Let’s have some real, raw conversations about what it looks like to follow Jesus, practically and productively, beyond the church building. Drawing on our adventures as a high school Bible teacher and a homeschool Mom, we invite you to walk with us through the mountaintop experiences as well as the twists, turns, and curveballs of everyday life as a family of seven. It's our ambition to build a community of Jesus-loving families as we transparently share our life and grow alongside of you, while learning to apply God's grace to our marriage, parenting, health, finances, time management and every other aspect of life.

Pull a chair up to the table and join us on this journey!

-Zack & Kendra Rackovan

With a nonstop news cycle and a booming home security industry, it’s easy to believe protection comes from technology. Cameras. Alarms. Systems.

But what if the most powerful protection available to your family isn’t physical — it’s spiritual?

In this episode, we dive into what Scripture actually says about protecting your home and your children. We unpack Psalm 91 and other powerful passages to show how prayer becomes your greatest defense.

We also share a personal story of a moment when the Holy Spirit prompted us to pray urgently — over an unexpected situation with our own kids.

In this conversation, we cover:

• What “pray without ceasing” really means

• Why gratitude reduces anxiety (even scientifically)

• How to use the Word of God as a weapon

• Why asking God matters more than assuming

• Practical ways to pray protection over your family daily

If you’ve ever wondered:

Does prayer actually protect my family? How do I pray with more authority? Is God actively involved in everyday dangers?

This episode will strengthen your confidence in God’s protection and give you practical tools you can begin using today.

📥 Free Resource: 7 Prayers for Protection

We’ve created a simple Scripture-based guide with seven powerful prayers — one for each day of the week — to help you consistently cover your family in prayer.

You can download it here: https://afreerangefaith.com/prayers-for-protection/

True security isn’t found in systems — it’s found in the presence of God.

So many parents say, “I don’t want to interfere. I’ll let them figure out who they are.” It sounds supportive. It sounds kind. But what if that mindset is actually setting them up for confusion?

In this episode, we talk honestly about the responsibility God gives parents. Not to control our kids. Not to force our dreams on them. But to intentionally nurture the calling He placed on their lives.

We discuss:

• The danger of passive parenting

• Why “I’ll love you no matter what” isn’t the full picture

• How to balance guidance without unhealthy pressure

• Why eternity matters more than scholarships and status

• How to recognize and nurture your child’s God-given gifts

• Practical steps for helping them build a strong spiritual foundation

Your kids were not created randomly. They were designed on purpose, for a purpose, and entrusted to you on purpose.

You can’t take the journey for them — but you are responsible for giving them the map.

You only get a short window before they leave your home. Be intentional. Pray boldly. Lead courageously.

If this episode encouraged you, share it with another parent who needs this reminder.

Is it to get a job… make money… build a successful life?

Or is there something deeper that we’ve completely missed?

In this episode, we unpack what God actually says about education—and why so many families today feel like something is off with the system.

We talk about:

• Why education was never meant to be separated from God
• The hidden shift that changed schools over time
• Why parents are still the primary educators (whether we realize it or not)
• How kids are designed to learn—and why many are struggling today
• The difference between memorizing information and actually learning
• How to raise children who love learning, think deeply, and follow God

We also share personal experiences from homeschooling, teaching, and raising a family centered on Christ—and the lessons we’ve learned along the way.

If you’ve ever questioned the direction of education, felt overwhelmed as a parent, or sensed that God is calling you to something different… this conversation is for you.

❤️ Final Thought

You don’t need to have it all figured out. If God is stirring something in your heart, He will guide you—and make a way.

The government school system (aka "public school") was literally designed to kill Christianity. The founders didn't hide their agenda at all, they put their plans in writing and set out to conquer overthrow the Christian culture in America during the 1930's by targeting the most vulnerable demographic: our kids.

In just 30 years, they executed their plan and were able to remove all traces of Christianity from the classroom. They sold the American public on the idea of a "neutral, but still moral" education, but lurking below the surface of their manipulative words was a demonic design. What these powerful men of academia did was not just remove the Christian religion from the classroom, they actually replaced it with their own religion.

In their own words, "The battle for humankind's future must be waged and won in the public school classroom by teachers who correctly perceive their role as the proselytizers of a new faith -- utilizing a classroom instead of a pulpit to carry (our) values into wherever they teach."

This extremely organized plan was executed with precision, and has left a wake of destruction in its path. Recent studies show that less than 1% of America's young adults hold to a Biblical worldview (even if they claim to be a Christian.)

If you are a parent or caretaker of children, you need to hear this information, Our culture is finally starting to see the rotten fruit of the government school system, but as Christians we cannot take lightly the future of the next generation. We need to ensure they have an education built on God's Truth, and there is no possibility of them receiving that in a public school building. Give your Christian son or daughter a real education that will teach them who they are and what they were meant to be. Foundations are not meant to be rebuilt, make sure you are helping them build theirs the right way.

What's in this episode:

00:00 Preview & Intro

01:47 An analogy of the Church

06:31 A note for Christian teachers and administrators

07:53 Neutral does not exist

09:17 A History of Government Schooling

14:32 The religion that Replaced Christianity in the Classroom

15:59 Quotes from the founders of Humanism on the Public School Takeover

18:38 The Tragic Results of No Christian Resistance

24:12 An International Comparison

29:00 Fight for your Children!

33:55 Responding to the Top 2 Arguments for Partnering with Public School

38:47 Education Always Costs Something. Will You Pay it?

#christianpodcast #christianliving #christianfamily #powerofprayer #bibletruth #naturalmedicine #medicinegodsway

Finding clean, wholesome content can be really difficult, if not impossible these days. While screens are melting our kids' minds and turning the next generation into robots who just regurgitate their favorite influencers' opinions (or even worse, ChatGPT's opinions!) we are a family of seven who has seen abundant fruit from nurturing a love in our children for reading. Reading develops problem-solving abilities, vocabulary, and empathy for others, it's even lowers stress and helps kids sleep better at night.

The benefits of reading are far reaching and long lasting. Even so, although books are a much better and safer option than any device, parents need to be diligent in monitoring the books their kids are reading. Your local library probably has board books written for 3 years olds convincing them they should try casting spells or trying out a new gender. This is where our 3 co-hosts can help you out. On average, they read several hundred books each year! In this conversation, they each share about their 3 favorites, and we round out the list of our Family's top 25 books for Christian kids (age 5-12).

Here is our list (in no particular order):

1- The Lighthouse Family- https://amzn.to/4rdqn5u

2- Grandmas Attic- https://amzn.to/4qGUB0Q

3- Kingdom's Dawn- https://amzn.to/4k8OPCY

4- Tumtum & Nutmeg: Adventures Beyond Nutmouse Hall- https://amzn.to/4qIEpMN

5- Happy Little Family- https://amzn.to/49MokhC

6- The Green Ember- https://amzn.to/4rgEdnL

7- Tales from Maple Ridge- https://amzn.to/4a1u2wr

8- The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls- https://amzn.to/4rf453w

9- The Wingfeather Saga- https://amzn.to/3ZyKjE6

10- The Vanderbeekers- https://amzn.to/4bYUpFE

11- Little House

12- Robin Hood

13- All of a Kind Family

14- The Chronicles of Narina

15- Charlotte's Web

16- Prince Warriors

17- The Family Under the Bridge

18- The Baxter Family Children (Best Family Ever)

19- The Tale of Despereaux

20- Little Britches

21- Caddie Woodlawn

22- Alone yet not Alone

23- The Cabin Faced West

24- The Ark, the Reed & the Fire Cloud

25a- Classic Starts: King Arthur

25b- Classic Starts: Anne of Green Gables

25c- Classic Starts: Pinocchio

Over 60% of parents feel guilty about the amount of time their kids spend in front of a screen, and 50% of them believe their children may have an addiction to their screens. They probably aren't wrong. America's next generation has a problem: the content they have been consuming is now consuming them.

Social anxiety, depression, and thoughts of suicide have never been as high, and although there is more than one factor, screens are a major factor in this epidemic. It's not hard to figure out when we look at the statistics, the average American, including kids, spends around 8 hours a day in front of a screen. That's 1/3 of our life! Even small children are now hooked on the dopamine hits from this synthetic alternate reality, and being turned into drones who are struggling to function in real life.

Join us as we dive deeper into this national, if not worldwide problem, and discuss what our family has done to make sure screens and content will not steal what God intends for our kids' future.

What's in this episode:

00:00 Intro

03:04 When Free Time = Screen Time

13:03 Chew & Spit

28:27 What seeds are you planting?

32:16 You've got the Means to Replace the Screens

45:14 Lead by Example

47:17 Three Steps for Success

52:25 Outtake: Kendra can't have a conversation by herself

#christianpodcast #christianliving #christianfamily #powerofprayer #bibletruth #naturalmedicine #medicinegodsway

In the last several conversations, we've discussed how we've overhauled some major areas of our life as we've followed the Holy Spirit's lead. Sometimes though, even though we know God has asked certain things of us, the thought of change just overwhelms us. Where do we start? How do we figure it all out?

Because change isn't always easy, or maybe even because we convince ourselves that it's unnecessary, we never make those changes, or we make them for a short time and then revert back to what we were doing. This could be true in areas of health and nutrition, of priorities and time management, of disciplines and habits, or really any area of life.

But here is the reality: obedience unlocks blessing. In this conversation, we explore how Scripture links these two realities. Over and over again we see that immediate/total/persistent obedience unleashes God's blessings on men and women of the Bible, and God promises to do the same for you and me.

We share throughout this episode why we believe these principles to be true and how we have experienced those blessings in our life. It's our hope that this conversation encourages you to be obedient to what God has asked individually of you this year, and that you would see and experience unlocked blessings for you and your family!

What's in this episode:

00:00 Intro

03:58 The comfort of Correction (Psalm 23)

07:40 Our Obedience reveals our Trust in God

14:24 Obedience is the Highest form of Worship

18:31 Don't be Overwhelmed!

26:34 Obedience is Customized not Duplicated

30:57 Obedience isn't always easy, but it's always worth it

32:40 Obedience is the Opposite of Compulsion

35:02 What Scripture says about Obedience and Blessing

38:38 Is it OK to question God on what He's asked of us?

41:43 Partial Obedience is Disobedience

48:03 Learn to Love Correction and Obedience!

51:16 What commitment of Obedience will YOU make?

52:07 Outtakes-Brrrats

#christianpodcast #christianliving #christianfamily #powerofprayer #bibletruth #naturalmedicine #medicinegodsway

This conversation is an extension of the conversation we started in Episode #03. We live in a fallen world, and sometimes despite taking care of our bodies the way God expects by eating right and exercising, we still get sick.

In this conversation, we look at how we handle healing now, and the journey that God took us on to get to where we are today. Specifically, we faced some very difficult circumstances with our oldest daughter who was diagnosed with chronic lyme disease. As we watched helplessly, our 8-year old went from a bright student who was thriving at life, to a frustrated, drained victim afflicted by brain fog and exhaustion.

Medical professionals and modern science had no answers for us. But God did.

What the Holy Spirit revealed to us over that time has changed the way we will forever look at modern medicine and is why we treat sickness in our family very differently now. Because we have reverted back to God's original design for healing, we have experienced incredible health blessings and freedom from disease caused both by demonic spiritual forces as well as natural problems that arise in a broken world.

What's in this episode:

00:00 Intro

01:35 Pray First

03:30 Our daughter's battle with chronic lyme disease

12:30 A powerful deliverance that changed everything

18:52 Flare-up or Familiar spirit?

23:38 God's design: Natural healing

42:04 Closing in Prayer

#christianpodcast #christianliving #christianfamily #powerofprayer #bibletruth #naturalmedicine #medicinegodsway

There is a deceptive sin that is eating away the spiritual strength of millions of families. Have you fallen into this trap of the enemy?

As Jesus followers, we are supposed to look different in every aspect of life. The secular world SHOULD look at the church and see leaders in every industry, they should see men and women of God claiming victory over all of life's circumstances, but this undercover sin has crept in to the church and is eating away our individual and collective spiritual strength.

1 in 10 Americans is now considered obese, and unfortunately the church looks no different than the world- we've allowed our belly to become our god. We should be a picture of health and vitality, but instead we are just as sick and weak as the rest of the world. We preach spiritual warfare, but we've ignored physical disciplines. God has given us incredible bodies that know how to heal themselves, but the enemy has hijacked our food supply.

Out of convenience, we've partnered with darkness and chosen to poison ourselves, and it is having a drastic impact on our ability to reach the lost.

Are you hungry for something that tastes good and is quickly discarded, or are you hungry for God? Join us for this conversation as we share how the enemy overplayed his hand in our lives, and how we have broken free from the bondage of disease and infirmity, for God's glory!

What's in this episode:

00:00 Intro

02:03 Our Oldest Daughter's Battle with Chronic Infirmity

07:15 God gave Zack this prophetic dream

10:52 The first steps on a new path to health

18:28 Just because it was ok back then, doesn't make it ok now

25:12 How a zero intake can boost your energy and bring healing

30:35 Be ignorant and weak or be strong and productive

#podcast #christianliving #christianfamily #powerofwords #bibletruth

Proverbs 18:21 tells us that the power of life and death are in our tongue. But do you really believe that? We've seen firsthand how our words and the words of those around us have shaped the direction of life. Words really do have power. If you are an astute reader of God's Word, you already know this. But the enemy of your soul also knows this, and absolutely uses words as weapons against us.

In this conversation, we expose some of the main ways the enemy comes at us with the power of words to try to steal our peace, our time, and even our entire identity. We are admonished in 2 Corinthians 2:11 to be aware of Satan's strategies; learn to recognize the power of words and begin using your mouth for the building up of God's Kingdom instead of working for the kingdom of darkness.

What's in this episode:

00:00 Intro

01:40 Terrible Two's

08:41 Only Children and Middle Children

13:39 Tragic Teenage Years

18:40 The Empty Nest

25:52 Retirement isn't Biblical!

30:23 Other lies and labels

39:45 War on Education

44:45 War on Marriage

47:30 War on your Calling

51:28 War on Medicine

54:07 War on your Faith

57:08 Conclusion and prayer

#podcast #christianliving #christianfamily #powerofwords #bibletruth

We are excited you've joined us for our very first episode of Free Range Faith! What better way to get started than to discuss the power of a name?

God makes it really clear throughout the pages of Scripture that He placed great importance in names. In this episode, we share our journey in grasping this reality more and more with each of our 5 children. We also discuss what the name Free Range Faith means for us.

How much power do you think a name yields though? Do you think a name dictates the destiny of a person? What connections have you realized in your own life? We would love to hear from you and have you join our community of Jesus-loving families as we have conversations about what it looks like to follow Him throughout the ups and downs of everyday life!

What's in this episode:

00:00 Intro

03:13 A Biblical look at names

08:54 Our Name journey with 5 kids

32:53 What do you think?

37:20 The meaning behind Free Range Faith

#podcast #christianliving #christianfamily #powerofwords #bibletruth