> CR Podcast Archive

The world is coming to America’s universities. And one small yet respected Christian university is taking it to heart. They’ve invited the world in. Now they sending Christ out. And the impact on the nations of the world - especially China - are immeasurable. Robin Baker, President of George Fox University joins Norm today to explain how they’re doing it.

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Norm’s guest today, Carl Lawrence, has an insider’s perspective on the persecution of Chinese Christians. In a controlled society like China, the price of living your faith can be steep indeed.

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David Aikman lives on the edge. From the collapse of the Soviet Union, to the the rise of China, he's been a major news bureau chief and the 'reporter's reporter.' He also has an abiding commitment to the Christian church. His knowledge of the rise of Christianity in China is widely read in the West, and by the Communist leaders of China. Norm digs into his conversation with this fascinating journalist with enthusiasm. You will too.

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So the miracle of a Chinese language bible overcomes tremendous odds and lands in the hands of a believer who wants one. That enough to celebrate, right there! But it's not even half the story!

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It's the most published book in the history of mankind. Its influence reaches from Shakespeare to pop music. It is a triumph of literary quality and intellectual rigor. It's the King James Bible. There is no English-speaking church that does not revere it to some degree or other, but is habit the only reason to honor this traditional translation of scripture? Norm's guest, Dr. Leland Ryken, thinks there's much more we should know about this fascinating edition!

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It's a paradox. God willingly sacrifices Himself for the humanity that boastfully, gleefully kills Him. It makes no sense. There was absolutely no beauty in the torture, the pain, the blood, the death. Everything we hope for in a Savior is savagely obliterated in the violent scene played out in Jerusalem.

And yet...

We can't not look at the Cross. At the broken and battered offering. What is really going at Calvary? Norm takes a hard and lingering look at what Christ did and continues to do.

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The biggest trials can be media circuses. It was no different in Jesus' day. With even a simple understanding of the Bible we know that the most famous trial of all time was rigged. Whether through meticulous planning or knee-jerk reaction, corrupt politicians and religious leaders were complicit in the death of Jesus. But is that all that was going on? Was there something more going on? What was the real trial about?

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Living the great paradox of real Christian Faith, the Church of China has become powerful in unimaginable ways. We'll try to explain it, even so, as Norm welcomes Cher in studio for an exploration of lessons learned, and what the Chinese Church continues to teach us about real faith and real living.

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So, why do we do what we do? Why do we bother? Is anyone listening? Does anyone care? Is anyone being helped and encouraged?

We're not afraid to ask the questions. And we're even brave enough to try answering them. Cher joins Norm in studio today.

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When it seemed impossible, one praying, faithful man opened up China for the Gospel. It's an extraordinary story you've probably never heard. Today is no textbook lesson. Instead, Norm brings history to life! You'll see how the fruit of this extraordinary man's life is still nourishing the Church 200 hundred years later.

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Norm concludes an eye-opening discussion on the real meaning of wealth and poverty on today's broadcast with his guest Brian Matz.

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Brian Matz, Norm's guest for the next two broadcasts, sheds light on what the bible has to say about wealth and poverty. Think you know where this one's headed? Don't jump to conclusions too quickly!

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It was one of the largest temblors in recorded history.  Aftershock upon aftershock damages Japan's infrastructure even further.  Supply chains and economies worldwide are still being disrupted. Radiation is still pouring into the environment. Is there any good news at all coming from the Island of Honshu these days? Well, we do know that the Good News is coming to the nation of Japan in this crisis. Norm's guests today, John Ditty and Sean Lawrence, have the story of the ongoing Christian response to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the nation of Japan.

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What does it take to reach a nation for Christ? Well, in China it often comes down to a copy of God's Word, faithful believers committed to prayer and a train ticket to the next town. In other words, faith. Today Norm and Cher discuss some important insights into God's economy, how He's multiplying the faith of believers around the world in almost unimaginable ways, and how we can stay up on the latest developments. The good news is that it's not too late to get in on the action!

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He stood up to Chinese totalitarianism in Tiananmen Square. He organized the ongoing student truth movement. He pursued political freedom and openness with a fervor few had. And then something truly exciting happened in his life. Bob Fu met Jesus Christ. He's never been the same, and neither have the thousands and thousands who met Jesus because of him. Persecuted for his commitment, he reached the West by the skin of his teeth and continues his calling to help the Christians of his homeland. He tells Norm all about it today.

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It's the great smörgåsbord of faith. In a culture of on-demand, custom-made convenience, we treat our spiritual lives the same way. Not so, you say? You're totally devoted to an historical Christianity? Well, you might just discover a few surprising, even troubling, things about your spirituality today.  So what do American Christians really believe, and what can we do about it? Today, Norm interviews someone who knows how to ask the right questions, George Barna.

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Yesterday we introduced you to Johnny Li and an amazing project to reach China's children with the light of the Gospel. Would you be amazed if we told you that ten thousand people will come to Christ as a result? What if we told you the number was more like a hundred thousand? A million? What number would astound you? The actual number of children and families that have been introduced to the saving love of Jesus Christ through our China Bible projects, is already around 2.5 million. And we're just getting started.

The two most important numbers to us are "1" and "5." Just one bible is shared so often and read so eagerly in China, that five people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. It may be even greater for this new Chinese Childrens Bible edition we're highlighting this month.

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Johnny Li is bringing books to a generation that has never seen them before.  The waiting list is in the millions. The market for the flagship publication is in the hundreds of millions.The potential impact is in the billions. Any marketer would salivate at an opportunity like this, right? But Bob Fu isn't going to get rich off this product - at least not in money. He's bringing the Word of God to the children of China. We have a sneaking suspicion that he's building wealth of a whole different magnitude. And we have the chance to get in on this unique opportunity!

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The word "missional" is getting tossed around the church frequently these days. But what does it actually mean? Is it a system of belief, or something you do?  Or is it something more than the sum of those two? Norm's guest today, John Huffman, has some important insight to share with you today!

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To effectively share your faith, you've got to really know your bible, right? Well, it certainly doesn't hurt. But is it something that others want to know about? Do they care about your bible? Do they care about you? Careful now. The answers might not be all that comfortable to hear.

Now, turn the tables. Do you care about them? Do you care to get to really know people for who they really are? Jesus does. And you might find out He's been nudging them along for a while now. Leonard Sweet is about to turn everything you thought you knew about witnessing on its head. And you'll thank him for it afterward.

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What does 'peace' look like? Something internal and soothing? Something political and national? Something fragile and delicate?

We can mean very different things when the subject of peace comes up.

Norm's guest, David Aikman, speaks with real authority on places where peace is needed most, and how that's going to happen.

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