{"id":302476,"date":"2012-03-08T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2012-03-08T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/heading-to-college\/"},"modified":"2012-03-08T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2012-03-08T17:00:00","slug":"heading-to-college","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/heading-to-college\/","title":{"rendered":"Heading to College"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Packing for college? Don&#8217;t forget to tuck away some wisdom in that suitcase.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":294104,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/web.familylifetoday.com\/fl2012-03-08.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:","filesize":"24.59M","filesize_raw":"25784943","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2856,2822,2855],"tags":[4705],"podcast_series":[7862],"cwp_profile":[8879],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-302476","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adult-children","category-growing-in-your-faith","category-teens","tag-college","podcast_series-college-life-101","cwp_profile-ben-burns","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg?w=508","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/02\/image-scaled.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/302476\/heading-to-college","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/302476\/heading-to-college","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303?mt=2&app=podcast","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-today","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"SuPklPg3wG\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/heading-to-college\/\">Heading to College<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/heading-to-college\/embed\/#?secret=SuPklPg3wG\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Heading to College&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"SuPklPg3wG\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg",508,508,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"kfairris@familylife.com","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/kfairrisfamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Packing for college? Don't forget to tuck away some wisdom in that suitcase.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylifetoday.com\/fl2012-03-08.pdf","transcript_content":"<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 Ben Burns helps high school seniors start thinking seriously about getting ready for their college experience, and he reminds them that there is more to college than just the academic environment in which they\u2019ll be studying.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 There was a gal that was going through our seminar, and we had this exercise where you go online to find out where you are going to college\u2014what\u2019s the spiritual environment like, in the sense of groups and Christian communities on campus.\u00a0 She was really excited that she was going off to this small, liberal arts school in New England.\u00a0 It sounded prestigious and, \u201cI\u2019ll get away from Mom and Dad\u201d\u2014have some distance.\u00a0 When we did this exercise, she found out there were only two groups on her campus that might line up with her faith.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 This is <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> for Thursday, March 8<sup>th<\/sup>.\u00a0 Our host is the President of FamilyLife\u00ae, Dennis Rainey, and I'm Bob Lepine.\u00a0 If you have a son or a daughter who is headed to college, there is an awful lot that you and your son, or daughter, need to be thinking about.\u00a0 We\u2019re going to talk about some of those things today.\u00a0 Stay tuned.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd welcome to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>.\u00a0 Thanks for joining us.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Bob, I\u2019ve got a question for you.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 Yes?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 When you left for college\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u2014what of direction did you get as you were pulling out of the driveway?\u00a0 I mean, you went to\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u2014University of Tulsa.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 Tulsa.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 That\u2019s right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 So, the direction I got was, \u201cSon, you go down here, and you get on I-44.\u00a0 You just stay south and get off when it says Tulsa.\u201d\u00a0 That was about it.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 So, you just headed off to the dorm and began your college life.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 Well, actually, I think my mom rode down with me and helped me\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u2014unpack.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 Unpack.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 For a guy, it\u2019s a lot simpler.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 It was a lot simpler.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 When I took my daughters, you had to take a U-Haul\u00ae truck.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 It was not a big deal; but yes, I remember saying, \u201cGoodbye,\u201d to her in the parking lot of the dorm.\u00a0 She headed off, and I was ready for my campus adventure.\u00a0 What I didn\u2019t have\u2014what I wish I could have had\u2014I wish I could have had an improv comedian, who had just shown up to give me sage wisdom about how to make it through the college years.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 Amazing, Bob!\u00a0 We have one in our studio today!\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 You\u2019re serious?!\u00a0 You\u2019re serious\u2014an improv comedian?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 We have an improv comedian, (Laughter) and his name is Ben Burns.\u00a0 Ben, welcome to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 (With Scottish accent) It\u2019s great to be here with both of you.\u00a0 Even though, I\u2019m not Scottish; I\u2019ll pretend to be a Scottish person for a while\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 So, as an improv comedian, if you had been Bob\u2019s dad, if you had been Bob\u2019s dad as he\u2019s heading off to college\u2014let\u2019s just have a little 60\/90-second improv.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 The sagest advice you would have given me.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 (With Scottish accent) Well, first of all, Bob, I\u2019d like to say to make sure you stay in your room until you\u2019re really ready to go out and meet people.\u00a0 (Laughter)\u00a0 Nobody likes a messy person.\u00a0 Make sure you\u2019re shaved and that you\u2019re fully tucked-in.\u00a0 Second thing, Bob, is to make sure you stay away from the dorm food; okay?\u00a0 They take the taste all the way out of it, and just leave the basic protein\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 What about girls?\u00a0 What about girls, sir?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 I would basically say, \u201cLadies, stay in your rooms (Laughter) all weekend\u2014just study, ladies, study.\u201d\u00a0 That\u2019s what I am telling my daughters.\u00a0 (Laughter)\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 Well, Ben is\u2014he is into improv\u2014and he does bring a smile to our faces today.\u00a0 He is the Director of <em>gradGUIDES<\/em>\u00ae, which is a ministry of <em>Cru<\/em>\u00ae, where he has served for the past 25 years.\u00a0 He and his wife, Janet, speak at our <em>Weekend to Remember<\/em>\u00ae marriage getaways.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIn fact, you\u2019ve been on the team now for, coming up on, 15 years; isn\u2019t it?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 It feels like 15, but it\u2019s more like nine.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 Oh, okay.\u00a0 (Laughter)\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 Yes, yes.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 Well\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 It feels like 15 years of impact but only in nine years.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 There you go; there you go.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 That\u2019s 15 years in sturgeon years\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 That\u2019s right.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u2014if you\u2019re counting it in sturgeon years.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 That\u2019s right.\u00a0 As I often do.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 Well, they have three children.\u00a0 In fact, on the back of his book that he\u2019s written, it says, \u201cWe have three of the nicest, smartest, and most beautiful children you\u2019ll ever meet.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 That\u2019s exactly right.\u00a0 That\u2019s exactly right.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 You tell the truth; don\u2019t you?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 I do.\u00a0 I do.\u00a0 Lauren is 13, Jack is 11, and Sydney is 9.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 I\u2019m confident that by the time they get old enough to go to college and leave the home, you\u2019re going to have the right perspective for them as they head out.\u00a0 You actually have a concept that you\u2019ve talked about called \u201cpre-graduation counseling\u201d.\u00a0 You believe young people need that today.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 Absolutely. Janet and I are involved right now mentoring married couples, and we\u2019re talking to people who are getting married.\u00a0 We\u2019re telling them about the importance of pre-marital counseling.\u00a0 What\u2019s interesting for our high school kids is\u2014100 percent of the high school kids are leaving our groups, but are we telling them about what\u2019s next?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAll of us know that if we have a family member\u2014somebody we know, who loves the Lord, who knows their Bible, and is going to get married\u2014we\u2019re going to say, \u201cYou <em>need<\/em> pre-marital counseling, no matter how mature you might think you are because the transition that marriage is\u2014is so powerful, so big.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tMany students are struggling in their faith after they leave high school, and I want to be about helping them get some pre-graduation counseling to know what\u2019s next, what they are facing, and how to walk through that transition.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 We have spent a lot of time here on <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> talking about that danger zone because we\u2019ve all seen the statistics of these kids who go off to college and quit going to church and quit doing anything spiritual.\u00a0 I mean, the numbers can get scary.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen everything from 60-90 percent of young people who fall away from the faith.\u00a0 What\u2019s your observation about what\u2019s happening there?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 Well, I agree the statistics are all over the map; but what everyone agrees on is that this transition, aside from marriage, is the greatest transition our young people are going to face.\u00a0 There are a number of factors that go into it; but one of the biggest things is that our kids, our students, are leaving a context that is a known entity.\u00a0 Now, they have to start all over again\u2014whether that\u2019s college, whether that\u2019s a college group.\u00a0 Wherever they\u2019re going, they have to start over.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tChurch has always been mostly something that they\u2019ve gone to with their parents.\u00a0 So, they have to get out there and learn how to start over.\u00a0 Even though, a lot of us might be well-meaning and say, \u201cWherever you go, make sure you plug in, Laddie.\u201d\u00a0 Plugging in is harder than we really think about.\u00a0 That\u2019s where I would love to be part of really helping us think through, \u201cHow do you do that?\u00a0 What is coming up?\u00a0 What are ways to plug in?\u00a0 What are things that will be detracting you, or stopping you, from plugging into a new Christian community?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 You used a phrase called \u201cstarting over\u201d.\u00a0 I think, in many regards, they\u2019re beginning to step out for the first time.\u00a0 I mean, they are choosing their friends out of a pool of people in the college setting where they may go and have one, or two, or they may have none.\u00a0 They may arrive and their roommate is somebody they\u2019ve never met before.\u00a0 The people they start to hang out with, especially during the first 30\/45\/60 days of college, are really critical.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 Absolutely.\u00a0 Yes, Paul says it\u2019s important for us to be around the right kind of people\u2014that bad company corrupts good morals.\u00a0 What is interesting is Peter goes on to say, in 1 Peter 5:8, that, \u201cOur enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIf you\u2019ve seen those nature videos where the animals, or the lions, are ganging on somebody, they are ganging up on the one animal that is alone.\u00a0 Our kids are going off from a context that they know, and they\u2019re all alone in this brand-new context.\u00a0 You are right.\u00a0 The first people they meet, they start to glob on to.\u00a0 If they\u2019re not the right group of people, that could be their community.\u00a0 It takes awhile for them to get away.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 Let me ask you about your transition from high school to being a freshman at Arizona State.\u00a0 Was it a difficult transition for you?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 I actually wasn\u2019t a Christian.\u00a0 It was difficult for me because I went from a high school where there were basically 400 in my graduating class to, now, 40,000 people.\u00a0 Part of that sea of, \u201cWow! Who am I?\u00a0 How do I fit?\u201d was very overwhelming to me.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 When you locked in with your friends, did you find yourself kind of attracted to folks who liked the same things in life that you liked?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 Well, I did a little bit; but what the dynamic really is\u2014is you are willing to go with where the groups\u2019 going.\u00a0 You\u2019re not really trying to find likeminded people.\u00a0 You\u2019re trying to find anybody.\u00a0 In college, those first few weeks, you just want to fit in.\u00a0 Even if it\u2019s not something you\u2019d normally want to do, you find yourself doing things.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat\u2019s\u2014this one gal that I talked to\u2014she said, \u201cWhen she went off to school\u201d\u2014in a Northwestern school\u2014she had said even though she knew all about the toughness of college and how it might affect her faith, she said this phrase.\u00a0 She said, \u201cYou find yourself doing things you never thought you would ever do\u201d\u2014because she never anticipated those kind of challenges emotionally and relationally as a part of going into college.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 Is peer pressure the main cause kids are leaving their faith, and parking it back home, and not embracing spiritual matters at college?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 I think that is a huge part of it.\u00a0 There is a second part, too, that the peer pressure side\u2014what\u2019s interesting is they are at this season of their life where God is saying, \u201cThis is time for you to grow up.\u201d\u00a0 One of the things that is interesting in Ephesians 4, Paul says that the reason God put all these leaders in the church was so that we would all grow up and become mature.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tLike you said, this is a time, not just to start over, but maybe even a beginning.\u00a0 They are, in a sense, almost trying to fight for, \u201cWho am I?\u00a0 What is my identity?\u201d\u00a0 If they allow their peers to define them too much, that\u2019s where it gets tricky.\u00a0 Instead of being a strong enough person to figure out who they are, what\u2019s important to them, what their faith means, in the context of all these people who are trying to pull them to think a certain way and act a certain way\u2014it is kind of like a mini sumo wrestling going on.\u00a0 \u201cWho\u2019s going to win?\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 Well, let me ask you\u2014because this is hitting home for me\u2014because, this fall, Mary Ann and I will pull out of the parking lot at some college, university, say, \u201cGoodbye,\u201d to our son, and drive off into the sunset, leaving him there.\u00a0 What can I do, as a dad, today, to help him in those first few weeks of college to have his eyes open, look for the right crowd, get involved with the right people, and not to wind up ship-wrecked like you are talking about?\u00a0\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 Well, the biggest thing is to help him find a new Christian community.\u00a0 That\u2019s the thing that\u2019s the key element to all of this, I think.\u00a0 Again, they go from a place that is well-defined, they know people\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 Right.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u2014they\u2019ve got a pecking order\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 Right.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u2014and they have to start all over.\u00a0 That\u2019s tough for anybody.\u00a0 The idea of community is <em>so important<\/em>.\u00a0 The Bible stresses that.\u00a0 I would say helping him understand what the layout of the spiritual environment is on the campus and know what are the groups\u2014because part of the problem that students have is what I call brand-name recognition.\u00a0 They go on campus; and they\u2019re flooded by maybe eight, nine, ten different Christian groups, who are all fighting over their luggage, who are all inviting them to the 90-foot <em>Subway<\/em>\u00ae sandwich or the 1,000-foot sundae.\u00a0 It feels like a bunch of cults are pursuing them.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tA lot of kids just turn off because they haven\u2019t had anyone identify one group from the other, and they are all on their own.\u00a0 I would say help them understand what\u2019s going on, what\u2019s offered on campus.\u00a0 Offer your thoughts and opinions on each of the groups, and help him make some decisions about that.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 You\u2019re saying the power of a friend is that determinative, over a four-year period, in a young lady or a young man\u2019s life.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 I think so, <em>especially<\/em> at that age.\u00a0 They\u2019re in this stage of trying to sort through who they are\u2014and having a companion who is also at the same stage of life and also wanting to really walk with Christ\u2014and talk about that, and process that, and work through any doubts, or work through any questions with someone who is on that same trajectory.\u00a0 It\u2019s going to be very important to them.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 I can say it\u2019s true for my own life.\u00a0 I can divide my college experience into two halves.\u00a0 The first half where I kind of wandered into the college setting\u2014I was clueless about the importance of the kind of friend I needed to select.\u00a0 I hung out with the guys who were on the basketball team.\u00a0 Man, there were some characters on this basketball team!\u00a0 I mean\u2014and some that didn\u2019t have much character\u2014I\u2019d have to say.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHonestly, my first two years of college, I was adrift.\u00a0 I was being gobbled up by peer pressure.\u00a0 My second half, I went from a junior college to the University of Arkansas.\u00a0 I got involved with a group of Christians who were involved in, what was then, Campus Crusade for Christ\u00ae\u2014it\u2019s now Cru.\u00a0 I can tell you\u2014that was life-determinative for me, as a young man.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI mean, it ordered my priorities.\u00a0 I\u2019m convinced, looking back on it all, college was kind of a side issue to my spiritual growth.\u00a0 I was there, on a mission by God for a purpose, surrounded by people who were there for the same reason.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 I\u2019ve said to my kids, as we\u2019ve launched others to college, \u201cWhat happens in the classroom is going to be 30 percent of the next four years of your life\u201d\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 Yes.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u2014maybe less than that.\u00a0 What happens outside of the classroom is what\u2019s going to shape and mark the direction you are headed\u2014who you are, what your character is going to be.\u00a0 So, when we prepare our sons and daughters for college, we prepare them for what the classroom experience is going to be like; but we really have to prepare them for how, \u201cYou do life on your own,\u201d and, \u201cHow you settle your identity,\u201d and, \u201cWhat group you are a part of.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 To that very point, Ben, I want you to comment on this.\u00a0 Don\u2019t you think it would be wise for a mom and a dad to help their son or daughter, as they go away to college, to begin to anticipate these Christian groups that are going to be on campus and say, \u201cNow, here\u2019s what the Navigators\u00ae are all about.\u00a0 Here\u2019s what Cru is all about.\u00a0 Here\u2019s what this organization does, and this one and this one.\u00a0 I just want you to understand what these groups are all about and the importance they are going to play in your life.\u00a0 One of them needs to match up with your heart, and you need to get involved\u201d?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 Absolutely.\u00a0 The thing that\u2019s really been interesting is taking the students through, what I call, my \u201cFellowships Shopper\u2019s Guide\u201d.\u00a0 Part of the problem that we don\u2019t understand is that we\u2019re encouraging our sons and daughters, our students, to go out and find a new place.\u00a0 That\u2019s shopping.\u00a0 Now, some people love shopping; and some people <em>hate<\/em> shopping.\u00a0 You are right\u2014helping them understand the different groups, the different brands, so to speak, is really important.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThere was a gal that was going through our seminar, and we had this exercise where you go online to find out where you are going to college\u2014what\u2019s the spiritual environment like, what\u2019s offered in the sense of groups and Christian communities on campus.\u00a0 She was really excited that she was off to this small, liberal arts school in New England.\u00a0 It sounded prestigious and, \u201cI\u2019ll get away from Mom and Dad\u201d\u2014have some distance.\u00a0 When we did this exercise, she found out there were only two groups on her campus that might line up with her faith.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, other students who were doing the similar exercise, who went to a larger school, found 15 or 17 different groups that lined up.\u00a0 This girl began to realize, for the first time, that, \u201cOh, my gosh!\u00a0 I\u2019m going to this college, and I may not find a place for likeminded people.\u201d\u00a0 Now, the kids, who found 15 to 17, they were overwhelmed.\u00a0 \u201cHow do I pick one out of 17?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou are right.\u00a0 The fact that a parent, or a youth pastor, or a youth leader, small group leader, can walk through with people saying, \u201cThis is what is available in your new environment.\u00a0 Let\u2019s understand each one\u201d\u2014even to encourage them for one.\u00a0 You know, \u201cI think this one would do well for you.\u00a0 I think this one would do well for you.\u00a0 This is where I met your mother; so, go to that one.\u201d\u00a0 (Laughter) Helping them sort through that list of 15 is very, very important.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 Our kids, as they have headed off to the college campus\u2014one of the things I\u2019ve observed with them is they can have a little bit of, \u201cI\u2019m too cool for the average Christian group\u201d syndrome,\u2014a little bit of a cynicism about, \u201cOh, yes, there\u2019s this group meeting.\u00a0 It\u2019s the Cru group, but I don\u2019t know if I want to be with those guys.\u00a0 They\u2019re kind of \u2018rah-rah\u2019, and I\u2019m not that kind of a \u2018rah-rah\u2019 person.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat worries me a little bit because I want to make sure that they find a place that they can plug in; but there\u2019s almost a little edge to them that\u2019s like, \u201cYes, I\u2019d kind of like to get away from this for awhile.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want the youth group to follow me off to college.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 Right.\u00a0 The thing that I like to tell students is the idea of, \u201cYou need to find the right place for you,\u201d and that is a process.\u00a0 Also, to give them permission to know that, \u201cYou might go to a group that\u2019s fun and exciting, but they\u2019re not your kind of people.\u201d\u00a0 There\u2019s nothing wrong with saying, \u201cYou know what?\u00a0 I don\u2019t get along with those people\u201d\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t fit here.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t fit here.\u201d\u00a0 The idea is that they still need to fit somewhere, if they take their relationship with Jesus seriously.\u00a0 The thing that I try to do\u2014because this is a season where they are really having to make their own decisions\u2014and when I talk with them, I try not to say\u2014point the finger and say, \u201cYou ought to\u2014,\u201d \u201cYou have to\u2014,\u201d \u201cYou better\u2014,\u201d but say, \u201cIf you take Jesus Christ seriously, if you\u2019d like to learn how to walk with Him, then, it would be wise for you to do these things.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tLet them make those choices and have the room to say, \u201cThis isn\u2019t my group.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cThis is my group,\u201d but persevere until you find the group that\u2019s right because community\u2014if you take your faith seriously or you\u2019d like to learn more about your faith\u2014that community is going to be a <em>huge<\/em> part of helping you do that.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 With our kids, I\u2019ve done campus tours, now, of probably 20 to 30 colleges\u2014getting our kids ready, looking around at where they were going to go.\u00a0 Whenever I\u2019d go on those campus tours, I was always looking in the classroom buildings, in the dorms, around campus, for the bulletin boards to see what signs are up there about what groups are meeting.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI remember one college tour we were on.\u00a0 It was a big campus.\u00a0 I kept looking, and I saw nothing on these bulletin boards\u2014I mean nothing!\u00a0 I went home, got on the internet, and then, looked up that college campus.\u00a0 I looked up Christian organizations, and they listed two\u2014this is a big school, and they listed two groups.\u00a0 I had heard of one; and the other was, I think, the Chinese Christian students group.\u00a0 I thought, \u201cThat\u2019s probably not where my son is going to be.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI called the other group; and I said, \u201cI\u2019m just curious about what you guys are doing.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t see much.\u201d\u00a0 The young lady who answered said, \u201cWell, there are four of us who are meeting.\u201d\u00a0 I remember going, \u201cThis would not be a safe place.\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s a good school\u2014prestigious school, scholarship money available\u2014but I don\u2019t know that that would be a safe environment to launch a son or a daughter.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 Bob, what you\u2019re talking about is, I think, fully within the responsibility of a parent to guide your son or your daughter as they leave the home and go to college.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat\u2019s what both FamilyLife and Ben have put together\u2014a couple of tools that we want to make you aware of.\u00a0 FamilyLife produced one called <em>CollegeReady<\/em>\u00ae, which is a DVD-assisted training to equip a young person who has graduated from high school.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBen, also, has been working on, for the past few years, a resource, himself, called <em>College Life 101<\/em>.\u00a0 It\u2019s designed, Ben, for a parent to take\u2014absorb the material\u2014then, show some DVD\u2019s, as well, to your son or daughter\u2014and then, walk them through this process over\u2014what?\u2014five sessions, six sessions?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 Five or six, yes.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 Yes, and help them begin to determine what they believe and what they are going to look for as they go away to college.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 That\u2019s exactly right.\u00a0 When I was reading in Acts, Chapter 20, about ten years ago, when this started, the thing that hit me was Paul\u2019s comments to the Ephesian elders, if you are familiar with that passage.\u00a0 He comes all the way back\u2014he meets them on the beach\u2014can\u2019t make it all the way into Ephesus\u2014so, he meets them on the beach.\u00a0 The thing that he says to them is\u2014he says that, \u201cYou need to guard yourselves and watch yourselves because, after I leave, savage wolves are going to come in and try to tear you a part.\u00a0 Even people from your own group are going to try to destroy your faith.\u201d\u00a0 He ends by saying, \u201cGuard yourselves.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhat I\u2019ve tried to do with this series is, basically, start with the realities of what people are going to experience when they go off to college.\u00a0 My goal is not to <em>scare<\/em> people because we serve a big God who can walk through big transitions with us, but to go in with their eyes wide-open.\u00a0 That\u2019s been my attempt to say, \u201cHey, this is the college environment.\u201d\u00a0 As we understand that, then, the rest of the series is designed to say, \u201cOkay, how do we work our way through this?\u00a0 How do we think this through?\u00a0 How do we develop a plan to become stronger in our faith?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 You talk about the importance of the Bible\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ben:<\/strong>\u00a0 Exactly.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u2014and not being shaken by the culture around them as they leave home.\u00a0 You talk about having a sense of mission and going to school on purpose.\u00a0 Frankly, when the Scriptures compare our children to arrows, it has the imagery of, I think, a parent being a warrior, who is pulling the arrow out of the quiver.\u00a0 It is connecting it to the bow, and aiming it toward the target, and letting go.\u00a0 We, as parents, need to aim.\u00a0 We need to carefully shape that arrow in the direction it needs to go.\u00a0 Then, we need to let go\u2014to keep coaching them, every step along the way.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 We have put on our website at FamilyLifeToday.com a couple of video clips.\u00a0 There is one from the <em>CollegeReady<\/em> video series that FamilyLife has produced.\u00a0 There is a clip from the <em>College Life 101<\/em> series that Ben Burns has produced.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHere\u2019s what we\u2019d recommend.\u00a0 Go to the website, FamilyLifeToday.com, with your high school son or daughter.\u00a0 Watch the clips together.\u00a0 Then, say to them, \u201cWhich one of these two video series do you want to go through?\u201d\u00a0 Let them pick; and, \u201cDo you want to invite some of your friends to come over and go through it with you?\u00a0 We\u2019ll go through it together.\u201d\u00a0 By giving them some choice in the matter, that may get them a little more involved.\u00a0 Whichever one you pick, the key is, \u201cBe intentional.\u00a0 Be purposeful about getting them ready for what life on a college campus is going to be like.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tGo to FamilyLifeToday.com for more information about Ben\u2019s series, <em>College Life 101<\/em>, and about FamilyLife\u2019s <em>CollegeReady<\/em> material.\u00a0 Again, our website is FamilyLifeToday.com.\u00a0 You\u2019ll find links on the website, as well, that will give you more information about both of these resources.\u00a0 Again, go to FamilyLifeToday.com for more information.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIf you\u2019d like to order either of these resources, they are available from us here at FamilyLifeToday.com, as well; or you can call 1-800-FL-TODAY.\u00a0 We\u2019ll answer any questions you have about these resources or make arrangements to get the one that you want sent out to you.\u00a0 Again, the number: 1-800- \u201cF\u201d as in family, \u201cL\u201d as in life, and then, the word, \u201cTODAY\u201d.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI want you to know we are grateful for our listeners, here at <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>.\u00a0 We\u2019re grateful for those of you who tune in, who write to us\u2014let us know that you are listening\u2014those of you who leave comments for us down below where the transcript is on the <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> homepage.\u00a0 We\u2019re grateful for those of you who help support the ministry, whether it\u2019s with a onetime gift or as a Legacy Partner.\u00a0 <br><br>In fact, this month, we\u2019re hoping to encourage more of our listeners to become Legacy Partners.\u00a0 These are the folks who send a donation each month to help underwrite the costs associated with producing and syndicating this daily radio program.\u00a0 Our goal, this month, is to try to get one new family to join us a Legacy Partner family in each of the cities where <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> is heard.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tActually, that\u2019s not exactly correct because we\u2019re heard in about 11 hundred cities across the country; and our goal is really 15 hundred folks.\u00a0 We\u2019re asking you to consider, \u201cWould you be the family in your city that would stand up and say, \u2018We will join with you.\u00a0 We\u2019ll help out.\u00a0 We\u2019ll become a Legacy Partner and make that monthly donation\u2019?\u201d\u00a0 If you do that, we are going to send you a welcome kit to welcome you aboard as a new Legacy Partner.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThe kit includes some resources designed to help strengthen your marriage.\u00a0 There are a couple of new travel mugs\u2014<em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> travel mugs that we\u2019ll include in the kit, as well.\u00a0 Throughout the year, we\u2019ll make available additional resources that are designed to help strengthen your marriage and your family.\u00a0 It\u2019s a part of the way we say, \u201cThank you,\u201d to you for your regular, monthly support of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIf you\u2019d like to be that one family in your city that says, \u201cWe\u2019ll join with you as a brand- new Legacy Partner,\u201d go to FamilyLifeToday.com for more information; or call us at\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1-800-FL-TODAY.\u00a0 Go on the website.\u00a0 Click the link that says, \u201cBecome a Legacy Partner\u201d; or call 1-800-FL-TODAY and say, \u201cI\u2019d like to find out more about becoming a Legacy Partner.\u201d\u00a0 I just want to say, \u201cThanks,\u201d in advance for considering that; and for those of you who join with us, \u201cThanks for being a part of the team.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe want to encourage you to back with us, again, tomorrow.\u00a0 Ben Burns is going to be here again.\u00a0 We\u2019re going to talk more about how you get your son or daughter ready for the next step, if that step includes a college education.\u00a0 I hope you can tune in for that.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI want to thank our engineer today, Keith Lynch, and our entire broadcast production team.\u00a0 On behalf of our host, Dennis Rainey, I'm Bob Lepine.\u00a0 We will see you back tomorrow for another edition of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHelp for today.\u00a0 Hope for tomorrow.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe are so happy to provide these transcripts to you.\u00a0 However, there is a cost to produce them for our website.\u00a0 If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider <a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/donate\">donating today<\/a> to help defray the costs?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCopyright \u00a9 2012 FamilyLife.\u00a0 All rights reserved.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/\">www.FamilyLife.com<\/a>\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t1\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>","theme_header_position":"","post_header_is_sticky":"","is_header_overlay":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast\/302476","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/podcast"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/91"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=302476"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/294104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=302476"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=302476"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=302476"},{"taxonomy":"podcast_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast_series?post=302476"},{"taxonomy":"cwp_profile","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cwp_profile?post=302476"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=302476"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}