone who believes, Jew, Gentile, male-female, young, old, we often say this on TMG radio that Jesus is disclosed by prayer and indeed he is. And somebody who's given their life to writing and researching and doing it well and factually and accurately as Marion hearing she's with Focus on the Family got a few more questions Marion but before I do. Maybe somebody listening wants to submit something or has an article or an idea or something like that on the website that focus. People can submit things right. Yes, we have that's Focus on the Family/magazine/submissions and were always looking for parenting advice. They'll be some prompts there specifically what you do on certain topics like last month we did.

How do you get your kids engaged in chores that were always looking for parent ideas to help us with that part of the magazine well and speaking of parroting one of the things it's been a big area of concern. We talked about it on the show and in our conferences is really the state of public schools and and just as a disclaimer, I know not everybody can afford private school. Not everybody maybe has access to a good Christian school. Maybe not everybody is prepared to homeschool, so I get it. There are extenuating circumstances in everybody's life.

But let's talk about just that, the mood of the times because I want your opinion under your on the front line of the stats in the research. The world has really really turned hostile to biblical truths and moms and dads need to be mindful of that correct that is correct.

Some states my home state has just passed some sexual education materials. That's not just going to be in a sex ed class are going to work it into all areas of curriculum and so were very concerned about that and what the conversion therapy which a meeting of the gospel includes message repent your refreshment in chapter 6, and it lists all sorts of sins that ensnare people but coming to Christ includes turning from sin.

But increasingly, is it fair to say that the full Christian messages and criminalized well it's certainly the full Christian message is to you now embrace Christ and repent from your sins, but the culture is more is very increasingly hostile to parents who want to protect their children and to have control over their children so they really are. There's very much attack on parental control.

The state wants it. There's K-12 but then there's college and what advice you have for moms and dads about maybe Dave raise her children and youth groups or you know good churchgoing family, but in your opinion, is the average 18-year-old young Christian prepared to be thrown into the visceral battle of worldview that is most state universities.

I'm not sure I'm ready for that battle. So it is a constant need for parents to pray for their children to remain in contact with them to develop a good relationship with them to help them through that and you really don't know when you're child is going to be attacked aggressively and meet some kids make it to college and then they'll be in the workplace and then that's where a bad influence will come in and sell it really is.

We can't just look at it anymore as there's one stage that's more vulnerable than others.

It's Christianity is a lifelong commitment to Christ and to following his teachings and we need to have kids see that is a vision you've done so many stories and 70 books and one of your authors that I really want have on the show speaks to something that we often say with the truth in new generation conference is all that we do. We often challenge people to be a champion for the family and we talk about the blessing of child-rearing and adoption refreshment member, you did a book for a lady and she and her husband have adopted so many children tell us that story or a little bit about that as time permits. How I will love you forever is the title of the book and the woman that I had the privilege of working with. Her name is Corey South chert and what makes her so special is that she her heart is so big that she takes in hospice babies and other children with severe physical limitations and she has them in our homes on the ventilators on the feeding tubes and she just loves and cares for the most fragile of God's creatures and her again.

The book as I will love you forever and it's very inspiring and it just proves that everybody is precious in the sight of the Lord and she takes that literally and brings these fragile children into her home life is sacred in every context. Is this a message the world today needs to hear. Absolutely they need to know that it's precious and that servant. It's really a message of servant hood to you can dedicate your life to serving the least of these. I mean, for goodness sakes, the Lord doesn't need us and he comes down and down to save sinners and so we can look out for others in our community. Not everyone is called to take care of hospice children, but you are called to look out for your brothers and sisters in Christ and everybody can step up and do a little bit more. Do you see any glimmers of hope on the horizon a week 70 people ad infinitum have talked about how dark the cultures getting what you hearing that that warms your heart and give you hope well the church is, I believe becoming stronger and that battle lines are being drawn so just make sure you hunker down to the Bible and getting a good community that will support you if you find it alone. You'll get burnout. We really need the fellowship of like-minded Christians and so if your church isn't really alive and doing anything. Go find another one that is because they're out there and we hear about them and you know, despite the changing tides of culture and the vicissitudes of what's popular and what's unpopular the gospel doesn't change. There is still an empty tomb.

A risen Savior.

And if you're listening to this program you were talk about Christian worldview publishing, but the messages for the whole world. Yes, but the messages for you, whoever you are and you know maybe you're thinking that you know God's not interested in you buddy's and he loves you and God has a plan for your life. And so if you need spiritual help. One of the websites. Alex McFarlane.com or truth for a new generation.com will reach out to us. We have a number at our offices.

877 yes God one number one and we would be our pleasure to try and help you in walking with us for Christ. We appreciate your time and as we often say you're out there saving the world one paragraph at a time and God bless you for doing that.

God bless you. God bless America and thank you for listening to this addition of TG radio TMG radio is made possible by the friends of Alex McFarlane ministry, PO Box 10231 rural NC 27404. That's PO Box 10231, Greensboro, NC 27404 call us at 877 yes God one that's 877 yes, God in the number one or give online@alexmcfarlane.com while you're there with the program archives.

Read Alex's blog invite Alex to speak at your event will contact Alex with a question or comment, Alex Farland.com. Thanks for listening today and join us again next time. As we bring you more true for a new generation TMG radio