Gen Y and Z – Born to be Digital
The Internet. It’s our gateway to a wealth of knowledge and social connection. From the invention of the world-wide web in 1990, to the current day, technology has taken the world by storm and in some ways taken over our lives. Almost all teenagers and around 2/3 of primary school kids now have their own mobile screen-based device, spending as many as 5 hours a day on social media, texting, video chatting, viewing content, and playing multi-platform video games. In this program we uncover research on the impact all of this technology is having on our lives and on our kid’s mental health.
Jesse Owens – Gold Medal Hero
James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens grew up in a poor, small town in Alabama in the early 1900s, where he faced racial discrimination and health issues. Despite these challenges, Owens’ Christian family believed in a better future. When he was nine, they moved to Cleveland, Ohio, seeking better opportunities. In Cleveland, Owens excelled in school sports, setting national high school records in track events. He later attended Ohio State University, where he continued to shine as an athlete.
In 1935, despite an injury, Owens achieved remarkable success, setting multiple world records. His athletic prowess earned him a place in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, held under the Nazi regime. Owens’ stunning performances at the Olympics, winning four gold medals, defied Nazi propaganda and made him a global icon.
While in Berlin, Owens formed an unlikely friendship with German athlete Luz Long, who offered him crucial advice during the long jump competition, helping Owens secure the gold medal. This act of sportsmanship transcended racial and political barriers, highlighting the human spirit’s capacity for connection and compassion.
John Bunyan – The Prisoner’s Journey
Join us on this fascinating journey as we unravel the life of one of the most best-selling authors in history, John Bunyan, the man responsible for penning “Pilgrim’s Progress,” a literary masterpiece that has sold more copies than almost any other book in publishing history, second only to the Bible itself. From a poor, unknown family, mending pots by day and getting into trouble with local gangs by night, Bunyan’s early years were far from the conventional path to fame. But his destiny took an unexpected turn when he found himself behind bars, not for his hooliganism, but for something far more profound.
Tour De France, Cycling and Adventures with Heart
The Tour De France has been revered as one of the most significant feats of human endurance for over one hundred years. A gruelling multiple-week race, with long distances and enormous elevation gains and losses, brings nothing but the highest quality athletes together to compete. Inspired by this world-class journey, a group of 24 cyclists will also embark on a charity bike ride from London to Paris in time to welcome home the Tour De France athletes. Whether we realise it or not, we are all in the race of life and like the cycling team, we will need endurance, perseverance, and resilience to keep on going.
Part 2: The Exile – Moses: A Hero for Our Time Series
After fleeing Egypt after a single reckless act, Moses wandered through the desert. He managed to make his way to the wilderness of Midian, where he was welcomed into the family of Jethro, the high priest of Midian and a follower of the God of the Hebrews. Moses spent forty years in the wilderness of Midian, caring for Jethro’s sheep and carving out a new life for himself far away from the Royal Courts of Egypt. He married, had children, and wrote the first five books of the Bible. It would have been tempting for him to think that God had given him a new direction in life. But God had other plans for Moses. Appearing to him in a burning bush consumed by flame but not destroyed, God called Moses to his life’s work, liberating the Hebrews and establishing the nation of Israel. Moses’ first reaction was to shrink from the responsibility. Still, he eventually accepted and returned to Egypt, where he became the spokesman as God revealed His power to the mightiest superpower in the ancient world.
Part 1: The Death Decree – Moses: A Hero for Our Time Series
The story of Moses and the Exodus forms an integral part of the faith of millions of Christians and Jews worldwide. It is also a story that has captured people’s imaginations with its timeless messages of freedom and deliverance. This week, we look at the early years of Moses’ life. Hidden by his mother as an infant in an attempt to save his life, the most unlikely heroine rescued Moses, the daughter of the very man who threatened his life. Adopted by the Egyptian Princess Hatshepsut, Moses grew up surrounded by the influences of the Egyptian Royal Court as a Prince of Egypt. However, despite the Egyptian influences surrounding him, Moses retained his identity as a Hebrew. After a series of unfortunate events turned him from a Prince of Egypt into a penniless fugitive, Moses found himself adrift in the wilds of Midian with nothing but the clothes on his back.
The Hunt for the Tiger (Thylacine)
In 1986, the Thylacine, commonly known as the “Tasmanian Tiger”, was officially declared extinct by the Tasmanian State Government in Australia. Despite this, over 3000 sightings have taken place since the last tiger supposedly died in 1936, luring countless adventure seekers, trackers and amateur hikers into the Tasmanian wilderness for a chance at fame and fortune. But the real tragedy is how Thylacine even became extinct in the first place.
Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit – Eleanor Roosevelt
This program is part of a series on the Beatitudes presented by Jesus in Matthew 5. In this episode, we will look at what Jesus meant when He taught, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.” The life of Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the United States of America, is a wonderful example of a life of service. “Poverty of spirit” is the first and foundation of all of the Beatitudes. When we live humbly before God, our lives will be filled with compassion and empathy for others.
What is Stress? – The Huge Nutritional Cost of Chronic Stress
Stress! It’s something we all experience. It can come from conflict in our relationships, family and friends, health, finances, schools, or workplaces. It’s all around us, and we all want to know the best way to deal with it. Join me in our ‘What is Stress?’ program to discover how our brain responds to stress and some great tips on reducing our stress levels.
The Patriot – Thomas Meagher
Thomas Meagher was an Irish Nationalist who participated in the infamous Young Irelander Rebellion in 1848. The rebellion was a desperate attempt to gain independence from the British Crown and to set up an Irish republic. For his role in the rebellion Meagher was tried and sentenced to penal transportation to Van Diemen’s Land, (Tasmania) in Australia. Though faced with an obvious set back Meagher didn’t allow himself to be beaten. He managed to escape Tasmania and make his way to New York, where through sheer force of will and determination he educated himself and began a career as a lecturer and writer.
