Rooted By The River: An SRC Parenting Podcast

"Kingdom Culture Families: Paideia, Not Perfection"

In this episode, we unpack paideia—a biblical vision for shaping not just behavior, but hearts, habits, and character.
Paideia.  A Greek word used in the verse to fathers in Ephesians 6:4. It means "discipline", but so much more! It encompasses the culture that forms and shapes our core instincts - the power within us to navigate ourselves, our choices and our hearts in a “multi-cultural” world.  The one critical culture that determines who we become is known as Paideia - a comprehensive formation of a young child into a mature and virtuous citizen of the Kingdom of God.  Paideia encompasses the long road we as parents take to bring up our children in the discipline and love of Christ - to become a Kingdom Citizen.
In this enlightening episode, John Houmes and Pastor David Cassidy of SRC, discuss with wit, wisdom and insight, the meaning and importance of creating a culture of “Paideia” in our homes that will nurture our children in a way that imbeds Christ-like behaviors and impulses as they mature into adult citizens of the Kingdom of God - and the world we live in.
#ChristianParenting #KingdomFamily #DiscipleYourKids #Paideia
Chapters
0:00 🎙️ Can the Fear of the Lord Be Taught? (Opening Hook)
0:46 👋 Introducing Pastor David Cassidy
1:00 📖 Unpacking the Greek Word Paideia (Ephesians 6:4)
4:00 👑 Kingdom Culture vs. "Christian Elements" in the Home
6:30 ❤️ It Starts with Love: The Shema & Deuteronomy
9:30 🌱 What Should We Hope for Our Kids at Age 28?
13:15 💪 Resilient Disciples, Not Chocolate Soldiers
15:00 🏷️ "Remember Whose You Are" — Identity in Christ
17:30 😲 Enjoying Christ, Not Just Obeying Him
21:00 🌿 Gospel Opportunities in Your Child's Failures
25:00 📱 Anti-Discipleship Forces: Technology, Culture & More
28:00 ⛪ How Church & Christian Schools Partner with Parents
35:00 🏠 Practical Steps to Kingdom Paideia at Home
39:00 📚 Must-Read Classics for Christian Parents
42:00 🏔️ Trips, Beauty & Nature as Formation Tools
45:00 🍽️ The Theology of the Dinner Table
49:40 💡 Pastor John's 3 Key Takeaways
Resources Mentioned
📖 Ephesians 6:4 — Paideia in Scripture
📖 Deuteronomy 6 — The Shema
📖 Hebrews 12 — The Lord's Discipline
📖 Philippians 3 — Laying Hold of That for Which Christ Laid Hold of You
📚 Desiring the Kingdom — James K. Smith
📚 Greek Mythology — Edith Hamilton
📚 Confessions — Augustine
📚 Shakespearean Sonnets & Milton
📚 The Hobbit / Lord of the Rings — J.R.R. Tolkien
📚 The Chronicles of Narnia — C.S. Lewis
🏰 Westminster Shorter Catechism
🏰 Heidelberg Catechism
🏰 Luther's Catechism
🔑 Key Takeaways
👑 Paideia is bigger than discipline — It's the complete formation of your child's heart, habits, loves, and instincts into a Kingdom citizen.
❤️ Formation starts with love, not information — Shape what your child loves, not just what they know.
💪 Raise resilient disciples, not chocolate soldiers — The goal is a faith that doesn't crumble under pressure, pain, or disappointment.
🏠 Your home is already a culture — The question is what it's forming your kids into. Direction over perfection.
👤 It starts with YOU — Who is discipling you so you can disciple your children?
🍽️ The dinner table is sacred ground — Don't underestimate the power of slowing down and eating together.
📚 Beauty, story & experience shape the soul — Classic literature, travel, and nature cultivate an imagination rooted in the good, the true, and the beautiful.
🌊 Take the long view — Kingdom paideia is a slow drip, not a weekend seminar.
Keywords: parenting, paideia, kingdom, family life, enculturation, formation, spiritual formation, theology, dinner table, christian school, home school, christian family, fear of the lord, christian identity

Everyday Stewardship: Raising Money Smart Kids in a Material World

In this audio-only bonus episode of Rooted by the River (Spanish River Church parenting podcast), you’ll hear a powerful Mom Talks message from Rebecca Haar and Chastity Langley on everyday stewardship—how to raise money-smart kids in a material world.
With 2,000+ Bible verses that address money, wealth, possessions, and generosity, this conversation helps parents build a biblical foundation for family finances and practice practical tools that actually work—from preschool “money jars” to teen budgeting with debit cards.
You’ll learn how to:
Model Christian stewardship through contentment, gratitude, and self-control
Teach kids the Give • Save • Spend framework (with real-life examples)
Use allowance + chores to build work ethic and money responsibility
Train teens with a weekly budget, transaction check-ins, and no bailouts
Build habits like delayed gratification, saving for big goals, and generosity
Talk about budgeting without oversharing family income 💬
Use everyday moments (shopping, vacations, broken appliances) to disciple kids
 
This episode is packed with practical ideas for Christian parents, family discipleship, raising financially responsible kids, and helping children see money as a tool for God’s glory—not a master.
🎧 If this episode helps you, share it with a friend and leave a review—those two things help more families find the podcast!
Chapters:
00:00 Opening Teaser
00:09 Welcome + Setup
00:45 Why Stewardship Matters
03:10 Meet the Speakers
04:17 Live the Example
05:31 What We Value
06:35 Faithful Stewardship
07:40 Choose Generosity
08:30 Kids: Money Basics
10:10 Give • Save • Spend
10:55 Let Them Fail
12:20 Incentives + Goals
14:36 Teens: New Stage
15:55 Teen Budget System
16:52 10% + No Bailouts
19:06 Teachable Moments
20:30 Emergency Fund
21:30 Delayed Gratification
22:55 Give + Serve
24:44 Apps + Real Costs
26:10 Experiences > Stuff
27:25 Compassion Giving
29:14 College Costs
31:30 Adoption + Gospel
31:57 Q&A Highlights
44:45 Closing
Christian parenting, teaching kids money, biblical stewardship, parenting and finances, raise money smart kids, kids allowance and chores, teen budgeting, family budget, generosity, tithing, delayed gratification, contentment, financial literacy for kids, faith and money, discipleship at home

The Unhurried Family with Dan Houmes (part 2)

In this episode of Rooted by the River, John and Dan Houmes unpack the hidden costs of hurrying through life and how to reclaim healthier rhythms at home, specifically around PHYSICAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH and FAMILY FINANCES.
Today’s families are often juggling full-time schedules, blurred work-home boundaries, and constant mental over-load. A full calendar can feel productive and even faithful, but nonstop activity often leaves families exhausted and disconnected from one another.
 #familyculture #kidssports #BusyFamily #FamilyRhythms
 
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro/Characteristics - Health and Finances
01:17  Introduce Kids to Reali
01:36 Symptom Repetitive Health 
02:35  More Characteristics of a Hurried Family
02:45  #7 Repetitive Physical/Mental Health Problem
04:01 Temptation to Optimize Activities/Life beyond sports
05:03 Finances / Dual Income Family 
05:53 Being Intentional about being “dual income” family
06:57 How to Dual Income Families find their Center in midst of Busyness
07:55 Does Income influences Lifestyle or Lifestyle influence Income
09:07  #8 Dual-Income Families
09:10 80/10/10 Rule in Finances
10:16 Heightened Financial Obligations (College, Medical bills, etc)
13:27  #8B Single Parent Families
15:12  #9 Financial Obligations
16:56 Take-Aways

The Unhurried Family with Dan Houmes (Part 1)

Are you raising a family — or just managing a schedule?
In this episode of Rooted by the River, John and Dan Houmes, Therapist and Counselor, unpack the characteristics of the unhurried family and how modern pressures are reshaping families, parenting, and spiritual life.
Many modern families are stretched thin. Parents are doing their best to maximize their children’s younger years to set them up for future success and independence. How do we do that without compromising family time, communication, finances and health?
#familyculture #Proverbs18:13 #kidsandsports #BusyFamily #HealthyRhythms #familystress
Chapters:
00:00 🎙️ Introduction
02:02 🌿 What Is the “Unhurried Family” — and What Does It Look Like?
03:27 💰 9 Characteristics of an Unhurried Family
03:54 🚨 2 Symptoms of a Hurried Family
04:01 🗣️ Symptom 1 — Lowered Communication
05:54 💔 Symptom 2 — Diminished Intimacy & Increased Tension
07:16 🍽️ The Importance of Family Meals
09:15 📱 Increased Technology & Lowered Free Time
10:48 🙏 Little or No Personal Quiet Time
12:15 📅 Excessive Social & Service Activities
17:23 🙌 Closing Comments — Part 1 of The Unhurried Family

Raising Kind Kids in an Angry World with Torrey Roberts

In a culture shaped by outrage, algorithms, and constant noise, how do Christian parents intentionally raise kind, empathetic children?
In this episode of Rooted by the River, John Houmes interviews Torrey Roberts about teaching kindness in the home—especially in a world shaped by anger, polarization, and online influence. Together, they unpack what kindness really means, why it isn’t weakness, and how parents can intentionally train their children to see others, respond with empathy, and reflect the heart of Christ.
#parenting #kindness #empathy #culturewar
 
Chapters
⏱️ 00:00 – Welcome & episode overview
🔥 01:15 – Why kindness matters in today’s angry culture
💬 03:26 – What is kindness?
⚖️ 04:46 – Kindness vs. niceness: what’s the difference?
🏠 06:21 – Teaching empathy through everyday moments at home
👫 06:33 – Sibling relationships and “kind hands”
👀 07:30 – Modeling kindness as parents
🕰️ 10:33 – Creating family rhythms that shape character
🧩 12:47 – Parenting plans, framework, and flexibility
🚫 14:07 – Responding to unkind or cruel behavior
🗣️ 15:48 – Teaching kids how to express needs respectfully
🙏 18:18 – Gratitude, thank-you notes, prayer, and serving
❓ 20:05 – Answering “why” being kind matters
📝 25:17 – Final thoughts and takeaways

Children: Healthy Individualism and Family Membership with Torrey Roberts

How do parents nurture a child’s God-given individuality without letting that individuality run the family?
🎙️ In this episode of Rooted by the River, host John Houmes sits down with Torrey Roberts, Engagement Director at Oceanview Baptist Church and longtime family ministry leader, to talk about one of the most common (and confusing) parenting tensions: raising unique children while building a unified family culture.
Drawing from her experience as a behavioral specialist at Sheridan House Ministries and her 15 years co-hosting the Parenting on Purpose podcast, Torrey offers practical wisdom for Christian parents who want to raise kids who are faithful, resilient, and grounded in truth—without overcorrecting, micromanaging, or reacting out of fear.
✨ This conversation is especially helpful for parents navigating strong-willed children, teens, or siblings with very different personalities who want to parent with grace, truth, and wisdom.
#parenting #individuality #children #personality
Chapters
⏱️ 00:00 – Welcome & introduction⚖️ 02:20 – Individuality vs. family culture🌱 02:50 – “The way they are bent” (Proverbs insight)🚩 05:47 – Signs parents might be struggling stewarding kids’ individuality😨 07:59 – Parental fear, control, and need for perfection🧠 10:17 – How to let kids fail and self-awareness🌍 14:32 – Cultural radical individualism vs. biblical identity📚 17:16 – Being a student of your child and God’s purpose for them🕰️ 20:41 – Family rules, consistency, and rhythms✅ 22:46 – Preferences vs. right and wrong💍💼✝️ 24:07 – Raising kids to be marriageable, employable, and God-honoring📝 25:34 – John’s reflections and takeaways

How to Help Kids Regulate Their Emotions with Jill Dagistino

In this episode, host John Houmes talks with therapist Jill Dagistino about emotion regulation in parenting.
They explore how emotions impact both parents and children, why emotional awareness matters, and practical tools parents can use to help kids understand and manage big feelings.
Jill shares the RAIN Method, explains the difference between guilt and shame, and highlights why connection and vulnerability are essential for emotionally healthy families. This episode offers practical, faith-based insight for parents raising children in today’s world.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:33 The Role of Emotion Regulation & Definitions
05:15 Cultural Perspectives & Misconceptions on Emotions
10:06 The RAIN Method for Emotion Regulation - Core Emotions
19:52 Training Children to recognize their Emotions
23:13 Navigating Emotions while Parenting
24:18 The Importance of being Honest
26:42 Guilt vs. Shame & Vulnerability in Parenting
30:00 Closing Thoughts/Takeaways and Prayer
 
#guiltvsshame #kidsandemotions #parentingkids #emotionalregulation #raisingemotionallyhealthykids
Resources
Feelings Wheel
Jill Dagistino — Spanish River Counseling Center
 

Nourishing Teens: Food, Faith, and Family Meals with Jenna Braddock

Parenting teens around food can feel like a constant balancing act. One day they’re not hungry, the next they’re starving—and underneath it all are deeper questions about body image, control, comparison, and faith.
In this episode of Rooted by the River, John talks with registered dietitian Jenna Braddock about helping children and teenagers develop a healthy, God-honoring relationship with food. Together they explore how family rhythms, shared meals, and grace-filled conversations can shape both physical health and spiritual formation.
This episode offers practical encouragement for parents who want to:
Teach healthy eating without shame or fear
Address body image in a faith-filled way
Stay connected to teens navigating comparison
Use family meals as a place of discipleship
“Shared meals can change lives.” — Jenna Braddock
Whether you’re a parent, pastor, or caregiver, this conversation will help you approach food, faith, and family with wisdom and peace.

Married in the Middle: Why Years 7–21 Are the Hardest—and Most Important with Rodney Wilkinson

Marriage starts with hope—but for many couples, years 7–21 bring unexpected challenges.
In this episode, John talks with Pastor Rodney Wilkinson, pastor at Gospel Fellowship Church and host of Married in the Middle, about the realities of navigating marriage during its most demanding season. These are the years filled with pressure from work, parenting, emotional distance, and unresolved pain—especially for men who often feel unseen or unheard.
You’ll discover:
Why the middle years of marriage are often the hardest
How past trauma affects present-day connection
The emotional struggles men face in marriage
Practical ways to stay connected through active listening
Why staying committed through the middle leads to lasting reward
This conversation offers biblical perspective, honest insight, and hope for anyone committed to building a healthy, enduring marriage.
⭐ Subscribe, rate, and review to help others find this episode.
#ChristianMarriage #MarriagePodcast #MarriageHelp #MenInMarriage #HealthyRelationships
Resources:
Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson
The Deep-Rooted Marriage by Dr. Allender
Rodney’s Podcast — Married in the Middle
Make Sense of Your Story: Why Engaging Your Past with Kindness Changes Everything: Adam Young, Dr. Allender
 
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
02:05 Marriage in the Middle: Why married people struggle in years 7 to 21.
05:35Opportunities and Dangers within these years
09:19 Pain and trauma from our past and today 14:12- 25:20 The struggles of men in marriages
25:21 How “active listening” and staying connected is important 31:58-37:41 Takeaways

How to Raise Boys with Character | A Coach’s Wisdom on Integrity, Accountability & Faith

How do we raise sons who grow into men of integrity, perseverance, loyalty, and faith—in a culture that often pushes the opposite? Where does character formation really begin, and how do parents lead with both love and accountability?
In this episode of Rooted by the River, a family ministries podcast from Spanish River Church, host John sits down with Coach Brian Braddock, Head Football Coach at St. Augustine High School, to explore how character is shaped in young men—on the football field and at home.
Coach Braddock shares timeless insights on building trust, setting high standards, and holding boys accountable without crushing their spirit. Drawing from years of coaching and mentoring teenage boys, he helps parents translate leadership lessons from the sidelines straight to the dinner table.
You’ll learn:
How to cultivate biblical character in boys and young men
Why trust and warmth are essential for real accountability
How fathers and parents can model integrity—even while wrestling with their own flaws
Practical ways to create a home culture that draws out the best in boys
Why acceptance and discipline must always go hand in hand
“I’ve come to learn that the building of trust is paramount to everything when we want to drive people to high standards and to have the right to hold them accountable to those standards.” — Coach Brian Braddock
Whether you’re a parent of sons, a youth leader, a coach, or someone passionate about forming godly men, this conversation will challenge and encourage you with wisdom that lasts a lifetime.
 
Resources:
Stand Firm and Act Like Men: Becoming the Man You Were Created to Be Instead of Who the World Says You Are, by Joby Martin
John’s Interview with Nancy Pearcy: Forming Godly Men
On Spotify 
On Apple 
Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
 01:06  Character development, maintaining trust and warmth
06:30  Setting bar high for success and requiring accountability
15:22  Wrestling with our own character while molding theirs
31:51  Takeaways